Selection of superior cowpea lines derived from local cultivars for the Brazilian semiarid region

O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar linhagens superiores de feijão-caupi derivadas de cultivares locais para a região semiárida do sudeste do Piauí, Brasil. Foram avaliados 38 genótipos (36 linhagens e duas cultivares comercias) em um ensaio conduzido em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com duas repetições, no município de Ipiranga do Piauí, no estado do Piauí. Foram avaliados os seguintes caracteres: número de dias para o início do florescimento, comprimento de vagem, número de grãos por vagem, peso de 100 grãos, qualidade comercial do grão e produtividade de grãos. Análises de deviance foram realizadas pela abordagem da máxima verossimilhança restrita e do melhor preditor não viesado, os parâmetros e os valores genéticos foram estimados, e a seleção simultânea foi realizada via índice de soma de postos. O teste da razão de verossimilhança mostrou diferença significativa entre os genótipos avaliados. As linhagens 36, 5, 24, 8, 2, 23, 29, 28, 34, 6, 19, 11, 7 e 20 são superiores para o conjunto de caracteres avaliados e, portanto, são as mais promissoras para compor o ensaio avançado do programa de melhoramento genético de feijão-caupi e gerar cultivares para os agricultores familiares da região semiárida do sudeste piauiense.The objective of this work was to select superior cowpea lines derived from local cultivars for the semiarid region of southeastern Piauí, Brazil. A total of 38 genotypes (36 lines and two commercial cultivars) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with two replicates, in the municipality of Ipiranga do Piauí, in the state of Piauí. The following traits were evaluated: number of days to the onset of flowering, pod length, number of grains per pod, weight of 100 grains, commercial grain quality, and grain yield. Deviance analyzes were performed using the restricted maximum likelihood and best unbiased predictor approach, the parameters and genetic values were estimated, and simultaneous selection was carried out via the sum of ranks index. The likelihood ratio test showed a significant difference between the evaluated genotypes. Lines 36, 5, 24, 8, 2, 23, 29, 28, 34, 6, 19, 11, 7, and 20 are superior for the set of evaluated traits and, therefore, are the most promising to compose the advanced trial of the cowpea breeding program and to generate cultivars for family farmers in the semiarid region of southeastern Piauí

A 20-Year Population-Based Study

Funding Information: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Nível Superior—CAPES. Code: 001. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.Acute diarrhea is the second leading cause of death among children in developing countries and is strongly related with the socioeconomic conditions of the population. In Brazil, data show a drop in the diarrhea mortality rate. Nevertheless, the northeastern region still has the most deaths. Considering this, we analyze high-risk areas for diarrhea- and gastroenteritis-related deaths, and their association with social determinants of health (SDH) in the state with one of the worst human development indicators in Brazil (Alagoas) between 2000 and 2019. We applied temporal, spatial, and space–time risk modelling. We used a log-linear regression model to assess temporal trends and the local empirical Bayesian estimator, the global and local Moran indices for spatial analysis. Spearman’s correlation was used to correlate mortality rates with SDH. A total of 3472 diarrhea-related deaths were reported during this period in Alagoas. We observed a decreasing time trend of deaths in the state (9.41/100,000 in 2000 to 2.21 in 2019; APC = −6.7; p-value < 0.001), especially in children under one year of age. However, there was stability among adults and the elderly. We identified two high-risk spatiotemporal clusters of mortality in inland municipalities. Lastly, mortality rates correlated significantly with 90% of SDH. Taken together, these findings indicate that diarrhea diseases remain a serious public health concern in Alagoas, mainly in the poorest and inland municipalities. Thereby, it is urgently necessary to invest in measures to control and prevent cases, and improve the living conditions of the poorest populations and those with the highest social vulnerability index.publishersversionpublishe

Memantine, an antagonist of the NMDA glutamate receptor, affects cell proliferation, differentiation and the intracellular cycle and induces apoptosis in Trypanosoma cruzi

Chagas' disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and affects approximately 10 million people in endemic areas of Mexico and Central and South America. Currently available chemotherapies are limited to two compounds: Nifurtimox and Benznidazole. Both drugs reduce the symptoms of the disease and mortality among infected individuals when used during the acute phase, but their efficacy during the chronic phase (during which the majority of cases are diagnosed) remains controversial. Moreover, these drugs have several side effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Memantine, an antagonist of the glutamate receptor in the CNS of mammals, on the life cycle of T. cruzi. Memantine exhibited a trypanocidal effect, inhibiting the proliferation of epimastigotes (IC50 172.6 µM). Furthermore, this compound interfered with metacyclogenesis (approximately 30% reduction) and affected the energy metabolism of the parasite. In addition, Memantine triggered mechanisms that led to the apoptosis-like cell death of epimastigotes, with extracellular exposure of phosphatidylserine, increased production of reactive oxygen species, decreased ATP levels, increased intracellular Ca2+ and morphological changes. Moreover, Memantine interfered with the intracellular cycle of the parasite, specifically the amastigote stage (IC50 31 µM). Interestingly, the stages of the parasite life cycle that require more energy (epimastigote and amastigote) were more affected as were the processes of differentiation and cell invasion.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP grant #11/50631-1 to AMS)Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e Química Medicinal em Doenças Infecciosas (INBEQMeDI)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq grant #470272/201 to AMS

Agronomic and commercial potential of compound-inflorescence cowpea lines

O objetivo deste trabalho foi selecionar linhagens de feijão-caupi de inflorescência composta que apresentam alto potencial para gerar a primeira cultivar comercial com esta característica no Brasil. Trinta e sete linhagens foram avaliadas em delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com duas repetições, em 2021, no município de Teresina, no estado do Piauí. Foram avaliados os seguintes caracteres: número de dias para o início do florescimento, porte da planta, qualidade comercial do grão, número de grãos por vagem, peso de 100 grãos e rendimento de grãos. Foram realizadas análises de deviance pela metodologia da máxima verossimilhança restrita/melhor preditor linear não viesado, e estimados os valores e os parâmetros genéticos necessários para realização da seleção simultânea com base no índice de soma de postos. Foi detectada diferença estatística entre as linhagens avaliadas por meio do teste de razão de verossimilhança. Em geral, a variância genética foi o maior componente da variância fenotípica para os caracteres avaliados. As dez linhagens de feijão-caupi de inflorescência composta mais promissoras são: MNC15-33E-123, MNC15-33E-178, MNC15-33E-222, MNC15-33E-171, MNC15-33E-232, MNC15-33E-223, MNC15-33E-219, MNC15-33E-183, MNC15-33E-91 e MNC15-33E-165. Essas linhagens foram selecionadas para as próximas etapas de seleção e apresentam grande potencial para gerar a primeira cultivar comercial de feijão-caupi de inflorescência composta no Brasil.The objective of this work was to select cowpea lines with compound inflorescences that show a high potential to generate the first commercial cultivar with this characteristic in Brazil. Thirty-seven lines were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with two replicates, in 2021, in the municipality of Teresina, in the state of Piauí. The following traits were evaluated: number of days to the onset of flowering, plant size, commercial grain quality, number of grains per pod, weight of 100 grains, and grain yield. Deviance analyzes were performed by the restricted maximum likelihood/best unbiased linear predictor methodology, and the values and genetic parameters necessary to carry out simultaneous selection were estimated based on the rank sum index. A statistical difference was detected between the lines evaluated by the likelihood ratio test (LRT). In general, genetic variance was the largest component of phenotypic variance for the evaluated traits. The ten most promising cowpea lines with compound inflorescences are: MNC15-33E-123, MNC15-33E-178, MNC15-33E-222, MNC15-33E-171, MNC15-33E-232, MNC15-33E-223, MNC15-33E-219, MNC15-33E-183, MNC15-33E-91, and MNC15-33E-165. These lines were selected for the next selection stages and show a high potential to generate the first commercial cowpea cultivar with compound inflorescences in Brazil

Metabolic Profile of Offspring from Diabetic Wistar Rats Treated with Mentha piperita (Peppermint)

This study aimed at evaluating glycemia and lipid profile of offspring from diabetic Wistar rats treated with Mentha piperita (peppermint) juice. Male offspring from nondiabetic dams (control group: 10 animals treated with water and 10 treated with peppermint juice) and from dams with streptozotocin-induced severe diabetes (diabetic group: 10 animals treated with water and 10 treated with peppermint juice) were used. They were treated during 30 days, and, after the treatment period, levels of glycemia, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and fractions were analyzed in the adult phase. The offspring from diabetic dams treated with peppermint showed significantly reduced levels of glucose, cholesterol, LDL-c, and triglycerides and significant increase in HDL-c levels. The use of the M. piperita juice has potential as culturally appropriate strategy to aid in the prevention of DM, dyslipidemia, and its complications

Selection of superior cowpea lines derived from local cultivars for the Brazilian semiarid region

Abstract The objective of this work was to select superior cowpea lines derived from local cultivars for the semiarid region of southeastern Piauí, Brazil. A total of 38 genotypes (36 lines and two commercial cultivars) were evaluated in a randomized complete block design, with two replicates, in the municipality of Ipiranga do Piauí, in the state of Piauí. The following traits were evaluated: number of days to the onset of flowering, pod length, number of grains per pod, weight of 100 grains, commercial grain quality, and grain yield. Deviance analyzes were performed using the restricted maximum likelihood and best unbiased predictor approach, the parameters and genetic values were estimated, and simultaneous selection was carried out via the sum of ranks index. The likelihood ratio test showed a significant difference between the evaluated genotypes. Lines 36, 5, 24, 8, 2, 23, 29, 28, 34, 6, 19, 11, 7, and 20 are superior for the set of evaluated traits and, therefore, are the most promising to compose the advanced trial of the cowpea breeding program and to generate cultivars for family farmers in the semiarid region of southeastern Piauí

Fatty acid oxidation participates in resistance to nutrient-depleted environments in the insect stages of Trypanosoma cruzi

Trypanosoma cruzi , the parasite causing Chagas disease, is a digenetic flagellated protist that infects mammals (including humans) and reduviid insect vectors. Therefore, T . cruzi must colonize different niches in order to complete its life cycle in both hosts. This fact determines the need of adaptations to face challenging environmental cues. The primary environmental challenge, particularly in the insect stages, is poor nutrient availability. In this regard, it is well known that T . cruzi has a flexible metabolism able to rapidly switch from carbohydrates (mainly glucose) to amino acids (mostly proline) consumption. Also established has been the capability of T . cruzi to use glucose and amino acids to support the differentiation process occurring in the insect, from replicative non-infective epimastigotes to non-replicative infective metacyclic trypomastigotes. However, little is known about the possibilities of using externally available and internally stored fatty acids as resources to survive in nutrient-poor environments, and to sustain metacyclogenesis. In this study, we revisit the metabolic fate of fatty acid breakdown in T . cruzi . Herein, we show that during parasite proliferation, the glucose concentration in the medium can regulate the fatty acid metabolism. At the stationary phase, the parasites fully oxidize fatty acids. [U- 14 C]-palmitate can be taken up from the medium, leading to CO 2 production. Additionally, we show that electrons are fed directly to oxidative phosphorylation, and acetyl-CoA is supplied to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, which can be used to feed anabolic pathways such as the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. Finally, we show as well that the inhibition of fatty acids mobilization into the mitochondrion diminishes the survival to severe starvation, and impairs metacyclogenesis.Voies métaboliques glycosomales non glycolytiques: nouvelles fonctions pour le développement et la virulence des trypanosomesInteractions métaboliques entre les adipocytes et les trypanosomes, un nouveau paradigme pour les trypanosomosesAlliance française contre les maladies parasitaire

CARACTERÍSTICAS FÍSICAS E MICROBIOLÓGICAS DO CENTRO TENDÍNEO DIAFRAGMÁTICO BOVINO CONSERVADO EM GLICERINA A 98% E NO GLUTARALDEÍDO A 4%

Realizaram-se testes físicos de tração e alongamento até ruptura em dez tiras com 5 a 6 mm de largura, do exemplar in natura e dos respectivos exemplares conservados em glicerina a 98% e glutaraldeído a 4% por 30 dias para a avaliação da influência de ambos os conservantes sobre o tecido biológico, com vistas ao aproveitamento em cirurgias reparadoras. Paralelamente, avaliou-se a atividade anti-séptica dos conservantes, por meio de exames microbiológicos de fragmentos colhidos do material in natura e dos respectivos exemplares submetidos à conservação. Os testes físicos mostraram que sete amostras conservadas em glutaraldeído a 4% suportaram maior força de tensão, quando comparadas com os respectivos exemplares in natura e conservados em glicerina a 98%. Duas amostras apresentaram comportamento semelhante quanto ao ponto de rompimento, para ambos os conservantes. Apenas em uma amostra verificou-se que o material in natura apresentou um ponto de rompimento superior às amostras conservadas. Observou-se crescimento bacteriano apenas em quatro amostras no material in natura. Os mesmos exames realizados em amostras conservadas não revelaram nenhum crescimento. Conclui-se que tanto a glicerina a 98%quanto o glutaraldeído a 4% demonstraram ser eficientes na conservação do material, bem como na atividade bactericida durante o período de 30 dias