Eucalyptus ESTs involved in mechanisms against plant pathogens and environmental stresses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Chronic restraint or variable stresses differently affect the behavior, corticosterone secretion and body weight in rats

Organisms are constantly subjected to stressful stimuli that affect numerous physiological processes and activate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, increasing the release of glucocorticoids. Exposure to chronic stress is known to alter basic mechanisms of the stress response. The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of two different stress paradigms (chronic restraint or variable stress) on behavioral and corticosterone release to a subsequent exposure to stressors. Considering that the HPA axis might respond differently when it is challenged with a novel or a familiar stressor we investigated the changes in the corticosterone levels following the exposure to two stressors: restraint (familiar stress) or forced novelty (novel stress). The changes in the behavioral response were evaluated by measuring the locomotor response to a novel environment. In addition, we examined changes in body, adrenals, and thymus weights in response to the chronic paradigms. Our results showed that exposure to chronic variable stress increased basal plasma corticosterone levels and that both, chronic restraint and variable stresses, promote higher corticosterone levels in response to a novel environment, but not to a challenge restraint stress, as compared to the control (non-stressed) group. Exposure to chronic restraint leads to increased novelty-induced locomotor activity. Furthermore, only the exposure to variable stress reduced body weights. In conclusion, the present results provide additional evidence on how chronic stress affects the organism physiology and point to the importance of the chronic paradigm and challenge stress on the behavioral and hormonal adaptations induced by chronic stress. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Methods Used for Assessing Stresses in Buccomaxillary Prostheses: Photoelasticity, Finite Element Technique, and Extensometry

The authors describe a literature revision on assessing stresses in buccomaxillary prostheses photoelasticity, finite element technique, and extensometry. They describe the techniques and the importance for use of each method in buccomaxillary prostheses with implants and the need of accomplishing more studies in this scarce literary area.

Influence of thermal and mechanical stresses on the strength of intact and relined denture bases

Statement of problem. Denture bases may become increasingly weaker as a result of thermal stress and flexural cyclic loading. Information regarding this potential problem and its relationship to the denture base reline is limited.Purpose. This study evaluated the influence of thermal and mechanical stresses on the strength of intact and relined denture bases.Material and methods. Twenty-eight microwave-polymerized (Acron MC) intact denture bases were prepared in the shape of a 3-mm-thick maxillary denture. Additionally, fifty-six 2-mm-thick denture bases were relined with 1 mm of autopolymerizing resin (Tokuyama Rebase Fast II or New Truliner) (n = 28). Intact and relined specimens were divided into 4 groups (n = 7) as follows: without stress (control); a mechanical stress at 0.8 Hz for 10,000 cycles; 5000 thermal cycles between 5 degrees C and 55 degrees C; or a combination thermo-mechanical stress. The specimens were vertically loaded in compression with a rounded rod at 5 mm/min until failure, using a universal testing machine. Data on maximum fracture load (N), deflection at fracture (%), and fracture energy (N-mm) were analyzed by 2-way analysis of variance and Student-Newman-Keuls tests (alpha = .05).Results. The strength of the denture bases relined with New Truliner was not significantly affected by any of the experimental conditions, but comparing the control groups, New Truliner exhibited the lowest maximum fracture load values. The maximum fracture load of intact denture bases (P = .002) and those relined with Tokuyama Rebase Fast II (P = .01) showed a significant decrease after thermal stress. Additionally, cyclic loading significantly decreased the maximum fracture load (P < .001), deflection at fracture (P = .025), and fracture energy (P < .001) of intact denture bases and those relined with Tokuyama Rebase (P values of .002, .039, and .001, respectively).Conclusion. Thermal and mechanical stresses exert deleterious effects on the strength of intact and/or relined denture bases, which vary according to the relining material used.

Effects of different environmental stresses on seed germination

In this paper, the hypothesis was that different environmental stresses may show similar responses in a biological system, as exemplified by the kinetic of germination of Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden seeds. It was observed that the kinetic of germination depends on environmental factors, and different treatments induced similar germination responses. The treatments with PEG 6000 and NaCl suggest that germination depends on solute used, since NaCl exhibit both ionic and osmotic effects. The analysis of the results showed that different external disturbances may lead, perhaps through different physiological ways, to similar responses related to the germination process.

The Sao Vicente earthquake of 2008 April and seismicity in the continental shelf off SE Brazil: further evidence for flexural stresses

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Densification and residual stresses induced in glass surfaces by Vickers indentations

Images and profiles of Vickers impressions produced on as-received float-glass were obtained using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The images show that the impression edges undergo elastic recovery parallel to surface. The profiles made it possible to measure vertical elastic recovery, ev(r). For a 40 g nominal load, maximum penetration depth of indenter was (2.20 ± 0.03) μm, and recovery at the impression center was ev(0) = (0.98 ± 0.03) μm. Vertical elastic recovery was non-uniform along profiles. Permanent impressions produced resulted from glass mass displacement downward, producing an increase in glass density in impression vicinity, which is discussed in terms of changes in O-Si-O and Si-O-Si bond angles and Si-O bond length. Near impression edges, pileup was observed for which a simplified model is proposed taking into account the compaction and stresses near the impressions. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Stresses analysis in semi-elliptic leaf spring and comparison with the SAE J788 (1982) norm

In this work are presented the values found with the experimental testing, in the semi-elliptic leaf spring, utilizing 24 strain gages, distributed in five leaves of springs; these values have been compared to the calculated values found with the application of Norm SAE J788 (1982). The results showed discrepancy between the values measured and calculated and that the Norm is not indicated to determine the actuating stress in any point of any leaf of the leaf spring, but due to its simplicity and quickness of the process it presents good precision for the pre-development of the product. Copyright © 2002 Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc.

Kinetic study of the plastoquinone pool availability correlated with H2O2 release in seawater and antioxidant responses in the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii exposed to single or combined high light, chilling and chemical stresses

Under biotic/abiotic stresses, the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii reportedly releases massive amounts of H2O2 into the surrounding seawater. As an essential redox signal, the role of chloroplast-originated H2O2 in the orchestration of overall antioxidant responses in algal species has thus been questioned. This work purported to study the kinetic decay profiles of the redox-sensitive plastoquinone pool correlated to H2O2 release in seawater, parameters of oxidative lesions and antioxidant enzyme activities in the red alga Kappaphycus alvarezii under the single or combined effects of high light, low temperature, and sub-lethal doses of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) and 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB), which are inhibitors of the thylakoid electron transport system. Within 24 h, high light and chilling stresses distinctly affected the availability of the PQ pool for photosynthesis, following Gaussian and exponential kinetic profiles, respectively, whereas combined stimuli were mostly reflected in exponential decays. No significant correlation was found in a comparison of the PQ pool levels after 24 h with either catalase (CAT) or ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities, although the H2O2 concentration in seawater (R = 0.673), total superoxide dismutase activity (R = 0.689), and particularly indexes of protein (R = 0.869) and lipid oxidation (R = 0.864), were moderately correlated. These data suggest that the release of H2O2 from plastids into seawater possibly impaired efficient and immediate responses of pivotal H2O2-scavenging activities of CAT and APX in the red alga K. alvarezii, culminating in short-term exacerbated levels of protein and lipid oxidation. These facts provided a molecular basis for the recognized limited resistance of the red alga K. alvarezii under unfavorable conditions, especially under chilling stress. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Influence of grinding on the roundness, residual stresses and microstructure of VC131 steel analysed by varying the type of cutting fluid

This paper by R. E. Catai, E. C. Bianchi, P. R de Águia and M. C. Alves reports on the results of an analysis made of roundness errors, residual stresses, and SEM micrographs of VC131 steel. The analysis involved workpieces ground with two types of cutting fluid: synthetic cutting fluid and emulsive oil. In this study, the cutting parameters were kept constant while the type of cutting fluid was varied. The amount of cutting fluid injected in the process was also varied, aiming to identify the ideal amount required to obtain good results without causing structural damage to the workpiece. The SEM analyses of roundness errors and residual stresses revealed that, of the two cutting fluids, emulsive oil provided better tensions due to its greater lubricating power.

Selection of endogenous genes for gene expression studies in Eucalyptus under biotic (Puccinia psidii) and abiotic (acibenzolar-S-methyl) stresses using RT-qPCR

Background: Rust caused by Puccinia psidii Winter has been limiting for the establishment of new Eucalyptus plantations, as well as for resprouting of susceptible genetic materials. Identifying host genes involved in defense responses is important to elucidate resistance mechanisms. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR is the most common method of mRNA quantitation for gene expression analysis. This method generally employs a reference gene as an internal control to normalize results. A good endogenous control transcript shows minimal variation due to experimental conditions. Findings. We analyzed the expression of 13 genes to identify transcripts with minimal variation in leaves of 60-day-old clonal seedlings of two Eucalyptus clones (rust-resistant and susceptible) subjected to biotic (P. psidii) and abiotic (acibenzolar-S-methyl, ASM) stresses. Conclusions. For tissue samples of clones that did not receive any stimulus, a combination of the eEF2 and EglDH genes was the best control for normalization. When pathogen-inoculated and uninoculated plant samples were compared, eEF2 and UBQ together were more appropriate as normalizers. In ASM-treated and untreated leaves of both clones, transcripts of the CYP and elF4B genes combined were the ones with minimal variation. Finally, when comparing expression in both clones for ASM-treated leaves, P. psidii-inoculated leaves, ASM-treated plus P. psidii-inoculated leaves, and their respective controls, the genes with the most stable expression were EgIDH and UBQ. The chitinase gene, which is highly expressed in studies on plant resistance to phytopathogens, was used to confirm variation in gene expression due to the treatments. © 2010 Laia et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

On the influence of the mode-shapes of a marine propulsion shafting system on the prediction of torsional stresses

Torsional vibration predictions and measurements of a marine propulsion system, which has both damping and a highly flexible coupling, are presented in this paper. Using the conventional approach to stress prediction in the shafting system, the numerical predictions and the experimental torsional vibration stress curves in some parts of the shafting system are found to be quite different. The free torsional vibration characteristics and forced torsional vibration response of the system are analyzed in detail to investigate this phenomenon. It is found that the second to fourth natural modes of the shafting system have significant local deformation. This results in large torsional resonant responses in different sections of the system corresponding to different engine speeds. The results show that when there is significant local deformation in the shafting system for different modes, then multi-point measurements should be made, rather than the conventional method of using a single measurement at the free end of the shaft, to obtain the full torsional vibration characteristics of the shafting system.