Ultrastructural studies of the mandibular glands of the minima, media and soldier ants of Atta sexdens rubropilosa (Forel 1908)

The mandibular glands of Hymenoptera are structures associated with the mandibles and constitute part of the salivary glands system. Histological studies in workers of Atta sexdens rubropilosa revealed that this gland contains two portions: a secretory and a storage portion or reservoir. Both portions are connected by means of canaliculi. The object of the present work was the study of the ultratructure of the mandibular glands of minima, media and soldier ant of A. s. rubropilosa by TEM techniques. The glands, in the three castes studied, possess a reservoir, constituted by a simple pavementous epithelium surrounded by the cuticular intima and the secretory portion is constituted by cells of rounded shape. The secretory cells, mainly of minima and soldier, were rich in smooth endoplasmic reticulum. The media worker and soldier presented a large number of mitochondria, of varying shape. Well-developed Golgi complexes were also present in the soldiers. The secretory cells in minima, media and soldier were provided with collecting intracellular canaliculi, which were linked to the reservoir through the extracellular portion. The cytoplasm of the canaliculi-forming cell was poor in organelles. In the individuals of the three castes of A. s. rubropilosa, the presence of lipid secretion granules suggested, beyond the other functions, also a possible pheromonal action. The different roles executed by the different insect castes are directly dependent on the glandular products and, consequently, on the secretory cellular characteristics. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of different media for the production of cephalosporins by Streptomyces clavuligerus ATCC 27064

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

Spectrophotometric Evaluation of the Behavior of Disperse Red 1 Dye in Aqueous Media and its Interaction with Calf Thymus ds-DNA

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

Effect of growing media and fertilizers on the early growth of Aechmea fasciata Bak

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The characterisation of the protective film formed by benzotriazole on the 90/10 copper-nickel alloy surface in H2SO4 media

The nature of the protective film formed by benzotriazole (BTAH) on the surface of the 90/10 CuNi alloy in deaerated 0.5 mol L-1 H2SO4 solution containing Fe(III) ions as oxidant was investigated by weight-loss, calorimetric measurements, and by surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). The SERS measurements show that the protective film is composed by the [Cu(I)BTA](n), polymeric complex and that the BTAH molecules are also adsorbed on the electrode surface. A modification of the BET isotherm for adsorption of gases ill solids is proposed to describe the experimental results obtained from weight-loss experiments that suggest an adsorption in multilayers. Electrochemical studies of copper and nickel in 0.5 mol L-1 H2SO4 in presence and absence of BTAH have also been made as an aid to interpret the results. The calculated adsorption free energy of the cuprous benzotriazolate on the surface of the alloy is in accordance with the value for pure copper. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Investigation of the corrosion behaviour of AA 2024-T3 in low concentrated chloride media

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

Electromyographic study of the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles during respiration

The authors studied the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles during deep inspiration and expiration. The electromyographic records demonstrated that these muscles showed no activity in either phase of breathing.

Electromyographic study of the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles in free movements of the head

The authors studied the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles in movements of flexion, extension, inclination and rotation of the head. The electromyographic records demonstrated that referred muscles are inactive in these different movements.

Electromyographic study of the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles in movements of the arm (part 1)

The participation of the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles in free movements of abduction, adduction, flexion, extension and hyperextension of the arm was studied electromyographically. These muscles were active and synergic in all analysed movements, both acting with intensity that ranged from moderate to very marked.

Electromyographic study of the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles in movements of the arm (part 2)

The participation of the trapezius (pars media) and rhomboideus major muscles were studied electromyographically in movements of lateral and medial rotation (free and against resistance) of the arm. In the majority of cases both muscles were inactive during the performance of the analysed movements. Cases in which only one or both muscles acted in free rotation occurred only at the second half or ending of the movement. Records of electrical potentials during against resistance rotation were due to tensional efforts at the shoulder level.

Effects of rooting media, indolbutyric acid and fertilization on the rooting of rose (Rosa sp. 'Dalas') leafy cuttings

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of rooting media (vermiculite, carbonized rice bark, fenolic spume and sand), presence of IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) and presence of fertilization during the rooting of rose (Rosa sp.) leafy cuttings, Dalas cultivar. This investigation was carried out in Jaboticabal (Sao Paulo State - Brazil) during the period of March to April 1997. The experimental design was a randomized block in a factorial arrangement. It consisted of 16 treatments (the 4 rooting media combined with IBA concentrated solutions - 0 and 1.000 ppm and fertilizer - 0 and commercial product with macro and micronutrients, applied weekly) with 3 replicates. The evaluations were 30 days after cuttings showed that the best rooting percentage occurs in sand (98%), followed by vermiculite (90%) and fenolic spume (87%) and cuttings treated with IBA (95%), while the fertilization showed no promoting effects. The number of cuttings roots wasn't affected with rooting media or DBA treatment, while the fertilization showed effective.

Evaluation of Three Formulations of Culture Media for Isolation of Brucella spp. regarding Their Ability to Inhibit the Growth of Contaminating Organisms

Three culture media (Brucella agar, Farrell medium, and CITA) were compared for their effectiveness in inhibiting contamination and for isolating Brucella spp. One hundred lymph nodes from pigs (n = 50) and wild boars (n = 50) with lymphadenitis were collected in slaughterhouses in the State of Sao Paulo and were assessed on these three selective media for Brucella spp. All of the samples were negative for Brucella spp. on the three culture media. On the agar medium, fungal (70 plates) and Gram-positive bacterial (59 plates) contaminants were observed; in the CITA medium, the absence of fungal and Gram-positive bacteria on 15 plates was observed; no bacterial or fungal growth was observed on the Farrell media. The results demonstrated that the CITA and Farrell media inhibited the growth of contaminants better than the Brucella agar.