Plant Single-Cell Metabolomics—Challenges and Perspectives

Omics approaches for investigating biological systems were introduced in the mid-1990s and quickly consolidated to become a fundamental pillar of modern biology. The idea of measuring the whole complement of genes, transcripts, proteins, and metabolites has since become widespread and routinely adopted in the pursuit of an infinity of scientific questions. Incremental improvements over technical aspects such as sampling, sensitivity, cost, and throughput pushed even further the boundaries of what these techniques can achieve. In this context, single-cell genomics and transcriptomics quickly became a well-established tool to answer fundamental questions challenging to assess at a whole tissue level. Following a similar trend as the original development of these techniques, proteomics alternatives for single-cell exploration have become more accessible and reliable, whilst metabolomics lag behind the rest. This review summarizes state-of-the-art technologies for spatially resolved metabolomics analysis, as well as the challenges hindering the achievement of sensu stricto metabolome coverage at the single-cell level. Furthermore, we discuss several essential contributions to understanding plant single-cell metabolism, finishing with our opinion on near-future developments and relevant scientific questions that will hopefully be tackled by incorporating these new exciting technologies

Comunicação e cuidados paliativos em demência: revisão de 5 anos

Demência é uma condição de prevalência crescente na população mundial, de grande correlação com o envelhecimento. Nós revisamos artigos sobre comunicação e cuidados paliativos em pacientes com demência, seus familiares e cuidadores publicados nos últimos 5 anos. Objetivamos sintetizar as principais estratégias de comunicação nessa população específica, de modo a entender melhor seus desejos e necessidades.Dementia is a increasingly prevalent disease in the world’s population. We reviewed the last 5-years articles in communication and palliative care in patients with dementia, their families and their caregivers. Our objective was to summarize the main strategies of communication in this specific population, in order to understand their desires and need

ACCELERATED CORROSION TEST FOR THE QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF CORROSION IN CONCRETE

This paper is devoted to simulate the behavior of reinforced concrete in saline solution through the accelerated corrosion test. During this test, this method was evaluating the behavior of the steel bars that reinforce concrete for corrosion, according to the NACE 0775 standard. After the corrosion test, the steel bars were cleaned and dried according to the ASTM A380 standard and evaluated according to the NACE RP 0775, NACE SP0308, and NACE SP0187 standards. From the results obtained, the steel bars concrete showedhigh corrosion rates with structural impairment of the metal armor according to the NACE standards

CONCRETO ESTRUTURAL COM ADIÇÃO DE FIBRAS VEGETAIS

Este trabalho apresenta o resultado da adição de fibras vegetais de bambu e cana-deaçúcar nas propriedades mecânicas do concreto. Para este trabalho foram confeccionados corpos-de-prova cilíndricos e prismáticos nos quais foram adicionados 2% e 5% em volume das fibras à massa do concreto. Após a cura, conforme NBR 5738 (2003) [1], os mesmos foram testados via ensaios de resistência à compressão conforme NBR 5739 (2007) [2], resistência à tração por compressão diametral, conforme NBR 7222 (2011) [3], resistência à tração na flexão conforme NBR 12142 (2010) [4] e módulo de elasticidade estático, conforme NBR 8522(2008) [5]. Verificou-se após os testes que todos os concretos produzidos atenderam a resistência mínima a compressão de 20 MPa, recomendado pela NBR 6118 (2003) [6] para fins estruturais

CONCRETO ESTRUTURAL COM ADIÇÃO DE FIBRAS VEGETAIS

Este trabalho apresenta o resultado da adição de fibras vegetais de bambu e cana-de-açúcar nas propriedades mecânicas do concreto. Para este trabalho foram confeccionados corpos-de-prova cilíndricos e prismáticos nos quais foram adicionados 2% e 5% em volume das fibras à massa do concreto. Após a cura, conforme NBR 5738 (2003) [1], os mesmos foram testados via ensaios de resistência à compressão conforme NBR 5739 (2007) [2], resistência à tração por compressão diametral, conforme NBR 7222 (2011) [3], resistência à tração na flexão conforme NBR 12142 (2010) [4] e módulo de elasticidade estático, conforme NBR 8522(2008) [5]. Verificou-se após os testes que todos os concretos produzidos atenderam a resistência mínima a compressão de 20 MPa, recomendado pela NBR 6118 (2003) [6] para fins estruturais

Synthetic biology identifies the minimal gene set required for paclitaxel biosynthesis in a plant chassis

The diterpenoid paclitaxel (Taxol) is a chemotherapy medication widely used as a first-line treatment against several types of solid cancers. The supply of paclitaxel from natural sources is limited. However, missing knowledge about the genes involved in several specific metabolic steps of paclitaxel biosynthesis has rendered it difficult to engineer the full pathway. In this study, we used a combination of transcriptomics, cell biology, metabolomics, and pathway reconstitution to identify the complete gene set required for the heterologous production of paclitaxel. We identified the missing steps from the current model of paclitaxel biosynthesis and confirmed the activity of most of the missing enzymes via heterologous expression in Nicotiana benthamiana. Notably, we identified a new C4β-C20 epoxidase that could overcome the first bottleneck of metabolic engineering. We used both previously characterized and newly identified oxomutases/epoxidases, taxane 1β-hydroxylase, taxane 9α-hydroxylase, taxane 9α-dioxygenase, and phenylalanine-CoA ligase, to successfully biosynthesize the key intermediate baccatin III and to convert baccatin III into paclitaxel in N. benthamiana. In combination, these approaches establish a metabolic route to taxoid biosynthesis and provide insights into the unique chemistry that plants use to generate complex bioactive metabolites

Forest Health in the Southern Cone of America: State of the Art and Perspectives on Regional Efforts

The plantation and natural forests of South America have been highly impacted by native and exotic pests in recent decades. The interaction of emerging invasive pests, climate change, and timber markets will define the region’s forests, with significant but uncertain ecological changes and economic losses expected. The Southern Cone Forest Health Group (SCFHG), a joint ad hoc initiative run by forest health professionals from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay, aims to strengthen relationships between the forestry industry, stakeholders, academia, and government agencies across the region. Here, we highlight regional strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities to address forest health issues in the region. A regional approach with a strong communication network is relevant for future actions. In the current global scenario of invasive species and climate change, the implementation of practices that incorporate the resilience of forest ecosystems and sustainable management needs to be prioritized in forest policy across the region. Understanding that pests and pathogens do not recognize borders, we call on governments and organizations to support joint actions with agreements and adequate resources to enhance our regional capabilities.Estación Experimental Agropecuaria BarilocheFil: Villacide, Jose Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area de Recursos Forestales. Grupo de Ecologia de Poblaciones de Insectos; ArgentinaFil: Villacide, Jose Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Gomez, Demian F. Texas A&M Forest Service; Estados UnidosFil: Perez, Carlos Alberto. Universidad de la República Paysandú. Facultad de Agronomia; UruguayFil: Corley, Juan Carlos. Instituto Nacional de Tecnologia Agropecuaria (INTA). Estacion Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Area de Recursos Forestales. Grupo de Ecologia de Poblaciones de Insectos; ArgentinaFil: Corley, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Corley, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Departamento de Ecologia; ArgentinaFil: Ahumada, Rodrigo. Bioforest S.A. División de Silvicultura y Sanidad; ChileFil: Rodrigues Barbosa, Leonardo. Embrapa Florestas. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária; BrasilFil: Furtado, Edson Luiz. Universidade Estadual Paulista. Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas Botucatu. Departamento de Proteção Vegetal; BrasilFil: Gonzalez, Andres. Universidad de la Republica. Facultad de Quimica; UruguayFil: Ramirez, Nazaret. Área Productividad de las Plantaciones. I&D.Montes del Plata; UruguayFil: Balmelli, Gustavo. Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria. Sistema Forestal; UruguayFil: Dias de Souza, Caroline. Instituto de Pesquisas e Estudos Florestais. Programa Cooperativo Sobre Proteção Florestal; BrasilFil: Martinez, Gonzalo. Instituto Nacional de Investigacion Agropecuaria. Sistema Forestal; Urugua

Daily melatonin administration improves osseointegration in pinealectomized rats

The hypothesis of this study was that the peri-implant bone healing of the group of pinealectomized rats would differ from the control group. The samples were subjected to immunohistochemical, microtomographic (total porosity and connectivity density), and fluorochrome (mineralized surface) analyses. Objectives: The goal of this study was to investigate the cellular changes and bone remodeling dynamics along the bone/implant interface in pinealectomized rats. Material and Methods: The total of 18 adult male rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar) was divided into three groups (n=6): control (CO), pinealectomized without melatonin (PNX) and pinealectomized with melatonin (PNXm). All animals were submitted to the first surgery (pinealectomy), except the CO group. Thirty days after the pinealectomy without melatonin, the second surgery was conducted, in which all animals received an implant in each tibia (36 titanium implants with surface treatment were installed – Implalife® São Paulo, SP, Brazil). By gavage, the rats of the PNX group received the vehicle solution, and the procedure. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis for runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OP) and osteocalcin (OC) showed that the bone repair process in the PNXm group was similar to that of the CO group, whereas the PNX group showed a delay. The microtomographic parameters of total porosity [Po(tot)] and bone surface (BS) showed no statistically significant differences, whereas for the connective density (Conn.Dn) a statistical difference was found between the CO and PNXm groups. Fluorochrome analysis of the active mineralized surface showed statistically significant difference between the CO and PNX and between the CO and PNXm groups. Conclusion: The absence of the pineal gland impaired the bone repair process during osseointegration, however the daily melatonin replacement was able to restore this response

Guerra pela memória: Malvinas e o embate entre veteranos (militares e civis) e familiares de soldados mortos no campo da construção de memórias

We start the article by analyzing the conflicting field of constructing memories on traumatic events that marked History. Afterwards, we focus on how this conflict takes place in the construction of memories about the Malvinas War, which involve various sectors of Argentine society, mainly veterans of war, military and civilians, and relatives of fallen soldiers. The analyzed period starts in 1982, with the end of the war, and ends in 2015, the year of conclusion of the research. When analyzing the vast Argentine bibliographic material on the subject and interviewing veterans and family members of soldiers who died in the conflict, we concluded that the main factor in the conflict in the construction of memories of the war is that it was undertaken by a government of a military dictatorship, which, for a group, is an aspect that should always be remembered due to the abuses committed by officers against conscripts in the front, and, for others, should be forgotten to avoid arguments that delegitimize the war. Keywords: Constructions of memories. Malvinas War. Argentine Military Dictatorship.Comenzamos el artículo analizando el campo conflictivo de la construcción de la memoria sobre hechos traumáticos que marcaron la Historia. Posteriormente, nos enfocamos en cómo se procesa este conflicto en la construcción de memorias sobre la Guerra de Malvinas, que involucran a diversos sectores de la sociedad argentina, especialmente a veteranos de guerra, militares y civiles, y familiares de soldados muertos. El período analizado comienza en 1982, con el fin de la guerra, y finaliza en 2015, año de conclusión de la investigación. Al analizar el vasto material bibliográfico argentino sobre el tema y entrevistar a veteranos y familiares de militares fallecidos en el conflicto, concluimos que el factor principal en la construcción de memorias bélicas es que fue emprendido por un gobierno de dictadura militar, que para un grupo es un aspecto que siempre hay que recordar por los abusos cometidos por los oficiales contra los conscriptos en el frente, y para otros hay que olvidarlo para evitar discursos que deslegitiman la guerra. Palabras clave: Construcciones de memoria. Guerra de Malvinas. Dictadura militar argentina.Iniciamos o artigo[1] analisando o conflituoso campo de construção de memórias sobre eventos traumáticos que marcaram a História. Posteriormente, enfocamos como se processa esse conflito nas construções de memórias sobre a Guerra das Malvinas, que envolvem vários setores da sociedade argentina, principalmente os veteranos da guerra, militares e civis, e familiares de soldados mortos. O período analisado inicia-se no ano de 1982, com o final da guerra, e encerra-se em 2015, ano de conclusão da pesquisa. Ao analisarmos o vasto material bibliográfico argentino sobre o tema e entrevistarmos veteranos e familiares de soldados que morreram no conflito, concluímos que o principal fator de embate nas construções de memórias da guerra é que esta foi empreendida por um governo de uma ditadura militar, o que para um grupo é um aspecto que dever ser sempre lembrado devido aos abusos cometidos por oficiais contra conscritos no front, e para outros deve ser esquecido para evitar discursos que deslegitimam a guerra. Palavras-chave:  Construções de memórias. Guerra das Malvinas. Ditadura Militar argentina.   [1] Texto proveniente da tese: “Trinta e três anos de guerra: Malvinas e o embate entre intelectuais, veteranos, familiares de caídos e narrativas fílmicas no campo da construção de memórias (1982-2015)”. (2016). Repositório da Universidade de Brasília (UNB) sem registro