History of development and characterization of the U.S. blackberry market

The fresh blackberry market within the United States has expanded significantly in the past 10 years based on the development of new cultivars with improved firmness and longer shelf life, permitting their shipment over long distances. Currently, blackberries maintain a nearly continuous presence on the shelves of grocery stores across the U.S., which was uncommon a decade ago. Increased consumption of blackberries is due to increased consumer desire for improved nutrition and diet along with expanded availability. Worldwide, producers have increased production with a 45% increase in area planted from 1995 to 2005. Further expansion has occurred since then. This examination of the market history and its characterization was intended to highlight major aspects of the blackberry market as it changed from 1999 to 2008. The primary source of information was from shipments and price data maintained by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service. With these data, it was possible to track trends in the U.S. fresh blackberry market. Specifically, growth in blackberry shipments from major domestic and international production regions and price trends in major U.S. terminal markets were characterized. Results show fresh blackberry shipments increased by 530% from 2000 to 2008. The largest volume of blackberry shipments originated from California and Mexico. Blackberry prices at all terminal markets had a similar seasonal pattern. In October and November, prices were highest as these months represent the end of California’s production season and the very beginning of Mexico’s. The lowest prices occurred in May, when there was a very high level of Mexican imports, and often in July when domestic production was greatest

Mini Tomato Production In Organic System Under Greenhouse With Partial Control Of Meteorological Elements

The objective of this research was to evaluate the meteorological elements of the environments and the production components of mini tomato crop in organic system in different forms of cultivation, biofertilizer doses and technological levels of protected environments. The research was conducted in completely randomized design in a 3 x 2 x 5 factorial scheme, corresponding to three greenhouses (A - climatized, B - mobile screen and C - fixed screen), two forms of cultivation (pots and beds) and five doses of a commercial biofertilizer (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200% of dose indicated), with five replicates. The treatments affected the analyzed variables, except for biofertilizer doses and interaction of treatments. Air temperature was unchanged among the environments and the mean and minimum relative humidity were within the control range in the climatized greenhouse. The greenhouse with mobile screen showed the best production results for the cultivation in beds and the biofertilizer doses were indifferent for all treatments.20980080

A review of Corrosion Resistance Nanocomposite Coatings

The deterioration of materials, particularly metals, under the influence of electrochemical corrosion is a high cost problem faced by nearly all industries. The reduction of corrosion processes and the prevention of future problems require a detailed knowledge of these processes and of the strategies to avoid them. In this context, it is essential to use methodologies that may prevent the electrochemical deterioration of materials as well as monitor their performance in aggressive environments. Among them, it is possible to cite the use of functional coatings, particularly nanocomposite coatings. Therefore, this chapter proposes a review concerning the production of nanocomposite coatings with anticorrosive application obtained by electrodeposition technique (electrochemical codeposition). The production of such coatings is in agreement with the current needs of innovation, which drives a requirement for scientific advancement and the need for fundamental research. In this context, nanocomposite coatings with anticorrosive properties promote changes in metal surfaces, creating new materials with improved characteristics compared to those originally observed and maintaining the integrity of these surfaces

Gemini imidazolium gels enhance the photodynamic performance of porphyrins

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) successful clinical use has led to an emerging interest in the development of improved delivery systems for photosensitizers. Amongst different formulations, gels have the advantage of being easier to apply, providing greater adhesion to the affected region and allowing light penetration. Importantly, we have previously reported that by incorporating porphyrin into a bisimidazolium gelator matrix there is an increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation compared to the photosensitizer in solution [1]. Motivated by this, we report further assessment on the photosensitizing capabilities of porphyrins in a gel structure. In this work, we evaluated effect of varying the chemical structures of porphyrins on their photosensitizing capabilities whilst embedded within a supramolecular hydrogel based on gemini imidazolium amphiphiles. The investigated porphyrins presented enhanced singlet oxygen (1O2) within the hydrogel matrix compared to solution and showed negligent release in relevant biological media. Rheological measurements revealed that porphyrin hydrogels presented desirable viscoelastic properties as a functional delivery system for PDT

Effective Targeting Of Proton Transfer At Ground And Excited States Of Ortho-(2 '-imidazolyl)naphthol Constitutional Isomers

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy and quantum chemical computational studies were employed to investigate ground and excited state proton transfer of a novel series of ortho-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)naphthol constitutional isomers: 1-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)naphthalen-2-ol (1NI2OH), 2-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)naphthalen-1-ol (2NI1OH) and 3-(1H-imidazol-2-yl)naphthalen-2-ol (3NI2OH). Proper Near Attack Conformations (NACs) involving a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond between the naphthol moiety and the ortho-imidazole group account for the highest ground state acidity of 2NI1OH compared with 1NI2OH and 3NI2OH. Moreover, ESIPT for 2NI1OH and 3NI2OH is further associated with planar chelate H-ring formation whereas 1NI2OH shows the highest ESIPT barrier and a noncoplanar imidazole group. In addition to energetic and structural requirements, the final state also depends on electronic configuration of the ESIPT product with the neutral 3NI2OH showing an ICT effect that correlates with the excited state pKa of the cationic species.17424042415Brazilian Foundation INCT-CataliseConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Brazilian Foundation Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa da UFMGConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Late Pleistocene echimyid rodents (Rodentia, Hystricognathi) from northern Brazil

Echimyidae (spiny rats, tree rats and the coypu) is the most diverse family of extant South American hystricognath rodents (caviomorphs). Today, they live in tropical forests (Amazonian, coastal and Andean forests), occasionally in more open xeric habitats in the Cerrado and Caatinga of northern South America, and open areas across the southern portion of the continent (Myocastor). The Quaternary fossil record of this family remains poorly studied. Here, we describe the fossil echimyids found in karst deposits from southern Tocantins, northern Brazil. The analyzed specimens are assigned to Thrichomys sp., Makalata cf. didelphoides and Proechimys sp. This is the first time that a fossil of Makalata is reported. The Pleistocene record of echimyids from this area is represented by fragmentary remains, which hinders their determination at specific levels. The data reported here contributes to the understanding of the ancient diversity of rodents of this region, evidenced until now in other groups, such as the artiodactyls, cingulates, carnivores, marsupials, and squamate reptiles.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Técnica da imunoperoxidase utilizando um soro hiperimune anti-Leishmania (L.) chagasi no diagnóstico da leishmaniose tegumentar americana confirmada por cultura

The present study reports the production of the rabbit anti-Leishmania (L.) chagasi hyperimmune serum, the standardization of the immunohistochemistry (IHC) technique and the evaluation of its employment in cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions diagnosed by Leishmania sp. culture isolation. Thirty fragments of active CL lesions were examined as well as 10 fragments of cutaneous mycosis lesions as control group. IHC proved more sensitive in detecting amastigotes than conventional hematoxylin-eosin (HE) stained slides: the former was positive in 24 (80%) biopsies whereas the latter, in 16 (53%) (p = 0.028). The reaction stained different fungus species causing cutaneous mycosis. Besides, positive reaction was noticed in mononuclear and endothelial cells. Nevertheless, this finding was present in the control group biopsies. It is concluded that IHC showed good sensitivity in detecting amastigotes.O presente estudo relata a produção do soro policlonal de coelho anti-Leishmania (L.) chagasi, a padronização da técnica de imunohistoquímica (IHQ) e sua aplicação em lesões de leishmaniose cutânea (LC) diagnosticadas por isolamento de Leishmania sp. em cultura. Foram examinados 30 fragmentos de lesões ativas de LC e 10 fragmentos de lesões de etiologia fúngica, utilizados como grupo controle. A IHQ mostrou-se mais sensível na detecção de amastigotas que a coloração em hematoxilina-eosina (HE), sendo positiva em 24 fragmentos de LC (80%) e ao passo que a HE foi positiva em 16 (53%) (p = 0,028). A IHQ também marcou diferentes espécies de fungos causadoras de micoses cutâneas. Adicionalmente, verificou-se positividade no citoplasma de células mononucleares e células endoteliais. Entretanto, esse achado esteve presente no grupo controle. Conclui-se que o método de IHQ apresentou boa sensibilidade na detecção de formas amastigotas

Detection of quantum non-Markovianity close to the Born-Markov approximation

We calculate in an exact way the conditional past-future correlation for the decay dynamics of a two-level system in a bosonic bath. Different measurement processes are considered. In contrast to quantum memory measures based solely on system propagator properties, here memory effects are related to a convolution structure involving two system propagators and the environment correlation. This structure allows to detect memory effects even close to the validity of the Born-Markov approximation. An alternative operational-based definition of environment-to-system backflow of information follows from this result. We provide experimental support to our results by implementing the dynamics and measurements in a photonic experiment.Fil: Silva, Thais De Lima. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Walborn, Stephen P.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Santos, Marcelo F.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Aguilar, Gabriel H.. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Budini, Adrian Adolfo. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentin