234 research outputs found
Identification and Validation of EST-Derived Molecular Markers, TRAP and VNTRs, for Banana Research
The advent of high-throughput sequencing technology has generated abundant information on DNA sequences for the genomes of many plant species. Expressed Sequence Tags (ESTs), which are unique DNA sequences derived from a cDNA library and therefore representing genes transcribed in specific tissues or at some stage of development, are one type of DNA sequences highly available today for many important crop species. Molecular markers are used for bridging DNA sequence information with particular phenotypes and are useful tools for genotyping germplasm collections and also for tagging genes involved in desirable agronomic traits. In this sense, there is always a strong demand for suitable marker techniques to better utilise existing sequence information. A transcriptome database from banana (Musa spp.), DATAMusa, containing 42,724 ESTs from 11 different cDNA libraries and encompassing approximately 24 Mb of DNA sequence, was used in this study for the design of primers to PCR-amplify two types of EST-derived molecular markers, Variable Nucleotide Tandem Repeat (VNTR) and Target Region Amplification Polymorphism (TRAP). These primers were then validated against a panel of 14 diploid Musa genotypes and produced 32 (VNTR) and 119 (TRAP) alleles. Used separately or together, both types of markers were able to discriminate Musa genotypes from different genome background (A or B genomes). The TRAP alleles identified were derived from only one EST, while the VNTR alleles were derived from 12 unigenes. Based on the results of this study, EST-derived markers can be an important source of polymorphism to be used in genetic diversity and gene discovery studies in banan
Changes in the carbon balance of tropical forest: evidence from long-term plots
The role of the world’s forests as a “sink” for atmospheric carbon dioxide is the subject of active debate. Long-term monitoring of plots in mature humid tropical forests concentrated in South America revealed that biomass gain by tree growth exceeded losses from tree death in 38 out of 50 neotropical sites. These forest plots have accumulated 0.71 + 0.34 tons of carbon per hectare per year in recent decades. The data suggest that neotropical forests may be a significant carbon sink, reducing the rate of increase in atmospheric CO2
Bentonite/polymer compound development to application in drilling fluids: Part 2
The most important bentonite clays sources are placed at Paraíba state, Brazil. These clays are largely used as viscosity agent in drilling fluids. Unfortunately for some kinds of available clay their parameters are far from PETROBRAS standard. Treatments based on polymeric addition consist on method to improve such parameters. In order to improve these parameters, this work proposes a methodology to develop bentonite/polymers compound for use in water based drilling fluids. Besides the raw clay others samples have been evaluated: i) one sample of a commercial bentonite; ii) two samples of carboximethyl cellullose (CMC) and iii) one sample of partially-hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (PAM). Based on experimental planning, ten compositions of polymeric compound (mix of two and three polymers) have been evaluated. For each composition of polymeric compound three different concentrations was added to clay. All experimental fluids have been evaluated accordingly with PETROBRAS standard to determine apparent and plastic viscosity, yield stress, and water loss. The results of the analysis show that by polymeric treatment of bentonite clay with compound polymeric allow to obtain a mixture with improved rheologic properties. Finally, this procedure allows to use low quality bentonite clays for drilling fluids application.Os depósitos de bentonita da Paraíba constituem um dos mais importantes do país. Essas argilas são empregadas, dentre outras aplicações, como viscosificante em fluidos de perfuração. Contudo, atualmente, alguns tipos de argila encontradas nesses depósitos não apresentam os parâmetros exigidos pela PETROBRAS e a aditivação polimérica surge como alternativa para adequar essas propriedades. Sendo assim, este trabalho objetiva o desenvolvimento de compostos bentonita/polímeros para uso em fluidos de perfuração à base de água. Para tanto, foram estudadas uma amostra de argila bentonítica sódica industrializada da Paraíba, Brasil, duas amostras de carboximetilcelulose (CMC) e uma amostra de poliacrilamida (PAM). O dimensionamento do composto polimérico (misturas de dois e três polímeros) foi elaborado por meio do planejamento experimental, sendo estudadas dez diferentes composições. Os compostos poliméricos, em três diferentes concentrações, foram misturados à argila seca. Em seguida, foram preparados os fluidos de perfuração e determinadas as viscosidades aparente e plástica, o limite de escoamento e o volume de filtrado de acordo com as normas da PETROBRAS. Os resultados das análises mostraram que a aditivação da bentonita com o composto polimérico permite obter uma mistura com melhores propriedades reológicas e de filtração. Finalmente, esse procedimento permite o uso de argilas bentoníticas de qualidade inferior em fluidos de perfuração de poços de petróleo.20921
Changes in growth of tropical forests: evaluating potential biases
Over the past century almost every ecosystem on Earth has come under the
influence of changes in atmospheric composition and climate caused by human activity.
Tropical forests are among the most productive and extensive ecosystems, and it has been
hypothesized that both the dynamics and biomass of apparently undisturbed, old-growth
tropical forests have been changing in response to atmospheric changes. Long-term forest
sample plots are a critical tool in detecting and monitoring such changes, and our recent
analysis of pan-tropical-forest plot data has suggested that the biomass of tropical forests
has been increasing, providing a modest negative feedback on the rate of accumulation of
atmospheric CO2. However, it has been argued that some of these old forest plot data sets
have significant problems in interpretation because of the use of nonstandardized methodologies.
In this paper we examine the extent to which potential field methodological errors may
bias estimates of total biomass change by detailed examination of tree-by-tree records from
up to 120 Neotropical plots to test predictions from theory. Potential positive biases on
measurements of biomass change include a bias in site selection, tree deformities introduced
by the measurement process, poor methodologies to deal with tree deformities or buttresses,
and nonrecording of negative growth increments. We show that, while it is important to
improve and standardize methodologies in current and future forest-plot work, any systematic
errors introduced by currently identified biases in past studies are small and calculable.
We conclude that most tropical-forest plot data are of useful quality, and that the evidence
does still weigh conclusively in favor of a recent increase of biomass in old-growth tropical
forests
Assessment of Constructed Wetlands’ Potential for the Removal of Cyanobacteria and Microcystins (MC-LR)
Microcystis blooms and the subsequent release of hepatotoxic microcystins (MCs) pose a serious threat to the safety of water for human and livestock consumption, agriculture irrigation, and aquaculture worldwide. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), the most toxic variant of MCs, has been widely detected in a variety of environments such as water, sediments, plants, and many aquatic organisms.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Higher Grading Conformal Affine Toda Teory and (Generalized) Sine-Gordon/Massive Thirring Duality
Some properties of the higher grading integrable generalizations of the
conformal affine Toda systems are studied. The fields associated to the
non-zero grade generators are Dirac spinors. The effective action is written in
terms of the Wess-Zumino-Novikov-Witten (WZNW) action associated to an affine
Lie algebra, and an off-critical theory is obtained as the result of the
spontaneous breakdown of the conformal symmetry. Moreover, the off-critical
theory presents a remarkable equivalence between the Noether and topological
currents of the model. Related to the off-critical model we define a real and
local Lagrangian provided some reality conditions are imposed on the fields of
the model. This real action model is expected to describe the soliton sector of
the original model, and turns out to be the master action from which we uncover
the weak-strong phases described by (generalized) massive Thirring and
sine-Gordon type models, respectively. The case of any (untwisted) affine Lie
algebra furnished with the principal gradation is studied in some detail.
The example of is presented explicitly.Comment: 28 pages, JHEP styl
Overexpression of adenosine A2A receptors in rats: effects on depression, locomotion, and anxiety
Adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR) are a sub-type of receptors enriched in basal ganglia, activated by the neuromodulator adenosine, which interact with dopamine D2 receptors. Although this reciprocal antagonistic interaction is well-established in motor function, the outcome in dopamine-related behaviors remains uncertain, in particular in depression and anxiety. We have demonstrated an upsurge of A2AR associated to aging and chronic stress. Furthermore, Alzheimer's disease patients present A2AR accumulation in cortical areas together with depressive signs. We now tested the impact of overexpressing A2AR in forebrain neurons on dopamine-related behavior, namely depression. Adult male rats overexpressing human A2AR under the control of CaMKII promoter [Tg(CaMKII-hA2AR)] and aged-matched wild-types (WT) of the same strain (Sprague-Dawley) were studied. The forced swimming test (FST), sucrose preference test (SPT), and the open-field test (OFT) were performed to evaluate behavioral despair, anhedonia, locomotion, and anxiety. Tg(CaMKII-hA2AR) animals spent more time floating and less time swimming in the FST and presented a decreased sucrose preference at 48 h in the SPT. They also covered higher distances in the OFT and spent more time in the central zone than the WT. The results indicate that Tg(CaMKII-hA2AR) rats exhibit depressive-like behavior, hyperlocomotion, and altered exploratory behavior. This A2AR overexpression may explain the depressive signs found in aging, chronic stress, and Alzheimer's disease
Design of a nanostructured mucoadhesive system containing curcumin for buccal application : from physicochemical to biological aspects
Mucoadhesive nanostructured systems comprising poloxamer 407 and Carbopol 974P® have already demonstrated good mucoadhesion, as well as improved mechanical and rheological properties. Curcumin displays excellent biological activity, mainly in oral squamous cancer; however, its physicochemical characteristics hinder its application. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop nanostructured formulations containing curcumin for oral cancer therapy. The photophysical interactions between curcumin and the formulations were elucidated by incorporation kinetics and location studies. They revealed that the drug was quickly incorporated and located in the hydrophobic portion of nanometer-sized polymeric micelles. Moreover, the systems displayed plastic behavior with rheopexy characteristics at 37 °C, viscoelastic properties and a gelation temperature of 36 °C, which ensures increased retention after application in the oral cavity. The mucoadhesion results confirmed the previous findings with the nanostructured systems showing a residence time of 20 min in porcine oral mucosa under flow system conditions. Curcumin was released after 8 h and could permeate through the porcine oral mucosa. Cytotoxicity testing revealed that the formulations were selective to cancer cells over healthy cells. Therefore, these systems could improve the physicochemical characteristics of curcumin by providing improved release and permeation, while selectivity targeting cancer cells
The Presence of Flavonoids in Some Products and Fruits of the Genus Eugenia: An Integrative Review
ReviewThe Myrtaceae family, one of the most prominent botanical families, is represented in Brazil
with different fruit species, rich in bioactive compounds and gastronomically appreciated.
This study aimed to carry out an integrative review on the genus Eugenia, highlighting the
pitangueira (E. uniflora L.), cagaiteira (E. dysenterica), grumixameira (E. brasiliensis), pereira
(E. klotzschiana O. Berg), and uvaieira (E. pyriformis Cambess) and which flavonoids are
present in these fruits. Articles published between 2016 and 2021 were selected from the
following databases: Google Scholar, Periódicos CAPES, Scielo, and Science Direct.
According to each database, the descriptors used as a search strategy addressed the
popular and scientific names of the five selected species, associated or not with the term
“flavonoid,” according to each database. The results showed that quercetin was the main
flavonoid identified in the fruits, and the principal extraction method used was HPLC. Other
interesting compounds, such as catechin, epicatechin, rutin, myricetin, and kaempferol,
were also found. However, the amount and type of flavonoids detected varied according to
the applied methodology. Hence, these studies highlight the importance of species of the
genus Eugenia, which promotes beneficial health effects and possible applicability to the
food and pharmaceutical industryinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
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