Heterologous expression of nifA or nodD genes improves chickpea-Mesorhizobium symbiotic performance

Aims The aim of this study was to investigate whether the overexpression of NifA and NodD regulators contribute to the symbiotic improvement of chickpea mesorhizobia. Methods The native strains V-15b, ST-2, and PMI-6 were transformed with extra copies of nifA or nodD genes and several plants trial were performed. Results Plant growth assays showed that nifA overexpression was able to improve the symbiotic effectiveness of V-15b, while nodD overexpression lead to the improvement of ST-2 and PMI-6. Hydroponic assays showed that plants inoculated with V15bnifA+ and PMI6nodD+ started developing nodules earlier than those inoculated with the corresponding control strains. In addition, the number of nodules was always higher in plants inoculated with the strains overexpressing the symbiotic genes. Analysis of histological sections of nodules formed by V15bnifA+ showed a more developed fixation zone when compared with control. On the other hand, nodules induced by PMI6nodD+ did not show a senescent zone, which was observed in nodules from plants inoculated with the control strain. Plants inoculated with PMI6nodD+ and ST2nodD+ showed a higher number of infection threads than the corresponding control inoculations. Conclusion These results indicate that overexpressing nifA and nodD may be an important tool to achieve the improvement of the symbiotic performance of mesorhizobia.The authors thank Dr Alvaro Peix (IRNASA-CSIC) for providing pMP4661 plasmid. Moreover, the authors thank G. Mariano for technical assistance. This work was financed by FEDER Funds through the Operational Program for Competitiveness Factors - COMPETE and National Funds through FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia), under the Strategic Project UID/AGR/00115/2013, Project nº FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-028316 (PTDC/BIA-EVF/4158/2012), project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016810 (PTDC/AGR-PRO/2978/2014) and InAlentejo ALENT-07-0262-FEDER-001871. J. Rodrigo da-Silva acknowledges a PhD fellowship (1254-13-8) from CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)

Estimating the time-dependent performance of nanocatalysts in fuel cells based on a cost-normalization approach

CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESResearchers have developed new catalysts for fuel cells (FC), whose performances are compared after applying different normalization procedures. However, there is not a standard procedure. The current produced from CO electrooxidation was compared for Pt4271119801988CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESCONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPES454516/2014-2SEM INFORMAÇÃOThe authors acknowledge financial assistance from CNPq (grant No. 454516/2014-2), FUNDECT (grant No. 026/2015), CAPES and FINE

Immediate effect of bilateral talocrural joint manipulation on postural balance in healthy subjects

The aim of this study was to assess the immediate effect of bilateral talocrural joint manipulation on the postural balance of healthy subjects. Ninety healthy subjects (21 males and 69 females) were included in this study. The mean age, height and body weight of the subjects were 22.21 years, 165.1 cm and 62.58 Kg, respectively. Following collection of anthropometric data, the subjects were allocated randomly into an experimental group (receiving real talocrural joint manipulation), a placebo group and a control group. Before and after manipulation, the subjects performed two postural balance tasks, inquiet standing position (eyes open and eyes closed) on a force platform. The stabilometric data were recorded for 60 seconds in each condition. Sway area, medio-lateral (ML) and anteroposterior (AP) velocities and median frequency were calculated from the center of pressure (COP) displacements. The results showed that in the experimental group the COP sway velocity decreased in both directions of movement (AP and ML) and in both visual tasks (eyes open and eyes closed). In general, the placebo and control groups had similar postural balance across balance parameterss. Significant effect of the bilateral talocrural joint manipulation was found on main balance parameter like COP velocity in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions. These results have some much implications for manual therapy rehabilitation of individuals with ankle instability

Vinhos que pensam - parte ii|iii: utilização da condutividade elétrica aparente do solo na instalação e gestão das culturas: exemplificação na vinha

Vinhos que pensam - parte ii|iii: utilização da condutividade elétrica aparente do solo na instalação e gestão das culturas: exemplificação na vinh

Economic Impact of a Rotavirus Vaccine in Brazil

The study was done to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a national rotavirus vaccination programme in Brazilian children from the healthcare system perspective. A hypothetical annual birth-cohort was followed for a five-year period. Published and national administrative data were incorporated into a model to quantify the consequences of vaccination versus no vaccination. Main outcome measures included the reduction in disease burden, lives saved, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) averted. A rotavirus vaccination programme in Brazil would prevent an estimated 1,804 deaths associated with gastroenteritis due to rotavirus, 91,127 hospitalizations, and 550,198 outpatient visits. Vaccination is likely to reduce 76% of the overall healthcare burden of rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis in Brazil. At a vaccine price of US$7-8 per dose, the cost-effectiveness ratio would be US$ 643 per DALY averted. Rotavirus vaccination can reduce the burden of gastroenteritis due to rotavirus at a reasonable cost-effectiveness ratio

Vinhos que pensam - parte i|iii: gestão do vigor vegetativo da vinha a partir de sensores ativos multiespectrais próximos

Vinhos que pensam - parte i|iii: gestão do vigor vegetativo da vinha a partir de sensores ativos multiespectrais próximo

Susceptibility of Mice to Trypanosoma evansi Treated with Human Plasma Containing Different Concentrations of Apolipoprotein L-1

The aim of this study was to test the susceptibility of mice to Trypanosoma evansi treated with human plasma containing different concentrations of apolipoprotein L-1 (APOL1). For this experiment, a strain of T. evansi and human plasma (plasmas 1, 2, and 3) from 3 adult males clinically healthy were used. In vivo test used 50 mice divided in 5 groups (A to E) with 10 animals in each group. Animals of groups B to E were infected, and then treated with 0.2 ml of human plasma in the following outline: negative control (A), positive control (B), treatment with plasma 1 (C), treatment with plasma 2 (D), and treatment with plasma 3 (E). Mice treated with human plasma showed an increase in longevity of 40.9±0.3 (C), 20±9.0 (D) and 35.6±9.3 (E) days compared to the control group (B) which was 4.3±0.5 days. The number of surviving mice and free of the parasite (blood smear and PCR negative) at the end of the experiment was 90%, 0%, and 60% for groups C, D, and E, respectively. The quantification of APOL1 was performed due to the large difference in the treatments that differed in the source plasma. In plasmas 1, 2, and 3 was detected the concentration of 194, 99, and 115 mg/dl of APOL1, respectively. However, we believe that this difference in the treatment efficiency is related to the level of APOL1 in plasmas

State of the Art in the Studies on Crotamine, a Cell Penetrating Peptide from South American Rattlesnake

Animal venoms comprise a naturally selected cocktail of bioactive peptides/proteins and other molecules, each of which playing a defined role thanks to the highly specific interactions with diverse molecular targets found in the prey. Research focused on isolation, structural, and functional characterizations of novel natural biologics (bioactive peptides/proteins from natural sources) has a long way to go through from the basic science to clinical applications. Herein, we overview the structural and functional characteristics of the myoneurotoxin crotamine, firstly isolated from the South American rattlesnake venom. Crotamine is the first venom peptide classified as a natural cell penetrating and antimicrobial peptide (CPP and AMP) with a more pronounced antifungal activity. in contrast to other known natural CPPs and AMPs, crotamine demonstrates a wide spectrum of biological activities with potential biotechnological and therapeutic values. More recent studies have demonstrated the selective in vitro anticancer activity of crotamine. in vivo, using a murine melanoma model, it was shown that crotamine delays tumor implantation, inhibits tumor cells proliferation, and also increases the survival of mice engrafted with subcutaneous melanoma. the structural and functional properties and also the possible biotechnological applications of minimized molecules derived from crotamine are also discussed.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Inst Butantan, Genet Lab, BR-05503900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Farmacol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Ceara, Labomar Inst Ciencias Mar, Fortaleza, CE, BrazilUniv Estado Amazonas, Manaus, AM, BrazilCBA, Lab Bioquim & Biol Mol, Manaus, AM, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Farmacol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Efeito da pré-embebição das sementes e do substrato na germinação e no desenvolvimento inicial do maracujazeiro-doce.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da pré-embebição das sementes em água e do tipo de substrato na germinação e no desenvolvimento inicial do maracujazeiro-doce (P. alata Curtis). O trabalho foi realizado no Departamento de Fitotecnia, da Universidade Federal de Viçosa (MG). As sementes foram extraídas de frutos maduros, e somente uma porção foi embebida em água destilada, durante 24 horas. Posteriormente, no interior da casa de vegetação, as sementes foram semeadas em caixas plásticas, utilizando-se quatro substratos (areia; Plantmax?; torta de filtro e a mistura Plantmax + areia + torta de filtro (1:1:1 v/v). Foi utilizado o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, num fatorial 2 x 4 (pré-embebição x substrato), com quatro repetições, considerando como unidade experimental cada 50 sementes. Aos 33 dias após a semeadura, foram analisados: porcentagem de germinação e de sobrevivência das plântulas; número de folhas; comprimento total e comprimento de raiz das plântulas; índice de velocidade de emergência; e massa da matéria seca total das plântulas. Concluiu-se que a embebição das sementes em água não interferiu na germinação do maracujazeiro-doce. Em geral, obtiveram-se os maiores resultados nas variáveis analisadas quando se utilizou o substrato comercial Plantmax, sendo seu uso recomendado para formação de plântulas de maracujazeiro-doce