Sweet sorghum: broth clarification with enzymatic treatment increases the quality of the fermentation wort for ethanol production

Sweet sorghum is currently being evaluated throughout the world as a raw material for biofuel production because its stem juices are rich in sugars that can be directly fermented to ethanol. In this work, the fermentative efficiency of three sweet sorghum genotypes was evaluated, aiming at ethanol production, harvested in two seasons, clean and whole stems, and the treatment of the juice and broth with amylolytic enzymes in order to use the present starch to increase the production of ethanol. The experiment was carried out in the 2013/2014 harvest, in the municipality of Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brasil, located at 21°14'05''S and 48°17'09''W. The experimental design was completely randomized, with sub-subdivided plots and four replications. The primary treatments were the sweet sorghum genotypes (CV147, CV198, and BRS508), the secondary treatments, the type of harvest (whole stems and clean stems); the tertiary the two sampling times (102 and 116 days after sowing - d.a.s) and the quaternary the application of enzymes. In the fermentation process, the yeast PE-2 was used, at the end, the wine was recovered and characterized. Fermentation efficiency and liters of ethanol per ton of sorghum were calculated. The clarification of the juice with enzymatic treatment increases the quality of the fermentation broth and makes it possible to obtain wines with lower levels of RRTs and Brix. Fermentation efficiency is not affected by the genotype; however, it is influenced by the time of harvest and the technological quality of the juice. The use of amylolytic enzymes makes it possible to obtain wines with lower levels of RRTS and Brix. The best period of industrialization was at 102 d.a.s., and the processing of whole stalks resulted in less ethanol production.

Determinantes ambientais e não-ambientais da transmissão do plasmódio na paisagem urbana amazônica e suas consequências clínicas: estudo de base populacional em Mâncio Lima, Acre / Environmental and non- environmental determinants of plasmodium transmission in the Amazonian urban ladscape and its clinical consequences: a population- based study in Mâncio Lima, Acre

Este estudo avaliou as mudanças ambientais da paisagem urbana de um município com alta incidência de malária na Amazônia brasileira (Mâncio Lima, Acre) e sua relação com a doença, com o objetivo de prover evidências de que a transmissão do Plasmódio é causada pelo modo como os seres humanos interagem com o meio-ambiente. Foram efetuados três estudos populacionais consecutivos, entre 2012 e 2013, com 1260 indivíduos, com identificação do plasmódio por microscopia e técnicas moleculares. Casos de malária foram analisados mediante um questionário clinico. O estudo entomológico envolveu 8 inquéritos transversais com coleta de formas imaturas em 90 corpos d’água, bem como avaliação espacial desses dados. Os resultados mostraram que a transmissão de malária na área deveu-se em grande parte a criação de tanques de piscicultura, que elevaram em cerca de 10 vezes a produtividade de imaturos de Anopheles darlingi, e à grande mobilidade da população, que se desloca para áreas de maior transmissão (como área ribeirinha e rural) e retorna infectada para a área urbana. Foram identificados casos de portadores assintomáticos do Plasmódio, embora em pequena quantidade. Os fatores associados a ausência de sintomas (infecção assintomática) foram o sexo e o tempo da última malária. Em pacientes sintomáticos, a frequência dos sintomas se relacionou com idade, número de malárias previas e parasitemia. A concentração geográfica dos casos deveu-se em parte a características socioeconômicas agregadas no espaço, em conjunto com fatores ambientais como presença do vetor, visto que o uso infrequente de mosquiteiro associouse com a incidência maior de malária.

This study evaluated the environmental changes of the urban landscape of a municipality with a high incidence of malaria in the Brazilian Amazon (Mâncio Lima, Acre) and its relation with the disease, in order to provide evidence that the transmission of Plasmodium is caused by the way humans interact with the environment. Three consecutive population studies were carried out between 2012 and 2013, with 1260 individuals, with plasmodium identification by microscopy and molecular techniques. Malaria cases were analyzed using a clinical questionnaire. The entomological study involved 8 cross-sectional surveys with collection of immature forms in 90 bodies of water, as well as spatial evaluation of these data. The results showed that the transmission of malaria in the area was largely due to the creation of fish tanks, which increased the immature productivity of Anopheles darlingi by around 10 times, and the great mobility of the population, which moves to areas of greater transmission (as riverside and rural area) and returns infected to the urban area. Cases of asymptomatic Plasmodium carriers have been identified, albeit in small numbers. Factors associated with absence of symptoms (asymptomatic infection) were the sex and time of the last malaria. In symptomatic patients, the frequency of symptoms was related to age, number of previous malaria and parasitemia. The geographic concentration of the cases was due in part to aggregate socioeconomic characteristics in space, together with environmental factors such as vector presence, since the infrequent use of mosquito nets was associated with a higher incidence of malaria.

Leptospirosis in native mixed-breed sheep slaughtered in a semiarid region of Brazil / Leptospirose em ovinos mestiços abatidos em uma região semiárida do Brasil

ABSTRACT: Sheep breeding is an economic activity of great value for the Brazilian livestock industry, and infectious diseases can significantly compromise its productivity. The aim of this study was to detect Leptospira spp. in mixed breed sheep from a semiarid region of the State of Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. In total, 49 blood and renal tissue samples, as well as 25 urine samples, were collected from 49 sheep in the slaughter line. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was used to verify the presence of anti -Leptospira spp. antibodies in blood samples. Renal tissue and urine samples were analyzed by both PCR and bacterial culture. Sero reactivity was observed in 8.2% (4/49) of animals. Three renal samples were positive for leptospiral DNA by PCR although all urine samples were negative. No leptospires in pure culture were recovered from the samples tested. Low prevalence of Leptospira spp. observed by serology and PCR suggested that the rusticity of the mixed-breed sheep may have contributed to the low occurrence of leptospirosis in the semiarid region investigated.

RESUMO: A criação de ovinos é uma atividade econômica de grande valor para a indústria pecuária brasileira. As doenças infecciosas podem comprometer significativamente a sua produtividade. O objetivo deste estudo foi detectar Leptospira spp. em ovinos sem raça definida a partir de uma região semiárida do estado da Paraíba, Nordeste do Brasil. Quarenta e nove amostras de sangue e tecido renal, bem como amostras de urina, de 25 das 49 ovelhas, foram coletados na linha de abate. A presença de anticorpos anti -Leptospira spp. foi verificada com o teste de aglutinação microscópica (SAM). As amostras de urina e rins foram processadas por PCR e cultura bacteriológica. Sororreatividade foi observada em 8,2% (4/49) dos animais. Em relação à PCR, três amostras renais foram positivas, no entanto, todas as amostras de urina foram negativas. Nenhuma cultura pura de leptospiras foi recuperada a partir das amostras testadas. Levando em consideração a baixa frequência de positividade na sorologia e PCR, é possível sugerir que a rusticidade das ovelhas de raças mestiças colaborou para a baixa ocorrência de leptospirose na região semiárida investigada.

Trajetória da política de atenção básica à saúde no Distrito Federal, Brasil (1960 a 2007): análise a partir do marco teórico do neo-institucionalismo histórico / A history of primary health care policy in the Federal District, Brazil (1960-2007): an analysis based on the theoretical framework of historical neo-institutionalism

Este artigo analisa a trajetória da política de atenção básica à saúde no Distrito Federal, Brasil, a partir do marco teórico do neo-institucionalismo histórico, identificando as conformações e as tendências predominantes nas gestões da Secretaria de Estado da Saúde (SES-DF) no período de 1960 a 2007. O estudo sinaliza que a política de saúde do Distrito Federal apresenta características de dependência da trajetória dos planos de saúde originais na definição de prioridades e metas, bem como na implementação do sistema de saúde. Essa influência, agregada à centralização dos processos decisórios e à limitada participação política, pode contribuir para situar a atenção básica como acessória ao atendimento hospitalar, destituindo-a do seu potencial de produzir mudança no modelo assistencial.

This article analyzes the history of primary health care policy in the Federal District, Brazil, based on the theoretical framework of historical neo-institutionalism, identifying the predominant configurations and trends in the various administrations of the State Health Secretariat (SES-DF) from 1960 to 2007. The study indicates that the characteristics of the Federal District's health policy are dependent on the history of the original health system plans for setting priorities and goals, as well as for the health system's implementation. This influence, in addition to the centralization of decision-making processes and limited political participation, can contribute to making primary care ancillary to hospital care, thus jeopardizing its potential to produce change in the health care model.