•Membranes made of chitosan-PLGA block copolymer networks that degrade by hydrolysis in 8 weeks.•Membranes that behave as hydrogels in spite of high PLGA content.•The HPUC1 used in combination with ...bone marrow mononucleated cells are efficient in wound healing in a diabetic rat model.
Foot ulcers, a common complication of diabetes, can cause physical incapacity and are derived from several factors, including poor wound healing. New therapeutic strategies are needed to minimize this complication for the sake of patients’ health. We therefore developed a new chitosan- polyurethane hydrogel membrane (HPUC) and the test results confirmed that HPUC present low cytotoxicity and improved wound healing when used with mononuclear bone marrow fraction cells in the diabetic rat model. The biodegradable hydrogels were produced in block copolymer networks with a combination of chitosan blocks and biodegradable polyurethane. The membranes were characterized by FTIR, 13C-NMR and thermogravimetry. Swelling and hydrolytic degradation were also evaluated. The non-solubility of the membranes in good solvents and the chemical characterization confirmed that the network structure was formed between the PU and the chitosan through urea/urethane bonds. The findings confirm that the HPUC have interesting properties that make them suitable for wound healing applications.
The Eucalyptus genus is extensively planted in Brazil for industrial use, and with the expansion of forest frontiers and climate changes, studies are needed on how these changes affect wood density ...(WD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of some climate variables on WD of an Eucalyptus urophylla clone for a 4-5 year period. WD from trees collected in 12 sites were evaluated. Five growth rings were identified using a magnifying glass, X-ray densitometry, and forest inventory. WD was correlated with temperature (T), precipitation (P), soil water deficit, ring width, and current annual increment. There was no variation in WD in the first 20 months among sites. From that age on, WD was mainly correlated with T (r > 0.6). The 1 degreesC increase in T resulted in a WD reduction of 0.014 g cm.sup.-1, and increases of 10 m.sup.-3 ha.sup.-1 in the final volume were related to an increase of 0.004 g cm.sup.-1 in WD. Researchers and managers should continue to put efforts into broad experimental networks to assess the effects of climate change on the adaptation and wood quality of Eucalyptus clones.
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown a relationship between calf circumference (CC) and outcomes in hospitalized patients. AIMS: To investigate the relationship between CC and clinical ...and nutritional outcomes in older in-patients (OiP) in a surgery ward. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 417 OiP in a surgery ward. Clinical variables, anthropometry, and nutritional screening instruments such as subjective global assessment (SGA), mini nutritional assessment (MNA), and nutritional risk screening (NRS) were used in the investigation. The tests Pearson’s chi-square, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman’s coefficient, and multiple linear regression analyses were used to review the factors associated with CC. RESULTS: Lower CC values were found in the age group 80 years and over (p<0.0001), presence of complications (p=0.0269), NRS (p<0.0001), SGA (p<0.0001), and MNA (p<0.0001). Gender (p=0.0011; partial R2=0.01151), age (p=0.0002; partial R2=0.06032), body mass index (p≤0.0001; partial R2=0.40820), and arm circumference (p≤0.0001; partial R2=0.11890) are variables that together were associated with CC. There was also a relationship between SGA (p=0.0166; partial R2=0.00605) and absence of complications during hospitalization (p=0.0047; R2=0.01154) with CC. CONCLUSIONS: Gender, age, body mass index, and arm circumference were jointly associated with CC, in addition to SGA and absence of complications. The CC is a relevant indicator for OiP in the clinical practice.
RESUMO RACIONAL: Estudos anteriores mostraram uma relação entre a circunferência da panturrilha (CP) e desfechos em pacientes hospitalizados. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a relação entre CP e desfecho clínico e nutricional em pacientes idosos hospitalizados (PIH) em uma enfermaria cirúrgica. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo transversal com 417 PIH em uma enfermaria de cirurgia. Variáveis clínicas, antropometria e instrumentos de triagem nutricional como avaliação subjetiva global (ASG), mini avaliação nutricional (MAN) e triagem de risco nutricional (NRS) foram utilizados na investigação. Qui-quadrado, Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, coeficiente de Spearman e análise de regressão linear múltipla foram usados para analisar os fatores associados a CP. RESULTADOS: Menores valores de CP foram encontrados na faixa etária de 80 anos (p<0,0001), complicações (p=0,0269), risco nutricional pelo NRS (p<0,0001), ASG (p<0,0001) e MAN (p<0,0001). Sexo (p=0,0011; R2 parcial=0,01151), idade (p=0,0002; R2 parcial=0,06032), IMC (p≤0,0001; R2 parcial=0,40820) e circunferência do braço (CB) (p≤0,0001; R2 parcial=0,11890) foram variáveis que juntas estiveram associadas com a CP. Também houve relação entre ASG (p=0,0166; R2 parcial=0,00605) e ausência de complicações durante a internação (p=0,0047; R2= 0,01154) com a CP. CONCLUSÕES: Sexo, idade, IMC e CB associaram-se conjuntamente com CP, ASG e ausência de complicações. CP é um indicador relevante em PIH na prática clínica.
Environmental conditions can change both the quantity and quality of wood formation. This study aimed to evaluate anatomical and chemical changes in the wood of a Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake ...clone cultivated in four sites of wide climatic conditions in Brazil. Radial samples were used to evaluate xylem anatomy along the growth cycles. Samples with a quarter of a disk were used to perform chemical analyses of extractives, total lignin (LG), syringyl/guaiacyl (S/G), holocellulose, and elemental analysis of wood. The elements Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Mn, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Cr, Cd, F, and Cl were also quantified. Correlations using the mean values of the variables per site were higher than those using values per tree growth cycle (years). Mean annual air temperature showed the highest correlations with wood density (r = −0.89) and the anatomical characteristics (vessel area: r = −0.68; fiber wall thickness: r = −0.70; vessel frequency: r = 0.74; and fiber lumen diameter: r = 0.90). Only LG and S/G showed significant correlations with the meteorological variables, with drier sites presenting a higher S/G. The anatomical characteristics change with regionwide climate features, while wood chemical characteristics showed weaker relations with climatic variations.
Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) is the main cause of chronic leg ulcers. Varicose veins are the most frequent cause of venous leg ulcers (VLU). 50.9% of Brazilian women have varicose veins and ulcer ...prevalence is as high as 4%. Ultrasound-guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) is a low-cost treatment option for varicose veins.
To analyze UGFS outcomes in patients with VLU.
Prospective consecutive single center cohort study. Patients with great saphenous vein (GSV) reflux and VLU were treated and followed-up for 180 days. The following were studied: quality of life (QoL), disease severity, healing, and elimination of GSV reflux. The Aberdeen questionnaire, a venous clinical severity score, and Duplex scanning (DS) results were analyzed.
22 patients aged 35 to 70 years were treated. There was improvement in quality of life, disease severity reduced, and ulcer diameter reduced (p < 0.001; ANOVA). 77.27% of VLU healed completely (95%CI: 59.76-94.78%). The dimensions of 20/22 VLU reduced (90.91%; 95%CI: 78.9-100%). GSV reflux was eliminated in 63.64% (95%CI: 43.54-83.74%). Men had greater QoL benefit and women had more complications. There were no severe complications. The VLU that had healed completely at the end of the study were smaller at baseline than those that did not completely heal. The GSV that were completely occluded at the end of the study were smaller at baseline than those that were not completely occluded (p < 0.05; Mann-Whitney).
The results suggest that most patients benefited from UGFS.
Predictions of the magnitude and timing of leaf phenology in Amazonian forests remain highly controversial. Here, we use terrestrial LiDAR surveys every two weeks spanning wet and dry seasons in ...Central Amazonia to show that plant phenology varies strongly across vertical strata in old-growth forests, but is sensitive to disturbances arising from forest fragmentation. In combination with continuous microclimate measurements, we find that when maximum daily temperatures reached 35 °C in the latter part of the dry season, the upper canopy of large trees in undisturbed forests lost plant material. In contrast, the understory greened up with increased light availability driven by the upper canopy loss, alongside increases in solar radiation, even during periods of drier soil and atmospheric conditions. However, persistently high temperatures in forest edges exacerbated the upper canopy losses of large trees throughout the dry season, whereas the understory in these light-rich environments was less dependent on the altered upper canopy structure. Our findings reveal a strong influence of edge effects on phenological controls in wet forests of Central Amazonia.
El objetivo del presente artículo es analizar el nivel de apropiación de los stakeholders internos (estudiantes, docentes y directivos) adscritos al Programa de Contaduría Pública de la Universidad ...Mariana (Pasto, Colombia) a las dimensiones de la Responsabilidad Social Universitaria (RSU). Para tal fin se usó una muestra de 121 estudiantes, 28 docentes y 2 directivos (decano y director del programa) y se formularon tres hipótesis a partir de la revisión de la literatura que se comprobaron en dos fases: la primera exploratoria, mediante análisis factorial y, la segunda confirmatoria, con el modelo de ecuaciones estructurales. Los principales resultados muestran que los stakeholders internos de la Universidad Mariana perciben que la investigación con enfoque social está relacionada con la dimensión de proyección social, y que la RSU con enfoque educativo no está relacionada con la investigación con enfoque social, pero sí lo está con la dimensión de proyección social
The objective of this article is to analyze the level of appropriation of internal stakeholders (students, teachers and managers) assigned to the Public Accounting Program of the Mariana University (Pasto, Colombia) to the dimensions of University Social Responsibility (USR). For this purpose, a sample of 121 students, 28 teachers and 2 managers (dean and director of the program) was used and three hypotheses were formulated from the review of the literature that were tested in two phases: the first exploratory, through factor analysis and, the second confirmatory, with the structural equation model. The main results show that the internal stakeholders of the Mariana University perceive that research with a social focus is related to the dimension of social projection, and that RSU with an educational focus is not related to research with a social focus, but it is related to the dimension of social projection.
We have described that formation of basidiocarps by
Ustilago maydis
requires illumination. In the current research, we have proceeded to analyze what kind of light receptors are involved in this ...phenomenon. Accordingly, we investigated whether the homologues of the White Collar (
WC
), and the phytochrome (
PHY
) genes played a role in this process. Mutants deficient in either one of the three
U. maydis WC
homologue genes (
WCO1a, WCO1b
,
WCO2
), or the phytochrome-encoding the
PHY
gene were obtained. Phenotypic analysis of the mutants showed that
∆wco1a
mutants formed similar numbers of basidiocarps than wild-type strain, whereas
∆wco1b
mutants were severely affected in basidiocarp formation when illuminated with white, blue or red light.
∆wco2
and
∆phy1
mutants did not form basidiocarps under any illumination condition. These data indicate that Wco1a is the main blue light receptor, and Wco1b may operate as a secondary blue light receptor; Phy1 is the red light receptor, and Wco2 the transcription factor that controls the photo stimulation of the genes involved in the formation of fruiting bodies. It is suggested that effectiveness of the light receptors depends on the whole structure of the complex, possibly, because their association is necessary to maintain their functional structure.
Plant growth analysis can be used for soybean plants evaluation to identify morphologic changes caused by soil microbes after seed inoculation. The objective was to measure changes of inoculated ...soybean plants grown under regular field Brazilian production conditions. The experiment was carried out to compare 5 inoculation treatments: T1 (Bradyrhizobium japonicum and B. diazoefficiens), T2 (T1 and Azospirillum brasilense), T3 (T1 and Trichoderma asperellum), T4 (T1 and T. virens, and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) and T5 (T1 and Penicillum bilaiae). Leaf area, shoot and root dry matter were measured at vegetative and reproductive growth stages. Results of this study validate the contribution of plant growth analysis of soybeans plants for identifying their responses promoted by the combined inoculation of their seeds with selected microbes. Also, the microbial effects on plant growth vary not only between microbes but also between parts of the plants and through the plant development stages. The introduction of different microbes in soybean rhizosphere combined with Bradyrhizobium sp. strains can contribute to increase crop dry matter productivity during its growing cycle.
RESUMO: Análise de crescimento de plantas pode ser utilizada para avaliação de plantas e identificação de mudanças causadas por microrganismos de solo, depois de serem inoculados nas sementes. O objetivo deste estudo foi medir as mudanças no crescimento de plantas de soja inoculadas em condição de cultivos extensivos de campo no Brasil. O experimento foi conduzido para comparar cinco tratamentos inoculados: T1 (Bradyrhizobium japonicum e B. diazoefficiens), T2 (T1 e Azospirillum brasilense), T3 (T1 e Trichoderma asperellum), T4 (T1 and T. virens, e Bacillus amyloliquefaciens) e T5 (T1 e Penicillum bilaiae). A área foliar e a massa seca da parte aérea e de raízes foram medidas nos estádios vegetativos e reprodutivos. Os resultados validam a contribuição da análise de crescimento de plantas de soja para identificar as respostas causadas pela inoculação de sementes com combinação de microrganismos selecionados. Os efeitos dos microrganismos no crescimento das plantas não variam apenas entre os microrganismos, mas também entre as partes das plantas e ao longo do seu desenvolvimento. A introdução de diferentes micróbios na rizosfera de soja, combinados com cepas de Bradyrhizobium sp. pode aumentar a produtividade de massa seca das culturas durante o seu ciclo de crescimento.
Background and aims
Plant-plant interactions, other than competition for light, may be responsible for arrested succession in secondary forests dominated by species of the genus
Vismia
. We aimed to ...investigate seedlings’ responses to the cumulative effect of root competition and the presence of understory vegetation in
Vismia
stands.
Methods
We conducted a trenching and understory vegetation removal experiment in
Vismia
-dominated secondary forests of different ages. We planted three species with contrasting functional traits. For each seedling, we measured biotic damage, functional traits, and final mass. In each experimental block, we measured canopy openness, vegetation cover, and clay content of the soil.
Results
The effect of root and understory competition was not related to secondary forest age. However, the net effect had a quadratic relationship with site suitability for all species. Specifically, facilitation occurred only at low levels of suitability, when biotic damage was intense; competition, however, was stronger at intermediate levels of suitability.
Conclusions
The net effect of plant-plant interactions in
Vismia
-dominated forests depends on the site suitability for each species. We conclude that seedlings are negatively affected mainly by other types of plant-plant interactions, but facilitation can occur when biotic damage is high.
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