Biocontrol of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and white mold of soybean using saprobic fungi from semi-arid areas of Northeastern Brazil

ABSTRACTThe incidence and the levels of yield loss caused by the white mold of soybean (caused by the fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) have increased in areas of higher altitude at Cerrado and Southern Brazil, causing yield losses of up to 60%. The aim of this study was to select saprobic fungi with the potential to control the white mold of soybean. First, in vitroantagonism screening was carried out to test eight saprobic fungi against S. sclerotiorum. Assessment of S. sclerotiorum mycelial growth was done at four and seven days after its placement on the culture medium. The isolate showing greatest antagonistic effect in all tests/assessments was Myrothecium sp. An in vivo experiment was conducted in a greenhouse and growth chamber, where plants previously treated with eight saprobic fungi were artificially inoculated with S. sclerotiorum. The fungal culture medium (potato-dextrose) and the commercial resistance inducer acibenzolar-S-methyl were used as controls. In the in vivotests, severity of the white mold was assessed at 8, 14 and 21 days after inoculation. The highest reduction percentage in the lesion length was observed for the treatment with Myrothecium sp. (70%), which has the greater potential to be used as biocontrol agent of soybean under the conditions of this experiment.

[Invitation to the Dance op. 65]

Soitinnus: sello, orkesteri.

Uusi ja vanha Hayden White

Kirjallisuusarvostelu

Mechanical properties of castor beans subject to different drying temperatures aiming to disrupt the bean coat

In castor oil extraction process, the bean coat is abrasive to the equipment and releases substances that modify the oil color, reducing its quality. A potential solution would be to run the extraction by compressing only the endosperm. Due to lack of information, the objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of forced air drying at 40, 60, 80 and 100 ºC and farmyard drying, in the mechanical properties of the beans, aiming to break the bean coat. Castor beans were subjected to compression tests, in two perpendicular directions, at a strain rate of 0.6 mm.s-1. Average values of force, deformation energy, strain, all at rupture, and stiffness were used to evaluate the effects of dehydration. It was observed that the heat treatments did not alter the mechanical properties of castor beans, the strain and stiffness values discriminate the differences between the directions and had the lowest coefficients of variation. It was concluded that forced air drying, more costly than farmyard drying, does not bring benefits to the decortication. However, regardless the heat treatment used, the mechanical stress lengthwise is the most suitable to promote decortication.

White mold detection in common beans through leaf reflectance spectroscopy

ABSTRACT This study aimed to identify wavelengths based on leaf reflectance (400-1050 nm) to estimate white mold severity in common beans at different seasons. Two experiments were carried out, one during fall and another in winter. Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression was used to establish a set of wavelengths that better estimates the disease severity at a specific date. Therefore, observations were previously divided in two sub-groups. The first one (calibration) was used for model building and the second subgroup for model testing. Error measurements and correlation between measured and predicted values of disease severity index were employed to provide the best wavelengths in both seasons. The average indexes of each experiment were of 5.8% and 7.4%, which is considered low. Spectral bands ranged between blue and green, green and red, and red and infrared, being most sensitive for disease estimation. Beyond the transition ranges, other spectral regions also presented wavelengths with potential to determine the disease severity, such as red, green, and near infrared.

Postcolonial Cultural Identity and the Caribbean White Creole in Jean Rhys’s Wide Sargasso Sea and Phyllis Shand Allfrey’s The Orchid House

Tutkielmassani tarkastelen, miten teokset Wide Sargasso Sea (1966) ja The Orchid House (1953) käsittelevät kulttuuri-identiteettiä henkilöhahmojen luonnissa sekä millaisia yhtäläisyyksiä ja eroja näissä esiintyy. Kulttuuri-identiteetti on yksi jälkikoloniaalisen kirjallisuudentutkimuksen keskeisimmistä teemoista. Tarkastelen tekstejä kahden keskeisen teeman kautta: nimet ja maisemakuvaukset. Molemmat teokset käyttävät näitä teemoja monipuolisesti eri identiteetin osa-alueiden kuvaamiseen. Tarkasteluni keskittyy pääasiassa teosten naispäähahmoihin, mutta käsittelen soveltuvilta osin myös muita henkilöhahmoja. Monet Jean Rhysia ja Phyllis Shand Allfreyta tutkineet kirjallisuuskriitikot ovat olleet haluttomia näkemään teosten välillä olevan yhteyden. Wide Sargasso Sean intertekstuaalinen yhteys Charlotte Brontën teokseen Jane Eyre onkin usein jättänyt hienovaraisemmat intertekstuaaliset viittaukset varjoonsa. Viimeisimpien vuosien aikana on jälkikoloniaalisen kirjallisuudentutkimuksen saralla kuitenkin ollut havaittavissa myönteisempää suhtautumista myös näihin intertekstuaalisiin viittauksiin. Lähtökohtani teosten tarkasteluun on jälkikoloniaalinen kirjallisuudentutkimus ja ensisijaisia teoreettisia lähteitäni ovat muun muassa Patrick Hoganin ja Stuart Hallin käsitykset jälkikoloniaalisesta kulttuuri-identiteetistä. Tarkastelen pääasiallisesti Karibian alueen valkoisten kreolien kulttuuri-identiteettiä. Koska kummankin teoksen keskeisimmät henkilöhahmot ovat pääasiassa naisia, myös naisnäkökulma tulee esiin tutkielmassani. Tutkielmastani käy ilmi, että teosten välillä on selkeä yhteys siinä, millaisia välineitä käytetään kulttuuri-identiteetin kuvaamiseen. Teokset liittyvät kiinteästi dominicalaiseen kirjallisuusperinteeseen, mutta yhteneväisyyksiä on havaittavissa siinä määrin, ettei niitä pystytä selittämään pelkästään samankaltaisella kulttuurisella taustalla.

”AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTS”. Ympäristön merkitykset Don DeLillon romaanissa White Noise

Pro gradu -tutkielmani tavoitteena on analysoida ympäristön merkityksiä yhdysvaltalaiskirjailija Don DeLillon (1936-) romaanissa White Noise (1985). Lähestyn romaania ekokriittisen kirjallisuudentutkimuksen näkökulmasta ja kytken sen ekokriitikko Lawrence Buellin ajatukseen nk. ympäristöalitajunnasta. Analysoin DeLillon romaania myös yhteydessä filosofi Jean Baudrillardin ajatukseen postmodernin ajan länsimaisessa ja erityisesti amerikkalaisessa yhteiskunnassa vallalla olevasta simulaatioiden järjestelmästä. White Noise -romaanin todellisuus vastaa Baudrillardin ajatusta yhteiskunnasta, jossa representaatiot ja simulaatiot ovat korvanneet todellisuuden. Media, erityisesti televisio, tuottaa jatkuvasti kuvia ja simulaatioita, joiden kyllästämässä todellisuudessa aineellinen maailma ja luonto jäävät tavoittamattomiin. White Noise -romaanin henkilöiden yhteys aineelliseen ympäristöönsä ja luonnonilmiöihin on katkennut, sillä heidän arkensa pyörii pitkälti kuluttamisen ja televisionkatselun ympärillä. Romaanin todellisuudessa myös identiteetistä on tullut eräänlainen tuote, jonka jokainen voi rakentaa mieleisekseen kulutusvalinnoillaan. Identiteettiproblematiikan ohella myös kuolemalla on keskeinen asema tutkielmassani. White Noise -romaanin päähenkilö Jack Gladney kärsii paniikinomaisesta kuolemanpelosta, jota pyrkii torjumaan erilaisin keinoin siinä kuitenkaan onnistumatta. Tavoitteenani on osoittaa, että tämä piinaava pelko kuolemaa kohtaan on syntynyt simulaatioyhteiskunnan tuloksena. Vieraantuminen aineellisesta maailmasta ja luonnon prosesseista on johtanut vieraantumiseen ruumiista ja kuolemasta. Analysoin kuolemaa romaanissa eräänlaisena simulaatioiden maailman äärirajana, viimeisenä luonnollisena tapahtumana. White Noise -romaanin päähenkilö Jack Gladney ahdistuu kulutuskeskeisessä, simulaatioiden kyllästämässä elinympäristössään. Tulkitsen tämän ahdistuksen tarpeena tunnistaa tärkeä vuorovaikutussuhde yksilön ja hänen aineellisen ympäristönsä välillä. Jack ei ole vielä täysin sulautunut osaksi simulaatioiden maailmaa, vaan hän tiedostaa kytköksen itsensä ja aineellisen maailman välillä. Tämä romaanista implisiittisesti esiin nouseva tiedostamisen tunne korostaa ihmisen ja ympäristön sekä laajemmin kulttuurin ja luonnon välttämätöntä yhteyttä. DeLillon romaanista on löydettävissä ajatus ympäristöalitajunnasta, joka alleviivaa ympäristön ja luonnon merkitystä ihmiselle.

Relação entre a Classificação Clínica de White e a Histopatologia das Placentas de Gestantes Diabéticas

Objetivo: analisar a relação entre a classificação clínica de White e as alterações histopatológicas de placentas de gestantes diabéticas, comparando, de forma qualitativa, as alterações histopatológicas de placentas de gestantes não-diabéticas e diabéticas gestacionais (classes A e A/B), clínicas de curta duração (classes B e C) e clínicas com vasculopatia (classes D a FRH), no termo e no pré-termo, e de acordo com a qualidade do controle glicêmico na gestação. Pacientes e Métodos: foram colhidas amostras de placentas de todas as gestantes diabéticas, atendidas entre 1991 e 1996 na Maternidade do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, coradas pela técnica de hematoxilina-eosina e submetidas a exame histopatológico. A qualidade do controle glicêmico foi analisada pela média glicêmica da gestação e classificada em adequada e inadequada, com limite de 120 mg/dl. A idade da gestação foi individualizada em termo e pré-termo. Resultados: observou-se que 42 recém-nascidos (43,3%) eram de termo e o restante, de pré-termo (56,7%). O índice de prematuridade foi maior nas diabéticas clínicas (classes B e C; D a FRH). Algumas alterações histopatológicas só foram encontradas em placentas de gestantes diabéticas: degeneração cistóide, edema corial, edema da íntima, dismaturidade, hiperplasia das células de Hofbauer, vilite, células fantasmas, dois vasos no cordão umbilical e endarterite. Conclusões: as alterações histopatológicas de placentas de gestantes com diabete gestacional (classes A e A/B), clínico de curta duração (classes B e C) e clínico com vasculopatia (classes D a FRH) foram semelhantes às das não-diabéticas e, portanto, independeram da classificação clínica de White. As alterações histopatológicas de placentas de gestantes diabéticas não se relacionaram com a idade gestacional ao nascimento e com a qualidade do controle glicêmico materno. A comparação entre as alterações histopatológicas e a elevada proporção de recém-nascidos pré-termo nas diabéticas clínicas, classes D a FRH, sugerem amadurecimento placentário precoce nas diabéticas clínicas com vasculopatia.

Nerve endings of filliform, fungiform and vallate papillae of dorsal tongue mucosa of White-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari): Neurohistological observations

The neurohistologic observations were performed using the specimens prepared by Winkelmann and Schmitt silver impregnation method. The tissues were fixed in 10% formalin solution and sections of 40µm thickness were obtained by Leica Cryostat at -30ºC. The sections of dorsal mucosa of White-lipped peccary tongue showed numerous filliform and fungiform papillae, and two vallate papillae on the caudal part. The epithelial layer revealed queratinized epithelial cells and the connective tissue papillae of different sizes and shapes. Thick nerve fiber bundles are noted into the subepithelial connective tissue of the papillae. The connective tissue of fungiform and vallate papillae contained numerous sensitive nerves fibers bundles forming a complex nerve plexus.

Turgida turgida (Nematoda: Physalopteridae) parasitic in white-bellied opossum, Didelphis albiventris (Marsupialia: Didelphidae), state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil

Turgida turgida have been largely reported parasitizing Didelphis species in North and South America based on light microscopy observation. However, the features that differentiate T. turgida from other physalopterid species should be observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A female white-bellied opossum, Didelphis albiventris, arrived dead at the Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres (CRAS) in the municipality of Campo Grande, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. During the necropsy, adult nematodes were collected from stomach and intestine. The nematodes were determined to be adult specimens and submitted to SEM for the species determination. This is the first report of T. turgida confirmed by SEM in the Neotropical region and the first report in an urban area in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Salmonella Yoruba infection in white-tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

The aim of this study was to describe a fatal salmonellosis case in a non-human female primate (Callithrix jacchus), found in the illegal pet trade in Brazil. The marmoset was sent to the quarantine section of the Guarulhos City Zoo and died in the sequence of an episode of profuse diarrhea. Necropsy findings included mucous enteritis, and liver enlargement and necrosis. Feces and liver fragments were collected for bacteriological tests, which indicated the presence of Salmonella sp.; it was subsequently characterized as pertaining to the Yoruba serotype. The susceptibility profile demonstrated resistance to tetracycline only. The strain was positive for genes that encoded the virulence factors investigated (invA, sefC, pefA and spvC). The results indicated the risk of introduction of Salmonella pathogenic serotypes in primates in captivity.

Clinical evaluation of enalapril maleate and furosemide usage in dogs with degenerative myxomatous mitral valve, CHF functional class Ib

Degenerative myxomatous mitral valve (DMMV) is a heart disease of high incidence in small animal clinical medicine, affecting mainly older dogs and small breeds. Thus, a scientific investigation was performed in order to evaluate the clinical use of the medicines furosemide and enalapril maleate in dogs with this disease in CHF functional class Ib before and after the treatment was established. For this purpose 16 dogs with the given valve disease were used, separated into two groups: the first received furosemide (n=8) and the second received enalapril maleate (n=8) throughout 56 days. The dogs were evaluated in four stages (T0, T14, T28 and T56 day) in relation to clinical signs, hematological, biochemical and serum assessment, which included serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) and aldosterone, as well as radiography, electrocardiography, Doppler-echocardiography and blood pressure. The results regarding the clinical, hematological and serum chemistry evaluations revealed no significant changes in both groups, but significant reductions in the values of ACE and aldosterone in the group receiving enalapril maleate were verified. The radiographic examination revealed reductions of VHS values and variable Pms wave of the electrocardiogram in both groups, but no changes in blood pressure values were identified. The echocardiogram showed a significant decrease of the variables LVDd/s in the studied groups and the FS% in animals that received only enalapril. Therefore, analysis of results showed that monotherapy based on enalapril maleate showed better efficiency of symptoms control in patients with CHF functional class Ib.