Variação sazonal da fotossíntese, condutância estomática e potencial da água na folha de laranjeira 'Valência'

Seasonal variation in environmental conditions may influence gas exchange rates as well as water relations in perennial species. This work was carried out to evaluate photosynthetic rates (A), transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (g) and leaf water potential (psi f ) in 'Valencia' orange trees grafted on four different rootstocks. Measurements were made twice a day: from 9h00 to 11h00 a.m. and from 1h00 to 3h00 p.m., during January, March and July. A and g were significantly lower and psif was significantly more negative, in the afternoon. The decrease in A may be related to the reduction in g, due to the increase in the vapor pressure deficit between the air and the leaf (VPDair-leaf ) in the afternoon, when temperatures are higher. In spite of the partial stomatal closure in the afternoon, the values for E were approximately the same as those measured in the morning, due to the increase in the VPDair-leaf . A decrease in A and g could also be noted from January to July, that is, from the hot and humid summer months, to the colder and drier winter ones. It was suggested that the decrease in A and g observed from January through March, may be related to the decrease in plant growth rates, which could have influenced the source-sink relationships, since the climatic conditions for both months were similar. The decrease in A and g showed in July, seems to be related to the decrease in both the night temperature and the growth rate of plants.

Molecular diagnosis of Huntington disease in Brazilian patients

Huntington disease (HD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance, characterized by choreiform movements and cognitive impairment. Onset of symptoms is around 40 years of age and progression to death occurs in approximately 10 to 15 years from the time of disease onset. HD is associated with an unstable CAG repeat expansion at the 5' and of the IT15 gene. We have genotyped the CAG repeat in the IT15 gene in 44 Brazilian individuals (42 patients and 2 unaffected family members) belonging to 34 unrelated families thought to segregate HD. We found one expanded CAG allele in 32 individuals (76%) belonging to 25 unrelated families. In these HD patients, expanded alleles varied from 43 to 73 CAG units and normal alleles varied from 18 to 26 CAGs. A significant negative correlation between age at onset of symptoms and size of the expanded CAG allele was found (r=0.6; p=0.0001); however, the size of the expanded CAG repeat could explain only about 40% of the variability in age at onset (r2=0.4). In addition, we genotyped 25 unrelated control individuals (total of 50 alleles) and found normal CAG repeats varying from 16 to 33 units. The percentage of heterozigocity of the normal allele in the control population was 88%. In conclusion, our results showed that not all patients with the HD phenotype carried the expansion at the IT15 gene. Furthermore, molecular diagnosis was possible in all individuals, since no alleles of intermediate size were found. Therefore, molecular confirmation of the clinical diagnosis in HD should be sought in all suspected patients, making it possible for adequate genetic counseling.

Machado-Joseph disease versus hereditary spastic paraplegia: case report

Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) is the most common autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxia and presents great phenotypic variability. MJD presenting with spastic paraparesis was recently described in Japanese patients. We report the case of 41-year-old woman with the phenotype of complicated hereditary spastic paraplegia. Her father died at the age of 56 years due to an undiagnosed progressive neurological disease that presented parkinsonism. She had an expanded allele with 66 CAG repeats and a normal allele with 22 repeats in the gene of MJD. MJD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of autosomal dominant complicated HSP. A patient with the phenotype of complicated HSP and relatives with other clinical features of a neurodegenerative disease should raise the suspicion of MJD.

Resistência à compressão e remoção de folhas da cana-de-açúcar visando à colheita mecânica

Sugarcane holds an important place in the Brazilian economy. Grate part of the sugarcane harvested still accomplished largely manually. Sugarcane harvesters available in Brazil use the technology to chop the cane into 200 to 300 mm billets to allow on the go cane transferring to transport, contradicting the traditional method of whole stalk sugarcane harvesting system. In order to make whole stalk mechanical harvesting system possible, one of the barriers to be expired is the mechanical removal of the straw. The design of a mechanism that accomplishes this operation depends directly on the knowledge of the mechanical properties of the sugarcane related to its resistance to compression and the forces necessary to remove the leaves from the stalk. Compression tests were conducted using the universal testing machine. For leaves removal test by friction, a special apparatus was designed to allow the registration of the normal and traction force. The sugarcane stalk can resist up to 4.9 MPa. With a normal pressure of 0.8 MPa, which correspond to a friction force of 315 N, it is possible to remove the leaves, independent of its location in the sugarcane stalk.

Caracterização de dois equipamentos de beneficiamento e classificação de tomates para mesa

On the last years, in Brazil, sorting and classifying fruits and vegetables using packing lines have increased. This work aimed at characterizing the cleaning process for fresh market tomatoes at two packing lines, one imported and one national located at Campinas, São Paulo State. Characterization included data, number, types and brushes velocity, water use, fruit standing time and cleaning efficiency. Standing time was measured correlating to fruit diameter (CEAGESP). For measuring cleaning efficiency an equipment was developed that was mainly composed of a ring involved with white cloth. Samples were taken before and after the cleaning step and evaluated using a colorimeter HUNTER Lab. The results showed a strong difference between the two equipments. The imported equipment showed lower number on brushes and rotation than national one, however a higher water consumption. For imported equipments this relation was not found. Both packing lines showed the same cleaning efficiency. Cleaning efficiency is related to be an interaction among the studies parameters, and it could be necessary a better management than the one used on both equipments.

Flora arbórea da bacia do rio Tibagi (Paraná, Brasil): Celastrales sensu Cronquist

A study of the tree species of the order Celastrales sensu Cronquist from the Tibagi river basin, Paraná state, Brazil, is presented, based on herbarium material. This basin is subdivided into three zones, from north to south: lower Tibagi (BT), mid Tibagi (MT) and upper Tibagi (AT), each with different environmental conditions and vegetation types. The order Celastrales is represented in the basin by 15 tree species belonging to three families: Aquifoliaceae, Celastraceae and Icacinaceae. Icacinaceae has only two species, Citronella gongonha and C. paniculata. The former is distinguished by a glabrous ovary and leaves that usually bear thorns. Aquifoliaceae has six species: Ilex brasiliensis, I. brevicuspis, I. chamaedryfolia, I. dumosa, I. paraguariensis and I. theezans. These species are found mainly in AT and MT and are distinguished by leaf size, indument, apices and margins, and by sepal features. Celastrales is represented by seven species and two genera; Plenckia populnea, a Brazilian savannah species found only in MT, and six species of Maytenus (M. evonymoides, M. robusta, M. dasyclada, M. salicifolia, M. ilicifolia and M. aquifolia) distinguished by leaf size and margins, branch shape and number of flowers per inflorescence.

Caracterização morfoanatômica e histoquímica de Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.f. Macbr. (Lythraceae)

Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. is an herb, which occurs preferably in wet places. Amongst other species of the genus, C. carthagenensis is distinguished for its great chemical potential and frequent use in popular medicine. In this study the morphological and anatomical structures were identified, as well as the histochemical characterization was done. Samples of root, stem and leaves were collected from adult plants. This material was processed for anatomical and histochemical analysis in light microscopy and for morphological analysis, in scanning electron microscopy. Important morphological and anatomical considerations were added for C. carthagenensis, such as: the occurrence of aerenchymatous phellem with suberized layers; the types of trichomes present in the vegetative organs, the characterization of secretory trichomes, as well as the secreted substances. The groups of secondary metabolites presents in the root, stem and leaf of C. carthagenensis with more intense histochemical reaction were: proanthocyanidins, phenolic compounds, acids polysaccharides (mucilage especially) and lipids.

Is size structure a good measure of future trends of plant populations? an empirical approach using five woody species from the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna)

Size distributions in woody plant populations have been used to assess their regeneration status, assuming that size structures with reverse-J shapes represent stable populations. We present an empirical approach of this issue using five woody species from the Cerrado. Considering count data for all plants of these five species over a 12-year period, we analyzed size distribution by: a) plotting frequency distributions and their adjustment to the negative exponential curve and b) calculating the Gini coefficient. To look for a relationship between size structure and future trends, we considered the size structures from the first census year. We analyzed changes in number over time and performed a simple population viability analysis, which gives the mean population growth rate, its variance and the probability of extinction in a given time period. Frequency distributions and the Gini coefficient were not able to predict future trends in population numbers. We recommend that managers should not use measures of size structure as a basis for management decisions without applying more appropriate demographic studies.

Folhas verdes, folhas secas, fibra do colmo e a clarificação do caldo de cana-de-açúcar

The presence of vegetal impurities in sugarcane delivered to sugarmills as green and dry leaves is a problem not only because they are non-value materials to be processed along with sugarcane stalks, but also because they can rise the color of the clarified juice and, consequently, the color of the sugar produced, with a reduction of its quality for the market. Another problem is the mud volume sedimented in the clarifiers, which also can result in a larger recirculation and greater volume of filtrate juice, with higher losses of sucrose and utilization of the vacuum rotary filters. The objective of this work was to observe the effect of the presence of green and dry leaves on sugarcane juice clarification, related to a control treatment with the addition of fiber extracted from the stalks. The experiments were planned based on the addition of quantities of fibrous sources in order to formulate samples with absolute increase of 0.25 , 0.50 and 0.75 percentual points over the fiber content of the sugarcane stalks (control treatment). The juice clarification was conducted with a laboratory clarifier. The clarified juice color and the mud volume were evaluated. The presence of green leaves caused higher color and mud volume due to the extraction of non-sucrose components of the leaves. Soluble compounds of dry leaves were also extracted, though not detected by juice analysis. The addition of the fiber extracted from the stalks did not induce alterations in the clarification process.

Gluttonous predators: how to estimate prey size when there are too many prey

Prey size is an important factor in food consumption. In studies of feeding ecology, prey items are usually measured individually using calipers or ocular micrometers. Among amphibians and reptiles, there are species that feed on large numbers of small prey items (e.g. ants, termites). This high intake makes it difficult to estimate prey size consumed by these animals. We addressed this problem by developing and evaluating a procedure for subsampling the stomach contents of such predators in order to estimate prey size. Specifically, we developed a protocol based on a bootstrap procedure to obtain a subsample with a precision error of at the most 5%, with a confidence level of at least 95%. This guideline should reduce the sampling effort and facilitate future studies on the feeding habits of amphibians and reptiles, and also provide a means of obtaining precise estimates of prey size.

Jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) (Geoffroy, 1803) (Carnivora, Felidae) food habits in a mosaic of Atlantic Rainforest and eucalypt plantations of southeastern Brazil

Food habits of jaguarundi (Puma yagouaroundi) (Geoffroy, 1803) (Carnivora, Felidae) were studied between November 2000 and November 2001, in a 24.9 km² area of secondary Atlantic Rainforest and eucalypt plantation, in the Serra de Paranapiacaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Analyses of 26 fecal and regurgitate samples, obtained over a stretch of 570.1 km, showed the consumption of 19 prey items and 74 prey occurrences. Small mammals were the most frequent food item (42.5%), followed by birds (21%), reptiles (14%) and medium-sized mammals (3%). The percent occurrence (PO) suggests that the diet consisted mainly of small rodents (30%) and birds (21%). We recorded for the first time the predation of Viperidae snakes by P. yagouaroundi. Although having a large list of items and range of dietary niche breadths (Bsta = 0.76), our data show that jaguarundi prey mainly on small vertebrates (mammals, birds or reptiles), and even in tall tropical forests or eucalypt plantations, it preys mostly on animals that come to, or live on, the ground.

Respostas agudas de parâmetros biomecânicos à utilização de diferentes tamanhos de palmar no nado crawl

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Metodologia para a suavização de dados biomecanicos por função não parametrica ponderada local robusta

Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Faculdade de Educação Física

O papel da propriocepção no desenvolvimento da força muscular e da flexibilidade

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física

Análise do perfil de humor e da enzima alfa-amilase salivar em indivíduos fisicamente ativos = : Analysis of profile of mood states and salivary alpha amylase enzyme in physically active individuals

Universidade Estadual de Campinas . Faculdade de Educação Física