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Sources of aflatoxin found for Brazil nuts
Publicado em 29 agosto 2017
Speed read
Brazil nuts are contaminated by toxins produced by diverse species of fungi
Research spots several points of contamination throughout supply chain
Findings feed into national regulations and global standards for aflatoxins
High temperatures, humidity and long periods spent on the forest floor before harvest all favour the growth of mycotoxins on Brazil nuts, according to research by a local team of scientists. They identified critical points for contamination throughout the [...]
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Q&A: Boosting bioenergy in Africa and Latin America
Publicado em 24 maio 2017Speed read Large areas used for grazing in Latin America and Africa could grow biofuels instead Scientists claim bioenergy production does not directly cause food insecurity, Bioenergy should be integral to strategic planning of global economies [SÃO PAULO] - Bioenergy production techniques that are already available could be used to supply up to 30 per cent of the world’s energy by 2050, according to a 2015 report by The Scientific Committee on Problems of the [...]ver notícia -
Transistor that mimics neurons developed
Publicado em 12 maio 2017Speed read Transistor can count, remember and perform simple arithmetic operations much like neurons Innovation set to allow manufacturing equipment without additional memory unit Tool is at early stage of development but shows capacity for complex operations An international team of scientists has developed a transistor capable of mimicking some characteristics of neurons, such as counting, remembering and performing simple arithmetic operations. The device still needs to undergo a [...]ver notícia -
Brazilian scientists break genetic code of Zika protein
Publicado em 27 abril 2017Speed read The protein copies viral RNA thousands of times until Zika can spread in the body It is produced by flaviviruses which also cause yellow fever, dengue and hepatitis C A drug used against hepatitis C may become a therapeutic option against Zika [SÃO PAULO] Brazilian researchers have described the three-dimensional structure of the NS5 protein responsible for the replication of Zika virus in infected cells — an important step towards developing an antiviral drug. To do [...]ver notícia -
Genetics to boost sugarcane production
Publicado em 20 abril 2017Speed read Genetics research aims for sugar cane that produces more sucrose naturally Artificial regulators are currently used to boost sucrose and prolong harvest Scientists identify target genes for ethylene, the ripening hormone of sugarcane Scientists in Brazil are taking steps towards genetically modifying sugar cane so it produces more sucrose naturally, looking to eventually boost the productivity and economic benefits of the tropical grass. Currently, it is common for [...]ver notícia -
Model probes how planetary systems collapse
Publicado emSpeed read Model probed what happens when systems like water resources get close to disappearing Even when irreversible change is afoot, ‘residual effect’ can make systems look stable in short-term In practice, tipping points are difficult to spot and should be examined closely, authors say A mathematical model of how natural and social systems collapse when they reach their ‘tipping point’ suggests how signs of stability in the short-term can give a false sense of security. [...]ver notícia -
Placenta more vulnerable to Zika in early pregnancy
Publicado em[SÃO PAULO] The placenta — an organ responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients from the mother to the foetus — is much more vulnerable to Zika infection in the first trimester of pregnancy, and this explains why the congenital damage caused by the virus is more serious in the early stages of a child’s prenatal development, according to a study. The researchers, who published their findings in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (February 13), used reprogrammed [...]ver notícia -
Brazil benefits from social quotas in higher education
Publicado em 28 fevereiro 2017The performance of students who accessed higher education through social inclusion policies in Brazil is equal and sometimes even better than that of their peers, according to a study published by the Brazilian journal Educação e Pesquisa (12 January) and supported by FAPESP (the São Paulo Research Foundation). The researchers evaluated about one million students who participated in the National Student Performance Test (ENADE). This is equivalent to one third of the total number of [...]ver notícia -
Study maps carbon recovery of Amazon logging
Publicado em 18 janeiro 2017SÃO PAULO] Trees in the northern part of the Amazon rainforest recover their capacity to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere more quickly after selective logging compared with trees in the south where the climate is less favourable, a study reports. Published in the journal eLife last month (December 20), the research assessed the dynamics of CO2 absorption in parts of the Amazon after they had been through selective logging — a practice where only the most valuable and [...]ver notícia -
Huge potential of grazing land for biofuel surge
Publicado em 02 julho 2015[SAO PAULO] - Converting grazing land into fields to grow crops for biofuels could provide up to 30 per cent of the world’s energy needs, according to a report. The report says at least 500 million hectares are available for sustainable biofuel production even when rising food demand, growing urbanisation and the desire to preserve forest and protected lands are taken into account. Most of this land is in Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, and is being used for low-intensity animal [...]ver notícia