Alpinia

Species of the genus Alpinia are widely used by the population and have many described biological activities, including activity against insects. In this paper, we describe the bioactivity of the essential oil of two species of Alpinia genus, A. zerumbet and A. vittata, against Rhodnius nasutus, a vector of Chagas disease. The essential oils of these two species were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituent of A. zerumbet essential oil (OLALPZER) was terpinen-4-ol, which represented 19.7% of the total components identified. In the essential oil of A. vittata (OLALPVIT) the monoterpene β-pinene (35.3%) was the main constituent. The essential oils and their main constituents were topically applied on R. nasutus fifth-instar nymphs. In the first 10 min of application, OLALPVIT and OLALPZER at 125 μg/mL provoked 73.3% and 83.3% of mortality, respectively. Terpinen-4-ol at 25 μg/mL and β-pinene at 44 μg/mL provoked 100% of mortality. The monitoring of resistant insects showed that both essential oils exhibited antifeedant activity. These results suggest the potential use of A. zerumbet and A. vittata essential oils and their major constituents to control R. nasutus population

Educomunicação e suas áreas de intervenção: Novos paradigmas para o diálogo intercultural

oai:omp.abpeducom.org.br:publicationFormat/1O material aqui divulgado representa, em essência, a contribuição do VII Encontro Brasileiro de Educomunicação ao V Global MIL Week, da UNESCO, ocorrido na ECA/USP, entre 3 e 5 de novembro de 2016. Estamos diante de um conjunto de 104 papers executivos, com uma média de entre 7 e 10 páginas, cada um. Com este rico e abundante material, chegamos ao sétimo e-book publicado pela ABPEducom, em seus seis primeiros anos de existência. A especificidade desta obra é a de trazer as “Áreas de Intervenção” do campo da Educomunicação, colocando-as a serviço de uma meta essencial ao agir educomunicativo: o diálogo intercultural, trabalhado na linha do tema geral do evento internacional: Media and Information Literacy: New Paradigms for Intercultural Dialogue

Augmentation of catecholamine release elicited by an Eugenia punicifolia extract in chromaffin cells

Plant extracts of Eugenia punicifolia (Kunth) DC., Myrtaceae, are used in Amazon region of Brazil to treat diarrhea and stomach disturbances, and as hypoglycemic medicine. We have recently shown that an aqueous extract of E. punicifolia augmented cholinergic neurotransmission in a rat phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. In this study, we investigated the effects of an E. punicifolia dichloromethane extract (EPEX) in a neuronal model of cholinergic neurotransmission, the bovine adrenal chromaffin cell. EPEX augmented the release of catecholamine triggered by acetylcholine (ACh) pulses but did not enhance ACh-evoked inward currents, which were inhibited by 30%. Since EPEX did not cause a blockade of acetylcholinesterase or butyrylcholinesterase, it seems that EPEX is not directly activating the cholinergic system. EPEX also augmented K+-elicited secretion without enhancing the whole-cell inward calcium current. This novel and potent effect of EPEX in enhancing exocytosis might help to identify the active component responsible for augmenting exocytosis. When elucidated, the molecular structure of this active principle could serve as a template to synthesise novel compounds to regulate the exocytotic release of neurotransmitters

Código Florestal, função socioambiental da terra e soberania alimentar

O presente artigo tem como objetivo discutir alterações do Código Florestal, especialmente aspropostas de mudanças nas noções de Reserva Legal e Área de Preservação Permanente (APP), em processo de rediscussão no Congresso, após sanção presidencial com vetos no texto aprovado na Câmara em 25 de abril de 2012. Para suprir lacunas da nova Lei, o Executivo Federal editou a Medida Provisória (MP) 571/2012, que retoma a discussão da matéria. Tanto dispositivos da nova Lei como alterações propostas ao texto da MP geram insegurança alimentar e visam a eliminar a função socioambiental da terra. A motivação das mudanças não está relacionada à sustentabilidade ambiental ou às mudanças climáticas, temas fundamentais na agenda mundial, mas parte do princípio de que a natureza é um empecilho ao desenvolvimento. Este artigo resgata as principais alterações no Código Florestal relacionadas à Reserva Legal e às APPs, estabelecendo relações (impactos negativos) com a função socioambiental da terra e a soberania alimentar

Africanized Bee Venom (<i>Apis mellifera</i> Linnaeus): Neuroprotective Effects in a Parkinson’s Disease Mouse Model Induced by 6-hydroxydopamine

This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of the Africanized bee venom (BV) and its mechanisms of action after 6-hydroxydopamine-(6-OHDA)-induced lesion in a mice model. Prior to BV treatment, mice received intrastriatal microinjections of 6-OHDA (no induced dopaminergic neuronal death) or ascorbate saline (as a control). BV was administered subcutaneously at different dosages (0.01, 0.05 or 0.1 mg·Kg−1) once every two days over a period of 3 weeks. The open field test was carried out, together with the immunohistochemical and histopathological analysis. The chemical composition of BV was also assessed, identifying the highest concentrations of apamin, phospholipase A2 and melittin. In the behavioral evaluation, the BV (0.1 mg·Kg−1) counteracted the 6-OHDA-induced decrease in crossings and rearing. 6-OHDA caused loss of dopaminergic cell bodies in the substantia nigra pars compacta and fibers in striatum (STR). Mice that received 0.01 mg·Kg−1 showed significant increase in the mean survival of dopaminergic cell bodies. Increased astrocytic infiltration occurred in the STR of 6-OHDA injected mice, differently from those of the groups treated with BV. The results suggested that Africanized BV has neuroprotective activity in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease

Analisando as pesquisas em educação especial no Brasil Analysing research in special education in Brazil

Nosso objetivo foi examinar a articulação lógica entre o problema e a proposição teórico-metodológica das produções na área da Educação Especial, focando os seus pressupostos epistemológicos. Nos fundamentamos nos pressupostos das tendências empírico-analítica, fenomenológica-hermenêutica, crítico-dialética e do paradigma da complexidade. O procedimento adotado foi interpretar todas as dissertações/teses produzidas nos Programas de Pós-Graduação em Educação e Educação Especial do Brasil, que versam sobre Educação Especial, produzidas nos anos de 2001, 2002 e 2003, disponíveis no banco de teses da CAPES. Encontramos as tendências empírica, fenomenológica e dialética. Os equívocos encontrados foram a não inserção da pesquisa entre as produções na área; ausência de criticidade; não posicionamento numa determinada concepção de educação; construção teórica fundamentada em concepções diferentes; falta de coerência nos pressupostos teórico-metodológicos; não explicitação metodológica; não descrição dos procedimentos éticos; e má elaboração dos resumos. Concluímos pela necessidade da melhoria das dissertações/teses para que possamos avançar na produção de conhecimento na área da Educação Especial.<br>Our objective was to analyze the logical articulation between the problem and the theoretical-methodological proposal of studies in the field of Special Education, focusing on the epistemological issues. We based our study on the empiric-analytical tendencies, phenomenology-hermeneutic, critical-dialectical and the complexity paradigm. The procedure that was adopted was interpreting all dissertations/thesis produced in Post-Graduate programs in Education and Special Education in Brazil, which focus on Special Education, produced in 2001, 2002 and 2003, available online at CAPES' thesis database. We found empirical, phenomenological and dialectic tendencies. The errors encountered included the failure to include the research among the productions in the field; lack of critical approach; lack of making explicit what educational conception the study was based on; theoretical construction based on different conceptions; lack of coherence in the theoretical-methodological proposals; lack of methodological specification; absence of ethical procedural descriptions; and poorly written abstracts. We came to the conclusion that improvements in theses /dissertations are necessary so as to continually move forward in the production of knowledge in the field of Special Education