RESUMO O problema tratado é a contaminação da água da Lagoa Yarinacocha por metais pesados e o uso inadequado de resíduos agrícolas. Foi fabricado carvão ativado a partir de cascas de cacau (Theobroma cacao L.) e foi determinado seu efeito adsorvente na remoção de metais poluentes das águas da Lagoa Yarinacocha. A metodologia da superfície de resposta foi aplicada com experimentos fatoriais 33 e 32, com três repetições para otimizar a obtenção do adsorvente e medir sua eficácia na remoção de metais. A modelagem do processo de pirólise, resultou em 17,27 g de carvão ativado a partir de 295,72 g de cascas de cápsulas secas, ótimo com os seguintes parâmetros ótimos: 150 °C como temperatura de ativação, 450 °C como temperatura de carbonização, e 2,5 horas como tempo de modificação. Isto resultou na remoção efetiva de metais poluentes (alumínio: 91,43%, cobre: 75%, ferro: 58,33% e zinco: 58,33%), de amostras de água demonstrando que é possível fabricar carvão ativado a partir de cascas de casca de cacau, com um potencial adsorvente para remover metais das águas da Lagoa Yarinacocha.

ABSTRACT The problem addressed is the contamination of the Yarinacocha Lagoon water by heavy metals and poor use of agricultural residues. It was manufactured activated carbon from cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) pod husks and determined its adsorbent effect in removing polluting metals from the waters of the Yarinacocha Lagoon. The response surface methodology was applied with factorial designs 33 and 32, with three replicates to optimize obtaining the adsorbent and measure its effectiveness in metal removal. The modeling of the pyrolysis process resulted in 17.27 g of activated carbon from 295.72 g of dry pod husks, optimal with the following optimal parameters: 150 °C as activation temperature, 450 °C as carbonization temperature, and 2.5 hours as modification time. This resulted in effective removal of pollutant metals (aluminum: 91.43%, copper: 75%, iron: 58.33% and zinc: 58.33%), from waters samples demonstrating that it is possible to manufacture activated carbon from cocoa pod husks, with an adsorbent potential to remove metals from the waters of the Yarinacocha Lagoon.

Abstract Forest fires represent a frequent disturbance in Patagonia with important impacts on the dynamics of the landscape. Although our knowledge of historical fire regimes and their relationship to historical land use changes and climate variability is extensive, few studies have evaluated post-fire forest dynamics. Our objective was to compare the fire history and post-fire forest dynamics in Nothofagus pumilio forests at two contrasting sites within the precipitation gradient in Las Vueltas river basin, Santa Cruz province using dendroecological techniques. Our results show different fire histories and post-fire forest dynamics. While in the dry sector a single event of high severity and of great spatial extension was recorded, in the humid sector three fires of less extension and less intensity took place. The post-fire dynamics reflect both the different fire histories as well as the water availability and sensitivity of N. pumilio to it. Retrospective studies of forest dynamics combining fire history reconstruction and establishment of individuals are of great value in improving our understanding of landscape dynamics over time.

Resumen Los incendios forestales representan un disturbio frecuente en la Patagonia con importantes impactos en la dinámica del paisaje. Si bien nuestro conocimiento de los regímenes históricos de incendios y su relación con los cambios históricos en el uso de la tierra y la variabilidad climática es amplio, pocos estudios han evaluado la dinámica forestal pos-incendio como resul tante de los mismos. Nuestro objetivo fue comparar la historia de incendios y dinámica forestal pos-incendio en bosques de Nothofagus pumilio en dos sitios contrastantes dentro del gradiente de precipitaciones en la cuenca del río de las Vueltas, provincia de Santa Cruz utilizando téc nicas dendroecológicas. Nuestros resultados dan cuenta de diferentes historias de incendios y dinámica forestal pos-incendio. Mientras que en el sector seco ocurrió un único evento de alta severidad y de gran extensión espacial, en el sector húmedo tuvieron lugar tres incendios de me nor extensión y de menor intensidad. Las dinámicas pos-incendio reflejan tanto las diferentes historias de incendios como también la disponibilidad hídrica y la sensibilidad de N. pumilio a esta. Estudios retrospectivos de dinámica forestal combinando la reconstrucción del historial de incendios y el establecimiento de individuos son de gran valor para mejorar nuestro entendi miento de la dinámica del paisaje en el tiempo.

Abstract The article aims to describe, weigh and analyze the commercial traffic of overseas vessels in the Río de la Plata during the British invasion (1806-1807), paying particular attention to its origin, destination and flag. From a historiographic balance, that justifies the approach of the investigation, a triangulation of serial sources, periodical publications and qualitative documentation, both British and Spanish, is proposed, which allow overcoming the difficulties presented for the analysis of the question. We conclude that the British invasion interrupted the commercial traffic between Spain and the Rio de la Plata, reorienting the flow to the British and foreign markets, dealing a mortal blow to the Spanish monopoly and opening a specific stage that we call direct trade by invasion.

Resumen El artículo tiene por objetivo describir, ponderar y analizar el tráfico comercial de buques de ultramar en el Río de la Plata durante la invasión británica (1806-1807), atendiendo particularmente a su origen, destino y pabellón. A partir de un balance historiográfico que justifica el planteamiento de la investigación, se propone una triangulación de fuentes seriales, publicaciones periódicas y documentación cualitativa, tanto británicas como españolas, que permitan superar las dificultades presentadas para el análisis de la cuestión. Concluimos que la invasión británica interrumpió el tráfico comercial entre España y el Río de la Plata, reorientando el flujo hacia los mercados británicos y extranjeros, asestando un golpe mortal al monopolio español y abriendo una etapa específica que llamamos comercio directo por invasión.

The Andean-Patagonian forests are home to one of the endemic conifers of South America: Austrocedrus chilensis (D. Don) Pic. Ser. Et Bizzarri (Cupressaceae). The occurrence of episodic mortality events along the gradient of distribution of this species makes necessary studies to shed light on allow advance on the responses of trees to these tree behaviors in these events. The objective of this research is to study of the growth patterns prior to the death of individuals of Austrocedrus chilensis in a W-E precipitation gradient. Specifically, the area includes the northern distribution of the species in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Nine sampling sites were selected along a west-east transect in the vicinity of Traful Lake, Neuquén province, which captures a precipitation gradient of 1800 to 600 mm/year. Patterns and growth rates were analyzed in the 5, 10 and 15 years prior to death along the gradient. The results obtained allowed to establish that according to the variability of the growth patterns ordered in two analyzed forests were ordered in two large groups: mixed-compact and compact-ecotonal. In turn, these differences were related to particular conditions of the chronologies (e.g., the ring width index) and biophysics (e.g., slope, exposure, latitude and longitude) of the study sites. The rates of growth prior to death allowed to determine that in all the study sites, individuals presented a decrease in radial growth prior to this event; in turn, for the same time windows, dead individuals grew less than living individuals. It is necessary to deepen the studies to know the mechanisms by which these growth patterns are ordered prior to death along the Andean-Patagonian gradient.

Los bosques Andino-Patagónicos albergan una de las coníferas endémicas de América del Sur: Austrocedrus chilensis (D. Don) Pic. Ser. et Bizzarri (Cupressaceae). El hecho de que ocurran eventos episódicos de mortalidad a lo largo del gradiente de distribución de la especie hace necesarios estudios que echen luz sobre el comportamiento de los árboles en tales eventos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar los patrones de crecimiento previo a la muerte de individuos de Austrocedrus chilensis en un gradiente de precipitación O-E. El área comprende la distribución septentrional de la especie en el norte de la Patagonia argentina. Se seleccionaron nueve sitios de muestreo a lo largo de una transecta O-E en las cercanías del Lago Traful, provincia de Neuquén. La transecta abarca un gradiente de precipitación entre 1800 y 600 mm/año. Se analizaron patrones y tasas de crecimiento en los 5, 10 y 15 años previos a la muerte a lo largo del gradiente. Los resultados permitieron establecer que, según la variabilidad de los patrones de crecimiento, los sitios analizados se ordenaron en dos grandes grupos según el tipo de bosque: mixtos-compactos y compactos-ecotonales. A su vez, estas diferencias se relacionaron con condiciones particulares de las cronologías (e.g., el índice de ancho de anillo) y biofísicas (e.g., pendiente, exposición, latitud y longitud) de los sitios de estudio. Las tasas de crecimiento previas a la muerte permitieron determinar que, en todos los sitios de estudio, los individuos presentaron una disminución en el crecimiento radial previo a este evento; a su vez, para iguales ventanas temporales, los individuos muertos crecieron menos que los individuos vivos. En base a estos resultados, es necesario profundizar los estudios para conocer los mecanismos por los que se ordenan estos patrones de crecimiento previo a la muerte a lo largo del gradiente Andino-Patagónico.

Resumo Objetivos Estabelecer a prevalência das crises febris e descrever o perfil clínico e epidemiológico dessa população. Métodos Estudo transversal de base populacional feito em Barra do Bugres (MT), de agosto de 2012 a agosto de 2013. Os dados foram coletados em duas etapas. Na primeira etapa usamos um questionário validado previamente em outro estudo brasileiro, para identificação de casos suspeitos de crises epilépticas. Na segunda etapa fizemos a avaliação neuroclínica para confirmação diagnóstica. Resultados A prevalência de crise febril foi de 6,4/1.000 habitantes (IC95% 3,8; 10,1). Não houve diferença entre os sexos. As crises febris simples foram encontradas em 88,8% dos casos. A história familiar de crise febril e epilepsia em parentes de primeiro grau esteve presente em 33,3% e 11,1% dos pacientes, respectivamente. Conclusões A prevalência da crise febril na Região Centro-Oeste foi menor do que a encontrada em outras regiões brasileiras, provavelmente relacionado à inclusão apenas das crises febris com manifestações motoras e as diferenças de fatores socioeconômicos entre as regiões pesquisadas.

Abstract Objectives To determine the prevalence of benign febrile seizures of childhood and describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of this population. Methods This was a population-based, cross-sectional study, carried out in the city of Barra do Bugres, MT, Brazil, from August 2012 to August 2013. Data were collected in two phases. In the first phase, a questionnaire that was previously validated in another Brazilian study was used to identify suspected cases of seizures. In the second phase, a neurological evaluation was performed to confirm diagnosis. Results The prevalence was 6.4/1000 inhabitants (95% CI: 3.8-10.1). There was no difference between genders. Simple febrile seizures were found in 88.8% of cases. A family history of febrile seizures in first-degree relatives and history of epilepsy was present in 33.3% and 11.1% of patients, respectively. Conclusions The prevalence of febrile seizures in Midwestern Brazil was lower than that found in other Brazilian regions, probably due to the inclusion only of febrile seizures with motor manifestations and differences in socioeconomic factors among the evaluated areas.

Diaphragmatic hernias are characterized by the migration of abdominal structures into the chest through a diaphragmatic defect. These may have either a congenital etiology (e.g., Morgagni and Bochdalek), or an acquired etiology, including traumatic and nontraumatic hernias (hiatal, posterior diaphragmatic defects). Since a surgical repair is indicated in certain types of hernias, imaging diagnostic methods play a key role. Multislice Computed Tomography (MSCT) allows multiplanar views and thin section evaluation, thus providing a useful tool for the assessment and characterization of the diaphragmatic defect and its complications. In this pictorial essay we briefly review the diaphragm anatomy and embryology, the different types of diaphragmatic hernias and the role of MSCT.

Las hernias diafragmáticas consisten en la migración de estructuras abdominales hacia el tórax a través de un defecto del diafragma. Ellas pueden tener origen congénito (de Morgagni y de Bochdalek) o adquirido, incluyendo las traumáticas o no traumáticas (del hiato, defectos diafragmáticos posteriores). Debido a que en algunas hernias diafragmáticas está indicada la reparación quirúrgica, los métodos de diagnóstico por imágenes cumplen un rol fundamental. La TC multicorte, con su capacidad multiplanar y posibilidad de efectuar cortes finos, nos permite valorar y caracterizar adecuadamente el defecto diafragmático y sus complicaciones. En este ensayo iconográfico realizamos un breve repaso de la embriología y anatomía del diafragma, revisamos los distintos tipos de hernias diafragmáticas y la utilidad de la TC multicorte.

We present the case of a 36 years old patient, who had turbid vision and a 5 week severe optic pain in her left eye at the moment of the clinical consultation. The patient had the habit to use soft contact lens along with a non-adequate hygiene. Bacteriological and virological tests have been performed with negative results. Corneal biopsy material was extracted and observed under microscopy fresh and also with permanent colouring. Trophozoites and oocystis forms of Acanthamoeba were found using xenic culture media. Colonies were observed using optical microscope and phase contrast microscope in fresh. The amoeba ultrastructure was analyzed using Transmission Electronic Microscope

Se presenta el caso de una un paciente de 36 años, cuyo motivo de consulta fue visión borrosa y dolor ocular severo de 5 semanas de evolución, en ojo izquierdo. La paciente tenia como hábito el uso de lentes de contacto blandas con higiene inadecuada. Fue sometida a exámenes bacteriológicos y virológicos con resultados negativos. Para el presente estudio se extrajo material obtenido a través de una biopsia de córnea. Se realizó observación microscópica en fresco y con colorantes permanentes. Por medio de cultivos xénicos, se obtuvo trofozoitos y quistes de Acanthamoeba spp: Las colonias fueron observadas con microscopía óptica en fresco y con contraste de fases. Por MET (microscopía electrónica de transmisión) se analizó la ultraestructura de la ameba

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible interactions between the nociceptive system, the sympathetic system and the inflammatory process. Thus, the superior cervical ganglion of rats was submitted to chronic inflammation and Fos expression was used as a marker for neuronal activity throughout central neurons following painful peripheral stimulation. The painful stimulus consisted of subcutaneously injected formalin applied to the supra-ocular region. Fos-positive neurons were identified by conventional immunohistochemical techniques, and analyzed from the obex through the cervical levels of the spinal cord. In the caudal sub-nucleus of the spinal trigeminal nuclear complex, the number of Fos-positive neurons was much higher in rats with inflammation of the superior cervical ganglion than in control rats, either sham-operated or with saline applied to the ganglion. There was a highly significant difference in the density of Fos-positive neurons between the inflamed and control groups. No significant difference was found between control groups. These results suggest that the inflammation of the superior cervical ganglion generated an increased responsiveness to painful stimuli, which may have been due to a diminished sympathetic influence upon the sensory peripheral innervation.

A inflamação glanulomatosa é o substrato morfológico de uma variedade de doenças infecciosas importantes tais como tuberculose, lepra, esquistossomose e outras. Embora muitos aspectos deste tipo especial de inflamação sejam conhecidos, questões fundamentais referentes à formação do granulona, persistência, destino e significado da relação hospedeiro-parasita permanecem para serem elucidados. Nesta revisão é apresentada a literatura básica e mais relevante relacionada à investigação experimental sobre a fisiopatologia do granuloma. Baseados em investigações recentes realizadas, em nosso laboratório mostrando que o fator de desativação do macrófago (MDF) secretado pelas células epitelióides e caracterizado pela proteína MRP-14, uma proteína ligante de cálcio, foi levantada hipótese para explicar a persistência da inflamação granulomatosa.

Granulomatous inflammation is the morphological substrate of a variety of important infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy, schistosomiasis and others. Nevertheless, although many aspects of this special type of inflammation are known, fundamental questions concerning granuloma formation, persistence, fate and significance for host-parasite relationships still remain to be elucidated. In this brief review, the basic and more relevant literature related to experimental investigations on granuloma physiopathology is presented. Based on recent investigations performed in our laboratory showing that MDF (Macrophage Deactivating Fator) secreted by epithelioid cells and characterized as the calcium-binding protein protein MRP-14 deactivates activated macrophages, a hypothesis to explain the persistence of granulomatous inflammation is put forward