Optimización de la cristalización con metanol para una separación altamente eficiente del ácido palmítico en mezclas de ácidos grasos de palma usando metodología de superficie de respuesta

The objective of the current study was to develop parameters for the separation of palmitic acid (PA) from a crude palm oil saturated fatty acid (SFAs) mixture by using the methanol crystallization method. The conditions of methanol crystallization were optimized by the response surface methodology (RSM) with the D-optimal design. The procedure of developing the solvent crystallization method was based on various different parameters. The fatty acid composition was carried out using a gas chromatography flame ionization detector (GC-FID) as fatty acid methyl esters. The highest percentage of SFAs was more than 96% with the percentage yield of 87.5% under the optimal conditions of fatty acids-to-methanol ratio of 1: 20 (w/v), the crystallization temperature of -15 °C, and the crystallization time of 24 hours, respectively. The composition of separated SFAs in the solid fraction contains 96.7% of palmitic acid (C16:0) as a dominant component and 3.3% of stearic acid (C18:0). The results showed that utilizing methanol as a crystallization solvent is recommended because of its high efficiency, low cost, stability, availability, comparative ease of recovery and its ability to form needle-like crystals which have good filtering and washing characteristics.El objetivo del presente estudio fue desarrollar parámetros para la separación de ácido palmítico (PA) en mezclas de ácidos grasos saturados (SFAs) de aceites de palma crudo mediante el método de cristalización con metanol. Las condiciones de cristalización con metanol se optimizaron utilizando la metodología de superficie de respuesta (RSM) con el diseño D-Optimal. El procedimiento de desarrollo del método de cristalización con disolvente se basó en diversos parámetros diferentes. La composición de ácidos grasos se llevó a cabo por cromatografía de gases (GC-FID) como ésteres metílicos de ácidos grasos usando un detector de ionización de llama. El porcentaje más alto de SFAs fue mayor del 96% con un rendimiento porcentual de 87,5% bajo las condiciones óptimas de relación de ácidos grasos:metanol de 1:20 (p/v), una temperatura de cristalización de -15ºC y un tiempo de cristalización de 24 horas. La composición de la fracción de SFAs separada en fracción sólida contiene 96,7% de ácido palmítico (C16:0) como principal componente y 3,3% de ácido esteárico (C18:0). Los resultados mostraron recomendar metanol como disolvente de cristalización debido a su alta eficiencia, bajo coste, estabilidad, disponibilidad, facilidad comparativa de recuperación y su capacidad para formar cristales de aguja que tienen buenas características de filtración y lavado

Ultrasonic songs and stridulum anatomy of Asiophlugis crystal predatory katydids (Tettigonioidea: Meconematinae: Phlugidini)

The behavioural ecology of ultrasonic-singing katydids is not well understood, and the general bioacoustics, barely known for a few Neotropical Meconematinae, tends to be overlooked for species from Southeast Asia. These include Asiatic species of Phlugidini, commonly known as crystal predatory katydids. One of its genera, Asiophlugis consists of 16 species for which acoustic signals and stridulum anatomy are broadly unknown. These characters can be used to understand species boundaries. Here, we sampled Asiophlugis from five sites in Malay Peninsula and Borneo Island, recorded the acoustic signals of five species plus one subspecies using ultrasound sensitive equipment, and examined their stridulum anatomy. The calling songs of the taxa involved were documented for the first time. We found that the stridulum anatomy (e.g., tooth distributions, tooth length and tooth density) is distinct between species but less so between subspecies. In contrary, songs of different taxa are different based on acoustic parameters (e.g., pulse duration, peak frequency) and descriptive patterns, even between the subspecies. We also did not observe that song signals are more different in sympatry than in allopatry. Whether this can be generalised requires further sampling, highlighting the need for more research on the ultrasonic acoustic communication in Asiatic katydids

Butterfly (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) fauna of Kangkawat Research Station, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area, Sabah, Malaysia

Forty-three species of butterflies from 36 genera and six families are reported for Kangkawat Research Station, Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA). This accounts for 4.6 percent of the 944 species reported in Borneo. Compared to studies from other localities in ICCA, the butterfly fauna in Kangkawat Research Station is diverse and evenly distributed with a Shannon’s index of Diversity (H’) value of 3.636 and Simpson’s index of Species Evenness (E1/D) value of 0.776.The most dominant family is Nymphalidae with 27 species recorded followed by Lycaenidae with 11 species. Seven species are new records for ICCA: Eurema blanda, Mycalesis dohertyi, Nacaduba berenice, Arhopala aedias agnis, Arhopala agesias, Drupadia cineas and Taractrocera ardonia. Three species: Mycalesis kina, Acytolepis ripte and Drupadia cineas, which are endemic to Borneo are also recorded here. The presence of the butterfly species of high conservation value highlights Kangkawat Research Station as an important area for conservation of these species

The calling songs of some katydids (Orthoptera: Tettigonioidea) from the tropical forests of Southeast Asia

Katydids produce sound by stridulation of the tegmina for signalling and communication. Most katydids are known to sing at ultrasonic frequencies, as compared to crickets. This has drawn interest to investigate the biophysics of ultrasonic sound production and detection, evolution and ecology (including predator–prey interactions) of these katydids. However, most of these studies are based on species from the neotropics, whereas nearly nothing is known about the relatives from another hyper-diverse region, i.e., Southeast Asia. To address this, a concerted effort to document, record and describe the calling songs of Southeast Asian katydids, especially species which calls at ultrasonic frequencies, were conducted. A study spanning over two years (2018 to 2020) in Malay Peninsula (Singapore and Malaysia), Borneo (Brunei Darussalam and Sabah) and the Philippines revealed previously unknown calls of 24 katydid species from four subfamilies. The calling songs of Southeast Asian katydid species are highly diversified in both the time and frequency domains. Call structure can range from isolated syllables (e.g., Holochlora), continuous trills (e.g., Axylus philippinus) to short pulse-trains (e.g., Euanisous teuthroides) and complex echemes (e.g., Conocephalus spp.). 87.5 % of species have ultrasonic peak frequencies and 12.5 % can be considered extreme ultrasonic callers (peak frequency >40 kHz). The call spectrum ranges from tonal (e.g., spectral entropy = 6.8 in Casigneta sp. 2) to resonant (entropy = 8.8 in Conocephalus cognatus). Of the 24 species whose calls are described here, we also imaged and described the sound-producing structures of 18 species. This study provides a preliminary overview of the acoustic diversity of katydids in Southeast Asia and the authors hope to inspire further investigation into the bioacoustics of little-known katydids from Southeast Asia. Amassing a database of calling songs and sound-producing organs from different species can be important to address the taxonomy impediment while advancing our knowledge about the bioacoustics of Southeast Asian katydids

A highly efficient separation and physicochemical characteristics of saturated fatty acids from crude palm oil fatty acids mixture using methanol crystallisation method

The objective of the current study was to separate saturated fatty acids (SFAs) from high free fatty acid crude palm oil fatty acid mixture using the methanol crystallisation method. The development of methanol crystallisation method procedure was based on various parameters. The fatty acid composition was determined by using gas chromatography-flame ionisation detector (GC-FID) as Fatty Acid Methyl Esters. The highest percentage of SFAs was more than 89% with the percentage yield of 48.9% under the optimal conditions of the fatty acids-to-methanol ratio of 1:15 (w/v), the crystallisation temperature of −15 °C, and the crystallisation time of 24 hours, respectively. After a double crystallisation, the composition of separated SFAs contains 90% of palmitic acid (C16:0) as a major component and 5.8% of stearic acid (C18:0), respectively. Moreover, almost 4.2% of oleic acid (C18:1) was observed in the saturated solid product. Based on the results, the use of methanol as a crystallisation solvent is recommended because of its high efficiency, low cost, stability, obtainability, and comparative ease of recovery

Avaliação de empresas para compra e venda, fusões e incorporações

Trata das etapas a serem seguidas em um processo de aquisição de uma linha de produtos ou de uma empresa em sua plena atividade, levando em conta as oportunidades futuras a serem explorada

Insect diversity of Sungai Serudong Forest Reserve, Sabah, Malaysia

Insect diversity of Sungai Serudong Forest Reserve in Sabah was investigated under the Heart of Borneo programme in Sabah. The nocturnal insect diversity was evaluated by using light-trap from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. for three consecutive nights. Diurnal insects were sampled using sweep net. A total of nine insect orders were recorded namely Coleoptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Isoptera, Lepidoptera, Neuroptera, Odonata, and Phasmida. There were four Bornean endemic species recorded during the survey, namely Chalcosoma moellenkampi (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), Aethalida borneana (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), Amata prepuncta (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) and Calvisia sammannani (Phasmida: Diapheromeridae). The mean Shannon Index was 4.00, Simpson Index was 47.76 and Fisher Alpha Index was 83.64. The diversity is considered high, however moderate when compared to other forest reserves in Sabah, Malaysia. This study was able to identify insect communities inside the reserve. It was also able to identify the potential threats affecting the insect diversity. The documented data can serve as baseline information to be used in forest management plan and other relevant research

Uncovering the Grylloidea and Tettigonioidea (Orthoptera: Ensifera) in the Forest Research Center (Sepilok) Entomological Collection

Tan, Ming Kai, Japir, Razy, Chung, Arthur Y.C. (2019): Uncovering the Grylloidea and Tettigonioidea (Orthoptera: Ensifera) in the Forest Research Center (Sepilok) Entomological Collection. Zootaxa 4701 (4): 301-349, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4701.4.

Contribution to the taxonomy of Uvarovia (Orthoptera: Chorotypidae: Mnesicleinae) from Borneo and Malay Peninsula

Tan, Ming Kai, Japir, Razy, Chung, Arthur Y. C. (2022): Contribution to the taxonomy of Uvarovia (Orthoptera: Chorotypidae: Mnesicleinae) from Borneo and Malay Peninsula. Zootaxa 5093 (5): 533-546, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5093.5.