The application of gibberellic acid increases berry size of ‘Emperatriz’ seedless grape

Gibberellic acid (GA3) increases berry size of "Emperatriz" seedless grape, the response depending on the phenological stage of vine at treatment date and on the concentration applied. From berry fruit set to 21 days later, 80 mg/L GA3 increased commercial berry weight by 50%-90%, depending on the year, reaching similar size to that of "Aledo" seeded grape, used as comparison. This effect takes place through: a) a larger berry growth rate; b) an early glucose, fructose and sucrose uptake; c) an increase of absolute glucose and fructose content (mg/berry) of seedless berries up to similar values to those of seeded berries; and d) an increase of absolute berry water content but not of relative content to fresh weight, thus water potential and osmotic potential are not significantly modified by treatments. GA3 does not affect berry pericarp cell number but increases pericarp cell diameter

Improved method for determination of waxes in olive oils: Reduction of silica and use of a less hazardous solvent

The evaluation of the content of waxes is request both by IOC Trade Standard and by Regulation (EEC) 2568/91 and its further amendments. The official method uses 15 g of silicic acid and elutes several fractions by using huge volumes of dangerous solvent (n-hexane). The developed method uses 1 g of silicic acid with a different particle size and less than 20 mL of solvent mixture, substituting n-hexane with less toxic isooctane. Briefly, after spiking with a suitable internal standard, oil sample is fractionated by SPE (Solid Phase Extraction) cartridge with 1 g of silica, waxes are eluted with 14 mL of isooctane/ethyl ether 99/1 (6 mL discarded and 8 mL collected), then, after elution sample is reconstitute in 200 \u3bcL of n-heptane and analysed by capillary GC. Data of "In home" validation, (repeatability, accuracy and recovery) and relative chromatograms are reported in this paper

Nanoparticles for fingermark detection: an insight into the reaction mechanism

This publication presents one of the first uses of silicon oxide nanoparticles to detect fingermarks. The study is not confined to showing successful detection of fingermarks, but is focused on understanding the mechanisms involved in the fingermark detection process. To gain such an understanding, various chemical groups are grafted onto the nanoparticle surface, and parameters such as the pH of the solutions or zeta potential are varied to study their influence on the detection. An electrostatic interaction has been the generally accepted hypothesis of interaction between nanoparticles and fingermarks, but the results of this research challenge that hypothesis, showing that the interaction is chemically driven. Carboxyl groups grafted onto the nanoparticle surfaces react with amine groups of the fingermark secretion. This formation of amide linkage between carboxyl and amine groups has further been favoured by catalyzing the reaction with a compound of diimide type. The research strategy adopted here ought to be applicable to all detection techniques using nanoparticles. For most of them the nature of the interaction remains poorly understood

Monitoramento eletrônico da atividade alimentar de percevejos pelo uso do EPG em soja Bt versus soja convencional.

Orientador: Antônio Ricardo Panizzi

Contesting categories: cross-border marriages from the perspectives of the state, spouses and researchers

Marriages that involve the migration of at least one of the spouses challenge two intersecting facets of the politics of belonging: the making of the ‘good and legitimate citizens’ and the ‘acceptable family’. In Europe, cross-border marriages have been the target of increasing state controls, an issue of public concern and the object of scholarly research. The study of cross-border marriages and the ways these marriages are framed is inevitably affected by states’ concerns and priorities. There is a need for a reflexive assessment of how the categories employed by state institutions and agents have impacted the study of cross-border marriages. The introduction to this Special Issue analyses what is at stake in the regulation of cross-border marriages and how European states use particular categories (e.g. ‘sham’, ‘forced’ and ‘mixed’ marriages) to differentiate between acceptable and non-acceptable marriages. When researchers use these categories unreflexively, they risk reproducing nation-centred epistemologies and reinforcing state-informed hierarchies and forms of exclusion. We suggest ways to avoid these pitfalls: differentiating between categories of analysis and categories of practice, adopting methodologies that do not mirror nation-states’ logic and engaging with general social theory outside migration studies. The empirical contributions of the Special Issue offer new insights into a timely topic

Fingermark Detection on Thermal Papers: Proposition of an Updated Processing Sequence

The detection of latent fingermarks on thermal papers proves to be particularly challenging because the application of conventional detection techniques may turn the sample dark grey or black, thus preventing the observation of fingermarks. Various approaches aiming at avoiding or solving this problem have been suggested. However, in view of the many propositions available in the literature, it gets difficult to choose the most advantageous method and to decide which processing sequence should be followed when dealing with a thermal paper. In this study, 19 detection techniques adapted to the processing of thermal papers were assessed individually and then were compared to each other. An updated processing sequence, assessed through a pseudo-operational test, is suggested