Molecular phylogeny of advanced snakes (Serpentes, Caenophidia) with an emphasis on South American xenodontines: A revised classification and descriptions of new taxa

We present a molecular phylogenetic analysis of caenophidian (advanced) snakes using sequences from two mitochondrial genes (12S and 16S rRNA) and one nuclear (c-mos) gene (1681 total base pairs), and with 131 terminal taxa sampled from throughout all major caenophidian lineages but focussing on Neotropical xenodontines. Direct optimization parsimony analysis resulted in a well-resolved phylogenetic tree, which corroborates some clades identified in previous analyses and suggests new hypotheses for the composition and relationships of others. The major salient points of our analysis are: (1) placement of Acrochordus, Xenodermatids, and Pareatids as successive outgroups to all remaining caenophidians (including viperids, elapids, atractaspidids, and all other colubrid groups); (2) within the latter group, viperids and homalopsids are sucessive sister clades to all remaining snakes; (3) the following monophyletic clades within crown group caenophidians: Afro-Asian psammophiids (including Mimophis from Madagascar), Elapidae (including hydrophiines but excluding Homoroselaps), Pseudoxyrhophiinae, Colubrinae, Natricinae, Dipsadinae, and Xenodontinae. Homoroselaps is associated with atractaspidids. Our analysis suggests some taxonomic changes within xenodontines, including new taxonomy for Alsophis elegans, Liophis amarali, and further taxonomic changes within Xenodontini and the West Indian radiation of xenodontines. Based on our molecular analysis, we present a revised classification for caenophidians and provide morphological diagnoses for many of the included clades; we also highlight groups where much more work is needed. We name as new two higher taxonomic clades within Caenophidia, one new subfamily within Dipsadidae, and, within Xenodontinae five new tribes, six new genera and two resurrected genera. We synonymize Xenoxybelis and Pseudablabes with Philodryas; Erythrolamprus with Liophis; and Lystrophis and Waglerophis with Xenodon.

Job losses, multinationals and globalization: the anatomy of disempowerment

Includes bibliography

Dental arches multi-projection system with semantic descriptions

This paper presents the development of an multi-projection stereoscopic dental arches application with semantic descriptions. The first section presents the concepts of the used technologies. Applications and examples are demonstrated. Finally, is presented the physical structure and the developed system, where a 3D dental arch is used as a model and can be viewed in multi-projection, thereby, providing greater user's immersion. ©2010 IEEE.

Job creation in Latin America in the 1990s: the foundation for social policy

Includes bibliography

Job-seeking strategies in Trinidad and Tobago

Includes bibliography

The feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) of the Violet-capped Woodnymph, Thalurania glaucopis (Gmelin) (Aves, Trochilidae), with descriptions of three new species

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

The feather mites of nightjars (Ayes: Caprimulgidae), with descriptions of two new species from Brazil (Acari: Xolalgidae, Gabuciniidae)

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

Dual descriptions of massive spin-3 particles in D=2+1 via Noether gauge embedment

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Taxonomic revision of extant Doras Lacepede, 1803 (Siluriformes: Doradidae) with descriptions of three new species

Extant Doras are newly diagnosed among Doradidae by the unique combination of maxillary barbels long and fimbriate; mesethmoid with anterior lateral margins converging towards narrow tip; single anterior cranial fontanel contained largely within frontals and anteriorly by mesethmoid (posterior cranial fontanel occluded); anterior nuchal plate wide, pentaganol or roughly hexagonal, sharing distinct lateral suture with epioccipital and isolating supraoccipital from middle nuchal plate; nuchal foramina absent; coracoid process short, posterior tip falling well short of that of postcleithral process; dentary with acicular teeth; and skin immediately ventral to postcleithral process perforated with conspicuous pores. One fossil species, dagger D. dioneae, and two nominal extant species, D. carinatus and D. micropoeus, are recognized as valid and the latter two redescribed. Three additional extant species, D. phlyzakion, D. higuchii and D. zuanoni, are newly described from the middle Amazon and tributaries, lower Amazon tributaries and rio Araguaia (Tocantins drainage), respectively. Doras phlyzakion and D. zuanoni form a monophyletic group that is found in lowland, lentic habitats, and is characterized by multiple conspicuous pores in skin on breast and abdomen, a trait unique among doradids and rare if not unique among all catfishes. The remaining extant species, D. carinatus, D. higuchii and D. micropoeus, with uncertain relationships, are found in upland, lotic habitats. The occurrence of D. carinatus in the Orinoco basin suggests a historical link between right-bank tributaries of the lower Orinoco (e.g., Caroni) draining the western Guiana Shield and more eastern rivers (e.g., Cuyuni-Essequibo) that drain the Shield directly into the Atlantic Ocean. A key to extant species is provided, a neotype is designated for Silurtis carinatus Linnaeus 1766, and Mormyropsis Miranda Ribeiro, 1911, is placed in the synonymy of Doras Lacepede, 1803.

Revision of the genus Spinosipella (Bivalvia : Verticordiidae), with descriptions of two new species from Brazil

A revision of the deep-water verticordiid genus Spinosipella is provided, based on conchological and anatomical characters. The genus is considered distinct from Verticordia (of which it was considered a subgenus) based on the strong ribs, prickly surface, reduction of lunula, relative large size, weakly spiral valve shape, and other characters. The following species are considered in the genus: (1) Spinosipella agnes new species, ranging from Florida, USA, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and also including the Porcupine Abyssal Plain in the North Atlantic; (2) S. tinga new species, occurring from Rio de Janeiro to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; (3) S. acuticostata (Philippi, 1844), a Pliocene fossil from southern Italy; (4) S. deshayesiana (Fischer, 1862), from south and central Indo-Pacific (S. ericia Hedley, 1911, the type species of the genus, was revealed to be a new synonym of S. deshayesiana); and (5) S. costeminens (Poutiers, 1981), from the tropical west Pacific. The five species differ mainly in conchological details of the number and size of ribs, of the prickly sculpture, shape of the shell, of the hinge and the degree of convexity. Anatomical description is also provided for the two Pacific species, which differ among themselves mainly by the size of the pair of renal folds. From the standpoint of anatomical characters, the more significant are: the wide lithodesma; the elongation of the auricles, crossing the roof of pallial cavity; a tall digital fold in posterior region of supraseptal chamber; the low but wide palps; the muscular, gizzard-like stomach; the complete separation of both constituents of the hermaphroditic gonad (a ventro-posterior testicle and a centro-dorsal ovary), and a complete fusion of the visceral ganglia.

Descriptions of Macrolygistopterus subparallelus Pic, 1930 immatures from southeastern Brazil (Coleoptera, Lycidae, Lycinae, Calochromini)

Mature larva and pupa of Macrolygistopterus subparallelus Pic are described and compared to known Calochromini immatures. Larvae were collected alive inside dead trunk in the Atlantic Forest at Estacao Biologica de Boraceia, Salesopolis, Sao Paulo, Brazil. They were maintained in laboratory conditions, and the pupal period was 12 days (one observation). The pupa of this genus is described for the first time. This larva differs from known Calochromini larvae mainly because of its almost cylindrical campodeiform body and longer urogomphi.

JOB SATISFACTION: A QUALITY INDICATOR IN NURSING HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

This descriptive study addresses the job satisfaction of nurse managers and clinical nurses working at the Hematology and Hemotherapy Services of a public hospital in Sao Paulo. The study objectives were to identify the factors that caused job satisfaction among nurse managers and clinical nurses, and support the results in the development of indicators to evaluate the quality of nursing human resource management. The components of the study were: autonomy, interaction, professional status, job requirements, organizational norms and remuneration. Participants were 44 nurses. Data were collected using a Job Satisfaction Index (JSI) questionnaire. In conclusion, this study permitted the identification of the clinical nurse group, which was the most satisfied, with a JSI of 10.5; the managerial group scored 10.0. Regarding the satisfaction levels in regards to the current activity, 88.9% of the nurse managers reported feeling satisfied, as did 90.9% of clinical nurses. For both groups, autonomy was the component with the highest level of professional satisfaction.

Job satisfaction among control room operators of electrical systems

Shift workers from control centers of electrical systems are a group that has received little attention in Brazil. This study aimed to compare workers' job satisfaction at five control centers of a Brazilian company electrical system, and according to their job titles. Method: The Organization Satisfaction Index (OSI) questionnaire to assess job satisfaction was used. ANOVA was used to compare OSI means, according to job title and control center. The results showed that there is no difference in job satisfaction among job titles, but a significant difference was found according to the control center. A single organizational culture cannot be applied to several branches. It is required to implement actions that would result in job satisfaction improvements among workers of all studied control rooms centers. The high level of education of operators working in all centers might have contributed to the similar values of perceived satisfaction among distinct job titles.