Ontogenesis, structure and ultrastructure of Hymenaea stigonocarpa (Fabaceae : Caesalpinioideae) colleters

The genus Hymenaea is characterized by a great diversity of secretory structures, but there are no reports of colleters yet. The objectives of this study are to report the occurrence and describe the origin and structure of colleters in Hymenaea stigonocarpa Mart. ex Hayne. Shoot apex samples were collected, fixed, and processed for light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy as per usual methods. Colleters occur predominantly on the stipule's adaxial side. These structures are found at the base on a narrow strip, corresponding to the median vein up to half the length of the stipule. When present on the abaxial side, they are concentrated at the base and restricted to the margins. Colleters develop from the protoderm; they are elongate and club-shaped. Their body has no stratification; their surface cells differ from the inner cells only in position and presence of cuticle. Colleter cells have thin walls, dense cytoplasm, large nuclei, many mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, and abundant dictyosomes. Histochemical tests with Ruthenium red showed pectic compounds in the cytosol. In H. stigonocarpa, colleter arrangement is compatible with the hypothesis that they protect shoot apex. In this species, protection is reinforced by the sheath formed by the stipule pairs.

KARYOTYPE and NUCLEOLUS ORGANIZER REGIONS of Ophisternon aenigmaticum (Teleostei: Synbranchiformes: Synbranchidae) FROM VENEZUELA

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

Population and reproductive biology of the crab Uca burgersi (Crustacea : Ocypodidae) in three subtropical mangrove forests

Population and reproductive biology were studied in three populations of the crab Uca burgersi Holthuis, 1967, in the Indaia, Cavalo and Ubatumirim mangrove forests (Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil). Crabs were collected during low tide (August 2001 through July 2002), by digging the sediment, with a standard capture effort (two persons for 30 min.). Carapace width was measured, and gonad developmental stage was recorded from all specimens. U. burgersi was most abundant in the Cavalo mangrove, where the largest mate was found. Juvenile crabs were found year-round at all three sites. However, the ratio of ovigerous females was very low, even null in the Cavalo mangrove. The gonad development rate indicated that U. burgersi was reproducing continuously, but more intensively during spring and summer, with recruitment occurring in winter. The synchrony between the populational and reproductive biology in the three areas showed that local features were not the limiting factors. It is suggested that this species is a habitat generalist.

Reproductive pattern of the South American endemic shrimp Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda : Penaeoidea), off São Paulo State, Brazil

Sexual maturity, temporal reproductive pattern, and recruitment of juveniles were examined for the penaeoid shrimp Artemesia longinaris sampled for five and a half years in a tropical locality off the coast of São Paulo (23 degrees S), Brazil. Monthly samples were taken from January 1998 to June 2003 at depths between 5 and 45 m. Ovarian maturity was used to examine breeding in adult females. Recruitment was defined as the percentage of juveniles of the total number of individuals in each month and season. A total of 10 288 females and 5 551 males were collected. Estimated sizes (carapace length) at the onset of sexual maturity were 11.0 mm and 13.4 mm for males and females, respectively. Over the five and a half years, females with ripe gonads were found in every season, with the highest percentages in summer (January-March). Juvenile shrimps occur-red year-round. These results suggest a continuous reproduction of A. longinaris with temperature acting as an environmental stimulus for the duration of the ovary development cycle. These data and the hypothesis of the intrusion of the South Atlantic Central Water mass, which lowered water temperature and raised plankton production, suggest that the end of spring and the beginning of summer were the principal reproductive months. The classical paradigm of continuous reproduction at lower latitudes, with increased seasonality of breeding period at higher latitudes seems to apply to this species.

Alterations of spermatogenesis in etoposide-treated rats: A stereological study

The etoposide is an anticancer drug that interacts with topoisomerase II. Thirty-day-old rats received intraperitonially 2mg/kg of etoposide for 30 consecutive days. Their testes were analyzed in the adult phase under light microscopy according to histomorphometric and stereological parameters. Random 3mum-thick-paraplast sections of testis were stained with periodic acid-Schiff reaction and Harris' hematoxylin method. Serum testosterone level and reproductive performance were also investigated. The results showed an accentuated decrease in the frequency of germinal lineage cell types and differentiated spermatogonia were the most affected cell types. Morphometric and stereological testicular parameters exhibited highly, significant reductions in adult etoposide-treated rats. Their reproductive performance diminished but their serum testosterone level was not significantly altered. The mortality frequency of the progenies was 100%.

Development and energy balance of sugarcane in the norte fluminense, Brazil

The growing concern for renewable and cleaner energy sources has increased the demand for biofuels, pointing out the ethanol from sugarcane. The aim of this study was quantify the partition of energy balance components and monitor the physiological development indexes of the sugarcane, relating them to water availability conditions of climate and soil in Campos dos Goytacazes, Norte Fluminense, Brazil. To this end, a micrometeorological station was settled in an area of 13 ha in commercial cultivation. The culture was regularly monitored at 85, 102, 128, 149, 174, 194, 215, 235, 255 and 280 days after cutting (DAC). The variations in water availability directly influenced the rates of crop growth and energy balance. Under the conditions studied most of the available energy (53%) was consumed by the latent heat flux.

MINERAL COMPOSITION of RAW MATERIAL, SUBSTRATE and FRUITING BODIES of Pleurotus ostreatus IN CULTURE

In a culture of a Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) strain, macro and micronutrients of the raw material and the initial and spent substrates were evaluated. Substrates were formulated with sawdust from Simarouba amara Aubl. and Ochroma piramidale Cav. ex. Lam., crushed Bactris gasipaes Kunth and crushed Saccharum officinarum (sugar cane). Samples were solubilized by means of acid digestion (nitric-peridrol). Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, Na and K by atomic emission, and P by colorimetry. The mineral composition of the fruiting body varied with the substrates, which made possible the production of a fruiting body rich in K, P Mg and Fe. Potassium was the mineral with the highest content in the fruiting body in all substrates tested (36.83-42.18g.kg(-1)). There was an increase of protein and mineral content in the spent substrate in relation to the initial one.

Determinação bromatológica de Pleurotus ostreatus cultivado em resíduos de diferentes cultivares de bananeira

The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutritional composition (raw protein, ether extract, raw fiber, FDA, FDN and ash) of the POS 09/100 strain of Pleurotus ostreatus grown in three combinations of residues (pseudo-stem, leave and pseudo-stem + leaf) and four banana tree cultivars (Thap maeo, Prata ana, Pelipita and Caipira). The basidiomata harvested were submitted to dehydration in a forced ventilation stove with temperature adjusted to 40 degrees C until reaching constant weight, being then grinded in a knife mill. The method proposed by Kjeldahl (1883) was used to determine total nitrogen. The Weende method (AOAC, 1997) was employed to determine crude fiber, acid-detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). According to the results obtained, crude protein, ash, ADF and NDF contents varied with the kind of residue and banana tree cultivar; the substrate prepared with leaves of banana tree (Prata Ana cultivar) yielded the highest crude protein (35.4%) and ash (6.7%) contents in the basidiomata of P. streams; the substrate prepared with pseudo-stein of banana tree (Prata Ana cultivar) provided the highest ADF (31.6%) and NDF (41.9%) contents in the basidiomata of P. ostreatus. Ether extract and crude fiber contents of P. ostreatus didn't vary in function of the treatments, with averages of 2.45 and 11.27%, respectively.

Estimativa da captura total: desenhos amostrais para pesca artesanal

Estimating total landings of artisanal fisheries in managed areas is essential for the development of programs aimed at the establishment of sustainable production systems. However, few experiences addressed the constraints of assessments targeted at multispecific and small scale fisheries with pulverized landings. Total annual production (fish, lobsters and octopus) at the Marine Extractive Reserve of Corumbau, Bahia, Brazil, in 2006, was estimated through yields recorded by fisherfolks, in the scope of a participatory fisheries monitoring program. Three designs were employed: 1) simple random sampling, 2) stratified random sampling by month and fishing frequency, 3) stratified random sampling by community, fishing frequency and months, resulting in estimates of 349t (95% confidence interval = 305-393), 330t (289-372) and 315t (279-351), respectively. This kind of information can help design strategies for aggregation of value to small scale fisheries production, and also for the dimensioning of the corresponding infrastructure. However, these estimates shall not be used to support fishing effort increase, as there is high uncertainty regarding the state of the stocks, as well as limitations related to the asymmetry in monthly landings per fisherfolk and to the sampling coverage in the different strata.

A comunicação midiática da tecnociência: uma leitura a partir do enfoque cts

This paper has two basic aims. The first one is to propose a discussion about the journalistic potential of information regarding patents, trying to identify using some experiences, the characteristics of this techno-scientific product that, somehow, draws the attention of the media. The second one is to understand the relationship between media and patents from the perspective of the studies on Science, Technology and Society (STS). The following assumption is made: the media treatment of patents is still strongly marked by economic bias and follows the logic of the supply-linear model, under which, among other important ideas, basic research is followed by applied research and, then, by technological developments that allow the launch of a new product bringing benefits for society. The paper presents results from case studies of science communication involving patents of the Federal University of Silo Carlos (UFSCar), Brazil, indicating that they are an important source of news for the media, and emphasizing the importance of the media in the national and international discussions about the protection of intellectual work.

Crescimento e produtividade da mamona de porte baixo em diferentes espaçamentos e populações de plantas

It is necessary to establish adequate row spacings and plant populations for recently developed short height castor (Ricinus communis L) cultivars. This work aimed to evaluate the growth, yield components, and yield of short castor cultivar IAC 2028 as affected by row spacing and plant population, in summer cropping season. The experiments were carried out in 2007/08 and 2008/09 cropping seasons, in Botucatu County, São Paulo State, Brazil. A randomized complete block design in a split-plot scheme with four replications was used. Treatments assigned to plots were four row spacing (0.45, 0.60, 0.75, and 0.90m) and subplots were assigned to four levels of plant populations (25000, 40000, 55000, and 70000 plants/ha). The increase of plant population decreased plants survival rate, shoot dry weight, stem diameter, number of racemes per plant, number of fruits per raceme, and 100-grains weight. In higher plant populations, the best arrangement of plants, provided by the narrower row spacing (0.45m), promoted higher grain and oil yields. Increasing plant population increased grain and oil yields only when was used the narrower row spacing.

Produtividade de pleurotus ostreatus em resíduos da amazônia

The viability of the utilization of wood and agroindustrial residues available in the Amazon region in the formulation of alternative substrates for the cultivation of Pleurotus ostreatus was tested. Thus, two wood residues: marupa sawdust (SIAMP) and pau-de-balsa sawdust (SAPB), and two substrates derived from agroindustrial residues: sugar-cane bagasse (SIACN) and pupunheira stem (SIAPP), were used. These were supplemented with a mixture of rice bran, wheat and corn as protein source, with addition of 2-3% of CaCO(3) for pH correction (6.5). The substrates were placed in polyethylene (HDPE) bags, sterilized at 121 degrees C for 1h and inoculated in a laminar flow chamber. The cultivation was carried out in an axenic way, in a modified atmosphere. The productivity of the substrates was evaluated in relation to the biological efficiency, with the following mean results: 125.60, 99.80%, 94.00 and 64.60% for SIAPP, SIACN, SIAMP and SIAPB, respectively. The high biological efficiency of the substrates and the cultivation process clearly showed the viability of the utilization of the residues, suggesting the commercial cultivation of this mushroom, which may contribute for improving the social and economical conditions and sustainability of the regional biodiversity resources of Amazonia.

Revolution and livestock farming in Northern Mexico

Through the analysis of Mexican livestock statistics and Sonora and Chihuahua regional census, this work discusses the condition of livestock farming in Northern Mexico during the first decades of the twentieth century, specially after the Revolution. There is no doubt that during this period, the absolute number of livestock heads diminished throughout Mexico, but "estate depredations" did vary geographically. In Nortehrn Mexico, livestock farming suffered more in Chihuahua than in Sonora, and herd recovery was also faster in Sonora. This analysis also allows us to underscore the role of postrevolutionary elites in rebuilding regional economies during the 1920's.