The effect of refuge on Dermestes ater (Coleoptera : Dermestidae) predation on Musca domestica (Diptera : Muscidae): Refuge for prey or the predator?

It is believed that habitat heterogeneity can change the extent of predator-prey interactions. Therefore, in this study we examined the effect of habitat heterogeneity (characterized here as an addition of refuge) on D. ater predation on M. domestica. Predation of D. ater on M. domestica larvae was carried out in experimental habitats with and without refuge, and examined at different prey densities. The number of prey eaten by beetles over 24 h of predator-prey interaction was recorded, and we investigated the strength of interaction between prey and predator in both experimental habitats by determining predator functional response. The mean number of prey eaten by beetles in the presence of refuge was significantly higher than in the absence of refuge. Females had greater weight gains than males. Logistic regression analyses revealed the type II functional response for both experimental habitats, even though data did not fit well into the random predator model. Results suggest that the addition of refuge in fact enhanced predation, as prey consumption increased in the presence of refuge. Predators kept in the presence of refuge also consumed more prey at high prey densities. Thus, we concluded that the addition of refuge was an important component mediating D. ater-M. domestica population interactions. Refuge actually acted as a refuge for predators from prey, since prey behaviors detrimental to predators were reduced in this case.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the bovine genome are associated with the number of oocytes collected during ovum pick up

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

Sugar digestion in mosquitoes: Identification and characterization of three midgut alpha-glucosidases of the neo-tropical malaria vector Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera : Culicidae)

Dietary carbohydrates provide an important source of energy for flight, and contribute to longevity and fecundity of mosquitoes. The most common sugar mosquitoes ingest is sucrose, and digestion of this substance is carried out mainly by alpha-glucosidases. In the current work, we tested the efficiency of sucrose on Anopheles aquasalis female diet. The best longevity (days) was reached when sugar was available in the diet, whereas most only blood fed females were dead 6 days after emergence. Three alpha-glucosidase isoforms were detected in the adult female midgut, named alpha Glu1, alpha Glu2 and alpha Glu3. These are acidic alpha-glucosidases with optima pH around pH 5.5. alpha Glu1 and alpha Glu2 are present in both secreted and membrane-bound forms, whereas alpha Glu3 only in anchored to membranes. The alpha-glucosidase activity is concentrated mainly in the posterior midgut (70%), both in non-fed or 10% sucrose fed females. The single form of these a-glucosidases seemed to be similar to 70 kDa polypeptides, although alpha Glu2 is presented in >= 600 kDa self-aggregates. K, values of alpha Glu1, alpha Glu2 and alpha Glu3 differed significantly from each other, supporting the statement that three alpha-glucosidases are produced in the female midgut. Together, all data suggest that sugar is an essential component of A. aquasalis female diet. In addition, alpha-glucosidases are synthesized in the same place where sucrose is digested and absorbed, the midgut. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sex ratio and dynamic behavior in populations of the exotic blowfly Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera, Calliphoridae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Social organization of marine Tucuxi dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, in the Cananeia Estuary of southeastern Brazil

Social organization is an important component of the population biology of a species that influences gene flow, the spatial pattern and scale of movements, and the effects of predation or exploitation by humans. An important element of social structure in mammals is group fidelity, which can be quantified through association indices. To describe the social organization of marine tucuxi dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) found in the Cananeia estuary, southeastern Brazil, association indices were applied to photo-identification data to characterize the temporal stability of relationships among members of this population. Eighty-seven days of fieldwork were conducted from May 2000 to July 2003, resulting in direct observations of 374 distinct groups. A total of 138 dolphins were identified on 1-38 distinct field days. Lone dolphins were rarely seen, whereas groups were composed of up to 60 individuals (mean +/- 1 SD = 12.4 +/- 11.4 individuals per group). A total of 29,327 photographs were analyzed, of which 6,312 (21.5%) were considered useful for identifying individuals. Half-weight and simple ratio indices were used to investigate associations among S. guianensis as revealed by the entire data set, data from the core study site, and data from groups composed of <= 10 individuals. Monte Carlo methods indicated that only 3 (9.3%) of 32 association matrices differed significantly from expectations based on random association. Thus, our study suggests that stable associations are not characteristic of S. guianensis in the Cananeia estuary.

Aggressive Behavior and Performance in the Tegu Lizard Tupinambis merianae

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Copia Retrotransposon in the Zaprionus Genus: Another Case of Transposable Element Sharing with the Drosophila melanogaster Subgroup

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

First order reversal curve analysis of nanocrystalline Pd80Co20 alloy films

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

Livro didático: uma ferramenta possível de trabalho com a dança na Educação Física Escolar

O presente ensaio propõe algumas reflexões sobre como o livro didático se articula com a Educação Física, apontando algumas discussões sobre o processo de elaboração de um material de dança na perspectiva da Pluralidade Cultural voltado para o professor e para o aluno. O texto traz algumas sugestões de como construir um livro com este objetivo para a área, considerando o contexto deste componente curricular. E, finalmente problematiza algumas questões sobre a importância da autonomia do professor para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem, bem como o uso que o mesmo pode fazer do livro didático.

Influence of gender and estrous cycle in the forced swim test in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Organic acid profile of commercial sour cassava starch

A presença de ácidos orgânicos no polvilho azedo, além de contribuir com aspectos como sabor e aroma, tem, conforme a literatura indica, correlação com a propriedade de expansão, que é um fator determinante no uso alimentício. Amostras de polvilho azedo foram coletadas nas Regiões Sul e Sudeste diretamente nas empresas ou no comércio. Foram preparadas para análise em cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE), sendo que o cromatógrafo estava equipado com coluna Biorad Aminex HPX-87H para análise de ácidos orgânicos e detector refratométrico. As condições de análise envolveram o emprego da fase móvel ácido sulfúrico 0,005M, fluxo de 0,6 ml/min e temperatura da coluna de 60oC. Os ácidos quantificados foram lático (0,036 a 0,813 g/100g), acético (0 a 0,068 g/100g), propiônico (0 a 0,013 g/100g) e butírico (0 a 0,057 g/100g), presentes na fermentação natural. Os resultados revelaram grande variação entre as amostras, com diferenças mesmo dentro das Regiões. Algumas amostras apresentaram quantidades elevadas de ácidos, especialmente do ácido lático, mas nestas amostras os ácidos propiônico e butírico não foram detectados. A ausência do ácido butírico não era esperada, uma vez que esse ácido está diretamente relacionado com o aroma característico do polvilho azedo. O fato pode sugerir que a obtenção de algumas das amostras estudadas pode ter ocorrido sem o processo fermentativo natural.

Atividade colinesterásica cerebral e comportamento de ratos após exposição perinatal ao diclorvós

O organofosforado diclorvós impregnado em coleiras plásticas é um recurso utilizado em medicina veterinária que visa ao controle de ectoparasitas de cães e gatos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do uso de coleiras plásticas impregnadas com diclorvós (8,37%) em ratas Wistar durante o período de gestação e lactação, como possível fonte de alterações comportamentais e da atividade colinesterásica cerebral dos filhotes. Na desmama, não houve diferença na atividade colinesterásica cerebral entre as mães tratadas com diclorvós e o grupo controle, bem como entre os respectivos filhotes. O tratamento com diclorvós também não influenciou no comportamento geral dos animais, avaliado no campo aberto, nem no nível de ansiedade testado no labirinto em cruz elevado, ambos aos 35 dias pós-natal.

Stability regions around the components of the triple system 2001 SN263

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Amphibia, Anura, coastal zone, State of Piaui, northeastern Brazil.

Amphibians are an important component of terrestrial and aquatic freshwater communities worldwide. Especially to the Northern coastal zone of Brazil, the knowledge about amphibian communities is very scarce. We have studied amphibian assemblages along the coastal strip zone of the state of Piaui for two years, covering a distance of ca. 70 km. It was possible to prepare a list of 21 anurans from 6 families (Microhylidae, Hylidae, Leptodactylidae, Cycloramphidae, Leiuperidae, and Bufonidae). All species are common and widely distributed in Brazilian territory, mainly on the Caatinga biome. The results are important to amplify the knowledge on the biodiversity found at the coastal zone of the state of Piaui.

Projective Fourier duality and Weyl quantization

The Weyl-Wigner correspondence prescription, which makes great use of Fourier duality, is reexamined from the point of view of Kac algebras, the most general background for noncommutative Fourier analysis allowing for that property. It is shown how the standard Kac structure has to be extended in order to accommodate the physical requirements. Both an Abelian and a symmetric projective Kac algebra are shown to provide, in close parallel to the standard case, a new dual framework and a well-defined notion of projective Fourier duality for the group of translations on the plane. The Weyl formula arises naturally as an irreducible component of the duality mapping between these projective algebras.