The relationship between stem vessel parameters and the development of strata in the early stages of secondary forest succession in Amazonia

In order to compare the development of strata in the early stages of secondary forest succession with vessel parameters of the tree species, a forest inventory was carried out in 4-year (Q1: 48 m2), 11-year (Q2: 400 m2) and 20-year (Q3: 400 m2) forests and vessel parameters were investigated from stem cross sections of 18 species obtained in Q2. Thirty three species (21 families), 77 species (35 families), 39 species (20 families) were found in Ql, Q2, Q3, respectively. The percentage of dead individuals, dead stems and the percentage of individuals with multiple stems increased with time after clear cutting. Also, the total D2H of Q3 was 26.1 times that of Q1, and the development of strata started in Q2 and Q3. The image analysis of vessel size, area and number of vessels revealed that species which reach the forest canopy had a large D2H value, vessel diameter and area, while species which remain near the forest floor had smaller ones. Poecilanthe effusa (Huber) Ducke is an example of the latter case, with a large number of individuals and abundant sprouting of new stems from stumps, but with high mortality.

Soil mineral N dynamics beneath mixtures of leaves from legume and fruit trees in Central Amazonian multi-strata agroforests

Long term applications of leguminous green mulch could increase mineralizable nitrogen (N) beneath cupuaçu trees produced on the infertile acidic Ultisols and Oxisols of the Amazon Basin. However, low quality standing cupuaçu litter could interfere with green mulch N release and soil N mineralization. This study compared mineral N, total N, and microbial biomass N beneath cupuaçu trees grown in two different agroforestry systems, north of Manaus, Brazil, following seven years of different green mulch application rates. To test for net interactions between green mulch and cupuaçu litter, dried gliricidia and inga leaves were mixed with senescent cupuaçu leaves, surface applied to an Oxisol soil, and incubated in a greenhouse for 162 days. Leaf decomposition, N release and soil N mineralization were periodically measured in the mixed species litter treatments and compared to single species applications. The effect of legume biomass and cupuaçu litter on soil mineral N was additive implying that recommendations for green mulch applications to cupuaçu trees can be based on N dynamics of individual green mulch species. Results demonstrated that residue quality, not quantity, was the dominant factor affecting the rate of N release from leaves and soil N mineralization in a controlled environment. In the field, complex N cycling and other factors, including soil fauna, roots, and microclimatic effects, had a stronger influence on available soil N than residue quality.

Bimodal information increases spontaneous interpersonal synchronization of goal directed upper limb movements

When interacting with each other, people often synchronize spontaneously their movements, e.g. during pendulum swinging, chair rocking[5], walking [4][7], and when executing periodic forearm movements[3].Although the spatiotemporal information that establishes the coupling, leading to synchronization, might be provided by several perceptual systems, the systematic study of different sensory modalities contribution is widely neglected. Considering a) differences in the sensory dominance on the spatial and temporal dimension[5] , b) different cue combination and integration strategies [1][2], and c) that sensory information might provide different aspects of the same event, synchronization should be moderated by the type of sensory modality. Here, 9 naïve participants placed a bottle periodically between two target zones, 40 times, in 12 conditions while sitting in front of a confederate executing the same task. The participant could a) see and hear, b) see , c) hear the confederate, d) or audiovisual information about the movements of the confederate was absent. The couple started in 3 different relative positions (i.e., in-phase, anti-phase, out of phase). A retro-reflective marker was attached to the top of the bottles. Bottle displacement was captured by a motion capture system. We analyzed the variability of the continuous relative phase reflecting the degree of synchronization. Results indicate the emergence of spontaneous synchronization, an increase with bimodal information, and an influence of the initial phase relation on the particular synchronization pattern. Results have theoretical implication for studying cue combination in interpersonal coordination and are consistent with coupled oscillator models.

Tree communities of white-sand and terra-firme forests of the upper Rio Negro

The high tree diversity and vast extent of Amazonian forests challenge our understanding of how tree species abundance and composition varies across this region. Information about these parameters, usually obtained from tree inventories plots, is essential for revealing patterns of tree diversity. Numerous tree inventories plots have been established in Amazonia, yet, tree species composition and diversity of white-sand and terra-firme forests of the upper Rio Negro still remain poorly understood. Here, we present data from eight new one-hectare tree inventories plots established in the upper Rio Negro; four of which were located in white-sand forests and four in terra-firme forests. Overall, we registered 4703 trees > 10 cm of diameter at breast height. These trees belong to 49 families, 215 genera, and 603 species. We found that tree communities of terra-firme and white-sand forests in the upper Rio Negro significantly differ from each other in their species composition. Tree communities of white-sand forests show a higher floristic similarity and lower diversity than those of terra-firme forests. We argue that mechanisms driving differences between tree communities of white-sand and terra-firme forests are related to habitat size, which ultimately influences large-scale and long-term evolutionary processes.

Diet and ecomorphology of Leporinus reticulatus (Characiformes: Anostomidae) from the upper Rio Juruena, MT, Brazil: ontogenetic shifts related to the feeding ecology

The conservation of diverse and well-distributed fish taxa, as the genus Leporinus, relies intrinsically on the knowledge of the ecological attributes of its representatives. Aiming to increase this knowledge, studies on diet and ecomorphology are ideal to provide important information about species ecology. Thus, this study aimed to analyze aspects of feeding ecology of L. reticulatus, from the upper Rio Juruena, Mato Grosso State, Brazil. The diet of specimens in different ontogenetic stages was compared, as well as their teeth morphology and ecomorphological attributes. Leporinus reticulatus presented omnivorous diet, with higher consumption of invertebrates by smaller specimens (younger ones), and gradual introduction of plant items in larger specimens (older ones). The items consumed by the individuals and the ecomorphological attributes indicated that the species is generalist and opportunistic, besides its association with the river bottom, evidencing a benthic feeding behavior. This species presents a gradual ontogenetic modification in teeth shape and mouth positioning, ranging from a terminal mouth with tricuspid teeth, in smaller specimens, to an inferior mouth with spatula shaped teeth with no cusps, in larger specimens.The ecomorphological attributes indicate an increasing swimming efficiency, and ability for performing vertical displacements, along the ontogenetic development, which in addition to the morphological ontogenetic alterations in the buccal apparatus, contributes to a better ability to explore another niches.

Biodegradable drug-eluting stents: Targeting urothelial tumors of upper urinary tract

INTRODUCTION & OBJECTIVES: Urothelial tumors of upper urinary tract are ranked among the most common types of cancers worldwide. The current standard therapy to prevent recurrence is intravesical Bacillus Calmetteâ Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy, but it presents several disadvantages such as BCG failure and intolerance. Another way is to use chemotherapy, which is generally better tolerated that BCG. In this case, drugs such as epirubicin, doxorubicin, paclitaxel and gemcitabine are used. Nevertheless, intravesical chemotherapy only prevents recurrence in the short-term. These failings can be partially attributed to the short residence time and low bioavailability of the drug within the upper urinary tract and the cancer cells, resulting in a need for frequent drug instillation. To avoid these problems, biodegradable ureteral stents impregnated by supercritical fluid CO2 (SCF) with each of the four anti-cancer drugs were produced. MATERIAL & METHODS: Four formulations with different concentrations of gelatin and alginate and crosslink agent were tested and bismuth was added to confer radiopaque properties to the stent. The preliminary in vivo validation studies in female domestic pigs was conducted at the University of Minho, Braga, after formal approval by the institutionâ s review board and in accordance with its internal ethical protocol for animal experiments. Paclitaxel, epirubicin, doxorubicin and gemcitabine were impregnated in the stents and the release kinetics was measured in artificial urine solution (AUS) for 9 days by UV spectroscopy in a microplate reader. The anti-tumoral effect of the developed stents in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and HUVEC primary cells, used as control, was evaluated. RESULTS: The in vivo validation of this second-generation of ureteral stents performed was herein demonstrated. Biodegradable ureteral stents were placed in the ureters of a female pigs, following the normal surgical procedure. The animals remained asymptomatic, with normal urine flow. The in vitro release study in AUS of the stent impregnated showed a higher release in the first 72h for the four anti-cancer drugs impregnated after this time the plateau was achieved and the stent degraded after 9 days. The direct and indirect contact of the anti-cancer biodegradable stents with the TCC and HUVEC cell lines confirm the anti-tumor effect of the stents impregnated with the four anti-cancer drugs, reducing around 75% of the viability of the TCC cell line after 72h and no killing effect in the HUVEC cells. CONCLUSIONS: The use of biodegradable ureteral stent in urology clinical practice not only reduce the stent-related symptoms but also open new treatment therapyâ s, like in urothelial tumors of upper urinary tract. Furthermore, we have demonstrated the clinical validation in vivo pig model. This study has thus shown the killing efficacy of the anti-cancer drug eluting biodegradable stents in vitro for the TCC cell line, with no toxicity observed in the control, non-cancerous cells.The direct and indirect contact of the anti-cancer biodegradable stents with the TCC and HUVEC cell lines confirm the anti-tumor effect of the stents impregnated with the four anti-cancer drugs, reducing around 75% of the viability of the TCC cell line after 72h and no killing effect in the HUVEC cells. This study has thus shown the killing efficacy of the anti-cancer drug eluting biodegradable stents in vitro for the TCC cell line, with no toxicity observed in the control, non-cancerous cells.

Birds from Liberia, with a discussion of barriers between Upper and Lower Guinea subspecies, by Austin L. Rand.

v.32:no.9(1951)

The red ocher culture of the upper Great Lakes and adjacent areas / Robert E. Ritzenthaler, Curator of Anthropology, Milwaukee Public Museum, and George I. Quimby, Curator of North American Archaeology and Ethnology, Chicago Natural History Museum.

v.36:no.11(1962)

Fauna of upper Vale and Choza: Everett Claire Olson --

v.10:no.11(1951)

Contributions to the paleontology of the upper cretaceous series / by William Newton Logan, A.M. ; Oliver Cummings Farrington, Ph.D. Curator, Dept. of Geology.

v.1:no.6(1899)

Fauna of the upper Vale and Choza : 6, Diplocaulus / Everett Claire Olson --

v.10:no.14(1952)

Chesterian (Upper Mississippian) Gastropoda of the Illinois basin / [by] Myint Lwein Thein -- and Matthew H. Nitecki --.

v.34(1974)

Upper Devonian Receptaculites chardini n. sp. from central Afghanistan / Matthew H. Nitecki -- and Albert F. de Lapparent --.

v.35:no.5(1976)

Cyathocrinites from the Silurian (Wenlock) strata of southeastern Indiana / T. Frest --.

v.35:no.7(1977)