Anharmonic transitions in nearly dry L-cysteine I

Two special dynamical transitions of universal character have been recently observed in macromolecules at $T_{D}\sim 180 - 220$ K and $T^{*}\sim 100$ K. Despite their relevance, a complete understanding of the nature of these transitions and their consequences for the bio-activity of the macromolecule is still lacking. Our results and analysis concerning the temperature dependence of structural, vibrational and thermodynamical properties of the orthorhombic polymorph of the amino acid L-cysteine (at a hydration level of 3.5%) indicated that the two referred temperatures define the triggering of very simple and specific events that govern all the biochemical interactions of the biomolecule: activation of rigid rotors ($T<T^{*}$), phonon-phonon interactions with phonons of water dimer ($T^{*}<T<T_{D}$), and water rotational barriers surpassing ($T>T_{D}$).Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Physical Review Letter

Compensation temperatures and exchange bias in La1.5Ca0.5CoIrO6

We report on the study of magnetic properties of the La1.5Ca0.5CoIrO6 double perovskite. Via ac magnetic susceptibility we have observed evidence of weak ferromagnetism and reentrant spin glass behavior on an antiferromagnetic matrix. Regarding the magnetic behavior as a function of temperature, we have found that the material displays up to three inversions of its magnetization, depending on the appropriate choice of the applied magnetic field. At low temperature the material exhibit exchange bias effect when it is cooled in the presence of a magnetic field. Also, our results indicate that this effect may be observed even when the system is cooled at zero field. Supported by other measurements and also by electronic structure calculations, we discuss the magnetic reversals and spontaneous exchange bias effect in terms of magnetic phase separation and magnetic frustration of Ir4+ ions located between the antiferromagnetically coupled Co ions.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures and supplemental materia

Seletividde de agrotóxicos aos parasitoides de ovos Trichogramma pretiosum E Telenomus remus.

Os parasitoides de ovos destacam-se por atacarem a fase de ovo das pragas, controlando-as antes de causarem danos às plantas. Entretanto, a aplicação de agrotóxicos ainda é indispensável para garantir a boa produtividade das culturas. Neste contexto, em programas de manejo integrado de pragas (MIP), é recomendável utilizar diversas táticas para reduzir os danos dos insetos-praga e, portanto, a associação do controle químico e biológico é viável com a utilização de produtos seletivos aos inimigos naturais. Assim, avaliou-se a seletividade de espiromesifeno, flubendiamida, espirotetramate + imidacloprido, clorpirifós, cletodim, clorimurom-etílico, éster metílico de óleo de soja e a mistura deste último com espirotetramate + imidacloprido sobre os adultos de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) e Telenomus remus (Nixon) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) e pupas de T. pretiosum segundo as normas padronizadas da “International Organization for Biological Control” (IOBC) em laboratório. Entre os tratamentos testados (g. ia/ha), os inseticidas espiromesifeno (144), flubendiamida (12) e espirotetramate (30) + imidacloprido (90) foram seletivos as fases dos parasitoides avaliadas. O adjuvante éster metílico de óleo de soja (360) também foi seletivo, entretanto, quando misturado com o espirotetramate (30) + imidacloprido (90) apresentou uma redução no parasitismo 2 e 5 dias após o início dos ensaios com T. remus e T. pretiosum, respectivamente. Flubendiamida (33,6) também foi seletivo para adultos de T. remus e pupas de T. pretiosum, mas reduziu a taxa de parasitismo após o segundo dia do ensaio com adultos de T. pretiosum. Os herbicidas cletodim (108) e clorimurom-etílico (20) foram seletivos a adultos de T. remus mas tiveram maior impacto sobre T. pretiosum reduzindo o parasitismo desse agente de controle biológico que se mostrou mais sensível a esses produtos. O inseticida clorpirifós (480) foi nocivo a todas as fases dos parasitoides avaliadas. Em geral, ocorreram diferenças na seletividade dos agrotóxicos avaliados aos inimigos naturais, além de diferenças na sensibilidade dos mesmos em relação aos produtos e doses testados. Portanto, em programas de MIP devem ser priorizados os agrotóxicos seletivos ao maior número de agentes de controle biológico.SICONBIOL 2011

Changes in hematological and biochemical parameters of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) parasitized by metazoan species.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impacts of metazoan parasites on hematological and biochemical parameters and relative condition factor of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) farmed in northern Brazil. A total of 32 juvenile fish were captured from a commercial fish farm located in the municipality of Rio Preto da Eva, Amazonas state, Brazil. Parasite prevalence was 100% for Anacanthorus spathulatus, Mymarothecium boegeri and Notozothecium janauachensis, 100% for Neoechinorhynchus buttnerae and 53.13% for Dolops geayi. The greatest mean parasite intensity was found in acantocephalans followed by monogeneans and branchiuran crustaceans. A negative correlation was observed between abundance of N. buttnerae and hematocrit percentage, hemoglobin concentration, total thrombocyte count and glucose and between abundance of the monogenean and glucose concentration. Parasitic infections caused damage in tambaqui in terms of the observed hematological parameters that were characterized by hypochromic anemia and thrombocytopenia, which are important parameters to be used in parasitic diagnosis. This study is the first record of the occurrence of Dolops geayi in farmed tambaqui in the Amazon

Linearization of the Bradford protein assay to application in cow milk proteins quantification by UV-Vis spectrophotometry method.

Reliable methods for determination and quantification of total protein in food are essential information to ensure quality and safety of food trade. The objective of this study was to evaluate the linearity of calibration curves obtained from different proteins (blood serum albumin-BSA, α-LA, β-LG, caseins (CN): αs, β and κ-CAS) with the reagent of Bradford. Comercial UHT skimmed bovine milk was analyzed for the determination of total protein using the Bradford method by reading at 595 nm. The determination of the concentrations of total milk protein was achieved by linear regression. The Bradford method showed a high sensitivity for the determination of total proteins in bovine milk dilution 1:25 to values closer to those obtained by the Kjeldahl method. The results showed that the calibration curve of standard proteins β-CN and BSA obtained better linearity with less variation in the absorbance measurements for the determination of total protein of milk

Nitrogen-use efficiency of maize genotypes in contrasting environments.

The purpose ofthis study was to evaluate the nitrogen-use efficiency of 15 corn hybrids in different environments. The experiment was conducted at the research station Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, in environments with low (12 kg ha-l) and high (120 kg ha-J) nitrogen fertilization, in a randomized block design with three replications. The chlorophyll content, leaf nitrogen and nitrate reductase activity in the flag leaf were determined at flowering and the grain yield was evaluated at harvest. The chlorophyll content proved to be sensitive to nitrogen availability, although without discriminating genotypic differences efficiently. To use nitrate reductasefor this purposeJurther studies are needed on the reliability ofthis biochemical variable to diagnose genotypes efficient in N use precociously. The hybrid L2xL3 was considered promising for maize breeding programs aimed at gene introgression related to N-use efficiency

Características químicas e físicas de um solo cascalhento e suas implicações para o manejo sustentável desse solo.

Nesse trabalho foi coletado e analisado um solo cascalhento sob campo cerrado de Sete Lagoas - MG, visando obter subsídios para sua classificação e seu manejo. O solo foi analisado pelos métodos de rotina para fertilidade, química e física. Os resultados indicam que o solo é dominado pelas frações grosseiras, que perfazem mais de 80% da massa dos horizontes. O solo também apresenta acidez trocável elevada e baixos teores de nutrientes, exceto no horizonte superficial. Os testes de infiltração indicam condutividade hidráulica alta. O solo apresenta relativa resistência à erosão, mas de difícil manejo em caso de intervenção. Palavras-chave: granulornetria, fração grosseira, infiltração não saturad

Blastocoel collapse associated with melatonin in the culture media improves bovine embryo viability after vitrification.

Publicado em Animal Reproduction, v. 13, n. 3, p. 699, jul./set. 2016