Toward an Automated Identification of Anastrepha Fruit Flies in the fraterculus group (Diptera, Tephritidae).

In this study, we assess image analysis techniques as automatic identifiers of three Anastrepha species of quarantine importance, Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart), and Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi, based on wing and aculeus images. The right wing and aculeus of 100 individuals of each species were mounted on microscope slides, and images were captured with a stereomicroscope and light microscope. For wing image analysis, we used the color descriptor Local Color Histogram; for aculei, we used the contour descriptor Edge Orientation Autocorrelogram. A Support Vector Machine classifier was used in the final stage of wing and aculeus classification. Very accurate species identifications were obtained based on wing and aculeus images, with average accuracies of 94 and 95%, respectively. These results are comparable to previous identification results based on morphometric techniques and to the results achieved by experienced entomologists. Wing and aculeus images produced equally accurate classifications, greatly facilitating the identification of these species. The proposed technique is therefore a promising option for separating these three closely related species in the fraterculus group.

Fauna de vespas parasitoides (Insecta, Hymenoptera) coletadas em um fragmento de Cerrado, Jataí, Goiás, Brasil

This is a pioneering study involving the fauna of parasitoids in the southwestern region of Goiás State, Brazil, besides being one of the few conducted in a fragment of Cerrado. In a period of 20 days, hymenopteran parasitoids were colleted using three methods of capture: Malaise, Möricke and sweep net in the vegetation. Parasitoids of 7 superfamilies were found, distributed in 27 families, the most abundant being Ichneumonidae and Ceraphronidae. No method of capturing collected all the families present, showing that the combined use of three of these methods is ideal for a study of fauna survey of hymenopteran parasitoids of a region or fragment. Parasitoid wasps act as biological agents and pollinators, thus, even if small (only 16 ha), the sample fragment performed important environmental functions and demonstrated the importance of maintaining native forest fragments near the crops/plantations.

Este é um estudo pioneiro envolvendo a fauna de parasitoides da região Sudoeste do Estado de Goiás, além de ser um dos poucos realizados em um fragmento de Cerrado. Em um período de 20 dias, foi realizado o levantamento dos himenópteros parasitoides utilizando três métodos de captura: Malaise, Möricke e varredura na vegetação. Foram encontrados parasitoides de sete superfamílias distribuídos em 27 famílias, sendo as mais abundantes Ichneumonidae e Ceraphronidae. Nenhum método de captura coletou todas as famílias encontradas, comprovando que o uso conjunto dos três métodos é o ideal para um estudo de levantamento da fauna de himenópteros parasitoides de uma região ou fragmento. As vespas parasitoides atuam como agentes de controle biológico e polinizadores, assim, ainda que pequeno (apenas 16 ha), o fragmento amostrado desempenha importantes funções ambientais, demonstrando a relevância de manter fragmentos de matas nativas próximos às plantações.

Fauna de vespas parasitoides (Insecta, Hymenoptera) coletadas em um fragmento de Cerrado, Jataí, Goiás, Brasil. 437-441 / Parasitoid wasp fauna (Insecta, Hymenoptera) collected in a fragment of Cerrado, Jataí, Goiás, Brazil

Este é um estudo pioneiro envolvendo a fauna de parasitoides da região Sudoeste do Estado de Goiás, além de ser um dos poucos realizados em um fragmento de Cerrado. Em um período de 20 dias, foi realizado o levantamento dos himenópteros parasitoides utilizando três métodos de captura: Malaise, Mõricke e varredura na vegetação. Foram encontrados parasitoides de sete superfamílias distribuídos em 27 famílias, sendo as mais abundantes Ichneumonidae e Ceraphronidae. Nenhum método de captura coletou todas as famílias encontradas, comprovando que o uso conjunto dos três métodos é o ideal para um estudo de levantamento da fauna de himenópteros parasitoides de uma região ou fragmento. As vespas parasitoides atuam como agentes de controle biológico e polinizadores, assim, ainda que pequeno (apenas 16 ha), o fragmento amostrado desempenha importantes funções ambientais, demonstrando a relevância de manter fragmentos de matas nativas próximos às plantações.

PARASITOID WASP FAUNA (INSECTA, HYMENOPTERA) COLLECTED IN A FRAGMENT OF CERRADO, JATAÍ, GOIÁS, BRAZIL. This is a pioneering study involving the fauna of parasitoids in the southwestern region of Goiás State, Brazil, besides being one of the few conducted in a fragment of Cerrado. In a period of 20 days, hymenopteran parasitoids were colleted using three methods of capture: Malaise, Mõricke and sweep net in the vegetation. Parasitoids of 7 superfamilies were found, distributed in 27 families, the most abundant being Ichneumonidae and Ceraphronidae. No method of capturing collected all the families present, showing that the combined use of three of these methods is ideal for a study of fauna survey of hymenopteran parasitoids of a region or fragment. Parasitoid wasps act as biological agents and pollinators, thus, even if small (only 16 ha), the sample fragment performed important environmental functions and demonstrated the importance of maintaining native forest fragments near the crops/plantations

Fauna de vespas parasitoides (Insecta, Hymenoptera) coletadas em um fragmento de Cerrado, Jataí, Goiás, Brasil

This is a pioneering study involving the fauna of parasitoids in the southwestern region of Goiás State, Brazil, besides being one of the few conducted in a fragment of Cerrado. In a period of 20 days, hymenopteran parasitoids were colleted using three methods of capture: Malaise, Möricke and sweep net in the vegetation. Parasitoids of 7 superfamilies were found, distributed in 27 families, the most abundant being Ichneumonidae and Ceraphronidae. No method of capturing collected all the families present, showing that the combined use of three of these methods is ideal for a study of fauna survey of hymenopteran parasitoids of a region or fragment. Parasitoid wasps act as biological agents and pollinators, thus, even if small (only 16 ha), the sample fragment performed important environmental functions and demonstrated the importance of maintaining native forest fragments near the crops/plantations.

Este é um estudo pioneiro envolvendo a fauna de parasitoides da região Sudoeste do Estado de Goiás, além de ser um dos poucos realizados em um fragmento de Cerrado. Em um período de 20 dias, foi realizado o levantamento dos himenópteros parasitoides utilizando três métodos de captura: Malaise, Möricke e varredura na vegetação. Foram encontrados parasitoides de sete superfamílias distribuídos em 27 famílias, sendo as mais abundantes Ichneumonidae e Ceraphronidae. Nenhum método de captura coletou todas as famílias encontradas, comprovando que o uso conjunto dos três métodos é o ideal para um estudo de levantamento da fauna de himenópteros parasitoides de uma região ou fragmento. As vespas parasitoides atuam como agentes de controle biológico e polinizadores, assim, ainda que pequeno (apenas 16 ha), o fragmento amostrado desempenha importantes funções ambientais, demonstrando a relevância de manter fragmentos de matas nativas próximos às plantações.

Fauna de vespas parasitoides (Insecta, Hymenoptera) coletadas em um fragmento de Cerrado, Jataí, Goiás, Brasil. 437-441 / Parasitoid wasp fauna (Insecta, Hymenoptera) collected in a fragment of Cerrado, Jataí, Goiás, Brazil

Este é um estudo pioneiro envolvendo a fauna de parasitoides da região Sudoeste do Estado de Goiás, além de ser um dos poucos realizados em um fragmento de Cerrado. Em um período de 20 dias, foi realizado o levantamento dos himenópteros parasitoides utilizando três métodos de captura: Malaise, Mõricke e varredura na vegetação. Foram encontrados parasitoides de sete superfamílias distribuídos em 27 famílias, sendo as mais abundantes Ichneumonidae e Ceraphronidae. Nenhum método de captura coletou todas as famílias encontradas, comprovando que o uso conjunto dos três métodos é o ideal para um estudo de levantamento da fauna de himenópteros parasitoides de uma região ou fragmento. As vespas parasitoides atuam como agentes de controle biológico e polinizadores, assim, ainda que pequeno (apenas 16 ha), o fragmento amostrado desempenha importantes funções ambientais, demonstrando a relevância de manter fragmentos de matas nativas próximos às plantações. (AU)

PARASITOID WASP FAUNA (INSECTA, HYMENOPTERA) COLLECTED IN A FRAGMENT OF CERRADO, JATAÍ, GOIÁS, BRAZIL. This is a pioneering study involving the fauna of parasitoids in the southwestern region of Goiás State, Brazil, besides being one of the few conducted in a fragment of Cerrado. In a period of 20 days, hymenopteran parasitoids were colleted using three methods of capture: Malaise, Mõricke and sweep net in the vegetation. Parasitoids of 7 superfamilies were found, distributed in 27 families, the most abundant being Ichneumonidae and Ceraphronidae. No method of capturing collected all the families present, showing that the combined use of three of these methods is ideal for a study of fauna survey of hymenopteran parasitoids of a region or fragment. Parasitoid wasps act as biological agents and pollinators, thus, even if small (only 16 ha), the sample fragment performed important environmental functions and demonstrated the importance of maintaining native forest fragments near the crops/plantations (AU)

Alterations in energy properties of eucalyptus wood and bark subjected to torrefaction: the potential of mass loss as a synthetic indicator.

Torrefaction is a mild pyrolysis process (usually up to 300 degrees C) that changes the chemical and physical properties of biomass. This process is a possible pre-treatment prior to further processes (transport, grinding, combustion, gasification, etc) to generate energy or biofuels. In this study, three eucalyptus wood species and bark were subjected to different torrefaction conditions to determine the alterations in their structural and energy properties. The most severe treatment (280 degrees C, 5h) causes mass losses of more than 35%, with severe damage to anatomical structure, and an increase of about 27% in the specific energy content. Bark is more sensitive to heat than wood. Energy yields are always higher than mass yields, thereby demonstrating the benefits of torrefaction in concentrating biomass energy. The overall mass loss is proposed as a relevant parameter to synthesize the effect of torrefaction conditions (temperature and duration). Accordingly, all results are summarised by analytical expressions able to predict the energy properties as a function of the overall mass loss. These expressions are intended to be used in any optimization procedure, from production in the field to the final use.

[Primary chemoprevention of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients in non-industrialized countries]. / Chimioprophylaxie primaire de la tuberculose chez les personnes infectées par le VIH dans les pays non industrialisés.

In randomized placebo-controlled trials in Haïti, Zambia and Uganda, prophylactic use of isoniazid (INH) for 6 to 12 months reduced the annual incidence of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients by more than 50 per cent. For several years, WHO, IUTATLD and CDC have recommended that HIV-positive patients testing positive in a PPD test should be treated with INH as a form of anti-tuberculosis chemoprophylaxis (ATC). Whilst these recommendations are easy to follow in industrialized countries, widespread use of ATC in developing countries remains problematic because: (i) It is unknown what proportion of patients are likely to be re-infected at the end of ATC in countries where TB is endemic; (ii) It is possible that resistant bacilli may be selected due to the incomplete exclusion from the ATC program of patients with active TB at enrollment; (iii) It is difficult to identify asymptomatic carriers of M. tuberculosis at enrollment; (iv) It is doubtful that all patients will comply with a treatment regime which lasts several months; (v) The cost of a widespread ATC program, whose full benefit remains to be evaluated, may be difficult to justify. This paper attempts to review these issues and demonstrates the need for more population-based clinical trials in the field.