Caste differences in Polybia ematiata, a mud-nesting eusocial wasp (hymenoptera: Vespidae), that bear on pre-imaginal determination but not size differences

The Epiponini is a group of social wasps living in polygynic societies. The caste dimorphism varies from incipient to well distinct. Morphometric analyses on twelve body parts and ovarian development of Polybia emaciata Lucas 1879, were used to estimate the level of caste differentiation in seven colonies. Physiologic differences were found. Among queens the ovaries were inseminated and presented as highly developed; in intermediate females, ovaries were slightly developed and uninseminated, and for the workers the ovaries were not developed or inseminated. In addition, the coloration of the mesosoma and metasoma were darker in workers and intermediates. Morphometric analysis evidenced slight morphological differences. Even though body proportions were not enough to discriminate castes, the fifth sternite of the gaster had important characters that were able to differentiate queens from workers and intermediates. We propose that P. emaciata presents a case of pre-imaginal caste determination, which is not strictly based on size.

Effect of LLLT on autogenous bone grafts in the repair of critical size defects in the calvaria of immunosuppressed rats

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

Social Stability Related to Sex Group Composition in the Cichlid Nile Tilapia

Aquaculture practices usually put the Nile tilapia in an artificial social environment, which males predominate due to their faster growth desirable for aquaculture purposes. Such a situation can increase male-male fighting because males are generally more aggressive than females, and also because fighting ability is similar within the same sex, leading to longer contests. As behavior has been used to infer welfare in several fish species, the aim of this study was to investigate whether sex composition affects agonistic interactions, social hierarchy and energetic demand in groups of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus; L.). Size-matched adult fish were divided in two treatments: MM = four males and MF = two males and two females (10 repetitions for each treatment). The experiment lasted for 11 days and social interactions (aggressiveness and rank order) were recorded at the 2nd, 6th and 10th days (15 min per day). Fish were food deprived and body weight loss was used to infer energetic cost. A higher frequency of lateral threat (Student’s t independent test; t = 2.55; p = 0.02) and total interactions (Student’s t independent test; t = -2.81; p = 0.01) was observed in the MF treatment. MM group showed unstable hierarchy (Binomial test, p = 0.04), which is considered a social stressor. However, mean weight loss was not affected by treatments (Student’s t independent test; t = -0.74; p = 0.47). These results support the idea that sexual composition affects aggressive interactions and destabilizes social hierarchy, but not energy cost

Effect of particle size on the flexural strength and phase transformation of an airborne-particle abraded yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic.

Statement of problem Because airborne-particle abrasion is an efficient method of improving the bond at the zirconia-cement interface, understanding its effect on the strength of yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal is important. Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the particle size used for airborne-particle abrasion on the flexural strength and phase transformation of a commercially available yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystal ceramic. Material and Methods For both flexural strength (20.0 × 4.0 × 1.2 mm) (n=14) and phase transformation (14.0-mm diameter × 1.3-mm thickness) (n=4), the zirconia specimens were made from Lava, and their surfaces were treated in the following ways: as-sintered (control); with 50-μm aluminum oxide (Al2O3) particles; with 120-μm Al2O3 particles; with 250-μm Al2O3 particles; with 30-μm silica-modified Al2O3 particles (Cojet Sand); with 120-μm Al2O3 particles, followed by 110-μm silica-modified Al2O3 particles (Rocatec Plus); and with Rocatec Plus. The phase transformation (%) was assessed by x-ray diffraction analysis. The 3-point flexural strength test was conducted in artificial saliva at 37°C in a mechanical testing machine. The data were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA and the Tukey honestly significant difference post hoc test (α=.05). Results Except for the Cojet Sand group, which exhibited statistically similar flexural strength to that of the as-sintered group and for the group abraded with 250-μm Al2O3 particles, which presented the lowest strength, airborne-particle abrasion with the other particle sizes provided the highest values, with no significant difference among them. The as-sintered specimens presented no monoclinic phase. The groups abraded with smaller particles (30 μm and 50 μm) and those treated with the larger ones (110 μm and/or 120 μm particles and 250 μm) exhibited percentages of monoclinic phase that varied from 4% to 5% and from 8.7% to 10%. Conclusions Except for abrasion with Cojet Sand, depending on the particle size, zirconia exhibited an increase or a decrease in its flexural strength. Airborne-particle abrasion promoted phase transformation (tetragonal to monoclinic), and the percentage of monoclinic phase varied according to the particle size.

Prevalence of low back pain and associated factors in adults from a middle-size Brazilian city

Objective: To determine the prevalence of low back pain and some related variables among adults of both genders. Methods: Was conduct a cross-sectional study of population-based in the urban area of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo. The sample consisted of 743 adult residents for over two years in this city. Low back pain, quality of sleep and physical activity were collected through face to face interview at the residence of respondents. Was used the chi-square test to analyze the association between variables, later was created tree multivariate models with hierarchical inclusion of confounding factors. Results: The prevalence of low back pain reported last year was 50.2% (95% CI: 46.6, 53.8), and the last week 32.3% (95% CI: 28.9, 35.6). Was association among low back pain and females (p-value = 0.031), older age, lower education, altered sleep and overweight, the adjusted model found that people over the age of 45 years (45 to 59.9 years, OR = 13.1 [1.72-98.5] and ≥ 60 years, OR = 9.10 [1.15-71.7]), with some alteration of sleep (OR = 3.21 [1.84-5.61]) and obese (OR = 2.33 [1:26 to 4:33]) seems to be a risk group for low back pain. Conclusion: The prevalence of low back pain is high and obese people aged over 45 years, with any sleep disturbance are a group at higher risk for low back pain.

Effects of oestrogen deficiency and 17 beta-estradiol therapy on bone healing in calvarial critical size defects treated with bovine bone graft

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

A new species of the Scinax catharinae Group (Anura: Hylidae) from Northeastern Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The association between follicular size at time of spontaneous rupture and pregnancy rates in clomiphene citrate treated PCOS patients in coit cycles

Objective: To investigate the follicular size at spontaneous rupture on pregnancy rate in patientswith polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing clomiphene citrate (CC) ovulation.Design: Cross-sectional study.Patients and methods: One hundred and four women with ovulatory cycles after use of CCfollowed by ultrasound to determine the follicle size at the time of rupture, which wassubsequently correlated with the occurrence of pregnancy or not in coit cycles.Results: In the group of follicular rupture at a mean diameter25 mm (n¼54), pregnancy ratewas 35.1% and when follicular rupture occurred at a mean diameter425 mm (n¼50), it was34% (p40.05). When different diameters at follicular rupture were randomly correlated with thepregnancy rate, there was no significant difference.Conclusion: Our data suggest that the occurrence of pregnancy after ovulation induction withCC in women with PCOS is not associated with follicle size at the time of rupture.