Patterns of shell utilization in Petrochirus diogenes (Decapoda, Anomura, Diogenidae) in the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil

The objective of this study is to investigate the patterns of shell utilization in Petrochirus diogenes in the Ubatuba region, SP, Brazil. Hermit crabs were obtained from 1993 to 1996 with the aid of a shrimp fishery boat equipped with two double-rigged trawling nets. Shells were identified and weighed, and their maximum aperture width was measured. Hermit crabs were weighed, and their shield length was recorded. A total of 634 P. diogenes specimens, occupying shells of 12 gastropod species, was obtained. The shells of Tonna galea, Zidona dufresnei and Strombus pugilis were the most frequently occupied, the first marked by its larger aperture width and lower average weight. Small hermit crabs inhabited a wide variety of gastropod shells due to their higher availability. However, the utilization of T. galea shells became predominant as the crabs attained larger sizes. Differences in weight and aperture width are known to encourage certain shell utilization patterns and may affect growth and reproduction of hermit crabs.

Juvenile development of the crab Bathyrhombila sp (Crustacea, Decapoda, Pseudorhombilidae) from megalopae obtained in the neuston

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

Screening of bacterial strains for pectinolytic activity: characterization of the polygalacturonase produced by Bacillus sp

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

Characterization of a cellulase-free xylanase producing Bacillus sp for biobleaching of kraft pulp

Application of the xylanase in the pulp bleaching process has been shown to be effective in decreasing the amount of chlorinating agents in the process and improving the brightness of the pulp. The use of thermostable cellulase-free xylanase might enhance both the technical and economic feasibility of the process. In this work an alkalophylic strain of Bacillus sp 77-2, was isolated which showed a high production of xylanase and free cellulases. The xylanase of Bacillus sp displayed an optimum pH of 6.0 (with 70% activity at pH 9.0), all optimum temperature of 60 degrees C, pH stability in the range 5-10 and thermal stability of 50 degrees C. These characteristics are important to the kraft pulp bleaching because they are similar to those found in the industrial paper environment.

Biology of a catfish, Trichomycterus sp (Pisces, Siluriformes), in a pristine stream in the Morro do Diabo State Park, southeastern Brazil

The distribution, activity, diet, and reproduction of an undescribed catfish species of the genus Trichomycterus (Trichomycteridae) were studied in the Morro do Diabo State Park, an important conservation area in the Rio Paranapanema basin, State of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Trichomycterus sp. is a rheophilic species occurring solely in the riffle areas of the streams and hunts mostly immature aquatic insects during the day by picking them from the substrate. The population has a balanced sex ratio, but females were uncommon in the smallest and largest size classes suggesting that females demonstrate a more accelerated growth pattern. Presence of mature individuals throughout the year represents an opportunistic reproductive tactic for fishes living in fast flowing waters, where the clutches could be shifted by the current, but the high incidence of mature individuals in the wet season may be related to optimal environmental conditions for juveniles during that period. Because of the restriction of Trichomycterus sp. to riffle environments, the conservation of this species depends on the maintenance of the original characteristics of these headwaters. That demands protecting the riparian vegetation and consequently the stream from excessive siltation resulting from runoff and erosion.

A survey of the entomofauna associated with the inflorescences of pejibaye (Arecaceae: Bactris gasipaes Kunth) in the Ribeira Valley, SP, Brazil

A cultura da pupunheira (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) vem se expandindo no Brasil, especialmente no Vale do Ribeira, SP, onde encontra condição edafoclimática compatível à sua produção. Com o objetivo de conhecer os insetos visitantes da inflorescência da pupunheira, foi realizado levantamento em duas áreas de coleção de pupunheiras selecionadas originárias de Yurimaguas, Peru, no - Polo Regional do Vale do Ribeira - APTA/SAA-SP, localizado no Município de Pariquera-açu, SP, e em uma propriedade particular no Município de Registro, SP. Durante o mês de janeiro de 2006 e 2007, foram instaladas armadilhas adesivas entomológicas amarelas em inflorescências de diferentes matrizes de pupunheira logo após a abertura de suas brácteas, as quais foram mantidas durante a antese feminina e masculina e retiradas no término do ciclo, cerca de 72 horas. Efetuou-se a separação, contagem e identificação ao nível de ordem dos 9.743 insetos totais coletados. Verificou-se que os insetos mais frequentes na inflorescência da pupunheira no Vale do Ribeira, SP, pertencem às ordens Diptera, Coleoptera e Hymenoptera.

Larval Contracaecum sp (Nematoda : Anisakidae) in Hoplias malabaricus and Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Osteichthyes : Erythrinidae) of economic importance in occidental marshlands of Maranhao, Brazil

This work describes the presence of Contracaecum sp. larvae (Nematoda: Anisakidae) found in food fish of economic importance captured in occidental marshlands in the State of Maranhao, Brazil. Hoplias malabaricus (Erythrinidae) and Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus (Erythrinidae), commonly called traira and jeju, respectively, were examined. All H. malabaricus were infected with a mean intensity of 24.6 +/- 38.3 (1-137 parasites per host) while eighty percent of H. unitaeniatus showed a mean intensity of 10.4 +/- 9.2 (2-31) parasites. Nematodes were most similar to larvae of a type 2 described by Moravec, Kohn and Fernandes [Moravec, F., Kohn, A., Fernandes, B.M.M., 1993. Nematode parasites of fishes of the Parana River, Brazil. Part 2. Seuratoidea, Ascaridoidea, Habronematoidea and Acuarioidea. Folia Parasitol. 40, 115-134], but differed in having a longer intestinal caecum and greater caecum/ventricular appendix ratio. Larval measurements and a description of their Brazilian fish hosts are presented. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Production and characterization of alpha-amylase from Rhizopus sp

A strain of Rhizopus sp. screened among more than 800 filamentous fungi showed great ability to produce a thermostable alpha-amylase by solid state fermentation. The best production was obtained with a bran moisture content of 40% when the enzyme activity reached 60 EU/g. of medium. During the purification procedures, a column of DEAE-Sephadex A-50 separated the enzyme in two fractions and the larger (85% of the total activity) showed optimum pH in a range from 4.0 to 5.6. Optimum temperature was found at 60-65 degrees C and in this range no loss of activity was observed after 60 min. of treatment in pH 5,0. Its K-m and V-m are, respectively, of 5.0 mg/ml of starch and 10,01 uMol of reducing sugar/min./mg. of protein. Its molecular weight was calculated in 64.000 by gel filtration in Sephadex G-200. The dextrinization power of the enzyme was observed preferentialy on substrates compound by chains with higher ramifications, that is: amylopectin > starch > amylose. Other aspects of the enzyme pattern action are also discussed.

Relationship between carbon source, production and pattern action of alpha-amilase from Rhizopus sp

This paper discusses the inducer effect of corn soluble starch and the individual components (amylose and amylopectin) from corn and potatoes starch for alpha-amylase production by a strain of Rhizopus sp. The following decreasing order in the enzyme production was obtained: corn amylose > potatoes amylose > corn amylopectin > potatoes amylopectin > starch > maltose, coinciding with the ability of the enzyme to release reducing units, except the soluble starch that was more softly hydrolysed. However, when the enzyme action was measured by the iodine binding method, an inverse order of enzyme activity was obtained, that is: amylopectins > starch > amylosis. The results suggest that: a) branched structures in substrate affect the enzyme production; b) corn amylose and corn amylopectin are better inducers than their respectives homologous from potatoes; c) cc-amylase from Rhizopus sp has different action patterns on substrates with straight or branched chains: from the former, it removes only reducing units with lower molecular weight (G1-G3); from the latter it also removes oligosaccharides with higher molecular weight (G5-G6).

Stimulation of polygalacturonase production in an immobilized system by Aspergillus sp.: effect of pectin and glucose

The synthesis of polygalacturonases (PG) is known to be influenced by Aspergillus growth conditions, namely, environmental factors and pectin content in the cultivation medium containing a mixed carbon source. Optimal conditions were attained at a temperature of 30 A degrees C and an initial pH of 4.5. PG activity (3.29 and 2.48 U/mL) was determined after a two-day culture of Aspergillus sp. HC1 and Aspergillus sp. CC1, respectively, in a basic medium containing 2% citrus pectin as the sole carbon source. The addition of glucose (2% w/v) to the basic medium led to a 2-fold increase in PG production. However, enzyme synthesis was repressed when a higher concentration of glucose was used in the medium containing the mixed carbon source. Spores from the two fungi were immobilized in a 3% Ca-alginate system and the mechanical strength of the gel beads allowed the use of this process system 6-fold longer (288 h) than the free culture. In the Aspergillus sp. CC1 immobilized system, PG production increased nearly 10-fold in the medium with 2% glucose added (5.95 U/mL) in comparison to the medium without sugar (0.55 U/mL). The results demonstrate that a different response in activity was produced by free and entrapped spore systems. PG production remained approximately constant throughout the six 48 h cycles in the medium containing citrus pectin (2% w/v) as the sole carbon source.

Caries experience associated to social and preventive factors in children of a pastoral community from Limeira-SP

Aim: To evaluate caries experience and prevalence associated to social and preventive factors in 3-6-year-old children of a Pastoral Community from Limeira, Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out through an epidemiologic research about the oral conditions of 110 children registered at the Children's Pastoral Community from the city of Limeira, SP, Brazil. Intraoral examination was performed by a trained dentist and the parents/caregivers filled out a questionnaire in order to outline the children's profile with respect to gender, parental education and oral health. Results: Differences related to gender were not detected (p= 0.3404). The most frequent periods of breastfeeding were 0 to 2 months (36.36%) and 2 to 6 months (35.45%), corresponding to 71.81% of the cases. The time bottle feeding pointed to two most frequent categories: 1) more than 12 months (35.45%) and 2) between 2 and 6 months (22.63%). Regarding parental education, the majority of the sample has not completed primary school (38.32%). It was observed a larger number of decayed teeth in male children (63.39%). Caries experience was significantly higher in children who were breastfed for only 2 months of life (41.96%). Children that did not use baby bottle or did not use a baby bottle for more than 1 year presented a smaller dmft, corresponding to 29.17% and 28.33%, respectively. Time of use of bottle and pacifier presented a significant association (p<0.05). Conclusions: The implementation of adequate strategies and actions is needed to reinforce oral health conditions in risk groups.

Characterization of metal-biomass interactions in the lanthanum(III) biosorption on Sargassum sp using SEM/EDX, FTIR, and XPS: Preliminary studies

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aspects of the activity rhythm and population size of troglophilic mygalomorph spiders (Trechona sp., Dipluridae) in a quartzite cave in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Escovopsis trichodermoides sp nov., isolated from a nest of the lower attine ant Mycocepurus goeldii

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Space-time description of dengue epidemic in Cruzeiro, SP, in 2006 and 2011

Objective: to identify patterns in the spatial and temporal distribution of cases of dengue fever occurring in the city of Cruzeiro, state of Sao Paulo (SP).Methods: an ecological and exploratory study was undertaken using spatial analysis tools and data from dengue cases obtained on the SinanNet. The analysis was carried out by area, using the IBGE census sector as a unit. The months of March to June 2006 and 2011 were assessed, revealing progress of the disease. TerraView 3.3.1 was used to calculate the Global Moran's I, month to month, and the Kernel estimator.Results: in the year 2006, 691 cases of dengue fever (rate of 864.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants) were georeferenced; and the Moran's I and p-values were significant in the months of April and May (TM = 0.28; p = 0.01; I-M = 0.20; p = 0.01) with higher densities in the central, north, northeast and south regions. In the year 2011, 654 cases of dengue fever (rate of 886.8 cases/100,000 inhabitants) were georeferenced; and the Moran's I and p-values were significant in the months of April and May (I, = 0.28; p = 0.01; I-M = 0.16; p = 0.05) with densities in the same regions as 2006. The Global Moran's I is a global measure of spatial autocorrelation, which indicates the degree of spatial association in the set of information from the product in relation to the average. The I varies between -1 and +1 and can be attributed to a level of significance (p-value). The positive value points to a positive or direct spatial autocorrelation.Conclusion: we were able to identify patterns in the spatial and temporal distribution of dengue cases occurring in the city of Cruzeiro, SP, and locate the census sectors where the outbreak began and how it evolved.