Cytogenetic description of the Amazonian brown brocket Mazama nemorivaga (Artiodactyla, Cervidae)

The Amazonian brown brocket Mazama nemorivaga (Cuvier, 1817) is a small to medium-sized deer from the Amazon rainforest and ecotones. The first karyotype described was 2n=67 to 69 + 2-7 B and FN= 69-72, in which all chromosomes were acrocentric and the X chromosome was the only submetacentric chromosome. However, important aspects of the species chromosome evolution were not resolved because of the lack of information on chromosome banding. The G-banding pattern of M. nemorivaga karyotype showedthe presence of an XX/XY1Y2 sex chromosome system as a product of an X-autosome tandem fusion, which results in a basic 2n=68, FN=70 in females and 2n= 69, FN=70 in males. The fact that this karyotype only differs from that of Capreolus capreolus pygargus (Pallas, 1771; 2n=70, FN=72+B) by X-autosome tandem fusion may corroborate the basal condition of M. nemorivaga and its proximity to the ancestral karyotype of the American Odocoileini. A derived karyotype 2n=67, XY1Y2, FN=70 + 3B from the Brazilianstate of Mato Grosso (the western Amazon) may be evidence of differentiation between western and eastern populations. © Bruno Ferreto Fiorillo et al.

Influence of densities on the growth of brown mussel Perna perna L. cultivated in suspended socks at Caraguatatuba, southeastern Brazil

This study was carried out in a marine area at Cocanha Beach, Caraguatatuba, southeastern Brazil, aiming to determine the most appropriated density for brown mussel (Perna perna L.) cultured in suspended socks (French System), in order to reduce costs with acquisition of juvenile mussels (seed) and labor. In September 2007, 15 socks measuring 2 m each were reared at densities of 300, 400 and 500 seeds/m. After 250 days, mussels were harvested and separated in two length classes: non-commercial (<6 cm) and commercial (≥6 cm). Mussels were counted and weighed. In August 2008, the experiment was repeated with 1-m-long socks at lower densities (200, 250 and 300 seeds/m) in order to identify differences among commercial-sized mussels only. Data were analyzed by ANOVA or nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by Tukey or SNK tests, respectively. The results suggest that it is feasible to use densities from 250 to 300 seeds/m, since biomass yields are similar to those registered at higher densities and the use of mussel seed is therefore optimized. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Rapid determination of furosemide by combined spot test/diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to detect doping in sport

This paper describes the development and application of a simple, cheap, and clean method for the quantification of furosemide in urine samples from athletes, to detect doping, using a combined spot test/diffuse reflectance spectroscopy procedure. The method is based on the complexation reaction of furosemide (5-(aminosulfonyl)-4-chloro-2-((furanylmethyl)amino)benzoic acid, dissolved in ethanol, with FeCl3 and the surfactant dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB) in aqueous solution, yielding a colored compound on the surface of a filter paper. The reagent concentrations were optimized using a chemometric experimental design. The reflectometric measurements of the complex formed were carried out at 477nm. The linear range obtained was 1.65-9.00×10-3molL-1 of furosemide (R=0.997), and the detection and quantification limits were 4.9×10-4 and 1.62×10-3molL-1, respectively. The proposed method was successfully applied in the analysis of furosemide in spiked urine, demonstrating that it is a reliable alternative method for the detection of furosemide doping in sport. © 2012 Elsevier B.V..

Evaluation of estrogenic, antiestrogenic and genotoxic activity of nemorosone, the major compound found in brown Cuban propolis

Background: Brown propolis is the major type of propolis found in Cuba; its principal component is nemorosone, the major constituent of Clusia rosea floral resins. Nemorosone has received increasing attention due to its strong in vitro anti-cancer action. The citotoxicity of nemorosone in several human cancer cell lines has been reported and correlated to the direct action it has on the estrogen receptor (ER). Breast cancer can be treated with agents that target estrogen-mediated signaling, such as antiestrogens. Phytoestrogen can mimic or modulate the actions of endogenous estrogens and the treatment of breast cancer with phytoestrogens may be a valid strategy, since they have shown anti-cancer activity.Methods: The aim of the present investigation was to assess the capacity of nemorosone to interact with ERs, by Recombinant Yeast Assay (RYA) and E-screen assays, and to determine by comet assay, if the compound causes DNA-damaging in tumoral and non-tumoral breast cells.Results: Nemorosone did not present estrogenic activity, however, it inhibited the 17-β-estradiol (E2) action when either of both methods was used, showing their antiestrogenicity. The DNA damage induced by the benzophenone in cancer and normal breast cells presented negative results.Conclusion: These findings suggest that nemorosone may have therapeutic application in the treatment of breast cancer. © 2013 Camargo et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Desenvolvimento de teste ecotoxicológico com o fungo Alternaria cassiae: toxicidade aguda de agrotóxicos e avaliação de risco ambiental

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mapas de zonas de risco de epidemias para doenças dos citros no Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Spatial distribution of Yellow Sigatoka Leaf Spot correlated with soil fertility and plant nutrition

This study analyzed the spatial distribution of Yellow Sigatoka Leaf Spot relative to soil fertility and plant nutritional status using geostatistics. The experimental area comprised 1.2 ha, where 27 points were georeferenced and spaced on a regular grid 18 × 18 m. The severity of Yellow Sigatoka, soil fertility and plant nutritional status were evaluated at each point. The spherical model was adjusted for all variables using restricted maximum likelihood. Kriging maps showed the highest infection rate of Sigatoka occurred in high areas of the field which had the highest concentration of sand, while the lowest disease was found in lower areas with lower silt, organic matter, total exchangeable bases, effective cation exchange capacity, base saturation, Ca and Mg in soil, and foliar sulfur (S). These results may help farmers manage Yellow Sigatoka disease more effectively, with balanced fertilization and reduced fungicide application. This practice minimizes the environmental impact and cost of production while contributing to production sustainability.

Nitrogen and potassium fertilization on the yield and intensity of the maize white spot

A plant’s nutritional balance can influence its resistance to diseases. In order to evaluate the effect of increasing doses of N and K on the yield and severity of the maize white spot, two experiments were installed in the field, one in the city of Ijaci, Minas Gerais, and the other in the city of Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais. The experimental delimitation was in randomized blocks with 5 x 5 factorial analysis of variance, and four repetitions. The treatments consisted of five doses of N (20; 40; 80; 150; 190 Kg ha-1 of N in the experiments 1 and 2) and five doses of K (15; 30; 60; 120; 180 Kg ha-1 of K in experiment 1 and 8.75; 17.5; 35; 50; 100 Kg ha-1 of K in experiment 2). The susceptible cultivar 30P70 was planted in both experiments. The plot consisted of four rows 5 meters long, with a useful area consisting of two central rows 3 meters each. Evaluations began 43 days after emergence (DAE) in the first experiment and 56 DAE in the second one. There was no significant interaction between doses of N and K and the disease progress. The effect was only observed for N. The K did not influence the yield and the severity of the disease in these experiments. Bigger areas below the severity progress curve of the white spot and better yield were observed with increasing doses of N. Thus, with increasing doses of N, the white spot increased and also did the yield.

New voltammetry-based technique for the determination of tebuthiuron in crystal and brown sugar samples

Sugar is widely consumed worldwide and Brazil is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of this product. To guarantee proper development and productivity of sugar cane crops, it is necessary to apply large quantities of agrochemicals, especially herbicides and pesticides. The herbicide tebuthiuron (TBH) prevents pre- and post-emergence of infesting weed in sugarcane cultures. Considering that it is important to ensure food safety for the population, this paper proposes a reliable method to analyse TBH in sugar matrixes (brown and crystal) using square wave voltammetry (SWV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at bare glassy carbon electrode and investigate the electrochemical behavior of this herbicide by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Our results suggest that TBH or the product of its reaction with a supporting electrolyte is oxidized through irreversible transfer of one electron between the analyte and the working electrode, at a potential close to +1.16 V vs. Ag |AgClsat in 0.10 mol L-1 KOH as supporting electrolyte solution. Both DPV and SWV are satisfactory for the quantitative analysis of the analyte. DPV is more sensitive and selective, with detection limits of 0.902, 0.815 and 0.578 mg kg-1, and quantification limits of 0.009, 0.010 and 0.008 mg kg-1 in the absence of the matrix and in the presence of crystal and brown sugar matrix, respectively. Repeatability lay between 0.53 and 13.8%, precision ranged between 4.14 and 15.0%, and recovery remained between 84.2 and 113% in the case of DPV conducted in the absence of matrix and in the presence of the crystal sugar matrix, respectively.

Construção de filmes ultra finos de Bismarck Brown R por eletropolimerização e sua aplicação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Controle de Alternaria solani em tomateiro (Lycopersicon esculentum) com óleos essenciais

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fontes e modos de aplicação de potássio na alface americana (Lactuca sativa cv. Lucy Brown) em ambiente protegido

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Suicídio, da identificação com a mãe morta ao resgate narcísico: um estudo psicanalítico do personagem Richard Brown do filme As horas

O tema desta Dissertação é o suicídio como conseqüência da identificação com a mãe morta. Trata-se de uma pesquisa teórica fundamentada na teoria psicanalítica, que recorre à análise do personagem Richard Brown, do filme As Horas, para ilustrar o argumento teórico de que a revivescência da identificação com a mãe morta pode ser um fator desencadeante do suicídio do melancólico na vida adulta. Inicialmente procura explicitar o conceito de mãe morta, caracterizada como uma mãe que mesmo quando está presente mostra-se ausente nos cuidados e no investimento amoroso ao filho em função de sua depressão. Assim, para a criança, a imagem materna será a de uma mãe sem vida, de uma mãe morta. Mostra a identificação com a mãe morta como saída psíquica para a situação traumática proveniente do desinvestimento amoroso maternal. A criança na relação com esta mãe vive uma catástrofe psíquica chamada por Green de trauma narcisista, o que vai determinar o destino do investimento libidinal, objetal e narcisista do sujeito. Assim sendo, considera-se a melancolia como uma psicopatologia manifestada na vida adulta pelo sujeito subjugado pelo complexo da mãe morta. O estudo da melancolia no texto Luto e Melancolia, de Freud, fornece subsídios para se compreender os processos do mundo interior daqueles que querem dar cabo à sua própria existência. A melancolia evidencia o embate entre o Eu e o Supereu nos papéis de acusado e acusador. Mostra que o Supereu se torna sádico ao cobrar perfeição do Eu masoquista empobrecido narcisicamente pela identificação com a mãe morta. Quando chega às raias do sadismo esse embate leva o Eu, identificado com a mãe morta, a desejar eliminar o objeto mau introjetado numa parte do Eu, para resgatar o seu valor narcísico idealizado. Aponta o suicídio como a saída psíquica encontrada pelo melancólico para livrar-se da identificação com a mãe morta. Conclui que no suicídio os conflitos inconscientes manifestados na vida adulta são revivescências dos conteúdos psíquicos registrados na infância. No caso estudado em questão, a revivescência da identificação com a mãe morta teria sido o fator desencadeante do suicídio de Richard Brown na vida adulta.

Plant growth and leaf-spot severity on eucalypt at different CO2 concentrations in the air

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do aumento da concentração de CO2 do ar sobre o crescimento de plantas e sobre a mancha foliar causada por Cylindrocladium candelabrum em Eucalyptus urophylla. As mudas foram cultivadas durante 30 dias, a 451, 645, 904, 1.147 µmol mol-1 de CO2 ; em seguida, elas foram inoculadas com o patógeno e mantidas nas mesmas condições por sete dias. O aumento da concentração de CO2 aumentou a altura de plantas e a massa de matéria seca da parte aérea, e diminuiu a incidência e a severidade da doença. O diâmetro do caule não foi afetado pelos tratamentos. O aumento das concentrações de CO2 atmosférico afeta favoravelmente o crescimento de plântulas de eucalipto e reduz a severidade da mancha foliar.

Effect of sex and seasons of the year on hematologic and serum biochemical variables of captive brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

The Brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) is the most common free-living and captive deer in South America, especially in Brazil, and has great ecological and scientific significance. However, data on hematological and biochemical parameters in brown brocket deer are scarce. The goal of this study was to establish reference ranges for hematological and biochemical parameters of Mazama gouazoubira, comparing differences during the seasons of the year and between sex. Blood samples from ten adult healthy brown brocket deer (6 female and 4 male) were collected during daytime, monthly, during 12 months. The animals were maintained in individual stable, protected from noise and fed ad libitum with commercial ration and green fodder. For blood collection, animals were submitted to physical restrain for no longer than 2 minutes. The following parameters were determined: red blood cell count (RBC), haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count, enzyme activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), total protein (TP), albumin, cholesterol, total calcium, ionic calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, triglycerides, creatinine and urea. Values were compared according to season and sex. RBC count, WBC count and MCV suggested seasonal influence. Haemoglobin concentration, PCV and MCV were influenced by sex. Serum concentration of total calcium, ionic calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium were influenced by season. Serum magnesium was also influenced by sex. The blood parameters herein reported may be useful as reference values for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in captive brown-brocket deer.