Evidence towards the involvement of nitric oxide in drought tolerance of sugarcane

© 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS Exogenous supply of nitric oxide (NO) increases drought tolerance in sugarcane plants. However, little is known about the role of NO produced by plants under water deficit. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that drought-tolerance in sugarcane is associated with NO production and metabolism, with the more drought-tolerant genotype presenting higher NO accumulation in plant tissues. The sugarcane genotypes IACSP95-5000 (drought-tolerant) and IACSP97-7065 (drought-sensitive) were submitted to water deficit by adding polyethylene glycol (PEG-8000) in nutrient solution to reduce the osmotic potential to−0.4MPa. To evaluate short-time responses to water deficit, leaf and root samples were taken after 24h under water deficit. The drought-tolerant genotype presented higher root extracellular NO content, which was accompanied by higher root nitrate reductase (NR) activity as compared to the drought-sensitive genotype under water deficit. In addition, the drought-tolerant genotype had higher leaf intracellular NO content than the drought-sensitive one. IACSP95-5000 exhibited decreases in root S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR) activity under water deficit, suggesting that S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) is less degraded and that the drought-tolerant genotype has a higher natural reservoir of NO than the drought-sensitive one. Those differences in intracellular and extracellular NO contents and enzymatic activities were associated with higher leaf hydration in the drought-tolerant genotype as compared to the sensitive one under water deficit

Atomic electrostatic maps of point defects in MoS2

In this study, we use differential phase contrast images obtained by scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with computer simulations to map the atomic electrostatic fields of MoS2 monolayers and investigate the effect of sulphur monovacancies and divancancies on the atomic electric field and total charge distribution. A significant redistribution of the electric field in the regions containing defects is observed, with a progressive decrease in the strength of the projected electric field for each sulphur atom removed from its position. The electric field strength at the sulphur monovacancy sites is reduced by approximately 50% and nearly vanishes at the divacancy sites, where it drops to around 15% of the original value, demonstrating the tendency of these defects to attract positively charged ions or particles. In addition, the absence of the sulphur atoms leads to an inversion in the polarity of the total charge distribution in these regions.The authors would like to acknowledge that this project has received funding from the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation H2020, Scheme COFUND-Cofunding of Regional, National and International Programs, under grant agreement no. 713640. This work was supported by FCT, through IDMEC, under LAETA, project no. UIDB/50022/2020. R.M.R. acknowledges the FCT grant UIDB/FIS/04650/2020-2023. D.A. acknowledges the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) through the Army Research Office (W911NF-16-1-0277) and a National Science Foundation grant (ECCS-1809017). R.M.R. acknowledges support by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Funding UIDB/04650/2020

Anatomical and physiological responses of citrus trees to varying boron availability are dependent on rootstock

In Citrus, water, nutrient transport and thereby fruit production, are influenced among other factors, by the interaction between rootstock and boron (B) nutrition. This study aimed to investigate how B affects the anatomical structure of roots and leaves as well as leaf gas exchange in sweet orange trees grafted on two contrasting rootstocks in response to B supply. Plants grafted on Swingle citrumelo or Sunki mandarin were grown in a nutrient solution of varying B concentration (deficient, adequate, and excessive). Those grafted on Swingle were more tolerant to both B deficiency and toxicity than those on Sunki, as revealed by higher shoot and root growth. In addition, plants grafted on Sunki exhibited more severe anatomical and physiological damages under B deficiency, showing thickening of xylem cell walls and impairments in whole plant leaf -specific hydraulic conductance and leaf CO2 assimilation. Our data revealed that trees grafted on Swingle sustain better growth under low B availablitlity in the root medium and still respond positively to increased B levels by combining higher B absorption and root growth as well as better organization of xylem vessels. Taken together, those traits improved water and B transport to the plant canopy. Under B toxicity, Swingle rootstock would also favor plant growth by reducing anatomical and ultrastructural damage to leaf tissue and improving water transport compared with plants grafted on Sunki. From a practical point of view, our results highlight that B management in citrus orchards shall take into account rootstock varieties, of which the Swingle rootstock was characterized by its performance on regulating anatomical and ultrastructural damages, improving water transport and limiting negative impacts of B stress conditions on plant growth7CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESPnão tem2010/52154-3; 2011/21226-

Letalidade do acidente de trânsito na modernista Palmas/TO: uma abordagem econométrica

The capital of Tocantins, Palmas, has occupied a prominent position on the national scene because of their indicators of traffic accident. This problematic opposes its urban planning, given that the municipality has hierarchical and ample road traits. This article aims, from the Ordered Logit Model to predict the incidence of traffic accidents in the capital of Tocantins according to their severity. It was observed that the factors that contribute to increase the chance of having a fatal victim are: standard type and speed of the track, being a woman, dark-colored vehicle, transit without signaling, early Sunday morning, less education, being younger, not being single and the older the vehicle.En Palmas / A, lo que contradice el ideal modernista que da a grandes rasgos y la jerarquía vial, los desastres viales tienen los residentes asustados. Este artículo pretende, a partir del modelo logit ordenado para predecir la incidencia de los accidentes de tráfico en la capital de Tocantins en función de su gravedad. Los factores que contribuyen al aumento en la probabilidad de tener una víctima fatal son: tipo estándar y la velocidad de la pista, ser mujer, el color oscuro de la circulación de vehículos sin señalización, la madrugada del domingo, menos educación, siendo más joven, no ser soltera y mayor sea el vehículo.A capital do Tocantins, Palmas, tem ocupado posição de destaque no cenário nacional em virtude de seus indicadores de acidente de trânsito. Essa problemática se opõe ao seu planejamento urbano, já que o município apresenta traços viários hierarquizados e amplos. Este artigo objetiva, a partir do Modelo Logit Ordenado, prever a incidência de acidentes de trânsito na capital do Tocantins de acordo com sua gravidade. Observou-se que os fatores que contribuem para o aumento da chance de haver vítima fatal são: tipo e padrão de velocidade da via, ser mulher, a cor escura do veículo, trânsito sem sinalização, a madrugada de domingo, menor grau de escolaridade, ser mais jovem, não ser solteiro e quanto mais antigo for o veículo

Dectin-1 Activation Exacerbates Obesity and Insulin Resistance in the Absence of MyD88

This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, grant numbers 11/15682-4, 12/02270-2, 15/18121-4), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Regenera INCT Process Grant 465656/2014-5). JL is funded by the NIH/NIDDK R01DK106210. GDB is funded by the Wellcome Trust and the MRC Centre for Medical Mycology. Open access journalPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Magnetoliposomes incorporated in peptide-based hydrogels: towards development of magnetolipogels

A major problem with magnetogels is the encapsulation of hydrophobic drugs. Magnetoliposomes not only provide these domains but also improve drug stability and avert the aggregation of the magnetic nanoparticles. In this work, two magnetoliposome architectures, solid and aqueous, were combined with supramolecular peptide-based hydrogels, which are of biomedical interest owing to their biocompatibility, easy tunability, and wide array of applications. This proof-of-concept was carried out through combination of magnetoliposomes (loaded with the model drug curcumin and the lipid probe Nile Red) with the hydrogels prior to pH triggered gelation, and fluorescence spectroscopy was used to assess the dynamics of the encapsulated molecules. These systems allow for the encapsulation of a wider array of drugs. Further, the local environment of the encapsulated molecules after gelation is unaffected by the used magnetoliposome architecture. This system design is promising for future developments on drug delivery as it provides a means to independently modify the components and adapt and optimize the design according to the required conditions.FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(UIDB/00686/2020

Optimization of sample unit size for sampling stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in soybean

Cost-effective and reliable sampling procedures are crucial for integrated pest management. Sweep net sampling is commonly used for stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in soybean, with sample size being the number of sets of sweeps, and sample unit size the number of sweeps in each set. Sample unit size has received little attention, but can affect sampling parameters. Here, two sample unit sizes (10 vs. 25 sweeps) were compared for the sampling of stink bug taxa. On average, sampling for stink bugs took 3.6 more minutes with the 25-sweep than with the 10-sweep sample unit size. Generally, estimates of the mean number of stink bugs per sweep were similar between the two sample unit sizes for Euschistus spp. and Chinavia hilaris combined (“combined herbivores”) and Euschistus spp. The 25-sweep sample unit size had a higher probability of detecting combined herbivores, Euschistus spp. and Podisus spp., lower standard errors and relative variance for combined herbivores and Euschistus spp., lower standard errors for C. hilaris, and higher relative net precision [which accounts for sampling cost (i.e., time)] for combined herbivores and Euschistus spp. Taken together, the better probability of detection, precision and efficiency of the 25-sweep sample unit size support the continued use of sampling plans developed for that sample unit size. The optimization of sample unit sizes is an important factor that should be accounted for in the development of sampling plans

INTOXICAÇÃO EXPERIMENTAL COM DOSES ÚNICAS DE FRUTOS DE Hovenia dulcis (UVA-DO-JAPÃO) EM OVINOS

A intoxicação pelos frutos de Hovenia dulcis (uva-do-japão), árvore comum na região Oeste de Santa Catarina, é relatada em bovinos e ovinos, entretanto, na literatura há a comprovação da intoxicação apenas em bovinos. Nos últimos tempos vem sendo relatada por veterinários e produtores rurais a ocorrência de intoxicação em ovinos, mas sem comprovação científica dos efeitos tóxicos. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito tóxico de H. dulcis na espécie ovina, caracterizando o quadro clínico e patológico, bem como definir a dose tóxica. Para o experimento foram utilizadas duas fêmeas ovinas, sem raça definida, com fornecimento de doses únicas de frutos de H. dulcis frescos: Ovelha 1 – 70 Kg peso vivo (PV), consumo de 6,4g/kg em dose única e Ovelha 2 – 65 Kg PV, consumo de 13,46g/kg em dose única. Os animais foram mantidos em baias individuais de 2 m² com livre acesso à água e alimentação à base de concentrado e volumoso. Os animais foram avaliados para parâmetros clínicos (frequência cardíaca, respiratória, movimentos ruminais e comportamento), líquido ruminal (pH, tempo de sedimentação e redução do azul de metileno) e urinários (urinálise).  Foi observada diminuição do pH do líquido ruminal dos animais tratados; o animal 1, 24 horas após ingestão dos frutos, apresentou redução do pH de 6,9 para 5,99. O animal 2, que consumiu uma dose maior de frutos, 36h após fornecimento, apresentou redução do pH para 6,56 versus 7,23. Os animais tratados não apresentaram alterações clínicas e comportamentais e os parâmetros urinários se mantiveram normais. Por meio dos dados de pH , onclui-se que frutos de H. dulcis em doses únicas de 6,4g/Kg e 13,46g/Kg alteram o pH ruminal causando acidose.Palavras-chave: Ovinos. Hovenia dulcis. Intoxicação experimental. Acidose

MazeLogic: Jogo Educacional para Ensino de Lógica de Programação

Resumo. A área de jogos educacionais tem crescido de forma exponencial noBrasil e no mundo, pois estes têm sido usados por muitos alunos como objetode aprendizagem. Os jogos apresentam o conhecimento de modo divertido elúdico e pode ser aplicado a qualquer área e assunto. Este trabalho destina-seao desenvolvimento de um jogo educacional para ensino-aprendizagem para adisciplina de Lógica de Programação.Palavras-chave: Ensino aprendizagem, Jogo Educacional, Lógica deProgramação