Genetic parameters for drought-tolerance in cassava

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of drought on genetic parameters and breeding values of cassava. The experiments were carried out in a completely randomized block design with three replicates, under field conditions with (WD) or without (FI) water deficit. Yield of storage roots (RoY), shoot (ShY), and starch (StY), as well as the number of roots (NR), and root dry matter content (DMC) were evaluated in 47 cassava accessions. Significant differences were observed among accessions; according to heritability, these differences had mostly a genetic nature. Heritability estimates for genotypic effects () ranged from 0.25±0.12 (NR) to 0.60±0.18 (DMC), and from 0.51±0.17 (NR) to 0.80±0.21 (RoY and StY) for WD and FI, respectively, as a consequence of greater environmental influence on WD. Selective accuracy was lower in WD, and ranged from 0.71 (NR) to 0.89 (RoY, DMC, and StY). However, genetic gains were quite high and ranged from 24.43% (DMC) to 113.41% (StY), in WD, and from 8.5% (DMC) to 75.70% (StY) in FI. These genetic parameters may be useful for defining which selection strategies, breeding methods, and experimental designs are more suitable to obtain cassava genetic gains for tolerance to drought.

Physiological parameters to select upland rice genotypes for tolerance to water deficit

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of using physiological parameters for water deficit tolerance, as an auxiliary method for selection of upland rice genotypes. Two experiments - with or without water deficit - were carried out in Porangatu, in the state of Goiás, Brazil; the water deficit experiment received about half of irrigation that was applied to the well-watered experiment. Four genotypes with different tolerance levels to water stress were evaluated. The UPLRI 7, B6144F-MR-6-0-0, and IR80312-6-B-3-2-B genotypes, under water stress conditions, during the day, showed lower stomatal diffusive resistance, higher leaf water potential, and lower leaf temperature than the control. These genotypes showed the highest grain yields under water stress conditions, which were 534, 601, and 636 kg ha-1, respectively, and did not differ significantly among them. They also showed lower drought susceptibility index than the other genotypes. 'BRS Soberana' (susceptible control) was totally unproductive under drought conditions. Leaf temperature is a easy-read parameter correlated to plant-water status, viable for selecting rice genotypes for water deficit tolerance.

PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF BILIMBI (Averrhoa bilimbi L.)

The aimed of this work was to investigate the effects of maturity stages on the physicochemical characteristics of bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi L.) which were cultivated in Recife-PE. During one year, the fruits were harvested from five different trees (unidentified variety) in mature and half-mature stages. They were analysed on total soluble solids (TSS), oxalic acid and vitamin C. Ripe fruits had the highest levels of TSS and vitamin C and lowest levels of oxalic acid, independently of weather conditions. The results showed that maturity stage influenced on physicochemical characteristics of bilimbi fruits.

RAPD markers utilization and other parameters in the determination of mango hybrids genitors

Actually mango (Mangifera indica, L.) is considered one of the largest Brazilian fruitbusiness for the export market. Cultivar selection having high fruit quality is a fundamental step to obtain excellent results in this business. A mango breeding program based on intervarietal hybridization may produce new improved cultivars for mango growers. Mango hybrids have been obtained by controlled or open crosses. In the last one, it is important to identify the male parent because it is useful for the genetic cultivar history, thus it is important for planning further improvements. This work presents a parentage test using among others parameters RAPD (Random amplified Polymorphic DNA) markers to estimate the male parent of the selected hybrids in an open cross plot by using five mango cultivars densely planted in a latin square design.

Estimates of genetic parameters for fruit yield and quality in custard apple progenies

Apparently, there are no custard apple cultivars defined for the northeastern region of Brazil. The establishment of breeding programs aimed at the selection of types from productive locations for later cloning is desirable. This work's objective was to evaluate the yield (during the first three crops) and quality (first crop) of fruits from 20 half-sibling custard apple tree progenies, selected from home orchards. An additional objective was to estimate genetic parameters for the traits evaluated. A micro sprinkling-irrigated experiment was conducted in Mossoró-RN, Brazil, as random blocks with five replications. In characteristics evaluated for periods longer than a year (diameter, height and mean weight of fruits, number of fruits ha-1 and fruit yield (kg ha-1), and a split-plot design was adopted, with progenies considered as plots and annual cropping seasons as subplots. The best progenies in terms of fruit yield (A3 and A4) are not necessarily the best for fruit dimensions and fruit mean weight (A2, FE4, JG1, JG2, SM1, SM7, and SM8). These progenies show great potential to be used in future studies on crosses or on vegetative propagation. In this regard, progeny JG2 should be highlighted as promising in terms of yield and fruit size. The progenies are not different with regard to percentages (in relation to mean fruit mass) of pericarp, endocarp, seeds, and receptacle, in the fruit, and fruit volume, number of seeds/fruit, and total soluble solids content in the fruit pulp, but progeny FE4 presents higher total titratable acidity in the fruit pulp. Narrow-sense heritability estimates were relatively high for all characteristics in which there was variability between progenies, with higher values for number of fruits ha-1 (80 %) and fruit yield (78 %). Relatively high coefficients of genotypic variation (around 20%) were observed for number of fruits ha-1 and fruit yield, with lower values for the other characteristics. There were positive genotypic and phenotypic correlations between fruit diameter (FD) and fruit height, FD and mean fruit weight, and number of fruits ha-1 and fruit yield.

Hardcopy quality parameters to ensure structures detection at digital mammography

Objective To develop procedures to ensure consistency of printing quality of digital images, by means of hardcopy quantitative analysis based on a standard image. Materials and Methods Characteristics of mammography DI-ML and general purpose DI-HL films were studied through the QC-Test utilizing different processing techniques in a FujiFilm®-DryPix4000 printer. A software was developed for sensitometric evaluation, generating a digital image including a gray scale and a bar pattern to evaluate contrast and spatial resolution. Results Mammography films showed maximum optical density of 4.11 and general purpose films, 3.22. The digital image was developed with a 33-step wedge scale and a high-contrast bar pattern (1 to 30 lp/cm) for spatial resolution evaluation. Conclusion Mammographic films presented higher values for maximum optical density and contrast resolution as compared with general purpose films. The utilized digital processing technique could only change the image pixels matrix values and did not affect the printing standard. The proposed digital image standard allows greater control of the relationship between pixels values and optical density obtained in the analysis of films quality and printing systems.

Optimization of OSEM parameters in myocardial perfusion imaging reconstruction as a function of body mass index: a clinical approach

AbstractObjective:The present study is aimed at contributing to identify the most appropriate OSEM parameters to generate myocardial perfusion imaging reconstructions with the best diagnostic quality, correlating them with patients' body mass index.Materials and Methods:The present study included 28 adult patients submitted to myocardial perfusion imaging in a public hospital. The OSEM method was utilized in the images reconstruction with six different combinations of iterations and subsets numbers. The images were analyzed by nuclear cardiology specialists taking their diagnostic value into consideration and indicating the most appropriate images in terms of diagnostic quality.Results:An overall scoring analysis demonstrated that the combination of four iterations and four subsets has generated the most appropriate images in terms of diagnostic quality for all the classes of body mass index; however, the role played by the combination of six iterations and four subsets is highlighted in relation to the higher body mass index classes.Conclusion:The use of optimized parameters seems to play a relevant role in the generation of images with better diagnostic quality, ensuring the diagnosis and consequential appropriate and effective treatment for the patient.

Validação lateral em relações quantitativas entre estrutura e atividade farmacológica, QSAR

The comparative QSAR is a tool for validating any statistical model that seems to be reasonable in describing an interaction between a bioactive new chemical entity, BIONCE, and the biological system. In order to deeper the understanding of the relationships and the meaning of parameters within the model it is necessary some kind of lateral validation. This validation can be accomplished by chemical procedures using physicochemical organic reactions and by means of biological systems. In this paper we review some of such comparisons and also present a lateral validation between the same set of antimicrobial hydrazides acting against Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and Escherichia coli bacterium cells. QSARs are presented to shed light in this important way of stating that the QSAR model is not the endpoint, but the beginning.

Physicochemical composition of pure and adulterated royal jelly

The physicochemical composition of pure royal jelly as well as of some adulterated samples was analyzed by determining moisture, ash, lipids, nitrogen/proteins, carbohydrates, starch and 10- HDA (10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid). The solubility in alkaline medium was used to detect the main frauds for adulterating royal jelly which comprise addition of yogurt, water, egg white, sweet condensed milk mixed with propolis, unripe banana and corn starch slurry.

Physicochemical composition of Apis mellifera honey samples from São Paulo State, Brazil

This research, developed with Apis mellifera honey samples from producers of São Paulo State, Brazil, has the objective of verifying how eucalyptus, wild flower, and orange honey samples would be clustered, based on physicochemical characteristics. All the orange honey samples and some wild flower ones formed distinct groups, thus confirming that the floral source interferes with honey characteristics. Eucalyptus and some of the wild flower honey samples were clustered together because of the great floral source variation in the latter ones. The characteristics that influence sample clustering are acidity and electric conductivity on the X axis, and total sugars and pH on the Y axis.

Efeitos da poluição atmosférica (litorânea e industrial) em isoladores da rede elétrica da região metropolitana de Salvador

The performances of eight kinds of insulators from electrical distribution lines in Salvador-BA, Brazil, were evaluated considering the chemical and physical local environmental pollution. The parameters that were chosen as characteristic for the insulators' properties were leakage current and partial electrical discharge. A data storage processing system and a communication link to the lab were built for data acquisition. The results show that the main contribution to the poor performance of the insulators is settleable magnetite particulate matter on the insulator in addition to the long term wetness time, t4.

Development and physicochemical characterization of dexamethasone-loaded polymeric nanocapsule suspensions

The influence of drug concentration, oil phase, and surfactants on the characteristics of dexamethasone-loaded nanocapsules was investigated. The best formulations were obtained at dexamethasone concentrations of 0.25 and 0.50 mg.mL-1 (encapsulation efficiency: 80-90%; mean size: 189-253 nm). The type of oil phase influenced only the stability of dexamethasone-loaded nanocapsules. The association of polysorbate 80 and sorbitan monooleate provided a more stable formulation. Sunflower oil and sorbitan sesquioleate used for the first time as oil phase and surfactant for nanocapsules, respectively, have allowed obtaining suspensions with low mean size and narrow size distribution.

Synthesis, structure and physicochemical properties of zinc and copper complexes based on sulfonamides containing 8-aminoquinoline ligands

Sulfonamides obtained by reaction of 8-aminoquinoline with 4-nitrobenzenesulfonylchloride and 2,4,6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride were used to synthesize coordination compounds with CuII and ZnII with a ML2 composition. Determination of the crystal structures of the resulting zinc and copper complexes by X-ray diffraction show a distorted tetrahedral environment for the [Cu(qnbsa)2], [Cu(qibsa)2] and [Zn(qibsa)2] complexes in which the sulfonamide group acts as a bidentate ligand through the nitrogen atoms from the sulfonamidate and quinoline groups. The complex [Zn(qnbsa)2] crystallizes with a water molecule from the solvent and the Zn is five-coordinated and shows a bipyramidal-trigonal geometry. The electrochemical and electronic spectroscopy properties of the copper complexes are also discussed.

Princípios básicos e aplicação da iontoforese na penetração cutânea de fármacos

Physicochemical constraints severely limit the number of molecules that can be considered as candidates for transdermal delivery. Iontophoresis is a non-invasive technique in which a weak electric current is used to enhance the penetration of molecules into or through the skin. In this review the underlying mechanisms that drive iontophoresis and the impact of key experimental parameters - namely, formulation, drug concentration and pH - on iontophoretic delivery efficiency are discussed. In the final section some devices that are currently commercialized are also described.

Indomethacin solubility estimation in 1,4-dioxane + water mixtures by the extended hildebrand solubility approach

Extended Hildebrand Solubility Approach (EHSA) was successfully applied to evaluate the solubility of Indomethacin in 1,4-dioxane + water mixtures at 298.15 K. An acceptable correlation-performance of EHSA was found by using a regular polynomial model in order four of the W interaction parameter vs. solubility parameter of the mixtures (overall deviation was 8.9%). Although the mean deviation obtained was similar to that obtained directly by means of an empiric regression of the experimental solubility vs. mixtures solubility parameters, the advantages of EHSA are evident because it requires physicochemical properties easily available for drugs.