Dinuclear Azide-Bridged Copper(II) Complex as Building Block for the Assembly of a 2D-Supramolecular Array

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

Static balance and function in children with cerebral palsy submitted to neuromuscular block and neuromuscular electrical stimulation: Study protocol for prospective, randomized, controlled trial

Background: The use of botulinum toxin A (BT-A) for the treatment of lower limb spasticity is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Following the administration of BT-A, physical therapy plays a fundamental role in potentiating the functionality of the child. The balance deficit found in children with CP is mainly caused by muscle imbalance (spastic agonist and weak antagonist). Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is a promising therapeutic modality for muscle strengthening in this population. The aim of the present study is to describe a protocol for a study aimed at analyzing the effects of NMES on dorsiflexors combined with physical therapy on static and functional balance in children with CP submitted to BT-A.Methods/Design: Protocol for a prospective, randomized, controlled trial with a blinded evaluator. Eligible participants will be children with cerebral palsy (Levels I, II and III of the Gross Motor Function Classification System) between five and 12 years of age, with independent gait with or without a gait-assistance device. All participants will receive BT-A in the lower limbs (triceps surae). The children will then be randomly allocated for either treatment with motor physical therapy combined with NMES on the tibialis anterior or motor physical therapy alone. The participants will be evaluated on three occasions: 1) one week prior to the administration of BT-A; 2) one week after the administration of BT-A; and 3) four months after the administration of BT-A (end of intervention). Spasticity will be assessed by the Modified Ashworth Scale and Modified Tardieu Scale. Static balance will be assessed using the Medicapteurs Fusyo pressure platform and functional balance will be assessed using the Berg Balance Scale.Discussion: The aim of this protocol study is to describe the methodology of a randomized, controlled, clinical trial comparing the effect of motor physical therapy combined with NMES on the tibialis anterior muscle or motor physical therapy alone on static and functional balance in children with CP submitted to BT-A in the lower limbs. This study describes the background, hypotheses, methodology of the procedures and measurement of the results.

Effect of type of cuttings and indolbutyric acid on the rooting of rose (Rosa sp. 'Red success') leafy cuttings during two seasons

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of type of cuttings (apical, intermediate and basal) and different concentrations of IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) on rooting of Red success rose (Rosa sp.) leafy cuttings, during two season of cuttings collection (summer and winter). The investigation was carried out in the farm Irmaos Van Schaik in Holambra-SP, Brazil, from February to April and August to October/1993. The experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial arrangement. It consisted of 12 treatments (3 types of cuttings combined with IBA powder in 4 different concentrations - 0, 1000, 2000 and 4000 ppm) with 3 replicates during 2 seasons. The investigation permitted the following conclusions: the apical and intermediate cuttings showed better results in general when compared to the basal ones in both seasons; the average rooting at the transplanting time were 76%, 70% and 47% (summer) and 80%, 69% and 33% (winter) for apical, intermediate and basal cuttings, respectively; the utilization of IBA did not stimulate rooting. The average rooting for the control cuttings reached 85% (summer) and 78% (winter), regardless the type of cuttings.

Effects of rooting media, indolbutyric acid and fertilization on the rooting of rose (Rosa sp. 'Dalas') leafy cuttings

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of rooting media (vermiculite, carbonized rice bark, fenolic spume and sand), presence of IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) and presence of fertilization during the rooting of rose (Rosa sp.) leafy cuttings, Dalas cultivar. This investigation was carried out in Jaboticabal (Sao Paulo State - Brazil) during the period of March to April 1997. The experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial arrangement. It consisted of 16 treatments (the 4 rooting media combined with IBA concentrated solutions - 0 and 1.000 ppm and fertilizer - 0 and commercial product with macro and micronutrients, applied weekly) with 3 replicates. The evaluations were 30 days after cuttings showed that the best rooting percentage occurs in sand (98%), followed by vermiculite (90%) and fenolic spume (87%) and cuttings treated with IBA (95%), while the fertilization showed no promoting effects. The number of cuttings roots wasn't affected with rooting media or DBA treatment, while the fertilization showed effective.

Biomass production and essential oil yield in Ageratum conyzoides L. - Asteraceae in different stages of development

An experiment was carried out at Sâo Manuel Experimental Farm, FCA-UNESP, Botucatu-SP, in 1994 and 1995, aiming to determine the biomass production and essential oil yield of mentrasto (Ageratum conyzoides L. - Asteraceae) in different stages of development. The statistical design used was a complete randomized block with 8 replications and 3 treatments (pre-flowering, flowering and post-flowering). The spacing was 70 cm between rows and 50 cm between plants, with 70 plants/parcel. The seedlings were transplanted 40 days after sowing. After harvesting, the fragments (roots, stems, leaves, flowers) and whole plants were washed, separated and weighted. The extractions of essential oil were done by hydrodistillation, using Clevenger apparatus, for two hours. There were statistic differences (Tukey 5%) in fresh weight of all vegetal parts w'hen harvested in different development stages. About essential oil yield, statistic differences were not verified among the treatments.

Influence of organic and chemical fertilization on the yield of flowers, contents and composition of essential oil of (Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rauschert)

A field experiment was conducted with chamomile (Chamomilla recutita [L.] Rauschert), in an area of the Olericulture and Medicinal Plants of the Horticulture Department at UNESP - Jaboticabal Campus, with the aim to evaluate the influence of organic and chemical fertilization on the yield of flowers, and content and composition of the essential oil of chamomile. The experimental design for the yield of flowers consisted of randomized blocks with 7 treatments and 4 replications, for the analysis of the contents and composition of the oil, the completely randomized block was used and for analysis of the correlation between harvesting and treatment, the split-plot design into randomized blocks was used. The treatments tested were: no fertilization, green manure (Mucuna aterrima + Crotalaria spectabilis), green manure (plant cocktail), organic fertilizer (farmyard manure), N as urea, N as ammonium sulphate, NPK with N supplement as ammonium sulphate. There was no influence of the treatments on the yield of flowers nor on the essential oil content; on the other hand both characteristics did show significant differences in harvesting times (Tukey 5%). The main yield was 885.90 kg/ha dry flowers and the mean oil content was 0,86%. The green manure treatment (M. aterrima + C. spectabilis) showed a higher percentage of chamazulene content, with a highly significant difference in harvesting times (Tukey 1%). The a-bisabolol percentages did not evidence significant differences between treatments. However, among harvesting times, there was a variation. A negative correlation was verified between the chamazulene and abisabolol percentages; the first increasing - from 21.02 to 36.17% - and the latter decreasing - from 14.12 to 8.72 % - from the first to the sixth harvest. The observed mean content of chamazulene was 14.64 % and a-bisabolol was 16.72 %.

Effect of storage of cuttings on the rooting of different cultivars of cut chrysanthemums (Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev) for two different seasons

Chrysanthemums are commercially propagated through cuttings. Pre-rooting storage of cuttings in the dark is a common practice among growers and companies that work and trade with chrysanthemum cuttings. Therefore, the maximum storage period for cuttings and differences in tolerance among cultivars has been investigated. Adventitious roots of cuttings can originate in almost any tissue, including the epidermis, stem cortex and pericycle, ray parenchyma, immature xylem and phloem cells, and pith. The aims of this work were to determine the effect of time of cold storage of cuttings (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 weeks) on the rooting of four cut chrysanthemum cultivars (Super White, Sheena, Dark Orange Reagan and Town Talk) for two seasons of the year (summer and winter), and also to determine the origin of root formation in chrysanthemum cuttings. The study was carried out as a randomized complete block design with 5 replications for each storage treatment. Each plot was comprised of three cuttings that were examined 14 days after the cutting procedure. During the winter, the roots were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at the Electron Microscope Laboratory. The following conclusions were made: in winter, cold storage affected the rooting of cuttings, mainly after two weeks of storage for all cultivars. The rooting percentage was lower in the winter and the cuttings could be preserved for a shorter period. The source and growth of roots in chrysanthemum cuttings was found to be endogenous. After three days, callus formed in the pericycle and the first emergence of adventitious roots occurred by the fourth day of rooting. During the summer, cold storage could be up to 4 weeks without any problems.

Production and evaluation of lettuce seedlings and plants in hydroponic floating system

The investigation was conducted under greenhouse conditions at UNESP, Brazil, to evaluate the effects of the commercial substrates Plantmax and Sunshine and its mixtures with charred rice hulls, and the effects of floating and conventional seedling production systems in lettuce cultivation. The experiment was a randomized block experimental design, in 4 x 4 factorial treatment arrangement with two replications. Seedlings produced in the floating system were more precocious in relation to the conventional system. From transplant to harvest, the seedling production systems had similar mean time of production.

Productivity of beet and roquette cultivation as a function of time of establishing intercropping

With the aim of evaluating the effect of intercropping on the productivity of beet and roquette crops, a study was conducted in the Section of Vegetable and Aromatic-Medicinal Plants, FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal/SP. The treatments consisted of co-cultivations of roquette (Cultivada) and beets (Early Wonder) established at 0, 7, 14 and 21 days after the transplanting of beets, and as monocultures of beets and roquette. The experiments were delineated in a randomized block design. The productivity of beets in monoculture was not superior to that obtained with intercropping with roquette. The production of dry mass of roquette with intercropping was less than that with monoculture and the reduction was more marked with more delayed establishment of co-cultivation. Intercropping established at 0 and 7 days after the transplanting of beets was the most efficient, with indices of efficient use of land of 1.26 and 1.27, respectively.

Production and quality of melons grown in two different substrates under soilless cultivation

This investigation was conducted at UNESP, Jaboticabal campus, São Paulo, Brazil, from March 8 to June 21, 1999, to evaluate net melon yield and fruit quality, using soilless culture. 'Bônus 2' and 'Mission' cultivars were grown in a substrate of ground quartz or thick sand, in a randomized block experimental design. Leaf and stem dry matter production, leaf size and soluble solids content of the fruit, of 'Bônus 2' were superior to 'Mission'. There was a significant interaction for the evaluated characteristics of fruit dry mass production and yield. The largest accumulation of fruit dry mass and yield of the 'Bônus 2' cultivar (61,325 kg/ha) was observed when a substrate of ground quartz was used, while the yield for the 'Mission' cultivar was higher in a substrate of thick sand (42,125 kg/ha).

Effects of protecting broccoli plants with nonwoven polypropyleno

This investigation was conducted between June and September, in an experimental area, whose coordinates are latitude 21°15'22 south and longitude 48°18'58 east, situated at a mean altitude of 575 m. The soil of the area is classified as Red Latossolo (Commission of Soils, 1960), Haplorthox soil. The effects of two cultivation systems: protection with nonwoven polypropyleno and in an open field, on broccoli cultivars 'Baron', 'Shigimori', 'Pinacco' were evaluated. The experiments were a randomized block experimental design, using a factorial arrangement of 3 (cultivars) x 2 (cultivation systems), with four replicates. The characteristics evaluated were precociousness, longitudinal and transverse diameters of broccoli heads, fresh mass of broccoli heads and number of leaves per plant. The 'Baron' cultivar was more precocious, having its harvest at 86 days after transplanting in both cultivation systems. 'Baron', despite being more precocious, had inferior results in relation to the other cultivars. The open field cultivation system was optimum for cultivars 'Shigimori' and 'Pinacco'.

Genetic control of fruit-setting percentage of tomatoes tolerant to high temperatures

The aim of present work was to study, through means and variances of generations, the genetic control of fruit-set percentage in tomatoes, in a biparental cross between line Jab-95 (resistant to fruit-set) and 'Caribe' cultivar (susceptible to fruit-set) after being subjected to high temperatures. F1, F2, and backcross generations for both parents (P 1, P2) were produced in a greenhouse at FCAVUNESP, Jaboticabal-SP, Brazil. A randomized complete block experimental design with four replications was used to evaluate the different generations. Estimates of genetic parameters were obtained according to Mather and Jinks (1982). An additive-dominant model was fitted to explain the variation observed. The mean degree of dominance (0.54), indicated incomplete dominance in the direction of increasing fruit-set percentage at high temperatures. The genetic control of fruit-set percentage, at high temperatures, for tomato was found to be oligogenic or polygenic (3.54 genes). The heritability in a limited sense was 83.91%, suggesting that the selection of individuals based on the characteristic evaluated can be efficient.

Total and harvest-date yield of processing tomato cultivars

The productivity of 28 tomato cultivars was evaluated over three stages of harvest. The study was carried out during from June to December of 1999 in an open field at the experimental area of the Section of Olericulture and Aromatic Medicinal Plants, Department of Crop Production at FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. The cultivars studied were H 7155, Hypeel, Andino, U 573, H 9036, IPA 6, H 9494, AG 33, Yuba, RPT 1294, AG 72, Pelmeech, Curico, Hypeel 45, RPT 1478, H 9492, H 9498, H 2710, Hitech 45, Halley, Botu 13, H 9553, U 646, NK 1570, AG 45, RPT 1095, RPT 1570, and PSX 37511. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four repetitions, with five plants per plot. Productivity was evaluated at three stages of harvest at 119, 149 and 179 days after seeding. There were no significant differences among the cultivars at the first harvest (119 days). The majority of the cultivars produced their highest yield at the second harvest; the most productive cultivars were Curicó and AG 72, which yielded 4.69 and 4.67 kg/plant, respectively, although they did not differ statistically from the cultivars Hypeel 45 (4.35 kg/plant) and H 9498 (4.16 kg/plant). Yields of the cultivars Andino and H 9494 were evenly distributed between the second and third harvests. At the third harvest, cultivar IPA 6 had the highest yield (2.9 kg/plant) and was statistically different from all other cultivars except H 9036 (2.34 kg). These two cultivars had the most delayed and concentrated maturity, making them suitable for mechanical harvesting, although at a later time. Cultivar AG 72 had the greatest total yield (5.76 kg/plant), but it was not statistically different from cultivars Hypeel 45 (5.43 kg), Curico (4.17 kg), H 9498 (4.83 kg), H 7155 (4.58 kg) and Halley (4.55 kg). All of the cultivars, with the exception of cultivars H 9036, IPA 6, Andino and H 9494 showed in the second harvest concentrated maturity, making it suitable for mechanical harvesting.

Benzyladenine sprays and senescent flowers removal on postproduction performance of Potted zinnia 'Profusion cherry'

'Profusion Cherry' is a dwarf zinnia with prospect for pot use in Brazil. The success of flowering potted plants depends on its performance during transport and on the period of time that it performs well indoors. Benzyladenine application may retard leaf and flower senescence, increasing postproduction longevity and quality. Senescent flowers removal by consumers, to give a fresh appearance to home flowering potted plant, could influence source-sink relationship and postproduction. This study evaluated the effect of benzyladenine and senescent flowers removal on postproduction performance of 'Profusion Cherry', and observed the senescence symptoms. When plants, produced in greenhouse at São Paulo State, Brazil, had 4 to 5 open flowers, they were sprayed to runoff a single time (20ml/pot) with benzyladenine (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1.0 mmol) and placed into plastic trays, without sleeve. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with 6 treatments (control, four benzyladenine concentrations and senescent flowers removal), 4 replications (2 pots per experimental unit), totalising 12 potted plants in each plastic tray (block). To simulate highway transport, plants remained for 4 days in a dark chamber, at 20.0 °C without irrigation. To include vibration, each plastic tray, was placed in an incubator shaker for 3hr a day, at 60 rpm, 25°C and darkness. After simulated transport, plants remained indoors (10h.day-1 with 18 μmol.m-2.s-1 PPF, 21.5 to 27.0°C and, 14 h.day-1 at darkness, 18.5 to 24.0°C) during 21 days. Plants performed well during simulated transport, and also indoors for two weeks. For most of evaluated parameters there was not significant effect of benzyladenine concentrations by Tukey's test. Senescent flowers removal did not delayed senescence or improved plants quality. The symptoms associated with the loss of decorative life were ray florets color fading and wilting, without abscission of flowers or petals.

The mandibular lingula's position in children as a reference to inferior alveolar nerve block

Purpose: The objective of this study was to evaluate the position of the mandibular lingula (ML) to provide data for inferior alveolar nerve block techniques in children. Methods: One hundred fifty-four panoramic radiographs of 7- to 10-year-old boys and girls were analyzed. Measurements were taken from the ML to the occlusal plane, and the percentile distances of the ML to ramal borders were determined. Results: The distance between the ML and the occlusal plane showed a gradual increase, but only in the male group was it statistically significant. MLs ratio position on the ramus remained constant in all analyzed groups. In the 7-year-old group, the ML was observed above the occlusal plane in 70% of girls and 55% of boys. That percentage reached 85% of all children by age 10. Conclusions: The mandibular lingula's ratio position remained constant. Inferior alveolar anesthesia should be administered at least 6 mm above the occlusal plane in 7- to 8-year-old children, while 10 mm could be indicated for 9- to 10-year-old children. The mandibular lingula should be considered a reliable reference for further studies of inferior alveolar nerve block techniques.