Composto Orgânico Com Altos Níveis De Ni: Efeitos No Solo E Na Cultura De Morango

The use of organic residues can improve soil chemical and physical conditions and plant growth. However, these residues often contain heavy metals that can interfere with growth. Here, a pot experiment was performed to compare the effects of organic compound (OC) containing a high nickel (Ni) load with those of a mineral Ni source (NiCl2, a soluble salt) on the production, quality and nutritional status of strawberry and on soil chemistry. Six dosages of Ni (0, 9, 18, 36, 72 and 144 mg kg-1) were added to the soil using both OC and NiCl2. The use of high-Ni OC resulted in increased productivity and fruit weight, whereas the soluble NiCl2 salt caused reduction in fruit weight. Application of NiCl2 at concentrations >18 mg kg-1 also caused internerval chlorosis on leaves, suggesting that strawberry is highly sensitive to Ni. The mineral Ni source was almost 15-fold more effective than the organic source at increasing leaf Ni content. Application of OC caused an increase of organic matter, Ca, sum of bases, cation exchange capacity, base saturation, Zn, Mn, and Cu, but reduced the levels of Mg in soil. © 2016, Departamento de Engenharia Agricola - UFCG/Cnpq. All rights reserved.20872272

Kinin B1 receptor gene ablation affects hypothalamic CART production

A role for the kinin B1 receptor in energy-homeostatic processes was implicated by previous works. Notably the studies where kinin B1 receptor knockout mice (B1-/-) are observed to have impaired adiposity, impaired leptin and insulin production, lower feed efficiency, protection from liver steatosis and diet induced obesity when fed a high fat diet (HFD). More particularly, in a model where the B1 receptor is expressed exclusively in the adipose tissue, it rescues the plasma insulin concentration and the weight gain seen in wild type mice. Taking into consideration that leptin participates in the formation of hypothalamic nuclei, which modulate energy expenditure, and feeding behavior, we hypothesized that these brain regions could also be altered in B1-/- mice. We observed for the first time a difference in the gene expression pattern of CART (cocaine-and-amphetamine related transcript) in the LHA (lateral hypothalamic area) resulting from the deletion of the kinin B1 receptor gene. The correlation between CART expression in the LHA and the thwarting of diet-induced obesity corroborates independent correlations between CART and obesity. Further it seems to indicate that the mechanism underlying the 'lean' phenotype of B1-/- mice is not solely stemming from changes in peripheral tissues but may also receive contributions from changes in the hypothalamic machinery involved in energy homeostasis processes

Kinin b(1) receptor in adipocytes regulates glucose tolerance and predisposition to obesity

BACKGROUND: Kinins participate in the pathophysiology of obesity and type 2 diabetes by mechanisms which are not fully understood. Kinin B(1) receptor knockout mice (B(1) (-/-)) are leaner and exhibit improved insulin sensitivity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we show that kinin B(1) receptors in adipocytes play a role in controlling whole body insulin action and glucose homeostasis. Adipocytes isolated from mouse white adipose tissue (WAT) constitutively express kinin B(1) receptors. In these cells, treatment with the B(1) receptor agonist des-Arg(9)-bradykinin improved insulin signaling, GLUT4 translocation, and glucose uptake. Adipocytes from B(1) (-/-) mice showed reduced GLUT4 expression and impaired glucose uptake at both basal and insulin-stimulated states. To investigate the consequences of these phenomena to whole body metabolism, we generated mice where the expression of the kinin B(1) receptor was limited to cells of the adipose tissue (aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-)). Similarly to B(1) (-/-) mice, aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-) mice were leaner than wild type controls. However, exclusive expression of the kinin B(1) receptor in adipose tissue completely rescued the improved systemic insulin sensitivity phenotype of B(1) (-/-) mice. Adipose tissue gene expression analysis also revealed that genes involved in insulin signaling were significantly affected by the presence of the kinin B(1) receptor in adipose tissue. In agreement, GLUT4 expression and glucose uptake were increased in fat tissue of aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-) when compared to B(1) (-/-) mice. When subjected to high fat diet, aP2-B(1)/B(1) (-/-) mice gained more weight than B(1) (-/-) littermates, becoming as obese as the wild types. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Thus, kinin B(1) receptor participates in the modulation of insulin action in adipocytes, contributing to systemic insulin sensitivity and predisposition to obesity

Diamond-like Carbon Deposited By Plasma Technique As A Function Of Methane Flow Rate

Diamond-like carbon (a-C:H) prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) as a function of methane gas flow rate is reported. Films deposited at zero flow rate, i.e., without the use of vacuum pumps during the deposition, are also investigated. For that purpose, the reactor chamber was baked and pumped down to about 10-8 Torr to reduce contamination released from the reactor walls. The films were analyzed by visible, infrared and Raman spectroscopes. It was observed that the deposition rate, hydrogen concentration and optical gap depend on the methane gas flow rate. A maximum for deposition rate found at methane flow was much smaller than the flow usually adopted in conventional procedures. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.197-9756759Neuville, S., Matthews, A., (1997) MRS Bull., 22, p. 22Poa, C.H.P., Silva, S.R.P., Lacerda, R.G., Amaratunga, G.A.J., Milne, W.I., Marques, F.C., (2005) Appl. Phys. Lett., 86, p. 232102Amaratunga, G.A.J., Silva, S.R.P., (1996) Appl. Phys. Lett., 68, p. 2529Robertson, J., (2002) Mat. Sci. Eng., 37, p. 129Lifshiz, Y., (1999) Diamond Relat. Mater., 8, p. 1659Marques, F.C., Lacerda, R.G., Champi, A., Stolojan, V., Cox, D.C., Silva, S.R.P., (2003) Appl. Phys. Lett., 83 (15), p. 3099Silva, S.R.P., (2003) Properties of Amorphous Carbon, , EMIS Datareviews Series No. 29, INSPEC - IEE, London, United KingdomMacKenzie, D.R., Muller, D., Pailthorpe, B.A., (1991) Phys. Rev. Lett., 67, p. 773Lacerda, R.G., Marques, F.C., (1998) Appl. Phys. Lett., 73, p. 617Okano, K., Koizumi, S., Silva, S.R.P., Amaratunga, G.A.J., (1996) Nature, 381, p. 140Géis, M.W., Efremow, N.N., Krohn, K.E., Twichell, J.C., Lyszcazrz, T.M., (1998) Nature, 393, p. 431Suzuki, T., Kodama, H., (2009) Diam. Relat. Mater., 18, p. 990Chambouleyron, I., Ventura, S.D., Birgin, E.G., Martínez, J.M., (2002) J. Appl. Phys., 92, p. 3093Basa, D.K., Smith, F.W., (1990) Thin Solid Films, 192, p. 121Ristein, J., Stief, R.T., Ley, L., Beyer, W., (1998) J. Appl. Phys., 84 (7), p. 3836Zhang, W., Catherine, Y., (1991) Surf. Coat. Techn., 47, p. 69Ferrari, A.C., Robertson, J., (2000) Phys. Rev. B, 61 (20), p. 14095Casiraghi, C., Ferrari, A.C., Robertson, J., (2005) Phys. Rev. B, 72, p. 085401Robertson, J., (1996) Phys. Rev. B, 53, p. 1630