HELMINTHS OF PUBLIC HEALTH INTEREST ON THE EXTERNAL SURFACE OF DIPTERA (INSECTA) IN FEIRA DE SANTANA AND SALVADOR, BA

We used a species-distribution modeling approach, ground-based climate data sets, and newly available remote-sensing data on vegetation from the MODIS and Quick Scatterometer sensors to investigate the combined effects of human-caused habitat alterations and climate on potential invasions of rainforest by 3 savanna snake species in Cameroon, Central Africa: the night adder (Causus maculatus), olympic lined snake (Dromophis lineatus), and African house snake (Lamprophis fuliginosus). Models with contemporary climate variables and localities from native savanna habitats showed that the current climate in undisturbed rainforest was unsuitable for any of the snake species due to high precipitation. Limited availability of thermally suitable nest sites and mismatches between important life-history events and prey availability are a likely explanation for the predicted exclusion from undisturbed rainforest. Models with only MODIS-derived vegetation variables and savanna localities predicted invasion in disturbed areas within the rainforest zone, which suggests that human removal of forest cover creates suitable microhabitats that facilitate invasions into rainforest. Models with a combination of contemporary climate, MODIS- and Quick Scatterometer-derived vegetation variables, and forest and savanna localities predicted extensive invasion into rainforest caused by rainforest loss. In contrast, a projection of the present-day species-climate envelope on future climate suggested a reduction in invasion potential within the rainforest zone as a consequence of predicted increases in precipitation. These results emphasize that the combined responses of deforestation and climate change will likely be complex in tropical rainforest systems.

Isolation And Characterization Of Biosurfactant Producing Bacteria From Different Environmental Soil Samples

Mathematical Optimization of Blinatumomab Preparation Method Simplifies Dosing and Reduces Drug Waste

Descriptions are provided for two new species of Sphagnum from the state of Bahia, Brazil: S. vitalii (sect. Sphagnum) and S. contortulum (sect. Cuspidata). Some years ago Dale H. Vitt sent me a number of Sphagnum collections that he had made in Brazil, together with a small number of specimens collected by Daniel Vital. Two of the latter, from the state of Bahia, are described here as new species. SPHAGNUM (sect. Sphagnum) VITALII sp. nov. (FIG. 1-7) Plantae ? tenerae, dense caespitosae, pallide fuscae. Caulis fuscus; epidermis caulina stratis 2-3, plerumque efibrosis, aporosisque; cylindra lignosa fusca. Folia caulina 1 mm longa, lingulata, apice rotundata; cellulae hyalinae utrinque superficie poris rotundis 2-4. Fasciculi ramorum ramis 1-2. Folia ramulina 1.5 mm longa, concava, cucullata, ovato-acuminata, apice laeves, marginibus sulco resorptio instructis; cellulae hyalinae utrinque superficie poris 3-5 rotundis; cellulae chlorophylliferae sectione transversali anguste fusiformes, utrinque liberae. Plants in rather small, dense, pale-brown tufts; stems brown, cortical cells in 2-3 layers, without pores or fibrils, wood cylinder brown; stem leaves 1 mm long, nearly flat, lingulate, rounded at apex, moderately fringed in upper half, hyaline cells not divided, fibrillose and porose about one-third down, on outer surface with 2-4 round, ringed commissural pores near apex and small, rounded median gaps somewhat farther down, on inner surface with 2-3 small, round, unringed pores and scattered porelike gaps; branches 1 or 2 (1 pendent), epidermal cells without pores or fibrils; branch leaves 1.5 mm long, deeply concave and cucullate, rather narrowly ovate-acuminate, smooth at back of tip, denticulate-bordered by a resorption furrow, hyaline cells smooth, moderately bulging on both surfaces, on outer surface with 3-5 rather small, roundedelliptic, ringed pores at ends, corners, and commissures, grouped in 3's at adjacent angles and with no membrane gaps at leaf tip, on inner surface with 15 thin-margined, rounded-elliptic pores at ends, corners and commissures; green cells in section lenticular, equally exposed on both surfaces by thickened cell ends. TYPE: BRAZIL. BAHIA: On dripping rocky cliffs along road, Municipio de Jacobina, + 11*06'S, 40*39'W, Daniel M. Vital 8081, 19 May 1978 (holotype, MICH; isotype, sp). By section of the branch leaves, this species might be taken for S. perichaetiale Hampe, which is certainly common as well as widespread in tropical lowlands of the New World, but the cortical cells of both stems and branches lack fibrils and pores; the small stem leaves are noticeably fibrillose and porose in the upper third on the outer surface and have small gaps or pores on the inner surface; and the branch leaves are rather narrowly concavepointed and not roughened at back of the apex (owing to an absence of membrane gaps), and they have numerous, rather small pores on the outer surface and small gaps on inner. The cortical cells of stems and branches lack pores and fibrils, and the branch leaves are rather narrower at the cucullate-concave apex than one expects in the section Sphagnum, but evidence of that relationship is provided by flat, lingulate stem leaves, erose-fringed at the margins, and branch leaves margined by a resorption furrow and having pores on the outer surface grouped in 3's at adjacent cell corners. SPHAGNUM (sect. Cuspidata) CONTORTULUM sp. nov. (FIG. 8-14) Plantae graciles, ca. 9 cm altitudine, laxe caespitosae, pallide luteae. Epidermis caulina stratis duobus, sine poris; cylindra lignosa luteo-fusca. Folia caulina 1.2-1.4 mm longa, oblongo-ovata vel late acuminata e basi oblonga, apice rotundo-cucullata; cellulae fibrillosae usque ad basin, non divisae, dorso poris paucis, apicalibus rotundis, parvis, superficie interiore pods solum apicalibus. Fasciculi ramorum ramis 1 vel 2. Folia ramulina non conferta, concava, cucullata, apice sicca valde squarrosa et contorta, 1.8-2 mm longa, anguste limbata, apice sulco resorptio instructis; cellulae hyalinae dorso poris parvis, apicalibus, superficie interiore similis; cellulae chlorophylliferae oblongae, utrinque superficie liberae. Plants small and slender, about 9 cm high, in lax, yellowish tufts; cortical cells of stem well-differentiated, in 2 layers, without pores at surface, wood cylinder yellow-brown; stem leaves 1.2-1.5 mm long, oblong-ovate or broadly acuminate from an oblong base, cucullate at apex, hyaline cells fibrillose throughout, not divided, with pores few and small (u to 4), at ends and corners on outer surface (upper 0007-2745/91/301-303$0.45/0 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.112 on Mon, 03 Oct 2016 04:28:48 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 302 THE BRYOLOGIST [VOL. 94

Background: This study aims to study the mixing of graphite with water irradiated by X-ray (low energy gamma ray) towards the formation of graphene oxide (GO). Methods: The graphite is obtained from Zinc-Carbon (ZnC) battery wastes. This is a simple alternative technique in synthesizing GO based on X-ray irradiation without involving additional chemicals. X-ray irradiation is conducted upon 10 ml of distilled water using 20 kV of X-ray with irradiation time variation of 3 and 4 h. The X-ray irradiation towards the distilled water causes radiolysis to occur in the water. The graphite solution consists of 0.6 gm of graphite in 100 ml of distilled water. The GO is formed by mixing the X-ray irradiated water with 5 drops of the graphite solution. The sample solutions obtained are shaken several times and left to settle for a night. The samples are then characterized using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) and Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopies, and tunneling electron microscopy (TEM), whereas scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) characterization is done by coating the sample on glass slides. Results: The UV-Vis characterization results show a red shift of absorbance peaks from 234.5 nm to 244.5 nm as the time of irradiation is increased. These peaks indicate the formation of GO in the samples. The FTIR characterization results indicate that there are functional groups of OH, C=C, and C-O in the samples, which also show the existence of GO. The SEM images show the surface morphology of the sample, which resembles smooth-quadrilateral lump of clays, and the EDX result shows that the sample is composed of 2.86%, 54.02%, 11.62%, 2.2%, 26.23%, and 3.06% of carbon, oxygen, sodium, magnesium, silicon, and calcium atoms, respectively. The occurrence of carbon and oxygen atoms verifies further the formation of GO in the samples. Conclusion: Finally, the TEM result shows few-layers of GO materials supported by the electron diffraction pattern showing hexagonal structure of the GO.

Our objective was to study and evaluate the richness and diversity of Phlebotominae fauna in the Duas Bocas Biological Reserve (DBBR) in the state of Espírito Santo, in southeastern Brazil. Sand fly collections were carried out during four consecutive nights each month between August 2007 and July 2008 at DBBR by using CDC automatic light traps and an illuminated Shannon trap. Specific richness (S) and Shannon diversity index (H) was calculated for each trap. We collected 18,868 sand flies belonging to 29 species and 13 genera. Nyssomyia yuilli yuilli was the most abundant species followed by Psychodopygus ayrozai, Ps. hirsutus, Psathyromyia pascalei, and Ps. matosi. We recorded Brumptomyia cardosoi, Br. troglodytes, and Ps. geniculatus for the first time in the state of Espírito Santo. We discuss the differences in diversity and richness of the sand flies in both traps and in relation to other Brazilian localities and biomes. We also discuss the possibility of wild transmission of Leishmania in the DBBR and the influence of the sand fly species in leishmaniasis transmission to the adjacent areas of the reserve.

This study seeks to discuss the significance of school nutrition expressed by students in public schools from the state of Bahia, Brazil. The objective is to understand the symbolic aspects associated with school nutrition. The results of a survey into the significance of nutrition offered by the Brazilian School Nutrition Program (PNAE) expressed by students from six public schools in municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, are presented. A qualitative approach to understand nutrition at school and notions about healthy food by analyzing oral and written narratives of adolescents is used. The reports point to opposing stances between food in the home and food outside the home. What is customary can appear strange depending on the time and place. In this sense, they do not make an association between healthy food and PNAE. The food culture requires students to eat food on two occasions: breakfast and lunch (or dinner). These are aspects that are distinct, however they must be combined in school, because for these social actors, studying and eating are necessities that complement each other.

Urbanization has a considerable impact on the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and results in a negative impact on outdoor thermal comfort. In this context, vegetation can be an important lever in alleviating the UHI. Various types of sizes, and densities of vegetation offer different levels of cooling effects in the surrounding areas thereby enhancing thermal comfort.This paper assesses the impact of urban block layouts and varying vegetation densities on the urban microclimate specifically focusing on the regulation of humidity and air temperature. The objective is to determine how variations in vegetation types, densities, and sizes specifically influence the microclimate. We used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to analyze airflow patterns, temperature differences, and humidity levels in three different locations on a university campus in Atlanta, Georgia. The vegetation is modeled with different levels of porosity and sizes. The Leaf Area Density (LAD) is a measure that quantifies the leaf surface area in a given volume of vegetation. LAD affects the heat balance of the leaves which affects the surrounding temperature. The density of LAD determines the extent of shading and cooling effects through transpiration and absorption of solar radiation process. The higher the density would generally experience more shading and reduced temperatures, which is essential for regulating urban microclimate. The Universal Thermal Comfort Index (UTCI) is used to show the reduction in the temperature and thermal stress in and around the vegetation regions. The simulation will be investigated in a three-dimensional urban microclimate setting inside the Rhinoceros3d modeling software and carried out using the ‘urbanmicroclimatefoam’ solver in OpenFOAM. Trees are modeled as porous zones where LAD value is set to non-zero.Through this study we aim to propose guidelines for Sustainable analysts and Urban planners on the influence of vegetation in outdoor temperature and its impacts on local microclimate and neighborhood buildings.

The study assessed the nutrition status of public school students in the city of Carinhanha, state of Bahia, Brazil. It was a cross-sectional study made in 2012, with 224 students from 6 to 9 years of age, of both sexes, mostly from families of low socioeconomic level. The nutrition status was assessed by checking weight and height According to the body mass index per age, malnutrition was observed in 3.6% of the students, overweight in 7.6% and obesity in 5.8%. A tendency towards overweight was observed in 13.4% of the students. Concerning the relation height/age, it was adequate in 218 students (97.3%). These results indicate that the public elementary school students assessed showed a tendency towards overweight, and strategies that promote their health through adequate nutrition must be implemented.

The soil microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and supporting sustainable agriculture. Studying its biogeographical structure and distribution is essential for understanding the rates and mechanisms of microbially mediated soil ecosystem services. This study aimed to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of Acidobacteriota and Planctomycetota across soils in Russia, summarizing data from 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding of topsoils. A machine learning approach (Random Forest) was employed to generate digital distribution maps using climatic, topographic, vegetation, geological, and soil variables. Model interpration was performed using variable importance assessment and Shapley values. According to the error metrics, the Acidobacteriota model achieved a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 6.67% and an R2 of 0.41, while the Planctomycetota model achieved an RMSE of 2.04% and an R2 of 0.46. Both phyla exhibited similar spatial distribution patterns, with relative abundance decreasing from North to South. For Acidobacteriota, vegetation cover, surface temperature, and soil pH were significant predictors, whereas the relative abundance of Planctomycetota was mainly influenced by climatic variables. Specifically, Acidobacteriota were more abundant in areas with dense vegetation, stable surface temperatures, and acidic soils. In contrast, Planctomycetota showed reduced abundance in regions with higher levels of precipitable water vapor. These results highlight the potential of machine learning techniques to visualize predictive biogeographic patterns in soil microbial taxa abundance at the phylum level. Despite limitations related to the heterogeneous nature of source data, focusing on higher taxonomic ranks less sensitive to methodological variation enabled to identify preliminary large-scale distribution trends of microbial phyla in soils.

The main objective of this research is to estimate the price and income parameters of the residential electric power demand of Bahia state, Brazil. For this, monthly data from 2004 to 2021 is used. The consumption is analyzed in terms of the electricity price, income, number of residentials, rainfall, average temperature, and residential index price. Regarding climatic variables, despite being important for the study of the electricity sector, especially rainfall, since Brazil depends on water sources, they are rarely used. After verifying that part of the series is non-stationary, it is decided to use the method of Cointegration and Error Correction Mechanism (ECM). This estimator considers the model variables and their lags, reconciling short-run and long-run trends. The results are consistent with the established hypotheses, proving to be inelastic both in the short and long run. The parameters calculated can serve as another source of information, both for the agents responsible for conducting energy planning in the State of Bahia, and for eventual investors in the private sector.

Two predictive models were developed within a geographic information system using Genetic Algorithm Rule-Set Prediction (GARP) and the growing degree day (GDD)-water budget (WB) concept to predict the distribution and potential risk of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the State of Bahia, Brazil. The objective was to define the environmental suitability of the disease as well as to obtain a deeper understanding of the eco-epidemiology of VL by associating environmental and climatic variables with disease prevalence. Both the GARP model and the GDDWB model, using different analysis approaches and with the same human prevalence database, predicted similar distribution and abundance patterns for the Lutzomyia longipalpis-Leishmania chagasi system in Bahia. High and moderate prevalence sites for VL were significantly related to areas of high and moderate risk prediction by: (i) the area predicted by the GARP model, depending on the number of pixels that overlapped among eleven annual model years, and (ii) the number of potential generations per year that could be completed by the Lu. longipalpis-L. chagasi system by GDD-WB analysis. When applied to the ecological zones of Bahia, both the GARP and the GDD-WB prediction models suggest that the highest VL risk is in the interior region of the state, characterized by a semi-arid and hot climate known as Caatinga, while the risk in the Bahia interior forest and the Cerrado ecological regions is lower. The Bahia coastal forest was predicted to be a low-risk area due to the unsuitable conditions for the vector and VL transmission.

Fresh tissue slices were fixed in 5% formalin containing 0.9% NaCl for 10-20 min and frozen sections therefrom floated for 3 hr at 37°C on an incubating mixture made as follows. Sodium pyrophosphate (Na4P2O7-12H2O), 1.088 gm was dissolved in 20-30 ml of distilled water and to this was added ferric chloride (FeCl3-6H2O), 0.61 gm dissolved in 10-15 ml of water. The precipitate was just dissolved by cautiously adding 5-10% aqueous Na2CO3 solution and the pH adjusted to 7.2 with 1N HCl. The volume was made up to 100 ml and 0.9 gm of NaCl added. Before use, 1 ml of 10% Mg(NO3) was added. After incubation, sections were washed 10-15 min in 0.9% NaCl, then mounted on glass slides and air-dried. When dry, the slides were immersed in 0.9% NaCl containing 0.2-0.5% ammonium sulfide for 2-3 min, then dehydrated rapidly through graded alcohols, cleared, and covered in balsam. Sites of pyrophosphatase activity stained in various shades of green. Acid pyrophosphatase also was histochemically demonstrated by the same pri...

Preliminary study on chitosan modified glass ionomer restoratives

SummaryFor diagnosis of pine wilt disease, a simple PCR‐RFLP method was developed to identify and to differentiate two similar nematode species, based on a living or preserved single specimen. Pinewood nematodes, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and Bursaphelenchus mucronatus were examined. A single nematode in 1 µl of distilled water was put on a glass slide. When the water had almost dried the nematode was crushed with a filter paper chip, 1.5 mm × 1.5 mm, with the aid of forceps. The filter paper chip containing nematode remains was immediately placed into PCR buffer as the DNA template. The primer set used was to amplify ribosomal DNA containing the inter‐transcribed spacer (ITS) 1, 5.8S and ITS2 regions. The PCR product was consistently obtained from a single nematode, and digesting the product with restriction endonuclease, Hinf I, enabled discrimination between B. xylophilus and B. mucronatus. This method was simple, convenient and definitive, and could successfully determine the pathogen in the diagnosis of pine wilt disease. This method was applicable also to nematode specimens preserved under various conditions except in the case of those preserved in aldehyde‐containing fixatives.