A joint use of experimental and theoretical techniques allows us to understand the key role of intermediate- and short-range defects in the structural and electronic properties of ZnO single crystals obtained by means of both conventional hydrothermal and microwave-hydrothermal synthesis methods. X-ray diffraction, Raman spectra, photoluminescence, scanning electronic and transmission electron microscopies were used to characterize the thermal properties, crystalline and optical features of the obtained nano and microwires ZnO structures. In addition, these properties were further investigated by means of two periodic models, crystalline and disordered ZnO wurtzite structure, and first principles calculations based on density functional theory at the B3LYP level. The theoretical results indicate that the key factor controlling the electronic behavior can be associated with a symmetry breaking process, creating localized electronic levels above the valence band.

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We report on the structural, optical, and magnetic properties of α,β-NiMoO4 nanorods synthesized by annealing the NiMoO4:nH2O precursor at 600°C for 10 minutes in a domestic microwave. The crystalline structure properties of α,β-NiMoO4 were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman (FT-Raman) spectroscopies. The particle morphologies and size distributions were identified by field emission microscopy (FE-SEM). Experimental data were obtained by magnetization measurements for different applied magnetic fields. Optical properties were analyzed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. Our results revealed that the oxygen atoms occupy different positions and are very disturbed in the lattice and exhibit a particular characteristic related to differences in the length of the chemical bonds (Ni-O and Mo-O) of the cluster structure or defect densities in the crystalline α,β-NiMoO4 nanorods, which are the key to a deeper understanding of the exploitable physical and chemical properties in this study.

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The effects of the insecticides abamectin, acetamiprid, cartap and chlorpyrifos on larvae, pupae (within the host egg) and adults of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae) were evaluated under laboratory conditions, using three standard tests described by IOBC. When sprayed on the immature stages of this parasitoid, cartap and chlorpyrifos proved to be the most harmful insecticides, affecting both the emergence success and parasitism capacity of this parasitoid, whereas abamectin and acetamiprid were selective. Abamectin was harmful to adults (residue test on glass plates), slightly harmful to larvae, and moderately harmful to pupae (sprayed on the immature stages within host eggs Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller)); acetamiprid was moderately harmful to adults, harmless to larvae, and slightly harmful to pupae; cartap was harmful to adults, moderately harmful to larvae and harmful to pupae; chlorpyrifos to adults, harmless to larvae and harmful to pupae.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a toxicidade dos inseticidas acetamipride (0,05 g L -1 de i.a.), clorfenapir (0,12 g L -1 de i.a.), imidaclopride (1,16 g L -1 de i.a.), tiaclopride (0,48 g L -1 de i.a.) e tiametoxam (0,05 g L -1 de i.a.) a Trichogramma pretiosum em diferentes fases imaturas. Ovos de Anagasta kuehniella foram aderidos em cartelas de cartolina azul e expostos ao parasitismo de T. pretiosum por 48 horas. Os ovos supostamente parasitados, contendo os parasitóides no período de ovo-larva e nas fases de pré-pupa e pupa, foram imersos nas caldas químicas e em água (testemunha) por cinco segundos, e mantidos em câmara climatizada a 24±1 o C, UR de 70±10% e 12 horas de fotófase. Clorfenapir e imidaclopride reduziram em 76,0% e 64,4%, respectivamente, a emergência de indivíduos da geração F 1 de T. pretiosum. A razão sexual dos indivíduos da geração F 1 não foi afetada por nenhum dos compostos avaliados, variando de 0,7 a 0,8. Clorfenapir reduziu em aproximadamente 50% a taxa de parasitismo de T. pretiosum da geração F 1 . Acetamipride e tiametoxam foram inofensivos ao parasitóide e podem ser utilizados em associação com essa espécie no controle de pragas na cultura do tomateiro.Termos para indexação: parasitóide, tomate, produtos fitossanitários, seletividade. Toxicity of insecticides used in tomato crop to Trichogramma pretiosumAbstract -The aim of this work was to evaluate the toxicity of the insecticides acetamiprid (0.05 g L -1 a.i.), chlorfenapyr (0.12 g L -1 a.i.), imidacloprid (1.16 g L -1 a.i.), thiacloprid (0.48 g L -1 a.i.) and thiamethoxam (0.05 g L -1 a.i.) to Trichogramma pretiosum, in different immature stages. Eggs of Anagasta kuehniella glued in blue paper cards were offered to females of T. pretiosum for 48 hours. After the parasitization, the eggs were treated by dipping the cards into the chemical solutions or in water for five seconds after they reached the egglarval, prepupal and pupal stages. The bioassays were carried out under controlled conditions, at 24±1 o C, RH of 70±10% and 12 hours of photophase. Both chlorfenapyr and imidacloprid reduced in 76.0% and 64.4%, respectively, the emergence of individuals of the F 1 generation of T. pretiosum. No insecticide affected the sex ratio of the F 1 generation of this parasitoid. Chlorfenapyr reduced in approximately 50% the parasitization rate of individuals of the F 1 generation. Both acetamiprid and thiamethoxam were harmless to T. pretiosum, so that they can be used for the control of pests in tomato crop with this parasitoid.