The use of auxiliary courts by the lek-forming White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus (Aves, Pipridae)

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

Isotopic evidence for the late Brasiliano (500-550 Ma) ore-forming mineralization of the Araes gold deposit, Brazil

The Araes gold deposit, located in eastern Mato Grosso State, central Brazil, is hosted in Neoproterozoic volcanosedimentary rocks of the Paraguay belt, which formed during collision of the Amazonian craton and the Rio Apa block. Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology and Pb and S isotopic analyses constrain the timing and sources of mineralization. Three biotite flakes from two samples of metavolcanic host rock yield Ar-40/Ar-39 plateau ages between 5941 and 531 Ma, interpreted as cooling ages following regional metamorphism. Clay minerals from a hydrothermal alteration zone yield an Ar-40/Ar-39 integrated age of 503 +/- 3 Ma. Galena grains from ore-bearing veins yield values of Pb-206/(204)pb from 17.952 to 18.383, Pb-207/Pb-204 from 15.156 to 15.811, and Pb-208/Pb-204 from 38.072 to 39.681. Pyrite grains from ore-bearing veins yield values of Pb-206/Pb-204 from 18.037 to 18.202, Pb-207/Pb-204 from 15.744 to 15.901., and Pb-208/(204)pb from 38.338 to 38.800. Pb isotope variations may be explained in terms of mixing a less radiogenic lead component (mu similar to 8.4) from mafic and ultramafic basement host-rocks (Nova Xavantina metavolcanosedimentary rocks) and a more radiogenic lead component (mu similar to 9.2) probably derived from supracrustal rocks (Cuiaba sedimentary groups). Sulfur isotope compositions are homogeneous, with delta S-34 values ranging from -1.1 parts per thousand to 0.9 parts per thousand (galena) and -0.7 parts per thousand to 0.9 parts per thousand (pyrite), suggesting a mantle-derived reservoir for the mineralizing solutions. Based on the Ar, Pb, and S isotope data, we suggest that the precious metals were remobilized from metavolcanic host rocks by hydrothermal solutions during Brasilide-Panafrican regional metamorphism. The Arabs gold deposit probably formed during a late stage of the orogeny, coeval with other mineralization events in the Paraguay Belt.

Hydrogenated amorphous carbon as protective coating for a forming tool

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

Lubricating coating prepared by PIIID on a forming tool

In this work, the performance of a-C: H films produced by the hybrid Plasma Immersion Ion Implantation and Deposition technique as lubricating layers for a steel forming tool has been investigated. Hardened steel (AISI M2, 64 HRC) plates coated with a commercial TiN layer were used as substrates and the films were deposited in a vacuum chamber fitted with two parallel-plate electrodes. The discharges were generated in atmospheres composed of 91% C2H2 and 9% Ar by the application of radiofrequency power (13.56 MHz, 100 W) to the upper electrode while the lower one, also used as the sample holder, was biased with high voltage negative pulses (3.6 kV, 30 mu s, 300 Hz). A deposition time of 840 s was used. The effects of the gas pressure, p, on thickness, molecular structure, wettability, surface morphology and topography, hardness and friction coefficient of the films lwere investigated. Film thickness increased from 0.3 to 0.5 mu m when p was increased from 2.7 to 16.5 Pa. Generally, the films were slightly hydrophilic, with contact angles of around 84 degrees, and the deposition decreased the roughness of the steel. A polymer-like structure was detected in high pressure depositions and an amorphous carbon structure derived from the low pressure procedures. Hardness decreased from 8.2 to 7.0 GPa with increasing p. Improvement in tribological performance was indicated by the fall in the friction coefficient from 0.5 to 0.2 as the deposition pressure was reduced. Operating at the latter value (of mu) would lead to a significant reduction in wear and hence to significant economy in diverse industrial applications.

Blade design and forming for fans using finite elements

The necessity of adapting the standardized fan models to conditions of higher temperature has emerged due to the growth of concerning referring to the consequences of the gas expelling after the Mont Blanc tunnel accident in Italy and France, where even though, with 100 fans in operation, 41 people died. However, since then, the defied solutions have pointed to aerodynamic disadvantages or have seemed nonappropriate in these conditions. The objective of this work is to present an alternative to the market standard fans considering a new technology in constructing blades. This new technology introduces the use of the stainless steel AISI 409 due to its good adaptation to temperatures higher than 400°C, particularly exposed to temperatures of gas exhaust from tunnels in fire situation. Furthermore, it presents a very good resistance to corrosion and posterior welding and pressing, due to its alloyed elements. The innovation is centered in the process of a deep drawing of metallic shells and posterior welding, in order to keep the ideal aerodynamic superficies for the fan ideal performance. On the other hand, the finite element method, through the elasto-plastic software COSMOS permitted the verification of the thickness and structural stability of the blade in relation to the aerodynamic efforts established in the project. In addition, it is not advisable the fabrication of blades with variable localized thickness not even, non-uniform ones, due to the verified concentration of tensions and the difficulties observed in the forming. In this way, this study recommends the construction of blades with uniform variations of thickness. © 2007 Springer.

Ureasil-polyether hybrid film-forming materials

The objectives of this work were to study the suitability and highlight the advantages of the use of cross-linked ureasil-polyether hybrid matrices as film-forming systems. The results revealed that ureasil-polyethers are excellent film-forming systems due to specific properties, such as their biocompatibility, their cosmetic attractiveness for being able to form thin and transparent films, their short drying time to form films and their excellent bioadhesion compared to the commercial products known as strong adhesives. Rheological measurements have demonstrated the ability of these hybrid matrices to form a film in only a few seconds and Water Vapor Transmitting Rate (WVTR) showed adequate semi-occlusive properties suggesting that these films could be used as skin and wound protectors. Both the high skin bioadhesion and non-cytotoxic character seems to be improved by the presence of multiple amine groups in the hybrid molecules. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.

Seed dispersal by the lek-forming white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus, Pipridae) in the Brazilian Atlantic forest

The movement patterns of males, females and juveniles of lekking species often differ due to differences in the commitment to lek activities, which may lead to differences in the spatial distribution and dispersal distances of seeds they eat. By sampling seeds in three lek and non-lek areas of the white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus), we tested whether this lekking species increased the abundance and species richness of seeds in lek areas and, at a finer scale, in 21 displaying courts within lek areas. Combining data on seed defecation or regurgitation rates by free-ranging individuals, the number of seeds in droppings or regurgitations of mist-netted birds, and the distances travelled by birds equipped with radio-transmitters, we estimated the potential spatial distribution of seeds generated by six resident males and six females or juveniles during the morning peak of lek activity and when lek activity decreased in the afternoon. There was no difference in the species richness (46 and 44 morphospecies, respectively) and abundance of seeds (15.4 ± 7.3 seeds and 14.0 ± 1.1 seeds, respectively) between lek and non-lek areas. Within leks both parameters increased in courts (45 spp., 17.6 ± 14 seeds) compared with non-court sites (22 spp., 1.9 ± 1.8 seeds), likely as a consequence of the longer time spent by resident males in perches in or near display courts. Distances moved by juveniles and females per 60-min period (183 ± 272 m) were greater than resident males (42.6 ± 22.0 m) in the mornings, while the opposite happened in the afternoons (55.2 ± 40.7 m and 157 ± 105 m, respectively). We conclude that the spatial aggregation of seeds in lek areas of M. manacus occurs at the court level, and the spatial distribution of deposited seeds varies with manakin lekking status and the daily period of foraging. © Cambridge University Press 2013.

Behavior of Montandoniola confusa Streito & Matocq (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) preying upon gall-forming thrips Gynaikothrips ficorum Marchal (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae)

The gall-forming thrips Gynaikothrips ficorum Marchal (Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae) is recorded in all regions where its host plant, Ficus microcarpa (Marchal) (Moraceae), has been cultivated as an urban and interior landscape plant species, including potted plants and bonsai. Similarly, the thrips predator Montandoniola confusa Streito & Matocq (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) has generally followed the prey distribution. The gall induced by thrips degrades the plant foliage, and the thrips themselves can be annoying for people both outdoors and indoors. The galls, however, create a microcosm with all developmental stages of the thrips and its predator. In this study we present the first records of M. confusa in South America, document the species' widespread concomitant occurrence across Brazil, and report our studies of three aspects of M. confusa predation upon the eggs, larvae/prepupae, and adults of G. ficorum thrips: (i) functional response of the predator adult female as a function of different densities of thrips eggs, larvae/prepupae and adults separately: (ii) predation on eggs by adult M. confusa with adult thrips present in the gall; and (iii) adult M. confusa prey preferences when all thrips stages occurred simultaneously in the gall. For all three thrips life stages tested, the predator exhibited a type II functional response. Despite the availability of different life stages in the gall, M. confusa adults are capable of preying upon all life stages of G. ficorum, predation was preferentially on thrips eggs, with an estimated similar to 10-fold greater predation on eggs compared to larvae/prepupae and adult thrips. Egg predation was unaffected by the presence of defensive adult thrips in the gall under low densities (<30 eggs/gall) but when egg densities were greater than 30 eggs/gall, it was reduced when adult thrips were present. However, the relative number of thrips adults per gall did not statistically change the outcome. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Large-scale analysis of the SDSS-III DR8 photometric luminous galaxies angular correlation function

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Functional and Topological Studies with Trp-Containing Analogs of the Peptide StII(1-30) Derived From the N-Terminus of the Pore Forming Toxin Sticholysin II: Contribution to Understand its Orientation in Membrane

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Supramolecular arrangements of an organometallic forming nanostructured films

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

Anti-erosive properties of solutions containing fluoride and different film-forming agents

Objectives: To evaluate the anti-erosive potential of solutions containing sodium fluoride (NaF, 225 ppm F) and different film-forming agents.Methods: In Phase 1, hydroxyapatite crystals were pre-treated with solutions containing NaF (F), linear sodium polyphosphate (LPP), sodium pyrophosphate tetrabasic (PP), sodium tripolyphosphate (STP), sodium caseinate (SC), bovine serum albumin (BSA), stannous chloride (Sn) and some combinations thereof. Deionized water was the control (C). The pH-stat method was used to evaluate hydroxyapatite dissolution. In Phase 2, the most effective solutions were tested in two independent experiments. Both consisted of an erosion-remineralization cycling model using enamel and dentine specimens with three solution treatments per day. In Phase 2a, the challenge was performed with 0.3% citric acid (pH = 3.8). In Phase 2b, 1% citric acid (pH = 2.4) was used. Hard tissue surface loss was determined profilometrically. Data were analyzed with two-way ANOVA and Tukey tests.Results: In Phase 1, F, LPP, Sn and some of their combinations caused the greatest reduction in hydroxyapatite dissolution. In Phase 2a, C showed the highest enamel loss, followed by LPP. There were no differences between all other groups. In Phase 2b: (F + LPP + Sn) < (F + LPP) = (F + Sn) < (F) = (LPP + Sn) < (LPP) < (Sn) < C. For dentine, in both experiments, only the fluoride-containing groups showed lower surface loss than C, except for LPP + Sn in 2a.Conclusions: F, Sn, LPP reduced enamel erosion, this effect was enhanced by their combination under highly erosive conditions. For dentine, the F-containing groups showed similar protective effect.Clinical significance: The addition of LPP and/or Sn can improve the fluoride solution protection against erosion of enamel but not of dentine. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Use of the probability of stone formation (PSF) score to assess stone forming risk and treatment response in a cohort of Brazilian stone formers

Introduction: The aim was to confirm that PSF (probability of stone formation) changed appropriately following medical therapy on recurrent stone formers.Materials and Methods: Data were collected on 26 Brazilian stone-formers. A baseline 24-hour urine collection was performed prior to treatment. Details of the medical treatment initiated for stone-disease were recorded. A PSF calculation was performed on the 24 hour urine sample using the 7 urinary parameters required: voided volume, oxalate, calcium, urate, pH, citrate and magnesium. A repeat 24-hour urine sample was performed for PSF calculation after treatment. Comparison was made between the PSF scores before and during treatment.Results: At baseline, 20 of the 26 patients (77%) had a high PSF score (> 0.5). Of the 26 patients, 17 (65%) showed an overall reduction in their PSF profiles with a medical treatment regimen. Eleven patients (42%) changed from a high risk (PSF > 0.5) to a low risk (PSF < 0.5) and 6 patients reduced their risk score but did not change risk category. Six (23%) patients remained in a high risk category (> 0.5) during both assessments.Conclusions: The PSF score reduced following medical treatment in the majority of patients in this cohort.

Thermal degradation of both latex and latex cast films forming membranes: combined TG/FTIR investigation

Latex collected from natural rubber trees forming membranes can be used as biomaterials in several fields being the temperature a key parameter. Thermogravimetry (TG) coupled to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is a useful technique to investigate the thermal degradation of both latex and cast films (membranes), wich were obtained from Hevea brasiliensis (RRIM 600 clone) and used without stabilization. The membranes were prepared by casting the latex onto a glass substrate at 65 degrees C for 6 h. The thermal degradation was followed by FTIR spectra acquisition along the process, allowing the identification of the gaseous components evolved upon the thermal treatment. According to TG measurements, the main processes of thermal degradation of the latex and membranes occur at three temperature intervals for both.