Learning by doing: a participatory methodology for systematization of experiments with agroforestry systems, with an example of its application     

Helton Nonato de Souza  Irene Maria Cardoso  Eduardo de Sá Mendon?a  An?r Fiorini Carvalho  Gustavo Bediaga de Oliveira  Davi Feital Gjorup  Ver?nica Rocha Bonfim 《Agroforestry Systems》2012,85(2):247-262

Participatory research methods have helped scientists to understand how farmers experiment and to seek partnerships with farmers in developing technologies with enhanced relevance and adoption. This paper reports on the development of a participatory methodology to systematize long-term experimentation with agroforestry systems carried out in a hotspot of biodiversity by non-governmental organizations and local farmers. A methodological guide for systematization and techniques used for Participatory Rural Appraisal formed the basis of our work. We propose an analytical framework that recognizes systems of reflexive and learning interactions, in order to make the learned lessons explicit. At the process level, the main lessons and recommendations are as follows. It is important to establish partnerships to conduct innovative and complex experimentation with agroforest. Participatory systematization allows us to improve the methodological aspects of design, implementation and management of on-farm participatory experimentation. It also serves to synthesize the main findings and to extract lessons from agroforestry systems experiments. It fosters the technical improvement of agroforestry systems. It creates possibilities for reflection on agroforestry systems by farmers, extensionists and researchers, as well as their learning with respect to management of such systems. The findings are placed in the context of current theory on participatory experimentation in agriculture. Extractive and interactive approaches help to produce rich insights of mutual interest through collaboration by identifying local, regional and global convergences, complementarities, and conflicts of interest; which affect the advance of new eco-friendly technologies, to both improve the livelihoods and to reverse biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.  相似文献   

Extracellular matrix alterations in experimental Leishmania amazonensis infection in susceptible and resistant mice     

Silva-Almeida M  Carvalho LO  Abreu-Silva AL  Souza CS  Hardoim DJ  Calabrese KS 《Veterinary research》2012,43(1):10

ABSTRACT: Leishmania is inoculated, by the bite of an infected sandfly, into the skin of the host, where the promastigotes are phagocyted by dermal macrophages. The dermal region comprises cells and abundant extracellular matrix. Studies show that matrix metalloproteinases play an important role in host defense responses against pathogens in mammals and that their activities lead to the production of antimicrobial peptides. The aim of this study is to evaluate the changes in the distribution of fibronectin and laminin as well as in the elastic system fibres during the course of infection caused by Leishmania amazonensis in mice with distinct genetic backgrounds of susceptibility to this parasite. The results showed that BALB/c presented an enhancement of fibronectin during the course of infection when compared to their control group while the infected or non-infected C3H.He showed a decrease of this protein at end of the experiment. Laminin, on the other hand, remained unaltered in both strains. Also in both BALB/c and C3H.He mice the elastic and elaunin fibres remained unchanged while the oxytalan fibres decreased along the experiment. Ninety days after the infection C3H.He mice had recovered their capacity to produce oxytalan fibres.  相似文献   

Evaluation of Nociception,Sedation, and Cardiorespiratory Effects of a Constant Rate Infusion of Xylazine Alone or in Combination with Lidocaine in Horses     

Juliano Ferreira Fernandes de Souza  Eduardo Raposo Monteiro  Daniela Campagnol  Renata Conti Ramos  Antonio Manoel Ferreira Frasson 《Journal of Equine Veterinary Science》2012

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of xylazine or xylazine in combination with lidocaine on nociception, sedation, and physiologic values in horses. Six horses were given intravenous (IV) administration of a loading dose (LD) of 0.55 mg/kg of xylazine followed by a CRI of 1.1 mg/kg/hr. The horses were randomly assigned to receive three treatments, on different occasions, administered 10 minutes after initiation of the xylazine CRI, as follows: control, physiologic saline; lidocaine low CRI (LLCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.025 mg/kg/min); and lidocaine high CRI (LHCRI), lidocaine (LD: 1.3 mg/kg, CRI: 0.05 mg/kg/min). A blinded observer assessed objective and subjective data for 50 minutes during the CRIs. In all treatments, heart and respiratory rates decreased, end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration increased, and moderate to intense sedation was observed, but no significant treatment effect was detected in these variables. Ataxia was significantly higher in LHCRI than in the control treatment at 20 minutes of infusion. Compared with baseline values, nociceptive threshold increased to as much as 79% in the control, 190% in LLCRI, and 158% in LHCRI. Nociceptive threshold was significantly higher in LLCRI (at 10 and 50 minutes) and in LHCRI (at 30 minutes) than in the control treatment. The combination of CRIs of lidocaine with xylazine produced greater increases in nociceptive threshold compared with xylazine alone. The effects of xylazine on sedation and cardiorespiratory variables were not enhanced by the coadministration of lidocaine. The potential to increase ataxia may contraindicate the clinical use of LHCRI, in combination with xylazine, in standing horses.  相似文献   

Gastroprotective potential of frutalin, a D-galactose binding lectin, against ethanol-induced gastric lesions     

de Vasconcellos Abdon AP  Coelho de Souza G  Noronha Coelho de Souza L  Prado Vasconcelos R  Araújo Castro C  Moreira Guedes M  Pereira Lima RC  de Azevedo Moreira R  de Oliveira Monteiro-Moreira AC  Rolim Campos A 《Fitoterapia》2012,83(3):604-608

The present study was designed to verify whether frutalin (FTL) affords gastroprotection against the ethanol-induced gastric damage and to examine the underlying mechanism(s). Gastric damage was induced by intragastric administration of 0.2 ml of ethanol (96%). Mice in groups were pretreated with FTL (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg; i.p.), cimetidine (100 mg/kg; p.o.), or vehicle (0.9% of NaCl, 10 mL/kg; p.o.), 30 min before ethanol administration. They were sacrificed 30 min later, the stomachs excised, and the mucosal lesion area (mm2) measured by planimetry. Gastroprotection was assessed in relation to inhibition of gastric lesion area. To study the gastroprotective mechanism(s), its relations to capsaicin-sensitive fibers, endogenous prostaglandins, nitric oxide, sulphydryls, ATP-sensitive potassium channels, adrenoceptors, opioid receptors and calcium channels were analyzed. Treatments effects on ethanol-associated oxidative stress markers GSH and MDA were measured in gastric tissue. FTL afforded a dose-unrelated gastroprotection against the ethanol damage. However, it failed to prevent the ethanol-induced changes in the levels of GSH and MDA. It was observed that the gastroprotection by FTL was greatly reduced in animals pretreated with capsazepine, indomethacin, L-NAME or glibenclamide. Considering the results, it is suggested that the FTL could probably be a good therapeutic agent for the development of new medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer.  相似文献   

Application of RVA and Time‐Lapse Photography to Explore Effects of Extent of Chlorination,Milling Extraction Rate,and Particle‐Size Reduction of Flour on Cake‐Baking Functionality     

Meera Kweon  Louise Slade  Harry Levine  Edward Souza 《Cereal Chemistry》2010,87(5):409-414

Three factors (extent of chlorination, milling extraction rate, and particle‐size reduction) in cake‐baking functionality of Croplan 594W flour were explored using a Rapid Visco‐Analyser (RVA) and time‐lapse photography. The extent of chlorination and milling extraction rate showed dramatic effects, but postmilling to reduce flour particle size was a less significant factor. RVA results showed that starch pasting was accelerated, and both peak and set‐back viscosities were enhanced, with increasing extent of chlorination. These effects were exaggerated by the high sugar concentration relevant to cake baking, compared to the same effects in water. Cake baking with chlorinated flours, in a formulation with 50% sugar (%S) and 275 parts total solvent (TS), showed that, as the extent of chlorination increased, cake moisture content and edge height decreased. Cake center height and shape factor were curvilinear, with maxima near flour with pH 4.6. Dramatic collapse occurred for cakes baked with unchlorinated flour samples, due to delayed starch pasting, as documented by time‐lapse photography and comparison to the geometry of the final cooled cakes. Starch pasting and egg white setting occurred too early for the cakes baked with excessively chlorinated flour (pH ≤4.0), but too late for the cakes baked with unchlorinated or insufficiently chlorinated flours (pH ≥4.9), compared to the ideal starch pasting and egg white setting behavior with appropriately chlorinated flours (pH >4.0 and <4.9). Informal sensory texture evaluation showed that cake mouthfeel was related to both moisture content per se and the relationship between moisture content and cake relative humidity (%RH). Excessive flour chlorination resulted in unacceptably dry cake mouthfeel.  相似文献   

Constraints using the liquid fraction from roadside grass as a bio-based fertilizer     

Hannah Scott  Marcella Fernandes de Souza  Erik Meers  Naomi Laura Jane Rintoul-Hynes 《植物养料与土壤学杂志》2023,186(4):387-396

Background

Roadside grass cuttings are currently considered a waste product due to their association with road sweepings as contaminated waste, therefore, their potential as a biofertilizer is understudied.

Aim

This study aimed to determine whether grass liquid fraction (GLF) collected from a roadside verge in Maldegem, Belgium, and pressed using a screw press was suitable as a biofertilizer.

Methods

The characterization of the heavy metal content of the GLF was conducted using an ICP-OES. From May to September 2019, a pot experiment was set up using a randomized block design to compare tomato plant growth, yield, and nutrition for GLF-treated plants to two commercial fertilizers and tap water as a control.

Results

The heavy metal content of the GLF was below the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for organic fertilizers as set out by the European Comission fertilizer regulation 1069/2009 and 1107/2009 (European Comission, 2019). However, despite having a fairly well-balanced nutrient content (0.1% N, 0.04% P₂O₅, and 0.2% K₂O), GLF had a negative effect on the growth, root weight, and yield of the tomato plants, killing six out of ten plants. GLF also promoted mold growth in the soil of some plants. Since the GLF was uncontaminated, heavy metal toxicity did not cause the negative effect.

Conclusions

Previous research showed that liquid fractions from some plants negatively affect the growth of others due to allelopathic chemicals; this, together with the stimulation of fungal growth, could have caused the negative effects observed. Future experiments will investigate the herbicidal property of GLF and possible treatments to potentially recover the nutrients contained within the GLF for application as a biofertilizer.  相似文献   

Rubber tree early selection for yield stability in time and among locations     

Lígia Regina Lima Gouvêa  Guilherme Augusto Peres Silva  Cecília Khusala Verardi  André Luis Bombonato de Oliveira  Elaine Cristine Piffer Gonçalves  Erivaldo José Scaloppi-Junior  Mário Luiz Teixeira de Moraes  Paulo de Souza Gonçalves 《Euphytica》2013,191(3):365-373

Rubber production in the rubber tree [Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. ex Adr. de Juss.) Muell. Arg.] can be expressed differently in different environments. Thus the objective of the present study was to select productive progenies, stable and responsive in time and among locations. Thirty progenies were assessed by early yield tests at three ages and in three locations. A randomized block design was used with three replications and ten plants per plot, in 3 × 3 m spacing. The procedure of the mixed linear Reml/Blup model—restricted maximum likelihood/best non-biased linear prediction was used in the genetic statistical analyses. In all the individual analyses, the values observed for the progeny average heritability ( $ \hat{h}_{pa}^{2} $ ) were greater than those of the additive effect based on single individuals ( $ \hat{h}_{a}^{2} $ ) and within plot additive ( $ \hat{h}_{ad}^{2} $ ). In the joint analyses in time, there was genotype × test interaction in the three locations. When 20 % of the best progenies were selected the predicted genetic gains were: Colina G_G = 24.63 %, Selvíria G_G = 13.63 %, and Votuporanga G_G = 25.39 %. Two progenies were among the best in the analyses in the time and between locations. In the joint analysis among locations there was only genotype × location interaction in the first early test. In this test, selecting 20 %, the general predicted genetic gain was G_G = 25.10 %. Identifying progenies with high and stable yield over time and among locations contributes to the efficiency of the genetic breeding program. The relative performance of the progenies varies depending of the age of early selection test.  相似文献   

Biodiversity of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in mangroves of Goa in West India     

James D’Souza  Bernard Felinov Rodrigues 《林业研究》2013,24(3):515-523

Seventeen mangrove species of eight families at seven riverine and fringe habitats in Goa West India were surveyed for Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungal diversity. Sixteen species were found to be mycorrhizal and one species showed no AM fungal colonization. AM root colonization was recorded at all seven sites and ranged from 6%-77%. Maximum root colonization was recorded in Excoecaria agallocha (77%) and minimum colonization in Avicennia marina (6%). Paris-type colonization was predominant at all sites. Auxiliary cells were recorded in roots of Acanthus ilicifolius, Ceriops tagal and Sonneretia alba. AM fungal root colonization and spore density varied by plant species and site. Site average spore density ranged from 1.84 spores·g-1 to 0.54 spores·g-1 of soil. In total, 28 AM fungal species of five genera, viz. Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora, Gigaspora and Entrophospora, were recovered. Glomus was the dominant genus, three species of which were sporocarpic forms. Maximum site species richness (SR) ranged from 16 to 5. Species richness was maximum in A. ilicifolius where seven species of three genera were recovered. Based on relative abundance (RA) and isolation frequency (IF), two common species, viz. G. intraradices and A. laevis, were recovered from all seven sites.  相似文献   

Evaluation of Praziquantel effects on Echinostoma paraensei ultrastructure     

Júlia P. Gonçalves  Aleksandra Oliveira-Menezes  Arnaldo Maldonado Junior  Técia M.U. Carvalho  Wanderley de Souza 《Veterinary parasitology》2013

Echinostomiasis is a food-borne, intestinal, zoonotic, snail-mediated helminthiasis caused by digenean trematodes of the family Echinostomatidae with seven species of the genus Echinostoma infecting humans or domestic and wildlife animals. Echinostoma paraensei is a peristomic 37-collar-spined echinostome belonging to the “revolutum group”.  相似文献   

Lithothamnion muelleri Controls Inflammatory Responses,Target Organ Injury and Lethality Associated with Graft-versus-Host Disease in Mice     

Barbara M. Rezende  Priscila T. T. Bernardes  Carolina B. Resende  Rosa M. E. Arantes  Danielle G. Souza  Fern?o C. Braga  Marina G. M. Castor  Mauro M. Teixeira  Vanessa Pinho 《Marine drugs》2013,11(7):2595-2615

Lithothamnion muelleri (Hapalidiaceae) is a marine red alga, which is a member of a group of algae with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and immunomodulatory properties. The present study evaluated the effects of treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri extract (LM) in a model of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), using a model of adoptive splenocyte transfer from C57BL/6 donors into B6D2F1 recipient mice. Mice treated with LM showed reduced clinical signs of disease and mortality when compared with untreated mice. LM-treated mice had reduced tissue injury, less bacterial translocation, and decreased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5)). The polysaccharide-rich fraction derived from LM could inhibit leukocyte rolling and adhesion in intestinal venules, as assessed by intravital microscopy. LM treatment did not impair the beneficial effects of graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL). Altogether, our studies suggest that treatment with Lithothamnion muelleri has a potential therapeutic application in GVHD treatment.  相似文献