ABSTRACT Symptomatic forms of toxoplasmosis are a serious public health problem and occur in around 10-20% of the infected people. Aiming to improve the molecular diagnosis of symptomatic toxoplasmosis in Brazilian patients, this study evaluated the performance of real time PCR testing two primer sets (B1 and REP-529) in detecting Toxoplasma gondii DNA. The methodology was assayed in 807 clinical samples with known clinical diagnosis, ELISA, and conventional PCR results in a 9-year period. All samples were from patients with clinical suspicion of several features of toxoplasmosis. According to the minimum detection limit curve (in CT), REP-529 had greater sensitivity to detect T. gondii DNA than B1. Both primer sets were retrospectively evaluated using 515 DNA from different clinical samples. The 122 patients without toxoplasmosis provided high specificity (REP-529, 99.2% and B1, 100%). From the 393 samples with positive ELISA, 146 had clinical diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and positive conventional PCR. REP-529 and B1 sensitivities were 95.9% and 83.6%, respectively. Comparison of REP-529 and B1 performances was further analyzed prospectively in 292 samples. Thus, from a total of 807 DNA analyzed, 217 (26.89%) had positive PCR with, at least one primer set and symptomatic toxoplasmosis confirmed by clinical diagnosis. REP-529 was positive in 97.23%, whereas B1 amplified only 78.80%. After comparing several samples in a Brazilian referral laboratory, this study concluded that REP-529 primer set had better performance than B1 one. These observations were based after using cases with defined clinical diagnosis, ELISA, and conventional PCR.

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the results of thyroid surgeries with hospitalization periods shorter than 18 hours performed in a surgical endocrinology service, correlating these results with type of procedure, the definitive diagnosis and complications associated with the procedure.Subjects and methods The procedures performed, complications associated, hospitalization period, and relationships among these variables were assessed in consecutive patients subjected to different types of thyroid surgeries from January 1997 to March 2014 by the same group of surgeons. Data were analyzed by frequency, and the associations between the hospitalization period and other variables were analyzed using the Pearson chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, using a multiple comparisons test with Bonferroni correction.Results Among the 3,411 surgeries performed, 799 of them were malignant neoplasia, 2,505 were benign tumors and 107 were Graves’ disease. The following procedures were performed: total thyroidectomy (1597 patients); total thyroidectomy with neck exploration (369 patients); lobectomy plus isthmectomy (1084 patients); total thyroidectomy complementation (145 patients); total thyroidectomy with neck dissection (84 patients); modified radical total thyroidectomy (13 patients); nodulectomy (11 patients); unresectable (9 patients); central neck dissection (48 patients); lateral neck dissection (38 patients); and others (13 patients). The following surgical complications, characteristic of the procedure: hemorrhage in 41 (1.2%) patients, hypoparathyroidism in 10 (0.3%) patients and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury in 23 (0.7%) patients. Hospitalization shorter than 18 hours was observed in 97% of patients.Conclusion Thyroid surgery can be safely performed in virtually all patients on an overnight basis in specialized services.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen availability in fertigation and rainfed management, as well as their interactions with the incidence of and damage caused by D. saccharalis and red rot in sugarcane. The experiment consisted of four treatments (0 and 150 kg ha–1 of N-fertilizer with irrigation; 0 and 150 kg ha–1 of N-fertilizer in rainfed management) in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The evaluated parameters were the number of holes and internodes with red rot per meter of cultivation, stalk yield and sugar content. In the laboratory (T = 25 ± 2 °C; R.H. = 70 ± 10%: 12:12-L:D), we evaluated the attractiveness and consumption of fragments of stalks from the different treatments for fourth instar larvae through choice and no-choice tests in a randomized complete block design with ten replications. Nitrogen fertilization via irrigation has favorable effects on borer-rot complex and leads to higher gains in stalk and sugar yields when compared to rainfed management. The increments of stalk and sugar yields due to nitrogen fertilization compensates for the increase in borer-rot complex infestation. In laboratory tests, D. saccharalis larvae were similarly attracted to all treatments regardless of the doses of N-fertilizer or the water regimes evaluated. However, fragments of sugarcane stalks produced with nitrogen fertilization were consumed more by D. saccharalis in both water regimes.

O Brasil se destaca como o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar e sua produtividade está intimamente relacionada à disponibilidade de água e nitrogênio durante seu desenvolvimento e também à incidência de insetos-praga. Dentre as espécies mais nocivas à cana-de-açúcar no Brasil, destaca-se Mahanarva fimbriolata, a qual tem comprometido seriamente sua produtividade. Nesse contexto, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da fertirrigação nitrogenada sobre a incidência e os danos ocasionados por M. fimbriolata em cana-de-açúcar. O experimento foi composto por cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições em delineamento de blocos casualizados (DBC). Os tratamentos foram constituídos por quatro doses de N-fertilizante e controle (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg.ha-1) em sistema de irrigação por gotejamento. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: número de ninfas nas raízes, produtividade de colmos (TCH), produtividade de açúcar (TPH), açúcar total recuperável (ATR), pol de cana corrigido (PCC) e margem de contribuição agrícola. Foi observado que a produtividade de colmos e de açúcar aumentou com a adubação nitrogenada por meio da irrigação. O uso de 200 kg.ha-1 de N-fertilizante elevou a incidência de M. fimbriolata até os níveis de controle e dano econômico. O maior rendimento financeiro foi obtido com a dose de 150 kg.ha-1 de N-fertilizante.

Brazil stands out as the world's largest producer of sugarcane and its productivity is closely related to the availability of water and nitrogen during its development and also to the incidence of pest insects. Among the species most harmful to the sugarcane in Brazil, Mahanarva fimbriolata stands out, which has seriously endangered the yields. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the nitrogen fertirrigation on the incidence and damage caused by M. fimbriolata in sugarcane. The experiment was composed of five treatments and four replications in a randomized block design (RBD). The treatments were composed of four doses of N-fertilizer and control (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 kg.ha-1) in drip irrigation system. The parameters evaluated were: number of nymphs in the roots, stalk productivity, sugar content, percentage of sugar, total recoverable sugar and the agricultural contribution margin. It was observed that the fertirrigation increases the productivity of stalks and sugar with the increase of nitrogen fertilization by irrigation. The use of 200 kg.ha-1 of N-fertilizer increased the incidence of M. fimbriolata up to the control and economic damage levels. The biggest financial yield was obtained with the dose of 150 kg.ha-1 of N-fertilizer.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da fertirrigação nitrogenada sobre os danos causados pelo complexo broca-podridão à produtividade e à qualidade da cana-de-açúcar. O experimento foi realizado em campo, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e cinco doses de N (0, 50, 100, 150 e 200 kg ha-1), aplicadas por irrigação por gotejamento. Quantificaram-se as seguintes variáveis: número de orifícios causados por Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae); número de internódios infectados com a podridão-vermelha; percentagem de incidência de podridão-vermelha; produtividade de colmos; e teor de açúcar. Em laboratório, foram avaliados a atratividade e o consumo de fragmentos de colmos por lagartas de quarto instar, em testes com ou sem chance de escolha. A irrigação nitrogenada aumentou a incidência de D. saccharalis e de podridão-vermelha. O número de orifícios causados pelas lagartas correlacionou-se à ocorrência de podridão-vermelha. A percentagem de açúcar diminuiu com o aumento do número de internódios danificados pela podridão-vermelha. As doses de N não afetaram a atratividade dos fragmentos de colmos de cana-de-açúcar; no entanto, maiores doses de N fertilizante aumentaram o consumo destes fragmentos por lagartas de D. saccharalis. Apesar dos danos à qualidade, a adubação nitrogenada aumentou expressivamente a produtividade de colmos e de açúcar.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen-fertigation on the damage caused by the borer-rot complex to the productivity and quality of fertigated sugarcane. The experiment was carried out in field, using a randomized complete block design, with four replicates and five N doses (0, 50 100, 150, and 200 kg ha-1) applied through drip irrigation. The following variables were determined: number of holes caused by Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae); number of internodes infected with red rot; incidence percentage of red rot; stalk productivity; and sugar content. In laboratory, the attractiveness and the consumption of culm fragments by fourth instar caterpillars, in trials with or without choice, were evaluated. Nitrogen fertigation increased the incidence of D. saccharalis and red rot. The number of holes produced by the larvae was correlated with the occurrence of red rot. Sugar percentage reduced with the increase in the number of red rot affected internodes. Nitrogen doses did not affect the attractiveness of sugarcane culm fragments; however, higher N doses increased the consumption of these fragments by D. saccharalis caterpillars. Despite the damages to quality, nitrogen fertilization expressively enhanced the productivity of stalks and sugar.

Aspects related to the users' cooperative work are not considered in the traditional approach of software engineering, since the user is viewed independently of his/her workplace environment or group, with the individual model generalized to the study of collective behavior of all users. This work proposes a process for software requirements to address issues involving cooperative work in information systems that provide distributed coordination in the users' actions and the communication among them occurs indirectly through the data entered while using the software. To achieve this goal, this research uses ergonomics, the 3C cooperation model, awareness and software engineering concepts. Action-research is used as a research methodology applied in three cycles during the development of a corporate workflow system in a technological research company. This article discusses the third cycle, which corresponds to the process that deals with the refinement of the cooperative work requirements with the software in actual use in the workplace, where the inclusion of a computer system changes the users' workplace, from the face to face interaction to the interaction mediated by the software. The results showed that the highest degree of users' awareness about their activities and other system users contribute to a decrease in their errors and in the inappropriate use of the system.

Solos com umidade ótima de compactação menor que a capacidade de campo e solos com má drenagem são mais propensos a serem compactados nas operações de exploração florestal. O conhecimento dessas variáveis permite classificar os solos quanto à sua suscetibilidade à compactação, no entanto essas determinações demandam tempo, recursos e equipamentos específicos. Utilizando 13 solos florestais com ampla variação textural, das fazendas Ariona e Santa Rosa pertencentes à Cia. Suzano de Papel e Celulose, situadas no Estado de São Paulo, desenvolveu-se um índice, denominado diâmetro médio ponderado de partículas, que permitiu estimar a umidade ótima de compactação, a capacidade de campo e o limite líquido baseado apenas na distribuição de tamanho de partículas. Com base nessas características físicas e no consumo médio diário de água de um plantio de eucalipto, foram estabelecidas unidades de colheita a partir do número de dias de repouso necessários para o teor de água de um solo ficar abaixo da umidade ótima de compactação. Tais unidades agrupam solos que precisam do mesmo número de dias após uma chuva (0 a 10 dias) para poderem ser explorados, visando diminuir o impacto da colheita florestal e, em consequência, evitar a necessidade de preparo do solo para diminuir a compactação provocada por essas operações.

Soils with optimum water content for compaction below water field capacity and soils with poor drainage are more susceptible to compaction during forest harvesting operations. Knowing these soil characteristics allows ranking soils by their susceptibility to compaction. These laboratory analyses are time consuming, costly and require specific equipment. Collecting 13 soils with wide texture ranges, from two farms belonging to Cia. Suzano de Papel e Celulose, in the state of São Paulo, an index was developed, naming the average soil particle diameter, which allowed estimating the soil liquid limit, optimum water content and water field capacity based on soil particle distribution. Based on that and on daily water consumption by a Eucalyptus plantation, harvesting units were established that accounted for the number of days necessary for the soil water content to be under the optimum value for soil compaction. These harvesting units group soils that will need the same number of days (0 to 10 days) after rain to be harvested, avoiding soil compaction and the need of tilling soil for future planting.

Os atributos edáficos podem afetar a qualidade da madeira de eucalipto, o que pode resultar em considerável efeito sobre a produção de celulose. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito de atributos físicos e químicos do solo na qualidade da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis usada para polpação celulósica. Foram selecionadas cinco áreas no planalto ocidental do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, plantadas com um mesmo clone de Eucalyptus grandis, com idades variando entre 6,5 e 7,0 anos de idade. Quatro classes de solo, com textura arenosa a muito argilosa, foram encontradas. Em cada uma das cinco áreas, foram demarcadas, aleatoriamente, 3 parcelas com 100 plantas cada. Em cada parcela, foram colhidas árvores representativas das diferentes classes de diâmetro à altura do peito para avaliação de suas biomassas e para a análise de extrativos e componentes da madeira. Os atributos físicos do solo, sobretudo o teor de argila, diretamente relacionado à quantidade de água disponível, foram os que mais afetaram a produtividade e a qualidade da madeira. A densidade básica da madeira não se alterou nas diferentes classes de solo. O teor de lignina total diminuiu e o de holocelulose aumentou exponencialmente com o aumento do teor de argila do solo (até cerca de 350 a 400 g kg-1 de argila). O teor de extrativos da madeira não foi afetado pelos atributos do solo. O rendimento de celulose depurada relacionou-se exponencialmente com o teor de argila do solo.

The soil attributes can affect the wood quality of eucalypt, which may result in considerable effect on cellulose production. This study evaluated the effect of different physical and chemical soil attributes on wood quality of Eucalyptus grandis for cellulose production. Five sites were selected at the Western Plateau of the State of São Paulo, planted with one clone of Eucalyptus grandis, with ages ranging between 6.5 and 7.0 years. Four soil types, with texture ranging from sandy to very clayey were found. At each site, three experimental plots were allocated with 100 trees each. Trees representative of each class frequency of diameter at breast height were harvested. Their biomass and wood components were characterized. The wood productivity and quality was affected by physical attributes of soil, mainly clay content, which is directly related to the amount of available water. Basic wood density did not changed at different soil types. Total lignin content decreased and holocellulose content exponentially increased as soil clay content increased (until about 350 to 400 g kg-1 of clay). The wood extractives content was not affected by soil attributes. Screened cellulose yield exponentially increased with soil clay content.

Este trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar o efeito do revolvimento do solo das entrelinhas na produtividade de rebrota de Eucalyptus saligna, por meio das modificações em alguns atributos físicos do solo, e estabelecer qual profundidade de revolvimento apresenta maior ganho em produtividade em solos de texturas distintas, no Estado de São Paulo. Os sistemas de preparo foram: grade até 20 cm de profundidade e subsolador até 30 cm. Foram obtidas amostras indeformadas do solo nas seguintes profundidades: 0 a 10, 10 a 20 e 20 a 30 cm, em nove repetições por tratamento; nos mesmos pontos foram coletadas amostras de solo para análise da fertilidade. Os seguintes atributos físicos do solo foram determinados: densidade do solo, porosidade total e de aeração, macro e microporosidade e da planta: altura e DAP (Diâmetro à Altura do Peito). No solo de textura média não houve efeito do preparo do solo no crescimento das plantas, sendo estabelecido correlação negativa entre a porosidade de aeração, na profundidade de 10 - 20 cm, e o incremento em DAP (r²= 0,74). Essa mesma correlação foi positiva no solo de textura argilosa (r² = 0,78). No solo de textura argilosa, os dois sistemas de preparo de solo apresentaram maiores incrementos em altura e DAP do que a testemunha, diferindo estatisticamente no nível de 1%, pelo teste de Tukey.

The objective of this work was to evaluate soil physical characteristic changes in soil of different textures after mechanized harvesting under different tillage systems, in an area of Eucalyptus saligna coppice. The soils were a coarse Yellow Latosol and a Clayey Red Latosol occurring in an area of commercial plantation, in São Paulo State. Soil tillage systems were harrowing to 20-cm depth and subsoiling to a 30-cm depth. The following soil physical characteristics determined were bulk density, total and aeration porosity; and in the plant total height and DBH. There was no tillage effect on plants growing in the coarse soil, and there was a negative correlation between plant DBH and aeration porosity (r²= 0.74). The same correlation was positive (r² = 0,78) in the clayey soil. In the clayey soil, both soil tillage systems increased plant development in height and DBH, which were significantly different from the test plot without tilling the soil.

Normalmente, as áreas de rebrota sofrem a influência das operações de colheita, aplicação de herbicidas, adubos e resíduos, que concorrem para a compactação do solo. Em solos de texturas diferentes em áreas da Cia. Suzano de Papel e Celulose, nos municípios de Itatinga, SP, e São Miguel Arcanjo, SP, foram selecionadas 30 linhas de plantio para determinação da produtividade de eucalipto (Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden) aos sete anos de idade, bem como atributos físico-hídricos do solo a 50 cm da linha de plantio. Foram obtidas amostras indeformadas de solo em três profundidades: 0 a 10, 10 a 20 e 20 a 30 cm; a resistência do solo foi obtida com penetrômetro - SC 60 - até 60 cm de profundidade. As linhas de eucaliptos foram separadas, segundo a intensidade de movimentação das máquinas de colheita, em corte, galhada e tráfego. A redução da produtividade do eucalipto chegou até dois terços, comparando-se linhas de tráfego intenso das máquinas e sem tráfego. A camada superficial do solo (0 a 10 cm) recuperou parcialmente a estrutura durante os sete anos. A compactação foi máxima na camada de 10 a 20 cm, no solo argiloso e na camada de 20 a 30 cm, no solo arenoso. Houve correlação negativa (r² = 0,86) entre a densidade global, na profundidade de 10 a 20 cm, e o volume de madeira das linhas de eucalipto no solo arenoso. No solo argiloso, essa correlação (r² = 0,77) negativa ocorreu na profundidade de 20 a 30 cm.

In areas of eucalyptus regrowth, field operations such as harvesting, pesticides spraying, fertilization and manuring contribute to soil compaction. In two areas of eucalypt (Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden) regrowth, with soil of different textures, belonging to Cia. Suzano of Paper and Cellulose, thirty planting rows were selected to evaluate eucalyptus productivity at seven years of age and soil physical characteristics. Undisturbed soil samples were obtained at three depths: 0 - 10; 10 - 20 and 20 - 30 cm; and soil resistance at 60 cm, using a penetrometer SC - 60. Negative correlation between soil density and eucalypt yield was obtained at 10 - 20 cm (r² = 0,86) depth in sandy soil and, at 20 - 30 cm in clayey soil (r² = 0,77). At same depths and textures, correlation coefficients between soil penetrometer resistance and eucalyptus productivity were 0,29 and 0,93, respectively. Correlation coefficients between soil bulk density and soil penetrometer resistance were 0,84, in sandy soil and 0,68 in clayey soil. In traffic lanes, eucalyptus productivity was reduced up to 66% compared to non-traffic lanes due to soil compaction. Soil surface layer seems to recover its original soil bulk density values seven years after harvesting, and soil compaction reached its maximum at 10 - 20 cm depth on clayey soil and, 20 - 30 cm on sandy soil. There was negative correlation (r²= 0,86) between soil bulk density (10-20 cm layer), and eucalyptus wood volume on sandy soil. On clayey soil, this negative correlation (r² = 0,77) occurred at 20-30 cm depth.

O setor florestal brasileiro representa aproximadamente 4% do produto interno bruto, valor estimado em US$ 21 bilhões. As florestas denominadas artificiais, ocupam ao redor de 4,8 milhões de hectares sendo previsto uma necessidade de ampliação para atender a demanda futura, além do replantio das áreas cohidas. Uma das preocupações com essas áreas é evitar a compactação do solo devido as operações mecanizadas e uma das técnicas é o preparo reduzido. O objetivo deste trabalho é definir as prioridades do preparo do solo de acordo com as necessidades da muda de eucaliptus; para tanto utilizou-se da função desdobramento da qualidade (QFD) para identificá-las. Os requisitos técnicos largura e profundidade do sulco e tamanho dos torrões foram os mais importantes para atender as demandas das mudas. O QFD é uma técnica que tem potencial de aplicação, tanto na área florestal como agrícola, para identificar e traduzir as demandas das culturas em requisitos técnicos.

The Brazilian forest sector represents about 4% of gross domestic product (GDP) which is correspondent to US$ 21.0 billion. The natural forest area is approximately 4.8 million hectares and for the near future there will be a need to increase the planted area. To avoid or minimize the impact of mechanized practices on forest soils, the reduced tillage has been developed. The aim of this work is to define the technical priorities of the reduced tillage for eucalyptus seedlings, using quality function deployment (QDF). The design requirements classified as the most important to attend seedling demands were the furrow width and depth, and clod sizes. QFD has the potential to be applied to agro-forestry systems to translate plant demands into technical requirements.