Effects of aluminum on plant growth and nutrient uptake in young physic nut plants

Aluminum (Al3+) toxicity is a major limiting factor to crop productivity in acid soils. The effects of aluminum on root and shoot growth of physic nut (Jatropha curcas L.) young plants and, the uptake and distribution of phosphorus, calcium, magnesium and aluminum in the roots and shoots were investigated in the present study. Plants were grown in 2.5L pots in a greenhouse. After fourteen days of adaptation to nutrient solution, plants were exposed to Al concentrations of 0, 370, 740, 1,100 and 1,480 mu mol L-1, corresponding to an active Al3+ solution of 13.3, 35.3, 90.0, 153.3 and 220.7 mu mol L-1, respectively. The dry matter partitioning between roots, stems and leaves, and the concentrations of P, Ca, Mg and Al in plant tissue, were measured after 75 days exposure to Al. The increasing level of Al3+ activity in solution progressively decreased the growth of the shoot and root of physic nut plants, and at the two highest active Al3+ levels, plants showed morphological abnormalities typical of the toxicity caused by this metal. Higher Al3+ activity reduced P concentrations in leaves and Ca and Mg in leaves and roots of physic nut, demonstrating the effect of Al on the uptake, transport and use of these nutrients by plants. The Al accumulated preferentially in the roots of physic nut, whereas only a small amount was transported to shoots.

Denoising swallowing sound to improve the evaluator's qualitative analysis

Swallowing dynamics involves the coordination and interaction of several muscles and nerves which allow correct food transport from mouth to stomach without laryngotracheal penetration or aspiration. Clinical swallowing assessment depends on the evaluator's knowledge of anatomic structures and of neurophysiological processes involved in swallowing. Any alteration in those steps is denominated oropharyngeal dysphagia, which may have many causes, such as neurological or mechanical disorders. Videofluoroscopy of swallowing is presently considered to be the best exam to objectively assess the dynamics of swallowing, but the exam needs to be conducted under certain restrictions, due to patient's exposure to radiation, which limits periodical repetition for monitoring swallowing therapy. Another method, called cervical auscultation, is a promising new diagnostic tool for the assessment of swallowing disorders. The potential to diagnose dysphagia in a noninvasive manner by assessing the sounds of swallowing is a highly attractive option for the dysphagia clinician. Even so, the captured sound has an amount of noise, which can hamper the evaluator's decision. In that way, the present paper proposes the use of a filter to improve the quality of audible sound and facilitate the perception of examination. The wavelet denoising approach is used to decompose the noisy signal. The signal to noise ratio was evaluated to demonstrate the quantitative results of the proposed methodology. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Design of a simple detection cell with extended optical path length for capillary electrophoresis: Application to multiresidue pesticide analysis

Absorbance detection in capillary electrophoresis (CE), offers an excellent mass sensitivity, but poor concentration detection limits owing to very small injection volumes (normally I to 10 nL). This aspect can be a limiting factor in the applicability of CE/UV to detect species at trace levels, particularly pesticide residues. In the present work, the optical path length of an on-column detection cell was increased through a proper connection of the column (75 mu m i.d.) to a capillary detection cell of 180 mu m optical path length in order to improve detectability. It is shown that the cell with an extended optical path length results in a significant gain in terms of signal to noise ratio. The effect of the increase in the optical path length has been evaluated for six pesticides, namely, carbendazim, thiabendazole, imazalil, procymidone triadimefon, and prochloraz. The resulting optical enhancement of the detection cell provided detection limits of ca. 0.3 mu g/mL for the studied compounds, thus enabling the residue analysis by CE/UV.

Dissipative hydrodynamics coupled to chiral fields

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação de doses e épocas de aplicação de nitrato de cálcio em cobertura na cultura do rabanete

Este experimento foi realizado para avaliar o efeito de doses e épocas de aplicação de nitrogênio em cobertura na cultura do rabanete (cultivar Redondo Vermelho). Foram avaliados sete tratamentos com cinco repetições e parcelas com 1,2 m x 0,8 m (espaçamento de 20 cm x 5 cm), no delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso. Os tratamentos resultaram da combinação dos fatores época da adubação em cobertura [9 e 20 dias após a semeadura (DAS)] e doses de nitrogênio (100; 200 e 300 kg/ha) na forma de nitrato de cálcio, além da testemunha, sem adubação em cobertura. em geral, a época de aplicação foi mais importante que o nível de N em cobertura. Quando a adubação foi realizada 9 DAS obteve-se uma produção de 10,30 t/ha de folhas, 10,6 t/ha de raízes (total) e 6,20 t/ha de raízes comerciais, superior à adubação realizada aos 20 DAS (7,7 t/ha, 5,8 t/ha e 2,7 t/ha de folhas, raízes totais e raízes comerciais, respectivamente). Quanto às doses de N, a produção de raízes comerciais foi superior com 300 kg/ha (5,1 t/ha) em comparação a 100 kg/ha (3,6 t/ha). Para as condições em que foi realizado este experimento, as maiores produções de raízes comerciais foram obtidas com 200 ou 300 kg/ha de N, aplicados 9 DAS, recomendando-se 200 kg/ha pelo menor gasto com este insumo.

Alelopatia de extratos aquosos de canela-sassafrás (Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Análise de crescimento e anatomia foliar da planta medicinal Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) cultivada em diferentes substratos

Ageratum conyzoides L. (Asteraceae) é uma espécie herbácea que ocorre em áreas de cerrado e, por se tratar de planta medicinal, é cultivada em escala familiar. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar possíveis alterações no desenvolvimento das plantas quando cultivadas em solos com texturas diferentes (solo de cerrado, franco arenoso ou solo de terra roxa, muito argiloso). Foram analisados aos 40, 70 e 90 dias, o comprimento do caule e da raiz, massa seca da parte aérea (caule e folhas) e das raízes, número de folhas e área foliar; além de parâmetros anatômicos foliares, como a densidade de tricomas. Os resultados mostraram que os comprimentos do caule e da raiz aumentaram no decorrer do experimento, independentemente do substrato (com exceção do comprimento da raiz de plantas cultivadas em solo de terra roxa). Porém, o comprimento do caule foi sempre maior nas plantas cultivadas em solo de cerrado, enquanto o comprimento da raiz foi significativamente maior somente aos 90 dias de cultivo neste solo. As biomassas secas da raiz e do caule também foram maiores nas plantas cultivadas em solo de cerrado por 70 e 90 dias, respectivamente. A massa seca foliar foi maior nas plantas cultivadas em solo de cerrado a partir dos 70 dias de experimento. Esse aumento foi devido ao maior número de folhas produzidas e a maior área foliar dessas plantas. No geral, a anatomia foliar não diferiu, porém o número de tricomas glandulares foi maior nas plantas cultivadas em solo de cerrado. Os resultados indicaram que esta espécie tem melhor desenvolvimento quando cultivada em solo mais arenoso.

Validity of hand-to-foot measurement of bioimpedance: Standing compared with lying position

Objective: To assess the reliability of the standing measurement of hand-to-foot bioimpedance compared with measurements made in the lying position.Research Methods and Procedures: In 205 volunteers 6 to 89 years of age, 111 males and 94 females from six ethnic groups, effects of posture, time, and age on hand-to-foot resistance were studied over a range of body size. The effect of time in a position on resistance was also recorded in a small subset (n = 10), and repeat measurements over 3 days at the same time of the day were recorded in another subset (n = 12).Results: Lying impedance was consistently higher than standing, with the relationship (resistance lying/resistance standing) for the children (5 to 14 years) being 1.031, progressing to a ratio of 1.016 in those >60 years. The time spent static in either position did change resistance measurements - a decrease of up to 9 Omega (mean 5 Omega, 1.0%) over 10 minutes of standing and an increase of up to 7 Omega (mean 3 Omega, 0.7%) with lying.Discussion: In the field, measurements of hand-to-foot bioimpedance can be made in the standing position, and, with appropriate adjustment, previously validated recumbent equations can be used. Given that errors in the measurement of height and weight also affect the reliability of the derivation of body fat from bioelectrical conductance, the errors that may arise from a more practical standing measurement rather than lying are minimal.

Effect of post length on the fatigue resistance of bovine teeth restored with bonded fiber posts: A pilot study

This study evaluated the influence of the cementation length of glass fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) on the fatigue resistance of bovine teeth restored with an adhesively cemented FRC. Thirty roots of single-rooted bovine teeth were allocated to 3 groups (n = 10), according to the ratio of crown length/root length (post cementation length): group 1 = 2/3, group 2 = 1/2, and group 3 = 1/1. The roots were prepared, the fiber posts (FRC Postec Plus) were cemented, and the specimens were submitted to 2 million mechanical cycles. After fatigue testing, a score was given based on the number of fatigue cycles until fracture, and data were submitted to statistical analysis. All specimens were resistant to fatigue. Taking into account the methodology and results of this study, the evaluated fiber posts can be cemented based on the ratio of crown/root at 1/1. Further clinical studies must be conducted to verify this ratio.

Crescimento radicular e aéreo de cultivares de arroz de terras altas em função da calagem

This work aimed to evaluate root growth, shoot development and nutrient absorption efficiency by rice cultivars Caiapo and Maravilha as affected by lime application. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with treatments set up by Caiapo and Maravilha cultivars in combination with the base saturation (V%) of 10%, 40% and 70%. The experiment was in a randomized complete block design, with four replications. The number of tillers, root length, root dry matter, leaves and stems, leaf content and macronutrients absorption efficiency were evaluated. Comparing cultivars, Maravilha cultivar presented higher root dry weight, root length, number of stems, dry matter of stems and shoot than Caiapo cultivar, as well as accumulated more nutrients in the shoots. on the other hand, nutrient contents were higher in the cultivar Caiapo compared to Maravilha. Maravilha cultivar shows greater root and shoot growth while Caiapo shows higher nutrient absorption efficiency from the soil. The base saturation of 40% is the most effective for both cultivars.

Morphometric study of the small intestinal mucosa in young, adult, and old rats submitted to protein deficiency and rehabilitation

Linear and stereological morphometric methods were applied to the jejunal and ileal mucosa of young, adult, and old male Wistar rats submitted to protein deficiency and rehabilitation. The animals were fed ad libitum a 2% casein diet during 42 days and then received a 20% casein diet for 30 days. Food intake, body weights, and plasma protein concentrations were recorded. In the young protein deficient rats values of mucosal height, surface area, and volume of the lamina propria were significantly lower than those of their age controls in both jejunum and ileum. In adults the differences were less marked and in the old rats all parameters were found to be unaltered by the protein deficient diet. The surface-to-volume ratio showed no significant differences between control and protein deficient in all three age groups, meaning that villus pattern did not change with protein deficiency. On rehabilitation, a striking difference between jejunum and ileum was observed in the young rats; all parameters returned to control levels in the jejunum, while they remained lower than those of their controls in the ileum.

Atividade da enzima bromelina emplantas de abacaxi (Ananas comosus L. Merril), sob condições de salinidade in vitro

The objectives of this work were to characterize pineapple plants (Ananas comosus L. Merril) cv. Smooth Cayenne, cultured in vitro, in saline medium, in relation to bromelian activity, identifying the parts of the plant with the highest bromelian activity. Also under aim was the study of the influence of saline stress on the enzyme activity. Axillary buds of pineapple were cultivated in vitro in MS medium, supplemented with 2 mg.L-1 BAP and 1 mg.L-1 NAA. The levels of salinity tested were: 0.57 g.L-1 NaCl, 1.15 g.L-1 NaCl, and 2.30 g.L-1 NaCl. Bromelian activity was evaluated in the development of buds, shoots, and roots. The results showed that bromelian activity was higher in buds at the highest salt concentration at 15 days. Cultured shoots showed bromelian activity decreasing in the saline treatments in all the collection, up to 60 days in culture. The roots showed higher bromelian activity in the roots in saline medium.

Dietary electrolyte balance for broiler chickens exposed to thermoneutral or heat-stress environments

Ross male broiler chicks (n = 480) on new litter were used in a randomized block design with two blocks (environmental rooms) and four treatments having four replicate pens (1.0 × 2.5 m; 15 chicks) each to evaluate dietary electrolyte balance (DEB; P < 0.05). Two rooms were 1) thermoneutral (Weeks 1 through 6, with decreasing maximum from 32 to 25°C and minimum from 28 to 19°C; relative humidity 49 to 58%) and 2) cyclic daily heat stress (Weeks 1 and 2, thermoneutral; Weeks 2 through 6, maximum temperatures 35, 35, 33, and 33°C, respectively; and minimum temperatures 23, 20, 19, and 19°C, respectively; relative humidity 51 to 54%). The DEB treatments (0, 140, 240, or 340 mEq Na + K - Cl/kg) had NaHCO3 plus NH4Cl, or KHCO3, or both added to corn-soybean meal mash basal diets with 0.30% salt (NaCl). In the thermoneutral room, DEB 240 increased 42-d weight gain and 44-d lymphocyte percentage and decreased heterophil percentage and heterophil to lymphocyte ratio compared to the DEB 40 treatment. The DEB 240 diets had 0.35 and 0.35% Na and 0.37% and 0.29% Cl in starter (0.75% K) and grower (0.67% K) diets, respectively. No DEB treatment differences were found in the heat stress room. For combined rooms, 42-d feed intake was higher for DEB 240 than for DEB 40. The 21-d weight gain was higher for DEB 240 than for DEB 40 or 140; and 21-d feed/gain was lower for DEB 40 than for DEB 340. The predicted maximum point of inflection for 21- and 42-d weight gains were DEB 250 and 201, with highest 42-d feed intake at 220.

Root volume and dry matter of peanut plants as a function of soil bulk density and soil water stress

Soil compaction may be defined as the pressing of soil to make it denser. Soil compaction makes the soil denser, decreases permeability of gas and water exchange as well as alterations in thermal relations, and increases mechanical strength of the soil. Compacted soil can restrict normal root development. Simulations of the root restricting layers in a greenhouse are necessary to develop a mechanism to alleviate soil compaction problems in these soils. The selection of three distinct bulk densities based on the standard proctor test is also an important factor to determine which bulk density restricts the root layer. This experiment aimed to assess peanut (Arachis hypogea) root volume and root dry matter as a function of bulk density and water stress. Three levels of soil density (1.2, 1.4, and 1.6g cm-3), and two levels of the soil water content (70 and 90% of field capacity) were used. Treatments were arranged as completely randomized design, with four replications in a 3×2 factorial scheme. The result showed that peanut yield generally responded favorably to subsurface compaction in the presence of high mechanical impedance. This clearly indicates the ability of this root to penetrate the hardpan with less stress. Root volume was not affected by increase in soil bulk density and this mechanical impedance increased root volume when roots penetrated the barrier with less energy. Root growth below the compacted layer (hardpan), was impaired by the imposed barrier. This stress made it impossible for roots to grow well even in the presence of optimum soil water content. Generally soil water content of 70% field capacity (P<0.0001) enhanced greater root proliferation. Nonetheless, soil water content of 90% field capacity in some occasions proved better for root growth. Some of the discrepancies observed were that mechanical impedance is not a good indicator for measuring root growth restriction in greenhouse. Future research can be done using more levels of water to determine the lowest soil water level, which can inhibit plant growth.

Deficiências de macronutrientes em plantas de soja cv. BRSMG 68 (Vencedora) cultivada em solução nutritive

Soybean is a crop of great importance for Brazil, and knowledge of their nutritional status allows production and high quality products. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the culture of the soybean cv. BRSMG 68 (Vencedora), submitted to macronutrients omission on the development, nutritional status and the visual symptomatology of nutrient deficiency. The design used was completely randomized, with seven treatments that corresponded to the complete (macro and micronutrients) solution and the individual omission of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S. The treatments were applied two weeks after the emergency of the soybean. The nutrient solution was constantly oxygenated and replaced weekly, and the pH monitored daily remained around 5. After six weeks of application of the treatments, the height of the plants, number of leaves, stem diameter was evaluated, matter dry accumulated in the roots, it leaves aerial and the nutritional state and the characterization of the visual symptoms. The macronutrient deficiency promoted a decrease in production of root and shoot dry mass of soybean cultivar BRSMG 68 (Vencedora) in nutrient solution, for the full treatment. The most limiting nutrient for dry matter production of soybean compared to complete treatment were N, S and K, with decreases of 90, 76 and 73%, respectively. Individual omissions resulted in morphological changes, which were translated by characteristic visual symptoms of nutritional deficiency of the respective nutrient.