ABSTRACT The effect of silicon (Si) on fitness and leaf consumption of the fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith), has been observed in the laboratory, but the effects of Si on damage or defoliation reduction have not yet been determined under field conditions. Here, we evaluated the effects of amendment of soil with Si on defoliation by FAW and crop yield in maize. Two field experiments were carried out, with four doses of Si and a control (no Si amendment). Experiment #1 evaluated 150, 300, 450, and 600 kg of total Si·ha-1, with natural or manual infestation with FAW eggs, while Experiment #2 tested 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,200 kg of total Si·ha-1, with natural or manual infestation with FAW larvae. Defoliation reduction was observed with Si increasing in both Experiments #1 and #2. However, reduction was not observed in all evaluations, and it was dependent of infestation (natural and manual) and the time since manual infestation. Reduction in defoliation began at 600 kg Si·ha-1. In contrast, plant Si content increased linearly with increasing soil Si application. No effect of Si application was observed on maize kernel yield. The increase in leaf Si content reduced FAW defoliation, but it did not affect maize yield from 600 to 1,200 kg·ha-1 of Si. Amendment of soil with Si can be used as a strategy to optimize integrated pest management of FAW in maize.

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a participação toracoabdominal durante a respiração e sua relação com os fatores de risco clínicos em recém-nascidos prematuros (RNPT). Trata-se de um estudo multicêntrico, transversal, realizado em duas unidades de cuidado intermediário neonatal com RNPT entre 26-35 semanas, estáveis hemodinamicamente, que fizeram uso de oxigênio ou suporte ventilatório durante a fase da internação. O movimento lateral do tronco foi filmado por 2 minutos e os vídeos foram avaliados no software MATLAB® para interpretação quantitativa da participação toracoabdominal, por um pesquisador cego sobre os dados da amostra. Os dados foram expressos graficamente em cm2 representando os valores máximos, mínimos e médios da participação de tórax e abdômen. O coeficiente de Pearson foi usado para avaliar a correlação entre as variáveis neonatais com a mobilidade. Foram avaliados 2.080 frames de 26 RNPT com idade gestacional média de 31 semanas ±2,34. Quanto maior a idade e o peso, maior a participação do tórax na respiração (r=0,55; p=0,001); e quanto maior o tempo de internação, menor é a sua participação (r=-0,40; p=0,04). A participação do abdômen aumenta de acordo com o aumento do número de dias em uso de oxigênio (r=0,33; p=0,001) e diminui com o aumento da idade e do peso (r=-0,41; p=0,001). A participação toracoabdominal tem relação direta com a idade gestacional e o peso. Como fatores externos, o uso prolongado de oxigênio e o tempo de internação interferem negativamente no padrão respiratório, uma vez que o aumento da participação abdominal durante a biomecânica respiratória pode representar um gasto energético.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the participation of thoracoabdominal muscles in breathing and its relationship with clinical risk factors in preterm newborns (PTNBs). This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in two neonatal intermediate care units with PTNBs between 26 and 35 weeks of age, hemodynamically stable, who used oxygen or ventilatory support during hospital stay. The lateral movements of the thorax were filmed for 2 minutes and the videos were quantitatively evaluated by a researcher blinded to sample data using the MATLAB Software for assessing thoracoabdominal participation patterns. Data for the maximum, minimum and mean values of the participation of the thorax and abdomen were expressed graphically in cm2. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the correlation between neonatal variables and mobility. We evaluated 2,080 frames of 26 newborns with an average gestational age of 31 weeks ±2.34. The greater the age and weight, the greater the participation of the thorax in breathing (r=0.55, p=0.001); and the longer the hospital stay, the lower the thoracic participation (r=-0.40, p=0.04). The participation of the abdomen increases according to the increase in the number of days of oxygen use (r=0.33, p=0.001) and decreases with higher age and weight (r=-0.41, p=0.001). The thoracoabdominal participation pattern is directly related to gestational age and weight. Prolonged use of oxygen and the length of hospital stay adversely affect the respiratory pattern, since increasing abdominal participation in respiratory biomechanics may increase energy expenditure.

RESUMEN El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la participación toracoabdominal durante la respiración y su relación con los factores de riesgo clínico en recién nacidos prematuros (RNPT). Este es un estudio transversal, multicéntrico, realizado en dos unidades de cuidados intermedios neonatales con RNPT entre 26-35 semanas, hemodinámicamente estables, que utilizaron oxígeno o soporte ventilatorio durante la hospitalización. El movimiento lateral del tronco se filmó durante 2 minutos, y un investigador a ciegas sobre los datos de la muestra evaluó los videos por medio del software MATLAB® para la interpretación cuantitativa de la participación toracoabdominal. Los datos se reprodujeron gráficamente en cm2 representando los valores máximos, mínimos y promedio de la participación del tórax y el abdomen. El coeficiente de Pearson se utilizó para evaluar la correlación entre las variables neonatales con la movilidad. Se evaluaron 2.080 frames de 26 RNPT con una edad gestacional promedio de 31 semanas ±2,34. Cuanto mayor es la edad y el peso, mayor es la participación del tórax en la respiración (r=0,55; p=0,001), y cuanto más largo es el tiempo de hospitalización, menor será su participación (r=-0,40; p=0,04). La participación del abdomen aumenta conforme aumenta la cantidad de días utilizando oxígeno (r=0,33; p=0,001) y disminuye con el aumento de la edad y el peso (r=-0,41; p=0,001). La participación toracoabdominal está directamente relacionada con la edad gestacional y el peso. Como factores externos, el uso prolongado de oxígeno y el tiempo de hospitalización afectan negativamente al patrón de respiración, ya que el aumento de la participación abdominal durante la biomecánica respiratoria puede representar un gasto de energía.

Abstract In the last years phytosterols, natural components of plants, have received more attention due to association of their consumption with reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. There are several scientific studies about phytosterols in vegetable oils, but they are scarce in unconventional oils. The objective of this research was evaluating the content of phytosterols (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol) in vegetable oils sold in São Paulo city, in Brazil. The analysis included cold alkaline saponification, derivatization with hexamethyldisilazane and trimethylchlorosilane reagents, and quantification by gas chromatography using flame ionization detection and internal standardization. The quality control parameters indicated that the method was suitable for analysis. Total sterols were between 272.3 mg kg-1 (coconut oil) to 6169.7 mg kg-1 (evening primrose oil). β-sitosterol was the component found in higher concentrations and evening primrose oil was the most representative in quantity of phytosterols.

RESUMO O tamanho ótimo de parcelas é de fundamental importância para o aproveitamento, precisão e relação custo benefício em experimentos. Assim, objetivou-se estimar o tamanho ótimo de parcela envolvendo linhagem de mamoneira por meio do Modelo Linear de Resposta Platô (MLRP). O experimento constituiu-se de um ensaio de uniformidade, conduzido em Cruz das Almas, BA. Utilizou-se a linhagem UFRB-222, que foi plantada no espaçamento de 3 m x 1 m, com 10 fileiras de 37 plantas cada. Foram consideradas como úteis as oito fileiras centrais, com 35 plantas por fileira, num total de 280 plantas e área útil de 840 m2. Nas avaliações aferidas, cada planta foi considerada como uma unidade básica (ub), área de 3 m2, perfazendo assim, 280 unidades básicas (ubs). Os caracteres avaliados foram o número de racemos colhidos, média do comprimento dos três primeiros racemos, número de sementes do racemo, peso de sementes do racemo, peso do racemo por planta, número de sementes por planta e produtividade. O tamanho ótimo de parcela é de 11 unidades experimentais, para a produtividade e seus componentes, sendo a área de 33 m2 com espaçamento de 3 m entre fila e 1 m entre plantas.

ABSTRACT Optimum plot size is of fundamental importance for the results, precision and cost-effectiveness of experiments. The aim of this study therefore, was to estimate optimum plot size in a strain of the castor bean by means of the Linear Response Plateau Model (LRPM). The experiment consisted of a test for uniformity, carried out in Cruz das Almas, in the State of Bahia, Brazil. The UFRB-222 strain was used, which was planted at a spacing of 3 m x 1 m, in 10 rows of 37 plants each. The eight central rows were considered, each with 35 plants per row giving a total of 280 plants and a working area of 840 m2. For the evaluations, each plant was taken as one basic unit (bu) with an area of 3 m2, resulting in 280 bu. The characteristics under evaluation were the number of racemes harvested, the mean length of the first three racemes, number of seeds per raceme, seed weight per raceme, raceme weight per plant, number of seeds per plant and productivity. For productivity and its components, the optimum plot size is 11 experimental units in an area of 33 m2, at a spacing of 3 m between rows and 1 m between plants.

BACKGROUND The elimination of malaria depends on the blocking of transmission and of an effective treatment. In Brazil, artemisinin therapy was introduced in 1991, and here we present a performance overview during implementation outset years. METHODS It is a retrospective cohort (1991 to 2002) of patients treated in a tertiary centre of Manaus, with positive microscopic diagnosis of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, under treatment with using injectable or rectal artemisinin derivatives, and followed over 35-days to evaluate parasite clearance, death and recurrence. FINDINGS This cohort outcome resulted 97.6% (1554/1593) of patients who completed the 35-day follow-up, 0.6% (10/1593) of death and 1.8% (29/1593) of follow-up loss. All patients that died and those that presented parasitaemia recurrence had pure P. falciparum infections and received monotherapy. Considering patients who completed 35-day treatment, 98.2% (1527/1554) presented asexual parasitaemia clearance until D4 and 1.8% (27/1554) between D5-D10. It is important to highlight that had no correlation between the five treatment schemes and the sexual parasite clearance. Finally, it is noteworthy that we were able to observe also gametocytes carriage during all follow-up (D0-D35). MAIN CONCLUSIONS Artemisinin derivatives remained effective in the treatment of falciparum malaria during first 12-years of use in north area of Brazil.

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivos inducir la formación de embriones somáticos in vitro en el híbrido Phalaenopsis Classic Spotted Pink, utilizando diferentes medios nutritivos, y evaluar la morfología interna de estos embriones mediante análisis histológico e histoquímico. Hojas jóvenes de plantas cultivadas in vitro se utilizaron como explantes para la inducción de embriones somáticos en diferentes medios nutritivos: New Dogashima Medium, contenido de ANA (0.537 mM) y BAP (4.440 μM) además de phytagel y con pH 5.8 (NDM) y el Murashige Skoog con la mitad de la concentración de sales, además de ANA (0.537 μM) y TDZ (13.621 μM), gelificado gelrite y pH 5.2 (½ MS). Se obtuvieron embriones somáticos primarios a los 90 días de cultivo en el medio ½ MS y a estos se les transfirió al mismo medio (½ MS) para la obtención de embriones secundarios. Los embriones somáticos primarios y secundarios fueron subcultivados para MS con la mitad de la concentración de sales, sin reguladores de crecimiento y sometidos a fotoperiodo de 16 horas, lo que estimuló la producción de clorofila tanto en los embriones primarios como en los secundarios, promoviendo el desarrollo de los protocormos y más tarde en las plantas. Los análisis histológicos demostraron que los embriones somáticos fueron formados directamente en las capas epidérmicas de los explantes, sin pasar por la fase de callo, vía embriogénesis somática directa. Los métodos histoquímicos hicieron posible destacar la deposición de almidón y lípidos en las células embriogénicas como resultado de mecanismos fisiológicos, que permiten el desarrollo de los embriones primarios y secundarios en las plantas. Por lo tanto, el medio ½ MS contenido de ANA (0.537 μM) y TDZ (13.621 μM), con gelrite y pH 5.2 permitió obtener embriones primarios y secundarios con capacidad para regenerar plantas con caracteres morfológicos similares a los dela planta matriz.

The present work had as objectives to induce the formation of somatic embryos in vitro on Phalaenopsis hybrid Classic Spotted Pink, using different nutrient medium and assess the internal morphology of these embryos by means of histological and histochemical analysis. Young leaves of plants grown in vitro were used as explants for induction of somatic embryos in different nutrient medium: New Dogashima Medium, containing ANA (0.537 μM) and BAP (4.440 μM) plus phytagel and with pH 5.8 (NDM) and the Murashige & Skoog with half the concentration of salts, plus NNA (0.537 μM) and TDZ (13.621 μM), jellied with gelrite and pH 5.2 (0.5 MS). Primary somatic embryos were obtained to 90 days of cultivation in half MS and have been transferred to the same means for obtaining of secondary embryos. The primary and secondary somatic embryos were subcultived for MS with half the concentration of salts, without fitoregulator subjected to photoperiod of 16 hours, which stimulated the production of chlorophyll in primary embryos as secondary, promoting the development of those in protocorms and later in plants. The histological analysis showed that the somatic embryos were formed directly from the epidermal layers of the explants, without going through the phase of callus, featuring direct somatic embryogenesis. The histochemical methods used made it possible to highlight the deposition of starch and lipids in cells embriogenics as a result of physiological mechanisms, enabling the development of primary and secondary embryos in plants. Therefore, the medium 0.5 MS Plus ANA (0.537 μM) and TDZ (13.621 μM), jellied with gelrite and pH 5.2 promoted to obtain primary and secondary embryos with ability to regenerate plants showing morphological similar the mother plant.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos induzir a formação de embriões somáticos in vitro no híbrido Phalaenopsis Classic Spotted Pink, utilizando diferentes meios nutritivos e avaliar a morfologia interna desses embriões por meio de análises histológicas e histoquímicas. Folhas jovens de plantas cultivadas in vitro foram utilizadas como explantes para indução de embriões somáticos em diferentes meios nutritivos: New Dogashima Medium, contendo ANA (0,537μM) e BAP (4,440μM), acrescido de phytagel e com pH 5,8 (NDM) e o Murashige & Skoog com a metade da concentração dos sais, acrescido de ANA (0,537μM) e TDZ (13,621μM), gelificado com gelrite e o pH 5,2 (½ MS). Embriões somáticos primários foram obtidos aos 90 dias de cultivo no meio ½MS e foram transferidos para o mesmo meio para obtenção de embriões secundários. Os embriões somáticos primários e secundários foram subcultivados para meio MS com metade da concentração de sais, sem fitoregulador submetidos a fotoperíodo de 16 horas, o qual estimulou a produção de clorofila tanto nos embriões primários como secundários, promovendo o desenvolvimento desses em protocormos e posteriormente em plantas. As análises histológicas demonstraram que os embriões somáticos foram formados diretamente das camadas epidérmicas dos explantes, sem passar pela fase de calo, caracterizando embriogênese somática direta. Os métodos histoquímicos utilizados possibilitaram evidenciar a deposição de amido e lipídeos nas células embriogênicas em decorrência de mecanismos fisiológicos, permitindo o desenvolvimento dos embriões primários e secundários em plantas. Portanto, o meio ½ MS acrescido de ANA (0,537μM) e TDZ (13,621μM), gelificado com gelrite e o pH 5,2 promoveu a obtenção de embriões primários e secundários com capacidade para regenerar plantas apresentando características morfológicas semelhantes a planta matriz.

In Niterói, state of Rio de Janeiro, dengue virus type 4 (DENV-4) was isolated for the first time in March 2011. We analysed the laboratory findings of the first cases and evaluated the use of molecular techniques for the detection of DENV-4 in Aedes aegypti that were field-caught. Conventional reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and SimplexaTM Dengue real-time RT-PCR confirmed DENV-4 infection in all cases. Additionally, DENV-4 was confirmed in a female Ae. aegypti with 1.08 x 10³ copies/mL of virus, as determined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. This is the first time the SimplexaTM Dengue real-time assay has been used for the classification of cases of infection and for entomological investigations. The use of these molecular techniques was shown to be important for the surveillance of dengue in humans and vectors.