Growth of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit favored by organic waste in the Brazilian semiarid region

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of sources and rates of organic waste and their interaction on the growth of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, in the Southeast region of Piauí State. The treatments consisted of two sources (Copernicia prunifera (Mill.) H.E. palm residue and plant compound) and six organic waste rates. The study was conducted in the period of March-June 2011 and the following parameters were evaluated: stem diameter, height, number of leaves, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, total dry matter, root volume, shoot dry weight/root dry weight ratio, height/stem diameter ratio and the Dickson Quality Index. The Copernicia prunifera (Mill.) H.E. palm residue and plant compound showed a great potential to be used in the manufacture of substrates for the production of seedlings Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, since their initial development was influenced by the sources and proportions of these organic residues and by the interaction between these treatments. The substrate containing 50% of plant compound produced better quality of plants of Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit in their initial development stage

Immunomodulatory and toxicological evaluation of the fruit seeds from Platonia insignis, a native species from Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

The “bacuri” (Platonia insignis Mart., Clusiaceae) is a native tropical fruit from the Brazilian Amazon and Northeast Regions. Its seeds are used to treat inflammatory diseases, diarrhea and skin problems in traditional medical practices. Regarding its widespread medicinal uses, it is important to evaluate the biological and toxicological potential of this species. This way, the aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic and immunomodulatory effects of the hexanic extract of P. insignis seeds, as well as its in vivo acute oral toxicity. The biological evaluation was performed by the determination of cytotoxic (MTT and hemolysis assay) and immunomodulatory (phagocytic capacity, lysosomal volume and nitrite production) activities of EHSB in murine peritoneal macrophages. In addition, the oral acute toxicity was evaluated using female Wistar rats treated with EHSB (2.0 g/kg), in accordance with the OECD 423 Guideline. The EHSB showed low toxicity for macrophages in the MTT test (CC50 value: 90.03 μg/ml), as well as for erythrocytes, which caused only 2.5% hemolysis at the highest concentration. A strong immunomodulatory activity was observed by a markedly increase of the NO production, phagocytic ability and lysosomal volume. On the other hand, it was not observed deaths or changes in the clinical and behavioral parameters in the toxicological evaluation. This manner, the present study contributes to the knowledge about the immunomodulatory and toxicological properties of the P. insignis. This may provide perspectives for the evaluation and development of effective and safe phytomedicines created from the Brazilian local biodiversity. Keywords: Platonia insignis, Clusiaceae, Cytotoxic, Nitric oxide, Immunomodulatory, Toxicologica

Stability and adaptability of runner peanut genotypes based on nonlinear regression and AMMI analysis

The objective of this work was to estimate the stability and adaptability of pod and seed yield in runner peanut genotypes based on the nonlinear regression and AMMI analysis. Yield data from 11 trials, distributed in six environments and three harvests, carried out in the Northeast region of Brazil during the rainy season were used. Significant effects of genotypes (G), environments (E), and GE interactions were detected in the analysis, indicating different behaviors among genotypes in favorable and unfavorable environmental conditions. The genotypes BRS Pérola Branca and LViPE‑06 are more stable and adapted to the semiarid environment, whereas LGoPE‑06 is a promising material for pod production, despite being highly dependent on favorable environments

Faculdades da alma e suas implicações para a educação: saberes divulgados no século XIX Faculties of the soul and their implications for education: knowledges circulated in the 19th century

Este artigo descreve resultados de uma pesquisa que buscou investigar como o tema das faculdades da alma e de suas implicações no desenvolvimento humano e na educação da pessoa foi divulgado, ao final do século XIX, pela imprensa periódica. Esperando contribuir para a história da psicologia e da educação, o artigo apresenta a análise de escritos sobre educação moral e educação estética de uma Secção Scientífica ou Pedagógica assinada por José Miguel de Siqueira e publicada no jornal O Baependyano (1877-1889). Inicialmente, são feitas breves descrições do periódico e de sua posição na conjuntura da época, bem como do lugar em que foi publicado. Em seguida, tratamos da definição de pedagogia apresentada pelo jornal, levando em consideração as apropriações de autores estrangeiros comumente presentes no campo da educação. A pedagogia considerada moderna é definida em tais escritos como a expansão e o desenvolvimento das forças animais, racionais e morais do ser humano; sua finalidade seria a formação do homem social pronto para o trabalho e para o serviço da sociedade e do Estado. Partindo dessa discussão, abordamos as concepções de educação espontânea, educação regular e instrução contidas no periódico. A educação é entendida como a unidade entre cultura e instrução, sendo a cultura a principal responsável pelo direcionamento das faculdades da alma e pela formação moral; a instrução, por sua vez, é tomada como aquisição de conhecimentos, mas também desempenha um papel importante na formação de hábitos e costumes.<br>The article describes the results of a research that investigated how the theme of the faculties of the soul and of their implications for human development and for the education of a person was made available in the late 19th century by the circulating press. In an attempt to contribute to the history of psychology and education, the article presents the analysis of writings on moral education and aesthetic education that appeared on a scientific or pedagogical section signed by José Miguel de Siqueira and published in the O Baependyano (1877-1889) periodical. Initially, brief descriptions of the periodical and of its position within the context of the time are made, as well as of the place at which it was published. Next, we deal with the definition of pedagogy presented by the periodical, taking into account the appropriations of foreign authors commonly present in the field of education. Pedagogy, regarded as modern, is defined in those writings as the expansion and development of the animal, rational and moral strengths of the human being; its purpose would be the formation of the social man ready for work and for the service of society and of the State. Based on this discussion, we investigate the conceptions of spontaneous education, regular education, and instruction contained in the periodical. Education is understood as the unity of culture and instruction, with the former being the chief responsible for directing the faculties of the soul and for moral formation; instruction, by its turn, is seen as the acquisition of knowledge, but also plays an important role in the formation of habits and customs