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Studies of Asopinae predators in Brazil were initiated in the 1930's, focusing on the use of these insects in biological control programs. However, the beginning of a period of major contributions to the knowledge on Asopinae predators started in the year 1986, with the release of the first research results, in the Proceedings of the X Brazilian Congress of Entomology in Maceió, Alagoas, Brazil. In 1991 the first scientific paper was published on the predator Podisus connexivus Bergroth [= Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas)] (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), with study of the biological parameters of this predator for alternative feeding of the caterpillars Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae) and larvae Musca domestica (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Muscidae). The first master thesis studying Asopinae predators in Brazil was defended in 1990 at the Federal University of Lavras, which focused was on biology and predatory capacity of Podisus nigrolimbatus [= Brontocoris nigrolimbatus = Brontocoris tabidus] and Podisus connexivus [= Podisus nigrispinus] in the laboratory. Throughout all these years of research and investigations, advances with Asopinae predators occurred in several fields that resulted in a better understanding of these insects, making them an effective tool for controlling insect pests in the agriculture and forestry sectors.

Activated carbon is the name of a big group of materials that presents high degree of porosity and, consequently, an extended internal surface area, with physical and chemical adsorption properties. Innumerous raw materials can be used as precursors, especially biomass. The objective of this study was to obtain activated carbon from physical activation of the fruit of Brazil nut tree (“ouriço”) and to evaluate its physical and chemical properties in function of the differences between the temperatures and atmospheres of activation. The samples were carbonized at 3 different temperatures and the carbons were activated under atmosphere saturated by CO2 or steam. The results showed the influence of activation temperature and atmosphere on physicochemical characteristics of carbon. The carbon from woody Brazil nut seed capsule activated by CO2 and steam at different temperatures had a microporous profile, indicating its use to adsorb organic molecules of small dimensions. Basic characteristic was observed on samples and the carbon produced was thermally stable. Best quality was attributed to carbon activated by steam at 800 °C.

ABSTRACT:The Brazil-nut, also known as Para-nut, is widely used as food and in cosmetic industries. The seeds are rich in lipids and protein, and also present a considerable amount of selenium. Limited research has been conducted on postharvest of the Brazil nut, being an important information to design equipment related to aeration, drying, storage and transportation steps. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the physical properties of the Brazil-nut with and without tegument. The dimensions found for the almonds with tegument were 39.35 mm in the X axis, 24.19 mm in the Y axis, and 17.88 mm in the Z axis. However for the almond without tegument the values were 31.05 mm in X, 14.38 in Y and 15.91 mm in Z axis. The sphericity was 66.40% and 51.59% for the kernels with and without seed tegument respectively. The kernels with and without tegument presented sphericity of 63.00% and 47.72% respectively. The mass of 1000 almonds was 6.13 kg for almond with teguments and 3.18 kg for almonds without teguments. Specific mass of 0.947 g.cm -3 and 1.003 g.cm -3 for the kernels with and without tegument, coupled with a porosity of 46.88% and 37.60% and, resulting on a bulk density of 0.504 g.cm -3 and 0.626 g.cm -3 for almonds with and without teguments respectively. Finally, the angle of repose for the kernels with teguments was 36.37°.

The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a Brazil nut oil microemulsion system and determine the effect of this microemulsion on the superoxide release in human phagocytes. The microemulsion was formulated using distilled water, Brazil nut as the oily phase, Sorbitan monooleate, Polysorbate 80, and butan-1-ol. Hydrophile-lipophile balance of Brazil nut oil was determined, pseudoternary diagrams were prepared, and microemulsion diagram regions were preselected. Preliminary and accelerated stability tests, rheological characterization and dynamic light scattering were performed. The immunomodulatory effect of the microemulsion on the interactions with leukocytes was determined by superoxide release. The developed formulations were classified as oil-in-water, showed a Newtonian profile, with linear viscosity and droplet sizes of 46.9; 66.5 and 34.3 nm. When we assessed the interaction of the microemulsion of Brazil nut oil with phagocytes, we observed an increase in superoxide release. Our findings indicate that the developed formulation improved the immunomodulatory activity of the Brazil nut oil, proving to be a natural product option for future applications, in particular for infectious diseases.

Results obtained in studies can contribute to the advancement of science and innovative methods and techniques for developing practical activities. Reporting conditions that may restrict the implementation of research is critical to ensure the optimal development of further technical studies. The objective of this study was to assess the walking stability of R. dominica on a flat and smooth surface. The study was based on the determination of mortality, morphology and walking stability of the insect outside the grain mass, on a flat and smooth surface. Mortality of adults of this Coleoptera in conditions with and without food was similar, which explains the difficulty that this insect had for accessing the food source on the flat and smooth surface. The measurements of body length (BOL), width (BOW) and height (BOH) of R. dominica were compared with those of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), which showed good ability to walk in these conditions. This study indicated that the former presents lower BOL and BOW, and greater BOH than the second, and all these variables showed differences when analyzed simultaneously by means of the construction of multivariate morphometric indices (Width × Height, Length × Height and Height × Length × Width). These morphometric variables, together with the definition of the geometry most similar to the body shape, resulted in determination of the center of gravity (CG) and static rollover threshold (SRT geom ) for both species. Rhyzopertha dominica and T. castaneum presented CGs considered high and low, respectively, and together with the values obtained for SRT geom , may justify that R. dominica can be considered a less stable species during movement, and presents greater risk of rollover on flat and smooth surfaces.Keywords: bioassays, center of gravity (CG), coefficient of friction, rollover, grain pests. Estabilidade de caminhamento de Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792)(Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) ResumoResultados obtidos em pesquisas podem contribuir com o avanço da ciência e inovar métodos e técnicas para o desenvolvimento de atividades práticas. Relatar condições que podem restringir à execução de pesquisas é fundamental para garantir que seja observada a técnica ideal para o desenvolvimento de estudos posteriores. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a estabilidade de caminhamento de R. dominica em superfície plana e polida. O estudo se baseou na determinação da mortalidade, morfologia e estabilidade de caminhamento do inseto fora da massa de grãos, em superfície plana e polida. A mortalidade dos adultos desse Coleoptera nas condições com e sem alimento foram semelhantes, o que justifica a dificuldade que esse inseto tem em acessar a fonte alimentar andando em superfície plana e polida. As medidas obtidas do comprimento (BOL), largura (BOW) e altura (BOH) do corpo de R. dominica foram comparadas com as de Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), que pode ser considerado um bom caminhador nessas condições. Esse estudo mostrou que o primeiro ...

Resumo: A massa específica é um dos principais índices qualitativos dos grãos e essa propriedade é influenciada por fatores como teor de impurezas, variedade e teor de água. Assim, objetivou-se com este trabalho verificar se a metodologia empregada para determinar a massa específica pode ser apontada como uma fonte de variação dos resultados dessa propriedade. Foram utilizados grãos de: arroz (em casca e beneficiado), feijão, girassol, milho e soja. As metodologias utilizadas para a determinação da massa específica aparente foram: recipiente de 1 L com índice de esbeltez igual a 1, balança de peso hectolitro (¼ L) e complementação de volume em proveta. Para a massa específica unitária os métodos foram: complementação de volume em proveta, indireto, diferença de volume (bureta), atribuição de forma geométrica, empuxo, complementação de volume em balão volumétrico e teor dos constituintes. Verificou-se, de modo geral, que há diferenças no valor experimental tanto da massa específica aparente quanto para a massa específica unitária de acordo com a metodologia empregada. A forma e tamanho dos grãos aliado ao volume útil disponível do recipiente, para o caso da massa específica aparente, são fatores que influenciam o resultado.Palavras-chave: propriedades físicas, volume de grãos, peso hectolitro, massa específica aparente, massa específica unitária Abstract: The density is a major qualitative index of grains and this property is influenced by factors as impurity, variety and moisture content. Therefore, the aim of this work was verify if the methodology employed to determine the density can be pointed as a source of results variation of this property. Were used grains: rice (paddy and milled), bean, sunflower, maize and soybean. The methodologies used for the determination of bulk density were: container of 1 L with slenderness index equal to 1, hectoliter balance (¼ L) and beaker volume complementation. For true density the methods were: beaker volume complementation, indirect, volume difference (burette), assignment of geometric shape, buoyancy, volume complementation in a volumetric flask, and by the proximate composition. It was verified, generally, that there are differences in experimental values for both bulk density and true density according to employed methodology. The shape and size of grains, associate to the available useful volume of container, for the case of bulk density, are factors that have influence in results. INTRODUÇÃOProdutos agrícolas como arroz, milho, soja e feijão são produzidos e consumidos em larga escala em todo o mundo, principalmente em função de seu valor alimentício. A utilização desses grãos em grandes quantidades é possível desde que sejam empregados esforços para sua correta conservação, sendo necessário, para isso, que sejam conhecidas suas peculiaridades químicas e físicas (Santos et al., 2012).O estudo das propriedades físicas, aerodinâmicas e mecânicas são essenciais para o dimensionamento de máquinas de processamento e das estruturas de armazenamento (Khan et al., 2017) e pa...

The natural drying of in-shell Brazil nuts carried out by the extractivists is not effective in reducing contamination by aflatoxin-producing fungi. Thus the use of an artificial heater could prove to be a favourable method to bring about a rapid reduction in the moisture content of the nuts and thereby prevent fungal growth. Hence the objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of a natural convection-type drier with respect to the physical, physicochemical and microbiological quality of nuts after drying for 6 hours at 45 °C. A random block experimental design with two treatments (nuts before and after drying) was used, using 10 replications of 3 kg. The nuts were analysed for their moisture, ash, protein, dietary fibre, total carbohydrates and lipid contents, water activity, total count of filamentous, potentially aflatoxin-producing fungi, and also the quantification of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, G2 and the total aflatoxins. There was no effect of drying on the Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus counts or on the physicochemical composition of the nuts, except for the ash content. However the moisture content of the nuts was reduced by 39.7% and there was a decrease in the contamination by pre-existing total filamentous fungi. The dryer was effective in reducing the average time taken for drying as compared to the traditional method used by extractivists.