Optically pumped submillimeter laser lines from CD2Cl2 using a large tunability CW CO2 laser

Twenty-five new laser lines have been obtained is the wavelength region from 155 to 830 mu m by optically pumping the CD2Cl2 (deuterated dichloromethane) molecule with a CW CO3 laser having a tunability range of 300 MHz. The wavelength, polarization relative to that of CO2 pumping radiation, and offset relative to the CO2 center frequency were determined for all of the new lines and some other already known laser emissions. For all of them we give also the relative intensity and the optimum pressure of operation.

Infrared-to-visible CW frequency upconversion in erbium activated silica-hafnia waveguides prepared by sol-gel route

70SiO(2)-30HfO(2) mol% planar waveguides, doped with Er3+ with concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 2 mol% were prepared by sol-gel route, using dip-coating deposition on vitreous-SiO2 substrates. Infrared-to-visible upconversion emission, upon excitation at 980 nm, has been observed for all the samples. The upconversion results in green, red and blue emissions. The investigation of the upconversion dynamic as a function of the Er3+ concentration and excitation power, show that processes such as excited state absorption and energy transfer upconversion are effective. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Brachyura, Ocypodidae)

During monthly samplings between September 1998 and August 2000. 3,660 specimens of Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (2054 males and 1606 females) were obtained and examined for size (CW carapace width) to determine growth-age equations for each sex. This species showed a slower growth, with a marked seasonal oscillation, in females as compared to males, suggesting application of the seasonal and nonseasonal von Bertalanffy growth model, respectively. CW∝ and k constant were closely similar for the two sexes (CW∝ (male) = 90.3 mm: CW∝ (female) = 88.6 mm; k(male) = 0.28; k(female) = 0.26). The age at sexual maturity was estimated to be around 3 years, while the age at legal size (CW = 60 mm) was 3.8 and 4.7 years for males and females, respectively. In the laboratory, juvenile stages did not show differences in growth rates under the same temperature and photoperiod conditions.

Growth of the speckled swimming crab, Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae), in Ubatuba (SP), Brazil

A total of 2629 individuals of Arenaeus cribrarius (1293 males and 1336 females) were captured in Ubatuba (SP), from August 1996 to July 1997. Individuals were distributed in 5 mm size class carapace width (CW), to verify sex-specific growth-age equations. The Von Bertalanffy model was chosen to determine the growth rate and expressed by CW=120.52[1-e(-1.80t)] for males and CW=100.81[1-e(-1.60t)] for females. The age estimated for the first juvenile stage (t(o)) was 6.1 and 8.3 days for males and females, respectively. The maximum age determined was 1.8 years for males and 2 years for females, which correspond to a maximum size of 115.8 and 96.7 mm, respectively. The maximum size (CWmax) estimated using 95% of asymptotic size was 114.5 mm for males and 95.8 mm for females. Males have a precocious sexual maturity (5 months) when compared to females (6.8 months). The growth rate and size of A. cribrarius are higher than other portunid species, with great interest for aquaculture.

SEDIMENT BIOTURBATION POTENTIAL of UCA RAPAX and UCA URUGUAYENSIS AS A RESULT of THEIR FEEDING ACTIVITY

Bioturbation of mangrove sediments by Uca uruguayensis (Nobili, 1901) and U. rapax (Smith, 1870) was compared based on the grain-size composition and organic content in surface sediment around the burrow and feeding pellets in two mangrove zones of the Sao Vicente Estuary, state of São Paulo, Brazil. For each species, 25 burrows with active crabs were selected. All pellets within a 15-cm radius of each burrow were carefully collected; samples of substrate were taken; and the crab occupant was excavated, sexed, and measured for carapace width (CW). The number of spoon-tipped setae on the second maxilliped of each species was estimated; U. uruguayensis showed more of these setae than U. rapax. For both species, the sediment post-processed by feeding activity (feeding pellets) showed a similar increase of coarser fractions and a smaller organic content. However. U. uruguayensis was more efficient in removing organic matter (88.1%) from the sediment than U. rapax (37.5%). These results suggest that different numbers of spoon-tipped setae on the second maxillipeds of the fiddler crabs do not affect the potential for grain-size selection, but result in differing abilities to remove organic matter from the sediment.

Length-weight relationship and condition factor of the mangrove crab Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ucididae)

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

Fecundity and reproductive output of the speckled swimming crab Arenacus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) (Brachyura, Portunidae)

Areanaeus cribrarius females were collected over a 12-month period with otter-trawl nets in the Ubatuba littoral zone, Brazil. Ovigerous individuals were measured (CW = carapace width excluding lateral spines) and weighed (WW = wet weight). Each egg brood was weighed (WE = wet weight), dried, and the number of eggs (EN) counted. Scatterplots from EN/CW, EN/WW, and EN/WE were submitted to regression analyses. Mean relative fecundity ((F) over bar') was calculated in each month/season to assess seasonal variation of reproductive intensity. The number of eggs showed a positive correlation with CW, WW, and WE. Fecundity of A. cribrarius ranged from 135,210 to 682,156 eggs, intermediate in comparison with other portunids. Fecundity in Portunidae is typically high; lower values are found in Polybiinae and higher ones in Portuninae. Mean fecundity did not reveal significant differences over months and seasons, but reproductive activity tended to be more intense in summer and winter, a phenomenon related to reduced temperature oscillations as found in subtropical regions.

Fertilidade do caranguejo de mangue Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Ocypodidae), em Iguape (São Paulo, Brasil)

A total of 58 Ucides cordatus (Linnaeus, 1763) ovigerous females in final embryonic stage were collected in mangrove forest at Iguape (São Paulo). Each female were kept in laboratory until the larvae hatching and had their carapace width (CW) measured with caliper (0.05 mm) and the larval number (LN) calculated by volumetric method. The hatching rates (HR) were calculated for each animal's size class (5 mm). The values of LN and CW obtained were subjected to regression analyses and the best fitting model was chosen by comparing the obtained determination coefficients (R²). The fertility varied from 71,200 to 220,800 larvae (147,169 ± 32,070 larvae), corresponding to 41.7 to 76.8 mm CW (63.7±7.9 mm), respectively. The relationship LNxCW was expressed by the equation LN = 284.1CW1.5º¹ (N = 58; R² = 0.74; p < 0.01), that showed a positive correlation between the variables. Most part of ovigerous females (89.7%) showed their hatching during the nightly period. A negative correlation between HR and CW was observed in these animals (p < 0.05), probably due to reduction of spermatophores in the seminal receptacle (multiparous females) or due to senility in the females with large size. The biological studies of U. cordatus are very important for practices adoption that preserve and make the rational use of this recourse in Brazilian's mangrove forests.

Estimates of genetic parameters for visual scores and daily weight gain in Brangus animals

(Co) variance components were estimated for visual scores of conformation (CY), early finishing (PY) and muscling (MY) at 550 days of age (yearling), average daily gain from weaning to yearling (GWY), conformation (CW), early finishing (PW) and muscling (MW) scores at weaning, and average daily gain from birth to weaning (GBW) in animals forming the Brazilian Brangus breed born between 1986 and 2002 from the livestock files of GenSys Consultants Associados S/C Ltda. The data set contained 53 683; 45 136; 52 937; 56 471; 24 531; 21 166; 24 006 and 25 419 records for CW, PW, MW, GBW, CY, PY, MY and GWY, respectively. Data were analyzed by the restricted maximum likelihood method using single-and two-trait animal models. Direct heritability estimates obtained by single-trait analysis were 0.12, 0.14, 0.13 and 0.14 for CY, PY and MY scores and GWY, respectively. A positive association was observed between the same visual scores at weaning and yearling, with correlations ranging from 0.64 to 0.94. Estimated correlations between GBW and weaning and yearling scores ranged from 0.60 to 0.77. The genetic correlation between GBW and GWY was low (0.10), whereas correlations of 0.55, 0.37 and 0.47 were observed between GWY and CY, PY and MY, respectively. Moreover, GWY showed a weak correlation with CW (0.10), PW (-0.08) and MW (-0.03) scores. These results indicate that selection of the traits that was studied would result in a small response. In addition, selection based on average daily gain may have an indirect effect on visual scores as the correlations between GWY and visual scores were generally strong.

Avaliação de características de desempenho e de carcaça de codornas de corte por meio da análise de componentes principais

Foram utilizados dados de 288 codornas de corte (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) para avaliar a possibilidade de resumir a informação contida no complexo de variáveis originais, eliminando-se variáveis inexpressivas por meio da técnica de componentes principais. Foram registrados o peso vivo (PVIVO) e pesos do peito (PPEITO), das coxas (PCOXA), da gordura abdominal (GA), das vísceras comestíveis (fígado, moela e coração) (FIG, MOELA e CORA) e da carcaça eviscerada (PCEVIS). As carcaças foram secas e trituradas para a avaliação do teor matéria seca (MS), gordura (GORD) e proteína bruta (PB). Dos 11 componentes principais, sete (63,6%) apresentaram variância menor que 0,7 (autovalor inferior a 0,7), sendo sugeridas para descarte, respectivamente, em ordem de menor importância, para explicar a variação total das seguintes variáveis: PCEVIS, PPEITO, PCOXA, CORA, FIG MOELA e GORD. Com base nos resultados, recomenda-se manter as seguintes variáveis em experimentos futuros: PVIVO, MS, PB e GA.

The vinyl bromide optically pumped far infrared laser: New large offset emissions

We present the results of a study on vinyl bromide for the search for new far infrared (FIR) laser lines. As the pump source, we use a CW waveguide CO2 laser with a tunability of 290 MHz around each line in order to pump large offset vibrational transitions. As a consequence, we obtained 28 new FIR laser emissions; 24 of them have wavelengths greater than 500 mum and are, therefore, suitable to be used in high-field EPR spectroscopy, For each of the new lines, we give the wavelength, the offset of the pumping transition with respect to the center Frequency of the CO2 emission, the polarization relative to that of the pumping laser line, the operating pressure, and the relative intensity. We also present a catalog including data of all of the FIR laser lines observed from this molecule up to now.

Histological analyses of thermal effect caused by 1.2 W diode laser irradiation at rat periodontal pockets

The aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate the thermal effects caused by 810 nm 1.2 W diode laser irradiation of periodontal tissues. Despite all data available concerning the laser application for periodontal treatment, one of the most relevant challenges is to prevent the harmful tissue heating induced by different clinical protocols. Periodontal pockets were induced at molars in 96 rats. Several irradiation powers under CW mode were investigated: 0, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1200 mW. The pockets were irradiated using a 300 A mu m frontal illumination fiber. The animals were killed at 4 or 10 days after irradiation. The mandible was surgically removed and histologically processed. The histological sections stained with H/E demonstrated that irradiation parameters up to 1000 mW were thermally safe for the periodontal tissues. The sections stained with Brown & Brenn technique evidenced bacteria in the periodontal tissues. Consequently, the diode laser irradiation as a unique treatment was not capable to eliminate bacteria of the biofilm present in the pockets. According to the methodology used here, it was concluded that the thermal variation promoted by a diode laser can cause damage to periodontal tissues depending on the energy density used. The 1.2 W diode laser irradiation itself does not control the bacteria present in the biofilm of the periodontal pockets without mechanical action. The knowledge of proper high intensity laser parameters and methods of irradiation for periodontal protocols may prevent any undesirable thermal damage to the tissues.

CORRELATING THE CURVE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE DISTAL of THE CANINES TO THE COMBINED WIDTH of THE SIX ANTERIOR TEETH WHEN SELECTING DENTURE TEETH FOR DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS

Statement of problem. To select the width of denture teeth, the distance between the marks indicating the location of the canines is usually measured around the curvature of the wax occlusal rim; however, most manufacturers' mold charts provide the measurements of the artificial 6 anterior teeth as if they were on a straight line.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the curve distance between the distal surfaces of the maxillary canines can be related to the combined width (straight measurement) of the 6 anterior teeth in 4 ethnic groups.Material and methods. Maxillary stone casts were obtained for 160 dentate subjects of 4 ethnic groups (40 whites, 40 blacks, 40 multiracial - descendants of white and black parents, and 40 Asians). The width of each maxillary anterior tooth was measured on the casts with sliding calipers. The combined width of the 6 anterior teeth (CW) corresponded to the sum of the width of each anterior tooth. The curve distance between the distal surfaces of the canines (CD) was measured by using dental tape and sliding calipers. The Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between CD and CW in each ethnic group (alpha=.05).Results. The mean CD and CW values (in mm) obtained were: whites (CD=52.12; CW=45.65); blacks (CD=56.10; CW=48.13); multiracial (CD=53.58; CW=46.54); and Asians (CD=53.29; CW=46.60). Significant (P<.001) correlations between CD and CW measurements were observed for all ethnic groups studied (whites, r=0.957; blacks, r=0.803; multiracial, r=0.917; and Asians, r=0.881). The following linear regression equations were obtained: whites [CD=1.1(CW)+0.3]; blacks [CD=0.95(CW)+9.3]; multiracial [CD=1.2(CW)-1.1]; and Asians [CD=1.0(CW)+5].Conclusions. The curve distance between the distal surfaces of the maxillary canines can be accurately related to the combined width of the 6 anterior teeth in the selection of denture teeth for the studied ethnic groups. (J Prosthet Dent 2012;107:400-404)

Peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activities, phenolic acid contents, and allelochemicals-inhibited root growth of soybean

The influence of the allelochemicals ferulic (FA) and vanillic (VA) acids on peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) activities and their relationships with phenolic acid (PhAs) contents and root growth of soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were examined. Three-day-old seedlings were cultivated in nutrient solution containing FA or VA (0.1 to 1 mM) for 48 h. Both compounds (at 0.5 and 1 mM) decreased root length (RL), fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) and increased PhAs contents. At 0.5 and 1 mM, FA increased soluble POD activity (18% and 47%, respectively) and cell wall (CW)-bound POD activity (61% and 34%), while VA increased soluble POD activity (33% and 17%) but did not affect CW-bound POD activity. At I mM, FA increased (82%) while VA reduced (32%) PAL activities. The results are discussed on the basis of the role of these compounds on phenylpropanoid metabolism and root growth and suggest that the effects caused on POD and PAL activities are some of the many mechanisms by which allelochemicals influence plant growth.

Simultaneous effects of ferulic and vanillic acids on peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase in soybean (Glycine max) roots

Simultaneous effects of ferulic (FA) and vanillic (VA) acids on peroxidase (POD, EC 1.11.1.7) and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) activities on soybean (Glycine max (L.) MERR.) root growth were analyzed. Three-day-old seedlings were cultivated in nutrient solution containing FA or VA (0.5 mM; 1.0 mM or equimolar mixtures) for 48 h. Acting alone, both compounds (at 0.5 or 1.0 mM) decreased root length (RL), fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW) and increased soluble POD and cell wall (CW)-bound POD activities. At 1.0 mM, FA increased (but VA decreased) the PAL activity. Acting simultaneously, the effects of the allelochemical interaction were lower than the sum of the effects of each compound tested separately, suggesting antagonism.