Manejo de resíduo vegetal de plantas de cobertura de inverno sobre plantas invasoras e soja, sob condições controladas, em casa de vegetação

In order to meet the great need to increase agricultural yield associated with the research of healthy products, which do not cause problems for the environment, this study aims to investigate the influence of mass quantity on black oats, radish and hairy deer in the emergence and development of B. pilosa, S. rhombifolia and G. max. It was carried out in the greenhouse with 10, 20, 30, 40 or 50 g of the studied weights. The weed and soybean seeds were sown and evaluated for 10 days to record their emergence. For the initial development of plants, five seedlings were transplanted, which evaluation occurred after 30 days. In general, increasing the amount of weight also increased the percentage inhibition of the weeds studied, but did not negatively influence the soybean. ESI (Emergence Speed Index) and ES (emergence speed) were negatively affected by the increase in weight, with the exception of soy ES. Weed mass was negatively influenced by cover crops, but did not cause problems for soybeans. Thus, the greatest amount of mass in relation to the winter cover crops studied was lower, being the infestation of these weeds without significant problems for the soybean. Finally, species may be recommended for further field studies as cover crops in large areas in the no-tillage system.Visando suprir a crescente necessidade de incremento na produção agrícola, associada á busca por produtos saudáveis e que não agridam ao ambiente, este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a influência da quantidade de massa de aveia preta, nabo forrageiro e ervilhaca peluda sobre emergência, índice de velocidade de emergência (IVE), velocidade de emergência (VE), massa fresca e seca de parte aérea e raiz de picão preto, guanxuma e soja. O experimento foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação, em vasos contendo aproximadamente 1 kg de solo, sobre os quais foram depositadas 10, 20, 30, 40 ou 50 g (equivalentes a 17; 33; 50; 66 e 83 kg ha-1) das massas estudadas. Para avaliação da emergência, as sementes das espécies invasoras e soja foram semeadas e avaliadas durante 10 dias, com contagem diária. Para desenvolvimento inicial de planta, foram transplantadas cinco plântulas para cada vaso, com avaliação após 30 dias. De modo geral, o aumento na quantidade de massa aumentou a porcentagem de inibição de guanxuma e picão preto, mas não influenciou negativamente a soja. O IVE e VE das espécies foram afetados negativamente com o aumento da quantidade das massas, exceto para VE de soja. As massas das invasoras foi influenciada negativamente pelas plantas de cobertura, sem entretanto, prejudicar a soja. Assim, quanto maior a quantidade de massa das espécies de cobertura de inverno utilizadas, menor será a infestação dessas invasoras, sem prejuízos significativos á soja. Por fim, as espécies podem ser recomendadas para maiores estudos em campo como culturas de cobertura em grandes áreas no sistema de plantio direto.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Synthesis of Peptaibolin, an antimicrobial peptide

To tackle one of the biggest global health problems, the resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics, a collective effort in the search for more effective agents against bacteria was required. Peptides with antimicrobial activity have been raising much attention as a promising alternative for antibiotics. Peptaibols, for instance, are a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with great biomedical potential, in which the Peptaibolin can be highlighted. This peptide has gained relevance due to its small amino acids content, only four, and its acetyl group and a phenylalaninol residue (Phol) at the N-terminal and C-terminal, respectively. Here, we report the synthesis of Peptaibolin through Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis assisted by Microwave heating (MW-SPPS) in a pre-loaded Phe-Wang resin. Starting from a loading of 0.51 mmol/g, two syntheses were made, using two different combinations of coupling reagents. The best option was DIC/Oxima, achieving a yield of 50.0%. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H-NMR) studies confirmed the peptide structure, while High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) verified the peptide purity. The peptide solubility was examined against several combinations of solvents. Peptaibolin was not soluble in water, only in organic solvents or in the combination of both. Antimicrobial testing was conducted using Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Minimum inhibitory concentration studies demonstrated the resistance of bacteria to the peptide action and the peptide instability in bacterial growth conditionsFundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia-FCT (Portugal) for funding through CQUM (UID/QUI/00686/2020) and project PTDC/QUI-COL/28052/2017. The NMR spectrometer Bruker Avance III 400 is part of the National NMR Network and was purchased within the framework of the National Program for Scientific Re-equipment, contract REDE/1517/RMN/2005 with funds from POCI 2010 (FEDER) and FCT. Authors also acknowledge FCT for funding the project PEPTEX with reference PTDC/CTM-TEX/28074/2017 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-028074). They acknowledge project UID/CTM/00264/2021 of Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), funded by national funds through FCT/MCTE

Deri yara kaplamalarindaki uygulamalar için elektrik alan lif çekim ile üretilmiş Tiger 17 peptit yüklü polikaprolakton/selüloz asetat nano lifli matlar

A skin wound if not properly treated can result in a chronic wound susceptible to widespread infections, which can result in the patient's death. Currently, tissue engineering is described as an interdisciplinary field that combines principles of engineering, chemistry and biology to generate solutions that allow to repair, restore and/or improve the functions of injured tissues. In the same sense, the textile area addresses solutions based on polymeric fibers, produced from a wide range of polymers, which allow the generation of structures with a large surface area, porosity and mechanical resistance that can be used as bioactive dressings that promote a healing and efficient antimicrobial activity. This research work focused on the synthesis of Tiger 17, through microwave-assisted solid-phase synthesis methodologies, and Tiger 17 commercially obtained, respective structural characterization and evaluation of the antimicrobial capacity. Simultaneously, nanofibrous polymer matrices were produced using the electrospinning technique with the aim of immobilizing the developed biomolecule and thus creating potential vehicles for a local and sustainable antimicrobial action (controlled release). In order to verify its physical and chemical properties, advanced characterization techniques were used: proton nuclear magnetic resonance, high performance liquid chromatography, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle and surface energy and determination of porosity and hydration.Düzgün tedavi edilmeyen bir cilt yarası, hastanın ölümüyle sonuçlanabilecek yaygın enfeksiyonlara duyarlı kronik bir yaraya neden olabilir. Günümüzde doku mühendisliği, hasarlı dokuların işlevlerini onarmaya, eski haline getirmeye ve/veya iyileştirmeye olanak tanıyan çözümler üretmek için mühendislik, kimya ve biyolojinin ilkelerini birleştiren disiplinler arası bir alan olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu kapsamda, tekstil, iyileşmeyi ve etkili antimikrobiyal aktiviteyi teşvik eden biyoaktif pansuman olarak kullanılabilecek, geniş yüzey alanlı, gözenekli ve mekanik dirençli yapıların oluşturulmasına izin veren, geniş bir polimer yelpazesinden üretilen liflere dayalı çözümler sunmaktadır. Bu araştırma çalışması, mikrodalga destekli katı faz sentez metodolojileri aracılığıyla Tiger 17'nin sentezine ve ticari olarak temin edilen Tiger 17 ile birlikte yapısal karakterizasyonunun ve antimikrobiyal kapasitenin değerlendirilmesine odaklanmıştır. Aynı zamanda, geliştirilen biyomolekülü hareketsiz hale getirmek ve böylece lokal ve sürdürülebilir bir antimikrobiyal etki (kontrollü salım) için potansiyel çözümler yaratmak amacıyla elektrik alan lif üretim tekniği kullanılarak nanolifli polimer matrisler üretildi. Yapının fiziksel ve kimyasal özelliklerini doğrulamak için, proton nükleer manyetik rezonans, yüksek performanslı sıvı kromatografisi, optik mikroskopi, taramalı elektron mikroskobu, fourier dönüşümü kızılötesi spektroskopisi-zayıflatılmış toplam yansıma, termogravimetri, diferansiyel taramalı kalorimetri, temas açısı, yüzey enerjisi, gözeneklilik ve su tutma ölçümleri gibi ileri karakterizasyon teknikleri kullanıldı

Aqueous biphasic systems composed of ionic liquids: one-step extraction/concentration techniques for water pollution tracers

Emergent micropollutants have become a serious global problem with a large impact in the environment and human health, while their presence in aquatic systems has been registered as ranging from ng/L-1 to ug/L-1. Pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous micropollutants since their continuous consumption and consequent release via human excretions into aqueous systems are inevitable. Due to their usually low concentrations in aqueous samples, the development of a pre-concentration technique in order to continuously quantify and to monitor these components in aqueous streams is of major relevance. Aqueous biphasic systems (ABS) composed of ionic liquids (ILs) can be seen as more sustainable separation processes since they avoid the use of volatile and hazardous organic solvents (VOCs). As liquid-liquid systems, ABS can be used as extraction, purification and concentration platforms. Due to the outstanding tunable properties of ILs, IL-based ABS provide higher and more selective extraction efficiencies for a wide range of compounds when compared to traditional polymer-based ABS. IL-based ABS were already employed and adequately characterized for the extraction and concentration of endocrine disruptors, either from biological fluids or aqueous matrices. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the applicability of IL-based ABS to completely extract and concentrate, in one-step, two different and representative pharmaceutical pollution tracers, namely caffeine (CAF) and carbamazepine (CBZ). The low concentration of these persistent pollutants (usually found in ug/L-1 and ng/L-1 levels) does not allow a proper detection and quantification by conventional analytical equipment without a previous concentration step. However, pre-concentration methods commonly applied are costly, time-consuming, provide irregular recoveries and/or use VOCs. In this work, ABS composed of the IL tetrabutylammonium chloride ([N4444]Cl) and the salt K3C6H5O7 was investigated, demonstrating to be able to completely extract and concentrate CAF and CBZ in a single-step. Moreover, with this pre-treatment step it was demonstrated to be possible to overcome the detection limits of a high performance liquid chromatography coupled to an UV-Vis detector equipment. The results obtained demonstrate that IL-based ABS are versatile pre-concentration techniques, and can be used for the extraction and concentration of a large plethora of other micropollutants from environmental aqueous matrices.publishe

Case Report: Pheochromocytoma and Synchronous Neuroblastoma in a Family With Hereditary Pheochromocytoma Associated With a MAX Deleterious Variant

Introduction: Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine-producing neuroendocrine tumours arising from chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal sympathetic paraganglia. Recent studies have indicated that up to 40% of pheochromocytomas could be attributable to an inherited germline variant in an increasing list of susceptibility genes. Germline variants of the MYC-associated factor (MAX) gene have been associated with familial pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas with an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, a median age at onset of 33 years and an overall frequency estimated at 1.9%. We describe a deleterious MAX variant associated with hereditary pheochromocytoma in a family with four affected individuals. Case presentation: The first patient presented with bilateral pheochromocytoma in 1995; genetic testing was proposed to his oldest son, when he was diagnosed with a bilateral pheochromocytoma with a synchronous neuroblastoma. Upon the identification of the MAX variant c.97C>T, p.(Arg33Ter), in the latter individual, his two siblings and their father were tested and the same variant was identified in all of them. Both siblings were subsequently diagnosed with pheochromocytoma (one of them bilateral) and choose to remain on active surveillance before they were submitted to adrenalectomy. All the tumours secreted predominantly norepinephrine, accordingly to the typical biochemical phenotype ascribed to variants in the MAX gene. Conclusion: This case series is, to our knowledge, the one with the largest number of individuals with hereditary pheochromocytoma with a deleterious MAX variant in the same family. It is also the first case with a synchronous pheochromocytoma and neuroblastoma in carriers of a MAX deleterious variant. This report draws attention to some ill-defined features of pheochromocytoma and other malignancies associated with a MAX variant and highlights the importance of understanding the genotype-phenotype correlation in hereditary pheochromocytoma and the impact of oriented genetic testing to detect, survey and treat patients and kindreds at risk.N/

Atividades da criança: educação x liberdade x restrições

Este estudo teve por objetivo descrever e analisar o grau de liberdade de ação e escolha permitido pela mãe nas atividades diárias e brincadeiras da criança. Os dados foram obtidos através da análise das respostas de 110 mães a 15 questões do Roteiro Reestruturado de Biasoli-Alves e Graminha (1979), que investigam as condições oferecidas à criança em termos de movimentação e espaço físico, determinação de atividades e horários, uso da casa, da TV, brincadeiras e brinquedo. Os resultados indicam que as mães procuram dar liberdade a seus filhos, mas também lhes colocam restrições, num padrão próximo ao sugerido pela literatura psicológica, o que não deixa de implicar numa tutela coastante sobre a criança.This study has meant to describe the level of freedom of action and of choice the mothers allow their children to have on their daily activities. Data was obtained by the analysis of the answers 110 mothers gave to 15 questions from the Biasoli-Alves & Graminha Reestructured Guide (1979), which investigate the conditions offered to the child in terms of physical space, delimitation of activities, use of home, TV set, play and toys. The results show that the mothers try to give freedom to their children in a similar pattern to the one the psychological literature suggests, as well as they set up restrictions, in a pattern of constant watchful care over the child

Anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity using human HepG2 cells and hepatotoxicity of 6-substituted methyl 3-aminothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate derivatives: in vitro evaluation, cell cycle analysis and QSAR studies

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly complex cancer, resistant to commonly used treatments and new therapeutic agents are urgently needed. A total of thirty-two thieno[3,2-b]pyridine derivatives of two series: methyl 3-amino-6-(hetero)arylthieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylates (1a-1t) and methyl 3-amino-6-[(hetero)arylethynyl]thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylates (2a-2n), previously prepared by some of us, were evaluated as new potential anti-HCC agents by studying their in vitro cell growth inhibition on human HepG2 cells and hepatotoxicity using a porcine liver primary cell culture (PLP1). The presence of amino groups linked to a benzene moiety emerges as the key element for the anti-HCC activity. The methyl 3-amino-6-[(3-aminophenyl)ethynyl]thieno[3,2-b]pyridine-2-carboxylate (2f) is the most potent compound presenting GI50 values on HepG2 cells of 1.2 μM compared to 2.9 μM of the positive control ellipticine, with no observed hepatotoxicity (PLP1 GI50>125 μM against 3.3 μM of ellipticine). Moreover this compound changes the cell cycle profile of the HepG2 cells, causing a decrease in the % of cells in the S phase and a cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. QSAR studies were also performed and the correlations obtained using molecular and 1D descriptors revealed the importance of the presence of amino groups and hydrogen bond donors for anti-HCC activity, and hydrogen bond acceptors for hepatotoxicity. The best correlations were obtained with 3D descriptors belonging to different subcategories for anti-HCC activity and hepatotoxicity, respectively. These results point to different molecular mechanisms of action of the compounds in anti-HCC activity and hepatotoxicity. This work presents some promising thieno[3,2-b]pyridine derivatives for potential use in the therapy of HCC. These compounds can also be used as scaffolds for further synthesis of more potent analogues.FCT, FEDER/COMPETE/QREN/E

No-match ORESTES explored as tumor markers

Sequencing technologies and new bioinformatics tools have led to the complete sequencing of various genomes. However, information regarding the human transcriptome and its annotation is yet to be completed. The Human Cancer Genome Project, using ORESTES (open reading frame EST sequences) methodology, contributed to this objective by generating data from about 1.2 million expressed sequence tags. Approximately 30% of these sequences did not align to ESTs in the public databases and were considered no-match ORESTES. On the basis that a set of these ESTs could represent new transcripts, we constructed a cDNA microarray. This platform was used to hybridize against 12 different normal or tumor tissues. We identified 3421 transcribed regions not associated with annotated transcripts, representing 83.3% of the platform. The total number of differentially expressed sequences was 1007. Also, 28% of analyzed sequences could represent noncoding RNAs. Our data reinforces the knowledge of the human genome being pervasively transcribed, and point out molecular marker candidates for different cancers. To reinforce our data, we confirmed, by real-time PCR, the differential expression of three out of eight potentially tumor markers in prostate tissues. Lists of 1007 differentially expressed sequences, and the 291 potentially noncoding tumor markers were provided

No-match ORESTES explored as tumor markers

Sequencing technologies and new bioinformatics tools have led to the complete sequencing of various genomes. However, information regarding the human transcriptome and its annotation is yet to be completed. The Human Cancer Genome Project, using ORESTES (open reading frame EST sequences) methodology, contributed to this objective by generating data from about 1.2 million expressed sequence tags. Approximately 30% of these sequences did not align to ESTs in the public databases and were considered no-match ORESTES. On the basis that a set of these ESTs could represent new transcripts, we constructed a cDNA microarray. This platform was used to hybridize against 12 different normal or tumor tissues. We identified 3421 transcribed regions not associated with annotated transcripts, representing 83.3% of the platform. The total number of differentially expressed sequences was 1007. Also, 28% of analyzed sequences could represent noncoding RNAs. Our data reinforces the knowledge of the human genome being pervasively transcribed, and point out molecular marker candidates for different cancers. To reinforce our data, we confirmed, by real-time PCR, the differential expression of three out of eight potentially tumor markers in prostate tissues. Lists of 1007 differentially expressed sequences, and the 291 potentially noncoding tumor markers were provided