Influence of culture media on the physical and chemical properties of Ag–TiCN coatings

The aim of this study was to verify the possible physical and chemical changes that may occur on the surface of Ag–TiCN coatings after exposure to the culture media used in microbiological and cytotoxic assays, respectively tryptic soy broth (TSB) and Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium (DMEM). After sample immersion for 24 h in the media, analyses were performed by glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy discharge radiation (GDOES), Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results of GDOES profile, RBS and XPS spectra, of samples immersed in TSB, demonstrated the formation of a thin layer of carbon, oxygen and nitrogen that could be due to the presence of proteins in TSB. After 24 h of immersion in DMEM, the results showed the formation of a thin layer of calcium phosphates on the surface, since the coatings displayed a highly oxidized surface in which calcium and phosphorus were detected. All these results suggested that the formation of a layer on the coating surface prevented the release of silver ions in concentrations that allow antibacterial activity.IC acknowledges the financial support of FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia through the grant SFRH/BD/67022/2009. REG acknowledges support from Ramon y Cajal programme (RyC2007-0026). This research is sponsored by FEDER funds through the program COMPETE-Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade and by national funds through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia in the framework of the Strategic Projects PESTC/FIS/UI607/2011, PEST-C/EME/UI0285/2011, PTDC/CTM/102853/2008.The authors thank the FCT Strategic Project PEst-OE/EQB/LA0023/2013 and the Project 'BioHealth-Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality', Ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000027, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2-O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. The authors also thank the project 'Consolidating Research Expertise and Resources on Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology at CEB/IBB', Ref. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462

A Finite Representation of the Narrowing Space

The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14125-1_4Narrowing basically extends rewriting by allowing free variables in terms and by replacing matching with unification. As a consequence, the search space of narrowing becomes usually infinite, as in logic programming. In this paper, we introduce the use of some operators that allow one to always produce a finite data structure that still represents all the narrowing derivations. Furthermore, we extract from this data structure a novel, compact equational representation of the (possibly infinite) answers computed by narrowing for a given initial term. Both the finite data structure and the equational representation of the computed answers might be useful in a number of areas, like program comprehension, static analysis, program transformation, etc.Nishida, N.; Vidal, G. (2013). A Finite Representation of the Narrowing Space. En Logic-Based Program Synthesis and Transformation. Springer. 54-71. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-14125-1_4S5471Albert, E., Vidal, G.: The Narrowing-Driven Approach to Functional Logic Program Specialization. New Generation Computing 20(1), 3–26 (2002)Alpuente, M., Falaschi, M., Vidal, G.: Partial Evaluation of Functional Logic Programs. ACM Transactions on Programming Languages and Systems 20(4), 768–844 (1998)Alpuente, M., Falaschi, M., Vidal, G.: Compositional Analysis for Equational Horn Programs. In: Rodríguez-Artalejo, M., Levi, G. (eds.) ALP 1994. LNCS, vol. 850, pp. 77–94. Springer, Heidelberg (1994)Antoy, S., Ariola, Z.: Narrowing the Narrowing Space. In: Hartel, P.H., Kuchen, H. (eds.) PLILP 1997. LNCS, vol. 1292, pp. 1–15. Springer, Heidelberg (1997)Arts, T., Giesl, J.: Termination of term rewriting using dependency pairs. Theoretical Computer Science 236(1–2), 133–178 (2000)Arts, T., Zantema, H.: Termination of Logic Programs Using Semantic Unification. In: Proietti, M. (ed.) LOPSTR 1995. LNCS, vol. 1048, pp. 219–233. Springer, Heidelberg (1996)Baader, F., Nipkow, T.: Term Rewriting and All That. Cambridge University Press (1998)Bae, K., Escobar, S., Meseguer, J.: Abstract Logical Model Checking of Infinite-State Systems Using Narrowing. In: Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Rewriting Techniques and Applications. LIPIcs, vol. 21, pp. 81–96. Schloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2013)De Schreye, D., Glück, R., Jørgensen, J., Leuschel, M., Martens, B., Sørensen, M.: Conjunctive partial deduction: foundations, control, algorihtms, and experiments. Journal of Logic Programming 41(2&3), 231–277 (1999)Escobar, S., Meadows, C., Meseguer, J.: A rewriting-based inference system for the NRL Protocol Analyzer and its meta-logical properties. Theoretical Computer Science 367(1–2), 162–202 (2006)Escobar, S., Meseguer, J.: Symbolic Model Checking of Infinite-State Systems Using Narrowing. In: Baader, F. (ed.) RTA 2007. LNCS, vol. 4533, pp. 153–168. Springer, Heidelberg (2007)Fribourg, L.: SLOG: A Logic Programming Language Interpreter Based on Clausal Superposition and Rewriting. In: Proceedings of the Symposium on Logic Programming, pp. 172–185. IEEE Press (1985)Gnaedig, I., Kirchner, H.: Proving weak properties of rewriting. Theoretical Computer Science 412(34), 4405–4438 (2011)Hanus, M.: The integration of functions into logic programming: From theory to practice. Journal of Logic Programming 19&20, 583–628 (1994)Hanus, M. (ed.): Curry: An integrated functional logic language (vers. 0.8.3) (2012). http://www.curry-language.orgHermenegildo, M., Rossi, F.: On the Correctness and Efficiency of Independent And-Parallelism in Logic Programs. In: Lusk, E., Overbeck, R. (eds.) Proceedings of the 1989 North American Conf. on Logic Programming, pp. 369–389. The MIT Press, Cambridge (1989)Hölldobler, S. (ed.): Foundations of Equational Logic Programming. LNCS, vol. 353. Springer, Heidelberg (1989)Meseguer, J., Thati, P.: Symbolic Reachability Analysis Using Narrowing and its Application to Verification of Cryptographic Protocols. Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science 117, 153–182 (2005)Middeldorp, A., Okui, S.: A Deterministic Lazy Narrowing Calculus. Journal of Symbolic Computation 25(6), 733–757 (1998)Nishida, N., Sakai, M., Sakabe, T.: Generation of Inverse Computation Programs of Constructor Term Rewriting Systems. IEICE Transactions on Information and Systems J88–D–I(8), 1171–1183 (2005) (in Japanese)Nishida, N., Sakai, M., Sakabe, T.: Partial Inversion of Constructor Term Rewriting Systems. In: Giesl, J. (ed.) RTA 2005. LNCS, vol. 3467, pp. 264–278. Springer, Heidelberg (2005)Nishida, N., Vidal, G.: Program inversion for tail recursive functions. In: Schmidt-Schauß, M. (ed.) Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Rewriting Techniques and Applications. LIPIcs, vol. 10, pp. 283–298. 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Associative diazotrophic bacteria from forage grasses in theBrazilian semi-arid region are effective plant growth promoters.

The study of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) can identify outstanding bacteria for crops. For forage grasses adapted to drylands, the selection of PGPB can increase the field performance of pastures. The aim of this study was to isolate, and characterise at molecular, biochemical and symbiotic levels, diazotrophic bacteria obtained from buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) from Brazilian semi-arid region fields. Fieldgrown plants were collected, and the roots were surface-disinfected, crushed and inoculated in a semi-solid medium. After the formation and confirmation of microaerophilic pellicles, the bacteria were isolated and purified. All bacterial isolates were subjected to nifH gene amplification and identified by their partial 16S rRNA gene sequences. The bacteria were evaluated for the production of auxins and siderophores, calcium phosphate solubilisation, and diazotrophic ability as ?in vitro? plant growth-promotion traits. A plant inoculation assay was conducted to assess the plant growth promotion abilities of the bacterial isolates. Twenty-one bacterial isolates harboured the nifH gene (nifH+), among which nine were obtained from sorghum, eight from buffel grass, and four from Tifton 85. The bacterial isolates were classified as Bacillus (8), Stenotrophomonas (7), Agrobacterium (4), Cellulomonas (1) and Paenibacillus (1). All were shown to be auxin producers, with 14 isolates showing diazotrophic capacity ?in vitro?. Fourteen isolates increased plant N content, but the bacterial strains ESA 392 and ESA 398 (Bacillus), ESA 397 and ESA 407 (Stenotrophomonas), and ESA 401 (Agrobacterium) were shown to promote both plant growth and N nutrition. These strains are candidates for further assays to evaluate their agronomic performance under field conditions, aiming inoculant production for forage grasses in drylands

Phenotypic, genetic and symbiotic characterization of Erythrina velutina rhizobia from Caatinga dry forest.

Erythrina velutina (Mulungu) is a legume ree from Caatinga that associates with rhizobia but the diversity and symbiotic ability of mulungu rhizobia are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize mulungu rhizobia from Caatinga. Bacteria were obteined from Serra Talhada and Caruaru in Caatinga under natural regeneration. The bacteria were evaluated to the amplication of nifH and nod C and to metabolic characteristics. Ten selected bacteria identied by 16S rRNA sequences. They were tested in vitro to NaCl and temperature tolerance, auxin production and calcium phosphate solubilization. The symbiotic ability were assessed in an greenhouse experiment. A total of 32 bacteria were obtained and 17 amplied both symbiotic genes. The bacteria showed a high variable metabolic prole. Bradyrhizobium (6), Rhizobium (3) and Paraburkholderia (1) were identied, differing from their geographic origin. The isolates grew up to 45 ◦ C to 0.51 mol L ? 1 of NaCl. Bacteria which produced more auxin in the medium with l -tryptophan and two Rhizobium and one Bradyrhizobium were phosphate solubilizers. All bacteria nodulated and ESA 90 (Rhizobium sp.) plus ESA 96 (Paraburkholderia sp.) were more efcient symbiotically. Diverse and efcient rhizobia inhabit the soils of Caatinga dry forests, with the bacterial differentiation by the sampling sites

Conflict transformation in indigenous' peoples territories: doing environmental justice with a 'decolonial turn'

One of the distinctive features of environmental justice theory in Latin America is its influence by decolonial thought, which explains social and environmental injustices as arising from the project of modernity and the ongoing expansion of a European cultural imaginary. The decolonization of knowledge and social relations is highlighted as one of the key challenges for overcoming the history of violent oppression and marginalization in development and conservation practice in the region. In this paper we discuss how conflict transformation theory and practice has a role to play in this process. In doing so, we draw on the Socio-environmental Conflict Transformation (SCT) framework elaborated by Grupo Confluencias, which puts a focus on building community capacity to impact different spheres of power: people and networks, structures and cultural power. We discuss this framework and its practical use in the light of ongoing experiences with indigenous peoples in Latin America. We propose that by strengthening the power of agency of indigenous peoples to impact each of these spheres it is possible to build constructive intra and intercultural relations that can help increase social and environmental justice in their territories and thus contribute to decolonizing structures, relations and ways of being

Caracterização genotípica e fenotípica de bactérias associativas em um vertissolo do Semiárido baiano.

A cultura do milho é colonizada por bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas, as quais podem promover o crescimento das plantas através da fixação biológica de nitrogênio, sendo importantes principalmente em áreas com baixa disponibilidade deste nutriente. Assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade de bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas isoladas de milho em solo do Semiárido, através da caracterização fenotípica e genotípica. A caracterização fenotípica foi realizada através da caracterização morfológica cultural em meio Dyg’s sólido A caracterização genotípica foi avaliada através da análise nifH e o nested de 33 bactérias diazotróficas isoladas de duas cultivares de milho (BRS Gorotuba e BRS Caatingueiro) cultivadas em um vertissolo do Semiárido baiano

Avaliação de dois mecanismos de promoção do crescimento vegetal in vitro por bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas de milho.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de bactérias diazotróficas endofíticas de milho na síntese de ácido indolacético (AIA) e solubilização de fosfato de cálcio in vitro. Foram avaliadas 44 bactérias

Amplificação de genes simbióticos e produção de ácido indolacético in vitro por bactérias isoladas de nódulos de mulungu e angico.

Este estudo teve como objetivo isolar e caracterizar bactérias de nódulos radiculares das espécies mulungu (Erythrina velut ina Willd) e angico [Anadenanthera colubrina (Vellozo) Brenan] cultivadas em solos de áreas da Caatinga dos municípios de Serra Talhada, Petrolina, Caruaru e Garanhus, no Estado de Pernambuco

Diversidade genética de rizóbios isolados de angico (Anadenanthera colubrina) em áreas de Caatinga do Semiárido Pernambucano.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade genética de rizóbios isolados de nódulos de Angico em diferentes áreas de regeneração do Semiárido Pernambucano

Atributos biológicos do solo em áreas de cultivo de cebola no município de Casa Nova, Bahia.

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade do solo áreas de sementeira de cultivo convencional de cebola e em uma área de caatinga preservada (controle) no semiárido baiano