Isolation of N-(2-Methyl-3-oxodecanoyl)pyrrole and N-(2-Methyl-3-oxodec-8-enoyl)pyrrole, Two New Natural Products from Penicillium brevicompactum, and Synthesis of Analogues with Insecticiidal and Fungicidal Activity

[EN] Two new natural products have been isolated from culture broth of Penicillium brevicompactum Dierckx. The structures have be en assigned as N-(2-methyl-3-oxodecanoyl)pyrrole and N-(2-methyl-3-oxodec-8-enoyl)pyrrole on the basis of spectral data. Synthesis of analogues has been carried out by acylation of the pyrrole ring at Ct with different acylated Meldrum's acids. Two analogues (6b and 7b) have shown interesting insecticidal activities, and three other ones (6a, 6c, and 7a) have exhibited significant broad-spectrum fungicidal activities. These synthetic products might be considered as a starting point in the search for new pesticides.Cantin Sanz, A.; Moya, P.; Miranda Alonso, MÁ.; Primo Millo, J.; Primo Yufera, E. (1998). Isolation of N-(2-Methyl-3-oxodecanoyl)pyrrole and N-(2-Methyl-3-oxodec-8-enoyl)pyrrole, Two New Natural Products from Penicillium brevicompactum, and Synthesis of Analogues with Insecticiidal and Fungicidal Activity. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 46(11):4748-4753. doi:10.1021/jf9800763S47484753461

PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVE COVERINGS FOR COOLING TOWERS IN BRAZILIAN CAPITALS THROUGH NUMERICAL MODELING

A cooling tower is a heat removal device used to transfer waste heat to the atmosphere process. Today, commercial cooling towers use plastic coverings, specially developed for this application. It is known that alternative coverings have been an increasingly viable solution thanks to its performance and cost. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, through numerical simulation, the performance of different alternative coverings under different climatic conditions. Therefore, we used, as reference, the climate of the state capitals and their respective geographic regions. The performance of these coverings was evaluated through observation of three parameters: effectiveness, approach and cooling. The main input data used by the software EES (Engineering Equation Solver) for the calculation of evaluation parameters were: experimental NUT of each covering, average local temperature, local air pressure and relative humidity. The flow of water and air were set at 0.33 L / s and 170 L / s, respectively. We concluded that the air inlet temperature and relative humidity at each location greatly influence the performance of the coverings. The alternative covering that showed the best results was the "cross-fiber and neck", with an efficiency about 35% lower than the industrial covering. The Brazilian capital city with the best performances for alternative coverings was Palmas (TO). This is due to the very low relative humidity found in the city in the summer. Air humidity is also responsible for the poor performance of coverings in the capitals of the North. In general, the region with the best performance was the South, due to the characteristics of the sub-tropical climate. Regions that had the worst results were North / Northeast because of the weather that combines high temperatures with high / moderate humidity, respectively. Thus, the study of climate conditions is indispensable for the operation prevision of a cooling tower. Alternative coverings will be viable depending on the location

AIP1 is a novel Agenet/Tudor domain protein from Arabidopsis that interacts with regulators of DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling

Background: DNA replication and transcription are dynamic processes regulating plant development that are dependent on the chromatin accessibility. Proteins belonging to the Agenet/Tudor domain family are known as histone modification "readers" and classified as chromatin remodeling proteins. Histone modifications and chromatin remodeling have profound effects on gene expression as well as on DNA replication, but how these processes are integrated has not been completely elucidated. It is clear that members of the Agenet/Tudor family are important regulators of development playing roles not well known in plants. Methods: Bioinformatics and phylogenetic analyses of the Agenet/Tudor Family domain in the plant kingdom were carried out with sequences from available complete genomes databases. 3D structure predictions of Agenet/Tudor domains were calculated by I-TASSER server. Protein interactions were tested in two-hybrid, GST pulldown, semi-in vivo pulldown and Tandem Affinity Purification assays. Gene function was studied in a T-DNA insertion GABI-line. Results: In the present work we analyzed the family of Agenet/Tudor domain proteins in the plant kingdom and we mapped the organization of this family throughout plant evolution. Furthermore, we characterized a member from Arabidopsis thaliana named AIP1 that harbors Agenet/Tudor and DUF724 domains. AIP1 interacts with ABAP1, a plant regulator of DNA replication licensing and gene transcription, with a plant histone modification "reader" (LHP1) and with non modified histones. AIP1 is expressed in reproductive tissues and its down-regulation delays flower development timing. Also, expression of ABAP1 and LHP1 target genes were repressed in flower buds of plants with reduced levels of AIP1. Conclusions: AIP1 is a novel Agenet/Tudor domain protein in plants that could act as a link between DNA replication, transcription and chromatin remodeling during flower development

Dissipative Optomechanics in High-Frequency Nanomechanical Resonators

The coherent transduction of information between microwave and optical domains is a fundamental building block for future quantum networks. A promising way to bridge these widely different frequencies is using high-frequency nanomechanical resonators interacting with low-loss optical modes. State-of-the-art optomechanical devices rely on purely dispersive interactions that are enhanced by a large photon population in the cavity. Additionally, one could use dissipative optomechanics, where photons can be scattered directly from a waveguide into a resonator hence increasing the degree of control of the acousto-optic interplay. Hitherto, such dissipative optomechanical interaction was only demonstrated at low mechanical frequencies, precluding prominent applications such as the quantum state transfer between photonic and phononic domains. Here, we show the first dissipative optomechanical system operating in the sideband-resolved regime, where the mechanical frequency is larger than the optical linewidth. Exploring this unprecedented regime, we demonstrate the impact of dissipative optomechanical coupling in reshaping both mechanical and optical spectra. Our figures represent a two-order-of-magnitude leap in the mechanical frequency and a tenfold increase in the dissipative optomechanical coupling rate compared to previous works. Further advances could enable the individual addressing of mechanical modes and help mitigate optical nonlinearities and absorption in optomechanical devices.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, supplemental materia

Bionate biocompatibility: in vivo study in rabbits

Response to foreign materials includes local tissue reaction, osteolysis, implant loosening, and migration to lymph nodes and organs. Bionate 80A human explants show minor wear and slight local tissue reaction, but we do not know the response at the spinal cord, nerve roots, lymph nodes, or distant organs. This study aims to figure out reactions against Bionate 80A when implanted at the spinal epidural space of 24 20-week-old New Zealand white rabbits. In one group of 12 rabbits, we implanted Bionate 80A on the spinal epidural space, and another group of 12 rabbits was used as the control group. We studied tissues, organs, and tissue damage markers on blood biochemistry, urine tests, and necropsy. The animals' clinical parameters and weight showed no statistically significant differences. At 3 months, the basophils increased slightly in the implant group, platelets decreased in all, and at 6 months, implanted animals showed slight eosinophilia, but none of these changes was statistically significant. External, organ, and spinal tissue examination showed neither toxic reaction, inflammatory changes, or noticeable differences between groups or survival periods. Under microscopic examination, the Bionate 80A particles induced a chronic granulomatous response always outside the dura mater, with giant multinucleated cells holding phagocytized particles and no particle migration to lymph nodes or organs. Thus, it was concluded that Bionate particles, when implanted in the rabbit lumbar epidural space, do not generate a significant reaction limited to the surrounding soft tissues with giant multinucleated cells. In addition, the particles did not cross the dura mater or migrate to lymph nodes or organs

Field Efficacy of a Metarhizium anisopliae-Based Attractant Contaminant Device to Control Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae)

[EN] Biological control of Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) using entomopathogenic fungi is being studied as a viable control strategy. The efficacy of a Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae)-based attractant contaminant device (ACD) to control C. capitata was evaluated in a medium-scale (40 ha) 2-yr field trial using a density of 24 ACD per ha. Results showed that this density was adequate to efficiently reduce fruitfly populations and that the inoculation dishes (IDs) needed replacing mid-season to provide protection for the entire season. In this study, fungal treatment was even more effective than conventional chemical treatment. Population dynamics in fungus-treated fields along with the infectivity study of field-aged IDs in the laboratory found that the ACD remained effective for at least 3 mo. The results suggest M. anisopliae-based ACD can be used to control C. capitata in the field. The implications of its use, especially as a tool in an integrated pest management program, are discussed.We thank Hellen Warbunton for editing the manuscript. This work was partially supported by the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias (INIA; Proyect: RTA03-103-C6-4) and the Comision Espanola Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT; Proyect: AGL2006-13346-C02-02).Navarro-Llopis, V.; Ayala Mingol, I.; Sanchis Cabanes, J.; Primo Millo, J.; Moya Sanz, MDP. (2015). Field Efficacy of a Metarhizium anisopliae-Based Attractant Contaminant Device to Control Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Journal of Economic Entomology. 108(4):1570-1578. doi:10.1093/jee/tov157S15701578108

Consumo de carboidratos totais e de carboidratos não fibrosos em ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo soro de leite bovino.

Objetivou-se com o presente estudo, determinar o consumo de carboidratos totais e de carboidratos não fibrosos em ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo SLB em níveis crescentes