Tolerance to high temperatures in tadpoles of Leptodactylus fuscus and Hyla fuscovaria in temporary ponds (Amphibia, Leptodactylidae, Hylidae)

In temporary ponds tadpoles of the frogs Leptodactylus fuscus and Hyla fuscovaria may be exposed to temperatures up to 40-44°C. Experimental exposure to high temperature revealed survivals after 30 min at 42°C for H. fuscovaria and at 44°C for L. fuscus. -from Authors

Selection of environmental temperature by the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

The preferred temperature of the yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus was investigated since its dispersion is a matter of concern. Adult T. serrulatus, weighing 1.24 ± 0.20 g (mean + sd) and with a standard length of 59.3 ± 2.5 mm, were used. A metallic corridor (120 cm long, 5 cm large and 10 cm high) with thermal gradient ranging from 0°C to 40°C was used. Tityus serrulatus chose and stayed in temperatures ranging from 14° C to 38°C when safe conditions were offered (dark and thigmotactic stimuli). The number of animals that remained in the 11°C-20°C, 21°C-30°C, and 31°C-40°C temperature zones were 8, 8, and 9, respectively. The chi-square test (degree of freedom = 2) showed that differences were not significant (p>0.05). Some animals moved to lower temperature areas (less than 8°C) when the corridor was completely illuminated and thigmotactic stimuli were absent, which led the animals to present a torpor state. It is concluded that T. serrulatus does not select a specific environmental temperature. Associated with the capacity of temporally surviving at low temperatures, this species seems to be highly adaptable to different thermal zones.

High temperature tolerance of determinate tomatoes in Brazil

The experiment was conducted in the experimental area belonging to the Section of Crop Production and Aromatic Medicinal Plants of the FCAV-UNESP, Jaboticabal Campus - Sao Paulo, Brazil. Tolerance to high temperature was studied in six determinate genotypes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.): Agrocica 8, Apex 1000, Botu-13, Calmech VFAS, Nemadoro and Jab-2, which were cultivated in a greenhouse at temperatures above 33oC for at least 2 h/day during blooming. The objectives of the study were to identify the genetic diversity of the genotypes studied and to determine their performance associated with tolerance to high temperature. Dissimilarity was determined by the generalized Mahalanobis distance. Delineation groups were optimized with the Tocher technique. A random block design was utilized with six treatments and with three replications. Two similarity groups were identified: 1 - Apex 1000, Botu-13, Calmech VFAS, Jab-2, Nemadoro and 2 - Agrocica 8. Crossing of genotypes within one group has no advantage because little genetic divergence and no heterotic response would be expected. However, the crossing of genotypes between groups is suggested. Knowledge of these groups will be important for efficiency future breeding efforts.

Remoção pela chuva de diferentes formulações de flutriafol aplicada em soja, com e sem a adição de óleo mineral na calda

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA

Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus Titers in Citrus and Acquisition Rates by Diaphorina citri Are Decreased by Higher Temperature

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Phase transitions and interface phenomena in the cryogenic temperature domain of a niobate nanostructured ceramic

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

Temperature-enhanced synthesis of DMSO-Melanin

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Study of temperature variation in cortical bone during osteotomies with trephine drills

The purpose of this study was to compare temperature variation during osteotomies with trephine drills under different irrigation conditions: without irrigation, external irrigation, and double irrigation.Synthetic blocks of bone (type I density) were used for drilling procedures with an experimental computed machine, which measured the maximum temperature in the cortical bone during osteotomy with a bone cut that was 5 mm in both diameter and depth. Three groups were formed depending on the irrigation conditions: no irrigation (G1), external irrigation (G2), and double irrigation (G3). Fifty drillings were performed for each group.The average thermal increase in the groups was 21.7 +/- 1.52 A degrees C in G1, 14.2 A +/- 0.70 A degrees C in G2, and 12.4 A +/- 0.75 A degrees C in G3. The results presented statistically significant differences among all groups (alpha = 0.05).The double irrigation technique resulted in a smaller increase in temperature in the cortical bone model, demonstrating a greater efficiency, which may be beneficial when compared to external irrigation alone.The trephine has been widely used in removing small blocks for bone graft, especially the posterior mandible, where the possibility of heating may be higher due to the density of cortical bone in this area. So it is important that the professionals select instruments that can reduce the risks of complications in the proposed treatment.

Artificial neural network associated to UV/Vis spectroscopy for monitoring bioreactions in biopharmaceutical processes

Currently, mammalian cells are the most utilized hosts for biopharmaceutical production. The culture media for these cell lines include commonly in their composition a pH indicator. Spectroscopic techniques are used for biopharmaceutical process monitoring, among them, UV–Vis spectroscopy has found scarce applications. This work aimed to define artificial neural networks architecture and fit its parameters to predict some nutrients and metabolites, as well as viable cell concentration based on UV–Vis spectral data of mammalian cell bioprocess using phenol red in culture medium. The BHK-21 cell line was used as a mammalian cell model. Off-line spectra of supernatant samples taken from batches performed at different dissolved oxygen concentrations in two bioreactor configurations and with two pH control strategies were used to define two artificial neural networks. According to absolute errors, glutamine (0.13 ± 0.14 mM), glutamate (0.02 ± 0.02 mM), glucose (1.11 ± 1.70 mM), lactate (0.84 ± 0.68 mM) and viable cell concentrations (1.89 105 ± 1.90 105 cell/mL) were suitably predicted. The prediction error averages for monitored variables were lower than those previously reported using different spectroscopic techniques in combination with partial least squares or artificial neural network. The present work allows for UV–VIS sensor development, and decreases cost related to nutrients and metabolite quantifications.

Determinação das melhores condições de hidrólise física com ultrassom de potência em resíduos de amendoim

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

Eucalyptus urograndis stem proteome is responsive to short-term cold stress

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

Optimization of extraction conditions and antioxidant activity of Solanum lycocarpum fruits

Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. The capacity of natural antioxidant from phytochemical has increase attention from researchers and public. However, the extraction process is affecting the activity and the bioavailability of bioactive compounds. The Solanum lycocarpum is a plant of the Brazilian “cerrado”, popularly used as a hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and control of metabolic diseases. Its effects are attributed to the presence of several glycoalkaloids (solamargine, solasonina) and solasodine. Therefore, the purpose of this communication was, investigate the optimization of extraction condition and evaluation of antioxidant activity from fruits of Solanum lycocarpum. The extracts were obtained using different solvent systems, i.e., water, 50% ethanol, ethanol absolute and ethyl ether (1:10 and 1:20) and different extraction processes: maceration with constant agitation at room temperature, maceration with constant agitation and heating at 30°C and ultrasound. The extracts were characterized by the amount of material extracted (1, 6 and 24 h) and the action of antioxidant activity by DPPH method. The results showed that the polar solvent (50% ethanol) and extractive process maceration with agitation to ambient temperature showed higher contents of extractable of fruits of S. lycocarpum (3.4 g %) and also showed higher antioxidant activity (88.57±2.41% de inhibition). This action whether the presence of glycoalkaloids (solamargine, solasonine and solasodine) in fruits S. lycocarpum which are polar compounds and may explain this increased antioxidant action of this extract.

Preliminary cryocrystallography analysis of an eumenine mastoparan toxin isolated from the venom of the wasp Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado

Mastoparans are tetradecapeptides found to be the major component of vespid venoms. These peptides present a wide spectrum of biological activities, such as mast cell degranulation, hemolytic activity and also reveals antimicrobial activity. A mastoparan toxin isolated from the venom of Anterhynchium flavomarginatum micado has been crystallized. At room temperature these crystals diffracted to 2.8 Angstrom resolution. However, upon cooling to cryogenic temperature around 85 K, the original resolution limit could be improved to 2.0 Angstrom. Crystals were determined to belong to the space group P3(1) (P3(2)). This is the first mastoparan to be crystallized and it will provide further insights in the conformational significance of mastoparan toxins, with respect to their potency and activity in G protein regulation. (C) 3001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Qualidade de abóbora minimamente processada armazenada em atmosfera modificada ativa

The active modified atmosphere effect was evaluated in the quality of squash fresh-cut (MP).. The squash pieces were conditioned in plastic packings and submitted the gases application in the following concentrations: 0.03% CO2 and 21% O-2 (controls T1); 5% CO2 and 4% O-2 (T2); 6% CO2 and 4% O-2 (T3); 7% CO2 and 4% O-2 (T4); 8% CO2 and 4% O-2 (T5). In T6 it was made vacuum application in the packing. The packings containing the squash were stored in to the temperature of 10 degrees C and relative humidity of 75% for 12 days. The evaluated analyses were weigth loss, total acidity (AT), pH, soluble solids (SS), ratio, firmness, color, antioxidant activity for DPPH and carotenoids content. The weigth loss was gradual and low until the ninth day of storage. The values of AT increased along the experimental period being superior for T1 and T2. The increase of SS during the storage of the fresh-cut squash went smaller for T3 and T4. The brightness stayed during the storage being superior for T5, already the color components red and yellow decreased along the experimental period.

Fecundity and reproductive output of the speckled swimming crab Arenacus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) (Brachyura, Portunidae)

Areanaeus cribrarius females were collected over a 12-month period with otter-trawl nets in the Ubatuba littoral zone, Brazil. Ovigerous individuals were measured (CW = carapace width excluding lateral spines) and weighed (WW = wet weight). Each egg brood was weighed (WE = wet weight), dried, and the number of eggs (EN) counted. Scatterplots from EN/CW, EN/WW, and EN/WE were submitted to regression analyses. Mean relative fecundity ((F) over bar') was calculated in each month/season to assess seasonal variation of reproductive intensity. The number of eggs showed a positive correlation with CW, WW, and WE. Fecundity of A. cribrarius ranged from 135,210 to 682,156 eggs, intermediate in comparison with other portunids. Fecundity in Portunidae is typically high; lower values are found in Polybiinae and higher ones in Portuninae. Mean fecundity did not reveal significant differences over months and seasons, but reproductive activity tended to be more intense in summer and winter, a phenomenon related to reduced temperature oscillations as found in subtropical regions.