Studies in a Fixed-Bed Photocatalytic Reactor System Using Natural Materials for Degradation of a Dye Contaminant in Water

A fixed-bed photocatalytic reactor equipped with a cylindrical parabolic light concentrator was studied to remove organic dyes from water using natural volcanic ashes particles and nanostructured titania supported on volcanic ashes as photocatalytic materials. The influences of flow rate, photocatalyst and photocatalytic material adsorption capacity were studied. A fixed-bed photocatalytic reactor was designed and built in the laboratory; a methylene blue aqueous solution, used as model compound for dye contaminated water, was fed into the reactor. Methylene blue destruction efficiencies were monitored spectrophotometrically. Combined effects of dye adsorption and photodecomposition on photocatalyst were studied and compared by infrared spectroscopy.     

Different approaches for modeling grouped survival data: A mango tree study

Interval-censored survival data, in which the event of interest is not observed exactly but is only known to occur within some time interval, occur very frequently. In some situations, event times might be censored into different, possibly overlapping intervals of variable widths; however, in other situations, information is available for all units at the same observed visit time. In the latter cases, interval-censored data are termed grouped survival data. Here we present alternative approaches for analyzing intervalcensored data. We illustrate these techniques using a survival data set involving mango tree lifetimes. This study is an example of grouped survival data.     

2n Gamete formation in the genus Brachiaria (Poaceae: Paniceae)

Microsporogenesis of several Brachiaria species of the Brazilian collection at Embrapa Beef Cattle has been analyzed in detail. This paper reports abnormal cytokinesis in three accessions of three different species (Brachiaria humidicola, 2n = 4x = 36, Brachiaria decumbens, 2n = 4x = 36, and Brachiaria dura, 2n = 6x = 54). Chromosomes paired in bi-, tri-, and quadrivalents in these accessions, whereas chromosome segregation at meiosis I was characterized by exclusion of laggards as micronuclei. In a high number of meiocytes, the first sign of cytokinesis appeared only in metaphase II and did not divide the meiocyte into a dyad. Total absence of cytokinesis was also detected among meiocytes in the second division. Since in both cases the two metaphase plates were very close, they favored the rejoining of chromosome sets after anaphase II and formed a restitutional nucleus in telophase II. Second cytokinesis occurred after telophase II in most meiocytes. Monads, dyads, and triads with n or 2n nuclei were observed among meiotic products. The 2n gametes observed correspond to the first division restitution (FDR). The number of affected cells in each accession was variable, but the number of microspores with restitutional nucleus, including those scored in tetrads and the released ones, did not exceed 9%. Although polyploidy is common in the genus Brachiaria, its origin is still unclear. Current results suggest that 2n gametes may have contributed to the evolutionary history of the genus.     

Transgenic fertile soybean plants derived from somatic embryos transformed via the combined DNA-free particle bombardment and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Agrobacterium</Emphasis> system

An Agrobacterium-mediated transformation procedure for soybean [Glycine max L. Merrill] proliferating somatic embryos is here described. The Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404 strain harboring pTOK233, pCAMBIA1390-olp or pH7WG2Dwrky plasmids was used to mediate gene transfer into the plant genome. Prior to Agrobacterium inoculation, proliferative soybean embryogenic clusters were microwounded by DNA-free tungsten particle bombardment. Three independent transformation experiments were performed. In Experiment I, 26 transgenic plants were obtained from a unique clone of cv Bragg, while 580 plants were recovered from 105 clones of cv IAS5. In Experiment II, a single hygromycin-resistant clone of cv BRSMG68 Vencedora was recovered and gave rise to five plants. In Experiment III, 19 plants of cv Bragg and 48 plants of IAS5 were recovered, representing five and 14 independent transformation events, respectively. PCR and Southern analyses confirmed the transgenes’ integration into plant genomes. Transgenic plants were fertile. They flowered, set pods and seeds. Transgene segregation in two T₁ progenies fits the Mendelian pattern (3:1 transgenic:non-transgenic plants). This is the first report of transgenic fertile soybean plants obtained from somatic embryogenic tissues transformed by the system that combines DNA-free particle bombardment and Agrobacterium.     

Analysis of meiotic behavior in selecting potential genitors among diploid and artificially induced tetraploid accessions of Brachiaria ruziziensis (Poaceae)

Sexuality is correlated with diploidy and apomixis with polyploidy in the Brachiaria genus. Brachiaria ruziziensis is a key species in Brachiaria breeding due to its obligate sexuality and intrinsic agronomic qualities. Interspecific crosses in the genus became feasible only when a few diploid accessions of B. ruziziensis were artificially tetraploidized and remained sexual. Hybridization has been done since, using natural tetraploid apomictic accessions of B. brizantha or B. decumbens as pollen donors. Twenty two accessions of B. ruziziensis from the Embrapa Beef Cattle germplasm collection (Campo Grande, MS, Brazil) were cytologically analyzed: 16 are natural diploids (2n = 2x = 18) and six are artificially induced tetraploids (2n = 4x = 36). The meiotic behavior in the 16 diploid accessions varied. The mean of meiotic abnormalities per accession ranged from zero to 24.46%. Meiotic behavior in the induced tetraploid accessions also varied with the mean of meiotic abnormalities ranging from 5.20% to 54.71%. The most common abnormalities observed in both the diploid and the tetraploid accessions, were those related to irregular chromosome segregation. In one tetraploid accession, with a high frequency of those, other irregularities involving chromosome orientation at metaphase plate and chromosome convergence to the poles, a meiotic mutation known as divergent spindle, were recorded. Meiotic behavior should be considered in selecting potential genitors for breeding.     

Perturbation of the EphA2-EphrinA1 System in Human Prostate Cancer Cells by Colonic (Poly)phenol Catabolites

The Eph tyrosine kinase receptors and their ephrin ligands play a central role in human cancer as their deregulated expression induces tumorigenesis with aggressive phenotypes. To evaluate their potential contribution to EphA2-ephrinA1 modulation, several colonic catabolites of dietary (poly)phenolics, known to be generated in vivo, were screened using an ELISA-based binding assay. Some of the catabolites inhibited the binding in a dose-dependent manner (IC(50) values from 0.26 to 43 μM). Functional studies on prostate adenocarcinoma cells revealed that pyrogallol and protocatechuic acid specifically antagonized ephrinA1-Fc-induced EphA2 phosphorylation at concentrations that were not cytotoxic. The active concentrations of pyrogallol appear to be close to what can be reached in vivo under physiological conditions. Finally, because of the roles played by the Eph-ephrin system not only in cancer development but also in neurodegeneration and diabetes, pyrogallol and protocatechuic acid are candidates for more detailed functional studies to elucidate their role in these pathophysiological processes.     

Adapting the IUCN Red List criteria for invertebrates

The IUCN Red List is the most useful list of species that are at risk for extinction worldwide, as it relies on a number of objective criteria. Nevertheless, there is a taxonomic bias that excludes species with small body sizes, narrow distribution ranges and low dispersal abilities, which constitute the vast majority of the planet’s biota, particularly local endemics.By evaluating each IUCN criterion separately, we (i) identify the shortcomings for invertebrate applications, (ii) explain how risk categories may be wrongly applied due to inapplicable and/or misleading thresholds, (iii) suggest alternative ways of applying the existing criteria in a more realistic way and (iv) suggest possible new criteria that were not considered in the current evaluation framework but that could allow a more comprehensive and effective assessment of invertebrates.By adapting the criteria to rely more explicitly on the Area of Occupancy and the Extent of Occurrence, their respective trends and by using ecological modelling methods, the criteria’s applicability would be increased. The change in some thresholds or, eventually, the creation of sub-categories would further increase their adequacy. Additionally, co-extinction could be introduced as an explicit part of the classification process.As a case study, we evaluated 48 species of Azorean arthropods and Iberian spiders according to the current criteria. More than one-quarter (27%) of all evaluated species were classified as Critically Endangered, 19% as Endangered, 6% as Vulnerable and 8% as Least Concern. The remaining 40% did not have enough data to reach a classification.     

Impact of fertilization on cover crops and microbial community on a bauxite‐mined soil undergoing reclamation

The reclamation of bauxite‐mined areas can be favored by the application of organic and/or chemical fertilization to restore the vegetation. Otherwise, the impact of fertilizations on soil microbiota or plant–microbe interactions as land reclamation progresses is less understood. To address this issue, we evaluated the impact of organic and chemical fertilization on plants and soil microbial community within the first 36 months of land reclamation in a bauxite‐mined site. The experiment was set up according to a split‐plot design in which the main plots received fertilizations [non‐fertilized control (NF), chemical fertilization (CF; NPK and rock phosphate), organic fertilization (OF; poultry litter), and CF+OF combined], and the subplots received cover crops [no cover crops (NC), grass (B; Brachiaria), legume (S, Stylosanthes), and B+S combined]. Cover crops biomass yield was assessed annually with five field campaigns per year. We used phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) to infer the impacts of mining and restoration practices on actinobacteria, Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and fungi. Accordingly, PLFAs were determined before bauxite mining (pre‐mining), six months after topsoil reconfiguration (post‐mining), and after 14 and 36 months following the application of the fertilizations and cover crops. PLFAs results indicated that in post‐mining, the living microbiota was significantly lower than in pre‐mining. Cover crops biomass yield was highest for B and B+S fertilized with CF+OF at 14 and 36 months. Both parametric and non‐parametric statistics showed a temporal variation in the response of living microbes to the treatments applied. After 14 months, living microbes showed greatest response to OF, while at 36 months their response was strongest in the treatments with highest plant biomass production (B and B+S). These results suggest that in the early stages of land reclamation, living microbial biomass benefit the most from organic fertilizers. As this initial boost decline, living microbes are more likely to thrive in areas undergoing reclamation where they can develop synergistic interactions with plants.     

Soil microbiological attributes under summer/winter crops rotation in a no-tillage system

Knowledge of the effect of a multiple combination of summer/winter crop rotation on the microbiological properties of soil would allow a more adequate response to its use. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the rotation of three summer crops (continuous soybean, continuous maize and soybean/maize rotation) in combination with seven winter crops (maize, sunflower, oilseed radish, millet, pigeon pea, sorghum and sunn hemp) on the microbiological properties of the soil. A soybean/maize (SM) rotation had a greater influence on microbial biomass than continuous maize (MM) and continuous soybean (SS). Urease and phosphatase activities were not affected by the crop rotation. Dehydrogenase activity was higher in continuous crops (MM and SS) than in SM, whereas respiratory activity was higher in SM than in continuous crops. For the SM rotation, the main variables selected by principal components analysis were microbial biomass C, N and P, respiratory and phosphatase activities, and microbial quotient. Pigeon pea, sorghum and sunn hemp had a greater effect on soil properties than the other winter crops. In general, the degree of influence of the summer and winter crops on the microbiological soil properties can be ranked as follows: SM > MM > SS, and millet > sorghum > sunn hemp > radish > pigeon pea > maize, respectively.