Abstract The success of Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus infection in fish involves a complexity of variables. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between abundance of P. (S.) inopinatus with biometric and somatic parameters, sex, relative condition factor (Kn) and hosts diet, as well as to evaluate length relationship of the parasites and the hosts. The fishes were collected by the mesh method and data, length, weight, sex, gonad and liver weight, Gonadosomatic index (GSI) and hepatosomatic index (HSI), Kn and stomach content were recorded. Twenty-seven specimens of P. (S.) inopinatus were collected in the intestine from Serrasalmus rhombeus and 52 from Leporinus friderici. In general, the prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of infection was higher in L. friderici. The total abundance was explained by the variables GSI, HSI total length, gonad and liver weight. Fish relative condition factor (kn) and sex were not influenced by the infection, being that the parasite infection did not impair the body condition of the hosts. There is no relationship between host length and parasite length in any of the evaluated fish species. On average, S. rhombeus parasites are 0.69 cm larger than L. friderici parasites.

ABSTRACT This work aimed to isolate and characterize plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) from 10 Paspalum genotypes and evaluate the effect of their inoculation on P. regnellii, P. atratum, and P. malacophyllum genotypes. The bacterial population ranged from undetectable to 107 bacterial cells per gram of fresh matter in the Paspalum genotypes. Initially, we isolated 164 bacteria from rhizospheric soil and roots of the Paspalum genotypes using media N-free LG agar plate, semi-solid NFb, and LGI. The isolates were characterized genetically and physiologically. The sequencing of 16S rRNA showed the presence of many genera, and some are new in association with Paspalum. The most common was Bacillus followed by Rhizobium, Paraburkholderia, Enterobacter, Cupriavidus, Pseudomonas, Dyadobacter and Acinetobacter. Thirty-eight per cent of isolates produced siderophores, 25 % produced solubilized phosphate, and only 9 % produced indolic compounds. Three greenhouse experiments were performed in randomized blocks with six replicates using representative bacterial strains isolated from P. regnellii, P. malacophyllum and P. atratum cv. Pojuca. We also included strain Sp245 (Azospirillum baldaniorum), uninoculated control, and nitrogen control (150 kg N ha−1). There was an increase of up to 53 % in shoot dry matter in P. regnellii inoculated with strain Sp245 and the shoots accumulated more N. In contrast, only small effects were observed for the other Paspalum genotypes inoculated with PGPR from the host genotypes. This study shows a high diversity of diazotrophic rhizosphere bacteria and suggests no strain specificity between the bacterial isolates and the Paspalum genotypes.

Resumo Fundamento: O tabagismo geralmente está associado à hipertensão e pode modificar a resposta vasoconstritora. Objetivo: O presente estudo teve como objetivo analisar e comparar a interação do tabagismo passivo e hipertensão sobre os efeitos da epinefrina e felipressina na pressão arterial após injeção intravascular. Métodos: Ratos Wistar machos de 45 dias tiveram a artéria renal principal esquerda parcialmente obstruída e o rim direito removido (modelo 1K1C). Os ratos foram colocados na câmara para exposição ao tabagismo passivo (10 cigarros) durante 10 minutos (6 dias por semana). Ratos hipertensos receberam atenolol (90 mg/kg/dia) por gavagem durante duas semanas. A resposta hipotensora e hipertensiva, a duração da resposta e a frequência cardíaca foram registradas a partir da medida dos valores diretos da pressão arterial. O nível de significância foi de 5%. Resultados: O tabagismo passivo aumentou a resposta hipertensiva máxima à epinefrina em ratos normotensos e ratos 1K1C tratados com atenolol e à felipressina apenas em ratos 1K1C tratados com atenolol; também reduziu a resposta hipotensiva à epinefrina. A epinefrina aumentou a frequência cardíaca em ratos fumantes passivos ou não-fumantes, normotensos e hipertensos. Comparando os dois vasoconstritores, a epinefrina apresentou maior resposta hipertensiva em fumantes normotensos, ratos 1K1C fumantes e não fumantes tratados com atenolol. No entanto, em ratos normotensos e não fumantes, a felipressina apresentou um efeito hipertensivo maior e mais prolongado. Conclusões: Nossos resultados sugerem que o tabagismo passivo pode reduzir a vasodilatação da epinefrina e aumentar a resposta hipertensiva quando comparado à felipressina. Portanto, a felipressina pode ser segura para pacientes hipertensos, com o objetivo de evitar a interação entre taquicardia e atenolol, mas para pacientes normotensos e não-fumantes, a epinefrina pode ser mais segura que a felipressina.

Abstract Background: Cigarette smoking is usually associated with hypertension and may modify vasoconstrictor response. Objective: The present study aimed to analyze and compare the interaction of passive cigarette smoking and hypertension on epinephrine and felypressin blood pressure effects after intravascular injection. Method: 45-day male Wistar rats had the main left renal artery partially constricted and the right kidney removed (1K1C model). Rats were placed in the chamber for exposition to passive cigarette smoking (10 cigarettes) during 10 min (6 days a week). Hypertensive rats received atenolol (90 mg/kg/day) by gavage for two weeks. Hypotensive and hypertensive response, response duration and heart rate were recorded from direct blood pressure values. The significance level was 5%. Results: Passive cigarette smoking increased maximal hypertensive response to epinephrine in normotensive and 1K1C-atenolol treated rats and to felypressin only in 1K1C-atenolol treated rats; it also reduced epinephrine hypotensive response. Epinephrine increased heart rate in normotensive and hypertensive passive smokers or non-smoker rats. Comparing the two vasoconstrictors, epinephrine showed greater hypertensive response in normotensive smokers, 1K1C-atenolol treated smokers and non-smokers. However, in normotensive-nonsmoker rats, felypressin showed a greater and longer hypertensive effect. Conclusions: Our results suggest that passive cigarette smoking may reduce epinephrine vasodilation and increase hypertensive response when compared to felypressin. Therefore, felypressin may be safe for hypertensive patients to avoid tachycardia and atenolol interaction, but for normotensive and non-smoker patients, epinephrine may be safer than felypressin.

A synthetic procedure for obtaining the fluorescent coumarin umbelliferone (7-hydroxycoumarin) and its spectral parameters were fully developed aiming at an undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory class. Umbelliferone is traditionally prepared via Pechmann condensation using malic acid, resorcinol and sulfuric acid as catalyst. The use of domestic microwave oven and the absence of solvent allow our methodology to be simple, fast and easy applied in obtaining umbelliferone at organic chemistry laboratory being greener than classical techniques of synthesis. In this class the student will learn how to measure the potency of a microwave oven, the applicability of this kind of irradiation in the organic synthesis of fluorescent compounds and how to determine the pKa of an organic compound through an UV/VIS spectrometric analysis. These experiments were designed to be suitable for a second and third year undergraduate curriculum.

Background:In Brazil, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) caused by carbapenem resis- tant Acinetobacter baumanniiand Pseudomonas aeruginosaisolates are associated with significant mortality, morbidity and costs. Studies on the clonal relatedness of these isolates could lay the foundation for effective infection prevention and control programs.Objectives: We sought to study the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of A. baumannii vs. P. aeruginosaVAP in an adult intensive care unit (ICU).Methods: It was conducted a cohort study of patients with VAP caused by carbapenem resistant A. baumanniiand P'. aeruginosaduring 14 months in an adult ICU. Genomic studies were used to investigate the clonal relatedness of carbapenem resistant OXA-23-producing A. baumanniiand P. aeruginosaclinical isolates. The risk factors for acquisition of VAP were also evaluated. Clinical isolates were collected for analysis as were samples from the environment and were typed using pulsed field gel electrophoresis.Results: Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified trauma diagnosed at admission and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy as independent variables associated with the development of A. baumanniiVAP and hemodialysis as independent variable associated with P. aeruginosaVAP. All carbapenem resistant clinical and environmental isolates of A. baumanniiwere OXA-23 producers. No MBL-producer P. aeruginosawas detected. Molecular typing revealed a polyclonal pattern; however, clone A (clinical) and H (surface) were the most frequent among isolates of A. baumanniitested, with a greater pattern of resistance than other isolates. In P. aeruginosathe most frequent clone I was multi-sensitive.Conclusion: These findings suggest the requirement of constant monitoring of these microor- ganisms in order to control the spread of these clones in the hospital environment.

Objetivou-se avaliar silagens de cana-de-açúcar tratadas com aditivos químicos (uréia 1,5%; benzoato de sódio 0,1%; ou hidróxido de sódio (NaOH) 1% na matéria natural) combinados ou não com inoculantes (Propionibacterium acidipropionici + Lactobacillus plantarum ou Lactobacillus buchneri). Foram avaliadas 12 silagens: uma controle, sem inoculante e sem aditivo químico; três sem inoculante, mas com um dos aditivos; uma com P. acidipropionici + L. plantarum, sem aditivo químico; três com P. acidipropionici + L. plantarum e um dos aditivos; uma com L. buchneri, sem aditivo químico; e três com L. buchneri e um dos aditivos. Os dados foram analisados em esquema fatorial 4 × 3 com três repetições para cada tratamento. Foram determinadas as perdas ocorridas durante o processo fermentativo nas formas de gases e de efluentes e a recuperação da MS. Durante a exposição aeróbia, determinaram-se a recuperação da MS e a estabilidade aeróbia medida pela variação da temperatura. A associação de L. buchneri e NaOH reduziu as perdas por gases e efluentes e elevou a recuperação da MS. No período após abertura, destacou-se a atuação do benzoato de sódio em manter o pH com variação de apenas 0,1 unidade em cinco dias de exposição aeróbia e dos inoculantes L. buchneri e P. acidipropionici + L. plantarum em prolongar o tempo para elevação da temperatura de 34 horas nas silagens controle para 54 e 50 horas, respectivamente. A ensilagem de cana-de-açúcar requer a inclusão de algum aditivo eficiente no controle das perdas quantitativas durante a fermentação e a exposição aeróbia.

The experiment was carried out to evaluate sugar cane silage treated with chemical additive: urea 1.5%, sodium benzoate 0.1%, and sodium hydroxide 1.0% on the wet basis, associated with Propionibacterium acidipropionici + Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri, plus control silage in a factorial scheme 4 x 3, with three replications. The gas and effluents losses during the fermentation phase, and dry matter recovery were determined. During the aerobic phase were determined the dry matter recovery and aerobic stability through the temperature variation. The Lactobacillus buchneri and NaOH association reduced gas and effluent losses and increased the dry matter recovery. At the aerobic phase, the sodium benzoate maintained the pH values, with changes of 0.1 unit during five days. The time to temperature elevation increased from 34 hours on the control silage to 54.0 and 50.0 hours, respectively on the silage inoculated with Propionibacterium acidipropionici + Lactobacillus plantarum or Lactobacillus buchneri. The sugar cane silage production required an efficient additive inclusion which can control the quantitative losses during the fermentation and aerobic phases.

Compósitos condutores de eletricidade envolvendo polianilina e resina epoxídica foram preparados utilizando-se o método da polimerização in situ. O método consiste da polimerização em emulsão da anilina na presença da resina epoxídica. Ácido dodecilbenzenossulfônico foi utilizado como agente dopante, que age também como surfactante da polimerização em emulsão. A condutividade elétrica do sistema Pani/resina epoxídica alcançou valores tão altos quanto 2 x 10-3 S/cm, com uma concentração de Pani correspondente a 7% em peso. O conteúdo de Pani na mistura foi determinado por análise elementar. O efeito do método de cura da resina epoxídica na condutividade elétrica, temperatura de transição vítrea e propriedades mecânicas do sistema foi também investigado.

The conductive composites of polyaniline (Pani) and epoxy resin were prepared by polymerization of aniline in the presence of epoxy resin, using a direct, one step in situ polymerization method. The polymerization of aniline was performed in an emulsion system comprising water and toluene containing epoxy resin in the presence of dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, which acts as surfactant and a dopant for Pani. The electrical conductivity of Pani/ epoxy resin reached values as high as 2 x 10-3 S/cm at a Pani content corresponding of 7 wt% of Pani. The Pani content in the mixtures was calculated by means of elemental analysis. The relationships between glass transition temperature (Tg) and Pani.DBSA content obtained by two different cured methods were also investigated.