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The early Eocene (~55 to 50 Ma) is a time period which has been explored in a large number of modelling and data studies. Here, using an ensemble of previously published model results, making up "EoMIP" – the Eocene Modelling Intercomparison Project – and syntheses of early Eocene terrestrial and sea surface temperature data, we present a self-consistent inter-model and model–data comparison. This shows that the previous modelling studies exhibit a very wide inter-model variability, but that at high CO2, there is good agreement between models and data for this period, particularly if possible seasonal biases in some of the proxies are considered. An energy balance analysis explores the reasons for the differences between the model results, and suggests that differences in surface albedo feedbacks, water vapour and lapse rate feedbacks, and prescribed aerosol loading are the dominant cause for the different results seen in the models, rather than inconsistencies in other prescribed boundary conditions or differences in cloud feedbacks. The CO2 level which would give optimal early Eocene model–data agreement, based on those models which have carried out simulations with more than one CO2 level, is in the range of 2500 ppmv to 6500 ppmv. Given the spread of model results, tighter bounds on proxy estimates of atmospheric CO2 and temperature during this time period will allow a quantitative assessment of the skill of the models at simulating warm climates. If it is the case that a model which gives a good simulation of the Eocene will also give a good simulation of the future, then such an assessment could be used to produce metrics for weighting future climate predictions.

Resumo: O presente estudo avaliou a indução da produção de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp.por dez bacterinas,sendo nove polivalentes e uma monovalente experimental para a sorovariedade Hardjo amostra Norma. A concentração celular foi controlada e utilizou-se adjuvante de emulsão óleo em água. Um ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA) indireto foi desenvolvido utilizando-se conjugado anti-IgG total para mensurar os níveis de anticorpos da classe IgG conferido pelas bacterinas utilizando três amostras diferentes: Hardjoprajitino, Norma e Hardjobovis. Paralelamente foi utilizado também o Teste de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM) para mensurar os níveis de anticorpos contra as mesmas amostras. Encontraram-se títulos variáveis entre as bacterinas de acordo com o teste ELISA. Os títulos no SAM foram de pouca intensidade e de curta duração indicando a necessidade de controle celular para uma posterior padronização destes produtos. Com base nos resultados encontrados no presente estudo, a bacterina monovalente foi a que apresentou melhor desempenho. Abstract: The study evaluated the induction of antibody production against ten bacterins, nine polyvalentand one experimental monovalent to serovar Hardjo strain Norma. An indirect enzyme linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using anti-IgG conjugate to measure total levelsof IgG class antibodies conferred by bacterins using three different strains: Hardjoprajiitino,Norma and Hardjo-bovis. Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was also used to measureimmunoglobulin levels of the same strains. Variable ELISA titers were induced by the testedbacterins. The MAT titers found showed lower intensity and shorter duration, indicating theneed to cellular control in further standardization of these vaccines. Based on results of thisstudy, the monovalent bacterin showed best performance.

Trabalho completo: acesso restrito, p. 50–55 Submitted by Bruna Lessa (lessbruna@gmail.com) on 2012-06-01T18:58:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 (48)1-s2.0-S0034528809001581-main.pdf: 602253 bytes, checksum: a9efe1ffe1c90407ac99468e1b5916d8 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2012-06-01T18:58:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 (48)1-s2.0-S0034528809001581-main.pdf: 602253 bytes, checksum: a9efe1ffe1c90407ac99468e1b5916d8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02 We conducted a seroepidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in goat herds in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Serum samples were collected from goats (n = 676) from 108 rural properties in 2001, covering most of the sub-regions of this ca. 586,500 square kilometer state. Antibodies against Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis secreted proteins were detected by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Most of the animals (78.9%) tested positive for CLA; 98% of flocks presented at least one seropositive animal. Goats managed under an extensive production system had a significantly higher seroprevalence of CLA than those in intensive and semi-intensive operations. The age distribution of the animals in the flocks affected the prevalence of this disease; however, goat breed did not. We found seropositivity against C. pseudotuberculosis to be highly prevalent in these Brazilian goat herds; consequently, appropriate management practices for the control of CLA should be implemented.

Trabalho completo: completo restrito, p.86–91 Submitted by Bruna Lessa (lessbruna@gmail.com) on 2012-06-25T19:31:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 (86)1-s2.0-S0921448809001850-main.pdf: 579083 bytes, checksum: 503436314b2530f2ce5e6a6606c2570e (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2012-06-25T19:31:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 (86)1-s2.0-S0921448809001850-main.pdf: 579083 bytes, checksum: 503436314b2530f2ce5e6a6606c2570e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11 Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiologic agent of caseous lymphadenitis, which is a serious, economically important problem for sheep production. We examined the seroprevalence of infection by C. pseudotuberculosis and possible risk factors associated with caseous lymphadenitis in sheep herds of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Samples were collected from 642 sheep from 97 farms. Sera of all of the sheep were tested with ELISA for antibodies against C. pseudotuberculosis. A questionnaire was applied to gather data on the farm, the sheep herd, the farmer, and individual animal data (breed, sex and age). This is the first sero-epidemiological survey for caseous lymphadenitis in sheep herds in Minas Gerais. We found a high real prevalence, much higher than that suggested from information obtained with the questionnaire, which points to the scarcity of vaccination against caseous lymphadenitis in the sample evaluated. Only a small proportion of the farmers declared that cases of this disease were present in their flocks. The frequency of seropositive sheep varied significantly with breed (χ2 test, P = 0.021). Age group also significantly affected the percentage of seropositivity (χ2 test, P = 0.049), the highest frequency being found in adult animals (more than 12 months old), when compared to the 5–12 months old group (χ2 test, P = 0.021). The prevalence of infection with C. pseudotuberculosis in sheep in the state of Minas Gerais was estimated to be 70.9% (95% confidence interval (CI): 64.7–77.0%) and the prevalence of infected flocks being 95.9% (95% CI: 89.8–98.9%). We concluded that C. pseudotuberculosis infection is widely disseminated in sheep flocks in Minas Gerais and that caseous lymphadenitis control and eradication programs are necessary in this state.

We investigate the late Paleocene/early Eocene (PE) climate using the coupled atmosphere-ocean-sea ice model ECHAM5/MPI-OM. The surface in our PE control simulation is on average 297 K warm and ice-free, despite a moderate atmospheric CO2 concentration of 560 ppm. Compared to a pre-industrial reference simulation (PR), low latitudes are 5 to 8 K warmer, while high latitudes are up to 40 K warmer. This high-latitude amplification is in line with proxy data, yet a comparison to sea surface temperature proxy data suggests that the Arctic surface temperatures are still too low in our PE simulation. To identify the mechanisms that cause the PE-PR surface temperature differences, we fit two simple energy balance models to the ECHAM5/MPI-OM results. We find that about 2/3 of the PE-PR global mean surface temperature difference are caused by a smaller clear sky emissivity due to higher atmospheric CO2 and water vapour concentrations in PE compared to PR; 1/3 is due to a smaller planetary albedo. The reduction of the pole-to-equator temperature gradient in PE compared to PR is due to (1) the large high-latitude effect of the higher CO2 and water vapour concentrations in PE compared to PR, (2) the lower Antarctic orography, (3) the smaller surface albedo at high latitudes, and (4) longwave cloud radiative effects. Our results support the hypothesis that local radiative effects rather than increased meridional heat transports were responsible for the "equable" PE climate.

Biotransformations have moved far beyond the classic one-reaction approach. Progress in genomic science enables the rapid assembly of complex multi-enzyme catalysts that allow [i] utilizing cheaper starting materials, as in the case of 5-acetylneuraminic acid formation from N-acetylglucosamine; [ii] increasing the yield, for example by exploiting racemization as in the hydantoinase carbamoylase technology; [iii] and recycling coenzymes as in the D-transaminase technology. However, recent examples demonstrate that modern multi-enzyme technology can handle systems that address combinations of these points. in our view, this constitutes a novel enabling technology that allows accessing cell-like catalytic complexity with the tools of enzyme technology.