Abstract The topical glucocorticoid budesonide has been prescribed before and after sinus lift surgery as adjuvant drug treatment for maxillary sinus membrane inflammation. However, there is no study on the effects of budesonide on the regenerative process of bone grafting biomaterials. We investigated the effect of the association of budesonide with some biomaterials on the growth and differentiation capacity of pre-osteoblastic cells (MC3T3-E1 subclone 4). Xenogeneic (Bio-Oss and Bio-Gen) and synthetic hydroxyapatites (Osteogen, Bonesynth, and HAP-91) were tested in conditioned medium (1% w/v). The conditioned medium was then supplemented with budesonide (0.5% v/v). Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay (48, 96, and 144 h), and mineralized nodules were quantified after 14 days of culture using the Alizarin Red Staining. Alkaline phosphatase activity was assessed through the release of thymolphthalein at day seven. All biomaterials showed little or no cytotoxicity. The Bio-Gen allowed significantly less growth than the control group regardless of the experimental time. Regarding differentiation potential of MC3T3-E1, the HAP-91-conditioned medium showed remarkable osteoinductive properties. In osteodifferentiation, the addition of budesonide favored the formation of mineral nodules when cells were cultured in medium conditioned with synthetic materials, whereas it weakened the mineralization potential of cells cultured in xenogeneic medium. Regardless of whether budesonide was added or not, Osteogen and Bio-Oss showed higher alkaline phosphatase activity than the other groups. Budesonide may improve bone formation when associated with synthetic biomaterials. Conversely, the presence of this glucocorticoid weakens the mineralization potential of pre-osteoblastic cells cultured with xenogeneic hydroxyapatites.

Resumen En la Caatinga, el mantenimiento de los ecosistemas forestales depende de la regeneración natural y de factores que pueden actuar de dos maneras: 1) favoreciendo la perpetuación de comunidades compuestas de pocas especies que dominan los estratos adulto y regenerativo, lo que resulta en similitudes florísticas; 2) proporcionando diferenciación local entre los estratos adulto y en regeneración. Sin embargo, estas relaciones siguen siendo poco conocidas, ya que no se sabe si los factores que actúan a escala local favorecen la similitud florística entre los estratos adultos y en regeneración o si estos patrones se encuentran en áreas conservadas y antropizadas. Este estudio evaluó la similitud florística entre los estratos adulto y de regeneración de la vegetación arbóreo-arbustiva de Caatinga hiperxerófila en áreas conservadas y sometidos a intervenciones antrópicas. En áreas de Caatinga hiperxerófila (antropizada y conservada), se midieron individuos leñosos adultos y en regeneración y se evaluó la riqueza florística y la similitud florística cualitativa. La similitud florística entre los estratos adultos y en regeneración se comparó estadísticamente mediante el índice Chao-Sørensen. En ambos lugares, aunque hay una gran cantidad de especies exclusivas del estrato adulto, el índice Chao-Sørensen indicó una gran similitud florística entre los estratos. El análisis de este comportamiento junto con la evaluación de la estructura comunitaria demostró que pocas especies son responsables por los procesos-clave que estructuran y controlan los principales mecanismos de persistencia de estos ecosistemas. Esto puede deberse a la existencia de condiciones localmente uniformes que definen el dominio de grupos de especies adaptadas.

Abstract In the Caatinga, the maintenance of forest ecosystems depends on natural regeneration and several factors that can act in two ways: 1) provide the perpetuation of communities composed of few species that dominate the adult and saplings strata, resulting in floristic similarities; 2) provide local differentiation between adult and saplings strata. However, these relationships remain poorly understood, as it is not known whether the factors acting on a local scale favor the floristic similarity between the adult and saplings strata or if these patterns are found in conserved and anthropized areas. This work evaluated the floristic similarity between the adult and saplings strata of hyperxerophilous caatinga woody-shrubby vegetation in conserved and anthropized areas. In two areas of conserved and anthropized hyperxerophilous Caatinga, adult and saplings individuals were measured and floristic richness and qualitative floristic similarity were evaluated. The floristic similarity between the adult and saplings strata was statistically compared using the Chao-Sørensen index. In both sites, although there was a large number of species exclusive to the adult stratum, the Chao-Sørensen index indicates high floristic similarity between strata. The analysis of this behavior together with the assessment of community structure shows that few species can be responsible for the key processes that structure and control the main mechanisms of persistence of these ecosystems. This can be attributed to the existence of locally uniform conditions that can define the dominance of adapted species groups.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the socioeconomic, demographic and health needs that influence the access to oral health actions. Material and Methods: The sample consisted of 609 individuals who lived in areas covered by the Family Health Strategy in a city of the Northeast of Brazil. All individuals living in areas covered by the FHS with age equal to or higher than six years were included. Data analysis included descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistics using decision-tree based Chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID). Results: Most participants were female, aged 25-34 years, ranging in age from 6 to 87 years. It was evidenced that, among the studied variables, the most relevant for understanding the access to oral health actions were: age (p<0.001), educational level (p-value in Node 1 = 0.009; p-value in Node 7 = 0.005) and self-perception of oral health (p=0.001). Conclusion: The results suggest that access to oral health actions is influenced by several social and individual factors, and it is marked by inequalities that favor individuals with higher educational level, better self-perception of oral health and lower age groups.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the effect of silvicultural systems and of the uses of the soil on the accumulation of the litter, its relation with the recycling and the nutrient supply to the soil, in two areas of Caatinga, in the semi-arid region of Brazil. The first is in the Seridó ecological station; the second is on Pedro Cândido farm. The accumulated litter was collected in the rainy and dry periods with the aid of a litter trap of 0.25 m2, with 16 replicates in each area (4 replicates by silvicultural system). The litter was separated into the fractions of branches, leaves + reproductive structure and miscellaneous, and the values obtained for each fraction were submitted to analysis of variance, according to a randomized block design. For the chemical analysis of litter, samples composed by the four replicates of each fraction referring to each silvicultural system were analyzed, in both evaluated periods. In both periods, in the Seridó ecological station there were 1570 kg ha-1 and 1890 kg ha-1 of litter and 44.18 kg ha-1 and 59.05 kg ha-1 of nutrients returned to soil, respectively. In the Pedro Cândido farm, in both periods, there were 2320 kg ha-1 and 2290 kg ha-1 of litter and 55.86 kg ha-1 and 61.98 kg ha-1 of nutrients recycled to the soil, respectively. The largest accumulation of litter in the Pedro Cândido farm occurred due to the greater amount of branches, but this did not result in a better supply of nutrients. After 27 years of interventions, there was no influence of silvicultural systems on the fractions and amount of nutrients.

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar el efecto de sistemas silvícolas y de los usos del suelo sobre la acumulación de mantillo y su relación con la recirculación de nutrientes al suelo, en dos áreas del bioma Caatinga, en la zona semiárida de Brasil. La primera se encuentra en la estación ecológica del Seridó; la segunda, en la hacienda Pedro Cândido. El mantillo se recolectó en los períodos lluvioso y seco, con ayuda de una trampa de 0.25 m2, con 16 repeticiones en cada área (cuatro repeticiones por sistema silvícola). El mantillo recolectado se separó en las fracciones: ramas, hojas + estructuras reproductivas y miscelánea; los valores obtenidos para cada fracción se sometieron al análisis de varianza, bajo un diseño experimental de bloques al azar. Para el análisis químico del mantillo, se analizaron muestras compuestas por las cuatro repeticiones de cada fracción referente a cada sistema silvícola, en los dos períodos. En ambos períodos, en la estación ecológica del Seridó hubo 1570 kg ha-1 y 1890 kg ha-1 de mantillo y 44.18 kg ha-1 y 59.05 kg ha-1 de nutrientes devueltos al suelo, respectivamente. En la hacienda Pedro Castillo, en ambos períodos, hubo 2320 kg ha-1 y 2290 kg ha-1 de mantillo y 55.86 kg ha-1 y 61.98 kg ha-1 de nutrientes devueltos al suelo, respectivamente. El mayor aporte de mantillo en la hacienda Pedro Castillo se debió a la mayor cantidad de ramas, pero esto no resultó en un mejor aporte de nutrientes. Después de 27 años de las intervenciones, no hubo influencia de los sistemas silvícolas sobre las fracciones y cantidad de nutrientes.

SUMMARY: This work aimed at evaluating the horizontal, diametric and volumetric structures and the diversity of arboreal-shrub vegetation in two areas of the Caatinga biome after 27 years of application of silvicultural systems. The first area is in the Seridó Ecological Station and the second is in Pedro Cândido Farm, in the county of Serra Negra do Norte-RN, Brazil. The silvicultural systems used were: general cut of all individuals of arboreal-shrub species; selective cut of arboreal-shrub species with base circumference > 8 cm; general cut of all individuals of arboreal-shrub species and subsequent burning of crop residues; general cut of all individuals of arboreal-shrub species with subsequent burning of crop residues and removal of stem from soil. In each area, 16 subplots of 400 m2 were delimited and individuals with circumference at breast height (CBH) > 6 cm were measured. The basal area provided by silvicultural systems was evaluated and compared with the results recorded before the experiment. Stem density, volumetric yield and diversity data were compared by the Tukey test. The selective cut provided the highest values of absolute dominance and volumetric production and favored the development of a more balanced diametric structure. The different forms of use of the areas influenced density and absolute dominance, and volumetric production.

RESUMEN: Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar las estructuras horizontal, diametral, volumétrica y la diversidad de la vegetación arbóreo-arbustiva en dos áreas del bioma Caatinga tras 27 años de aplicación de sistemas silviculturales. La primera área se encuentra en la Estación Ecológica del Seridó; la segunda, en la Hacienda Pedro Cândido, ambas ubicadas en el municipio de Serra Negra do Norte-RN, Brasil. Los sistemas silvicultulares fueron: corte general de todos los individuos de las especies arbóreo-arbustivas; corte selectivo de los individuos de las especies arbóreo-arbustivas con diámetro en la base > 8 cm; corte general de todos los individuos de las especies arbóreo-arbustivas, con posterior quema de los residuos de la cosecha; corte general de todos los individuos de todas las especies arbóreo-arbustivas con posterior quema de los residuos de la cosecha y destoca del tallo. En cada área se midieron 16 parcelas, donde se incluyeron los individuos con circunferencia a 1,3m desde el suelo (CAP) > 6 cm. Se evaluó el área basal proporcionada por los sistemas silviculturales, donde se comparó con los valores registrados antes del experimento. Los datos de densidades de los tallos, de la producción volumétrica y la diversidad se compararon por la prueba de Tukey. El corte selectivo proporcionó los mayores valores de dominancia absoluta y producción volumétrica y favoreció el desarrollo de una estructura diametral más equilibrada. Las diferentes formas de uso de las áreas tienen influencia sobre la densidad y dominancia absoluta y la producción volumétrica.

RESUMO A Caatinga é um dos biomas brasileiros no qual se registram os maiores índices de degradação, associada, principalmente, à supressão da vegetação para produção energética e prática da agricultura de subsistência, ocasionando interferências na ciclagem de nutrientes. O objetivo do trabalho foi quantificar e analisar quimicamente a deposição de serapilheira em um fragmento de Caatinga, localizado no município de Pombal - PB. Foi coletada mensalmente, durante 12 meses, e separada em diferentes frações (folhas, estruturas reprodutivas, galhos e miscelânea) toda serapilheira depositada em coletores de 1,0 m2 de área, distribuídas de forma sistemática. Os nutrientes analisados foram N, P, K, Ca e Mg. A deposição anual de serapilheira foi de 3.785,67 kg ha-1, composta predominantemente da fração folha com 70,2%, seguida pela fração estruturas reprodutivas com 18,3%. Os teores de nutrientes na serapilheira seguiram a ordem Ca>N>K>Mg>P. O teor de nutrientes nas frações varia em função do tempo e há evidências de sua relação com a precipitação pluviométrica. A deposição da serapilheira coincidiu com o período de sazonalidade da Caatinga.

ABSTRACT Caatinga is one of the Brazilian biomes where the highest degradation rates are recorded. It is associated mainly to the removal of vegetation for energy production and practice of subsistence agriculture, causing interference in nutrient cycling. The aim of the study was to quantify and chemically analyze litter deposition in a fragment of Caatinga, located in the municipality of Pombal, Paraíba (PB) state. It was collected monthly for 12 months, and separated into different fractions (leaves, reproductive structures, branches and miscellaneous), all litter deposited on collectors of 1.0 m2, distributed systematically. The nutrients analyzed were N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The annual litter was of 3785.67 kg ha-1, predominantly composed of leaf fraction with 70.2%, followed by the fraction reproductive structures with 18.3%. The nutrient content in the leaf litter followed the order Ca> N> K> Mg> P. The nutrient content in the fractions vary according to time and there is evidence of their relationship with the rainfall. The deposition of litter coincided with the seasonal period of Caatinga.

RESUMO Objetivou-se quantificar o conteúdo de nutrientes nos componentes da biomassa da parte aérea das espécies de maior valor de importância em duas áreas de Caatinga e avaliar a eficiência dessas plantas no uso desses nutrientes. A pesquisa foi realizada na fazenda Itapemirim, no município de Floresta - PE, onde foram estudadas duas áreas de vegetação de Caatinga em fases distintas de sucessão ecológica, apresentando características distintas, uma em estágio de regeneração e outra preservada. Na amostragem foi realizado um inventário inicial se lançando 40 parcelas de 400 m2 em cada área, tendo como nível de inclusão CAP ≥ 6,0 cm. Para análise da biomassa foram utilizadas as cinco espécies de maior valor de importância de cada área, a escolha dos indivíduos foi de forma aleatória e cada planta escolhida teve medida sua circunferência a altura do peito e na base. No processo de pesagem e amostragem dos componentes da parte aérea, as árvores escolhidas foram derrubadas e em seguida foram pesados todos seus componentes e retirada uma amostra para realização das análises químicas. Nesse estudo observou-se que o levantamento inicial nas duas áreas a Poincianella bracteosa foi a espécies que apresentou maior conteúdo de nutrientes na biomassa total acima do solo em ambas as áreas, e o componente galho foi o de maior contribuição no conteúdo de nutrientes na biomassa total, sendo N o nutriente mais acumulado no componente folha, e o Ca nos componentes lenhosos em ambas as áreas, já os nutrientes que apresentaram a maior eficiência de utilização nutricional nas espécies estudadas em ambas as áreas, foram o S e o P.

ABSTRACT It was aimed to know the content of mineral nutrients in the components of the biomass of the aerial part of the species of the biggest value of importance in two areas of Caatinga and to evaluate the efficiency of these plants in the use of these nutrients. The research was carried through Itapemirim farm in Floresta, Pernambuco state, where two areas of vegetation of Caatinga inside the farm were studied, presenting distinct characteristics, one in period of training of regeneration, and the other one was preserved. In the sampling, an initial inventory was made launching 40 parcels of 400m2 in each area, having as level of inclusion CBH ≥ 6.0 cm. For the analysis of biomass, it was used the five species of the biggest value of importance of each area, the choice of the individuals was at random and each chosen plant had measured its circumference the height of the chest and in the base. In the process of weighing and sampling the components of the aerial part, the chosen trees had been knocked down and after that, their components were all weighed and a sample was removed for the chemical analyses. In this study, it was observed that the initial survey in the two areas, bracteosa Poincianella was the species that presented greater content of nutrients in the total biomass above the ground in both the areas. The component twig was of bigger contribution in the content of nutrients in the total biomass, being N the accumulated nutrient more in the component leaf, and in timber components in both the areas, once the nutrients that presented the greatest efficiency for their use in the plants studied in both the areas, were S and P.

RESUMO: A Caatinga é um dos biomas menos conhecidos em termos de estrutura e composição florística, aspecto preocupante, pois sofre um intenso processo de antropização. Partindo desse princípio, foi realizado um levantamento fitossociológico da vegetação adulta e regeneração natural em áreas com diferentes históricos de perturbação. Para amostragem do componente arbustivo/arbóreo adulto e regeneração natural instalou-se, de forma sistemática, 18 unidades amostrais em cada área (Ambiente I e Ambiente II), com dimensões de 10 x 25 m e 10 x 5 m, respectivamente. Foram inventariados os indivíduos adultos com CAP ≥ 6,0 cm, e para regeneração natural mensurados os indivíduos com altura superior a 0,5 m e CNB < 6,0 cm. No ambiente II foram amostrados 1155 indivíduos, pertencentes a 6 famílias e 12 espécies, e no ambiente I amostrados 286 indivíduos, pertencentes a 3 famílias e 6 espécies. O índice de diversidade foi de 1,5 e 0,23 nats.individuo-1 para o ambiente II e ambiente I, respectivamente. Foram amostrados 636 indivíduos na regeneração natural, sendo 360 no ambiente I e 276 no ambiente II. O índice de diversidade da regeneração natural para os ambientes I e II foram de 1,21 e 0,8 nats.ind-1, respectivamente. Concluiu-se que as ações antrópicas foram capazes de mudar de maneira significativa a estrutura da vegetação e diversidade de espécies nos dois ambientes.

ABSTRACT: The Caatinga is one of the least known biomes in terms of structure and floristic composition, worrying aspect because it undergoes an intense process of human disturbance. With this assumption, we carried out a phytosociological survey of adult vegetation and natural regeneration in areas with different histories of disturbance. For a sampling of the shrub/adult tree and natural regeneration, settled in a systematic, 18 sampling units in each area (Habitat I and Habitat II), with dimensions of 10 x 25 m and 10 x 5 m respectively. Individuals were surveyed adults with CAP ≥ 6.0 cm, and natural regeneration measured the individuals taller than 0.5 m and CNB <6.0 cm. Habitat II in the were sampled 1155 individuals belonging to 6 families and 12 species, and the habitat I was sampled 286 individuals belonging to three families and six species. The diversity index was 1.5 and 0.23 for Nats.individual-1 Habitat II and habitat I respectively. We sampled 636 individuals in natural regeneration, being habitat I in 360 and 276 in the Habitat II. The diversity index of natural regeneration for the Habitat II and habitat I were 1.21 and 0.8 Nats.individual-1. It was concluded that human activities were able to change the vegetation structure and species diversity in both habitats significantly.

A atividade biológica do solo é responsável por inúmeras transformações físicas e químicas dos resíduos orgânicos que são depositados, mantendo, assim, a sustentabilidade do ambiente. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar a distribuição da comunidade microbiana e da mesofauna edáfica no semi-árido da Paraíba. Para determinação da população de microrganismos, foram coletadas amostras de solo na profundidade de 0-15 cm. A contagem total de fungos e de bactérias foi realizada em meios de cultura específicos. A extração da mesofauna foi feita pelo método de Berlese-Tullgren modificado. Oscilações no conteúdo de água do solo e na temperatura promoveram variações na população microbiana. A população de fungos foi superior à de bactérias nos dois anos de observação, provavelmente devido ao pH do solo da área de estudo, que é ligeiramente ácido. O índice de diversidade de Shannon (H) e o de Pielou (e) variaram de acordo com a época de coleta. Os grupos mais freqüentes da mesofauna do solo foram Diptera (42,5 %), Acarinae (40,3 %) e Collembola (8,8 %), indicando que esses organismos possuem papel importante na ciclagem de nutrientes em área de Caatinga.

The biological soil activity is responsible for several physical and chemical transformations of deposited organic residues, therefore maintaining the environmental sustainability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of the soil microbial community and mesofauna in a dry forest (Caatinga) in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, northeastern Brazil. To determine the microorganism population soil samples from the 0-15 cm soil layer were evaluated. Total counts of fungi and bacteria were evaluated in specific culture media. The Berleusse-Tüllgren modified method was used to extract the soil mesofauna. Oscillations in the soil water content and high temperatures promoted variations in the microbial population. The fungi population was larger than that of bacteria in both years of the study period, probably due to the slightly acidic soil pH. Shannon's index (H) and Pielou's index (e) also varied according to the season of the year. The most important mesofauna groups are Díptera (42.5 %), Acarinae (40.3 %) and Collembola (8.8 %). These groups play an important role in nutrient cycling in dry forest sites.