Intercropping native tree species of atlantic forest with corn and bean for restoration of riparian forest in northwest region fluminense.

Cultivos consorciados surgem como alternativa para a implantação ou manutenção da recuperação de Matas Ciliares. Este estudo teve como objetivo comparar o plantio misto de espécies arbóreas, com o sistema Taungya na revegetação de mata ciliar do Rio Paraíba do Sul, região Noroeste Fluminense, bem como o comportamento das espécies pioneiras e não pioneiras. Foi determinado ainda o impacto econômico da consorciação na restauração de matas ciliares nos primeiros nove meses após a implantação. Os tratamentos foram dispostos em blocos ao acaso com dois sistemas de plantio em 4 repetições. O sistema de Taungya consistiu no cultivo de espécies agrícolas nas entrelinhas das espécies arbóreas. Foram avaliados altura, diâmetro à altura do colo, diâmetro de copa, cobertura de copas, índice de sobrevivência e o impacto econômico da consorciação na recuperação de matas ciliares. Não foi observado influência dos sistemas de plantio convencional e Taungya no incremento relativo em altura e em diâmetro à altura do colo para a maioria das espécies arbóreas avaliadas, oito meses após o plantio. As espécies pioneiras apresentaram maior área de copa e consequente cobertura de área, em relação às espécies tardias, nos dois sistemas. No sistema Taungya, a receita obtida a partir da produção agrícola no primeiro ano de implantação do experimento representou 13% do custo total de implantação do projeto de reflorestamento.Intercropping crops emerge as an alternative to implementation or maintaining recovery Riparian Forest. This study aimed to compare the mixed planting of tree species, with Taungya system on riparian forest revegetation of the Paraiba do Sul River, Northwest Fluminense region, as well as the behavior of the pioneer and non-pioneer species. It was determined yet the intercropping economic impact of the riparian forests restoration in the first nine months after implantation. The treatments were arranged in random blocks with two planting systems in 4 repetitions. The Taungya system consisted of the cultivation of agricultural species between the lines of tree species. We evaluated, height, diameter at the neck, crown diameter, canopy cover, survival rate and intercropping economic impact of the riparian forests recovery. There was no influence of conventional planting system and Taungya on the relative increase in height and diameter at neck height for most evaluated tree species, eight months after planting. The pioneer species have greater canopy area and consequently larger area coverage, compared to late species in both systems. In Taungya system, the revenue from the agricultural production in the first year of experiment deployment represented 13% of the total cost of reforestation project

Isolation of Root Endophytic Bacteria in Elephant Grass (\u3cem\u3ePennisetum purpureum\u3c/em\u3e Schum.) Cultivars

Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) is one of the most productive warm-season grasses. Farmers utilize elephant grass in different forms, such as cut-and-carry operations, grazing, conserved forage (silage, hay), and as an energy source (Lira et al. 2010). Nitrogen (N) is an essential element for plant growth and development and it is usually a limiting factor for forage production in the tropics (Boddey et al. 2004). Biological N fixation (BNF) may occur in warm-season grasses by their association with diazotrophic bacteria. These bacteria colonize different niches in the host plant. Endophytic bacteria form colonies inside the plant tissue whereas epiphytic bacteria colonize plant external surfaces (Compant et al. 2010). Both types of bacteria may benefit host plants (Badri et al. 2009). This study evaluated endophytic diazotrophic bacteria density associated to the roots of different elephant grass cultivars (cvs. ‘Elefante B’, ‘Venezuela’, and ‘Pioneiro’) using two N-free growth media, at different evaluation periods

Farming for nature in the Montado: the application of ecosystem services in a results-based model

The Montado is a silvopastoral system with a tree cover of predominantly Quercus suber but also Quercus rotundifolia, where cattle or sheep graze the understory. It occupies more than one million hectares in southern Portugal, and a similar landscape, the Dehesa, covers ca. three million hectares in Spain. These silvopastoral systems can simultaneously benefit the environment and socio-economic activities by providing a bundle of ecosystem services (ESs). However, an ongoing trend of decline in tree density and the covered area is threat-ening such provision. Policies are needed to motivate farmers to secure the ESs that they provide. One possible format is the development of a results-based model (RBM) for agri-environment schemes (AES), implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy. In an RBM, farmers are paid when they deliver specific environmental results (ERs) (e.g. healthy and functional soils), that are linked with the provision of different (and often mul-tiple) ESs. This study defines possible ERs for the Montado and details how these results are linked to the pro-vision of ESs. It then considers management actions that can allow the achievement of these ERs and the costs of these actions. Our methodological approach is based on a transdisciplinary dialogue involving researchers, practitioners (i.e farmers), public authorities and policy makers. The results of the process include the identi-fication of four main ERs: a healthy soil ecosystem, a biodiverse native-Mediterranean pasture, an oak tree layer where regeneration exists (i.e. trees of different ages), and preserved or enhanced landscape elements, for example riparian galleries with vegetation. These ERs increase the supply of provisioning services (e.g. cork production), of regulating services, (e.g. carbon sequestration), and cultural services (e.g. aesthetic inspiration). RBMs allow farmers to use any management practice they choose as the focus is on the results. Nonetheless, to estimate costs we identified 12 potential strategic management practices (and their cost) along with the technical support that farmers would need. We conclude that an RBM could be an affordable solution for public policies in the Montado system, given the limited government budget for supporting AES.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exercise training restores the cardiac microRNA-1 and −214 levels regulating Ca2+ handling after myocardial infarction

Abstract\ud \ud Background\ud Impaired cardiomyocyte contractility and calcium handling are hallmarks of left ventricular contractile dysfunction. Exercise training has been used as a remarkable strategy in the treatment of heart disease. The microRNA-1, which targets sodium/calcium exchanger 1 (NCX), and microRNA-214, which targets sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase-2a (Serca2a), are involved in cardiac function regulation. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of exercise training on cardiac microRNA-1 and −214 expression after myocardial infarction.\ud \ud \ud Methods\ud Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: sedentary sham (S-SHAM), sedentary infarction (S-INF), trained sham (T-SHAM), and trained infarction (T-INF). Exercise training consisted of 60 min/days, 5 days/week for 10 weeks with 3 % of body weight as overload beginning four weeks after myocardial infarction.\ud \ud \ud Results\ud MicroRNA-1 and −214 expressions were, respectively, decreased (52 %) and increased (54 %) in the S-INF compared to the S-SHAM, while exercise training normalized the expression of these microRNAs. The microRNA targets NCX and Serca-2a protein expression were, respectively, decreased (55 %) and increased (34 %) in the T-INF group compared to the S-INF group.\ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud These results suggest that exercise training restores microRNA-1 and −214 expression levels and prevents change in both NCX and Serca-2a protein and gene expressions. Altogether, our data suggest a molecular mechanism to restore ventricular function after exercise training in myocardial infarction rats.Melo SFS is the recipient of a FAPESP Fellowship (No. 2010/09438-0). Oliveira\ud EM was the recipient of a CNPq-PDE Fellowship (No. 308267/2013-3), Barauna\ud VG CNPq-Universal (No.485873/2012-5), Neves VJ was recipient of a\ud FAPESP Fellowship (No. 2012/04104-2). This work was supported by FAPESP\ud (Project No. 2009/18370-3, 2010/50048-1)

Leukocytes and Albumin in Canine Leishmaniasis

Background: Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL) is a multisystemic and chronic inflammatory disease characterized by nonspecific clinical manifestations. In CanL, inflammatory cells and chemical mediators released in response to the parasite play a role in disease development and progression. Alterations on hematological parameters have been documented in CanL. These changes can also be assessed in relation to systemic inflammation caused by this disease. The circulating leukocyte counting, such as neutrophils, as well as the albumin level, are considered direct indicators of an inflammatory host environment. Several studies point to the use of biomarkers on the assistance in diagnosis and prognosis of several canine pathologies. The present study investigated the Neutrophils to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Albumin to Globulin Ratio (AGR), and Neutrophils to Albumin Ratio (NAR) on systemic inflammatory response induced by Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL).Materials, Methods & Results: For this purpose, adult dogs with confirmed diagnosis to CanL were divided into symptomatic (SD, n = 33) and asymptomatic (AD, n = 20) dogs for L. infantum and control dogs (CD, n = 20). Routine hematological and biochemical parameters were determined in blood samples using a veterinary automatic hematology and biochemical analyzers. Asymptomatic dogs (AD) had a higher number of white blood cells and neutrophils (16.48 ± 4.93; 13.41 ± 3.60, respectively) in relation to symptomatic dogs (SD) (13.54 ± 5.13; 10.42± 3.69, respectively) (P = 0.015 and P < 0.0001, respectively). Neutrophils to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) was higher in dogs with leishmaniasis (9.45 ± 3.76) than in healthy dogs (3.39 ± 1.19) (P < 0.0001). Serum total proteins (STP) and globulins increased in CanL, while albumin and AGR decreased in CanL, when compared to CD and references values to canine species. Neutrophils to Albumin Ratio (NAR) was higher in AD and SD (5.02 ± 1.14; 4.79 ± 1.07, respectively) when compared to CD (2.36 ± 0.55) (P < 0.0001). Discussion: As reported in scientific researches, dogs with Leishmaniasis present alterations in circulating cell counts. Based on these data, we decided to expand this information using the NLR as a parameter in an attempt to better clarify the changes in these cells in CanL. We observed that NLR was increased on CanL in relation to healthy dogs, which could be a consequence of relative neutrophilia rather than lymphopenia. Neutrophils to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is a biomarker that conveys information about inflammatory conditions. An elevated NLR can reflect an upregulated innate immune response, since neutrophils are effector cells of innate immunity and are involved in several acute and chronic inflammatory processes. Albumin is an acute phase protein that is considered an immune-inflammatory biomarker, which can be found reduced systemically in progressive inflammatory response. Serum total proteins (STP) and globulins were increased in CanL. These data are already well documented in CanL, which serum globulins are mainly associated with the increase of acute phase proteins, cytokines, and increase of specific antibodies to Leishmaniainfantum. Our results showed neutrophilia with hypoalbuminemia in CanL. So, in an attempt to assess the relationship of these two available markers, we used NAR calculation in order to evaluate the changes induced by CanL. In this study NAR was higher in CanL when compared to control dogs. Thus, our data indicate that NLR and NAR could be used as biomarkers in veterinary medical clinics in order to assess inflammatory profile in CanL, mainly in asymptomatic dogs. These parameters obtained from routine blood tests might be useful as cost-effective, easily accessible and helpful markers in order to distinguish the inflammatory response intensity in CanL

Farming for nature in the Montado: the application of ecosystem services in a results-based model

The Montado is a silvopastoral system with a tree cover of predominantly Quercus suber but also Quercus rotundifolia, where cattle or sheep graze the understory. It occupies more than one million hectares in southern Portugal, and a similar landscape, the Dehesa, covers ca. three million hectares in Spain. These silvopastoral systems can simultaneously benefit the environment and socio-economic activities by providing a bundle of ecosystem services (ESs). However, an ongoing trend of decline in tree density and the covered area is threat ening such provision. Policies are needed to motivate farmers to secure the ESs that they provide. One possible format is the development of a results-based model (RBM) for agri-environment schemes (AES), implemented under the Common Agricultural Policy. In an RBM, farmers are paid when they deliver specific environmental results (ERs) (e.g. healthy and functional soils), that are linked with the provision of different (and often mul tiple) ESs. This study defines possible ERs for the Montado and details how these results are linked to the pro vision of ESs. It then considers management actions that can allow the achievement of these ERs and the costs of these actions. Our methodological approach is based on a transdisciplinary dialogue involving researchers, practitioners (i.e farmers), public authorities and policy makers. The results of the process include the identi fication of four main ERs: a healthy soil ecosystem, a biodiverse native-Mediterranean pasture, an oak tree layer where regeneration exists (i.e. trees of different ages), and preserved or enhanced landscape elements, for example riparian galleries with vegetation. These ERs increase the supply of provisioning services (e.g. cork production), of regulating services, (e.g. carbon sequestration), and cultural services (e.g. aesthetic inspiration). RBMs allow farmers to use any management practice they choose as the focus is on the results. Nonetheless, to estimate costs we identified 12 potential strategic management practices (and their cost) along with the technical support that farmers would need. We conclude that an RBM could be an affordable solution for public policies in the Montado system, given the limited government budget for supporting AES

Cenários para a matriz de geração de eletricidade do Ceará em 2050: pt

Based on the worldwide proposition of energy matrix scenarios for 2050, the objective of this article is to present scenarios of electricity generation for Ceará in 2050, showing the participation of sources already used in the state's electric matrix and adding new ones. The article proposes three scenarios: a conservative one, where the present proportion of electricity generation sources of the state is maintained, a transitional one, with 50% of electricity generation from non-renewable sources and the other 50% from renewable sources, and 100% renewable, without the use of fossil or nuclear fuels. Estimates for 2050 in the state are obtained by extrapolating generation data from 2011 to 2017, reaching an estimated 94,775 GWh. In the conservative scenario, it is observed that half of this generation is made by thermoelectric plants and the other half by wind farms. In the transition scenario, dominated by the use of natural gas, the exponential growth of photovoltaic generation stands out. In the 100% renewable scenario, dominated by wind farms, in addition to the similar growth of photovoltaic generation as in the transition scenario, we highlight the use of urban solid waste and solar thermal concentration plants.A partir da proposição de cenários de matrizes energéticas a nível mundial para 2050, o objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar cenários de geração de eletricidade para o estado do Ceará em 2050, mostrando a participação de fontes já usadas na matriz elétrica do estado e acrescentando novas. O artigo propõe três cenários: um conservador, onde é mantida a proporção atual das fontes de geração de eletricidade do estado, um de transição, com 50% da geração de energia elétrica oriunda de fontes não renováveis e os outros 50% provenientes de fontes renováveis, e um 100% renovável, sem o uso de combustíveis fósseis ou nuclear. As estimativas para 2050 no estado são obtidas através de extrapolação de dados de geração de 2011 a 2017, alcançando um valor estimado de 94.775 GWh. No cenário conservador, observa-se que metade dessa geração é realizada por termelétricas e a outra metade por parques eólicos. No cenário de transição, dominado pelo gás natural, destaca-se o crescimento exponencial da geração fotovoltaica. No cenário 100% renovável, dominado por parques eólicos, além do crescimento semelhante da geração fotovoltaica como no cenário de transição, destaca-se a utilização dos resíduos sólidos urbanos e de centrais solar térmicas de concentração

Perspectivas terapêuticas das doenças inflamatórias intestinais: Therapeutic perspectives of inflammatory bowel diseases

A colite ulcerativa (CU) e a doença de Crohn (DC) representam as doenças inflamatórias intestinais (DII), um grupo de condições que possuem sintomas semelhantes e levam à inflamação do trato digestivo. A CU se caracteriza por uma inflamação limitada ao intestino grosso, de caráter crônico, alternando entre períodos de remissões e recidivas. Já na DC, a inflamação pode acometer todo o trato gastrointestinal, se apresentando de forma crônica, progressiva e remitente. A patogênese de ambas as doenças não é bem definida, entretanto, existe uma associação entre a predisposição genética e a exposição a fatores ambientais. A sintomatologia das DII são semelhantes e incluem dor abdominal, náuseas e vômitos, cólicas, fezes moles ou diarreia sanguinolenta, fadiga, anemia e perda de peso. Diante da presença destes sintomas e outras informações coletadas na anamnese, é necessário a solicitação de exames específicos para a confirmação da doença, como a radiografia do trato gastrointestinal superior, endoscopia, colonoscopia e amostragens do trato gastrointestinal. Embora as DII não tenham cura, há uma variedade de tratamentos disponíveis, que possuem como objetivo a remissão da doença. O manejo medicamentoso usual, consiste no uso de aminosalicilatos, corticosteróides, imunomoduladores, biológicos ou pequenas moléculas, que podem ser utilizadas em monoterapia ou associação. Entretanto, grande parte dos pacientes necessitarão de cirurgia, que possui como objetivo a conservação máxima do intestino possível, alívio das complicações e melhora da qualidade de vida. Além disso, nos últimos anos, novas terapias para as DII se desenvolveram, como terapia de aférese, microecologia intestinal melhorada, transplante de células-tronco e terapia de exossomos. Entretanto, seu uso é limitado, visto que ainda estão em protocolo de investigação

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 Inhibitors Reduce Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Upregulate the Pro-inflammatory Immune Response in Calomys callosus Rodents and Human Monocyte Cell Line

Toxoplasma gondii is able to infect a wide range of vertebrates, including humans. Studies show that cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a modulator of immune response in multiple types of infection, such as Trypanosoma cruzi. However, the role of COX-2 during T. gondii infection is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of COX-2 during infection by moderately or highly virulent strains of T. gondii in Calomys callosus rodents and human THP-1 cells. C. callosus were infected with 50 cysts of T. gondii (ME49), treated with COX-2 inhibitors (meloxicam or celecoxib) and evaluated to check body weight and morbidity. After 40 days, brain and serum were collected for detection of T. gondii by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry or cytokines by CBA. Furthermore, peritoneal macrophages or THP-1 cells, infected with RH strain or uninfected, were treated with meloxicam or celecoxib to evaluate the parasite proliferation by colorimetric assay and cytokine production by ELISA. Finally, in order to verify the role of prostaglandin E2 in COX-2 mechanism, THP-1 cells were infected, treated with meloxicam or celecoxib plus PGE2, and analyzed to parasite proliferation and cytokine production. The data showed that body weight and morbidity of the animals changed after infection by T. gondii, under both treatments. Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR showed a reduction of T. gondii in brains of animals treated with both COX-2 inhibitors. Additionally, it was observed that both COX-2 inhibitors controlled the T. gondii proliferation in peritoneal macrophages and THP-1 cells, and the treatment with PGE2 restored the parasite growth in THP-1 cells blocked to COX-2. In the serum of Calomys, upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines was detected, while the supernatants of peritoneal macrophages and THP-1 cells demonstrated significant production of TNF and nitrite, or TNF, nitrite and MIF, respectively, under both COX-2 inhibitors. Finally, PGE2 treatment in THP-1 cells triggered downmodulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and upregulation of IL-8 and IL-10. Thus, COX-2 is an immune mediator involved in the susceptibility to T. gondii regardless of strain or cell types, since inhibition of this enzyme induced control of infection by upregulating important pro-inflammatory mediators against Toxoplasma