AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION IN AGROFORESTRY ANDEMPOWERMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITIES, INSOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

N° ISBN - 978-2-7380-1284-5International audienceThis paper aims to promote the dissemination of agroforestry systems in southeastern Brazil, through techniques of innovative extension in order to stimulate small family farmer in the transition from traditional agriculture towards agroecology, based on agroforestry systems that insure the increase of product diversity and income, associated to ecological sustainability. The project is based on participatory methodologies, such as diagnosis, reflection, discussion and training of social pacts. The project is being developed in rural settlements around the National Forest of Ipanema in Iperó/SP, Brazil. . Of the total of 150 families, about 40 participated in the project. Six young people were selected from the community to act as multiplier monitors. Exchange visits allowed them to share real experiences with rural farmers and to observe community organization and production in agroforestry. From a participatory diagnosis, farmers cited the species they would like to plant. Since only exotic species were cited in the diagnosis, the project prepared an illustrative material with native species. Planning workshops were held where farmers laid down the species and combinations that they would like to deploy. Thereafter, the demonstration units were deployed in the monitors' areas with exotic agricultural species and native species of medium and long cycle. It is believed that the project objectives have been achieved because, currently, several new voluntary initiatives to diversify production and deploy agroforestry are seen

In vitro evaluation of different prebiotics on the modulation of gut microbiota composition and function in morbid obese and normal-weight subjects

The gut microbiota remains relatively stable during adulthood; however, certain intrinsic and environmental factors can lead to microbiota dysbiosis. Its restoration towards a healthy condition using best-suited prebiotics requires previous development of in vitro models for evaluating their functionality. Herein, we carried out fecal cultures with microbiota from healthy normal-weight and morbid obese adults. Cultures were supplemented with different inulin-type fructans (1-kestose, Actilight, P95, Synergy1 and Inulin) and a galactooligosaccharide. Their impact on the gut microbiota was assessed by monitoring gas production and evaluating changes in the microbiota composition (qPCR and 16S rRNA gene profiling) and metabolic activity (gas chromatography). Additionally, the effect on the bifidobacterial species was assessed (ITS-sequencing). Moreover, the functionality of the microbiota before and after prebiotic-modulation was determined in an in vitro model of interaction with an intestinal cell line. In general, 1-kestose was the compound showing the largest effects. The modulation with prebiotics led to significant increases in the Bacteroides group and Faecalibacterium in obese subjects, whereas in normal-weight individuals, substantial rises in Bifidobacterium and Faecalibacterium were appreciated. Notably, the results obtained showed differences in the responses among the tested compounds but also among the studied human populations, indicating the need for developing population-specific products

“Nor ever lightning char thy grain”1: establishing archaeologically relevant charring conditions and their effect on glume wheat grain morphology

Charring is the most ubiquitous form of preservation of plant material on archaeological sites, occurring wherever people use heat. The usefulness of preserved seeds for a range of analytical techniques is dependent on the conditions under which they were heated. In this study, we investigate the effect of experimental heating on two types of glume wheat grain (einkorn and emmer) under a range of conditions, with the intention of establishing the likely parameters for the generation of virtually undamaged, undistorted charred cereal grain on archaeological sites. The results show that grain morphology is very sensitive to the charring conditions, especially temperature, and that well preserved grains with little distortion are produced at relatively low temperatures (220–240°C). The implications of these findings for the study of grain morphology, biomolecules and chemical composition are assessed

Hypoxia upregulates expression of human endosialin gene via hypoxia-inducible factor 2

Endosialin is a transmembrane glycoprotein selectively expressed in blood vessels and stromal fibroblasts of various human tumours. It has been functionally implicated in angiogenesis, but the factors that control its expression have remained unclear. As insufficient delivery of oxygen is a driving force of angiogenesis in growing tumours, we investigated whether hypoxia regulates endosialin expression. Here, we demonstrate that endosialin gene transcription is induced by hypoxia predominantly through a mechanism involving hypoxia-inducible factor-2 (HIF-2) cooperating with the Ets-1 transcription factor. We show that HIF-2 activates the endosialin promoter both directly, through binding to a hypoxia-response element adjacent to an Ets-binding site in the distal part of the upstream regulatory region, and indirectly, through Ets-1 and its two cognate elements in the proximal promoter. Our data also suggest that the SP1 transcription factor mediates responsiveness of the endosialin promoter to high cell density. These findings elucidate important aspects of endosialin gene regulation and provide a rational frame for future investigations towards better understanding of its biological significance