Abstract Objectives The Pain Catastrophizing Scale-Child version (PCS-C) allows to identify children who are prone to catastrophic thinking. We aimed to adapt the Brazilian version of PCS-C (BPCS-C) to examine scale psychometric properties and factorial structure in children with and without chronic pain. Also, we assessed its correlation with salivary levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Methods The Brazilian version of PCS-C was modified to adjust it for 7-12 years old children. To assess psychometric properties, 100 children (44 with chronic pain from a tertiary hospital and 56 healthy children from a public school) answered the BPCS-C, the visual analogue pain scale, and questions about pain interference in daily activities. We also collected a salivary sample to measure BDNF. Results We observed good internal consistency (Cronbach’s value = 0.81). Parallel analysis retained 2 factors. Confirmatory factor analysis of our 2-factor model revealed consistent goodness-of-fit (IFI = 0.946) when compared to other models. There was no correlation between visual analogue pain scale and the total BPCS-C score; however, there was an association between pain catastrophizing and difficulty in doing physical activities in school (p= 0.01). BPCS-C total scores were not different between groups. We found a marginal association with BPCS-C (r= 0.27, p= 0.01) and salivary BDNF levels. Discussion BPCS-C is a valid instrument with consistent psychometric properties. The revised 2-dimension proposed can be used for this population. Children catastrophism is well correlated with physical limitation, but the absence of BPCS-C score differences between groups highlights the necessity of a better understanding about catastrophic thinking in children.

RESUMO: Para avaliar o efeito tóxico de formulações comerciais de óleo de neem, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, pré-pupas (PP), pupas jovens (PJ) e pupas velhas (PV) da Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) foram pulverizadas com o extrato diluído em água destilada, em concentrações de 0,0, 0,3, 0,5, 1,0 e 2,0%. O neem provocou diferentes efeitos sobre a mortalidade de pupas, dependendo da concentração. As pupas que não conseguiram emergir em adultos apresentaram anormalidades múltiplas. Quanto às pupas que emergiram em adultos (grupos PJ e PV), foi calculada a sua longevidade, que não diferiu da do grupo controle. As anormalidades encontradas em adultos estão relacionadas com a mortalidade em todos os tratamentos com exceção da concentração de 1,0%. A fecundidade foi avaliada de acordo com a oviposição de adultos fêmeas do grupo PJ, que não apresentaram anormalidades; dentro dos ovos depositados foi avaliado o número de ovos não desenvolvidos. Os resultados demonstraram redução no número de ovos depositados e aumento na porcentagem de ovos não desenvolvidos. Esses resultados mostraram que o óleo de neem tem elevado potencial para o controle do estágio mais resistente da broca da cana-de-açúcar, além de reduzir o aparecimento das fases subsequentes. Portanto, formulações comerciais de óleo de neem apresentam um efeito tóxico em pupas e adultos de D. Saccharalis.

ABSTRACT: To evaluate the toxic effect of commercial formulations of neem oil, Azadirachta indica A. Juss, pre-pupae (PP), young pupae (YP) and old pupae (OP) of Diatraea saccharalis F. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) were sprayed with the diluted extract in distilled water at concentrations of 0.0, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0%. The neem extract caused concentration-dependent effects on mortality of pupae, and the pupae that failed to emerge in adults had multiple abnormalities. The longevity of pupae that emerged in adults (YP and OP group) did not differ from the control group. The abnormalities found in adults were related to mortality in all treatments, except at the concentration of 1.0%. Fertility was assessed according to the oviposition of adult females from the YP group that showed no abnormalities, through the evaluation of the number of deposited eggs and the rate of undeveloped eggs. The results showed a reduction in the number of eggs laid and an increase in the percentage of undeveloped eggs. These results show that neem oil has a high potential to control the toughest stage of the sugarcane borer and also reduces the further development. Therefore, commercial formulations of neem oil have a toxic effect on pupae and adults of D. saccharalis.

Abstract The elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is a tropical perennial forage plant with high biomass production that adapts to various soil and climatic conditions in Brazil. Stability is defined as the consistency in performance of genotypes in different environments. The aim of the present study was to estimate stability parameters by the Eberhart and Russel method, and to select elephant grass genotypes with forage production stability and high-yield in Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brazil. Five harvests were made for evaluation in two years. The experimental design was arranged as randomized blocks design, with 80 treatments and two replicates. After the individual analysis of variance for dry matter yield, a combined split-plot analysis was performed. Mean values from each harvest as well as overall means of the genotypes in the five harvests were grouped using the Scott-Knott test (p≤0.05). To obtain the estimates of stability over time, the method of Eberhart and Russell was used, considering the genotypes and successive harvests as environments. Genotypes Pasto Panamá, IJ 7136 cv. EMPASC 307, CAC-262, 02 AD IRI, 08 AD IRI, and Gigante de Pinda showed high forage production and phenotypic stability over the five harvests.

Resumen El pasto elefante (Pennisetum purpureum) es una planta forrajera perenne tropical con producción alta de biomasa que se adapta a diferentes condiciones edafoclimáticas en Brasil. La estabilidad se define como la consistencia en el rendimiento de los genotipos en ambientes diferentes. El objetivo del presente estudio fue estimar parámetros de estabilidad por el método de Eberhart y Russell, y seleccionar genotipos de pasto elefante con la estabilidad de la producción de forraje y de rendimiento alto en Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, Brasil. Cinco cosechas se realizaron en dos años de evaluación. El diseño experimental fue de bloques al azar, con 80 tratamientos y dos repeticiones. Después del análisis individual de la varianza del rendimiento de materia seca, se aplicó análisis de parcelas divididas. Los valores medios de cada cosecha y las medias de rendimento de los genotipos en cinco cosechas se agruparon con la prueba de Scott-Knott (p≤0.05). Para obtener las estimaciones de la estabilidad en el tiempo se usó el método de Eberhart y Russell y los genotipos y cosechas sucesivas se consideraron como ambientes. Los genotipos Pasto Panamá, IJ 7136 cv. EMPASC 307, CAC-262, 02 AD IRI, 08 AD IRI y Gigante de Pinda mostraron producción alta de forraje y estabilidad fenotípica en las cinco cosechas.

With a high growth rate and a DM yield of up to 80 t ha-1 yr¹, elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) has been utilized as an alternative source of energy. However, genotypes adapted to and productive in the different regions of Brazil need to be developed. Thus, the objectives of the present study were to estimate and evaluate heterotic effects in elephant-grass hybrids obtained in a partial diallel cross (5 x 5), with the aim of assisting the superior hybrids selection for bioenergy production. The experiment was conducted in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The following traits were evaluated: plant height (HGT), stem diameter (SD), leaf blade width (LBW), number of tillers per linear meter (NT), percentage of DM (%DM), and DM yield (DMY). The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with 35 treatments (five female parents, five male parents, and 25 hybrid combinations) and three replicates. The adopted statistical model was that of Miranda Filho and Geraldi, in an adaptation of Gardner and Eberhart. Significant heterosis was observed for most traits in the rainy and dry seasons. Hybrid combinations H1 (’Cubano Pinda’ x ’Mercker’), H7 (’Cameroon-Piracicaba’ x ’Três Rios’), H8 (’Cameroon-Piracicaba’ x ’Mercker 86-Mexico’), H17 (’IAC-Campinas’ x ’Três Rios’), H18 (’IAC-Campinas’ x ’Mercker 86-Mexico’), and H25 (’Guacu/IZ.2’ x ’Roxo’) showed potential for use in breeding programs that aiming at develop clones with a energy biomass production capacity high.

Objetivo. Analizar los comportamientos de alimentación bajo diferentes condiciones de temperatura en un grupo de neonatos de Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Testudines Podocnemididae). Materiales y Métodos. Los individuos experimentales fueron obtenidos mediante incubación en el laboratorio, se dividieron en 5 grupos al azar. Durante 2 meses con tres repeticiones a la semana se hicieron pruebas de temperatura utilizando dentro de las bandejas calentadores eléctricos, con registro continuo de temperatura mediante termómetro digital - 10 a + 60°C (± 0.1°C), procurando mantener un ritmo constante de incremento equivalente a 0,25°C cada 10 minutos, hasta llegar a la temperatura seleccionada, que fue mantenida por 60 minutos en cada ensayo. Las temperaturas seleccionadas para cada ensayo, fueron: 26°C, 30°C, 34°C, 38°C y ambiente que fue de 26,8°C en promedio. Fueron evaluados los siguientes parámetros: duración en minutos de la ingesta, tiempo de inicio de comportamientos agonísticos, presencia de dos tipos de despliegues característicos: morder y disputa por alimento. Resultados. En general todos los parámetros fueron significativos, a mayor temperatura el tiempo de ingestión fue mayor, a menor temperatura el volumen de consumo fue menor, a menor temperatura el inicio de los despliegues agonísticos fue mayor y se mantuvo una relación inversamente proporcional. Conclusiones. Los resultados mostraron que existe relación directamente proporcional entre la temperatura ambiental y los procesos de alimentación, además que se relacionaron con aspectos básicos del comportamiento lo cual se manifestó en los despliegues agonísticos observados.

Objective. To analyze the feeding behavior of 50 Peltocephalus dumerilianus hatchlings (Testudines Podocnemididae) under different temperature conditions in laboratory. Materials and methods. The individuals for this experiment were obtained by incubation in the laboratory. They were divided randomly into 5 groups. Temperature trials were conducted for 2 months with 3 repetitions per week, using electric heaters. Temperatures were recorded continuously using a digital thermometer - 10 to + 60°C (± 0.1°C). Temperatures were increased 0.25°C every 10 minutes until reaching the selected temperature, which was then maintained for 60 minutes for each test. The temperatures selected for tests, were 26°C, 30°C, 34°C, 38°C, with an ambient temperature of 26.8°C. We evaluated: feeding duration (in minutes), consumption (in volume), the time which turtles began agonistic behavior, and two characteristic displays: biting and disputes over food. Results. In general all parameters were significant, the higher the temperature the longer the time of ingestion; the lower the temperature the lower the consumption volume; the lower the temperature the greater the time to initiation of agonistic behavior, demonstrating an inverse relationship. Conclusions. There was a direct relationship between environmental temperature and feeding processes. Temperature was also related to basic aspects of behavior during agonistic displays.