ABSTRACT The Caatinga biome in Brazil comprises the largest and most continuous expanse of the seasonally dry tropical forest (SDTF) worldwide; nevertheless, it is among the most threatened and least studied, despite its ecological and biogeographical importance. The spatial distribution of volumetric wood stocks in the Caatinga and the relationship with environmental factors remain unknown. Therefore, this study intends to quantify and analyze the spatial distribution of wood volume as a function of environmental variables in Caatinga vegetation in Bahia State, Brazil. Volumetric estimates were obtained at the plot and fragment level. The multiple linear regression techniques were adopted, using environmental variables in the area as predictors. Spatial modeling was performed using the geostatistical kriging approach with the model residuals. The model developed presented a reasonable fit for the volume m3 ha with r2 of 0.54 and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 10.9 m3 ha–1. The kriging of ordinary residuals suggested low error estimates in unsampled locations and balance in the under and overestimates of the model. The regression kriging approach provided greater detailing of the global wood volume stock map, yielding volume estimates that ranged from 0.01 to 109 m3 ha–1. Elevation, mean annual temperature, and precipitation of the driest month are strong environmental predictors for volume estimation. This information is necessary to development action plans for sustainable management and use of the Caatinga SDTF in Bahia State, Brazil.

Resumo O chumbo (Pb) é um metal pesado caracterizado como o principal poluente do solo. A fitorremediação é uma alternativa sustentável e economicamente viável para reduzir a concentração de Pb no ambiente. Inga uruguensis é uma espécie leguminosa arbórea com características favoráveis à fitorremediação, como crescimento rápido e alta produção de biomassa. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o potencial inicial de tolerância e fitorremediação de I. uruguensis para Pb. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação. Além do controle, a contaminação do solo foi realizada com as seguintes doses de Pb: 100, 200, 300, 400 e 500 mg.dm³, com 5 repetições em cada tratamento, totalizando 30 vasos. Foram avaliados crescimento, número e massa de nódulos, teor de clorofila, ureídeos, aminoácidos, proteínas e carboidratos solúveis em folhas, raízes e nódulos, índice de tolerância, matéria seca e teor de Pb nos tecidos de I. uruguensis. Os dados foram analisados pelo teste de Tukey, utilizando os softwares R e SISVAR. Não houve efeito negativo no crescimento de I. uruguensis, a relação simbiótica com a rizobia foi mantida, mesmo com alto teor de Pb e o índice de tolerância não inferior a 0,69. Inga uruguensis apresenta tolerância inicial e potencial para ser usada como fitorremediadora em solos contaminados por Pb.

Abstract Lead (Pb) is a heavy metal considered one of the major soil pollutants. Phytoremediation is a sustainable and economically viable biological method for reducing Pb content in the environment. Inga uruguensis is a tree legume species that has characteristics favorable to phytoremediation, such as rapid growth and high biomass production. The objective of this work was an initial evaluation of tolerance and phytoremediation potential of I. uruguensis to Pb. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse. In addition to the control, soil contamination was carried out with the following Pb doses: 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg.dm³, with 5 repetitions in each treatment, totaling 30 vases. We assessed growth, number and mass of nodules, chlorophyll content, ureids, amino acid, protein and soluble carbohydrates in leaves, roots and nodules, tolerance index, dry matter, and tissues Pb content of I. uruguensis. The data were analyzed by the Tukey test using R and SISVAR software. There was no negative effect of Pb in soil on I. uruguensis growth, the symbiotic relationship with rhizobia was kept, even at high Pb content and the tolerance index was not lower than 0.69. Inga uruguensis has initial tolerance and potential to be used as phytoremediation in soils contaminated by Pb.

Resumo Plantas nativas do Cerrado geralmente apresentam características peculiares que permitem tolerar o estresse hídrico e nutricional. Astronium fraxinifolium, é uma das espécies arbóreas de Anacardiaceae do Cerrado brasileiro. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi caracterizar morfofisiologicamente as folhas de A. fraxinifolium, com o objetivo de reconhecer características relacionadas a aclimatação da espécie em diferentes condições de solo. Para tanto, duas populações de A. fraxinifolium foram amostradas em diferentes áreas de estudo, A1 (Solo degradado) e A2 (“Solo não degradado”). A partir dessas amostras foram quantificados compostos nitrogenados, carboidratos totais, amido, clorofila, conteúdo nutricional, densidade estomática, trocas gasosas, alocação de carbono e altura da parte aérea, comparando as áreas de estudo. Um número elevado de estômatos foi observado na superfície abaxial das folhas de A. fraxinifolium, com uma densidade estomática mais elevada ocorrendo em indivíduos de A1. Já os valores de clorofila a, b e total foram significativamente maiores em A2. O conteúdo nutricional não diferiu entre as áreas, exceto o boro, que apresenta maior concentração nas plantas de A2. É possível que a menor concentração de boro nas plantas A1 esteja relacionado a produção de clorofila. Em relação às demais análises, não houve diferenças significativas entre as áreas. Os resultados mostram que esta espécie sofre alterações na produção de clorofila, mas a fotossíntese líquida não é perturbada, sendo o baixo teor de clorofila em A1 compensado pela maior densidade estomática. Assim, essas mudanças podem ser o resultado da aclimatação dessa espécie às diferentes condições ambientais às quais está exposta.

Abstract Plants native from Cerrado generally have peculiar characteristics that allow tolerating water and nutritional stress. Astronium fraxinifolium is a Anacardiaceae tree of from Brazilian Cerrado. The aim of this research was to characterize A. fraxinifolium leaves morphophysiologically, in order to recognize characteristics related to acclimatization of the species in different soil conditions. Two populations of A. fraxinifolium were sampled in different study areas, A1 (Degraded Soil) and A2 (“Undegraded Soil”). Nitrogen compounds, total carbohydrates, chlorophyll, nutritional content, stomatal density and gas exchanges were quantified, comparing the areas. A high number of stomata was observed on the abaxial surface of A. fraxinifolium leaves, with a higher density occurring in A1 individuals. The values of chlorophyll and boron content were significantly higher in A2 plants. It’s possible that the lowest concentration of boron in A1 plants is related to chlorophyll production. Regardinf the other analysis, there weren’t significant differences between the areas. The results show that this species undergoes changes in production of chlorophyll, but liquid photosynthesis isn’t impaired, considering the low chlorophyll content in A1 being compensated by the higher stomatal density. Thus, these changes may be the result of acclimating this species to different environmental conditions to which it’s exposed.

RESUMEN La región del sur del estado de Goiás, en el centro de Brasil, tiene un registro extenso e informativo de la biota fósil. Particularmente, en los últimos cinco años ha habido un gran aumento en los hallazgos de fósiles, lo que ha permitido una mayor comprensión de la fauna y la flora de esta región durante el Cretácico tardío. En este artículo, proporcionamos una síntesis actualizada de la biota del Cretáceo del sur del estado de Goiás, basada en el registro de plantas, gastropodos, tortugas, cocodrilianos, titanosaurios y dinosaurios terópodos.

ABSTRACT The southern Goiás state region of Central Brazil has an extensive and informative record of fossil biota. Particularly over the last five years, there has been a great increase in fossil finds, which has enabled a greater understanding of this region's fauna and flora during the Late Cretaceous. In this article, we provide an updated synthesis of the biota from the Cretaceous of the southern Goiás state, the record of plants, gastropods, turtles, crocodilians, titanosaurs, and theropod dinosaurs.

Abstract In 1990, the first Teratogen Information Service in Brazil (SIAT) was implemented in the Medical Genetics Service at Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre. SIAT is a free-to-use information service both to health professionals and the general population, especially to women who are pregnant or planning pregnancy. The main objective of this paper is to present the activities of SIAT in its initial years (1990-2006), compared to those in the last decade (2007-2017). In addition we review the scientific contribution of SIAT in the field of human teratogenesis. Since 1990, SIAT received 10,533 calls. Use of medications were the main reason for concern, accounting for 74% of all questions, followed by other chemical exposures (occupational, cosmetics, environmental), and maternal infectious diseases. Among its main contributions to scientific knowledge was the collaboration for the identification of two new human teratogens: misoprostol in the 1990s and Zika virus in 2015/16. In conclusion, SIAT is still evolving, as is the Medical Genetics Service that hosts it. Through its 27 years of existence more than 300 undergraduate and graduate students have rotated at SIAT. Presently, SIAT is expanding the research to experimental teratogenesis and to investigation of molecular mechanisms of teratogens.

Soil contamination by heavy metals is a challenge faced by many countries, and engineering technologies to solve this problem are expensive and can cause negative impacts on the environment. One way to minimise the levels of heavy metals in the soil is to use plants that can absorb and accumulate heavy metals into harvestable parts, a process called phytoextraction. Typical plant species used in research involving phytoextraction are heavy metal hyperaccumulators, but plants from this group are not good biomass producers and grow more slowly than most species; thus, they have an important role in helping scientists understand the mechanisms involved in accumulating high amounts of heavy metals without developing symptoms or dying. However, because of their slow growth, it is not practical to use these species for phytoextraction. An alternative approach is to use non-hyperaccumulator plants assisted by chelating agents, which may improve the ability of plants to accumulate more heavy metals than they would naturally. Chelating agents can be synthetic or organic acids, and the advantages and disadvantages of their use in improving the phytoextraction potential of non-hyperaccumulator plants are discussed in this article. We hope to draw attention to ways to improve the phytoextraction potential of non-hyperaccumulator plants that produce a large amount of biomass and to stimulate more research on phytoextraction-inducing substances.

A poluição do solo com metais pesados tem aumentado significativamente nos últimos anos, devido à ação antrópica. Diversas técnicas podem ser utilizadas para reverter ou minimizar a condição de contaminação do solo, porém muitas delas são prejudiciais ao solo. Uma alternativa é a utilização da fitorremediação, já que as plantas possuem a capacidade de absorver elementos do solo e, dessa maneira, promover sua descontaminação com teores excessivos de metais e outros elementos potencialmente tóxicos. A associação de plantas com fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMAs) pode influenciar a absorção desses elementos. Com o objetivo de avaliar o potencial fitorremediador de plantas de Stizolobium aterrimum associadas ou não a FMAs em solos com concentrações crescentes de Pb, realizou-se um experimento sob condições de casa de vegetação, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2. Os tratamentos consistiram na adição de quatro doses de Pb (0, 250, 500 e 1.000 mg dm-3) e da inoculação ou não de FMA. Os resultados mostraram que a planta foi tolerante ao Pb nas doses utilizadas. A associação com FMA não influenciou a absorção de Pb pela planta. No entanto, a micorrização influenciou a fixação biológica de N2, observando-se maior atividade da enzima nitrogenase em plantas micorrizadas. Apesar dos bons resultados obtidos com relação à tolerância dessa planta ao Pb, mais estudos precisam ser realizados acerca da absorção desse elemento, principalmente em solo multicontaminado, que é a realidade encontrada em sistemas poluídos.

Heavy metal pollution of soils has increased significantly in the last years owing to anthropic action. Several techniques can be used to revert or to minimize soil contamination, although many of these techniques are harmful to the soil. An alternative is to use a new technique, called phytoremediation, based on the ability of plants to take up elements from soils with excessive high levels of metals or of other potentially toxic elements and thus contribute to soil decontamination. The inoculation of plants with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can influence the absorption of these elements. The phytoremediation potential of Stizolobium aterrimum plants with or without AMF in soils with increasing lead concentrations was evaluated in a greenhouse experiment, in a 4 x 2 factorial design. The treatments consisted of the addition of four Pb rates (0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg dm-3) to the soil where black velvet bean plants associated or not with Glomus etunicatum AMF where grown. The results showed that black velvet bean was Pb tolerant at the tested rates. The association with AMF did not influence the Pb plant uptake. However, the mycorrhiza influenced biological nitrogen fixation by increasing the activity of the enzyme nitrogenase in mycorrhizal plants. Despite the good results obtained in relation to Pb tolerance of black velvet bean, further studies on the uptake of this element are needed, above all in the case of multicontaminated soils, as actually observed in polluted systems.

Perdas na produção leiteiras devido às falhas de detecção do estro são bem conhecidas e relatadas em vários paises. Atualmente a automação na detecção do estro, tem sido possível, devido aos avanços tecnológicos na contínua monitoração de vacas leiteiras e utilização de modelos fuzzy. O estro em vacas de leite é normalmente detectado visualmente, um método considerado ineficiente. Alguns estudos têm sido desenvolvidos com o intuito de se obter modelos efetivos para interpretar a ocorrência e detecção do estro, contudo, muitos modelos apresentam alertas falsos positivos, sendo muitas vezes considerados falhos. Construiu-se um sistema baseado nas funções de inferência fuzzy capaz de detectar eficientemente o estro de vacas de leite, avaliando seu desempenho com curvas ROC (Receiver-Operating Characteristic). Os dados de entrada do sistema combinaram informações de casos prévios de estro, aplicações de prostaglandina com dados das atividades das vacas. As saídas do sistema foram organizadas em três categorias: "em estro", "talvez em estro" e "sem estro". A validação do sistema foi realizada em uma granja leiteira comercial utilizando um rebanho de 350 vacas em lactação. O desempenho do teste foi avaliado calculando a sensibilidade na detecção correta de estro; e sua especificidade através da precisão da detecção. O teste teve uma duração de seis meses, sendo analisados mais de 25 mil casos de estro da base de dados da granja. A sensibilidade obtida foi de 84,2%, indicando que o sistema pode detectar eficientemente o estro melhorando a detecção automática em vacas leiteiras.

Production losses due to lack of precision in detecting estrus in dairy cows are well known and reported in milk production countries. Nowadays automatic estrus detection has become possible as a result of technical progress in continuously monitoring dairy cows using fuzzy pertinence functions. Dairy cow estrus is usually visually detected; however, solely use of visual detection is considered inefficient. Many studies have been carried out to develop an effective model to interpret the occurrence of estrus and detect estrus; however, most models present too many false-positive alerts and because of this they are sometimes considered unreliable. The objective of this research was to construct a system based on fuzzy inference functions evaluated with a receiver-operating characteristic curve, capable of efficiently detect estrus in dairy cows. For the input data the system combined previous estrus cases information and prostaglandin application with the data of cow activities. The system outputs were organized in three categories: 'in estrus', 'maybe in estrus" and 'not in estrus'. The system validation was carried out in a commercial dairy farm using a herd of 350 lactating cows. The performance of the test was measured by calculating its sensitivity towards the right estrus detection; and its specificity towards the precision of the detection. Within a six months period of tests, over 25 thousands cases of estrus were analyzed from a database of the commercial farm. The sensitivity found was 84.2%, indicating that the system can detect estrus efficiently and it may improve automatic estrus detection.