A comprehensive new inventory of Brazilian plants and fungi was published just in time to meet a 2010 Convention on Biological Diversity target and offers important insights into this biodiversity's ...global significance. Brazil is the home to the world's richest flora (40,989 species; 18,932 endemic) and includes two of the hottest hotspots: Mata Atlântica (19,355 species) and Cerrado (12,669 species). Although the total number of known species is one-third lower than previous estimates, the absolute number of endemic vascular plant species is higher than was previously estimated, and the proportion of endemism (56%) is the highest in the Neotropics. This compilation serves not merely to quantify the scale of the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique flora but also serves as a key resource to direct action and monitor progress. Similar efforts by other megadiverse countries are urgently required if the 2020 targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation are to be attained.
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•ScCO2 extraction of oil from grape seeds from a Portuguese industry was carried.•Higher PUFA and lower saturated fatty acids content in scCO2 oils than in n-hexane extracts.•The oil ...is represented by a single TAG and as a mixture of three TAGs.•Experimental extraction curves are satisfactorily simulated applying gPROMS ModelBuilder for the solution of the kinetic model.
Supercritical extraction of oil from grape seed samples obtained from a Portuguese industry was carried out at temperatures from (313–333) K, pressures up to 40.0 MPa and different scCO2 flow rates.
The qualitative analysis of the crude oil was carried out by NMR. The fatty acids were analyzed by GC-Fid with reference to the parameters in Annex I to European Commission Regulation.
The results show similar content of TAGs and DAGs both in the n-hexane and scCO2 extraction methods, but the latter have higher PUFA and lower saturated fatty acids content.
A dynamic model was used to simulate the extraction curves in gPROMS ModelBuilder. The grape seed oil was represented as either a one or a three component mixture of triacylglycerols, and the deviation between the experimental and calculated extraction yields was in the range (2–9) % for the first, and (4–11) % for the second case.
Supplementation of dairy calves with essential oils in the liquid diet can reduce the incidence and severity of infectious diseases and promote better performance. Our objective was to evaluate an ...essential oil blend containing peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol crystals and its effect on performance and health during the pre and postweaning period of dairy calves. At birth, 40 dairy calves (34 males and 6 females) were blocked according to sex and birth weight, randomly assigned to one of two treatments–commercial milk replacer diluted at 14% (MR) and the same liquid diet plus essential oil blend (MREO) at a dose of 4 mL per calf per day, divided into two meals during the first 28 days of life. Calves were individually housed and fed 6 L/d of the liquid diet, divided into two meals, and received starter concentrate and water ad libitum. Weaning was gradually reduced by 1L per day at d 51 until complete weaning at 56 days. After weaning, calves were evaluated until 70 days of age, when the experimental period ended. Intake, fecal, and health scores were evaluated daily, weight and body measures were recorded weekly, and blood parameters were evaluated at weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8. Calves fed MREO tended to have higher total dry matter intake during the preweaning period. Furthermore, MREO calves had lower health scores and fewer days with a health score ≥ 4 (suggestive of bronchopneumonia), tended to lower coughing days and fewer veterinary interventions preweaning, and tended to lower health scores postweaning. The supplementation with a blend of essential oils containing peppermint, eucalyptus, and menthol crystals can reduce respiratory problems. Further studies are needed to investigate the dose and the supplementation period.
Abstract
A new grid of detailed atmosphere model spectra for hot and moderately cool subdwarf stars is presented. High-resolution spectra and synthetic photometry are calculated in the range from ...1000–10,000 Å using non-LTE fully line-blanketed atmosphere structures. Our grid covers eight temperatures within 10,000 ≤
T
eff
K ≤ 65,000, three surface gravities in the range 4.5 ≤ log
g
cgs ≤ 6.5, two helium abundances matching two extreme helium-rich and helium-poor scenarios, and two limiting metallicity boundaries regarding both solar (Fe/H = 0) and Galactic halos (Fe/H = −1.5 and
α
/Fe = +0.4). Besides its application in the determination of fundamental parameters of subdwarfs in isolation and in binaries, the resulting database is also of interest for population synthesis procedures in a wide variety of stellar systems.
Amphotericin B (AmpB) is active against leishmaniasis, but its use is hampered due to its high toxicity observed in patients. In this study, a nanoparticles-delivery system for AmpB (NQC-AmpB), ...containing chitosan and chondroitin sulfate molecules, was evaluated in BALB/c mice against Leishmania amazonensis. An in vivo biodistribution study, including biochemical and toxicological evaluations, was performed to evaluate the toxicity of AmpB. Nanoparticles were radiolabeled with technetium-99m and injected in mice. The products presented a similar biodistribution in the liver, spleen, and kidneys of the animals. Free AmpB induced alterations in the body weight of the mice, which, in the biochemical analysis, indicated hepatic and renal injury, as well as morphological damage to the kidneys of the animals. In general, no significant organic alteration was observed in the animals treated with NQC-AmpB. Mice were infected with L. amazonensis and treated with the nanoparticles or free AmpB; then, parasitological and immunological analyses were performed. The NQC-AmpB group, as compared to the control groups, presented significant reductions in the lesion size and in the parasite burden in all evaluated organs. These animals presented significantly higher levels of IFN-γ and IL-12, and low levels of IL-4 and IL-10, when compared to the control groups. The NQC-AmpB system was effective in reducing the infection in the animals, and proved to be effective in diminishing the toxicity evoked by AmpB, which was observed when it was administered alone. In conclusion, NQC-AmpB could be considered a viable possibility for future studies in the treatment of leishmaniasis.
The common bean, an important source of protein and minerals for humans, complements cereals both nutritionally and as a rotation crop, supplying nitrogen and reducing soil pathogens. The aim of this ...study was to develop an operational SNP-based panel for common bean in order to facilitate SSR employment in genetic diversity and population structure analyses, and its use in breeding programs. A set of 88 diverse and important common bean cultivars/lines (53), landraces (33) and wild accessions (2) were genotyped. Overall, the 58 SSRs performed better at evaluating genetic diversity (Ā = 7.38; He = 58.7 %; PI = 1.20E−45) than the 345 SNPs, of which the SSRs dinucleotides (SSR-di) were more informative (Ā = 9.92; He = 72.5 %; PI = 3.40E−26) and a selected set of 13 SSRs (Ā = 15.31/locus; He = 84.5 %; PI = 1.03E−19) allowed for the discrimination of all individuals. For the 345 high-quality scored SNPs a low combined PI (4.70E−119) and high PE (100 %) was obtained for the assessment of parentage and identity. The SNPs were very useful for linkage mapping in inter- (78.2 %) and intra-gene pool (17.7 %) crosses. Both markers afforded high resolution detection of inter-gene pool structure, with greater differentiation based on SNPs (K = 2, F ST = 0.759). The SSRs-di differentiated cultivars/lines and landraces (K = 3) of Mesoamerican origin. A set of 16 SSRs was selected to establish a routine and operational analysis of Genbank accessions allowing an efficient origin-based discrimination of common bean accessions. Operational genotyping panels based on SSRs and SNPs were derived, contributing to the growing integration of genomics with molecular breeding programs of the common bean.
The study reported here aimed to develop an optimized nanoparticle delivery system for amphotericin B (AmpB) using a polyelectrolyte complexation technique. For this, two oppositely charged polymers ...presenting anti-leishmanial activity - chitosan (Cs) and chondroitin sulfate (ChS) - were used: Cs as a positively charged polymer and ChS as a negatively charged polymer. The chitosan (NQ) nanoparticles, chitosan-chondroitin sulfate (NQC) nanoparticles, and chitosan-chondroitin sulfate-amphotericin B (NQC-AmpB) nanoparticles presented a mean particle size of 79, 104, and 136 nm, respectively; and a polydispersity index of 0.2. The measured zeta potential of the nanoparticles indicated a positive charge in their surface, while scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed spherical nanoparticles with a smooth surface. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed an electrostatic interaction between the polymers, whereas the release profile of AmpB from the NQC-AmpB nanoparticles showed a controlled release. In addition, the Cs; ChS; and NQ, NQC, and NQC-AmpB nanoparticles proved to be effective against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania chagasi, with a synergistic effect observed between Cs and ChS. Moreover, the applied NQ, NQC, and NQC-AmpB compounds demonstrated low toxicity in murine macrophages, as well as null hemolytic activity in type O(+) human red blood cells. Pure AmpB demonstrated high toxicity in the macrophages. The results show that cells infected with L. amazonensis and later treated with Cs, ChS, NQ, NQC, NQC-AmpB nanoparticles, or pure AmpB presented with a significant reduction in parasite number in the order of 24%, 31%, 55%, 66%, 90%, and 89%, respectively. The data presented indicate that the engineered NQC-AmpB nanoparticles could potentially be used as an alternative therapy to treat leishmaniasis, mainly due its low toxicity to mammals' cells.
The present study aimed to evaluate a hypothetical Leishmania amastigote-specific protein (LiHyp1), previously identified by an immunoproteomic approach performed in Leishmania infantum, which showed ...homology to the super-oxygenase gene family, attempting to select a new candidate antigen for specific serodiagnosis, as well as to compose a vaccine against VL.
The LiHyp1 DNA sequence was cloned; the recombinant protein (rLiHyp1) was purified and evaluated for its antigenicity and immunogenicity. The rLiHyp1 protein was recognized by antibodies from sera of asymptomatic and symptomatic animals with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), but presented no cross-reactivity with sera of dogs vaccinated with Leish-Tec, a Brazilian commercial vaccine; with Chagas' disease or healthy animals. In addition, the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of rLiHyp1 plus saponin was evaluated in BALB/c mice challenged subcutaneously with virulent L. infantum promastigotes. rLiHyp1 plus saponin vaccinated mice showed a high and specific production of IFN-γ, IL-12, and GM-CSF after in vitro stimulation with the recombinant protein. Immunized and infected mice, as compared to the control groups (saline and saponin), showed significant reductions in the number of parasites found in the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and in the paws' draining lymph nodes. Protection was associated with an IL-12-dependent production of IFN-γ, produced mainly by CD4 T cells. In these mice, a decrease in the parasite-mediated IL-4 and IL-10 response could also be observed.
The present study showed that this Leishmania oxygenase amastigote-specific protein can be used for a more sensitive and specific serodiagnosis of asymptomatic and symptomatic CVL and, when combined with a Th1-type adjuvant, can also be employ as a candidate antigen to develop vaccines against VL.
Zinc enrichment of edible food products, through the soil and/or foliar application of fertilizers, is a strategy that can increase the contents of some nutrients, namely Zn. In this context, a ...workflow for agronomic enrichment with zinc was carried out on irrigated Vitis vinifera cv. Syrah, aiming to evaluate the mobilization of photoassimilates to the winegrapes and the consequences of this for winemaking. During three productive cycles, foliar applications were performed with ZnSO4 or ZnO, at concentrations ranging between 150 and 1350 g.ha−1. The normal vegetation index as well as some photosynthetic parameters indicated that the threshold of Zn toxicity was not reached; it is even worth noting that with ZnSO4, a significant increase in several cases was observed in net photosynthesis (Pn). At harvest, Zn biofortification reached a 1.2 to 2.3-fold increase with ZnSO4 and ZnO, respectively (being significant relative to the control, in two consecutive years, with ZnO at a concentration of 1350 g.ha−1). Total soluble sugars revealed higher values with grapes submitted to ZnSO4 and ZnO foliar applications, which can be advantageous for winemaking. It was concluded that foliar spraying was efficient with ZnO and ZnSO4, showing potential benefits for wine quality without evidencing negative impacts.
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