Review of Dotocryptus Brèthes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), with a New Species from Colombia.

The taxonomic limits of the Neotropical genus Dotocryptus Brèthes are reviewed. The genus is characterized mainly by the very long ovipositor, at least 2.2× as long as hind tibia; apex of ovipositor distinctly depressed, ventral valve expanded, and overlapping dorsal valve as a sheath; and mandible long with ventral tooth longer than dorsal one. A new species, Dotocryptus arcadius sp. nov., from Colombia is described and illustrated. The new species can be diagnosed mainly by the head and mesosoma with multiple whitish marks; epicnemial carina reaching 0.2-0.3 of distance to subalar ridge; legs marked with dark brown, orange, and whitish; and metasoma polished and glabrate. This is the northernmost record of the genus, previously known from Ecuador to southern Chile. An updated identification key to the species of the genus is provided, as well as diagnoses and new records for the previously known species.

Factors affecting dry-cured ham consumer acceptability.

The objectives of the present study were (1) to compare the relative importance of price, processing time, texture and intramuscular fat in purchase intention of dry-cured ham through conjoint analysis, (2) to evaluate the effect of dry-cured ham appearance on consumer expectations, and (3) to describe the consumer sensory preferences of dry-cured ham using external preference mapping. Texture and processing time influenced the consumer preferences in conjoint analysis. Red colour intensity, colour uniformity, external fat and white film presence/absence influenced consumer expectations. The consumer disliked hams with bitter and metallic flavour and with excessive saltiness and piquantness. Differences between expected and experienced acceptability were found, which indicates that the visual preference of consumers does not allow them to select a dry-cured ham that satisfies their sensory preferences of flavour and texture.

Propriedades da carne e perfil de ácidos graxos do pernil de catetos (Tayassu tajacu) alimentados com torta de babaçu (Orbignya phalerata) / Meat properties and fatty acids profile of the ham of peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) fed babassu (Orbignya phalerata) meal

Analisaram-se as propriedades da carne e o perfil de ácidos graxos do pernil de catetos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes porcentagens de torta de babaçu, usada como fonte energética alternativa substituindo parte do milho na alimentação, em sistemas de produção em cativeiro. Avaliou-se o pernil de 12 animais quanto às suas propriedades - perda de peso ao cozimento, força de cisalhamento, pH e capacidade de retenção de água-, depois extraiu-se o óleo da carne e determinou-se o perfil dos ácidos graxos. Não foram observados efeitos (P>0,05) das porcentagens de torta de babaçu sobre as propriedades da carne; os ácidos graxos (AG) insaturados, mono e poli-insaturados, foram encontrados em maior quantidade (51,6-57,8 por cento) que os ácidos graxos saturados (42,2-48,4 por cento) na carne do pernil. Baseando-se na teoria de que os AG poli-insaturados ingeridos na dieta humana são responsáveis pela redução nos níveis séricos de colesterol, sugere-se que a carne de catetos seja uma boa fonte alternativa de proteína.

The meat properties and the fatty acids profile of the ham of peccaries ham fed diets with different levels of babassu meal, used as an alternative energy source substituting part of corn on feeding peccaries in captivity, were studied. The ham meats of 12 animals were evaluated on their properties: cooking losses, shear force, pH, and water holding capacity. After that, the meat oil was extracted to determine the fatty acids contents. No effects (P>0.05) of the babassu meal levels on the meat properties were observed. The unsaturated fatty acids, mono and polyunsaturated, were found in higher quantity than the saturated fatty acids in the ham meat of peccaries. Based on the theory that the polyunsaturated fatty acids ingested in the human diet are responsible for reduction of the seric levels of cholesterol, it can be suggested that the peccary meat is a good alternative source of protein.

Cytochrome c6 from Monoraphidium braunii. A cytochrome with an unusual heme axial coordination.

A soluble monoheme c-type cytochrome (cytochrome c6) has been isolated from the green alga Monoraphidium braunii. It has a molecular mass of 9.3 kDa, an isoelectric point of 3.6 and a reduction potential of 358 mV at pH 7. The determined amino acid sequence allows its classification as a class-I c-type cytochrome. The ferric and ferrous cytochrome forms and their pH equilibria have been studied using 1H-NMR, ultraviolet/visible, EPR and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The pH equilibria are complex, several pKa values and pH-dependent forms being observed. The amino acid sequence, the reduction-potential value and the visible and NMR spectroscopies data in the pH range 4-9 indicate that the heme iron has a methionine-histidine axial coordination. However, the EPR and Mössbauer data obtained for the ferricytochrome show that in this pH range two distinct forms are present: form I, gz = 3.27, gy = 2.05 and gx = 1.05; form II, gz = 2.95, gy = 2.29 and gx = 1.43. While form I has crystal-field parameters typical of a methionine-histidine coordination, those associated with form II would suggest a histidine-histidine axial ligation. This possibility was extensively analyzed by spectroscopic methods and by chemical modification of a histidine residue. It was concluded that form II actually corresponds to an unusual type of methionine-histidine axial coordination. Straightforward examples of this type of coordination have recently been found in other c-type hemeproteins [Teixeira, M., Campos, A. P., Aguiar, A. P., Costa, H. S., Santos, H., Turner, D. L. & Xavier, A. V. (1993) FEBS Lett. 317, 233-236], corroborating our proposal. Since both forms, with very distinct crystal-field parameters, are shown to have the same reduction potential, it may be concluded that the axial and rhombic distortions of the heme-iron ligand field cannot be directly correlated with the heme-reduction potential. The pH-dependence studies have also shown that the form I and form II are interconvertible, with pKa approximately 5. To establish a possible physiological significance for this process, in particular for the interaction of the cytochrome with the membrane-bound electron-transfer complexes b6f and photosystem I, the effect of surfactants on the spectroscopic characteristics of cytochrome c6 has been studied.

Pitfalls in assigning heme axial coordination by EPR. c-Type cytochromes with atypical Met-His ligation.

Different monohemic c-type cytochromes were analyzed by visible, EPR and 1H NMR spectroscopies. While the visible and NMR data show unambiguously that the heme iron has a Met-His heme axial coordination, the EPR data indicate an axial ligand field typical of that for a bis-histidinyl ligation. The validity of the widely used EPR methods for the determination of the heme iron axial coordination, based on the crystal field parameters (tetragonality and rhombicity), is questioned.

Hanseniase no Estado do Amazonas: historico e desativacao do leprosario. / Hanseniasis in the State of Amazonas: historical aspects and disactivation of the leprosarium

Sao estudados os principais aspectos da evolucao da hanseniase no Estado do Amazonas, desde os primeiros casos registrados, sua provavel procedencia, a criacao dos primeiros isolamentos e a desativacao do leprosario em 1979. Ate dezembro de 1979 estavam registrados 10.800 doentes; desse total, 4.142 eram da forma virchowiana e/ou dimorfa, 4.523 da forma tuberculoide e 2.135 do tipo indeterminado. Os doentes da antiga colonia estao sob controle no posto de saude do atual Bairro do Aleixo ou no asilo, tambem area da antiga colonia

Hanseniase no Estado do Amazonas: historico e desativacao do leprosario / Hansen's disease in the State of Amazonas: historical aspects and disactivation of the leprosarium

Sao estudados os principais aspectos da evolucao da hanseniase no Estado do Amazonas, desde os primeiros casos registrados, sua provavel procedencia, a criacao dos primeiros isolamentos e a desativacao do leprosario em 1979. Ate dezembro de 1979 estavam registrados 10.800 doentes; desse total, 4.142 eram da forma virchowiana e/ou dimorfa, 4.523 da forma tuberculoide e 2.135 do tipo indeterminado. Os doentes da antiga colonia estao sob controle no posto de saude do atual Bairro do Aleixo ou no asilo, tambem area da antiga colonia