EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE ON SEEDS GERMINATION AND LUMINOSITY LEVELS ON THE VEGETATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi

Schinus terebinthifolius is a pioneer species of the Atlantic Forest. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the germination process of S. terebinthifolius seeds collected in four sites with different altitudes (São Francisco do Sul/SC, 2.53 m; Foz do Iguaçu/PR, 176.67 m; Maringá/PR, 458.00 m; Guarapuava/PR, 1,048.70 m) and their initial development under four luminosity levels. For the germination test, we used the completely randomized experimental design with 12 repetitions with 50 seeds per treatment. The seedlings were subjected to the luminosity levels of 50, 60, 70, and 100%. A triple factorial scheme, with four levels in each factor (43), was used to evaluate the seed collection site, luminosity, and seedling’s development period. Principal components analysis was applied to the correlation matrix in the set of response variables emerging from the treatments. Seeds collected in São Francisco do Sul/SC presented higher vigor, and better germination speed index (GSI), development of the primary root and aerial part length. However, they also presented the worst result for the vegetative growth of seedlings subjected to a luminosity of 50%. Seeds collected in Maringá/PR presented a lower germination percentage and GSI. Still, they obtained the better results for vegetative development of seedlings subjected to a luminosity of 70%. This study confirmed that S. terebinthifolius seedlings, when exposed to luminosity higher than 60%, present better adaptation and development. Nonetheless, further studies about altitude and management are required to foster the recovery of degraded areas.

Postural control in blind subjects

Objective: To analyze postural control in acquired and congenitally blind adults. Methods: A total of 40 visually impaired adults participated in the research, divided into 2 groups, 20 with acquired blindness and 20 with congenital blindness - 21 males and 19 females, mean age 35.8 ± 10.8. The Brazilian version of Berg Balance Scale and the motor domain of functional independence measure were utilized. Results: On Berg Balance Scale the mean for acquired blindness was 54.0 ± 2.4 and 54.4 ± 2.5 for congenitally blind subjects; on functional independence measure the mean for acquired blind group was 87.1 ± 4.8 and 87.3 ± 2.3 for congenitally blind group. Conclusion: Based upon the scale used the results suggest the ability to control posture can be developed by compensatory mechanisms and it is not affected by visual loss in congenitally and acquired blindness

An immersive and collaborative visualization system for digital manufacturing

In this paper, an approach on immersive multiprojection visualization of manufacturing processes is proposed. It admits scenarios with dynamic components and allows virtual reality collaborative visualization among geographically distributed users through multi-CAVE devices. A set of modules for modeling, converting, visualizing, and interacting are also proposed. The method can be applied to CAD projects, models, and simulations used in industry. The ideas discussed are then validated through the study of a real case related to the shipbuilding and offshore industries

Neuropsychological functioning and brain energetics of drug resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients

Osorio CM, Latini A, Leal RB, et al. Neuropsychological functioning and brain energetics of drug resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients. EPILEPSY RESEARCH. 2017;138:26-31.Interictal hypometabolism is commonly measured by 18-fluoro-deoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (FDG-PET) in the temporal lobe of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE-HS). Left temporal lobe interictal FDG-PET hypometabolism has been associated with verbal memory impairment, while right temporal lobe FDG-PET hypometabolism is associated with nonverbal memory impairment. The biochemical mechanisms involved in these findings remain unknown. In comparison to healthy controls (n = 21), surgically treated patients with MTLE-HS (n = 32, left side = 17) had significant lower scores in the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT retention and delayed), Logical Memory II (LMII), Boston Naming test (BNT), Letter Fluency and Category Fluency. We investigated whether enzymatic activities of the mitochondrial enzymes Complex I (C I), Complex II (C II), Complex IV (C IV) and Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH) from the resected samples of the middle temporal neocortex (mTCx), amygdala (AMY) and hippocampus (HIP) were associated with performance in the RAVLT, LMII, BNT and fluency tests of our patients. After controlling for the side of hippocampus sclerosis, years of education, disease duration, antiepileptic treatment and seizure outcome after surgery, no independent associations were observed between the cognitive test scores and the analyzed mitochondrial enzymatic activities (p > 0.37). Results indicate that memory and language impairment observed in MTLE-HS patients are not strongly associated with the levels of mitochondrial CI, CII, SDH and C IV enzymatic activities in the temporal lobe structures ipsilateral to the HS lesion

Chronic Metabolic Derangement-Induced Cognitive Deficits and Neurotoxicity Are Associated with REST Inactivation

Chronic metabolic alterations may represent a risk factor for the development of cognitive impairment, dementia, or neurodegenerative diseases. Hyperglycemia and obesity are known to imprint epigenetic markers that compromise the proper expression of cell survival genes. Here, we showed that chronic hyperglycemia (60 days) induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin compromised cognition by reducing hippocampal ERK signaling and by inducing neurotoxicity in rats. The mechanisms appear to be linked to reduced active DNA demethylation and diminished expression of the neuroprotective transcription factor REST. The impact of the relationship between adiposity and DNA hypermethylation on REST expression was also demonstrated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in obese children with reduced levels of blood ascorbate. The reversible nature of epigenetic modifications and the cognitive impairment reported in obese children, adolescents, and adults suggest that the correction of the anthropometry and the peripheral metabolic alterations would protect brain homeostasis and reduce the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases.Fil: Remor, Aline Pertile. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Da Silva, Rodrigo Augusto. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; BrasilFil: de Matos, Filipe José. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Glaser, Viviane. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Paula Martins, Roberta de. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Ghisoni, Karina. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Luz Scheffer, Débora da. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Andia, Denise Carleto. Universidade Paulista. Faculdade de Odontologia. Área de Pesquisa em Epigenética; BrasilFil: Portinho, Daniele. Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; BrasilFil: de Souza, Ana Paula. Universidade Estadual de São Paulo; BrasilFil: Oliveira, Paulo Alexandre de. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Prediger, Rui Daniel. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Torres, Alicia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; ArgentinaFil: Linhares, Rose Marie Mueller. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Hospital Infantil Joana de Gusmão; BrasilFil: Walz, Roger. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Ronsoni, Marcelo Fernando. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Hohl, Alexandre. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Rafacho, Alex. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Aguiar, Aderbal Silva. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: de Paul, Ana Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Centro de Microscopía Electrónica; ArgentinaFil: Latini, Alexandra. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasil. Harvard Medical School; Estados Unido