Utilização de raios X na avaliação de danos causados por caruncho em sementes de feijão-caupi

In Brazil, the cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp], is important in the Northeast Region, where it is typically grown on family farms. The importance of the damage caused to the seed quality of this species by stored pests has been described in various studies. Using X-ray, it is possible to see the internal seed structures and identify possible changes and damage. The objective of this study was to identify the damage caused by the weevil [Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabr.)] by analyzing X-ray and evaluate its relationship to the physiological quality of the cowpea seed. Three cultivars were used (IPA-206, BRS-Pajeu and BRS-Potengi) and two lines (L 281.005 and L ESP 10). The samples were exposed to X-ray and germination test to determine the cause-effect relationship between weevil damage and seed germination. X-ray images were evaluated to determine damage severity and location in the seed. Seed damage classified as severe, located in the embryonic axis or in the cotyledons, resulted in abnormal seedlings or dead seeds. The X-ray test, therefore, is efficient for evaluating weevil damage in cowpea seeds and the damage caused to be associated with any resulting adverse germination effects.No Brasil, o feijão-caupi [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp], tem destaque na Região Nordeste, sendo uma cultura típica da agricultura familiar. A importância dos danos causados por pragas de armazenamento em sementes da referida espécie, em relação à sua qualidade, tem sido evidenciada em vários trabalhos. Através de imagens de raios X é possível visualizar as estruturas internas da semente, identificando possíveis alterações e danificações. Dessa forma, esse trabalho teve o objetivo de identificar os danos causados por caruncho (Callosobruchus maculatus) e sua relação com a qualidade fisiológica das sementes de feijão-caupi, por intermédio da análise de raios X. Foram utilizadas três cultivares (IPA-206, BRS-Pajeu e BRS-Potengi) e duas linhagens (L 281.005 e L ESP 10). As amostras foram submetidas ao teste de raios X e ao teste de germinação, a fim de determinar a relação de causa e efeito entre os danos provocados pelo caruncho e a germinação das sementes. Nas avaliações das imagens de raios X foi considerada a severidade e a localização dos danos na semente. Para os danos classificados como severos, localizados no eixo embrionário e, ou nos cotilédones, as sementes originaram plântulas anormais ou as sementes estavam mortas. Portanto, o teste de raios X é eficiente para a avaliação de danos causados por caruncho em sementes de feijão-caupi, permitindo relacionar os eventuais danos com os prejuízos causados à germinação.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CNP

Spent coffee grounds for biodiesel production and other applications

This work evaluates the possibility of using spent coffee grounds (SCG) for biodiesel production and other applications. An experimental study was conducted with different solvents showing that lipid content up to 6 wt% can be obtained from SCG. Results also show that besides biodiesel production, SCG can be used as fertilizer as it is rich in nitrogen, and as solid fuel with higher heating value (HHV) equivalent to some agriculture and wood residues. The extracted lipids were characterized for their properties of acid value, density at 15 °C, viscosity at 40 °C, iodine number, and HHV, which are negatively influenced by water content and solvents used in lipid extraction. Results suggest that for lipids with high free fatty acids (FFA), the best procedure for conversion to biodiesel would be a two-step process of acid esterification followed by alkaline transesterification, instead of a sole step of direct transesterification with acid catalyst. Biodiesel was characterized for its properties of iodine number, acid value, and ester content. Although these quality parameters were not within the limits of NP EN 14214:2009 standard, SCG lipids can be used for biodiesel, blended with higher-quality vegetable oils before transesterification, or the biodiesel produced from SCG can be blended with higher-quality biodiesel or even with fossil diesel, in order to meet the standard requirements

Maximum Cut on Interval Graphs of Interval Count Four Is NP-Complete

The computational complexity of the MaxCut problem restricted to interval graphs has been open since the 80's, being one of the problems proposed by Johnson on his Ongoing Guide to NP-completeness, and has been settled as NP-complete only recently by Adhikary, Bose, Mukherjee and Roy. On the other hand, many flawed proofs of polynomiality for MaxCut on the more restrictive class of unit/proper interval graphs (or graphs with interval count 1) have been presented along the years, and the classification of the problem is still unknown. In this paper, we present the first NP-completeness proof for MaxCut when restricted to interval graphs with bounded interval count, namely graphs with interval count 4

Pretreatment of plastic waste: Removal of colorants from hdpe using biosolvents

UIDB/50011/2020 UIDP/50011/2020 CA18220, 2020.00647.CEECIND UIDB/50006/2020 UIDP/50006/2020Plastics recycling remains a challenge due to the relatively low quality of the recycled material, since most of the developed recycling processes cannot deal with the additives present in the plastic matrix, so the recycled products end up in lower-grade applications. The application of volatile organic solvents for additives removal is the preferred choice. In this study, pretreatment of plastic packaging waste to remove additives using biosolvents was investigated. The plastic waste used was high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with blue and orange colorants (pigment and/or dye). The first step was to identify the type of colorants present in the HDPE, and we found that both plastics presented only one colorant that was actually a pigment. Then, limonene, a renewable solvent, was used to solubilize HDPE. After HDPE dissolution, a wide range of alcohols (mono-, di-, and tri-alcohols) was evaluated as antisolvents in order to selectively precipitate the polymer and maximize its purity. The use of limonene as solvent for plastic dissolution, in combination with poly-alcohols with an intermediate alkyl chain length and a large number of hydroxyl (OH) groups, was found to work best as an antisolvent (1,2,3-propanetriol and 1,2,4-butanetriol), leading to a removal of up to 94% and 100% of the blue and orange pigments, respectively. Finally, three cycles of extraction were carried out, proving the capability of the solvent and antisolvent to be recovered and reused, ensuring the economic viability and sustainability of the process. This pretreatment provides a secondary source of raw materials and revenue for the recycling process, which may lead to an increase in the quality of recycled polymers, contributing to the development of an economical and sustainable recycling process.publishersversionpublishe

Reproductive biology of Oxychilus(Atlantoxychilus) spectabilis (Milne-Edwards, 1885) (Gastropoda: Pulmonata) : a gametogenic approach

The taxonomic status and anatomy of Oxychilus (Atlantoxychilus) spectabilis (Milne-Edwards, 1885), an endemic land snail from Santa Maria Island, Azores, has been subject of detailed study, yet information about its life history is wanting. This study describes the reproductive cycle of O. (A.) spectabilis and assesses the validity of three morphometric shell parameters as maturation diagnostic characters. Our results indicate that individuals are reproductively more active from May to November. However, the availability of spermatozoa throughout the year and the residual values of mature oocytes during the remaining months seem to provide minimum conditions for reproduction all year round. The snail has a functional protandric tendency and gonadal maturation is initially triggered by photophase and after regulated by temperature. The positive correlation between gonadal maturation and morphometric shell characters indicate that these parameters might be a useful tool for the diagnosis of snail’s maturation

Diversidade da fauna de insectos fitófagos e de inimigos naturais em culturas frutícolas da ilha Terceira, Açores: a importância do maneio e da heterogeneidade ambiental

"A evidência mostra que os artrópodes constituem uma fracção importante da biodiversidade estrutural e funcional dos habitats terrestres (Kim, 1993). Por outro lado, só é possível conservar os processos ecológicos associados aos artrópodes promovendo a gestão correcta dos seus habitats. Para tal, é necessária uma correcta identificação e caracterização das suas comunidades de forma a promover a sua boa gestão. Durante os últimos anos têm sido realizados nos Açores vários estudos de inventariação e caracterização ecológica dos artrópodes em alguns dos habitats mais importantes destas ilhas: i) habitat cavernícola (Borges & Oromí, 1994); ii) pastagens semi-naturais e intensivas (Borges & Brown, 2001, 2003, 2004); iii) florestas nativas dos Açores (Borges et al., 2000, 2005a, b, 2006; Ribeiro et al., 2005). No entanto, na diversidade de usos do solo das ilhas açoreanas, as fruteiras constituem um habitat mal estudado em termos da cadeia trófica de artrópodes (contudo ver Oliveira, 2002). […]" (da Introdução)

EFEITOS DO OXIFLUORFEM NA FECUNDIDADE E NO TEOR DE PROTEÍNAS DO CARAMUJO Biomphalaria glabrata

Effects of Oxyfluorfen exposure on adult mollusks B. glabrata fecundity and reproduction system proteins were studied. The main objevtive of this work is to detect genotoxic inductions on egg production and on proteins profile of 6 groups of 10 selected and segregated animals. A control group didn’t have contacts with the herbicide and the rest were exposed to the Oxyfluorfen (Goal®BR) at 0.125; 0.25; 0.5; 0.75 and 1 ppm concentrations during 10 days Results showed a dose dependent fecundity reduction up to 0.25 ppm of herbicide concentration. Under higher doses occurred a fairly increased egg release as compared to control group. Band losses from 22% to 72% on the SDS-PAGE analyzed protein profile were observed, induced by herbicide on exposed groups. Protein hsp70 was not detected, thus indicating an absence of oxidative stress under the used doses.Foram estudadas alterações na fecundidade e no teor protéico do sistema reprodutor de moluscos adultos B. Glabrata expostos ao oxifluorfem. O objetivo maior deste estudo foi detectar indução genotóxica em 6 grupos de 10 animais selecionados e segregados. Um grupo controle não teve contatos com o herbicida e os restantes foram expostos ao oxifluorfem (Goal®BR) em concentrações de 125; 0,25; 0,5; 0,75 e 1 ppm durante 10 dias. Os resultados mostraram redução da fecundidade, dependente da dose até a concentração de 0,25 ppm do herbicida, porém nas doses maiores houve razoável aumento no número de ovos liberados em relação ao grupo controle. Foi observada alteração do conteúdo protéico com perda de 22% a 72% das bandas, analisadas por SDS-PAGE. Não foi detectada proteína hsp70, sugerindo ausência de estresse oxidativo nas concentrações utilizadas