Macroalgae as Soil Conditioners or Growth Promoters of Pisum sativum (L)

Mexico has long littorals that receive great amounts of marine algae that are wasted despite being potentially useful as growth promoters without the inconveniences of agrochemicals. Some macroalgae have been used with excellent results as soil conditioners and fertilisers in agriculture. In this study nine macroalgae from the coasts of Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico) and one from Guerrero (Mexican Pacific), Mexico, were tested. They were added to the soil in the form of fragments and of silage in liquid around Pisum sativum plants. A two-way random design with four replicas was followed. Two controls, hormones and water, were also used. Growth was recorded every third day. Results showed that four algae promoted growth (p<0.05) Ulva fasciata (ensiling treatment) and Ulva lactuca (ensiling treatment) and Gracilaria caudata (fragment treatment) and Palisada perforata (fragment treatment), compared with the hormones and water controls. The activity of Ulva fasciata and Palisada perforata is recorded for the first time. Since the control plants treated with hormones grew much less than those treated with the four algae, we conclude that the release of all algae compounds was responsible for the growth, and not the hormone mimetics.

Análise do potencial microbiano de uma biopilha na biorremediação de solos contaminados por hidrocarbonetos de petróleo / Analysis of microbial potential of a biopile in soil bioremediation contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons

RESUMO A presente pesquisa avaliou o potencial microbiano de uma biopilha na biorremediação de solos contaminados por hidrocarbonetos, montada em uma base de distribuição de combustíveis na região metropolitana de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Desta biopilha, foram avaliadas as concentrações dos hidrocarbonetos totais de petróleo (HTP) e de compostos benzeno, tolueno, etilbenzeno e xilenos (BTEX), em nove pontos, durante quatro etapas de operação e em três profundidades por ponto. De cada coleta, também foram reservadas amostras de solo para realização das análises microbiológicas. A partir dessas amostras, buscou-se identificar fungos e leveduras pela análise de suas estruturas reprodutivas em lâminas de microcultivo, e bactérias pela técnica da Reação em Cadeira da Polimerase (PCR) e sequenciamento do gene que codifica o RNAr 16S. Ainda, avaliou-se a capacidade dos microrganismos isolados em degradar óleo diesel comercial, utilizando o indicador redox 2,6-diclorofenol indofenol (DCPIP). Como resultado deste estudo, observaram-se elevados percentuais de redução nas concentrações de HTP e BTEX na biopilha, como 92 e 100%, respectivamente. Das amostras de solo da biopilha, foram isoladas 101 cepas de microrganismos, das quais foram identificadas 19 cepas de fungos filamentosos, 34 de bactérias e 1 de levedura. Os resultados evidenciaram a capacidade de alguns gêneros de fungos, como Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, Cladosporium e Verticillium, e bactérias, como Bacillus spp. e Streptomyces sp., em degradar hidrocarbonetos constituintes do óleo diesel comercial.

ABSTRACT This research evaluated the microbial potential of a biopile in bioremediation of soils contaminated by hydrocarbons, mounted on a fuel distribution base in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Of this biopile were evaluated concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and benzene compounds, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) at nine points, for four stages of operation and a point in three depths. Of each collection were also reserved sampled soil to perform the microbiological testing. From the samples, we sought to identify fungi and yeasts by analyzing their reproductive structures microcultivation blades, and bacteria by the technique of Polymerase Reaction Chair (PCR) and gene sequencing encoding the 16S rRNA. Still, we evaluated the ability of microorganisms to degrade commercial diesel oil, using the redox indicator 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol (DCPIP). As result of this study, there was a high percentage reduction in the concentration of TPH and BTEX in biopilha as 92 and 100%, respectively. Of soil samples were isolated from biopilha 101 strains of microorganisms, of which 19 were identified strains of filamentous fungi and 34 bacterial yeast. The results showed the ability of some genera of fungi such as Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Penicillium, Cladosporium and Verticillium and bacteria such as Bacillus spp. and Streptomyces sp. to degrade hydrocarbons constituents of commercial diesel oil.

Una enfermedad lejana: la información sobre poliomielitis y síndrome post-polio en la prensa hispanolusa, 1995-2009 / A disease of the distant past: information about poliomyelitis and post- poliomyelitis syndrome in the Spanish/Portuguese press, 1995-2009

Se explora el cambio en la percepción social de la polio en la Península Ibérica a través del análisis de contenidos, entre 1995 y 2009, de dos periódicos de gran tirada. La desaparición en la agenda periodística de la polio y de las personas que viven con sus secuelas influyó en el olvido de la misma en la agenda pública. La poliomielitis se vinculó a la pobreza y la ignorancia en países lejanos, susceptibles de acciones de cooperación, siendo objeto de atención solo cuando es percibida como amenaza para Occidente, vinculada a crisis sanitarias o en un sentido metafórico. Así, el síndrome post-polio fue invisibilizado en el caso portugués y débilmente representado en España por el movimiento asociativo.

The change in the social perception of poliomyelitis in the Iberian Peninsula through content analysis of two large-circulation newspapers between 1995 and 2009 is examined. The disappearance from the journalistic agenda of poliomyelitis and people living with the after-effects of the disease led it to be excluded from the public agenda. Poliomyelitis was associated with poverty and ignorance in distant countries that were susceptible to cooperation activities and only came to public attention when it was perceived as a threat to the West, linked to health crises or in a metaphorical sense. Thus, post-poliomyelitis syndrome was barely visible in the Portuguese case and poorly represented in Spain by association.

White spots on the mucosal surface of the duodenum in dogs with lymphocytic plasmacytic enteritis

Distended lacteals, described as expanded white villi in duodenum, are strongly indicative of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. In the present study, we evaluated the significance of white spots present in the duodenal mucosa of dogs with lymphocytic plasmacytic enteritis (LPE). Fifty dogs with LPE were included in this study, and white spots were detected in the duodenal mucosa in 22 dogs during endoscopy. Hypoproteinemia was more frequent in dogs with white spots than in dogs without spots (p = 0.02). Serum protein and albumin concentration were significantly lower in LPE dogs with white spots (p = 0.038) compared to LPE dogs without white spots (p = 0.039). There was a significant correlation between white spots density and lymphatic dilatation histological scores (p = 0.023; rho = 0.481). These results suggest that the presence of white spots in the duodenal mucosa of dogs is not a finding exclusive for intestinal lymphangiectasia. Low serum protein and albumin concentrations together with lymphatic dilatation seem to be related to the presence of white spots in the duodenal mucosa of LPE dogs.