ABSTRACT Background: Brazil Nuts (BN) tree is a species of high importance in Amazon region. Their continuous use by traditional communities is often related to disturbances that lead to larger degraded areas where this species is commonly found (“BN groves”). Here we aimed to explore the ecological patterns of BN groves vegetation and its relationship with BN trees and evaluate their potential as a source of carbon credits. We sampled 15 circular plots, with Brazilian Nut trees as the center (focal trees) and collected morphometric data from the focal trees. Additionally, we evaluated fruit production for a period of 5 years to obtain annual measurements, which were used as a proxy of the anthropic impact associated with the collection process. Through analysis of the data, we: i) examined the effects of BN trees on the adjacent vegetation; ii) quantified the potential amount of carbon credits in the adjacent vegetation and in the focal trees by converting carbon stock to equivalent CO2. Results: The adjacent vegetation structure was influenced by the size of BN trees (focal trees). No important effects of BN trees on the adjacent vegetation floristic composition and functional attributes were found. Additionally, we found that Brazilian Nut groves possess a significant potential for carbon credits that could be leveraged in the future carbon credit market, Conclusion: The study highlights the potential for carbon credit generation in Brazil nut groves in the Southeast Amazon as a means of supporting conservation and restoration efforts in these environments.

Resumo: A associação de microrganismos benéficos com sementes de feijão-vagem, pode acelerar o estabelecimento da cultura a campo. O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a influência de tipos de tratamentos de sementes com diferentes doses de Bacillus subtilis sobre potencial fisiológico de feijão-vagem. Utilizou-se sementes de feijão-vagem da cultivar Macarrão Baixo. O delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial duplo (4 x 4 + 1) teve no fator A os quatro tipos de tratamentos de sementes: Peliculização (PC), Peliculização com Secagem (PCS), Pré-Embebição (PE), Biopriming (BP); e no fator B quatro doses de B. subtilis: 0; 7; 14 e 28 mL de produto comercial.kg de semente-1, e uma testemunha absoluta sem tratamentos (4 x 4 + 1). Realizou-se os seguintes testes: grau de umidade, primeira contagem de germinação, germinação, condutividade elétrica, comprimento de plântulas, massa fresca e seca de plântulas, velocidade de emergência e emergência de plântulas. Os tratamentos não prejudicaram a viabilidade. O vigor foi beneficiado com uso de PE e doses entre 16 e 20 mL de p.c..kg de semente-1, e prejudicado pelo uso da peliculização. O destaque de PE e BP se mantém em relação à testemunha absoluta. A PE e BP associados com B. subtilis favorecem características como comprimento, massa e número de raízes secundárias de feijão-vagem.

Abstract: The association between beneficial microorganisms and green beans can accelerate establishment in the field. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of seed treatments in different doses of Bacillus subtilis on the physiological potential of green beans. Seeds from the cultivar Macarrão Baixo were used. The study used a completely randomized design in a double factorial scheme with factor A in the treatments: Pelliculation (PC), Pelliculation with Drying (PCD), Pre-Imbibition (PI), Biopriming (BP); factor B, doses of B. subtilis: 0; 7; 14 and 28 mL of a commercial product.kg of seed-1, and a control. The following treatments were applied: moisture content analysis, first count and final germination, electrical conductivity, length, fresh and dry seedling weight, speed index, and final emergence. Analysis of variance was applied to the data and when significant, it was compared using Tukey’s test and polynomial regression; for the absolute control, orthogonal contrast was applied, with p < 0.05 for all analyses. The treatments did not impair seed viability. Vigor benefited with the use of PI and doses between 16 and 20 mL of p.c.kg of seed-1. PI alone had the best performance. Biopriming, associated with B. subtilis, favors the vigor of green beans.

ABSTRACT We evaluated the effect of adding proteases in diets of laying hens at peak production on the performance, egg quality, relative weight of digestive organs, and intestinal morphometry. Hy-Line W36 layer hens (390; 28-39 weeks old) were distributed in five treatments, with 13 animals each, with six replicates. The treatments were: control (standard formulation without nutritional reduction or protease inclusion), negative control A - NCA (nutritional reduction according to protease A matrix, without protease), negative control B - NCB (nutritional reduction according to protease B matrix, without protease), NCA + protease A, and NCB + protease B. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks, divided into three cycles of 28 days. Hens subjected to treatments (NCA and NCB) showed a decrease in feed intake. However, the addition of proteases A and B promoted improvement in this trait. The diets NCA and NCB had a negative influence on the production rate of the hens, but the diet supplementation with protease B resulted in significant improvement on egg laying rate. Hens subjected to nutritional reduction presented the worst results regarding mass and conversion by egg mass. However, the addition of enzymes reversed these results. Although the diets did not affect the relative weights of yolk, albumen, eggshell, Haugh unit, and specific gravity of the eggs, a higher eggshell thickness was observed in hens that received NCA, NCB, and NCB + protease B diets. The diets did not influence the relative weights of digestive organs and the small intestine morphometry. Hens fed diets supplemented with A and B have performance recovered in relation to those that received diets with reduced levels of nutrients.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes are oxidized in the presence of H2SO4/HNO3 mixtures containing distinct concentrations of the nitronium ion, [NO2+]. The spectroscopic analyses of the final samples suggest a higher structural disorder in the oxidized systems with increasing [NO2+]. This is due to a considerable oxygen amount on the tube surface, reaching up to 30%, depending on the reaction time and [NO2+]. Interestingly, if long reaction time is considered, the oxygen amount on the tube surface is maximum for low [NO2+] and reduces slightly for larger [NO2+]. On the other hand, the oxidation process occurs gradually at 4 h, allowing a fine control of the oxidation process. Therefore, if fine tuning of the oxidation degree is desirable, the reaction must be conducted during short time (4 h) using increasing [NO2+] as those obtained from 2:1, 2.5:1 and 3:1 H2SO4/HNO3 acid mixtures to produce increasing content of functionalization.

S-states at oxygen evolving complex (OEC) are widely studied due to its large importance in photo-oxidation water process. The structural aspects involving S0, S1, S2, S3 and S4 states are still not solved theoretically. Particularly, spin states have been analyzed as an important aspect in S-state models. Seeking to obtain a relevant and simple model to cover high-spin (HS) S0-S4 states we develop a 55-57 atoms model. Through quantum chemical calculations we figured out that our interatomic distance parameters are in agreement with experimental and other theoretical reference values by ca. 10.0 and 3.5%, respectively, being also in good agreement with other theoretical models containing a large number of atoms. Our HS models presented expected oxidation states according to other data on literature for small theoretical models.

RESUMO Nós descrevemos e comparamos a histologia do fígado e do baço de Geophagus brasiliensis (Perciformes), Hypostomus francisci (Siluriformes) e Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Characiformes), peixes neotropicais de água doce. Em G. brasiliensis e H. aff. malabaricus os hepatócitos organizaram-se na forma tubular enquanto que em H. francisci eles apresentaram-se como cordões celulares. Em todas as espécies, os hepatócitos apresentaram glicogênio, mas em G. brasiliensis e H. aff. malabaricus, eles mostraram forte marcação para hemossiderina no citoplasma. Em G. brasiliensis e H. aff. malabaricus, centros melanomacrofágicos (CMMs) foram associados a estruturas hepáticas e somente em G. brasiliensis foi observado pâncreas exócrino intrahepático. O baço, em todas as espécies, foi caracterizado pela polpa vermelha e branca sem limites entre as duas regiões, mas somente em H. francisci foi registrado uma organização nodular no parênquima esplênico. G. brasiliensiseH. aff. malabaricusapresentaram na polpa branca CMMs associados principalmente a elipsoides. Além disso, nós observamos CMMs grandes no baço em relação ao fígado de G. brasiliensis e de H. aff. malabaricus. No fígado, valores altos de fibras reticulares e colágeno foram observado em G. brasiliensis. No baço, valores altos de fibras reticulares e colágeno foram registrados em H. aff. malabaricuseH. francisci, respectivamente. Diferenças histológicas confirmam a hipótese que a distância filogenética está refletida no fígado e no baço.

ABSTRACT We describe and compare the histology of liver and spleen ofGeophagus brasiliensis (Perciformes), Hypostomus francisci (Siluriformes) and Hoplias aff. malabaricus (Characiformes), tropical freshwater fishes. InG. brasiliensisandH. aff. malabaricusthe hepatocytes were arranged in tubular form whereas in H. franciscithey cord-like. In all species, hepatocytes presented glycogen, but in G. brasiliensis and H. aff. malabaricus they showed strong stained for hemossiderin in the cytoplasm. InG. brasiliensis and H. aff. malabaricus, melanomacrophage centres (MMCs) were associated to hepatic structures and only in G. brasiliensis was observed intrahepatic exocrine pancreas. The spleen, in all species, was characterized by red and white pulp without boundary between the two regions, but only in H. francisci was recorded nodular organization in splenic parenchyma. The G. brasiliensisandH. aff. malabaricuspresented in the white pulp MMCs linked mainly to ellipsoids. Besides, we observed large MMCs in the spleen in relation to liver of G. brasiliensis and H. aff. malabaricus. In liver, highest values of reticular fibers and collagen were observed inG. brasiliensis. In spleen, highest values of reticular fibers and collagen were recorded inH. aff. malabaricusandH. francisci, respectively. Histological differences confirm the hypothesis that the phylogenetic distance is reflected in liver and spleen.

O aumento da entrada de metais pesados nos ambientes aquáticos pode resultar em altos níveis de acumulação destes contaminantes nos peixes e seus consumidores, representando um risco para os ecossistemas e para a saúde humana. Investigamos as concentrações de mercúrio (Hg), cádmio (Cd), zinco (Zn), cromo (Cr) e chumbo (Pb) nos tecidos do músculo, fígado e baço de Pseudoplatystoma corruscans, coletado em dois trechos do rio Paraopeba, Brasil. Nossos resultados mostraram que as concentrações dos metais pesados foram mais elevadas nas vísceras, isto é fígado e baço, indicando que as vísceras deP. corruscans não devem ser utilizadas para consumo humano. As correlações entre as concentrações de metais pesados e o tamanho dos peixes não foram estatisticamente significativas. Embora os níveis de Hg, Cd, Zn, Cr e Pb no músculo geralmente não tenham ultrapassado os limites seguros para o consumo humano, a presença constante desses metais em concentrações próximas a estes limites é motivo de alerta para as populações que consomem regularmente peixes de rios poluídos como o rio Paraopeba. Nossos resultados também indicaram que em uma rede fluvial, onde existam áreas poluídas conectadas a ambientes de boa qualidade, o consumo regular de peixes, mesmo quando estes são capturados em trechos onde os níveis de contaminação forem considerados baixos, pode oferecer risco à saúde, uma vez que muitos peixes de água doce com alto valor comercial como P. corruscans são migradores.

The increasing amounts of heavy metals entering aquatic environments can result in high accumulation levels of these contaminants in fish and their consumers, which pose a serious risk to ecosystems and human health. We investigated the concentrations of mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in muscle, liver, and spleen tissues of Pseudoplatystoma corruscans specimens collected from two sites on the Paraopeba River, Brazil. The level of heavy metals concentrations in the tissues was often higher in viscera (i.e. liver and spleen) than in muscle, and thus, the viscera should not be considered for human consumption. Correlations between metal concentrations and fish size were not significant. Although the levels of muscle bioaccumulation of Hg, Cd, Zn, Cr, and Pb, generally do not exceed the safe levels for human consumption, the constant presence of heavy metals in concentrations near those limits considered safe for human consumption, is a reason for concern, and populations who constantly consume fish from polluted rivers should be warned. Our findings also indicate that in a river network where certain areas are connected to other areas with high rates of environmental pollutants, people should be cautious about the regular consumption of fish, even when the fish consumed are caught in stretches of the basin where contamination levels are considered low, since many of the freshwater fish with high commercial value, such as the catfish surubim, are migratory.

RESUMO Nós determinamos pela primeira vez os parâmetros reprodutivos e a estrutura populacional de Hypostomus francisci no rio Itapecerica, bacia do São Francisco. Um total de 250 espécimes foi capturado trimestralmente entre março de 2010 e fevereiro de 2012. O peso corporal, comprimento total e peso das gônadas foram obtidos em laboratório. Amostras de gônadas foram submetidas à técnicas histológicas e histoquímicas. Fêmeas com ovários capazes de desovar foram utilizadas para determinar a fecundidade e a fecundidade relativa. Observou-se uma proporção sexual de 1:1,01 (Machos:Fêmeas). Os machos foram mais numerosos do que fêmeas na classe de indivíduos menores que 170 mm, no entanto, o número de fêmeas foi significativamente maior para os espécimes acima de 330 mm. A relação peso comprimento estimada para H. francisci indica crescimento alométrico negativo. Fêmeas capazes de desovar foram registradas principalmente em Novembro-Dezembro-Janeiro. Duas populações de ovócitos em um momento determinado do ciclo comprovam desenvolvimento ovocitário do tipo grupo-sincrônico. Os ovos atingiram 3,4 mm e a fecundidade variou de 312-1,460 ovócitos com uma média de 585,81 ± 337,43 ovócitos por fêmea. Os parâmetros reprodutivos e a estrutura populacional de H. francisci do rio Itapecerica sugerem que esta espécie possui táticas reprodutivas singulares entre congêneres.

ABSTRACT Herein we determine for the first time the reproduction parameters and population structure of Hypostomus francisci in the Itapecerica River, São Francisco Basin. A total of 250 specimens was captured quarterly between March 2010 and February 2012. Body weight, total length and weight of the gonads were obtained in the laboratory. Gonad samples were submitted to histological and histochemical techniques. Females with spawning capable ovaries were used to determine the fecundity and relative fecundity. Sex ratio with 1:1.01 (female:male) was observed. Males were more numerous than females for individuals smaller than 170 mm, however the number of females was significantly greater for specimens larger than 330 mm. The length-weight relationship estimated for H. francisci indicates negative-allometric growth. Females spawning capable were observed mostly in November-December-January. Two cohorts of oocytes at a determined time evidencing the development type group-synchronic. The eggs reaching 3.4 mm and the fecundity ranged from 312-1,460 oocytes with an average of 585.81 ± 337.43 oocytes per female. The reproductive parameters and population structure of H. francisci from Itapecerica River suggested that this species showed singular reproductive tactics among congeners.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) em adolescentes do sexo feminino de acordo com a idade cronológica (IC), idade óssea (IO) e desenvolvimento das mamas (M) e suas correlações com biomarcadores de remodelação óssea em plasma (BO). MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo transversal prospectivo feito em 101 adolescentes saudáveis do sexo feminino com idade entre 10 e 20 anos. As variáveis estudadas foram: peso, altura, índice de massa corpórea (IMC), IC, IO, M, ingestão de cálcio, DMO e BO. A osteocalcina (OC), fosfatase alcalina óssea (BAP) e o telopeptídeo C terminal (S-CTx) foram os biomarcadores de remodelação óssea avaliados. A DMO foi obtida por absorciometria de raios-X de dupla energia (DXA). RESULTADOS: A DMO de coluna lombar, fêmur proximal e corpo total aumentou com a idade, e as respectivas médias observadas foram: IC1 = 0,631, 0.692, 0,798 g/cm2; IC2, 0,698, 0,763, 0,840 g/cm2; IC3, 0,865, 0,889, 0,972 g/cm2; IC4, 0,902, 0,922, 1,013 g/cm2; e IC5, 0,944, 0,929, 1,35 g/cm2. Observou-se diferença significativa entre 13 e 14 anos (IC3) ou quando as meninas estavam em M3 (0,709, 0,832, 0,867 g/cm2). Os valores dos BO apresentaram elevação entre 10 e 12 anos e quando as adolescentes estavam em M2-M3 (p < 0,001). Os valores das medianas dos BO diminuíram com o avançar da IO e M. CONCLUSÕES: Os BOs mostraram paralelismo com o pico de velocidade de crescimento e demonstraram correlação negativa com a DMO no sítios avaliados. O aumento da DMO e dos BOs foi observado em M3.

OBJECTIVE: To study bone mineral density (BMD) in adolescent females according to five groups of chronological age (CA), bone age (BA), and breast development stage (B), and to correlate these parameters with plasma bone biomarkers (BB). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study performed in 101 healthy adolescent females between 10 and 20 years old. The study variables were: weight, height, body mass index (BMI), CA, B, BA, calcium intake, BMD, and BB. Osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), and C-terminal telopeptide (S-CTx) were evaluated for BB. BMD was measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). RESULTS: BMD in lumbar spine, proximal femur, and total body increased with age, and the respective observed averages were: in CA1 (10 years old), 0.631, 0.692, 0.798 g/cm2; in CA2 (11 to 12 years old), 0.698, 0.763, 0.840 g/cm2; in CA3 (13 to 14 years old), 0.865, 0.889, 0.972 g/cm2; in CA4 (15 to 16 years old), 0.902, 0.922, 1.013 g/cm2; and in CA5 (17 to 19 years old), 0.944, 0.929, 1.35 g/cm2. These results showed significant differences between 13 and 14 years of age (CA3) or when girls reached the B3 stage (0.709, 0.832, 0.867 g/cm2). The highest median concentrations of BB were between 10 and 12 years of age when adolescents were in the B2-B3 (p < 0.001). Median BB concentrations decreased in advanced BA and B. CONCLUSIONS: BB concentrations were positively correlated with the peak height velocity and negatively correlated with BMD in the study sites. Increased BMD and BB concentrations were observed in B3.

INTRODUÇÃO: A intervenção coronária percutânea (ICP) tornou-se um dos procedimentos cardiológicos mais realizados na prática clínica. Em razão da melhoria dos resultados, da redução das complicações agudas, da necessidade de redução de custos e da pouca disponibilidade de leitos hospitalares, a ICP eletiva com alta no mesmo dia tornou-se uma opção interessante. MÉTODOS: Registro unicêntrico, que realizou avaliação retrospectiva de todos os pacientes submetidos a ICP eletiva e que receberam alta no mesmo dia, no período de janeiro de 2009 a março de 2012. Determinamos as taxas de eventos cardíacos adversos maiores (óbito, infarto do miocárdio, revascularização do vaso-alvo e acidente vascular cerebral), além de trombose do stent, complicações vasculares e reinternação no período compreendido entre a alta hospitalar e os primeiros 30 dias de acompanhamento. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 69 pacientes, com média de idade de 64,5 ± 11,2 anos, a maioria do sexo masculino (82%) e 28% diabéticos. Todos apresentavam quadros clínicos estáveis e lesões tipos A ou B1 (36% e 36%, respectivamente). A via de acesso radial foi a mais utilizada (89%), com introdutores 5 F em 56% e 6 F nos demais. Sucesso no procedimento foi obtido em 98,5%. No seguimento de 30 dias não foi identificado nenhum evento clínico. CONCLUSÕES: Nossos resultados demonstraram a segurança da alta no mesmo dia para pacientes de baixo risco tanto clínico como angiográfico, submetidos a ICP eletiva e que evoluíam sem complicações associadas ao procedimento.

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has become one of the most commonly performed cardiac procedures in clinical practice. Due to improvement in outcomes, reduced acute complication rates, the need to reduce costs and the limited availability of hospital beds, elective PCI with same-day discharge has become an interesting option. METHODS: Single-center registry with a retrospective evaluation of all patients undergoing elective PCI who were discharged on the same day, from January 2009 to March 2012. The rates of major adverse cardiac events (death, myocardial infarction, target-vessel revascularization and stroke), in addition to stent thrombosis, vascular complications and re-hospitalization between hospital discharge and the first 30 days of follow-up were determined. RESULTS: Sixty-nine patients were evaluated with mean age of 64.5 ± 11.2 years, most of them were male (82%), and 28% were diabetics. All patients had stable coronary artery disease and type A or B1 lesions (36% and 36% respectively). Radial access was the most commonly used approach (89%), with 5 F introducer sheaths in 56% and 6 F in the remaining patients. Procedure success was obtained in 98.5%. No clinical events were observed at the 30-day follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that same-day discharge was safe for patients with low clinical and angiographic risk undergoing elective PCI with no procedure-related complications.

The objective of this study was to determine the deferment period and the most adequate initial sward height of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Piatã for deferment in the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais. For so, the following characteristics were evaluated: masses and bulk density of forage and its morphological components, light interception by the sward, leaf area index, leaf angle, sward and extended tiller height and falling index of the deferred piatã grass. The three deferment periods assessed (65, 85 and 105 days) were randomized to the plots and the three sward heights (20, 30 and 40 cm), randomized in the subplots. The experimental design was of completely randomized blocks, with three replicates, in a subdivided plots arrangement. Masses of forage, green stem and dead tissue were higher in the piatã grass managed with deferment period of 105 days. The mass of green leaf blade was higher in the piatã grass deferred with 20 cm height associated to the deferment period of 85 days, which had, as consequence, greater bulk density of green leaf blade. The interception of light by the sward was greater in the piatã grass kept longer in deferment associated with the higher leaf area index, regardless of its initial height. The heights of the sward and extended tillers were greater in the piatã grass under periods of 85 and 105 days of deferment; however, the falling index was not affected by the factors studied. In the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, B. brizantha cv. Piatã fertilized with 75 kg/ha nitrogen and deferred with initial height of 20 cm and for a period of 85 days, from mid April, has adequate productivity and structure for animal production.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar alguns atributos químicos do solo e o estado nutricional das tangerineiras ‘Ponkan’ no solo manejado com resíduos orgânicos e adubação química. O experimento foi conduzido no Departamento de Recursos Naturais/Ciência do Solo - FCA/UNESP em Botucatu, SP. As mudas de tangerineira foram plantadas e manejadas com lodo de esgoto (LE), esterco de curral curtido (EC) e adubação química (AQ). Os resultados permitiram concluir que houve um aumento significativo nos teores dos atributos CTC, MO, N-total P e K, no solo manejado com resíduo orgânico. A aplicação do lodo de esgoto também não prejudicou a qualidade do solo pois a adição dos elementos As, Cd, Cr e Hg em sua constituição, não foi significativa. O manejo do solo com os resíduos proporcionou um aumento significativo no teor de N, P, Ca e S nas folhas das tangerineiras ‘Ponkan’ e, ao mesmo tempo, esses resíduos não contribuíram para um aumento significativo do teor foliar dos micronutrientes B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn nem dos elementos As, Cd, Cr e Pb. O manejo do solo com lodo de esgoto não resultou em aumento significativo dos elementos As, Cd, Cr e Hg nas folhas e nos frutos.

The objective of this research was to evaluate some soil chemical attributes and the nutritional status of ‘Ponkan’ mandarin managed with organic residues and chemical fertilization. The experiment was carried out at the Natural Resource Department - Soil Science Area, in the College of Agronomic Sciences - UNESP/Botucatu, SP. ‘Ponkan’ Mandarin seedlings were cropped and managed using the organic residues sewage sludge, cattle manure and chemical fertilization. The results allow the conclusion that there was an increase in the CEC, OM, N-total, P and K values in the soil managed with organic residues. The sewage sludge application did not harm the soil quality because the input of elements As, Cd, Cr and Hg present in its constitution were not significant. The soil management with organic residues increased significantly contents of N, P, Ca and S in ‘Ponkan’ leaves but did not contribute to increase significantly the elements B, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, As, Cd, Cr and Pb. The soil management with sewage sludge did not result in significant increase in the As, Cd, Cr and Hg content of leaves and fruits.

O estudo das características morfogênicas permite compreender aspectos relativos à forma e função das plantas forrageiras além de possibilitar identificar plantas com potenciais produtivos e exigências de manejo diferentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, comparativamente, dez plantas forrageiras tropicais por meio de variáveis morfogênicas e estruturais. Os tratamentos corresponderam a cultivares pertencentes ao gênero Panicum (P. maximum cvs. Tanzânia e Mombaça) e ao gênero Brachiaria (B. brizantha cvs. Piatã, Marandu, Xaraés, Capiporã, e Arapoty; B. decumbens cv. Basilisk; B. humidicola cvs. Comum e Tupi), avaliados sob condições de crescimento livre. Foram avaliadas a taxa de aparecimento e alongamento de folhas, filocrono, taxa de alongamento de colmos, comprimento final da lâmina foliar, número de folhas vivas por perfilho, duração de vida das folhas e padrão demográfico de perfilhamento. Houve diferença entre cultivares para as variáveis, indicando grande variabilidade no material estudado. Considerando as características morfogênicas e estruturais de folhas e perfilhos, as B. brizantha apresentaram comportamento parecido com os P. maximum, e B. decumbens mais próximo das B. humidicola. Verificou-se que o aparecimento de perfilhos foi inicialmente elevado e que a segunda e, ou, terceira gerações contribuíram de forma significativa para o número total de perfilhos dos cultivares Mombaça, Tanzânia, Xaraés e Capiporã. A análise de agrupamento baseada nas características morfogênicas e estruturais de folhas e perfilhos foi um método interessante para agrupar cultivares, demonstrando a importância e o potencial de uso da morfogênese em trabalhos de seleção e avaliação de plantas forrageiras.

Understanding of the morphogenetic characteristics allows comprehension of aspects related to the form and function of forage plants, providing opportunities to identify potentially high productive plants and distinct defoliation management requirements. The objective of this experiment was to carry out a comparative study of ten tropical forage grasses using morphogenetic and structural variables. Treatments corresponded to grasses of the Panicum genus (P. maximum cultivars Tanzânia and Mombaça) and the Brachiaria genus (B. brizantha cultivars Piatã, Marandu, Xaraés, Capiporã and Arapoty; B. decumbens cultivar Basilisk; B. humidicola cultivars Comum and Tupi), evaluated under free growth conditions.. Response variables were leaf appearance and elongation rates, phyllochron, stem elongation rate, final leaf length, number of live leaves per tiller, leaf life span and tiller appearance, death and survival rates. There was difference between cultivars for these variables, indicating a large variability within plants. Considering the morphogenetic and structural variables of leaves and tillers, B. brizantha had a similar pattern of variation to those of P. maximum, and B. Decumbens, similar to those of B. humidicola. Tiller appearance was large at the onset of the experiment and second and third generations comprised the large majority of tiller population for the cultivars Mombaça, Tanzânia, Xaraés and Capiporã. Group analysis based on plant morphogenetic and structural characteristics of leaves and tillers was an interesting way of grouping cultivars, indicating the importance and the potential of using morphogenesis in plant selection and evaluation programmes.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent type worldwide, besides being one of the most common causes of death among women. It has been suggested that sporadic BC is most likely caused by low-penetrance genes, including those involved in DNA repair mechanisms. Furthermore, the accumulation of DNA damage may contribute to breast carcinogenesis. In the present study, the relationship between two DNA repair genes, viz., XRCC1 (Arg399Gln) and XRCC3 (Thr241Met) polymorphisms, and the levels of chromosome damage detected in 65 untreated BC women and 85 healthy controls, was investigated. Chromosome damage was evaluated through micronucleus assaying, and genotypes determined by PCR-RFLP methodology. The results showed no alteration in the risk of BC and DNA damage brought about by either XRCC1 (Arg399Gln) or XRCC3 (Thr241Met) action in either of the two groups. Nevertheless, on evaluating BC risk in women presenting levels of chromosome damage above the mean, the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was found to be more frequent in the BC group than in the control, thereby leading to the conclusion that there is a slight association between XRCC3 (241 C/T) genotypes and BC risk in the subgroups with higher levels of chromosome damage.

No presente artigo o efeito do pseudopotencial de caroço (ECP) para o átomo de platina no erro de sobreposição de base (BSSE) foi avaliado para as energias de interação entre o complexo cisplatina ([Pt(NH3)2Cl2]) e água. Oito orientações espaciais distintas para os monômeros cisplatina-água foram consideradas na determinação do BSSE utilizando o procedimento padrão "counterpoise". O BSSE foi também avaliado ao longo das curvas de energia potencial, as quais são importantes para a determinação dos parâmetros do potencial de Lennard-Jones. Os cálculos foram feitos em diferentes níveis de teoria, incluindo HF, DFT (funcionais: BLYP, B3LYP, BP86, PBE, PW91) e MP2 com conjunto de funções de base do tipo "split-valence" de Pople e "correlated consistent" de Dunning.

In this article the role played by the effective core potential (Pt atom) on the evaluation of basis set superposition error (BSSE) and interaction energies for the complex between cisplatin ([Pt(NH3)2Cl2]) and water was investigated. Eight distinct spatial monomer orientations in the cisplatin-water complex were considered with the counterpoise procedure being employed to calculate the BSSE. The BSSE effect on potential energy curves, required for the determination of Lennard-Jones parameters, is also discussed. The calculations were performed at the HF, DFT (BLYP, B3LYP, BP86, PBE, PW91 functional) and MP2 level with Pople's split valence and Dunning's correlated consistent basis sets.