Temporal and spatial distribution of the commercial shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (Dendrobranchiata: Penaeidae) in the south-eastern Brazilian coast

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

Positioning and number of nutritional levels in dose-response trials to estimate the optimal-level and the adjustment of the models

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

Evolutionary History of the PER3 Variable Number of Tandem Repeats (VNTR): Idiosyncratic Aspect of Primate Molecular Circadian Clock

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

Vertebral spine of Tamandu-mirim Tamandua tetradactyla

Anatomical studies of the anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla) are scarce and the articles that describe the vertebral column of this species have variations in the number of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. This study had the objective of adding data to the existing literature about the anatomical composition of an anteater's vertebral column using radiographic and tomographic exams. Based on the cadaver of a young female anteater, we observed a total of 7 cervical, 16 thoracic, 3 lumbar and 5 sacral vertebrae, which differed from the cited literature, especially with respect to the thoracic vertebrae. This demonstrates the need for studies with a larger number of individuals in order to standardize possible anatomic variations for the species.

Influence of sleep disorders on the behavior of individuals with autism spectrum disorder

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

On the number of limit cycles in discontinuous piecewise linear differential systems with two pieces separated by a straight line

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

QCD chiral symmetry restoration with a large number of quarks in a model with a confining propagator and dynamically massive gluons

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Short communication: Variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms in DGAT1 gene of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) is associated with milk constituents

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

Clinical and epidemiological profiles of individuals with drug-resistant tuberculosis

Drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is a growing global threat. Approximately 450,000 people developed multidrugresistant TB worldwide in 2012 and an estimated 170,000 people died from the disease. This paper describes the sociodemographic, clinical-epidemiological and bacteriological aspects of TB and correlates these features with the distribution of anti-TB drug resistance. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) cultures and drug susceptibility testing were performed according to the BACTEC MGIT 960 method. The results demonstrated that MT strains from individuals who received treatment for TB and people who were infected with human immunodeficiency virus were more resistant to TB drugs compared to other individuals (p < 0.05). Approximately half of the individuals received supervised treatment, but most drug-resistant cases were positive for pulmonary TB and exhibited positive acid-fast bacilli smears, which are complicating factors for TB control programs. Primary healthcare is the ideal level for early disease detection, but tertiary healthcare is the most common entry point for patients into the system. These factors require special attention from healthcare managers and professionals to effectively control and monitor the spread of TB drug-resistant cases.

Temperature-dependent fecundity and life table of the fennel aphid hyadaphis foeniculi (passerini) (hemiptera: aphididae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of the number of load cycles to obtain the stiffness properties of angico preto (Anadenanthera macrocarpa) wood specie

The tests used to obtain the stiffness properties of wood are made with two loading cycles, as defined by the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 7190 (Design of Timber Structures). However, the possibility of reducing the number of cycles allows decrease the operating time of the machine, resulting in reduced spending on electricity used during the tests. This research aimed to investigate, with the aid of the analysis of variance (ANOVA), the influence of the use of three load cycles to obtain the modulus of elasticity in compression parallel to grain (Ec0), in tensile parallel to the grain (Et0), in bending (Em) and in compression perpendicular to the grain (Ec90) of Angico Preto (Anadenanthera macrocarpa) wood specie. For the number of cycles and stiffness were manufactured 12 samples, totaling 144 specimens. The results of the ANOVA revealed statistical equivalence between the stiffness properties for both load cycle numbers evaluated, indicating that it is possible to carry out the tests with a single charge cycle, allowing savings in time and energy in the operation of the equipment.

Gamma irradiation can control the number of psychotrophic bacteria in Agaricus bisporus during storage

We evaluated the effect of gamma irradiation doses (0, 125, 250, and 500 Gy) in control of psychrotrophic bacteria in different strains of Agaricus bisporus (ABI-07/06, ABI-05/03, and PB-1) during storage, cultivated in composts based on oat straw (Avena sativa) and Brachiaria spp. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme 4  2  3 (irradiation doses  composts  strains), with 24 treatments, each consisting of 2 replicates, totaling 48 experimental units (samples of mushrooms). The mushrooms collected from all culture conditions were packaged in plastic polypropylene with 200 g each and subjected to Cobalt-60 irradiator, type Gammacell 220, and dose rate 0.740 kGy h–1 , according to the treatments. Subsequently, the control (nonirradiated) and other treatments were maintained at 4 ± 1°C and 90% relative humidity (RH) in a climatic chamber to perform the microbiological analysis of mushrooms on the 1st and 14th day of storage. According to the results, it was found that the highest mean colony psychotrophic count, after 14 days of storage, was observed in strain ABI-07/06 1.30 × 108 g -1 most probable number (MPN) in nonirradiated mushrooms, coming from Brachiaria grass-based compost, and this same strain under the same storage conditions, coming from the same type of compost that underwent a dose of 500 Gy, obtained a significant reduction in mean colonies of psychrotrophic bacteria (2.25 × 104 g –1 MPN). Thus, the irradiation doses tested favored reducing the number of colonies of psychrotrophic bacteria, regardless of the type of compound and strain of A. bisporus.

Minimizing the Number of Optical Amplifiers Needed to Support a Multi-Wavelength Optical LAN/MAN

Optical networks based on passive star couplers and employing wavelength-division multiplexing (WDhf) have been proposed for deployment in local and metropolitan areas. Amplifiers are required in such networks to compensate for the power losses due to splitting and attenuation. However, an optical amplifier has constraints on the maximum gain and the maximum output power it can supply; thus optical amplifier placement becomes a challenging problem. The general problem of minimizing the total amplifier count, subject to the device constraints, is a mixed-integer non-linear problem. Previous studies have attacked the amplifier placement problem by adding the “artificial” constraint that all wavelengths, which are present at a particular point in a fiber, be at the same power level. In this paper, we present a method to solve the minimum amplifier- placement problem while avoiding the equally powered- wavelength constraint. We demonstrate that, by allowing signals to operate at different power levels, our method can reduce the number of amplifiers required in several small to medium-sized networks.

Segregation of migration by feeding ground origin in North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae)

Results from a large-scale, capture–recapture study of humpback whales Megaptera novaeangliae in the North Atlantic show that migration timing is influenced by feeding ground origin. No significant differences were observed in the number of individuals from any feeding area that were re-sighted in the common breeding area in the West Indies. However, there was a relationship between the proportion (logit transformed) of West Indies sightings and longitude (r2 = 0.97, F1,3 = 98.27, P = 0.0022) suggesting that individuals feeding farther to the east are less likely to winter in the West Indies. A relationship was also detected between sighting date in the West Indies and feeding area. Mean sighting dates in the West Indies for individuals identified in the Gulf of Maine and eastern Canada were significantly earlier than those for animals identified in Greenland, Iceland and Norway (9.97 days, t179 = 3.53, P = 0.00054). There was also evidence for sexual segregation in migration; males were seen earlier on the breeding ground than were females (6.63 days, t105 = 1.98, P = 0.050). This pattern was consistently observed for animals from all feeding areas; a combined model showed a significant effect for both sex (F1 = 5.942, P = 0.017) and feeding area (F3 =4.756, P=0.0038). The temporal difference in occupancy of the West Indies between individuals from different feeding areas, coupled with sexual differences in migratory patterns, presents the possibility that there are reduced mating opportunities between individuals from different high latitude areas.