Resistance of citrus genotypes to Phyllocnitis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae)

The development and reproduction of the citrus leafminer (CLM), Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, were evaluated in six citrus genotypes in order to identify genotypes with resistance traits that could be applied in a program for the development of citrus varieties resistant to the citrus leafminer. Tests were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions (25 ± 1ºC, 70 ± 10% RH, and 14h photophase). Seedlings of each genotype tested were infested with eggs obtained from a stock colony of CLM maintained on 'Cravo' lemon (Citrus limonia L. Osbeck), and the duration and survival of the eggs, larval and pupal stages, pupal size and weight, fecundity and longevity of adults, and sex ratio were evaluated. No influence was observed on the duration and survival of eggs, larvae and pupae of P. citrella. However, pupae obtained in the hybrid C x R4 were significantly smaller and lighter than pupae from the remaining treatments. Adult females from the hybrids C x R4 and C x R315 were the least fecund. However, the lowest value for the corrected reproductive potential (CRP) was recorded in the hybrid C x R315, suggesting that this genotype is the least favorable for the development and reproduction of CLM. On the other hand, the highest CRP value obtained in the 'Rugoso' lemon confirms the susceptibility of this genotype, indicating it as the most suitable for CLM.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Transcriptional analysis of sex differences in hippocampal plasticity in the mouse.

The neuronal representation of experience as stable memories requires a process termed consolidation, which engages the hippocampus. Sexual dimorphisms in the performance of a number of tasks requiring hippocampus-dependent memory formation have previously been described. These sex differences are generally attributed to gonadal hormone-mediated mechanisms which impact on neuroanatomy and modulate memory formation. At the molecular level, memory consolidation requires de novo transcription, activating the transcription factor CREB. This activation can be accomplished by a variety of signalling pathways including the CaM kinase cascade. Male mutant mice bearing a genetic deletion of CaMKK/, an element of this cascade, are impaired in spatial memory formation in the Morris water maze (MWM), and fail to activate CREB after spatial training. Remarkably, female mutants performed equally to their WT counterparts, indicating a sex-specific requirement for this kinase in spatial memory consolidation. This mutant line was used as a tool to investigate dimorphisms in the molecular mechanisms underlying memory formation. First, comparison of hippocampal transcriptional profiles between WT and CaMKK/ mutants by Affymetrix Microarray analysis identified four CaMKK/ regulated genes in males. Second, quantitative real-time PCR was used to compare hippocampal transcriptional profiles of these genes in naive males and females, and after training in two hippocampus-dependent tasks: the MWM and contextual fear conditioning (CFC). This study identified three genes with altered transcription thirty minutes after spatial training in the MWM and CFC in male mice: PSF, Gaa1 and SRp20. Naive females expressed lower levels of all three genes than naive males, and two of them (Gaa1 and SRp20) were not regulated specifically by training in these tasks at the same time point in females. The work described in this thesis has identified two male-specific molecular markers for hippocampal activity, and provided insights into sexual dimorphisms in the molecular mechanisms underlying memory consolidation

Uma adapta??o da Cifra de Hill para estudo de matrizes.

Programa de P?s-Gradua??o em Matem?tica em Rede Nacional. Departamento de Matem?tica, Instituto de Ci?ncias Exatas e Biol?gicas, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto.Neste trabalho ser?o apresentados alguns dos principais resultados matem?ticos a respeito de Aritm?tica Modular, dando ?nfase ?s rela??es de equival?ncia e classes residuais. ? feito tamb?m um estudo sobre matrizes e suas propriedades operacionais; a fun??o determinante ? constru?da e apresentada como instrumento para o c?lculo de matrizes inversas. Tais temas s?o abordados com o intuito de fundamentar os processos matem?ticos aplicados para funcionamento da Cifra de Hill. Essa cifra ? um dos m?todos de criptografia apresentados neste texto e ao qual daremos destaque. Para finalizar, foi desenvolvida uma atividade voltada para turmas do Ensino M?dio e baseada na Cifra de Hill, cujo principal objetivo ? despertar o interesse dos alunos para o estudo de matrizes.In this paper, some of the main mathematical results will be presented about Modular Arithmetic, emphasizing the relations of equivalence and residue classes. Besides, a study on matrices and their operational properties; the determinant function is constructed and presented as an instrument for the calculation of inverse matrices. These themes are approached in order to base the mathematical processes applied to the operation of the Hill Cipher. This cipher is one of the cryptographic methods presented in this text and we will highlight it. To conclude, an activity was developed, focused on high school classes and based on Hill Cipher, which main objective is to arouse students? interest in studying matrices

Uma adapta??o da Cifra de Hill para estudo de matrizes.

Neste artigo ser?o apresentados alguns dos principais resultados matem?ticos a respeito de Aritm?tica Modular, dando ?nfase ?s rela??es de equival?ncia e classes residuais, al?m de alguns fatos sobre matrizes em Zp. Tais temas s?o abordados com o intuito de fundamentar os processos matem?ticos aplicados para funcionamento da Cifra de Hill, que ? um modelo de criptografia utilizado como inspira??o para o desenvolvimento de uma atividade voltada para turmas de Ensino M?dio

Phosphoproteomic differences in major depressive disorder postmortem brains indicate effects on synaptic function

There is still a lack in the molecular comprehension of major depressive disorder (MDD) although this condition affects approximately 10% of the world population. Protein phosphorylation is a posttranslational modification that regulates approximately one-third of the human proteins involved in a range of cellular and biological processes such as cellular signaling. Whereas phosphoproteome studies have been carried out extensively in cancer research, few such investigations have been carried out in studies of psychiatric disorders. Here, we present a comparative phosphoproteome analysis of postmortem dorsolateral prefrontal cortex tissues from 24 MDD patients and 12 control donors. Tissue extracts were analyzed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry in a data-independent manner (LC-MSE). Our analyses resulted in the identification of 5,195 phosphopeptides, corresponding to 802 non-redundant proteins. Ninety of these proteins showed differential levels of phosphorylation in tissues from MDD subjects compared to controls, being 20 differentially phosphorylated in at least 2 peptides. The majority of these phosphorylated proteins were associated with synaptic transmission and cellular architecture not only pointing out potential biomarker candidates but mainly shedding light to the comprehension of MDD pathobiology

Toxicological evaluation of ethanolic extract of Lychnophora trichocarpha, Brazilian arnica.

The species of the genus Lychnophora, Asteraceae, are popularly known as "arnica" and are native from Brazilian savana (Cerrado). They are widely used in Brazilian folk medicine as anti-inflammatory, to treat bruise, pain, rheumatism and for insect bites. For evaluation of acute toxicity, the ethanolic extract was given to albino female and male mice. In open-field test, the extract of Lychnophora trichocarpha (Spreng.) Spreng. (0.750 g/kg) induced a significant inhibition of the spontaneous locomotor activity and exploratory behavior of the animals were observed 1 and 4 h after administration. In traction test, the same dose reduced the muscular force 1 h after administration. The exploratory behavior reduced significantly in the group that received 0.50 g/kg, 1 and 4 h after administration of the extract. The animals that received the doses of 0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/kg did not show any change of blood biochemical parameters comparing to control group and showed some histopathological changes such as congestion and inflammation of kidney and liver. The dose of 1.5 g/kg caused the most serious signs of toxicity. Histopathological changes observed was hemorrhage in 62.5% and pulmonary congestion in 100% of the animals. Brain and liver congestion was found in 62.5% of the animals

Soil-atmosphere exchange of nitrous oxide, methane and carbon dioxide in a gradient of elevation in the coastal Brazilian Atlantic forest

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Soils of tropical forests are important to the global budgets of greenhouse gases. The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is the second largest tropical moist forest area of South America, after the vast Amazonian domain. This study aimed to investigate the emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O), carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes along an altitudinal transect and the relation between these fluxes and other climatic, edaphic and biological variables (temperature, fine roots, litterfall, and soil moisture). Annual means of N2O flux were 3.9 (+/- 0.4), 1.0 (+/- 0.1), and 0.9 (+/- 0.2) ng N cm(-2) h(-1) at altitudes 100, 400, and 1000 m, respectively. On an annual basis, soils consumed CH4 at all altitudes with annual means of -1.0 (+/- 0.2), -1.8 (+/- 0.3), and -1.6 (+/- 0.1) mg m(-2) d(-1) at 100 m, 400 m and 1000 m, respectively. Estimated mean annual fluxes of CO2 were 3.5, 3.6, and 3.4 mu mol m(-2) s(-1) at altitudes 100, 400 and 1000 m, respectively. N2O fluxes were significantly influenced by soil moisture and temperature. Soil-atmosphere exchange of CH4 responded to changes in soil moisture. Carbon dioxide emissions were strongly influenced by soil temperature. While the temperature gradient observed at our sites is only an imperfect proxy for climatic warming, our results suggest that an increase in air and soil temperatures may result in increases in decomposition rates and gross inorganic nitrogen fluxes that could support consequent increases in soil N2O and CO2 emissions and soil CH4 consumption.83733742Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [2005/57549-8]FAPESP [FAPESP 03/12595-7

Short-term efficacy of physical interventions in osteoarthritic knee pain. A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Treatment efficacy of physical agents in osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) pain has been largely unknown, and this systematic review was aimed at assessing their short-term efficacies for pain relief. METHODS: Systematic review with meta-analysis of efficacy within 1-4 weeks and at follow up at 1-12 weeks after the end of treatment. RESULTS: 36 randomised placebo-controlled trials (RCTs) were identified with 2434 patients where 1391 patients received active treatment. 33 trials satisfied three or more out of five methodological criteria (Jadad scale). The patient sample had a mean age of 65.1 years and mean baseline pain of 62.9 mm on a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Within 4 weeks of the commencement of treatment manual acupuncture, static magnets and ultrasound therapies did not offer statistically significant short-term pain relief over placebo. Pulsed electromagnetic fields offered a small reduction in pain of 6.9 mm [95% CI: 2.2 to 11.6] (n = 487). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS, including interferential currents), electro-acupuncture (EA) and low level laser therapy (LLLT) offered clinically relevant pain relieving effects of 18.8 mm [95% CI: 9.6 to 28.1] (n = 414), 21.9 mm [95% CI: 17.3 to 26.5] (n = 73) and 17.7 mm [95% CI: 8.1 to 27.3] (n = 343) on VAS respectively versus placebo control. In a subgroup analysis of trials with assumed optimal doses, short-term efficacy increased to 22.2 mm [95% CI: 18.1 to 26.3] for TENS, and 24.2 mm [95% CI: 17.3 to 31.3] for LLLT on VAS. Follow-up data up to 12 weeks were sparse, but positive effects seemed to persist for at least 4 weeks after the course of LLLT, EA and TENS treatment was stopped. CONCLUSION: TENS, EA and LLLT administered with optimal doses in an intensive 2-4 week treatment regimen, seem to offer clinically relevant short-term pain relief for OAK