Structural and optical studies of FeSb2 under high pressure

Nanostructured orthorhombic FeSb2 and an amorphous phase were formed by mechanical alloying starting from a mixture of high purity elemental Fe and Sb powders. The effects of high pressures on structural and optical properties were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy (RS). XRD patterns showed the presence of the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase up to the maximum pressure applied (28.2 GPa). The XRD patterns showed also an increase in the amount of the amorphous phase with increasing pressure up to 23.3 GPa. At 14.3 GPa, together with the former phases, a new phase was observed and indexed to a tetragonal FeSb2 phase, but its volume fraction is small at least up to 23.3 GPa. For the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase, the pressure dependence of the volume fitted to a Birch-Murnaghan equation of state gave a bulk modulus = 74.2 +- 3.0 GPa and its pressure derivative = 7.5 +- 0.6. RS measurements were performed from atmospheric pressure up to 45.2 GPa. For the orthorhombic FeSb2 phase, the Raman active mode was observed up to the maximum pressure applied, while the mode disappeared at 16.6 GPa. For pressures higher than 21 GPa, the Raman active mode of a tetragonal FeSb2 phase was observed, confirming ab initio calculations reported in the literature.Comment: 31 pages, 11 figures and 2 tables. Already submitted for publicatio

Yield And Nutritive Value Of The Silage Of Corn Intercropped With Tropical Perennial Grasses

The objective of this work was to compare the yield and nutritive value of the silage of corn intercropped with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha 'Marandu') or guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus 'Tanzânia') with those of the silage of monocropped corn, as well as to evaluate the pasture established in the intercropping systems during two growing seasons (2010-2011 and 2011-2012), in low-altitude Brazilian Cerrado. The treatments consisted of three cropping systems: monocropped corn, corn intercropped with palisade grass, and corn intercropped with guinea grass, with four replicates. Intercropping decreased corn forage dry matter yield for silage; however, due to the addition of grass, total dry matter yield (corn + grass) was similar between treatments. Intercropping also did not negatively affect corn production components and morphological characteristics. The cropping systems provided silages with good nutritive values, and the inclusion of tropical forages increased the silage fiber contents. Intercropping corn with tropical perennial grasses is a viable option for producing large quantities of silage with good nutritive value. The forage yield (silage + pasture) of these intercropping systems is similar to that of monocropped corn in tropical regions and has the advantage of providing a pasture in the off-season.521637

Quality Of Soy Bean Seeds Under Tillage With Differe Nt Amounts Of Waste Of Black Oats, Common Vetch And For Age Turnip

Adjusting the cover crop to the agricultural system is essential to reach success during a crop introduction, since this management can influence development, productivity and produced seeds quality. For the soybean cultivar CD 202, traditional, half, and double amounts of crop waste produced by black oats, and a consortium of black oat, common vetch and forage turnip, were evaluated. Tests comprised emergence (emergency speed index (ESI) and emergence rate (ER)), development, field productivity and quality of seeds (germination percentage, accelerated aging, purity, 100-seed weight, and water content). The experimental design was of split plots and the mean values were compared through the Scott-Knott test at a 5% significance level, totaling seven treatments with five replications each. No differences were found in germination percentage, water content, and final height of plants. Some treatments differed in germination and waste use increased ESI; ER was superior for black oats and the best productivity was found under double amount of straw, on both cover crops. The seed strength decreased the under consortium, as shown by accelerated aging under the consortium. The purity of seeds was lower for black oats, decreasing with the least amount of crop waste. The 100-seed weight was lower with the double amount in oats; however, under the consortium the use of cover crop increased their weight. Thus, these species can be a good alternatives for soybean rotation on winter.384292297Bortolini, M.F., Fortes, M.T., Efeitos alelopáticos sobre a germinação de sementes de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) (2005) Semina: Ciênc. Agr., 26, pp. 5-10(2009) Indicadores da Agropecuária. Ano XVIII, No 1. Compan Hia Nacional de Abastecimento, 64p. , CONAB, Brasília, Brazil(2009) Soja CD 202. Cooperativa Central de Pesquisa Agrícola, , www.coodetec.com.br/php/detalhes_cultivar.php?id=20, CIDADE?, Brazil, (Cons. 02/25/2009)Correia, N.M., Centurion, M.A.P.C., Alves, P.L.C.A., Inf luência de extratos aquosos de sorgo sobre a germinação e o desenvolvimento de plântulas de soja (2005) Ciênc. Rural, 35, pp. 498-503Edmond, J.B., Drapalla, W.J., The effects of temperature, sana and soil, and acetone on ger mination oj ok ra seed (1958) Proc. Am. Soc. Hort. Sci., 71, pp. 428-443(2000) A Cultura da Soja No Brasil, , EMBRAPA SOJA, Londrina, Brazil. CD-ROM(2005) Tecnologia da Produção da Soja. Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária, 208p. , EMBRAPA SOJA, Londrina, Brazil(2008) Tecnologia de Produção de Soja. Região Central Do Brasil, 280p. , EMBRAPA SOJA, Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária. Embrapa Cerrados: Embrapa Agropecuária Oeste. Londrina, BrazilFerreira, D.F., (1999) Sisvar: Sistema de Análise de Variância Para Dados Balanceados, , DEX / UFLA: Lavras, Brazil(2009) Prognóstico da Produção Agrícola Nacional, , www.ibge.gov.br/home/estatistica/indicadores/agropecuaria/lspa/ lspa_200812-11.shtm, Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, (Cons. 01/16/2009)Kubo, C.T., Produtividade de soja em plantio direto em sucessão ao trigo, aveia branca, aveia preta com e sem adubação nit rogenada (2007) Acta Sci. Agron., 29, pp. 235-240Lopes, R.A.P., Pin Heiro Neto, R., Braccini, A.L., Souza, E.G., Efeito de diferentes coberturas vegetais e sistemas de preparo do solo na produção da cultura da soja (2007) Acta Sci. Agron., 29, pp. 507-515Maguire, J.D., Seeds of germination- aid selection and evaluation seedling emergence and vigor (1962) Crop Sci., 2, pp. 176-177Marcos Filho, J., Teste de envelhecimento acelerado. Cap. 3. (1999) Seed Vigor: Concepts and Tests, pp. 1-24. , Krzyzanowski EFC, Vieira RD, Neto JBF (Eds.), Associação Brasileira de Tecnologia de Sementes. Londrina, Brazil. 218 ppMarcos Filho, J., Cicero, S.M., Silva, W.R., (1987) Avaliação da Qualidade de Sementes, 230p. , FEALQ. Piracicaba, BrazilMartins, G.I., (2006) Potencial Alelopático de Plantas de Cobertura Na Germinação de Sementes e Crescimento de Plântulas de Soja. Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, 42p. , Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná. Brazil(2009) Regras Para Análise de Sementes. 388 Mapa/ACS, 399p. , MAPA, Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Brasília, BrazilNedel, J.L., Fundamentos da qualidade de sementes (2003) Sementes: Fundamentos Científicos e Tecnológicos, pp. 95-138. , Peske ST, Rosenthal MD, Rota GR (Eds.), Universidade Federal de Pelotas. BrazilNóbrega, L.H.P., Germinação de sementes e crescimento de plântulas de soja (Glycine max L. Merrill) sob cobertura vegetal (2009) Acta Sci. Agron., 31, pp. 461-465Nunes, U.R., Qualidade fisiológica de sementes de feijão em plantio direto sobre diferentes coberturas de plantas em Diamantina MG (2007) Ciênc. Agrotécn., 31, pp. 1737-1743Piccolo, G., (2008) Manejo de Coberturas Vegetais Na Cultura da Soja, 63p. , Thesis. Universidade Estadual do Oeste do Paraná, Unioeste. BrazilRice, E.L., (1974) Allelopathy, 333p. , Academic Press. New York, USA(2008) Área e Produção: Principais Culturas Do Paraná, , www.seab.pr.gov.br/, SEAB, Secretaria da Agricultura e do Abastecimento do Paraná. (Cons. 12/22/2008)Souza, C.M., Pires, F.R., (2002) Adubação Verde e Rotação de Culturas, 72p. , Universidade Federal de Viçosa. BrasilSouza Filho, A.P., Alves, S.M., Mecanismos de ação dos agentes alelopáticos (2002) Alelopatia. Princípios Básicos e Aspectos Gerais. Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, pp. 132-154. , Souza Filho AP, Alves SM (Eds.), Belém, BrasilTokura, L.K., Nóbrega, L.H.P., Alelopatia de cultivos de cobertura vegetal sobre plantas infestantes (2006) Acta Sci. Agron., 28, pp. 379-38

Meat quality of lambs fed different saltbush hay (Atriplex nummularia) levels

Climate changes have increased soil and water salinity, compromising animal produc- tion especially in dry areas where scientists have become more interested in halophyte plants, like saltbush. The effects of saltbush hay levels (30, 40, 50 and 60%) were evaluated based on physical-chemical, nutritional and sensory parameters of Santa Ine^s lamb meat. Thirty-two 8-month-old castrated Santa Ine^s lambs, with initial weights of 22±1.97 kg were used; they were slaughtered after 60 days in the feedlot. The pH, colour, moisture, protein and cholesterol contents did not differ among treatments. Panelists observed a greater inten- sity of lamb smell and flavour (P=0.0035) in the meat of animals that received more con- centrate in the diet. An increase in the inclu- sion of saltbush increased ash percentage (P=0.0232), total saturated (P=0.0035) and polyunsaturated (P=0.0287) fatty acids and reduced the lipids (P=0.0055) and the n-6:n-3 ratio (P=0.0058) of the meat. Therefore, salt- bush hay can be used as a feeding resource in regions with problems of water and soil salini- ty because it does not impair the physical- chemical, nutritional and sensory quality of sheep meat

The production of knowledge through religious and social media infrastructure : world making practices among Brazilian Pentecostals

Following Robertson’s discussions on epistemic capital, the article analyses worldmaking procedures being used by members of one of the biggest neo-Pentecostal churches in Brazil – Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus. According to the popular narrative, social media, especially WhatsApp groups, contributed in a crucial way to the spread of sets of conspiracy theories aimed to question “established narratives” and creating an image of Jair Bolsonaro, currently the president of Brazil, as the sole hero (“the messiah” and “the myth”) fighting against the “corrupted” Brazilian state and the “globalist/communist cabal.” The article discusses interactions between members of so-called families created by the Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus. These families could have between a few or around one hundred members, and they are in regular communication (at least a few times per day) through WhatsApp. Most members of one family do not live in walking proximity; therefore, using WhatsApp is often the primary way they interact. The article puts families into a broader context of the media ecosystem owned or influenced by Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus and contextualizes the church as a religious “infrastructure of knowing.” The article discusses sources of legitimization of particular knowledge produced and mediated between families. The article argues that communication in families contributes to the creation of unique epistemic tools crucial in re-creating individual worldviews of members Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus

Sphingosine 1-phosphate promotes activation of aprine preantral follicle in vitro

Este estudo descreve o efeito da esfingosina 1-fosfato (S1P) no desenvolvimento de folículos pré-antrais, portanto da ativação e viabilidade de folículos caprinos cultivados in vitro. Fragmentos de ovários foram cultivados por um ou sete dias em meio essencial mínimo com diferentes concentrações de S1P (0, 1, 10, 50, 100 ou 200ng/mL). Os fragmentos de ovário foram processados para análise histológica em microscopia óptica, microscopia eletrônica e microscopia de fluorescência. O tratamento usando 1ng/mL de S1P foi capaz de manter a porcentagem de folículos normais durante o período de cultivo de sete dias. Ao final do período de cultivo, houve uma redução significativa (p<0,05) na porcentagem de folículos primordiais em todos os grupos tratados com S1P, comparados com os grupos controle (FC e CC), seguida por um aumento do número de folículos ativados (intermediários, primários e secundários). Adicionalmente, na cultura por sete dias com meio suplementado com S1P (1ng/mL), houve preservação da ultraestrutura das organelas e manteve-se a viabilidade dos folículos pré-antrais avaliados por microscopia de fluorescência. Em conclusão, após sete dias de cultura, o meio suplementado com 1ng/mL de S1P ativa o desenvolvimento de folículos pré-antrais de caprino, cultivados in situ e mantém as viabilidades oocitária e folicular.This study describes the effect of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) for development of preantral follicle, therefore the activation and follicular viability of caprine follicles cultured in vitro. Ovarian fragments were cultured for 1 or 7 days in Minimum Essential Medium with different S1P concentrations (0, 1, 10, 50, 100 or 200ng/mL). All ovarian fragments were processed for histological analysis in optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and fluorescence analysis. The treatment using 1ng/mL of S1P was able to maintain the percentage of normal follicles with the progression of the culture from day 1 to 7. At end of the 7-day culture period there was a significant reduction (P<0.05) in the percentage of primordial follicles in all groups treated with S1P, compared with fresh control (FC) and Control Culture (CC), which was followed by an increase of activated follicles (intermediary, primary and secondary). In addition, the culture for 7 days with media supplemented with S1P with 1ng/mL preserved the ultrastructure of organelles and kept the preantral follicular viability when evaluated by fluorescence microscopy. In conclusion, after 7 days of culture, the 1ng/mL of S1P activates the development of preantral caprine follicles, cultured in situ and maintains the oocitary and follicular viability

Chemical composition and toxicity of essential oils of Piper spp. against larvae of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti L. é um dos vetores do dengue. No Brasil, tem ganhado muita atenção no setor da saúde pública, uma vez que esta doença tem se tornando mais agressiva na forma hemorrágica na popula- ção. Esse estudo teve como objetivo investigar o efeito de óleos essenciais de Piper aduncum, Piper marginatum e Piper nigrum contra larvas de Aedes aegypti. Em um esforço para encontrar uma maneira natural, eficaz e acessível para controlar esta doença endêmica, as atividades dos óleos essenciais, a partir das plantas, foram analisadas por comparação através da medida da CL50 . Os óleos essenciais obtidos por hidrodestilação foram analisados por CG/EM. Os principais componentes identificados foram: β-pineno (32,7%) e E-cariofileno (17,1%) em P. aduncum; isoelemecina (21,7%) e apiol (20,1%) em P. marginatum e E-cariofileno (24,2%) e Óxido-cariofileno (20,1%) em P. nigrum. Os resultados mostram que Piper marginatum apresentou CL50 de 8,29 μg/mL e este trabalho é o primeiro relato de atividade larvicida de P. aduncum. Estes resultados sugerem que os óleos essenciais de espécies do gênero Piper são promissores como larvicidas contra larvas de A. aegypti.Aedes aegypti L. is one of the vectors of dengue fever. In Brazil it has gain much attention in the Public Health sector since this disease has becoming more aggressive in the hemorrhagic form in the population. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Piper aduncum, Piper marginatum and Piper nigrum essential oils against Aedes aegypti larvae. In an effort to find a natural effective and affordable way to control this endemic disease, the larvicidal activities of essential oils from the plants were analyzed for activity comparison by measurement of their LC50 . The essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC/MS. The main components identified were: β-pinene (32.7%) and E-caryophyllene (17.1%) in P. aduncum; isoelemecin (21.7%) and apiole (20.1%) in P. marginatum and E-caryophyllene (24.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (20.1%) in P. nigrum. The results show that Piper marginatum presented the LC50 of 8.29 μg/mL and these are the first report about the larvicidal activity of P. aduncum. These results suggest that the essential oil of Piper species are promising as larvicide against A. aegypti larvae.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Temporal relationships between maternal metabolic parameters with neonatal adiposity in women with obesity differ by neonatal sex : Secondary analysis of the DALI study

To investigate the importance of time in pregnancy and neonatal sex on the association between maternal metabolic parameters and neonatal sum of skinfolds. This was a longitudinal, secondary analysis of the vitamin D and lifestyle intervention for gestational diabetes mellitus study, conducted in nine European countries during 2012 to 2015. Pregnant women with a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) of ≥29 kg/m were invited to participate. We measured 14 maternal metabolic parameters at three times during pregnancy: <20 weeks, 24 to 28 weeks, and 35 to 37 weeks of gestation. The sum of four skinfolds assessed within 2 days after birth was the measure of neonatal adiposity. In total, 458 mother-infant pairs (50.2% female infants) were included. Insulin resistance (fasting insulin and HOMA-index of insulin resistance) in early pregnancy was an important predictor for boys' sum of skinfolds, in addition to fasting glucose and maternal adiposity (leptin, BMI and neck circumference) throughout pregnancy. In girls, maternal lipids (triglycerides and fatty acids) in the first half of pregnancy were important predictors of sum of skinfolds, as well as fasting glucose in the second half of pregnancy. Associations between maternal metabolic parameters and neonatal adiposity vary between different periods during pregnancy. This time-dependency is different between sexes, suggesting different growth strategies