5 research outputs found
Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data
Rural development and public policies: the case of Proambiente.
No inÃcio dos anos 2000, pela articulação de diversos movimentos sociais na região Norte do Brasil, principalmente pelo Grupo de Trabalho da Amazônia (GTA) e pela Federação dos Trabalhadores Rurais (Fetaet), foi proposto o Programa de Desenvolvimento Socioambiental da Produção Familiar Rural da Amazônia (Proambiente). Composto por 11 polos pioneiros espalhados pela Amazônia Legal, teve como principal objetivo fomentar uma transição agroecológica para o agricultor familiar nesta região. Iniciado em 2000, como proposta dos movimentos sociais, ele entrou na agenda polÃtica em 2003, sendo um dos programas do Plano Plurianual (PPA) 2004/2007. Em 2008 ele não entrou novamente no PPA e teve seu fim, ao ser transformado em ação dentro do Programa Governamental Agrobiodiversidade. O objetivo geral da pesquisa foi analisar a contribuição do Proambiente para o desenvolvimento rural sustentável, especificamente em um polo no Bico do Papagaio, localizado ao norte do estado de Tocantins. Foram levantados dados secundários e primários por meio de trabalho de campo realizado nos meses de junho e julho de 2017, para verificar as mudanças de uso da terra e resgatar o desenvolvimento do programa pela memória dos agricultores, técnicos, ex-coordenadores e gerentes. Como principais resultados, percebe-se algumas dificuldades em relação ao avanço da agroecologia no território: a questão do reconhecimento dos produtos da agricultura familiar dentro dos canais de comercialização, a migração dos jovens para as cidades, o constante braço de ferro entre a agricultura familiar e o agronegócio e a conjuntura polÃtica econômica atual desfavorável à expansão e fortalecimento da agricultura familiar e da agroecologia no Brasil. Por outro lado, os dados levantados apontam para o grande triunfo do Proambiente: a transição agroecológica proposta dentro do programa aconteceu no território mesmo sem apoio governamental, pelos agricultores do Bico do Papagaio e houve uma maior conscientização sobre a importância do controle do uso do fogo e da conservação ambiental como um todo.In the beginning of the year 2000, through the articulation of several social movements in the North region of Brazil, mainly by the Amazon Working Group (GTA) and by the Federation of Rural Workers Unions in Tocantins (Fetaet), was proposed the Socio-Environmental Development of Family Agriculture Plan (Proambiente). Composed by 11 pioneering poles spread throughout the Legal Amazon, its main objective was to promote an agroecological transition for the family farmer. Initiated in 2000 as a proposal of social movements, it was included in the political agenda discussions in 2003, being one of the programs of the Pluriannual Plan (PPA) 2004/2007. In 2008, it did not include in the PPA anymore and it was extinguished, becoming a project within other programs. The general objective of this research was to analyze the contribution of Proambiente to sustainable rural development, specifically in a particular pole the Bico do Papagaio, located in the north of the state of Tocantins. Secondary and primary data were collected through fieldwork conducted in June and July (2017) to verify changes in land use and to rescue the development of the program by the memory of farmers, technicians, former coordinators and managers. As main results, there are some difficulties for the agroecology advances in the territory: the lack of recognition of rural products within commercialization channels, the migration of young people to the cities, the constant struggles between family farming and agribusiness and the current economic policy environment unfavorable to the expansion and strengthening of family agriculture and agroecology in Brazil. On the other hand, the data collected point to the great triumph of the Proambiente: the proposed agroecological transition within the program happened in the territory even without government support, by the farmers of the Papagaio Bico, and there was also a greater awareness of the importance of use control fire and environmental conservation as a whole
Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Sistemas Agroflorestais na Amazônia matogrossense
In the context of cooperation between the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and the University of Haute Bretagne (France), social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability are studied in Brazilian Amazon. This analysis focuses on the development process of agroforestry system (SAF’s) in two municipalities in northern Mato Grosso. Despite a limited database, bio-geographical investigations show a relation between society and nature that are moving towards an alternative to deforestation and growth of pioneer front. SAF’s allow to believe in a new sustainable Amazonian areas, which should be better explored. The involvement of global and local governments is a key factor in consolidating the development of these system
Desenvolvimento Sustentável e Sistemas Agroflorestais na Amazônia matogrossense
No âmbito da cooperação entre a Universidade de São Paulo (Brasil) e da Universidade de Haute Bretagne (França), sustentabilidades aspectos sociais econômicos e ambientais são estudados na Amazônia brasileira. Esta análise centra-se sobre os impactos do desenvolvimento do sistema agroflorestal (SAF’s) em dois municÃpios no norte de Mato Grosso. Apesar de uma base de dados limitada, as investigações bio-geográfica mostra uma relação entre sociedade e natureza que estão caminhando para uma alternativa ao desmatamento e crescimento da frente pioneira. SAF’s permite acreditar em uma nova área da Amazônia sustentável, que deve ser mais explorado. O envolvimento dos governos locais e globais é um fator chave para a consolidação do desenvolvimento destes sistemasDans le cadre d’une coopération interuniversaitaire entre l’Université de Sao Paulo (Brésil) et l’Université de Haute Bretagne (France), les durabilités socio-économiques et environnementales des territoires en Amazonie Brésilienne sont éudiées. Cette analyse se focalise sur les impacts de la mise en place de systèmes agroforestiers (SAF’s) dans deux communes au Nord du Mato Grosso. Malgré une base de données limitée, les enquêtes bio-géographiques montrent un rapport Sociétés / Nature qui évoluent vers une alternative à la déforestation et à  l’avancement du front pionner. Les SAF’s permettent d’envisager une nouvelle durabilité des espaces amazoniens, qui doit être mieux explorée. L’implication des pouvoirs publics globaux et locaux est un facteur déterminant à la consolidation du développement de ces systèmesIn the context of cooperation between the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and the University of Haute Bretagne (France), social, economic and environmental aspects of sustainability are studied in Brazilian Amazon. This analysis focuses on the development process of agroforestry system (SAF’s) in two municipalities in northern Mato Grosso. Despite a limited database, bio-geographical investigations show a relation between society and nature that are moving towards an alternative to deforestation and growth of pioneer front. SAF’s allow to believe in a new sustainable Amazonian areas, which should be better explored. The involvement of global and local governments is a key factor in consolidating the development of these system