Biological aspects of Amblyomma brasiliense (Acari: Ixodidae) under laboratory conditions

Although Amblyomma brasiliense Aragão 1908 has been reported as one of the most aggressive ticks to humans in Brazil, information about the biology of this tick species is virtually inexistent. This work reports data on the life cycle of A. brasiliense fed on rabbits and pigs and maintained in an incubator at 20°C, 90% RH and 12 h of light for off-host development. Tick yield of adult females fed on pigs and rabbits was 81.2% and 58.3%, respectively. Females fed on pigs had mean engorgement weight of 862.3 mg and egg mass of 208 mg, while females fed on rabbits had mean engorgement weight of 606.1 mg and egg mass of 160 mg; these values did not differ statistically between host species. Feeding period of female ticks fed on pigs (10 days) was significantly shorter than that on rabbits (17 days). Mean preoviposition period was slightly longer (35.9 days) for ticks fed on pigs than on rabbits (30 days). The minimum incubation period of eggs of ticks from both host species was similar and over 100 days. Egg production efficiency was low for females fed on both hosts (less than 30% and 20% for ticks from pigs and rabbits, respectively). More than 55% of larvae and 79% of nymphs fed on rabbits, set free inside the feeding chambers, engorged successfully. These ticks attained an engorgement weight of 1.3 and 18.2 mg, respectively, and fed for approximately 5 days. The minimum pre-molt period was 30 days for engorged larvae and over 44 days for nymphs. Molting success was low, less than 50% in the case of larvae and less than 20% for nymphs. Further studies are required to better determine the off-host requirements of this tick species. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Laboratory assessment of two active ingredients for control of coptotemes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

The subterranean termite Coptotermes gestroi Wasmann (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) is a pest of major economic importance in urban environments of southeastern Brazil. Compared to using pesticides for termite control, termite bait products target termites more specifically and also address environmental contamination issues. In this point of view, we performed two different bioassays in order to evaluate the efficacy of boric acid and fipronil against different populations of C. gestroi. The results showed that concentrations between 2000 and 3000 ppm of boric acid caused approximately 100 percent mortality in termites. Concentrations between 0.01 and 0.0001 ppm of fipronil resulted in 100% termite mortality after 2 wk exposure. The data displayed a fast mortality of termites contaminated with fipronil, even with small concentrations, and therefore it is not a suitable product to be used in baits against C. gestroi. The present study showed a delayed toxicity of boric acid against the subterranean termite C. gestroi which suggests a need for further field tests.

Action of dwarf mucuna, pigeon pea and stylos anthes on weed under field and laboratory conditions

The quality and allelopathy properties of dwarf mucuna, dwarf pigeon pea and stylosanthes as cover crops on corn and weed species were evaluated. Seeds were sown in October 2007, with a control treatment, in 20 plots of 4×5m, with five replicates. Weed population was determined 30 and 60 days after sowing. At 90 days, plants were mowed and the residues left to remain on the plot. Fresh and dry mass of the cover crops were determined and the allelopathic potential of aqueous extract of their aerial part was tested. The extract was chemically characterized and applied on seeds of weeds and corn. The experimental design was completely randomized and averages compared by the Scott-Knott test at 5% significance. The cover crops showed to be effective in the control of weeds. The highest values in fresh and dry mass were obtained for dwarf pigeon pea, followed by dwarf mucuna; fresh mass increased 72 and 34%, respectively, compared to the control. The extract with dwarf mucuna affected arrowleaf sida germination. The use of green manure in the summer or between harvests ensures that crop rotation is carried out properly and warrants its benefits.

Remote laboratory experiment access via an RFID interface

In this paper, remote laboratory experiment access is considered through the use of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Contactless smart cards are used widely in many applications from travel cards through to building access control and inventory tracking. However, their use is considered here for access to electronic engineering experimentation in a remote laboratory setting by providing the ability to interface experiments through this contactless (wireless) connection means. A case study design is implemented to demonstrate such a means by incorporating experiment data onto a contactless smart card and accessing this via a card reader and web server arrangement. © 2012 IEEE.

Biosolid soil application: Toxicity tests under laboratory conditions

A large volume of generated sewage sludge makes its disposal a problem. The usage of sludge in agriculture is highlighted by a number of advantages. However, heavy metals and other toxic compounds may exercise harmful effects to soil organisms. This study evaluated the possible toxic effects of a biosolid sample, under laboratory conditions, for 30 days, using diplopods Rhinocricus padbergi and plants Allium cepa (onion) as test organisms. The data obtained demonstrated that the biosolid raw sample had genotoxic potential for Allium cepa root tip cells. In the diplopods exposed to biosolid sample, epithelium disorganization in the midgut and a reduction of the volume of the hepatic cells were observed after 7 days of exposure. After 30 days, the animals still showed a reduction of the volume of the hepatic cells, but in minor intensity. Allium cepa analysis showed genotoxicity, but this effect was reduced after 30 days of bioprocessing by diplopods. This study was important to know the effects as well as to determine how this waste could be applied concerning the soil living organisms and plants. © 2012 Cintya Ap. Christofoletti et al.

Pre-harvest sugarcane burning: Determination of emission factors through laboratory measurements

Sugarcane is an important crop for the Brazilian economy and roughly 50% of its production is used to produce ethanol. However, the common practice of pre-harvest burning of sugarcane straw emits particulate material, greenhouse gases, and tropospheric ozone precursors to the atmosphere. Even with policies to eliminate the practice of pre-harvest sugarcane burning in the near future, there is still significant environmental damage. Thus, the generation of reliable inventories of emissions due to this activity is crucial in order to assess their environmental impact. Nevertheless, the official Brazilian emissions inventory does not presently include the contribution from pre-harvest sugarcane burning. In this context, this work aims to determine sugarcane straw burning emission factors for some trace gases and particulate material smaller than 2.5μm in the laboratory. Excess mixing ratios for CO2, CO, NOX, UHC (unburned hydrocarbons), and PM2.5 were measured, allowing the estimation of their respective emission factors. Average estimated values for emission factors (g kg-1 of burned dry biomass) were 1,303 ± 218 for CO2, 65 ± 14 for CO, 1.5 ± 0.4 for NOX, 16 ± 6 for UHC, and 2.6 ± 1.6 for PM2.5. These emission factors can be used to generate more realistic emission inventories and therefore improve the results of air quality models. © 2012 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

One-nucleon-induced nonmesonic hypernuclear decay in laboratory coordinates

We present a formalism for the computation of one-nucleon-induced nonmesonic weak hypernuclear decay rates in laboratory coordinates, within an independent-particle shell model framework, with a view to its generalization to the case of two-nucleon-induced transitions. © 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.

Identification of Candida species in the clinical laboratory: A review of conventional, commercial, and molecular techniques

In healthy individuals, Candida species are considered commensal yeasts of the oral cavity. However, these microorganisms can also act as opportunist pathogens, particularly the so-called non-albicans Candida species that are increasingly recognized as important agents of human infection. Several surveys have documented increased rates of C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. dubliniensis, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei in local and systemic fungal infections. Some of these species are resistant to antifungal agents. Consequently, rapid and correct identification of species can play an important role in the management of candidiasis. Conventional methods for identification of Candida species are based on morphological and physiological attributes. However, accurate identification of all isolates from clinical samples is often complex and time-consuming. Hence, several manual and automated rapid commercial systems for identifying these organisms have been developed, some of which may have significant sensitivity issues. To overcome these limitations, newer molecular typing techniques have been developed that allow accurate and rapid identification of Candida species. This study reviewed the current state of identification methods for yeasts, particularly Candida species. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

The licensing of a laboratory for manipulating radionuclides in Brazil

Radionuclides take a major role in guidelines of environmental agencies/national organizations of countries worldwide. In Brazil, CNEN-Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear is responsible for managing all subjects related to nuclear energy in the country. Thus, laboratories employing radionuclides for the development of their activities must submit a Radioprotection Plan to CNEN in order to get an operation license. Such plan must indicate that the laboratory is exempt of risks to the people involved and designed to fit all related environmental aspects. This was the case of LABIDRO-Hydrochemical and Isotopes Laboratory that belongs to IGCE-Geosciences and Exact Sciences Institute from UNESP - the University of the State of São Paulo Júlio de Mesquita Filho, located at Rio Claro city, São Paulo State, Brazil. The total monthly activity of the radionuclides utilized during the laboratorial activities held at LABIDRO corresponds to 0.01 μCi. This paper describes all information provided by LABIDRO in order to get the CNEN license. The LABIDRO plan also showed the expected radioactive waste released when the experiments take place and CNEN decided that it fits the guidelines established by Brazilian legislation. Therefore, LABIDRO received its license for utilizing radionuclides, which is valid until September 2016. © 2013 WIT Press.

Early larval development in the laboratory of Alpheus estuariensis (Crustacea: Caridea) from the Amazon Region

O presente estudo descreve e ilustra em detalhes os quatro primeiros estágios de Alpheus estuariensis Christoffersen, 1984 a partir de larvas cultivadas em laboratório. Duas fêmeas ovígeras foram coletadas no canal de maré do estuário de Bragança, estado do Pará, nordeste do Brasil. Após a eclosão, as larvas foram colocadas em pequenos recipientes (com 10 larvas em cada). As fêmeas foram depositadas no Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi (MPEG 0803) e as larvas de cada estágio larval no Museu zoológico da Universidade de São Paulo (MUSP18452). Foram dissecadas 10 larvas e exúvias com finas agulhas sob um microscópio ocular. Comparações morfológicas com outros estudos reportados sobre o desenvolvimento larval de espécies de Alpheus são brevemente discutidas.

The larval development of Pinnixa gracilipes Coelho (Decapoda, Pinnotheridae) reared in the laboratory

Pinnixa gracilipes Coelho, 1997 é um pequeno caranguejo pinoterídeo que vive em associação com Lepidophthalmus siriboia Felder & Rodrigues, 1993 no nordeste do Estado do Pará, Brasil. Larvas de P. gracilipes foram cultivadas em laboratório desde o nascimento ao estágio megalopa. O desenvolvimento completo durou cerca de 24 dias. O período médio de cada estágio foi 5, 4, 4, 5 e 6 dias, respectivamente. No presente trabalho, os cinco estágios zoeae e megalopa são descritos e ilustrados em detalhes. Comparações morfológicas com estudos anteriores sobre larvas da família Pinnotheridae são brevemente discutidas.

The complete larval development of Armases benedicti (Rathbun) (Decapoda, Sesarmidae), from the Amazon region, reared in the laboratory

São descritos e ilustrados em detalhes, os quatro estágios de zoea e um de megalopa do caranguejo Armases benedicti (Rathbun, 1897), a partir de larvas obtidas em laboratório. A média de duração de cada estágio larval foi 3, 2, 4, 4 e 13 dias, respectivamente. O período compreendido desde a eclosão até o surgimento do primeiro juvenil foi de 26 dias. Morfologicamente A. benedicti é muito similar às outras espécies do gênero, contudo, um pequeno espinho lateral é claramente observado na carapaça das zoeas desta espécie. Esta característica aparenta ser única dentre os Sesarmidae. Outra característica distinta desta espécie é a distribuição das cerdas do endópodo da maxila (2+2), o qual difere dos demais sesarmídeos que apresentam a distribuição (2+3), exceto para Sesarma tetragonum (Fabricius, 1798) o qual apresenta (2+2). Outras comparações morfológicas com trabalhos anteriores relacionados a larvas do gênero Armases Abele, 1992 são brevemente discutidas.

The early phyllosoma stages of spiny lobster Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 (Decapoda: Palinuridae) reared in the laboratory

Os estágios iniciais de lagosta tropical Panulirus echinatus eclodiram e foram cultivados em laboratório. Fêmeas ovígeras foram capturadas em seu habitat e cuidadosamente transportadas para o laboratório. As larvas foram cultivadas em tanques de recirculação de água e alimentadas com náuplios de Artemia e gônadas mexilhão Brachydonts sp. Microalga Dunaliella viridis foi adicionada em cada tanque de cultivo na concentração de 150 x 10⁴ cel.mL^–1. Os filosomas mudaram oito vezes e o período de intermuda de cada instar foi de cerca de 7 a 10 dias. As principais mudanças morfológicas de cada apêndice foram descritas, ilustradas e comparadas com trabalhos anteriores.

Redescription of megalopa and juvenile development of Pachygrapsus gracilis (Decapoda: Grapsidae) from the Amazon region, reared in the laboratory

ABSTRACT: This present study re-describes the megalopa stage and provides detailed morphological descriptions and main growth changes observed in stages I through VII of the juvenile instars of the dark shore crab Pachygrapsus gracilis (Saussure, 1858), from the Amazon region. The specimens in this study were reared in the laboratory and the megalopae were collected at Ajuruteua beach in northeastern Pará, Brazil. Previous studies had described the megalopa of P. gracilis from Mexican waters, as well as those of Pachygrapsus transversus (Gibbes, 1850) and Pachygrapsus marmoratus (Fabricius, 1787). A comparison between the Mexican and Amazonian populations of P. gracilis revealed significant morphological differences. The main difference is the presence of 3 elongated setae on the 5th pereiopods of individuals of the Amazonian population. The setal number and their arrangement in the appendages also differed. In P. gracilis, the male and female genital openings are observed from the juvenile instar III, whereas differentiation in male pleopods is observed only in juvenile instar V. In females, the pleopods undergo rapid differentiation during juvenile instar VI. These morphological comparisons and other observations on development are briefly compared and discussed with reports for other species.