Monooxygenase- and Dioxygenase-Catalyzed Oxidative Dearomatization of Thiophenes by Sulfoxidation, cis-Dihydroxylation and Epoxidation

Enzymatic oxidations of thiophenes, including thiophene-containing drugs, are important for biodesulfurization of crude oil and drug metabolism of mono- and poly-cyclic thiophenes. Thiophene oxidative dearomatization pathways involve reactive metabolites, whose detection is important in the pharmaceutical industry, and are catalyzed by monooxygenase (sulfoxidation, epoxidation) and dioxygenase (sulfoxidation, dihydroxylation) enzymes. Sulfoxide and epoxide metabolites of thiophene substrates are often unstable, and, while cis-dihydrodiol metabolites are more stable, significant challenges are presented by both types of metabolite. Prediction of the structure, relative and absolute configuration, and enantiopurity of chiral metabolites obtained from thiophene enzymatic oxidation depends on the substrate, type of oxygenase selected, and molecular docking results. The racemization and dimerization of sulfoxides, cis/trans epimerization of dihydrodiol metabolites, and aromatization of epoxides are all factors associated with the mono- and di-oxygenase-catalyzed metabolism of thiophenes and thiophene-containing drugs and their applications in chemoenzymatic synthesis and medicine.

Assessing Tolerance to the Hydrodynamic Exposure of Posidonia oceanica Seedlings Anchored to Rocky Substrates

Among a suite of abiotic and biotic factors, the hydrodynamic regime strongly influences the success of seagrass recruitment through sexual propagules. Uprooting of propagules by drag forces exerted by currents and waves is one of the main causes for the failed establishment and the consequent recruitment. Substrate type and stability play a key role in determining the success of colonization through sexual propagules, as seedling establishment probabilities proved to be significantly higher on rocky bottoms than on unstable unconsolidated substrates. In this research, the current and wave flow intensity that Posidonia oceanica seedlings anchored to rocky substrates can withstand before uprooting were evaluated and the influence of substrate complexity on seedling anchorage success and anchorage strength was investigated. P. oceanica seedlings withstood the current velocity of 70 cm s–1 and increased orbital flow velocities up to 25 cm s–1. Seedling adhesion strength ranged from 3.92 to 29.42 N. Results of the present study corroborate the hypothesis that substrate complexity at scales relevant to the size of propagules is a crucial feature for P. oceanica seedling establishment. The intensity of unidirectional and oscillatory flow that seedlings can withstand without being dislodged assessed in this study support the hypothesis that P. oceanica sexual propagules, once adhered to a consolidated substrate, are able to tolerate high hydrodynamic stress. The results of the present study contribute to re-evaluation of the habitat requirements of P. oceanica, assessing the range of hydrodynamic conditions that this species can tolerate during the early stages of its life history.

Floristic mosaics of the threatened Brazilian campo rupestre

The increase in rates of habitat loss requires an understanding of how biodiversity is distributed. Campo rupestre is an old, climatically buffered, and infertile landscape located in Brazil. Considered a biodiversity hotspot, the campo rupestre is mainly threatened by mining activity that requires a large operating area. Campo rupestre is known for its restricted distribution area and high abiotic heterogeneity, which modulates species coexistence and richness. To recognise the association between habitat type and plant communities, we propose to describe the floristic composition of herbaceous and shrub components in four habitats of the campo rupestre comprising quartzite and ferruginous substrate. We classified habitat types by the main surface soil features. In each habitat, we sampled ten 100-m2 plots to access information on the shrub and ten 1-m2 plots for the herbaceous component. Altogether we sampled 153 species, belonging to 38 families. The cluster analysis ordered by Sorensen metric indicates a clear distinction of species composition in the shrub component in the four habitats. However, the floristic composition of the herbaceous component was similar between the four habitats but showed a distinction when contrasting with the substrate type. Our results highlight the local taxonomic distinction between habitat types and substrates, indicating that the ecological distinction among substrate types of the campo rupestre cannot be overlooked in conservation and restoration actions.

Use of homeopathy Arnica montana for the issuance of the roots Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Lippia alba (Mill) N.E.Br.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of homeopathic preparation Arnica montana in rooting of Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and White Lippia (Lippia alba). The cuttings Rosmarinus officinalis and Lippia alba, collected from the medicinal garden at NCA / UFMG, were placed in trays to root with commercial substrate type "plantmax" and immediately after were subjected to daily applications of homeopathic preparations of Arnica montana in dilutions 3cH, 6cH, 9cH, 12cH, with 2 controls, distilled water and ethanol 70%. The statistical design was completely randomized (DIC), with 6 treatments and 4 repetitions, each experimental unit was formed by 10 stakes. After 45 days, were assessed the number of roots, the nummber of shoots, the length of the largest root, the percentage of rooted stakes and the quality of stakes. Arnica montana in dilutions 3cH, 6cH and 12cH stimulated all variables related to the issuance of roots in the species under study, which emphasizes the similarity between Arnica montana and the picture elicited by the physiological process of cutting, promoting an increase in the percentage and quality of the roots. Keywords: Homeopathy; rooting; cutting; Arnica Montana.  Uso do preparado homeopático Arnica montana na formação de raízes de Rosmarinus officinalis L. e Lippia alba (Mill)N.E.E.Br Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influéncia do preparado homeopático Arnica montana na formação de raízes de alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis) e cidreira (Lippia alba). Mudas de Rosmarinus officinalis e Lippia alba, cultivadas no horto medicinal de NCA/UFMG foram colocadas para enraizar em bandejas contendo substrato comercial de tipo "plantamax" e imediatamente após, submetidas a aplicações diárias de preparados homeopáticos de Arnica montana nas diluições 3cH, 6cH, 9cH e 12cH, com dois controles, água destilada e etanol 70%. O desenho estatístico foi completamente randomizado (DIC), com 6 tratamentos e 4 repetições, cada unidade experimental esteve composta de 10 estacas. Depois de 45 dias, foram avaliados o número de raízes, o número de brotos, a longitude da raiz mais longa, porcentagem de estacas enraizadas e qualidade das estacas. Arnica montana nas diluições 3cH, 6cH e 12cH promoveu todas as variáveis relacionadas com a formação de raízes sob estudo, acentuando a semelhança entre Arnica montana e o quadro induzido pelo processo fisiológico do estacamento, promovendo aumento na porcentagem e qualidade das raízes. Palavras-chave: Homeopatia; enraizamento; corte; Arnica Montana.  Uso del preparado homeopático Arnica montana en la formación de raíces de Rosmarinus officinalis L. y Lippia alba (Mill) N.E.Br. Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la influencia del preparado homeopático Arnica montana en la formación de raíces de romero (Rosmarinus officnalis) y lippia blanca (Lippia alba). Mudas de Rosmarinus officinalis y Lippia alba, cultivados en la huerta medicinal de NCA/UFMG fueron colocadas para arraigar en bandejas conteniendo sustrato comercial de tipo "plantamax" e inmediatamente después fueron sometidas a aplicaciones diarias de preparados homeopáticos de Arnica montana en las diluciones 3cH, 6cH, 9cH y 12cH, con dos controles, agua destilada y etanol 70%. El diseño estatístico fue completamente randomizado (DIC), con 6 tratamientos y 4 repeticiones, cada unidad experimental compuesta por 10 estacas. Después de 45 días, fueron evaluados el número de raíces, número de brotes, longitud de la raíz más larga, porcentaje de estacas arraigadas y la calidad de las estacas. Arnica montana en las diluciones 3cH, 6cH y 12cH promovió todas las variables relacionadas a la formación de raíces en estudio, acentuando la similaridad entre Arnica montana y el cuadro inducido por el proceso fisiológico de estacamiento, promoviendo aumento del porcentaje y calidad de las raíces. Palabras-clave: Homeopatía; enraizamiento; corte; Árnica Montana.  Correspondence author: Filipe Pereira Giardini Bonfim, email: [email protected] How to cite this article: Bonfim FPG, Martins ER, Dores RGR, Barbosa CKR, Casali VWD, Honório ICG. Use of homeopathic Arnica montana for the issuance of roots of Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Lippia alba (Mill) N.E.Br. Int J High Dilution Res [online]. 2008 [cited YYYY Mmm DD]: 7(23); 113-117. Available from: http://journal.giri-society.org/index.php/ijhdr/article/view/276/348. ÂÂÂ

Carbonized rice husk as an alternative substrate for Ocimum basilicum L. seedling production

The substrate used in seedling production plays a major role in the initial plant development. In this sense, the objective was to evaluate the emergence capacity and establishment of basil seedlings in different proportions of alternative substrates based on charred rice husk and commercial substrate S10®. The experiment was carried out in expanded polyethylene trays, using basil seeds (Horticeres seeds®), which lasted 28 days. The experimental design was completely randomized, with five treatments (T1: 100 % commercial substrate (BCS); T2: 80 % BCS + 20 % Charred rice husk (CRH); T3: 60 % BCS + 40 % CRH; T4: 40 % BCS + 60 % CRH; T5: 20 % BCS + 80 % CRH) and three repetitions. Were evaluated leaf number, shoot length, root length, root dry mass, shoot dry mass, leaf area, germination, germination speed index, substrate physical analysis (density (dry and wet)), total porosity and aeration space, and chemical analysis (hydrogen potential (PH), and electrical conductivity (EC)). It was observed in the results that the substrate type interferes in the development and quality of the basil seedling. In the shoot lenght parameter, the treatment with 40 % BCS + 60 % CRH (T4) had a significant difference compared to the other treatments. Among the substrates, the best seedling performance was observed in the substrate with 80 % BCS + 20 % CRH (T2), which provided better seedling quality in relation to the other treatments.

Nunatsiavut, ‘Our beautiful land’: Inuit landscape ethnoecology in Labrador, Canada

For Inuit in the subarctic transition zone of northeastern Canada, an intimate knowledge of the environment and local biodiversity is crucial for successful traditional activities. This study examines what kinds of landscape features and habitats Inuit of Nunatsiavut recognize and name. During interviews, community members (mostly Elders) were shown photographs from the region, and were asked to describe and name salient types of places in Labrador Inuttitut. The most frequently reported geographical units dealt with the region’s topography (e.g., ‘mountain’, ‘island’, ‘flat-place’), hydrology (e.g., ‘river’, ‘bay’), and superficial characteristics (e.g., ‘bedrock’, ‘permanent snow patch’). Ecological considerations were also prominent, such as plant associations and animal habitats (e.g., ‘shrubby-place’, wetland’, ‘caribou-return-to-place’). Areas were often characterized by a dominant species or substrate type, being named using the plural form of the species/substrate (e.g., napâttuk ‘tree’/ napâttuit ‘forest’, siugak ‘sand’/siugalak ‘sandy-area’). Some types of places reported by Inuit were significant mainly for traditional activities (e.g., ‘berry-patch’, ‘seal-place’, ‘dry-wood-place’, ‘danger-place’), aiding navigation and resource finding. Integrating Inuit conceptions of ecosystems and their component landscape units with those of contemporary science can improve our understanding of subarctic ecology, benefit climate change adaptation strategies and Inuit language/culture conservation initiatives.

Deuterium Retention and Release Behavior from Beryllium Co-Deposited Layers at Distinct Ar/D Ratio

Beryllium-deuterium co-deposited layers were obtained using DC magnetron sputtering technique by varying the Ar/D2 gas mixture composition (10/1; 5/1; 2/1 and 1:1) at a constant deposition rate of 0.06 nm/s, 343 K substrate temperature and 2 Pa gas pressure. The surface morphology of the layers was analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy and the layer crystalline structure was analyzed by X-ray diffraction. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry was employed to determine the chemical composition of the layers. D trapping states and inventory quantification were performed using thermal desorption spectroscopy. The morphology of the layers is not influenced by the Ar/D2 gas mixture composition but by the substrate type and roughness. The increase of the D2 content during the deposition leads to the deposition of Be-D amorphous layers and also reduces the layer thickness by decreasing the sputtering yield due to the poisoning of the Be target. The D retention in the layers is dominated by the D trapping in low activation binding states and the increase of D2 flow during deposition leads to a significant build-up of deuterium in these states. Increase of deuterium flow during deposition consequently leads to an increase of D retention in the beryllium layers up to 300%. The resulted Be-D layers release the majority of their D (above 99.99%) at temperatures lower than 700 K.

Delta Smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus) Exhibit Wide Variation in Spawning Behavior: An Investigation of Substrate Type, Diel Timing, and Participants

Studies of cultured populations can be invaluable to the conservation of imperiled species for which little is known and whose very low abundance in the wild can preclude studies with robust sample sizes. For example, in endangered delta smelt (Hypomesus transpacificus), conservation measures developed to mitigate population decline are hindered by a lack of knowledge regarding spawning behavior. However, the availability of a cultured population allows important questions about spawning to be addressed experimentally. We examined the effect of substrate type on spawning behavior and egg fertilization success in cultured H. transpacificus under laboratory conditions. We also examined the diel frequency of spawning and the sex and number of spawning participants. We found that the frequency of spawns and resulting egg fertilization success did not differ between sand, gravel, and control (acrylic) substrates. We also demonstrated that spawning was predominantly nocturnal, though rare diurnal spawns were observed. Of the five mature males and five ripe females available within a given trial, spawns included up to seven participants, but most frequently occurred between a single female and one or two males. Our results highlight the wide behavioral variation exhibited by H. transpacificus during spawning, particularly in terms of substrate use, diel timing, and participants. These findings provide the most detailed and experimentally robust data regarding H. transpacificus spawning behavior to date and thereby provide ongoing conservation efforts with much-needed information.