Growth of the speckled swimming crab, Arenaeus cribrarius (Lamarck, 1818) (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae), in Ubatuba (SP), Brazil

A total of 2629 individuals of Arenaeus cribrarius (1293 males and 1336 females) were captured in Ubatuba (SP), from August 1996 to July 1997. Individuals were distributed in 5 mm size class carapace width (CW), to verify sex-specific growth-age equations. The Von Bertalanffy model was chosen to determine the growth rate and expressed by CW=120.52[1-e(-1.80t)] for males and CW=100.81[1-e(-1.60t)] for females. The age estimated for the first juvenile stage (t(o)) was 6.1 and 8.3 days for males and females, respectively. The maximum age determined was 1.8 years for males and 2 years for females, which correspond to a maximum size of 115.8 and 96.7 mm, respectively. The maximum size (CWmax) estimated using 95% of asymptotic size was 114.5 mm for males and 95.8 mm for females. Males have a precocious sexual maturity (5 months) when compared to females (6.8 months). The growth rate and size of A. cribrarius are higher than other portunid species, with great interest for aquaculture.

Arraste via fecal de nutrientes da ingestão produzido por bagaço de mandioca hidrolisado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fatores genéticos e de meio na produção de leite de caprinos leiteiros

Objetivou-se, no presente estudo, avaliar a produção de leite de caprinos leiteiros da região sudeste do Brasil, com intuito de verificar os fatores de meio e estimar os parâmetros genéticos pelo método dos mínimos quadrados (MMQ). Os controles de 1336 lactações foram inicialmente ajustados pela função multifásica (difásica) e calculou-se a produção de leite total (PLT). Os dados foram provenientes de sete propriedades e três raças (Parda Alpina, Saanen e Toggenburg). A média e o erro-padrão da PLT estimados pelo MMQ foram de 635,31 ±39,75 kg. A interação ano x estação do parto influenciou a PLT. em um dos anos estudados, a PLT foi menor para as cabras paridas no final da estação. Nas três estações de parto, observou-se comportamento quadrático da PLT, em função dos anos de parto. Para as três estações, a PLT aumentou de 1986 até meados de 1990, decrescendo em seguida. A idade de máxima PLT foi observada aos 46,65 meses. Das três raças estudadas, observou-se que as raças Parda Alpina e Saanen apresentaram alternância de superioridade na PLT em algumas fazendas, porém maiores que a Toggenburg. Os coeficientes de herdabilidade e repetibilidade da PLT estimados pelo MMQ foram de 0,296 ± 0,079 e 0,277 ± 0,033, respectivamente. Estes resultados revelam baixa confiabilidade em poucas observações dessas características ou na inconsistência das estimativas da função multifásica. Como a PLT é uma característica limitada ao sexo, sugere-se o teste de progênie como método de seleção mais eficiente para os reprodutores e uso de inseminação artificial como processo de disseminação do material genético selecionado.

BONE SPREADER TECHNIQUE: A PRELIMINARY 3-YEAR STUDY

The purpose of this study was to observe the clinical outcome of bone spreading and standardized dilation of horizontally resorbed bone during immediate implant placement using a "screw-type" configuration of expansion and threadformers. Fifty-three patients were included in this study, and 41 edentulous areas in anterior and posterior maxillas were treated. Sixty-eight implants were placed using an insertion torque of at least 40 Ncm. Abutments were delivered 4 to 6 months after implant placement. The overall failure percentage was 4.41% (3 failures). A retrieved analysis of I implant removed at 3 years after placement demonstrated bone resorption down to the level of the third thread. The bone spreader technique is different from Summers' osteotome, both in clinical use and in armamentarium. The main advantage of the crest-expanding technique is that it is a less invasive procedure; the facial wall expands after the medullary bone is compressed against the cortical wall. Within the limits of this preliminary study, the cumulative survival rate for this method of implant placement is 95.58% at 3 years. This study confirms that a bone spreader used in the maxilla shows an unusually low failure rate after 3 years.

Comportamento de cultivares de pepino (Cucumis sativus L.) em duas épocas de semeadura

O desenvolvimento e a produção de frutos para consumo in natura dos cultivares de pepino 'Marketer IAC-2205', 'Palomar IAC-3050', 'Santee IAC-2441', 'Verde Paulistano IAC-1386' e 'Aodai 1-4321' foram estudados em duas épocas de semeadura, 5 de maio e 5 de dezembro, em Campinas, SP. Para todos os cultivares, as plantas semeadas em dezembro cresceram mais e desenvolveram-se com maior rapidez que as plantas semeadas em maio; entretanto, as produções das plantas semeadas em maio foram maiores e a qualidade de seus frutos foi superior. Tanto para as plantas semeadas em maio como para as semeadas em dezembro, 'Santee' apresentou produções baixas e frutos de má qualidade. 'Aodai' foi o cultivar mais produtivo e seus frutos foram os de melhor qualidade. As produções dos demais cultivares foram equivalentes. 'Verde Paulistano' apresentou a produção mais tardia. 0 comportamento de 'Marketer' foi pouco afetado pelas variações ambientais. As maiores produções de todos os cultivares, nas duas é poças, foram obtidas entre a terceira e a penúltima colheitas. Foram encontradas correlações positivas entre a produção de cada colheita e a produção total, entre a produção total e a produção comerciável, entre o número de frutos e seu peso, entre produção e a altura da planta e entre produção e número de ramos laterais da planta. A relação entre produções comerciável e total e o peso médio dos frutos diminuíram no final do ciclo das plantas.

Câncer de pele: uso de medidas preventivas e perfil demográfico de um grupo de risco na cidade de Botucatu

Buscou-se junto a um grupo de risco para o câncer de pele seu o perfil demográfico e analisou-se o uso de medidas preventivas utilizadas pelos mesmos e pela empresa. Estudo quantitativo com 33 carteiros da Empresa Brasileira de Correios e Telégrafos em Botucatu, Brasil. Dados obtidos por meio de um formulário que investigava perfil demográfico, tempo de trabalho na empresa, horário de exposição ao sol, história de queimaduras solares, história de câncer na família e formas de prevenção do câncer de pele utilizadas. Na análise dos dados, utilizou-se estatística descritiva segundo Teste Exato de Fisher ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. Os resultados mostraram que a faixa etária predominante foi de 26 a 30 e de 31 a 35 anos, correspondendo a 42,42% da amostra, a cor da pele foi à branca com 93,94% e 81,82% trabalham há mais de cinco anos na empresa. O hábito de usar filtro solar foi encontrado em 63,63% dos entrevistados, sendo a não aderência a este justificada em 75% por falta de costume. em relação aos equipamentos protetores do sol a empresa fornece para 100% deles. Os achados permitem a caracterização da população estudada, identificada como de risco para o câncer de pele, propiciando a profilaxia através de ações em saúde, visando à sensibilização dos mesmos para com as medidas preventivas que podem ser adotadas.

Temperature dependence of photoinduced birefringence in polystyrene doped with Disperse Red-1

A theoretical model on the basis of the free-volume concept is presented explaining the temperature dependence of photoinduced birefringence in polystyrene films that contain Disperse Red-1. Birefringence increases with temperature up to 180 K as the free volume for isomerization increases, and then decreases as thermally activated processes dominate. The fast process of birefringence decay has a time constant that increases with temperature at low temperatures, due to the change kin photoisomerization.

Combination of nickel and titanium complexes containing nitrogen ligands as catalyst for polyethylene reactor blending

Ethylene was polymerized using a combination of Ni(diimine)Cl-2 (1) (diimine = 1,4-bis(2,6-di-isopropylphenyl)-acenaphthenediimine) and {Tp(Ms)*} TiCl3 (2) (Tp(Ms)* = hydridobis(3-mesitylpyrazol-1-yl)(5-mesityl-pyrazol-1-yl)) compounds in the presence of methyl-aluminoxane (MAO) at 30 degrees C. The productivity reaches a maximum at X-Ni = 0.75 (1400 kg of PE/mol[M] . h), and the produced polyethylene (PE) showed maximal melt flow index (0.13 g/10 min) and minimal intrinsic viscosity (2.24 dL/g) compared to polyethylenes obtained with different values of nickel loading fractions (X-Ni). Productivity intrinsic viscosity data, as well as melt flow index measurements markedly depend upon the content of the late transition metal, thus suggesting a synergic effect between nickel and titanium catalysts.

Pion-distribution amplitude within the instanton model

The leading-twist pion-distribution amplitude is obtained at a low normalization scale of order ρc (inverse average size of an instanton). Pion dynamics, consistent with gauge invariance and low-energy theorems, is considered within the instanton vacuum model. The results are QCD-evolved to higher momentum-transfer values and are in agreement with recent data from CLEO on the pion transition form factor. It is also shown that some previous calculations violate the axial Ward-Takahashi identity. © 2001 MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica.

Diagnostic agreement of conventional and inverted scanned panoramic radiographs in the detection of the mandibular canal and the mental foramen.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic agreement of conventional panoramic radiographs and their inverted scanned images in the detection of the mandibular canal and mental foramen. A total of 77 panoramic radiographs obtained from the files of totally edentulous patients were used. Digitization was done by means of a scanner with brightness and contrast adjustment, as well as image inversion. The extension of mandibular canal was divided into anterior, middle, and posterior regions, and the presence of a radiopaque line that characterized the mandibular canal was classified according to a 5-point confidence scale. The mental foramen was classified in 4 types: continuous, separated, diffuse, and unidentified. Both conventional and inverted scanned panoramic radiographs were evaluated by 3 calibrated implantologists at 2 distinct moments with a minimum interval of 10 days between them. Intraexaminer agreement was evaluated by Kappa statistics by point and by 95% confidence interval. Because the intraexaminer level of agreement was low, interexaminer agreements could not be carried out. The results showed a substantial (in 2 situations), moderate (in 16 situations), and fair (in 18 situations) intraexaminer agreement for mandibular canal and a substantial (in 1 situation), fair (in 1 situation), and moderate (in 10 situations) intraeaminer agreement for mental foramen. There were no statistically significant differences in most instances. In conclusion, the diagnostic agreement of conventional and inverted scanned panoramic radiographs for detection of mandibular canal and mental foramen was low.

Feeding and condition factor of characidiin fish in Ribeirão Grande system, Southeastern Brazil

Feeding, seasonal changes in visceral fat and condition factor were compared in two species of characidiin fishes, Characidium lauroi and C. alipioi from Ribeirão Grande system, southeastern Brazil. Five streams of Ribeirão Grande system were sampled (22° 47' 08 S, 45° 28' 17W). The samples were taken four times per site, from July, 2001 to April, 2002: winter (July 2001), spring (October 2001), summer (February 2002) and autumn (April 2002). Quantitative collections were made with an electro-fishing device powered by a generator with maximum capacity of 1,500 V and 8.7 A of 60 Hz alternating current. Ephemeroptera nymphs, Diptera larvae (Chironomidae, Simuliidae), Plecoptera nymphs, Trichoptera larvae (Hydroptilidae, Psychoyiidae), terrestrial insects (Coleoptera, Isoptera, Hemiptera [Heteroptera, Homoptera]), Megaloptera larvae (Corydalidae), Arachnida, Ostracoda and vegetal debris were found in both species' diets. Visceral fat declined in February, coinciding with the decline of the condition factor in both species. The increased feeding from summer to fall provides fat accumulation. During subsequent seasons, fish may utilize visceral fat reserves for maintenance and reproduction.

A survey of radiographic measurement estimation in assessment of dental implant length.

The aim of this study is to survey radiographic measurement estimation in the assessment of dental implant length according to dentists' confidence. A 19-point questionnaire with closed-ended questions was used by two graduate students to interview 69 dentists during a dental implant meeting. Included were 12 questions related to over- and underestimation in three radiographic modalities: panoramic (P), conventional tomography (T), and computerized tomography (CT). The database was analyzed by Epi-Info 6.04 software and the values from two radiographic modalities, P and T, were compared using a chi2 test. The results showed that 38.24% of the dentists' confidence was in the overestimation of measurements in P, 30.56% in T, and 0% in CT. On the other hand, considering the underestimated measurements, the percentages were 47.06% in P, 33.33% in T, and 1.92% in CT. The frequency of under- and overestimation were statistically significant (chi2 = 6.32; P = .0425) between P and T. CT was the radiographic modality with higher measurement precision according to dentists' confidence. In conclusion, the interviewed dentists felt that CT was the best radiographic modality when considering the measurement estimation precision in preoperative dental implant assessment.

Avoiding leukocyte contamination and early platelet activation in platelet-rich plasma.

The objective of this study was to describe a new platelet-rich plasma (PRP) protocol with a reduced concentration of leukocytes and intact platelets. We collected 8 mL of venous blood (VB) from marginal ear veins of 10 male New Zealand white rabbits in acid dextrose citrate Vacutainer tubes. Tubes were centrifuged at 302g for 10 minutes. All plasma was collected in plastic tubes to avoid buffy-coat contamination and centrifuged at 2862g for 5 minutes. A 10% calcium chloride activator (10 PRP:2 CaCl2) was added to the lower third of this plasma (PRP), and the PRP gel was obtained. Mean platelet count was 317.7 x 10(3) +/- 39.9/microL in VB and 1344.9 x 10(3) +/- 347.5/microL in PRP. Leukocyte counts were 3.96 x 10(3) +/- 2.01/microL and 0.46 x 10(3) +/- 0.45/microL in VB and PRP, respectively. Mean platelet enrichment was 327.4 +/- 97.8%. All differences were statistically significant (P > .05). This protocol is practical and reproducible, resulting in a high concentration of intact platelets to help tissue repair and low levels of leukocytes.

Pasteuriza̧ão de turfa brasileira para o cultivo de Agaricus brasiliensis

Agaricus brasiliensis is a Brazilian basidiomycete which has been cultivated and consumed around the world as a therapeutic food. Casing layer is one of the most important steps on A. brasiliensis cultivation and European peat is the most used casing layer on Agaricus bisporus cultivation. Besides the importance of it on mushroom cultivation the peat import could be a risk of exotic organism introduction. Alternative as Brazilian peat is barely used for mushroom growers in Brazil. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate Brazilian peat with and without pasteurization as casing layer on A. brasiliensis cultivation. The fungus was previously grown on wheat grains and transferred to a substratum prepared by composted traditional method. After mycelium colonization of the substratum a pasteurized or non pasteurized Brazilian peat (casing layer) was added. It was concluded that pasteurization of the casing layer increases in 30% yield after 65 days of cultivation. There is no difference of yield for pasteurized and non pasteurized casing layer until 30 days of cultivation. An increase of flies is observed in non pasteurized casing layer. The production flush is easily perceived with pasteurized casing layer but not with non pasteurized casing layer.