Atributos físicos do solo em área de mineração de carvão influenciados pela correção da acidez, adubação orgânica e revegetação

Solos reconstruídos após mineração de carvão têm suas propriedades físicas, químicas e biológicas alteradas. Nesse sentido, este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar efeitos da aplicação de corretivos, da adubação e da revegetação nas propriedades físicas de um solo reconstruído após mineração a céu aberto. O experimento foi conduzido na Mina do Apertado, em Lauro Müller, SC, entre 2001 e 2005, sobre um solo minerado em 1991 e reconstruído em 1995. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos ao acaso, com três repetições. Os tratamentos foram: (1) testemunha; (2) "dregs" (resíduo alcalino); (3) calcário; (4) calcário + Brachiaria brizantha; (5) calcário + Brachiaria brizantha + cama de aviário. Em todos os tratamentos, foram transplantadas mudas de Pinus taeda e de Eucalyptus saligna em subparcelas. O calcário dolomítico e o "dregs" foram incorporados a 10 cm de profundidade. Toda a área recebeu adubação nitrogenada, potássica e fosfatada conforme recomendação técnica. As amostras de solo foram coletadas em fevereiro de 2005, nas camadas de 0 a 5 e 5 a 10 cm, avaliando-se os seus atributos físicos. Os tratamentos não alteraram a densidade de partículas, densidade do solo, porosidade total, macro e microporosidade do solo. O calcário elevou o pH, dispersou a argila e reduziu a estabilidade de agregados, enquanto o "dregs" aumentou o pH sem dispersar a argila. A adubação orgânica e o uso de Brachiaria brizantha aumentaram a estabilidade dos agregados e a água prontamente disponível, favorecendo a recuperação da qualidade física do solo degradado.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPARbeta/delta) but not PPARalpha serves as a plasma free fatty acid sensor in liver.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) is an important transcription factor in liver that can be activated physiologically by fasting or pharmacologically by using high-affinity synthetic agonists. Here we initially set out to elucidate the similarities in gene induction between Wy14643 and fasting. Numerous genes were commonly regulated in liver between the two treatments, including many classical PPARalpha target genes, such as Aldh3a2 and Cpt2. Remarkably, several genes induced by Wy14643 were upregulated by fasting independently of PPARalpha, including Lpin2 and St3gal5, suggesting involvement of another transcription factor. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, Lpin2 and St3gal5 were shown to be direct targets of PPARbeta/delta during fasting, whereas Aldh3a2 and Cpt2 were exclusive targets of PPARalpha. Binding of PPARbeta/delta to the Lpin2 and St3gal5 genes followed the plasma free fatty acid (FFA) concentration, consistent with activation of PPARbeta/delta by plasma FFAs. Subsequent experiments using transgenic and knockout mice for Angptl4, a potent stimulant of adipose tissue lipolysis, confirmed the stimulatory effect of plasma FFAs on Lpin2 and St3gal5 expression levels via PPARbeta/delta. In contrast, the data did not support activation of PPARalpha by plasma FFAs. The results identify Lpin2 and St3gal5 as novel PPARbeta/delta target genes and show that upregulation of gene expression by PPARbeta/delta is sensitive to plasma FFA levels. In contrast, this is not the case for PPARalpha, revealing a novel mechanism for functional differentiation between PPARs.

Dynamic properties of human brain structure: learning-related changes in cortical areas and associated fiber connections.

Recent findings in neuroscience suggest that adult brain structure changes in response to environmental alterations and skill learning. Whereas much is known about structural changes after intensive practice for several months, little is known about the effects of single practice sessions on macroscopic brain structure and about progressive (dynamic) morphological alterations relative to improved task proficiency during learning for several weeks. Using T1-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging in humans, we demonstrate significant gray matter volume increases in frontal and parietal brain areas following only two sessions of practice in a complex whole-body balancing task. Gray matter volume increase in the prefrontal cortex correlated positively with subject's performance improvements during a 6 week learning period. Furthermore, we found that microstructural changes of fractional anisotropy in corresponding white matter regions followed the same temporal dynamic in relation to task performance. The results make clear how marginal alterations in our ever changing environment affect adult brain structure and elucidate the interrelated reorganization in cortical areas and associated fiber connections in correlation with improvements in task performance.

Rahmenmodell vs. Geschäftsmodelle. Werkstattbericht zur Governance und zur Profilierung von aFuE an den schweizerischen Fachhochschulen

Die in den 1990er Jahren geschaffenen Fachhochschulen der Schweiz sind verpflichtet, in allen angebotenen Fachbereichen "anwendungsorientierte Forschung und Entwicklung" (aFuE) zu betreiben. Sowohl die Fachhochschulen wie auch die Fachbereiche sind allerdings sehr heterogen. Dieser Werkstattbericht zeigt auf, wie die Fachhochschulen das gesetzlich für alle gültige Rahmenmodell in zwei typologisch unterschiedlichen Geschäftsmodellen umsetzen: In einem am ökonomischen Markt ausgerichteten Modell A und in einem am Wissenschaftssystem und an ,,gesellschaftlichen Problemfeldern" ausgerichteten Modell B. Die beiden Typen stehen in einem Spannungsverhältnis zueinander, sind aber zugleich auch mit ähnlichen Problemen konfrontiert.

Performance evaluation of a new fourth-generation HIV combination antigen-antibody assay.

Education and diagnostic tests capable of early detection represent our most effective means of preventing transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The importance of early detection is underlined by studies demonstrating increased life expectancy following early initiation of antiviral treatment. The Elecsys(®) HIV combi PT assay is a fourth-generation antigen-antibody combination assay developed to allow earlier detection of seroconversion, and to have increased sensitivity and improved specificity. We aimed to determine how early the assay could detect infection compared with existing assays; whether all HIV variants could be detected; and the assay's specificity using samples from blood donors, routine specimens, and patients with potential cross-reacting factors. Samples were identified as positive by the Elecsys(®) assay 4.9 days after a positive polymerase chain reaction result (as determined by the panel supplier), which was earlier than the 5.3-7.1 days observed with comparators. The analytical sensitivity of the Elecsys(®) HIV combi PT assay for the HIV-1 p24 antigen was 1.05 IU/mL, which compares favorably with the comparator assays. In addition, the Elecsys(®) assay identified all screened HIV subtypes and displayed greater sensitivity to HIV-2 homologous antigen and antibodies to HIV-1 E and O and HIV-2 than the other assays. Overall, the specificity of the Elecsys(®) assay was 99.88 % using samples from blood donors and 99.81 % when analyzing unselected samples. Potential cross-reacting factors did not interfere with assay performance. The Elecsys(®) HIV combi PT assay is a sensitive and specific assay that has been granted the CE mark according to Directive 2009/886/EC.

Den farliga formalismen - en mardröm om forum, preskription och litispendens

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