Effect of coupling media on velocity and attenuation of ultrasonic waves in Brazilian wood

Coupling media are necessary to ensure that transducers bond to wood specimens to minimize coupling losses and improve the accuracy of ultrasonic measurements. There are several types of coupling media available, and the optimal choice is not known. In this work, we analyzed the results of ultrasonic wave attenuation for 0.1-MHz longitudinal and transverse transducers with six different materials as coupling media in nine species of Brazilian wood with densities in the range 700–1170 kg/m³. Tests were performed using constant pressure on the transducer and with wave propagation in the longitudinal direction. For transverse transducers, the polarization was in the radial and tangential directions. The results were analyzed statistically and showed that, for attenuation in both longitudinal and transverse waves, the material used for coupling had significant effects, whereas the wood species had no effect. For longitudinal waves, the statistical evaluation showed that the coupling material performance was strongly dependent on the species of wood, but it was not possible to observe any tendency of behavior associated with specific anatomical properties.     

Changes in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. Var. italica) health-promoting compounds with inflorescence development

Changes in phenolic compounds, total glucosinolates, and vitamin C were monitored during the productive period along five inflorescence development stages of three broccoli commercial cultivars (Marathon, Monterrey, and Vencedor). In an attempt to identify differences due to agronomic factors, broccoli cultivars were grown under different sulfur fertilization with poor (15 kg/ha) and rich (150 kg/ha) rates. Phenolic compounds and vitamin C concentrations showed, in all broccoli cultivars, a rising trend from the first stage until the over-maturity stage, both for rich and poor sulfur fertilization. Significant differences were detected in the first two stages between rich and poor sulfur fertilization in total glucosinolates for all broccoli cultivars, where the highest concentration was always observed in the second development stage (used as minimally processed product) during poor fertilization. With regard to the last three stages, the glucosinolate concentration in the poor sulfur fertilization started to slope down until the over-maturity stage. Where rich sulfur fertilization is concerned, the highest level was reached during the third stage (used as minimally processed product also), and after that, glucosinolate concentration decreased until the fifth stage.     

Influence of vine training and sunlight exposure on the 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines content in musts and wines from the Vitis vinifera variety cabernet sauvignon

The influence of vine training and sunlight exposure on the 3-alkyl-2-methoxypyrazines contents in musts and wines was studied by means of two previously reported methods based on headspace solid-phase micro-extraction. Experimental samples were monitored throughout grape ripening and wine making. 3-Isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine, 3-sec-butyl-2-methoxypyrazine and 3-isopropyl-2-methoxypyrazine were identified. The 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine content decreased throughout grape ripening in all of the sample types studied. After 1 day of maceration with the skins, there was an increase, but after racking, no further increase was observed. No significant differences between samples were found during grape ripening. Wines from goblet-trained vines, however, contained significantly less 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine. Clusters protected from sunlight since the beginning of the veraison resulted in wines with a significantly lower content of this compound than the control samples.     

Determination of antioxidant power of red and white wines by a new electrochemical method and its correlation with polyphenolic content

A new method for measuring the antioxidant power of wine has been developed based on the accelerated electrochemical oxidation of 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). The calibration (R = 0.9922) and repeatability study (RSD = 7%) have provided good statistical parameters. The method is easy and quick to apply and gives reliable results, requiring only the monitoring of time and absorbance. It has been applied to various red and white wines of different origins. The results have been compared with those obtained by the total antioxidant status (TAS) method. Both methods reveal that the more antioxidant wines are those with higher polyphenolic content. From the HPLC study of the polyphenolic content of the same samples, it is confirmed that there is a positive correlation between the resveratrol content of a wine and its antioxidant power.     

Comparison between phenetic characterisation using RAPD and ISSR markers and phenotypic data of cultivated chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.)

Patterns of phenotypic and phenetic variability in sixPortuguese cultivars of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) are evaluated. Morphological characterisationwas based on the quantification of seventeen traits. Varianceanalysis showed significant differences among cultivars, and cultivar× year for all the traits studied, and trees within cultivarsshowed also some significant differences for some of themorphological variables. A significant correlation was obtainedbetween length of the leaf blade and the percentage of unisexual andandrogynic inflorescence with the effective thermal index,accumulated rainfall from April to October and from July to October,or the accumulated temperature below seven during the dormant period.Principal Component and cluster analysis were performed to group thecultivars, according to their similarity coefficients. For molecularcharacterisation, 125 RAPD and 157 ISSR polymorphic markers wereamplified using 28 and 7 primers respectively. High level ofcongruence among the two marker systems (r =90.5%) was obtained from comparison of pheneticsimilarities based on the percentage of shared fragments. ISSRmarkers revealed important advantages over RAPDs, due to a higheffective multiplex ratio (12.5 for ISSR compared with 2.2 forRAPD analysis) and reproducibility. Although morphological andmolecular results are comparable, slight differences are showed incluster analysis UPGMA dendrograms. Molecular analysis explainedhomonym situations among 'Martainha' and'Longal' cultivars in Portugal.     

Mitotic Golgi partitioning is driven by the membrane-fissioning protein CtBP3/BARS

Organelle inheritance is an essential feature of all eukaryotic cells. As with other organelles, the Golgi complex partitions between daughter cells through the fission of its membranes into numerous tubulovesicular fragments. We found that the protein CtBP3/BARS (BARS) was responsible for driving the fission of Golgi membranes during mitosis in vivo. Moreover, by in vitro analysis, we identified two stages of this Golgi fragmentation process: disassembly of the Golgi stacks into a tubular network, and BARS-dependent fission of these tubules. Finally, this BARS-induced fission of Golgi membranes controlled the G2-to-prophase transition of the cell cycle, and hence cell division.     

Bioaccumulation of melamine in catfish muscle following continuous, low-dose, oral administration

In this study, catfish muscle was analyzed for melamine (MEL) and cyanuric acid (CYA) residues following experimental feeding with low doses of MEL and MEL and CYA (MEL+CYA) and with the insoluble melamine-cyanurate complex (MEL=CYA). Catfish were daily fed 0.1 mg/kg BW of MEL for 15, 28, or 42 days, 0.1 mg/kg BW of MEL+CYA for 28 days, 2.5 mg/kg BW of MEL+CYA for 14 days, or 400 mg/kg BW of MEL=CYA for 3 days. Residues in the tissue were determined by LC-MS/MS. MEL was extracted with acidic acetonitrile, followed by defatting with dichloromethane, and isolated with cation exchange solid phase extraction (SPE). For CYA analysis, fish were extracted with dilute acetic acid, defatted with hexane, and cleaned up with a graphitic carbon SPE. Catfish fed 0.1 mg/kg BW of MEL reached a maximum muscle residue concentration of 0.33 ± 0.04 mg/kg (ppm) after 28 days of continuous feeding. The same concentration was found for MEL+CYA feeding at the 0.1 mg/kg BW level for 28 days. Feeding at 2.5 mg/kg BW of MEL+CYA yielded muscle concentrations above the 2.5 mg/kg level of concern for most of the study fish. Finally, catfish fed high levels of the MEL=CYA complex (400 mg/kg BW) accumulated relatively little MEL in the muscle (0.14 ± 0.07 mg/kg) and, unlike treatment with MEL+CYA, did not form renal melamine-cyanurate crystals. Appreciable concentrations of CYA were not detected in any of the muscles tested. These studies provide data to model the bioaccumulation of triazine residues into edible fish tissue as a result of the continuous consumption of adulterated feed.     

The paradox of the conservation of an endangered fish species in a Mediterranean region under agricultural intensification

We studied the relative value of natural habitats, river and coastal wetlands, and artificial habitats, irrigation canal and ponds, for the conservation of an endangered fish, Iberian toothcarp, in its southernmost area of distribution, characterised by agricultural intensification. Our results show that the bulk of the population of the Iberian toothcarp is concentrated in irrigation ponds. Natural habitats sustained null or impoverished subpopulations, and individuals showed signs of low metabolic activity. This coincided with the relatively high habitat quality observed in ponds, particularly those with submerged aquatic vegetation, in contrast with the chronic eutrophication of the coastal lagoons. In spite of a generalised aggressive management in the irrigation system, featured by periodic vegetation clearance, desiccation and biocide treatment, the subpopulation of the Iberian toothcarp thrives in it probably thanks to adequate water quality and to an active path dynamics maintained by connectivity through the canal. Agro-environmental measures are discussed for the improvement of this species conservation in natural and artificial habitats.     

Protected wading bird species threaten relict centenarian cork oaks in a Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve: A conservation management conflict

Conservation management conflicts frequently arise when an overpopulation of a protected organism has negative effects on other valuable elements in the same ecosystem. We studied the interactions between a colony of protected tree-nesting wading birds and a remnant population of centenarian cork oaks that was part of the formerly dominant forests in the Doñana Biological Reserve (SW Spain). A significant increase in the tree mortality rates has been recorded in areas that are yearly influenced by the bird colony.We analysed a cohort of surviving trees using a gradient of nesting bird influence. Tree-nesting history, bird isotopic signature (δ¹⁵N), tree health-related parameters (defoliation, δ¹³C and leaf surface coverage by faeces) and several soil variables were evaluated. Bird influence was related to increased soil salinity. This increase correlated to increased water-use efficiency for the leaves and to crown defoliation, suggesting that the heavily occupied trees are under higher stress and in poorer health condition than the unoccupied ones. We tested structural equations models (SEM) that were based on hypothesised bird effects on the health of the trees. Soil-mediated effects of the nesting birds best explained the symptoms of the declining health of the trees, whereas the percent of leaves’ surface that was covered by faeces did not improve the fitted SEM model.For the reserve’s managers, a challenging trade-off exists between preserving the relict trees, which have a high genetic diversity and a key ecological role in these savannah-like ecosystems, and maintaining the current nesting area for these protected, but expanding, wading birds.