Interindividual variations in fruit preferences of the yellow-shouldered bat Sturnira lilium (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) in a cafeteria experiment

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

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.

Caracterização hidroquímica dos sistemas aquíferos Serra Geral e Guarani da sub-bacia do Rio Pardo e municípios adjacentes, no sudoeste do estado de São Paulo

The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the chemical composition of the groundwaters from Guarani Aquifer System and Serra Geral Aquifer System in the Rio Pardo basin, located at the southwestern of São Paulo state. To the hydrochemical characterization, physicalchemical analyses from 32 sampled wells were used. These results were plotted in Piper diagrams allowing the classification of groundwater as calcium or calcium-magnesium bicarbonate type and sodium bicarbonate type for both aquifer systems. Distribution of hydrochemical facies over the study area was obtained using Stiff diagrams. The groundwater can be classified, representing in this sequence its hydrochemical evolution. The recognized mechanisms responsible for groundwater evolution are dissolution of minerals magnesium, such as olivine, present in the basalt, dissolution of feldspars and removal of the carbonate cement of the sandstones mineral framework. Ionic exchange may represent an important processes in the groundwater evolution, responsible for the increase in the sodium concentration and decrease of calcium

Classificação hidroquímica das águas subterrâneas do Aquífero Serra Geral na porção centro norte do estado de São Paulo

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

Caracterização hidroquímica do sistema aquífero Tubarão no município de Americana/SP

The growing interest in the use of groundwater resources is directly related to the economic advantages that the groundwater exploitation offers when compared to surface waters. This happens especially in large urban centers, such as the city of Americana / SP, where the rivers are increasingly contaminated by household and industrial waste. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the Tubarão Aquifer System, in the city of Americana, to identify and evaluate the spatial distribution of different hydrogeochemical facies as well as understand the rock-fluid interaction through the construction of a conceptual hydrogeochemical model. This study was made based on the recognition of the possible chemical reactions that print the chemical characteristics of groundwater in the area. To do the job, there were two water sampling campaigns of all deep wells used by the City of Americana public water supply. From the results of hydrochemical, classification of water was made by Piper and Stiff diagrams as well as geostatistical data using cluster analysis of principal components. Based on information from the profiles obtained from the survey SIAGAS as well as in geological profiles provided by the city of Americana, we sought to detail the subsurface geology of the Subgroup Itararé in the city of Americana. The results obtained allowed the identification of three hydrochemical types in the study area: Bicarbonated calcium-sodium (1), bicarbonate sodium (2) and sodium chloride (3). The waters have bicarbonate alkaline pH to alkaline and can be considered weakly saline, with electrical conductivity values of around 161 mS / cm. Samples classified as sodium bicarbonate average of 174.99 mS / cm. The pH values ranging from 6.74 to 7.99, averaging 7.52. For the group of waters classified as sodium chloride, conductivity average is 164.32 mS / cm and pH values ranging... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Radioatividade e hidroquímica em águas subterrâneas do município de Botucatu (SP)

The main objective of this study is to determine the activity of Po-210, Pb-210 and gross alpha/beta radioactivity in groundwater collected in Botucatu, municipality of the São Paulo state, Brazil. Samples were collected in wells to perform the radiochemical analysis. Most wells are registered in DAEE, Sabesp or CPRM. The activity of polonium was obtained by the method of alpha spectrometry, held in LABIDRO at UNESP, Rio Claro. All samples showed radioactivity values below the maximum allowed by WHO, that are: gross alpha radioactivity = 0,5 Bq/L, gross beta radioactivity = 1,0 Bq/L, Po210 = 0,2 Bq/L and Pb210 = 0,1 Bq/L. The results of hydrochemical analysis were compared with the 1469 Ordinance of the Health Ministry, and all values are bellow the maximum allowed. The data also allowed obtain the samples classification using the Piper diagram. The samples AAB, Quinta do Manacás, Faz. Quatro Irmãs, Sesi, Sitio São José and ITE are classified as calcic bicarbonate; the samples Staroup and Caio are potassic; the samples Banespa and BTC are bicarbonate and mixed interms of dissolved cations; Sitio das Palmeiras sample is sodium bicarbonate; the sample Faz. São Paulo is chlorinated calcic; the sample Sítio Btu-Pardinho chlorinated and mixed interms of dissolved cations

Study of Salmonella typhimurium mutagenicity assay of (Z)-piplartine by the Ames test

Processo FAPESP

Imputation of microsatellite alleles from dense SNP genotypes for parentage verification across multiple Bos taurus and Bos indicus breeds

To assist cattle producers transition from microsatellite (MS) to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping for parental verification we previously devised an effective and inexpensive method to impute MS alleles from SNP haplotypes. While the reported method was verified with only a limited data set (N = 479) from Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, and Jersey cattle, some of the MS-SNP haplotype associations were concordant across these phylogenetically diverse breeds. This implied that some haplotypes predate modern breed formation and remain in strong linkage disequilibrium. To expand the utility of MS allele imputation across breeds, MS and SNP data from more than 8000 animals representing 39 breeds (Bos taurus and B. indicus) were used to predict 9410 SNP haplotypes, incorporating an average of 73 SNPs per haplotype, for which alleles from 12 MS markers could be accurately be imputed. Approximately 25% of the MS-SNP haplotypes were present in multiple breeds (N = 2 to 36 breeds). These shared haplotypes allowed for MS imputation in breeds that were not represented in the reference population with only a small increase in Mendelian inheritance inconsistancies. Our reported reference haplotypes can be used for any cattle breed and the reported methods can be applied to any species to aid the transition from MS to SNP genetic markers. While ~91% of the animals with imputed alleles for 12 MS markers had ≤1 Mendelian inheritance conflicts with their parents' reported MS genotypes, this figure was 96% for our reference animals, indicating potential errors in the reported MS genotypes. The workflow we suggest autocorrects for genotyping errors and rare haplotypes, by MS genotyping animals whose imputed MS alleles fail parentage verification, and then incorporating those animals into the reference dataset.

Riqueza, abundância e dieta de morcegos (Chiroptera) em floresta de eucaliptos

Os quirópteros apresentam grande diversidade e variação de hábitos alimentares, desempenhando um importante papel ecológico, se destacando pela dispersão de sementes que auxilia na conservação e restauração de ambientes degradados. Em caso de monoculturas, espera-se que reflorestamentos mais antigos com sub-bosque bem desenvolvido abriguem comunidades com maior diversidade de espécies se comparados a reflorestamentos utilizados para fins comerciais. O objetivo deste estudo é conhecer a riqueza, abundância e diversidade de morcegos e a dieta das espécies frugívoras em uma área refloresta por Eucalyptus spp., a Floresta Estadual Edmundo Navarro de Andrade localizada em Rio Claro - SP. As capturas ocorreram entre maio de 2014 e 2015, utilizando redes de neblina e um esforço amostral de 9072 m².h. As fezes encontradas foram coletadas, identificadas usando-se uma coleção de referência em laboratório e associadas às espécies de morcegos. Foi realizado um teste de germinação com Piper amalago para verificar o efeito da passagem de sementes pelo trato digestivo dos morcegos. São apresentados dados de dominância, constância, estimativas de riqueza (Chao1, Jackknife2) e diversidade (Shannon-Wiener) de morcegos, assim como índice de valor de importância de interação (Murray) para plantas e morcegos e a velocidade e a porcentagem germinativa de sementes de Piper amalago. Foram capturados 86 indivíduos de nove espécies de quirópteros pertencentes a duas famílias. As espécies encontradas são, em sua maioria, generalistas, sendo a mais abundante Artibeus lituratus, seguido de Carollia perspicillatta, esta se alimentou de 10 espécies diferentes de plantas, tendo o maior valor no índice de importância, enquanto Piper aduncum foi a planta consumida pelo maior número de morcegos na área de estudo. As espécies de plantas consumidas são principalmente pioneiras como Piperaceae e Solanaceae, que contribuem para a...

Attitudes, Confidence, and Achievement of High-Ability Fifth Grade Math Students

In this action research study of my fifth grade high-ability mathematics class, I investigated student attitudes of mathematics and their confidence in mathematics. Student achievement was compared to two different confidence scales to identify a relationship between confidence and achievement. Six boys and eleven girls gave their consent to the study. I discovered there seems to be a connection between confidence and achievement and that boys are generally more confident than girls. Most students liked math and were comfortable sharing answers and methods of solving problems with other students. As a result of this study I plan to use my survey and interview questions at the beginning of the school year with my new class in order to assess their attitudes and confidence in math. I can use this information to identify potential struggles and better plan for student instruction.

AN OVERVIEW OF DEPREDATING BIRD DAMAGE CONTROL IN CALIFORNIA

To many people, California is synonomous with Disneyland, freeways, Los Angeles smog, Yosemite, the California missions, or for you bird aficionados, the California Condor. But do you think about California when you eat strawberry shortcake? You should -- California leads the nation in strawberry production. How about artichokes? California produces over 98% of the artichokes raised in the United States. Dates? California produces over 99% of the dates in the United States. Yes, California is all of these, and it is much more. California may well be the most diverse state in the United States. Within its 100.2 million acres, California has the lowest place in the U.S. in Death Valley and one of the highest mountains with Mt. Whitney. Because California is such a diverse state and has a wide variety of micro- climates, it supports a uniquely diverse agriculture. Agriculture uses only about 36 million acres of its total 100.2 million acres, and most of the cash return from crops is produced on 8,6 million acres that are irrigated. California produces about 250 crops and livestock commodities (excluding nursery crops) and provides the U.S. with about 25% of its table foods. California leads the nation in the production of 46 commercial crops and livestock commodities; its farmers and ranchers marketed $8.6 billion of crop and livestock products in 1975, and the state’s harvested farm production in 1975 set a new record at 51.1 million tons. HISTORY OF BIRD PROBLEMS Records such as this are not achieved without some risk. Crops growing in Cali- fornia have always had competition from many types of vertebrate pests. The wide variety of crops grown in California and the varied climates and situations in which they are grown has resulted in many different species of birds damaging crops. Birds have compet- ed with man for his crops since the dawn of agriculture. McAtee (1932) cited examples of bird damage that occurred in a wide variety of crops in California during the early 1900s. During the 1920s, many requests for Information and relief from damage caused by a wide variety of birds, culminated in the assignment, in May 1929, of two biologists, S. E. Piper and Johnson Neff, of the former U.S. Bio- logical Survey, to initiate field studies in California. In cooperation with the Cali- fornia Department of Food and Agriculture and County Agricultural Commissioners, the study was to determine the problems and devise control procedures relative to bird depredations. Piper and Neff found such damage as Horned Larks pulling sprouting crops, House Finches disbudding deciduous fruit trees and devouring mature fruit. Blackbirds were a problem in the rice crop. Early controls were varied and, for the most part, lacked effectiveness. Flagging of fields was common to deter Horned Larks. Windmill devices were tried to frighten birds. Shooting to kill birds was common; scarecrows were.used. The six-year study brought forth the basis of most of the depredating bird control techniques still in use in California. At the end of the study, these two biologists compiled a book called “Procedure and Methods in Controlling Birds Injurious to Crops in California.” This was and still is the “Bible” for bird damage control techniques used in California. The thorough investigations conducted by these biologists resulted in techniques that have remained valid in California for over 40 years.

Riqueza, abundância e dieta de morcegos (Chiroptera) em floresta de eucaliptos

Os quirópteros apresentam grande diversidade e variação de hábitos alimentares, desempenhando um importante papel ecológico, se destacando pela dispersão de sementes que auxilia na conservação e restauração de ambientes degradados. Em caso de monoculturas, espera-se que reflorestamentos mais antigos com sub-bosque bem desenvolvido abriguem comunidades com maior diversidade de espécies se comparados a reflorestamentos utilizados para fins comerciais. O objetivo deste estudo é conhecer a riqueza, abundância e diversidade de morcegos e a dieta das espécies frugívoras em uma área refloresta por Eucalyptus spp., a Floresta Estadual Edmundo Navarro de Andrade localizada em Rio Claro - SP. As capturas ocorreram entre maio de 2014 e 2015, utilizando redes de neblina e um esforço amostral de 9072 m².h. As fezes encontradas foram coletadas, identificadas usando-se uma coleção de referência em laboratório e associadas às espécies de morcegos. Foi realizado um teste de germinação com Piper amalago para verificar o efeito da passagem de sementes pelo trato digestivo dos morcegos. São apresentados dados de dominância, constância, estimativas de riqueza (Chao1, Jackknife2) e diversidade (Shannon-Wiener) de morcegos, assim como índice de valor de importância de interação (Murray) para plantas e morcegos e a velocidade e a porcentagem germinativa de sementes de Piper amalago. Foram capturados 86 indivíduos de nove espécies de quirópteros pertencentes a duas famílias. As espécies encontradas são, em sua maioria, generalistas, sendo a mais abundante Artibeus lituratus, seguido de Carollia perspicillatta, esta se alimentou de 10 espécies diferentes de plantas, tendo o maior valor no índice de importância, enquanto Piper aduncum foi a planta consumida pelo maior número de morcegos na área de estudo. As espécies de plantas consumidas são principalmente pioneiras como Piperaceae e Solanaceae, que contribuem para a...

In vitro Metabolism of Grandisin, a Lignan with Anti-chagasic Activity

Tetrahydrofuran lignans represent a well-known group of phenolic compounds capable of acting as antiparasitic agents. In the search for new medicines for the treatment of Chagas disease, one promising compound is grandisin which has shown significant activity on trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. In this work, the in vitro metabolism of grandisin was studied in the pig cecum model and by biomimetic phase I reactions, aiming at an ensuing a preclinical pharmacokinetic investigation. Although grandisin exhibited no metabolization by the pig microbiota, one putative metabolite was formed in a biomimetic model using Jacobsen catalyst. The putative metabolite was tested against T. cruzi revealing loss of activity in comparison to grandisin.

Dillapiole as Antileishmanial Agent: Discovery, Cytotoxic Activity and Preliminary SAR Studies of Dillapiole Analogues

In this paper, the isolation of dillapiole (1) from Piper aduncum was reported as well as the semi-synthesis of two phenylpropanoid derivatives [di-hydrodillapiole (2), isodillapiole (3)], via reduction and isomerization reactions. Also, the compounds' molecular properties (structural, electronic, hydrophobic, and steric) were calculated and investigated to establish some preliminary structureactivity relationships (SAR). Compounds were evaluated for in vitro antileishmanial activity and cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells. Compound 1 presented inhibitory activity against Leishmania amazonensis (IC50?=?69.3 mu M) and Leishmania brasiliensis (IC50?=?59.4 mu M) and induced cytotoxic effects on fibroblast cells mainly in high concentrations. Compounds 2 (IC50?=?99.9 mu M for L. amazonensis and IC50?=?90.5 mu M for L. braziliensis) and 3 (IC50?=?122.9 mu M for L. amazonensis and IC50?=?109.8 mu M for L. brasiliensis) were less active than dillapiole (1). Regarding the molecular properties, the conformational arrangement of the side chain, electronic features, and the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance seem to be relevant for explaining the antileishmanial activity of dillapiole and its analogues.

Depression, fatigue, and health-related quality of life in head and neck cancer patients: a prospective pilot study

To assess the prevalence of depression and fatigue symptoms in head and neck cancer patients during radiotherapy treatment and relate them symptoms with these patients' quality of life. This is a prospective study. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Piper Fatigue Scale-revised and Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy Head and Neck (FACT-H&N) were applied to 41 head and neck cancer patients at three times: at the start of treatment (T1), approximately 15 days after the start of treatment (T2) and at the end of treatment (T3), approximately 30 days after the start of the radiotherapy. The mean BDI and PIPER increased during the radiotherapy treatment. BDI scores did not demonstrate the presence of depression, although the number of symptoms increased, and the presence of fatigue rose as treatment advanced. The mean FACT H&N decreased in the middle and at the end of treatment, indicating worsening in these patients' Quality of Life. Depression and fatigue symptoms increased during radiotherapy treatment, while QoL levels decreased. This demonstrates that these symptoms are strongly correlated and that their presence negatively influenced QoL. At the start of treatment, nurses need to advise patients and plan care, offering interventions to decrease these symptoms and improve QoL.