Sao Paulo State University

About: Sao Paulo State University is a education organization based out in São Paulo, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 55715 authors who have published 100436 publications receiving 1375332 citations.

Amazon plant diversity revealed by a taxonomically verified species list

Abstract: Recent debates on the number of plant species in the vast lowland rain forests of the Amazon have been based largely on model estimates, neglecting published checklists based on verified voucher data. Here we collate taxonomically verified checklists to present a list of seed plant species from lowland Amazon rain forests. Our list comprises 14,003 species, of which 6,727 are trees. These figures are similar to estimates derived from nonparametric ecological models, but they contrast strongly with predictions of much higher tree diversity derived from parametric models. Based on the known proportion of tree species in neotropical lowland rain forest communities as measured in complete plot censuses, and on overall estimates of seed plant diversity in Brazil and in the neotropics in general, it is more likely that tree diversity in the Amazon is closer to the lower estimates derived from nonparametric models. Much remains unknown about Amazonian plant diversity, but this taxonomically verified dataset provides a valid starting point for macroecological and evolutionary studies aimed at understanding the origin, evolution, and ecology of the exceptional biodiversity of Amazonian forests.

Immunometabolism: Molecular Mechanisms, Diseases, and Therapies 2018

Abstract: Several studies published over the last two decades have provided a good body of evidences supporting a central role of chronic low-grade inflammation as a major factor driving many of the metabolic complications commonly found in highly prevalent chronic diseases such as obesity, insulin resistance, and cancer. It was well established in these studies, for example, that activation of canonical inflammatory pathways is one of the major factors promoting the impairment in insulin signaling seen in obesity and type 2 diabetes, being responsible for the reduced glucose uptake and exacerbated lipolysis found in this condition. Such important role of inflammation in chronic diseases has motivated several studies aiming at understanding the mechanisms underlying its development and searching for efficient therapeutic strategies to minimize its metabolic consequences. In the present special issue, we gathered several original and review articles addressing potential nutritional, pharmacological, and behavioral strategies that could be used to counteract inflammatory process associated with a variety of diseases including obesity, periodontal disease, myocardial infarction, and pneumonia, among others. In a very interesting study, for example, E. G. Novoselova et al. experimentally tested individually or in combination several inhibitors of NFkB pathway and naturally occurring antioxidants as anti-inflammatory agents in vivo bringing new information about their therapeutic efficacy. In the same direction, M. S. Elburki et al. tested the appropriateness of using a novel chemically modified curcumin, a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor with no antibiotic properties, as a therapeutic molecule for the treatment of periodontal disease with promising results towards the attenuation of alveolar bone loss.

A Review on the Challenges for Increased Production of Castor

Abstract: Castor (Ricinus communis L.) is one of the oldest cultivated crops, but currently it represents only 0.15% of the vegetable oil produced in the world. Castor oil is of continuing importance to the global specialty chemical industry because it is the only commercial source of a hydroxylated fatty acid. Castor also has tremendous future potential as an industrial oilseed crop because of its high seed oil con- tent (more than 480 g kg -1 ), unique fatty acid composition (900 g kg -1 of ricinoleic acid), potentially high oil yields (1250-2500 L ha -1 ), and ability to be grown under drought and saline conditions. Th e scientifi c literature on castor has been generated by a relatively small global community of researchers over the past century. Much of this work was published in dozens of languages in journals that are not easily accessible to the scientifi c community. Th is review was conducted to provide a compilation of the most relevant historic research information and defi ne the tremendous future potential of castor. Th e article was prepared by a group of 22 scientists from 16 institutions and eight countries. Topics discussed in this review include: (i) germplasm, genetics, breeding, biotic stresses, genome sequencing, and biotechnology; (ii) agronomic production practices, diseases, and abiotic stresses; (iii) management and reduction of toxins for the use of castor meal as both an animal feed and an organic fertilizer; (iv) future industrial uses of castor including renew- able fuels; (v) world production, consumption, and prices; and (vi) potential and challenges for increased castor production.