Partitioning of net primary production in Eucalyptus and Acacia stands and in mixed-species plantations: Two case-studies in contrasting tropical environments

The introduction of nitrogen fixing species (NFS) in fast-growing tree plantations is an alternative option to reduce fertilizer inputs. However, the success of mixed-species plantations depends on the balance between positive interactions among species (resulting from facilitation and/or complementarity) and the negative effects of interspecific competition.Using a carbon budget approach and coupling measurements of standing biomass, aboveground litterfall and soil CO2 efflux, we assessed the influence of replacing half of eucalypt trees by Acacia mangium on total belowground carbon flux (TBCF), net primary production (NPP) and its partitioning between above- and belowground growth at two tropical sites in Brazil (Itatinga) and in Congo (Kissoko) exhibiting contrasting climates, edaphic conditions and wood productions.Annual soil CO2 efflux (FS) was significantly lower in the acacia monocultures than in eucalypt monocultures and mixed-species stands at both sites. Annual FS was significantly lower at Itatinga compared to Kissoko for all stands while TBCF was significantly lower in the eucalypt stands only. In the eucalypt monocultures we found a significantly lower aboveground NPP (ANPP) and wood production (wood NPP) at Kissoko compared to Itatinga that was almost fully balanced by a significantly higher belowground NPP (BNPP), leading to similar NPP. Similarly, acacia monocultures exhibited significantly higher ANPP and wood NPP at Itatinga than at Kissoko. The mixed-species stands exhibited a significantly lower wood NPP and ANPP than the eucalypt monocultures at the Brazilian site while NPP of the mixture was not significantly different than the average NPP of the two monocultures. At the Congolese site, NPP of the mixture was significantly higher than the average NPP of the two monocultures. NPP was similar in the mixed-species stand and the eucalypt monoculture with a significantly lower partitioning of NPP to belowground production, leading to a one third higher wood biomass at harvest in the mixed-species stand.A positive effect of growing eucalypts with the nitrogen fixing acacia trees on stand wood production occurred at Kissoko but not at Itatinga. Mixed-species plantations with NFS can be advocated at sites where the productive gains resulting from nitrogen fixation are not compromised by other resource limitations. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Does ethnic ancestry play a role in smoking?

A maior proporção de fumantes entre negros no Brasil tem sido atribuída a desigualdades socioeconômicas, mas fatores genéticos também poderiam contribuir para esse achado. Este estudo visou investigar associações entre status tabágico com ancestralidade definida geneticamente e características socioeconômicas em brasileiros. Amostras de sangue foram colhidas de 448 voluntários (66,7% homens; idade: 37,1±11,4 anos) classificados como fumantes atuais (FA: 60,9%), ex-fumantes (EF:8,9%) e não fumantes (NF:30,1%).Misturas éticas individuais foram determinadas empregando-se um painel informativo de ancestralidade composto por 48 polimorfismos de deleções e inserções. FA mostraram menor proporção de ancestralidade europeia do que NF (0,837±0,243 X 0,883±0,194; p≤0,05) e EF (0,837±0,243 X 0,864±0,230; p≤0,05), e maior proporção de ancestralidade africana sub-saárica do que EF (0,128±0,222 X 0,07±0,174, p≤0,05) e NF (0,128±0,222 X 0,085±0,178, p≤0,05). NF informaram maior número de anos de escola do que FA (11,2±3,7 X 8,9±3,8; p≤0,001). FA foram menos comuns na Classe econômica A (30%) e mais comuns na Classe B (56,8%). Em análise multivariada, apenas menor número de anos escolares e menor classe econômica estiveram associados com chances maiores para FA. O uso de marcadores de genética molecular para caracterizar o background étnico confirmou que diferenças socioeconômicas são os principais determinantes de maiores taxas de tabagismo entre negros no Brasil.

Biomass yield and calorific value of six clonal stands of Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake cultivated in Northeastern Brazil

A demanda mundial por energia limpa e sustentável tem aumentado nos últimos anos. Uma das alternativas é a biomassa, incluindo os plantios florestais, com destaque, no Brasil, para o gênero Eucalyptus spp., que, atualmente, possui diversos clones selecionados para a produção de energia. Em razão da diferença na adaptação dos clones aos diferentes ambientes, há necessidade de estudos específicos para avaliar a produção de energia para determinada região. Objetivou-se, neste estudo, determinar dentre seis clones de Eucalyptus urophylla S. T. Blake analisados, aqueles com maior potencial para a produção de biomassa e energia para a região Centro Sul do Maranhão (Grajaú). Os clones foram avaliados com 41 meses de idade, plantados em espaçamento de 4 x 3 m, e distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições. Cada parcela experimental era composta por 100 árvores. Foram determinadas a produção e a alocação de biomassa de cada parte da árvore e o poder calorífico de casca e do lenho. Dos seis clones estudados, dois se destacaram tanto na produção de biomassa, quanto para a geração de energia, sendo superiores em até 27 % em comparação com o clone de menor rendimento.

Estimating cyclopoid copepod species richness and geographical distribution (Crustacea) across a large hydrographical basin: comparing between samples from water column (plankton) and macrophyte stands

Species richness and geographical distribution of Cyclopoida freshwater copepods were analyzed along the La Plata River basin. Ninety-six samples were taken from 24 sampling sites, twelve sites for zooplankton in open waters and twelve sites for zooplankton within macrophyte stands, including reservoirs and lotic stretches. There were, on average, three species per sample in the plankton compared to five per sample in macrophytes. Six species were exclusive to the plankton, 10 to macrophyte stands, and 17 were common to both. Only one species was found in similar proportions in plankton and macrophytes, while five species were widely found in plankton, and thirteen in macrophytes. The distinction between species from open water zooplankton and macrophytes was supported by nonmetric multidimensional analysis. There was no distinct pattern of endemicity within the basin, and double sampling contributes to this result. This lack of sub-regional faunal differentiation is in accordance with other studies that have shown that cyclopoids generally have wide geographical distribution in the Neotropics and that some species there are cosmopolitan. This contrasts with other freshwater copepods such as Calanoida and some Harpacticoida. We conclude that sampling plankton and macrophytes together provided a more accurate estimate of the richness and geographical distribution of these organisms than sampling in either one of those zones alone.

Nasal and systemic inflammatory profile after short term smoking cessation

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

Usual interstitial pneumonia and smoking-related interstitial fibrosis display epithelial to mesenchymal transition in fibroblastic foci

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Productivity and costs of Beller-Buncher and forest processor in stands of eucalypts in first cut

The rationalization of forest harvesting and minimization costs is a constant search by the managers involved in this process, making them decide practices which are economically viable to optimize that operation. This study aimed to evaluate technically and economically the performance of feller-buncher and the forest processor in stands of eucalypts in first cut. The technique analysis included time and movements, productivity, efficiency operational and mechanical availability. The economic analysis included the parameters operational cost, harvesting cost and energy consumption. Aiming the optimization the cost of forest harvesting, the system composed by feller-buncher and processor forest presented itself as a technically and economically viable alternative to harvesting eucalypt in first cut or stands that do not have bifurcated trees.

Nasal mucociliary clearance in subjects with COPD after smoking cessation

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

Allometric equations for estimating tree biomass in restored mixed-species Atlantic Forest stands

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

Nicotine dependence and levels of depression and anxiety in smokers in the process of smoking cessation

Background: Depression and anxiety are psychiatric disorders that are related to tobacco use and associated with dependence, the process of cessation, lapses and relapses after quitting smoking. Objective: To analyze the association of nicotine dependence with the level of anxiety and depression in patients who are in the process of smoking cessation. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted with patients who sought the smoking cessation program in Cuiabá/MT. All the smokers enrolled from May to August 2012, participated in this study. Four instruments were applied: Socio-demographic Questionnaire, Fagerstrom test, Beck Anxiety Inventory and Beck Depression Inventory. Following bivariate analysis, using the crude prevalence ratio, with level of significance lower than 5% (p < 0.05), having as variable outcome the nicotine dependence >= 5 (Fagerstrom). The associations with p < 0.20 were selected for robust Multiple Poisson Regression (RPa). Results: Associations of Fagerstrom >= 5 with the male sex (RP = 1.15 CI 95% 1.03-1.28); number of cigarettes/day (RP = 1,33; CI 95% 1.19-1.48); and moderate/severe level of depression (RP = 1.15; CI 95% 1.04-1.28) were found. In the final model (RPa), the following variables remained associated: male gender (RPa 1.12; CI 95% 1.01-1.24), number of cigarettes/day (RPa 1.28; CI 95% 1.15-1.43) and high level of depression (RPa 1.12; CI 95% 1.01-1.23). Discussion: High level of nicotine dependence was associated significantly with the level of depression, emphasizing the association between smoking and psychiatric comorbidities.

Cardiac remodeling induced by smoking: concepts, relevance, and potential mechanisms

Cardiac or ventricular remodeling is characterized by molecular, cellular, and interstitial alterations that lead to changes in heart size, mass, geometry and function in response to a given insult. Currently, tobacco smoke exposure is recognized as one of these insults. Indeed, tobacco smoke exposure induces the enlargement of the left-sided cardiac chambers, myocardial hypertrophy, and ventricular dysfunction. Potential mechanisms for these alterations include hemodynamic and neurohormonal changes, oxidative stress, inflammation, nitric oxide bioavailability, matrix metalloproteinases and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. This review will focus on the concepts, relevance, and potential mechanisms of cardiac remodeling induced by tobacco smoke.

Effect of smoking on the survival of dental implants

Background. Although the long-term success of implant treatment has been well- established, failures can still occur and the smoking habit has been reported as a risk factor for implant loss. A literature review on the effects of smoking on the survival of dental implants was undertaken. Methods and Results. Medline database was used to carry out the review with the keywords “osseointegration”, “smoking” and “bone healing”. The cigarette has more than 4,000 bioactive chemical components with potential toxic effects to human tissues including bone. Nicotine is the main component of the cigarette and it is frequently associated with bone healing failures. Since smoking negatively affects the osseointegration of dental implants, the main target is to quit the consumption of cigarettes. Conclusion. Nevertheless, the smoking habit should not be an absolute contraindication for implant treatment, but, patients should be advised that they are at a greater risk of implant failure.

Cumulative priming effects of cortical stimulation on smoking cue-induced craving

Smoking cue-provoked craving is an intricate behavior associated with strong changes in neural networks. Craving is one of the main reasons subjects continue to smoke; therefore interventions that can modify activity in neural networks associated with craving can be useful tools in future research investigating novel treatments for smoking cessation. The goal of this study was to use a neuromodulatory technique associated with a powerful effect on spontaneous neuronal firing - transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) - to modify cue-provoked smoking craving. Based on preliminary data showing that craving can be modified after a single tDCS session, here we investigated the effects of repeated tDCS sessions on craving behavior. Twenty-seven subjects were randomized to receive sham or active tDCS (anodal tDCS of the left DLPFC). Our results show a significant cumulative effect of tDCS on modifying smoking cue-provoked craving. In fact, in the group of active stimulation, smoking cues had an opposite effect on craving after stimulation - it decreased craving - as compared to sham stimulation in which there was a small decrease or increase on craving. In addition, during these 5 days of stimulation there was a small but significant decrease in the number of cigarettes smoked in the active as compared to sham tDCS group. Our findings extend the results of our previous study as they confirm the notion that tDCS has a specific effect on craving behavior and that the effects of several sessions can increase the magnitude of its effect. These results open avenues for the exploration of this method as a therapeutic alternative for smoking cessation and also as a mean to change stimulus-induced behavior. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Factors associated with smoking in the elderly: a health survey in Sao Paulo (ISA-SP)

This article reports on smoking prevalence and associated factors in the elderly, based on a population-based cross-sectional study with multistage sampling including 1,954 individuals 60 years or older living in four areas of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Overall smoking prevalence was 12.2%, and higher rates were associated with male gender, age 60-69 years, not belonging to an Evangelical church, lower income, low body weight, lack of leisure-time physical activity, depression/anxiety, and hypertension. There was a high prevalence of smokers among individuals with a history of stroke, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The results point to the need for effective interventions in healthcare services to promote smoking cessation among the elderly, since many are unable to stop on their own, even when they have tobacco-related illnesses. Special attention should be paid to individuals that depend on the National Health System, since smoking prevalence is higher in underprivileged socioeconomic groups.