ABELHAS (HYMENOPTERA: ANTHOPHILA) EM UMA ÁREA DE CAATINGA NO ESTADO DE PERNAMBUCO

As abelhas são insetos que ocorrem em quase todas as regiões do planeta. Grande parte delas costuma nidificar em ocos de árvores, vivas ou mortas (moirões de cercas, vigas, estacas), entretanto, algumas espécies também nidificam no solo, utilizando ninhos abandonados ou ativos de outros animais sociais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo realizar um levantamento das espécies de abelhas e dos substratos utilizados por elas para nidificação na região da bacia hidrográfica do riacho São José, em Caetés - PE. Foram registradas 20 espécies de abelhas ocorrendo na área do Vale do São José, sendo elas: Frieseomelitta doederleini (Friese, 1900), Frieseomelitta varia (Lepeletier, 1836), Apis mellifera scutellata Lepeletier 1836, Dialictus opacus (Moure, 1940), Trigona spinipes (Fabricius, 1793). Como substratos arbóreos utilizados por essas abelhas foram registradas sete espécies botânicas, sendo elas: Parapiptadenia zehntneri (Harms) M.P. Lima and H.C. Lima, Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.), Ruprechtia laxiflora Meisn, Brasiliopuntia brasiliensis (Willd.) A. Berger, Erythrina velutina Willd, Senegalia polyphylla (DC.) Britton & Rose e Ziziphus joazeiro Mart. O presente artigo constitui-se no primeiro registro de espécies de abelhas e de substratos na área estudada, contribuindo, assim, para possíveis estudos de conservação de espécies locais, e para o conhecimento da interação entre a fauna e flora nativa da Caatinga

Comportamento de Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) a Hidrolato de Senna spectabilis

Sitophilus zeamais é considerado pragas de importância econômica no armazenamento do milho, pois inviabiliza o grão. O manejo com o uso de produtos de plantas bioativas vem se destacando no manejo de pragas, com isso, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a resposta comportamental de S. zeamais a exposição ao hidrolato de Senna spectabilis em diferentes concentrações para identificar estímulos atrativos ou repulsivos. Os bioensaios foram realizados no LEA da UFAPE para isso foram obtidos pós de folhas de Senna spectabilis, sendo secas, moídas e submetidas a hidrodestilação. O hidrolato obtido foi separado por densidade e armazenado em frasco de vidro âmbar em geladeira. Diluído e utilizado em olfatômetro de quatro vias acoplado à bomba a vácuo para realizar o teste comportamental, foram aplicadas 10 µl das concentrações de 0,01; 0,10 e 1,00% de hidrolato em Hexano em suas extremidades. Um inseto por vez foi observado por 15 minutos, sendo realizadas 20 repetições. Os dados obtidos foram submetidos a análises estáticas, realizada pelo teste T, onde foi adotado nível de (P<0,05) de significância. Os resultados dos testes de olfatometria demonstram que o hidrolato das folhas S. spectabilis diluído em hexano (0,1 e 1%) demonstraram atratividade sob S. zeamais

Effects of cognitive training based on metamemory and mental images

Abstract There is scant research evidence regarding training effects among elderly with limited educational experience. Research indicating an association between metamemory and memory performance is based on samples of older adults with at least 12 years of education. Objectives: To test the efficacy of a cognitive training program based on the creation of mental images and changes in specific aspects of metamemory in individuals with 3 to 15 years of education (M=8.38, SD=4.24). Methods: 37 older adults participated in five training sessions (Training Group (TG)) and 32 control subjects completed only pre and post test assessments (Control Group (CG)) including the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB) (naming and memorization of 10 pictures, animal category verbal fluency test, the Clock Drawing Test (CDT)), the Story subtest from the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q), and the Picture and Story domains from the Memory Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (MSEQ). Results: The TG showed significant improvement between pre and post tests on the delayed recall of the 10 pictures and in self-efficacy for the memorization of stories. These same changes were not found in the CG . Conclusions: Five-session cognitive training may lead to significant improvements in episodic memory and memory self-efficacy, an aspect of metamemory, in individuals with an average of 8 years of education

Discovery of Putative Dual Inhibitor of Tubulin and EGFR by Phenotypic Approach on LASSBio-1586 Homologs

Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4, 1) is an antimicrotubule agent used as a prototype for the design of several synthetic analogues with anti-tubulin activity, such as LASSBio-1586 (2). A series of branched and unbranched homologs of the lead-compound 2, and vinyl, ethinyl and benzyl analogues, were designed and synthesized. A comparison between the cytotoxic effect of these homologs and 2 on different human tumor cell lines was performed from a cell viability study using MTT with 48 h and 72 h incubations. In general, the compounds were less potent than CA-4, showing CC50 values ranging from 0.030 &mu;M to 7.53 &mu;M (MTT at 72 h) and 0.096 &mu;M to 8.768 &mu;M (MTT at 48 h). The antimitotic effect of the target compounds was demonstrated by cell cycle analysis through flow cytometry, and the cellular mechanism of cytotoxicity was determined by immunofluorescence. While the benzyl homolog 10 (LASSBio-2070) was shown to be a microtubule stabilizer, the lead-compound 2 (LASSBio-1586) and the methylated homolog 3 (LASSBio-1735) had microtubule destabilizing behavior. Molecular docking studies were performed on tubulin protein to investigate their binding mode on colchicine and taxane domain. Surprisingly, the benzyl homolog 10 was able to modulate EGFR phosphorylate activity in a phenotypic model. These data suggest LASSBio-2070 (10) as a putative dual inhibitor of tubulin and EGFR. Its binding mode with EGFR was determined by molecular docking and may be useful in lead-optimization initiatives

Effects of cognitive training based on metamemory and mental images

Abstract There is scant research evidence regarding training effects among elderly with limited educational experience. Research indicating an association between metamemory and memory performance is based on samples of older adults with at least 12 years of education. Objectives: To test the efficacy of a cognitive training program based on the creation of mental images and changes in specific aspects of metamemory in individuals with 3 to 15 years of education (M=8.38, SD=4.24). Methods: 37 older adults participated in five training sessions (Training Group (TG)) and 32 control subjects completed only pre and post test assessments (Control Group (CG)) including the Mini Mental Status Examination (MMSE), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), the Brief Cognitive Screening Battery (BCSB) (naming and memorization of 10 pictures, animal category verbal fluency test, the Clock Drawing Test (CDT)), the Story subtest from the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (RBMT), the Memory Complaint Questionnaire (MAC-Q), and the Picture and Story domains from the Memory Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (MSEQ). Results: The TG showed significant improvement between pre and post tests on the delayed recall of the 10 pictures and in self-efficacy for the memorization of stories. These same changes were not found in the CG . Conclusions: Five-session cognitive training may lead to significant improvements in episodic memory and memory self-efficacy, an aspect of metamemory, in individuals with an average of 8 years of education