Eficiência econômica do uso de sistemas de irrigação para a produção de tomate orgânico nas condições de Brasil Central.

Avaliou-se a eficiência econômica do uso de diferentes sistemas de irrigação na produçaõ de tomate orgânico. A análise foi realizada com dados obtidos em unidades demonstrativas conduzidas em 2011, no Distrito Federal.Suplemento. Trabalho apresentado no 52. Congresso Brasileiro de Olericultura, Salvador, 2012

Decreased expression of the endothelial cell-derived factor EGFL7 in systemic sclerosis: potential contribution to impaired angiogenesis and vasculogenesis

INTRODUCTION: Microvascular damage and defective angiogenesis and vasculogenesis have a major role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Epidermal growth factor-like domain 7 (EGFL7) is a proangiogenic molecule which is predominantly expressed and secreted by endothelial cells and their progenitors and controls vascular development and integrity. In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of EGFL7 in SSc. METHODS: Serum EGFL7 levels from 60 patients with SSc and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were examined by colorimetric sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of EGFL7 in forearm skin biopsies (n = 16 SSc, n = 10 controls), cultured dermal microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) (n = 3 SSc, n = 3 controls) and late-outgrowth peripheral blood endothelial progenitor cell (EPC)-derived endothelial cells (n = 15 SSc, n = 8 controls) was investigated by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. RESULTS: Serum EGFL7 levels were detectable in 68.6% of healthy controls and 45% of SSc cases (P < 0.05). Circulating levels of EGFL7 were significantly decreased in SSc patients compared with healthy controls (P = 0.01). Serum levels of EGFL7 were significantly lower in both limited cutaneous SSc and diffuse cutaneous SSc patients than in controls (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). In SSc, decreased serum EGFL7 levels were significantly correlated with the severity of nailfold capillary abnormalities. Patients with the most severe capillary changes and digital ulcers had serum EGFL7 levels significantly lower than healthy controls, while the EGFL7 levels did not differ significantly between controls and SSc patients with less capillary damage and lack of digital ulcers. Endothelial EGFL7 expression was strongly downregulated or even almost completely undetectable in SSc-affected dermis compared with controls (P < 0.001). In cultured SSc dermal MVECs and late-outgrowth peripheral blood EPC-derived endothelial cells, EGFL7 was significantly downregulated compared with cells obtained from healthy subjects (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the loss of EGFL7 expression in endothelial cells and their progenitors might play a role in the development and progression of peripheral microvascular damage and the defective vascular repair process characteristic of SSc

Análise e perspectivas de atuação no ciclo de políticas públicas: o caso da Embrapa Agroenergia.

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Análise econômica e de risco da primeira safra de canola tropicalizada no Distrito Federal e Bahia.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o resultado econômico da primeira safra de canola em 06 propriedades agrícolas do Distrito Federal e Bahia. Fez-se levantamento de dados primários de custos de produção e produtividade, a fim de avaliar a renda líquida e o risco econômico devido a variações na produtividade em sistemas de cultivos de sequeiro e irrigado. Utilizou-se o método de Monte Carlo nas simulações de risco. Buscou-se avaliar também a percepção de impacto ambiental, social e econômico dos produtores, por meio de entrevistas, utilizando o método Ambitec-Agro. Os resultados econômicos mostram que a canola é lucrativa, com renda líquida média de R$460,05/ha e R$ 1.425,80/ha, nos cultivos de sequeiro e irrigado, respectivamente. A probabilidade de prejuízo (renda líquida menor ou igual a zero) frente à oscilação na produtividade é muito baixa no cultivo de sequeiro (1,3%) e 0% no irrigado. Conclui-se que a cultura da canola tem grande potencial de integrar o sistema de produção de grãos nessas regiões, pois apresentou desempenho produtivo surpreendente frente às condições climáticas adversas verificadas nessas localidades, em 2021, apresentando resultados econômicos positivos e perspectivas de impactos socioeconômicos e ambientais relevantes na percepção dos produtores.60º Congresso da SOBER

Cenários de adoção da variedade cana flex II e avaliação de impactos econômicos no setor sucroenergético.

Resumo: O estudo tem por objetivo avaliar o impacto econômico da adoção da variedade de cana desenvolvida pela Embrapa Agroenergia, denominada Cana Flex II. O foco da análise é na etapa industrial, considerando três produtos principais: açúcar, etanol de primeira geração (E1G) e etanol de segunda geração (E2G). A partir de resultados da pesquisa sobre rendimentos produtivos da Cana Flex II em comparação com uma variedade convencional, estimou-se quantidade produzida e rendas adicionais em cenários de adoção paulatina da variedade em 10 anos. Os resultados mostraram ganhos econômicos significativos, com rendas adicionais de R$937,7 milhões (cenário moderado) e R$ 1.875,4 milhões (cenário otimista), no décimo ano. Açúcar foi o produto mais rentável, nas condições de preços analisadas, sendo superado pelo etanol se considerado conjuntamente E1G e E2G. Observou-se que as rendas adicionais obtidas são suficientes para viabilizar investimentos de R$2 bilhões em infraestrutura, nos dois cenários. Conclui-se que a dinâmica econômica do setor sucroenergético no Brasil pode ser fortalecida com a incorporação de biotecnologias, especialmente novas variedades de cana capazes de elevar a eficiência energética na etapa de processamento industrial. Abstract: This study aims to assess the economic impact of adopting a sugarcane variety developed by Embrapa Agroenergia, called Cana Flex II. The focus of the analysis is on the industrial phase, considering three main products: sugar production, first generation bioethanol (E1G) and second generation bioethanol (E2G). Based on the results of the research on Cana Flex II yields compared to a conventional variety, additional production and income was estimated in scenarios of gradual adoption of Cana Flex II in 10 years. The results showed significant economic gains, with additional income of R$ 937.7 million (moderate scenario) and R $1,875.4 million (optimistic scenario), in the tenth year. Sugar was the most profitable product, under the analyzed price conditions, being surpassed by ethanol when considered together E1G and E2G. It was observed that the additional income obtained is sufficient to enable R$ 2 billion investments in infrastructure in both scenarios. These results show that the economic dynamics of the sugar-energy sector in Brazil can be strengthened with the incorporation of biotechnologies, especially new varieties of cane capable of increasing energy efficiency in the industrial processing stage.Título em inglês: Adoption Scenarios for Cana Flex II Variety and Evaluation of Economic Impacts in the Sucroenergetic Sector.. Grupo de Trabalho (GT): 8 Pesquisa, inovação e extensão rural. Sober 2021, EBPC 2021. Evento online

Blocking TLR7- and TLR9-mediated IFN-α Production by Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Does Not Diminish Immune Activation in Early SIV Infection

Persistent production of type I interferon (IFN) by activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) is a leading model to explain chronic immune activation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection but direct evidence for this is lacking. We used a dual antagonist of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 7 and TLR9 to selectively inhibit responses of pDC but not other mononuclear phagocytes to viral RNA prior to and for 8 weeks following pathogenic simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection of rhesus macaques. We show that pDC are major but not exclusive producers of IFN-α that rapidly become unresponsive to virus stimulation following SIV infection, whereas myeloid DC gain the capacity to produce IFN-α, albeit at low levels. pDC mediate a marked but transient IFN-α response in lymph nodes during the acute phase that is blocked by administration of TLR7 and TLR9 antagonist without impacting pDC recruitment. TLR7 and TLR9 blockade did not impact virus load or the acute IFN-α response in plasma and had minimal effect on expression of IFN-stimulated genes in both blood and lymph node. TLR7 and TLR9 blockade did not prevent activation of memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in blood or lymph node but led to significant increases in proliferation of both subsets in blood following SIV infection. Our findings reveal that virus-mediated activation of pDC through TLR7 and TLR9 contributes to substantial but transient IFN-α production following pathogenic SIV infection. However, the data indicate that pDC activation and IFN-α production are unlikely to be major factors in driving immune activation in early infection. Based on these findings therapeutic strategies aimed at blocking pDC function and IFN-α production may not reduce HIV-associated immunopathology. © 2013 Kader et al

Increased Brain Fatty Acid Uptake in Metabolic Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To test whether brain fatty acid uptake is enhanced in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome (MS) and whether weight reduction modifies it. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We measured brain fatty acid uptake in a group of 23 patients with MS and 7 age-matched healthy control subjects during fasting conditions using positron emission tomography (PET) with [(11)C]-palmitate and [(18)F]fluoro-6-thia-heptadecanoic acid ([(18)F]-FTHA). Sixteen MS subjects were restudied after 6 weeks of very low calorie diet intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, brain global fatty acid uptake derived from [(18)F]-FTHA was 50% higher in patients with MS compared with control subjects. The mean percentage increment was 130% in the white matter, 47% in the gray matter, and uniform across brain regions. In the MS group, the nonoxidized fraction measured using [(11)C]-palmitate was 86% higher. Brain fatty acid uptake measured with [(18)F]-FTHA-PET was associated with age, fasting serum insulin, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index. Both total and nonoxidized fractions of fatty acid uptake were associated with BMI. Rapid weight reduction decreased brain fatty acid uptake by 17%. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study on humans to observe enhanced brain fatty acid uptake in patients with MS. Both fatty acid uptake and accumulation appear to be increased in MS patients and reversed by weight reduction

Status of the Super-B factory Design

The SuperB international team continues to optimize the design of an electron-positron collider, which will allow the enhanced study of the origins of flavor physics. The project combines the best features of a linear collider (high single-collision luminosity) and a storage-ring collider (high repetition rate), bringing together all accelerator physics aspects to make a very high luminosity of 10$^{36}$ cm$^{-2}$ sec$^{-1}$. This asymmetric-energy collider with a polarized electron beam will produce hundreds of millions of B-mesons at the $\Upsilon$(4S) resonance. The present design is based on extremely low emittance beams colliding at a large Piwinski angle to allow very low $\beta_y^\star$ without the need for ultra short bunches. Use of crab-waist sextupoles will enhance the luminosity, suppressing dangerous resonances and allowing for a higher beam-beam parameter. The project has flexible beam parameters, improved dynamic aperture, and spin-rotators in the Low Energy Ring for longitudinal polarization of the electron beam at the Interaction Point. Optimized for best colliding-beam performance, the facility may also provide high-brightness photon beams for synchrotron radiation applications