Effect of Different Solvent Ratios (Water/Ethylene Glycol) on the Growth Process of CaMoO4 Crystals and Their Optical Properties

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

Effects of selective logging on the mating system and pollen dispersal of Hymenaea courbaril L. (Leguminosae) in the Eastern Brazilian Amazon as revealed by microsatellite analysis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Assessment of tropical forest degradation by selective logging and fire using Landsat imagery

Many studies have assessed the process of forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon using remote sensing approaches to estimate the extent and impact by selective logging and forest fires on tropical rain forest. However, only a few have estimated the combined impacts of those anthropogenic activities. We conducted a detailed analysis of selective logging and forest fire impacts on natural forests in the southern Brazilian Amazon state of Mato Grosso, one of the key logging centers in the country. To achieve this goal a 13-year series of annual Landsat images (1992-2004) was used to test different remote sensing techniques for measuring the extent of selective logging and forest fires, and to estimate their impact and interaction with other land use types occurring in the study region. Forest canopy regeneration following these disturbances was also assessed. Field measurements and visual observations were conducted to validate remote sensing techniques. Our results indicated that the Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index aerosol free (MSAVI(af)) is a reliable estimator of fractional coverage under both clear sky and under smoky conditions in this study region. During the period of analysis, selective logging was responsible for disturbing the largest proportion (31%) of natural forest in the study area, immediately followed by deforestation (29%). Altogether, forest disturbances by selective logging and forest fires affected approximately 40% of the study site area. Once disturbed by selective logging activities, forests became more susceptible to fire in the study site. However, our results showed that fires may also occur in undisturbed forests. This indicates that there are further factors that may increase forest fire susceptibility in the study area. Those factors need to be better understood. Although selective logging affected the largest amount of natural forest in the study period, 35% and 28% of the observed losses of forest canopy cover were due to forest fire and selective logging combined and to forest fire only, respectively. Moreover, forest areas degraded by selective logging and forest fire is an addition to outright deforestation estimates and has yet to be accounted for by land use and land cover change assessments in tropical regions. Assuming that this observed trend of land use and land cover conversion continues, we predict that there will be no undisturbed forests remaining by 2011 in this study site. Finally, we estimated that 70% of the total forest area disturbed by logging and fire had sufficiently recovered to become undetectable using satellite data in 2004. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Medial Septal Area Vasopressin Receptor Subtypes in the Regulation of Urine and Sodium Excretion in Rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Structure and growth mechanism of CuO plates obtained by microwave-hydrothermal without surfactants

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

Effect of calcium and magnesium silicate on the growth of the castor oil plant subjected to salinity levels

Salt stress decreases the osmotic potential of soil solution causing water stress, causing toxic effects in the plants resulting in injuries on the metabolism and nutritional disorders, thus compromising the plant growth, resulting in lower production. The calcium silicate and magnesium can perform the same function as limestone, besides providing silicon to plants, may also contribute to the resistance of plants to salt stress. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of calcium and magnesium silicate on the growth of the castor oil plant BRS Energia cultivated under saline conditions. This study evaluated plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, dry weight of shoot and root, and soil chemical characteristics. There was no interaction between factors of salinity level and of silicate level regarding the evaluated variables. There was a direct relationship between salinity levels and plant growth in height and stem diameter. The K concentration in soil were affected by salinity levels.

Anisotropy of crystallite growth during sintering of SnO2 xerogels

The crytallite and pore-size evolution during isothermal sintering (400 ≤ T ≤ 700°C) of SnO2 xerogels was studied by X-ray line broadening and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms. The experimental results show a strong anisotropy of crystallite growth between [110] and [101] directions. The preferential growth at [101] is followed by an increase in the mean pore size, reduction of the specific surface area and invariance of total pore volume. This behaviour is typical of grain coalescence sintering. The kinetic analysis of experimental results suggests that the crystallite coalescence at [101] is governed by lattice diffusion. The strong anisotropy of the growth causes pore-size distribution broadening, hindering the macroscopic shrinkage of the compact during sintering. © 1996 Chapman & Hall.

Growth patterns of incipient colonies of Coptotermes havilandi (Isoptera, Rhinotermitidae) initiated in the laboratory from swarming alates

Fifty two colonies of Coptotermes havilandi were set up under laboratory conditions using alates collected from an urban area during a period of swarming. The first artificial nest used for each royal couple was a 6cm diameter Petri dish (22ml) filled with a moistened matrix of decayed pine sawdust. After 6 months, these colonies were transferred to 250ml plastic containers with the same culturing matrix. After 24 months a census of all colonies was performed. Each young colony had a live royal pair and the population size of all colonies indicated a nonlinear development. The total population (workers + soldiers + immatures + reproductives) of these incipient colonies ranged from 64 to 1, 164, with a mean of 345 individuals. The number of workers ranged from 53 to 830 individuals, and the number of soldiers ranged from 6 to 83. The present data showed a higher population of incipient colonies than our previous record for the species. We also compared the development of 12 transferred colonies to that of 12 untransferred incipient colonies. The results showed a higher population in transferred colonies, but in both incipient colonies (transferred and untransferred) there was a wide variation in total population. The correlation between queen weight and population size was positive in all 24 colonies.

Growth and yield analysis in different methods of beet (Cv. 'tall top early wonder') plantation

This objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different methods of red beet seedling production and direct sowing on the development of the plant in field conditions. 'Tall Top Early Wonder' was used as the cultivar. The experimental design was a randomized blocks with 4 replications of each treatment: T1 - seedling produced in trays of 288 cells; T2 - 200 cells; T3 - 128 cells; T4 - 128 cells; T5 - direct sowing and T6 - bare-root seedling. The seedlings produced in trays and bare root seedlings were transplanted in the field 28 DAS with spacing of 0.20 x 0.10m. The mean height of plants, leaf area, leaf dry matter, petiole dry matter, shoot dry matter, root dry matter, relationship between shoot dry matter and root dry matter, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, leaf area ratio and specific leaf area were determined. Storage root fresh matter and mean storage root diameter were determined starting from 77 DAS. Initial growth of the plants were superior for the direct sowing, resulting in smaller RGR and NAR than the other treatments. Independent of the production method, an increase of the cycle of the crop was verified. T6 had larger delay in the initial development. There was no difference for productivity. Method T1, had less expenses with respect to substrate and space in the vegetation home, without reduction in production.

Length structure of fishes from a protected area in the State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil

The aim of this work was to study the length distribution of some fish species from the Protected Area of São Pedro and Analândia, State of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. Length distributions were correlated to environmental conditions at each sample site. For the most abundant species, length structure was compared among the streams of each basin and between basins. Differences in length structure were related to differences in growth, habitats, and even population.

Optimization of xylanase biosynthesis by Aspergillus japonicus isolated from a Caatinga area in the Brazilian state of Bahia

The objective of this research was to investigate the potential of xylanase production by Aspergillus japonicus and to determine the effects of cultivation conditions in the process, aiming toward optimization of enzyme production. The best temperature, as well as the best carbon source, for biomass production was determined through an automated turbidimetric method (Bioscreen-C). The enzyme activity of this fungus was separately evaluated in two solid substrates (wheat and soybean bran) and in Vogel medium, adding other carbon sources. Temperature effects, cultivation time, and spore concentrations were also tested. The best temperature for enzyme and biomass production was 25°C; however, the best carbon source for growth (determined by the Bioscreen C) did not turn out to be a good inducer of xylanase production. Maximum xylanase activity was achieved when the fungus was cultivated in wheat bran (without the addition of any other carbon source) using a spore concentration of 1 × 107 spores/mL (25°C, pH 5.0, 120 h). A. japonicus is a good xylanase producer under the conditions presented in these assays. © 2006 Academic Journals.

Inhibition of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) hypusination impairs melanoma growth

The eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A (eIF5A) undergoes a specific post-translational modification called hypusination. This modification is required for the functionality of this protein. The compound N1-guanyl-1,7-diaminoheptane (GC7) is a potent and selective inhibitor of deoxyhypusine synthase, which catalyses the first step of eIF5A hypusination process. In the present study, the effects of GC7 on cell death were investigated using two cell lines: melan-a murine melanocytes and Tm5 marine melanoma. In vitro treatment with GC7 increased by 3-fold the number of cells presenting DNA fragmentation in Tm5 cells. Exposure to GC7 also decreased viability to both cell lines. This study also describes, for the first time, the in vivo antitumour effect of GC7, as indicated by impaired melanoma growth in C57BL/6 mice. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Compactação do solo e intervalo hídrico ótimo no crescimento da parte aérea e produtividade da cultura do milho

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of soil compaction caused by tractor wheel traffic on the limiting water range (LLWR), shoot growth and levels of compaction and four replications in a completely randomized experimental design. Soil samples with preserved structure were collected in the layers: 0.02-0.05; 0.08-0.11; 0.15-0.18 and 0.22-0.25m to determine macroporosity, microporosity, total porosity, bulk density, resistance to penetration and LLWR. The evaluated corn parameters were: plant and first spike height, steam diameter, number of spikes per plant, plant dry matter, dry matter of 1000 seeds and seed productivity. The soil compaction restricted all corn parameters except the number of spikes per plant and dry matter of 1000 seeds. The LLWR was reduced by the soil resistance to penetration, even in the tilled soil with bulk density of 1.12 Mg m-3. Only the treatment with 11 Mg tractor, repeated four times on the area, demonstrated bulk density above critical bulk density in the LLWR that was 1.37 Mg m-3, where the seed productivity was significantly smaller.

Orthognathic Surgery in the Young Cleft Patient: Preliminary Study on Subsequent Facial Growth

Purpose: This study evaluated the long-term effects of orthognathic surgery on subsequent growth of the maxillomandibular complex in the young cleft patient. Patients and Methods: We evaluated 12 young cleft patients (9 male and 3 female patients), with a mean age of 12 years 6 months (range, 9 years 8 months to 15 years 4 months), who underwent Le Fort I osteotomies, with maxillary advancement, expansion, and/or downgrafting, by use of autogenous bone or hydroxyapatite grafts, when indicated, for maxillary stabilization. Five patients had concomitant osteotomies of the mandibular ramus. All patients had presurgical and postsurgical orthodontic treatment to control the occlusion. Radiographs taken at initial evaluation (T1) and presurgery (T2) were compared to establish the facial growth vector before surgery, whereas radiographs taken immediately postsurgery (T3) and at longest follow-up (T4) were used to determine postsurgical growth. Each patient's lateral cephalograms were traced, and 16 landmarks were identified and used to compute 11 measurements describing presurgical and postsurgical growth. Results: Before surgery, all patients had relatively normal growth. After surgery, cephalograms showed statistically significant growth changes from T3 to T4, with the maxillary depth decreasing by -3.3° ± 1.8°, Sella-nasion-point A by -3.3° ± 1.8°, and point A-nasion-point B by -3.6° ± 2.8°. The angulation of the maxillary incisors increased by 9.2° ± 11.7°. Of 12 patients, 11 showed disproportionate postsurgical jaw growth. Maxillary growth occurred predominantly in a vertical vector with no anteroposterior growth, even though most patients had shown anteroposterior growth before surgery. The distance increased in the linear measurement from nasion to gnathion by 10.3 ± 7.9 mm. Four of 5 patients operated on during the mixed dentition phase had teeth that erupted through the cleft area. A variable impairment of postoperative growth was seen with the 2 types of grafting material used. No significant difference was noted in the effect on growth in patients with unilateral clefts versus those with bilateral clefts. The presence of a pharyngeal flap was noted to adversely affect growth, whereas simultaneous mandibular surgery did not. After surgery, 11 of 12 patients tended toward a Class III end-on occlusal relation. Conclusions: Orthognathic surgery may be performed on growing cleft patients when mandated by psychological and/or functional concerns. The surgeon must be cognizant of the adverse postsurgical growth outcomes when performing orthognathic surgery on growing cleft patients with the possibility for further surgery requirements. Performing maxillary osteotomies on cleft patients would be more predictable after completion of facial growth. © 2008 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

Selective factors involved in oil flotation isolation of black yeasts from the environment

The oil flotation isolation technique has been successfully applied to recover chaetothyrialean black yeasts and relatives from the environment. The selective mechanisms playing a role in isolation are unknown. The fungi concerned are supposed to occupy specialized microniches in nature, taking advantage of (1) oligotrophism. Mineral oil as a main selective agent may be based on (2) hydrophobicity or on (3) assimilation. All three hypotheses are tested in this paper. Results show that cell wall hydrophobicity is unlikely to be a selective factor. Incubation under poor nutrient conditions provides competitive advantage for black yeasts, especially for Exophiala strains, which are subsequently enriched by mineral oil which enhances growth in this group of fungi. Incubation under mineral media and mineral oil can be used as selective factor.