The Fundão dam failure: Iron ore tailing impact on marine benthic macrofauna

The Fundão dam failure, the worst environmental disaster in Brazilian history, launched 50 million m³ of iron ore tailings mud through the Doce River, reaching the Atlantic Ocean. Generally, mine tailings increase the sediment inflow, leading to mud burial of epibenthic macrofauna, and the raise of metal(oid)s concentration causing macrofauna long-term changes. After almost four years, tailings mud was still spreading on the Doce River Shelf, while impacts on marine macrofauna were still unknown. Herein, the IMS index (a tracer of Fundão dam tailings mud), sediment variables, organic pollutants, and metal(oid)s were integrated to uncover the drives of macrofauna structure from Costas da Algas to Abrolhos bank MPAs. Tailings mud was present only in Doce River Mouth and Degredo, organic pollutants and metal(oid)s above safety levels were concentrated in those same areas. Tailings mud (IMS index) drastically reduced species richness and diversity, favoring the abundance of opportunistic species. Mud, IMS index and Al, Ba, and V, metal(oid)s linked to dam failure, structured macrofauna composition in this impacted area, dominated by resistant groups as Nuculidae, Spionidae, and Magelonidae. Conversely, an opposite pattern was found for further and deeper sites with high CaCO3 content and total nitrogen that also showed large grain size, in areas known to harbour biogenic structures, sustaining a macrofauna composition distinct from the impacted areas, dominated by Syllidae and Crassatellidae, sensitives to impacts. Macrofauna composition was most structured by sediment variables, followed by the intersection between metal(oid)s-IMS and Mud, both gradients acting almost entirely on a broad spatial scale. Benthic macrofauna at the Doce River Shelf is still impacted by Fundão dam tailings mud, even after almost four years of the disaster, and may continue to, since the influx of tailings does not stop, and sediment resuspension is a recurrent source for those impacts.

MORFOLOGIA GONADAL E BIOLOGIA REPRODUTIVA DE FÊMEAS DE Callinectes ornatus (CRUSTACEA: DECAPODA) NO LITORAL SUL CAPIXABA

Callinectes ornatus é uma espécie de siri-azul que é utilizado como um importante recurso pesqueiro. O objetivo deste trabalho foi classificar a morfologia macroscópica da gônada, os estágios de desenvolvimento e aspectos acerca de sua biologia reprodutiva. Para tal, os animais foram coletados na região sul do litoral capixaba com o auxílio de uma embarcação e rede de arrasto. As fêmeas foram classificadas nos estágios: imaturo (IM), rudimentar (RU), em desenvolvimento (ED) e desenvolvido (ED). Quanto aos aspectos ecológicos foi observada uma predominância de fêmeas imaturas em todos os pontos amostrados, na estação seca e chuvosa. Já as desenvolvidas apareceram em maior quantidade apenas na estação seca. Sendo assim, de acordo com os dados obtidos foi possível caracterizar o ciclo reprodutivo desta espécie como sazonal-contínua. 

OCUPAÇÃO DE CONCHAS DE GASTRÓPODES PELO ERMITÃO CLIBANARIUS ANTILLENSIS STIMPSON 1862 (CRUSTACEA, ANOMURA, DIOGENIDAE) NO LITORAL DO ESPÍRITO SANTO

Os ermitões apresentam um intrigante comportamento que é a utilização de conchas de gastrópodes como abrigo ao seu abdome não calcificado. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a ocupação de conchas de gastrópodes pelo ermitão Clibanarius antillensis em dois costões rochosos, localizados em Anchieta e Guarapari, litoral do Espírito Santo, com ênfase na diversidade de conchas ocupadas e diferenças de ocupação por grupos de interesse. Em cada região, foram amostrados quatro pontos (P1, P2, P3 e P4), durante o período de outubro/2014 a setembro/2015. Após as coletas, foi feita a identificação das conchas e ermitões, estes últimos também sexados e mensurados, e a ocupação por grupos de interesse (jovem, macho, fêmea e fêmea ovígera) realizada pelo teste X². Foram coletados 1.766 indivíduos de C. antillensis, que utilizaram 17 espécies de gastrópodes. Os machos ocuparam uma maior diversidade de conchas, além disso, houve preferência por Tegula viridula. A elevada diversidade de conchas encontrada contribui para a presença e manutenção do ermitão C. antillensis.

LEVANTAMENTO TAXONÔMICO E FAUNA ACOMPANHANTE DE ALGAS DO COSTÃO ROCHOSO DE IRIRI, MUNICÍPIO DE ANCHIETA-ES

Em costões rochosos os substratos biológicos como as algas proporcionam importantes microhabitats para outros organismos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento das espécies de macroalgas presentes no costão rochoso da praia Costa Azul, Iriri, litoral sul capixaba bem como analisar a sua fauna acompanhante. Para isto, utilizou-se um quadrante de 10cm2 lançado três vezes aleatoriamente na faixa onde localiza-se as algas e realizado a raspagem com auxílio de uma espátula. O material coletado foi triado, contado e identificado. Coletou-se 11 espécies de algas, distribuídas nos filos Chlorophyta, com maior riqueza, Rhodophyta e Ochrophyta. Da fauna acompanhante, obteve-se três filos, cinco classes, onde Malacostraca foi a mais representativa, sendo os anfípodos com maior abundância. O presente estudo contribuiu com o conhecimento da diversidade de macroalgas no costão de Iriri bem como a importância destes para abrigar e proteger a fauna acompanhante.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DE POÇAS DE MARÉ E LEVANTAMENTO TAXONÔMICO DE MACROBENTÔNICOS NA PRAIA COSTA AZUL, EM IRIRI-ES

Estudos envolvendo poças de maré são bem escassos, e em sua maioria são relacionados à ictiofauna destes lugares. Nesse sentido, o presente trabalho visou caracterizar os diferentes tipos de poças de maré quanto aos fatores abióticos, bem como, verificar os organismos macrobentônicos presentes em duas poças (PA, PB) do costão rochoso, localizado na Praia Costa Azul, em Iriri - ES. Para coleta foi utilizado um quadrante de 15x15 cm, o qual foi lançado no começo, meio e fim de cada poça. Foram realizadas três coletas (abril, junho e agosto/2016). A partir dos dados gerados pelo Programa Past, foi possível observar que a poça de maré A possui maior diversidade e equidade, enquanto que a poça B possui maior abundância e riqueza de indivíduos da fauna macrobentônica.

LEVANTAMENTO FAUNÍSTICO DOS CRUSTÁCEOS DECÁPODES (ANOMURA, BRACHYURA) NO LITORAL CAPIXABA

Levantamento faunístico dos crustáceos decápodes é de fundamental importância para o conhecimento das comunidades, servindo de base para a conservação da biodiversidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a fauna dos Anomura e Brachyura em dois costões rochosos, localizados em Anchieta e Guarapari, litoral do Espírito Santo, com ênfase na análise dos índices de diversidade e similaridade entre as espécies. Em cada região, foram amostrados quatro pontos (P1, P2, P3 e P4), durante o período de outubro/2014 a setembro/2015. A diversidade de Shannon Wiener e equitabilidade foram calculados, bem como, o grau de semelhança entre as espécies. Foram coletados 3.156 indivíduos (1.022 em Anchieta e 2.134 em Guarapari), sendo representados por oito famílias e 14 espécies. O maior valor de diversidade foi encontrado no P1 e P2 em Anchieta, além do P1 ter apresentado o maior valor de equitabilidade. As espécies com abundância e ocorrência semelhantes foram agrupadas com maior similaridade. Os locais estudados apresentam condições favoráveis para o desenvolvimento e estabelecimento desses crustáceos anumuros e braquiúros.

MORFOLOGIA DO VASO DEFERENTE DE Callinectes ornatus (Crustacea: Portunoidea) COLETADOS NO LITORAL SUL CAPIXABA

O siri azul (Callinectes ornatus) é um importante recurso pesqueiro, logo conhecer as estruturas que colaboram para seu sucesso reprodutivo é essencial. Este estudo objetivou descrever o vaso deferente dos machos desta espécie de siri, por meio da microscopia de luz. A estrutura do vaso deferente é constituída por três regiões distintas: anterior (VDA) revestido por epitélio cilíndrico simples e, em seu lúmen, é possível notar uma secreção acidófila; média (VDM) possui epitélio cúbico simples e um grande volume de secreção em seu interior; posterior (VDP) que apresenta uma camada muscular bem desenvolvida e vários espermatóforos, encontrados em vários estágios.

DESCRIÇÃO MICROSCÓPICA DOS OVÁRIOS DE Callinectes ornatus (Crustacea: Brachyura) DO LITORAL SUL DO ESPÍRITO SANTO

O presente estudo visou caracterizar a morfologia microscópica das gônadas femininas de siris Callinectes ornatus, coletados no litoral de Anchieta/ES, entre outubro de 2013 e outubro de 2014. Os animais foram triados e as fêmeas tiveram seu sistema reprodutor dissecado e submetido à rotina histológica para a análise sob microscopia de luz. Ao longo do processo da maturação foi notado que as células menos desenvolvidas, de oogônias à oócitos II, o citoplasma é altamente basófilo. Já os oócitos III-IV possuem um aumento de acidofilia plasmática, caracterizado pela incorporação de vitelo, provavelmente de origem exógena, e amadurecimento destas células. Quando observado microscopicamente, os tipos celulares encontrados nas gônadas permitiram caracterizar as fases de desenvolvimento gonadal. Sendo imaturas as que apresentaram oogônias e oócitos I; as rudimentares, oócitos II; aquelas em desenvolvimento, oócitos III; as desenvolvidas, oócitos IV; e aquelas no estágio esgotado, oócitos sendo absorvidos pelo ovário.

DIVERSIDADE E DISTRIBUIÇÃO DOS PORTUNIDEOS (CRUSTACEA, BRACHYURA) NO LITORAL DE ANCHIETA, ESPÍRITO SANTO, BRASIL

O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar a diversidade e a distribuição espaço temporal dos portunideos na região de Anchieta, litoral sul capixaba, relacionando com fatores ambientais como: temperatura, salinidade, profundidade, teor de matéria orgânica e textura do sedimento. Os indivíduos foram coletados no período de Março/2013 à Fevereiro/2015 em três pontos distintos. Não houve diferença significativa nos valores médios de temperatura, salinidade e teor de matéria orgânica. Foi coletado um total de 2.849 portunideos, compreendendo quatro espécies: Callinectes ornatus e Callinectes danae que foram consideradas constantes e Cronius ruber e Achelous spinimanus consideradas acessórias. A maior abundância de indivíduos foi registrada no P1 por ser próximo ao estuário, região importante para o desenvolvimento e ciclo de vida desses animais, e com picos no outono para C. ornatus e na primavera para C. danae. A região de Anchieta pode ser considerada uma área importante para o estabelecimento e manutenção dessas espécies de portunideos.

Efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing psychiatric symptoms in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator: an integrative review

This article is a systematic review of the available literature on the benefits that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) offers patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and confirms its effectiveness. After receiving the device, some patients fear that it will malfunction, or they remain in a constant state of tension due to sudden electrical discharges and develop symptoms of anxiety and depression. A search with the key words "anxiety", "depression", "implantable cardioverter", "cognitive behavioral therapy" and "psychotherapy" was carried out. The search was conducted in early January 2013. Sources for the search were ISI Web of Knowledge, PubMed, and PsycINFO. A total of 224 articles were retrieved: 155 from PubMed, 69 from ISI Web of Knowledge. Of these, 16 were written in a foreign language and 47 were duplicates, leaving 161 references for analysis of the abstracts. A total of 19 articles were eliminated after analysis of the abstracts, 13 were eliminated after full-text reading, and 11 articles were selected for the review. The collection of articles for literature review covered studies conducted over a period of 13 years (1998-2011), and, according to methodological design, there were 1 cross-sectional study, 1 prospective observational study, 2 clinical trials, 4 case-control studies, and 3 case studies. The criterion used for selection of the 11 articles was the effectiveness of the intervention of CBT to decrease anxiety and depression in patients with ICD, expressed as a ratio. The research indicated that CBT has been effective in the treatment of ICD patients with depressive and anxiety symptoms. Research also showed that young women represented a risk group, for which further study is needed. Because the number of references on this theme was small, further studies should be carried out.

Cytodifferentiation during the spermatogenesis of the hermaphrodite caridea Exhippolysmata oplophoroides

Among the decapods, the caridean Exhippolysmata oplophoroides has been described as a simultaneous protandric hermaphrodite, seeing that it presents a male initial stage followed by a hermaphrodite one in which it can function as male and as female. This work had the aims of characterizing the microscopical morphology of the male portion of the ovotestes gonads from E. oplophoroides, at the different development stages, identifying each cell from the germ lines during spermatogenesis, as well as describing the ultramorphology of spermatozoans in the terminal region of the vasa deferentia. Shrimps were collected in Ubatuba, north coast of São Paulo, and their male gonads and the ampoule were removed, fixed and processed according to histological routine and for scanning electron microscopy. The testicular portion is divided in lobes, inside which cells at the same stage of the spermatogenic cycle are observed, with prevalence of spermatogonia and spermatocytes at stages I, II and V of gonad development, whereas spermatids and spermatozoans are found at stages III and IV, respectively. Ultramorphology of the terminal portion of the vasa deferentia exhibits mature aflagellated spike-shaped spermatozoans, encased in secretion and between membrane foldings that will constitute the spermatophores. Despite presenting reproductive characteristics common to other decapods, E. oplophoroides shows spermatozoans as well as spermatophore with typical morphology, which is important for its identification and taxonomy. Further, this species showed polysaccharide secretions where the spermatozoa are immerse as far as the testicular portion, which could have a role in their transport and nutrition as well as spermatophore constitution and/or fixation; differently, other caridean species begin spermatophore formation during the passage of the gametes through the vasa deferentia.

The criminal purchase of firearm ammunition

OBJECTIVE

Laws that prohibit certain individuals from owning firearms also pertain to ammunition. Whereas retail sales of firearms to criminals are regularly disrupted by instant background checks, sales of ammunition are essentially unchecked and the rate at which criminals acquire ammunition is unknown. This research describes the ammunition market and estimates the rate at which criminals are acquiring ammunition.

DESIGN

Criminal background checks conducted on individuals purchasing ammunition in the City of Los Angeles in April and May 2004.

SETTING

Los Angeles, CA, USA.

SUBJECTS

Ammunition purchasers.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Criminal activity that prohibits one from owning, purchasing, or possessing ammunition.

RESULTS

2.6% (95% CI 1.9% to 3.2%) of ammunition purchasers had a prior felony conviction or another condition that prohibited them from possessing ammunition. During the study period prohibited possessors purchased 10,050 rounds of ammunition in Los Angeles.

CONCLUSIONS

These estimates suggest that monitoring ammunition transactions may help reduce the supply of ammunition to criminals and the frequency of injuries from felonious gun assaults. Such a record can also provide information for generating leads on illegal firearm possession.

Effect of angiotensin-(1-7) on jejunal absorption of water in rats

The effect of angiotensin-(1-7) on jejunal water absorption in rats was investigated. The jejunal sac of anesthetized rats was filled with two ml of tyrode solution containing 3.7 MBq of tritiated water. A femoral vein was cannulated for administration of peptides and drugs. Infusion of Ang-(1-7) at the dose of 0.7 ng/kg.min produced a significant increase in jejunal water absorption compared to control (32% increase). The Ang-(1-7) antagonist A-779 abolished the effect of Ang-(1-7) on water absorption. A reduction of the Ang-(1-7) effect was also produced by treatment with the AT(1) receptor antagonist, losartan or the AT(2) receptor antagonist, PD123.177. The increase in jejunal water absorption produced by Ang-(1-7) was blocked by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME and by indomethacin. These data suggest that the effect of Ang-(1-7) on the jejunal loop is mediated by activation of a multiple angiotensin receptors and/or by an atypical angiotensin receptor. Furthermore, the effect of Ang-(1-7) on jejunal water absorption is mediated by nitric oxide and by a cyclooxygenase-dependent mechanism.

Influence of obstructive jaundice on jejunal absorption of glucose, electrolytes, and vitamin A in rats

Jejunal absorption of glucose, electrolytes, and vitamin A was investigated in rats. A Tyrode solution containing glucose, sodium, and potassium in concentrations two and four times higher than usual was infused through the jejunal loops of jaundiced and control rats during 40 min. The glucose values in the influx and effluent were not different during the experiment time. However, the concentrations of sodium and potassium of the effluent decreased with concentrations twice normal. The osmotic pressure of the effluent was directly related to the electrolytic concentration. When the perfusate fluid was four times higher, the differences between sham and jaundiced groups remained unchanged. The osmotic pressure means of the jaundiced group decreased during the experimental time. The absorption of vitamin A increased during the 40-min experiment time in the control rats. On the other hand, vitamin A concentration in the perfused lumen of the jaundiced group did not change over the time. These data indicate that obstructive jaundice has little influence on glucose and electrolytes absorption, while vitamin A is impaired by this condition.

Screening of yeasts from Brazilian Amazon rain forest for extracellular proteinases production

Eighty seven yeast strains representing 34 species isolated from Parahancornia amapa fruit and associated Drosophila flies collected in the Brazilian Amazon rain forest, were screened for proteinase production. Proteolytic activity was tested through casein hydrolysis in solid medium supplemented with 0.5% casein and glucose. Among 23 strains, 18 from genus Candida and 5 from Pichia were caseinolytic and produced proteinases in yeast carbon base liquid medium supplemented with casein 0.01%. The proteolytic activity was tested on pH ranging from 2.0 to 9.0 in correspondence to the pH of the cultures media in which the yeasts were grown. Six highly proteolytic strains: Candida parapsilosis AP153A, C. krusei AP176, C. sorbosa DR215, C. sorbosa AP259, C. valida AP209A and C. sorboxylosa AP287 were selected and the pH optima of production and the proteolytic activity were determined. In general the secretion of proteinase was maximum throughout the exponential and the stationary phases. Greater production occurred in acidic culture and high activity was observed at pH 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0.

[Cerebral malaria and AIDS: case report]

Although it has not been definitely proven that the severity of malaria is associated to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) we know that infection through Plasmodium falciparum can favor a rapid evolution of the HIV infection. Besides, association of malaria with HIV/AIDS from a clinical point of view can be clinically severe in the face of the occurrence of other microorganisms or neoplasias, which worsens the evolution and prognosis of the affected patients. The concurrence of HIV with Plasmodium in malaria endemic zones is a possibility which should always be taken into consideration, since transmission is related to risk factors caused by people's behavior which are not always promptly revealed and/or identified. The authors report one case of brain malaria infection by Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum in a patient with AIDS. They describe the clinical evolution and therapy.

Evaluation of a program to overcome vitamin A and iron deficiencies in areas of poverty in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Randon samples of children from both sexes from Belo Horizonte, the capital City, and from Turmalina, Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were submitted to nutritional evaluation before and after the intervention "Program to Overcome Vitamin A and Iron Deficiencies in Areas of Poverty in Minas Gerais, Brazil". After the first examination, all the children received, with an interval of 180 days, a single oral dose of vitamin A, oral iron sulfate during 50 days, and 200 mg of Mebendazol/day for three days. Thirty days after ending administration of the third dose of medicine, the children were subjected to a new evaluation. In Belo Horizonte, the first evaluation revealed a high prevalence of deficient and low values of vitamin A in preschool children (21.5%) and school children (21.7%). A small prevalence of low hematocrit values was also observed in both groups. Deficient and low values of hemoglobin were found as well in 21.5% of preschool children and in 17.5% of school children. The second evaluation, practiced 30 days after the third dose of medicine, showed a small incidence of low vitamin A values (4.3% in preschool children and 2.9% in school children) and low hemoglobin values (6.5% in preschool children and 2.9% in school children). No deficient values of hemoglobin and vitamin A were observed. Concerning the hematocrit value, only one school child presented a low value at the second evaluation. On the other hand, in Jequitinhonha Valley, five cases of Bitot spot with conjunctival xerosis, two cases of corneal xerosis, and one case of keratomalacia were detected at the first examination. Thirty days after ending the third dose of medicine, only one corneal scar was observed. Only a small number of children with deficient and low levels of vitamin A and hemoglobin was found in the final evaluation (less than 8%), while this number was high at the first evaluation (above 38 and 12%, respectively). These results show the efficiency of the intervention Program in relation to hypovitaminosis A and iron anemia prevention. The Program is now being implemented by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.