Genotypic influence on the absorption and toxicity of manganese in soybean

A toxidez de Mn pode ser um problema comum nas regiões tropicais com predominância de solos ácidos. Entretanto, variações das concentrações desse nutriente nas plantas têm sido atribuídas também a diferenças inter e intra-específicas. O presente estudo foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação e teve como objetivo avaliar as causas de tolerância diferencial à toxidez de Mn. Os cultivares de soja [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Santa Rosa, IAC-15 e IAC-Foscarin 31 foram cultivados em solução nutritiva (pH 5,0) com cinco doses de Mn (2, 100, 150, 200 e 250 µmol L-1). O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos completos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 5 x 3 (cinco doses de Mn e três cultivares), com três repetições. Os cultivares IAC-15 e Santa Rosa exibiram sintomas visuais de toxidez. As concentrações nas folhas associadas ao excesso foram de 1.000 mg kg-1. Entretanto, o IAC-15 apresentou maior produção de grãos e de matéria seca da parte aérea, acompanhado pelo IAC-Foscarin 31 (intermediário) e Santa Rosa (menor produção). O maior comprimento total de raízes, as maiores produções de matéria seca de raízes e o acúmulo de Mn neste tecido, bem como a maior compartimentalização deste nutriente no apoplasto, conferiram ao IAC-Foscarin 31 maior tolerância ao excesso de Mn na solução. Há, pois, indicações de diferenças genotípicas entre os cultivares e de que vários mecanismos atuam conjuntamente na tolerância ao excesso de Mn em solução.Manganese (Mn) toxicity may be a constraint for crop production in acid soils of tropical regions. However, variations of Mn concentrations in plant tissues are also related to the genotypic differences. A greenhouse experiment was carried out to evaluate Mn tolerance of three soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Cultivars Santa Rosa, IAC-15 and IAC-Foscarin 31 were evaluated under five Mn rates (2, 100, 150, 200, and 250 µmol L-1) in nutrient solution (pH 5.0). The experiment in randomized blocks was a 5 x 3 factorial of five Mn doses and three cultivars, with three replications. IAC-15 and Santa Rosa leaves showed visual symptoms of Mn toxicity. At toxic Mn levels in solution, the average Mn concentration in the leaf blades was close to 1,000 mg kg-1. Nevertheless, grain and dry matter in the aerial parts was higher for IAC-15 than IAC-Foscarin 31 (intermediate yield) and Santa Rosa (lowest yield). The greatest total root length and root dry matter yield, as well as root Mn accumulation and compartmentalization in root apoplast of IAC-Foscarin 31 contributes to explain differences in tolerance to the excess. There are, therefore, indications of genotypic differences among the soybean cultivars and that several mechanisms are involved in the tolerance to high Mn levels.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)FAPESPCNP

Phenotypic matching in ovipositor size in the parasitoid Galeopsomyia sp. (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) attacking different gall inducers

O tamanho do ovipositor dos parasitoides influencia a escolha do hospedeiro. Parasitoides que atacam hospedeiros expostos tendem a ter ovipositores menores em relação aos que precisam perfurar algum tipo de substratos ou tecidos como o das galhas. Como a maioria dos estudos trata esse assunto em nível interespecífico, o objetivo deste trabalho foi testar a variação intraespecífica e acoplamento fenotípico no tamanho do ovipositor de Galeopsomyia sp. no ataque a galhas. Foram amostradas galhas coletadas em Guapira opposita (Nyctaginaceae), planta hospedeira de cinco espécies de galhadores: Bruggmannia elongata, B. robusta, B. acaudatae duas espécies não descritas de Bruggmannia (sp. 1 e sp. 2) (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae). Em cada transecção, todas as galhas das 30 primeiras plantas encontradas foram coletadas e acondicionadas em saco plástico até a emergência dos parasitoides. Foram feitas 15 amostragens ao longo de dois anos. As larvas de último ínstar dos galhadores, espessura das galhas, assim como o tamanho do ovipositor dos indivíduos de Galeopsomyia sp. foram medidos. Não foi encontrada diferença para o tamanho das larvas entre espécies de galhador. Porém, as galhas de Bruggmannia sp. 1 e sp. 2 foram significativamente mais espessas que as de B. acaudata e essas mais espessas que as de B. elongata e B. robusta. Os tamanhos do ovipositor diferiram significativamente para vespas emergidas das galhas de Bruggmannia sp. 1 e sp. 2 em relação às demais. A dimensão do hospedeiro é fundamental para determinar o tamanho do parasitoide, mas neste caso o tamanho do hospedeiro não variou, e sim a espessura do tecido a ser perfurado. Galhas mais espessas foram atacadas por parasitoides maiores e com ovipositor mais longo, indicando acoplamento fenotípico. Assim, espessuras maiores de galha parecem estar selecionando indivíduos maiores da população, o que pode ter consequências evolutivas importantes a longo prazo.Parasitoid ovipositor size importantly affects host choice; those attacking exposed hosts usually have shorter ovipositors compared to those needing drilling deeper through substrates such as plant tissue and gall tissue. Most studies treat this theme at the interspecific level, and the aim of this work was to test for intraspecific variation and phenotypic matching in ovipositor size for Galeopsomyia sp. attacking galls. Galls were sampled from Guapira opposita(Nyctaginaceae), a host plant to five species of Bruggmannia gallers (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae) in southern Brazil: Bruggmannia elongata, B. robusta, B. acaudata, and two undescribed species of Bruggmannia (sp. 1 and sp. 2). On forest transects, all galls from the 30 first galled plants found were sampled and kept in sealed plastic bags until parasitoid emergence. A total of 15 samples were done along two years. We measured galler last instar larvae length and gall thickness for each galling species, and ovipositor length for all Galeopsomyia sp. individuals emerging from the galls. There were no differences in larval length among galler species. However, Bruggmannia sp. 1 and sp. 2 galls were significantly thicker than those of B. acaudata, and the latter thicker than both B. elongata and B. robusta galls. Wasp ovipositor size differed significantly between those coming from Bruggmannia sp. 1 and sp. 2 galls relative to all others. Host extended phenotype size is thus fundamental to determine parasitoid size, but in this case host (larval) size does not change among species, although gall thickness was different. Thicker galls were attacked by larger parasitoids with longer ovipositors, denoting phenotypic matching. Thicker galls appear to be selecting larger parasitoid individuals, which in the long run can lead to important evolutionary change as well

Analysis of Student Performance Data from a Computer Architecture and Organization Course

Some known problems in the literature are the lack of interest and difficulty ofstudents in Computer Architecture and Organization courses. We analyzed the students' performance in tests and semipresential learning activities in three editions of Introduction to Computer Architecture course from the Computer Engineering program of the Federal University of Pampa. We also analyzed the National High School Exam grades of these students, by knowledge area. The purpose of this study is to identify, through analytical processes using data from the course and grades of the NHSE, the most influential factors in the students’ first and final grades and subsidize the proposal of effective actions to solve the problem of high percentages of students’ failure

Uso da citologia de impressão para a detecção de células de neoplasia escamosa da superfície ocular insuspeita em pterígios

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement between the methodologies of impression cytology (IC) and histopathology regarding epithelial lesions clinically diagnosed as pterygium and also regarding the detection of unsuspected and associated ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN). Methods: Thirty-two Brazilian patients were included and IC was performed on all pterygia before excision. Histopathogical examination was considered the gold standard and was performed by two experienced ocular pathologists in which consensus existed regarding pterygia diagnosis. IC accuracy was assessed by sensitivity and specificity with a 95% confidence interval. Results: From the 32 primary lesions studied, histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pterygium without atypical cells in 19 cases (60%) and showed unsuspected and associated OSSN cells in 13 cases (40%). IC demonstrated one false-negative and one false-positive result for atypia. Statistical analysis showed an estimated sensitivity of 92%, specificity of 94%, positive predictive value of 92%, and negative predictive value of 94%. Conclusion: IC demonstrated high agreement with histopathological analysis in the detection of atypical epithelial cells in unsuspected OSSN in Brazilian pterygia patients.Objetivo: Avaliar a concordância entre a citologia de impressão (CI) e os achados histopatológicos de lesões epiteliais clinicamente diagnosticadas como pterígio, no que tange a detecção de células de neoplasia escamosa da superfície ocular (NESO) insuspeita associada. Métodos: Trinta e dois pacientes brasileiros foram incluídos e a CI foi obtida de todos os pterígios antes da excisão. O exame histopatológico foi realizado por dois patologistas oculares experientes em consenso de opinião e considerado o padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico. A acurácia da CI foi avaliada pela sensibilidade e especificidade com intervalo de confiança de 95% Resultados: Das 32 lesões estudadas, o exame histopatológico confirmou o diagnóstico de pterígio sem atipia em 19 casos (60%) e mostrou células de NESO insuspeita associada em 13 espécimes (40%). A CI demonstrou um resultado falso-positivo e um falso-negativo para atipia. A análise estatística mostrou uma sensibilidade estimada de 92%, especificidade de 94%, valor preditivo positivo de 92% e valor preditivo negativo de 94%. Conclusão: A CI apresentou alta concordância com o estudo histopatológico na detecção de células epiteliais atípicas de NESO insuspeita em pterígios do Brasil.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM)UNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Interferon-lambda 3 and 4 polymorphisms increase sustained virological responses and regulate innate immunity in antiviral therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha

Sustained virologic response (SVR) in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) treatment denotes that the host genetics controls the immune response and unequivocally contribute to viral clearance or disease severity. In this context, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the locus of interferon lambda 3 and 4 genes (IFNL3/4) have been important genetic markers of responsiveness to CHC as prognostic markers for the pegylated-Interferonalpha/ ribavirin (Peg-IFN-a/RBV). Here, we analyzed 12 SNPs at the IFNL3/4 region in 740 treatment-naïve patients with CHC infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes 1, 2, or 3 treated with Peg-IFN-a/RBV. Individually, rs12979860-CC, rs8109886-CC, or rs8099917-TT were predictive markers of SVR, while rs12979860-CC demonstrated the stronger effect. Besides, the genotypic combination of these three predictors’ genotypes, CC/CC/TT, increased the rate of SVR. Serum levels of cytokines and gene expression analysis on the genes IFNL3, IFNL4, IFNA1, and some of the IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) were measured in a subgroup of 24 treated patients and 24 healthy volunteers. An antagonist effect was highlighted between the expression of IFNL3/4 and IFNA1 mRNA among patients. Besides, a prominent production of the proinflammatory chemokines CCL4 and CXCL10 was observed at a 12-week treatment follow-up. Lower serum levels of these chemokines were detected in patients with an rs12979860-CC genotype associated with the better treatment outcome. Also, lower expression levels of the IFI6, IFI16, IRF9 genes were observed among rs12979860-CC individuals. In conclusion, a combination of the genotypes at the IFNL3/4 locus can act as a better marker for the prognosis for virological responses in an admixed Brazilian population presenting the modulating effect over innate immunity and inflammation that are controlling the outcome of the viral infection, but also other infectious diseases

Lobster (Panulirus argus) captures and their relation with environmental variables obtained by orbital sensors for Cuban waters (1997-2005)

Dados de captura da lagosta Panulirus argus na plataforma cubana foram comparados com concentrações de clorofila (Chl a) e valores de Temperatura de Superfície do Mar (TSM) obtidos pelos sensores Sea Viewing Wide Field of view Sensor (SeaWIFS) e Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), respectivamente. Uma análise de correlação cruzada foi realizada entre as anomalias padronizadas das variáveis ambientais (Chl a e TSM) e as anomalias padronizadas de capturas da lagosta para cada zona de pesca no período 1997-2005. Para as águas profundas adjacentes às zonas de pesca não foi observada uma sazonalidade evidente da Chl a. De forma geral, os menores valores de Chl a ocorreram ao sul da Ilha. Na maioria das zonas de pesca, a captura da lagosta apresentou os maiores coeficientes de correlação com valores de Chl a com defasagem de dois e três anos. Já em relação à análise com dados de TSM, os coeficientes de correlação cruzada apresentaram valores significativos apenas a partir de uma defasagem de 1,5 anos para praticamente todas as zonas de pesca. Neste estudo confirma-se que, em águas cubanas, correlações cruzadas significativas entre estas duas variáveis ambientais medidas por satélite e as capturas da lagosta espinhosa ocorrem principalmente durante o ciclo de vida planctônico desta espécie.Chlorophyll concentrations (Chl a) data obtained from the Sea Viewing Wide Field of View Sensor (SeaWIFS) ocean color monthly images, Sea Surface Temperature (SST) pathfinder data obtained from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) sensors, and lobster (Panulirus argus) captures at the Cuban shelf were examined in order to analyze their spatial and temporal variability. A cross-correlation analysis was made between the standardized anomalies of the environmental variables (Chl a and SST) and the standardized anomalies of lobster captures for each fishery zones for the period between 1997 and 2005. For the deep waters adjacent to the fishing zones it was not observed a clear Chl a seasonality and on average the lowest values occurred south of the Island. It is with the three years lag that Chl a had the greatest numbers of significant correlation coefficients for almost all fishing zones. However, the cross-correlation coefficients with SST showed higher values with 1,5 year lag at all zones. Since the two environmental variables obtained by satellite sensors (SST and Chl a) influence the lobsters mainly during the planktonic life cycle, the cross-correlation with lobster captures begin to show significant indexes with lags of 1.5 years or more

Perdas de nitrogênio por Brachiaria decumbens após a aplicação de glifosato ou glufosinato de amônio

Nitrogen losses from the soil-plant system may be influenced by herbicide applications. In order to evaluate N loss in brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens) after application of the herbicides glyphosate and glufosinate-ammonium, an experiment was carried out in a greenhouse as a completely randomized design, with three treatments and six replicates. Treatments were as follows: i) desiccation of brachiaria-plants with glyphosate; ii) desiccation of brachiaria-plants with glufosinate-ammonium; and iii) control, without herbicide application. The plants were cultivated in 4 kg pots of sandy soil and fertilized with ammonium sulfate- 15N, (200 mg kg-1) in order to quantify the allocation of the fertilizer-N and its recovery in the soil-plant system. Plants treated with the herbicides had less N accumulation and less recovery of the fertilizer-N (15N) relative to the control. In the soil, the greatest recovery of 15N-fertilizer occurred for treatments where N was applied, possibly due to the occurrence of other N compound losses to the soil, like root exudation and root death. The total recovery of 15N-fertilizer in the soil-plant system was higher in the control than in the treated plants showing the direct action of the herbicides on nitrogen loss, and especially by the above-ground part of the brachiaria plants.As perdas de nitrogênio no sistema solo-planta podem ser influenciadas pela aplicação de herbicidas. Com o objetivo de avaliar a perda de N do capim-Brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens) após a aplicação dos herbicidas glifosato e glufosinato de amônio, foi realizado um experimento em casa-de-vegetação em delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado (DIA), com três tratamentos e seis repetições. Os tratamentos foram os seguintes: i) dessecação de plantas de braquiária com o herbicida glifosato; ii) dessecação de plantas de braquiária com herbicida glufosinato de amônio e iii) testemunha, sem aplicação de herbicida. As plantas foram cultivadas em vasos com 4 kg de solo arenoso e foram fertilizadas com sulfato de amônio (15N), na dose de 200 mg kg-1, com o intuito de quantificar a alocação de N-fertilizante (15N) e sua recuperação no sistema solo-planta. As plantas tratadas com os herbicidas apresentaram menor acúmulo de N e menor recuperação do N-fertilizante (15N) em relação à testemunha. No solo a maior recuperação do 15N-fertilizante ocorreu nos tratamentos em que foram aplicados os herbicidas, possivelmente, devido à ocorrência de perda de compostos nitrogenados para o solo por exsudação radicular e morte de raízes. A recuperação total do 15N-fertilizante no sistema solo-planta foi maior na testemunha que nos tratamentos, evidenciando-se a ação direta dos herbicidas nas perdas de nitrogênio, especialmente, pela parte aérea do capim-Brachiaria

Nitrogen loss through Brachiaria decumbens after anthesis stage: relation with soil moisture

Com o objetivo de avaliar a perda de N por plantas de Brachiaria decumbens no estádio da pós-antese relacionada com a umidade do solo, realizou-se um experimento em casa-de-vegetação, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três tratamentos e seis repetições. Os tratamentos do estudo constaram da colheita de plantas nos seguintes estádios e condições de umidade do solo: (a) A60: estádio de antese e com umidade do solo mantida a 60% da capacidade máxima de retenção de água; (b) PA60: estádio de pós-antese ou maturidade com umidade do solo mantida a 60% da capacidade máxima de retenção de água; e (c) PA20: pós-antese com umidade estabelecida após a antese de 20% da capacidade máxima de retenção de água do solo. As plantas de Brachiaria decumbens, cultivadas em vasos preenchidos com solo arenoso, foram fertilizadas com sulfato de amônio-15N (800mg vaso-1 de N). As plantas dos tratamentos pós-antese (PA60 e PA20) foram colhidas após 17 dias do início do florescimento. O balanço de N do sulfato de amônio (15N) no sistema solo-planta indicou perdas de N, presumivelmente pela parte aérea das plantas de Brachiaria decumbens, no estádio de pós-antese (tratamento PA60), da ordem de 25% em relação ao de antese (A60). A perda de N na pós-antese avaliada no tratamento com déficit hídrico (PA20) foi reduzida comparativamente ao PA60, sendo da ordem de 11% em relação ao tratamento A60.The objective of this research work was to evaluate the N loss through Brachiaria decumbens in the stage of post-anthesis related to the soil moisture. The experiment was carried out in green-house condition and the experimental design was a completely randomized, with three treatments and six replications. Plants of grass-Brachiaria were cultivated in pots filled out with sandy soil. The soil of each pot was fertilized with ammonium sulfate-15N (800mg vaso-1 of N). The treatments consisted of harvest of plants in the stages and soil moisture conditions, as following: (a) A60: stage of anthesis and with soil moisture maintained to 60% of the maximum water retention capacity; (b) PA60: post-anthesis stage or maturity with soil moisture maintained to 60% of the maximum retention capacity, and (c) PA20: post-anthesis stage with soil moisture of 20% of the maximum water retention capacity established after the anthesis stage. The plants of the treatments post-anthesis (PA60 and PA20) were harvested after 17 days beginning of the flowering stage. The balance of N from ammonium sulfate (15N) in the soil-plant system indicated losses of N, presumably from the aerial part of grass-Brachiaria plants in the post-anthesis stage (treatment PA60). These values were of the order of 25% in relation to the anthesis treatment (A60). The N loss in the post-anthesis stage as evaluated in the treatment with water deficits (PA20), it was minimized comparatively to the PA60 and it was of the order of 11% in relation to the treatment A60

INFLUENCE OF GENETIC VARIATIONS IN PHYSICAL FITNESS

Older population has increased and presents reduced physical fitness. On the other hand, it is known that genetic variants can explain these declines. The aim of this study was evaluate the effect of ACE ID and ACTN3 R/X polymorphisms in body fat and physical capacities in old women. 66 old women were genotyped to ACTN3 and ACE polymorphisms and submitted to anthropometric measurements, physical tests, IPAQ and a questionnaire related to food intake. For the ACTN3 genotype, XX group presented reduced levels of upper limb flexibility and cardiorespiratory capacity. Related to ACE genotype, ID group demonstrated increased cardiorespiratory capacity and decreased body fat percentage. There was no statistical difference in the other variables. In the future, data like these will enable each person have his/her intervention focused in that variables with more genetic potential to decline