Abstract Lycosa is one of the most speciose genera in Lycosidae, including species with different sexual chromosome systems (SCS). We carried out cytogenetic analyses in three species of Lycosa, revealing that L. erythrognatha and L. sericovittata share 2n ♂ = 22 and SCS X1X20 while L. gr. nordenskjoldi presents 2n ♂ = 19 and SCS XO, composed only of acrocentric chromosomes. All species shared pericentromeric heterochromatin. Nonetheless, one specimen of L. sericovittata carried two chromosomes with terminal heterochromatin and L. gr. nordenskjoldi showed four chromosomes with interstitial heterochromatin plus another chromosome with terminal C-bands. The pericentromeric heterochromatin of all species as well as the terminal heterochromatic blocks in L. sericovittata were CMA3+. The 18S rDNA sites varied in number and type of bearing chromosomes both at inter and intrapopulational levels, with the highest variation in L. gr. nordenskjoldi. These differences may be related to gene dispersal due to the influence of transposition elements and translocation events. Despite these variations, all species shared ribosomal sites in pair 5. This study demonstrated intra and interspecific chromosomal variability of Lycosa, suggesting that chromosomal rearrangements are related to the diversification of diploid number and SCS in this group of spiders.

Abstract The genera Cichlasoma and Gymnogeophagus belong to the subfamily Cichlinae, the only one in Neotropical cichlids. Cichlasoma dimerus, C. paranaense, C. portalegrense, Gymnogeophagus rhabdotus, and G. lacustris were collected at different points in the Paranapanema and Paraguay basins and the Lagoon of Patos hydrographic system. In addition to conventional analysis, CMA3 fluorochrome staining, and FISH with 18S rDNA probe were performed. All species had a diploid number equal to 48, with interand intraspecific differences in karyotype formulae. All species presented a single AgNOR site, except G. rhabdotus and the C. paranaense population of the Paranapanema River, which revealed more than one pair of nucleolar chromosomes. AgNORs were coincident to 18S rDNA and CMA3. Heterochromatin was distributed in the pericentromeric chromosomal regions and coincident with NORs. For the first time, this work shows cytogenetic data for C. portalegrense, G. lacustris, and G. rhabdotus. Although some results reinforce the idea of conservative chromosome evolution of 2n in Cichlinae, interspecific and populational variations observed confirm that chromosomal rearrangements affect the microstructural karyotype diversification in this group of fish.

Abstract Crenicichla is the largest genus in the Cichlidae family in South America. The genus includes 100 valid species that are popularly known in Brazil as jacundás or joaninhas and are widely distributed in rivers east of the Andes. Cytogenetic analyses were carried out on seven species in this genus. All species showed a diploid number of 48 with interspecific differences in karyotype formulas and AgNORs located in interstitial position on the short arm of the largest metacentric pair, except for the two populations from C. britskii. Population A showed terminal markings on the long arm of the fifth pair of the complement, and population B showed up to two marked chromosome pairs. FISH with an 18S rDNA probe was coincident with AgNORs and CMA3, except for pair 6 from population B of C. britskii that did not presented positive CMA3 sites. This work presents first cytogenetic data for C. haroldoi, C. maculata, and C. punctata, and the results show karyotypic patterns similar to those in the literature. However, the diversity found in populations of C. britskii represents new information about the evolution of the karyotype of the Cichlidae family, which has been conservative. Furthermore, the data could assist in phylogenetic studies of Crenicichla.

Resumo O artigo analisa semelhanças e singularidades da organização dos sistemas de ensino brasileiro e estadunidense, bem como seus marcos legais e arcabouços curriculares, ressaltando as possíveis orientações específicas sobre o ensino de matemática na formação laboral e, ainda, semelhanças e singularidades inerentes às necessidades, dificuldades e estratégias de formação matemática presentes na formação profissional de cursos técnicos. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo comparativo entre duas instituições de educação profissional (brasileira e estadunidense) a partir de análises documentais e entrevistas. No trabalho descrevemos a estrutura dos sistemas educacionais e, ainda, a configuração da matemática nos currículos profissionalizantes, ressignificada a partir de situações-problema da formação profissional. Por fim, entre outros pontos, concluímos que a matemática pode se apresentar na educação profissional com estratégias formativas que resgatem e ampliem o entendimento das aplicações da matemática nutrida de sua compreensão conceitual.

Abstract The article analyses similarities and singularities in the educational systems’ organization for Brazil and the United States, their legal benchmarks and curricular frameworks, and highlights in them guidelines concerning mathematics education within vocational education. For this end, we conducted a comparative study between two institutions of vocational education (Brazilian and American), using document analysis and interviews. The paper describes the structure of the two educational systems, and identifies the mathematics configuration as being reassigned with problems and situations from the context of careers. Finally, among other points, we conclude an approach should be used for mathematics education within professional, career, and technical education, which considers applications of mathematics to be embedded in conceptual understanding.

Este estudo apresenta dados cromossômicos de Megalonema platanum do rio Tibagi, Paraná, Brasil e do rio Paraná, Argentina. O número diploide foi igual 54 com composição cariotípica de 24m+16sm+2st+12a em ambas populações. Os sítios AgNORs foram detectados na posição terminal de um par submetacêntrico das duas populações analisadas, coincidindo com constrição secundária no braço curto do par 15. CMA3 e FISH com sonda de DNAr 18S exibiram sinais fluorescentes que correspondem aos sítios AgNORs e à constrição secundária. A presença de um pequeno cromossomo supranumerário acrocêntrico foi observado em M. platanum do rio Tibagi, com heterocromatina centromérica. Outros blocos heterocromáticos foram evidenciados na posição terminal de alguns cromossomos e um par cromossômico submetacêntrico grande, provavelmente o primeiro par, mostrou heterocromatina intersticial. Na população do rio Paraná foram observados ainda blocos heterocromáticos em ambas regiões terminais em alguns cromossomos. Este trabalho mostra pela primeira vez dados citogenéticos de M. platanum, que é uma espécie muito rara na bacia do rio Paraná e pode estar ameaçada de extinção.

This study presents chromosomal data of Megalonema platanum from rio Tibagi, Paraná, Brazil and from rio Paraná, Argentina. The diploid number was equal 54 with karyotype composition of 24m+16sm+2st+12a in both populations. The AgNOR sites were detected in the terminal position of a submetacentric pair of the two analyzed populations, coinciding with secondary constrictions on the short arm of pair 15. CMA3 and FISH with 18S rDNA probe displayed fluorescent signals that correspond to the AgNOR sites and secondary constriction. The presence of a small acrocentric supernumerary chromosome can be observed in M. platanum from rio Tibagi, with centromeric heterochromatin. Others heterochromatic blocks were evidenced in the terminal position of some chromosome and one metacentric large chromosome pair, probably the first pair, showed an interstitial heterochromatin. In the population of the rio Paraná were still observed heterochromatic blocks in both ends in some chromosomes. This work brings for the first time cytogenetic date of M. platanum, which is a very rare species in the rio Paraná basin and may be endangered.

TEMA: embora o risco da Síndrome da Rubéola Congênita após a imunização seja pequeno, é necessário assegurar a imunidade das mulheres em idade fértil, especialmente daquelas com risco mais alto de exposição, visando a prevenção. OBJETIVO: esclarecer o risco que a imunização da rubéola apresenta para a audição do recém nascido, no primeiro trimestre de gestação. CONCLUSÃO: os levantamentos realizados por este estudo permitiram concluir que ainda há um grande caminho a ser percorrido em prol da erradicação da rubéola no Brasil, bem como a diminuição dos riscos de surdez neurossensorial causados pela Síndrome da Rubéola Congênita.

BACKGROUND: although congenital rubella syndrome risk after immunization is low, it is required to assert immunity of women in fertile age, especially those in higher risk of exposure aiming at prevention. PURPOSE: to elucidate the risk that rubella immunization in the first three months of gestation presents for the newborn hearing. CONCLUSION: investigations carried out by this study allow us to conclude that there is still a lot to be done in order to eradicate rubella in Brazil, as well as to reduce/decrease risks of neurosensorial deafness caused by CRS.

Exemplares de Parapimelodus nigribarbis e Pimelodus maculatus coletados na bacia do rio Guaíba, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, foram analisados citogeneticamente. As duas espécies apresentaram um número diplóide de 56 cromossomos, com P. nigribarbis mostrando um cariótipo de 20m + 20sm + 4st + 12a, NF igual a 100; e P. maculatus com 24m + 20sm + 6st + 6a e NF igual 106. As NORs foram evidenciadas em apenas um par de cromossomos subtelocêntricos, na região terminal do braço longo, nas duas espécies estudadas, sendo coincidentes com a banda C e CMA3; o DAPI nestas regiões se mostrou negativo. Parapimelodus nigribarbis apresentou um maior número de bandas heterocromáticas do que P. maculatus, distribuídas principalmente em regiões terminais, sendo observada nesta última espécie uma banda intersticial no braço curto do primeiro par metacêntrico. Banda C + CMA3 evidenciou em P. nigribarbis e P. maculatus a heterocromatina associada à NOR rica em GC, sendo encontrada na primeira espécie outras regiões fluorescentes. Com banda C + DAPI várias regiões cromossômicas foram observadas nas duas espécies, inclusive a porção intersticial encontrada em P. maculatus, revelando que a heterocromatina possui uma maior quantidade de regiões AT ricas em sua composição.

A cytogenetic study was conducted on specimens of Parapimelodus nigribarbis and Pimelodus maculatus collected in the lago Guaíba drainage, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The two species had a diploid number of 56 chromosomes, with P. nigribarbis showing a karyotype of 20m + 20sm + 4st + 12a with FN of 100, and P. maculatus showing a karyotype of 24m + 20sm + 6st + 6a with FN of 106. NORs were demonstrated in both species in only one pair of subtelocentric chromosomes, in the terminal region of the long arm, which was coincident with C- banding and CMA3 staining, while DAPI staining was negative in these regions. Parapimelodus nigribarbis had a greater number of heterochromatic bands than did P. maculatus, which were distributed mainly in the terminal regions, where the latter species showed an interstitial band on the short arm of the first metacentric pair. C-banding plus CMA3 demonstrated heterochromatin that was associated with GC-rich NORs in both P. nigribarbis and P. maculatus, although other fluorescent regions were also observed in the former species. With C-banding plus DAPI, various chromosomal regions were stained in the two species, along with interstitial staining in P. maculatus, indicating that heterochromatin contained a greater quantity of AT-rich regions.

OBJETIVO: Determinar a eficácia do uso do volume expiratório forçado nos primeiros seis segundos (VEF6) como substituto da capacidade vital forçada (CVF) na triagem diagnóstica da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) através da comparação entre as medidas da relação VEF1/CVF e as medidas da relação VEF1/VEF6. MÉTODOS: No ano de 2003, durante o Dia Mundial da DPOC, realizamos uma campanha de triagem diagnóstica da DPOC. Os participantes da campanha respondiam ao questionário clínico do projeto Global Initiative for -Obstructive Lung Disease e aqueles que apresentavam pelo menos três respostas positivas submetiam-se a espirometria. RESULTADOS: Um total de 134 indivíduos respondeu positivamente a três questões e realizou espirometria. Destes, 59 foram excluídos: 45 por serem não fumantes e 14 pelo fato de seus exames não obedecerem aos critérios da American Thoracic Society para espirometria de qualidade. O número de resultados abaixo de 70% foi similar para VEF1/CVF e para VEF1/VEF6. A sensibilidade de VEF1/VEF6 para o diagnóstico de obstrução de vias aéreas definida por VEF1/CVF abaixo de 70% foi de 92% e a especificidade foi de 99%. O valor preditivo positivo foi de 100% e o valor preditivo negativo foi de 98%. O teste de correlação de Kendall mostrou r = 0,99 (p < 0,0001). O teste t para amostras pareadas mostrou correlação negativa: t = -5,93 (p < 0,0001). CONCLUSÃO: A relação VEF1/VEF6 se mostrou eficaz para uso na triagem diagnóstica da DPOC. Existe uma forte relação entre VEF1/CVF e VEF1/VEF6.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of using forced expiratory volume in six seconds (FEV6) as a surrogate for forced vital capacity (FVC) in the diagnostic screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by comparing FEV1/FVC ratios with FEV1/FEV6 ratios. METHODS: In November of 2003, on World COPD Day, we conducted a campaign of diagnostic screening for COPD. The participants completed the clinical questionnaire of the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease, and those who responded affirmatively to at least three questions underwent spirometry. RESULTS: A total of 134 individuals responded to three questions affirmatively and underwent spirometry. Of those, 59 were excluded: 45 for being non-smokers and 14 due to the fact that their tests did not meet the American Thoracic Society criteria for satisfactory spirometry. The number of tests in which the FEV1/FEV6 ratio was below 70% was similar to that found for the FEV1/FVC ratio. The sensitivity of FEV1/FEV6 in diagnosing airway obstruction (defined as FEV1/FVC below 70%) was 92%, and its specificity was 99%. The positive predictive value was 100%, and the negative predictive value was 98%. The Kendall correlation test revealed r = 0.99 (p < 0.0001). The t-test for paired samples revealed a negative correlation: t = -5.93 (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The FEV1/FEV6 proved efficient for use in the diagnostic screening for COPD. There is a strong correlation between FEV1/FVC and FEV1/FEV6.

Foram analisados citogeneticamente vinte e cinco indivíduos de Iheringichthys labrosus da Represa Capivara. As AgNORs foram detectadas em um par de cromossomos ST na região telomérica do braço longo. Em alguns exemplares machos e fêmeas foi observado um heteromorfismo de tamanho desta região entre cromossomos homólogos. O tratamento com CMA3 exibiu regiões ricas em GC correspondentes ao par da NOR e outras marcações fluorescentes. A hibridação in situ por fluorescência (FISH) com a sonda de DNAr 18S mostrou somente um par de cromossomos marcados, confirmando o heteromorfismo observado com AgNO3 and CMA3 em alguns indivíduos. A sonda de DNAr 5S revelou marcação telomérica no braço longo de um par de cromossomos do grupo ST-A, provavelmente diferente do par da NOR.

Twenty-five specimens of Iheringichthys labrosus from the Capivara Reservoir were analysed cytogenetically. AgNORs were detected in a pair of ST chromosomes, in the telomeric region of the long arm. Some individuals showed size heteromorphism of this region between homologous chromosomes. Treatment with CMA3 displayed GC-rich regions corresponding to the AgNOR pair, plus other fluorescent staining. In situ hybridization by fluorescence (FISH) with the 18S rDNA probe showed only one pair of stained chromosomes, confirming the heteromorphism observed with AgNO3 and CMA3 in some individuals. The 5S rDNA probe revealed telomeric staining on the long arm of a pair of chromosomes of the ST-A group, probably different from the NOR pair.

We present the karyotypic characterization of 26 specimens of the side-necked turtle Hydromedusa tectifera collected in the upper Iguaçu River, Paraná state, Brazil. The turtles were cytogenetically analyzed using Giemsa staining and other banding techniques (C, G, Ag-NOR and CMA3) as well as fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with a rDNA 18S probe. All the specimens showed a diploid number of 58 composed of 22 macro and 36 microchromosomes. The Ag-NOR, CMA3 and FISH techniques permitted the identification and characterization of the chromosome pairs bearing nucleolus organizer regions (NORs), while G-banding facilitated a better recognition and pairing of macrochromosomes. These data agree with some information available in the literature and should be very useful for further cytotaxonomic and cytosystematic studies.

Cytotoxicity of metals is important because some metals are potential mutagens able to induce tumors in humans and experimental animals. Chromium can damage DNA in several ways, including DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) which generate chromosomal aberrations, micronucleus formation, sister chromatid exchange, formation of DNA adducts and alterations in DNA replication and transcription. In our study, water samples from three sites in the Córrego dos Bagres stream in the Franca municipality of the Brazilian state of São Paulo were subjected to the comet assay and micronucleus test using erythrocytes from the fish Oreochromis niloticus. Nuclear abnormalities of the erythrocytes included blebbed, notched and lobed nuclei, probably due to genotoxic chromium compounds. The greatest comet assay damage occurred with water from a chromium-containing tannery effluent discharge site, supporting the hypothesis that chromium residues can be genotoxic. The mutagenicity of the water samples was assessed using the onion root-tip cell assay, the most frequent chromosomal abnormalities observed being: c-metaphases, stick chromosome, chromosome breaks and losses, bridged anaphases, multipolar anaphases, and micronucleated and binucleated cells. Onion root-tip cell mutagenicity was highest for water samples containing the highest levels of chromium.

A cytogenetic analysis of thirteen specimens of Bryconamericus aff. Iheringii revealed a diploid number of 52 chromosomes and a karyotype of 8M+22SM+10ST+12A with a fundamental number (FN) of 92. The nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) were studied by means of AgNO3 and CMA3 staining as well as by FISH using an 18S rDNA probe. NORs were found to be located at the terminal position on the short arm of the submetacentric chromosome pair. C-banding showed strong telomeric and centromeric staining in the majority of the chromosomes, and a similar pattern was observed after treatment with AluI restriction enzyme

No presente trabalho foi realizado um levantamento citogenético de espécies de peixes das famílias Pimelodidae e Rhamdiidae, onde foi observado que das 300 espécies pertencentes a estas famílias, apenas 33 foram caracterizadas citogeneticamente. O número diplóide variou de 2n = 46 a 2n = 63 cromossomos, os cariótipos são freqüentemente assimétricos, com uma predominância de cromossomos do tipo meta/submetacêntricos, resultando portanto, em um número fundamental alto.

Only 33 species among about 300 belonging to the families Pimelodidae and Rhamdiidae have been studied cytogenetically. The diploid number varies from 2n = 46 to 2n = 63 chromosomes, with the karyotypes often being of the meta/submetacentric type. As a result, there is generally a very elevated fundamental number.