DuPont (Brazil)

BACKGROUND: Constipation is a frequent complaint and the combination of a prebiotic and probiotics could have a potentially synergic effect on the intestinal transit. The present study therefore aims to investigate the combination of polydextrose (Litesse), L. acidophilus NCFM® and B. lactis HN019 in a yogurt on intestinal transit in subjects who suffer from constipation. METHODS: Patients with constipation were randomly divided into two groups, Control Group (CG) and Treatment Group (TG), and had to eat 180 ml of unflavored yogurt every morning for 14 days. Those in the CG received only yogurt, while the TG received yogurt containing polydextrose, L. acidophilus NCFM (ATCC 700396) and B. lactis HN019 (AGAL NM97/09513). RESULTS: Favourable clinical response was assessed since Agachan score had a significant reduction at the end of the study in both groups and tended to be better in the TG. The subjects in the treatment group also had a shorter transit time at the end of the intervention compared to the control group (p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The product containing yogurt with polydextrose, B. lactis HN019 and L. acidophilus NCFM® significantly shortened colonic transit time after two weeks in the TG compared to CG and may be an option for treatment of constipation.

The search for new sweeteners technologies has increased substantially in the past decades as the number of diseases related to the excessive consumption of sugar became a public health concern. Low carbohydrates diets help to reduce ingested calories and to maintain a healthy weight. Most natural and synthetic high potency non-caloric sweeteners, known to date, show limitations in taste quality and are generally used in combination due to their complementary flavor characteristics and physicochemical properties in order to minimize undesirable features. The challenge of the food manufacturers is to develop low or calorie-free products without compromising the real taste of sugar expected by consumers. With the discovery of the genes coding for the sweet taste receptor in humans, entirely new flavor ingredients were identified, which are tasteless on their own, but potentially enhance the taste of sugar. These small molecules known as positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) could be more effective than other reported taste enhancers at reducing calories in consumer products. PAMs could represent a breakthrough in the field of flavor development after the increase in the knowledge of safety profile in combination with sucrose in humans.

Abstract Glyphosate-resistant (GR) and glyphosate-tolerant weeds cause considerable yield losses and represent a growing threat to soybean production systems. Despite the relevance of this topic, few studies have evaluated the dispersal of these species in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dispersal and frequency of known GR and glyphosate-tolerant weeds in soybean-producing microregions. A total of 2,481 interviews were conducted in different regions of Brazil. The interviews were stratified among 20 edaphoclimatic microregions (ECRs) to cover all of the country’s soybean-producing regions. A minimum number of interviews was estimated to generate a margin of error of ≤10% within the ECRs and ≤5% in the country. The values of the farmers’ responses were extrapolated to the total soybean production area of each ECR and the country as a whole, and the absolute values of each response were normalized as percentage values. The dispersal and management data demonstrate a loss of efficiency of glyphosate-resistance technology. Species that are naturally tolerant to glyphosate such as goosegrass, Commelina spp., and Ipomoea spp. had a greater presence in the ECRs, as did the resistant biotypes, particularly Conyza spp. and sourgrass, due to the large area cultivated with GR soybean, where glyphosate has been used with high frequency.

BACKGROUND: The spatial distribution of insects is due to the interaction between individuals and the environment. Knowledge about the within-field pattern of spatial distribution of a pest is critical to planning control tactics, developing efficient sampling plans, and predicting pest damage. The leaf miner Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is the main pest of tomato crops in several regions of the world. Despite the importance of this pest, the pattern of spatial distribution of T. absoluta on open-field tomato cultivation remains unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the spatial distribution of T. absoluta in 22 commercial open-field tomato cultivations with plants at the three phenological development stages by using geostatistical analysis. RESULTS: Geostatistical analysis revealed that there was strong evidence for spatially dependent (aggregated) T. absoluta eggs in 19 of the 22 sample tomato cultivations. The maps that were obtained demonstrated the aggregated structure of egg densities at the edges of the crops. Further, T. absoluta was found to accomplish egg dispersal along the rows more frequently than it does between rows. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the greatest egg densities of T. absoluta occur at the edges of tomato crops. These results are discussed in relation to the behavior of T. absoluta distribution within fields and in terms of their implications for improved sampling guidelines and precision targeting control methods that are essential for effective pest monitoring and management. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plant genetic resources are the fuel for breeding, which in the search for higher yield and adapted genotypes, manipulates genes in order to meet the needs of farmers, and especially, of the current market. However, the use of accessions available in germplasm banks is low. Topics discussed in this paper emphasize the importance of plant genetic resources, and warn about problems related to genetic vulnerability; also, they discuss about aspects of costs involved in conservation and suggest recommendations for strengthening the area in Brazil.

Asian soybean rust caused by Phakopsora pachyrhizi, occurs in all soybean production regions of the world. Rust is the most destructive foliar disease of soybean and can cause yield losses of over 80%. To date, six race-specific resistance genes have been identified in plant introductions. However, races of P. pachyrhizi able to overcome the resistance conferred by these genes have evolved. Due to the limited availability of resistant varieties, fungicide application is the only management tool available for farmers, which significantly raises the production cost and the risk of environmental and human contamination. Thus, the transfer of resistance genes through classical breeding followed by marker-assisted selection allows the development of resistant varieties and their use as an efficient and cost-effective method for controlling soybean rust. The objective of this review is to provide a broad overview of the Asian soybean rust resistance, and a useful tool to guide future researches as well.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito residual de herbicidas aplicados na cultura da soja sobre a produtividade do milho em semeadura subseqüente. Foram instalados cinco experimentos na safra agrícola 2002/2003, com delineamento em blocos ao acaso e quatro repetições. Cada experimento correspondeu ao período decorrido entre a aplicação dos herbicidas e a semeadura do milho: zero (semeadura no mesmo dia da aplicação), 30, 60, 90 e 120 dias após aplicação (daa). Os experimentos foram compostos por oito tratamentos (herbicidas diclosulan, sulfentrazone, imazaquin, imazethapyr, fomesafen, lactofen, e chlorimuron-ethyl e um tratamento testemunha), e o efeito dos herbicidas sobre a cultura do milho foi avaliado pela fitotoxicidade e a produtividade. O efeito da fitotoxicidade foi acentuado a zero e 30 daa, e apresentou correlação direta com a redução da produtividade de milho, principalmente quanto aos herbicidas diclosulan e imazaquin. Aos 60 daa não houve correlação direta entre a fitotoxicidade e a produtividade, demonstrando que a cultura do milho apresentou boa capacidade de recuperação. Aos 90 e 120 daa não ocorreram sintomas de fitotoxicidade em nenhum dos tratamentos. Os produtos utilizados apresentaram efeito residual sobre a cultura do milho, principalmente quando foi semeado até 60 dias após aplicação dos herbicidas.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to quantify bone marrow edema (BME) and/or structural lesions in the sacroiliac joints (SIJ) of patients with recurrent acute anterior uveitis (rAAU) with or without back pain, to evaluate the frequency of axial (axSpA) and peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) and to establish which criterion for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) positivity best reflected the global assessment of SIJ MRI. METHODS: A total of 50 patients with rAAU without prior rheumatologic diagnosis were included in our cross-sectional study, and these patients were compared to 21 healthy volunteers. SIJ MRI scans were read by 2 rheumatologists according to the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC/MORPHO) protocol. Discrepant cases were adjudicated by a radiologist. RESULTS: Patients with rAAU were diagnosed with axSpA (Group 1, n = 20, 40%) and nonspecific back pain (Group 2, n = 6, 12%), or as being asymptomatic (Group 3, n = 24, 48%). Group 3 results showed 9 patients (37.5%) had SIJ MRI and/or were radiography-positive for axSpA (5 MRI and radiograph, 1 MRI, 3 radiograph). SIJ MRI scans that were compatible with SpA in groups 1 (n = 12) and 3 (n = 6) were similar in acute and structural lesions that were analyzed according to SPARCC/MORPHO. The best sensitivity/specificity criterion for defining a positive global MRI assessment was a BME score ≥ 3 (88%/94%). CONCLUSION: This is the first study evaluating SIJ MRI in patients with rAAU without back symptoms, showing positive findings for sacroiliitis. Moreover, a BME score ≥ 3 had better performance to define an SIJ MRI as positive for axSpA.

PURPOSE: The primary purpose of this study was to assess vascular retinal findings temporally related to COVID-19 vaccination. With greater information regarding all possible future adverse events, we hope to understand the real dimension and relevance of what was presented. METHODS: Eleven patients with visual complaints after COVID-19 vaccination were enrolled. Data on the following were included: age, sex, vaccine, time of symptom onset, systemic findings, medical history, best-corrected visual acuity, and ocular findings by slit-lamp biomicroscopy as well as multimodal retinal imaging (color fundus, red-free photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography, optical coherence tomography angiography, and fluorescein-angiography). Inclusion criteria were the presence of ophthalmologic signs within 30 days after the first or second dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. RESULTS: Of 11 patients, five had arterial occlusion (45.4%), four had venous occlusion (36.4%), and two (18.2%) had nonspecific vascular alterations suggestive of retinal ischemia such as cotton-wool spots. The mean age was 57 (SD = 16; range: 27-84) years. The mean time of symptoms onset was 10 (SD = 5.4; range: 3-16) days. Nine patients were female (81.8%). Systemic risk factors were observed in 36.4% of patients. Two patients had both neurological and visual symptoms, with arterial occlusion. Overall, 36.4% patients had COVID-19 in the previous year. Seven patients (63.6%) received ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (AZD1222) vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that retinal events temporally related to COVID-19 vaccination are possible but are very rare. The relationship of these events with post-COVID-19 vaccination warrants further attention to derive a meaningful conclusion.

Abstract BACKGROUND Although Leptoglossus zonatus is considered a secondary pest of maize grown for grain, when grown for seed, this pest can cause significant economic damage. There are no records of management recommendations for this pest. The objectives of this work were to quantify losses caused by L. zonatus to different genotypes used for seed maize production and to estimate the acute toxicity of selected insecticides to L. zonatus using different application technologies. The ultimate goal was to calculate economic injury levels (EILs) and develop economic thresholds (ETs) for L. zonatus infesting seed maize. RESULTS EILs and ETs varied, respectively, from 3 to 8 and from 2 to 6 adults per 1000 plants, depending on the genotype, insecticide and application technology. Effective control was obtained by using aerial or ground application of λ‐cyhalothrin (10.6%) + thiametoxan (14.1%) or permethrin (38.4%) at the rates of 1.48 mL ha ‐1 and 27.10 mL ha ‐1 , respectively, or ground application of methomyl (21.5%) at the rate of 244.06 mL ha ‐1 . CONCLUSION Maize grown for seed is susceptible to L. zonatus damage during reproductive stages, and the pest densities requiring management vary with genotype, insecticide, and application technology. These results contribute significantly to integrated pest management (IPM) for seed maize. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry

Abstract Introduction Streptococcus salivarius is a dominant oral species and the best suitable candidate for probiotic of the oral cavity. Since Streptococcus salivarius is able to produce bacteriocins against Streptococcus pyogenes interest has been focused on the use of it as a probiotic to avoid sore throats by Streptococcus pyogenes. Objective This study is for selecting Streptococcus salivarius strains for potential use as probiotics for the oral mucosa, that is, production of bacteriocin against Streptococcus pyogenes and the ability to bind to KB cells. Material and method Tongue material from 45 students was collected and seeded on Mitis Salivarius Agar plaques. The strains were tested by the production of bacteriocin-like substances (BLIS) against S. pyogenes, biochemically and PCR for identification of S. salivarius. The best strains were tested for adherence to KB cells. Briefly, S. salivarius strains were cultured in broth, washed and suspended at 108cells/ml. KB cells were inoculated into plaques, washed and incubated with the bacteria, for adhesion. These were washed for lysis of the KB cells and release bacteria for determination of CFU. Result The bacteriocin test showed that 133 strains presented inhibition of S. pyogenes. The samples tested for adhesion to KB cells, presented different profiles and only three strains presenting high adhesion capacity. Conclusion The selection of strains of Streptococcus salivarius with high inhibitory activity against Streptococcus pyogenes, as well as adherence to KB cells leads us to the next future step, that is, to use the best strains for in vivo colonization tests

BACKGROUND: Prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after kidney transplantation is costly and burdensome. METHODS: Given its promising utility in risk stratification, we evaluated the use of QuantiFERON-CMV (QFCMV) and additional clinical variables in this prospective cohort study to predict the first clinically significant CMV infection (CS-CMV, ranging from asymptomatic viremia requiring treatment to CMV disease) in the first posttransplant year. A cost-effectiveness analysis for guided prevention was done. RESULTS: One hundred adult kidney transplant recipients, CMV IgG + , were given basiliximab induction and maintained on steroid/mycophenolate/tacrolimus with weekly CMV monitoring. Thirty-nine patients developed CS-CMV infection (viral syndrome, n = 1; end-organ disease, n = 9; and asymptomatic viremia, n = 29). A nonreactive or indeterminate QFCMV result using the standard threshold around day 30 (but not before transplant) was associated with CS-CMV rates of 50% and 75%, respectively. A higher QFCMV threshold for reactivity (>1.0 IU interferon-γ/mL) outperformed the manufacturer's standard (>0.2 IU interferon-γ/mL) in predicting protection but still allowed a 16% incidence of CS-CMV. The combination of recipient age and type of donor, along with posttransplant QFCMV resulted in a prediction model that increased the negative predictive value from 84% (QFCMV alone) to 93%. QFCMV-guided preemptive therapy was of lower cost than preemptive therapy alone ( P < 0.001, probabilistic sensitivity analysis) and was cost-effective (incremental net monetary benefit of 210 USD) assuming willingness-to-pay of 2000 USD to avoid 1 CMV disease. CONCLUSIONS: Guided CMV prevention by the prediction model with QFCMV is cost-effective and would spare from CMV surveillance in 42% of patients with low risk for CS-CMV.

Automotive industries are increasingly interested in learning how to prolong the clearcoat resin lifetime and avoid its thermal, photochemical, and chemical degradation. While chemical degradation by acid rain has been well known since the beginning of the decade and the subject of many studies, chemical degradation of the automotive clearcoat by living organisms (except by bird droppings) is a newly recognized problem. In this work, we report the chemical degradation of the automotive clearcoat caused by oviposition of dragonflies. These insects, very common in Brazil, are attracted by the reflecting surface of cars exposed in the sun and lay eggs on them. We observed that the eggs, at the high temperatures (50–92°C) of the car surface, can cause damage similar to that of acid rain. In experiments on resin-coated plates, we excluded the involvement of H2O2—or hydroquinone—derived radicals, of enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis, and of photosensitizer-induced damage. The damage was very similar, however, to that produced by the sulfur-containing amino acids, cysteine and cystine, at high temperature. Due to this similarity, and because the eggs are rich in sulfur amino acids, we propose a mechanism involving cysteine and cystine residues in the clearcoat damage. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 1632–1639, 2000

This paper proposes an alternative method for evaluating the stability and adaptability of maize hybrids using a genotype-ideotype distance index (GIDI) for selection. Data from seven variables were used, obtained through evaluation of 25 maize hybrids at six sites in southern Brazil. The GIDI was estimated by means of the generalized Mahalanobis distance for each plot of the test. We then proceeded to GGE biplot analysis in order to compare the predictive accuracy of the GGE models and the grouping of environments and to select the best five hybrids. The G × E interaction was significant for both variables assessed. The GGE model with two principal components obtained a predictive accuracy (PRECORR) of 0.8913 for the GIDI and 0.8709 for yield (t ha(-1)). Two groups of environments were obtained upon analyzing the GIDI, whereas all the environments remained in the same group upon analyzing yield. Coincidence occurred in only two hybrids considering evaluation of the two features. The GIDI assessment provided for selection of hybrids that combine adaptability and stability in most of the variables assessed, making its use more highly recommended than analyzing each variable separately. Not all the higher-yielding hybrids were the best in the other variables assessed.

O uso de glyphosate para o controle de plantas daninhas em soja RR® apresenta características essenciais no conceito de praticabilidade. Entretanto, apesar de não permitido na legislação brasileira, tem-se aumentado a associação com outros herbicidas para manejo de espécies de difícil controle, assim como a sua mistura em tanque em combinação com inseticidas e adjuvantes. Com o objetivo de avaliar a seletividade de cultivares de soja RR® submetidos a misturas em tanque de formulações de glyphosate (Polaris®, Roundup Ready® e Roundup WG®) com chlorimuron-ethyl (Classic®), e suas associações com óleo mineral (Joint Oil®) e inseticidas novaluron (Gallaxy 100 EC®), permethrin (Piredan®) e methomyl (Lannate BR®), um experimento foi conduzido a campo na cidade de Maracaí-SP, na safra 2006/2007. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 16 x 4, sendo 16 as associações das misturas em tanque entre as formulações de glyphosate, óleo mineral e inseticidas e quatro cultivares: Monsoy 7210RR®, Monsoy 7979RR®, BRS 245RR® e CD 214RR®. Sintomas visuais de intoxicação inicial dos cultivares estudados foram caracterizados por clorose e encarquilhamento nas folhas para todas as misturas em tanque das formulações de glyphosate + chlorimuron-ethyl, associadas ou não ao óleo mineral e inseticidas novaluron, permethrin e methomyl. Todas as misturas em tanque não promoveram reduções significativas de produtividade para os cultivares Monsoy 7210RR®, Monsoy 7979RR® e BRS 245RR® e controlaram Ipomoea spp. com eficácia apenas satisfatória a partir dos 21 DAA (dias após aplicação).

The discovery of oil fields in deepwater over the last decades led the oil and gas industry to the necessity of replacing the steel wire cables of the mooring systems of offshore platforms by polymeric ropes. These systems must be designed to work for at least 20 years without showing substantial loss in tensile strength or in their mechanical behavior along this period. However, some polymers present degradation by seawater through the process of hydrolysis, and the question whether it affects significantly the materials’ ultimate tensile strength arises. Accelerated hydrolysis tests were conducted in yarn samples of aramid at high temperature in order to use the Arrhenius correlation to predict their lifetime under service conditions. In order to decouple the total degradation into a thermal and a purely hydrolytic part, separate aging experiments were performed into a dry chamber and the conclusion was that thermal degradation does not play a significant role in the total degradation of aramid due to the water submersion at the temperatures tested.

To gain a better understanding of the physiology of the herbicide aminocyclopyrachlor in young plants of trumpet flower, the uptake and translocation were evaluated after the application of herbicide. This was determined by treating individual leaves with formulated herbicides plus (14)C-aminocyclopyrachlor after the application of the formulated herbicide. This experiment used a randomized experimental design with three replications. In addition, field studies were conducted to assess the effectiveness of foliar applications of aminocyclopyrachlor in association with metsulfuton-methyl. The plant absorbed 20% of the herbicide applied. The translocation percentage did not surpass 5% of the total amount applied. Only 1% of the herbicide applied was translocated to the roots. Rate of 40 + 13 g a.i. 100 L(-1) of aminocyclopyrachlor+metsulfuron-methyl was effective to control T. stans.

Injury to weeds from sublethal doses of POST herbicides may reduce the effect of weed interference on crop yield. Information on how herbicide dose influences weed mortality, growth, and seed production is needed to assess the potential benefit of applying reduced herbicide doses. Field experiments were conducted at Mead, NE, in 2001 and 2002 to quantify velvetleaf mortality, growth, and corn–velvetleaf interference in response to varying doses of three POST herbicides. Untreated velvetleaf at six densities (0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 20 plants m −1 corn row) was grown in mixture with corn to establish a baseline corn–velvetleaf interference relationship. Treated velvetleaf at a density of 20 plants m −1 row received one of five doses of dicamba, halosulfuron, or flumiclorac. Untreated velvetleaf height, biomass, and seed capsule production were greater in 2002 than 2001 and declined with increasing velvetleaf density in both years. Corn yield was not affected by untreated velvetleaf in 2001, but yield loss increased with increasing velvetleaf density in 2002. Mortality of herbicide-treated velvetleaf was 56% greater in 2001 than 2002 and increased with increasing herbicide dose. Maximum height of treated velvetleaf was similar for all treatments in 2001 but declined with increasing herbicide dose in 2002. Biomass and seed production of treated velvetleaf varied among herbicides in 2002 and decreased with increasing dose. Corn yield was not influenced by velvetleaf in 2001, but yield loss in response to herbicide-treated velvetleaf declined with increasing herbicide dose in 2002. Results show that the assumption that weeds surviving herbicide application are as competitive as untreated weeds is incorrect. Reduction in growth and resource consumption by herbicide-damaged weeds reduced the negative effects of weeds on corn.

The objective of this research was to evaluate contrasting textures soils (clay and loamy sand) in the leaching of diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1386.9 + 391 + 33.35 g ha -1 ) commercial formulation, and also hexazinone (391 g ha -1 ), diuron (1386.9 g ha -1 ) and sulfometuron-methyl (33.35 g ha -1 ), in soil columns mounted in PVC pipes. One day after the herbicide application, half of the columns received 40 mm of simulated rainfall and Ipomoea triloba weed was sown. At 21 and 30 days after sowing, it was accomplished the evaluation about percentage of weed control. For the clay texture soil, diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl and hexazinone herbicides reached approximately 10 to 13 cm deep with 0 and 40 mm, respectively. In loamy sand texture soil, herbicides leaching was evident up to 20 cm deep, with 40 mm of precipitation. For diuron and sulfometuron-methyl herbicides, leaching tended to approach to clay texture soil with 40 mm and to loamy sand texture soil in the two simulated precipitations. Hexazinone and D+H+SMM were the herbicides that presented the highest trend to leaching, facilitated in loamy sand texture soil. Diuron and sulfometuron-methyl herbicides’ leaching was lower, fact that exposes hexazinone influence in the leaching of the evaluated commercial formulation. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.7824/rbh.v11i2.172

As aplicações sucessivas de dejeto líquido de suínos podem aumentar os teores de cobre e fósforo na camada superficial do solo, aumentando as perdas de suas formas por escoamento superficial e percolação. O trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar as perdas e as formas de cobre e de fósforo na solução escoada, na superfície e percolada em solo submetido a aplicações sucessivas de dejeto líquido de suínos, em sistema plantio direto. O experimento utilizado neste estudo foi instalado no ano de 2000, sobre um solo Argissolo Vermelho distrófico arênico. Os tratamentos foram aplicações sucessivas de 0, 40 e 80m³ ha-1 de dejeto líquido de suínos a lanço e na superfície do solo, em sistema plantio direto. Para este trabalho, foram coletadas soluções escoadas e percoladas, durante o ciclo da aveia preta (Avena strigosa), no inverno de 2006, quando o solo apresentava um histórico de 16 aplicações de dejeto. Nas soluções, foi quantificado o sedimento e determinados os teores de Cu, P, cátions e ânions, pH, carbono orgânico dissolvido (COD) e condutividade elétrica (CE). Usando o programa Visual MINTEQ, versão 2.15, se realizou a especiação iônica de Cu e P nas soluções. As maiores perdas de cobre e fósforo do solo ocorrem por escoamento superficial, em áreas submetidas a aplicações sucessivas de dejeto líquido de suínos em sistema plantio direto. O potencial contaminante desses elementos ficou evidenciado pela presença do cobre na forma predominante orgânica (CuCOD) e do fósforo nas formas livres (HPO4(2-) e H2PO4-), na solução escoada.