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Turmeric has renop rotective effects that can act to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Piperine has been indicated as a bioavailability enhancer of turmeric and consequently of its biological effects. However, data on the efficacy of the turmeric/piperine combination in HD patients are limited. We aimed to verify whether turmeric supplementation in combination with piperine has a superior effect to turmeric alone in increasing antioxidant capacity and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in HD patients.This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted in HD patients (age 20-75 years). Patients were supplemented with turmeric (3 g/day) or turmeric/piperine (3 g turmeric + 2 mg piperine/day) for 12 weeks. Malondialdehyde (MDA), antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and ferritin were evaluated at baseline and the end of the study.There was a reduction in the MDA and ferritin levels in the turmeric/piperine group and in the comparison between groups at the end of the study [MDA: -0.08(-0.14/0.01) nmol/mL versus -0.003(-0.10/0.26) nmol/mL, p = 0.003; ferritin: -193.80 ± 157.29 mg/mL versus 51.99 ± 293.25 mg/mL, p = 0.018]. In addition, GPx activity reduced in the turmeric group (p = 0.029). No changes were observed for CAT, GR, and hs-CRP.Turmeric plus piperine was superior to turmeric alone in decreasing MDA and ferritin levels. The use of a combination of turmeric and piperine as a dietary intervention may be beneficial for modulating the status oxidative and inflammation in HD patients.RBR-2t5zpd; Registration Date: May 2, 2018.

We present the development of a small foot-print physical vapor deposition (PVD) system for in-situ deposition of all layers required in a complete Cu(In,Ga)Se (CIGS) solar cell. Seven sputtering magnetrons and one valved-cracker source have been custom designed and manufactured for this system, named SpuTtering for Advanced Research (STAR). The purpose of STAR is to develop a technique to fabricate a complete CIGS solar cell, including contacts, absorber, buffer, and window layers, under high vacuum with the aim to transfer this technology to a future industrial production line. The system's capabilities and its relatively high throughput place it somewhere in between research and industrial development levels. It is possible to work on the deposition of the back contact, the CIGS absorber, and the window layer of three solar cells simultaneously. Calibration data, selection of parameters for the deposition of the individual layers, and initial results of a complete CIGS solar cell developed with STAR are reported., We acknowledge financial support by the Spanish projects AIC-B-2011-0806 and MAT2015-67021-R, and by the “Micro-concentrator thin film solar cells (MiconCell)” project (028922), and the “Correlated Analysis of Inorganic Solar Cells in and outside an Electron Microscope (CASOLEM)” project (028917), both co-funded by FCT and the ERDF through COMPETE2020. We also acknowledge financial support by MCIU-AEI-FEDER-UE (ENE2017-91092-EXP, RTI2018-096937-B-C22) and Comunidad de Madrid (P2018/EMT-4308). We acknowledge the services at IMN-CNM from the X-SEM Laboratory (MINECO CSIC13-4E-1794) and from MiNa Laboratory (funding from CM under project S2013/ICE-2822, Space-Tec) both with support from EU (FEDER, FSE)”.

Prey selection and feeding strategy of the Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi were investigated by analyzing the diet and prey availability in the main nursery area of the Patagonian stock (42.4°–46.4 °S, 70–102 m depth). Stomach contents from fish captured using a bottom trawl net, and zooplankton samples collected with a Bongo net, were analyzed. Acoustic data were examined to identify pelagic aggregations and quantify relative prey abundance. The Argentine hake M. hubbsi fed mainly on crustaceans (92.7%IRI), followed by fish (7.1%IRI) and cephalopods (0.2%IRI). Among crustaceans, the diet was dominated by euphausiids (Euphausia spp.), the lobster krill Munida gregaria, and the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii. The most consumed fish was other hake by cannibalism. Prey availability was also numerically dominated by the euphausiids (Euphausia spp.), followed by the hyperiid amphipod T. gaudichaudii and the lobster krill M. gregaria. Ontogenetic dietary changes were detected: consumption of euphausiids and amphipods decreased with predator´s total length, and the consumption of the lobster krill M. gregaria was higher in adult specimens. The Argentine hake M. hubbsi showed positive prey selection for lobster krill M. gregaria. The consumption of Euphausiids decreased with the increasing acoustic abundance of the lobster krill M. gregaria. The cannibalism was denso-independent. The Argentine hake appeared to be opportunistic when the proportion of prey eaten to the proportion present in the environment was compared, but deeper analyses confirmed that zooplankter with increased abundances and higher energy density was the preferred prey.

Made available in DSpace on 2018-12-11T17:38:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2018-11-01 Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Stomatal aperture generally increases in response to low vapor pressure deficit (VPD) and decreases at high VPD. Aluminum (Al) inhibits root growth, indirectly exposing the roots to low water availability, which may decrease leaf hydration and, consequently, the stomatal conductance (gs). In this study, Citrus limonia (‘Rangpur’ lime) was grown in nutrient solution with 1480 μM Al for 90 days, and we expected that the presence of Al could prevent gs from responding to VPD. As expected, gs did not respond to the increase in VPD in plants exposed to Al. Aluminum also reduced the relative water content and midday leaf water potential (Ψmd) after 60 and 90 days. The CO2 assimilation rate (A) followed the same response pattern exhibited by gs, the estimation of the carboxylation efficiency was not reduced in plants exposed to Al and measured under drier air, while photochemical responses were slightly reduced in plants exposed to Al, indicating that the Al-induced decrease in A was dependent on gs and less ascribed to low photochemical performance. Like in drought conditions, the long-term exposure to Al reduces leaf hydration and compromises gs responses to the atmosphere, eventually impairing A in ‘Rangpur’ lime plants. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Botânica, Av. 24-A, 1515 Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Botânica, Av. 24-A, 1515 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Botânica, Av. 24-A, 1515 Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) Instituto de Biociências Departamento de Botânica, Av. 24-A, 1515 CNPq: 309149/2017-7

A meta-analysis was carried out to evaluate the effect of heat on the performance of lactating sows and their litters. The database containing information on the effects heat stress has on the productive and reproductive performance of lactating sows was composed by 20 articles published in international journals from 2000 to 2016, totalizing 2222 lactating sows. The duration of lactation was corrected to 21d. In the studies analyzed, the most representative variables were piglet weight at 21 days (kg) and litter weight at 21 days (kg). Daily ambient temperature (T°C) ranged from 15.0° to 32.0 °C. Rectal temperature and respiratory rate were higher in lactating sows maintained in hot conditions compared to those maintained in the thermal comfort range. The nutrient intake by the lactating sows was inversely proportional to the ambient temperature. The piglets weaned of lactating sows were kept in thermal comfort 90.84 heavier percentage point after 21 days of the piglets of lactating sows kept in heat stress environment. Piglet weight gain exhibited a high and negative correlation with ambient temperature. At 1 °C above the thermal comfort range (from 15° to 25°C) leads to a decrease in food intake (kg/d) and milk yield (kg/d), which represents a high and negative correlation with at room temperature, that is, as the ambient temperature increases, there is less consumption of nutrients, resulting in reduced milk production (less mobilization of nutrients to the mammary gland). Increased respiratory rate is an efficient parameter for evaluating the intensity of heat stress in lactating sows.

Made available in DSpace on 2021-06-25T11:11:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2021-05-01 Aluminum (Al)-induced decrease in leaf hydration has been associated with low gas exchange, especially stomatal conductance (gs). However, the mechanisms explaining these responses are unclear. Citrus limonia was exposed to 0 and 1480 μM Al in nutrient solution for 90 days to test whether the low gs and leaf hydration in plants exposed to Al is associated with increased 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED) gene expression and abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. Relative leaf water content (RWC), water potential (Ψw) and gas exchange in the leaves, as well as leaf and root ClNCED3, ClNCED1 and ClNCED5 expression and accumulation of ABA and its metabolites (phaseic acid, dihydrophaseic acid, (+)-7′-hydroxy-ABA and ABA-β-D-glucosyl ester) were measured. Aluminum up-regulated ClNCED3 and induced ABA accumulation in the roots before impairments in leaf water status (low Ψw, RWC and gs) could be observed. Leaf ABA concentration increased from 7 to 90 days and this could be partially explained by the up-regulation of ClNCED3, ClNCED1 and ClNCED5 in this organ. Stomatal closure occurred concomitantly with the increase of ABA concentration, and this result provides further evidence of the role of ABA modulation of plant hydration under Al stress. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A, 1515 Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiróz” Universidade de São Paulo ESALQ-USP, Av. Pádua Dias, 11 Cranfield Soil and Agrifood Institute Cranfield University, College Rd Departamento de Botânica Instituto de Biocências Universidade de São Paulo USP, Rua do Matão, 14 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética Instituto de Biologia Universidade Estadual de Campinas Avenida Cândido Rondon Cidade Universitária Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A, 1515 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A, 1515 Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A, 1515

Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T02:19:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-11-01 Many studies ask how aluminum (Al) reduces the root growth, but as Al is mostly retained in the root system, physiological explanations for the also expected Al-induced decrease in stomatal conductance (gs) are unclear, mainly in well-watered conditions. We exposed tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) to 0, 25, 50 and 100 μM Al in nutrient solution to investigate whether Al impairs root hydraulic conductance (Lpr), affecting leaf water potential (Ψleaf) and possibly inducing abscisic acid (ABA) accumulation in roots and/or leaves. We also measured ABA delivery rate, xylem sap pH and the root/leaf area ratio in order to explain the low gs in plants exposed to Al. Declines in Lpr and gs were proportional to the increase in Al concentration, and all Al treatments similarly decreased Ψleaf, indicating the plant's attempt to reduce water loss through transpiration while accumulating more ABA. Despite Al-induced increases in root ABA, the root-to-shoot delivery of ABA did not enhance, but Al caused root xylem sap alkalization. Despite the stability of root/leaf area ratio across a range of Al concentrations (0, 25 and 50 μM Al), the leaf hydration and stomatal opening was not conserved. Here we provide the first evidence that decreases in Lpr and increases in ABA might explain Al-induced stomatal closure. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A Lancaster Environment Centre Lancaster University Lancaster University, Library Avenue, Lancaster Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castelane Castellane S/N - Vila Industrial Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A, 1515 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A Departamento de Biologia Aplicada à Agropecuária Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Via de Acesso Professor Paulo Donato Castelane Castellane S/N - Vila Industrial Departamento de Biodiversidade Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista UNESP, Av. 24-A, 1515

This work presents an efficient methodology for optimum design of functionally graded plates. Isogeometric analysis is used to evaluate the structural responses and the material gradation is described using B-Splines to enhance design flexibility. A constraint is included in the optimization model to ensure a smooth material gradation. In order to improve the computational efficiency of the optimization process, a surrogate model based on Radial Basis Functions is used to accurately approximate the structural responses. Different methods to define the width of basis functions based on analytical and cross-validation techniques are adopted and compared. Two infill criteria based on the expected improvement technique are used to continuously improve the surrogate model accuracy by balancing both the local and global searches. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approaches are assessed through a set of problems involving the maximization of the buckling load and the fundamental frequency of functionally graded plates, showing excellent results.