A petrochemical effluent is usually a matrix of very high complexity and composition variability, requiring robust and suitable methods for routine analysis. In this paper, the feasibility of applying a voltammetric technique for the determination of metals species in the petrochemical industry effluent was demonstrated after UV-assisted digestion procedure. Voltammetric (electrolyte volume, deposit time, pulse time, pulse amplitude and scan rate) and digestion variables (hydrogen peroxide volume, nitric acid volume and digestion time) were studied using a 2-level factorial design. The developed voltammetric method using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) presented limits of quantification of 11, 5, 15 and 5 µg L−1 for Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu, respectively, and was effective to analyze petrochemical effluents after UV-digestion.

A maioria dos genes de resistência (R) clonados e caracterizados até o momento contém domínios NBS (nucleotide binding site) e LRR (leucine-rich repeat). Dentro destes domínios, encontram-se "motifs" altamente conservados. Análogos de genes de resistência (RGAs) são marcadores genéticos obtidos por uma estratégia, baseada em PCR, que usa primers degenerados desenhados a partir desses "motifs" altamente conservados dos genes R. Esta estratégia possui a vantagem do elevado grau de conservação da estrutura e seqüência dos aminoácidos observados nos genes R. O objetivo do presente estudo foi realizar uma busca por RGAs em Carica papaya L. e Vasconcellea cauliflora Jacq. A. DC. De três combinações de primers avaliadas, somente uma obteve sucesso na amplificação. O produto da amplificação foi então clonado em pCR2.1TOPO e seqüenciado utilizando os primers universais M13 forward e reverse. Quarenta e oito clones foram seqüenciados de cada espécie vegetal. Das 96 seqüências geradas para cada espécie, retiraram-se as seqüências do vetor e, em seguida, as mesmas foram agrupadas utilizando o programa "CAP3 assembler". A partir do GENEBANK, foi identificado um RGA em C. papaya apresentando um BlastX e-value de 2x10-61 com o "gb|AAP45165.1| putative disease resistant protein RGA3 (Solanum bulbocastanum)". Na extensão do nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro relato de um RGA na família Caricaceae Dumort. Estudos preliminares de estrutura foram realizados visando à maior caracterização deste potencial "NBS-LRR type protein". Esforços para encontrar novos análogos de genes de resistência devem continuar, principalmente para fornecer bases para o desenvolvimento de plantas de mamão transgênicas com resistência a doenças.

The majority of cloned resistance (R) genes characterized so far contain a nucleotide-binding site (NBS) and a leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, where highly conserved motifs are found. Resistance genes analogs (RGAs) are genetic markers obtained by a PCR-based strategy using degenerated oligonucleotide primers drawn from these highly conserved "motifs". This strategy has the advantage of the high degree of structural and amino acid sequence conservation that is observed in R genes. The objective of the present study was to search for RGAs in Carica papaya L. and Vasconcellea cauliflora Jacq. A. DC. Out of three combinations of primers tested, only one resulted in amplification. The amplified product was cloned in pCR2.1TOPO and than sequenced using M13 forward and reverse primers. Forty-eight clones were sequenced from each species. The 96 sequences generated for each species were cleaned of vector sequences and clustered using CAP3 assembler. From the GENEBANK, one RGA was identified in C. papaya showing a BlastX e-value of 2x10-61 to the gb|AAP45165.1| putative disease resistant protein RGA3 (Solanum bulbocastanum). To the extent of our knowledge this is the first report of a RGA in the Caricaceae Dumort family. Preliminary structural studies were performed to further characterize this putative NBS-LRR type protein. Efforts to search for other RGAs in papaya should continue, mostly to provide basis for the development of transgenic papaya with resistance to diseases.

How to handle Western blot (WB) seroindeterminate individuals for Human T-lymphotropic Virus 1/2 (HTLV-1/2) constitutes a challenge for blood banks and fam ilies. We made a cross-sectional study of 191 enzyme linked immunoassay (EIA) reactive individuals from the hematological center (HEMOCE) of Fortaleza (Brazil), examining their serological (WB) and molecular (PCR) diagnosis, and demographic profiles, as well as a possible association of their condition with other infectious pathologies and risk factors. Ethical institutional approval and personal consent were obtained. Out of 191 EIA reactive individuals, 118 were WB seroindeterminate and 73 were seropositive for HTLV-1/2. In the PCR analysis of 41 WB seroindeterminate individuals, 9 (22%) were positive and 32 (78%) were negative for HTLV-1/2. The demographic analysis indicated a trend towards a predominance of males among the seroindeterminate individuals and females in the seropositive ones. The seroindeterminate individuals were younger than the seropositive ones. We did not find any association of these conditions with syphilis, Chagas disease or HIV or hepatitis, and with risk factors such as breast-feeding, blood transfusion, STD (syphilis) and IDU.

A study carried out in Salvador, Bahia, Northeastern Brazil, has shown a miscarriage rate significantly higher among AS women than that observed among AA controls. Considering this finding, we investigated the miscarriage rate among women cared for by the hemoglobinopathy program in the city of Araras, São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. The spontaneous miscarriage rate among 165 AS women (17%) was significantly higher than that observed among 500 AA women (10%) (p = 0.02). Taking into account only women with ages above 20 years, the miscarriage rate among 112 heterozygous AS (22%) greatly differed from that observed among 347 AA women (12.6%) (p = 0.01). These results confirm the greater tendency of spontaneous miscarriages among AS women, which might be related to a previously described maternal effect in relation to AS heterozygous women.

As autoras sugerem normas gerais para o procedimento das anotações de enfermagem, visando a homogeneizar o ensino e a facilitar a sedimentação do aprendizado dos alunos de enfermagem.

Aiming at some uniformity in nursing notes, the authors suggest a few norms on how to write them. This uniformity would help nursing students througout the whole nursing program.

Aiming at some uniformity in nursing notes, the authors suggest a few norms on how to write them. This uniformity would help nursing students througout the whole nursing program.

As autoras sugerem normas gerais para o procedimento das anotações de enfermagem, visando a homogeneizar o ensino e a facilitar a sedimentação do aprendizado dos alunos de enfermagem.

Estudou-se o acúmulo de matéria seca e a absorção de macronutrientes pela soja, cultivar santa-rosa, em estádios sucessivos de desenvolvimento. As amostragens da parte aérea foram feitas a intervalos de 20 dias num ensaio em São Simão, em latossolo roxo de textura média sob vegetação de cerrado. O máximo de matéria seca acumulada durante o ciclo ocorreu aos 90 dias após a germinação e atingiu uma produção de 5632 kg/ha. O mesmo foi observado para cálcio, magnésio e enxofre, tendo sido absorvidos até esta época 58,7, 27,8 e 9,3 kg/ha, respectivamente. A absorção máxima de potássio, de 80,2 kg/ha, ocorreu aos 110 dias, enquanto para o fósforo, 12 9 kg/ha, e para o nitrogênio, 146,1 kg/ha, aos 130 dias coincidindo com o maior desenvolvimento das sementes. Aos 130 dias as sementes continham o máximo de matéria seca e macronutrientes. As sementes retiraram 92,5% de N, 83,7% de P, 58,7% de K, 16,0% de Ca, 21,9% de Mg e 43,0% de S em relação ao total extraído pela planta.

A study was made on the accumulation of dry matter, concentration, and uptake of macronutrients in the cultivar Santa Rosa, in sucessive stages of growth. The sampling of the above ground parts was done at intervals of 20 days. The soil was a Terra Roxa with latossolic B under cerrado vegetation. The maximum of dry matter accumulation occurred at 90 days after germination with a production of 5632 kg/ha. The same was observed for calcium, magnesium and sulphur whose uptakes were 58.7, 27.8 and 9.3 kg/ha respectively. The maximum uptake of potassium, which was 80.2 kg/ha occurred at 110 days whereas those of phosphorus and nitrogen occurred at 130 days and reached 12.9 and 146.1 kg/ha respectively. Of the total amount of macronutrients retained by the plants (excluding roots and fallen leaves) the seeds contained 92.5% of N, 83.7% of P, 58.7% of K, 16.0% of Ca, 21.9% of Mg, and 43.0% of S respectively.