Crescimento de plantas de mogno brasileiro (Swietenia Macrophylla king.) cultivadas em diferentes substratos no horto florestal do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro.

A demanda de mudas de plantas da Mata Atlântica supera a oferta no mercado brasileiro. A necessidade de substratos para germinação e desenvolvimento das plantas envolve grande volume de insumos ricos em matéria orgânica e nutriente que suprem necessidades físicas, químicas e biológicas dos vegetais. Os resíduos vegetais produzidos nos 57 ha do arboreto do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro apresentam elevados teores de nutrientes essenciais às plantas. Para êxito na produção de mudas de qualidade consideram-se características físicas e químicas do substrato, as quais conferem qualidades que permitem o desenvolvimento e proteção das raízes na fase de viveiro. As recomendações para manejo do mogno inclui que a regeneração deve ser estimulada de forma artificial devido pouca habilidade natural em se regenerar após desmatamento intenso. O mogno (Swietenia macrophylla King.) se encontra entre as espécies mais exploradas no setor madeireiro e está ameaçada de extinção, considerada madeira nobre entre as mais valiosas na Amazônia, pois possui diversas utilidades. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento de plantas de mogno nativo do Brasil (Swietenia macrophylla King.) cultivado em diferentes substratos no horto florestal do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

Produção de mudas de Schizolobium Parahyba (Vell.) blake cultivadas em diferentes substratos no horto florestal do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro.

Entre as diversas espécies florestais nativas de rápido crescimento, como possíveis fontes de madeira para reflorestamento, o guapuruvu (Shizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake) apresenta pouca exigência quanto à fertilidade do solo e encontra-se ao longo de todo Vale do Paraíba, onde as terras possuem baixo teor de nutrientes em consequência da exaustão de culturas na época colonial. Contudo nota-se melhoria no crescimento das plantas nos solos com boa fertilidade, profundos, úmidos e bem drenados. O conhecimento dos requerimentos nutricionais das espécies e respostas em relação aos substratos é fundamental para êxito na produção de mudas de qualidade. Quanto maior o conhecimento para produção de mudas melhor será a propagação para plantios e reflorestamento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desenvolvimento de plantas de guapuruvu (Shizolobium parahyba (Vell.) Blake) cultivados em diferentes substratos no horto florestal do Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro

Dynamic Runx1 chromatin boundaries affect gene expression in hematopoietic development

The transcription factor RUNX1 is a critical regulator of developmental hematopoiesis and is frequently disrupted in leukemia. Runx1 is a large, complex gene that is expressed from two alternative promoters under the spatiotemporal control of multiple hematopoietic enhancers. To dissect the dynamic regulation of Runx1 in hematopoietic development, we analyzed its three-dimensional chromatin conformation in mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) differentiation cultures. Runx1 resides in a 1.1 Mb topologically associating domain (TAD) demarcated by convergent CTCF motifs. As ESCs differentiate to mesoderm, chromatin accessibility, Runx1 enhancer-promoter (E-P) interactions, and CTCF-CTCF interactions increase in the TAD, along with initiation of Runx1 expression from the P2 promoter. Differentiation to hematopoietic progenitor cells is associated with the formation of tissue-specific sub-TADs over Runx1, a shift in E-P interactions, P1 promoter demethylation, and robust expression from both Runx1 promoters. Deletion of promoter-proximal CTCF sites at the sub-TAD boundaries has no obvious effects on E-P interactions but leads to partial loss of domain structure, mildly affects gene expression, and delays hematopoietic development. Together, our analysis of gene regulation at a large multi-promoter developmental gene reveals that dynamic sub-TAD chromatin boundaries play a role in establishing TAD structure and coordinated gene expression

Teste de vigor baseado na liberação de etanol em sementes de melão.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficiência do teste de etanol como teste de vigor para sementes de melão (Cucumis melo L.).Número especial. Edição dos Resumos do XX Congresso Brasileiro de Sementes, Foz do Iguaçu, ago. 2017

TCD4+ Lymphocyte are Related to Muscle Strength Parameters in HIV-1 Positive Adolescents: A Preliminary Study

Introduction: Catabolism of muscle and loss of function are complications that can occur during the course of HIV infection, and are commonly seen in a majority of adolescents with vertically transmitted Human Immunodeficiency Virus-type 1 (HIV-1). The levels of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, reference markers for the treatment of vertically transmitted HIV-1, also decline as the disease progresses. Alterations on these reference markers may be associated with neuromuscular force parameters in sedentary adolescents that have potential as prognostic indicators for treatment administration. Objective: To investigate the relationship between maximal isometric muscular contraction force and levels of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes in sedentary, vertically transmitted HIV-1 positive adolescents. Methods: The sample consisted of twenty individuals, adolescents (N= 9 males, 11 females, age 15-17 years), vertically transmitted HIV-1 patients from Institute of Infectious Diseases Emilio Ribas in São Paulo, Brazil, who were undergoing HAART therapy randomly selected to participate in the study. The number of CD4+ and CD8+ cells was determined by flow cytometry using BD FacsCalibur Multitest Equipment, and Multiset-BD software. Viral load was determined using b-DNA methodology, on Siemens System Versátil 440 equipment. All analyses followed standard procedures approved by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Muscular strength measurements were completed in the morning after blood collection and weight and height measurements. Prior to starting, patients were familiarized with all testing procedures and strength exercises that were used for testing. After the warm up, maximum voluntary isometric muscular strength of the elbow flexors and knee extensors were assessed using an electric dynamometer (EMG210C, EMGLAB System of Brazil). Each patient made three attempts with a rest interval of two minutes between trials. The highest isometric force and torque value were recorded and used for analyses. Results: Upper body force (r=0.70, p=0.001) and maximal torque (r=0.69, p=0.001) were significant correlated with CD4+ count. Similar observations between CD4+ count and lower body muscular force (r=0.62, p=0.005) and maximum torque (r=0.61, p=0.007) were also observed. CD8+ was not associated with any strength measures. Conclusion: CD4+ lymphocytes showed a strong correlation with force parameters in sedentary HIV-1 positive adolescents. Given that those individuals with higher TCD4+ counts showed a tendency towards manifesting higher muscle strength, this may be used as a predictor to indicate the level of physical capacity of patients and consequently help optimize treatment. Further research is needed to explore the potential prognostic value of muscle strength parameters in HIV-1 positive adolescents

High-resolution targeted 3C interrogation of cis-regulatory element organization at genome-wide scale

Chromosome conformation capture (3C) provides an adaptable tool for studying diverse biological questions. Current 3C methods generally provide either low-resolution interaction profiles across the entire genome, or high-resolution interaction profiles at limited numbers of loci. Due to technical limitations, generation of reproducible high-resolution interaction profiles has not been achieved at genome-wide scale. Here, to overcome this barrier, we systematically test each step of 3C and report two improvements over current methods. We show that up to 30% of reporter events generated using the popular in situ 3C method arise from ligations between two individual nuclei, but this noise can be almost entirely eliminated by isolating intact nuclei after ligation. Using Nuclear-Titrated Capture-C, we generate reproducible high-resolution genome-wide 3C interaction profiles by targeting 8055 gene promoters in erythroid cells. By pairing high-resolution 3C interaction calls with nascent gene expression we interrogate the role of promoter hubs and super-enhancers in gene regulation

Gene expression, biochemical and physiological activities in evaluating melon seed vigor through ethanol release.

The aim of the present study was to establish parameters to evaluate melon seeds vigor by ethanol release test using a modified ethylometer and correlate with physiological seed quality, gene expression and enzyme activities alterations. To perform this trial, six seeds lots of yellow melon were submitted to determinations such as moisture content, germination assay and vigor tests. 25 and 50 seeds soaked with 0.5 mL of distilled water and tested after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 24 h at 40 °C. After 0, 6 and 24 h of imbibition, the high and low vigor lots were evaluated for the following enzyme activity: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), guaiacol peroxidase (GPX), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and alcoholic dehydrogenase (ADH). Accumulation of ADH protein was verified using Western Blotting hybridization technique with the primary Anti-ADH antibody. The release of ethanol in 25 seeds, soaked in 0.5 mL of distilled water for 6 h, proved efficient for vigor evaluation and can be related to other traditionally used tests. Enzyme activity varied according to the vigor of the seed lot. For the protein profile, there was variation in the accumulation of proteins of specific molecular weights throughout the soaking periods. There was also variation in expression according to accumulation of ADH protein. The biochemical and molecular tests corroborate with the establishment of the ethanol test as an additional tool to evaluate seed vigor

Mapping social work across 10 countries: Structure, intervention, identity and challenges

An emerging global consciousness and rising attention given to international social work development has seen the recognition of comparative research within the profession. Understanding the functioning and organisation of social work within various country contexts is critical in order to formulate knowledge around its overall impact, successes and challenges, allowing social workers to learn from one another and build professional consolidation. The profession is mapped out in 10 countries, reflecting on its structure, identity and development. Although the profession is developing globally, it is also experiencing significant challenges. Key insights, conclusions and recommendations for future research are presented