Agnaldo Valentin

Utilization of sugars, hemicellulose, starch, protein, fat and minerals by Erinnyis ello larvae and the digestive role of their midgut hydrolases

Abstract Fifth-instar larvae of Erinnyis ello feeding on Euphorbia pulcherrima leaves display the following rates and efficiencies: relative growth rate, 0.3 mg/day per mg; relative consumption rate, 2.6 mg/day per mg; approximate digestibility, 45%; efficiency of conversion of digested food, 25%. Chemical determinations performed on the leaves ingested and on the faeces expelled led to the determination of the approximate digestibilities (%) of the major constituents of leaves, as follows: soluble protein, 49; insoluble protein, 87; total lipids, 63; sucrose, 100; pectin, 0; hemicellulose, 52; starch, 88, cellulose, 0. Values (μg) for the daily absorption of minerals by a 3-g (fresh wt) E. ello larva were: K, 11,000; Ca, 5000; Mg, 2100; Cu, 3.3; Zn, 33; Fe, 110, The data suggest that the physiological role of the E. ello midgut β-fructosidase is to hydrolyze the major leaf carbohydrate sucrose, which is not efficiently digested by E. ello midgut α-glucosidase, whereas the physiological role of E. ello midgut β-glucosidase is to accomplish the final digestion of the hemicellulosic β- d -glycans.

Distribuição e concentração da riqueza com base em inventários post mortem na presença de casos de riqueza líquida negativa

We analyzed the distribution and concentration of the wealth in 678 inventories of two localities (Iguape and Xiririca) of the Valley of Ribeira, Sao Paulo, opened between the years of 1800 and 1880. At first, we distinguished the distribution of the gross wealth (sum of all the property and assets belonging to the inventoried) and of the liquid wealth (gross wealth deduced the passive debts). This as standard places the position of 64% of the patrimonies, highlighting about 10% whose liquid wealth showed negative. Using as reference the economic activity tied with the inventoried, we evaluated the impact of the use of the two measures in the distribution of the wealth and proposed the use of the Gini coefficient which makes possible the incorporation of these negative values.

Dinamismo econômico e batismos de ingênuos: a libertação do ventre da escrava em Casa Branca e Iguape, província de São Paulo (1871-1885)

We study the baptisms of ingenuos registered in the localities of Iguape and Casa Branca, both in the province of Sao Paulo, in the period 1871-1885. Iguape, in those years, saw a slackening of the economic dynamism based on rice cultivation for the internal market. Casa Branca, on the other hand, was near the expansion frontier of coffee culture in the province. We emphasize the comparison between the characteristics of the registers of baptisms of ingenuos preserved for those two cities to explore the impact of their different economic contexts. We observe the frequency in time of the baptisms of children born of slave mothers after de promulgation of the Ventre-Livre Law. In addition, we compute the distribution of baptisms according to legitimacy condition, as well as accompany the behavior of the temporal gap between the dates of birth and baptism. Two case studies are used for some additional considerations about intergenesic intervals. Finally, we analyze the social condition of godfathers and godmothers. As a rule, the disparities between Iguape and Casa Branca were very significant.