Effect of time of harvest of budded virus on the selection of baculovirus FP mutants in cell culture

Rapid formation and selection of FP (few polyhedra) mutants occurs during serial passaging of Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus (HaSNPV) in insect cell culture. The production of HaSNPV for use as biopesticides requires the passaging of the virus over a number of passages to produce enough virus inoculum for large-scale fermentation. During serial passaging in cell culture, FP mutants were rapidly selected, resulting in declined productivity and reduced potency of virus. Budded virus (BV) is usually harvested between 72 and 96 h postinfection (hpi) in order to obtain a high titer virus stock. In this study, the effect of tine of harvest (TOH) for BV on the selection rate of HaSNPV FP mutants during serial passaging was investigated. BV were harvested at different times postinfection, and each series was serially passaged for six passages. The productivity and percentage of FP mutants at each passage were determined. It was found that the selection of FP mutants can he reduced by employing an earlier TOH for BV. Serial passaging with BV harvested at 48 hpi showed a slower accumulation of FP mutants compared to that of BV harvested after 48 hpi. Higher cell specific yields were also maintained when BV were harvested at 48 hpi. When BV that were formed between 48 and 96 hpi were harvested and serially passaged, FP mutants quickly dominated the virus population. This suggests that the V formed and released between 48 and 96 hpi are most likely from FP mutant infected cells.

Efeito da restrição hídrica sobre o crescimento de clones de eucalipto

O estabelecimento e o crescimento inicial de espécies florestais no campo são fortemente afetados pela disponibilidade de água no solo e pela época de plantio, por isso, o presente trabalho estuda o impacto do déficit hídrico no crescimento de mudas de dois clones do híbrido Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla, ambos submetidos a 4 níveis de déficit hídrico, em duas épocas de plantio. O estudo foi realizado na área experimental do Núcleo de Estudos e Difusão de Tecnologia em Florestas, Recursos Hídricos e Agricultura Sustentável (NEDTEC), do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (CCA-UFES), localizado no município de Jerônimo Monteiro. O trabalho foi realizado em duas épocas distintas, sendo a primeira no período de 09 de fevereiro a 09 de junho de 2009 e a segunda no período de 11 de julho a 07 de novembro de 2009, visando à realização das observações em diferentes condições de regime de radiação, déficit de pressão do vapor do ar, temperatura, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade do vento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente ao acaso em parcelas subdivididas 2 x 4, alocando-se os 4 níveis de déficits hídricos na parcela principal e as 2 épocas nas subparcelas, com três repetições. Os manejos hídricos aplicados foram: Déficit 0 (D0) sem déficit, Déficit 1(D1) corte da irrigação aos 30 dias de experimentação, permanecendo até o final do experimento, Déficit 2 (D2) corte da irrigação aos 30 dias de experimentação, suspensão da irrigação por 60 dias e posterior retomada da irrigação por mais 30 dias; Déficit 3 (D3) corte da irrigação aos 60 dias de experimentação, prolongando até o final do experimento. Os dados experimentais foram submetidos à análise de variância, e quando significativas, as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de média Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, para cada clone estudado. Com este trabalho, foi possível avaliar o impacto de diferentes déficits hídricos, no crescimento inicial das plantas, em duas épocas do ano e avaliar o incremento no desenvolvimento das plantas durante a aplicação dos tratamentos, com retiradas de amostras médias de cada tratamento a cada 30 dias. As variáveis medidas nos dois experimentos foram altura total da planta, diâmetro ao nível do coleto, número de folhas, área foliar, matéria seca de folhas, matéria seca de haste e ramos, matéria seca de raízes e matéria seca total. Foram avaliadas as variáveis climáticas durante todo o período experimental, nas duas épocas, a fim de determinar a condição do clima em cada época. Para os dois clones estudados, em geral, os déficits hídricos promoveram a redução das variáveis morfológicas estudadas e a época experimental foi o fator que mais influenciou a redução do crescimento das plantas. Sendo que a Época 1 foi a que proporcionou resultados superiores, e a Época 2 foi a que prejudicou mais o desenvolvimento das plantas, reduzindo significativamente todas as variáveis morfológicas em todos os déficits hídricos, inclusive o D0.

Efeito da restrição hídrica sobre o crescimento de clones de eucalipto

O estabelecimento e o crescimento inicial de espécies florestais no campo são fortemente afetados pela disponibilidade de água no solo e pela época de plantio, por isso, o presente trabalho estuda o impacto do déficit hídrico no crescimento de mudas de dois clones do híbrido Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla, ambos submetidos a 4 níveis de déficit hídrico, em duas épocas de plantio. O estudo foi realizado na área experimental do Núcleo de Estudos e Difusão de Tecnologia em Florestas, Recursos Hídricos e Agricultura Sustentável (NEDTEC), do Centro de Ciências Agrárias da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (CCA-UFES), localizado no município de Jerônimo Monteiro. O trabalho foi realizado em duas épocas distintas, sendo a primeira no período de 09 de fevereiro a 09 de junho de 2009 e a segunda no período de 11 de julho a 07 de novembro de 2009, visando à realização das observações em diferentes condições de regime de radiação, déficit de pressão do vapor do ar, temperatura, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade do vento. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente ao acaso em parcelas subdivididas 2 x 4, alocando-se os 4 níveis de déficits hídricos na parcela principal e as 2 épocas nas subparcelas, com três repetições. Os manejos hídricos aplicados foram: Déficit 0 (D0) sem déficit, Déficit 1(D1) corte da irrigação aos 30 dias de experimentação, permanecendo até o final do experimento, Déficit 2 (D2) corte da irrigação aos 30 dias de experimentação, suspensão da irrigação por 60 dias e posterior retomada da irrigação por mais 30 dias; Déficit 3 (D3) corte da irrigação aos 60 dias de experimentação, prolongando até o final do experimento. Os dados experimentais foram submetidos à análise de variância, e quando significativas, as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de média Tukey a 5% de probabilidade, para cada clone estudado. Com este trabalho, foi possível avaliar o impacto de diferentes déficits hídricos, no crescimento inicial das plantas, em duas épocas do ano e avaliar o incremento no desenvolvimento das plantas durante a aplicação dos tratamentos, com retiradas de amostras médias de cada tratamento a cada 30 dias. As variáveis medidas nos dois experimentos foram altura total da planta, diâmetro ao nível do coleto, número de folhas, área foliar, matéria seca de folhas, matéria seca de haste e ramos, matéria seca de raízes e matéria seca total. Foram avaliadas as variáveis climáticas durante todo o período experimental, nas duas épocas, a fim de determinar a condição do clima em cada época. Para os dois clones estudados, em geral, os déficits hídricos promoveram a redução das variáveis morfológicas estudadas e a época experimental foi o fator que mais influenciou a redução do crescimento das plantas. Sendo que a Época 1 foi a que proporcionou resultados superiores, e a Época 2 foi a que prejudicou mais o desenvolvimento das plantas, reduzindo significativamente todas as variáveis morfológicas em todos os déficits hídricos, inclusive o D0.

Cobertura permanente de solo com leguminosas herbáceas perenes no cultivo de bananeiras no médio Vale do Jequitinhonha

A região da Caatinga é caracterizada pelas altas temperaturas durante o ano e má distribuição das chuvas. Em virtude desses fatores de clima regional, tem-se a necessidade de adoção por práticas que elevem à eficiência e sustentabilidade agrícola local. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar a aptidão de leguminosas herbáceas perenes como cobertura permanente de solo no cultivo de bananeira. Foram conduzidos três experimentos, para avaliação das leguminosas, utilizou-se um delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no espaço e para algumas variáveis, sub-subdividida no tempo, sendo: Fator “A” os dois diferentes ambientes de plantio: municípios de Itaobim/MG e Virgem da Lapa/MG; Fator “B”, nas subparcelas, dois manejos de cobertura do solo e para algumas variáveis, três manejos, constituídos pelas leguminosas: cudzu tropical (Pueraria phaseoloides) calopogônio (Calopogonium mucunoides) e solo descoberto (solo capinado); Fator “C” épocas de coleta de dados. Para avaliação das bananeiras, foram dois experimentos em blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições, em esquema de parcelas sudivididas no espaço, sendo: nas parcelas, fator “A” constituído por três manejos de cobertura do solo, pelas leguminosas: cudzu tropical e o calopogônio, e solo descoberto (solo capinado); fator “B”, nas subparcelas, plantas de bananeiras em três idades morfofisiológicas (diferentes ciclos e tamanhos); Para algumas variáveis que foram submetidas a coletas periódicas, utilizou-se o esquema de parcelas subsubdivididas no tempo, acrescentando-se o fator “C”, datas das coletas nas sub-subparcelas, tendo como referência os dias após semeadura (DAS) das leguminosas. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: taxa de cobertura do solo; potencial de deposição de folhas e a ciclagem de nutrientes; capacidade de inibição da vegetação espontânea; conservação da temperatura e promoção da retenção de umidade do solo. Também foi avaliado o crescimento vegetativo e produtividade das bananeiras. Como resultados principais, notou-se que as leguminosas proporcionaram eficiente cobertura do solo, o calopogônio apresentou o maior acúmulo de N, P, K, e Ca, via deposição de material senescente, tal como maior inibição das plantas espontâneas nos pomares de bananeiras. Essa cobertura também promoveu uma eficiente redução da temperatura do solo, possibilitando menor variação térmica nas camadas de maior concentração radicular da bananeira, e consequentemente, obtendo maior acúmulo de umidade no solo. As bananeiras cultivadas sobre coberturas vivas de solo apresentaram aumento gradativo no crescimento e peso de cacho. Os resultados reforçam o potencial uso dessas espécies na fruticultura, principalmente em regiões de severas restrições hídricas, como forma de adubação e otimização de diversos processos biológicos em seu ambiente de cultivo.

Contradiction between the average age of retirement at the time of death and the average pension time for men and women in public employment in Portugal

The short article attempts to make some very brief reflections on the effects a lack of public policies positively discriminatory in terms of public employment retirement. In particular, the observation of the absurd contradiction between the average age of retirement at the time of death (for men and women) and the average pension time for men and women in public employment in Portugal.

Collecting system percutaneous access using real-time tracking sensors: first pig model in vivo experience

Purpose: Precise needle puncture of the renal collecting system is an essential but challenging step for successful percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We evaluated the efficiency of a new real-time electromagnetic tracking system for in vivo kidney puncture. Materials and Methods: Six anesthetized female pigs underwent ureterorenoscopy to place a catheter with an electromagnetic tracking sensor into the desired puncture site and ascertain puncture success. A tracked needle with a similar electromagnetic tracking sensor was subsequently navigated into the sensor in the catheter. Four punctures were performed by each of 2 surgeons in each pig, including 1 each in the kidney, middle ureter, and right and left sides. Outcome measurements were the number of attempts and the time needed to evaluate the virtual trajectory and perform percutaneous puncture. Results: A total of 24 punctures were easily performed without complication. Surgeons required more time to evaluate the trajectory during ureteral than kidney puncture (median 15 seconds, range 14 to 18 vs 13, range 11 to 16, p ¼ 0.1). Median renal and ureteral puncture time was 19 (range 14 to 45) and 51 seconds (range 45 to 67), respectively (p ¼ 0.003). Two attempts were needed to achieve a successful ureteral puncture. The technique requires the presence of a renal stone for testing. Conclusions: The proposed electromagnetic tracking solution for renal collecting system puncture proved to be highly accurate, simple and quick. This method might represent a paradigm shift in percutaneous kidney access techniques

Real-time 3D interactive segmentation of echocardiographic data through user-based deformation of B-spline explicit active surfaces

Image segmentation is an ubiquitous task in medical image analysis, which is required to estimate morphological or functional properties of given anatomical targets. While automatic processing is highly desirable, image segmentation remains to date a supervised process in daily clinical practice. Indeed, challenging data often requires user interaction to capture the required level of anatomical detail. To optimize the analysis of 3D images, the user should be able to efficiently interact with the result of any segmentation algorithm to correct any possible disagreement. Building on a previously developed real-time 3D segmentation algorithm, we propose in the present work an extension towards an interactive application where user information can be used online to steer the segmentation result. This enables a synergistic collaboration between the operator and the underlying segmentation algorithm, thus contributing to higher segmentation accuracy, while keeping total analysis time competitive. To this end, we formalize the user interaction paradigm using a geometrical approach, where the user input is mapped to a non-cartesian space while this information is used to drive the boundary towards the position provided by the user. Additionally, we propose a shape regularization term which improves the interaction with the segmented surface, thereby making the interactive segmentation process less cumbersome. The resulting algorithm offers competitive performance both in terms of segmentation accuracy, as well as in terms of total analysis time. This contributes to a more efficient use of the existing segmentation tools in daily clinical practice. Furthermore, it compares favorably to state-of-the-art interactive segmentation software based on a 3D livewire-based algorithm.

Collecting system percutaneous access using real-time tracking sensors: first pig model in vivo experience

Purpose: Precise needle puncture of the renal collecting system is an essential but challenging step for successful percutaneous nephrolithotomy. We evaluated the efficiency of a new real-time electromagnetic tracking system for in vivo kidney puncture. Materials and Methods: Six anesthetized female pigs underwent ureterorenoscopy to place a catheter with an electromagnetic tracking sensor into the desired puncture site and ascertain puncture success. A tracked needle with a similar electromagnetic tracking sensor was subsequently navigated into the sensor in the catheter. Four punctures were performed by each of 2 surgeons in each pig, including 1 each in the kidney, middle ureter, and right and left sides. Outcome measurements were the number of attempts and the time needed to evaluate the virtual trajectory and perform percutaneous puncture. Results: A total of 24 punctures were easily performed without complication. Surgeons required more time to evaluate the trajectory during ureteral than kidney puncture (median 15 seconds, range 14 to 18 vs 13, range 11 to 16, p ¼ 0.1). Median renal and ureteral puncture time was 19 (range 14 to 45) and 51 seconds (range 45 to 67), respectively (p ¼ 0.003). Two attempts were needed to achieve a successful ureteral puncture. The technique requires the presence of a renal stone for testing. Conclusions: The proposed electromagnetic tracking solution for renal collecting system puncture proved to be highly accurate, simple and quick. This method might represent a paradigm shift in percutaneous kidney access techniques.

Preliminary clinical trial in percutaneous nephrolithotomy using a real-time navigation system for percutaneous kidney access

Background: Precise needle puncture of renal calyces is a challenging and essential step for successful percutaneous nephrolithotomy. This work tests and evaluates, through a clinical trial, a real-time navigation system to plan and guide percutaneous kidney puncture. Methods: A novel system, entitled i3DPuncture, was developed to aid surgeons in establishing the desired puncture site and the best virtual puncture trajectory, by gathering and processing data from a tracked needle with optical passive markers. In order to navigate and superimpose the needle to a preoperative volume, the patient, 3D image data and tracker system were previously registered intraoperatively using seven points that were strategically chosen based on rigid bone structures and nearby kidney area. In addition, relevant anatomical structures for surgical navigation were automatically segmented using a multi-organ segmentation algorithm that clusters volumes based on statistical properties and minimum description length criterion. For each cluster, a rendering transfer function enhanced the visualization of different organs and surrounding tissues. Results: One puncture attempt was sufficient to achieve a successful kidney puncture. The puncture took 265 seconds, and 32 seconds were necessary to plan the puncture trajectory. The virtual puncture path was followed correctively until the needle tip reached the desired kidney calyceal. Conclusions: This new solution provided spatial information regarding the needle inside the body and the possibility to visualize surrounding organs. It may offer a promising and innovative solution for percutaneous punctures.

Real-time hand tracking for rehabilitation and character animation

Hand and finger tracking has a major importance in healthcare, for rehabilitation of hand function required due to a neurological disorder, and in virtual environment applications, like characters animation for on-line games or movies. Current solutions consist mostly of motion tracking gloves with embedded resistive bend sensors that most often suffer from signal drift, sensor saturation, sensor displacement and complex calibration procedures. More advanced solutions provide better tracking stability, but at the expense of a higher cost. The proposed solution aims to provide the required precision, stability and feasibility through the combination of eleven inertial measurements units (IMUs). Each unit captures the spatial orientation of the attached body. To fully capture the hand movement, each finger encompasses two units (at the proximal and distal phalanges), plus one unit at the back of the hand. The proposed glove was validated in two distinct steps: a) evaluation of the sensors’ accuracy and stability over time; b) evaluation of the bending trajectories during usual finger flexion tasks based on the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results revealed that the glove was sensitive mainly to magnetic field distortions and sensors tuning. The inclusion of a hard and soft iron correction algorithm and accelerometer and gyro drift and temperature compensation methods provided increased stability and precision. Finger trajectories evaluation yielded high ICC values with an overall reliability within application’s satisfying limits. The developed low cost system provides a straightforward calibration and usability, qualifying the device for hand and finger tracking in healthcare and animation industries.

Influence of foliar fertilization with manganese on germination, vigor and storage time of RR soybean seeds

ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the influence of foliar fertilizer doses containing Mn of phenological stages of suggested application in RR soybeans, to recover management damages with glyphosate at postemergence application on seed vigor in post-harvest and post six months storage. The seeds originated from a field experiment conducted , which included two applications of glyphosate, concomitant with foliar fertilizer in growth stages V4 and V6, with 0.00, 113.50 and 227.00 mg ha-1doses of Mn2+. Germination, GSI (Germination Speed Index), electrical conductivity tests and the first count of seeds were conducted. The application of Mn did not affect the physiological quality of RR soy in postharvest. However, in post-storage, higher doses of Mn had a negative effect on tests of abnormal seedlings, GSI and electrical conductivity. The applications of Mn, regardless of the developmental stage, did not interfere in the germination and first count tests, with and without storage. The electrical conductivity test showed a higher correlation with the seed germination test in the post-harvest treatment.

Cantaloupe melon ( Cucumis melo L.) conservation using hydrocooling

ABSTRACT Maintaining cantaloupe melon at field temperature impairs conservation as it speeds up cell metabolism and transpiration, and, consequently, reduces shelf life. This study aimed to evaluate the conservation of Torreon hybrid cantaloupe using the hydrocooling treatment. Fruits were harvested at the commercial maturity stage (60 days after planting), in the morning, at the Nova California Farm, municipality of Mossoró-RN, in September 2007. One set of fruit was immersed in chilled water at 5 ºC for 5 min, at the packing house, while the remaining set was not hydro cooled. Then, both sets (treated and untreated with hydrocooling) were pre-cooled in air forced tunnels at 7 ºC, until the temperature in the pulp reached 10 ºC. Both fruit sets were stored for 0, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days under modified atmosphere at 3 ± 1 oC and 90 ± 5% RH. After each storage period, the fruits were incubated in an atmosphere-controlled chamber at 20 ± 2 oC and 80 ± 5% de RH, for seven days. The following characteristics were evaluated: external and internal appearance, mass loss, soluble solids, firmness and titrable acidity. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized split-plot design with four replications of three fruits. The plots consisted of the hydrocooling conditions (with and without fruit soaking in chilled water), and the sub-plots consisted of the storage times (0, 14, 21, 28 and 35 days).The treatment with hydrocooling was efficient in keeping the firmness and soluble solids of the fruits and shortened the pre-cooling time in the cooling tunnel. However, hydrocooling did not increase fruit shelf-life.

A-scan ultrasound system for real-time puncture safety assessment during percutaneous nephrolithotomy

Background: Kidney stone is a major universal health problem, affecting 10% of the population worldwide. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a first-line and established procedure for disintegration and removal of renal stones. Its surgical success depends on the precise needle puncture of renal calyces, which remains the most challenging task for surgeons. This work describes and tests a new ultrasound based system to alert the surgeon when undesirable anatomical structures are in between the puncture path defined through a tracked needle. Methods: Two circular ultrasound transducers were built with a single 3.3-MHz piezoelectric ceramic PZT SN8, 25.4 mm of radius and resin-epoxy matching and backing layers. One matching layer was designed with a concave curvature to work as an acoustic lens with long focusing. The A-scan signals were filtered and processed to automatically detect reflected echoes. Results: The transducers were mapped in water tank and tested in a study involving 45 phantoms. Each phantom mimics different needle insertion trajectories with a percutaneous path length between 80 and 150 mm. Results showed that the beam cross-sectional area oscillates around the ceramics radius and it was possible to automatically detect echo signals in phantoms with length higher than 80 mm. Conclusions: This new solution may alert the surgeon about anatomical tissues changes during needle insertion, which may decrease the need of X-Ray radiation exposure and ultrasound image evaluation during percutaneous puncture.