A new species of Physalaemus (Amphibia; Leptodactylidae) from the Atlantic forest in southeastern Brazil

A new species of leptodactylid frog, Physalaemus atlanticus, is described from Ubatuba, northern coast of São Paulo in southeastern Brazil. The new species belongs to the Physalaemus signifer species group and is characterized by the following set of characters: small size (males 20.1-22.1 mm SVL, females 21.0-23.9 mm SVL); canthus rostralis distinct; dorsal skin texture smooth to slightly rugose; belly orange in life; advertisement call with duration of 0.6-0.84 s and frequency between 0.9-1.8 kHz. Descriptions of the advertisement call and tadpole are provided, as well as information on natural history.

Luminescence effect in amorphous PLT

Amorphous and crystalline powder of PLT phase was synthesized by using the Pechini method. Infrared (FTIR) analysis of the polymeric resin shows intense bands of organic materials from 250 to 1620 cm(-1). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectra of calcined powder at different temperatures show amorphous phase at 450 degrees C/3 h, semi-crystalline phase at 550 degrees C/3 h and a crystalline phase at 800 degrees C/3 h. Luminescence effect was observed in amorphous powder calcined from 300 to 350 degrees/3 h with broad absorption peaks in 579 nm at 300 degrees C/3 h and 603 rum at 350 degrees C/3 h, respectively. The photoluminescence effect is attributed to emissions of Ti -> 0 directly from the oxygen 2p orbital (valence band) to the titanate 3d orbital (conduction bands). (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

NUMERICAL DETERMINATION OF THE ORDER OF PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN ISING SYSTEMS WITH MULTISPIN INTERACTIONS

The method of the fourth-order cumulant of Challa, Landau, and Binder is used together with the Monte Carlo histogram technique of Ferrenberg and Swendsen to study the order of the phase transitions of two-dimensional Ising systems with multispin interactions in the horizontal direction and two-body interactions in the vertical direction.

EQCM study during lithium insertion/deinsertion processes in Nb2O5 films prepared by polymeric precursor method

The electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) technique was used to study two chemically distinct Nb2O5 electrochromic thin films (one pure and the other lithium-doped) during the lithium electroinsertion reaction. In the initial cycles, the electrode showed an irreversible mass variation greater than expected for Li+ insertion/deinsertion processes, which was attributed to the wettability effect (allied to the porous morphology) that emerged as the dominant process in apparent electrode mass changes. As the cycles progressed, the mass variation stabilized and the changes in apparent mass became reversible, showing a good correlation with the charge variations.The results generally indicated that the Li+ insertion/deinsertion process occurred more easily in the Nb2O5-doped film, which also displayed a greater capacity for Li+ insertion. However, a total mass/charge balance analysis revealed that the stoichiometry of the Li+ solid state insertion/deinsertion reaction was similar in the two electrodes under study. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Subfamilial affiliation of Neoscirula (Acari : Prostigmata : Cunaxidae) and descriptions of three new species of this genus from Brazil

The original affiliation of the genus Neoscirula Den Heyer to the subfamily Coleoscirinae Den Heyer, 1979 is maintained. Three new species of this genus are described and illustrated, viz. N. flechtmanni sp. nov., N. oliveirai sp. nov. and N. queirozi sp. nov.. A key to the Brazilian and South African species is provided.

Description of a new species of Pseudopaludicola Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926 from the state of São Paulo, Southeastern Brazil (Anura, Leiuperidae)

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

A new genus, with a new species, from Brazil (Acari : Prostigmata : Cunaxidae)

A new cunaxid genus from Brazil, Cunaxatricha gen. nov., is erected and its type species, Cunaxatricha tarsospinosa sp. nov. is described and figured. A key to the genera of the subfamily Cunaxinae, to which this new genus belongs, is provided.

Four new cunaxoidine genera (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae) and the description of two new Neotropical species

In this paper the genus Cunaxoides Baker & Hoffmann, 1948, as delimited by Den Heyer (1979a, 1981b), is revised and divided into five genera, viz. Cunaxoides Baker & Hoffmann, Bunaxella gen. nov., Dunaxeus gen. nov., Funaxopsis gen. nov. and Qunaxella gen. nov.. Two new Neotropical species, Dunaxoides duosetosus and Qunaxella triasetosa are described and figured. Additional southern African material is reported. A key to the genera and species of the new genera of the subfamily Cunaxoidinae is provided.

New Neotropical cunaxine species (Acari: Prostigmata: Cunaxidae)

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

A new phytophagous Bracon Fabricius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) associated with Protium ovatum Engl. (Burseraceae) fruits from Brazilian savannah

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

New Neotropical species of Ceraeochrysa Adams (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Species of Ceraeochrysa Adams are distributed from southeast Canada to Argentina. Larvae feed on aphids, thrips, white flies, mites, and neonatal larvae of Lepidoptera in varied agroecosystems. Seven species are known in Venezuela, viz. Ceraeochrysa achillea Freitas & Penny, C. angulata (Navas), C. bitacornua Freitas & Penny, C. caligata (Banks), C. cubana (Hagen), C. everes (Banks), and C. valida (Banks). In this study, three species are described as new to science, Ceraeochrysa melaenopareia sp. nov., Ceraeochrysa pittieri sp. nov., and Ceraeochrysa torresi sp. nov.

Cytotaxonomy of the crickets Endecous Saussure, 1878 with an overview of the chromosomes of Phalangopsinae Group (Orthoptera: Phalangopsinae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A new synonym, a new male description and new geographical records for three Ceraeochrysa species (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Ceraeochrysa Adams is the largest genus in Chrysopini with 62 valid species distributed in the New World. The taxonomy of this group is complex and largely based on male genitalic characters. There are still serious complications, especially with the species that have been described solely from female specimens. The male of C. montoyana (Navas, 1913), unknown previously, is herein described for the first time, and compared with its closest relative, C. claveri (Navas, 1911). Ceraeochrysa acutipuppis Adams & Penny, 1985 is designated as a junior synonym of C. fairchildi (Banks, 1946) based on the evidence that both species share external morphological features uncommon in other species of the genus. The species C. claveri, C. fairchildi and C. montoyana are recorded from Venezuela for the first time. External morphology and genitalia of these insects are described and illustrated.