Performance of Sirex noctilio’s biocontrol agent Deladenus siricidicola, in known and predicted hosts

Survival of the free-living mycetophagous form of Deladenus siricidicola, the major biological control agent of Sirex woodwasp, Sirex noctilio, was tested in known (Pinus taeda) and predicted novel (P. elliottii subsp. elliottii × P. caribaea var. hondurensis) hybrid host taxa. Trials were established in the field to simulate nematode dispersal both naturally by infected wasps and following commercial inoculation, as well as in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Nematodes showed reduced survival in hybrid pine compared with P. taeda for all tree-associated treatments, but performed equivalently in petri-dish bioassays containing substrate of each taxon. Growth of Amylostereum areolatum, the food source of D. siricidicola was lower on plates containing ground hybrid substrate than on plates containing ground P. taeda. Some physical differences were found between taxa, including differences in bordered pit diameters, tracheid widths, and basic density, but these did not consistently explain reduced performance. More plant secondary compounds (predominantly oleoresins) were present in hybrid taxa than in P. taeda, and in standing trees compared with felled trees. Our results suggested that D. siricidicola may not be as effective in hybrid pine taxa for the biological control of S. noctilio as it is in its current known host taxa, possibly because of reduced growth of its food source, A. areolatum in hybrid pine.

CARACTERÍSTICAS DENDROMÉTRICAS, QUÍMICAS E DENSIDADE BÁSICA DA MADEIRA DE HÍBRIDOS DE Eucalyptus grandis X Eucalyptus urophylla

O presente trabalho avaliou características dendrométricas, químicas e a densidade básica da madeira de cinco híbridos de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla , com 2,25 anos de idade. O experimento foi implantando no espaçamento 3,5 x 2 m, com 35 repetições e parcelas de uma planta. Quatro repetições do experimento foram cortadas avaliando-se o diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP, a 1,3 m do solo), altura total e comercial, biomassa seca de folhas, galhos, madeira e casca, volume com e sem casca e volume de casca. Das árvores abatidas foram retirados discos de 5 cm de espessura no DAP e a 0 (base), 25, 50, 75 e 100% da altura comercial, para determinação da densidade básica e caracterização química da madeira. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e comparação de médias pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Os clones de Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla diferiram quanto ao volume e biomassa com destaque para o C5 com valores superiores aos demais clones. A densidade básica da madeira foi maior na base da árvore; nas demais posições de amostragem, os valores de densidade foram semelhantes entre si; dentre os clones, o C5 apresentou densidade básica da madeira superior ao C3 e ao C4, assim como o C2 superou o C3. As características químicas da madeira foram semelhantes entre os clones e, apesar da avaliação ter sido realizada em plantas jovens, os clones demonstraram bom potencial em Jaboticabal - SP.

APROVEITAMENTO DA CASCA DO COCO-VERDE ( Cocos nucifera L.) PARA PRODUÇÃO DE POLPA CELULÓSICA

A casca do coco-verde é um resíduo do consumo da água de coco. Em cidades litorâneas este resíduo já tem se tornado um grande problema, pois é de difícil decomposição. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a casca do coco-verde ( Cocos nucifera L.) para a produção de celulose kraft. A matéria-prima foi caracterizada com relação à densidade básica, composição química, dimensão das fibras e proporção de elementos anatômicos. Foram realizados três cozimentos-teste sendo que um deles foi escolhido para repetição. Em cada um deles variou-se a carga alcalina visando à elaboração de curvas de cozimento. Nos resultados do processo de polpação foram encontrados valores altos de número kappa, baixos rendimentos e baixos teores de rejeito. As seguintes características do material, baixa densidade básica (0,128 g/cm³), alta quantidade de extrativos (33,68%) e baixa proporção de fibras (22,11%), corroboraram para estes resultados. Assim, a produção de polpa celulósica a partir da casca do coco-verde pelo processo kraft, não se mostrou como uma alternativa viável tecnicamente.

Simulação em uso dos pisos de madeira de Eucalyptus sp e Corymbia maculata

A caracterização anatômica, física, mecânica e química da madeira fornece informações importantes para sua melhor utilização. Contudo, para que madeiras se tornem boa opção para o mercado de pisos, adicionalmente é necessária a realização de ensaios que simulem suas reais condições em serviço. Esses ensaios simulam o pisoteio executado pelos sapatos de salto com pequenas áreas de pressão, o arraste e a queda de objetos, a resistência à abrasão da superfície e o atrito oferecido durante o deslocamento de pessoas que caminham sobre ele. Grande dificuldade da seleção de novas madeiras para pisos está na ausência de valores de referência físico-mecânicos. O presente trabalho visou a caracterizar as madeiras de Eucalyptus clöeziana F. Muell, de Eucalyptus microcorys F. Muell e de Corymbia maculata Hook, para as propriedades de densidade básica, retratibilidade, aplicação de carga rolante, de atrito estático e dinâmico, endentação causada por cargas aplicadas em pequenas áreas, impacto da esfera de aço cadente e resistência à abrasão. Foi observado que as madeiras estudadas podem ser utilizadas para a confecção de pisos, de acordo com seus resultados obtidos e por meio de comparações com resultados de literatura.

Modificações na produtividade e nas características físicas e químicas da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis causadas pela adubação com lodo de esgoto tratado

O Eucalyptus grandis é uma das espécies mais cultivadas no Brasil devido à sua produtividade e qualidade da madeira. Avaliaram-se o efeito da aplicação de lodo de esgoto tratado (0 a 40 t ha-1 base seca) e uma dose de adubo mineral nos atributos físicos e químicos da madeira de Eucalyptus grandis de árvores com cinco anos de idade, no Município de Itatinga, São Paulo, Brasil. O tipo de solo foi caracterizado como Latossolo Vermelho-Amarelo Distrófico (argila = 120 g kg-1 na camada de 0-20 cm) e o clima, como mesotérmico úmido (Cwa), segundo a classificação de Köeppen. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições. O diâmetro à altura do peito (DAP), a altura das árvores e o volume de madeira foram obtidos em todas as parcelas de oito árvores com DAP na classe de maior freqüência. As caracterizações físicas e químicas da madeira foram realizadas de acordo com as normas da ABTCP, TAPPI e ABNT. O lodo de esgoto diminuiu a densidade básica da madeira, mas não afetou os teores de celulose, lignina, extrativos e o poder calorífico da madeira. O decréscimo de densidade da madeira pela adubação com lodo de esgoto foi compensado pela maior produtividade de madeira.

Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on density and morphology of fibroblasts grown on root surfaces with or without conditioning with tetracycline or EDTA.

A study was conducted to evaluate in vitro the effect of root surface conditioning with basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) on morphology and proliferation of fibroblasts. Three experimental groups were used: non-treated, and treated with 50 microg or 125 microg b-FGF/ml. The dentin samples in each group were divided into subgroups according to the chemical treatment received before application of b-FGF: none, or conditioned with tetracycline-HCl or EDTA. After contact with b-FGF for 5 min, the samples were incubated for 24 h with 1 ml of culture medium containing 1 x 10(5) cells/ml plus 1 ml of culture medium alone. The samples were then subjected to routine preparation for SEM, and random fields were photographed. Three calibrated and blind examiners performed the assessment of morphology and density according to two index systems. Classification and regression trees indicated that the root surfaces treated with 125 microg b-FGF and previously conditioned with tetracycline-HCl or EDTA presented a morphology more suggestive of cellular adhesion and viability (P = 0.004). The density of fibroblasts on samples previously conditioned with EDTA, regardless of treatment with b-FGF, was significantly higher than in the other groups (P < 0.001). The present findings suggest that topical application of b-FGF has a positive influence on both the density and morphology of fibroblasts.

Promoter regions involved in density-dependent regulation of basic fibroblast growth factor gene expression in human astrocytic cells.

Expression of mitogenic basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the central nervous system is inhibited by direct cell contact and is implicated in reactive and neoplastic transformation of astrocytes. The molecular mechanisms controlling expression of bFGF were examined in cultures of human astrocytes. Cell-density-dependent depletion of bFGF mRNA levels parallels changes in bFGF gene protein. Regulation of transcription of a bFGF luciferase reporter gene containing an upstream region (bp -1800 to +314) of the bFGF gene promoter mimicks the density-dependent regulation of the endogenous bFGF gene in transfected astrocytes. Deletion analysis has identified a fragment (bp -650 to -513) and sequences further downstream (bp -274 to +314) as the regions required for the regulation of bFGF gene activity by cell density. Unlike in astrocytes, changing the cell density of glioma cell cultures does not affect the levels of bFGF protein and mRNA. bFGF luciferase constructs were expressed at the same level in high- or low-density cultures of glioma cells, indicating altered regulation of the bFGF gene promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed binding of nuclear proteins to a fragment of bFGF gene promoter from bp -650 to -453. This binding was abolished by a deletion of the upstream cell-density-responsive region (bp -650 to -512). Binding was observed with nuclear extracts from subconfluent astrocytes but was reduced in extracts from confluent astrocytes. Our results indicate that induction of bFGF in astrocytes upon reduction of cell density is mediated transcriptionally by positive trans-acting factors interacting with bFGF promoter. In contrast, nuclear proteins from glioma cells bind to the promoter region from bp -650 to -453 independent of cell density. Thus, the constitutive binding of trans-acting factor(s) to the region of the bFGF promoter from bp -650 to -453 may be responsible for the continuous expression of bFGF that leads to the uncontrolled growth of glioma cells.

Density functional theory investigation of 3d, 4d, and 5d 13-atom metal clusters

The knowledge of the atomic structure of clusters composed by few atoms is a basic prerequisite to obtain insights into the mechanisms that determine their chemical and physical properties as a function of diameter, shape, surface termination, as well as to understand the mechanism of bulk formation. Due to the wide use of metal systems in our modern life, the accurate determination of the properties of 3d, 4d, and 5d metal clusters poses a huge problem for nanoscience. In this work, we report a density functional theory study of the atomic structure, binding energies, effective coordination numbers, average bond lengths, and magnetic properties of the 3d, 4d, and 5d metal (30 elements) clusters containing 13 atoms, M(13). First, a set of lowest-energy local minimum structures (as supported by vibrational analysis) were obtained by combining high-temperature first- principles molecular-dynamics simulation, structure crossover, and the selection of five well-known M(13) structures. Several new lower energy configurations were identified, e. g., Pd(13), W(13), Pt(13), etc., and previous known structures were confirmed by our calculations. Furthermore, the following trends were identified: (i) compact icosahedral-like forms at the beginning of each metal series, more opened structures such as hexagonal bilayerlike and double simple-cubic layers at the middle of each metal series, and structures with an increasing effective coordination number occur for large d states occupation. (ii) For Au(13), we found that spin-orbit coupling favors the three-dimensional (3D) structures, i.e., a 3D structure is about 0.10 eV lower in energy than the lowest energy known two-dimensional configuration. (iii) The magnetic exchange interactions play an important role for particular systems such as Fe, Cr, and Mn. (iv) The analysis of the binding energy and average bond lengths show a paraboliclike shape as a function of the occupation of the d states and hence, most of the properties can be explained by the chemistry picture of occupation of the bonding and antibonding states.

Density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics study of NO adsorption on Pd(111) and Pt(111) surfaces

The origin of the unique geometry for nitric oxide (NO) adsorption on Pd(111) and Pt(111) surfaces as well as the effect of temperature were studied by density functional theory calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics at finite temperature. We found that at low coverage, the adsorption geometry is determined by electronic interactions, depending sensitively on the adsorption sites and coverages, and the effect of temperature on geometries is significant. At coverage of 0.25 monolayer (ML), adsorbed NO at hollow sites prefer an upright configuration, while NO adsorbed at top sites prefer a tilting configuration. With increase in the coverage up to 0.50 ML, the enhanced steric repulsion lead to the tilting of hollow NO. We found that the tilting was enhanced by the thermal effects. At coverage of 0.75 ML with p(2 x 2)-3NO(fcc+hcp+top) structure, we found that there was no preferential orientation for tilted top NO. The interplay of the orbital hybridization, thermal effects, steric repulsion, and their effects on the adsorption geometries were highlighted at the end.

Change in central kinin B2 receptor density after exercise training in rats

Cardiovascular responses elicited by the stimulation of kinin B2 receptors in the IV cerebral ventricle paratrigeminal nucleus or in the thoracic spinal cord are similar to those observed during an exercise bout Considering that the kalikrein-kinin system (KKS) could act on the cardiovascular modulation during behavioral responses as physical exercise or stress this study evaluated the central B2 receptor densities of Wistar (W) and spontani ously hypertensive rats (SHR) after chronic moderate exercise Animals we re exercise-trained for ten weeks on a treadmill Afterwards systolic blood pressure decreased in both trained strains Animals were killed and the medulla and spinal cord extracted for B2 receptor autoradiography Trained animals were compared to their sedentary controls Sedentary groups showed specific binding sites for Hoe-140 (fmol/mg of tissue) in laminas 1 and 2 of the spinal cord nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) area postrema (AP) spinal trigeminal tract (sp5) and paratrigeminal nucleus (Pa5) In trained W a significant increase (p<0 05) in specific binding was observed in the Pa5 (31 3%) and NTS (28 2%) Trained SHR showed a significant decrease in n ceptor density in lamina 2 (21 9%) of the thoracic spinal cord and an increase in specific binding in Pa5 (36 1%) We suggest that in the medulla chronic exercise could hyper stimulate the KKS enhancing their efficiency through the increase of B2 receptor density involving this receptor in central cardiovascular control during exercise or stress In the lamina 2 B2 receptor might be involved in the exercise-induced hypotension (C) 2010 Elsevier BV All rights reserved

A first-principles density-functional calculation of the electronic and vibrational structure of the key melanin monomers

We report first-principles density-functional calculations for hydroquinone (HQ), indolequinone (IQ), and semiquinone (SQ). These molecules are believed to be the basic building blocks of the eumelanins, a class of biomacromolecules with important biological functions (including photoprotection) and with the potential for certain bioengineering applications. We have used the difference of self-consistent fields method to study the energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital, HL. We show that HL is similar in IQ and SQ, but approximately twice as large in HQ. This may have important implications for our understanding of the observed broadband optical absorption of the eumelanins. The possibility of using this difference in HL to molecularly engineer the electronic properties of eumelanins is discussed. We calculate the infrared and Raman spectra of the three redox forms from first principles. Each of the molecules have significantly different infrared and Raman signatures, and so these spectra could be used in situ to nondestructively identify the monomeric content of macromolecules. It is hoped that this may be a helpful analytical tool in determining the structure of eumelanin macromolecules and hence in helping to determine the structure-property-function relationships that control the behavior of the eumelanins.

NMR studies of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-binding peptide of apolipoprotein E bound to dodecylphosphocholine micelles

Circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy have been used to determine the structure of the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-binding peptide, comprising residues 130-152, of the human apolipoprotein E. This peptide has little persistent three-dimensional structure in solution, but when bound to micelles of dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) it adopts a predominantly alpha-helical structure. The three-dimensional structure of the DPC-bound peptide has been determined by using H-1-NMR spectroscopy: the structure derived from NOE-based distance constraints and restrained molecular dynamics is largely helical. The derived phi and psi angle order parameters show that the helical structure is well defined but with some flexibility that causes the structures not to be superimposable over the full peptide length. Deuterium exchange experiments suggest that many peptide amide groups are readily accessible to the solvent, but those associated with hydrophobic residues exchange more slowly, and this helix is thus likely to be positioned on the surface of the DPC micelles. In this conformation the peptide has one hydrophobic face and two that are rich in basic amino acid side chains. The solvent-exposed face of the peptide contains residues previously shown to be involved in binding to the LDL receptor.

Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Basic Concepts of Nitric Oxide Physiology, Endothelial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Therapeutic Possibilities

The vascular manifestations associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) result from the dysfunction of several vascular physiology components mainly involving the endothelium, vascular smooth muscle and platelets. It is also known that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress plays a role in the development of this dysfunction. This review considers the basic physiology of the endothelium, especially related to the synthesis and function of nitric oxide. We also discuss the pathophysiology of vascular disease associated with DM. This includes the role of hyperglycemia in the induction of oxidative stress and the role of advanced glycation end-products. We also consider therapeutic strategies.

Probing the effect of vehicles on topical delivery: Understanding the basic relationship between solvent and solute penetration using silicone membranes

Purpose. In the present study we examined the relationship between solvent uptake into a model membrane (silicone) with the physical properties of the solvents (e.g., solubility parameter, melting point, molecular weight) and its potential predictability. We then assessed the subsequent topical penetration and retention kinetics of hydrocortisone from various solvents to define whether modifications to either solute diffusivity or partitioning were dominant in increasing permeability through solvent-modified membranes. Methods. Membrane sorption of solvents was determined from weight differences following immersion in individual solvents, corrected for differences in density. Permeability and retention kinetics of H-3-hydrocortisone, applied as saturated solutions in the various solvents, were determined over 48 h in horizontal Franz-type glass diffusion cells. Results. Solvent sorption into the membrane could be related to differences in solubility parameters, MW and hydrogen bonding (r(2) = 0.76). The actual and predicted volume of solvent sorbed into the membrane was also found to be linearly related to Log hydrocortisone flux, with changes in both diffusivity and partitioning of hydrocortisone observed for the different solvent vehicles. Conclusions. A simple structure-based predictive model can be applied to the sorption of solvents into silicone membranes. Changes in solute diffusivity and partitioning appeared to contribute to the increased hydrocortisone flux observed with the various solvent vehicles. The application of this predictive model to the more complex skin membrane remains to be determined.