Serological profile of respiratory viruses in unvaccinated steers upon their arrival at Brazilian feedlot facilities.

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine alphaherpesvirus 1 (BoAHV1), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV), and bovine parainfluenza virus 3 (BPIV-3) are involved in bovine respiratory disease. These viruses can infect the respiratory system and cause considerable economic losses to beef and dairy cattle herds. This study aimed to determine the serological profiles of steers for BVDV, BoAHV1, BRSV, and BPIV-3 upon their arrival at Brazilian feedlot facilities. A total of 1,282 serum samples from unvaccinated steers were obtained on the first day of feeding. Samples were collected from 31 beef cattle herds reared in an extensive rearing system in six Brazilian states. Antibodies against BVDV, BoAHV1, BRSV, and BPIV-3 were detected using a virus neutralization test. The steers were distributed in agreement with their age and the Brazilian state of origin. The highest seropositivity was for BoAHV1 and BPIV-3 at 92.1% (1,154/1,253) and 86.6% (1,100/1,270), respectively. The seropositivity of BRSV was 77.1% (959/1,244). BVDV presented a lower rate, at slightly more than 50% (51.8%; 656/1,266). Age was a risk factor for the presence of antibodies against BVDV, BoAHV1, and BPIV-3 but not BRSV. A positive correlation was identified between BoAHV1 and BPIV-3 (P = 0.85) and between BRSV and BPIV-3 (P = 0.47). The high rate of seropositive steers for these four respiratory viruses on the first day of confinement identified in this serological survey provides important epidemiological information on respiratory infections, as the seropositivity of the four main bovine respiratory viruses in Brazilian beef cattle herds in an extensive rearing system.

Impacts of huanglongbing on fruit yield and quality and on flushing dynamics of Sicilian lemon trees.

Introduction: The severe Asian form of huanglongbing (HLB), a vascular disease associated with the phloem-limited bacterium 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus', is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) Diaphorina citri. Disease impacts are known for sweet oranges and acid limes but not lemons. Methods: In a five-year study (2017-2021) we compared yield and fruit quality between naturally-infected and healthy 5-yr-old trees of Sicilian lemon 'Femminello', and shoot phenology on both lemon and 'Valencia' orange, both grafted onto 'Swingle' citrumelo, grown in southeastern São Paulo State, Brazil. HLB severity (percentage of tree canopy area with HLB symptoms) was assessed every 3-4 months, fruit yield and quality in May (2017 to 2019) or June/July (2020-2021), and vegetative and reproductive shoots fortnightly on 50-cm-long branches. The development of ACP on one-year-old seedlings of five lemon varieties, 'Tahiti' acid lime, 'Valencia' orange, and orange jasmine was evaluated. Results: Symptoms increased from 11% in 2017 to 64% in 2021, and a monomolecular model estimated 10 years for symptoms to occupy >90% of the tree canopy. On average, production of trees with symptom on 20%, 50% or 80% of the canopy respectively dropped by 18%, 38%, and 53% compared to healthy trees. Fruits of symptomatic branches of lemons were 4.22% lighter and the number of dropped fruits did not correlate with symptom severity. Flushing on symptomatic branches started earlier by 15 to 55 days as compared to the healthy branches of lemon and orange. On diseased trees, vegetative and reproductive shoots respectively increased by 24.5% and 17.5% on lemon and by 67.2% and 70.6% on sweet orange, but fruit set was reduced by 12.9% and 19.7% on lemon and orange trees, respectively. ACP reproduced similarly on all tested plants. Discussion: The fast symptom progress, significant yield reduction, and earlier flushing on diseased trees, providing conditions highly favorable for the pathogen to spread, reinforce the need of prompt diseased tree removal and frequent ACP preventive control to manage HLB in lemons as in any other citrus crop.

Insight into resistance to 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus,' associated with Huanglongbing, in Oceanian citrus genotypes.

Huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive citrus disease, is associated with unculturable, phloem-limited Candidatus Liberibacter species, mainly Ca. L. asiaticus (Las). Las is transmitted naturally by the insect Diaphorina citri. In a previous study, we determined that the Oceanian citrus relatives Eremocitrus glauca, Microcitrus warburgiana, Microcitrus papuana, and Microcitrus australis and three hybrids among them and Citrus were full-resistant to Las. After 2 years of evaluations, leaves of those seven genotypes remained Las-free even with their susceptible rootstock being infected. However, Las was detected in their stem bark above the scion-rootstock graft union. Aiming to gain an understanding of the full-resistance phenotype, new experiments were carried out with the challenge-inoculated Oceanian citrus genotypes through which we evaluated: (1) Las acquisition by D. citri fed onto them; (2) Las infection in sweet orange plants grafted with bark or budwood from them; (3) Las infection in sweet orange plants top-grafted onto them; (4) Las infection in new shoots from rooted plants of them; and (5) Las infection in new shoots of them after drastic back-pruning. Overall, results showed that insects that fed on plants from the Oceanian citrus genotypes, their canopies, new flushes, and leaves from rooted cuttings evaluated remained quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-negative. Moreover, their budwood pieces were unable to infect sweet orange through grafting. Furthermore, sweet orange control leaves resulted infected when insects fed onto them and graft-receptor susceptible plants. Genomic and morphological analysis of the Oceanian genotypes corroborated that E. glauca and M. warburgiana are pure species while our M. australis accession is an M. australis × M. inodora hybrid and M. papuana is probably a M. papuana × M. warburgiana hybrid. E. glauca × C. sinensis hybrid was found coming from a cross between E. glauca and mandarin or tangor. Eremocitrus × Microcitrus hybrid is a complex admixture of M. australasica, M. australis, and E. glauca while the last hybrid is an M. australasica × M. australis admixture. Confirmation of consistent full resistance in these genotypes with proper validation of their genomic parentages is essential to map properly genomic regions for breeding programs aimed to generate new Citrus-like cultivars yielding immunity to HLB.

Efficiency of electrocoagulation in the treatment of laundromat greywater / Tratamento por eletrofloculação de efluentes oriundos de lavandeiras domésticas

ABSTRACT The high consumption of water and the generation of greywater in laundromats underscore the need to investigate advanced treatment techniques to reuse this effluent. Based on the estimated growth figures of the laundromat sector in Brazil, this study looked into the efficiency of electrocoagulation to treat laundromat greywater. Electrodes were connected to an EC reactor on a monopolar parallel connection mode, with electric current of 6 A and current density of 400 A.m2. The highest efficiency to treat laundromat greywater was observed at a distance of 15 mm between electrodes, voltage of 17.14 V, and operation time of 30 min, when the removal values of apparent color, true color, turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and surfactants were 92, 97, 88, 91, 98, and 96%, respectively. Electrode consumption was measured at 1.82 g.h, while energy consumption was 20.54 kWh.m3 and the total cost was US$ 4.10 per cubic meter of treated effluent. However, despite the high efficiency of the treatment, reuse of treated laundromat effluent requires polishing in order to meet the standards defined by Brazilian regulations.

RESUMO O elevado consumo de água potável e a consequente geração de efluentes associados ao segmento de lavanderias domésticas justificam o estudo de tratamentos avançados que proporcionem o reuso dessas águas. Considerando-se uma perspectiva de crescimento desse setor em nível nacional, esta pesquisa avaliou a eletrocoagulação como tecnologia de tratamento de tais efluentes. Foram executados testes de bancada utilizando eletrodos em alumínio, arranjados como monopolar paralelo. A corrente elétrica e a densidade de corrente foram fixadas em 6A e 400A.m², respectivamente. Entre as variáveis avaliadas estão a distância entre eletrodos, o tempo de operação, o tipo de roupa, a utilização de alvejante e o suporte para eletrólise. O melhor tratamento foi obtido sem a utilização do suporte para eletrólise, para uma distância entre eletrodos de 15 mm, tensão elétrica aplicada no sistema de 17,14 V e tempo de operação igual a 30 min. Nessas condições, as eficiências do tratamento obtidas foram de 92% para cor aparente, 97% para cor verdadeira, 88% para turbidez, 91% para demanda bioquímica de oxigênio, 98% para demanda química de oxigênio e 96% para surfactantes. O sistema resultou no consumo de eletrodo de 1,83 g.h e no consumo de energia elétrica igual a 20,57 kWh.m³. O custo final do tratamento foi calculado em US$ 4,10.m³ de efluente tratado. Embora tenham sido obtidas elevadas remoções nas concentrações dos poluentes, para o reuso do efluente ainda é necessário um tratamento adicional.

Evidence That 'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' Moves Predominantly Toward New Tissue Growth in Citrus Plants.

'Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus' (Las) is an unculturable, phloem-limited, insect-transmitted bacterium associated with the Asiatic form of huanglongbing (HLB), the most destructive citrus disease. In Asia and the Americas, it is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (Diaphorina citri Kuwavama). Despite considerable research, little is known about the processes involved in plant infection and colonization by Las. This study was conducted to determine whether the basal portion (below girdling) of the plant is an important route for Las to move laterally from a point of inoculation on a branch to pathogen-free branches elsewhere in the canopy, and to quantify the influence of actively growing tissues on vertical upward (acropetally) or downward (basipetally) movement of Las. Nongirdled and fully or partially girdled stems of potted plants of 'Pera' sweet orange, graft-inoculated above or below girdling, were sampled in distinct regions and assessed by qPCR, 6 months postinoculation. Las invaded all regions of partially and nongirdled plants but remained restricted to the inoculated regions of fully girdled plants, evidence that in planta bacterium movement is limited to the phloem. In fully girdled plants, starch accumulated above the girdling site, probably because of changes in flow of phloem sap. To study the influence of actively growing tissues, inoculated 'Valencia' sweet orange plants were kept intact or were top- or root-pruned to force production of new tissues, and sampled at 15-day intervals. Las migrated rapidly and most predominantly toward newly developing root and leaf tissues. The rapid and predominant movement of Las to newly developed shoots and roots would explain failures of canopy heat treatments and pruning to cure HLB-affected trees, and reinforces the need to protect rapidly growing new shoots from feeding by D. citri in order to minimize transmission and spread of the pathogen by the vector within and between orchards.

Optimization of sampling and monitoring of vegetative flushing in citrus orchards.

Citrus trees produce flushes throughout the year, but there are no criteria established for a precise shoot monitoring in orchards under tropical climate. Methods for quantification of flush dynamics would be useful for horticultural and pest management studies because different insect vectors feed and reproduce on flushes. We estimated the minimum number and distribution of trees for sampling and determined the flushing pattern over time in 'Valencia Late' orange trees grafted onto 'Swingle' citrumelo rootstock. Shoots within a square frame (0.25 m2) on two sides of the canopy were counted and classified by their phenological stage. The minimum number of samples was estimated using the mean number of shoots and area under the flush shoot dynamics (AUFSD). The temporal and spatial distribution analysis was performed by Taylor's power law and by multiple correspondence analysis (MCA). Additionally, a shoot maturity index (SMI) based on visual qualitative assessment of flushes is proposed. Considering the mean number of shoots, it was necessary to sample two sides of 16 trees to reach a relative sampling error (Er) of 25%, whereas by the AUFSD, only five trees were necessary to reach an Er of 10%. Flushes were predominantly randomly distributed over time and space. Testing eight transects, sampled trees should be distributed throughout the block, avoiding sampling concentration in a certain area. MCA showed that the west side and the upper sampling positions of trees were more likely to be associated with younger shoots. AUFSD and the evaluation of both sides of the canopy yielded a smaller number of trees to be assessed. The SMI was a reliable metric to estimate the shoot phenology of orange trees, and correlated well (R2 > 70%) with the mean number of shoots within the square frame. Therefore, SMI has the potential to make shoot monitoring in the field more practical.

Stimulate® na germinação de sementes, emergência e vigor de plântulas de girassol / Stimulate® in seed germination, seedling vigor and emergence of sunflower

Objetivou-se avaliar a ação do Stimulate® na germinação de sementes, emergência e vigor de plântulas de girassol. Para o teste padrão de germinação, sementes da variedade Catissol 01 foram pré-embebidas nas seguintes concentrações: 1,0, 2,5, 4,0, 5,5 e 7,0 mL de Stimulate® L-1 de solução aquosa, tendo como controle a préembebição de sementes em água. Em seguida, as sementes foram submetidas a três tempos de pré-embebição diferentes: 4, 7 e 10 horas. Após os tratamentos, as sementes foram distribuídas em papel de germinação e mantidas em germinador, à temperatura de 25ºC com fotoperíodo de 12 horas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, no esquema fatorial 3 x 6, com 4 repetições de 50 sementes em cada rolo de papel germtest. Um teste de vigor de plântulas foi conduzido simultaneamente com o teste padrão de germinação. Para o estudo do índice de velocidade de emergência e porcentagem de emergência, foram utilizadas as sementes dos genótipos: Catissol 01, Agrobel 962 e Agrobel 972. As sementes foram submetidas a dois tratamentos: T1 = solução contendo 4 mL de Stimulate® L-1 de solução na préembebição por 4 horas e T2 = pré-embebição de sementes de girassol em água por 4 horas, sendo diariamente registrada a emergência de plântulas. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, no esquema fatorial 3 x 2. Os resultados indicaram que a pré-embebição das sementes de girassol com o bioestimulante vegetal Stimulate® (4 mL de Stimulate® L-1 na pré-embebição por 4 horas) incrementou a germinação, promovendo a formação de plântulas mais vigorosas e reduzindo a porcentagem de plântulas anormais, além de promover maior porcentagem de emergência de plântulas. No entanto, períodos prolongados de pré-embebição aumentaram a porcentagem de plântulas anormais.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Stimulate® on germination, emergence and seedling vigor of sunflower. For the standard germination test, seeds of the variety Catissol 01 were pre-soaked at the following concentrations: 1,0, 2,5, 4,0, 5,5 and 7,0 mL of Stimulate® L-1 aqueous solution, taking control as pre-soaking seeds in water. Then, the seeds were subjected to three times of different presoaking: 4, 7 and 10 hours. After the treatments, the seeds were distributed in germination papers and kept in a germinator at a temperature of 25ºC with a photoperiod of 12 hours. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial of 3 x 6, with 4 replicates of 50 seeds in each paper roll germtest. A seedling vigor test was conducted simultaneously with the standard germination test. To study the rate of emergence and the percentage of emergence, seeds were genotyped: Catissol 01, Agrobel 962 and Agrobel 972. The seeds were subjected to two treatments: T1 = 4 mL solution containing Stimulate® L-1 solution in the pre-soaking for 4 hours and T2 = pre-soaking of sunflower seeds in water for 4 hours, being registered daily emergence seedling. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial of 3 x 2. The results indicated that pre-soaking of sunflower seeds with vegetable biostimulant Stimulate® (4 mL Stimulate® L-1 in pre-soaking for 4 hours) increased germination, promoting the formation of more vigorous seedlings and reducing the percentage of abnormal seedlings, besides Stimulate® na germinação... SANTOS, C. A. C. et al. Biosci. J., Uberlândia, v. 29, n. 2, p. 605-616, Mar./Abr. 2013 promoting a higher percentage of seedling emergence. However, prolonged periods of pre-soaking increased the percentage of abnormal seedlings.

Sling Suburetral: vantagens e desvantagens dos materiais utilizados / Suburethral slings: advantages and disadvantages of the different materials

Os slings suburetrais vêm se tornando o procedimento cirúrgico preferencial para correção da incontinência urinária aos esforços; variam em forma, materiais e métodos de fixação. Os slings podem ser classificados em autólogos, extraídos de cadáveres, xenográficos e sintéticos e o ideal deve ser resistente, disponível e reajustável. O desenvolvimento de slings sintéticos é o alvo de diversas pesquisas, sendo que, na literatura revisada, nenhum estudo demonstrou ampla superioridade de qualquer um dos materiais sintetizados. A escolha do sling deve ser baseada principalmente na segurança, resultados, complicações, custos e tempo de seguimento. Este estudo propõe-se a realizar uma revisão das opções disponíveis para utilização em slings suburetrais comparando suas vantagens e desvantagens e norteando a escolha do melhor a ser utilizado.

Suburethral slings are becoming preferential surgical procedure to treat stress urinary incontinence; they have varied shapes, materials and attachment methods. Slings can be classified in autologous, cadaveric, xenologous and synthetics. The ideal sling should be resistent, readily available and readjustable. Synthetic slings are the target of several researches and in the reviewed literature no trial has shown any great superiority of the sythetic slings. Slings choice must be based essentially on the security, success rates, complications, costs and follow up. This study proposes a review on the available options for use in suburethral slings, comparing the advantages and disadvantages and guidance for the best sling choice.

Fórcipe obstétrico / Obstetrics forcips

O fórcipe não é instrumento do passado. Cerca de 15% dos partos são terminados a fórcipe nas maternidades públicas do Brasil. Quando bem indicado e bem aplicado torna-se instrumento salvador e não malfeitor, como faz parecer a muitos. Um motivo que levou o fórcipe ser considerado por alguns um instrumento antiquado ou inadequado foi a falta de ensinamento, principalmente prático, nas escolas de medicina. Outro motivo foi o avanço da eventual alternativa de término da gestação: a operação cesariana. O American College of Obstetrics and Ginecology recomenda o treinamento do parto instrumental vaginal para controle e redução das taxas de operação cesareana. O uso d fórcipe permanece como melhor opção, durante o período expulsivo, para assegurar o bem-estar materno-fetal, quando aplicado com técnica e indicação precisas.

Tratamento conservador da incontinência urinária na mulher / Treatment conservative of urinary incontinence in the woman

Os autores fazem uma revisão sobre os tratamentos não-cirúrgicos para a incontinência urinária feminina, enfatizando a importância de seu emprego em nível primário de assistência e mostrando os bons índices de satisfação destes métodos.

Importância do diagnóstico de cistite intersticial na dor pélvica crônica / Importance of intersticial cystitis diagnosis in chronic pelvic pais

Esta revisão destaca a importância da inclusão da cistite intersticial na lista de possíveis doenças que estejam envolvidas na gênese da dor pélvica crônica, além de sua adequada investigação diagnóstica e tratamento. Foi feita uma revisão bibliográfica não sistemática sobre o tema abordado , utilizando-se a base de dados do Medline. Na paciente com dor pélvica crônica deve-se suspeitar de cistite intersticial quando, associado à dor, exixtir a queixa de urgência, frequência miccional aumentada. A investigação ser feita com cistoscopia, teste do potássio e avaliação urodinâmica. A cicstite intersticial é um distúrbio crônico do trato urinário inferior. Não há medicação curativa para essa patologia, porém um tratamento de alívio dos sintomas pode proporcionar uma melhora na qualidade de vida.

Avaliação inicial da incontinência urinária na mulher / Evaluation of the urinary incontinence in the women

Os autores fazem uma revisão sobre a avaliação inicial da paciente com incontinência urinária, incluindo métodos diagnósticos. O objetivo é fornecer informações que permitam uma melhor compreensão e investigação desse problema