Palaeosurfaces mapping and associated supergene copper deposits identification as mineral exploration tool Itapeva and Ribeirão Branco region – Ribeira Valley, state of São Paulo, Brazil

Alguns exemplos de formação de minério supérgeno e sua interação com a morfogênese (paleosuperfícies) e resistência mineralógica são discutidas aqui. Registros geomorfológicos e mineralógicos na caracterização paleosuperfícies associam o intemperismo de minerais primários e sua relação com as concentrações de cobre e minério de ferro no sudeste do estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Distinguiram-se duas paleosuperfícies geradas por várias fases de intemperismo e controladas pela estrutura geológica. A primeira, mais antiga, é a paleosuperfície superior (900 - 1000 m de altitude), situado em Ribeirão Branco (Alto do Brancal), foram desenvolvidas em rochas silico-calcários. É formada por lateritas de ferro enriquecido por produtos secundários de cobre. O segundo nível de paleosuperfície é mais novo está localizado na região de Itapeva (Santa Blandina e Bairro do Sambra). Esta paleosuperfície é formada por percolação de cobre através da rocha alterada (saprolito). Outras características podem ser observadas como produtos neoformados em lateritas. Eles são classificados em dois tipos: a argila como produtos silico-cuprífero (com quantidades significativas de ferro) e de cobre minerais (crisocola, fixas nas vertentes). Essas feições reconheceram a presença de minérios de cobre e seu controle morfogénetico ajudando na exploração e prospecção de minérios supérgenos.

Dynamics of soil exploration by fine roots down to a depth of 10 m throughout the entire rotation in Eucalyptus grandis plantations

Although highly weathered soils cover considerable areas in tropical regions, little is known about exploration by roots in deep soil layers. Intensively managed Eucalyptus plantations are simple forest ecosystems that can provide an insight into the belowground growth strategy of fast-growing tropical trees. Fast exploration of deep soil layers by eucalypt fine roots may contribute to achieving a gross primary production that is among the highest in the world for forests. Soil exploration by fine roots down to a depth of 10 m was studied throughout the complete cycle in Eucalyptus grandis plantations managed in short rotation. Intersects of fine roots, less than 1 mm in diameter, and medium-sized roots, 1-3 mm in diameter, were counted on trench walls in a chronosequence of 1-, 2-, 3.5-, and 6-year-old plantations on a sandy soil, as well as in an adjacent 6-year-old stand growing in a clayey soil. Two soil profiles were studied down to a depth of 10 m in each stand (down to 6 m at ages 1 and 2 years) and 4 soil profiles down to 1.5-3.0 m deep. The root intersects were counted on 224 m(2) of trench walls in 15 pits. Monitoring the soil water content showed that, after clear cutting, almost all the available water stored down to a depth of 7 m was taken up by tree roots within 1.1 year of planting. The soil space was explored intensively by fine roots down to a depth of 3 m from 1 year after planting, with an increase in anisotropy in the upper layers throughout the rotation. About 60% of fine root intersects were found at a depth of more than 1 m, irrespective of stand age. The root distribution was isotropic in deep soil layers and kriged maps showed fine root clumping. A considerable volume of soil was explored by fine roots in eucalypt plantations on deep tropical soils, which might prevent water and nutrient losses by deep drainage after canopy closure and contribute to maximizing resource uses.

An exploration of heart rate response to differing music rhythm and tempos

The aim of this study was to investigate acute cardiac response and heart rate variability (HRV) when listening to differing forms of music. Eleven healthy men aged between 18 and 25 years old were included in the study. HRV was recorded at rest for ten minutes with no music, then were asked to listen to classical baroque or heavy metal music for a period of 20 min. It was noted that heart rate variability did not affect HRV indices for time and frequency. In conclusion, music with different tempos does not influence cardiac autonomic regulation in men. However more studies are suggested to explore this topic in greater detail.

Botanical extracts: alternative control for silverleaf whitefly management in tomato

Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) biotype B is one of the most limiting pests of tomato crops in the world. Tomato yield is currently dependent on the use of pesticides, which are problematic to farmers, consumers and the environment. A promising alternative to reduce the harmful effects caused by the indiscriminated use of synthetic insecticides is the use of insecticides of botanical origin. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 3% (w/v) aqueous extracts from different structures of thirteen botanical species on the behavior of B. tabaci biotype B adults, as well as insecticidal activity of such aqueous extracts on B. tabaci eggs, nymphs, and adults infesting tomato plants. A distilled water solution was used as a negative control, and thiamethoxam insecticide (18 g/100 L of water) as a positive control. Leaf extract of Toona ciliata was observed to have the most efficient inhibitory effect in tests of extracts on whitefly behavior. Furthermore, the use of leaf extract of Toona ciliata led to the most drastic reduction in the number of adults and eggs on tomato leaflets. Leaf extract of Piper aduncum led to the greatest observed ovicidal effect (78.00% of non-hatched nymphs); however it was not effective against nymphs and adults. The leaf extracts of Trichilia pallida, Trichilia casaretti, and Toona ciliata showed the highest control indexes (67.9, 60.3, and 55.1%, respectively). For adults mortality, T. pallida was the most effective (72.8%). Our results indicate that application of extracts of T. pallida, T. ciliata, and T. casaretti are promising strategies to manage B. tabaci biotype B on tomato.

Application of nanotechnology for the encapsulation of botanical insecticides for sustainable agriculture: Prospects and promises

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Magnetometric exploration in intrusive basic with evidence of gold in northern region of the Camaquã Sedimentary Basin (RS)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Orange and mango byproducts: agro-industrial waste as source of bioactive compounds and botanical versus commercial description: a review

Vegetal origin agro-industrial wastes are seen as a problem since the beginning of the industrial processes; however, they are becoming attractive as raw material for numerous purposes such as active enzymes and in the molecule bioprospecting area. Moreover, it is difficult to understand what the studied residue is consisted of in studies on agro-industrial waste, since the wastes names and constituents may vary according to the used equipment, as for waste from orange and mango processing. Thus, defining a specific waste, including comparisons between botanical and industrial descriptions, can help in understanding studies about wastes. The current review sought to contextualize such a scenario by gathering definitions, relevant information and studies on agro-industrial wastes and by-products, international enzymes market, and recent studies on bioactive compounds. In this context, waste from orange and mango are interesting because of the expression of these fruits on the world market; moreover, the processing does not include steps that could disrupt these biomolecules.