The first part of this master thesis is focused on the personality of Lorenzo deʼ Medici and his inclusion in the period and cultural contexts. The literary background of Italy in the 15th century is introduced, as well as the Lorenzo's life, the summary of his literary output and his contribution as a patron of the Florentine culture and arts. The second part analyzes four of the Lorenzoʼs works related to mythological themes going back until the ancient writers. Lorenzoʼs evident influence by these authors is illustrated with the specific quotations but at the same time his own innovations in texts and stories are referred to. The conclusion compares an extend of this influence on him and the contribution of his own invention to the particular works. It points out the uniqueness of the personality of Lorenzo deʼ Medici both in the cultural and literary spheres as well.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) é uma bactéria entomopatogênica encontrada em várias partes do mundo e tem a capacidade de produzir cristais durante a fase estacionária do crescimento. Esses cristais são toxinas compostas por proteínas ativas contra uma ampla variedade de fases imaturas de insetos. As toxinas do Bt têm sido usadas como bioinseticidas por décadas no controle de insetos das ordens Coleoptera, Lepidoptera e Diptera, e algumas toxinas já foram selecionadas como efetivas contra ácaros, nematoides e insetos sugadores de floema da ordem Hemiptera, como os afídeos. Recentemente, foi comprovada a patogenicidade de três isolados de Bt a outro inseto dessa ordem, o psilídeo Diaphorina citri. Esse psilídeo é vetor das bactérias Candidatus Liberibacter spp., agentes causais da principal doença dos citros: o Huanglongbing ou HLB. A descoberta da capacidade endofítica de Bt em plantas de diferentes espécies vegetais abriu perspectivas para novos estudos usando o Bt para controle de insetos sugadores, como a D. citri. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito patogênico de cada toxina Cry ou Cyt presente nestes três isolados através de isolados de Bt recombinantes expressando as toxinas individualmente. Foram montados bioensaios para confirmar a taxa de mortalidade causada por isolados de Bt contra ninfas de D. citri. Os bioensaios foram feitos usando cinco plantas de laranja doce (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) e dez ninfas de 3º ínstar de D. citri por planta, além dos controles (sem Bt). A mortalidade das ninfas foi avaliada diariamente durante cinco dias. Durante a avaliação, as ninfas mortas foram coletadas para o isolamento do Bt além da detecção do gene da toxina por PCR. No final do experimento, as folhas jovens onde as ninfas se alimentavam também foram avaliadas quanto à presença do Bt. Nossos resultados confirmaram que os isolados de Bt previamente identificados como patogênicos a D. citri causaram elevada mortalidade (em média 68-93%) em ninfas de 3º ínstar. Dentre os isolados recombinantes testados, um deles apresentou grande destaque, causando a mortalidade de 68-81% das ninfas em 48 horas e 83-93% em 120 horas. Esse isolado possui grande potencial de uso no controle biológico de D. citri através da produção de um bioinseticida ou produção de plantas de citros transgênicas. / Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is an entomopathogenic bacterium found in several locations around the world and has the ability to produce crystals during the stationary phase of growth. These crystals are composed of protein toxins that are active against a wide variety of insect larvae. The Bt toxins have been used for decades as biopesticides to control insects of the orders Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. Some toxins have been selected as effective for mites, nematodes and phloem-sucking insects of the order Hemipera, such as aphids. The pathogenicity of strains of Bt to Diaphorina citri, an hemipteran known as Asian citrus psyllid, has been recently demonstrated. This psyllid is the vector of the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the causal agents of the main disease of citrus: Huanglongbing or HLB. The discovery of the ability of Bt strains to endophytically colonize plants of different species has opened new perspectives for studies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pathogenic effect of each Cry or Cyt toxin present in these three isolates through the use of recombinant Bt isolates expressing each toxin individually. A series of bioassays were done in order to confirm the mortality caused by Bt strains against nymphs of D. citri. Bioassays were performed in five seedlings of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (five replicates/ bioassay) and using ten D. citri 3rd instar nymphs to each assay plant. A suspension containing Bt spores was inoculated via drench in each seedling, and five seedlings were maintained as negative control (without Bt). Mortality was assessed daily for five days. During the bioassays, dead nymphs were collected for further Bt isolation and detection by PCR. At the end of the experiment, young leaves where nymphs feed were also collected to Bt isolation and detection. Our results confirmed that the previously identified Bt isolates pathogenic to D. citri cause high mortality to 3rd instar nymphs. Among the ten recombinant isolates tested, one of them stood out, causing 68-81 % and 83-93% mortality after 48 and 120 hours of inoculation, respectively. The isolation of Bt from dead nymphs and young leaves, and PCR performed with specific primers confirmed the presence of the Bt isolates in psyllids and plants, and their involvement in psyllid mortality. This recombinant Bt with the higher mortality rate found in our results has the potential to be used as a bioinsecticide to control D. citri and the toxin gene can be used to genetic engineering of citrus.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) é uma bactéria entomopatogênica encontrada em várias partes do mundo e tem a capacidade de produzir cristais durante a fase estacionária do crescimento. Esses cristais são toxinas compostas por proteínas ativas contra uma ampla variedade de fases imaturas de insetos. As toxinas do Bt têm sido usadas como bioinseticidas por décadas no controle de insetos das ordens Coleoptera, Lepidoptera e Diptera, e algumas toxinas já foram selecionadas como efetivas contra ácaros, nematoides e insetos sugadores de floema da ordem Hemiptera, como os afídeos. Recentemente, foi comprovada a patogenicidade de três isolados de Bt a outro inseto dessa ordem, o psilídeo Diaphorina citri. Esse psilídeo é vetor das bactérias Candidatus Liberibacter spp., agentes causais da principal doença dos citros: o Huanglongbing ou HLB. A descoberta da capacidade endofítica de Bt em plantas de diferentes espécies vegetais abriu perspectivas para novos estudos usando o Bt para controle de insetos sugadores, como a D. citri. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito patogênico de cada toxina Cry ou Cyt presente nestes três isolados através de isolados de Bt recombinantes expressando as toxinas individualmente. Foram montados bioensaios para confirmar a taxa de mortalidade causada por isolados de Bt contra ninfas de D. citri. Os bioensaios foram feitos usando cinco plantas de laranja doce (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) e dez ninfas de 3º ínstar de D. citri por planta, além dos controles (sem Bt). A mortalidade das ninfas foi avaliada diariamente durante cinco dias. Durante a avaliação, as ninfas mortas foram coletadas para o isolamento do Bt além da detecção do gene da toxina por PCR. No final do experimento, as folhas jovens onde as ninfas se alimentavam também foram avaliadas quanto à presença do Bt. Nossos resultados confirmaram que os isolados de Bt previamente identificados como patogênicos a D. citri causaram elevada mortalidade (em média 68-93%) em ninfas de 3º ínstar. Dentre os isolados recombinantes testados, um deles apresentou grande destaque, causando a mortalidade de 68-81% das ninfas em 48 horas e 83-93% em 120 horas. Esse isolado possui grande potencial de uso no controle biológico de D. citri através da produção de um bioinseticida ou produção de plantas de citros transgênicas. / Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is an entomopathogenic bacterium found in several locations around the world and has the ability to produce crystals during the stationary phase of growth. These crystals are composed of protein toxins that are active against a wide variety of insect larvae. The Bt toxins have been used for decades as biopesticides to control insects of the orders Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, and Diptera. Some toxins have been selected as effective for mites, nematodes and phloem-sucking insects of the order Hemipera, such as aphids. The pathogenicity of strains of Bt to Diaphorina citri, an hemipteran known as Asian citrus psyllid, has been recently demonstrated. This psyllid is the vector of the bacteria Candidatus Liberibacter spp., the causal agents of the main disease of citrus: Huanglongbing or HLB. The discovery of the ability of Bt strains to endophytically colonize plants of different species has opened new perspectives for studies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pathogenic effect of each Cry or Cyt toxin present in these three isolates through the use of recombinant Bt isolates expressing each toxin individually. A series of bioassays were done in order to confirm the mortality caused by Bt strains against nymphs of D. citri. Bioassays were performed in five seedlings of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck (five replicates/ bioassay) and using ten D. citri 3rd instar nymphs to each assay plant. A suspension containing Bt spores was inoculated via drench in each seedling, and five seedlings were maintained as negative control (without Bt). Mortality was assessed daily for five days. During the bioassays, dead nymphs were collected for further Bt isolation and detection by PCR. At the end of the experiment, young leaves where nymphs feed were also collected to Bt isolation and detection. Our results confirmed that the previously identified Bt isolates pathogenic to D. citri cause high mortality to 3rd instar nymphs. Among the ten recombinant isolates tested, one of them stood out, causing 68-81 % and 83-93% mortality after 48 and 120 hours of inoculation, respectively. The isolation of Bt from dead nymphs and young leaves, and PCR performed with specific primers confirmed the presence of the Bt isolates in psyllids and plants, and their involvement in psyllid mortality. This recombinant Bt with the higher mortality rate found in our results has the potential to be used as a bioinsecticide to control D. citri and the toxin gene can be used to genetic engineering of citrus.

Submitted by isabela.moljf@hotmail.com (isabela.moljf@hotmail.com) on 2017-07-21T11:57:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 camiladecarvalhodelmonte.pdf: 1177411 bytes, checksum: 4c465e5e1042ff32579c95910ef00b7e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-08-08T17:55:36Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 camiladecarvalhodelmonte.pdf: 1177411 bytes, checksum: 4c465e5e1042ff32579c95910ef00b7e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-08T17:55:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 camiladecarvalhodelmonte.pdf: 1177411 bytes, checksum: 4c465e5e1042ff32579c95910ef00b7e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-30 / Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) é um carrapato de conhecida importância médico-veterinária, devido ao seu potencial na transmissão de patógenos e aos danos diretos aos hospedeiros, como espoliação sanguínea, estresse, alergias e dermatites. O controle desses parasitos baseia-se, principalmente, no uso de substâncias químicas sintéticas, que frequentemente trazem conseqüências como contaminação ambiental, intoxicação dos animais e seus tratadores, e seleção de linhagens de carrapatos resistentes. O timol, um monoterpeno aromático isolado inicialmente de plantas da família Lamiaceae, vem apresentando bons resultados no controle de R. sanguineus s.l. em testes in vitro. Para que seja utilizado como um carrapaticida, o timol necessita ser veiculado em uma formulação farmacêutica adequada, que apresente facilidade de aplicação, custo acessível e segurança para uso tópico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar, pela primeira vez, a atividade carrapaticida in vitro de duas formulações de uso tópico contendo diferentes concentrações de timol, sobre larvas e ninfas, ingurgitadas e não ingurgitadas, de Rhipicephalus sanguineus s.l.. Para tal, foram desenvolvidas duas formulações-base: uma emulsão óleo em água (O/A) e uma solução hidroalcoólica, contendo diferentes concentrações de timol (0,5 mg/mL a 20 mg/mL). Para os bioensaios foi adotado o teste de pacote de larvas modificado, no caso de larvas e ninfas não ingurgitadas, com avaliação da mortalidade após 24 horas; e o teste de imersão, para larvas e ninfas ingurgitadas, com avaliação da mortalidade após 15 dias. O grupo controle constituiu-se das formulações-base, sem timol. Foram feitas 10 repetições para cada tratamento. Nos testes com emulsão, foi alcançada taxa de mortalidade média de 94,2% com a concentração de 0,75 mg/mL em larvas não ingurgitadas. No caso de larvas ingurgitadas, houve mortalidade média de 95,0% na concentração de 5,0 mg/mL. Ninfas não ingurgitadas tratadas com a emulsão a 2,5 mg/mL atingiram taxa de mortalidade média de 83,3% e no teste com ninfas ingurgitadas, foi verificada média de 86,0% de mortalidade para a concentração de 5,0 mg/mL. Nos testes com a solução hidroalcoólica, a mortalidade média encontrada para larvas não ingurgitadas foi de 88,1% para a concentração de 2,5 mg/mL. Para larvas ingurgitadas, a maior taxa de mortalidade verificada foi de 25,0%, na concentração de 20 mg/mL; o teste com ninfas não ingurgitadas apresentou taxas de mortalidade de 91,0% na concentração de 1,0 mg/mL e no teste com ninfas ingurgitadas verificaram-se baixas taxas de mortalidade, com o valor máximo de 18,3% para 20 mg/mL. Além dos testes em carrapatos, foram realizados testes de estabilidade preliminar com o objetivo de verificar eventuais problemas nas formulações. A solução hidroalcoólica mostrou-se estável em todas as condições testadas, nas concentrações de 2,5 e 5,0 mg/ml; a emulsão O/A mostrou sinais de instabilidade precoce na concentração de 5,0 mg/ml, porém, na concentração de 2,5 mg/ml apresentou-se estável. Os resultados obtidos indicaram que o timol, quando incorporado às formulações propostas, apresentou aumento de sua atividade acaricida sobre larvas não ingurgitadas de R. sanguineus s.l. tratadas topicamente, quando comparado aos dados da literatura; e embora tenha havido variações na toxicidade entre diferentes estágios e formas (ingurgitadas/não ingurgitadas), estas formulações parecem ser promissoras para um futuro uso terapêutico. / Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) is a tick with known medical and veterinary importance, due to its potential for transmission of pathogens as well as the direct damage caused to hosts, such as blood spoliation, stress, allergies and dermatitis. Control of these parasites is mainly based on the use of synthetic chemical substances, but these often have negative consequences, including environmental contamination, intoxication of animals and handlers/owners, and selection of resistant strains. Thymol, an aromatic monoterpene initially isolated from plants of the family Lamiaceae, has presented good results in controlling R. sanguineus s.l. in in vitro tests. For use as an acaricide, thymol needs to be carried in a suitable pharmaceutical formulation, allowing easy application, reasonable cost and safety for topical use. The objective of this work was to assess, for the first time, the in vitro acaricidal activity of two topical formulations, each with different concentrations of thymol, on larvae and nymphs, both engorged and non-engorged, of R. sanguineus sensu lato. For this purpose, two base formulations were prepared: an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion and a hydroalcoholic solution, containing different thymol concentrations (0.5 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL). The formulations were analyzed by the larval packet test (modified) in the case of larvae and non-engorged nymphs, with evaluation of mortality after 24 hours; and by the immersion test for larvae and engorged nymphs, with evaluation of mortality after 15 days. The control group was exposed to the base formulations without thymol. There were ten repetitions of each treatment. In the tests with the emulsion, the best average mortality rate was 94.2%, with the concentration of 0.75 mg/mL for non-engorged larvae. In the case of the engorged larvae, the best average mortality was 95.0% at the concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. The average mortality of the non-engorged nymphs treated with the emulsion containing 2.5 mg/mL was 83.3% and in the test with engorged nymphs, the mean mortality was 86.0% for the concentration of 5.0 mg/mL. In the tests with the hydroalcoholic solution, the highest average mortality among the non-engorged larvae was 88.1% for the concentration of 2.5 mg/mL. In turn, for the engorged larvae, the highest mortality was 25.0%, at the concentration of 20 mg/mL, while the test with non-engorged nymphs produced a mortality rate of 91.0% at the concentration of 1.0 mg/mL and in the test with engorged nymphs the maximum mortality was 18.3% with a concentration of 20 mg/mL. Besides the tests with the ticks, preliminary stability tests were carried out to verify possible problems with the formulations. The hydroalcoholic solution remained stable under all the conditions analyzed, at concentrations of 2.5 and 5.0 mg/ml, while the O/W emulsion showed signs of early instability at the concentration of 5.0 mg/ml but not at the concentration of 2.5 mg/ml. The results obtained indicate that the acaricidal activity of thymol, when included in the proposed formulations, was enhanced against non-engorged larvae with topical treatment in comparison with data in the literature. Although there were variations in toxicity between the different stages and forms (engorged and non-engorged), these formulations are promising for future therapeutic use.

Cette thèse de doctorat en histoire étudie les rapports religieux entre les Romains de l’Antiquité et les eaux douces avec lesquelles ils ont vécu en proximité. Cette étude part du constat que les Romains sont connus pour leurs savoirs techniques des eaux et leurs aqueducs. Toutefois, les croyances religieuses associées à l’eau n’ont pas encore été examinées dans leur ensemble et demeurent éparpillées à travers l’historiographie. Dans le but de combler cette lacune, cette étude présente une synthèse des cultes dédiés à l'eau par les Romains à partir des sources littéraires, archéologiques et épigraphiques, datant en majorité de la République tardive et du Haut-Empire (Ier siècle av. n. è au IIIe siècle). / This doctoral thesis in history focuses on the religious relationship between the ancient Romans and the freshwater which they lived nearby as inhabitants of a river town. This study starts from the observation that Romans are known for their technical knowledge of water and their aqueducts. However, religious beliefs associated with water have yet to be fully examined and remain scattered throughout historiography. To fill this gap, this study presents a synthesis of the aquatic cultures of the Romans from literary, archaeological, and epigraphic sources, dating mostly from the Late Republic and the High Empire (1st century BC. 3rd century)

Urbanization involves the conversion of natural areas to impervious surfaces, which can lead to an increase in the frequency and severity of flood events in cities. To mitigate flood risk, stormwater ponds are constructed to manage urban runoff. Stormwater ponds can also be colonized by wildlife, but their suitability as habitat is disputed due to potential toxicological risks. This study assessed the suitability of stormwater ponds as habitat for the bioindicators Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) and determined environmental factors that impact their community structure. Odonata (adults, nymphs and exuviae) were sampled at 41 stormwater ponds and 10 natural reference ponds across the National Capital Region of Canada, with a subset of ponds sampled over four years (2015-2018). Plant communities, water quality and surrounding land cover were analyzed at each pond to determine their impacts on Odonata community structure. Overall, stormwater ponds had lower Odonata abundance and a greater variation in species richness and community structure compared to natural ponds but had comparable dragonfly reproduction rates. Plants were the most significant driver of Odonata communities, as stormwater ponds with a high richness of native wetland plants had higher Odonata abundance and community structures similar to natural ponds. Water quality was the second most important driver of Odonata communities with dragonflies showing greater sensitivity to urban contaminants than damselflies. While stormwater ponds had higher concentrations of trace elements than natural ponds (e.g. Ni, V, As), concentrations were generally below toxic levels for all elements except copper and chloride, the latter likely an input from winter road salting. Surrounding land cover was the least important factor affecting Odonata communities. In conclusion, this research demonstrated the importance of local-scale factors related to plants and water quality in sustaining Odonata communities and specifies recommendations for stormwater pond design and maintenance that enhance urban biodiversity.