Quantification of the environmental impacts of road conditions in Brazil

This study evaluates the impacts of Brazilian highway conditions on fuel consumption and, consequently, on carbon dioxide (COO emissions. For the purpose of this study, highway conditions refer to the level of highway maintenance: the incidence of large potholes, large surface cracks, uneven sections, and debris. Primary computer collected data related to the fuel consumption of three types of trucks were analyzed. The data were derived from 88 trips taken over six routes, each route representative of one of two highway conditions: better or worse. Study results are initially presented for each type of truck being monitored. The results are then aggregated to approximate the entire Brazilian highway network. In all cases, results confirmed environmental benefits resulting from travel over the better routes. There was found to be an increase in energy efficiency from traveling better roads, which resulted in lower fuel consumption and lower CO(2) emissions. Statistical analysis of the results suggests that, in general, fuel consumption data were significant at *P < 0.05, rejecting the null hypothesis that average fuel consumption from traveling the better routes is statistically equal to average fuel consumption from traveling the worse routes. Improved Brazilian road conditions would generate economic benefits, reduce dependency on and consumption of fossil fuels (due to the increase in energy efficiency), and reduce CO(2) emissions. These findings may have additional relevancy if Brazil needs to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to reach future Kyoto Protocol`s emissions targets, which should take effect in January 2013. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Probable consequences of the mitigation of citrus canker eradication methodology in Sao Paulo state

Probable consequences of the mitigation of citrus canker eradication methodology in Sao Paulo state Recently the Sao Paulo state government mitigated its citrus canker eradication methodology adopted since 1999. In April 2009 at least 99.8% of commercial sweet orange orchards were free of citrus canker in Sao Paulo state. Consequently the mitigation of the eradication methodology reduced the high level of safety and the competitiveness of the citrus production sector in Sao Paulo state, Brazil. Therefore we suggest the re-adoption of the same eradication methodology of citrus canker adopted in Sao Paulo from 1999 to 2009, or the adoption of a new methodology, effective for citrus canker suppression, because in new sample surveys citrus canker was detected in >0.36% of affected orchards. This incidence threshold was calculated by using the Duncan test (P <= 0.05) to compare the yearly sample surveys conducted in Sao Paulo state to estimate citrus canker incidence between 1999 and 2009. The calculated minimum significant level was 0.28% among sample surveys and the lowest citrus canker incidence in Sao Paulo state was 0.08%, occurring in 2001. Thus, as an alternative, we suggest the adoption of a new eradication methodology for citrus canker suppression when a new sample survey detected >0.36% of affected orchards in Sao Paulo state, Brazil.

Occurrence of phytoplasma associated with sugarcane yellow leaf syndrome in three regions of Sao Paulo State, Brazil

Sugarcane yellow leaf syndrome caused serious damage to crops in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil, in the 1990`s. The syndrome was also reported in other countries and investigations into the etiology revealed an association between the disease and virus and/or phytoplasma. The disease is potentially important and occurs endemically in that State, and for this reason the present study was conducted in order to demonstrate the occurrence of phytoplasma in three traditional sugarcane-producing areas, in Sao Paulo State, through molecular detection From naturally infected plants. Symptomatic plants belonging to varieties SP71-6163, SP71-6180 and SP89-1115 were sampled from Piracicaba, Jau and Ribeirao Preto, and total DNA was extracted from foliar tissues. Nested PCR was conducted with primer pairs P1/ Tint-16F2n/R2, and the amplified products were analyzed by electrophoresis on agarose gels. Amplified DNA fragments of 1.2 kb evidenced the presence of phytoplasma in 36% of symptomatic plants and revealed its Occurrence in all sampled regions. The results demonstrated that phytoplasma is associated with the disease and that it is important to keep a safe inspection of nurseries and monitoring plants in the field, as well as to Select Sugarcane genotypes with a good level of resistance in breeding programs.

Spatial pattern of black spot incidence within citrus trees related to disease severity and pathogen dispersal

Guignardia citricarpa, the causal agent of citrus black spot, forms airborne ascospores on decomposing citrus leaves and water-spread conidia on fruits, leaves and twigs. The spatial pattern of diseased fruit in citrus tree canopies was used to assess the importance of ascospores and conidia in citrus black spot epidemics in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The aggregation of diseased fruit in the citrus tree canopy was quantified by the binomial dispersion index (D) and the binary form of Taylor`s Power Law for 303 trees in six groves. D was significantly greater than 1 in 251 trees. The intercept of the regression line of Taylor`s Power Law was significantly greater than 0 and the slope was not different from 1, implying that diseased fruit was aggregated in the canopy independent of disease incidence. Disease incidence (p) and severity (S) were assessed in 2875 citrus trees. The incidence-severity relationship was described (R-2 = 88.7%) by the model ln(S) = ln(a) + bCLL(p) where CLL = complementary log-log transformation. The high severity at low incidence observed in many cases is also indicative of low distance spread of G. citricarpa spores. For the same level of disease incidence, some trees had most of the diseased fruit with many lesions and high disease severity, whereas other trees had most of the fruit with few lesions and low disease severity. Aggregation of diseased fruit in the trees suggests that splash-dispersed conidia have an important role in increasing the disease in citrus trees in Brazil.

Atmospheric Absorption of Fluoride by Cultivated Species. Leaf Structural Changes and Plant Growth

Fluoride (F) is an air pollutant that causes phytotoxicity. Besides the importance of this, losses of agricultural crops in the vicinity of F polluting industries in Brazil have been recently reported. Injuries caused to plant leaf cell structures by excess F are not well characterized. However, this may contribute to understanding the ways in which plant physiological and biochemical processes are altered. A study evaluated the effects of the atmospheric F on leaf characteristics and growth of young trees of sweet orange and coffee exposed to low (0.04 mol L(-1)) or high (0.16 mol L(-1)) doses of HF nebulized in closed chamber for 28 days plus a control treatment not exposed. Gladiolus and ryegrass were used as bioindicators in the experiment to monitor F exposure levels. Fluoride concentration and dry mass of leaves were evaluated. Leaf anatomy was observed under light and electron microscopy. High F concentrations (similar to 180 mg kg(-1)) were found in leaves of plants exposed at the highest dose of HF. Visual symptoms of F toxicity in leaves of citrus and coffee were observed. Analyses of plant tissue provided evidence that F caused degeneration of cell wall and cytoplasm and disorganization of bundle sheath, which were more evident in Gladiolus and coffee. Minor changes were observed for sweet orange and ryegrass. Increase on individual stomatal area was also marked for the Gladiolus and coffee, and which were characterized by occurrence of opened ostioles. The increased F absorption by leaves and changes at the structural and ultrastructural level of leaf tissues correlated with reduced plant growth.

Absorption and Mobility of Boron in Young Citrus Plants

Boron (B) deficiency is widespread in Brazilian citrus orchards and has been considered an important soil constraint to citrus yield. The aim of this work was to study B uptake and its mobility in young citrus trees, under different B statuses, in two rootstocks. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, with `Valencia` sweet orange trees budded on Rangpur lime or Swingle citrumelo. The plants were grown in pots containing nutrient solutions under either adequate or deficient B supply. Plants with different B levels were transplanted into solution with adequate level of B, enriched in 10 B in different stages of development ( vegetative growth and fruiting). About 20 to 35% of B content in the new parts of orange tree came from plant reserves. Boron mobility within the plant was influenced by its nutritional status; that is, the longer the period was that the plants were grown under deficient supply, the smaller was the mobility. Boron concentration in the sweet orange trees on Swingle was higher than that on Rangpur, suggesting higher demand of swingle Citrumelo for B.

Meat Quality of Lambs Fed on Palm Kernel Meal, a By-product of Biodiesel Production

This study aimed to establish the optimum level of palm kernel meal in the diet of Santa Ines lambs based on the sensorial characteristics and fatty acid profile of the meat. We used 32 lambs with a starting age of 4 to 6 months and mean weight of 22 2.75 kg, kept in individual stalls. The animals were fed with Tifton-85 hay and a concentrate mixed with 0.0, 6.5, 13.0 or 19.5% of palm kernel meal based on the dry mass of the complete diet. These levels formed the treatments. Confinement lasted 80 days and on the last day the animals were fasted and slaughtered. After slaughter, carcasses were weighed and sectioned longitudinally, along the median line, into two antimeres. Half-carcasses were then sliced between the 12th and 13th ribs to collect the loin (longissimus dorsi), which was used to determine the sensorial characteristics and fatty acid profile of the meat. For sensorial evaluation, samples of meat were given to 54 judges who evaluated the tenderness, juiciness, appearance, aroma and flavor of the meat using a hedonic scale. Fatty acids were determined by gas chromatography. The addition of palm kernel meal to the diet had no effect on the sensorial characteristics of meat juiciness, appearance, aroma or flavor. However, tenderness showed a quadratic relationship with the addition of the meal to the diet. The concentration of fatty acids C12:0, C14:0 and C16:0 increased with the addition of palm kernel meal, as did the sum of medium-chain fatty acids and the atherogenicity index. Up to of 19.5% of the diet of Santa Ines lambs can be made up of palm kernel meal without causing significant changes in sensorial characteristics. However, the fatty acid profile of the meat was altered.

Body composition and quality of life (QoL) of the elderly offered by the ""University Third Age`` (UTA) in Brazil

The investigation of the factors that interfere in the well-being of the elderly and their QoL can provide theoretical and methodological subsidies in structuring actions and policies in the health area, in order to fulfill the needs of that population. In this descriptive transversal study, body composition and QoL of elderly women at the UTA program in Piracicaba (Sao Paulo, Brazil) were verified. The participants were 81 women from UTA, and the general levels of physical activity were evaluated, as well as body weight (BW), height, and bodymass index (BMI). The waist circumference (WC) was measured at the level of the umbilical scar and the body composition by impedance (BIA 310e). QoL was verified by means of WHOQOL-Bref and statistical analysis developed with the SAS program. The decrease of weight, height, BMI, and fat-free mass (FFM) was observed among the several age groups, although with no significant difference. The average levels of the general QoL scores and physical, psychological and environmental domains decreased in higher age groups, but social domains showed the opposite result. This fact can be a particular characteristic of the UTA group, and factors the influence such behavior are yet to be studied. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

SacRALF1, a peptide signal from the grass sugarcane (Saccharum spp.), is potentially involved in the regulation of tissue expansion

Rapid alkalinization factor (RALF) is part of a growing family of small peptides with hormone characteristics in plants. Initially isolated from leaves of tobacco plants, RALF peptides can be found throughout the plant kingdom and they are expressed ubiquitously in plants. We took advantage of the small gene family size of RALF genes in sugarcane and the ordered cellular growth of the grass sugarcane leaves to gain information about the function of RALF peptides in plants. Here we report the isolation of two RALF peptides from leaves of sugarcane plants using the alkalinization assay. SacRALF1 was the most abundant and, when added to culture media, inhibited growth of microcalli derived from cell suspension cultures at concentrations as low as 0.1 mu M. Microcalli exposed to exogenous SacRALF1 for 5 days showed a reduced number of elongated cells. Only four copies of SacRALF genes were found in sugarcane plants. All four SacRALF genes are highly expressed in young and expanding leaves and show a low or undetectable level of expression in expanded leaves. In half-emerged leaf blades, SacRALF transcripts were found at high levels at the basal portion of the leaf and at low levels at the apical portion. Gene expression analyzes localize SacRALF genes in elongation zones of roots and leaves. Mature leaves, which are devoid of expanding cells, do not show considerable expression of SacRALF genes. Our findings are consistent with SacRALF genes playing a role in plant development potentially regulating tissue expansion.

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers from Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae), a tree species from different habitats within the Brazilian Atlantic forest

The tree species Guarea guidonea (Meliaceae) belongs to a predominantly tropical family, being largely found in natural or anthropic forest fragments within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Aiming to develop future studies on the genetic structure of plant species from forests fragments, eleven microsatellite markers were developed for Guarea guidonia, based on the analysis of 45 individuals from natural populations of three different fragments within the forest-anthropic edge, interior fragment and natural edge. Only eight loci showed to be polymorphic and the number of alleles ranged from two to four (mean of 2.50). All populations showed almost the same level of genetic diversity (mean H(e) = 0.3775). These loci will be useful for population genetics studies on Guarea guidonea, providing information for the conservation and management of this species.

Growth-active gibberellins overcome the very slow shoot growth of Hancornia speciosa, an important fruit tree from the Brazilian ""Cerrado""

Shoot elongation of Hancornia speciosa, an endangered tree from the Brazilian savannah ""Cerrado"", is very slow, thus limiting nursery production of plants. Gibberellins (GAs) A(1), A(3), and A(5), and two inhibitors of GA biosynthesis, trinexapac-ethyl and ancymidol were applied to shoots of Hancornia seedlings. GA(1) and GA(3) significantly stimulated shoot elongation, while GA(5) had no significant effect. Trinexapac-ethyl and ancymidol, both at 100 A mu g per seedling, inhibited shoot elongation up to 45 days after treatment, though the effect was statistically significant only for ancymidol. Somewhat surprisingly, exogenous GA(3) more effectively stimulated shoot elongation in SD-grown plants, than in LD-grown plants. The results from exogenous application of GAs and inhibitors of GA biosynthesis imply that Hancornia shoot growth is controlled by GAs, and that level of endogenous growth-active GAs is likely to be the limiting factor for shoot elongation in Hancornia. Application of GAs thus offer a practical method for nursery production of Hancornia seedlings for outplanting into the field.

Genomics of pyrrolnitrin biosynthetic loci: evidence for conservation and whole-operon mobility within Gram-negative bacteria

Pyrrolnitrin (PRN) is a tryptophan-derived secondary metabolite produced by a narrow range of Gram-negative bacteria. The PRN biosynthesis by rhizobacteria presumably has a key role in their life strategies and in the biocontrol of plant diseases. The biosynthetic operon that encodes the pathway that converts tryptophan to PRN is composed of four genes, prnA through D, whose diversity, genomic context and spread over bacterial genomes are poorly understood. Therefore, we launched an endeavour aimed at retrieving, by in vitro and in silico means, diverse bacteria carrying the prnABCD biosynthetic loci in their genomes. Analysis of polymorphisms of the prnD gene sequences revealed a high level of conservation between Burkholderia, Pseudomonas and Serratia spp. derived sequences. Whole-operon- and prnD-based phylogeny resulted in tree topologies that are incongruent with the taxonomic status of the evaluated strains as predicted by 16S rRNA gene phylogeny. The genomic composition of c. 20 kb DNA fragments containg the PRN operon varied in different strains. Highly conserved and distinct transposase-encoding genes surrounding the PRN biosynthetic operons of Burkholderia pseudomallei strains were found. A prnABCD-deprived genomic region in B. pseudomallei strain K96243 contained the same gene composition as, and shared high homology with, the flanking regions of the PRN operon in B. pseudomallei strains 668, 1106a and 1710b. Our results strongly suggest that the PRN biosynthetic operon is mobile. The extent, frequency and promiscuity of this mobility remain to be understood.

Sensory evaluation and physicochemical optimisation of soy-based desserts using response surface methodology

The objective of this study was to develop a dessert that contains soy protein (SP) (1%, 2%, 3%) and guava juice (GJ) (22%, 27%, 32%) using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) as the optimisation technique. Water activity, physical stability, colour, acidity, pH, iron, and carotenoid contents were analysed. Affective tests were performed to determine the degree of liking of colour, creaminess, and acceptability. The results showed that GJ increased the values of redness, hue angle, chromaticity, acidity, and carotenoid content, while SP reduced water activity. Optimisation suggested a dessert containing 32% GJ and 1.17% SP as the best proportion of these components. This sample was considered a source of fibres, ascorbic acid, copper, and iron and garnered scores above the level of `slightly liked` for sensory attributes. Moreover, RSM was shown to be an adequate approach for modelling the physicochemical parameters and the degree of liking of creaminess of desserts. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Validated method for the quantification of artepillin-C in Brazilian propolis

Brazilian propolis contains several phenolic compounds among which 5 diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (artepillin-C) is commonly found in areas where flora is rich in Baccharis species. The quantification of artepillin-C has become an important factor as an indicator of Brazilian propolis quality and the compound may be used as a chemical marker for quality control in exportating green propolis. This work was to validate the method and evaluate the content of artepillin-C from 33 samples collected in different Brazilian regions. The method used was HPLC with UV-vis detection and a reversed-phase C-18 Column. The validation parameters studied were: linearity, accuracy, precision, quantification and detection limits. The results obtained were: detection limit = 0.0036 mu g/mL, quantification limit = 0.012 mu g/mL, accuracy = 0.0064 and 0.078, recovery 98-102%. Artepillin-C content varied from 0 to 11% depending on the geographical origin. Propolis from the southeast region presented the highest level of artepillin-C (5.0-11.0%). Whist that from the northeast region did not show any artepillin-C. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of glutamine on the nuclear factor-kappaB signaling pathway of murine peritoneal macrophages

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of glutamine on the expression of proteins involved in the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappa B) signaling pathway of murine peritoneal macrophages. Since glutamine is essential for the normal functioning of macrophages, it was hypothesized that in vitro glutamine supplementation would increase NF-kappa B activation. Peritoneal macrophages were pretreated with glutamine (0, 0.6, 2 and 10 mM) before incubation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the effects of glutamine on the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and on the expression and activity of proteins involved in the NF-kappa B signaling pathway were studied by an enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay, Western blotting, and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Glutamine treatment (2 and 10 mM) increased the activation of NF-kappa B in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages (P < 0.05). In non-stimulated cells, glutamine treatment (2 and 10 mM) significantly reduced I kappa B-alpha protein expression (P < 0.05). Glutamine modulates NF-kappa B signaling pathway by reducing the level of I kappa B-alpha, leading to an increase in NF-kappa B within the nucleus in peritoneal macrophages.