Fish assemblages in stream stretches occupied by cattail (Typhaceae, Angiospermae) stands in Southeast Brazil

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

Very high gravity sucrose fermentation by Brazilian industrial yeast strains: effect of nitrogen supplementation

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

Analytical Methods Employed at Quality Control of Fuel Ethanol

The existence of organic and inorganic contaminants present in both fossil and biomass fuels and the fact that they can provide undesirable effects (environmental problems, corrosion processes, lead to storage instability, and others) implies a rigorous quality control of these fuels, although these contaminants make up a small part of the final fuel composition. Considering the rising importance of fuel ethanol in the worldwide panorama, this review aims at reporting the use of successful alternative analytical methods in the monitoring of organic and inorganic contaminants at trace levels, used to determine and to quantify these substances in fuel ethanol and also presenting all official norms for quality control of fuel ethanol employed by ABNT (Brazilian Association of Technical Norms), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials), and ECS (European Committee for Standardization).

Aplicação e avanços da espectroscopia de luminescência em análises farmacêuticas

This paper provides a review on the latest advances and applications of the luminescence spectroscopy for the development of pharmaceuticals analyses methods, basically based on the photo- and chemiluminescence. The different forms of the drugs determination on pharmaceuticals through the fluorescence and chemiluminescence are discussed. The analyses include the drugs native fluorescence (liquid and solid-phases); the fluorescence from the oxidizing or reducing forms of the drug; the fluorescence from the chemical derivatization and their photochemistry and hydrolysis reactions. The quenching of luminescence and chemiluminescence generation for the pharmaceutical quantification are also shown. Finally, the trends and future perspectives of the luminescence spectroscopy in the field of the pharmaceutical research are discussed.

Produção, decomposição e ciclagem de nutrientes em resíduos de crotalária e milheto, cultivados solteiros e consorciados

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a produção de fitomassa e as taxas de decomposição e liberação de macronutrientes e de silício, nos resíduos vegetais de crotalária (Crotalaria juncea) e milheto (Pennisetum glaucum), em cultivo solteiro e consorciado. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, em arranjo fatorial constituído por três tipos de cobertura vegetal - milheto, crotalária e consórcio entre as espécies - e seis épocas de coleta - 0, 18, 32, 46, 74 e 91 dias após o manejo (DAM). O milheto apresenta maior produção de matéria seca e acumula mais N, P, K, Mg, S, C e Si, enquanto a crotalária acumula maior quantidade de Ca. A fitomassa do milheto apresenta as maiores taxas de decomposição e de liberação de nutrientes. Essas taxas são mais intensas entre 0 e 18 DAM. Com o transcorrer do tempo, as relações C/N, C/P e C/S aumentam e a relação C/Si, bem como a taxa de decomposição da fitomassa, diminui. O potássio é o nutriente de liberação mais rápida, e o silício apresenta a menor taxa de liberação.

Elementos traço em material particulado atmosférico de uma região agroindustrial do sudeste do Brasil

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

Análise de crescimento em Heteranthera reniformis, sob diferentes teores de Ca, Mg e S

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sucessão da comunidade de algas perifíticas em reservatório oligotrófico tropical (São Paulo, Brasil): comparação entre período seco e chuvoso

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

Sazonalidade na produção de raízes e teor de β-ecdisona em acessos de fáfia

As raízes de espécies de Pfaffia são utilizadas há muito na medicina popular no Brasil, especialmente como tônicas, afrodisíacas e antidiabéticas. Nas margens e ilhas do Rio Paraná, vegeta naturalmente a espécie Pfaffia glomerata (Spreng.) Pedersen, que corre risco de extinção pela coleta intensiva de suas raízes. Para preservá-la, é preciso desenvolver sistemas que permitam seu uso sustentável. Nesse contexto, foi avaliada a sazonalidade da produção de biomassa e o teor de β-ecdisona em raízes de diferentes acessos de P. glomerata. A coleta dos acessos foi realizada ao longo dos rios Paraná (A1 e A3), Ivaí (A2) e Paranapanema (A4). Mudas produzidas a partir desses acessos foram plantadas experimentalmente em área de ocorrência natural da espécie. O delineamento utilizado foi blocos casualizados, com parcelas subdivididas (acessos nas parcelas; épocas de colheita nas subparcelas), quatro repetições e subparcelas com seis plantas na área útil. Foram realizadas quatro colheitas: oito, dez, doze e quatorze meses após o plantio. As maiores produtividades em massa seca (MS) de raízes foram alcançadas na terceira colheita, com 38,41 g planta-1. Já o acesso A4 foi significativamente mais produtivo que os demais, tanto para massa fresca (94,67 g planta-1), quanto para MS de raízes (26,39 g planta-1). A relação MF/MS das raízes, com média de 26,9% (3,7:1), foi pouco influenciada pela origem dos acessos, embora tenha se alterado significativamente ao longo das colheitas (de 4,1:1, na primeira colheita, a 3,3:1, na terceira colheita, que correspondeu ao valor máximo). O teor de β-ecdisona foi estatisticamente similar nas três primeiras colheitas, variando de 0,26 a 0,38%, com redução drástica na última colheita (0,16%). Os acessos A2 e A3 foram aqueles com teor de β-ecdisona mais altos, respectivamente 0,36 e 0,30%. Considerando os resultados obtidos, sugere-se que a terceira colheita, que corresponde a doze meses após o transplante, como a mais adequada para colheita das raízes.

Nutritional-requirements of Cryptococcus-laurentii in sugar-cane vinasse medium

The growth of the yeast Cryptococcus laurentii in complete broth for yeast and in liquid and semi-solid sugar cane vinasse media supplemented with several nitrogen and phosphorus sources was analysed in order to evaluate its potential utilization as biomass producer from vinasse. The trials were performed in a 1-liter fermentor, at 30-degrees-C, under magnetic agitation for 48 hours, and initial pH 5.0 for the liquid media. The parameters analysed were biomass, protein, and final pH. For the semi-solid media, agitated flasks under rotational agitation for 24 hours, at 30-degrees-C, and initial pH 5.0 were used. The results obtained showed that the yeast did not grow well in liquid sugar cane vinasse media, both supplemented or not, in comparison to the complete broth for yeast. The protein content was also lower in liquid sugar cane vinasse media. The medium pH did not alter markedly during the cultivation. The best results were obtained in semi-solid sugar cane vinasse media with supplementation, probably due to the known polysaccharide production by this species, which allows a better survival to solid substrates.

Sources of atmospheric acidity in an agricultural-industrial region of São Paulo State, Brazil

[1] Surface-based measurements of atmospheric formic acid (HCOOH), acetic acid (CH3COOH), sulfur dioxide (SO2), hydrogen chloride (HCl), and nitric acid (HNO3) were made in central São Paulo State, Brazil, between April 1999 and March 2000. Mean concentrations were 9.0 ppb (HCOOH), 1.3 ppb (CH3COOH), 4.9 ppb (SO2), 0.3 ppb (HCl), and 0.5 ppb (HNO3). Concentrations in sugar cane burning plumes were 1160-4230 ppb (HCOOH), 360-1750 ppb (CH3COOH), 10-630 ppb (SO2), 4-210 ppb (HCl), and 14-90 ppb (HNO3). Higher ambient concentrations of SO2, HCl and HNO3 were measured during the burning season (May-November). Concentrations of SO2 and HCl increased during the evening, and of HCOOH and CH3COOH were lowest in the morning, with peak levels in the afternoon. Ratios obtained between different species showed either nighttime maxima (SO2/HCOOH, SO2/CH3COOH, SO2/HNO3, CH3COOH/HNO3, SO2/HCl and HCOOH/HNO3), daytime maxima (HCOOH/HCl, CH3COOH/HCl and HNO3/HCl), or no clear trends (HCOOH/CH3COOH). Correlation analysis showed that SO2 and HCl were primary emissions from biomass burning and road transport; HCOOH, HNO3 and CH3COOH were products of photochemistry; HCOOH and CH3COOH were emitted directly during combustion as well as from biogenic sources. Biomass burning affected atmospheric acidity on a regional scale, while vehicular emissions had greater impact in urban and adjacent areas. Atmospheric ammonia levels were insufficient to neutralize atmospheric acidity, which was mainly removed by deposition to the surface.

Thermo-Reversible Sol-Gel Transition of Surface Modified Titanium Poly Oxo Building Blocks

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

Methodology for kariological study of Brazilian Palms

In the laboratory of cytogenetics of the DBAA-UNESP we are studying the karyotipe of some Brazilian Palms. To determine the best protocol, methods of seed germination, inhibition of mitosis, time to pick up the roots and staining were analyzed. The results shown that the seed germination in sphagnum is effective to achieve good roots. The best time to collect the root tips is between 11 to 12 AM., when there are more cell metaphases. The inhibition of mitosis cycle at metaphases may be effective both with 8-hydroxiquinoleine (0,03% -5 hours) or with cold water (0°C - 18-20 hours). The staining with Giemsa 2% showed the best chromosome figures in the metaphases. Now, to get good metaphases slides the method in use in the lab is: 1) seed germination in sphagnum at room temperature and high humidity; 2) The major roots are cut maintaining at least 5 cm, because this technic allows new emergence of roots, increasing the number of roots collected per germinated seed, that is very important in some species with poor germination rates; 3) To get the mitosis inhibition we are using cold water (0°C) treatment for 18-20 hours, following the standard protocols for conservation and hydrolysis; or enzyme digestion with pectinasecellulase 4) the staining procedures are made using Giemsa 2%. The Brazilian palms species studied and their respective chromosome number were: Aiphanes acanthophylla (2n=30), A. caryotaefolia (2n=30), Syagrus quinquifaria (2n=32), S. coronata (2n=32), S. romanzoffiana (2n=32), Euterpe edulis (2n=36), E. oleracea (2n=36), Copernicia prunifera (2n=36), Scheelea lauromuelleriana (2n=32) and Bactris gasipaes (2n=30).

Reguladores vegetais na produção de biomassa e teor de óleos essenciais em Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, em diferentes épocas do ano

The purpose of the present research was to evaluate the effect of plant growth regulators in biomass production and essential oil yield content in lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf), in different seasons. The experiment was conducted on São Manuel Experimental Farm, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, UNESP - Botucatu. Which plants were randomly assigned into blocks to treatments with three repetitions. The treatments consisted of GA3 (50 and 100 mg L-1); Ethrel (100 and 200 mg L-1); CCC (500 and 1000 mg L-1); Alar 85 (1000 and 2000 mg L-1); Accel (20 and 40 mg 0L-1) and control. Four applications of plant growth regulators were realized every three months. After 40 days of each foliar spray, the plants were cut to determine the fresh weight and essential oil yield. The application of plant growth regulators did not increase the biomass production, showing difference among collect periods when the major production was detected at the fourth collect (summer). The greatest essential oil yield was found at the second collect (winter). In the present study, the used concentrations of plant growth regulators did not increase biomass neither essential oil yield.

Eficiência de uso de boro no crescimento de clones de eucalipto em vasos

This paper evaluated the critical level, responsivity and boron use effciency on growth and the biomass production in six Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla clones (Ca, Cb, Cc, Cd, Ce and Cf). An experiment was carried out in pots containing ground silicon, under greenhouse conditions using four boron rates per solution (0; 0.135; 0.27; 0.54 mg L -1 of B). The treatments were combined in a randomized block experimental design in a 4 × 6 factorial scheme with three replications. Plant height, stem diameter, dry matter production in the shoots of the plant and boron use effciency in the leaves, stem and total dry matter at the 8th month of age were evaluated. Due to boron fertilization, growth and shoot biomass were observed in the Eucalyptus plants after 240 days of being planted in pots. The increases in growth and biomass were 35 to 54% and 21 to 64%, respectively. The boron rates that promoted major growth of the plants were 0.33 to 0.44 mg L -1 of B and in this range the most effcient clone for dry matter production of leaves was Cf and the least effcient one to stem biomass production and the shoot biomass was Cd, no signifcant differences among other clones were observed. The critical level of boron in solution was 0.09 to 0.24 mg L -1 of B in the growth of the plants.