Uso de resíduos de madeiras e frutos da amazônia para o cultivo in vitro do cogumelo comestível shiitake

Local abundant residues with low or without commercial value with potential to make the production of edible mushrooms economically viable in any region of Brazil must be employed for cultivation. Thus, the radial mycelial growth of LED 20 strain of Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler was verified in culture media prepared with extract of regional residues by using substrates based on Protium puncticulatum, Cariniana micrantha and Caryocar glabum sawdust, supplemented with 20% of grinded residues from the barks of the fruits of Astrocaryum aculeatum and Theobroma grandiflorum. Residues from eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp) sawdust and wheat bran (Triticum aestivum L) were used as witness because they are commonly used in the cultivation of L. edodes. The experimental design used was totally randomized, in 4x3 factorial scheme, totalizing 12 treatments with five repetitions, being that each repetition corresponded to a Petri dish, adding up a total of 60 dishes, which were incubated under 25 degrees C. The diameter of the colony was daily evaluated during seven days of incubation. After that period, it was verified that media prepared with P. puncticulatum extract, whose supplementation with both brans was favorable for fungic development, presented some of the highest averages of mycelial growth of LED 20 strain of L. edodes, confirming the potential of those residues.

Estudos polifásicos de populações de Phormidioideae (Oscillatoriales, Cyanobacteria)

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

Avaliação do potencial citotóxico, moluscicida e alelopático dos extratos hidroetanólicos das folhas de Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth

Stryphnodendron obovatum Benth. known as barbatimão de folha miúda, is a typical tree of the Midwest and Southeast “Cerrado” regions of Brazil. Several secondary metabolites have been identified in its barks, including tannins, described on the literature as allelochemicals. Beholding to identify a possible allelopathic activity in S. obovatum leaves, we tested hydroethanolic EtOH:H2 O (70% and 50% v/v) extracts, in different concentrations, on the initial development of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). Among the results, we highlight the effect of the 50% hydroethanolic extract in inhibiting the formation of the main and the secondary roots and the stimulation of the hypocotyl growth in C. sativus by the 70% hydroethanolic extract, both in all concentrations tested. The cytotoxic activity, evaluated by bioassay toxicity on Artemia salina Leach., was negative for the tested extracts (LC50> 1000 mg.mL-1). Concomitantly, the molluscicidal activity, evaluated against snails of Biomphalaria glabrata Say, presented low acute toxicity of solutions of 70% hydroethanolic extract at concentrations of 128.9 mg.mL-1 and 172.8 mg.mL-1 and values above 250 mg.mL-1 to solutions of 50% hydroalcoholic extract, being therefore considered inactive for these. The results suggest the existence of allelochemicals in the extracts tested and they have low toxicity.

Transconversações queer: sussurros e gemidos lusófonos Quatro cadelas mirando a(s) Psicologia(s)

To follow the cartographies’ path throughout pernicious (dis)courses of the capitalized Psychology. Com/positions both around desires and binary desires raised from binary norms, followed by (un)folding the beds, the “family”, the clinical thought and practice, the research, the geni(t)ality. Profane writing. Epistemic micro-rebellion promised and incorporated by the ass, because in the beginning it was and it (also) is the ass. A distorted and a trans-barked way of writing by four female dogs looking at Psychology. To (d)enounce the ménage that psychologists, supported by a history without history, intent to build over their empty beds which are blemished by modern Truth(s). Towards a minor psychology, this is a schizo-queer-analytic manifesto on desires-pleasures-senses within the lusophone transcontemporaneity. In the absence of a conclusion, we propose rather the provocative state that only a bitchy-psychology-to-come could edify the visibility of the invisible human. Otherwise, we believe it is in the promising barks that Psychology can be withdrawn from its betraying and betrayed contention of multitudes

LC-MS/MS quantitative determination of tetrapterys mucronata alkaloids, a plant occasionally used in ayahuasca preparation

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

Elemental composition evaluation in lichens collected in the industrial city of So Mateus Sul, Parana, Brazil

In this study, Canoparmelia texana lichenized fungi species was used as a passive biomonitor of the atmospheric pollution from the industrial city of So Mateus do Sul, PR, Brazil. Lichen samples collected from tree barks were cleaned, freeze-dried and analyzed by neutron activation analysis. Comparisons were made between the element concentrations obtained in lichens from this city and that from a clean area of Atlantic Forest in Intervales Park, SP. The high concentrations of elements As, Ca, Co, Cr, Fe, Hf, Sb, and Th found in lichens could be attributed to the emissions from a ceramic and an oil shale plants.

Aplicação de espectrometria de massas com ionização por elétron na análise de alcaloides do mulungu

Erythrina verna is a medicinal plant used to calm agitation popularly known as mulungu. We purchased the barks of E. verna from a commercial producer and analyzed the alkaloid fraction of the bark by CG-MS and HRESI-MS. Five erythrinian alkaloids were identified: erysotrine, erythratidine, erythratidinone, epimer, and 11-hydroxieritratidinone. Here we report the compound 11-hydroxieritratidinone for the first time as a natural product.

Effects of pretreatment on morphology, chemical composition and enzymatic digestibility of eucalyptus bark: a potentially valuable source of fermentable sugars for biofuel production – part 1

Abstract Background In recent years, the growing demand for biofuels has encouraged the search for different sources of underutilized lignocellulosic feedstocks that are available in sufficient abundance to be used for sustainable biofuel production. Much attention has been focused on biomass from grass. However, large amounts of timber residues such as eucalyptus bark are available and represent a potential source for conversion to bioethanol. In the present paper, we investigate the effects of a delignification process with increasing sodium hydroxide concentrations, preceded or not by diluted acid, on the bark of two eucalyptus clones: Eucalyptus grandis (EG) and the hybrid, E. grandis x urophylla (HGU). The enzymatic digestibility and total cellulose conversion were measured, along with the effect on the composition of the solid and the liquor fractions. Barks were also assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X-Ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results Compositional analysis revealed an increase in the cellulose content, reaching around 81% and 76% of glucose for HGU and EG, respectively, using a two-step treatment with HCl 1%, followed by 4% NaOH. Lignin removal was 84% (HGU) and 79% (EG), while the hemicellulose removal was 95% and 97% for HGU and EG, respectively. However, when we applied a one-step treatment, with 4% NaOH, higher hydrolysis efficiencies were found after 48 h for both clones, reaching almost 100% for HGU and 80% for EG, in spite of the lower lignin and hemicellulose removal. Total cellulose conversion increased from 5% and 7% to around 65% for HGU and 59% for EG. NMR and FTIR provided important insight into the lignin and hemicellulose removal and SEM studies shed light on the cell-wall unstructuring after pretreatment and lignin migration and precipitation on the fibers surface, which explain the different hydrolysis rates found for the clones. Conclusion Our results show that the single step alkaline pretreatment improves the enzymatic digestibility of Eucalyptus bark. Furthermore, the chemical and physical methods combined in this study provide a better comprehension of the pretreatment effects on cell-wall and the factors that influence enzymatic digestibility of this forest residue.

Aplicação de espectrometria de massas com ionização por elétron na análise de alcaloides do mulungu

Erythrina verna is a medicinal plant used to calm agitation popularly known as mulungu. We purchased the barks of E. verna from a commercial producer and analyzed the alkaloid fraction of the bark by CG-MS and HRESI-MS. Five erythrinian alkaloids were identified: erysotrine, erythratidine, erythratidinone, epimer, and 11-hydroxieritratidinone. Here we report the compound 11-hydroxieritratidinone for the first time as a natural product.

Leishmanicidal activity of fractions rich in aporphine alkaloids from Amazonian Unonopsis species

In vitro evaluation of alkaloidal fractions of twigs, barks and leaves from two Unonopsis species, Unonopsis guatterioides R.E. Fr. and Unonopsis duckei R.E. Fr., Annonaceae, against promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis revealed these species as sources of substances with promising leishmanicidal potential. All alkaloidal fractions from twigs, barks and leaves of U. guatterioides were classified as highly active, with IC50 1.07, 1.90, and 2.79 mg/mL, respectively. Only the alkaloidal fraction from the twigs of U. duckei was classified as inactive.

Distribution of metals in several vineyards of North Italy: from soil to wine

Nowadays we live in densely populated regions and this leads to many environmental issues. Among all pollutants that human activities originate, metals are relevant because they can be potentially toxic for most of living beings. We studied the fate of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in a vineyard environment analysing samples of plant, wine and soil. Sites were chosen considering the type of wine produced, the type of cultivation (both organic and conventional agriculture) and the geographic location. We took vineyards that cultivate the same grape variety, the Trebbiano). We investigated 5 vineyards located in the Ravenna district (Italy): two on the Lamone Valley slopes, one in the area of river-bank deposits near Ravenna city, then a farm near Lugo and one near Bagnacavallo in interfluve regions. We carried out a very detailed characterization of soils in the sites, including the analysis of: pH, electric conductivity, texture, total carbonate and extimated content of dolomite, active carbonate, iron from ammonium oxalate, Iron Deficiency Chlorosis Index (IDCI), total nitrogen and organic carbon, available phosphorous, available potassium and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC). Then we made the analysis of the bulk chemical composition and a DTPA extraction to determine the available fraction of elements in soils. All the sites have proper ground to cultivate, with already a good amount of nutrients, such as not needing strong fertilisations, but a vineyard on hills suffers from iron deficiency chlorosis due to the high level of active carbonate. We found some soils with much silica and little calcium oxide that confirm the marly sandstone substratum, while other soils have more calcium oxide and more aluminium oxide that confirm the argillaceous marlstone substratum. We found some critical situations, such as high concentrations of Chromium, especially in the farm near Lugo, and we noticed differences between organic vineyards and conventional ones: the conventional ones have a higher enrichment in soils of some metals (Copper and Zinc). Each metal accumulates differently in every single part of grapevines. We found differences between hill plants and lowland ones: behaviors of plants in metal accumulations seems to have patterns. Metals are more abundant in barks, then in leaves or sometimes in roots. Plants seem trying to remove excesses of metal storing them in bark. Two wines have excess of acetic acid and one conventional farm produces wine with content of Zinc over the Italian law limit. We already found evidence of high values relating them with uncontaminated environments, but more investigations are suggested to link those values to their anthropogenic supplies.

The Estimation of the Ecological Condition of the City Environment by Methods of Phytoindication (as Applied to the Vasileostrovsky District of St. Petersburg)

The project aimed to use results of contamination of city vegetation with heavy metals and sulphur compounds as the basis for analysing the integral response of trees and shrubs to contamination, through a complex method of phytoindication. The results were used to draw up recommendations on pollution reduction in the city and to develop the method of phytoindication as a means of monitoring environmental pollution in St. Petersburg and other large cities. Field investigations were carried out in August 1996, and 66 descriptions of green areas were made in order to estimate the functional state of plants in the Vasileostrovsky district. Investigations of the spectrum reflecting properties of plants showed considerable variation of albedo meanings of leaves under the influence of various internal and external factors. The results indicated that lime trees most closely reflect the condition of the environment. Practically all the green areas studied were in poor condition, the only exceptions being areas of ash trees, which are more resistant to environmental pollution, and one lime-tree alley in a comparatively unpolluted street. The study identified those types of trees which are more or less resistant to complex environmental pollution and Ms. Terekhina recommends that the species in the present green areas be changed to include a higher number of the more resistant species. The turbidimetric analysis of tree barks for sulphates gave an indication of the level and spatial distribution of each pollutant, and the results also confirmed other findings that electric conductivity is a significant feature in determining the extent of sulphate pollution. In testing for various metals, the lime tree showed the highest contents for all elements except magnesium, copper, zinc, cadmium and strontium, again confirming the species' vulnerability to pollution. Medium rates of concentration in the city and environs showed that city plants concentrate 3 times as many different elements and 10 times more chromium, copper and lead than do those in the suburbs. The second stage of the study was based on the concept of phytoindication, which presupposes that changes in the relation of chemical elements in regional biological circulation under the influence of technogenesis provide a criterion for predicting displacements in people's health. There are certain basic factors in this concept. The first is that all living beings are related ecologically as well as by their evolutionary origin, and that the lower an organism is on the evolutionary scale, the less adaptational reserve it has. The second is that smaller concentrations of chemical elements are needed for toxicological influence on plants than on people and so the former's reactions to geochemical factors are easier to characterise. Visual indicational features of urban plants are well defined and can form the basis of a complex "environment - public health" analysis. Specific plant reactions reflecting atmospheric pollution and other components of urbogeosystems make it possible to determine indication criteria for predicting possible disturbances in the general state of health of the population. Thirdly the results of phytoindication investigations must be taken together with information about public health in the area. It only proved possibly to analyse general indexes of public health based on statistical data from the late 1980s and early 1990s as the data of later years were greatly influenced by social factors. These data show that the rates of illness in St. Petersburg (especially for children) are higher than in Russia as a whole, for most classes of diseases, indicating that the population there is more sensitive to the ecological state of the urban environment. The Vasileostrovsky district had the second highest sick rate for adullts, while the rate of infant mortality in the first year of life was highest there. Ms. Terekhina recommends further studies to more precisely assess the effectiveness of the methods she tested, but has drawn up a proposed map of environmental hazard for the population, taking into account prevailing wind directions.

Dinámica poblacional de planococcus ficus sign. (Hemiptera-Pseudcoccidae) en viñedos : Mendoza (Argentina)

Planococcus ficus Signoret es un insecto perteneciente al orden Hemiptera, familia Pseudococcidae, cuya población ha aumentado en los últimos años en Mendoza. Ataca gran variedad de hospederos y está distribuido en las principales zonas vitícolas del mundo. Su acción disminuye el vigor general de las plantas, perjudica la calidad de los frutos y las características organolépticas de los vinos elaborados con racimos infestados. El objetivo de este trabajo fue realizar estudios bioecológicos durante la temporada 2004-2005, analizando la forma de pasaje invernal y el número de generaciones anuales. Se marcaron y muestrearon plantas con los signos característicos del ataque. Se recolectó quincenalmente material vegetal infestado. En invierno: trozos de corteza. En primavera-verano: brotes, hojas y racimos. Los resultados indicaron que pasa el invierno principalmente como huevos agrupados en masas algodonosas, bajo la corteza. Se distinguieron seis generaciones, movilizándose conforme al aumento de las temperaturas hacia los brotes y hojas y, a partir de la tercera generación, a los racimos, permaneciendo en todas las partes aéreas de la planta el resto de la temporada hasta la caída de hojas. Con la disminución de las temperaturas retornó hacia la corteza del tronco para invernar.

Local variability of serotinous cones in a Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) stand

The endemic Canary Island pine (Pinus canariensis) has an effective strategy to counteract fire disturbance in the short term. It has a mixed strategy that combines the presence of serotinous cones and thick barks with the ability to re-sprout from the trunk after a fire, a rare trait in pine species. High frequency of fires in the Canary Islands is related to human action, as natural fires by lightning or vulcan activity have very low frequency; hence, the how and whys of the presence of serotinous cones in the species is still a topic of debate. Previous studies showed that the frequency of serotinous cones varies from stand to stand. Here, we analyzed the presence of serotinous cones at a local scale. We selected a Canary Island pine stand in the transition zone between dry and humid forests in the south of Tenerife. Branches were pruned from 20 trees in order to evaluate the presence of serotinous vs. non-serotinous cones by direct verticile counting on the branches. The opening temperature of serotinous cones was assessed in the laboratory. Percentages of serotinous vs. non-serotinous cones varied from 0 to 93 %, showing high variability between trees. Opening temperatures were very high (above 65 ºC) as compared to other Mediterranean pine species with serotinous cones

Effects of the proposed Prosperity Reservoir on ground water and water quality in lower Center Creek basin, Missouri /

Mode of access: Internet.