Mineral Monitorization in Different Tissues of Solanum tuberosum L. during Calcium Biofortification Process

Funding Information: This work received funding from PDR2020-101-030719 and the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT), Portugal, through the research units UIDP/04035/2020 (GeoBioTec), UIDB/00239/2020 (CEF), and UID/FIS/04559/2013 (LIBPhys). This work was further supported by the grant of the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) UI/BD/150806/2020. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.Calcium is one of the 16 essential elements for plants, being required as Ca2+ and being involved in several fundamental processes (namely, in the stability and integrity of the cell wall, the development of plant tissue, cell division, and in stress responses). Moreover, Ca plays an important role in potato production. In this context, this study aimed to monitor the culture development (in situ and using an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)) and the mineral content of four essential elements (Ca, P, K, and S) in different organs of Solanum tuberosum L. (roots, stems, leaves, and tubers) during a calcium biofortification process, carried out with two types of solutions (CaCl2 and Ca-EDTA) with two concentrations (12 and 24 kg∙ha−1). The calcium content generally increased in the S. tuberosum L. organs of both varieties and showed, after the last foliar application, an increase in Ca content that varied between 5.7–95.6% and 20.7–33%, for the Picasso and Agria varieties, respectively. The patterns of accumulation in both varieties during the biofortification process were different between the variety and mineral element. Regarding the quality analysis carried out during the development of the tubers, only the Agria variety was suitable for industrial processing after the last foliar application.publishersversionpublishe

Calcium biofortification of Rocha pears, tissues accumulation and physicochemical implications in fresh and heat-treated fruits

Low dietary intake of Ca in humans has been epidemiologically linked to various diseases, which can have serious health consequences over time. Accordingly, the development of an agronomic itinerary for Ca biofortification of Rocha pears and the assessment of physicochemical deviations prompted this study. Two orchards with contrasting soil and water characteristics were selected, characterized through orthophotomaping and, during fruits development, leaves were sprayed twice with Ca(NO3)2 (0.1, 0.3 and 0.6 kg ha - 1) or CaCl2 (0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 kg ha - 1), followed by pulverization only with CaCl2 (first once with 4 kg ha - 1 and then four times with 8 kg ha - 1). During fruits development net photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, transpiration rates, instantaneous and water use efficiency, only showed minor deviations, which indicated that the threshold of toxicity was not surpassed. Calcium contents varied during fruits development and at harvesting the average biofortification index varied between 47 %–63 % and 24 %–59 % in each of the orchards. Besides, the equatorial region of the fruits showed for all treatments (substantially in Ca treated samples) higher Ca contents in the epidermal and in the central regions. Fresh and heat-treated fruits (in a thermomix at 90 ◦C, during 10 min) biofortified with Ca only revealed minor differences and the sensory acceptability did not vary markedly. It is concluded that, although prevailing a heterogeneous distribution of Ca in fruit tissues, high indexes of biofortification in Rocha pears can be prompt in the orchards, without substantial physicochemical changes. Accordingly, agronomic biofortification with Ca can be used as a strategy for benefiting consumer’s healthinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

O mulato de Portagem: análise literária

Through a literary analysis of the novel Portagem, by Orlando Marques, the author seeks to show aspects of the racial and social impasses which became decisive elements for the appearance of a national Mozambican literature. The empirical base is set up taking as a starting point the differences attributed to mulatto, white, and black people. These differences are presented in the book and summarized in the main character, as well as other extra-literary factors. The author considers the sAtravés da análise literária do romance PORTAGEM, do Orlando Marques, o autor procura evidenciar aspectos dos impasses raciais e sociais que se tornaram elementos decisivos para o aparecimento de uma literatura moçambicana nacional. A base empírica é construída a partir das diferenças atribuídas a mulatos, brancos e negros, constantes da obra e sintetizados no personagem principal, assim como de outros fatores extra-literários. O autor tem em conta a dimensão sociológica da questão bem como a organização literária da obra em sua tentativa de evidenciar as situações de conflito

Estudo da novela "O Enterro de Nha Candinha Sena" de António Aurélio Gonçalves

Num primeiro nível de abordagem, e tendo em conta o plano temporal, pode reconhecer-se que a combinação das histórias se realiza numa tríade, a saber: a história d'O Enterro de Nha Candinha Sena, abrangente, a que se atribui destaque e importância pelo ´próprio título que dá à novela; a história de Nha Candinha Sena e a história de Cristiano. As narrativas têm uma certa independência mas obedecem à lei do encadeamento, ligando-se por meio da personagem Cristiano que funciona como um fio condutor

O modelo brasileiro e a literatura moderna cabo-verdiana: estudo comparado

The text brings brief information on the modern Brazilian literature; It makes a synthesis of the partner-cultural context of the decade of 30, when the great “viragem” appears in the letters Capeverdians, through poetic and literary depositions of the founders of the Claridade on the paper carried out by the modernism and by the Brazilian North-eastern realism.O texto traz breves informações sobre a moderna literatura brasileira; faz uma síntese do contexto sócio-cultural da década de 30, quando surge a grande “viragem” nas letras cabo-verdianas, através de depoimentos poéticos e literários dos fundadores da Claridade sobre o papel desempenhado pelo modernismo e pelo realismo nordestino brasileiro

Estudo epidemiológico do cancro do pulmão em Portugal nos anos de 2000/2002 Epidemiological study of lung cancer in Portugal (2000/2002)

O cancro do pulmão é a causa mais comum de cancro no Mundo. A sobrevida global aos 5 anos é de cerca de 15%, sem grandes previsões de mudança. Em Portugal, relativamente à doença oncológica, situa-se em terceiro lugar, sendo a primeira causa de morte por cancro. O tabaco é responsável por cerca de 85% dos casos. Um estudo efectuado em Portugal durante 3 anos (2000/2002) pela Comissão de Trabalho de Pneumologia Oncológica da Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia em 22 hospitais, mostrou que, de um total de 4396 doentes com cancro do pulmão, 81,8% se referem ao sexo masculino e 18,2% ao sexo feminino, com uma média etária de 64,49 ± 11,28 anos. Cerca de 70% dos doentes era fumador ou ex-fumador, com 50,3% com performance status (PS) grau I da escala de Zubrod. Do ponto de vista histológico, 37,5% eram adenocarcinomas, seguido do carcinoma epidermóide com 30,5% dos casos e dos tumores de pequenas células com 12,5%; carcinomas neuroendócrinos em 1,4 % dos casos; CPNPC 10,5%, mistos em 0,7%, carcinomas de grandes células em 2,3% e outros e não especificados em 4,6% dos casos. O estadiamento, efectuado em 4097 casos, mostrou 113 doentes no estádio IA (2,8%) e 250 (6,1%) no IB; no estádio IIA apenas 0,8 % e 4,5% no IIB; no estádio IIIA 9,1% dos doentes, comparativamente ao IIIB com 29,9% dos casos, encontrando-se 46,9 % dos doentes já no estádio IV na altura do diagnóstico. Em 3855 dos casos foi possível determinar a primeira opção terapêutica. Foi efectuada cirurgia em 8,2% e terapêuticas combinadas (combinações de cirurgia com quimioterapia, ou radioterapia, ou a associação de QT com RT) em 21,8% dos casos; a QT isolada como primeira opção terapêutica foi efectuada em 43,7% dos doentes e em 20,3% apenas terapêutica de suporte.Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer death in the world. Five-year survival is about 15%, without any change to this picture envisaged. It is the 3rd most prevalent type of cancer in Portugal and the primary cause of cancer death. 85% of lung cancer cases are attributable to smoking. One study performed in Portugal for 3 years (2000/2002) by the Lung Oncology Work Committee of the Portuguese Society of Pulmonology in 22 Hospitals showed that of a total of 4396 patients with lung cancer, 81.8% were male and 18.2% were female, with a mean age of 64.49±11.28 years. About 70% of patients were smokers or former smokers, with 50.3% of patients presenting with performance status (Zubrod) 1. Histologically, 37.5% were adenocarcinoma, followed by squamous crcinoma in 30.5% of cases, and small cell lung cancer in 12.5%; neuroendocrine carcinoma presented in 1.4% of cases; non small cell lung cancer in 10.5%; mixed carcinoma in 0.7%; large cell carcinoma in 2.3%; and others/not specified in 4.6% of cases. Staging (known in 4097 patients), showed 113 patients in stage IA (2.8%) and 250 patients in stage IB (6.1%); only 0.8% in stage IIA and 4.5% in stage IIB; 9.1% in stage IIIA and 29.9% in stage IIIB; 46.9% were already in stage IV by the time of diagnosis. The first therapeutic option was known in 3855 patients. Surgery was performed in 8.2% and 21.8% of cases were treated with combined therapies (surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy); chemotherapy alone was first choice in 43.7% of patients and in 20.3% only best support therapy was chosen

Precision Agriculture as Input for the Rice Grain (Oryza sativa L.) Biofortification with Selenium

Using two rice genotypes as a test system (OP1505 and OP1509), the aim of this study was to develop an agronomic workflow for Se biofortification through foliar fertilization (with sodium selenate and sodium selenite). During the biofortification process, the state of the culture (slope, surface drainage, water lines and normalized differences vegetation index—NDVI), using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicles synchronized by global positioning system (GPS) was further assessed. It was found that after sowing, the water-drainage pattern became profoundly altered, following the artificial pattern, created by grooves between plots. NDVI values, compared to the control, did not show significant differences. These data were correlated with physiological monitoring during biofortification. Furthermore, it was found by eco-physiological data obtained through leaf gas exchanges, that the application of 300 g Se ha−1 did not show any toxicity effects in the biofortified plants. In the context of innovation, it was concluded that the application of precision agriculture techniques in conjunction with leaf-gas exchange measurements allow for an efficient monitoring of the experimental field conditions and the development of the rice cycle during the implementation of the biofortification workflow