Contested dominance modifies the anovulatory consequences of social subordination in female marmosets

Dominance status among female marmosets is reflected in agonistic behavior and ovarian function. Socially dominant females receive submissive behavior from subordinates, while exhibiting normal ovulatory function. Subordinate females, however, receive agonistic behavior from dominants, while exhibiting reduced or absent ovulatory function. Such disparity in female fertility is not absolute, and groups with two breeding females have been described. The data reported here were obtained from 8 female-female pairs of captive female marmosets, each housed with a single unrelated male. Pairs were classified into two groups: “uncontested” dominance (UD) and “contested” dominance (CD), with 4 pairs each. Dominant females in UD pairs showed significantly higher frequencies (4.1) of agonism (piloerection, attack and chasing) than their subordinates (0.36), and agonistic behaviors were overall more frequently displayed by CD than by UD pairs. Subordinates in CD pairs exhibited more agonistic behavior (2.9) than subordinates in UD pairs (0.36), which displayed significantly more submissive (6.97) behaviors than their dominants (0.35). The data suggest that there is more than one kind of dominance relationship between female common marmosets. Assessment of progesterone levels showed that while subordinates in UD pairs appeared to be anovulatory, the degree of ovulatory disruption in subordinates of CD pairs was more varied and less complete. We suggest that such variation in female-female social dominance relationships and the associated variation in the degree and reliability of fertility suppression may explain variations of the reproductive condition of free-living groups of common marmosets

Estrutura do dossel e acúmulo de forragem dos capins piatã e marandu sob pastejo com ovinos

The objective of this scientific work was to evaluate the tillering and mass production of Brachiaria brizantha Piatã and Marandu grasses with two statures of post-grazing. The experimental lineation was in factorial arrangement (2 pastures x 2 residue stature) with subplots (grazing cycle). The experimental period was from March to October of 2012. The target stature on pre-grazing was 50 cm and on post-grazing 15 and 25 for each cultivar. The following variables were analyzed: tiller population density, forage mass, morphological components, accumulation and accumulation rate. Three grazing cycles were obtained. Marandu grass presented larger forage mass on pre-grazing and lower stem production than piatã grass. No difference was observed between the two cultivars regarding the leaf blade production. There was no difference on forage mass, leaf blade, stem, and dead material production between the two statures of post-grazing. The pastures managed at 25 cm presented accumulation rate compared to those with 15 cm. Concerning the accumulation rate on the two cultivars, piatã and marandu grasses, Marandu grass presented higher amount than the piatã grass, and also presented higher values on the rate of basal tiller appearing on 15 cm stature post-pasture feature. Piatã grass managed at 25 cm developed smaller tiller amount on the second generation and greater tiller amount on the third generation than marandu grass. The greater tiller population density was observed on 25cm post-grazing pastures. There was no statistical difference of density between the two cultivars and between the cycles. Accordingly, it is concluded that piatã and marandu cultivars can be managed with 15cm and 25 cm post-grazing statures

Contested dominance modifies the anovulatory consequences of social subordination in female marmosets

Dominance status among female marmosets is reflected in agonistic behavior and ovarian function. Socially dominant females receive submissive behavior from subordinates, while exhibiting normal ovulatory function. Subordinate females, however, receive agonistic behavior from dominants, while exhibiting reduced or absent ovulatory function. Such disparity in female fertility is not absolute, and groups with two breeding females have been described. The data reported here were obtained from 8 female-female pairs of captive female marmosets, each housed with a single unrelated male. Pairs were classified into two groups: “uncontested” dominance (UD) and “contested” dominance (CD), with 4 pairs each. Dominant females in UD pairs showed significantly higher frequencies (4.1) of agonism (piloerection, attack and chasing) than their subordinates (0.36), and agonistic behaviors were overall more frequently displayed by CD than by UD pairs. Subordinates in CD pairs exhibited more agonistic behavior (2.9) than subordinates in UD pairs (0.36), which displayed significantly more submissive (6.97) behaviors than their dominants (0.35). The data suggest that there is more than one kind of dominance relationship between female common marmosets. Assessment of progesterone levels showed that while subordinates in UD pairs appeared to be anovulatory, the degree of ovulatory disruption in subordinates of CD pairs was more varied and less complete. We suggest that such variation in female-female social dominance relationships and the associated variation in the degree and reliability of fertility suppression may explain variations of the reproductive condition of free-living groups of common marmosets

Biodistribution of technetium-99m pertechnetate after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (Capella technique) in rats

The biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate, the most used radiopharmaceutical in nuclear medicine, has not been studied in details after bariatric surgery. The objective was to investigate the effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) on biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTc-) in organs and tissues of rats. Methods: Twelve rats were randomly divided into two groups of 6 animals each. The RYGB group rats were submitted to the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and the control group rats were not operated. After 15 days, all rats were injected with 0.1mL of Na99mTc- via orbital plexus with average radioactivity of 0.66 MBq. After 30 minutes, liver, stomach, thyroid, heart, lung, kidney and femur samples were harvested, weighed and percentage of radioactivity per gram (%ATI/g) of each organ was determined by gama counter Wizard Perkin-Elmer. We applied the Student t test for statistical analysis, considering p<0.05 as significant. Results: Significant reduction in mean %ATI/g was observed in the liver, stomach and femur in the RYGB group animals, compared with the control group rats (p<0.05). In other organs no significant difference in %ATI/g was observed between the two groups. Conclusion: This work contributes to the knowledge that the bariatric surgery RYGB modifies the pattern of biodistribution of Na99mTc

Undersampled Critical Branching Processes on Small-World and Random Networks Fail to Reproduce the Statistics of Spike Avalanches

The power-law size distributions obtained experimentally for neuronal avalanches are an important evidence of criticality in the brain. This evidence is supported by the fact that a critical branching process exhibits the same exponent t~3=2. Models at criticality have been employed to mimic avalanche propagation and explain the statistics observed experimentally. However, a crucial aspect of neuronal recordings has been almost completely neglected in the models: undersampling. While in a typical multielectrode array hundreds of neurons are recorded, in the same area of neuronal tissue tens of thousands of neurons can be found. Here we investigate the consequences of undersampling in models with three different topologies (two-dimensional, small-world and random network) and three different dynamical regimes (subcritical, critical and supercritical). We found that undersampling modifies avalanche size distributions, extinguishing the power laws observed in critical systems. Distributions from subcritical systems are also modified, but the shape of the undersampled distributions is more similar to that of a fully sampled system. Undersampled supercritical systems can recover the general characteristics of the fully sampled version, provided that enough neurons are measured. Undersampling in two-dimensional and small-world networks leads to similar effects, while the random network is insensitive to sampling density due to the lack of a well-defined neighborhood. We conjecture that neuronal avalanches recorded from local field potentials avoid undersampling effects due to the nature of this signal, but the same does not hold for spike avalanches. We conclude that undersampled branching-process-like models in these topologies fail to reproduce the statistics of spike avalanches.

Características limnológicas e estrutura trófica das comunidades de peixes de alguns lagos naturais e artificiais do Rio Grande do Norte

Artificial lakes must differ from natural lakes in important structural and functional aspects that need to be understood so that these ecosystems can be properly managed. The aim of this work was to test the hypothesis that the artificial lakes (impoundments) in the semi-arid region of the Rio Grande do Norte State are more eutrophic and turbid and have different trophic structure when compared to the natural coastal lakes that occur in the humid eastern coast of the State. To test this hypothesis, 10 natural lakes and 8 artificial lakes with about 100 ha were sampled between September and November 2005 for the determination of some limnological variables and the abundance of the main fish species, which were grouped in three trophic guilds: facultative piscivores, facultative planktivores and omnivores. The results show that the artificial lakes had significantly higher concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a , total and volatile suspended solids than the natural lakes. Results also show that the values of pH, total alkalinity, electric conductivity, turbidity as well as the coefficient of vertical attenuation of light were significantly higher in the artificial lakes than in the natural lakes. In the artificial lakes, the abundance of facultative planktivores was significantly higher, while the abundance of facultative piscivores significantly lower than in the natural lakes. There was no significant difference in the abundance of omnivorous fish between the two types of lakes. These results suggest that the increase in turbidity together with the other changes in the water quality of the artificial lakes, modifies the trophic structure of the fish communities reducing the importance of piscivores and the length of the food chains

Rubiaceae em um remanescente de floresta atlântica no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil

Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Rio Grande do Norte

Apelação no código de processo civil: uma análise sob o prisma do princípio da efetividade

The present dissertation, elaborated is based on the deductive method, through the use of the General Theory of Resources concepts, by the main types of judgments existing in the Code of Civil Procedure, the interlocutory judgment and sentence, as well as the features and effects that challenge these decisions, we sought to identify on this theme one of the greatest evils facing the justice system in the world, which is the processing delays. This slowness in adjudication affects seriously the principle of effectiveness, one of the postulates of procedural law and society as a whole. Thus, the use of tort serves to fight the interlocutory decision and appeal which challenges the judge`s ruling. It is a resource for excellence in appellate system as it meets with the most awaited decision of the process. In weighing the importance of the appeal that seeks to oppose the court decision today by the numerous reforms that the procedural system has been through, it has ended up to transform the process ineffective or inconsistent, for it is much easier to have efficacy in a interlocutory decision for preliminary injunction than by judgment on the merits of the judge. This is due to the prevision of the resources and their effect to those decisions. That is, the interlocutory decision involves interlocutory appeal only in the devolved effect, allowing its provisional execution, and the sentence has as recourse to appeal the double effect, remanding and suspension, which necessarily prevents its provisional execution. But it undeniably shows a paradox, because as to give effect to a measure that is based on a mere probability by a summary cognition, partial and superficial, and stop it on a decision by a court that is closer to the truth and sure, for a full and depleting cognition? It is seriously affect the principle of effectiveness. Therefore, starting from this ineffectiveness, sought to defend the solution of this problem with the approval of the bill n. º 3.605/2004 or the new Code of Civil Procedure project that modifies the general rule the effects of appeal. That is, remanding and suspensive, as to merely remanding effect to and thereby enable the provisional execution of the judgment of the court of the first degree of jurisdiction, giving effectiveness and enhancing the decision of the magistrate, making a fair distribution of time in the process and better guaranteed principle of access to justice

Sensibilidade interoceptiva e respostas psicofisiológicas ao exercício submaximo

The complex human behavior related to exercise involves cognitive, physical and emotional processing. The recent theories about exercise s intensity regulation have highlighted the role played by psychophysics aspects in controlling exercise s intensity. In this regard, recent evidences have shown that there is variability in human capacity in perceiving interoceptives clues. Thus, subjects more sensitive show higher physiological arousal to physical and/or emotional stress, and sensations with higher intensity. In fact, studies have evidenced that interoceptive feedback modifies behavior in exercise with free load. However, exercise recommendations are based in a constant load standard. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the influence of interoceptive sensibility on psychophysics responses during dynamic exercise performed with constant load. Twenty-four adult males were allocated into two groups accordingly with their interoceptive sensibility: high sensibility (n=11) and low sensibility (13). They underwent to an incremental test (IT) and then randomly to two sections of moderate and severe exercise intensity for 20 minutes. Heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), affective feelings (AF), alert state (AS), and percentage of associative thoughts were collect during exercise. A two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used to assess differences between psychophysics responses. There were differences between group in RPE, AF, and AS in moderate intensity. There was no difference in any measure in severe intensity. We conclude that subjects with high interoceptive sensibility feel dynamic moderate exercise more intense than the subjecs with low interoceptive sensibility

Entre júbilo e ruína: a perspectiva trágica de Nietzsche

It is investigating why reason Nietzsche affirms, in 1888, when revises his work (Ecce Homo), that to be exactly with The Birth of Tragedy it will be necessary to forget some things , and, in spite of, insist, in the same writing, in naming himself the first tragic philosopher - that is, the opposite and antipode of a pessimistic philosopher . Nietzsche elaborates in The Birth of Tragedy a theory about tragic starting from the opposition and complementarity among Apollo and Dionysian, rationalism and instinct, and in the refusal of the pessimistic perspective. The objective of the dissertation is to discuss how the theory of tragedy modifies due to the rupture with the inspiring of the first moment of the nietzschian philosophy, Schopenhauer and Wagner - maybe the such things to be forgotten about The Birth of Tragedy - and the implications of this rupture, that transforms the philosophy of Nietzsche in dissident of the metaphysical tradition. Like this, it is noticed that there is more continuity than estrangement in what concerns to the definition of tragic, just announced in 1871. By the sentence of the eternal return to the concept of will of power Nietzsche elaborates a tragic perspective, marked by the Dionysian celebration of the life, also acted through the pessimism dionisiac , defined in Gaya Science's § 370 (1881-2), and of the sentence of the love fate, enunciated in the §276 of the same work; all those concepts, discussed in this research, concentrate, decisively, the acceptance idea and statement of life, or more precisely, the decline of the tragic hero, between joy and ruin

Comparação e mobilidade, equilíbrio corporal e desempenho muscular segundo a auto-eficácia para quedas em idosas

The aging process modifies various systems in the body, leading to changes in mobility, balance and muscle strength. This can cause a drop in the elderly, or not changing the perceived self-efficacy in preventing falls. Objective: To compare the mobility, body balance and muscle performance according to self-efficacy for falls in community-dwelling elderly. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study with 63 older (65-80 years) community. Were evaluated for identification data and sociodemographic, cognitive screening using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), effective for the fall of Falls Efficacy Scale International Brazil (FES-I-BRAZIL), Mobility through the Timed Up and Go Test , the balance Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Modified Clinical Test tests of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB), tandem walk (TW) and Sit to Stand (STS) of the Balance Master® System. Finally, muscle performance by using isokinetic dynamometry. Statistical analysis was performed Student t test for comparison between groups, with p value ≤ 0.05. Results: Comparing the elderly with low-efficacy for falls with high-efficacy for falls, we found significant differences only for the variable Timed Up and Go Test (p = 0.04). With regard to data on balance tests were significant differences in the speed of oscillation firm surface eyes open modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Test of Balance (p = 0.01). Variables to isokinetic dynamometry were no significant differences in movement knee extension, as regards the variables peak torque (p = 0.04) and power (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The results suggest that, compared to older community with low-and high-efficacy for falls, we observed differences in variables related to mobility, balance and muscle function

Produção de ovinos em pastagem de capim-massai suplementados na estação seca

The low quality of tropical pastures in the dry season justifies the use of dietary supplements to meet the nutritional needs of sheep to meat production. Therefore, the objective of this experiment was to evaluate the agronomic characteristics of massaigrass in the dry season and the effect of protein supplements in the performance and productivity of sheep to meat production grazing. The protein supplements evaluated were: soybean meal, Leucena hay, Gliricidia hay and multiple mixture. The animals were managed in massaigrass pastures under rotational stocking and supplemented daily. Were used 24 sheep ½ Santa Inês x ½ SPRD (without defined breed), males uncastrated, mean age 90 days in a completely randomized design. Performance of sheep was evaluated for average daily gain of live weight gain per area and stocking rate (animals of 25 kg/ha). The pasture was evaluated for forage mass of pre and post-grazing, the percentages of participation of morphological constituents and their nutritional values and rates of herbage accumulation. The total herbage mass decreased throughout the dry season. Crude protein and in vitro digestibility of organic matter of the leaf were higher in the upper 15 cm of the canopy stratum. The average daily weight gain of the animals supplemented with legume hay was similar to that gained by animals supplemented with soybean meal in the four grazing cycles. The total live weight gain of animals supplemented with legume hay was higher than the animals supplemented only with multiple mixing the first two grazing cycles. Hays of Leucena and Gliricidia can be given for supplementation of sheep maintained on pasture

Desempenho de novilhos alimentados com dieta suplementar em pastos de capim-mombaça

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of supplements feeding on growth of calves grazing a Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça pasture during the dry season. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with three treatments and three replications. The treatments were: mineral salt ad libidum; multiple mixture (MM) fed at 0.2% of live weight (PV); and, concentrate feed (SC) fed at 0.7% of PV. Thirty six weaned calves averaging eight months and 192 kg of initial live weight were utilized. The masses and pasture components, nutritive value and rate of forage growth were evaluated. Animal performance was measured as average daily gain (ADG) and live weight gain (LWG). The supplemental feeding was adjusted after weighing. There was no difference between periods for forage mass and leaf: stem ratio. The highest values for forage green mass, leaf blades mass and stem percentage were observed in the first trial period. The canopy height and the available forage on offer did not differ among treatments. The percentage of dead was higher for the last periods of evaluation. The leaf: stem ratio and the leaf percentage were greater in the second period. There was significant difference (p<0,05) among treatments for the ADG and were 250, 460 and 770 g/day for salt, MM and SC, respectively. The biggest LWG was observed in the treatment SC. contents of PB, DIVMO, NDF and LDA on leaf blades, thatched roofs and dead material dead not differ among treatments. The highest GPV was observed in the SC treatment. The contents of PB, DIVMO, NDF and LDA for leaf blades stem and dead material did not differ among treatments. Independent of the use supplements , it is possible to keep steers gaining weight, during dry season, since the stocking rate is appropriately adjusted

Influência da auto seleção à luz no ritmo circadiano de atividade motora em Callithrix Jacchus

Marmosets, Callithrix jacchus, are strictly diurnal animals. The motor activity rhythmicity is generated by the circadian timing system and is modulated by environmental factors, mainly by photic stimuli that compose the light-dark cycle. Photic stimuli can reset the biological oscilators changing activity motor pattern, by a mechanism called entrainment. Otherwise, light can act directly on expressed rhythm, without act on the biological oscillators, promoting the masking. Thus, photic stimuli can synchronize the circadian activity rhythm (CAR) by two distinct mechanisms, acting isolated or at a combined way. Among the elements that can influence photic synchronization, the duration and time of photic exposure is pointed out. If in the natural environment the marmoset can choose places of different intensity illumination and is synchronized to light-dark cycle (LD), how the photic synchronization mechanism can be evaluated in laboratory by light self-selection? With objective to response this question, four adult male marmosets were studied at two conditions: with and without sleeping box. The animals were submitted to a LD cycle (12:12/ 350:2 lx) and constant light (LL: 350 lx) conditions in individual cages with an opaque sleeping box, that permitted the light self-selection. At the room, the temperature was 25.6 ºC (± 0.3 ºC) and humidity was 78.7 (± 5%). The motor activity was recorded at 5 min bins by infrared movement sensors installed at the top of the cages. The motor activity profile was distinct at the two conditions: without the sleeping box protection against light, the activity frequency was higher at CT 11-12 (ANOVA; F(3.23) = 62.27; p < 0.01). Also, the duration of the active phase (α) was prolonged of about 1 h (t test, p < 0.05) and the animals showed a significant delay on the activity onset and offset (t test, p < 0.05) and at the acrophase (confidence intervals of 5%) of CAR. In LL, the light continuous exposure prolonged the active phase and influenced the endogenous expression of the circadian activity rhythm period. From the result analysis, it is concluded that the light self-selection can modify several parameters of CAR in marmosets, allowing the study of the synchronization mechanism using the burrow model. Thus, without sleeping box there was a phase delay between the CAR and LD (entrainment) and an increase of activity near lights off (positive masking). Furthermore, in LL, the light continuous exposure modifies α and the endogenous expression of CAR. It is suggested that the light self-selection might be take into account at investigations that evaluate the biological rhythmicity in marmosets

Reforma a vapor catalítica do metano: Otimização da produção e seletividade em hidrogênio por absorção in situ do CO2 produzido

Topics of research related to energy and environment have significantly grown in recent years, with the need of its own energy as hydrogen. More particularly, numerous researches have been focused on hydrogen as energy vector. The main portion of hydrogen is presently obtained by reforming of methane or light hydrocarbons (steam, oxy, dry or auto reforming). During the methane steam reforming process the formation of CO2 undesirable (the main contributor to the greenhouse effect) is observed. Thus, an oxide material (sorbent) can be used to capture the CO2 generated during the process and simultaneously shifting the equilibrium of water gas shift towards thermodynamically more favorable production of pure hydrogen. The aim of this study is to develop a material with dual function (catalyst/sorbent) in the reaction of steam reforming of methane. CaO is well known as CO2 sorbent due to its high efficiency in reactions of carbonation and easy regeneration through calcination. However the kinetic of carbonation decreases quickly with time and carbonation/calcination cycles. A calcium aluminate (Ca12Al14O33) should be used to avoid sintering and increase the stability of CaO sorbents for several cycles. Nickel, the industrial catalyst choice for steam reforming has been added to the support from different manners. These bi-functional materials (sorbent/catalyst) in different molar ratios CaO.Ca12Al14O33 (48:52, 65:35, 75:25, 90:10) were prepared by different synthesis methodologies, among them, especially the method of microwave assisted self-combustion. Synthesis, structure and catalytic performances of Ni- CaO.Ca12Al14O33 synthesized by the novel method (microwave assisted selfcombustion) proposed in this work has not being reported yet in literature. The results indicate that CO2 capture time depends both on the CaO excess and on operating conditions (eg., temperature and H2O/CH4 ratio). To be efficient for CO2 sorption, temperature of steam reforming needs to be lower than 700 °C. An optimized percentage corresponding to 75% of CaO and a ratio H2O/CH4 = 1 provides the most promising results since a smaller amount of water avoids competition between water and CO2 to form carbonate and hydroxide. If this competition is most effective (H2O/CH4 = 3) and would have a smaller amount of CaO available for absorption possibly due to the formation of Ca(OH)2. Therefore, the capture time was higher (16h) for the ratio H2O/CH4 = 1 than H2O/CH4 = 3 (7h) using as catalyst one prepared by impregnating the support obtained by microwave assisted self-combustion. Therefore, it was demonstrated that, with these catalysts, the CO2 sorption on CaO modifies the balance of the water gas-shift reaction. Consequently, steam reforming of CH4 is optimized, producing pure H2, complete conversion of methane and negligible concentration of CO2 and CO during the time of capture even at low temperature (650 °C). This validates the concept of the sorption of CO2 together with methane steam reforming