Leaf anatomy as a contribution to the taxonomy of Salacioideae N.Hall, ex Thorne & Reveal (Celastraceae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Contrasting responses to induction cues by ants inhabiting Maieta guianensis (Melastomataceae)

As duas formigas que mais comumente se associam com a mirmecofita de sub-bosque Maieta guianensis (Melastomataceac) respondem de maneiras diferentes a simulac (o) over tilde es experimentais de herbivoria. Enquanto Pheidole minutula & induzida tanto por danos fisicos e extratos de tecido foliar, Crematogaster laevis 6 induzida apenas pelos danos fisicos. Sugerimos que tal variac (a) over tildeo interespecifica em respostas induzidas e comum e pode influenciar a qualidade das defesas contra herbivoros que as formigas oferecem as plantas que elas ocupam.

Proventriculus of Cephalotes ants: A structural and comparative analysis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Association of the stilt bug Jalysus ossesae Henry (Hemiptera : Heteroptera : Berytidae) with myrmecophytic plants of the genus Maieta (Melastomataceae) in an upland forest area in central Amazon, Brazil

Maieta guianensis Aubl. and M. poeppigii Mart. ex. Triana (Melastomataceae) are among the most common myrmecophytic plants in the Amazonian forest understory. These myrmecophytes are colonized exclusively by the ants Pheidole minutula Mayr or Crematogaster sp. and usually host two other arthropods, the spider Faiditus subflavus Exline and Levi and the recently described stilt bug Jalysus ossesae Henry. In this study, the association between J ossesae and the myrmecophytic plants M. guianensis and M. poeppigii in an upland forest area in central Amazon, Brazil, is described. The presence of the stilt bugs on M. guianensis and M. poeppigii and on plants around these myrmecophytes was recorded in five transects. The number and position of the stilt bugs on the leaf surface (upper or lower) and leaf type (with or without domatia) of these myrmecophytes, as well as their behavioral acts, were recorded. Jalysus ossesae was found only on the myrmecophytic plants M. guianensis and M. poeppigii. The stilt bug occurred at similar frequencies on M. guianensis and M. poeppigii, and the number of leaves significantly influenced the presence and number of stilt bugs on these myrmecophytes. Feeding, agonistic interaction between males, and mating were observed. Our data indicate that J. ossesae uses the myrmecophytes M. guinanensis and M. poeppigii as reproductive and foraging sites.

Changes in leaf physiology caused by Calacarus heveae (Acari, Eriophyidae) on rubber tree

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mites and leaf domatia: no evidence of mutualism in Coffea arabica plants

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The Influence of Cutting Speed and Cutting Initiation Location in Specimen Preparation for the Microtensile Bond Strength Test

Purpose: This study evaluated the effect of cutting initiation location and cutting speed on the bond strength between resin cement and feldspathic ceramic.Materials and Methods: Thirty-six blocks (6.4 x 6.4 x 4.8 mm) of ceramic (Vita VM7) were produced. The ceramic surfaces were etched with 10% hydrofluoric acid gel for 60 s and then silanized. Each ceramic block was placed in a silicon mold with the treated surface exposed. A resin cement (Variolink II) was injected into the mold over the treated surface and polymerized. The resin cement-ceramic blocks were divided into two groups according to experimental conditions: a) cutting initiation location - resin cement, ceramic and interface; and b) cutting speed - 10,000, 15,000, and 20,000 rpm. The blocks were sectioned to achieve non-trimmed bar specimens. The microtensile test was performed in a universal testing machine (1 mm/min). The failure modes were examined using an optical light microscope and SEM. Bond strength results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Tukey's test (alpha = 0.05).Results: Significant influences of cutting speed and initiation location on bond strength (p < 0.05) were observed. The highest mean was achieved for specimens cut at 15,000 rpm at the interface (15.12 +/- 5.36 MPa). The lowest means were obtained for specimens cut at the highest cutting speed in resin cement (8.50 +/- 3.27 MPa), and cut at the lowest cutting speed in ceramic (8.60 +/- 2.65MPa). All groups showed mainly mixed failure (75% to 100%).Conclusion: The cutting speed and initiation location are important factors that should be considered during specimen preparation for microtensile bond strength testing, as both may influence the bond strength results.

Petroleum well drilling monitoring through cutting image analysis and artificial intelligence techniques

Petroleum well drilling monitoring has become an important tool for detecting and preventing problems during the well drilling process. In this paper, we propose to assist the drilling process by analyzing the cutting images at the vibrating shake shaker, in which different concentrations of cuttings can indicate possible problems, such as the collapse of the well borehole walls. In such a way, we present here an innovative computer vision system composed by a real time cutting volume estimator addressed by support vector regression. As far we know, we are the first to propose the petroleum well drilling monitoring by cutting image analysis. We also applied a collection of supervised classifiers for cutting volume classification. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.