Self-Healing Concrete: Concepts, Energy Saving and Sustainability

The production of cement accounts for 5 to 7% of carbon dioxide emissions in the world, and its broad-scale use contributes to climate imbalance. As a solution, biotechnology enables the cultivation of bacteria and fungi for the synthesis of calcium carbonate as one of the main constituents of cement. Through biomineralization, which is the initial driving force for the synthesis of compounds compatible with concrete, and crystallization, these compounds can be delivered to cracks in concrete. Microencapsulation is a method that serves as a clock to determine when crystallization is needed, which is assisted by control factors such as pH and aeration. The present review addresses possibilities of working with bioconcrete, describing the composition of Portland cement, analysis methods, deterioration, as well as environmental and energetic benefits of using such an alternative material. A discussion on carbon credits is also offered. The contents of this paper could strengthen the prospects for the use of self-healing concrete as a way to meet the high demand for concrete, contributing to the building of a sustainable society

Hibridização genômica in situ em triticeae: um enfoque metodológico.

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Ex vitro hairy root induction in detached peanut leaves for plant-nematode interaction studies.

Abstract Background Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) production is largely affected by a variety of abiotic and biotic stresses, including the root-knot nematode (RKN) Meloidogyne arenaria that causes yield losses worldwide. Transcriptome studies of wild Arachis species, which harbor resistance to a number of pests and diseases, disclosed several candidate genes for M. arenaria resistance. Peanut is recalcitrant to genetic transformation, so the use of Agrobacterium rhizogenes-derived hairy roots emerged as an alternative for in-root functional characterization of these candidate genes. Results The present report describes an ex vitro methodology for hairy root induction in detached leaves based on the well-known ability of peanut to produce roots spontaneously from its petiole, which can be maintained for extended periods under high-humidity conditions. Thirty days after infection with the A. rhizogenes ‘K599’ strain, 90% of the detached leaves developed transgenic hairy roots with 5 cm of length in average, which were then inoculated with M. arenaria. For improved results, plant transformation, and nematode inoculation parameters were adjusted, such as bacterial cell density and growth stage; moist chamber conditions and nematode inoculum concentration. Using this methodology, a candidate gene for nematode resistance, AdEXLB8, was successfully overexpressed in hairy roots of the nematode-susceptible peanut cultivar ‘Runner’, resulting in 98% reduction in the number of galls and egg masses compared to the control, 60 days after M. arenaria infection. Conclusions This methodology proved to be more practical and cost-effective for functional validation of peanut candidate genes than in vitro and composite plant approaches, as it requires less space, reduces analysis costs and displays high transformation efficiency. The reduction in the number of RKN galls and egg masses in peanut hairy roots overexpressing AdEXLB8 corroborated the use of this strategy for functional characterization of root expressing candidate genes. This approach could be applicable not only for peanut–nematode interaction studies but also to other peanut root diseases, such as those caused by fungi and bacteria, being also potentially extended to other crop species displaying similar petiole-rooting competence

Genetic parameters and selection of sugarcane in early selection stages for resistance to sugarcane borer Diatraea saccharalis.

A T1 (sugarcane population originating from true seeds) and T2 (first sugarcane clonal stage) population were used to estimate genetic parameters and compare selection strategies for Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) resistance in sugarcane. In the T1 stage, heritability at the family mean level (h²=0.77) was higher than individual genotype heritability (h²=0.16), and the additive genetic effect was more important for sugarcane borer resistance than non-additive effects. In addition, there was high genotypic variance among and within full-sib families. In the T2 population, genotypic variance was high, and heritability at the clone mean level was moderate (h²=0.61). We can conclude that family experiments enable selection of more promising families and parents for borer resistance. However, due to high genotypic variance within families, family selection at the T1 stage must be followed by clone selection at the T2 stage

Uso de diferentes análises multivariadas na estimativa de dissimilaridade genética em Passiflora Edulis Sims.

O gênero Passiflora reúne cerca de 400 espécies de maracujá, a maioria originária da região Neotropical (América), sendo cerca de 88 nativas do Brasil. Existindo ampla variabilidade genética a ser conhecida e convenientemente utilizada. A quantificação da dissimilaridade genética pode servir como parâmetro para identificação de genitores que possibilitem maior efeito heterótico na progênie e maior possibilidade de recuperação de recombinantes superiores nas gerações segregantes. Existem vários métodos de classificação que podem ser utilizados na formação de grupos heteróticos, no entanto, deve-se optar por aqueles que produzem resultados expressos em variação mínima dentro do grupo (homogeneidade) e máxima variação entre grupos (heterogeneidade). O presente estudo objetivou comparar a eficácia de diferentes análises de divergência genética, em acessos de P. edulis, fazendo uso da estratégia Ward-MLM (Modified Location Model) e da distância euclidiana média associada ao método de agrupamento hierárquico UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Aritmetic Average), além de estimar a contribuição das variáveis para a dissimilaridade genética.PDF. 016

Estimativa de áreas agrícolas utilizando o produto MOD13Q1 em Baturité, Ceará.

Avaliou-se a dinâmica de áreas agrícolas através da classificação por árvore dedecisão entre os anos de 2000 a 2011 no município de Baturité, Estado do Ceará. Foram utilizados o produto MOD13Q1, e o Modelo Digital de Elevação (MDE) gerado a partir dos sensores de radar a bordo do ônibus espacial Endeavour, no projeto SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) para montagem da árvore de decisão e classificação das áreas agrícolas de Baturité. O teste Qui-quadrado revelou que o 2 cal χ (1967,93) é superior ao 2 0 χ (19,68) para o intervalo de confiança de α = 5% e 9 graus de liberdade, consequentemente aceita-se a hipótese de nulidade que afirma que os dados observados não são diferentes dos dados estimados. Os resultados obtidos mostram que a técnica da árvore de decisão foi eficaz na determinação das áreas agrícolas em Baturité. A ferramenta poderá dar suporte para levantamentos e planejamentos para tomada de decisões no setor primário (agricultura/pecuária) dos municípios do Ceará

Prospecção de Cratylia argentea (Desv.) Kuntze nos Estados de Maranhão e Goiás.

Cratylia argentea é um arbusto nativo do Cerrado, de múltiplo uso. Trata-se de uma espécie com potencial para ser utilizada em unidades de produção familiar. Neste Contexto, este trabalho de prospecção, em 2016, objetivou identificar e coletar seus acessos nos estados do Maranhão e Goiás. Os locais de coleta (19 acessos em 13 municípios) foram determinados através dos registros do INCT/Herbário Virtual de Flora e Fungos. Na comunidade Quilombola Kalunga, foram registradas leguminosas nativas de porte arbustivo nas bordas de matas, dentro das matas e nos sistemas tradicionais de produção de milho e arroz. Pelo relato da comunidade do Parque Estadual Terra Ronca, a florada, as ramas, as vagens e as folhas caídas são alimento para o gado na estiagem. Sua frequente presença na beira das estradas, onde ocorreu a maioria das coletas de sementes, reafirma uma das principais características da espécie: a rusticidade. A conservação de C. argentea em seu ambiente natural pode ser ampliada desde que haja a convergência do conhecimento tradicional com o acadêmico, criando estratégias que considerem os saberes e as práticas das comunidades tradicionais e a ecologia da espécie.Edição dos anais do VI Congresso Latino-Americano de Agroecologia, Brasília, DF, 2017

Intraclonal Genome Stability of the Metallo-beta-lactamase SPM-1-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST277, an Endemic Clone Disseminated in Brazilian Hospitals

Carbapenems represent the mainstay therapy for the treatment of serious P aeruginosa infections. However, the emergence of carbapenem resistance has jeopardized the clinical use of this important class of compounds. The production of SPM-1 metallo-beta-lactamase has been the most common mechanism of carbapenem resistance identified in P. aeruginosa isolated from Brazilian medical centers. Interestingly, a single SPM-1-producing P. aeruginosa clone belonging to the ST277 has been widely spread within the Brazilian territory. In the current study, we performed a next-generation sequencing of six SPM-1-producing P. aeruginosa ST277 isolates. The core genome contains 5899 coding genes relative to the reference strain P. aeruginosa PAO1. A total of 26 genomic islands were detected in these isolates. We identified remarkable elements inside these genomic islands, such as copies of the bla(spM-1) gene conferring resistance to carbapenems and a type I-C CRISPR-Cas system, which is involved in protection of the chromosome against foreign DNA. In addition, we identified single nucleotide polymorphisms causing amino acid changes in antimicrobial resistance and virulence-related genes. Together,these factors could contribute to the marked resistance and persistence of the SPM-1-producing P aeruginosa ST277 clone. A comparison of the SPM-1-producing P. aeruginosa ST277 genomes showed that their core genome has a high level nucleotide similarity and synteny conservation. The variability observed was mainly due to acquisition of genomic islands carrying several antibiotic resistance genes.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Lab Nacl Comp Cient, Lab Bioinformat, Petropolis, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Internal Med, Lab Alerta,Div Infect Dis, Sao Paulo, BrazilLaboratório Alerta, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilCNPq: 305535/2014-5CNPq: 302768/2011-4CNPq: 312864/2015-9FAPERJ: E-26/202.903/2016Web of Scienc

Comparative root transcriptome of wild Arachis reveals NBS-LRR genes related to nematode resistance.

Na publicação: Soraya C. M. Leal-Bertioli; Ana Claudia Guerra Araujo e Patricia Messenberg Guimaraes