Influence of light on DNA content of Helianthus annuus Linnaeus.

Mean nuclear 2C DNA content (C equaling haploid DNA per nucleus) of the first leaf of the sunflower, Helianthus annuus L., is influenced by the quality and the quantity of light. Seedlings of two inbred lines, RHA 299 and RHA 271 were germinated and grown in controlled environmental conditions. Lighting was adjusted to provide different combinations of photon flux densities and red to far red (R:FR) ratios. At R:FR = 5.8 and photon flux densities of 170 mumol.m-2.s-1, 200 mumol.m-2.s-1, and 230 mumol.m-2.s-1, DNA content remained high and relatively constant (x = 6.97 pg for RHA 271 and x = 7.32 pg for RHA 299). When the photon flux density range (R:FR = 5.8) was elevated to 350 mumol.m-2.s-1, 410 mumol.m-2.s-1, and 470 mumol.m-2.s-1, mean DNA content was reduced to 6.23 pg (RHA 271) and 6.46 pg (RHA 299). At R:FR = 1.5, mean DNA content was consistently high (7.2-7.9 pg) only at the lowest photon flux density of 170 mumol.m-2.s-1. Significant decreases in DNA content (< or = 12%) were observed at photon flux densities of 200 mumol.m-2.s-1 and 230 mumol.m-2.s-1. At the higher photon flux densities (350 mumol.m-2.s-1, 410 mumol.m-2.s-1, and 470 mumol.m-2.s-1) and R:RF = 1.5, the plants had extremely low DNA contents (mean x = 3.36 pg for RHA 271 and 3.41 pg for RHA 299) and high between-plant variance. The instability of DNA content, particularly for plants grown under light that is far red rich, suggests that phytochromes may be involved in regulating DNA content of the sunflower.

Calcium carbonate global LGM Burial rate data

Global databases of calcium carbonate concentrations and mass accumulation rates in Holocene and last glacial maximum sediments were used to estimate the deep-sea sedimentary calcium carbonate burial rate during these two time intervals. Sparse calcite mass accumulation rate data were extrapolated across regions of varying calcium carbonate concentration using a gridded map of calcium carbonate concentrations and the assumption that accumulation of noncarbonate material is uncorrelated with calcite concentration within some geographical region. Mean noncarbonate accumulation rates were estimated within each of nine regions, determined by the distribution and nature of the accumulation rate data. For core-top sediments the regions of reasonable data coverage encompass 67% of the high-calcite (>75%) sediments globally, and within these regions we estimate an accumulation rate of 55.9 ± 3.6 x 10**11 mol/yr. The same regions cover 48% of glacial high-CaCO3 sediments (the smaller fraction is due to a shift of calcite deposition to the poorly sampled South Pacific) and total 44.1 ± 6.0 x 10**11 mol/yr. Projecting both estimates to 100 % coverage yields accumulation estimates of 8.3 x 10**12 mol/yr today and 9.2 x 10**12 mol/yr during glacial time. This is little better than a guess given the incomplete data coverage, but it suggests that glacial deep sea calcite burial rate was probably not considerably faster than today in spite of a presumed decrease in shallow water burial during glacial time.

TTIP vs. BRICS: Consequences on Geopolitics and Internacional Relations of the XXIst. Century

The TTIP is a proposal on negotiations between the EU and the USA in order to create the largest free international trade area by extension, population and volume of trade of all existing ones. In our view, TTIP would be the geoeconomic answer to BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), as a comercial, geopolitical and cooperation space in other areas such as the military, in both that TTIP reproduce on a commercial scale the political and military alliance already existing between good part of the EU and USA by the NATO. In this paper we will try to explain why the possible rivalry between TTIP and BRICS would reproduce in the XXIst. Century the schemes of “Cold War” inherited from XXth. Century, that in turn reproduced the geopolitical confrontations arising from the theory of Haltford McKinder pivot area and the traditional opposition between thalassocratic imperialisms (government on the seas and oceans) and tellurocratic imperialisms (government on an enormous portion of emerged land). Likewise, we will try to show why, at a dialectic of States level, the most populated, territorially extensive and with greater amount of resources political societies will be those that have the greatest ability to impose a particular model of international relations and its geopolitical hegemony on a universal scale in response to this viable confrontation between TTIP, plus TTP, vs. BRICS.

Avaliação de alguns parâmetros da qualidade da anchoita (Engraulis anchoita) enlatada em óleo de girassol e em molho de tomate

O consumo de pescado no Brasil cresceu 40% nos últimos 7 anos passando de 6,46 para 9,03 kg/habitante/ano, valor que se aproxima do recomendado pela Organização Mundial de Saúde. A razão está relacionada com a subutilização de determinadas espécies e a falta de diversificação da indústria processadora para a produção de alimentos com maior valor agregado. Considerando o esgotamento de determinadas espécies com a utilização da sobrepesca, é possível o emprego da anchoita na forma de conservas através da utilização de meios de cobertura como molho de tomate e óleo comestível. Este trabalho teve como objetivo elaborar conservas de anchoita (Engraulis anchoita) com a utilização de 2 meios de cobertura: molho de tomate e óleo de girassol, submetidas a tempos de salmouragem diferenciados, 2 e 5 min e com o emprego ou não de pré-cozimento. De acordo com os padrões estabelecidos, as amostras de pescado fresco utilizadas para a execução dos enlatados apresentaram resultados físico químicos adequados comprovando o frescor do pescado envolvido no processo, ou sejam: 16,29 mg/100 g amostra para N-BVT, 7,90 mg/100 g amostra para N-TMA e pH 6,5. As conservas em molho de tomate submetidas a operação de salmouragem durante 2 min, com e sem pré-cozimento apresentaram, respectivamente, 16,57 e 16,24% proteínas, 3,94 e 4,66% lipídios, 73,0 e 73,28% umidade, 3,22 e 3,67% cinzas, 0,17 e 0,19% de cloretos (NaCl). As conservas com molho de tomate, utilizando anchoita eviscerada salmourada por 5 min, com e sem pré-cozimento, apresentaram respectivamente, 15,94 e 15,31% proteínas, 3,15 e 4,90 lipídios%, 73,70 e 73,98% umidade, 3,80 e 4,10% cinzas, 0,21 e 0,24% cloretos (NaCl). Para as conservas de anchoita em óleo de girassol, utilizando tempo de salmouragem de 2 min, com e sem pré-cozimento, apresentaram 16,97 e 16,76% proteínas, 7,68 e 5,70% lipídios, 65,87 e 68,74% umidade, 3,16 e 3,28% cinzas, 0,10 e 0,12% cloretos (NaCl), respectivamente. As conservas utilizando o pescado previamente submetido a salmouragem por 5 min e posteriormente enlatado com a adição de óleo de girassol, com e sem pré-cozimento apresentaram respectivamente, 15,97 e 15,89% proteínas, 7,91 e 5,19% lipídios, 66,26 e 68,23% umidade, 3,78 e 3,87% cinzas, 0,13 e 0,21% NaCl. As análises microbiológicas das conservas submetidas aos diferentes tratamentos mostraram ausência de Salmonella spp, Staphylococcus coagulase positiva e Clostridium sulfito-redutor, resultados estes, de acordo com o estabelecido pela legislação higiênico-sanitária brasileira. Nos testes de esterilidade comercial não foram constatadas alterações visíveis nos enlatados submetidos a incubação por 5 dias a 36 ± 1°C (determinação de micro-organismos aeróbios viáveis) e a 7-10 dias a 55 ± 1°C (termófilos). Considerando as quantidades de pescado enlatado (80, 90 e 100g), o rendimento para todas as amostras apresentaram, no mínimo, 50% de pescado em relação ao peso líquido. A avaliação sensorial realizada por teste de ordenação para a avaliação da preferência não apresentou diferenças significativas entre as amostras.

Adsorção de corantes têxteis aniônicos e catiônicos em resíduos do processamento de fios de algodão modificados quimicamente

The textile industry generates a large volume of high organic effluent loading whoseintense color arises from residual dyes. Due to the environmental implications caused by this category of contaminant there is a permanent search for methods to remove these compounds from industrial waste waters. The adsorption alternative is one of the most efficient ways for such a purpose of sequestering/remediation and the use of inexpensive materials such as agricultural residues (e.g., sugarcane bagasse) and cotton dust waste (CDW) from weaving in their natural or chemically modified forms. The inclusion of quaternary amino groups (DEAE+) and methylcarboxylic (CM-) in the CDW cellulosic structure generates an ion exchange capacity in these formerly inert matrix and, consequently, consolidates its ability for electrovalent adsorption of residual textile dyes. The obtained ionic matrices were evaluated for pHpcz, the retention efficiency for various textile dyes in different experimental conditions, such as initial concentration , temperature, contact time in order to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of adsorption in batch, turning comprehensive how does occur the process, then understood from the respective isotherms. It was observed a change in the pHpcz for CM--CDW (6.07) and DEAE+-CDW (9.66) as compared to the native CDW (6.46), confirming changes in the total surface charge. The ionized matrices were effective for removing all evaluated pure or residual textile dyes under various tested experimental conditions. The kinetics of the adsorption process data had best fitted to the model a pseudosecond order and an intraparticle diffusion model suggested that the process takes place in more than one step. The time required for the system to reach equilibrium varied according to the initial concentration of dye, being faster in diluted solutions. The isotherm model of Langmuir was the best fit to the experimental data. The maximum adsorption capacity varied differently for each tested dye and it is closely related to the interaction adsorbent/adsorbate and dye chemical structure. Few dyes obtained a linear variation of the balance ka constant due to the inversion of temperature and might have influence form their thermodynamic behavior. Dyes that could be evaluated such as BR 18: 1 and AzL, showed features of an endothermic adsorption process (ΔH° positive) and the dye VmL presented exothermic process characteristics (ΔH° negative). ΔG° values suggested that adsorption occurred spontaneously, except for the BY 28 dye, and the values of ΔH° indicated that adsorption occurred by a chemisorption process. The reduction of 31 to 51% in the biodegradability of the matrix after the dye adsorption means that they must go through a cleaning process before being discarded or recycled, and the regeneration test indicates that matrices can be reused up to five times without loss of performance. The DEAE+-CDW matrix was efficient for the removal of color from a real textile effluent reaching an UV-Visible spectral area decrease of 93% when applied in a proportion of 15 g ion exchanger matrix L-1 of colored wastewater, even in the case of the parallel presence of 50 g L-1 of mordant salts in the waste water. The wide range of colored matter removal by the synthesized matrices varied from 40.27 to 98.65 mg g-1 of ionized matrix, obviously depending in each particular chemical structure of the dye upon adsorption.

Influência de fatores ambientais na incidência do vírus da infecção hipodermal e necrose hematopoiética (IHHNV) no camarão Litopenaeus vannamei cultivado em fazendas do Estado do Rio Grande do Norte (RN)

The shrimp farming industry is the most profitable area of the aquaculture at Rio Grande do Norte (RN) state, which is one of the largest producers in Brazil. However the infections that affect the shrimp cause major economic losses. The infection is a result of the interaction between the shrimp, the environment and pathogen. The change of these factors may lead to a condition of stress and susceptibility to opportunistic infections. One of these infections caused by Infectious Hypodermal and Hematopoietic Necrosis Virus (IHHNV) is widely distributed in several countries and affects a wide range of hosts. To optimize conditions for production of Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp, the more species cultivated in Brazil, it is necessary to understand the effects of environmental factors in the susceptibility of this species to infections. The aim of this study was to determine the IHHNV prevalence and to investigate the influence of environmental factors as salinity, temperature, stocking density, dissolved oxygen and rainfall in the IHHNV incidence in L. vannamei grown in farms, in the RN state. To determine the IHHNV prevalence were used 1089 samples of L. vannamei collected in seven farms. To perform the study about the influence of environmental factors, 525 samples of L. vannamei shrimp were collected in eight farms located in regions of low (0-1 ), medium (21-30 ) and high (38-57 ) salinity, using extensive (≤15 shrimp/m2 ), semi-intensive (18-33 shrimp/m2) or intensive (>36 shrimp/m2) stocking density systems. The IHHNV infection was determined in pleopod and hemolymph using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The environmental factors were recorded during the collection of animals, using a refractometer to measure the salinity and a multi-parameter meter to measure the temperature and concentration of dissolved oxygen in the water. The IHHNV prevalence in RN was 43% (468 infected shrimp out of 1089), varying on different farms. On the seven farms studied, IHHNV prevalence ranged from 18.6% to 54.8%. The infection rates in the shrimp cultured in low, medium and high salinity were respectively 43.10% (125/290), 31.2% (15/48) and 24.6% (46/187) and was significantly higher in shrimp grown in low salinity (P<0.001). The infection rates in ponds of extensive, semi-intensive and intensive systems were respectively, 28.7%, 28.28% and 47.84%, and was significantly higher in high stocking densities (P<0.001). This study indicated a high IHHNV prevalence and a significant effect of salinity and stocking density, but not of the temperature, rainfall and dissolved oxygen on the IHHNV infection rate in the L. vannamei shrimp cultured in the northeastern Brazil

The Quality of Hunted Sambar Deer (Cervus unicolor) Venison from East Kalimantan

Sambar deer (Cervus unicolor)  is the heaviest in its body weight and widest in its distribution of tropical deer. A Report by East Kalimantan governor indicated that no less than 5,000 wild sambar deer were slaughtered annually. In 1990 a pilot project of sambar deer farm was established and still under its development. Up to the present there is no data available on the nutritional values of sambar venison. The objective of the study was to determine the nutritional quality of wild sambar venison. Samples were collected from three traditional markets. Whitin 10 hours after being hunted, meat was sampled in three sites, front leg, back leg and saddle. The result showed that pH values of hunted sambar venison ranged from 6.18-6.46, but there were no differences in cutting sites. The moisture content was over 74%. Crude Protein, ash, fat and cholesterol (%DM) were 88.84-90.24, 3.86-4.14, 2.9-3.8, 0.24-0.27, respectively. Amino acids, fatty acids and minerals values were within the average of domesticated animals meat values, thought some values in sambar show a better performance. (Animal Production 5(1): 35-41 (2003) Key words: Sambar , Deer, Cervus unicolor, Venison, Meat

The Effect of Turmeric (Curcuma domestica) Extract on Water Holding Capacity, Cooking Loss, pH Values and Tenderness of Broiler Chicken Meat

Abstract.  This study was aimed to determine the influences of turmeric extract supplementation on water holding capacity, cooking loss, pH value and tenderness of broiler chicken meat Data analysis was subject to completely randomized design 5 treatments namely T0, T1, T2, T3 and T4 containing non-turmeric extract, 100 mg/kgBW/day, 200 mg/kgBW/day, 300 mg/kgBW/day and 400 mg/kgBW/day, respectively. Each unit of experiment administered 3 heads with four replications. The results indicated no effect from turmeric extract supplementation on water holding capacity, cooking loss, pH value and tenderness of broiler chicken meat. The average treatments of T0, T1, T2, T3, T4 had water holding capacities of  39.86, 37.58, 36.41, 36.94, respectively; cooking losses of 26.00, 27.58, 27.57, 27.11, and 27.49%, respectively; tenderness of 1.97, 1.95, 1.63, 1.77 and 1.99 Nmm, respectively, and final Body weights of 1,618.5, 1,568, 1,692.5, 1,651.75 and 1,462 g/head, respectively. However, a highly significant influence was observed on the pH values of 6.46, 6.04, 6.21, 6.08 and 5.98. The results indicated that none of the turmeric extract supplementation increased water holding capacity, cooking losses, tenderness and body weight. Key words: broiler, cooking loss, pH values, tenderness, water holding capacity, turmeric Abstrak. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui pengaruh pemberian ekstrak kunyit terhadap daya ikat air, susut masak, nilai pH dan keempukan daging ayam broiler. Manfaat penelitian yaitu tersedianya informasi ilmiah tentang ekstrak kunyit terhadap danging ayam broiler. Perlakuan yang diterapkan adalah T0 tanpa ekstrak kunyit, T1 100, T2 200, T3 300, dan T4 400 mg/kgBB/hari. Data analisis yang digunakan adalah rancangan acak lengkap yang terdiri dari 5 perlakuan dan 4 replikasi. Setiap unit percobaan terdiri dari 3 ekor. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan tidak ada pengaruh pemberian ekstrak kunyit terhadap daya ikat air, susut masak, dan keempukan daging ayam broiler. Rataan untuk perlakuan T0, T1, T2, T3, T4 pada Daya Ikat Air masing–masing 39,86; 37,58; 36,41; 36,94; 34,78%; susut masak 26,00; 27,58; 27,57; 27,11; 27,49%, keempukan 1,97; 1,95; 1,63; 1,77; 1,99 Nmm, dan bobot badan akhir 1.618,5; 1.568; 1.692,5; 1.651,75; 1.462g/ekor. Namun, memberikan pengaruh sangat nyata pada nilai pH 6,46; 6,04; 6,21; 6,08; 5,98. Hasil  menunjukkan bahwa pemberian ekstrak kunyit  tidak meningkatkan daya ikat air, susut masak, keempukan dan bobot badan. Kata Kunci : Broiler, Susut Masak, pH, Keempukan, Daya Ikat Air, Kunyit

Severe aplastic anaemia in association with a unique constitutional translocation 46,XY,t(6;10)(q13;q22)c

Severe aplastic anaemia (SAA) is an uncommon disorder which may be associated with several congenital syndromes. However, it has rarely been described in association with a constitutional karyotypic abnormality. The breakpoint of the balanced t(6:10)(q13:q22) translocation described here does not disrupt any currently recognized gene of haemopoietic or stromal importance. This report also highlights the problems inherent in the use of bone marrow transplantation (BMT) for treating multiply transfused aplastic anaemia patients.