Factors limiting the establishment of canopy-forming algae on artificial structures

Macroalgal canopies are important ecosystem engineers, contributing to coastal productivity and supporting a rich assemblage of associated flora and fauna. However, they are often absent from infrastructures such as coastal defences and there has been a worldwide decline in their distribution in urbanised coastal areas. The macroalga Fucus spiralis is the only high-shore canopy forming species present in the Azores. It is widely distributed in the archipelago but is never found on coastal infrastructures. Here we evaluate factors that may potentially limit its establishment on artificial structures. A number of observational and manipulative experiments were used to test the hypotheses that: (i) limited-dispersal ability limits the colonisation of new plants onto artificial structures, (ii) vertical substratum slope negatively influences the survivorship of recruits, and (iii) vertical substratum slope also negatively influences the survivorship and fitness of adults. Results showed that the limited dispersal from adult plants may be a more important factor than slope in limiting the species ability to colonise coastal infrastructures, since the vertical substratum slope does not affect its fitness or survivorship.European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); COMPETE - Operational Competitiveness Programme; FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology; cE3c funding. GMM was supported by a postdoctoral grant awarded by FCT (SFRH/BDP/63040/2009). ACLP was funded by a FRCT research grant M3.1.5/F/098/2012. Support was also provided by CIRN/UAc (Centre of Natural Resources of University of the Azores).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análise do perfil metabólico da casca de laranja doce diagnosticada com morte súbida dos citrus por RMN.

A Morte Súbita dos Citrus (MSC) é uma nova doença que contamina plantas cftricas em algumas combinações copa/porta enxerto, como laranja doce sobre limão cravo. Essa doença foi observada pela primeira vez por pesquisadores do Fundecitrus, em 2001, em Comendador Gomes, Minas Gerais, em talhões de Valência, enxertados sobre limão Cravo, com idade de 12 anos. Em um dos talhões, com 4,7 mil plantas, em dezembro de 1999 foram encontradas 518 plantas mortas devido a causas até então desconhecidas e hoje atribufdas à MSC.bitstream/CNPDIA/8724/1/CT55_2003.pd

Muscle-Enriched MicroRNAs Isolated from Whole Blood Are Regulated by Exercise and Are Potential Biomarkers of Cardiorespiratory Fitness

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Evidence indicating miRNAs influence exercise-induced health and performance adaptations is mounting. Circulating miRNAs are responsible for intercellular communication and could serve as biomarkers for disease and exercise-related traits. Such biomarkers would contribute to exercise screening, monitoring, and the development of personalized exercise prescription. Accordingly, we investigated the impact of long-term strenuous aerobic exercise training and a single bout of maximal aerobic exercise on five muscle-enriched miRNAs implicated in exercise adaptations (miR-1, miR-133a, miR-181a, miR-486, and miR-494). We also determined linear correlations between miRNAs, resting heart rate, and maximum oxygen uptake (V˙O2 max). We used TaqMan assay quantitative polymerase chain reaction to analyze the abundance of miR-1, miR-133a, miR-181a, miR-486, and miR-494 in resting whole blood of 67 endurance athletes and 61 healthy controls. Relative to controls, endurance athletes exhibited increased miR-1, miR-486, and miR-494 content (1.26- to 1.58-fold change, all p < 0.05). miR-1, miR-133a, and miR-486 were decreased immediately after maximal aerobic exercise (0.64- to 0.76-fold change, all p < 0.01) performed by 19 healthy, young men (20.7 ± 2.4 years). Finally, we observed positive correlations between miRNA abundance and V˙ O2 max (miR-1 and miR-486) and an inverse correlation between miR-486 and resting heart rate. Therefore, muscle-enriched miRNAs isolated from whole blood are regulated by acute and long-term aerobic exercise training and could serve as biomarkers of cardiorespiratory fitness

A studying of solar-ENSO correlation with southern Brazil tree-ring index (1955?1994)

International audienceSolar activity, volcanic aerosol, El Niño-Southern Oscillation and global temperature anomalies effects on Southern Brazil tree growth rings are presented through multiple linear analysis. Linear correlations were made on annual, 10 year running averages and band pass filter. For annual averages, the correlation coefficients were low, and the 10 years running average correlations the coefficient correlations were much higher. The multiple regression of 2 to 5 year band pass filter indicates that 60% of the variance in tree ring index was explained by volcanic eruptions, Southern Oscillation Index and temperature anomalies. The multiple regression of 10 year running averages indicates that 84% of the variance in tree ring index was explained by solar activity and another time series. These results indicate that the effects of solar activity, volcanic eruptions, ENSO and temperature anomalies on tree rings are better seen on long timescales than volcanic eruption, ENSO and temperature anomaly

Effects of fish removal in the Furnas Lake, Azores

The Furnas Lake is a small volcanic, monomitic and increasingly eutrophised water body. Next to agricultural nutrient inputs, high densities of herbivorous fish are thought to contribute to high levels of turbidity in the lake, through zooplankton consumption and re suspension of the nutrients accumulated in the sediment. According to the alternative state hypothesis a shift from turbid to clear water conditions is favoured by reduction of nutrient concentrations, increased light availability and reduction of planktivorous and benthos-feeding fish stock. To improve water quality in the Furnas Lake, a substantial part of the bottom-feeding fish population (62% of the estimated common carp population, Cyprinus carpio, and 5% of the estimated roach population, Rutilus rutilus) was removed. Effects of fish removal on turbidity and associated trophic state were analysed next to post-manipulation chlorophyll a concentration, zooplankton and macrophytes densities. Results suggest that fish removal was not enough to change lake conditions towards a lasting clear state dominated by macrophytes. Excessive nutrient load, in water and sediments, nutrient input from the lake basin and fish recruitment causing enhanced zooplankton grazing are appointed causes. Any further biomanipulation efforts should be associated to nutrient reduction; and continued monitoring of water quality, fish stock, macrophytes and zooplankton is needed

Evaluation on body weight and its relation with abdominal circumference in the diagnosis of obesity in school students in Cacoal municipality, RO, Brazil

Obesity in school-aged children has reached epidemic levels, which is considered a chronic disease. Researchers have been on alert, given the rising prevalence of obesity in the last few decades. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relation between body weight and abdominal circumference as a predictor for nutritional status in school students from 7 to 12 years of age in the municipality of Cacoal, RO, Brazil. The current study is of a descriptive nature, with cross-sectional and quantitative analysis. The study sample had 482 school students, of both genders, 230 male ones and 252 female ones, divided into school students from the urban and teaching rural teaching areas. Body Mass Index (BMI), abdominal circumference, and body weight were the variants analyzed. Reading with general comprehension strategies. It was possible to notice that 13% of the school students from the rural area were obese. On the other hand, 25% of the school students from the urban area, including both genders, were obese. There was a significant relation in body weight variant versus abdominal circumference in both genders, in the two areas studied. The body weight variant showed a significant relation with abdominal circumference and with body weight index in both genders

The use of BMI and Abdominal Circumference in the Diagnosis of Obesity in Schools: a Systematic Review

To verify body composition or body weight distribution in a more traditional way, isolated body weight or height adjusted weight has been used. In the last 5 years, evaluations have been used to verify the distribution of this fat, where these measures are more preventive to health.The objective of the study was to analyze the studies that indicate the use of BMI and waist circumference as a tool to diagnose obesity. The current study is a systematic review, where it followed the criteria of a systematized review and meta-analysis proposed by the PRISMA protocol. The criteria adopted for the selection of articles were the use of the following variables for obesity: BMI, Circumference of abdomen, relation of C.A with stature and C.A and body weight. After consulting the databases selected to search for articles, 1,846 articles were identified on the topic of interest with the descriptors (obesity in schoolchildren). 410 articles were found on the Scielo platform, 150 articles were found on the Bireme platform. In the Pubmed platform 1,236 articles and finally in the Scopus platform a total of 50 articles. After the exclusion, 16 articles were used for the analysis. The majority of the studies in the area of collective health are concluded, but only the BMI isolated for the diagnosis are indicated as evaluation measures. More recent studies indicate an evolution in the way of evaluating. As can be seen in the sixteen articles analyzed

Tree-ring width wavelet and spectral analysis of solar variability and climatic effects on a Chilean cypress during the last two and a half millennia

International audienceSpectral and wavelet analysis were performed on a tree ring width time series obtained from a 2500 yr old cypress tree (Fitzroya cupressoides) from Costa del Osorno, Chile. The periods for analysis were selected at 95% confidence level. Both periodicities characteristic of solar activity and climatic variations were found in this tree ring width series. The 11 and 22 years solar cycle periods were present in tree ring data with a confidence level above 98%. This indicates the solar modulation of climatic variations is being recorded by the tree ring grown. However wavelet analysis shows that these are present only sparsely. Short-term variations, between 2-5 years, are also present in tree ring data, and are shown by wavelet maps to be a more permanent characteristic. This time scale is a signature of ENSO events. Long-term variations, above 200 years, are also present in tree ring data. The spectral analysis performed in this work shows that this species has the ability to record solar-ENSO variations that seems to be affecting the local environment of tree growth, and also that this region was influenced by ENSO events at least in the past 2500 yr interval covered by this study

Estudo da curva de crescimento de bubalinos da raça Murrah criados no estado do Rio Grande do Sul.

Objetivou-se identificar um modelo, dentre oito citados na literatura, que melhor descreva a curva de crescimento de bubalinos da raça Murrah criados no estado de Rio Grande do Sul. Foram utilizadas informações de 42 machos e 48 fêmeas da raça Murrah, nascidos entre 2009 e 2011, totalizando 624 pares de registros peso-idade do nascimento até 750 dias de idades. Os parâmetros dos modelos foram estimados por meio de regressão não-linear pelo procedimento NLIN (SAS system), utilizando-se o método de Gauss Newton. Os critérios para a escolha do melhor ajuste foram: o quadrado médio dos resíduos (QMR), o desvio médio absoluto (DMA), o índice e a avaliação visual do gráfico dos valores observados e estimados. Com base no do QMR, DMA e o índice, constatou-se que o modelo Richards (1959) apresentou melhor ajuste, seguido pelo modelo Von Bertalanffy (1957). Com isto, o modelo Richards (1959) dentre os testados foi capaz de descrever o crescimento de búfalos da raça Murrah criados no estado do Rio Grande do Sul