Three years field trials to assess the effect of kaolin made particles and copper on olive-fruit fly (B.oleae Gmelin) infestations in Sicily

In most countries of Mediterranean Basin, Bactrocera oleae (Gmel), the olive fruit fly, is the key pest insect on olives. In Sicily this pest causes losses of fruits and a poor quality olive oil. Many researchers have recently carried out some field studies which were based on the use of kaolin and copper against the olive-fruit fly. In the last years these products have been effective several times in reducing olive fly infestation. Kaolin had, also, some important effect in reducing heat-stress in fruit crops and olive-trees. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of kaolin and copper treatment on olive infestations in Sicily and to evaluate chemical and sensory parameters of oils extracted. For this reason, within 2003-2005, the IX Servizio of Assessorato Regionale Agricoltura e Foreste, selected some olive groves where to carry out trials with kaolin and copper and to realize information and divulgation activities

Chondroitin Sulfate Tetrasaccharides: Synthesis, Three-Dimensional Structure and Interaction with Midkine

The biological activity of midkine, a cytokine implicated in neuro- and tumourigenesis, is regulated by its binding to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as heparin and chondroitin sulfate (CS). To better understand the molecular recognition of GAG sequences by this growth factor, the interactions between synthetic chondroitin sulfate-like tetrasaccharides and midkine were studied by using different techniques. Firstly, a synthetic approach for the preparation of CS-like oligosaccharides in the sequence GalNAc-GlcA was developed. A fluorescence polarisation competition assay was then employed to analyse the relative binding affinities of the synthetic compounds and revealed that midkine interacted with CS-like tetrasaccharides in the micromolar range. The 3D structure of these tetramers was studied in detail by a combination of NMR spectroscopy experiments and molecular dynamics simulations. Saturation transfer difference (STD) NMR spectroscopy experiments indicate that the CS tetrasaccharides bind to midkine in an extended conformation, with similar saturation effects along the entire sugar chain. These results are compatible with docking studies that suggest an interaction of the tetrasaccharide with midkine in a folded structure. Overall, this study provides valuable information on the interaction between midkine and well-defined, chemically synthesised CS oligosaccharides and these data can be useful for the design of more active compounds that modulate the biological function of this protein.Peer Reviewe

Micronucleus formation induced by biomass burning particles derived from biomass burning induce high micronucleus frequency in Tradescantia pallida assay (TRAD-MN)

Manual harvesting is usually done after to sugar cane burning which is responsible for seasonal emission of air pollutants in Brazil and it is believed to be responsible for deleterious health effects in exposed populations. The mutagenic potential of sugar cane burning harvesting particulate and particle surrogates of residual oil fly ash (ROFA) were evaluated in assays measuring micronuclei (MN) in the pollen mother cells of Tradescantia pallida (TRAD-MN). Micronuclei frequencies in TRAD-MN to sugar cane burning residues (SCBR) at doses 0.3 and 0.03 mg/mL were respectively 2.18 ± 0.35 and 5.53 ± 1.04, whereas to ROFA from incinerator and ROFA from an electrostatic precipitator installed in one of the chimneys of a steel plant, MN frequencies were, respectively, 3.43 ± 0.7 and 4.90 ± 1.07. Significant differences were detected among the groups (p < 0.001), demonstrating that SCBR was at least as genotoxic as the fossil fuel derived particles. The results suggest that the burning process to harvest sugar cane should be better controlled. Keywords: pollution, burning particles, micronuclei, Tradescantia pallida . Partículas derivadas da queima de biomassa induzem alta frequência de micronúcleos no ensaio de Tradescantia pallida (TRAD-MN) Resumo A coleta de cana-de-açúcar manual é geralmente realizada após a queima, a qual é responsável pela emissão sazonal de poluentes atmosféricos no Brasil e acredita-se que este seja responsável pelos efeitos deletérios a saúde da população exposta. O potencial mutagênico da queima de cana-de-açúcar e partículas oriundas de resíduos em cinza de óleo queimado (ROFA) foi avaliado em ensaio que mede a freqüência de micronúcleos (MN) em células mãe de grão de pólen de Tradescantia pallida (TRAD-MN). A freqüência de TRAD-MN em resíduos de queima de cana de açúcar (SCBR) nas doses de 0.3 e 0,03mg/mL foi, respectivamente de 2,18 ± 0,35 e 5,53 ± 1,04, enquanto para ROFA de incinerador e ROFA de um precipitador eletrostático instalado em uma chaminé de uma indústria siderúrgica, a freqüência de MN foi, respectivamente, 3,43 ± 0,7 e 4,90 ± 1,07. Diferença significante foi observada entre os grupos (p<0,001), demonstrando que SCBR foi ao menos tão genotóxico quanto às partículas derivadas de combustíveis fósseis. Os resultados sugerem que o processo de queima de cana-de-açúcar no período da safra deveria ser mais bem controlado. Palavras-Chave: poluição, partículas de queimadas, micronúcleos, Tradescantia pallida

Acerca de uma leitura geopolítica das relações entre Portugal e o Atlântico

O artigo pretende traçar uma breve perspectiva geopolítica da relação entre Portugal e o oceano Atlântico. Essa relação, embora sempre presente e importante, variou ao longo da nossa histó- ria. O autor, depois de tentar sumariamente caracterizar essas variações, analisa simplificadamente aquela relação no actual contexto do sistema global das relações internacionais. Dessa análise retira argumentos para afirmar que na ligação com o Atlântico poderão de novo ser encontradas as soluções mais adequadas para os nossos actuais problemas do desenvolvimento e da afirmação internacional, através da possível e desejável futura assumpção por Portugal de um papel de entreposto de importantes fluxos nas relações transatlânticas, em que as luso-brasileiras e as com a CPLP deverão desempenhar um papel centra

A large sample study of spin relaxation and magnetometric sensitivity of paraffin-coated Cs vapor cells

We have manufactured more than 250 nominally identical paraffin-coated Cs vapor cells (30 mm diameter bulbs) for multi-channel atomic magnetometer applications. We describe our dedicated cell characterization apparatus. For each cell we have determined the intrinsic longitudinal, \sGamma{01}, and transverse, \sGamma{02}, relaxation rates. Our best cell shows \sGamma{01}/2\pi\approx 0.5 Hz, and \sGamma{02}/2\pi\approx 2 Hz. We find a strong correlation of both relaxation rates which we explain in terms of reservoir and spin exchange relaxation. For each cell we have determined the optimal combination of rf and laser powers which yield the highest sensitivity to magnetic field changes. Out of all produced cells, 90% are found to have magnetometric sensitivities in the range of 9 to 30 fTHz. Noise analysis shows that the magnetometers operated with such cells have a sensitivity close to the fundamental photon shot noise limit

Experimental Setups for Single Event Effect Studies

Experimental setups are being prepared to test and to qualify electronic devices regarding their tolerance to Single Event Effect (SEE). A multiple test setup and a new beam line developed especially for SEE studies at the São Paulo 8 UD Pelletron accelerator were prepared. This accelerator produces proton beams and heavy ion beams up to 107Ag. A Super conducting Linear accelerator, which is under construction, may fulfill all of the European Space Agency requirements to qualify electronic components for SEE