Isocycloseram: A new active ingredient for leaf-cutting ants control.

Leaf-cutting ants are the most important pests in several cropping systems in the Neotropics. Granulated baits containing active ingredients, considered hazardous by the Stockholm Convention, are the usual method to control these ants. Isocycloseram is a new insecticide molecule with high safety margin for mammals, but without registration for the ants in general. Thus, this study investigated the effectiveness of granulated baits with isocycloseram in leaf-cutting ants control under laboratory and field conditions. Initially, the mortality of Atta sexdens workers, fed with dehydrated citrus pulp paste containing different concentrations of isocycloseram was evaluated in the laboratory for 21 days, for toxicological classification. Subsequently, the loading, devolution, and incorporation of baits with different concentrations of isocycloseram and the mortality of A. sexdens colonies were evaluated in the laboratory. After that, the percentages of loading and devolution of baits, foraging activity, and colony mortality treated with 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% of isocycloseram were evaluated for the species A. sexdens, A. laevigata, and Acromyrmex lundii in field conditions. All concentrations of isocycloseram killed more than 15% of ants in 24 h and more than 90% in 21 days in the laboratory, being classified as a fast-acting and highly effective active ingredient. Baits with 0.001 to 0.03% of isocycloseram were highly loaded and exhibited low rate of devolution. The mortality of A. sexdens colony was higher at concentrations between 0.075 and 0.3%, in the laboratory. Baits containing isocycloseram at concentrations of 0.2 and 0.3% were highly loaded, presented low devolution rates, and were highly efficient in controlling A. sexdens, A. laevigata, and A. lundii in the field, at dosages of 6, 10, and 12 g/m² of nest. This is the first report of the use of isocycloseram against leaf-cutting ants, contributing to the development of efficient and toxicologically safer ant baits.

Anti-bevacizumab idiotype antibody vaccination is effective in inducing vascular endothelial growth factor-binding response, impairing tumor outgrowth.

Tumors require blood supply and, to overcome this restriction, induce angiogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in this process, which explains the great number of antiangiogenic therapies targeting VEGF. The research and development of targeted therapy has led to the approval of bevacizumab, a humanized anti-VEGF monoclonal antibody (mAb), in clinical settings. However, side effects have been reported, usually as a consequence of bolus-dose administration of the antibody. This limitation could be circumvented through the use of anti-idiotype (Id) antibodies. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of an active VEGF-binding immune response generated by an anti-bevacizumab idiotype mAb, 10.D7. The 10.D7 anti-Id mAb vaccination led to detectable levels of VEGF-binding anti-anti-Id antibodies. In order to examine whether this humoral immune response could have implications for tumor development, 10.D7-immunized mice were challenged with B16-F10 tumor cells. Mice immunized with 10.D7 anti-Id mAb revealed reduced tumor growth when compared to control groups. Histological analyses of tumor sections from 10.D7-immunized mice showed increased necrotic areas, decreased CD31-positive vascular density and reduced CD68-positive cell infiltration. Our results encourage further therapeutic studies, particularly if one considers that the anti-Id therapeutic vaccination maintains stable levels of VEGF-binding antibodies, which might be useful in the control of tumor relapse.

Medidas socioeducativas e o direito à educação / Socio-educational measures and the right to education

Este apresenta parte dos resultados da pesquisa O direito à educação dos adolescentes que cumprem medidas socioeducativas no programa desenvolvido no Centro de Referência Especializado em Assistência Social (CREAS) do município Franca (SP). A pesquisa analisou a operacionalização do Direito à Educação dos Adolescentes do Programa Medidas Socioeducativas de Liberdade Assistida (LA) e Prestação de Serviços à Comunidade (PSC), atendidos pelo CREAS de Franca (SP). Foi utilizada a pesquisa quantitativa para elaborar o perfil dos adolescentes, a abordagem qualitativa para as entrevistas com os coordenadores pedagógicos de escolas públicas e assistentes sociais orientadores de medidas do CREAS, e o grupo focal com os adolescentes para compreender, de maneira mais aprofundada, o objeto da pesquisa.

This article discusses part of results of the survey entitled "The right to education of adolescents that comply socio-educational measures in a program developed at the Centro de Referência Especializado em Assistência Social (CREAS) in the city of Franca-SP. The research analyzed the operationalization of the right to education of adolescents that comply socio-educational measures of probation and the offer of services to the community, assisted by the CREAS of Franca. We used the quantitative methodology to elaborate the profile of adolescents, and the qualitative approach to the interviews with the pedagogical coordinators of public schools and social workers in CREAS measures advisors, also the focal group with the adolescents to understand more about the object of this research.