Structure of the Lining Epithelium of the Cauda Epididymis of the Golden Hamster

The ductus epididymis has roles in the maturation and storage of spermatozoa. The main function of the cauda epididymis is the storage of spermatozoa; however, this region exerts other morphophysiological roles. So, this study was aimed at investigating structural features of the cauda epididymis epithelium, which could indicate roles other than the storage. The relative percentages of the cell types in the epithelium were 74.9, 6.9, 12.5 and 5.6% of principal, clear, basal and halo cells respectively. Large intercellular spaces were seen among the lateral plasmatic membranes of adjacent principal cells or among these cells and others cell types. These spaces were found to be filled with multivesicular bodies, myelin figures, scrolls and debris of membranes or flocculent dense material. Clear cells had the cytoplasms filled with lysosomes (3/4 of basal cytoplasm), and vacuoles and vesicles (1/4 of apical cytoplasm). The observations allowed us to infer that clear cells could act in the process of endocytosis and also in water transfer from the lumen to the interstitium through the epithelium compartment. Moreover, transcytosis may occur at the cauda epididymis of Golden hamster.

Historical biogeography and conservation of the golden-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica) in northwestern Iberia: integrating ecological, phenotypic and phylogeographic data

The golden-striped salamander (Chioglossa lusitanica) is an endemic species inhabiting stream-side habitats in mountainous areas in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula. This salamandrid is listed in the IUCN Red Data Book as a threatened species. The combination of bioclimatic modeling of the species distribution and multivariate analysis of genetic and phenotypic data strengthens previous hypotheses concerning the historical biogeography of C. lusitanica: the Pleistocene subdivision of the species' range and a process of postglacial recolonization. Discrepancies between bioclimatic modeling predictions and the present-day distribution suggest that the species may still be expanding its range northwards. We propose the identification of two distinct units for the conservation of the species and suggest that this information should be taken into account in defining key areas for conservation in the Iberian Peninsula.

Does gestation or feeding affect the body temperature of the golden lancehead, Bothrops insularis (Squamata: Viperidae) under field conditions?

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

Morphological variation in two genetically distinct groups of the golden-striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica (Amphibia : Urodela)

Morphometric and colour pattern variation in the endemic Iberian salamander Chioglosso lusitanica is concordant with the genetic differentiation of two groups of populations separated by the Mondego river ill Portugal. Salamanders from the south have shorter digits than those from the north. Clinal variation with a south to north increase in limb. toe and finger length was found superiniposed on this dichotomy resulting in stepped clines for characters describing appendage size. Genetic variability was paralleled by colour pattern variability in the contact zone and in northern populations. To explain the observed parallels we invoke the neutral processes of vicariant isolation. admixture in a secondary contact zone, genetic drift in addition to selection acting along all environmental gradient. Morphological constraints imposed by a highly specialized ecological niche may explain why the genetic subdivision of C. lusitanica since the early, Pleistocene has remained fairly cryptic.

The Perception of Smile Attractiveness Variations from Esthetic Norms, Photographic Framing and Order of Presentation

Objectives: To evaluate the attractiveness of a smile according to variations from esthetic norms, photographic framing, and the order of the presentation of photographs.Materials and Methods: A photograph of an individual was selected and digitally manipulated to create the following smiles: an ideal control smile (I), a smile with diastema (D1), a smile with midline deviation (LM3), a smile with deviation from the long axes of the lateral incisors (10D), and a smile with an inverted smile arc (LSRV). The manipulated photographs were developed in framings of the face and of the mouth and evaluated by 20 laypeople. For half the evaluators, the presentation started with facial photographs and, for the other half, the presentation began with the mouth shots. Evaluators were asked to rank the photographs from the least to the most attractive; then, each photograph was awarded a mark (scale of 0.0 to 10.0).Results: In both presentations, the smiles I, LM3, 10D, and LSRV received favorable ratings, whereas the D1 smile got poor ratings. The photographic framings used (face vs mouth) and the order of presentation of the photographs did not influence the rankings.Conclusion: The absence of variations from beauty norms of a smile has a positive impact on its esthetic perception, but variations from the norms do not necessarily result in reduced attractiveness. (Angle Orthod. 2009;79:634-639.)

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.

Nonsphericity of the Moon and Near Sun-Synchronous Polar Lunar Orbits

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

Recursive renormalization of the singlet one-pion-exchange plus point-like interactions

The subtracted kernel approach is shown to be a powerful method to be implemented recursively in scattering equations with regular plus point-like interactions. The advantages of the method allows one to recursively renormalize the potentials, with higher derivatives of the Dirac-delta, improving previous results. The applicability of the method is verified in the calculation of the 1 So nucleon-nucleon phase-shifts, when considering a potential with one-pion-exchange plus a contact interaction and its derivatives. The S-1(0) renormalization parameters are fitted to the data. The method can in principle be extended to any derivative order of the contact interaction, to higher partial waves and to coupled channels. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal study of mononuclear Pd(II) complexes of the type [Pd(X)(2)(Rtu)(PPh3)] (X = Cl, SCN; Rtu = N-methylthiourea, N-phenylthiourea)

The synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, and thermal analysis of the compounds [Pd(X)(2)(mtu)(PPh3)] (X = Cl- (1), SCN- (2); mtu = N-methylthiourea; PPh3 = triphenylphosphine) and [Pd(X)(2)(phtu)(PPh3)] (X = Cl- (3), SCN- (4); phtu = N-phenylthiourea) are described. The thermal decomposition of the compounds occurs in two, three, or four stages and the final decomposition products were identified as Pd-0 by X-ray powder diffraction. The thermal stability order of the complexes is 4 > 3 > 2 > 1.

On the effects of each term of the geopotential perturbation along the time I: Quasi-circular orbits

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Band-edge states of the zero(th)-order gap in quasi-periodic photonic superlattices

The photonic modes of Thue-Morse and Fibonacci lattices with generating layers A and B, of positive and negative indices of refraction, are calculated by the transfer-matrix technique. For Thue-Morse lattices, as well for periodic lattices with AB unit cell, the constructive interference of reflected waves, corresponding to the zero(th)-order gap, takes place when the optical paths in single layers A and B are commensurate. In contrast, for Fibonacci lattices of high order, the same phenomenon occurs when the ratio of those optical paths is close to the golden ratio. In the long wavelength limit, analytical expressions defining the edge frequencies of the zero(th) order gap are obtained for both quasi-periodic lattices. Furthermore, analytical expressions that define the gap edges around the zero(th) order gap are shown to correspond to the = 0 and = 0 conditions.

A study of a numerical solution of the steady two dimensions Navier-Stokes equations in a constricted channel problem by a compact fourth order method

We present a numerical solution for the steady 2D Navier-Stokes equations using a fourth order compact-type method. The geometry of the problem is a constricted symmetric channel, where the boundary can be varied, via a parameter, from a smooth constriction to one possessing a very sharp but smooth corner allowing us to analyse the behaviour of the errors when the solution is smooth or near singular. The set of non-linear equations is solved by the Newton method. Results have been obtained for Reynolds number up to 500. Estimates of the errors incurred have shown that the results are accurate and better than those of the corresponding second order method. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Phylogenetic analysis of the order Pleuronectiformes (Teleostei) based on sequences of 12S and 16S mitochondrial genes

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

Geographical variation in the golden-striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica Bocage, 1864 and the description of a newly recognized subspecies

Morphological and genetic data for the Iberian golden- striped salamander, Chioglossa lusitanica, demonstrate the existence of two groups with southern and northern ranges, connected by a zone of intergradation in central Portugal. Because reproductive isolation between them is incomplete we consider the groups to be subspecies. The type locality of C. lusitanica ( Bucaco near Lousa) is situated inside the mixed zone. This necessitates identification of the nominotypical subspecies. We sequenced a fragment of mitochondrial DNA from one of the species' syntypes and we determined what position over a latitudinal transect maximizes the morphological discrimination between the groups. Both approaches indicate that C. lusitanica from Bucaco represents the southern subspecies. A new subspecies of C. lusitanica is described from a northern locality ( Valongo near Porto in northwestern Portugal). A lectotype is designated for Chioglossa lusitanica.

Generalization of the Hamilton-Jacobi approach for higher-order singular systems

We generalize the Hamilton-Jacobi formulation for higher-order singular systems and obtain the equations of motion as total differential equations. To do this we first study the constraints structure present in such systems.