ABSTRACT Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important agricultural crop in Brazil, considered one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated. The use of fertilizer-solubilizing bacteria can mitigate ...salt stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the gas exchange, growth, and water use efficiency of the peanut crop irrigated with brackish water under phosphate fertilization and inoculated with bacteria of the genus Bacillus sp. The experimental design used in this study was completely randomized, in a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with 5 replicates, referring to the forms of fertilization (F1 - 0% phosphorus, F2 - 50% phosphorus, F3 - 100% phosphorus, and F4 - bovine biofertilizer), presence and absence of the inoculant and two levels of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water (ECw - 0.3 and 4.0 dS m-1). Fertilization with organic fertilizer (100% biofertilizer) and mineral fertilizer (50 and 100% phosphorus) associated with Bacillus sp. mitigated the damage caused by salt stress and promoted greater water use efficiency, chlorophyll index, internal CO2 concentration and stem diameter. The control treatment (without phosphate fertilization and without salt stress) and the application of Bacillus sp. promoted greater performance in net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and plant height in peanut plants.
RESUMO O amendoim (Arachis hypogaea) é uma importante cultura agrícola no Brasil, considerada uma das mais importantes oleaginosas cultivadas. O uso de bactérias solubilizadoras de fertilizantes pode mitigar o estresse salino. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as trocas gasosas, o crescimento e a eficiência do uso da água da cultura do amendoim irrigado com água salobra sob adubação fosfatada e inoculada com bactérias do gênero Bacillus sp. O delineamento experimental utilizado neste estudo foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 × 2 × 2, com 5 repetições, referente às formas de adubação (F1 - 0% fósforo, F2 - 50% fósforo, F3 - 100% fósforo e F4 - bovino biofertilizante), presença e ausência do inoculante e dois níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (CEa - 0.3 e 4.0 dS m-1). As adubações com fertilizante orgânico (100% de biofertilizante) e mineral (50 e 100% de fósforo) associada a Bacillus sp. mitigou os danos causados pelo estresse salino e proporcionou maior eficiência no uso da água, índice de clorofila, concentração interna de CO2 e diâmetro do caule. O tratamento controle (sem adubação fosfatada e sem estresse salino) e a aplicação de Bacillus sp., promoveu maior desempenho na fotossíntese líquida, taxa de transpiração, condutância estomática e altura das plantas em plantas de amendoim.
Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) incurs vaso-occlusive episodes and organ damage, including nephropathy. Despite displaying characteristics of vascular dysfunction, SCD patients tend to present ...relatively lower systemic blood pressure (BP), via an unknown mechanism. We investigated associations between BP and renin-angiotensin-system (RAS) components in SCD and determined whether an inhibitor of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE; often used to slow SCD glomerulopathy) further modulates BP and RAS components in a murine model of SCD. Methods BP was compared in human subjects and mice with/without SCD. Plasma angiotensin II, ACE and renin were measured by immunoassay. BP was reevaluated after treating mice with enalapril (25 mg/kg, 5x/week) for 5 weeks; plasma and organs were stored for angiotensin II and ACE activity measurement, and quantitative real-time PCR. Results Diastolic BP and systolic BP were significantly lower in patients and mice with SCD, respectively, compared to controls. Reduced BP was associated with increased plasma renin and markers of kidney damage (mice) in SCD, as well as significantly decreased plasma ACE concentrations and ACE enzyme activity. As expected, enalapril administration lowered BP, plasma angiotensin II and organ ACE activity in control mice. In contrast, enalapril did not further reduce BP or organ ACE activity in SCD mice; however, plasma angiotensin II and renin levels were found to be significantly higher in enalapril-treated SCD mice than those of treated control mice. Conclusion Relative hypotension was confirmed in a murine model of SCD, in association with decreased ACE concentrations in both human and murine disease. Given that ACE inhibition has an accepted role in decreasing BP, further studies should investigate mechanisms by which ACE depletion, via both Ang II-dependent and alternative pathways, could contribute to reduce BP in SCD and understand how ACE inhibition confers Ang II-independent benefits on kidney function in SCD.
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) is an important agricultural crop in Brazil, considered one of the most important oilseed crops cultivated. The use of fertmzer-solubilizing bacteria can mitigate salt ...stress. The objective of this study was to evaluate the gas exchange, growth, and water use efficiency of the peanut crop irrigated with brackish water under phosphate fertilization and inoculated with bacteria of the genus Bacillus sp. The experimental design used in this study was completely randomized, in a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial scheme, with 5 replicates, referring to the forms of fertilization (F1 - 0% phosphorus, F2 - 50% phosphorus, F3 - 100% phosphorus, and F4 - bovine biofertilizer), presence and absence of the inoculant and two levels of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water (ECw - 0.3 and 4.0 dS m.sup.-1). Fertilization with organic fertilizer (100% biofertilizer) and mineral fertilizer (50 and 100% phosphorus) associated with Bacillus sp. mitigated the damage caused by salt stress and promoted greater water use efficiency, chlorophyll index, internal CO.sub.2 concentration and stem diameter. The control treatment (without phosphate fertilization and without salt stress) and the application of Bacillus sp. promoted greater performance in net photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, and plant height in peanut plants. Key words: Arachis hypogaea L., plant nutrition, microorganisms O amendoim (Arachis hypogaea) é uma importante cultura agrícola no Brasil, considerada uma das mais importantes oleaginosas cultivadas. O uso de bactérias solubilizadoras de fertilizantes pode mitigar o estresse salino. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as trocas gasosas, o crescimento e a eficiência do uso da água da cultura do amendoim irrigado com água salobra sob adubação fosfatada e inoculada com bactérias do género Bacillus sp. O delineamento experimental utilizado neste estudo foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2 x 2, com 5 repetições, referente às formas de adubação (F1 - 0% fósforo, F2 - 50% fósforo, F3 - 100% fósforo e F4 - bovino biofertilizante), presença e ausência do inoculante e dois níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (CEa - 0.3 e 4.0 dS m.sup.-1). As adubações com fertilizante orgânico (100% de biofertilizante) e mineral (50 e 100% de fósforo) associada a Bacillus sp. mitigou os danos causadospelo estresse salino e proporcionou maior eficiência no uso da água, índice de clorofila, concentração interna de CO e diâmetro do caule. O tratamento controle (sem adubação fosfatada e sem estresse salino) e a aplicação de Bacillus sp., promoveu maior desempenho na fotossíntese líquida, taxa de transpiração, condutância estomática e altura das plantas em plantas de amendoim. Palavras-chave: Arachis hypogaea L., nutrição de plantas, micro-organismos
Computational biology has gained traction as an independent scientific discipline over the last years in South America. However, there is still a growing need for bioscientists, from different ...backgrounds, with different levels, to acquire programming skills, which could reduce the time from data to insights and bridge communication between life scientists and computer scientists. Python is a programming language extensively used in bioinformatics and data science, which is particularly suitable for beginners. Here, we describe the conception, organization, and implementation of the Brazilian Python Workshop for Biological Data. This workshop has been organized by graduate and undergraduate students and supported, mostly in administrative matters, by experienced faculty members since 2017. The workshop was conceived for teaching bioscientists, mainly students in Brazil, on how to program in a biological context. The goal of this article was to share our experience with the 2020 edition of the workshop in its virtual format due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to compare and contrast this year’s experience with the previous in-person editions. We described a hands-on and live coding workshop model for teaching introductory Python programming. We also highlighted the adaptations made from in-person to online format in 2020, the participants’ assessment of learning progression, and general workshop management. Lastly, we provided a summary and reflections from our personal experiences from the workshops of the last 4 years. Our takeaways included the benefits of the learning from learners’ feedback (LLF) that allowed us to improve the workshop in real time, in the short, and likely in the long term. We concluded that the Brazilian Python Workshop for Biological Data is a highly effective workshop model for teaching a programming language that allows bioscientists to go beyond an initial exploration of programming skills for data analysis in the medium to long term.
Computational biology has gained traction as an independent scientific discipline over the last years in South America. However, there is still a growing need for bioscientists, from different ...backgrounds, with different levels, to acquire programming skills, which could reduce the time from data to insights and bridge communication between life scientists and computer scientists. Python is a programming language extensively used in bioinformatics and data science, which is particularly suitable for beginners. Here, we describe the conception, organization, and implementation of the Brazilian Python Workshop for Biological Data. This workshop has been organized by graduate and undergraduate students and supported, mostly in administrative matters, by experienced faculty members since 2017. The workshop was conceived for teaching bioscientists, mainly students in Brazil, on how to program in a biological context. The goal of this article was to share our experience with the 2020 edition of the workshop in its virtual format due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to compare and contrast this year's experience with the previous in-person editions. We described a hands-on and live coding workshop model for teaching introductory Python programming. We also highlighted the adaptations made from in-person to online format in 2020, the participants' assessment of learning progression, and general workshop management. Lastly, we provided a summary and reflections from our personal experiences from the workshops of the last 4 years. Our takeaways included the benefits of the learning from learners' feedback (LLF) that allowed us to improve the workshop in real time, in the short, and likely in the long term. We concluded that the Brazilian Python Workshop for Biological Data is a highly effective workshop model for teaching a programming language that allows bioscientists to go beyond an initial exploration of programming skills for data analysis in the medium to long term.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) pathogenesis leads to recurrent vaso-occlusive and hemolytic processes, causing numerous clinical complications including renal damage. As vasoconstrictive mechanisms may be ...enhanced in SCD, due to endothelial dysfunction and vasoactive protein production, we aimed to determine whether the expression of proteins of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) may be altered in an animal model of SCD.
Plasma angiotensin II (Ang II) was measured in C57BL/6 (WT) mice and mice with SCD by ELISA, while quantitative PCR was used to compare the expressions of the genes encoding the angiotensin-II-receptors 1 and 2 (AT1R and AT2R) and the angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE1 and ACE2) in the kidneys, hearts, livers and brains of mice. The effects of hydroxyurea (HU; 50–75mg/kg/day, 4weeks) treatment on these parameters were also determined.
Plasma Ang II was significantly diminished in SCD mice, compared with WT mice, in association with decreased AT1R and ACE1 expressions in SCD mice kidneys. Treatment of SCD mice with HU reduced leukocyte and platelet counts and increased plasma Ang II to levels similar to those of WT mice. HU also increased AT1R and ACE2 gene expression in the kidney and heart.
Results indicate an imbalanced RAS in an SCD mouse model; HU therapy may be able to restore some RAS parameters in these mice. Further investigations regarding Ang II production and the RAS in human SCD may be warranted, as such changes may reflect or contribute to renal damage and alterations in blood pressure.
A new helicosporous fungus, Helicosporium vesiculiferum, is described based on morphological characters. It was found on a decaying twig of an unidentified dicotyledonous plant from the semi-arid ...region, Northeast of Brazil. The new species is illustrated with light micrographs
and scanning electron microscopy. Helicosporium vesiculiferum is characterized by the presence of vesicles on apex of the conidiophores. Seven helicosporous species are briefly described, of which H. virescens and H. aureum are new records from Brazil, H. panacheum
and H. gracile are reported for the first time in South America, and H. nizamabadense is new for the American continent. A key to all Helicosporium species is included.
This paper introduces a new high gain DC-DC boost converter that integrates an interleaved cell and voltage multiplier cells. The proposed converter provides a solution for interfacing low voltage ...photovoltaic and fuel cell systems, allowing a high voltage gain at the output and a high level current at the input. The capacitors voltage rates are naturally balanced and a control strategy is proposed for magnetics current balancing. The converter can also operate as a split power supply under unbalanced load conditions. This paper provides detailed description and design considerations supported by simulation results.
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