Microestrutura da fibra alimentar do albedo de laranja: um estudo por técnicas físicas e análise de imagens.

As fibras alimentares são consumidas naturalmente em cereais, frutas e hortaliças, mas também são adicionadas na forma concentrada em alimentos processados. Diferentes fontes de fibras têm diferentes estruturas e composições químicas, que irão definir a sua finalidade nutricional ou tecnológica. Este trabalho tem como objetivo a caracterização de fibra alimentar do albedo da laranja submetida a dois métodos de secagem (liofilização e convencional) e divididas por intervalos granulométricos. Para as determinações de densidade, área superficial, porosidade e distribuição de tamanho de poro, utilizaram-se técnicas clássicas da tecnologia de sistema particulado e foram comparadas com imagens de microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os resultados apontaram que o método de secagem é o que mais influenciou na redução do volume de poros do material, também visualizado nas características microestruturais reveladas pela análise de imagem. O intervalo granulométrico da fibra particulada apresentou-se inversamente proporcional à densidade e à área superficial específica do material. A fibra alimentar do albedo da laranja apresentou características estruturais que permitem a diversificação de novos produtos alimentícios com alto valor nutritivo e comercial

A parametric approach for evaluating the stability of agricultural tractors using implements during side-slope activities

A methodological approach for evaluating a priori the stability of agricultural vehicles equipped with different mounted implements and operating on sloping hillsides is shown here. It uses a Matlab simulator in its first phase and, subsequently, the Response Surface Modelling (RSM) to evaluate the coefficients of a set of regression equations able to account for the Type-I and Type-II stability of the whole vehicle (tractor + implement with known dimensions and mass). The regression equations can give reliable punctual numeric estimations of the minimum value of the Roll Stability Index (RSI) and can verify the existence of a Type-I equilibrium without the need of using the simulator or knowing any detail about the model implemented in it. The same equations can also be used to generate many intuitive graphs (\u201cequilibrium maps\u201d) useful to verify quickly the possible overturning of the vehicle. A case-study concerning a 4-wheel drive articulated tractor is then presented to show the potential of the approach and how using its tools. The tractor has been studied in three scenarios, differing on where the implement has to be connected to the tractor (1: frontally; 2: frontally-laterally; 3: in the back). After performing a series of simulations, a set of polynomial models (with 6 independent variables) has been created and verified. Then, these models were used, together with the related equilibrium maps, to predict the stability of 8 implements for scenario 1, 7 implements for scenario 2, and 3 implements for scenario 3, evidencing in particular the danger of using a lateral shredder with a mass greater than 245 kg. The proposed approach and its main outcomes (i.e., the regression equations and the equilibrium maps) can give an effective contribution to the preventive safety of the tractor driver, so it could be useful to integrate it in the homologation procedures for every agricultural vehicle and to include the resulting documentation within the tractor logbook

Eficiência e viabilidade econômica da aplicação de fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática da soja em Campo Grande, MS.

Objetivou-se avaliar a eficiência e a viabilidade econômica da aplicação de fungicidas no controle da ferrugem asiática da soja, Phakopsora packyrhizi, em Campo Grande, MS. O ensaio foi conduzido em na safra 2007-2008. Foram avaliados os fungicidas (g i.a./ha): picoxistrobina + ciproconazole (40 + 16, 50 + 20 e 60 + 24) + nimbus 0,25% (v/v), piraclostrobina + epoxiconazole (66,5 + 25); azoxistrobina + ciproconazole (60 + 24) + nimbus 0,25% (v/v); trifloxistrobina + tebuconazole (50 + 100) + auero 0,13% (v/v) e trifloxistrobina + ciproconazole (56,25 + 24) + aureo 0,13% (v/v). Três aplicações foram realizadas, quinzenalmente, a partir do estádio fenológico R2. Foram realizadas 10 avaliações da severidade da doença (terços inferior e superior da planta) e três da desfolha (a partir do estádio R7), com intervalos de sete dias. Após plotagem das curvas de progresso (CP), foram calculadas as áreas abaixo das CP para a severidade da doença (AACPD) e desfolha (AACPDes). Ao final do ensaio, avaliou-se o rendimento de grãos (Rend - kg/ha), a massa de 1.000 grãos (MMG - g) e a viabilidade econômica do controle da doença. O clima durante a condução do ensaio foi favorável ao desenvolvimento da ferrugem asiática, constatando-se relação positiva entre a precipitação e a severidade da doença. Todos os fungicidas apresentaram valores de AACPD inferiores ao da testemunha, com destaque para picoxistrobina + ciproconazole (maior dose). Esse tratamento também apresentou o menor índice de AACPDes. Os fungicidas apresentaram índices semelhantes de Rend, embora superiores à testemunha. Quanto a MMG, maior índice foi atribuído a azoxistrobina + ciproconazole. A mistura trifloxistrobina + tebuconazole apresentou a menor eficiência de controle da ferrugem asiática. Com base na severidade da doença, rendimento de grãos e nos benefícios econômico gerados pela aplicação de fungicidas, identificou-se os fungicidas picoxistrobina + ciproconazole (60 + 24), azoxistrobina + ciproconazole e trifloxistrobina + ciproconazole como os mais promissores para o controle de P. packyrhizi

Assessing DNA methylation in the developing human intestinal epithelium: potential link to inflammatory bowel disease.

DNA methylation is one of the major epigenetic mechanisms implicated in regulating cellular development and cell-type-specific gene expression. Here we performed simultaneous genome-wide DNA methylation and gene expression analysis on purified intestinal epithelial cells derived from human fetal gut, healthy pediatric biopsies, and children newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Results were validated using pyrosequencing, real-time PCR, and immunostaining. The functional impact of DNA methylation changes on gene expression was assessed by employing in-vitro assays in intestinal cell lines. DNA methylation analyses allowed identification of 214 genes for which expression is regulated via DNA methylation, i.e. regulatory differentially methylated regions (rDMRs). Pathway and functional analysis of rDMRs suggested a critical role for DNA methylation in regulating gene expression and functional development of the human intestinal epithelium. Moreover, analysis performed on intestinal epithelium of children newly diagnosed with IBD revealed alterations in DNA methylation within genomic loci, which were found to overlap significantly with those undergoing methylation changes during intestinal development. Our study provides novel insights into the physiological role of DNA methylation in regulating functional maturation of the human intestinal epithelium. Moreover, we provide data linking developmentally acquired alterations in the DNA methylation profile to changes seen in pediatric IBD.This study was supported by funds obtained from The Evelyn Trust, Crohn’s in Childhood Research Association (CICRA) and Crohn’s and Colitis in Childhood (3Cs) charity. J.K. was funded by a PhD studentship from CICRA. Funding for E.C. was provided by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant CA226/4-3) and Interne Forschungsförderung Essen (IFORES).This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Nature Publishing Group via http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/mi.2015.8

Unidades piloto do sistema de produção integrada de feijão comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) em plantios irrigados.

O Projeto de Produção Integrada de Feijão Comum pertence ao Sistema Agropecuário de Produção Integrada (SAPI), do Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA). É coordenado pela Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, em parceria com universidades, empresas públicas e privadas de assistência técnica e extensão rural, indústrias (beneficiamento e processamento), cooperativas e produtores. A implantação das Unidades Piloto tem como objetivo comparar os sistemas de produção integrada e convencional de feijão comum, analisando-se quanto ao impacto ambiental e aos aspectos socioeconômico e financeiro

Recognition of early mortality in multiple myeloma by a prediction matrix

Early mortality (EM; death ≤ 6 months from diagnosis) has been reported in several newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) trials. Before the era of novel agents, the incidence was 10%-14%. Causes of death included infections/pneumonia, renal failure, refractory disease, and cardiac events. Staging systems, such as the revised International Staging System (r-ISS), and prognostic factors including cytogenetics, lactate dehydrogenase levels, and myeloma-specific factors, are useful to assess overall prognosis; however, they cannot predict EM. We evaluated patients treated with novel agents in the Connect MM® Registry and identified risk factors of the EM cohort. Eligible patients were enrolled in the registry within 60 days of diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between baseline characteristics and EM. Prediction matrices for EM were constructed from a logistic model. Between September 2009 and December 2011, 1493 patients were enrolled in the registry and had adequate follow-up. Of these patients, 102 (6.8%) had EM and 1391 (93.2%) survived for > 180 days. Baseline factors significantly associated with increased EM risk included age > 75 years, higher Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, lower EQ-5D mobility score, higher ISS stage, lower platelet count, and prior hypertension. Renal insufficiency trended toward increased EM risk. These risk factors were incorporated into a prediction matrix for EM. The EM prediction matrix uses differential weighting of risk factors to calculate EM risk in patients with NDMM. Identifying patients at risk for EM may provide new opportunities to implement patient-specific treatment strategies to improve outcomes

DNA Methylation and Transcription Patterns in Intestinal Epithelial Cells From Pediatric Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Differentiate Disease Subtypes and Associate With Outcome.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: We analyzed DNA methylation patterns and transcriptomes of primary intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) of children newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) to learn more about pathogenesis. METHODS: We obtained mucosal biopsies (N = 236) collected from terminal ileum and ascending and sigmoid colons of children (median age 13 years) newly diagnosed with IBD (43 with Crohn's disease [CD], 23 with ulcerative colitis [UC]), and 30 children without IBD (controls). Patients were recruited and managed at a hospital in the United Kingdom from 2013 through 2016. We also obtained biopsies collected at later stages from a subset of patients. IECs were purified and analyzed for genome-wide DNA methylation patterns and gene expression profiles. Adjacent microbiota were isolated from biopsies and analyzed by 16S gene sequencing. We generated intestinal organoid cultures from a subset of samples and genome-wide DNA methylation analysis was performed. RESULTS: We found gut segment-specific differences in DNA methylation and transcription profiles of IECs from children with IBD vs controls; some were independent of mucosal inflammation. Changes in gut microbiota between IBD and control groups were not as large and were difficult to assess because of large amounts of intra-individual variation. Only IECs from patients with CD had changes in DNA methylation and transcription patterns in terminal ileum epithelium, compared with controls. Colon epithelium from patients with CD and from patients with ulcerative colitis had distinct changes in DNA methylation and transcription patterns, compared with controls. In IECs from patients with IBD, changes in DNA methylation, compared with controls, were stable over time and were partially retained in ex-vivo organoid cultures. Statistical analyses of epithelial cell profiles allowed us to distinguish children with CD or UC from controls; profiles correlated with disease outcome parameters, such as the requirement for treatment with biologic agents. CONCLUSIONS: We identified specific changes in DNA methylation and transcriptome patterns in IECs from pediatric patients with IBD compared with controls. These data indicate that IECs undergo changes during IBD development and could be involved in pathogenesis. Further analyses of primary IECs from patients with IBD could improve our understanding of the large variations in disease progression and outcomes