Variabilidade espacial da produtividade e do estado nutricional do cafeeiro Canephora

Utilizing precision farming techniques along with the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) allows crop management to be improved, thereby making it possible to better control plant nutrition and to assist in reducing fertilizer expenditures. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial variability of the nutritional status of conilon coffee (Coffea canephora), using the Nutritional Balance index (NBI). 140 points were georeferenced within a coffee crop, each sampling point contained five plants. Leaf samples were analyzed in order to determine levels of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, B, Zn, Mn and Cu. The crop showed itself to have a nutritional imbalance, as shown by the deficiency and excess variation of some nutrients in the crop. The nutritional balance index (NBI) was not correlated with productivity (Prod), indicating that, when the crop has a high nutritional imbalance IBN is not a good tool for establishing nutritional standards for conilon coffee.O uso das técnicas da agricultura de precisão aliada ao Sistema Integrado de Diagnose e Recomendação (DRIS) permite o aperfeiçoamento do manejo da lavoura, possibilitando melhor controle nutricional da planta e contribuindo para reduzir gastos com fertilizante. Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a variabilidade espacial do estado nutricional do cafeeiro conilon (Coffea canephora), utilizando o Índice de Balanço Nutricional (IBN). Em uma lavoura de café foram amostrados 140 pontos georreferenciados, sendo cada ponto amostral constituído de cinco plantas. As amostras foliares foram analisadas para determinação dos teores de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, B, Zn, Mn e Cu. A lavoura apresenta desequilíbrio nutricional mostrado pela variação da deficiência e excesso de alguns nutrientes na lavoura. O índice de balanceamento nutricional (IBN) não apresentou correlação com a produtividade (Prod), indicando que, quando a lavoura apresenta elevado desequilíbrio nutricional o IBN não é uma boa ferramenta para o estabelecimento de um padrão nutricional para o café conilon

LÓGICA FUZZY NA ANÁLISE ESPACIAL DOS TEORES DE BORO E MANGANÊS NO TECIDO FOLIAR DO CAFEEIRO CONILON

Essa pesquisa objetivou utilizar lógica Fuzzy para mapear os teores foliares dos micronutrientes em café conilon, considerando sua variabilidade espacial. O estudo foi realizado na fazenda experimental do INCAPER, onde forma coletadas folhas recém-maduras para determinação dos teores de Mn e B. Fez-se a análise de estatística descritiva e geoestatística dos teores foliares; definida a dependência espacial, foram confeccionados mapas temáticos por meio da krigagem. A partir dos mapas, determinou-se o universo de discurso de cada nutriente, seguido da construção dos conjuntos fuzzy de entrada, por meio da função trapezoidal. Com os mapas dos teores foliares realizou-se a classificação fuzzy. A lógica fuzzy permitiu visualizar as mudanças gradativas das faixas tidas como ideais para B e Mn

VARIABILIDADE ESPACIAL DOS ÍNDICES DRIS DO NITROGÊNIO E DO POTÁSSIO NA CULTURA DO MAMOEIRO

Tendo em vista a importância do N e do K no fomento do crescimento vegetativo e do estádio de florescimento do mamoeiro e de sua influencia no equilíbrio nutricional da lavoura  objetivou-se com esse estudo quantificar a variabilidade espacial dos índices DRIS do N e do K de mamoeiro produzido no norte capixaba e correlacionar linearmente e espacialmente seus valores com a produtividade e o índice de balanço nutricional da lavoura. O estudo foi realizado com dados de produtividade e de teores foliares (macronutrientes: N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S; e micronutrientes: Zn e Mn.) do pecíolo do mamoeiro de 129 pontos georreferenciados, de uma lavoura comercial de mamão, no município de São Mateus-ES. Esse teores foliares foram utilizados para calculo dos Índice DRIS e do índice de balanço nutricional (IBN). Os índices DRIS do N e do K apresentaram dependência espacial, ajustando-se aos modelos exponencial e esférico, respectivamente. Apenas o IDK apresentou correlação linear com a produtividade.

Chagas' disease: an update on immune mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

The final decade of the 20th century was marked by an alarming resurgence in infectious diseases caused by tropical parasites belonging to the kinetoplastid protozoan order. Among the pathogenic trypanosomatids, some species are of particular interest due to their medical importance. These species include the agent responsible for Chagas' disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. Approximately 8 to 10 million people are infected in the Americas, and approximately 40 million are at risk. in the present review, we discuss in detail the immune mechanisms elicited during infection by T. cruzi and the effects of chemotherapy in controlling parasite proliferation and on the host immune system.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Instituto Nacional de Biologia Estrutural e QuImica Medicinal em Doencas Infecciosas (INBEQMeDI)Univ São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilMackenzie Presbeterian Univ, Ctr Biomol Sci & Hlth, São Paulo, BrazilNatl Univ Rosario, Sch Med Sci, Inst Immunol, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaCSIC, Inst Parasitol & Biomed Lopez Neyra, Granada, SpainUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Microbiol Immunol & Parasitol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 08/57596-4FAPESP: 07/08648-9CNPq: 473906/2008-2Web of Scienc

Regulatory T Cells Phenotype in Different Clinical Forms of Chagas' Disease

CD25High CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg cells) have been described as key players in immune regulation, preventing infection-induced immune pathology and limiting collateral tissue damage caused by vigorous anti-parasite immune response. In this review, we summarize data obtained by the investigation of Treg cells in different clinical forms of Chagas' disease. Ex vivo immunophenotyping of whole blood, as well as after stimulation with Trypanosoma cruzi antigens, demonstrated that individuals in the indeterminate (IND) clinical form of the disease have a higher frequency of Treg cells, suggesting that an expansion of those cells could be beneficial, possibly by limiting strong cytotoxic activity and tissue damage. Additional analysis demonstrated an activated status of Treg cells based on low expression of CD62L and high expression of CD40L, CD69, and CD54 by cells from all chagasic patients after T. cruzi antigenic stimulation. Moreover, there was an increase in the frequency of the population of Foxp3+ CD25HighCD4+ cells that was also IL-10+ in the IND group, whereas in the cardiac (CARD) group, there was an increase in the percentage of Foxp3+ CD25High CD4+ cells that expressed CTLA-4. These data suggest that IL-10 produced by Treg cells is effective in controlling disease development in IND patients. However, in CARD patients, the same regulatory mechanism, mediated by IL-10 and CTLA-4 expression is unlikely to be sufficient to control the progression of the disease. These data suggest that Treg cells may play an important role in controlling the immune response in Chagas' disease and the balance between regulatory and effector T cells may be important for the progression and development of the disease. Additional detailed analysis of the mechanisms on how these cells are activated and exert their function will certainly give insights for the rational design of procedure to achieve the appropriate balance between protection and pathology during parasite infections

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Variabilidade espacial do estado nutricional do cafeeiro conilon utilizando índice DRIS

A combinação da agricultura de precisão e do Sistema Integrado de Recomendação Foliar (DRIS) possibilita monitorar espacialmente o balanço nutricional dos cafezais para fornecer recomendações de adubação mais equilibradas e mais ajustadas economicamente. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a variabilidade espacial do estado nutricional do cafeeiro conilon, utilizando o Índice de Balanço Nutricional (IBN) e sua relação com a produtividade. A produtividade das plantas em cada ponto amostral foi determinada e construiu-se o seu mapa considerando a variabilidade espacial; determinou-se o Índice de Equilíbrio Nutricional (IBN) das plantas em cada ponto amostral e construiu-se o seu mapa; e utilizou-se a análise de componentes principais (ACP) para estimar o IBN do cafeeiro por cokrigagem. Os dados do cafeeiro conilon foram coletados em fazenda experimental, no município de Cachoeiro de Itapemirim-ES. O IBN do cafeeiro e a sua produtividade foram analisados por meio de geoestatística, com base nos modelos e parâmetros dos semivariogramas, utilizando o método de interpolação krigagem ordinária para estimar valores para locais não amostrados. O índice de Balanço Nutricional da lavoura do cafeeiro conilon apresentou dependência espacial, porém não apresentou correlação linear e nem espacial com a produtividade. A lavoura em estudo se encontra em desequilíbrio nutricional, sendo que entre os macronutrientes, o Potássio foi o que apresentou maior desequilíbrio na área, entre os micronutrientes, o Zinco e o Ferro foram os que apresentaram menores concentrações nas folhas. A confecção dos mapas possibilitou a distinção de regiões com maior e menor desequilíbrio nutricional e produtividade, o que possibilita adotar o manejo de forma diferenciada e localizada. A análise multivariada baseada em componentes principais fornece componentes com alta correlação com as variáveis originais P, Ca, Zn , Cu, K e B. A cokrigagem utilizando as componentes principais permite estimar o IBN e a produtividade da área.The objective of this study was to evaluate the spatial variability of nutritional status conilon coffee using the Balance Nutritional Index (BNI) and its relationship with productivity. The combination of precision agriculture and Recommendation Integrated System Foliar (DRIS) enables spatially monitor the nutritional balance of the coffee plantations to provide fertilizer recommendations set more balanced and more economically. The productivity of plants at each sample point was determined and built your map considering the spatial variability; determined the Balance Nutritional Index (BNI) plants at each sample point and built your map; and used the principal component analysis (PCA) to estimate the IBN coffee by co-kriging. The data were collected conilon coffee in experimental farm in the municipality of Itapemirim - ES . The BNI the coffee and productivity were analyzed using geostatistical techniques, based on the models and parameters of semivariograms using the ordinary cokriging interpolation method to estimate values for non-sampled locations. The Balance Nutritional index of the crop conilon coffee showed spatial dependence, but no linear nor spatial correlation with productivity. The crop under study is in nutritional imbalance, and among the macronutrients, Potassium showed the greatest imbalance in the area, among the micronutrients, Zinc and Iron were those with lower concentrations in the leaves. The making of maps allowed the distinction of regions with higher and lower nutritional imbalance and productivity, enabling management to adopt a differentiated and localized manner. The multivariate analysis based on principal components provides components with high correlation with the original variables P, Ca, Zn, Cu, K and B. The cokriging using principal components allows estimating the IBN and the productivity of the area.Cape

Topical delivery of nanostructured lipid carriers loaded with lipophilic active compounds on a 3D reconstructed human epidermis model

Lipid nanocarriers refer to a wide group of drug delivery systems that are well-known as effective carriers for lipophilic and hydrophilic active compounds and that can be easily integrated into dermal formulations. Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) belong to the wide group of lipid nanocarriers, representing an alternative – e.g. to liposomes, emulsions and polymeric nanoparticles. Usually, NLCs present a spherical shape with mean diameters ranging between 50 and 500 nm and are composed by an unstructured solid lipid matrix consisting on a mixture of liquid and solid lipids, stabilized by a surfactant or a mixture of surfactants dispersed in an aqueous phase. New optimized NLCs formulations loaded with retinyl palmitate (RP) and α-tocopherol (TOC) were evaluated regarding their topical distribution and efficacy on a 3D model of in vitro reconstructed human epidermis (RHE). NLCs were produced using sunflower oil and myristic acid as liquid and solid lipids, respectively and RP and TOC as lipophilic model compounds. Also, the fluorescent dye DiO was incorporated along with TOC, resulting in a TOC-DiO-NLCs formulation to enable a qualitative characterization on in vitro absorption studies. Physicochemical properties of empty NLCs, RP-NLCs and TOC-DiO-NLCs were characterized, as well as their surface morphology and internal structure. In vitro absorption studies were performed on the RHE model in customized Franz diffusion cells and were quantitatively and qualitatively characterized. The cytotoxicity of optimized NLCs formulations was evaluated through the in vitro skin irritation test on the RHE model. All characterized NLCs presented appropriate physicochemical properties for dermal formulations and an efficient distribution and release profile of active compounds across the reconstructed skin membrane. In vitro skin irritation tests demonstrated that the optimized NLCs formulations were no cytotoxic.N/

Estimativa da produtividade de café conilon utilizando técnicas de cokrigagem

RESUMO Estimar a variabilidade espacial de uma cultura em campo auxilia no entendimento de alguns fenômenos que podem estar correlacionados com a sua produtividade. Este trabalho teve, como objetivo, estimar, pelo método da cokrigagem, a produtividade (kg ha-1) do cafeeiro conilon, em três safras consecutivas, tendo como covariável o número de ramos produtivos (plagiotrópicos) por planta. No centro de uma lavoura, demarcou-se uma malha amostral, com 109 pontos georreferenciados, sendo cada ponto constituído por cinco plantas. Fez-se o acompanhamento, por três safras agrícolas consecutivas, contando-se os ramos produtivos e realizando-se a colheita manual. O café colhido foi separado, para cada estádio de maturação (cereja, verdoengo e verde), e secado para umidade padrão de 12%, determinando-se a produtividade de café seco em coco (kg ha-1). A produtividade e o número de ramos produtivos por ponto amostral apresentaram correlação linear e dependência espacial nas três safras. As estimativas das produtividades pelos números de ramos produtivos apresentaram similaridades na cokrigagem, mostrando ser a covariável ramo produtivo eficiente na estimativa da produtividade do café conilon (Robusta Tropical)