População de plantas de soja no sistema de semeadura direta para o Centro-Sul do Estado do Paraná.

bitstream/item/53984/1/47.pd

Impaired Activity of Ryanodine Receptors Contributes to Calcium Mishandling in Cardiomyocytes of Metabolic Syndrome Rats

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a global epidemic. MetS is a serious health problem because of its related cardiovascular complications, which include hypertension and delayed heart rate recovery after exercise. The molecular bases of cardiac dysfunction in MetS are still under scrutiny and may be related to anomalies in the activity and expression of key proteins involved in the cardiac excitation–contraction coupling (ECC). The cardiac Ca2+ channel/ryanodine receptor (RyR2) participates in releasing Ca2+ from internal stores and plays a key role in the modulation of ECC. We examined alterations in expression, phosphorylation status, Ca2+ sensitivity, and in situ function (by measuring Ca2+ sparks and Ca2+ transients) of RyR2; alterations in these characteristics could help to explain the Ca2+ handling disturbances in MetS cardiomyocytes. MetS was induced in rats by adding commercially refined sugar (30% sucrose) to their drinking water for 24 weeks. Cardiomyocytes of MetS rats displayed decreased Ca2+ transient amplitude and cell contractility at all stimulation frequencies. Quiescent MetS cardiomyocytes showed a decrease in Ca2+ spark frequency, amplitude, and spark-mediated Ca2+ leak. The [3H]-ryanodine binding data showed that functionally active RyRs are significantly diminished in MetS heart microsomes; and exhibited rapid Ca2+-induced inactivation. The phosphorylation of corresponding Ser2814 (a preferential target for CaMKII) of the hRyR2 was significantly diminished. RyR2 protein expression and Ser2808 phosphorylation level were both unchanged. Further, we demonstrated that cardiomyocyte Ca2+ mishandling was associated with reduced SERCA pump activity due to decreased Thr17-PLN phosphorylation, suggesting a downregulation of CaMKII in MetS hearts, though the SR Ca2+ load remained unchanged. The reduction in the phosphorylation level of RyR2 at Ser2814 decreases RyR2 availability for activation during ECC. In conclusion, the impaired in situ activity of RyR2 may also account for the poor overall cardiac outcome reported in MetS patients; hence, the SERCA pump and RyR2 are both attractive potential targets for future therapies

Indicações técnicas para o cultivo do girassol.

Preparo do solo; Semeadura: profundidade, espacamento e densidade, epoca de semeadura; Cultivares; Calagem; Nutricao e adubacao: nitrogenio, fosforo, potassio; Controle de plantas daninhas; Insetos-pragas; Doencas do girassol: mancha de Alternaria, podridao e murcha de Esclerotinia, ferrugem, podridao de Macrophomina, seca da haste por Phomopsis sp.; Colheita e armazenagem; Custo de producao.bitstream/item/60518/1/Documentos-3.pd

Predicting attitudinal and behavioral responses to COVID-19 pandemic using machine learning

At the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 became a global problem. Despite all the efforts to emphasize the relevance of preventive measures, not everyone adhered to them. Thus, learning more about the characteristics determining attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic is crucial to improving future interventions. In this study, we applied machine learning on the multinational data collected by the International Collaboration on the Social and Moral Psychology of COVID-19 (N = 51,404) to test the predictive efficacy of constructs from social, moral, cognitive, and personality psychology, as well as socio-demographic factors, in the attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic. The results point to several valuable insights. Internalized moral identity provided the most consistent predictive contribution—individuals perceiving moral traits as central to their self-concept reported higher adherence to preventive measures. Similar results were found for morality as cooperation, symbolized moral identity, self-control, open-mindedness, and collective narcissism, while the inverse relationship was evident for the endorsement of conspiracy theories. However, we also found a non-neglible variability in the explained variance and predictive contributions with respect to macro-level factors such as the pandemic stage or cultural region. Overall, the results underscore the importance of morality-related and contextual factors in understanding adherence to public health recommendations during the pandemic.Peer reviewe

Regulation of antibiotic production in Actinobacteria: new perspectives from the post-genomic era

The antimicrobial activity of many of their natural products has brought prominence to the Streptomycetaceae, a family of Gram-positive bacteria that inhabit both soil and aquatic sediments. In the natural environment, antimicrobial compounds are likely to limit the growth of competitors, thereby offering a selective advantage to the producer, in particular when nutrients become limited and the developmental programme leading to spores commences. The study of the control of this secondary metabolism continues to offer insights into its integration with a complex lifecycle that takes multiple cues from the environment and primary metabolism. Such information can then be harnessed to devise laboratory screening conditions to discover compounds with new or improved clinical value. Here we provide an update of the review we published in NPR in 2011. Besides providing the essential background, we focus on recent developments in our understanding of the underlying regulatory networks, ecological triggers of natural product biosynthesis, contributions from comparative genomics and approaches to awaken the biosynthesis of otherwise silent or cryptic natural products. In addition, we highlight recent discoveries on the control of antibiotic production in other Actinobacteria, which have gained considerable attention since the start of the genomics revolution. New technologies that have the potential to produce a step change in our understanding of the regulation of secondary metabolism are also described

Predicting attitudinal and behavioral responses to COVID-19 pandemic using machine learning

At the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 became a global problem. Despite all the efforts to emphasize the relevance of preventive measures, not everyone adhered to them. Thus, learning more about the characteristics determining attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic is crucial to improving future interventions. In this study, we applied machine learning on the multinational data collected by the International Collaboration on the Social and Moral Psychology of COVID-19 (N = 51,404) to test the predictive efficacy of constructs from social, moral, cognitive, and personality psychology, as well as socio-demographic factors, in the attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic. The results point to several valuable insights. Internalized moral identity provided the most consistent predictive contribution—individuals perceiving moral traits as central to their self-concept reported higher adherence to preventive measures. Similar results were found for morality as cooperation, symbolized moral identity, self-control, open-mindedness, and collective narcissism, while the inverse relationship was evident for the endorsement of conspiracy theories. However, we also found a non-neglible variability in the explained variance and predictive contributions with respect to macro-level factors such as the pandemic stage or cultural region. Overall, the results underscore the importance of morality-related and contextual factors in understanding adherence to public health recommendations during the pandemic

Financial management practices of small and medium enterprises in Nueva Ecija

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in our economy as this sector contributes to the creation of wealth, employment and income generation. However, SMEs may be vulnerable to various challenges brought by competitive business environment. Among these, lack of an efficient and effective financial management system is a core problem area. This study determined the extent of financial management practices of SMEs in Nueva Ecija. Financial management was divided into three aspects: working capital management, capital budgeting, and financial reporting and analysis. Working capital management was determined in terms of cash management, account receivable management, and inventory management. In addition, the study ascertained if there were significant relationships between the organizational profile of SMEs and their financial management practices. Further, it was also determined if there were any significant differences in financial management practices among SMEs in terms of location and asset size. The respondents for this study were the SMEs located in the province of Nueva Ecija. The list of SMEs in Nueva Ecija was requested from the provincial office of Department of Trade and Industry, Cabanatuan City. From the list provided by DTI, a total of 172 SMEs were selected through stratified random sampling. The respondents were grouped into four based on the district where they operate. A five-point scale survey questionnaire was used in assessing the SMEs financial management practices. Results show that majority of SMEs in Nueva Ecija were sole proprietorship, engaged in retailing business, and considered as small based on asset size. Most of them were at their early years of operation which had at most 20 employees. Majority of the owners/managers were bachelors degree holder with average level of financial literacy. Cash management, account receivable management, inventory management as well as financial reporting and analysis were determined as highly practiced among SMEs. On the other hand, capital budgeting practices were assessed as moderately practiced. In addition, findings reveal that cash management practices were found to have a significant positive relationship with number of employees, level of education, and financial literacy of owner/manager. Both account receivable management and inventory management were found to have significant positive relationship with number of employees and level of education of owner/manager. Capital budgeting and financial reporting and analysis did not have significant relationships with any of the organizational characteristics. Further, results show that there were significant differences in financial management in terms of location and asset size. The findings provided an insight regarding the financial management practices among SMEs and these can be used by various organizations in providing technical assistance to continuously help the SMEs in improving their operations and overall performance

The Madeira Archipelago as a significant source of marine-derived actinomycete diversity with anticancer and antimicrobial potential

Marine-derived actinomycetes have demonstrated an ability to produce novel compounds with medically relevant biological activity. Studying the diversity and biogeographical patterns of marine actinomycetes offers an opportunity to identify genera that are under environmental pressures, which may drive adaptations that yield specific biosynthetic capabilities. The present study describes research efforts to explore regions of the Atlantic Ocean, specifically around the Madeira Archipelago, where knowledge of the indigenous actinomycete diversity is scarce. A total of 400 actinomycetes were isolated, sequenced and screened for antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The three most abundant genera identified were Streptomyces, Actinomadura and Micromonospora. Phylogenetic analyses of the marine OTUs isolated indicated that the Madeira Archipelago is a new source of actinomycetes adapted to life in the ocean. Phylogenetic differences between offshore (>100m from shore) and nearshore (<100m from shore) populations illustrates the importance of sampling offshore in order to isolate new and diverse bacterial strains. Novel phylotypes from chemically rich marine actinomycete groups like MAR4 and the genus Salinispora were isolated. Anticancer and antimicrobial assays identified Streptomyces, Micromonospora and Salinispora as the most biologically active genera. This study illustrates the importance of bioprospecting efforts at unexplored regions of the ocean to recover bacterial strains with the potential to produce novel and interesting chemistry

Marine Anticancer Agents: An Overview with a Particular Focus on Their Chemical Classes

The marine environment is a rich source of biologically active molecules for the treatment of human diseases, especially cancer. The adaptation to unique environmental conditions led marine organisms to evolve different pathways than their terrestrial counterparts, thus producing unique chemicals with a broad diversity and complexity. So far, more than 36,000 compounds have been isolated from marine micro- and macro-organisms including but not limited to fungi, bacteria, microalgae, macroalgae, sponges, corals, mollusks and tunicates, with hundreds of new marine natural products (MNPs) being discovered every year. Marine-based pharmaceuticals have started to impact modern pharmacology and different anti-cancer drugs derived from marine compounds have been approved for clinical use, such as: cytarabine, vidarabine, nelarabine (prodrug of ara-G), fludarabine phosphate (pro-drug of ara-A), trabectedin, eribulin mesylate, brentuximab vedotin, polatuzumab vedotin, enfortumab vedotin, belantamab mafodotin, plitidepsin, and lurbinectedin. This review focuses on the bioactive molecules derived from the marine environment with anticancer activity, discussing their families, origin, structural features and therapeutic use