ABSTRACT This study describes the occurrence of reproductive changes in a mullet (Mugil curema) from the Babibtonga Bay, Santa Catarina. Gross and microscopic findings indicated changes in the reproductive system that were characterized by the presence of both male and female gonads, nearing sexual maturity, which was compatible with the diagnosis of intersex. It was not possible to identify predisposing factors that may have contributed to the development of this condition. However, as this species of fish may have their reproductive development affected by anthropogenic influence, it is important to permanently monitor this kind of environment. Considering the number of fish belonging to this species that was examined (n=433), the estimated prevalence for intersexuality was 0.23% (confidence interval: 0.00 to 0.68%, with confidence level of 95%). The findings in this study support the diagnosis of intersexuality in M. curema from the Babitonga Bay, which is the first documented case of this condition in this species on the coast of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

RESUMO Este estudo descreve a ocorrência de alteração reprodutiva em peixe da espécie Mugil curema, procedente da Baía da Babitonga, Santa Catarina. Macro e microscopicamente, foi identificada alteração no sistema reprodutivo, caracterizada pela presença de gônadas masculina e feminina, próximas da maturidade sexual, caracterizando um caso de intersexo. Não foi possível determinar os fatores que possam ter contribuído para o desenvolvimento dessa alteração reprodutiva, porém, como a espécie animal pode ter suas características de vida e reprodutiva influenciadas pela ação antrópica, é importante um estudo contínuo desses peixes nesse ambiente. Considerando o número de peixes dessa espécie que foram examinados (n=433), a prevalência estimada de intersexualidade foi de 0,23% (intervalo de confiança: 0,00 a 0,68%, com nível de confiança de 95%). Os achados deste estudo suportam o diagnóstico de intersexualidade em M. curema proveniente da Baía da Babitonga, sendo o primeiro caso documentado dessa condição nessa espécie na costa de Santa Catarina, Brasil.

RESUMO O presente estudo visou isolar, identificar e aplicar testes in vitro em bactérias com potencial probiótico, autóctones, isoladas de 15 espécimes saudáveis de Megaleporinus macrocephalus. As cepas foram selecionadas do trato intestinal dos peixes e inoculadas em placas de Petri contendo Man Rogosa Sharped Agar (MRS), por 48 horas, a 35ºC. Foram isoladas com base em teste de catalase, coloração de Gram, tolerância a diferentes gradientes de NaCl (1, 2 e 3%), valores de pH (4, 5, 6, 8 e 9) e sais biliares (2,5 e 5%), além do halo de inibição contra patógenos. Das 42 cepas isoladas, ST1 e ST9 apresentaram maiores valores (P<0,05) para células viáveis totais (31,80±0,07 e 32,51±0,05 UFC/mL × 108), respectivamente. Nos testes de resistência, as cepas ST1 e ST9 apresentaram os melhores resultados, com destaque para ST9 nos gradientes de pH, altos valores de sais biliares e maiores halos de inibição contra Aeromonas hydrophila e Aeromonas jandaei. As cepas com melhores resultados nos testes, ST1 e ST9, foram identificadas pelo método de MALDI-TOF-MS como Enterococcus faecium. Assim, a bactéria isolada Enterococcus faecium, pode ser recomendada para uso probiótico na criação do M. macrocephalus.

ABSTRACT The study aimed to isolate, identify, and apply in vitro tests on bacteria with autochthonous probiotic potential isolated from fifteen healthy specimens of Megaleporinus macrocephalus. The strains were selected from the intestinal tract of fish and inoculated in the Petri plate containing Sharp Man Rogosa Agar (MRS) for (48 hours at 35ºC). They were isolated based on a test of catalase, Gram stain, tolerance to different gradients NaCl (1, 2 and 3%), pH (4, 5, 6, 8 and 9) values and bile salts (2.5 and 5%), in addition to the inhibition zone against pathogens. Of the 42 strains isolated, ST1 and ST9 had higher values (p<0.05) for total viable cells (31.80±0.07 and 32.51±0.05 CFU/mL × 108) respectively. In the resistance tests, strains ST1 and ST9 presented the best results, with emphasis on ST9 in the gradients of pH, high values of bile salts and larger inhibition zones against Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas jandaei. The strains with the best results in the tests, ST1 and ST9, were identified by the MALDI-TOF-MS method as Enterococcus faecium. Thus, the isolated E. faecium bacteria, may be recommended as for probiotic use in farming the M. macrocephalus.

RESUMO O jenipapo (Genipa americana L.) é uma espécie nativa com importância medicinal, sendo amplamente utilizada no Brasil. Em função da necessidade de conhecimento à cerca do pré-processamento desta espécie, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a cinética de secagem de folhas de jenipapo (G. americana L.), bem como determinar a difusividade efetiva da água durante o processo. As folhas foram coletadas com teor de água inicial de 2,30±0,05 (decimal b.s.), e submetidas à secagem em três condições de temperatura do ar (35,3; 46,0 e 65,0°C) até atingirem o teor de água de equilíbrio. Aos dados experimentais, ajustaram-se doze modelos matemáticos, recomendados para representar o processo de secagem de produtos agrícolas. As magnitudes do coeficiente de determinação (R2), do erro médio relativo (P), do erro médio estimado (SE) e do teste do qui-quadrado (χ2), foram utilizadas para verificar o grau de ajuste dos modelos. Os modelos de Henderson e Pabis modificado e Midilli apresentaram ajustes adequados aos dados experimentais, sendo o modelo de Midilli, em função de sua simplicidade, escolhido para representar a cinética de secagem das folhas de jenipapo. Aumentando a temperatura do ar de secagem de 35,3 para 46,0 e 65,0ºC houve redução no tempo de secagem das folhas de jenipapo de 91,1 para 62,5 e 24,2 horas, respectivamente. O coeficiente de difusão efetivo aumenta com a elevação da temperatura, e esta relação é descrita pela equação de Arrhenius, que apresenta energia de ativação para a difusão líquida de 33,9 kJ mol-1.

ABSTRACT The jenipapo (Genipa americana L.) is a native species with medicinal importance and is widely used in Brazil. Due to the need for knowledge about the preprocessing of this species, this work was developed to evaluate the drying kinetics of the jenipapo leaves (G. americana L.), and also to determine the effective diffusivity of water during the process. The leaves were collected with an initial moisture content of 2.30 ± 0.05 (decimal db), and dried in three conditions of air temperature (35.3, 46.0 and 65.0°C) until they reach the equilibrium moisture content. The experimental data set were twelve mathematical models, recommended to represent the drying process of agricultural products. The magnitudes of the coefficient of determination (R2), the mean relative error (P), the average estimated error (SE) and the chi-square (X2), were used in order to verify the adequacy level of the models. The Henderson, modified Pabis and Midilli models presented appropriate adjustments to the experimental data, with the model Midilli, due to its simplicity, chosen to represent the drying kinetics of the jenipapo leaves. By increasing the temperature of the drying air from 35.3 to 46.0 and 65.0ºC, there was a reduction in the drying time of the jenipapo leaves, from 91.1 to 62.5 and to 24.2 hours, respectively. The effective diffusion coefficient increases with the temperature’s raise, and this relationship is described by the Arrhenius equation, which shows activation energy for liquid diffusion of 33.9 kJ mol-1.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of eccentric training on the activity of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes, oxidative stress, muscle damage, and inflammation of skeletal muscle. Eighteen male mice (CF1) weighing 30-35 g were randomly divided into 3 groups (N = 6): untrained, trained eccentric running (16°; TER), and trained running (0°) (TR), and were submitted to an 8-week training program. TER increased muscle oxidative capacity (succinate dehydrogenase and complexes I and II) in a manner similar to TR, and TER did not decrease oxidative damage (xylenol and creatine phosphate) but increased antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) similar to TR. Muscle damage (creatine kinase) and inflammation (myeloperoxidase) were not reduced by TER. In conclusion, we suggest that TER improves mitochondrial function but does not reduce oxidative stress, muscle damage, or inflammation induced by eccentric contractions.

Avaliaram-se a retenção aparente, a deposição hepática, tecidual e plasmática, bem como a eficiência da glutationa peroxidase hepática e plasmática em frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes níveis e fontes de selênio. Utilizaram-se 300 pintos machos com 14 dias, submetidos a um esquema fatorial 3x3 + 1 (três níveis de Se - 0,150; 0,300; 0,450ppm, e três fontes comerciais de Se - uma inorgânica e duas orgânicas + um tratamento controle sem suplementação), em DIC. Do primeiro ao 14º dia de idade - período de depleção -, as aves receberam rações basais sem suplementação de selênio. Aos 14 dias, receberam as dietas com selênio, por um período de 14 dias, sendo coletadas as excretas nos últimos quatro dias. A retenção de selênio foi relativamente alta. O uso da fonte orgânica A em níveis crescentes apresentou menor queda na retenção aparente de selênio. As fontes orgânicas participaram mais ativamente nas atividades de tecidos de forma geral, e a fonte inorgânica foi neutralizada no tecido hepático. A eficiência dessa enzima no plasma aumentou linearmente quando se elevaram os níveis dietéticos. Para a fonte inorgânica, não houve mudança nesta eficiência.

We evaluated the apparent retention, the hepatic, tissue and plasmatic deposition as well as the efficiency of the enzyme hepatic and plasmatic Glutathione Peroxidase in broiler chickens fed different sources and levels of selenium. 300 male Cobb- 500 chicks aged 14 days were submitted to a factorial scheme 3x3+1 (three levels - 0.150; 0.300; 0.450ppm, three commercial sources - one inorganic and two organic + one control treatment without a supplementation) in CRD. The first 14 days of age (depletion period) the birds were fed basal diets without a supplementation of selenium. At 14 days the birds were given the diets with selenium for a period for 14 days, and the excreta collected in the last four days. The work suggested that the selenium retentions were relatively high, due to the use of organic source A at growing levels they presented a lower decrease in apparent retention of selenium. The organic sources participated more actively in the activities of tissues in general and the inorganic source is neutralized in the hepatic tissue. The efficiency of this enzyme in plasma was increased linearly, when we increased dietary levels for the inorganic source there was no change in efficiency.

Com o objetivo de estudar a biologia reprodutiva de Mimosa bimucronata, o presente estudo foi realizado em Botucatu e Cachoeira Paulista, SP, no período de novembro de 2003 a junho de 2005. Determinou-se o número de flores por glomérulo, sua duração, os eventos da antese e outras características florais, como tamanho, formato, coloração, odor, presença de néctar e localização de osmóforos. A receptividade do estigma e a viabilidade do pólen foram avaliadas. Flores foram examinadas e documentadas em microscópio eletrônico de varredura, após tratamento adequado. Foram feitos testes para a determinação do sistema reprodutivo, visando avaliar a dependência dos polinizadores. A presença de visitantes florais foi observada no campo, sendo registrada a quantidade de visitas e o comportamento dos visitantes, além do tempo médio de permanência dos visitantes junto às flores. O padrão de floração de M. bimucronata é anual. Os grãos de pólen encontram-se reunidos em políades compostas por oito células, o que pode ser interpretado como uma adaptação para minimizar o efeito da mistura das cargas de pólen depositadas sobre o diminuto estigma. A formação de frutos em condições naturais foi baixa e não ocorreu agamospermia. A morfologia das flores e das inflorescências permite o acesso aos recursos florais para uma ampla variedade de visitantes (Hymenoptera, Diptera e Coleoptera). A maioria das visitas foi realizada por abelhas (56,4%). Os resultados permitem considerar que, embora M. bimucronata seja dependente de vetores de pólen para sua reprodução, é espécie entomófila generalista e, portanto, bastante adaptada aos ambientes ruderais, onde sua ocorrência é predominante.

Aiming to study the reproduction biology of Mimosa bimucronata, this work was developed in two municipalities, Botucatu and Cachoeira Paulista, São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, between November 2003 and June 2005. The number of flowers per flower head, flower lifetime, anthesis events and other floral characteristics, such as flower size, color, nectar, scent, and osmophore location, were studied. Stigma receptivity and pollen viability were evaluated. The flowers were observed and documented in a scanning electron microscope, after receiving a proper treatment. Tests were performed to investigate the reproductive system, aiming to evaluate the reliance on pollinators. Floral visitors were observed directly in the field and their frequency, duration of visits and behavior on flowers were registered. M. bimucronata showed an annual flowering pattern. The pollen grains are united in polyades with eight cells, which are interpreted as an adaptation to minimize mixed pollen grain loads on the minute stigma. Fruit set was low in natural conditions and there was no occurrence of agamospermy or spontaneous self-pollination. The flower and inflorescence morphology allow access to several orders of visitors. Members of Hymenoptera, Diptera and Coleoptera were observed visiting the flower heads. The visits were mostly by M. bimucronata bees (56.4%). The results allowed to conclude that, although dependent on pollen vectors for reproduction, this is a generalist entomophilous species and, therefore, well adapted to ruderal environments where its presence is prevalent.

Neste trabalho, foram estudados sólidos do tipo LaNi1-xCuxO3 (x = 0,0; 0,3 e 0,5), com estrutura perovskita, visando a desenvolver catalisadores destinados à produção de hidrogênio de alta pureza na reforma interna de células a combustível de óxido sólido (SOFC). Observou-se que as condições experimentais usadas na preparação favoreceram a incorporação quantitativa dos cátions ao precursor e a formação dos sólidos com estrutura perovskita. Esses materiais mostraram diferentes propriedades redutoras e a presença do cobre favoreceu a estabilidade da estrutura perovskita. As propriedades catalíticas das amostras obtidas foram avaliadas na reação de deslocamento de monóxido de carbono com vapor d'água (WGSR, water gas shift reaction), uma etapa importante de purificação do hidrogênio, no processo de reforma de hidrocarbonetos. Os resultados mostraram que os catalisadores são promissores para esta reação, apresentando atividade muito superior à de um catalisador comercial de óxido de ferro contendo cromo e cobre; isto foi atribuído à tendência das amostras em favorecer o mecanismo adsortivo, provavelmente decorrente de uma alta mobilidade dos oxigênios da rede cristalina. O valor mais elevado de atividade catalítica foi apresentado pela Amostra LaNi0,5Cu0,5O3, considerada o catalisador de melhor desempenho.

LaNi1-xCu xO3 (x = 0.0, 0.3 and 0.5) type solids with perovskite structure were studied in this work aiming to develop catalysts for the production of high pure hydrogen in the internal reforming of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). It was observed that the experimental conditions used for preparing the samples favored the quantitative incorporation of cations in the precursor and the formation of solids with perovskite structure. These materials showed different reducing properties and the copper presence favored the stability of the perovskite structure. The catalytic properties of the samples were evaluated in water gas shift reaction (WGSR), an important step for purifying hydrogen in the process of hydrocarbons reforming. The results showed that the catalysts are promising for the reaction, showing much higher activities than a iron oxide-based commercial catalyst containing chromium and copper; This was assigned to the tendency of the samples in favoring the adsorptive mechanism, probably due to a high mobility of oxygen in the crystalline lattice. The highest value of catalytic activity was shown by the LaNi0.5Cu0.5O3 sample, the catalyst with the best performance.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes severe systemic infections in immunosuppressed individuals. C. albicans resistance to antifungal drugs is a severe problem in patients receiving prolonged therapy. Moreover, trailing yeast growth, which is defined as a resistant MIC after 48 h of incubation with triazole antifungal agents but a susceptible MIC after 24 h, has been noted in tests of antifungal susceptibility against some C. albicans isolates. In this context, we recently noticed this phenomenon in our routine susceptibility tests with fluconazole/itraconazole and C. albicans clinical isolates. In the present study, we investigated the production of cell-associated and secreted aspartyl peptidases (Saps) in six trailing clinical isolates of C. albicans, since this class of hydrolytic enzymes is a well-known virulence factor expressed by this fungal pathogen. Sap2, which is the best-studied member of the Sap family, was detected by flow cytometry on the cell surface of yeasts and as a 43-kDa polypeptide in the culture supernatant, as demonstrated by Western blotting assay using an anti-Sap1-3 polyclonal antibody. Released aspartyl peptidase activity was measured with BSA hydrolysis and inhibited by pepstatin A, showing distinct amounts of proteolytic activity ranging from 5.7 (strain 44B) to 133.2 (strain 11) arbitrary units. Taken together, our results showed that trailing clinical isolates of C. albicans produced different amounts of both cellular and secreted aspartyl-type peptidases, suggesting that this phenotypic feature did not generate a regular pattern regarding the expression of Sap.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the influence of full doses of calcineurin inhibitors [8-10 mg kg-1 day-1 cyclosporine (N = 80), or 0.2-0.3 mg kg-1 day-1 tacrolimus (N = 68)] administered from day 1 after transplantation on the transplant outcomes of a high-risk population. Induction therapy was used in 13% of the patients. Patients also received azathioprine (2 mg kg-1 day-1, N = 58) or mycophenolate mofetil (2 g/day, N = 90), and prednisone (0.5 mg kg-1 day-1, N = 148). Mean time on dialysis was 79 ± 41 months, 12% of the cases were re-transplants, and 21% had panel reactive antibodies >10%. In 43% of donors the cause of death was cerebrovascular disease and 27% showed creatinine above 1.5 mg/dL. The incidence of slow graft function (SGF) and delayed graft function (DGF) was 15 and 60%, respectively. Mean time to last dialysis and to nadir creatinine were 18 ± 15 and 34 ± 20 days, respectively. Mean creatinine at 1 year after transplantation was 1.48 ± 0.50 mg/dL (DGF 1.68 ± 0.65 vs SGF 1.67 ± 0.66 vs immediate graft function (IGF) 1.41 ± 0.40 mg/dL, P = 0.089). The incidence of biopsy-confirmed acute rejection was 22% (DGF 31%, SGF 10%, IGF 8%). One-year patient and graft survival was 92.6 and 78.4%, respectively. The incidence of cytomegalovirus disease, post-transplant diabetes mellitus and malignancies was 28, 8.1, and 0%, respectively. Compared to previous studies, the use of initial full doses of calcineurin inhibitors without antibody induction in patients with SGF or DGF had no negative impact on patient and graft survival.