Reproductive biology of an endemic Physalaemus of the Brazilian Atlantic forest, and the trade-off between clutch and egg size in terrestrial breeders of the P. signifer group

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

Reproductive biology of an endemic Physalaemus of the Brazilian Atlantic forest, and the trade-of between clutch and egg size in terrestrial breeders of the P. signifer group

Physalaemus crombiei is a small foam-nesting frog endemic to the Atlantic forest. It is a member of the P. signifer group known only from its type locality in Santa Teresa, State of Espírito Santo, and from another locality in the State of Bahia, Brazil. Most Physalaemus species are aquatic breeders, and species in the P. signifer group are the only ones exhibiting a tendency toward terrestrial reproduction in the genus. Here we describe the reproductive period, breeding site and reproductive modes of P. crombiei from a third population in the Atlantic forest, southeastern Brazil. We also investigated reproductive effort and size-fecundity relationships in females. Reproductive traits were compared to other species in the genus Physalaemus, especially those included in the P. signifer group. Physalaemus crombiei is a prolonged breeder, reproducing throughout the year with a peak of activity during the most rainy months (October-March). Males called from the humid forest foor and eggs embedded in foam nests were deposited in the water as well as on the humid foor amidst the leaf litter, or inside fallen leaves or tree holes containing rainwater on the forest foor. As expected, P. crombiei exhibited three alternative reproductive modes, as described for other species of the P. signifer group. The number of eggs produced per female varied from 91 to 250. Female body size is positively correlated both with ovary mass and clutch size (number of eggs per clutch). Variation in the number and size of eggs observed in Physalaemus species may be explained not only by female size, but also by the terrestrial reproductive mode exhibited by the species in the P. signifer group.

Comparação da resistência natural a endoparasitas e ectoparasitas em bovinos das raças Criola Lageana e Angus

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Títulos de anticorpos contra Leptospira spp e análise bioquímica no soro sangüíneo em macaco prego (cebus apella nigrutus)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Resistência contra ectoparasitas em bovinos da raça Crioula Lageana e meio-sangue Angus avaliada em condições naturais

This study was carried out to evaluate the breed resistance against ectoparasites infestations in Crioula Lageana and crossbred Angus male calves under natural condition. Ten weaned and neutered male calves (6-8 months) of each group were kept together in winter and summer pastures in Monte Castelo, Santa Catarina State. Every 28 days, female ticks (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) more than 4 mm long were counted on the right and left side of the body of each animal, as well as the D. hominis nodules. Coat thickness also was measured at each sampling and all animals were classified according coat color. Crioula Lageana group was less infested by D. hominis than crossbred Angus in five times and by ticks in the infestation peak (P<0.05). There were no differences in the distribution of the ticks and grubs between animal body sides. Dark-haired animal in both groups were the most susceptible.

A rare finding of mites (Arachnida: Acari: Leeuwenhoekiidae) parasitising a whip spider (Arachnida: Amblypygi: Charinidae)

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

A search for anisotropy in the arrival directions of ultra high energy cosmic rays recorded at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Observations of cosmic rays arrival directions made with the Pierre Auger Observatory have previously provided evidence of anisotropy at the 99% CL using the correlation of ultra high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) with objects drawn from the Veron-Cetty Veron catalog. In this paper we report on the use of three catalog independent methods to search for anisotropy. The 2pt-L, 2pt+ and 3pt methods, each giving a different measure of self-clustering in arrival directions, were tested on mock cosmic ray data sets to study the impacts of sample size and magnetic smearing on their results, accounting for both angular and energy resolutions. If the sources of UHECRs follow the same large scale structure as ordinary galaxies in the local Universe and if UHECRs are deflected no more than a few degrees, a study of mock maps suggests that these three method can efficiently respond to the resulting anisotropy with a P-value = 1.0% or smaller with data sets as few as 100 events. using data taken from January 1, 2004 to July 31, 2010 we examined the 20, 30, ... , 110 highest energy events with a corresponding minimum energy threshold of about 49.3 EeV. The minimum P-values found were 13.5% using the 2pt-L method, 1.0% using the 2pt+ method and 1.1% using the 3pt method for the highest 100 energy events. In view of the multiple (correlated) scans performed on the data set, these catalog-independent methods do not yield strong evidence of anisotropy in the highest energy cosmic rays.

Shape isomerism and shape coexistence effects on the Coulomb energy differences in the N = Z nucleus As-66 and neighboring T=1 multiplets

Excited states of the N = Z = 33 nucleus As-66 have been populated in a fusion-evaporation reaction and studied using gamma-ray spectroscopic techniques. Special emphasis was put into the search for candidates for the T = 1 states. A new 3(+) isomer has been observed with a lifetime of 1.1(3) ns. This is believed to be the predicted oblate shape isomer. The excited levels are discussed in terms of the shell model and of the complex excited Vampir approaches. Coulomb energy differences are determined from the comparison of the T = 1 states with their analog partners. The unusual behavior of the Coulomb energy differences in the A = 70 mass region is explained through different shape components (oblate and prolate) within the members of the same isospin multiplets. This breaking of the isospin symmetry is attributed to the correlations induced by the Coulomb interaction.

Aerial organ anatomy of Smilax syphilitica (Smilacaceae)

Smilax L. in Brazil is represented by 32 taxa and it is a taxonomically difficult genus because the plants are dioecious and show wide phenotypic variation. The analysis and use of leaf anatomy characters is recognized as a frequently successful taxonomic method to distinguish between individual taxon, when floral material is absent or minute differences in flowers and foliage exist such as in Smilax. The aim of this study was to characterize the anatomical features of the aerial organs in Smilax syphilitica collected from the Atlantic Rainforest, in Santa Teresa-ES and the Smilax aff syphilitica from the Amazon Rainforest, in Manaus, Brazil. For this, a total of three samples of Smilax were collected per site. Sample leaves and stems were fixed with FAA 50, embedded in historesin, sectioned on a rotary microtome, stained and mounted in synthetic resin. Additionally, histochemical tests were performed and cuticle ornamentation was analyzed with standard scanning electron microscopy. S. syphilitica and S. aff syphilitica differed in cuticle ornamentation, epidermal cell arrangement and wall thickness, stomata type and orientation, calcium oxalate crystal type, and position of stem thorns. Leaf blades of S. syphilitica from the Amazon Rainforest have a network of rounded ridges on both sides, while in S. aff syphilitica, these ridges are parallel and the spaces between them are filled with numerous membranous platelets. Viewed from the front, the epidermal cells of S. syphilitica have sinuous walls (even more pronounced in samples from the Amazon); while in S. aff syphilitica, these cells are also sinuous but elongated in the cross-section of the blade and arranged in parallel. Stomata of S. syphilitica are paracytic, whereas in S. aff syphilitica, are both paracytic and anisocytic, and their polar axes are directed towards the mid-vein. Calcium oxalate crystals in S. syphilitica are prisms, whereas in S. aff syphilitica, crystal sand. Thorns occur in nodes and internodes in S. syphilitica but only in internodes in S. aff syphilitica. These features have proven to be of diagnostic value and may support a separation into two species, but future studies are needed to confirm that S. aff syphilitica is indeed a new taxon. Rev. Biol. Trop. 60(3): 1137-1148. Epub 2012 September 01.

SEARCH FOR POINT-LIKE SOURCES OF ULTRA-HIGH ENERGY NEUTRINOS AT THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY AND IMPROVED LIMIT ON THE DIFFUSE FLUX OF TAU NEUTRINOS

The surface detector array of the Pierre Auger Observatory can detect neutrinos with energy E-nu between 10(17) eV and 10(20) eV from point-like sources across the sky south of +55 degrees and north of -65 degrees declinations. A search has been performed for highly inclined extensive air showers produced by the interaction of neutrinos of all flavors in the atmosphere (downward-going neutrinos), and by the decay of tau leptons originating from tau neutrino interactions in Earth's crust (Earth-skimming neutrinos). No candidate neutrinos have been found in data up to 2010 May 31. This corresponds to an equivalent exposure of similar to 3.5 years of a full surface detector array for the Earth-skimming channel and similar to 2 years for the downward-going channel. An improved upper limit on the diffuse flux of tau neutrinos has been derived. Upper limits on the neutrino flux from point-like sources have been derived as a function of the source declination. Assuming a differential neutrino flux k(PS) . E-nu(-2). from a point-like source, 90% confidence level upper limits for k(PS) at the level of approximate to 5x10(-7) and 2.5x10(-6) GeV cm(-2) s(-1) have been obtained over a broad range of declinations from the searches for Earth-skimming and downward-going neutrinos, respectively.

LARGE-SCALE DISTRIBUTION OF ARRIVAL DIRECTIONS OF COSMIC RAYS DETECTED ABOVE 10(18) eV AT THE PIERRE AUGER OBSERVATORY

A thorough search for large-scale anisotropies in the distribution of arrival directions of cosmic rays detected above 10(18) eV at the Pierre Auger Observatory is presented. This search is performed as a function of both declination and right ascension in several energy ranges above 10(18) eV, and reported in terms of dipolar and quadrupolar coefficients. Within the systematic uncertainties, no significant deviation from isotropy is revealed. Assuming that any cosmic-ray anisotropy is dominated by dipole and quadrupole moments in this energy range, upper limits on their amplitudes are derived. These upper limits allow us to test the origin of cosmic rays above 10(18) eV from stationary Galactic sources densely distributed in the Galactic disk and predominantly emitting light particles in all directions.

Ricostruire L'Aquila: edifici residenziali nel verde

Nell'aprile 2009 la città dell'Aquila e le zone limitrofe sono state interessate da uno sciame sismico che ha raggiunto l'apice della sua intensità durante la notte del 6 aprile, facendo registrare ai sismografi il sesto grado della scala Richter. Le conseguenze del sisma sono state devastanti, numerose le vittime e gli sfollati; ingenti i danni alla città. Molti edifici, in particolare nel centro storico, sono stati interessati da numerosi crolli o da danni spesso irreversibili, la situazione post-calamità ha quindi posto il grande problema della ricostruzione di una città consolidata. Partendo da questi presupposti il progetto si pone come obiettivo di fornire una proposta concreta per la ricostruzione dell'area di centro storico compresa fra la zona della ex chiesa di Santa Croce e il viale Duca Degli Abruzzi, tentando di ricostruire e riqualificare il tessuto che si affaccia su via Roma; Decumano della città storica. La necessità di ricostruire una parte così significativa della città ha condotto a delle riflessioni sulla natura stessa del luogo e della sua evoluzione. Si sono così potuti mettere a fuoco un certo numero di problemi urbanistici e architettonici che dal primo dopoguerra ad oggi hanno via via cambiato i caratteri fondamentali dell'area di progetto come dell'intera città; sviluppando quest'ultima in maniera piuttosto inorganica e contaminando la struttura originaria del centro storico. Il progetto vuole quindi cogliere l'occasione per riorganizzare parte del tessuto, rifacendosi ai principi generatori e ai caratteri della forma originaria dell'Aquila. Gli edifici progettati perseguono obiettivi molteplici e a volte discordanti ad esempio l' ottima qualità dell'abitare e l'economicità sono due importanti caratteristiche che si è cercato di unire tramite tecnologie votate all'efficienza energetica, alla semplificazione del cantiere e alla semiprefabbricazione. Tali strumenti tecnologici sono molto utili a razionalizzare e ottimizzare il processo costruttivo, in linea con quelle che sono le esigenze della produzione contemporanea; soprattutto in ambito residenziale.

The use of mobile single-sided NMR for the diagnosis of osteoporosis: a preliminary study

Una nuova ed originale tecnica è stata messa a punto, finalizzata alla realizzazione di una procedura per la diagnosi dell’osteoporosi, mediante l’utilizzo di scanner low field single-sided NMR. Tre differenti scanner (NMR MOLE, MOUSE PM 10 e MOUSE PM5) sono stati usati per determinare il Bone Volume-to-Total Volume ratio (BV/TV), parametro che fornisce indicazioni sulla microstruttura dell’osso. I risultati sono stati confrontati con le analisi micro-CT. Gli esperimenti sono stati condotti nel Lab. NMR del dipartimento DIFA di UNIBO e nel Lab. NMR della Victoria University di Wellington (NZ), durante un periodo di visita di cinque mesi, supportato da una borsa di studio della “Facoltà di Scienze” di UNIBO. Le analisi micro-CT sono state condotte presso il Lab. di Tecnologie Mediche dell’Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna. La ricerca è stata parzialmente finanziata dalla “Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna”. La caratterizzazione dell’osso trabecolare di campioni animali e dei tessuti che lo circondano (come cartilagine e muscolo) è stata condotta tramite mappe di correlazione T1-T2 e D-T2 , dove T1 e T2 sono, rispettivamente, il tempo di rilassamento longitudinale e trasversale del nucleo 1H, e D è il coefficiente di autodiffusione molecolare. E’ stata sviluppata una sequenza di impulsi (Diffusion-Weighted T1-T2) per ottenere mappe T1-T2 pesate in diffusione. I risultati hanno consentito di mettere a punto una procedura che elimina il segnale NMR proveniente da cartilagine e muscolo, rendendo più realistico lo scenario di applicazione in-vivo. I tre diversi dispositivi NMR hanno dato risultati consistenti tra loro e con le immagini micro-CT. L’intera catena di esperimenti condotti ha mostrato che dispositivi NMR single-sided possono essere usati per valutare il BV/TV di ossa trabecolari, con il vantaggio di essere portatili, a basso costo e non invasivi, permettendo campagne di screening della popolazione a rischio osteoporosi.

Las Moradas, de Amparo Amorós. Un diálogo entre tradición y modernidad

La comunicación aborda la obra poética de Amaparo Amorós titulada Las Moradas (2000, Calima, España), en diálogo sincrónico con las Moradas de Santa Teresa (1577, España) y con poéticas de la modernidad: simbolismo francés, romanticismo español. El marco teórico en el que se inscribe este diálogo es el de la intertextualidad como engendramiento, preanunciada por Borges en 1944 y formalizada por Kristeva (1968), así como el de la propuesta que planteó T.S. Eliot en la tradición y el talento individual (1944). La comunicación, que forma parte de un trabajo mayor, tratará de demostrar por medio de algunos ejemplos textuales la vigencia de la tradición mística en la poesía española moderna y su relación con el símbolo y las correspondencias, como así también la concepción de la poesía como morada del ser, siguiendo la línea post-Hölderlin, teorizada por Heidegger, y la línea de pensamiento y poesía, expuesta por María Zambrano en Filosofía y poesía (1939).

La parte de los crímenes : Una snuff movie literaria

"La parte de los crímenes" es la única sección de 2666 en la que la trama queda subordinada a una cronología implacable, marcada por descripciones detalladas de cuerpos violados y maltratados de mujeres asesinadas en los alrededores de Santa Teresa, según el orden en que se vayan descubriendo. En el texto se especula acerca del supuesto vínculo entre los crímenes y la subindustria clandestina del cine porno, a saber: snuff movies. En ese artículo se investiga el paralelismo entre el cine porno, películas snuff y el texto bolañesco, con enfoque especial en la repetitividad y la pasión por lo Real