Prediction of genotypic values of maize for the agricultural frontier region in northeastern Maranhao, Brazil

Mora, F (Mora, Freddy). Univ Talca, Inst Biol Vegetal & Biotecnol, Talca, ChileAgricultural research, mainly focused on the evaluation of maize cultivars along agricultural frontiers, are scarce. This study assessed 128 maize genotypes in the agricultural frontier region of the State of Maranhao, between 2008 and 2009. The experiment was arranged in a lattice design with two replications. The genotypes were evaluated for grain yield in a mixed model, with fixed intercept and experimental effects. The random effects were genotype, genetic class (single-, double or triple-cross hybrid and variety), and incomplete block/replication/environment. The genotype effect was significant by the likelihood ratio test in all models, highlighting the genotypic values of the single-cross hybrids DKB177, AG8088 and DKB390, the triple-cross PL6882, the double-cross BM502 and of the open-pollinated variety SHS3031

Prediction of genotypic values of maize for the agricultural frontier region in northeastern Maranhão, Brazil.

Agricultural research, mainly focused on the evaluation of maize cultivars along agricultural frontiers, are scarce. This study assessed 128 maize genotypes in the agricultural frontier region of the State of Maranhão, between 2008 and 2009. The experiment was arranged in a lattice design with two replications. The genotypes were evaluated for grain yield in a mixed model, with fixed intercept and experimental effects. The random effects were genotype, genetic class (single-, double or triple-cross hybrid and variety), and incomplete block/replication/ environment. The genotype effect was significant by the likelihood ratio test in all models, highlighting the genotypic values of the single-cross hybrids DKB177, AG8088 and DKB390, the triple-cross PL6882, the double-cross BM502 and of the open-pollinated variety SHS3031Nota técnica

Produtividade de híbridos de milho na região de fronteira agrícola no nordeste do Maranhão.

O Maranhão é um estado onde a agricultura tecnificada está em rápida expansão e que possui excelente potencial para desenvolvimento do agronegócio e para a exportação de produtos agrícolas. No entanto, ainda é escassa a realização de pesquisas na região, incluindo pesquisas com a cultura do milho. Esse fato levou à realização deste trabalho, visando avaliar a produtividade de híbridos modernos de milho. Assim, 42 híbridos foram avaliados no ano de 2008 em dois locais (Anapurus e Brejo), em região de fronteira agrícola no nordeste do Estado do Maranhão. O rendimento médio foi de 5.593 kg ha-1 na análise conjunta, 5.097 kg ha-1 em Anapurus e 6.089 kg ha -1 em Brejo, demonstrando excelente potencial regional para o cultivo do milho. Foram significativas as diferenças entre híbridos e entre locais, sendo possível encontrar híbridos com rendimento acima de 8.000 kg ha-1, quando maximizadas as variáveis ambiente e cultivar. No entanto, não ocorreu interação significativa entre híbridos e locais. Na média, os híbridos simples são superiores aos triplos e duplos e os híbridos triplos, superiores aos duplos, apesar de a diferença nem sempre ser estatisticamente significativ

Measuring Information Transfer

An information theoretic measure is derived that quantifies the statistical coherence between systems evolving in time. The standard time delayed mutual information fails to distinguish information that is actually exchanged from shared information due to common history and input signals. In our new approach, these influences are excluded by appropriate conditioning of transition probabilities. The resulting transfer entropy is able to distinguish driving and responding elements and to detect asymmetry in the coupling of subsystems.Comment: 4 pages, 4 Figures, Revte

Free heme and amyloid-β: a fatal liaison in Alzheimer's disease

While the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is still unknown, an increased formation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and oxidative processes are major pathological mechanism of the disease. The interaction of Aβ with free heme leads to the formation of peroxidase-active Aβ-heme complexes. However, enzyme-kinetic data and systematic mutational studies are still missing. These aspects were addressed in this study to evaluate the role of Aβ-heme complexes in AD. The enzyme-kinetic measurements showed peroxidase-specific pH- and H2O2-dependencies. In addition, the enzymatic activity of Aβ-heme complexes constantly increased at higher peptide excess. Moreover, the role of the Aβ sequence for the named enzymatic activity was tested, depicting human-specific R5, Y10, and H13 as essential amino acids. Also by studying Y10 as an endogenous peroxidase substrate for Aβ-heme complexes, ratio-specific effects were observed, showing an optimal dityrosine formation at an about 40-fold peptide excess. As dityrosine formation promotes Aβ fibrillation while free heme disturbs protein aggregation, we also investigated the effect of Aβ-heme complex-derived peroxidase activity on the formation of Aβ fibrils. The fluorescence measurements showed a different fibrillation behavior at strong peroxidase activity, leading also to altered fibril morphologies. The latter was detected by electron microscopy. As illustrated by selected in vivo measurements on a mouse model of AD, the disease is also characterized by Aβ-derived microvessel destructions and hemolytic processes. Thus, thrombo-hemorrhagic events are discussed as a source for free heme in brain tissue. In summary, we suggest the formation and enzymatic activity of Aβ-heme complexes as pathological key features of AD.Solid state NMR/Biophysical Organic Chemistr

Asymptotically stable phase synchronization revealed by autoregressive circle maps

A new type of nonlinear time series analysis is introduced, based on phases, which are defined as polar angles in spaces spanned by a finite number of delayed coordinates. A canonical choice of the polar axis and a related implicit estimation scheme for the potentially underlying auto-regressive circle map (next phase map) guarantee the invertibility of reconstructed phase space trajectories to the original coordinates. The resulting Fourier approximated, Invertibility enforcing Phase Space map (FIPS map) is well suited to detect conditional asymptotic stability of coupled phases. This rather general synchronization criterion unites two existing generalisations of the old concept and can successfully be applied e.g. to phases obtained from ECG and airflow recordings characterizing cardio-respiratory interaction.Comment: PDF file, 232 KB, 24 pages, 3 figures; cheduled for Phys. Rev. E (Nov) 200

Manual and automated blood cells count in ocelots (Leopardus pardalis - Linnaeus, 1758)

Aparelhos de automação, cujo uso está estabelecido na hematologia dos animais domésticos, ainda não são empregados rotineiramente em felídeos selvagens. Esse estudo objetivou avaliar a técnica automatizada na contagem de células sanguíneas de jaguatiricas (Leopardus pardalis), comparando-a com a técnica manual. Foram coletadas amostras sanguíneas de oito jaguatiricas, que se submeteram à contagem de eritrócitos, leucócitos, plaquetas e à determinação do volume globular pelo método manual padrão e por meio do aparelho BC - 2800 VET® com a configuração para gatos domésticos. Os resultados foram avaliados por meio do teste t para dados pareados, e as técnicas submetidas à análise de correlação de Pearson. A técnica automatizada demonstrou resultados estatisticamente semelhantes para eritrócitos e leucócitos. Apenas para volume globular houve diferença significativa entre as técnicas manual e automatizada, mas a correlação foi alta. Apesar de não haver diferença significativa entre as técnicas para plaquetas, a correlação foi baixa. Conclui-se que o aparelho BC - 2800 VET® com a configuração para gatos domésticos é uma técnica confiável na realização do eritrograma e do leucograma para jaguatiricas. Para a determinação do parâmetro volume globular, o aparelho pode ser utilizado, desde que se faça a correção. Para a contagem de plaquetas, a técnica manual é recomendada.Automated equipment, whose use is established in hematology of domestic animals, is not yet routinely used in blood cells count of wildlife, due to lack of studies that validate its use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the automated technique for blood cells count of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), comparing it with the manual technique. Blood samples were collected from eight ocelots, which were submitted to counting of erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and packed cell volume by the standard manual method and by the device VET ® 2800 BC with the configuration for domestic cats. The results were evaluated using the t test for paired data and the techniques submitted to Pearson correlation. The automated technique showed statistically similar results to erythrocytes and leukocytes. Significant difference was found only for packed cell volume between the manual and automated techniques, but the correlation was high. Although there was no significant difference between the techniques for platelets, the correlation was low. We concluded that the 2800 BC VET ® device with the configuration for domestic cats is a reliable technique in performing the erythrocyte and leukocyte counts for ocelots. The device may be used to determine packed cell volume, provided the correction is made. The manual technique is recommended for the platelet count

Avaliação fenotípica qualitativa como critério para implantação de programas de acasalamentos em rebanhos da raça Curraleiro Pé-Duro.

Objetivou-se com este estudo implantar programas de acasalamentos em rebanhos de bovinos da raça Curraleiro Pé-Duro, utilizando a avaliação fenotípica como principal critério de seleção, com vistas à conservação destes recursos genéticos animais. Foram avaliadas características fenotípicas de 180 animais da raça Curraleiro Pé-Duro em duas explorações, com o objetivo de comprovar a existência de similaridade e dissimilaridade entre eles, para orientar futuros acasalamentos. Para obter a matriz de dissimilaridade e o dendrograma o coeficiente de Jaccard. Nas duas explorações observou-se que alguns reprodutores não apresentaram dissimilaridade e que outros apresentaram pouca dissimilaridade em relação às fêmeas. Entretanto algumas fêmeas demonstraram ser dissimilares a vários machos. O programa de acasalamentos sugerido para cada exploração contou com a divisão do rebanho em lotes, rodízios de reprodutores e a troca de touros pouco dissimilares por outros touros de rebanhos diferentes, visando aumentar a variabilidade genética dos rebanhos