Abstract INTRODUCTION: Aedes aegypti (L.) is the major vector of arboviruses that causes serious public health concerns in tropical and subtropical countries. METHODS: We examined the larvicidal activity of 1,2-diphenyldiselenide [(PhSe)2] and 1,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl) diselenide [(p-ClPhSe)2] and determine its toxicity to different non-target organisms. RESULTS: (PhSe)2 and (p-ClPhSe)2 killed Ae. aegypti L3 larvae with LC50/24h values of 65.63 µM (20.48 mg/L) and 355.19 µM (135.33 mg/L), respectively. (PhSe)2 was not toxic to the four model organisms. CONCLUSIONS: (PhSe)2 is a larvicidal compound with selective action against Ae. aegypti larvae. The mechanisms of action of (PhSe)2 under field conditions remain to be investigated.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the phytotoxic activity of aqueous extracts of species from the Cerrado of Mato Grosso on the germination and initial development of lettuce seedlings, as well as to determine the chemical composition of the extracts. The species studied were: Davilla elliptica, Combretum laxum, Himatanthus obovatus, Diteryx alata, Curatella americana, Qualea grandiflora, Aspidosperma macrocarpon, Caryocar brasiliense, Pleroma candolleanum and Miconia albicans. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) techniques were used to identify functional groups and chemical compounds. The extracts of the species D. elliptica, C. laxum, C. brasiliense and Q. grandiflora showed greater phytotoxic activity on the germination of lettuce seeds which varied between 96 and 17%. The presence of compounds such as: phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenes with phytotoxic properties was confirmed.

Vochysia divergens Pohl, known as "Cambara" in Brazil, is an invasive species that is expanding throughout Pantanal in Brazil, to form mono-dominant communities. This expansion is affecting the agricultural areas that support the typical seasonal flood and drought conditions of this biome. This article describes the development and validation of an HPLC-DAD analytical method to quantify 5-methoxyflavones in methanolic extracts of greenhouse-grown V. divergens associated with one of two endophytic fungal species Zopfiella tetraspora (Zt) or Melanconiella elegans (Me) and later subjected to water stress. The developed method gave good validation parameters and was successfully applied to quantify the flavones 3',5-dimethoxy luteolin-7-O-β-glucopyranoside (1), 5-methoxy luteolin (2), and 3',5-dimethoxy luteolin (3) in the target extracts. Inoculation of the plant with Zt decreased the concentration of flavone 1 in the extract by 2.69-fold as compared to the control. Inoculation of the plant with Zt or Me did not significantly alter the contents of flavones 2 and 3 in the extracts as compared to the control. Therefore, the aerial parts of germinated V. divergens plants inoculated with either Zt or Me responded differently in terms of the production of flavones. These results can cast light on the symbiosis between fungal microorganisms and V. divergens, which most likely influences the response of V. divergens to changes in the availability of water in Pantanal.

The virtual reality has been frequently required in rehabilitation settings. However, it still lacks specificity, making it necessary to establish specific criteria to classify the most relevant aspects of electronic games to allow interventions based on virtual reality. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a “Perceptual and motor demands assessment protocol for virtual reality systems” and to investigate its content validity and intra and inter observer agreement. The protocol was created through a literature review including classical studies as well as a review of recent articles about motor behavior, physical training, cognitive neuroscience and virtual reality. The previous versions were presented in study group meetings and congresses, and modified accordingly to suggestions of experts. Three examiners used the final version to analyze twice the total of 20 videos of individuals in a virtual environment and answered a questionnaire about its content validity. Most of the obtained values were classified as “good” (concordance from 80% to 89%) or “excellent” (concordance from 90% to 100%) by the three examiners and the protocol’s content validity was adequate. The protocol is valid, applicable and practical for analyzing different requirements of electronic games in a virtual environment.

Os objetivos desse trabalho foram identificar e avaliar o potencial antagônico in vitro de bactérias endofíticas isoladas de Echinodorus scaber (chapéu de couro) sobre alguns patógenos e verificar sua capacidade de controlar o desenvolvimento de fungos em grãos de soja. Um total de 113 linhagens foi confrontado com cinco fungos patogênicos (método de cultura dupla), e quatro bactérias patogênicas (método de sobrecamada). O controle de crescimento de fungo em grãos de soja foi realizado por microbiolização e avaliado pelo método de papel de filtro. As bactérias antagonistas foram submetidas a teste de antibiose contra quatro bactérias patógenas. Duas linhagens inibiram os fungos Colletotrichum lindemunthianum, C. gloeosporioides, Corynespora cassiicula, Fusarium solani, Microsporum canis. No teste de antibiose contra as bactérias patogênicas somente (BREIII-107) apresentou atividade antagônica. As duas linhagens e foram identificadas como Bacillus sp (BREI-92) e Bacillus subitilis (BREIII-107). Quando inoculadas em grãos de soja, Bacillus sp (BREI-92) e Bacillus subitilis (BREIII-107) inibiram aproximadamente 100% do desenvolvimento de fungos sobre os grãos.

The aims of this study were to identify and evaluate the in vitro antagonistic potential of endophytic bacteria isolated from Echinodorus scaber ("chapéu de couro") on some pathogens and to verify their capability of controlling the growth of fungi in soybean seeds. A total of 113 strains were confronted with five pathogenic fungi (dual culture method) and four pathogenic bacteria (overlay method). The fungal growth control in soybeans was carried out by microbiolization and evaluated by the filter paper method. The antagonistic bacteria were subjected to antibiosis test against four pathogenic bacteria. Two strains inhibited the fungi Colletotrichum lindemunthianum , C. gloeosporioides, Corynespora cassiicula, Fusarium solani, Microsporum canis . In the antibiosis test against pathogenic bacteria, only BREIII-107 showed antagonistic activity. The two strains were identified as Bacillus sp (BREI-92) and Bacillus subitilis (BREIII-107). When inoculated in soybeans, Bacillus sp (BREI-92) and Bacillus subitilis (BREIII-107) inhibited approximately 100% of fungal growth on the seeds.

O trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a tolerância a dessecação em sementes de Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek por meio de alterações fisiológicas e bioquímicas. Os frutos foram coletados no município de Jaupaci, Estado de Goiás, quando as sementes apresentavam teor de água de 37% base úmida (b.u.), sendo em seguida mantidas em estufa de secagem com circulação de ar à temperatura de 35ºC até alcançarem os teores de água de 20 e 12% (b.u.). Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: germinação; índice de velocidade de germinação; emergência; índice de velocidade de emergência; condutividade elétrica; taxa respiratória; perfil eletroforético das isoenzimas: catalase, peroxidase e esterase; atividade enzimática de endo-β-mananase e α-amilase e análise eletroforética de proteínas resistentes ao calor. Maior velocidade de germinação e taxa respiratória foi obtida para sementes com teor de água de 12% b.u. A atividade das isoformas de catalase foi mais pronunciada em sementes com maior grau de desidratação em relação à peroxidase que diminuiu sua atividade. As sementes apresentaram proteínas de baixo peso molecular resistentes ao calor, variando de 48,7 a 13,2 kDa. A aquisição de tolerância à secagem em sementes de R. elaeocarpum Reissek é mais associada à enzima catalase do que às enzimas esterase e peroxidase.

This study aimed to investigate the desiccation tolerance of Rhamnidium elaeocarpum Reissek seeds through physiological and biochemical alterations. Fruit were collected from the municipality of Jaupaci, Goias State, Brazil, when the water content of their seeds had a 37% wet basis (w.b.) and the seeds were subsequently kept in a drying oven with air circulation at a temperature of 35ºC until a water content was reached of 20 to 12% (w.b.). The following parameters were evaluated: germination, germination speed index, emergence, emergence speed index, electrical conductivity and respiration rate. Furthermore, the electrophoretic profile of the isoenzymes: catalase, peroxidase and esterase, the enzymatic activities of endo-β-mannanase and α-amylase and the electrophoretic analysis of heat-resistant proteins were performed. A higher germination speed and respiratory rate was obtained for seeds with a water content of 12% w.b., and the activity of catalase isoforms was more pronounced in seeds with a higher degree of dehydration, which was in contrast to peroxidase, showed decreased activity. The seeds contained heat-resistant proteins of low molecular weight that ranged from 48.7 to 13.2 kDa. We found that the acquisition of drying tolerance in R. Elaeocarpum Reissek seeds is associated more with catalase than with esterase and peroxidase.

Hyptis marrubioides Epling is a native plant from Brazilian Cerrado. In this paper, the response of in vitro microplants of this species to inoculation with bacterial and fungal endophytic isolates is evaluated. HPLC-DAD analysis showed the presence of 3,4-O-(Z)-dicaffeoylquinic acid and quercetin-7-O-glucoside as the main components. GC/MS analysis demonstrated that the sesquiterpenes τ-cadinol and caryophyllene oxide were only produced in microplants inoculated with endophytic bacteria, while methyl hexadecanoate, methyl heptadecanoate and methyl (Z,Z,Z) 9,12,15-octadecatrienoate and the triterpene methyl 3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oate were overexpressed only when the microplant was treated with endophytic fungi.

Grande parte da energia produzida no Brasil provém de fontes renováveis. Porém, as energias não-renováveis são mais utilizadas, em especial o petróleo, cujas reservas são finitas. Uma alternativa para substituição do diesel é o biodiesel, biocombustível produzido por fontes renováveis ou recicladas, como óleos e gorduras residuais, OGRs, que geram menos poluentes que os combustíveis derivados do petróleo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar, por meio de questionário, a geração de OGRs pelos estabelecimentos comerciais da cidade de Itabira-MG, de forma a avaliar e discutir a potencialidade de produção de biodiesel na localidade em função da oferta de OGRs, retorno financeiro e fatores logísticos. Para isso, na Prefeitura de Itabira foram levantados dados de todos os estabelecimentos que possuem alvará de funcionamento, escolhendo-se os que estão localizados em áreas centrais da cidade. Verificou-se a geração de quantidades insuficientes de óleo de soja e de gordura hidrogenada residuais, inviabilizando no momento a produção de biodiesel em grande escala. Contudo, em relação à simulação feita com os custos de produção do biocombustível, os valores encontrados são compatíveis aos do mercado consumidor. Além disso, um dado preocupante levantado foi a doação dos óleos de soja residuais para a reutilização por pessoas carentes da cidade, um destino perigoso à saúde dessas pessoas.

Much of the energy produced in Brazil comes from renewable sources. However, non-renewable energy are being used, especially oil, whose reserves are finite. An alternative fuel to diesel is biodiesel, a biofuel produced from renewable and recycled sources such as waste cooking oils and fats that emit fewer pollutants than petroleum-based fuels. The aim of this study was to survey, using questionnaires, the availability of waste cooking oils and fats from restaurants, snack bars, bakeries and industries in Itabira-MG, to evaluate and discuss the potential of biodiesel production according to supply, profitability and logistics aspects. Data on all establishments that have permits to operate were obtained from the City council and those located in central areas of the city were chosen for the survey. The results indicated that there is not a sufficient amount of waste cooking oils and fats to produce biodiesel in a large scale. The simulation done with the cost of biofuel production, however, showed that the values are compatible to the consumer market. Moreover, a concern that was raised was the donation of waste cooking oil to needy people of the city, a destination dangerous to their health

Penicillium brevicompactum é um fungo filamentoso que apresenta um potencial para a aplicação industrial devido a sua eficiente produção de enzimas do complexo pectinolítico. Neste trabalho foi desenvolvido um sistema de transformação heterólogo para P. brevicompactum baseado na complementação de um mutante nitrato redutase. Mutantes nitrato redutase foram obtidos pela resistência ao clorato de sódio em uma taxa de 23,24%. O mutante denominado 4457-18X foi escolhido para os experimentos de transformação com o vetor pNH24, que contém o gene da nitrato redutase de Fusarium oxysporum. Uma freqüência de cerca de 3 transformantes/mg de DNA foi obtida utilizando-se o vetor pNH24 na forma circular e um aumento de cerca de 10 vezes nessa freqüência foi alcançado com a utilização desse vetor linearizado com a enzima de restrição Xba I. A análise dos transformantes pela técnica de hibridização revelou uma tendência do vetor linearizado diminuir o número de integrações em relação ao vetor circular. A integração foi aleatória e estável nos transformantes analisados. O estabelecimento de um sistema de transformação para P. brevicompactum é essencial para a manipulação genética desse microrganismo.

Penicillium brevicompactum is a filamentous fungus that presents a potential for industrial use due its efficient pectinase production. A heterologous transformation system was developed for P. brevicompactum based on the complementation of a nitrate reductase mutant. Nitrate reductase mutants were obtained by resistance to chlorate in a rate of 23.24% when compared to other mutations that lead to the chlorate resistance. One mutant named 4457-18X was chosen for the transformation experiments with the pNH24 vector containing de Fusarium oxysporum nitrate reductase gene. A frequency of approximately 3 transformants/µg DNA was obtained using the circular vector pNH24. This frequency was multiplied about 10 fold using the linearized vector with the Xba I restriction enzyme. Southern analysis of the transformants showed a tendency of the linearized vector to diminish the number of integrations compared to the use of the circular vector. The integration was random and stable in the analyzed transformants. The establishment of a transformation system for P. brevicompactum is fundamental for genetic manipulation of this microorganism.