Abstract: (Objective): The objective of this study was to determine the larvicidal activity against A. aegypti of ethanolic extracts of plants commonly found in Costa Rica. (Methodology): Larvicidal activity of ethanolic extracts of plants was determined in this study using the WHO/VBC/81.807: WHO/VBC/81. from 1981. An analysis PROBID for dose response was conducted to determine LC50 of the most prominent extracts. (Results): A total of six extracts with the highest toxicity were chosen, with the stem extract of Ipomoea cairica having the lowest LC50 of 0.0341 mg/mL, followed by I. cairica leaf extract with an LC50 of 0.121 mg/mL. The larvicidal activity of ethanolic extracts of plants was determined in this study, with an emphasis on the larvicidal potential of I. cairica as an environmentally friendly alternative for the control of A. aegypti. (Conclusions): The larvicidal activity for ethanolic extracts of different plants, with an emphasis on the larvicidal potential of I. cairica as an environmentally friendly alternative for the control of A. aegypti.

Resumen: (Objetivo): El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la actividad larvicida contra A. aegypti de extractos etanólicos de plantas comúnmente encontradas en Costa Rica. (Metodología): La actividad larvicida de extractos etanólicos de plantas fue determinada mediante la metodología WHO/VBC/81.807: WHO/ VBC/81. de 1981 de la Organización Mundial de la salud. Un análisis PROBID para determinar la respuesta a distintas dosis fue llevado a cabo y así determinar los valores de dosis letal media (LC50) para los extractos más prominentes (Resultados): Un total de seis extractos con la mayor toxicidad fueron escogidos, siendo el extracto de los tallos de Ipomoea cairica lo que mostraron el menor valor de LC50 con 0.0341 mg/ mL, seguido por el extracto de las hojas de I. cairica con un LC50 de 0.121 mg/mL. (Conclusiones): La actividad larvicida de los extractos etanólicos de plantas fue determinada en este estudio con un énfasis en el potencial de la I. cairica como una alternativa ambientalmente amigable para el control de A. aegypti.

Resumo: (Objetivo): Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a atividade larvicida contra A. aegypti de extratos etanólicos de plantas comumente encontradas na Costa Rica. (Metodologia): A atividade larvicida de extratos etanólicos de plantas foi determinada usando a metodologia da OMS/VBC/81.807: WHO/VBC/81. 1981 da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Uma análise PROBID para determinar a resposta a diferentes doses foi realizada para estabelecer os valores da dose letal média (LC50) para os extratos mais proeminentes. (Resultados): Foi escolhido um total de seis extratos com a maior toxicidade, com o extrato de hastes de Ipomoea cairica mostrando o menor valor LC50 a 0,0341 mg/mL, seguido pelo extrato de folhas de I. cairica com um LC50 de 0,121 mg/mL. (Conclusões): A atividade larvicida dos extratos etanólicos de plantas foi determinada neste estudo com ênfase no potencial da I. cairica como uma alternativa ambientalmente amigável para o controle de A. aegypti.

Resumen: Esta investigación analiza el desarrollo de la motivación de estudiantes de octavo año de una institución de educación pública de Costa Rica en la clase de Artes Plásticas (AP)1 mediante la implementación de un programa educativo basado en el Aprendizaje Cooperativo (AC) (Johnson, Johnson y Holubec, 1994). En cuanto a instrumentos y materiales, para realizar la investigación se adaptó y validó la Escala de Motivación Académica (EMA) (Manassero y Vázquez, 2000) para determinar la Motivación (M) en estudiantes de enseñanza secundaria. Para el proceso de recolección de la información se utilizaron técnicas cualitativas tales como el cuestionario y la observación con el fin de evidenciar los diferentes aspectos de la motivación. La población participante estuvo conformada por estudiantes de octavo año, entre los 13 y 15 años de edad. Asimismo se emplearon dos grupos: uno de estudio y otro control. Se concluye que el desarrollo de la motivación mejoró en el grupo experimental con la intervención de las estrategias procedentes del AC desde el acercamiento cualitativo. No obstante, los métodos cuantitativos de recolección de datos no aportaron evidencia estadísticamente significativa a favor del grupo de estudio ya que el instrumento no fue sensible al paso del tiempo. Por tanto, esta escala no se recomienda para estudios de diseño longitudinal experimental.

Abstract: This research analyzes the development of motivation among eight-grade students at a public secondary school in Costa Rica in Plastic Arts classroom, through the implementation of an educational program based on Cooperative Learning (AC) (Johnson, Johnson, y Holubec, 1994). The Academic Motivation Scale (EMA) (Manassero y Vázquez, 2000) was adapted and validated to determine the Motivation (M) among these students. Qualitative techniques such as questionnaires and observation were used to collect information, so as to make evident the different aspects of Motivation. The population under study consisted of eight-grade students, ranging from ages 13 to 15, divided in two groups: a study group and a control group. It was concluded that motivation development was improved in the experimental group with the intervention of cooperative learning strategies from a qualitative approach. However, quantitative methods for collecting information did not contribute with statistically significant evidence in favor of the study group, because the instrument was not sensitive to the passing of time. Therefore, this scale is not recommended for studies of experimental longitudinal design.

Resumo: Essa pesquisa analisa o desenvolvimento da motivação em alunos da oitava série de um colégio de educação pública da Costa Rica na aula de Artes Plásticas, através da implementação de um programa educacional baseado no Aprendizado Cooperativo (AC) (Johnson, Johnson e Holubec, 1994). Quanto aos instrumentos e materiais para a realização da pesquisa, a Escala de Motivação Acadêmica (EMA) foi adaptada e validada (Manassero e Vásquez, 2000) para determinar a Motivação (M) em estudantes de ensino médio. No processo de coleta de informação, foram utilizadas técnicas qualitativas, como o questionário e a observação, aos fins de salientar os diferentes aspectos da M. A população participante esteve composta por estudantes da oitava série, com idades entre 13 e 15 anos, aliás, foram utilizados dois grupos, um de estudo e outro de controle. Conclusão: conclui-se que o desenvolvimento da motivação melhorou no grupo experimental com a intervenção das estratégias oriundas do AC de abordagem qualitativa, não obstante, as análises mostram que não há diferenças estatisticamente significativas no grupo de estudo, devido ao fato de que o instrumento não era sensível ao decorrer do tempo. Portanto, essa escala não é recomendada para análises experimentais de desenho longitudinal.

Bismuth is a critical metal broadly used in cosmetic, medicine and metallurgy. However, its scarcity in Earth’s crust may impair further applications. An alternative is to recover bismuth from secondary sources. In this work, a methodology to extract bismuth from safety valves of discharged gas cylinders is proposed. Extraction and purification of bismuth were carried out using aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) prepared with poly(ethylene oxide) polymer or poly(ethylene oxide)-poly(propylene oxide)-poly(ethylene oxide) copolymer (L35) and electrolytes (NaNO3, NH4NO3, sodium citrate or Na2SO4). The influence of iodide extractant concentration, tie-line length, electrolyte nature and polymer hydrophobicity on the bismuth extraction behavior were evaluated. Bismuth was significantly recovered in the absence of extractant, and its extraction depends on the ATPS composition, macromolecule and electrolyte nature. After three consecutive extractions bismuth was obtained with high purity (94.7%), resulting on a recovery of 38.5 g of bismuth per 1.00 kg of fusible plug, using L35 + NH4NO3 + H2O ATPS, without any extractant.

Resumen El presente artículo tiene como propósito explicar la represión política que sufrieron los comunistas costarricenses durante la posguerra, específicamente en los meses de gobierno de la Junta presidida por José Figueres Ferrer. Para desarrollar esta investigación se utilizaron los periódicos La Nación, Diario de Costa Rica y La Prensa Libre, expedientes del Archivo Nacional de Costa Rica y del Archivo Judicial, así como memorias de personas que vivieron en la época. La investigación prueba que los comunistas experimentaron diferentes niveles de intensidad en la represión, con momentos álgidos que incluyeron asesinatos, de acuerdo con las dinámicas de la Junta de Gobierno y la influencia de los grupos anticomunistas.

Resumo Este artigo tem como objetivo explicar a repressão política sofrida pelos comunistas da Costa Rica durante a posguerra, especificamente nos meses de governação do “Junta” presidida por José Figueres Ferrer. Para desenvolver esta pesquisa jornais usado La Nación, Diario de Costa Rica e La Prensa Libre, foram utilizados registros dos Arquivos Nacionais da Costa Rica e do Arquivo Judicial, e memórias de pessoas que viveram na época. A pesquisa mostra que os comunistas experimentaram di ferentes níveis de intensidade durante a repressão, com pontos altos que incluíram assassinatos, de acordo com a dinâmica do “Junta de Gobierno” e da influência dos grupos anti- comunistas.

Abstract This article explains the political repression suffered by the Costa Rican communists during the postwar period, specifically in the months of governance of the “Junta” chai red by José Figueres Ferrer. To develop this research, La Nación, Diario de Costa Rica and La Prensa Libre newspapers, records of the National Archive of Costa Rica and the Judicial Archive, and memories of people who lived at the time were used. Research shows that Communists experienced different levels of intensity in the repression, with high points that included murders, depending on the dynamics of the “Junta” and the influence of the anti-communist groups.

Abstract Fe(II) and Fe(III) have distinct chemical and biological functions. Consequently, it is more important to determine the fraction of both oxidation state that knowing the total iron concentration in a sample. However, green methods for iron speciation are still limited. This work uses aqueous two-phase system, a safe alternative to liquid–liquid extraction, to perform the chemical speciation of iron. This method is based on the reaction of Fe(II) with 1,10-phenanthroline extractant, forming a complex of Fe(II)-phenanthroline that concentrates in the top phase of the system. The Fe(III) specie concentrated in the bottom phase of the system. Iron speciation was affected by the electrolyte nature, macromolecule type, quantity of phenanthroline added, and pH. The system formed by PEO1500 + Na3C6H5O7 + H2O at pH 6.00, containing 5.00 mmol kg-1 of phenanthroline, was successfully used to separate the iron species before determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Under these optimal conditions, a separation factor of 233 was obtained between Fe(II) and Fe(III) with extraction percentages of (95.1 ± 1.0)% and (7.68 ± 0.50)%, respectively The proposed method was successfully applied for iron speciation in water samples, and provided recovery percentages ranging between 90 and 106%.

ResumenEl trabajo que se presenta ofrece una visión general de la vida y obra del notable historiador y humanista costarricense, Rafael Obregón Loría. Se subrayan asuntos relacionados con sus orígenes familiares, formación, intereses disciplinarios, obra producida y reconocimientos de los que fue objeto. Pretende ser una aproximación inicial al hombre que se movió entre la historia del siglo XIX, los estudios de masonería y el análisis de la Campaña Nacional contra los filibusteros (1856-1857), promoviendo el estudio del pasado como un sustento básico de la identidad costarricense.

AbstractThe work presented here provides an overview of the life and work of the notable Costa Rican historian and humanist Rafael Obregón Loría, highlighting his family background, his training, his disciplinary interests, and the production and recognition of his work. Obregón Loría has evolved from writing history of the nineteenth century approach to Freemasonry studies and an analysis of the National Campaign against the filibusters (1856-1857), promoting the study of the past as a basic livelihood of the Costa Rican identity. It is complemented by representative photographic material from a set of events and academic scholarship linked to Obregón Loría.

Background: Assessment of causality is an essential part of pharmacological surveillance. Aim: To compare the causality assessment of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) using algorithms proposed by Karch-Lasagna (K & L) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Material and Methods: All spontaneous reports of suspected ADRs in a pediatric ward of a regional hospital were included. Causality was categorized as definitive, probable, possible, conditional or unlikely. The agreement between K & L and WHO algorithms was assessed using binomial test proportions and kappa coefficients. Results: One hundred thirty reports of ADRs in 126 patients aged 2 to 11 years were analyzed. The suspected medications were antineoplastic drugs in 59% of cases and antimicrobials in 23%. The most common affected system was the skin and appendages in 35%. Using K & L algorithm, causality was categorized as definitive in 10% of cases, probable in 28.5%, possible in 35.4%, conditional in 23.1% and unlikely in 3.0%. Using WHO algorithm, the figures were 2.3, 34.6, 59.2, 2.3 and 1.5%, respectively. The degree of agreement between K & L and WHO algorithms was 32.3% (kappa = 0.004). Conclusions: K & L attributed a higher level of ADR causality than WHO algorithm.

Background. Chronic renal disease (CRD) is a disease with a strong impact on the childhood Mexican population with short-range limiting and serious consequences. Poverty and a social environment devoid of social justice hinder timely medical attention and long-range rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to determine the differences regarding sociodemographic features in patients under treatment at Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, with a 6-year difference: patients diagnosed in 2003 as compared to those diagnosed in 2009. Methods. A retrospective comparative study was carried out with end-stage chronic renal disease (ESRD) patients with information obtained from the clinical files. Data were obtained on age, gender, renal insufficiency etiology, socioeconomic level, type of financing, place of origin, and whether patient entered a rehabilitation program (dialysis or transplant). Results. In 2003, 69 patients with ESRD were received, whereas 50 patients were received in 2009. There were no differences in age or gender between dates. Etiology of uremia was determined in 40% of the children in 2003 and 50% in 2009. Most patients in the assessed years belong to the lowest socioeconomic levels, coming from the State of Mexico and metropolitan Mexico City. There was a decreasing trend in the number of patients coming from other states of the country: 30% in 2003 and 16% in 2009. Twenty-three patients (33%) entered the rehabilitation program in 2003 and 29 patients (58%) in 2009 (p = 0.007). Conclusions. There was a 28% decrease between 2003 and 2009 in the number of cases being managed. Attention has been focused on the State of Mexico and metropolitan Mexico City area. In spite of socioeconomic level being apparently similar in the studied years, there was a significant increase in the proportion of children entering a long-range rehabilitation program (from 33% in 2003 to 58% in 2009).

Introducción. Actualmente, la enfermedad renal crónica es un padecimiento con un gran impacto en la población infantil mexicana, con consecuencias limitantes y graves a corto plazo. La pobreza y la falta de justicia social del entorno influyen en la atención oportuna y rehabilitación a largo plazo. El objetivo de este estudio fue documentar las diferencias relacionadas con las características sociodemográficas de los pacientes que recibieron tratamiento en el Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez en un periodo de seis años. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio comparativo retrospectivo de los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica terminal que fueron diagnosticados en 2003 y en 2009. La información fue proporcionada por el Departamento de Archivo Clínico y Bioestadística. Se registraron los datos de edad, sexo, etiología de la enfermedad renal, nivel socioeconómico, tipo de financiamiento, lugar de origen e ingreso a un programa de rehabilitación (diálisis o trasplante). Resultados. En el 2003 se recibieron 69 pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica terminal, mientras que en el 2009 se recibieron 50 pacientes. No hubo diferencias de edad ni de sexo. Pudo conocerse la etiología de la uremia en 40% de los niños diagnosticados en 2003 y en 54% de los diagnosticados en 2009. La mayoría de los pacientes provinieron de los niveles socioeconómicos más bajos. Hubo una tendencia a la disminución en el número de pacientes de otros estados del país, siendo 30% en 2003 y 16% en 2009. Pudieron ingresar a programa de rehabilitación 23 pacientes en 2003 (33%) y 29 pacientes en 2009 (58%), p = 0.007. Conclusiones. Hubo una disminución de 28% en el número de casos atendidos, del 2003 al 2009. La atención se ha concentrado en pacientes provenientes del Estado de México y el Distrito Federal. A pesar de que, aparentemente, el nivel socioeconómico es similar en ambos grupos, la proporción de niños que ingresaron al programa de rehabilitación a largo plazo aumentó en forma significativa, de 33% en 2003 a 58% en 2009.

El objetivo fundamental de este artículo es ofrecer un análisis de la carrera y el ejercicio profesional denominados Enseñanza de los Estudios Sociales y la Educación Cívica, en el contexto de la propuesta de reforma al plan de estudio de la carrera de Licenciatura ofrecida por las escuelas de Historia, Geografía y Formación Docente de la Universidad de Costa Rica. La contextualización de la carrera implicó la revisión de libros, artículos, documentos oficiales y el plan de estudio en vigencia. Se explica la constitución de la profesión desde 1951 hasta la actualidad, el contexto externo según las tendencias internacionales en la Enseñanza de los Estudios Sociales y la Educación Cívica y el contexto nacional. De este último se confrontan las diversas ofertas de la educación superior en el ámbito público y privado y se identifican los objetivos, la estructura organizativa, el perfil de egreso y el campo ocupacional. Se considera un imperativo, una tarea impostergable, la actualización del plan de estudio en la Enseñanza de los Estudios Sociales y la Educación Cívica en la Universidad de Costa Rica debido a los cambios en la educación superior y las demandas sociales que exigen de las universidades públicas ofertas curriculares flexibles, novedosas y adecuadas a las necesidades sociales y culturales.

This paper analyzes the profession in the Enseñanza de los Estudios Sociales y la Educación Cívica in the context of the reform of the curriculum offered by the escuelas de Historia, Geografía and Formación Docente, of the University of Costa Rica. Primary sources to contextualize this career involved the analysis of books, essays, official documents, and the existing curriculum. We analyze the constitution of the profession from 1951 until today. Also, the external context is explained according to international trends in the Enseñanza de los Estudios Sociales y la Educación Cívica and so is studied the national context. We identify and confront the different offers in higher education in both, public and private sectors trying to determine the objectives, organizational structure, graduate profile and occupational field. Finally, we consider updating the curriculum in the Enseñanza de los Estudios Sociales y la Educación Cívica at the University of Costa Rica to be an urgent task because changes in higher education and social demands require public universities to offer appropriate, flexible curricular offerings according to social and cultural needs.

El propósito de este artículo es socializar la experiencia que condujo a la formulación del nuevo plan de estudio por competencias para el Bachillerato y la Licenciatura en Historia, en la Escuela de Historia de la Universidad de Costa Rica. La materia prima para sustentar la reformulación en cuestión implicó la revisión de artículos y libros referidos al estado actual de la educación superior a nivel mundial, sobre la formación por competencias en Historia, planes de estudio por competencias de universidades europeas y latinoamericanas, documentos de trabajo preparados por la Escuela de Historia de la UCR, la organización de grupos focales y la realización de entrevistas a profesores, egresados, estudiantes y empleadores. La motivación fundamental de los distintos actores involucrados fue crear una propuesta para mejorar el desempeño académico y profesional de los graduados. La sociedad del conocimiento exige cambios en los paradigmas del campo de la educación que superen las ofertas curriculares basadas en conocimientos enciclopédicos y eruditos centrados en la transmisión de conocimientos. La formación de historiadores desde las competencias profesionales promueve el aprendizaje centrado en el estudiante con la finalidad de integrar conocimientos, habilidades, procedimientos, actitudes, valores y emociones para saber conocer, saber hacer y saber ser, para que una vez concluido el proceso de formación el profesional logre ser crítico de su realidad, responda a las necesidades de la sociedad costarricense y se encuentre bajo los estándares internacionales de calidad.

The purpose of this paper is to socialize the experience which led to the formulation of new curriculum for professional skills for higher education for bachelor and the licentiate in History, at the Escuela de Historia of the Universidad de Costa Rica. The raw material to support the reformulation in question it implied the revision of articles and books referred to the current state from the superior education to world level, on the formation for professional skills in History, competency curricula of European and Latin American universities, work documents prepared by the School of History of the UCR, the organization of focal groups and the realization of interviews to professors, graduates, students and employers. The fundamental motivation of the different involved actors was to create a proposal for the best academic acting and professional of the graduate ones. The society of the knowledge demands changes in the paradigms of the field of the education who try to overcome the curricular offers based on encyclopedic knowledge and scholars focused on the transmission of knowledge. The training of historians from the professional skills promotes the learning centered in the student with the purpose of integrating knowledge, procedures, and attitudes to know how to know, to know how to make and to know how to be, so that once the training process to be critical to achieve professional its actually meets the needs of Costa Rican society and is under the international quality standards.

We conducted a study aimed to learn about the students' preferences on mediums and materials used at an E-learnin Programme with credits for the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Rosario city, Argentina), as part of a research project intended to analyze and evaluate the educational methods by means of an anonymous and voluntary survey used to qualify the different educational resources through open and closed questions. This paper presents the results of the qualitative study focused on the answers to the open questions.

En el marco de un proyecto de investigación diseñado para analizar y evaluar los medios educativos empleados en un Programa de Educación a Distancia del Segundo Ciclo de la Licenciatura en Enfermería dictada en la Universidad Nacional de Rosario (Rosario, Argentina), se llevó a cabo un estudio destinado a conocer las preferencias de los alumnos acerca de los medios y materiales utilizados. El relevamiento se llevó a cabo a través de una encuesta voluntaria y anónima, utilizada para calificar los distintos recursos educativos mediante preguntas cerradas y abiertas. Este artículo presentará el trabajo de índole cualitativa, centrado en las respuestas brindadas a las preguntas abiertas.

OBJETIVO: Descrever a morbidade hospitalar e a mortalidade por neoplasias no Brasil e regiões segundo gênero. MÉTODOS: Os dados de óbitos foram obtidos junto ao Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade e os de morbidade hospitalar no Sistema de Informações Hospitalares. Os óbitos foram categorizados segundo as localizações primárias do tumor, selecionadas de acordo com a décima revisão da Classificação Internacional de Doenças. Os dados populacionais são oriundos das estimativas intercensitárias do IBGE. O período de análise foi o triênio 2002-2004, o mais recente com dados de mortalidade no Brasil. Optou-se por calcular a média desse período para conferir maior estabilidade às taxas. RESULTADOS: Entre 2002 e 2004 ocorreram 405.415 óbitos por neoplasias no Brasil. As maiores taxas de mortalidade foram identificadas nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Entre os homens, o câncer de traquéia, brônquios e pulmões foi a neoplasia maligna que apresentou maior mortalidade e entre as mulher foi o câncer de mama. Este agravo e o câncer de colo uterino foram os que mais demandaram internações, e a leucemia apresentou o maior custo médio e custo total em internações. CONCLUSÕES: A carga das neoplasias é extremamente elevada no Brasil e medidas públicas de caráter populacional devem ser priorizadas para o efetivo controle da morbidade e da mortalidade por este agravo.

OBJECTIVE: To describe mortality and the hospital morbidity by neoplasias in Brazil and regions according to gender. METHODS: Data of deaths were obtained from the Mortality Information System and of hospital morbidity from the Hospital Information System. Deaths were categorized according to primary tumor sites, selected in accordance with the tenth revision of the International Classification of Diseases. The population data were drawn from the inter census estimates of the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics). The period of analysis was the triennial 2002-2004, with the most recent mortality data in Brazil. The average of this period was calculated to ensure greater stability of the rates. RESULTS: Between 2002 and 2004, 405,415 deaths from neoplasias occurred in Brazil. The highest rates of mortality were identified in the South and South-East regions. For men, cancer of the trachea, bronchi and lungs were the malignant neoplasias with the highest mortality rate while for women breast cancer was highest. Breast cancer and cancer of the uterine cervix are those requiring the largest number of in-hospital admissions. In internments, leukemia presented the highest average cost and total cost. CONCLUSION: The burden of neoplasms is extremely high in Brazil and public policies focused on the population must be given priority for an effective control of mortality and morbidity.

Estudos apontam que a presença de doença crônica orgânica na infância pode se constituir num importante fator de mediação da qualidade da interação mãe-criança. Entretanto, poucos estudos investigam as práticas educativas maternas em crianças portadoras de doença crônica. Os cuidados diários exigidos pelo tratamento da enfermidade, bem como a fragilidade física e emocional da criança podem afetar as práticas educativas maternas. Participaram do estudo 40 mães, metade das quais eram mães de crianças portadoras de doença crônica orgânica e as demais de crianças sem doença crônica. As crianças eram de ambos os sexos e tinham entre 03 e 05 anos de idade. Os participantes foram recrutados em hospitais e pré-escolas públicas. Uma entrevista semi-estruturada foi utilizada para se investigar as práticas educativas maternas, examinadas através de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelaram uma tendência marginalmente significativa no grupo com doença crônica a utilizar um número menor de práticas coercitivas. Além disso, houve uma diferença significativa entre os grupos quanto ao uso de punição física e privação/castigo, indicando que as mães de crianças com doença crônica utilizaram com menor freqüência este tipo de prática. Os resultados apóiam a expectativa inicial de que as mães de crianças com doença crônica seriam menos coercitivas quando comparadas às mães do outro grupo.

Studies indicate that the presence of physical chronic disease in childhood may constitute an important factor to the quality of mother-child interaction. However, few studies investigate the childrearing practices in children with physical chronic disease. The daily care demand by the disease treatment as well as the child physical and emotional fragility may affect the childrearing practices. Fourty mothers participated in this study, half of them with a child with physical chronic disease and the other with a child without this condition. The children were of both sexes, 3 to 4 years old. The participants were selected in public hospitals and schools. A semi-structured interview was used to investigate the mother's childrearing practices, examined by content analysis. The results show a marginally significant difference showing that the group of mothers of the chronic disease children uses coercive practices less frequently. Moreover, there was a significant difference between the groups in relation to the use of physical punishment and privation/penalty, suggesting that mothers of chronic disease children use less frequently this type of practice. The results support the initial hypothesis that mothers of chronic disease children would be less coercive when compared to mothers of the other group.

The microalga Haematococcus pluvialis Flotow is one of the natural sources of astaxanthin, a pigment widely used in salmon feed. This study was made to discover optimal conditions for biomass and astaxanthin production in H. pluvialis from Steptoe, Nevada (USA), cultured in batch mode. Growth was carried out under autotrophic (with NaNO3, NH4Cl and urea) and mixotrophic conditions (with 4, 8, 12 mM sodium acetate) under two photon flux densities (PFD) (35 and 85 µmol m-2 s-1). The carotenogenesis was induced by 1) addition of NaCl (0.2 and 0.8 %), 2) N-deprivation and 3) high PFD (150 µmol m-2 s-1). Total carotenoids were estimated by spectrophotometry and total astaxanthin by HPLC. Ammonium chloride was the best N-source for growth (k=0.7 div day-1, 228-258 mg l-1and 2.0 x 10(5) - 2.5 x 10(5) cells ml-1 at both PFD, respectively). With increasing acetate concentration, a slight increment in growth occurred only at 85 µmol m-2 s-1. Light was the best inductive carotenogenic factor, and the highest carotenoid production (4.9 mg l-1, 25.0 pg cell-1) was obtained in cultures pre-grown in nitrate at low light. The NaCl caused an increase in carotenoid content per cell at increasing salt concentrations, but resulted in a high cell mortality and did not produce any increment in carotenoid content per volume compared to cultures grown at 150 µmol m-2 s-1. The highest carotenoid content per cell (22 pg) and astaxanthin content per dry weight (10.3 mg g-1) (1% w/w) were obtained at 85 µmol m-2 s-1 with 0.8% NaCl.