Self-Organizing Maps as a New Tool for Classification of Plants at Lower Hierarchical Levels

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Antiviral activities of plants occurring in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil: Part 2. Screening Bignoniaceae species

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Temporal dynamics of stomatal conductance of plants under water deficit: can homeostasis be improved by more complex dynamics?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Antiviral activity of plants occurring in the state of minas gerais (Brazil): Part III

A total of 24 extracts from 14 plant species collected at the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and belonging to five botanical families (Annonaceae, Apocynaceae, Ochnaceae, Polygonaceae and Vitaceae) was screened for cytotoxicity in cultured Vero cells and for antiviral activity against human herpes virus type 1 (HSV-1), vaccinia virus (VACV) and murine encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). The highest cytotoxicity (CC 50 < 10 μg/mL) was observed for the ethanol extracts from Annona coriacea fruits and seeds. Extracts from Hancornia speciosa, Ouratea castaneafolia and O. semisrrata were the only ones that have shown activity against all the three viruses assayed. Extracts from Polygonum spectabile, Hancornia speciosa, Himatanthus phagedaenica, Ouratea spectabilis and O. semiserrata were the most active against HSV-1 (EC 50 < 50 mg/mL), with favorable SI values (8.0 to 10.0). Hancornia speciosa and Anaxagorea dolichocarpa were the most active against EMCV (EC 50 50 - 100 μg/mL), with reasonable SI values (5.2 to 6.1), while moderate to low activity (EC 50 > 100 μg/mL) was observed for Ouratea spectabilis and O. semiserrata. A total of 7 plant species, Ouratea semiserrata, O. spectabilis, O. castanaeafolia, Rollinia laurifolia, Cissus erosa, Polygonum spectabile, and Hancornia speciosa, were active against VACV, disclosing EC50 < 50 μg/mL and SI values ranging from 6.6 to 67.3. In total, 10 out of the 14 species were selected from a literature survey on plants used to treat viral diseases in Brazil; these species were responsible for 70% of the positive results.

Absence of mutagenicity of plants used to treat gastrointestinal disorders

The Brazilian Savanna (locally called Cerrado) is an important biome presenting several plants that are used in popular medicine. However, the risks associated with the consumption of derivatives from these plants are generally unknown. Studies with compounds obtained from different species have shown the risks of DNA damage. The present work assessed the in vivo mutagenicity of three plant species used in popular medicine to treat human gastrointestinal disorders (Mouriri pusa, Qualea grandiflora and Qualea multiflora). The micronucleus assay was performed in peripheral blood of mice submitted to acute treatments. Results showed that no assessed extracts were mutagenic in vivo. In fact, the absence of mutagenicity in the present study indicates that the extracts do not contain compounds capable of inducing DNA breaks or chromosomal loss. However, further analysis should be performed in others systems to guarantee their safety, mainly to human chronic use.

Triangular arrangement of defects in a mesoscopic superconductor

By solving the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau equations, we investigated the influence of an internal triangular arrangement of point-like defects on the vortex configurations in a thin mesoscopic sample. The effect of the number of internal defects and their nature on the entrance position of the vortex is studied for a very thin circular sample. We found that the interplay between the vortex-vortex repulsion, the vortex-defect interaction and the interaction with the sample border leads to non-commensurate vortex configurations. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Linear arrangement of metallic and superconducting defects in a thin superconducting sample

The vortex matter in a superconducting disk with a linear configuration of metallic and superconducting defects is studied. Effects associated to the pinning (anti-pinning) force of the metallic (superconducting) defect on the vortex configuration and on the thermodynamic critical fields are analyzed in the framework of the Ginzburg Landau theory. We calculate the loop of the magnetization, vorticity and free energy curves as a function of the magnetic field for a thin disk. Due to vortex-defect attraction for a metallic defect (repulsion for a superconducting defect), the vortices always (never) are found to be sitting on the defect position. © 2013.

Antimicrobial activity of plants infusions on oral fusobacteria and their adherence to human erythrocytes

Periodontal disease is the result of the interrelationship between microbiotic aggression and the host’s organic defence. Amongst the microorganisms involved in periodontopathies, Fusobacterium nucleatum is conspicuous by establishing a link between the initial and final colonizers, besides producing toxic compounds and adhering to the host’s cells. Control of bacterial biofilm can be achieved by use of chemical agents, many of which extracted from plants. Thus the object of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory activity in vitro of some teas, generally taken in a normal diet, on Fusobacterium nucleatum and your adherence to host’s cells. Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were established and haemagglutinative test in microplaques was effected. It was ascertained that all plant extracts have inhibitory activity and that infusions of Camellia sinensis (black tea and green tea), Mentha piperita (mint) and Pimpinella anixem (aniseed) added to the bacteria/erythrocyte compound reduced significantly the adherence of microorganisms.

The briefing in paleodesign: selection and arrangement of data for the reconstruction of Paleovertebrates

Representing visually the external appearance of an extinct animal requires, for a reasonably reliable and expressive reconstitution, a good compilation and arrangement of the scientific conclusions on the fossil findings. It is proposed in this work an initial model of a briefing to be applied in a paleodesign process of a paleovertebrate. Briefing can be understood as a gathering of all necessary data to perform a project. We point out what must be known about the relevant structures in order to access all the data and the importance of such information. It is expected that the present briefing suggested might be faced with flexibility, serving as a facilitating interface of the relation between paleoartists and paleontologists.

Desempenho de híbridos de milho em diferentes arranjos espaciais de plantas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Manejo do solo e do nitrogênio em milho cultivado em espaçamentos reduzido e tradicional

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Crescimento e produtividade da mamona de porte baixo em diferentes espaçamentos e populações de plantas

It is necessary to establish adequate row spacings and plant populations for recently developed short height castor (Ricinus communis L) cultivars. This work aimed to evaluate the growth, yield components, and yield of short castor cultivar IAC 2028 as affected by row spacing and plant population, in summer cropping season. The experiments were carried out in 2007/08 and 2008/09 cropping seasons, in Botucatu County, São Paulo State, Brazil. A randomized complete block design in a split-plot scheme with four replications was used. Treatments assigned to plots were four row spacing (0.45, 0.60, 0.75, and 0.90m) and subplots were assigned to four levels of plant populations (25000, 40000, 55000, and 70000 plants/ha). The increase of plant population decreased plants survival rate, shoot dry weight, stem diameter, number of racemes per plant, number of fruits per raceme, and 100-grains weight. In higher plant populations, the best arrangement of plants, provided by the narrower row spacing (0.45m), promoted higher grain and oil yields. Increasing plant population increased grain and oil yields only when was used the narrower row spacing.

Espaçamentos entrelinhas e doses de nitrogênio em dois cultivares de feijoeiro irrigado no sistema plantio direto

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)