Agronomic performance and photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by maize intercropped with Brachiaria.

Maize and soybean are the main crops used for crop yield on Brazilian Cerrado biome. The off-season maize intercropped with ruzigrass [Urochloa ruziziensis (R. Germ. C.M. Evrard) Crins (Syn. Brachiaria ruziziensis Germ. Evrard)] increases soil cover and yield for crops in succession. However, the benefits on maize yield depend on the distribution and radiation-use efficiency (RUE) and its conversion to biomass. This study aimed to evaluate maize and ruzigrass yield in different cultivation systems. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste, in Dourados, MS, Brazil. The experiment design was randomized blocks, with seven treatments constituted by the combination of spacing between maize rows, single and intercropped, with ruzigrass in distribution methods. Photosynthetically active radiation, chlorophyll, leaf temperature, morphological characteristics and maize mass yield were evaluated in maize at the flowering stage (R1). Maize and ruzigrass yield were evaluated during maize maturation. The reduced spacing in single maize has a higher yield and lower radiation incidence in the ear. Maize intercropped with ruzigrass sown by broadcasting showed higher leaf temperature, lower plant height and lower maize leaf area. Morphological and physiological characteristics and maize grain yield were more influenced by planting methods than the presence of ruzigrass. The highest yield of dry matter and maize grain occurred in reduced spacing in maize, either alone or intercropped with ruzigrass

Massa de Brachiaria ruziziensis em consórcio com diferentes populações e genótipos de milho safrinha (Zea mays L.), em Maracajú, 2007.

bitstream/item/65387/1/29900.pdfOrganizado por Gessi Ceccon e Luiz Alberto Staut

Normative data for optic disc vertical cup-to-disc ratio and intraocular pressure in London 2012 competitors and support teams

Background / Aims The aims of this study were to identify normative values in vertical cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements in a unique sample of competitors and non-competitors at London 2012 according to continents and geographical sub-regions and find a suitable tool for mapping results across the world. Methods Data from all patients seen in the eye clinic for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were used in this study. Patients were categorized into countries using the United Nations Geographical Sub-regions classification. All patients underwent a full optometric eye examination and clinical details including cup-to-disc ratio were recorded. Intraocular pressures were also recorded via non contact methods using the Topcon TRK-1P. Data was analyzed using R statistical software and SPSS. Continent and sub-continent level choropleth maps were produced using GGPlot2 package. Results Our study used a sample of 2,077 patients for analysis. The mean age across all the continents ranged from 43.44 years in the Americas to 47.11 years in Europe with an overall mean age of 45.12 (SD = 13.62 years). A CDR was recorded in 1,566 right eyes (OD). A Games-Howell post-hoc test revealed that Africa had statistically significantly larger CDRs (0.34 +/- 0.16) than both Europe (0.29 +/- 0.12, p = 0.00) and Asia (0.31, 0.15, p = 0.04) in this unique sample. In addition, within geographical sub-regions, Western Africa had statistically larger CDRs (0.36 +/- 0.18) than Western Asia (0.27 +/- 0.14, p = 0.02), Eastern Europe (0.29 +/- 0.12, p = 0.01) and Northern Europe (0.29 +/- 0.13, p = 0.03). A total of 1,621 IOP measurements were recorded for the right eye (OD). A Tukey post-hoc test revealed that Oceania had statistically lower IOPs (15.45 +/- 2.57) than Europe (16.93 +/- 2.98, p = 0.01), Asia (16.95 +/- 2.80, p = 0.01), the Americas (16.53 +/- 2.73, p = 0.02) and Africa (16.41 +/- 3.17, p = 0.05).Within geographical sub-regions, Northern Africa had statistically significantly lower IOPs (15.85 +/- 2.92) than Western Africa (17.18 +/- 2.97, p = 0.02), Western Asia (17.58 +/- 2.83, p = 0.04) and Eastern Europe (17.10 +/- 3.06, p = 0.02). Finally, our study found that competitors had significantly smaller CDRs (U = 66583.50, p = 0.01).and lower IOPs than noncompetitors (U = 79544.50, p = 0.01). Conclusions This is the first study to map out cup-to-disc ratio and intraocular pressure in a unique sample of competitors and non-competitors at London 2012 by continent and geographical sub-regions. The authors hope that this data may have benefits globally and that data from future Olympic and Paralympic Games can be added to this information to produce larger, more comprehensive data sets in the future

Produção de sementes de adubos verdes e de forragem em cultivo consorciado com milho em pequenas propriedades.

bitstream/item/38752/1/CT200713.pd

Engineering stability in NADPH oxidases: A common strategy for enzyme production

NADPH oxidases (NOXs) are membrane enzymes whose sole function is the generation of reactive oxygen species. Humans have seven NOX isoenzymes that feature distinct functions in immune response and cell signaling but share the same catalytic core comprising a FAD-binding dehydrogenase domain and a heme-binding transmembrane domain. We previously described a mutation that stabilizes the dehydrogenase domain of a prokaryotic homolog of human NOX5. The thermostable mutant exhibited a large 19 °C increase in the apparent melting temperature (app T m ) and a much tighter binding of the FAD cofactor, which allowed the crystallization and structure determination of the domain holo-form. Here, we analyze the transferability of this mutation onto prokaryotic and eukaryotic full-length NOX enzymes. We found that the mutation exerts a significative stabilizing effect on the full-length NOX5 from both Cylindrospermum stagnale (app T m increase of 8 °C) and Homo sapiens (app ΔT m of 2 °C). Enhanced thermal stability resulted in more homogeneous preparations of the bacterial NOX5 with less aggregation problems. Moreover, we also found that the mutation increases the overall expression of recombinant human NOX4 and NOX5 in mammalian cells. Such a 2–5-fold increase is mainly due to the lowered cell toxicity, which leads to higher biomasses. Because of the high sequence identity of the catalytic core within this family of enzymes, this strategy can be a general tool to boost the production of all NOXs

Desempenho de feijão-caupi de porte ereto e semi-ereto na região Ecótono Cerrado-Pantanal.

No Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul as cultivares e linhagens de feijão-caupi apresentam ampla variabilidade o que justifica a realização de ensaios regionalizados com o intuito de se definir aquelas com maior potencial produtivo. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o desempenho de 16 genótipos de feijão-caupi desenvolvidos pela Embrapa Meio Norte (Teresina-PI), entre linhagens avançadas e cultivares comerciais, na região ?ecótono cerrado-pantanal? do Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul. O experimento foi conduzido na área experimental da Universidade Estadual do Mato Grosso do Sul, Unidade de Aquidauana, na safra da seca do período agrícola 2010/2011.CONAC 2012. Disponível em: http://www.conac2012.org/resumos/pdf/050g.pdf. Acesso em: 03 jul. 2013