Accelerated ageing and controlled deterioration in beetroot seeds

It is fundamentally important that adequate tests are used to evaluate the physiological quality of produced and commercialized seeds. The objective of this work was to study accelerated ageing and controlled deterioration to evaluate seed vigour in beetroot, seeking to associate these results with seedling emergence in the field. Consequently, five seed lots of Top Tall Early Wonder cultivar were submitted to the tests of germination, seedling emergence in the field, accelerated ageing (using periods of 24, 48 and 72 hours at 42 degrees C) and controlled deterioration (seeds with moisture contents of 22, 24 and 26% at 41 degrees C and 45 degrees C for 12, 24 and 36 hours). Combinations of 72h at 42 degrees C for the accelerated ageing test and 45 degrees C with 24% moisture content for 24h for the controlled deterioration test were sensitive enough to evaluate the physiological potential of beetroot seeds, providing information that was compatible with results of the seedling emergence in the field.

Sleep, ageing and night work

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

Características sensoriais da carne de cordeiro maturada e injetada com cloreto de cálcio: Sensory characteristics of lamb meat ageing and injected with calcium chloride

Sensory characteristics of Morada Nova lambs meat (muscles Biceps femoris, Longissimus and Triceps brachii) submitted to effects of ageing and injection of calcium chloride were studied. The lambs were slaughtered at 25 kg of body weight. After rigor mortis, muscles were removed and submitted to treatments. The variance analysis indicated that ageing and calcium chloride didn't influence the attributes flavor (6.71) and tenderness (7.13) of meats from Biceps femoris. The interaction among the factors wasn't significant for tenderness, however it was significant for flavor. Ageing didn't affect colour (7.08), flavor (7.42), tenderness (7.83) and global impression (7.58) of meats from Longissimus without calcium chloride, and meats with calcium chloride also didn't affect. Ageing and calcium chloride factor didn't influence the attributes flavor and tenderness of meats from Triceps brachii. The interaction among the factors wasn't significant for attributes flavor and tenderness. The sensory quality of Morada Nova lambs meat, was shown similar with relationship to evaluated attributes when it was submitted to ageing and injection with calcium chloride.

Electrical conductivity and mineral composition of the imbibition solution of bean seeds during storage

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

Evaluation of naturally and artificially aged seeds of Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Seed ageing is natural phenomenon that occurs in all seeds, including those stored in dry and low temperature rooms. Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. 'Carioca' seeds harvested in five different years were stored in at 15°C. Seed samples were germinated and evaluated according to The Brazilian Rules for Testing Seeds. The newest seed sample was submitted to artificial ageing. Small (∼1g) samples of all materials (naturally and artificially aged) were ground and proteins extracted. Equal quantities of protein were loaded onto the gels and electrophoresis carried out. Although seeds submitted to 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours of artificial ageing did not show any statistical difference (5%) in relation to unaged seeds in physiological parameters related to emergence, some statistically different parameters related to dry matter and length of shoots and roots occurred. A 24 h of artificial ageing at 41°C improved these factors. Protein patterns were changed after 72 h of artificial ageing and naturally aged seeds showed alterations after two years storage at 15°C. Aged seeds, naturally and artificially, had decreasing germination, vigour, and changes in the characteristic banding pattern of proteins. Physiological parameters and electrophoresis examination showed that for naturally aged seeds physiological parameters were more sensitive while artificially aged seeds, (41°C/100% RH), had electrophoretic profiles that were more efficient for seed lot discrimination.

Optimising tetrazolium test procedures to evaluate the physiological potential of peanut seeds

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

Nitrogênio em cobertura e qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de painço (Panicum miliaceum L.)

O nitrogênio pode influenciar a qualidade das sementes de várias culturas e os seus efeitos variam com as condições ambientais e o estádio de desenvolvimento da planta em que a aplicação é realizada. Porém, pouco se sabe sobre a influência da adubação nitrogenada na qualidade de sementes da cultura do painço (Panicum miliaceum L.). O objetivo neste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de doses e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura na qualidade fisiológica e sanitária de sementes de painço, cv. AL Tibagi, produzidas em condições de campo. As sementes foram produzidas no período de dezembro de 2005 a fevereiro de 2006 e as avaliações laboratoriais realizadas de março a agosto de 2006. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, constituído pela combinação de quatro doses (0, 30, 60 e 120 kg ha-1 de N) e duas épocas de aplicação (14 e 28 dias após a emergência - DAE) do fertilizante nitrogenado (uréia) em cobertura, com quatro repetições. A aplicação de N aumentou o vigor das sementes, expresso pelos testes de envelhecimento acelerado e emergência em campo. A aplicação de nitrogênio aos 28 DAE da cultura do painço proporciona maiores IVE e porcentagem de emergência em campo. A sanidade de sementes de painço não é influenciada pelas doses e épocas de aplicação da adubação nitrogenada.

Acute exercise reverses aged-induced impairments in insulin signaling in rodent skeletal muscle

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

Parâmetros de qualidade da carne de cordeiros submetida aos processos de maturação e injeção de cloreto de cálcio

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Princípios éticos na experimentação animal

The treatment of animals used in research or in education tests requires proper care, scientific judgment and qualified professionals to understand the needs of the animals and the special requirements of the research, tests, and educational programs. The established guidelines aim the development of knowledge necessary for the improvement of health and wellbeing of humans as well as animals to get precise and accurate results. The techniques should not be performed with inappropriate procedures that cause pain or suffering. Some principles should be considered to have an appropriate animal care and treatment.

A structural conformation study of aquatic humic acid

In the present work, aquatic humic substances (HS) were extracted by use of adsorbent XAD 8 and the acid humic fraction (AH) was separated throught acidification. After being purified by Hyphan resin and dialyze, the aquatic AH was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The influence of the aquatic HA and electrolyte concentrations, pH and aquatic AH-metal complexation time on the conformation was investigated using UV/Vis spectroscopic studies, employing the equation suggested by Doty and Steiner. The results indicated that the acid humic flexible macromolecule assumes a condensed form at acid and alkaline pH. Other factors favoring condensed conformations are longer metal complexation time (ageing) and higher aquatic AH and electrolyte concentrations. Thus considering the strong influence of the investigated parameters in the structural conformation of the humic macromolecule, we conclude that studies using UV/Vis spectroscopy to estimate the concentration, aromaticity, humification degree of the aquatic AH and so on, require rigorous control over the experimental conditions employed to provide a correct interpretation of the analytical results. ©2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Cor, capacidade de retenção de água e maciez da carne de cordeiro maturada e injetada com cloreto de cálcio

Biceps femoris, Longissimus and Triceps brachii muscles from Morada Nova lambs were submitted to ageing and calcium chloride injection. Colour, water holding capacity and tenderness were studied. Lambs were slaughtered weighting 25kg.. The muscles presented differences in colour (lightness-L*, redness-a* and yellowness- b*) 24 hours after rigor mortis instalation. Ageing intensified redness of the meats. Calcium chloride did not modify the colour of Longissimus and Triceps brachii, however, Biceps femoris became more redness after receiving calcium chloride. In relation to water holding capacity, ageing affected meats from Triceps brachii. However, it did not affect Biceps femoris and Longissimus. The calcium chloride didn't modify the water holding capacity of the muscles. Ageing influenced tenderness of Biceps femoris and Longissimus.

Landscape reshaping of the asylum of san francisco de paula, located in jaboticabal, Sao Paulo State, Brazil

It is a commonly known fact that there are elderly who have no family or who do not receive any kind of help from their relatives, as the family does not normally have good financial conditions to help them. These elderly live in private or public shelters and generally, they do not have enough money to cover all the necessary costs, and are forced to survive from donations. Those shelters are based, primarily, on nutrition and health. Leisure and wellbeing are usually treated with little attention, but it could be obtained in a simple and effective way: green areas, which normally exist at the site, are often misused, so they can become rest areas through simple landscape projects. It is important to mention that a garden is not just a beautiful place, but it becomes important for the daily life of older people. The objective of this work was to study the need for contemplative leisure and labor in order to improve the life quality of the elderly that live at the San Francisco de Paula Asylum, in Jaboticabal City, Sao Paulo State, Brazil. In this study, a topographic and a photographic survey was conducted and an analysis of the local ground was done. The preferences of the employees and the visitors of the building were also recorded, as well as the critical points of the area. After this primary analysis, the landscape planning was done, with the help of the AutoCAD 2004 software, prioritizing the use of plants that are not dangerous and that are easy maintained. An orchid nursery was also created in order to provide weekly workshops of orchid cultivation.

Qualidade de sementes de crambe submetidas a métodos de secagem e períodos de armazenamento

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização mecânica e microestrutural de um aço 300M com microestrutura multifásica

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)