Polyamine, peroxidase activity and total protein content during storage of bird-of-paradise

The present study was aimed to the determination of the effect of storage on some biochemical characteristics (PAs content, POX activity and total protein content) of flower tissue of bird-of-paradise. Flowers were selected and labeled, avoiding any mechanical damage, and randomly distributed in recipients for two postharvest trials. In the first experiment, flowers were placed in recipients containing tap water and stored in a cold room, at 7.5 \ubaC and 90 % RH, for a period of 12 days. In experiment 2, flowers were stored in room temperature for a period of 6 days. For biochemical characteristics, samples (sepals, petals, stems and bracts) from experiment 1 were collected at 0, 4, 8 and 12 days, and at 0, 2, 4 and 6 days for experiment 2. Results showed that flower bracts, stored at 7.5 \ub0C, presented a lower content of PAs (Put and Spd), when compared to samples stored at room temperature. In both experiments, a high content of PAs (Spm) was observed in flower tissues in relation to Put and Spd. An increase of POX activity was observed in sepals stored in the cold, and was related to PAs degradation during senescence. No differences in total protein content were observed between the two treatments. The present study provides numeric results on changes in level of PAs, POX activity and total protein during postharvest of bird-of-paradise

Indicadores de desempenho como direcionadores de valor

This work determines the extend to which analysts use strategic performance measures in addition to traditional financial measures and in what intensity their use in a developing economy is influenced not only by the capacity to predict the value contained in information divulged by companies, but also by its ease of acquisition. The result of the survey was similar to the values obtained in the United States, referring to the predominance of traditional financial indicators, observing a trend for dependence on these indicators alone to change. The results obtained in the analyst's view of strategic measures recommended by the balanced scorecard related to product quality, customer satisfaction and human resource management were not as high as expected. On the other hand corporate governance and process efficiency demonstrated a superior performance, which was not the case of social responsibility categories, which were among those with the worst performance. A communication gap between companies and investors was found and should be overcome by the dialogue between investment analysts and companies with the disclosure of non-financial measures.Este trabalho evidencia quais as medidas estratégicas mais usadas junto à comunidade dos analistas financeiros, além das medidas tradicionais, tendo como base a sua capacidade de prever valor e a sua facilidade de obtenção. Os resultados revelam a existência de importantes hiatos de comunicação entre a empresa e os analistas e eles não reconhecem como as medidas contidas nos instrumentos de planejamento estratégico voltadas para recursos humanos, satisfação do consumidor e qualidade dos produtos, podem agregar valor. Medidas tradicionais e financeiras têm uso predominante por sua facilidade de obtenção. A capacidade de prever valor será encontrada nas medidas de governança e de eficiência de processos, aí predominando medidas não-financeiras; mas o seu acesso é limitado pelos custos de obtenção e pela falta de políticas de divulgação.Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Administração de EmpresasUniversidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Curso de Graduação em Administração de EmpresasUniversidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Programa de Pós-Graduação em Administração de EmpresasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Curso de MestradoUniversidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Curso de Graduação em EconomiaUNIFESP, MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Curso de MestradoSciEL

Seabird species vary in behavioural response to drone census

This is the final version of the article. Available from the publisher via the DOI in this record.Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) provide an opportunity to rapidly census wildlife in remote areas while removing some of the hazards. However, wildlife may respond negatively to the UAVs, thereby skewing counts. We surveyed four species of Arctic cliff-nesting seabirds (glaucous gull Larus hyperboreus, Iceland gull Larus glaucoides, common murre Uria aalge and thick-billed murre Uria lomvia) using a UAV and compared censusing techniques to ground photography. An average of 8.5% of murres flew off in response to the UAV, but >99% of those birds were non-breeders. We were unable to detect any impact of the UAV on breeding success of murres, except at a site where aerial predators were abundant and several birds lost their eggs to predators following UAV flights. Furthermore, we found little evidence for habituation by murres to the UAV. Most gulls flew off in response to the UAV, but returned to the nest within five minutes. Counts of gull nests and adults were similar between UAV and ground photography, however the UAV detected up to 52.4% more chicks because chicks were camouflaged and invisible to ground observers. UAVs provide a less hazardous and potentially more accurate method for surveying wildlife. We provide some simple recommendations for their use.We thank T. Leonard and the Seabird Ecological Reserves Advisory Committee for permission to work at Witless Bay, the Canadian Wildlife Service for permits to work at Newfoundland and Nunavut and the Government of Nunavut for permits to work in Nunavut. Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Fund, Bird Studies Canada and the Molson Foundation directly funded the work. An NSERC Discovery Grant, the Canada Research Chair in Arctic Ecology and Polar Continental Shelf Project also helped fund the project. We thank T. Burke, G. Sorenson, T. Lazarus and M. Guigueno for their help and J. Nakoolak for keeping us safe from bear

Polyamines, Gelling Agents in Tissue Culture, Micropropagation of Medicinal Plants and Bioreactors

Currently, tissue cultures of species of agricultural importance have wide applicability in industrial production processes. Tissue culture is a name given to a set of techniques that allow the regeneration of cells, tissues and organs of plants, from segments of plant organs or tissues, using nutrient solutions in aseptic and controlled environment. This regeneration is based on the totipotency of plant cells. Totipotency is a capability indicating that plant cells, in different times, may express the potential to form a new multicellular individual. Tissue culture appears to be a good alternative to conventional propagation, requiring less physical space, with high multiplication rate, without incidence of pests and diseases during cultivation, and enabling higher control of the variables involved. Thus, in the in vitro environment, with the required stimuli and appropriate conditions, different cell types express different behaviors, possibly leading to cell multiplication and differentiation into a specific tissue, characterized by a form and a function, which may lead to the regeneration of a new individual

Importance of the different posterolateral knee static stabilizers: biomechanical study

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of the different static stabilizers of the posterolateral corner of the knee in cadavers. METHODS: Tests were performed with the application of a varus and external rotation force to the knee in extension at 30 and 60 degrees of flexion using 10 cadaver knees. The forces were applied initially to an intact knee and then repeated after a selective sectioning of the ligaments into the following: section of the lateral collateral ligament; section of the lateral collateral ligament and the popliteofibular complex; and section of the lateral collateral ligament, the popliteofibular complex and the posterolateral capsule. The parameters studied were the angular deformity and stiffness when the knees were submitted to a 15 Newton-meter varus torque and a 6 Newton-meter external tibial torque. Statistical analysis was performed using the ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Tukey's tests. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Our findings showed that the lateral collateral ligament was important in varus stability at 0, 30 and 60 degrees. The popliteofibular complex was the most important structure for external rotation stability at all angles of flexion and was also important for varus stability at 30 and 60 degrees. The posterolateral capsule was important for varus stability at 0 and 30 degrees and for external rotation stability in extension. Level of evidence: Level IV (cadaver study)

Strategies for the re-naturalization of reforestation: the case study of the Sicilian clay hills

Over the last decades many areas have been reforested along Europe, with great proportion been made with exotic species. Very often these reforestations do not evolve in more diverse configurations, where some kind of management can be necessary to try to enhance this evolution. The hole is a silvicultural technique consisting in open small gaps to create favourable conditions for the establishment of other species changing the former structure, microclimate and competitive conditions mirroring this natural processes that occurs in structured and mature forests. The best size of the hole seems to be around 500 m\ub2, as small holes may not change significantly the conditions and larger holes seems to favour degradation processes like soil erosion and loss of organic layers. The afforestaion of the Santa Ninfa Natural Reserve (Trapani Province, W-Sicily) were made using essentially Pinus spp. and Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Particularly, this last specie occur in high density monospecific forest structure covering 19 ha (8% of the reserve), where practically no kind of management has been made until now and very few natural regenerations is observed. The aim of the study was to verify the effectiveness of the restoration actions combining the hole technique and planting native species with different management levels

Ozonated water and chlorine effects on the antioxidant properties of organic and conventional broccoli during postharvest.

There is growing interest in studies on sanitizers other than chlorine that can maintain the quality of organic products without affecting their phytochemical content. The effects of using chlorinated and ozonized water treatments, as sanitizing procedures, on the post-harvest quality of organic and conventional broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) cv. Italica was evaluated. The biochemical parameters (chlorophyll, polyphenols, flavonoids, vitamin C and antioxidant capacity) of the broccoli samples were analyzed at day 0 (arrival of the plant from the field, original features), and 1, 4 and 7 days after harvest. The polyamine analysis was performed on arrival of the plant from the field and on the first and seventh days. The cultivation procedure influenced polyphenol, vitamin C and total chlorophyll content, and the highest value was observed in organic broccoli after the fourth day. Flavenoid content was higher in organic broccoli. The use of ozone appears not to have had an influence on the amount of polyphenolic, flavonoids and vitamin C during storage. Total chlorophyll content was less affected by ozonized water than by the chlorine treatment as at the first and fourth days of storage. The highest content of putrescine was found in conventional broccoli, while the highest levels of spermidine and spermine were found in organic broccoli. Antioxidant capacity was highest in organic broccoli after day 4 of storage and was affected by the bioactive compounds analyzed. Methods of cultivation influenced natural antioxidant and chlorophyll contents in broccoli under cold storage

The ARIEL Instrument Control Unit design for the M4 Mission Selection Review of the ESA's Cosmic Vision Program

The Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey mission (ARIEL) is one of the three present candidates for the ESA M4 (the fourth medium mission) launch opportunity. The proposed Payload will perform a large unbiased spectroscopic survey from space concerning the nature of exoplanets atmospheres and their interiors to determine the key factors affecting the formation and evolution of planetary systems. ARIEL will observe a large number (>500) of warm and hot transiting gas giants, Neptunes and super-Earths around a wide range of host star types, targeting planets hotter than 600 K to take advantage of their well-mixed atmospheres. It will exploit primary and secondary transits spectroscopy in the 1.2-8 um spectral range and broad-band photometry in the optical and Near IR (NIR). The main instrument of the ARIEL Payload is the IR Spectrometer (AIRS) providing low-resolution spectroscopy in two IR channels: Channel 0 (CH0) for the 1.95-3.90 um band and Channel 1 (CH1) for the 3.90-7.80 um range. It is located at the intermediate focal plane of the telescope and common optical system and it hosts two IR sensors and two cold front-end electronics (CFEE) for detectors readout, a well defined process calibrated for the selected target brightness and driven by the Payload's Instrument Control Unit (ICU).Comment: Experimental Astronomy, Special Issue on ARIEL, (2017

Adaptação cultural e validação do Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life (NeuroQol) para a língua portuguesa do Brasil - Fase 1

This methodological study aimed to adapt the Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life instrument - NeuroQol to Brazilian Portuguese and to analyze its psychometric properties. Participants were 50 people with peripheral diabetic neuropathy and foot ulcers. The floor and ceiling effects, the convergent and discriminant validity and the reliability were analyzed. The Cronbachs alpha coefficient was used to test the reliability and the Pearsons correlation coefficient to estimate the convergent validity, the Students t test was used to evaluate the discriminant validity in the comparison of the NeuroQol scores between participants with and without ulcers. Floor and ceiling effects were found in some domains of the NeuroQol. The reliability was satisfactory. The correlations between the domains of the NeuroQol and the SF-36 were negative, significant and of moderate to strong magnitude. The findings show that the Brazilian version of the NeuroQol is reliable and valid and may be employed as a useful tool for improving nursing care for people with DM.Estudio metodológico que tuvo como objetivos adaptar el Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life - NeuroQol para el idioma portugués de Brasil y analizar sus propiedades psicométricas. Participaron 50 personas con neuropatía diabética periférica y úlceras en los pies. Fueron analizados los efectos floor y ceiling, la validez convergente, la discriminante y la confiabilidad. Fue utilizado el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para comprobar la confiabilidad y la correlación de Pearson para estimar la validez convergente; el test t-Student fue empleado para evaluar la validez discriminante en la comparación de los puntajes del NeuroQol entre los participantes con y sin úlceras. Se constataron efectos floor y ceiling en algunos dominios del NeuroQol. La confiabilidad fue satisfactoria. Las correlaciones entre los dominios del NeuroQol y SF-36 fueron negativas, significativas, de moderada a fuerte magnitud. Los hallazgos evidencian que la versión brasileña del NeuroQol es confiable y válida y podrá ser utilizado como una herramienta útil para la mejoría de la asistencia de enfermería para las personas con DM.Trata-se de estudo metodológico que teve como objetivos adaptar o Neuropathy - and Foot Ulcer - Specific Quality of Life - NeuroQol para a língua portuguesa do Brasil, e analisar suas propriedades psicométricas. Participaram 50 pessoas com neuropatia diabética periférica e úlceras nos pés. Foram analisados os efeitos floor e ceiling, a validade convergente, a discriminante e a confiabilidade. Foi utilizado o coeficiente alfa de Cronbach para testar a confiabilidade e o de correlação de Pearson para estimar a validade convergente; o teste t-Student foi empregado para avaliar a validade discriminante, na comparação dos escores do NeuroQol entre os participantes com e sem úlceras. Constataram-se efeitos floor e ceiling em alguns domínios do NeuroQol. A confiabilidade foi satisfatória. As correlações entre os domínios do NeuroQol e SF-36 foram negativas, significativas, de moderada a forte magnitude. Os achados evidenciam que a versão brasileira do NeuroQol é confiável e válida, e que ele poderá ser utilizado como ferramenta útil para melhoria da assistência de enfermagem para as pessoas com DM