A survey on mineral and heavy metal composition of Brazilian grape juice, wine, and sparkling wine produced from grapes cultivated under sustainable viticulture.

Grape growing and winemaking are important social and economical activines in Serra Gaúcha, which is located in Rio Grande do Sul, the Brazilian southernmost state.Resumo S14.295

Identificación de un compuesto alelopático de Baccharis boliviensis (Asteraceae) y su efecto en la germinación de Trichocereus pasacana (Cactaceae)

El género Baccharis presenta una amplia distribución en regiones áridas del noroeste Argentino. Estudios realizados sobre la distribución espacial de T. pasacana con relación al espacio disponible, mostraron que a pesar de que las semillas del cardón son abundantes bajo la copa de B. boliviensis, no se detectan plantas de cardón creciendo en asociación, a pesar del requerimiento de plantas nodrizas para un establecimiento exitoso del cardón. Extractos acuosos del follaje de B. boliviensis particionado en hexano, cloroformo y acetato de etilo, inhibieron la germinación de T. pasacana. El cloroformo fue el solvente más efectivo para la extracción del material fitotóxico. La estructura del ácido ferrúlico fue determinada por metodos espectroscópicos y TLC sobre gel de sílice

Physicochemical composition, minerals, and pesticide residues in organic grape juices.

Demand for organic products is intensified in many countries each year. Following this trend, Brazil produces increasing volumes of organic grape juice. In this way, a survey of organic grape juices made from grapes produced according to this system was carried out where physicochemical composition, minerals, trace elements, and pesticide residues were determined. Variables related to grape juice composition were performed by physicochemical procedures; minerals and trace elements, by inductively plasma optical emission spectrometry; pesticide residues, by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Main results show that the physicochemical composition of organic grape juices was in general in accordance to the Brazilian legislation. The mean concentrations of trace elements were very low, varying from 0.002 (Cd) to 0.970 (Ba) mg L?1. Pesticide residues were not detected in any sample analyzed (MRL= 10 μg L?1). These results show that the Serra Gaúcha viticultural region present conditions to produce organic grape juices, despite the adverse climate factors that occurs in some years. Nevertheless, these products should be made with grape varieties, such as the labrusca ones, less susceptibles to the main grapevine pathogens

Yield and nutrient uptake of soybean cultivars under intensive cropping systems.

Sustainable agricultural systems are necessary to improve soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed yield and to increase nutrient use efficiency. Intensification of agricultural systems is an important tool to increase farmers? profitability in the Cerrado region (Brazil), where soybean is rotated with corn in the same growing season. However, this intensification requires soybean cultivar with short growing periods which is achieved by indeterminate soybean cultivars. There is a lack of information regarding the nutrient uptake by soybean cultivars under intensive agricultural systems in the Cerrado. We sought to investigate soybean biomass production and soybean seed yield of determinate and indeterminate soybean cultivars. We also aimed to quantify the amounts of nutrients taken up by soybean biomass and seeds. Field research was conducted to evaluate 17 soybean cultivars commonly grown by farmers, and we considered the determinate and indeterminate soybean growth habit. Nutrient uptake and aboveground soybean biomass were higher under shorter soybean growth and development cycles. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium extraction in modern cultivars was higher than in cultivars used in past decades. Nutrient use efficiency was higher in determinate soybean cultivars than in indeterminate soybean cultivars

Choleretic activity of five species of baccharis ("carquejas") used as phytotherapics in Argentinean traditional medicine

Seveal Baccharis species known as "carquejas" are used in Argentinean folk medicine as phytotherapics. B. crispa, B. articulata, B. trimera, B. sagittalis and B. triangularis have been evaluated for their choleretic activity using Wistar rats. B. sagittalis and B. triangularis showed a significant choleretic activity (bile flow of 1.631 ± 0.089 and 1.598 ± 0.196 μl/min/g liver, respectively). B. crispa, B. trimera showed moderate activity and B. articulata exhibited the same choleretic property that the control. Only, B. articulata and B. crispa are informed as official drugs in the Argentinean Pharmacopoeia. In addition, phytochemical constituents and botanical characters are reportedColegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Porcine pulmonary valve decellularization with NaOH-based vs detergent process: preliminary in vitro and in vivo assessments.

Glutaraldehyde fixed xenogeneic heart valve prosthesis are hindered by calcification and lack of growth potential. The aim of tissue decellularization is to remove tissue antigenicity, avoiding the use of glutaraldehyde and improve valve integration with low inflammation and host cell recolonization. In this preliminary study, we investigated the efficacy of a NaOH-based process for decellularization and biocompatibility improvement of porcine pulmonary heart valves in comparison to a detergent-based process (SDS-SDC0, 5%). Native cryopreserved porcine pulmonary heart valves were treated with detergent and NaOH-based processes. Decellularization was assessed by Hematoxylin and eosin/DAPI/alpha-gal/SLA-I staining and DNA quantification of native and processed leaflets, walls and muscles. Elongation stress test investigated mechanical integrity of leaflets and walls (n = 3 tests/valve component) of valves in the native and treated groups (n = 4/group). Biochemical integrity (collagen/elastin/glycosaminoglycans content) of leaflet-wall and muscle of the valves (n = 4/group) was assessed and compared between groups with trichrome staining (Sirius Red/Miller/Alcian blue). Secondly, a preliminary in vivo study assessed biocompatibility (CD3 and CD68 immunostaining) and remodeling (Hematoxylin and eosin/CD31 and ASMA immunofluorescent staining) of NaOH processed valves implanted in orthotopic position in young Landrace pigs, at 1 (n = 1) and 3 months (n = 2). Decellularization was better achieved with the NaOH-based process (92% vs 69% DNA reduction in the wall). Both treatments did not significantly alter mechanical properties. The detergent-based process induced a significant loss of glycosaminoglycans (p < 0,05). In vivo, explanted valves exhibited normal morphology without any sign of graft dilatation, degeneration or rejection. Low inflammation was noticed at one and three months follow-up (1,8 +/- 3,03 and 0,9836 +/- 1,3605 CD3 cells/0,12 mm <sup>2</sup> in the leaflets). In one animal, at three months we documented minimal calcification in the area of sinus leaflet and in one, microthrombi formation on the leaflet surface at 1 month. The endoluminal side of the valves showed partial reendothelialization. NaOH-based process offers better porcine pulmonary valve decellularization than the detergent process. In vivo, the NaOH processed valves showed low inflammatory response at 3 months and partial recellularization. Regarding additional property of securing, this treatment should be considered for the new generation of heart valves prosthesis. Graphical abstract of the study

Infra-estrutura laboratorial, gerenciamento de laboratório e automação da informação.

Infra-estrutura laboratorial. Organização de um laboratório. Recurso humanos. Tipos de equipamentos de laboratórios. Espectrofotômetro de absorção atômica. Fotômetro de chama. Destilador de nitrogênio. Cuidados básicos na rotina de laboratório. Tipos de análises. Solo para fins de fertilidade. Automação de rotinas laboratoriais. Utilização de volumes de solo. Uso de pipetas automáticas. A utilização da informática no gerenciamento do laboratório. Controle estatístico de processos para fins de qualidade. Sistema de gerenciamento de informações laboratoriais (LIMS). Implementações e benefícios do LIMS. Requisitos para um LIMS. Gerenciando o funcionamento de um LIMS aberto. Gerenciamento do fluxo de trabalho no laboratório. Sistemas workflow. Mecanismos básicos de um sistema de workflow. Utilização de sistemas de workflow no laboratório. Utilização da informática na organização de dados, de informação e de conhecimentos gerados no setor agrícola. Base de dados. Data warehouse. Recursos de informação em meio eletrônico. Sistemas inteligentes (SIs). Informatização na interpretação de resultados analíticos para fins agronômicos. Disponibilidade de informação laboratorial na internet. Serviços básicos da internet. Serviços especiais da internet. Intranet. Cliente interno. Cliente externo

Perfusion-decellularization of human ear grafts enables ECM-based scaffolds for auricular vascularized composite tissue engineering

Introduction: Human ear reconstruction is recognized as the emblematic enterprise in tissue engineering. Up to now, it has failed to reach human applications requiring appropriate tissue complexity along with an accessible vascular tree. We hereby propose a new method to process human auricles in order to provide a poorly immunogenic, complex and vascularized ear graft scaffold. Methods: 12 human ears with their vascular pedicles were procured. Perfusion-decellularization was applied using a SDS/polar solvent protocol. Cell and antigen removal was examined by histology and DNA was quantified. Preservation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) was assessed by conventional and 3D-histology, proteins and cytokines quantifications. Biocompatibility was assessed by implantation in rats for up to 60 days. Adipose-derived stem cells seeding was conducted on scaffold samples and with human aortic endothelial cells whole graft seeding in a perfusion-bioreactor. Results: Histology confirmed cell and antigen clearance. DNA reduction was 97.3%. ECM structure and composition were preserved. Implanted scaffolds were tolerated in vivo, with acceptable inflammation, remodeling, and anti-donor antibody formation. Seeding experiments demonstrated cell engraftment and viability. Conclusions: Vascularized and complex auricular scaffolds can be obtained from human source to provide a platform for further functional auricular tissue engineered constructs, hence providing an ideal road to the vascularized composite tissue engineering approach