Chemical composition and toxicity of essential oils of Piper spp. against larvae of Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae)

Aedes aegypti L. é um dos vetores do dengue. No Brasil, tem ganhado muita atenção no setor da saúde pública, uma vez que esta doença tem se tornando mais agressiva na forma hemorrágica na popula- ção. Esse estudo teve como objetivo investigar o efeito de óleos essenciais de Piper aduncum, Piper marginatum e Piper nigrum contra larvas de Aedes aegypti. Em um esforço para encontrar uma maneira natural, eficaz e acessível para controlar esta doença endêmica, as atividades dos óleos essenciais, a partir das plantas, foram analisadas por comparação através da medida da CL50 . Os óleos essenciais obtidos por hidrodestilação foram analisados por CG/EM. Os principais componentes identificados foram: β-pineno (32,7%) e E-cariofileno (17,1%) em P. aduncum; isoelemecina (21,7%) e apiol (20,1%) em P. marginatum e E-cariofileno (24,2%) e Óxido-cariofileno (20,1%) em P. nigrum. Os resultados mostram que Piper marginatum apresentou CL50 de 8,29 μg/mL e este trabalho é o primeiro relato de atividade larvicida de P. aduncum. Estes resultados sugerem que os óleos essenciais de espécies do gênero Piper são promissores como larvicidas contra larvas de A. aegypti.Aedes aegypti L. is one of the vectors of dengue fever. In Brazil it has gain much attention in the Public Health sector since this disease has becoming more aggressive in the hemorrhagic form in the population. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Piper aduncum, Piper marginatum and Piper nigrum essential oils against Aedes aegypti larvae. In an effort to find a natural effective and affordable way to control this endemic disease, the larvicidal activities of essential oils from the plants were analyzed for activity comparison by measurement of their LC50 . The essential oils isolated by hydrodistillation were analyzed by GC/MS. The main components identified were: β-pinene (32.7%) and E-caryophyllene (17.1%) in P. aduncum; isoelemecin (21.7%) and apiole (20.1%) in P. marginatum and E-caryophyllene (24.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (20.1%) in P. nigrum. The results show that Piper marginatum presented the LC50 of 8.29 μg/mL and these are the first report about the larvicidal activity of P. aduncum. These results suggest that the essential oil of Piper species are promising as larvicide against A. aegypti larvae.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Qualidade de cortes congelados de tambaqui cultivado

The objective of this work was to determine the proximate composition, yield, the influence of frozen storage time on the quality, and the cut type x shelf life relation of rib, tenderloin and flitch cuts of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) reared in a fish farm, during 180 days of cold storage. The cuts were stored in polyethylene bags and frozen at -25oC. Sensory, physicochemical and microbiological analyses were carried out. The pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values, as well as the results of the microbiological analyses, proved to be good indexes for freshness evaluation along the storage time. The cut rib was more susceptible to oxidation than the other cuts. However, the cuts remained appropriate for consumption during the experiment, under correct handling and good hygienic practices between harvest and storage

Status Report Of The Schenberg Gravitational Wave Antenna

Here we present a status report of the Schenberg antenna. In the past three years it has gone to a radical upgrading operation, in which we have been installing a 1K pot dilution refrigerator, cabling and amplifiers for nine transducer circuits, designing a new suspension and vibration isolation system for the microstrip antennas, and developing a full set of new transducers, microstrip antennas, and oscillators. We are also studying an innovative approach, which could transform Schenberg into a broadband gravitational wave detector.3631Aguiar, O.D., (2002) Class. Quantum Grav., 19, p. 1949Aguiar, O.D., (2004) Class. Quantum Grav., 21, pp. S457Aguiar, O.D., (2005) Class. Quantum Grav., 22, pp. S209Aguiar, O.D., (2006) Class. Quantum Grav., 23, pp. S239Aguiar, O.D., (2008) Class. Quantum Grav., 25, p. 114042Costa, C.A., (2008) Class. Quantum Grav., 25, p. 184002Johnson, W.W., Merkowitz, S.M., (1993) Phys. Rev. Lett., 70, p. 2367Coccia, E., Lobo, J.A., Ortega, J.A., (1995) Phys. Rev. D, 52, p. 3735Thorne, K.S., (1978) Phys. Rev. Lett., 40, p. 667Tobar, M.E., Ivanov, E.N., Blair, D.G., (2000) Gen. Rel. Grav., 32, p. 1799De Waard, (2005) Class. Quantum Grav., 22, pp. S215Vinet, J.-Y., (2010) Research in Astron Astrophys., 10, p. 956Costa, C.A., Aguiar, O.D., Magalhães, N.S., (2004) Class. Quantum Grav., 21, pp. S827Forward, R.L., (1971) Gen. Rel. Grav., 2, p. 149Eardley, D.M., Lee, D.L., Lightman, A.P., Wagoner, R.V., Will, C.M., (1973) Phys. Rev. Lett., 30, p. 884Bianchi, M., Coccia, E., Colacino, C.N., Fafone, V., Fucito, F., (1996) Class. Quantum Grav., 13, p. 2865Andrade, L.A., (2009) Microwave and Optical Tech. Lett., 51, p. 1120Furtado, S.R., (2012), in preparationIvanov, E.N., Hartnett, J.G., Tobar, M.E., (2000) IEEE Trans. Ultrason., Ferroelect., Freq. Contr., 47, p. 1526Pimentel, G.L., (2008) J. Phys. Conf. Series, 122, p. 012028Aguiar, (2009) Int. J. Modern Phys. D, 18, p. 2317Furtado, S.R., (2009), Ph.D. Thesis at INPE, not publishedBraginsky, V.B., Vorontsov, Y.I., Thorne, K.S., (1980) Science, 209, p. 547Thorne, K.S., The Quantum Limit for Gravitational-Wave Detectors and Methods of Circumventing It (1979) Sources of Gravitational Waves, p. 49. , ed. L L Smarr, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, US

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset