Survey of preys captured and used by Polybia platycephala (Richards) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae, Epiponini)

As vespas sociais são predadoras de várias espécies de insetos e, portanto, o estudo de suas presas pode revelar seu potencial para programas de controle biológico de pragas. Durante o período de setembro de 2000 a janeiro de 2002, foram realizadas 70h de coleta de presas capturadas em doze ninhos de Polybia platycephala Richards, localizados em áreas urbanas do município de Juiz de Fora, MG. As presas capturadas por P. platycephala compreenderam cinco ordens de insetos: Diptera (33,4%), Lepidoptera (28,6%), Hemiptera (12,0%), Hymenoptera (9,4%) e Coleoptera (7,2%). O peso médio da carga protéica transportada pelas vespas foi 1,9 ±1,6 mg (n = 34, 0,3 - 6,2 mg), e a taxa média de proteína transportada por dia foi 22,8 mg. de acordo com os resultados, pode-se estimar a captura de 4.380 presas por ano por uma única colônia de P. platycephala. Desta forma, a espécie pode ser utilizada em programas de manejo em ambientes urbanos contribuindo para o controle de insetos pragas como larvas de pernilongos, lagartas desfolhadoras de plantas de jardins, pulgões e formas aladas de formigas.

Estimates of genetic parameters for scrotal circumference using random regression models in Nelore cattle

A total of 15,901 scrotal circumference (SC) records from 5300 Nelore bulls, ranging from 229 to 560 days of age, were used with the objective of estimating (co)variance functions for SC, using random regression models. Models included the fixed effects of contemporary group and age of dam at calving as covariable (linear and quadratic effects). To model the population mean trend, a third order Legendre polynomial on animal age was utilized. The direct additive genetic and animal permanent environmental random effects were modeled by Legendre polynomials on animal age, with orders of fit ranging from 1 to 5. Residual variances were modeled considering 1 (homogeneity of variance) or 4 age classes. Results obtained with the random regression models were compared to multi-trait analysis. (Co)variance estimates using multi-trait and random regression models were similar. The model considering a third- and fifth-order Legendre polynomials for additive genetic and animal permanent environmental effects, respectively, was the most adequate to model changes in variance of SC with age. Heritability estimates for SC ranged from 0.24 (229 days of age) to 0.47 (300 days of age), remained almost constant until 500 days of age (0.52), decreasing thereafter (0.44). In general, the genetic correlations between measures of scrotal circumference obtained from 229 to 560 days of age decreased with increasing distance between ages. For genetic evaluation scrotal circumference could be measured between 400 and 500 days of age. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Molecular architecture and electrical properties in evaporated films of cobalt phthalocyanine

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

On the origin of exciton formation in dye doped Alq(3) OLEDs

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

Ultrastructural study of the ovary of the sugarcane spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata (Hemiptera)

The present study describes the ultrastructure of meroistic telotrophic ovaries of the sugarcane spittlebug Mahanarva fimbriolata. In this type of ovary, nurse cells, oogonia, and prefollicular tissue are located at the terminal (distal) regions or tropharium of ovarioles. Oocytes in different developmental stages, classified from I to V, are observed in the vitellarium. Stage I oocytes do not exhibit intercellular spaces in the follicular epithelium, suggesting that synthesis and production of yolk during this stage occurs only through endogenous processes. Small yolk granules of different electron densities are present in the cytoplasm. Few lipid droplets are observed. Stage 11 oocytes exhibit small intercellular spaces in the follicular epithelium. More protein as well as lipid yolk granules are observed in the cytoplasm. In stage III oocytes, intercellular spaces in the follicular epithelium are larger than those observed in the previous stage. Electrondense protein granules of various sizes, larger than those observed in stage 11 oocytes predominate in the cytoplasm. Smaller lipid droplets are also present. In stage IV oocytes, the follicular epithelium exhibits large intercellular spaces. Our data clearly indicate that the opening of these spaces in the follicular epithelium of M. fimbriolata oocytes increases as the intake of exogenous proteins intensifies, that is, in stages IV and Voocytes. During these stages, granular yolk becomes viscous due to the lysis of granules. In stage Voocytes, viscous yolk predominates in the cytoplasm. This type of yolk, however, has not been described for other orders of insects. The chorion of M. fimbriolata oocytes consists of an external layer (exochorion) and an internal one (endochorion), which is in direct contact with the oocyte. Numerous small pores that probably facilitate oxygenation of the internal structures inside the eggs are observed in the exochorion. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of seasonal dynamics and bioindication potential of macroalgal communities in a polluted tropical stream

Macroalgal communities and environmental variables were analyzed seasonally along a polluted tropical stream in São Paulo State, Brazil, We aimed to improve the knowledge of tropical macroalgal communities, to study the longitudinal and seasonal dynamics of these communities in influenced environments, to evaluate the relationship of algal frequency and abundance with selected environmental variables, and to look for potential macroalgal species indicators. The seasonal abundance pattern was similar to natural or low influenced systems and was mainly determined by rainfall regime. However, community composition was closely related to some chemical water pollution indicators, such as phosphorus and nitrogen compounds. Some species are suggested as potential indicators of organic pollution (e.g. Oscillatoria ornata, Stigeoclonium helveticum and Schizomeris leibleinii), but more detailed studies have to be developed to determine the tolerance limits of these species. on the basis of our results and literature data, the use of occurrence of Oscillatoriales in relation to other orders of Cyanoprokaryota is suggested to be a good indicator of organic pollution in tropical lotic ecosystems.

Ecology of a stream from upper Paraná River basin inhabited by Aspidoras fuscoguttatus Nijssen & Isbrüker, 1976 (Siluriformes, Callichthyidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Universal behavior of a trapped Fermi superfluid in the BCS-unitarity crossover

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

The formation of CN and CN+ by direct radiative association

Rate coefficients for direct radiative association of carbon and nitrogen atoms to form CN, and of carbon ions and nitrogen atoms to form CN+ ions, are calculated for temperatures in the range of 300 to 14,700 K. For the CN molecule, the rate coefficients can be represented by the standard expression, k(CN)(T) = 7.87 x 10(-19)(T/300)(0.056) exp (-96.0/T) cm(3) s(-1) for temperatures between 300 and 2700 K and k(CN)(T) = 1.37 x 10(-18)(T/300)-0.128 exp (-520.1/T) cm(-3) s(-1) at T > 2700 K. For the CN+ ion, the corresponding expression is k(CN+)(T) = 1.08 x 10(-18)(T/300)(0.071) exp (-57.5/T) cm(-3) s(-1) for the temperature range studied. Calculated rate coefficients k(CN) are about 2 orders of magnitude lower than the canonical value used in the modeling of the chemistry of various astrophysical environments.

Power-law distributions for the citation index of scientific publications and scientists

The number of citations of a scientific publication or of an individual scientist has become an important factor of quality assessment in science. We report a study of the statistical distribution of the citation index of both scientific publications and scientists. We give numerical evidence that Tsallis (power law) statistics explains the entire distribution over eight orders of magnitude (10-4 to 10(4)). Also, we draw Zipf plots in order to analyze the statistical distribution of the citation index of Brazilian and international physicists and chemists. The relatively small group of Brazilian scientists seems more adequate to explain the dynamics of the citation index. In this case, we find that the distribution of the citation index can also be explained by a gradually truncated power law with similar parameters. We finally discuss possible mechanisms behind the citation index of scientists and scientific publications.

Hydrothermal rare earth elements mineralization in the Barra do Itapirapua carbonatite, southern Brazil: behaviour of selected trace elements and stable isotopes (C, O)

The Bura do Itapira pua carbonatite is located in southern Brazil and belongs to the Cretaceous Ponta Grossa alkaline-carbonatitic province related to the opening of the South Atlantic. The carbonatite complex is emplaced in Proterozoic granites and is mainly composed of plutonic magnesio- to ferrocarbonatite, with smaller amounts of subvolcanic magnesiocarbonatite. Hydrothermal alteration of the carbonatite has led to the formation of quartz, apatite, fluorite, rue earth fluorocarbonates, barite and sulfides in variable proportions. Trace element data, delta(13)C and delta(18)O are presented here, with the aim of better understanding the geochemical nature of hydrothermal alteration related to rare earth elements (REE) mineralization. The non-overprinted plutonic carbonatite shows the lowest REE contents, and its primitive carbon and oxygen stable isotopic composition places it in the field of primary igneous carbonatites. Two types of hydrothermally overprinted plutonic carbonatites can be distinguished based on secondary minerals and geochemical composition. Type I contains mainly quartz, rare earth fluorocarbonates and apatite as hydrothermal secondary minerals, and has steep chondrite normalized REE patterns, with Sigma(REE+Y) of up to 3 wt.% (i.e., two orders of magnitude higher than in fresh plutonic samples). In contrast, the Type II overprint contains apatite, fluorite and barite as dominant hydrothermal minerals, and is characterized by heavy REE enrichment relative to the fresh samples, with flat chondrite normalized REE patterns. Carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios of Types I and II are elevated (delta(18)O + 8 to + 12 parts per thousand; delta(13)C - 6 to - 2 parts per thousand) relative to the fresh samples. Hydrothermally overprinted carbonatites exposed to weathering show even higher delta(18)O values (delta(18)O 13 to 25 parts per thousand) but no additional REE enrichment. The subvolcanic carbonatite has anomalously high delta(13)C of up to + 1 parts per thousand, which suggests crustal contamination through interaction with carbonate-bearing metasediments. (C) 1999 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of hydrothermal alteration on the Sr and Nd isotopic signatures of the Barra do Itapirapua Carbonatite, Southern Brazil

The Cretaceous Barra do Itapirapua carbonatite in southern Brazil experienced extensive postmagmatic hydrothermal alteration. In this article, Sr and Nd isotope ratios of coexisting samples of hydrothermally overprinted and of preserved, nonoverprinted carbonatite are presented. Hydrothermal alteration caused strong REE enrichment, leading to the formation of minerals of the bastnaesite group. In the overprinted carbonatite, Nd contents reach 4000 ppm, two orders of magnitude higher than in the fresh carbonatite, but epsilon(Nd) varies only within a range of 3.4 units. In contrast, Sr was leached from the carbonatite during the postmagmatic alteration; hence values of around 10,000 ppm in the fresh carbonatite drop to about 1000 ppm in the overprinted samples. Leaching is accompanied by a variation of Sr isotopic composition toward more radiogenic values, resulting in an increase of 15 units in epsilon(Sr). Variation of Sr isotopic composition is related to postmagmatic alteration and is decoupled from the variation of Nd isotopic composition, ruling out heterogeneities in the mantle source as the main cause of isotopic variability in the data set. Furthermore, this cannot be explained by bulk crustal contamination. A two-step model is proposed in which (1) a REE-rich, carbonatite-derived hydrothermal fluid overprinted the pristine carbonatite, causing REE-enrichment with a relative small change of isotopic composition; and (2) crust-derived hydrothermal fluids percolated the cooling carbonatite, leaching the original Sr from the carbonatite and introducing a more radiogenic Sr isotopic signature. The amounts of carbonatite-derived Nd with primitive, carbonatite-like Nd isotope ratios introduced during the first stage of hydrothermal alteration are high enough to buffer the effect of crust-derived Nd on the Nd isotopic composition of the overprinted carbonatite.

Influence of Hydrothermal Synthesis Conditions and Device Configuration on the Photoresponse of UV Sensors Based on ZnO Nanorods

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

Estimation of (co)variance components and genetic parameters for weights of red-winged tinamou using random regression models

Com este trabalho objetivou-se determinar parâmetros genéticos para peso corporal de perdizes em cativeiro. Foram utilizados modelos de regressão aleatória na análise dos dados considerando os efeitos genéticos aditivos diretos (AD) e de ambiente permanente de animal (AP) como aleatórios. As variâncias residuais foram modeladas utilizando-se funções de variância de ordem 5. A curva média da população foi ajustada por polinômios ortogonais de Legendre de ordem 6. Os efeitos genéticos aditivos diretos e de ambiente permanente de animal foram modelados utilizando-se polinômios de Legendre de segunda a nona ordem. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos pelos modelos de ordem 6 de ajuste para os efeitos genéticos aditivos diretos e de ordem 3 para os de ambiente permanente pelo Critério de Informação de Akaike e ordem 3 para ambos os efeitos pelos Critério de Informação Bayesiano de Schwartz e Teste de Razão de Verossimilhança. As herdabilidades estimadas variaram de 0,02 a 0,57. O primeiro autovalor respondeu por 94 e 90% da variação decorrente de efeitos aditivos diretos e de ambiente permanente, respectivamente. A seleção de perdizes para peso corporal é mais efetiva a partir de 112 dias de idade.

Manipulation of anchoring strength in an azo-dye side chain polymer by photoisomerization

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)