Occurrence of freshwater stingrays (Chondrichthyes: Potamotrygonidae) in the Uruguay River and its tributaries, Uruguay, South America.

Four records of potamotrygonids in the Uruguay River and its tributaries in Paysandu, Uruguay are reported in this paper. The first one was a specimen caught in 1934, of undetermined sex and weighing 120 kg and with a disc width of ca 150 cm. The second specimen, caught in 1998, was also of undetermined sex; it weighed 50 kg total weight and its disc width measured 103 cm. The third specimen was caught in 2001; it was an adult male, weighed 114 kg total weight and its disc width measured ca 110 cm. The fourth one, caught in 2004, was a female, 11 kg in total weight and with a disc width of 80 cm. According to the size and general description, specimens were identified as Potamotrygon brachyura, to date the only potamotrygonid confirmed for Uruguay.

The goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatus and its follower fishes at an oceanic island in the tropical west Atlantic

The influence of a substratum-disturbing forager, the spotted goatfish Pseudupeneus maculatus on the assemblage of its escorting, opportunistic-feeding fishes was examined at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago (tropical west Atlantic). Followers attracted to spotted goatfish foraging singly differed from followers of spotted goatfish foraging in groups in several characteristics. The larger the nuclear fish group, the greater the species richness and number of individuals of followers. Moreover, groups of foraging spotted goatfish attracted herbivores, not recorded for spotted goatfish foraging singly. The size of follower individuals increased with the size and the number of foraging spotted goatfish. The zoobenthivorous habits of the spotted goatfish and its ability to disturb a variety of soft substrata render it an important nuclear fish for several follower species of the reef fish assemblage at Fernando de Noronha. (c) 2006 the Authors Journal compilation (c) 2006 the Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Structure of the posthepatic septum and its influence on visceral topology in the tegu lizard, Tupinambis merianae (Teiidae : Reptilia)

The posthepatic septum (PHS) divides the body cavity of Tupinambis merianae into two parts: the cranial one containing the lungs and liver and the caudal one containing the remaining viscera. The PHS is composed of layers of collagenous fibers and bundles of smooth muscle, neither of which show systematic orientation, as well as isolated blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. Striated muscle of the abdominal wall does not invade the PHS. The contractions of the smooth muscles may stabilize the pleurohepatic cavity under conditions of elevated aerobic needs rather than supporting breathing on a breath-by-breath basis. Surgical removal of the PHS changes the anatomical arrangement of the viscera significantly, with stomach and intestine invading the former pleurohepatic cavity and reducing the space for the lungs, Thus, the PHS is essential to maintain the visceral topography in Tupitionibis. J. Morphol. 258:151-157, 2003. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss. Inc.

Nucleolar Cycle and Its Correlation with Chromatoid Bodies in the Tilapia rendalli (Teleostei, Cichlidae) Spermatogenesis

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

Microscopical Evaluation of Extracellular Matrix and Its Relation to the Palatopharyngeal Muscle in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The cross-entropy method and its application to minimize the ripple of magnetic levitation forces of a maglev system

This paper explores firstly the potential of a new evolutionary method - the Cross-Entropy (CE) method in solving continuous inverse electromagnetic problems. For this purpose, an adaptive updating formula for the smoothing parameter, some mutation operation, and a new termination criterion are proposed. The proposed CE based metaheuristics is applied to reduce the ripple of the magnetic levitation forces of a prototype Maglev system. The numerical results have shown that the ripple of the magnetic levitation forces of the prototype system is reduced significantly after the design optimization using the proposed algorithm.

Evaluation of the use of Syzygium cumini fruit extract as an antioxidant additive in orange juice and its sensorial impact

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

The cyanobacterial genus Cyanoarbor Wang (Chroococcales, Entophysalidaceae) and its occurrence in Brazil

The new cyanobacterial species Cyanoarbor violascens was found and described from subaerophytic habitats (wet lateritic soils) in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil. The phenotypic generic features of the population were confirmed and the genus Cyanoarbor Wang 1989 was revised with four species recognized. Cyanoarbor rupestris Wang was first described from subaerophytic habitats in China. Cyanoarbor violascens Branco sp. nov. is here described from subaerophytic habitats (wet lateritic soils) in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil, differing from other species by violet-coloured sheaths, cell sizes and ecotopic preference. Additionally, material previously identified as Chlorogloea cf. microcystoides from Nepal was recognized as belonging to Cyanoarbor and is here described as C. himalayensis M. Watanabe et Komdrek sp. nov. Chlorogloea gessneri Schiller is transferred to the genus Cyanarbor, as C. gessneri (Schiller) nov. comb. All four species can be differentiated based on a combination of morphological characters and biotopic preferences. Descriptions and an identification key of the four species of this genus are provided.

In vitro evaluation of the action of irrigating solutions associated with intracanal medications on Escherichia coli and its endotoxin in root canals

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of auxiliary chemical substances and intracanal medications on Escherichia coli and its endotoxin in root canals. Material and Methods: Teeth were contaminated with a suspension of E. coli for 14 days and divided into 3 groups according to the auxiliary chemical substance used: G1) 2.5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl); G2) 2% chlorhexidine gel (CLX); G3) pyrogen-free solution. After, these groups were subdivided according to the intracanal medication (ICM): A) Calcium hydroxide paste (Calen (R)), B) polymyxin B, and C) Calcium hydroxide paste+2% CLX gel. For the control group (G4), pyrogen-free saline solution was used without application of intracanal medication. Samples of the root canal content were collected immediately after biomechanical preparation (BMP), at 7 days after BMP, after 14 days of intracanal medication activity, and 7 days after removal of intracanal medication. The following aspects were evaluated for all collections: a) antimicrobial activity; b) quantification of endotoxin by the limulus Amebocyte lysate test (LAL). Results were analyzed by the kruskal-wallis and Dunn's tests at 5% significance level. Results: The 2.5% NaOCl and CLX were able to eliminate E. coli from root canal lumen and reduced the amount of endotoxin compared to saline. Conclusions: It was concluded that 2.5% NaOCl and CLX were effective in eliminating E. coli. Only the studied intracanal medications were to reduce the amount of endotoxin present in the root canals, regardless of the irrigant used.

The Effectiveness of Low-Intensity Red Laser for Activating a Bleaching Gel and Its Effect in Temperature of the Bleaching Gel and the Dental Pulp

Statement of the Problem: The effectiveness of low-intensity red laser for activating a bleaching gel and its effect in pulp temperature was not investigated in dental literature. Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of low-intensity red laser for activating a bleaching gel, as well as its effect in temperature of the bleaching gel and the dental pulp. Materials and Methods: Forty extracted bovine teeth were immersed in a solution of coffee 14 days for darkening. The initial colors were recorded by spectrophotometric analysis. The specimens were randomly distributed into two groups (N = 20): the control, which did not receive light and the experimental group that received light from an appliance fitted with three red light-emitting laser diodes (? = 660 nm). A green-colored, 35% H2O2based bleaching gel was applied for 30 minutes, and changed three times. After bleaching, the colors were again measured to obtain the L*a*b* values. Color variation was calculated (?E) and the data submitted to the non-paired t-test (5%). To assess temperature, 10 human incisors were prepared, in which one thermocouple was placed on the bleaching gel applied on the surface of the teeth and another inside the pulp chamber. Results: There was a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.016), and the experimental group presented a significantly higher mean variation (7.21 +/- 2.76) in comparison with the control group (5.37 +/- 1.76). There was an increase in pulp temperature, but it was not sufficient to cause damage to the pulp. Conclusion: Bleaching gel activation with low-intensity red laser was capable of increasing the effectiveness of bleaching treatment and did not increase pulp temperature to levels deleterious to the pulp. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE The application of a low-intensity red laser was effective for activating a bleaching gel with green dye, without any deleterious increases in pulpal temperature. (J Esthet Restor Dent 24:126134, 2012)

Dissipation and its consequences in the scaling exponents for a family of two-dimensional mappings

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The late precambrian K-alkaline magmatism in the Ribeira Fold Belt: a case study of the Piracaia Pluton, State of São Paulo, SE Brazil, and its potential mineralization (Cu, Zn, Gd)

The Pluriserial Ribeira Magmatic System-590 of the Late Precambrian Ribeira Fold Belt comprises seven groups of high-K rocks of crustal or mantle origin with ages ranging between 620 and 570 Ma. One of these groups is represented by transalkaline suites akin to appinitic lamprophyres. The suites assemble one or more of following lithologies: (+/- quartz) gabbros and monzogabbros, (+/- quartz) diorites and monzodiorites, (+/- quartz) monzonites and syenites in addition to rare granites. All these rocks occur together in the Piracaia pluton, State of São Paulo. The mineralogy of the Piracaia suite comprises variable amounts of plagioclase (An 60-10), alkali-feldspars (orthoclase, microcline, albite), ortho- (Fe-hypersthene) and clinopyroxenes (augite), amphiboles (hornblende and rare late Fe-hastingsite), abundant biotite, quartz, opaques, sphene, allanite and zircon. Several magmatic pulses constructed the pluton. The Piracaia magma bulk trend evolved initially along the silica-undersaturation plane with simultaneous fractionation of accessory, mafic and felsic minerals. These are segregated in feldspar-rich cumulates. In the late stage, the evolutionary trend followed two distinct paths: one along the or-ab thermal barrier with the crystallization of syenites; the second one along the thermal valley in the or-ab-qz subsystem, producing quartz-syenites and granites. The source of the Piracaia magma was a 'vein-plus-wall-rock-system '. Together the pulses reflect increasing and decreasing participation of peridotites and mica pyroxenites, respectively, in the magmatogenic process. The magmatic pulses were stored in magma chambers, several drained by deep faults or fractures, which were successively reactivated and recharged. Each new pulse underwent mixing with earlier residual magma, followed by fractionation. During ascent through the hot and thickened post-collisional crust, the magma pulses underwent minor compositional changes by crustal contamination. The concentration of valuable elements (Cu, Zn, Gd) in the Piracaia pluton occurred during two phases of the magmatic evolution. Cu and Zn were enriched in cumulates and Gd was concentrated in residual quartz-syenitic veins. Due to their homogeneous dark colour and texture, the monzodiorites are exploited both for polished dimension stones and supports for sensitive scientific instruments. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Study of the electrochemical reduction of amoebicide Teclozan and its amperometric determination in pharmaceutical formulations

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Spectrophotometric Evaluation of the Behavior of Disperse Red 1 Dye in Aqueous Media and its Interaction with Calf Thymus ds-DNA

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

Approach on the Electrochemical Reactivity of Poly-L-Glutamic Acid Against Doxorubicin and Its Application in the Development of a Voltammetric Sensor

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