Post-harvesting longevity of bird of paradise (Strelitzia spp.) treated with carnauba wax

  Strelitzias are tropical plants that have shown great interest in the market and can be used in landscaping in tropical floral arrangements. Aiming to extend its postharvest life, the objective of the work was to evaluate different concentrations of the commercial product based on carnauba wax in the postharvest longevity of Strelitzia juncea and Strelitzia reginae leaves. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six repetitions, with one leaf per repetition for each species. The concentrations used were: 0% (control), 2%, 20%, 40% and 100%. The loss of leaf mass (%) and the visual quality of the leaves were evaluated through the criterion of notes, in addition to making use of anatomical analyzes of the stomatal structures of the leaves through scanning microscopy. The loss of mass was reduced with the increase of the wax concentration, however, high doses provided increased loss. The use of carnauba wax proved efficient at concentrations of 20 and 40%, maintaining the commercial quality of the leaves of S. reginae and S. juncea until the 24th day, while in the control treatment, the leaves maintained a commercial pattern until the 16th for S. reginae and 18th day for S. juncea. The deposition of wax in the stomatal structures may have influenced the loss of mass of both species as observed by scanning microscopy.As Strelitzias são plantas tropicais que têm despontado grande interesse do mercado, podendo ser utilizadas no paisagismo em arranjos florais tropicais. Visando ampliar sua vida pós-colheita, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar diferentes concentrações do produto comercial a base de cera de carnaúba na longevidade pós-colheita de folhas de Strelitzia juncea e Strelitzia reginae. O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições, com uma folha por repetição para cada espécie. As concentrações utilizadas foram: 0% (controle), 2%, 20%, 40% e 100%. Avaliaram-se a perda de massa foliar (%) e a qualidade visual das folhas por meio do critério de notas, além de se fazer uso de análises anatômicas das estruturas estomáticas das folhas através de microscopia de varredura. A perda de massa foi reduzida com o aumento da concentração de cera, no entanto, altas doses proporcionaram aumento da perda. O uso de cera de carnaúba se mostrou eficiente nas concentrações de 20 e 40%, mantendo a qualidade comercial das folhas de S. reginae e S. juncea até o 24º dia, enquanto no tratamento controle, as folhas mantiveram padrão comercial até o 16° para S. reginae e 18° dia para S. juncea. A deposição de cera nas estruturas estomáticas pode ter influenciado na perda de massa de ambas as espécies conforme foi observado por meio da microscopia de varredura

Randomized Clinical Study of the Use of MTA and Biodentine™ for Pulpotomy in Primary Teeth

Objective: To verify, through clinical and radiographic evaluations, the in vivo response of the dentin-pulpal complex of human primary teeth after pulpotomy with MTA and Biodentine™ in a follow-up period of 3, 6, and 12 months. Material and Methods: Thirty teeth were divided into MTA pulpotomy (n = 15) and Biodentine™ pulpotomy (n = 15) from children between 5 and 9 years of age, a randomized clinical trial with simple random sampling. The materials were inserted into the cavity after opening and removing the coronary pulp tissue. The cavity base consisted of glass ionomer cement and light-cured composite resin restoration. Clinical and radiographic analyses were performed after 3, 6, and 12 months. Statistical analysis by Fisher\u27s exact test for dichotomous data at a 5% significance level was utilized. Results: Both materials caused color change after 12 months. However, MTA showed a higher percentage than Biodentine™ (p<0.0001). Pain was detected only with Biodentine™ at six months and mobility at 12 months (p=0.0013). Radiographically, after 12 months, periapical lesions, interradicular lesions, and internal resorption were evidenced in 13% of the cases for Biodentine™-treated teeth (p<0.0013). MTA induced pulp calcification in 13% of cases, unlike Biodentine™ (p<0.0013). Conclusion: BiodentineTM and MTA are suitable for clinical use in pulpotomy treatment, yet both materials lead to tooth discoloration

Videolaryngostroboscopy and voice evaluation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Arthritis may affect the larynx and produce symptoms such as hoarseness and vocal fatigue. Objective: This paper aimed to evaluate the laryngeal manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: This is prospective study assessed 27 patients with rheumatoid arthritis with the aid of videolaryngostroboscopy, auditory-perceptual analysis of the speech using the GIRBAS scale, acoustic analysis and the Voice Handicap Index questionnaire. Results: Nineteen patients had laryngeal complaints, the main ones being intermittent dysphonia and sensation of a foreign body in the throat. The most frequent laryngoscopical finding was overlapping arytenoids. Three patients had low pitch, nine patients had mild dysphonia and roughness. Median acoustic measures were: F0, 198.39 Hz; Jitter, 0.815; Shimmer, 4.915; and NHR, 0.144. Regarding the Voice Handicap Index, the median score was zero in all domains. There was a statistically significant correlation between voice complaints and the domains of this index. Functional classes were significantly correlated to: overlapping arytenoids (p = 0.001), PPQ (p = 0.0257), Shimmer (p = 0.0295), APQ (p = 0.0195), and the VHI physical (p = 0.0227) and total domains (p = 0.0425). Conclusion: Laryngeal complaints were reported by 70.4% of the patients and laryngoscopical alterations were observed in 48% of the subjects. Voice acoustic evaluation and self-perception were altered

Root canal contamination or exposure to lipopolysaccharide differentially modulate prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 signaling in apical periodontitis

Purpose: To evaluate the kinetics of apical periodontitis development in vivo , induced either by contamination of the root canals by microorganisms from the oral cavity or by inoculation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the regulation of major enzymes and receptors involved in the arachidonic acid metabolism. Methodology: Apical periodontitis was induced in C57BL6 mice (n=96), by root canal exposure to oral cavity (n=48 teeth) or inoculation of LPS (10 µL of a suspension of 0.1 µg/µL) from E. coli into the root canals (n= 48 teeth). Healthy teeth were used as control (n=48 teeth). After 7, 14, 21 and 28 days the animals were euthanized and tissues removed for histopathological and qRT-PCR analyses. Histological analysis data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA followed by Sidak’s test, and qRT-PCR data using two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test (α=0.05). Results: Contamination by microorganisms led to the development of apical periodontitis, characterized by the recruitment of inflammatory cells and bone tissue resorption, whereas inoculation of LPS induced inflammatory cells recruitment without bone resorption. Both stimuli induced mRNA expression for cyclooxygenase-2 and 5-lipoxygenase enzymes. Expression of prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 cell surface receptors were more stimulated by LPS. Regarding nuclear peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), oral contamination induced the synthesis of mRNA for PPARδ, differently from inoculation of LPS, that induced PPARα and PPARγ expression. Conclusions: Contamination of the root canals by microorganisms from oral cavity induced the development of apical periodontitis differently than by inoculation with LPS, characterized by less bone loss than the first model. Regardless of the model used, it was found a local increase in the synthesis of mRNA for the enzymes 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase-2 of the arachidonic acid metabolism, as well as in the surface and nuclear receptors for the lipid mediators prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4

Avaliação do perfil sensorial e teste de consumidor de batata palha

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o perfil sensorial, a aceitação e a intenção de compra de seis marcas comerciais de batata palha tradicional, denominadas A, B, C, D, E e F, adquiridas em supermercados da região de Campinas (SP). Pela Análise Descritiva Quantitativa (ADQ) foram escolhidos 13 termos descritores para batata-palha: cor amarela e queimada, presença de sal na superfície, espessura do corte, aromas de batata-frita, ranço e queimado, sabor salgado, queimado, de ranço e de batata-palha frita, textura, crocância e oleosidade. Os resultados da ANOVA do teste afetivo mostraram que os atributos que mais influenciaram os consumidores foram cor, sabor e textura, sendo as maiores médias encontradas para as marcas D e E. A marca F diferiu significativamente (p<0,05) em relação às demais, com valores superiores nos parâmetros cor amarela, queimada e sabor de ranço e queimado. Os componentes principais 1, cor amarela e 2, textura crocante explicaram juntos 85,85% da variação entre as marcas. No mapa da correlação da regressão PLS da impressão global dos consumidores e características das amostras destacou-se a proximidade no gráfico do atributo crocância em relação à impressão global, o que sinaliza a preferência do consumidor por batatas palha com maior crocância

CHANGES IN PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF TOPSOIL IN RESPONSE TO AGRICULTURE WITH SOYBEANS IN THE "VÁRZEA" OF TOCANTINS

O uso do solo com cultivos anuais durante longo tempo, especialmente quando são utilizados manejos não conservacionistas, como arações e gradagens, normalmente são responsáveis pela degradação mais intensa de suas propriedades. Este trabalho avaliou as propriedades do solo em três áreas sob cultivo agrícola e uma área nativa de Cerrado, verificando as alterações ocorridas nos atributos físico-químicos do solo após dois, cinco e oito anos sob plantio de soja. As amostras de solo foram coletadas na Fazenda Praia Alta, no município de Lagoa da Confusão - TO, onde a soja é cultivada no período de entressafra (maio-junho), em várzea irrigada, sob regime de subirrigação. A análise físico-química do solo quantificou pH, matéria orgânica (MO), P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Al, H + Al, CTC, SB, Na, Zn, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, argila, silte e areia. Os resultados mostraram evidências que o tempo de uso do solo com agricultura tecnificada, influencia as propriedades do solo; o tempo de cultivo do solo parece influenciar as modificações nos atributos naturais de áreas de várzea alagável no Cerrado.Palavras-chave: nutrientes, propriedades do solo, plantio direto.The use of land with annual crops for a long time, especially when non conservation managements are used, such as plowing and harrowing, is usually responsible for more intense degradation of their properties. This paper evaluated soil properties in three areas of agriculture and a native Cerrado soil, in order to understand the modification on chemical properties of soils after five and eight years of soy plantation. Soil samples were collected in Praia Alta Farm in Lagoa da Confusão – TO municipality, where soy is cultivated during off-season (May-June) in ‘varzea’ lowlands using sub-irrigation. Chemical analysis of soil measured pH, organic matter (MO), P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Al, H + Al, cation exchange capacity, SB, Na, Zn, B, Cu, Fe, Mn, clay, silt and sand. Results showed evidence that the time of cultivation with technified agriculture influences soil properties. Time of cultivation seems to influence the modification in soil properties in wetlands or ‘varzea’ in Cerrado.Keywords: nutrients, soil properties, no-tillage

Origin and diversification of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri pathotypes revealed by inclusive phylogenomic, dating, and biogeographic analyses.

Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri pathotypes cause bacterial citrus canker, being responsible for severe agricultural losses worldwide. The A pathotype has a broad host spectrum, while A* and Aw are more restricted both in hosts and in geography. Two previous phylogenomic studies led to contrasting well-supported clades for sequenced genomes of these pathotypes. No extensive biogeographical or divergence dating analytic approaches have been so far applied to available genomes. Results: Based on a larger sampling of genomes than in previous studies (including six new genomes sequenced by our group, adding to a total of 95 genomes), phylogenomic analyses resulted in different resolutions, though overall indicating that A?+?AW is the most likely true clade. Our results suggest the high degree of recombination at some branches and the fast diversification of lineages are probable causes for this phylogenetic blurring effect. One of the genomes analyzed, X. campestris pv. durantae, was shown to be an A* strain; this strain has been reported to infect a plant of the family Verbenaceae, though there are no reports of any X. citri subsp. citri pathotypes infecting any plant outside the Citrus genus. Host reconstruction indicated the pathotype ancestor likely had plant hosts in the family Fabaceae, implying an ancient jump to the current Rutaceae hosts. Extensive dating analyses indicated that the origin of X. citri subsp. citri occurred more recently than the main phylogenetic splits of Citrus plants, suggesting dispersion rather than host-directed vicariance as the main driver of geographic expansion. An analysis of 120 pathogenic-related genes revealed pathotype-associated patterns of presence/absence. Conclusions: Our results provide novel insights into the evolutionary history of X. citri subsp. citri as well as a sound phylogenetic foundation for future evolutionary and genomic studies of its pathotypes

The ITA Space Center and Its Role in Space Education in Brazil

This paper presents the ITA Space Center and its mission in the formation of human resources and in the research and development of space products. In 2012 the first aerospace engineers were graduated at ITA, and since then many efforts have been done to improve the engineering education. The first effort was the development of AESP-14 CubeSat project, then the development and launch of ITASAT, a 6U CubeSat. These two projects showed that small satellites projects provide a good learning approach once students were deeply involved in the development process. These two projects opened the opportunity for the creation of the ITA Space Center (CEI -acronym for Centro Espacial ITA in Portuguese). Inside its facilities the ITA Space Center provides capabilities for the development of small space projects such as electronics, software engineering, mechanical design, and simulation with the aid of systems engineering and project management. By means of the graduate and undergraduate programs the ITA Space Center is providing education and integration with the industries and other partner organizations. In developing and delivering space products, and fostering higher education in space, the ITA Space Center is accomplishing of its proposed mission

Beyond trees: Mapping total aboveground biomass density in the Brazilian savanna using high-density UAV-lidar data

Tropical savanna ecosystems play a major role in the seasonality of the global carbon cycle. However, their ability to store and sequester carbon is uncertain due to combined and intermingling effects of anthropogenic activities and climate change, which impact wildfire regimes and vegetation dynamics. Accurate measurements of tropical savanna vegetation aboveground biomass (AGB) over broad spatial scales are crucial to achieve effective carbon emission mitigation strategies. UAV-lidar is a new remote sensing technology that can enable rapid 3-D mapping of structure and related AGB in tropical savanna ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the capability of high-density UAV-lidar to estimate and map total (tree, shrubs, and surface layers) aboveground biomass density (AGBt) in the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). Five ordinary least square regression models esti-mating AGBt were adjusted using 50 field sample plots (30 m × 30 m). The best model was selected under Akaike Information Criterion, adjusted coefficient of determination (adj.R2), absolute and relative root mean square error (RMSE), and used to map AGBt from UAV-lidar data collected over 1,854 ha spanning the three major vegetation formations (forest, savanna, and grassland) in Cerrado. The model using vegetation height and cover was the most effective, with an overall model adj-R2 of 0.79 and a leave-one-out cross-validated RMSE of 19.11 Mg/ha (33.40%). The uncertainty and errors of our estimations were assessed for each vegetation formation separately, resulting in RMSEs of 27.08 Mg/ha (25.99%) for forests, 17.76 Mg/ha (43.96%) for savannas, and 7.72 Mg/ha (44.92%) for grasslands. These results prove the feasibility and potential of the UAV-lidar technology in Cerrado but also emphasize the need for further developing the estimation of biomass in grasslands, of high importance in the characterization of the global carbon balance and for supporting integrated fire management activities in tropical savanna ecosystems. Our results serve as a benchmark for future studies aiming to generate accurate biomass maps and provide baseline data for efficient management of fire and predicted climate change impacts on tropical savanna ecosystems