Immunoblotting and tear sampling techniques for the study of contact lens-induced variations in tear protein profiles

More information on the biochemical interactions taking place between the tear film and the contact lens is required to further our understanding of the causative mechanisms behind the symptoms of dryness and grittiness often experienced by contact lens wearers. These symptoms can often lead to an intolerance to contact lens wear.

Tefilot le-yom sheviʿi ṿe-aḥaron shel ḥag ha-Pesaḥ

Gebete für den 7. und 8. Tag des Peßach-Festes

Seleção e divergência genética de pessegueiros e nectarineiras e susceptibilidade a danos causados pelo frio na Estación Experimental de Aula Dei (CSIC)

The peaches and nectarines are highly appreciated by consumer, but it is climacteric fruits, with availability in the market in small time. It is necessary to invest to obtain genotypes with fruit quality and small perishability or that it presente less physiological disorders after storage. The aims of this work were i) to evaluate the genetic divergence among 40 peach and nectarine trees genotypes based on postharvest quality and select posible parents; ii) to evaluate the susceptibility to chilling injury in peaches and nectarines after cold storage; iii) to evaluate divergence of peaches and nectarines on the basis in the susceptibility for chiling injury and select superior genotypes; iv) evaluate the correlations between quality and susceptibility to chilling injury of peaches and nectarines v) select parents with the combination of lower susceptibility to chilling injury and higher quality fruit. The study was carried out in EEAD-CSIC, Zaragoza - Spain, during the production cycle 2013/2014. A total of 40 peaches and nectarines genotypes from germplasm collection were evaluated. The quality characteristics as flesh firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, rippining index and flesh color parameters were evaluated. The fruits were submitted to cold storage at 0 °C and 5 °C, with 95% average relative humidity. The evaluations were after 14 and 28 days, it being observed the presence of symptoms, such as wooliness through mealiness, flesh grainy, leatheriness and flesh color changes, through browning, bleeding and off flavor. As a selection parameter was adopted 20% of genotypes that had a higher frequency of superiority for quality characteristics, susceptibility to chilling injury and the combining of both. For quality characteristic presented greater divergence the ‘Queen Giant’, ‘Sudanel Blanco’ and ‘Borracho de Jarque’. Based on the quality the eight genotypes were selected, ‘Andross’, ‘San Jaime’, ‘San Lorenzo’, ‘Borracho de Jarque’, ‘Sudanell 1’, ‘Carson’, ‘Baby Gold 6’ and ‘Stanford’. All genotypes studied exhibited susceptibility to one or more symptoms caused by cold storage during 28 days, independent of temperature. For 14 days, the ‘Baby Gold 6’, ‘Flavortop’ and ‘Queen Giant’ genotypes did not show any physiological disorder caused by cold. In general, the temperature of 0 °C favored fruit postharvest conservation, it have a lower incidence and severity of symptoms caused by cold storage. The storage for 14 days contributed for the lower incidence of damage in the genotypes fruits studied. For 14 days, with both temperatures, it was observed divergence for ‘Queen Giant’, ‘Sudanell Blanco’, ‘Baby Gold 6’ ‘GF3’, ‘Baby Gold 8’, ‘Campiel’ and ‘Campiel Rojo’ genotypes. For 28 days, in the 5 °C condition, ‘Queen Giant’, ‘Big Top’, ‘Flavortop’ and ‘Redhaven’ genotypes were divergents. Based on susceptibility to chilling injury at 0 °C, the eight genotypes were selected, it being these, ‘Queen Giant’, ‘Keimoes’, ‘Flavortop’, ‘Big Top’, 'Redhaven', 'Sudanell 3', 'Bonet I' and ‘Carson’. The quality parameters as rippining index, soluble solids, firmness and titratable acidity presented correlation among them. These, also it had correlation with woolines and bowning, what it indicate that fruits with more ripening can have this symptoms more easily. The browning, mealiness, flesh grainy and off flavor variables were correlationed with the time period and temperartures, what it confirm that these symptoms are the main disorders caused by cold storage. The quality characteristics together susceptibility to chilling injury allowed selected ‘Baby Gold 6’, ‘Sarell’, ‘Keimoes’, ‘GF3’ ‘San Jaime’, ‘Big Top’, ‘Sudanell 1’, ‘Carson’, ‘Baby Gold 8’, and ‘San Lorenzo’ genotypes.

Interação genótipo-ambiente na densidade de gemas e comprimento de ramos de pessegueiro

The instability of environment between years in climates of subtropical regions difficult to obtain peach trees genotypes with wide adaptation and stable production, contributing to poor crop. The climate instability can affect development stages as flower bud and vegetative bud formation. The factors understanding that control the bud formation, presents elementary importance for effective solutions search to these problems. The objective this work is verify the temperature effect, relative humidity and rainfall on bud density and length shoot (Brindilas) and identify genotypes with more adaptability and stability for this character. Was used 12 peach trees genotypes growing in experimental orchard in the Technology Federal of Paraná State University, Campus Pato Branco with Cfa Köppen climate according to the classification. Data of rainfall, hourly temperature were collected by the weather station of Simepar. They were used three plants for genotype (rehearsal), identify five shoots per tree, in May of each year. Were carried analyzes of length shoot CR (cm), count number of flower bud (GF) and vegetative bud (GV). Also calculated the relationship between GF/GV and flower bud density and vegetative bud density. Evaluations were performer annual 2007-2014. With these data adaptability and stability analyzes were performed using Biplot methodology and correlations analyzes (Pearson) with climates variables. They used the weather data to calculate the sums of hours with temperatures below 20 °C, temperatures between 20-25 °C, temperature between 25-30 °C and temperature above 30 °C, considering the period of August 1fst of the previous period to February 28 of the following year. Pearson correlation coefficients were used for path analysis, GF and DGF as basic variables. For CR, GV and GF the highest average occurred in 2009/10 period. The genotypes ‘BRS Kampai’ and ‘BRS Libra’ highest CR. They are considered stable and adapted as the CR genotypes ‘Casc. 967’ and ‘BRS Kampai’. There was negative correlation between CR and GV for Σh <20 ° C, Σh> 30 °C and Σh with URA <50% and positive correlation between these variables and Σh 25-30 °C and Σh with URA> 70%. The evaluation of GV ‘Cons. 681’ and ‘Casc. 1055’ can be considered adapted and stable. The lowest average was presented by the genotype ‘Sta. Áurea’ though the genotype is also stable. In GF evaluation genotypes are considered adapted ‘BRS Bonão’, ‘Casc. 1055’, ‘Cons. 681’ with adaptability to all evaluated period. In path analysis was direct effect Σh 25-30 °C on flower bud density. In evaluating DGV and DGF and the variations are due to genetic effect. The most adapted and stable genotypes for DGV were ‘T. Beauty’, ‘T. Snow’, ‘Casc. 1055’ and ‘Cons. 681’. CR and GV variables are strongly affected by environment. GF is strongly affected by genetic conditions and moderately affected by environment. DGV and DGF are affected basically by genetic conditions.

Development of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from the mango (Mangifera indica) transcriptome for mapping and estimation of genetic diversity

The development of molecular markers for genomic studies in Mangifera indica (mango) will allow marker-assisted selection and identification of genetically diverse germplasm, greatly aiding mango breeding programs. We report here our identification of thousands of unambiguous molecular markers that can be easily assayed across genotypes of the species. With origin centered in Southeast Asia, mangos are grown throughout the tropics and subtropics as a nutritious fruit that exhibits remarkable intraspecific phenotypic diversity. With the goal of building a high density genetic map, we have undertaken discovery of sequence variation in expressed genes across a broad range of mango cultivars. A transcriptome sequence reference was built de novo from extensive sequencing and assembly of RNA from cultivar 'Tommy Atkins'. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in protein coding transcripts were determined from alignment of RNA reads from 24 mango cultivars of diverse origins: 'Amin Abrahimpur' (India), 'Aroemanis' (Indonesia), 'Burma' (Burma), 'CAC' (Hawaii), 'Duncan' (Florida), 'Edward' (Florida), 'Everbearing' (Florida), 'Gary' (Florida), 'Hodson' (Florida), 'Itamaraca' (Brazil), 'Jakarata' (Florida), 'Long' (Jamaica), 'M. Casturi Purple' (Borneo), 'Malindi' (Kenya), 'Mulgoba' (India), 'Neelum' (India), 'Peach' (unknown), 'Prieto' (Cuba), 'Sandersha' (India), 'Tete Nene' (Puerto Rico), 'Thai Everbearing' (Thailand), 'Toledo' (Cuba), 'Tommy Atkins' (Florida) and 'Turpentine' (West Indies). SNPs in a selected subset of protein coding transcripts are currently being converted into Fluidigm assays for genotyping of mapping populations and germplasm collections. Using an alternate approach, SNPs (144) discovered by sequencing of candidate genes in 'Kensington Pride' have already been converted and used for genotyping.

Insecticidal activity of a protein extracted from bulbs of Phycella australis Ravenna against the aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and Myzus persicae Sulzer

Aphids cause significant losses in many agricultural crops and in many cases cause repeated insecticide sprays, which increase the risk of resistance. Therefore, other alternatives are needed to control them. The toxic, antireproductive, and feeding deterrent effects of a mannosebinding lectin isolated from bulbs of Phycella australis Ravenna (Amaryllidaceae), named Phycella australis agglutinin (PAA) was assayed on nymphs of the aphids Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris and Myzus persicae Sulzer fed with an artificial diet. After 72 h of PAA exposure, lethal concentration (LC50) values were 109 and 313 μg mL-1 for A. pisum and M. persicae, respectively, while LC90 values were 248 and 634 μg mL-1. Sub-lethal concentrations of PAA significantly reduced the aphid fecundity at a concentration of 80 μg mL-1. Only a total of 5.7 descendants per female were recorded for A. pisum (32% control progeny) and 12.4 for M. persicae (39% control progeny). Acyrthosiphon pisum was strongly deterred by PAA under choice conditions, as after 72 h exposed to 80 μg PAA mL-1 of diet, the feeding deterrent index was 0.91 for A. pisum and only 0.38 for M. persicae. In conclusion, the mannosebinding lectin isolated from bulbs of P. australis showed acute and chronical insecticidal activity against the pea and green peach aphids.

Factores asociados al desplazamiento activo en bicicleta al colegio en el Distrito Bogotá, Colombia. Estudio FUPRECOL

Introducción: El transporte activo (TA) puede ser una oportunidad para incrementar los niveles de actividad física diarios de los niños y adolescentes, además de destacarse como una estrategia práctica, accesible y sostenible a largo plazo. Objetivos: El objetivo del presente estudio es doble: Analizar los patrones de desplazamiento activo en bicicleta al y desde el centro educativo, y b) Identificar los factores asociados al uso de la bicicleta como TA; en una muestra de niños y jóvenes pertenecientes a escuelas oficiales de Bogotá, Colombia. Material y métodos: Se trata de un sub-análisis del estudio FUPRECOL en 8060 niños y adolescentes entre los 9-17 años de edad). El modo de desplazamiento del escolar fue determinado a través de la pregunta: “¿Durante los últimos 7 días, usaste bicicleta para ir al colegio/escuela y volver a la casa?. Dicha respuesta se categorizó en activos “Si” (si se desplazan en bicicleta) y pasivos “No” (si se desplazan en vehículo motorizado). Se midieron parámetros antropométricos de peso, talla y perímetro de cintura. El máximo nivel de estudios alcanzados por la madre/padre (no reporta, primaria o secundaria/técnico o tecnólogo/universitario o postgrado) y la composición del hogar (vive con padre/vive con madre/con ambos padres/con abuelos/otros familiares) se auto-reportó por los padres. Las relaciones entre el TA y los factores anteriormente descritos se analizaron mediante regresión logística binaria. Resultados: El 21,9% del total de la muestra reporta usar la bicicleta como medio de transporte y el 7,9% acumula más de 120 minutos al día. Se observó una mayor probabilidad de usar la bicicleta como medio de desplazamiento activo a la escuela en los varones, en los jóvenes entre 9 y 12 años, y en aquellos cuyo padre/madre reportaron mayor grado académico, es decir, “universitario/postgrado”. 3 Conclusión: Los hallazgos del presente estudio sugieren que es necesario promover el TA desde la niñez, poniendo mayor énfasis en el paso a la adolescencia y en las jóvenes, para así aumentar los niveles diarios de AF de estos.

"Mel de Pierce" - doença bacteriana da videira de importância quarentenária para o Brasil.

O ?Mal de Pierce? (Pierce?s disease) é uma doença de importância quarentenária A1, ou seja, ainda não encontrada no Brasil. Economicamente representa uma grande ameaça para a vitivinicultura por ser altamente destrutiva e de difícil controle, devido a sua disseminação natural por vetores aéreos (cigarrinhas) e por dispor de inúmeras hospedeiras alternativas nativas. Esta doença foi primeiramente constatada em 1884, próximo a Pomona e Anaheim na California. Foi chamada inicialmente de Anaheim disease, doença misteriosa, doença da California, praga da videira, entre outros. Em 1892 foi pela primeira vez descrita por Newton B. Pierce, de quem posteriormente herdou o nome e passou a chamar-se ?Pierce?s disease?. Algumas decadas depois a doença foi identificada em outras regiões vitícolas, incluindo o Sul da California até a Florida. O Mal de Pierce foi por muito tempo considerado uma doença causada por vírus. Entretanto investigações conduzidas a partir da década de 70 do século passado, mostraram que em plantas doentes tratadas com antibióticos os sintomas desapareciam e que a imersão de material vegetativo dormente em água quente eliminava o agente causal. Estudos posteriores com microscopia eletrônica demonstraram a presença de bactéria do tipo ricketisia nos tecidos xilemáticos de plantas doentes. Em 1978 a bactéria foi isolada e cultivada em meio de cultura artificial e completado o postulado de Koch?s comprovando-se ser o agente causal da doença. Em 1987 foi definitivamente classificada por Wells e colaboradores como Xylella fastidiosa, bactéria sistêmica do tipo bastonete, gram-negativa, fastidiosa, aflagelada, aeróbica e limitada aos vasos xilemáticos da planta. Esta bactéria apresenta várias estirpes (raças) que causam doenças em outras culturas além da videira, como a queimadura das folhas da amendoeira, nanismo da alfafa, ?phony peach? em pessegueiro, clorose variegada dos citros, escaldadura das folhas da ameixeira e requeima do cafezeiro. Há evidências experimentais que as doenças da videira, amendoeira e alfafa são causadas pela mesma estirpe da bactéria.

Nematoides associados a cinco fruteiras no estado do Amapá, Brasil.

The aim of this study was to conduct a survey on nematodes associated with five cultivated fruit trees growing in the Agroforestry System (AFS) of the municipality of Oiapoque, Amapá, Brazil. Rhizosphere samples were collected from three points at the base of murici (Byrsonima sp.), soursop (Annona muricata), cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum), passion fruit (Passiflora sp.) and peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) trees. Four species of phytonematodes were identified, namely Pratylenchus brachyurus, Helicotylenchus dihystera, Mesocriconema xenoplax and Rotylenchulus reniformis. The most prevalent and abundant species was R. reniformis, which was found in the rhizospheres of passion fruit, cupuaçu, soursop, and peach palm. The first record in Brazil of the nematode P. brachyurus, found in the roots of murici is reported here, and all of the nematode species identified here are the first records for fruit trees in the state of Amapá.