Central-West Region Of Brazil Research Articles

Inventory of cyanobacteria and microalgae cited for the National Park of the Chapada dos Guimarães (MT) and 80 new records from the region

Abstract: Cyanobacteria and microalgae make up a very diverse group and exhibit diverse morphological, biochemical and physiological differences. The knowledge of these organisms that inhabit epicontinental waters in Brazil is extremely heterogeneous in relation to the geographic region and the taxonomic group. Taxonomically there is much more knowledge about the algae of the South and Southeast regions of the country than there is about the algae of the North and Central-West regions. Therefore, this research presents a revised and updated knowledge of the algae that occur in the National Park of the Chapada dos Guimarães (PNCG) and surrounding areas. Our area of study is located in the state of Mato Grosso, in the center-west region of Brazil. The database was obtained from published literature related to taxonomic and ecological inventories, as well as new collections carried out in the area. The collection methods were quite diverse to cover all types of organisms, in plankton, periphyton, filamentous masses, sludge and water accumulated in bromeliads, the new collections are samples collected exclusively in the plankton. They were listed 182 taxa, distributed in 83 genera, 45 families, 11 classes and seven taxonomic divisions. In total, 89 taxa were found in the new samplings, of which nine taxa were already registered in the existing literature, so 80 taxa are new records for the region. A large number of taxa previously mentioned in the literature were not recorded in the sampled environments, most of them composed of Bacillariophyceae, Conjugatophyceae and Euglenophyceae. As well as three species of cyanobacteria of great sanitary importance were registered. Therefore, CGNP has great importance in the maintenance of aquatic biodiversity and to know this community becomes increasingly important to support management measures.

Characterization of Leishmania species from Central-West Region of Brazil.

Leishmaniasis represents a complex of diseases with a broad clinical spectrum and epidemiological diversity. Involving a variety of agents, reservoirs, and vectors, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) presents different transmission patterns, which makes its control especially difficult. Epidemiological characterization with identification of existing Leishmania species in a particular region is essential for understanding this parasitosis epidemiology. Because similar results may be observed in places with overlapping transmission of visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis, contributing to knowledge about the epidemiological cycle of cutaneous leishmaniasis is of global interest. This study proposes to identify the different species of Leishmania present in human CL cases in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Slides of imprint tissue were selected from patients diagnosed with CL from 2009 to 2013 at the Laboratório de Parasitologia Clínica, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul. The slides were scraped and extracted genetic material was amplified with PCR addressing the Leishmania spp. kDNA region. The reaction product was subjected to RFLP for the specific identification of Leishmania. Forty-three samples (82.7%) amplified with PCR were considered positive. Of these, it was possible to determine the species in 40 samples (76.9%) through analysis of electrophoresis profiles. Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum were identified as the etiologic agents of CL in Mato Grosso do Sul. The results of this study permit a more detailed understanding of CL epidemiology and the geographical distribution of its agents.

Farmácia Hospitalar e o Modelo de Gestão Dos Hospitais Públicos: Uma Análise Comparativa entre Administração Pública Direta e Organização Social de Saúde

The management models present today in the field of Brazilian public health, from the Managerial Reform of the 1990's, still share opinions among researchers, managers, workers and users of health services, especially regarding the performance of so-called Social Health Organizations (OSS, in Portuguese). Based on this scenario, the present study aimed to comparatively analyze the Hospital Pharmacy Services (SFH). It is, therefore, a comparative, transversal study of the analytic-descriptive type. Four hospitals located in the Center-West region of Brazil were included in the study, two of them being of direct public administration (G1APD) and two administered by Social Health Organizations (G2OSS). These hospitals selected for the survey accounted for 43.9% of the total hospital-beds in the region. The group of direct public administration (G1APD) presented heterogeneous results, and in this group, the structuring was only more complete in one of the twelve components analyzed. It is pointed out that the difference between the groups was numerically more expressive regarding the management and the four components of logistics; in particular, in meeting good storage and dispensing practices. It can be inferred that in relation to the structure, the greater adequacy and compliance with the recommendations, as well as the better formalization of the processes inherent to the service, occur due to the presence of legal requirements that must be fulfilled for the maintenance of the Management Agreements concluded between the OSS and the Public Power. It was verified that the Management model influences SFH and, probably, other hospital subsystems.

Meadow katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Conocephalini) from theCentral-West Region of Brazil: Morphological, bioacoustic and cytogenetic study.

Three species of Conocephalus and two of Euxiphidion from several localities of the Central-West Region of Brazil were studied. Conocephalus goianus Piza, 1977, C. saltator (Saussure, 1859) and C. versicolor (Redtenbacher, 1891) are recorded for the first time from Mato Grosso do Sul, one new species Euxiphidion veroni sp. nov. is described, and a new combination, Euxiphidion caizanum comb. nov. is proposed. The calling songs of C. saltator, C. versicolor, and E. veroni sp. nov. are described. All these three species call very continuously, also in the daytime. The three species of Conocepha-lus have mitotic metaphases with 2n♂ = 33 = 32 + X and 2n♀ = 34 = 32 + XX. Euxiphidion caizanum comb. nov. and E. veroni sp. nov. have 2n♂ = 31 = 30 + X and 2n♀ = 32 = 30 + XX. Most of the autosomes of C. saltator and C. versicolor are meta/submetacentric, differing from C. goianus that has seven biarmed and nine monoarmed autosomes. Both Euxiphidion species present mostly telo/subtelocentric autosomes. The X chromosome is metacentric, and the largest element of the karyotype in the five species. No interstitial telomeric site (ITS) was observed in mitotic metaphases submitted to telomeric fluorescent in situ hybridization. Ecological aspects of the studied species are discussed.

Seroprevalence of human cysticercosis in Jataí, Goiás state, Brazil

The Taenia solium cysticercosis affects millions of people worldwide and is considered a public health problem, especially in developing countries. The diagnosis of neurocysticercosis is complex and involves the analysis of epidemiological, clinical, neuroimaging, and immunological host data. Neurocysticercosis is endemic in Brazil, and is related to the cause of death mainly in the Southeast, South, and Central-West regions. The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of cysticercosis in inhabitants of the city of Jataí, Goiás, in the Central-West region of Brazil from April to August 2012. A total of 529 serum samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detecting IgG antibodies against T. solium larvae, and Western blotting was used for confirming the diagnosis through the recognition of at least two specific peptides from their serum antibodies. The 351/529 (66.3%) reactive samples were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting confirmed the diagnosis in 73 samples that recognized at least two of the following peptides specific IgG antibodies for cysticercosis: 18, 24, 28–32, 39–42, 47–52, 64–68, and 70kDa. The seroprevalence of cysticercosis was 13.8% (95% CI 5.9–21.7), demonstrating that the studied area is endemic to this disease.

Estudo da Viabilidade da Aplicação da Energia Geotérmica como Fonte Complementar da Matriz Energética do Estado do Mato Grosso

O mundo precisa de energia para prosseguir no seu desenvolvimento. Uma das fontes mais promissoras é a energia geotérmica que é estável e não depende de condições climáticas. O Brasil tem um potencial para exploração desta energia. O objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar uma análise de viabilidade de implementação da matriz energética do estado do Mato Grosso por meio da implantação de usinas Geotérmicas, evitando bruscas oscilações no fornecimento. Realiza-se uma pesquisa documental de fonte indireta na qual se levanta dados e informações sobre o potencial do emprego desta energia na região Centro Oeste do Brasil. Os dados apontam para a possibilidade de utilização principalmente no Estado do Mato Grosso e esta fonte energética pode a vir se tornar uma reserva estratégica importante para o país.

Extraction of radish seed oil (<em>Raphanus sativus L</em>.) and evaluation of its potential in biodiesel production

Growing concern about replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources, coupled with society’s concerns about environmental preservation, are the main reasons why governments have sought strategies for increased production and consumption of renewable and sustainable fuels. Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) belongs to the group of oilseeds of the Brassicaceae family, being widely cultivated in the south and central-west regions of Brazil, with physical and chemical characteristics propitious to the production of biofuels. In this context, the objective of the present work was to evaluate three different methods of oil extraction: solvent extraction, cold pressing and swelling technique, to evaluate the potential of radish oil in biodiesel production using methanol, ethanol and a mixture of both containing 60% and 40% respectively, and to evaluate the composition of fatty acids. The methodology consists firstly in the extraction of the oil, followed by transesterification reaction using 10 mL of pretreated oil and sodium hydroxide in the proportion of 1% in mass, relative to the oil. The oil samples were used in the transesterification reactions with methanol, ethanol and a mixture of methanol (60%) and ethanol (40%) in different proportions and temperatures. The results indicated that, for the oil extraction processes, the seed swelling technique presented a high extraction yield (34%). The composition of fatty acids showed presence of approximately 30% of saturated compounds and around 50% of compounds with chain up to 18 carbons, also had presence of erucic acid (up to 41%), and a high percentage of oleic acid (up to 30%). Regarding the transesterification reactions, the highest yield occurred with the use of methanol, about 86%. Thus, in the light of the results, it can be concluded that radish oil has great potential for biodiesel production, but, other analyzes, such as acidity and flash point, should be performed to more specifically evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of biodiesel.

Dimensionamiento de flota en las operaciones de carguío y transporte usando modelos de simulación de sistemas

The present study addresses aspects that must be considered in the sizing of the equipment for material loading and haulage (ore and waste) in an open-pit mine in the Central-West Region of Brazil. This is a complex process because a significant number of variables that limit the activities intrinsic to the loading and hauling operations are involved in the analysis. Such variables are: production rates per unit of time, physical-mechanical characteristics of the material, hauling distances, topography, access design, hauling routes, cycles, and fleet performance (truck, shovel). Additionally, there are other external variables that also condition a normal operation, such as rain, snow, fog and seismic movement. The purpose of this study is to size the fleet of the loading and hauling equipment that fulfills the processing plant requirements in an efficient manner.

Bird diversity along a gradient of fragmented habitats of the Cerrado.

Understanding the factors that affect biodiversity is of central interest to ecology, and essential to species conservation and ecosystems management. We sampled bird communities in 17 forest fragments in the Cerrado biome, the Central-West region of Brazil. We aimed to know the communities structure pattern and the influence of geographical distance and environmental variables on them, along a gradient of fragmented habitats at both local and landscape scales. Eight structural variables of the fragments served as an environmental distance measurement at the local scale while five metrics served as an environmental distance measurement at the landscape scale. Species presence-absence data were used to calculate the dissimilarity index. Beta diversity was calculated using three indices (βsim, βnes and βsor), representing the spatial species turnover, nestedness and total beta diversity, respectively. Spatial species turnover was the predominant pattern in the structure of the communities. Variations in beta diversity were explained only by the environmental variables of the landscape with spatial configuration being more important than the composition. This fact indicates that, in Cerrado of Goiás avian communities structure, deterministic ecological processes associated to differences in species responses to landscape fragmentation are more important than stochastic processes driven by species dispersal.

Understanding the determinants of adoption of enterprise resource planning (ERP) technology within the agri-food context: the case of the Midwest of Brazil

The object of this study is to investigate the determinants of adoption of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) technology in agricultural farms located in the Central-West region of Brazil. The data was collected from 200 in-depth interviews with soy, corn and cotton farmers from the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Structural Equations methodology was used to analyze the data and hypothesis. The conceptual model was proposed by combining Diffusion of Innovations and Technology-Organization-Environment theories. The results provide information to agribusiness owners, managers and administrators to promote and incentivize the use of ERP. Politicians and farmers can evaluate each scenario and support their political and administrative decisions through the evaluation of socioeconomic and environmental performances of agricultural exploration as a result of technological innovation. This leads to a need for an analytical tool for the farmers, with the objective of supporting the adoption of optimized ERP for agri-food activities.

Skipping breakfast and associated factors among Brazilian adolescents

ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the prevalence and factors associated with breakfast skipping among adolescents. Methods Cross-sectional study, with adolescents aged 10-17 years, evaluated between 2009 and 2011, belonging to a cohort study in the Central-West region of Brazil. Breakfast skipping was considered as not having breakfast every day. Demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors were evaluated through a questionnaire. Anthropometric assessment included measurement of weight and height, which were used to classify weight status using body mass index. Poisson regression was used to assess the association of breakfast skipping with demographic and socioeconomic variables, lifestyle factors, and weight status. Results Among 1,716 Brazilian adolescents evaluated, 36.2% reported not consuming breakfast every day, with the highest prevalence among girls (p=0.03). After adjusting for age and economic class, breakfast skipping was associated with not consuming breakfast with parents and morning shift at school, in both genders, and with obesity only in boys. Lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption, physical activity, diet quality, and smoking were not associated with skipping breakfast. Conclusion The omission of breakfast was observed in more than a third of adolescents, being associated with demographic and lifestyle factors. In the public health perspective, the importance of encouraging the consumption of this meal is highlighted, with actions involving the school environment and the family.

First description and evaluation of SNPs in the ADH and ALDH genes in a population of alcoholics in Central-West Brazil.

Worldwide, different studies have reported an association of alcohol-use disorder (AUD) with different types of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes for aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). In Brazil, there is little information about the occurrence of these SNPs in the AUD population and an absence of studies characterizing the population in the Central-West Region of Brazil. Actually, in Brazil, there are more than 4 million people with AUD. Despite the major health hazards of AUD, information on alcohol consumption and its consequences are not well understood. Therefore, it is extremely important to characterize these SNPs for the better understanding of AUD as a genetic disease in the Brazilian population. The present study, unlike other studies in other countries, is done with a subject population that shows a significant amount of racial homogenization. We evaluated the presence of SNPs in the ADH (ADH1B, ADH1C, and ADH4) and ALDH (ALDH2) genes in alcohol users of Goiânia, State of Goiás - Brazil, and then we established a possible relationship with AUD by allelic and genotypic study. This study was conducted with a population of people with AUD (n=99) from Goiás Alcohol Dependence Recovery Center (GO CEREA) and Psychosocial Care Center for Alcohol and Drugs (CAPS AD), and with a population of people without AUD as controls (n=100). DNA was extracted from whole-blood samples and the genotyping was performed using TaqMan® SNP genotyping assays. For characterization and evaluation of SNPs in the population, genotype frequency, allele frequency, haplotype frequency, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and linkage disequilibrium were analyzed. Statistical analyses were calculated by GENEPOP 4.5 and Haploview software. The allele 1 was considered as "wild" (or *1) and allele 2 as mutant (or *2). Significant differences were found for ADH1B*, ADH4*2, and ALDH2*2 SNPs when the genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed. In addition, four haplotypes were observed between ADH1B*2 and ADH1C*2 through linkage disequilibrium analysis. The genetic variants may be associated with protection against AUD in the population studied.

Contributions to the knowledge of the genus Plantago (Plantaginaceae) in the Central-West region of Brazil

Here, I present contributions to the knowledge of the genus Plantago (Plantaginaceae) in the Central-West region of Brazil, including the first records of P. australis (more specifically: P. australis subsp. hirtella), P. commersoniana and P. napiformis in this Brazilian region, and the first records of P. major in Mato Grosso state. I also typify here the name P. hirtella, which is the basionym of P. australis subsp. hirtella, and also its heterotypic synonyms P. galeottiana, P. leptophylla, P. schiedeana and P. veratrifolia. Furthermore, I provide an identification key to the five species of Plantago recorded in the Central-West region of Brazil.

Amblyomma sculptum: genetic diversity and rickettsias in the Brazilian Cerrado biome

Amblyomma sculptum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Berlese, 1888 is the most important tick vector in Brazil, transmitting the bioagent of the most severe form of spotted fever (SF) in part of the Cerrado (in the states of Minas Gerais and São Paulo). In another part of the Cerrado (Central-West region of Brazil), a milder form of SF has been recorded. However, neither the rickettsia nor the vector involved have been characterized. The aim of the current study was to analyse genetic variation and the presence of rickettsia in A. sculptum in Cerrado, from silent areas and with the milder form of SF. Samples were subjected to DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of 12S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit II and D-loop mitochondrial genes (for tick population analyses), and gltA, htrA, ompA and gene D (sca4) genes for rickettsia researches. Exclusive haplotypes with low frequencies, high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity, star-shaped networks and significant results in neutrality tests indicate A. sculptum population expansions in some areas. Rickettsia amblyommatis, Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae and Rickettsia felis were detected. The A. sculptum diversity is not geographically, or biome delimited, pointing to a different potential in vector capacity, possibly associated with differing tick genetic profiles.

A INFLUÊNCIA DE PROGRAMAS DE REORIENTAÇÃO DA FORMAÇÃO EM CURSOS DA ÁREA DA SAÚDE

The Ministries of Health and Education, since 2005, have proposed several editions of the National Program for Reorientation of Training of Healthcare Professionals (Pro-Health) to promote reformulation of teaching processes in this area. Objective: this study aimed to analyze the proposals and the final reports presented by a higher education public institution in the Central-West region of Brazil, seeking to understand the influence that these programs have had on reformulating health education curricula. Methodology: This is a qualitative document study. Results and Discussion: From the organization of these data, four categories emerged: 1) Implementation and development of reorientation programs in health education; 2) Evaluations of Pro-Health and Pet-Health; 3) Difficulties faced in the process of change in the healthcare field; 4) Suggestions / advances created by the processes of change in the healthcare field. Conclusions: It was found that although these policies have influenced training of healthcare professionals it takes time to consolidate the changes required by the proposals of these healthcare training reorientation programs due to difficulties in changing existing traditional education models. DOI: 10.12957/demetra.2017.28665

Income Diversification through a Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration System in the Midwest Brazilian Region

Sustainability on farms is a challenge to competitiveness in the globalized market. In this scenario, due to the strong environmental, economic and social appeal, crop-livestock-forest integration systems have been considered as the future of agriculture. Regarding the economic approach, this system is based on the diversification of income generating activities, with revenue entry at different times, rationalization of resource use and reduction of risk of financial losses. Thus, the purpose of this work was to carry out the economic analysis of a crop-livestock-forest integration system, located at Boa Vereda?s farm, in the municipality of Cachoeira Dourada in the state of Goias in the central-west region of Brazil. The system was composed of the following traditional crops of the region: soybean, corn, pasture, beef cattle and eucalyptus. The technical coefficients and the prices used for economic evaluation were obtained from the experimental unit and from the local market when crops were harvested in 2016/2017. The economic indicators used to assess economic viability were the net present value (NPV) and the equivalent annual uniform value (EAUV). The results showed a return greater than the opportunity cost of the land, showing the attractiveness of the crop-livestock-forest integration system. Thus, this system represents an economically viable alternative that, among other benefits, allows the diversification of its sources of income, with a reduction of risk.

Clinical and Hematological Evaluation of Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia Before and After Four Years of Using Hydroxyurea

Objective: Evaluating clinical and hematological-clinical parameters of patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) before and after four years of using hydroxyurea (HU). 
 Method: A retrospective cohort study implementing a quantitative, descriptive and analytical approach developed in two public teaching hospitals located in the Central-West region of Brazil, from November 2010 to October 2011. Data collection was performed through medical records of 32 patients with SCA to assess clinical and hematological parameters before and after HU treatment. The study was approved by the UFMS Ethics Committee under protocol number 1890/2010.
 Results: All of the 32 patients were homozygous with a mean age in the prescription of hydroxyurea of 19.72±7.58 years, an initial dose of 15.59±4.27 mg/kg/day, and 22.48±5.35 mg/kg/day in the fourth year of treatment. Regarding the use of HU, average values of some hematological parameters presented a significant difference in the fourth year compared to the mean values prior to HU use, such as fetal hemoglobin (14.49±7.52%), red blood cells (2.54±0.38x1012/L), hematocrit (25.30±4.03%) and hemoglobin (9.22±3.34g/dL). 
 Conclusion: Treatment with hydroxyurea showed a significant increase in fetal hemoglobin levels, increased hemoglobin, hematocrit and average corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, with reduced episodes of pain, infection and acute chest syndrome in such a way as to reaffirm its efficiency in treating these patients.
 Keywords: Hemoglobin; Sickle Cell Anemia; Hydroxyurea.

EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ON TEACHERS: REFLECTIONS ON METHODOLOGICAL PROCESS

This work is part of the studies conducted by REDECENTRO - Network of Researchers in the Center-West Region of Brazil. It analyzes dissertations focused on the teacher, produced in a Post-graduation Education Program, from 2006 to 2009 period. Following in the footsteps of the phenomenological method, present a review work of academic production, with complete reading texts and collects the following information: types and research procedures, theoretical reference and approach used. It is considered that the meaning of the methodological choices does not belong to the individual who carry them out, but to the whole system of relationship, in and throughout the field they happen.

Cyperus tuckerianus (Cyperaceae), a new species from the Central-West Region of Brazil

Cyperus tuckerianus is a new species described to the Central-West Region of Brazil. This species is similar to Cyperus unioloides, Cyperus lanceolatus var. compositus and Cyperus lanceolatus var. subunioloides, however the new species is distinguished by its lax anthela, simple or compound with spikelets digitiform or grouped in glomerules, by the size of the spikelets and anthers and narrower rachilla. Morphological description, illustration, identification key, data about the habitat and comparisons with similar species are presented.

Grain yield and termite damage in rice by compaction on the furrow and seed treatment

Abstract The objective of this work was to determine the effects of soil compaction pressure on the sowing furrow and of seed treatments with insecticides on grain yield and on termite damage in upland rice plants under no-tillage, in the Center West region of Brazil. Three experiments were carried out, consisting of five seed treatments combined with three (first experiment) or four (second and third experiments) compaction pressures in a randomized complete block design, in a factorial arrangement. The seed treatments were: T0, without treatment; T1, imidacloprid+thiodicarb; T2, thiamethoxam; T3, carbofuran; and T4, fipronil+pyraclostrobin+thiophanate-methyl. The compaction pressures applied were: 25, 42, and 268 kPa, in the first experiment; and these same pressures plus 126 kPa in the second and third experiments. Seed treatment was effective in increasing rice grain yield, from 1,753 to 4,141 kg ha-1, especially in the lowest compaction pressure of 25 kPa. Soil compaction around 180 kPa in the sowing furrow results in higher rice grain yield and in fewer stems killed by termites. The use of soil compaction on the sowing furrow with seed treatment significantly increases rice grain yield under a no-tillage system.