Greenhouse gas emissions from viticulture: a PRISMA systematic review.

Grapes are considered one of the world leading fruit crops. They can be grown in various climatic conditions and are highly economically important. Excessive management practices, such as soil preparation, abuse of nitrogen fertilizers and tractors traffic in the vineyard, may reduce the soil fertility and biodiversity, besides altering the balance of ecosystems and the fluxes of greenhouse gases emitted by the soil. This article aimed to develop a systematic review of greenhouse gas emissions from viticulture, in order to present a global perspective on the subject. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) methodology was used, as well as the terms (“grape growing” OR “viticulture” OR “vineyard” OR “grape cultivation”) AND (“nitrous oxide” OR “carbon dioxide” OR “methane” OR “greenhouse gas”), which should appear in the article title, abstract or keywords. The analysis included 29 articles from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results mainly showed the relationship between nitrogen and organic fertilizers and soil texture, in addition to the relation between soil preparation practices and soil carbon emissions, and the influence of the soil water content on greenhouse gas emissions. The association of local climate conditions, management practices and soil characteristics can explain the significant variability of the observed results. Understanding the spatiotemporal emission dynamics and the determining factors allows the development of measures for effective greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, thus reducing the impact of global warmin

Enteric methane emissions by goats in grazing in caatinga.

Caatinga is an important food source for the animals of the semi-arid region, but the low quality forage at certain times of year limits animal performance and increases the emission of methane gas. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the forage intake and emission of methane by goats fed grassland savanna during two periods of the year

Macrofossil evidence for a rapid and severe Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction in Antarctica

Debate continues about the nature of the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) mass extinction event. An abrupt crisis triggered by a bolide impact contrasts with ideas of a more gradual extinction involving flood volcanism or climatic changes. Evidence from high latitudes has also been used to suggest that the severity of the extinction decreased from low latitudes towards the poles. Here we present a record of the K–Pg extinction based on extensive assemblages of marine macrofossils (primarily new data from benthic molluscs) from a highly expanded Cretaceous–Paleogene succession: the López de Bertodano Formation of Seymour Island, Antarctica. We show that the extinction was rapid and severe in Antarctica, with no significant biotic decline during the latest Cretaceous, contrary to previous studies. These data are consistent with a catastrophic driver for the extinction, such as bolide impact, rather than a significant contribution from Deccan Traps volcanism during the late Maastrichtian

Intraflagellar transport dynein is autoinhibited by trapping of its mechanical and track-binding elements

Cilia are multi-functional organelles that are constructed using intraflagellar transport (IFT) of cargo to and from their tip. It is widely held that the retrograde IFT motor, dynein-2, must be controlled in order to reach the ciliary tip and then unleashed to power the return journey. However, the mechanism is unknown. Here, we systematically define the mechanochemistry of human dynein-2 motors as monomers, dimers, and multi-motor assemblies with kinesin-II. Combining these data with insights from single-particle electron microscopy, we discover that dynein-2 dimers are intrinsically autoinhibited. Inhibition is mediated by trapping dynein-2’s mechanical “linker” and “stalk” domains within a novel motor-motor interface. We find that linker-mediated inhibition enables efficient transport of dynein-2 by kinesin-II in vitro. These results suggest a conserved mechanism for autoregulation among dimeric dyneins, which is exploited as a switch for dynein-2’s recycling activity during IFT

Tree component influences soil carbon storage and litter decomposition in agrosilvopastoral system.

Integrated farming systems are recognized as agricultural production models that enhance soil carbon storage. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the tree component on the litter dynamics and soil C and N stocks in an agrosilvopastoral system in the Brazilian Cerrado. We compared nine-years-old agrosilvopastoral system (ASP) with an arrangement of 3x2+14m, with a 24-years-old nominal pasture (NP) and a native vegetation (NV). Five treatments including three sampling points in ASP [between the eucalyptus trees (P1), in the canopy projection area (P2) and in the middle of the alley (P3)], and two areas (PN and VN) were evaluated. Litterfall production from eucalyptus were evaluated in suspended collectors while the decomposition rate was evaluated in litterbags. The assessments were carried out monthly over one year, as well as CO2 fluxes. Soil samples were taken at six soil layers until 0.5m depth to evaluate bulk density, soil fertility and soil C and N stocks. The litterfall production higher in P1, with decrease during the dry season. P1 and P3 showed higher decomposition rates, with final remaining mass of 28.71 and 32.33%. CO2 efflux was higher in the rainy season and showed similar pattern between P1 e NV. Regarding the soil fertility, NV showed higher values of macronutrients and base saturation, and these results can be associated to the nutrient exportation and the deficit of fertilization management in ASP and NP. Soil C and N stocks at 0-50 cm depth were higher in NV (115.4 and 11.3 Mg ha-1), followed by NP (92.4 and 8 .8 Mg ha-1) and ASP (89.9 and 9.0 Mg ha-1). In the sampled points within ASP, soil C and N stocks were higher in P1, showing the influence of tree component. Our results showed that the arrangement as well as the management of eucalyptus trees in the integrated farming system influenced the dynamics of litter decomposition and soil C and N storage over time

Frações físicas de matéria orgânica em solo cultivado com palma forrageira sob diferentes quantidades de palhada de capim buffel.

Este trabalho teve por objetivo determinar os efeitos da adição de palha de capim-buffel como cobertura morta sobre as frações da matéria orgânica do solo

Agricultura biossalina, micorrizas arbusculares e carbono do solo no Semiárido: 1. cultivo de palma forrageira adubada com esterco caprino.

No semiárido, o uso de águas salinas para irrigação na produção de forragem para os rebanhos é uma alternativa que pode contribuir para a segurança alimentar. O trabalho visa avaliar o efeito da irrigação com água salina e do uso de esterco caprino sobre a simbiose micorrízica e os teores de carbono do solo em área de semiárido cultivada com palma forrageira. Avaliou-se os efeitos de lâminas de água (0, 370, 520 e 700 mm), associadas a quatro doses de esterco caprino (0, 15, 30 e 45 t ha-1), sobre o teor de carbono no solo, carbono na biomassa microbiana, a respiração basal, o número de esporos de fungos micorrízicos arbusculares (FMA) no solo e a colonização das raízes por FMA. A quantidade de água salina adicionada em diferentes não afetou os parâmetros avaliados. A adubação com esterco caprino aumentou o teor de carbonono solo e a respiração microbiana, mas reduziu a colonização das raízes de palma por FMA

Prostate Cancer Treatment-Related Toxicity: Comparison between 3D-Conformal Radiation Therapy (3D-CRT) and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) Techniques

Objective: This paper illustrates the results of a mono-institutional registry trial, aimed to test whether gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity rates were lower in localized prostate cancer patients treated with image-guided volumetric modulated arc therapy (IG-VMAT) compared to those treated with IG-3D conformal radiation therapy (IG-3DCRT). Materials and Methods: Histologically proven prostate cancer patients with organ-confined disease, treated between October 2008 and September 2014 with moderately hypofractionated radiotherapy, were reviewed. Fiducial markers were placed in the prostate gland by transrectal ultrasound guide. The prescribed total dose was 70 Gy in 28 fractions. The mean and median dose volume constraints for bladder and rectum as well as total volume of treatment were analyzed as potentially prognostic factors influencing toxicity. The Kaplan–Meier method was applied to calculate survival. Results: Overall, 83 consecutive patients were included. Forty-two (50.6%) patients were treated with 3D-CRT and 41 (49.4%) with the VMAT technique. The median follow-up for toxicity was 77.26 months for the whole cohort. The VMAT allowed for a dose reduction to the rectum and bladder for the large majority of the considered parameters; nonetheless, the only parameter correlated with a clinical outcome was a rectal dose limit V66 > 8.5% for late GI toxicity G ≥ 2 (p = 0.045). Rates of G ≥ 2 toxicities were low among the whole cohort of these patients treated with IGRT. The analysis for rectum dose volume histograms (DVHs) showed that a severe (grade ≥ 2) late GI toxicity was related with the rectal dose limit V66 > 8.5% (p = 0.045). Conclusions: This study shows that moderate hypofractionation is feasible and safe in patients with intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer. Daily IGRT may decrease acute and late toxicity to organs at risk and improve clinical benefit and disease control rate, cutting down the risk of PTV geographical missing. The adoption of VMAT allows for promising results in terms of OAR sparing and a reduction in toxicity that, also given the small sample, did not reach statistical significance

Diversidade genética de bactérias isoladas de nódulos de feijão-caupi cultivado em solos com e sem a aplicação de biochar.

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar a diversidade genética de rizóbios isolados de nódulos de feijão-caupi [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] cultivado em solos com e sem a aplicação de biochar como condicionante de solo