Adventitious rooting of conifers: influence of biological factors

Vegetative propagation of superior conifer trees can be achieved e.g. through rooted cuttings or rooted microshoots, the latter predominantly through in vitro tissue culture. Both techniques are used to achieve rapid multiplication of trees with favorable genetic combinations and to capture a large proportion of the genetic diversity in a single generation cycle. However, adventitious rooting of shoots (cuttings) is often not efficient due to various problems such as scarcity of roots and cessation of their growth, both of which limit the application of vegetative propagation in some conifer species. Many factors are involved in the adventitious rooting of shoots including physical and chemical ones such as plant growth regulators, carbohydrates, light quality, temperature and rooting substrates or media (reviewed by Ragonezi et al. 2010). The focus of this review is on biological factors, such as inoculations with Agrobacterium rhizogenes, plant- growth-promoting rhizobacteria and other endophytes, and mycorrhizal fungi, which were found to stimulate adventitious rooting. These microorganisms could contribute not only to adventitious root development but also help in protecting conifer plants against pathogenic microorganisms, facilitate acclimation and transplanting, and contribute to more sustainable, chemical-free forests.

Contributo do reiki no bem-estar do recém-nascido com cólicas abdominais

As cólicas abdominais são muito frequentes nos primeiros dias após o nascimento, provocam sofrimento no Recém-Nascido e angústia e sensação de impotência nos pais. Pretendeu-se atuar neste problema através do Reiki. Definiu-se como objetivos: 1) Aplicar a Terapia de Reiki aos RN; 2) Verificar a diminuição ou cessação do sofrimento que a cólica provoca no RN, através da aplicação de Reiki; 3) Promover o bem-estar do Recém-Nascido através da aplicação de Reiki. Efetuou-se um diagnóstico da situação, baseado nas necessidades detetadas e numa investigação dirigida ao tema em estudo. Em termos metodológicos, selecionou-se a amostra, aplicou-se a terapia de Reiki, colheu-se os dados, que foram posteriormente tratados através do programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), numa abordagem quantitativa. Este trabalho trouxe dados que permitem afirmar que o Reiki contribui para o bem-estar do Recém-Nascido. No final elaborou-se o presente relatório; ABSTRACT: Reiki contribution in the Newborn Welfare with cramps Abdominal Abdominal cramps are very common in the early days after birth, causing suffering in newborns and leaving the parents helpless and distressed. It was intended to act on this problem through Reiki, with the following objectives: 1) Apply Reiki therapy to the Newborn; 2) Evaluate the reduction or cessation of suffering caused by these cramps in infants, through the application of Reiki; 3) Promote the Newborn’s well-being through the application of Reiki. A diagnosis of the situation was conducted, based on the needs detected and on an investigation directed to the topic under study. In terms of methodology, the sample was selected, Reiki therapy was applied, the data was collected and was further processed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), which allows a quantitative approach. This work brought data which shows that Reiki contributes to the Newborn’s well-being. At the end, the present report was elaborated.

Extensional orogenic collapse captured by strike-slip tectonics:

The late Paleozoic collision between Gondwana and Laurussia resulted in the polyphase deformation and magmatism that characterizes the Iberian Massif of the Variscan orogen. In the Central Iberian Zone, initial con- tinental thickening (D1; folding and thrusting) was followed by extensional orogenic collapse (D2) responsible for the exhumation of high-grade rocks coeval to the emplacement of granitoids. This study presents a tectonometamorphic analysis of the Trancoso-Pinhel region (Central Iberian Zone) to ex- plain the processes in place during the transition froman extension-dominated state (D2) to a compression-dom- inated one (D3).Wereveal the existence of low-dipping D2 extensional structures later affected by several pulses of subhorizontal shortening, each of them typified by upright folds and strike-slip shearing (D3, D4 and D5, as identified by superimposition of structures). The D2 Pinhel extensional shear zone separates a low-grade domain from an underlying high-grade domain, and it contributed to the thermal reequilibration of the orogen by facil- itating heat advection from lower parts of the crust, crustal thinning, decompression melting, and magma intru- sion. Progressive lessening of the gravitational disequilibrium carried out by this D2 shear zone led to a switch from subhorizontal extension to compression and the eventual cessation and capture of the Pinhel shear zone by strike-slip tectonics during renewed crustal shortening. High-grade domains of the Pinhel shear zone were folded together with low-grade domains to define the current upright folded structure of the Trancoso-Pinhel re- gion, the D3 Tamames-Marofa-Sátão synform. Newdating of syn-orogenic granitoids (SHRIMP U\\Pb zircon dat- ing) intruding the Pinhel shear zone, together with the already published ages of early extensional fabrics constrain the functioning of this shear zone to ca. 331–311 Ma, with maximum tectonomagmatic activity at ca. 321–317 Ma. The capture and apparent cessation of movement of the Pinhel shear zone occurred at ca. 317– 311 Ma.