Genetics of anthracnose panel canker disease resistance and its relationship with yield and growth characters in half-sib progenies of rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)

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

The ribs of Eupatorieae (Asteraceae): of wide taxonomic value or reliable characters only among certain groups?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Heritability of sting characters in Africanized honeybees

In this paper we proposed to estimate the heritability of seven morphological characters that compose the sting apparatus ofthe Africanized honeybee workers. An experimental design to estimate genetic parameters was based on the method developed by Oldroyd and Moran. This method was modified to eliminate within-colony environmental effects associated with the additive genetic variance. The estimated h2 values ranged from 0.17 ± 0.11 (maximum width of bulb of sting stylet and height of the valve of right lancet) to 0.74 ± 0.30 (length of the lancet).

Dynamics of some fictitious satellites of Venus and Mars

The dynamics of some fictitious satellites of Venus and Mars are studied considering only solar perturbation and the oblateness of the planet, as disturbing forces. Several numerical integrations of the averaged system, taking different values of the obliquity of ecliptic (a), show the existence of strong chaotic motion, provided that the semi major axis is near a critical value. As a consequence, large increase of eccentricities occur and the satellites may collide with the planet or cross possible internal orbits. Even starting from almost circular and equatorial orbits, most satellites can easily reach prohibitive values. The extension of the chaotic zone depends clearly on the value ε, so that, previous regular regions may become chaotic, provided ε increases sufficiently. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Description and genetic analysis of three sets of monozygotic twins resulting from transfers of single embryos to recipient mares

Case Description-3 sets of monozygotic twins resulting from transfers of single embryos to recipient mares were examined. Clinical Findings-In all 3 recipient mares with twin pregnancies, only 1 embryonic vesicle was detected before day 25 of gestation. In 1 recipient mare, 2 apparent adjacent vesicles, each containing an embryo with a heartbeat, were visualized on ultrasonographic examination on day 37 of gestation. The other 2 recipient mares underwent ultrasonographic examination on day 30 of gestation, at which time only 1 vesicle and embryo was identified. In these latter 2 recipient mares, however, a thorough ultrasonographic examination for a second conceptus on day 30 had not been performed, as only 1 embryo had been transferred and visualized on early ultrasonographic examination. Treatment and Outcome-All twin pregnancies resulted in death of both fetuses. Genetic analysis confirmed that each set of monozygotic twins originated from the transferred embryo. Clinical Relevance-Monozygotic twin pregnancy may occur after embryo transfer; thus recipient mares should be examined thoroughly for multiple conceptuses, especially between 25 and 30 days of gestation. At this time, the allantoides of monozygotic twins should be visible ultrasonographically and effective management may still be possible.

The taxonomic value of floral characters in Rapateaceae (Poales-Monocotyledons)

The floral anatomy of Cephalostemon, Monotrema, Rapatea, Spathanthus, and Stegolepis was studied for taxonomic purposes. All species studied share colleters between the floral parts; sepals, petals, anthers, and style covered by an ornamented cuticle; short epidermal cells with sinuous walls on the abaxial surface of the petals; tetrasporangiate anthers with phenolic idioblasts in the epidermis; endothecium with spiral thickenings; incompletely septate ovary; and anatropous, bitegmic ovules. The floral anatomy is useful not only for characterizing the family, but also for delimiting the subfamilies and genera. Sepals with silica bodies in the epidermal cells; mature anther wall composed of epidermis, endothecium, and middle layer; absence of phenolic idioblasts in the sepals, filaments, and ovary; and stylar epidermal cells with thickened external periclinal wall support Rapateoideae. Cephalostemon and Rapatea show a great number of similarities, corroborating their close relationship indicated in the phylogenetic analyses of the family. Monotrema shares few characters with the genera of Rapateoideae, corroborating its placement in Monotremoideae. Stegolepis shows several distinctive characters, probably related to the greater diversity found in this genus. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Wien.

Well, what about intraspecific variation? Taxonomic and phylogenetic characters in the genus Synoeca de Saussure (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

Cely and Sarmiento (2011) took issue with the cladistic analysis of relationships among species of the genus Synoeca by Andena et al. (2009a), and presented a reanalysis. They claimed that intraspecific variation in the genus is meaningful, and proper consideration yields a conclusion different from that of Andena et al. Both their critique and reanalysis are vitiated by numerous errors, as is shown in the present paper. © 2013 Magnolia Press.

Description of three new species of Hepatozoon (Apicomplexa, Hepatozoidae) from Rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus terrificus) based on molecular, morphometric and morphologic characters

Hepatozoon spp. are commonly found infecting snakes. Since the latter are parasitized by diverse forms and data in the literature show divergence, we studied Hepatozoon spp. diversity on Crotalus durissus terrificus snakes using both molecular and morphological approaches. Naturally infected animals were employed. Blood was collected, blood smears were prepared and an aliquot was stored at -20. °C for DNA extraction. Five specimens of C. durissus terrificus were selected, each of them infected with one gamont type. Morphological and morphometric analyses of the found gamonts led to their grouping into three populations. For molecular characterization, seven oligonucleotide pairs that amplify distinct regions of rDNA gene were tested by adopting the PCR technique. Only the oligonucleotide pairs HepF300/Hep900 and HEMO1/HEMO2 were efficient in amplifying and distinguishing different isolates of Hepatozoon spp. from snakes. The better results were obtained when both oligonucleotide pairs were used in association. Based on the molecular and morphologic differences, three new species were proposed: Hepatozoon cuestensis sp. nov.; Hepatozoon cevapii sp. nov. and Hepatozoon massardii sp. nov. This is the first description of new Hepatozoon species from snakes, based on molecular characterization and morphological data, in South America. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Saramago, Braff e seus personagens duplos: uma análise comparativa

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Autoridade, autoritarismo e autonomia docente: representações de professores e alunos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Iracema, de José de Alencar, e as Heroides, de Ovídio

Manuais de literatura ensinam que o Romantismo, centrado no eu romântico em seus conflitos e anseios libertários, rompe com os códigos clássicos da poética do Arcadismo. Em Iracema: a lenda do Ceará, Alencar narra a união da índia Iracema com Martim, o colonizador português que a fascina, e dessa união nasce Moacir, fruto da primeira miscigenação de povos em terras brasileiras. A matéria-prima que Alencar ficcionalizou tem, por um lado, o componente histórico, pois personagens como o guerreiro Martim e o índio Camarão estão registradas nos anais da história; por outro lado, a construção da heroína assenta-se em figuras femininas da mitologia grega. Essa dívida com a tradição clássica, intermediada pelo poeta latino Ovídio, o próprio José de Alencar a reconhece em carta-posfácio, onde confessa ter composto “uma heroida que tem por assunto as tradições dos indígenas brasileiros e seus costumes. (ALENCAR, 1978, p.88).