ABSTRACT In Brazil, few studies on the molecular aspects of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection have been conducted in the interior regions of Sao Paulo State. This study aimed to identify HBV genotypes and evaluate strains with resistance mutations for nucleoside analogues in the Administrative Region (AR) of the municipality of Sao Jose do Rio Preto. We performed nested PCRs of 127 samples from the Health Care Services of the AR to amplify, sequence and analyze fragments of the HBV DNA, in order to identify genotypes and resistance mutations. The HBV S/Pol regions of 126 samples were successfully amplified and sequenced. Five different genotypes were found, and the main ones were A, D and F; a greater number of samples contained the subgenotypes A1 (n = 51; 40.5%), D3 (n = 36; 28.6%), A2 (n = 14; 11.1%) and F2a (n = 9; 7.1%). Resistance mutations (rtM204V/I/S) associated or not with compensatory mutations (rtL180M, rtV173L) were identified in 13.9% (5/36) of patients undergoing viral treatment and 1.1% (1/90) of naïve patients. The diversity of genotypes/subgenotypes found is probably due to the intense migration occurring in the region. These data can complement epidemiological and clinical surveillance, and can be used for a more effective management of chronic HBV patients.

RESUMO Piper bellidifolium, Piper durilignum, Piper acutilimbum e Piper consanguineum são arbustos que ocorrem na Amazônia e são morfologicamente similares. Com o intuito de analisar o perfil químico dos constituintes voláteis dessas espécies, óleos essenciais das folhas foram obtidos por hidrodestilação e analisados por cromatografia gasosa - detector por ionização de chama (CG-FID) e cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massa (CG-EM). A análise química permitiu identificar 95 compostos, representando 96.3 ± 0.6% do óleo de P. bellidifolium; 95.5 ± 0.71% de P. durilignum; 98.0 ± 1.0% de P. acutilimbum e 96.1 ± 2.1% de P. consanguineum. Apesar dos óleos das quatro espécies terem sesquiterpeno como classe química predominante, diferenças qualitativas e quantitativas em sua composição química foram observadas. Os principais componentes encontrados foram: (E)-nerolidol (20.3 ± 0.4%) em P. bellidifolium; germacreno D (11.1 ± 0.3%) em P. durilignum; e γ-eudesmol nos óleos de P. consanguineum (18.6 ± 0.5%) e P. acutilimbum (7.5 ± 0.4%). Apesar da similaridade morfológica entre as espécies, uma análise de componentes principais (PCA) dos dados de CG-EM claramente separou as quatro espécies quanto ao perfil químico do óleo essencial extríado de suas folhas.

ABSTRACT Piper bellidifolium, Piper durilignum, Piper acutilimbum and Piper consanguineum are bushes that occur in the Amazon and are morphologically similar. With the aim of analyzing the chemical profile of the volatile constituents of these species, essential oils from the leaves were obtained through steam distillation and analyzed using gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The chemical analysis enabled the identification of 95 compounds representing 96.3 ± 0.6% of the P. bellidifolium oil, 95.5 ± 0.71% of the P. durilignum oil, 98.0 ± 1.0% of the P. acutilimbum oil and 96.1 ± 2.1% of the P. consanguineum oil. Although sesquiterpenes were the predominant chemical class in the oils of the four species, qualitative and quantitative differences were found in their chemical composition. The major constituents were (E)-nerolidol (20.3 ± 0.4%) in the P. bellidifolium oil, germacrene D (11.1 ± 0.3%) in the P. durilignum oil, and γ-eudesmol in both the P. consanguineum (18.6 ± 0.5%) and P. acutilimbum (7.5 ± 0.4%) oils. Despite their morphological similarity, a principal component analysis (PCA) of the GC-MS data clearly separated the four species according to the chemical profile of the essential oil extracted from their leaves.

ABSTRACT The identification of erosion-susceptible areas is fundamental for the adoption of soil conservation practices. Thus, the best way to estimate the spatial pattern of soil erosion must be identified, in which the process uncertainties are also taken into consideration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spatial and temporal uncertainty of soil loss under two scenarios of sugarcane harvest management: green cane (GC) and burnt cane (BC). The study was carried out on a 200-ha area, in Tabapuã, São Paulo State, Brazil. A regular 626-point sampling grid was established in the area, with equidistant intervals of 50 m and a final plant density of about 3.3 samples per ha. The probability that the soil loss would exceed the tolerable limit of 6.67 t ha-1 yr-1 was estimated for each management scenario and after the five harvests. The temporal uncertainty was determined by integrating the estimated annual probabilities, representing the harvests. Areas with soil loss risks above the threshold were identified based on probability maps, generated from the individual and combined dichotomous variables. Soil losses from the BC were highest, during all five harvests. With the exception of the 5th harvest and the entire cultivation cycle under GC, all soil loss estimates were spatially dependent. From the 4th harvest under GC, the probability of the soil loss exceeding the threshold was above 80 % in zero percent of the area, whereas, for BC, the probability exceeded 80 % in 40 % of the area. The production cycle allowed the delimitation of priority areas for the adoption of conservation practices in each management. In the BC, areas with steeper slopes were more likely to exceed the threshold with lower uncertainties.

Resumo: O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e testar em campo a composição do feromônio sexual da broca-do-ponteiro do mogno, Hypsipyla grandella, de uma população do Sul do Brasil. As glândulas abdominais de fêmeas de H. grandella foram excisadas e extraídas por meio de n-hexano; os extratos de glândula foram analisados por cromatografia gasosa (GC-FID e GC-MS). Experimentos de túnel de vento e eletrofisiologia foram conduzidos para avaliar o papel dos compostos das glândulas no comportamento de busca de acasalamento pelos machos de H. grandella. Armadilhas com o feromônio identificado foram testadas em campo. Além dos compostos previamente identificados - (9Z,12E)-tetradecadien-1-ol e acetato de (9Z,12E)-tetradecadienila -, em populações de insetos da América Central, dois novos compostos foram identificados: (9Z)-tetradecen-1-ol e acetato de (9Z)-tetradecenila. A análise eletroantenográfica mostrou que estes quatro compostos provocaram uma resposta da antena dos machos coespecíficos. Os bioensaios em túnel de vento - com misturas binária, ternária e quaternária, com uso de diferentes quantidades dos compostos - Z9-14:OH, Z9,E12-14:OH, Z9-14:OAc e Z9,E12-14:OAc -, mostraram uma resposta do macho similar à resposta de chamamento das fêmeas coespecíficas. Quando as misturas binária e quaternária foram testadas em condições de campo, os machos foram atraídos para as armadilhas com a mistura quaternária. A nova mistura feromonal identificada em machos de H. grandella tem grande potencial para ser usado no monitoramento e controle desta praga no campo.

Abstract: The objective of this work was to identify and carry out a field testing of the sex pheromone composition of the mahogany shoot borer, Hypsipyla grandella, from a population in Southern Brazil. Abdominal glands of H. grandella females were excised and extracted using n-hexane; the gland extracts were analysed by gas chromatography (GC-FID and GC-MS). Wind-tunnel and electrophysiology experiments were conducted to evaluate the role of gland compounds in the mating behavior of H. grandella males. In the field, pheromone traps containing the identified pheromone were tested. In addition to the two previously identified compounds - (9Z,12E)-tetradecadien-1-ol and (9Z,12E)-tetradecadienyl acetate -, in insects from Central America populations, two additional compounds were identified in the blend: (9Z)-tetradecen-1-ol and (9Z)-tetradecenyl acetate. Gas chromatography-electroantennographic analyses showed that these four components elicited antennal responses from conspecific males. Wind tunnel bioassays using different amounts of the components Z9-14:OH, Z9,E12-14:OH, Z9-14:OAc, and Z9,E12-14:OAc, elicited male responses similar to the response to conspecific calling females. When the binary and quaternary mixtures were tested in field conditions, males were attracted to the traps containing the quaternary mixture. The new pheromone blend identified in H. grandella males has a great potential to be exploited as a monitoring tool or control measure in the field.

Abstract Dengue is a major worldwide public health problem, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Primary infection with a single Dengue virus serotype causes a mild, self-limiting febrile illness called dengue fever. However, a subset of patients who experience secondary infection with a different serotype can progress to a more severe form of the disease, called dengue hemorrhagic fever. The four Dengue virus serotypes (1–4) are antigenically and genetically distinct and each serotype is composed of multiple genotypes. In this study we isolated one Dengue virus 1 serotype, named BR/Alfenas/2012, from a patient with dengue hemorrhagic fever in Alfenas, South Minas Gerais, Brazil and molecular identification was performed based on the analysis of NS5 gene. Swiss mice were infected with this isolate to verify its potential to induce histopathological alterations characteristic of dengue. Liver histopathological analysis of infected animals showed the presence of inflammatory infiltrates, hepatic steatosis, as well as edema, hemorrhage and necrosis focal points. Phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses based on the envelope gene provided evidence that the isolate BR/Alfenas/2012 belongs to genotype V, lineage I and it is probably derived from isolates of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The isolate BR/Alfenas/2012 showed two unique amino acids substitutions (SER222THRE and PHE306SER) when compared to other Brazilian isolates from the same genotype/lineage. Molecular models were generated for the envelope protein indicating that the amino acid alteration PHE 306 SER could contribute to a different folding in this region located within the domain III. Further genetic and animal model studies using BR/Alfenas/2012 and other isolates belonging to the same lineage/genotype could help determine the relation of these genetic alterations and dengue hemorrhagic fever in a susceptible population.

A avaliação da incerteza espacial das predições das perdas de nutrientes por erosão, associada aos modelos de paisagem, é importante ferramenta na análise e no planejamento conservacionista do solo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a incerteza espacial e o local na predição das taxas de empobrecimento do solo por nutrientes (P, K, Ca e Mg) em razão da erosão hídrica em dois sistemas de colheita da cana-de-açúcar (cana crua e queimada), utilizando-se a simulação sequencial gaussiana (SSG). O estudo foi realizado em uma área de 200 ha, localizada em Tabapuã, Estado de São Paulo, sudeste do Brasil. Uma malha de amostragem regular foi estabelecida na área, com intervalos equidistantes de 50 m, totalizando 626 pontos. A taxa de empobrecimento do solo foi calculada com base na relação entre concentração dos nutrientes no sedimento erodido e os atributos químicos do solo original, ponto a ponto. Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística descritiva e geoestatística. A taxa média de empobrecimento do solo para todos os nutrientes avaliados foi superior no cenário de cana queimada em relação ao cenário de cana crua (teste t-Student; p<0,05). Em ambos os cenários, a ordem da perda dos nutrientes foi: Ca>Mg>K>P. Áreas com maior taxa de empobrecimento do solo foram relacionadas à maior declividade da paisagem. As menores incertezas estão associadas às áreas com maiores taxas de empobrecimento do solo e declividades. Por sua vez, as maiores incertezas estão associadas às áreas de transição entre as pedoformas côncava e convexa.

The assessment of spatial uncertainty in the prediction of nutrient losses by erosion associated with landscape models is an important tool for soil conservation planning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the spatial and local uncertainty in predicting depletion rates of soil nutrients (P, K, Ca, and Mg) by soil erosion from green and burnt sugarcane harvesting scenarios, using sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS). A regular grid with equidistant intervals of 50 m (626 points) was established in the 200-ha study area, in Tabapuã, São Paulo, Brazil. The rate of soil depletion (SD) was calculated from the relation between the nutrient concentration in the sediments and the chemical properties in the original soil for all grid points. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical and geostatistical analysis. The mean SD rate for all nutrients was higher in the slash-and-burn than the green cane harvest scenario (Student’s t-test, p<0.05). In both scenarios, nutrient loss followed the order: Ca>Mg>K>P. The SD rate was highest in areas with greater slope. Lower uncertainties were associated to the areas with higher SD and steeper slopes. Spatial uncertainties were highest for areas of transition between concave and convex landforms.

O objetivo do trabalho consistiu em avaliar as medidas biométricas e as características de carcaça e cortes comerciais de 24 cordeiros Santa Inês inteiros, terminados em pastagem natural com diferentes suplementos. Os animais foram distribuídos por quatro dietas experimentais: 200g/dia do suplemento proteico-energético mais cloreto de sódio; 200 g/dia do suplemento proteico-energético-mineral; 300g/dia do suplemento proteico-energético-mineral e 300 g/dia do suplemento proteico-energético-mineral sem manganês. Utilizou-se um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições. Os suplementos não influenciaram as medidas biométricas, a condição corporal, o peso ao abate, a perda por resfriamento, o peso da meia carcaça, os rendimentos de carcaça quente, carcaça fria e biológica e o peso dos cortes comerciais dos cordeiros Santa Inês. O peso de carcaça quente e fria, da carcaça vazia, do conteúdo gastrintestinal e da perna dos cordeiros suplementados com 300 g/dia sem manganês foram superiores aos obtidos pelos cordeiros que receberam 200 g/dia de suplemento. Os sistemas de suplementação proteico-energético mineral avaliados foram eficientes na obtenção de carcaças, sendo recomendada o acabamento de ovinos Santa Inês em pastagem natural com peso inicial em torno de 19,9 kg e o abate aos 200 dias de idade.

This study aimed to evaluate the biometric measurements and characteristics of the carcass and retail cuts of 24 Santa Inês whole lambs finished in native pasture with different supplements. The animals were divided into four experimental diets: 200 g/day of a protein-energy supplement plus sodium chloride; 200 g/day of the protein-energy-mineral supplement; 300 g/day of the protein-energy-mineral supplement and 300 g/day of the protein-energy-min supplement without manganese. A complete randomized experimental design with four treatments and six replications was used. The supplements did not influence the biometric measurements, body score, slaughter weight, loss by cooling, weight of the half carcass, hot carcass yield, cold carcass yield or the biological yield and weight of retail cuts from the Santa Inês lambs. The weights of hot and cold carcass, empty body, gastrointestinal-tract contents and leg of the lambs that received 300 g/day of supplement without manganese were higher than those of lambs that received 200 g/day of supplement. The energetic protein-mineral supplementation systems evaluated were effective in obtaining quality carcasses under finishing recommendations of Santa Inês sheep on native pasture with an initial weight of approximately 19.9 kg and slaughtered at 200 days old.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar o coeficiente de erodibilidade em sulcos e entressulcos, por meio de parâmetros da cor do solo. Foram selecionadas três áreas cultivadas com soja, em Argissolos Amarelos coesos do Leste Maranhense. Em cada área, foram retiradas 121 amostras na profundidade de 0,00-0,20 m. Foram determinados os valores de espectroscopia de reflectância difusa na faixa do visível, para obtenção dos valores de matiz, valor e croma. A partir destes constituintes da cor, foi calculado o índice de avermelhamento para cada amostra. Foram desenvolvidos modelos para avaliar o efeito de cada componente da cor sobre a erodibilidade em sulcos e entressulcos. Esses componentes apresentaram R2 que variou de 0,37 a 0,70. Os modelos gerados obtiveram R2 de 0,70 e 0,73, para entressulcos e sulcos, respectivamente. A cor do solo determinada por espectroscopia de reflectância difusa pode ser utilizada como método alternativo para estimar o coeficiente de erodibilidade de Argissolos Amarelos coesos.

The objective of this work was to estimate the rill and interrill erodibility coefficient through soil color parameters. Three areas were selected, which were cultivated with soybean in cohesive Ultisols of the eastern region of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. In each area, 121 samples were collected at a depth of 0.00-0.20 m. The values of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the visible range were determined, in order to obtain the values of hue, value, and chroma. From these color constituents, the redness index was calculated for each sample. Models were developed to evaluate the effect of each color component on rill and interril erodibility. These components showed R2 ranging from 0.37 to 0.70. The generated models obtained R2 of 0.70 and 0.73 for interill and rill, respectively. Soil color determined by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy can be used as an alternative method to estimate the erodibility coefficient of cohesive Ultisols.

A demanda nacional e internacional por mapas de atributos do solo tem aumentado. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram caracterizar e associar a variabilidade da granulometria, os atributos químicos e a cor de solos coesos a diferentes formas de paisagem, em áreas agrícolas e de vegetação nativa, por meio de técnicas geoestatísticas. Para a instalação do experimento, foram escolhidas três áreas representadas por uma área cultivada com soja e, contígua a essa, uma com cobertura vegetal remanescente de três feições de cerrado, designadas de Cerradão (A), Cerrado (B) e Campo Cerrado (C). As áreas A e B estão localizadas em pedoforma côncava e a área C, na convexa. Em cada área, foram estabelecidas malhas de amostragem com 121 pontos; nas áreas com cobertura vegetal construíram-se transeções com cinco pontos espaçados em 20 m. Os maiores alcances médios, considerando ambas as profundidades avaliadas, foram encontrados para a área A, sendo de 115 m para granulometria, 157 m para atributos químicos e 168 m para a cor do solo. A área B apresentou alcances médios de 95, 64 e 160 m para granulometria, atributos químicos e cor do solo, respectivamente. A área C, por sua vez, exibiu alcances médios de 63, 65 e 58 m para granulometria, atributos químicos e cor do solo, respectivamente. O ambiente com maior variabilidade (área C) está relacionado com locais de ocorrência de vegetação do tipo Campo Cerrado e pedoforma convexa. Esse mesmo local evidenciou a menor capacidade de resposta ao manejo da cultura de soja, evidenciado pelos índices de fertilidade do solo para essa cultura, com destaque para os baixos valores de matéria orgânica (9,20 mg kg-1) e CTC (29,60 mmol c dm-3). Assim, pode-se afirmar que para o compartimento geológico estudado, os ambientes de alta variabilidade sempre estão associados a áreas com menor resposta ao manejo do solo para a cultura da soja.

The national and international demand for maps of soil properties has increased. The aim of this study was to characterize cohesive soils and associate their variability of particle size, chemical properties, and color to different landforms in agricultural areas and native vegetation using geostatistical techniques. To set up the experiment, we selected three areas of soil consisting of an area planted to soybeans and, contiguous to it, another area with plant cover remaining from three types of cerrado (tropical savanna), designated Cerradão (A), Cerrado (B), and Campo Cerrado (C). The areas A and B are located on a concave landform, while area C is on a convex landform. Sampling grids with 121 points were established in each area, and in areas with native vegetation, transects were constructed with five points spaced at 20 m. The largest mean ranges, considering both depths evaluated, were found for area A, with 115 m for particle size, 157 m for chemical attributes, and 168 m for soil color. Area B had mean ranges of 95, 64, and 160 m for grain size, chemical attribute, and soil color, respectively. For its part, area C exhibited the mean ranges of 63, 65, and 58 m in grain size, chemical attributes, and soil color, respectively. The environment with the greatest variability (area C) is related to locations with the occurrence of Campo Cerrado vegetation and a convex landform. This same site had the lowest responsiveness to soybean crop management, shown by soil fertility indicators for this crop, especially the low values for organic matter (9.20 mg kg-1) and CEC (29.60 mmol c dm-3). Thus, it can be stated that for the geological compartment studied, the environments of high variability will always be associated with areas with lower response to soil management for soybean.

A ocorrência dos solos coesos no Brasil está relacionada dominantemente com os sedimentos argiloarenosos da Formação Barreiras, os quais estão geologicamente relacionados com os depósitos sedimentares do período Terciário, que constituem a unidade geomorfológica dos Tabuleiros Costeiros. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram identificar a ocorrência de solos coesos e estudar suas relações com a paisagem na região leste do Estado do Maranhão. A área do estudo localiza-se na Fazenda Typuana, região leste maranhense, no município de Brejo, MA, nas coordenadas geográficas de 03º 36' S e 42º 52' W. A vegetação predominante da área de estudo é do tipo Cerrado, com uma composição florística diversificada. Foram abertas três trincheiras, uma em cada área do estudo, com distintas formações vegetais para as caracterizações morfológica, física, química, mineralógica e a classificação taxonômica dos solos. A caulinita foi o mineral predominante nos horizontes coesos, porém seu grau de cristalinidade não influenciou na variação da densidade do solo (1,40 a 1,56 kg dm-3) e na resistência à penetração (1,24 a 2,18 MPa). Constatou-se que a posição da paisagem foi determinante para a distinção dos solos coesos, de modo que os desenvolvidos em pedoforma côncava apresentaram a maior expressão do caráter coeso e com maior status de fertilidade e matéria orgânica, refletindo na vegetação mais exuberante, caracterizada pelo Cerradão.

The occurrence of cohesive soils in Brazil is predominantly related to sandy-clay sediments of the Barreiras Formation, which are geologically related to the sedimentary deposits of the Tertiary period (from Paleocene to Pliocene), which constitute the geomorphological unit of the Coastal Plains. The objective of this study was to identify the occurrence of cohesive soils in the eastern region of the state of Maranhão, Brazil, and assess their relationship to position in the landscape. The area under study is in the Typuana Farm, in the East Maranhão region, in Brejo, MA, at the geographical coordinates of 03° 36' S and 42° 52' W. The predominant vegetation of the area is Cerrado (tropical savanna), with diverse floristic composition. Three trenches were dug (depth profiles 1, 2, and 3), one in each area of study with distinct vegetation, for morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characterization, and for morphological classification of the soils. Kaolinite was the predominant mineral in the cohesive layers, but its degree of crystallinity did not affect the variation in soil density (1.40 to 1.56 kg dm-3) and resistance to penetration (1.24 to 2.18 MPa). It was found that position in the landscape was essential for distinction of cohesive soils, and those established in a concave landform exhibited the highest expression of the cohesive character, which resulted in higher soil fertility and organic matter, reflecting the more exuberant vegetation of the Cerradão.

INTRODUÇÃO: O melanoma maligno do canal anal é uma doença rara e agressiva, em que o diagnóstico precoce se torna difícil. Apresenta-se sem sintomas específicos, levando ao diagnóstico tardio e em fase avançada. O prognóstico é ruim e frequentemente relacionado a metástases a distância, bem como à ausência de resposta à rádio e à quimioterapia. A cirurgia permanece como terapia de escolha, no entanto a melhor abordagem ainda é controversa. Considerando não haver benefício na sobrevida da amputação abdômino-aerineal do aeto (AAPR), a excisão local ampla deve ser considerada o tratamento de escolha.MÉTODOS: São nove casos de melanoma anorretal tratados no serviço de coloproctologia do Hospital Naval Marcílio Dias (HNMD) de 1977 a 2006.RESULTADOS: Foram diagnosticados oito mulheres e um homem, com média de idade de 69 anos (41 - 85). A queixa mais frequente foi o sangramento anal. A excisão local ampla foi realizada em sete pacientes. A sobrevida média foi de 24 meses.CONCLUSÃO: O melanoma anorretal continua desafiante. Todos os esforços devem ser feitos para o diagnóstico precoce, tornando assim possível realizar a excisão local com margens negativas. A AAPR ainda é uma opção factível para tumores avançados ou quando o esfíncter anal está comprometido.

INTRODUCTION: Malignant melanoma of the anal canal is a rare and aggressive disease, which early diagnosis is difficult. Its presentation with no specific symptoms leads to a late diagnosis at an advanced stage. The prognosis of anorectal malignant melanoma is poor and frequently related to distant metastasis and absence of response of chemoradiotherapy. Surgery remains the mainstay of therapy; otherwise, the best approach is controversial. Considering no survival benefits for APR, wide local excision should be considered as the treatment of choice.METHODS: This report collects nine cases of anorectal melanoma treated at our division from 1977 to 2006, as well as a review of the literature.RESULTS: There were eight females and one male, of medium age 69 years (range: 41-85 years). Most frequent presentation was bleeding. Wide Local Excision (WLE) was performed in seven of them. Mean survival was 24 months, and six of them died on account of metastatic disease.CONCLUSION: Anorectal melanoma remains challenging. Efforts should be taken to early diagnosis, and wide local excision with negative margins is the preferred treatment. Abdominoperineal resection (APR) is a reasonable option for bulky tumors or when the sphincter is invaded.

A maior parte da vegetação da Caatinga encontra-se em sucessão secundária com predominância de espécies invasoras e de baixo valor nutricional, das quais se destacam, entre as lenhosas, o marmeleiro e a jurema-preta. As plantas herbáceas, as folhas e ramos das espécies lenhosas produzem cerca de 4.000kg de matéria seca/hectare/ano, mas apenas 10% (400kg) fica disponível ao pastejo dos animais, mesmo assim, as plantas forrageiras da caatinga são os componente principais da dieta de caprinos e ovinos da região. Esse aspecto, associado ao superpastejo, tem contribuído para o aumento de plantas de pouco valor nutricional, em substituição daquelas de melhor qualidade, o que pode resultar no desaparecimento de plantas forrageiras e acelerar uma possível degradação qualitativa da pastagem. Tal possibilidade tem preocupado técnicos e pesquisadores e os tem levado a buscar de alternativas de manejo da caatinga, com vistas a potencializar qualitativo e quantitativamente esses recursos forrageiros da Caatinga para a produção de caprinos e ovinos. Dentre as alternativas de manejo, destacam-se o rebaixamento, raleamento, enriquecimento, sistemas de podas, corte e conservação do excedente forrageiro da época chuvosa para utilização no período de estiagem, utilização de suplementação em pastejo, dentre outras. Assim, objetivou-se com esse trabalho apresentar e discutir alternativas de utilização dos recursos forrageiro da Caatinga na alimentação de pequenos ruminantes e sempre na perspectiva de uso sustentável da caatinga.

Most of the vegetation species of the Caatinga are in the process of secondary succession with predominance of invasive species with low nutritional value, such as the marmeleiro (Croton sonderianus Muell. Arg) and jurema-preta (Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.), among the lignified species. The herbaceous species and the leaves and branches of lignified species generate around 4,000kg of dry matter/ha/year, but only 10% (400kg) is available for animal grazing. All the same, forage plants of the Caatinga are the main components of the diet of goats and sheep in the region. This aspect associated to overgrazing has contributed to the increased number of low nutritional plants, which may lead to the disappearance of forage plants and accelerate the degradation of pasture quality. Therefore, the referred aspect has become very much a matter of concern of experts and researchers who seek alternative ways to manage the Caatinga regarding the production of goats and sheep. Some management alternatives include: thinning, enrichment, trimming, cutting and conservation of excess forage produced during the rainy seasons for use in the dry season, use of pasture supplementation, among others. Thus, the present study was aimed to present and discuss alternative uses of forage resources of the Caatinga in the feeding of small ruminants and from the perspective of a sustainable use of the Caatinga.

Objetivou-se avaliar a extensão e a intensidade da dependência espacial da fertilidade de um Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico, cultivado sob plantio direto, utilizando, de forma conjunta, técnicas de geoestatística e estatística multivariada. O experimento foi conduzido em uma área cultivada com soja em plantio direto no município de Rio Verde - GO. O solo foi amostrado nas profundidades de 0-0,05 m e 0,05-0,15 m, em uma malha amostral com 44 pontos. Os atributos avaliados foram pH em CaCl2, Ca, Mg, Al, P, K, H+Al, CTC, SB, V e MO. Os dados foram analisados por meio da análise da estatística descritiva seguida de uma análise de componentes principais de forma a gerar componentes que expliquem a maior parte da variação dos atributos. A geoestatística foi utilizada para verificar a existência e quantificar o grau de dependência espacial utilizando os componentes principais. A matéria orgânica apresentou maior continuidade espacial devido às características do sistema de plantio direto. De maneira geral, a área apresentou baixa fertilidade para o cultivo da soja, como diferente padrão de distribuição espacial entre camadas.

The objective was to assess the extent and intensity of the spatial dependence of the fertility of a Red-Yellow Latosol, cultivated under a non-tillage system, by using both geo-statistical techniques and multivariate statistics. The experiment was conducted in an area planted with soybeans under a non-tillage system, in the city of Rio Verde, Goiás, Brazil. The soil was sampled at depths of 0-0.05m and 0.05-0.15m, in a sampling grid with 44 points. The attributes evaluated were the pH of CaCl2, Ca, Mg, Al, P, K, H+Al, CEC, BS, V and MO. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis, followed by principal component analysis, in order to generate components which would explain most of the variations in the attributes. Geo-statistics was used to check and quantify the degree of spatial dependence, using the principal components. Multivariate analysis, associated with the geo-statistical analysis, showed satisfactory results for the spatial distribution of fertility. Organic matter showed greater spatial continuity due to the characteristics of the no-tillage system. In general, the area presented low fertility for the cultivation of soybeans, as well as different patterns of spatial distribution between layers.

The present study aimed to assess the effect of supplementation on the performance of F1 (Boer × females of no defined breed) goats finished in native pasture. The experiment was conducted at the Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos Campus, Paraíba, Brazil, with twenty-four 120-day-old non-castrated F1 (Boer × NDB) male goats, with a 15.52 kg live weight (LW). Animals were distributed in four levels of supplementation (0.0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5% of body) and six replicates. In order to perform the evaluation of dry matter availability, the herbaceous vegetation was divided into grass and herbaceous dicotyledon and evaluated at the beginning (5/28/2007), in the middle (7/9/2007) and at the end (8/6/2007) of the experiment. In the beginning of the experiment, the availability of grass dry matter was 1,102.89 kg/ha, and at the end of the experiment, the availability of the referred matter was greater (1,494.81); on the other hand, the opposite occurred for the dicotyledons, with a dry matter content of 1,759.46 kg/ha in the beginning of the experiment, and only 236.76 kg/ha at the end of the experiment. Supplementation made it possible to estimate the increase in dry matter intake of 257.15 g/day and of 20.79 g/kg0.75/day, as well as the daily weight gain of 103 g for each percentage point increase that resulted from supplementation. The availability and nutritional quality of forage had a strong influence on the effect of supplementation on dry matter intake, with a negative response for supplementation levels of up to 0.74% of the live weight Consequently, the finishing of F1 crossbred goats in a grazing area in the Caatinga can be improved with the supplementation of concentrate at levels 1.0 to 1.5% of the live weight.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of carcass and non-carcass components in Brazilian semi-arid native goats of different genotypes in feedlot system. It was used 30 non-castrated Azul, Graúna and Moxotó goats with average initial weight of 15.93 ± 2.4, distributed in a completely randomized design with 3 genotypes and 10 replicates. The experimental diet used had a roughage:concentrate ratio of 47:53. There was a significant effect for weight gain and subcutaneous fat thickness according to genotype. Retail cut yields did not differ among the studied breeds. The percentage of non-carcass components in relation to live weight and empty body weight were not different among genotypes. Graúna and Azul genotypes showed daily gain greater than Moxotó genotype. The subcutaneous fat thickness presented by Azul and Moxotó genotypes was greater than that of Graúna genotype. All genotypes have good quantitative and morphometric carcass traits in addition to satisfactory yields of cut and non-carcass components, but for subcutaneous fat thickness (carcass finishing), Azul and Moxotó genotypes stand out.