Abstract The cowpea bean [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], a legume of great socioeconomic importance, it was previously cultivated exclusively for subsistence and commercial purposes, especially in the North and Northeast regions. This crop has a low production cost and high nutritional value, in addition to a high potential for productivity growth and expansion to other regions. The objective of this work was to evaluate parameters of growth and production in cowpea culture, as a function of potassium fertilization in soil of the cerrado of Amapá. The parameters of growth and production of the cowpea culture were evaluated, as a function of potassium fertilization in the soil of the cerrado of Amapá. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse, using a completely randomized experimental design, with four replications, in a 5x2 factorial scheme, totaling 40 experimental units, which were composed of plastic pots containing 7 dm3 of soil collected from the arable layer (0-20 cm ) of a typical Hyperdystrophic Yellow Argisol, with a sandy clay loam texture, in a cerrado area in the municipality of Porto Grande-AP. The factors consisted of the control treatment (without K), four doses of K (45, 90, 135 and 180 kg ha-1) in the form of potassium chloride, and two cowpea cultivars (Pretinho and BRS Tumucumaque). The cultivar BRS Tumucumaque shows better growth and production of cowpea plants. Doses of 90 kg ha-1 provided greater height (98.75 cm) and stem diameter (10.0 mm). As for production, the dose of 135 kg ha-1 caused greater grain weight gain (5.25 g) and dry mass of pods (13.92 g), and the doses of 90 and 180 kg ha-1 induced greater number and length of pods (3.16 pods) respectively. These results show better responsiveness of the BRS Tumucumaque cultivar at doses of 90, 135 and 180 kg ha-1 in the type of soil where the study was conducted.

Resumo O feijão-caupi [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.], leguminosa de grande importância socioeconômica, era anteriormente cultivado exclusivamente para fins de subsistência e comerciais, principalmente nas regiões Norte e Nordeste. Essa cultura apresenta baixo custo de produção e alto valor nutritivo, além de alto potencial de crescimento de produtividade e expansão para outras regiões. Apesar da importância fisiológica do potássio para o crescimento das plantas e o plantio da cultura ocorrer predominantemente em solos arenosos e argilosos, há poucos estudos relacionando seu cultivo à adubação potássica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar parâmetros de crescimento e produção na cultura do feijão-caupi, em função da adubação potássica em solo do cerrado do Amapá. Foram avaliadas a altura das plantas, o diâmetro do caule, a massa seca da parte aérea (folha e caule) e da raiz e a produção (massa seca de grãos e vagens, comprimento de vagens e número de vagens) na cultura do feijão-caupi em função da adubação potássica no solo do Cerrado. do Amapá. O experimento foi controlado em casa de vegetação, utilizando delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 5x2, totalizando 40 unidades experimentais, as quais foram compostas por vasos plásticos contendo 7 dm3 de solo coletado da camada arável (0-20 cm) de um típico Argissolo Amarelo Hiperdistrófico, com textura franco-argilosa arenosa. Os fatores foram constituintes do tratamento controle (sem K), quatro doses de K (45, 90, 135 e 180 kg ha-1) na forma de potássio potássico e duas cultivares de feijão-caupi (Pretinho e BRS Tumucumaque). A cultivar BRS Tumucumaque apresentou melhor crescimento e produção. A dose de 90 kg ha-1 proporcionou maior altura (98,75 cm) e diâmetro do caule (10,0 mm). Quanto à produção, a dose de 135 kg ha-1 proporcionou maior ganho de peso de grãos (5,25 g) e massa seca de vagens (13,92 g), e doses de 90 e 180 kg ha-1 induziram maior número e comprimento de vaginas (3,16 vaginas), respectivamente. Esses resultados mostram melhor responsividade da cultivar BRS Tumucumaque nas doses de 90, 135 e 180 kg ha-1 no tipo de solo onde o estudo foi realizado.

RESUMO O tamanduá-bandeira (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) e o tamanduá-mirim (Tamandua tetradactyla) são mamíferos xenartros amplamente distribuídos no território nacional. Apesar disso, suas populações estão em constante ameaça, principalmente o primeiro, categorizado como vulnerável de acordo com classificação da União Internacional para Conservação da Natureza. Diante disso e da escassez de estudos com endoparasitas nesses animais, objetivou-se descrever a helmintofauna dessas duas espécies de tamanduá, utilizando espécimes atropelados nas rodovias BR-050 e BR-455, região do Triângulo Mineiro, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os animais foram submetidos à necropsia, tendo seus órgãos e conteúdo intestinal e estomacal examinados para recuperação de helmintos. Os parasitos coletados foram identificados com base em suas características morfológicas e morfométricas. As espécies/os gêneros caracterizados para M. tridactyla e T. tetradactyla, suas respectivas prevalências, bem como órgãos de origem, foram: Gaphidiops dissimilis (33,33% e 0%) no estômago; Gigantorhynchus echinodiscus (25% e 66,66%) no intestino delgado; Physaloptera magnipapilla (50% e 66,6%) no estômago; e Mathevotaenia spp. (25% e 66,66%) no intestino delgado. Physaloptera magnipapilla foi a espécie com os maiores índices de infecção, e novo registro de localização foi registrado para o nematódeo Graphidiops dissimilis. Detectou-se uma provável sobreposição da área de vida dos tamanduás estudados, bem como uma helmintofauna característica da região.

ABSTRACT Myrmecophaga tridactyla, giant anteater and Tamandua tetradactyla, collared anteater are nationally widespread mammals. Despite that, their populations are in danger, especially the first one, categorized as vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This study reports the occurrence of helminths in these two anteater species using road killed specimens from BR-050 and BR-455 highways, Triângulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The species were necropsied, and their gastrointestinal organs and contents were opened and examined for parasite recovery. The identification was based on morphological and morphometric features. The species/ genera found for M. tridactyla and T. tetradactyla, their prevalence, as well the organs, were: Gaphidiops dissimilis (33.33% and 0%) in stomach; Gigantorhynchus echinodiscus (25% and 66.66%) in small intestine; Physaloptera magnipapilla (50% and 66.6%) in stomach and Mathevotaenia spp. (25% and 66.66%) in small intestine. Physaloptera magnipapilla was the most common species and a new location was reported for Graphidiops dissimilis. There is a probable overlap in the home range of these animals and a local helminth diversity was described on the study site.

This work reports the use of commercially available immobilized lipase preparations (Novozym® 435 and Lipozyme TL IM, both from Novozymes, and Lipase PS IM from Amano) as catalysts in the transesterification reaction of different alkyl-chain triglycerides with ethanol. The ethanolysis of native oils from Brazilian Amazon plants andiroba (Carapa guianensis), babassu (Orbignya sp.), jatropa (Jatropha curcas), and palm (Elaeis sp.) was studied in a solvent-free system. In a typical reaction, the immobilized preparations were added to the mixture of vegetable oil-to-ethanol in a molar ratio of 1:9. The reactions were performed at 50 ºC for a maximum period of 48 h. Under the conditions used, all the immobilized lipase preparations were able to generate the main esters of fatty acids present in the tested feedstocks, and both the reaction rate and ester yield were dependent on the source of lipase and vegetable oil. The viscosity values for the samples obtained in each reaction displayed a consistent reduction in relation to their original feedstocks, which also confirms the high conversion of triglycerides to ethyl esters (99.8-74.0%). The best performances were obtained with Amano PS IM and Novozym® 435, with the biodiesel samples from the babassu and jatropha oils exhibiting viscosity values in accordance with those predicted by the technical standards of ASTM D6751 (1.9-6.0 mm²/s). Lipozyme TL IM displayed an unsatisfactory performance, indicating that the conditions of the transesterification reaction should be improved. This comparative study using different catalysts and several vegetable oil sources with varying fatty acid compositions is particularly important for all tropical countries with a diversity of native vegetable oil sources.

Microreactors are miniaturized chemical reaction systems, which contain reaction channels with characteristic dimensions in the range of 10-500 µm. One possible application for microreactors is the conversion of ethanol to hydrogen used in fuel cells to generate electricity. In this paper a rigorous isothermal, steady-state two-dimensional model was developed to simulate the behavior of a membrane microreactor based on the hydrogen yield from ethanol steam reforming. Furthermore, this membrane microreactor is compared to a membraneless microreactor. A potential advantage of the membrane microreactor is the fact that both ethanol steam reforming and the separation of hydrogen by a permselective membrane occur in one single microdevice. The simulation results for steam reforming yields are in agreement with experimental data found in the literature. The results show that the membrane microreactorpermits a hydrogen yield of up to 0.833 which is more than twice that generated by the membraneless reactor. More than 80% of the generated hydrogen permeates through the membrane and, due to its high selectivity, the membrane microreactor delivers high-purity hydrogen to the fuel cell.

A high dosage of albendazole (ABZ) is required for treating systemic helminthe infections because of its low solubility. Aiming at increasing ABZ solubility, complexation with beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) using aqueous and acetic acid solutions as ABZ solubilizer was studied. In aqueous β-CD, complexation increased solubility 53.4 times, giving a complex equilibrium constant of 1266 L mol-1 with a maximum ABZ concentration of 276 µmol L-1 for 16.3 mmol L-1 β-CD. For complexation in 1.05 mol L-1 acetic acid, UV absorbance spectra and ¹H-NMR analysis confirmed complex formation. The UV absorbance of ABZ/acid acetic/β-CD solutions was modeled by the formation of two complexes with molar ratios 1:1 and 1:2 ABZ:β-CD. When neutralized with NaOH these solutions did not form precipitates only for the ABZ:β-CD molar ratios of 1:8 and 1:10, showing that ABZ solubility could be increased 306 times. Results show that high β-CD molar ratios hold ABZ in solution by complexation enhanced by the acetate anion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of snake venom derived fibrin glue on the healing of the deep digital flexor tendon, during three periods. The tendon of the 2nd digit of 30 thoracic limbs of dogs was partially sectioned for glue application. Biopsies were performed 7, 15, and 30 days post surgery for the clinical and morphological study of tendons. Analysis of the results showed that 73.3% of the tendons showed stump retraction and 16.6% moderate to excessive adherence, which affected sliding. There was a significant difference in the number of inflammatory cells among the three studied periods, being the highest on day 15. The morphological analysis revealed a typical tendon healing process with a lower level of inflammation in the acute phase, facilitating the cicatricial maturation phase. Snake venom derived fibrin glue promotes the healing in dog flexor tendon.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis that affects both animals and man. Dogs are the etiological agent’s main reservoir. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical laboratory aspects and renal histopathology of VL dogs. Thirty-four symptomatic (case) and 17 asymptomatic (control) VL seropositive dogs of different breeds, sexes, and ages from Teresina, Piauí State, Brazil, were used. Diagnosis was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect immunofluorescence test. Clinical and laboratory tests included blood cell count and renal function analysis (urea and creatinine). Animals were subjected to euthanasia and necropsy. Renal fragments were prepared by the usual histological techniques and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff. Physical examination showed that lymph node hypertrophy (85.29%) and skin lesions (35.29%) were frequent in the case group. Anemia was found in 55.88% of the case and in 11.76% of the control group. There was a significant difference between groups by Fisher’s exact test. Two case-group dogs showed azotemia. Renal histopathological evaluation showed that 61.76% case and 17.65% control-group dogs had membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis was seen in 32.35% case and 64.70% control-group animals. There was a significant difference for both types of glomerulonephritis between groups. Amastigote forms of Leishmania were found in the renal parenchyma, in the inflammatory infiltrate of one case-group dog. We concluded that, in canine VL, regardless of the clinical signs at physical examination, the kidneys are frequently compromised.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of snake venom derived fibrin glue on the strength oftendon healing in dogs. The deep digital flexor tendon of the 5th digit of 24 thoracic limbs was partially sectioned for adhesive application. On the 7th, 15th, and 30th postoperative day tendons segments were removed for the clinical and biomechanical study. Results indicated that 62.5% of the tendons showed stump retraction and 20.8% moderate to excessive adherence, which affected gliding. The biomechanical evaluation showed that, over time, tendon healing gained progressive resistance for maximum traction and permanent deformations with satisfactory results on the 15th day for rigidity and resilience compared to the other two studied periods. Snake venom derived fibrin glue promotes healing in dog flexor tendon.

Healing is a complex process with many interfering factors. The objective of this work was to evaluate regeneration strength of non-pregnant adult dog uterus when snake venom derived fibrin adhesive is used to reinforce hysterorrhaphy. Maximum limit and rigidity were analyzed. Twenty uterine horns from 10 dogs were hysterotomized and distributed into 2 equal groups. Hysterorrhaphy was performed using the Shimieden-Cushing double layer suture. In one group, animals received snake venom derived fibrin adhesive as reinforcement. Although neither variable was significantly different, our results showed higher rigidity values in the adhesive group. This can be attributed to the adhesive’s effect on organ elasticity or to more granulation tissue formed in the uterine scar.

Neural networks and hybrid models were used to study substrate and product inhibition observed in the enzymatic hydrolysis of cellobiose at 40ºC, 50ºC and 55ºC, pH 4.8, using cellobiose solutions with or without the addition of exogenous glucose. Firstly, the initial velocity method and nonlinear fitting with Statistica<FONT FACE=Symbol>Ò</FONT> were used to determine the kinetic parameters for either the uncompetitive or the competitive substrate inhibition model at a negligible product concentration and cellobiose from 0.4 to 2.0 g/L. Secondly, for six different models of substrate and product inhibitions and data for low to high cellobiose conversions in a batch reactor, neural networks were used for fitting the product inhibition parameter to the mass balance equations derived for each model. The two models found to be best were: 1) noncompetitive inhibition by substrate and competitive by product and 2) uncompetitive inhibition by substrate and competitive by product; however, these models’ correlation coefficients were quite close. To distinguish between them, hybrid models consisting of neural networks and first principle equations were used to select the best inhibition model based on the smallest norm observed, and the model with noncompetitive inhibition by substrate and competitive inhibition by product was shown to be the best predictor of cellobiose hydrolysis reactor behavior.

The main purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between salivary cortisol concentrations and self-report anxiety in 50 adolescent and 178 non-adolescent women during the last month of pregnancy. The subjects were randomly selected from a previous study involving women who attended antenatal care from September 1997 to August 2000 at 17 health services in Southeast Brazil. Salivary cortisol was measured with an enzyme immunoassay kit, and anxiety was assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventories (STAI) of Spielberger. After saliva collection, the participants completed the STAI. Mean concentrations of cortisol for both pregnant adolescents (14.17 ± 6.78 nmol/l) and non-adolescents (13.81 ± 8.51 nmol/l) were similar (P = 0.89). Forty-three percent of the pregnant adolescents and 30.5% of the non-adolescents felt anxious at the time of being questioned (State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) scores >40; P = 0.06). Cortisol concentrations in adolescents were negatively related to the SAI scores (r = -0.39; P = 0.01) which assess a temporary condition of anxiety. There was a statistically significant difference in mean cortisol concentrations between adolescents with low (<=40) and high (>40) SAI scores (P = 0.03, t-test), but no differences for non-adolescents. The negative relationship between salivary cortisol concentrations and anxiety scores in adolescents may be due to puberty-related hormone differences during this period of life. Pregnant adolescents may possess unique biological or psychological characteristics compared to adults and non-pregnant adolescents. Thus, we need to know more about the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis of pregnant adolescents.

Este trabalho descreve a síntese e caracterização da sílica gel modificada com grupos 2-aminotiazol (SiAT), os resultados de um estudo de adsorção e de pré-concentração (em batelada, e em fluxo utilizando-se a técnica de coluna) de íons Cd(II) em meio aquoso. A capacidade máxima de adsorção de íons Cd(II) determinada para SiAT foi de 1,12 mmol g-1 . Os resultados obtidos nos experimentos em fluxo, mostraram uma recuperação de 98% dos íons Cd(II) adsorvidos em coluna empacotada com 1 g de SiAT, utilizando-se 5 mL de HCl 1 mol L-1 como eluente. A metodologia proposta mostrou-se linear na faixa de concentração de 10 - 100 mg L-1, com limite de detecção de 0,80 mg L-1 e desvio padrão relativo de 3%. O fator de enriquecimento determinado foi de 29 vezes (considerando-se a percolação de 150 mL de solução 25 mg L-1 de Cd(II), 5 mL de eluato). A sorção-desorção quantitativa dos íons Cd(II), permitiram a aplicação do método na pré-concentração e posterior quantificação de traços de Cd(II) em amostras de águas naturais por espectrometria de absorção atômica com chama.

This paper described the preparation of 2-aminothiazole modified silica gel (SiAT) and the results of a study of the sorption and preconcentration (in batch and in flow using a column technique) of Cd(II) in aqueous medium. The sorption capacities for metal ion was 1.12 mmol g-1. The results obtained in the flow experiments, showed a recovery of 98% of Cd(II) adsorbed in a column packed with 1 g of SiAT, using 5.0 mL of 2.0 mol L-1 hydrochloric acid as eluent. An enrichment factor of 25 (150 mL solution containing 25 mg L-1 of Cd(II), 5.0 mL concentrated) was obtained by this preconcentration procedure. The sorption-desorption of Cd(II) made possible the development of a preconcentration method and quantification by Flame AAS of Cd(II) at trace level in aqueous samples.

O Centro de Aqüicultura, Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil, recebeu peixes para diagnose, os quais apresentavam aglomeração nas bordas dos viveiros e na entrada da água. Dos 194 casos diagnosticados, 53 apresentavam estruturas brancas circulares ou ovais, imóveis, medindo 162 mm de diâmetro, identificadas como o dinoflagelado Piscinoodinium pillulare. Em 34 casos, os parasitos estavam presentes nas brânquias, em 2 casos, no corpo e em 9 casos, em ambos. Dos 53 casos observados, 31 eram o híbrido tambacu; 7, o Piaractus mesopotamicus; 6, o Colossoma macropomum; 5, o Leporinus macrocephalus; 3, o Oreochromis niloticus; e 1, o Prochilodus lineatus. Os peixes apresentaram aumento da produção de muco no corpo e nas brânquias e equimoses no pedúnculo caudal e nos opérculos. As brânquias também apresentaram palidez, congestão e petéquias. A histopatologia revelou a presença de grande número de trofontes situados entre as lamelas secundárias, fixados ou não ao epitélio. As lamelas primárias mostraram hemorragias intersticiais, severa hiperplasia do epitélio e das células caliciformes e infiltrado inflamatório. O presente trabalho é o primeiro relato de P. pillulare no Brasil e enfatiza a importância dos dinoflagelados, que causaram significativas perdas econômicas entre 1995 e 1997.

The Aquaculture Center of Unesp, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil, received fishes for diagnosis from fish farmers reporting fish crowding at pond edges and in water inlets. Fifty-three out of 194 cases showed round to oval, immobile whitish structures, measuring up to 162 mm diameter, identified as the dinoflagellate Piscinoodinium pillulare. In 34 diagnosed cases the parasites were present in the gills, in 2 on body surface, and 9 in both. Thirty-one out of 53 were tambacu hybrids hosts; 7, Piaractus mesopotamicus; 6, Colossoma macropomum; 5, Leporinus macrocephalus; 3, Oreochromis niloticus; and 1, Prochilodus lineatus. Fish showed increased mucous production on body surface and gills, while ecchymosis in the caudal peduncle and operculum was present. The gills also showed paleness, congestion, and petechiae. Histopathology presented a great number of trophonts situated between secondary lamellae, fixed to or detached from the epithelium. Primary lamellae presented interstitial hemorrhages, severe hyperplasia of the epithelium, goblet cells, and mononuclear infiltrates. The present work is the first report of P. pillulare in Brazil and emphasizes the importance of this dinoflagellate which caused significant economic losses from 1995 through 1997.

O presente trabalho estudou a prevalência e a histopatologia de Neoechinorhynchus curemai Noronha, 1973 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) em curimbatá, Prochilodus lineatus Valenciennes, 1836. Dezoito peixes com comprimento total médio de 46,7 + 1,1 cm e peso médio de 1.674,8 + 75,6 g foram coletados com rede, bimestralmente, de dezembro de 1995 a dezembro de 1996 na usina hidrelétrica do Reservatório de Volta Grande (Cemig), Minas Gerais, Brasil. Dos peixes analisados, 15 estavam infectados com acantocéfalos no intestino (prevalência de 83,3%). A maior intensidade média ocorreu em agosto de 1996, com 66,5 (16 a 208) parasitos. A análise histopatológica revelou completa descamação do epitélio intestinal com severa hiperplasia e hipertrofia das células caliciformes. Observou-se, ainda, forte reação inflamatória na submucosa, deslocamento de feixes, associado a edemas, bem como infiltração mononuclear e eosinofílica.

The present work studied the prevalence and histopathology of Neoechinorhynchus curemai Noronha, 1973 (Acanthocephala: Neoechinorhynchidae) from curimbatá, Prochilodus lineatus Valenciennes, 1836. Eighteen fishes with averages of 46.7 + 1.1 cm length and 1,674.8 + 75.6 g weight were collected with net, bimonthly from December 1995 thru December 1996 in the hydroelectric power station of Volta Grande Reservoir (Cemig), Minas Gerais, Brazil. From analysed fishes, 15 were infected with acanthocephalans in the intestine (prevalence 83.3%). The greatest mean intensity occurred in August 1996 with 66.5 (16 to 208) parasites. Histopathological analysis showed complete desquamation of the intestinal epithelium with severe hyperplasia and hypertrofia of the goblet cells. Severe inflammatory reaction at the submucosa, displacement of their sheaf, associated with oedema and mononuclear and eosinophilic infiltration were observed.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo o estudo da helmintofauna da corvina de água doce Plagioscion squamosissimus, do reservatório de Volta Grande, MG, Brasil. Foram colhidos 68 peixes com comprimento médio de 25,2 cm e peso médio de 180,9 g, com rede de espera, bimestralmente no período de dezembro de 1995 a dezembro de 1996. Os parasitos foram cuidadosamente retirados de seus cistos que estavam aderidos ao mesentério intestinal. Os espécimes foram fixados em AFA a 65°C e conservados em álcool 70°GL contendo 5% de glicerina. Após diafanização com ácido acético ou lactofenol de Amann, 21 nematóides foram desenhados em câmara clara. As larvas foram identificadas como Thynnascaris sp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae). Das 68 corvinas examinadas, 30 estavam infectadas por esses parasitos com uma prevalência de 44,1%. O número médio de parasitos por hospedeiro foi de 0 a 13,8 e a intensidade média, de 0 a 16. A análise estatística, de acordo com o Teste Exato de Fisher, mostrou que a sazonalidade foi dependente da pluviosidade e temperatura do ar.

The present work studied helminth parasites of freshwater "corvina" Plagioscion squamosissimus from Volta Grande Reservoir, MG, Brazil. Sixty eight fishes with averages of 25.2 cm length and 180.9 g weight were collected with net, bimonthly from December 1995 thru December 1996. Parasites were carefully removed from their cysts that were present in the intestinal mesentery. Specimens were fixed in AFA 65°C and preserved in alcohol 70% with 5% of glicerine. In camera lucida 21 nematodes were drawned after clarification with acetic acid or Amann lactophenol. Nematode larvae were identified as Thynnascaris sp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae). From examined fishes 30 out of 68 presented nematode larvae with a prevalence of 44.1%. The average number of parasites per host was 0.0 to 13.8 and mean intensity of 0.0 to 16.0. Statistical analysis according to Fisher's Exact Test showed that these infections were dependent on the pluviosity and air temperature