Productivity and quality of cotton fiber in different planting seasons / Produtividade e qualidade da fibra do algodão em diferentes épocas de plantio

Cotton is one of the main agricultural products produced in Brazil. With such a high demand in the market, it is necessary that the cotton cultivars present high productivity and fiber quality. In order to favor the expression of the potential of the genotypes, the cultivation must occur in climatic conditions that provide good development of the plants, being the sowing time a primordial factor for the good performance of the cotton plant. In order to establish an ideal sowing season for different cotton genotypes, the present study aimed to evaluate the best sowing season of cotton genotypes for the environment of Uberlândia (Minas Gerais State), aiming at productivity and fiber quality. The experiment was carried out in field conditions, in the 2016/2017 harvest in the experimental area located at Fazenda Capim Branco, in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State. A randomized complete block design (DBC) with four replications in a 4x7 factorial scheme was used: 4/12 sowing dates: 05/12, 19/12, 30/12, 13/01 and 7 genotypes. 5 strains of the breeding program of the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU) and 2 commercial cultivars. The evaluated characteristics were: seed cotton yield, feather yield, micronaire index, maturity index, fiber length, uniformity of length, short fibers, resistance and elongation. It was concluded that the best sowing season for a high productivity was the one performed on 12/05/16, with emphasis on the UFUJP-Z genotype. For fiber quality, UFUJP-C showed the best results at the 12/19/16 sowing season.

O algodão é um dos principais produtos agrícolas produzidos no Brasil. Com tamanha exigência do mercado, é necessário que as cultivares de algodoeiro apresentem alta produtividade e qualidade de fibras. Para favorecer a expressão do potencial dos genótipos, a semeadura deve ocorrer na época em que as condições climáticas proporcionem bom desenvolvimento das plantas, sendo a temperatura, precipitação e luminosidade fatores primordiais para o bom desempenho. Com o intuito de estabelecer uma época de semeadura ideal para diferentes genótipos de algodoeiro, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a melhor época de semeadura, para o ambiente de Uberlândia (MG), visando produtividade e qualidade da fibra. O experimento foi desenvolvido em condições de campo, na safra 2016/2017 na área experimental localizada na Fazenda Capim Branco, no município de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental de blocos completos casualizados (DBC) com quatro repetições em esquema fatorial 4x7, constituíram-se de 4 épocas de semeadura: 05/12, 19/12, 30/12, 13/01 e 7 genótipos, sendo 5 linhagens do Programa de melhoramento do algodoeiro da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (UFU) e 2 cultivares comerciais. As características avaliadas foram: produtividade do algodão em caroço, rendimento de pluma, índice micronaire, índice de maturação, comprimento de fibra, uniformidade de comprimento, fibras curtas, resistência e alongamento. Concluiu-se que a semeadura em 05/12/16 obteve melhores resultados quando visa alta produtividade, com destaque para o genótipo UFUJP-Z. Visando qualidade de fibra a semeadura em 19/12/16 foi mais favorável, com destaque para o UFUJP-C.

Further comparison of 5-trial adjusting delay and probability loss tasks over a wide range of amounts.

Researchers have recently developed brief methods to measure discounting. One brief method uses 5-trial adjusting-delay or -probability tasks. These tasks have provided similar rates of discounting to traditional tasks with monetary gains, but the accuracy with losses have been mixed. Differences in loss discounting across tasks may have been due to the amounts used in previous experiments. Therefore, we had undergraduate students (N = 93) complete two types of discounting tasks across losses ranging from $10 to $10 million. Consistent with previous research using traditional measures, discounting did not differ between tasks or across amounts used. 5-trial discounting tasks of losses provide similar rates of discounting compared to traditional adjusting amount tasks for both probability and delay.

Qualitative Aspects of Bone Marrow Adiposity in Osteoporosis.

The function of marrow adipocytes and their origin has not been defined although considerable research has centered on their presence in certain conditions, such as osteoporosis. Less work has focused on the qualitative aspects of marrow fat. Bone marrow serum is composed of multiple nutrients that almost certainly relate to functional aspects of the niche. Previous studies using non-invasive techniques have shown that osteoporotic individuals have more marrow fat and that the ratio of saturated: unsaturated fatty acid is high. We recently reported that bone marrow sera from osteoporotic patients with fracture showed a switch toward decreased content of total saturated versus unsaturated fatty acids, compared to patients without fracture highlighting a dynamic relationship between the composition of fatty acids in the bone microenvironment and the metabolic requirements of cells. The relative distribution of fatty acids differed considerably from that in the serum providing further evidence that energy utilization is high and that marrow adipocytes may contribute to this pool. Whether these lipids can affect osteoblast function in a positive or negative manner is still not certain but will require further investigation.

Characterization of Fatty Acid Composition in Bone Marrow Fluid From Postmenopausal Women: Modification After Hip Fracture.

Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) is associated with low bone mass, although the functional consequences for skeletal maintenance of increased BMAT are currently unclear. BMAT might have a role in systemic energy metabolism, and could be an energy source as well as an endocrine organ for neighboring bone cells, releasing cytokines, adipokines and free fatty acids into the bone marrow microenvironment. The aim of the present report was to compare the fatty acid composition in the bone marrow supernatant fluid (BMSF) and blood plasma of postmenopausal women women (65-80 years old). BMSF was obtained after spinning the aspirated bone marrow samples; donors were classified as control, osteopenic or osteoporotic after dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Total lipids from human bone marrow fluid and plasma were extracted, converted to the corresponding methyl esters, and finally analyzed by a gas chromatographer coupled with a mass spectrometer. Results showed that fatty acid composition in BMSF was dynamic and distinct from blood plasma, implying significance in the locally produced lipids. The fatty acid composition in the BMSF was enriched in saturated fatty acid and decreased in unsaturated fatty acids as compared to blood plasma, but this relationship switched in women who suffered a hip fracture. On the other hand, there was no relationship between BMSF and bone mineral density. In conclusion, lipid composition of BMSF is distinct from the circulatory compartment, most likely reflecting the energy needs of the marrow compartment. J. Cell. Biochem. 117: 2370-2376, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Prevalencia de anemia y estado nutricional de escolares del área periurbana de Sucre, Bolivia / Anemia prevalence and nutritional status in children of a suburban area of Sucre, Bolivia

Background: There is limited data on the nutritional status and the prevalence of anemia among school children of Bolivia. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anemia, iron deficiency and nutritional status by anthropometry in children of a suburban area in the Municipality of Sucre, Bolivia. Subjects and methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving all school children aged 6 to 10years (n=195) of a suburban school of Sucre-Bolivia (2750 m over sea level). We measured weight and height and calculated Z score for weight/age, height/age, and BMI/age indices using WHO standards. Blood samples were drawn to determine hemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Anemia was defined using cut-offs points adjusted for age and corrected for altitude (Hb < 13.4 d/dl). Results: The prevalence of malnutrition observed by Z scores of height/age and weight/age were 20% and 8, 7%, respectively, and mean BMIz score was -0,07. Of these children, 17.9% showed anemia (17.4% iron deficiency anemia), 22.6% iron deficiency without anemia and 19.5% depleted iron stores. Conclusions: The school age children from the suburban area of Sucre-Bolivia presented a mild prevalence of anemia and medium prevalence of stunting.

Introducción: Existen escasos datos sobre el estado nutricional y la prevalencia de la anemia entre los escolares de Bolivia. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la prevalencia de anemia, deficiencia de hierro y el estado nutricional por antropometría en niños de una zona suburbana de la Municipalidad de Sucre, Bolivia. Sujetos y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional transversal en que participaron todos los escolares de 6 a 10 años (n=195) de una escuela suburbana de Sucre-Bolivia (2750 msnm). Se midió el peso y la talla y se calculó puntaje Z peso/edad, talla/edad, e IMC utilizando tablas de la OMS. Se extrajo una muestra de sangre para determinar hemoglobina, volumen corpuscular medio y ferritina sérica. La anemia se definió utilizando un punto de corte por edad y corregidos por la altitud (Hb <13.4 d/dl). Resultados: La prevalencia de malnutrición observado por las puntuaciones Z de talla/edad y peso/edad fueron de 20% y 9%, respectivamente, y la media del z de IMC fue -0,07. De estos niños, 17, 9% presentó anemia (17,4 anemia por deficiencia de hierro), 22,6% deficiencia de hierro sin anemia y 19,5% depósitos de hierro depletados. Conclusiones: Los niños en edad escolar de la zona suburbana de Sucre-Bolivia presentaron una prevalencia leve de anemia, y una moderada prevalencia de retraso del crecimiento.

Reducing iron deficiency anemia in Bolivian school children: calcium and iron combined versus iron supplementation alone.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of combined calcium and iron versus single iron supplementation on iron status in Bolivian schoolchildren. METHODS: Children ages 6 to 10 y old (N = 195), were randomly assigned to receive either 700 mg Ca (as calcium carbonate) plus 30 mg Fe (as ferrous sulfate) (Ca + Fe group) or 30 mg Fe (as ferrous sulfate) (Fe group). The doses were administered daily, from Monday to Friday, between meals at school over 3 mo. Iron status was assessed at baseline and after intervention. Additionally, overall nutritional status was assessed by anthropometry and an estimation of dietary intake. RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of anemia in the Ca + Fe group and the Fe group were 15% and 21.5%, respectively. After 3 mo follow-up, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia dropped significantly (P < 0.001) to 3% in both groups (χ(2) = NS). Iron dietary intake was within recommended levels, but calcium intake only covered 39% of the Recommended Daily Intake. CONCLUSION: Combined calcium and iron supplementation is equally as effective as single iron supplementation in reducing the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in Bolivian school children.

Parapharyngeal space tumor: undifferentiated sarcoma of the parotid gland. A case report.

Parapharyngeal space tumors are extremely uncommon. A 43-year-old man presents with a painless upper neck and face mass, airway obstruction and dysphagia. Physical evaluation revealed a firm, non-mobile mass extending from the right auricular region to the mandibular region of the neck. Radical parotidectomy was scheduled and muscle biopsy was done yielding undifferentiated sarcoma of the parotid gland. Parapharyngeal space tumors represent a problem for physicians in making an accurate diagnosis and determining management options available. Extensive knowledge of the anatomical boundaries of the parapharyngeal space, diversity of pathological problems and common clinical manifestations should help avoid delayed diagnosis and improve patient's outcome.

Inhibitory role for GABA in autoimmune inflammation.

GABA, the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain, has a parallel inhibitory role in the immune system. We demonstrate that immune cells synthesize GABA and have the machinery for GABA catabolism. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) express functional GABA receptors and respond electrophysiologically to GABA. Thus, the immune system harbors all of the necessary constituents for GABA signaling, and GABA itself may function as a paracrine or autocrine factor. These observations led us to ask further whether manipulation of the GABA pathway influences an animal model of multiple sclerosis, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Increasing GABAergic activity ameliorates ongoing paralysis in EAE via inhibition of inflammation. GABAergic agents act directly on APCs, decreasing MAPK signals and diminishing subsequent adaptive inflammatory responses to myelin proteins.