Development of twenty-one polymorphic microsatellite markers for the fungus-growing ant, Mycocepurus goeldii (Formicidae: Attini), using Illumina paired-end genomic sequencing

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

A Social Parasite Evolved Reproductive Isolation from Its Fungus-Growing Ant Host in Sympatry

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

ONTOGENETIC DEVELOPMENT OF SENSORY STRUCTURES ON THE ANTENNULES AND ANTENNAE OF THE GIANT RIVER PRAWN MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII (DE MAN)

In this study the occurrence of sensory structures on the antennules and antennae of the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) during postembryonic ontogenetic development were examined. Larvae and postlarvae were obtained from hatchery recirculating tanks, juveniles from indoor nursery tanks, and adults from earthen grow-out ponds. The animals were fixed with Karnovsky fixative and dissected. Antennules and antennae were removed, metal-coated, and photodocumented using a scanning electron microscope. The antennules have aesthetascs and simple plumose and pappose setae; the antennae have simple, plumose and pappose setae. These structures increase in density, covered surface, and distribution during ontogeny and should be related to chemoreception and mechanoreception. The antennular statocyst that appears during larval stage VII of the giant river prawn has an array of sensory structures that enable the perception of chemical and tactile stimuli beginning with its early life stages. The ontogenetic changes observed allow an inference that initial-stage larvae, advance-stage larvae, juveniles, and adults have different capacities to exploit the environment.

Avaliação da vulnerabilidade a contaminação das águas subterrâneas do aquífero Rio Claro na mineração Mandu, distrito de Ajapi - Rio Claro-SP

Groundwater in the Rio Claro district is predominantly extracted from low productivity wells on the Itararé Aquifer, from depths greater than 150 m. These factors in conjunction with increasing demand for water supply have stimulated many industries to exploit the Rio Claro Aquifer, constituted by Cenozoic sediments of the Rio Claro Formation, where hydraulic properties are poorly known. For this reason, it is necessary to study the possible vulnerable to contamination punctual locations of the aquifer, in order to enable proper management of these groundwater reserves and to allow continuity of supply. Thus, this study aims to assess the vulnerability to groundwater on contamination Rio Claro Aquifer, punctually in Mandu mining site area, located in the District of Ajapi, Rio Claro - SP, the company which operates and sells industrial sand. The risk of groundwater contamination depends on the relationship between the hydrogeological characteristics of the aquifer layer (vulnerability to contamination) and the pollutant load. To evaluate the susceptibility to contamination it was applied the method GOD (FOSTER and HIRATA, 1987; FOSTER et. al., 2002) and, in addition, field and laboratory tests were performed to chacacterize the granulometry of the strata, hydraulic conductivity and some physical indices to make the evaluation more assertive and detailed. Punctual contamination vulnerability found in the aquifer Rio Claro, was moderate, which means that the aquifer is vulnerable to some contaminants, but when continuously discharged or leached. Thus, Mandu mining has a great role on preventing the emission of contaminants in the process of extraction and processing of sand... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

On some extension of optimal control theory

Some problems of Calculus of Variations do not have solutions in the class of classic continuous and smooth arcs. This suggests the need of a relaxation or extension of the problem ensuring the existence of a solution in some enlarged class of arcs. This work aims at the development of an extension for a more general optimal control problem with nonlinear control dynamics in which the control function takes values in some closed, but not necessarily bounded, set. To achieve this goal, we exploit the approach of R.V. Gamkrelidze based on the generalized controls, but related to discontinuous arcs. This leads to the notion of generalized impulsive control. The proposed extension links various approaches on the issue of extension found in the literature.

Characterization of the transcriptome of fast and slow muscle myotomal fibres in the pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus)

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

Acromyrmex charruanus: a new inquiline social parasite species of leaf-cutting ants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Output only based modal analysis of a reduced scale building using digital camera images

The article discusses a proposal of displacement measurement using a unique digital camera aiming at to exploit its feasibility for Modal Analysis applications. The proposal discusses a non-contact measuring approach able to measure multiple points simultaneously by using a unique digital camera. A modal analysis of a reduced scale lab building structure based only at the responses of the structure measured with the camera is presented. It focuses at the feasibility of using a simple ordinary camera for performing the output only modal analysis of structures and its advantage. The modal parameters of the structure are estimated from the camera data and also by using ordinary experimental modal analysis based on the Frequency Response Function (FRF) obtained by using the usual sensors like accelerometer and force cell. The comparison of the both analysis showed that the technique is promising noncontact measuring tool relatively simple and effective to be used in structural modal analysis

Popularion biology of abdominant fish species of the Santa Bárbara river, a tributary of the Nova Avanhandava reservoir (low Tietê river, São Paulo State, Brazil)

The aim of this study is to characterize some population biology parameters of P. squamosissimus, A. altiparanae and S. maculatus, the dominant fish species of the Santa Bárbara river, a tributary of the Nova Avanhandava reservoir, low Tietê river. Fish samplings were performed monthly between September/2002 and August/2003, using gill nets with different mesh sizes. Females of all species have larger standard lengths than males (Mann-Whitney, p < 0.0001), and are more frequent in superior size classes (Kolmogorov-Smirnov, p < 0.0001). All populations presented isometric growth, but differences between males and females were observed. Only P. squamosissimus presented a gender ratio different from 1:1, with a higher proportion of males (1:2, X2, p < 0.05). The onset of gonadal maturation occurs at 15 cm in P. squamosissimus, 9 cm in S. maculatus and at 8.9 cm in A. altiparanae. In all species populations, the adults predominate over juveniles. The allometric condition factor (K) of P. squamosissimus and S. maculatus presented higher values in the periods from March-May and June-August, and A. altiparanae in the period from March-May (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.05). These results indicate that the populations successfully exploit the lentic environment, and present life cycle tactics adapted to their particular means of environment occupation.

Novo regime automotivo brasileiro: desafios e oportunidades da região sul fluminense

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Exploração racional da rede metabólica de Xylaria sp. visando à produção de metabólitos de interesse farmacológico através de ferramentas quimiométricas e técnicas de desreplicação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sistemática e filogenia do fungo parasita Escovopsis associado às formigas Attini

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Sobre o uso de sistemas de computação algébrica na solução de problemas de mecânica das estruturas

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

A formação de professores e o uso pedagógico da Web 2.0: a visão de estudantes de licenciatura

The aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of training teachers to use Web 2.0 in the classroom. Its intention was to fi nd out whether students are familiar with the main Web 2.0 resources and know how to exploit their potential in the development of teaching activities. In addition to the literature review, we developed a fi eld exploratory-descriptive research. The research was held in a private university located in the city of Bauru (São Paulo State, Brazil). We selected 213 students enrolled in “Supervised Training III” course, which is part of the teacher training curriculum available for students in the second year of undergraduate course. Results concluded that the students surveyed have access to computers and the Internet, are relatively skilled in handling the available tools and recognize the importance of including them in the teaching and learning process. The students demonstrate diffi culty using the web in a didactic manner, particularly the Web 2.0, which involves a focus on users and collaboration. Therefore, the article points to the need to rethink teacher training courses in order to include practical activities aimed at the use of technology as a teaching resource.

Gestão para eficiência energética: levantamento e análise da produção científica divulgada em alguns periódicos das áreas de engenharia de produção e administração (2001-2011)

This research leads to a meta-analysis of scientific production in energy efficiency in industrial sectors, recorded in ten (10) leading journals in Administration and Engineering Production in Brazil, between 2001 and 2011. To this end, this scholarship was examined based on the following parameters: a) the total contribution and journal articles, b) methods used in studies, and c) the theoretical gaps to exploit. The diagnosis is that one infers: academic work in energy efficiency industries accounted for only twenty-nine (29) published articles, and only eight (8) have energy efficiency as a central theme of the work. Although the results still showed a rising trend in the number of publications since the last five (5) years analyzed showed 65.5% of all published files relating to energy efficiency. It contributes, therefore, the systematization of the academic production in the area of energy efficiency and business subsidies are provided for this field of research in Brazil.