Melhoramento da cana-de-açúcar: IX: evaluation of clones obtained in 1980 and 1981 hybridizations, selected in Ribeirão Preto region, state of São Paulo, Brazil Sugarcane breeding: IX

Testaram-se doze clones de cana-de-açúcar, obtidos de hibridações realizadas em Camamu (BA), em 1980 e 1981, em três ensaios na região de Ribeirão Preto (SP). Além do delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com seis repetições, efetuou-se a análise estatística com a média das três colheitas (1.&deg;, 2.&deg; e 3.&deg; cortes), tomando as variedades SP70-1143, NA56-79 e IAC64-257 como testemunhas-padrão. Entre os caracteres agroindustriais avaliados estão: a produtividade de cana e açúcar, pol % cana, fibra %, intensidade de florescimento, índice de infestação de broca-do-colmo (Diatraea saccharalis) e a reação à ferrugem (Puccinia melanocephala). O melhor clone foi o IAC80-2094, indicado para início de safra, com boa produção e bom teor de fibra, mas de florescimento intenso e suscetibilidade à ferrugem. O IAC81-2004 também apresentou bons resultados, caracterizando-se como precoce, com bom teor de fibra e boa resistência à broca-do-colmo. Em condições naturais de campo, porém, sua desvantagem é a grande incidência de "chicotes" de carvão. Apesar de ambos os clones apresentarem características agroindustriais vantajosas, desaconselha-se que sejam incluídos no estudo de manejo parietal para outras regiões paulistas, em função dos problemas fitossanitários citados.<br>A number of sugarcane clones obtained in crosses made in 1980 and 1981, was tested in three locations with Oxisol soils at Ribeirão Preto region. The commercial varieties SP70-1143, NA56-79 and IAC64-257 were used as controls in trials and evaluated for agricultural and industrial traits on the average of three harvests. The best clone in the experiments was IAC80-2094, which has been indicated for early harvest period with good yield and fiber content, but with heavy tasseling and susceptibility to rust. Other early maturing clone was IAC81-2004, which showes good fiber content and stem borer tolerance, however it does show, in natural conditions in the field, frequent symptoms of rust. Thus, in spite of both clones show superior agricultural and industrial traits, these problems of diseases above mentioned do not recommend their inclusions in the varietal management for other regions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Afatinib vs Placebo as Adjuvant Therapy After Chemoradiotherapy in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: A Randomized Clinical Trial

ImportanceLocoregionally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is treated curatively; however, risk of recurrence remains high among some patients. The ERBB family blocker afatinib has shown efficacy in recurrent or metastatic HNSCC. ObjectiveTo assess whether afatinib therapy after definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) improves disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with HNSCC. Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis multicenter, phase 3, double-blind randomized clinical trial (LUX-Head & Neck 2) studied 617 patients from November 2, 2011, to July 4, 2016. Patients who had complete response after CRT, comprising radiotherapy with cisplatin or carboplatin, with or without resection of residual disease, for locoregionally advanced high- or intermediate-risk HNSCC of the oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx, or oropharynx were included in the study. Data analysis was of the intention-to-treat population. InterventionsPatients were randomized (2:1) to treatment with afatinib (40 mg/d) or placebo, stratified by nodal status (N0-2a or N2b-3) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0 or 1). Treatment continued for 18 months or until disease recurrence, unacceptable adverse events, or patient withdrawal. Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary end point was DFS, defined as time from the date of randomization to the date of tumor recurrence or secondary primary tumor or death from any cause. Secondary end points were DFS at 2 years, overall survival (defined as time from the date of randomization to death), and health-related quality of life. ResultsA total of 617 patients were studied (mean [SD] age, 58 [8.4] years; 528 male [85.6%]). Recruitment was stopped after a preplanned interim futility analysis on July 4, 2016, on recommendation from an independent data monitoring committee. Treatment was discontinued. Median DFS was 43.4 months (95% CI, 37.4 months to not estimable) in the afatinib group and not estimable (95% CI, 40.1 months to not estimable) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.81-1.57; stratified log-rank test P=.48). The most common grade 3 and 4 drug-related adverse effects were acneiform rash (61 [14.8%] of 411 patients in the afatinib group vs 1 [0.5%] of 206 patients in the placebo group), stomatitis (55 [13.4%] in the afatinib group vs 1 [0.5%] in the placebo group), and diarrhea (32 [7.8%] in the afatinib group vs 1 [0.5%] in the placebo group). Conclusions and RelevanceThis study's findings indicate that treatment with afatinib after CRT did not improve DFS and was associated with more adverse events than placebo in patients with primary, unresected, clinically high- to intermediate-risk HNSCC. The use of adjuvant afatinib after CRT is not recommended. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01345669Experimentele farmacotherapi

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora