Diet of the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and its role in seed dispersal on a cattle ranch in Brazil

The maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus is the largest canid inhabiting South America. Its geographic distribution includes the open fields of Brazil's central area, which is currently undergoing agricultural expansion. The diet of the maned wolf and its seasonal variation was determined on a dairy cattle ranch (Sao Luis farm, 566 ha) in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. From January to December faeces of the maned wolf were collected monthly (n = 150 scats; 397 food item occurrences). Twenty-nine taxa were identified from scats, 18 of animal origin (46% or 183 occurrences) and 11 of plants (54% or 214 occurrences). The fruits of Solanum lycocarpum were the dominant food item in our study (29%). Mammals contributed 13%, arthropods 12%, birds 11% and reptiles 2% of the food items. Arthropods and fruits were prevalent in the rainy season and mammals in the dry season. As expected for a heavily fanned region, frugivory results were at the lower end of the diversity scale (9-33 species) and included four old garden species. No previous study of the diet of maned wolf has registered as many species of Solanaceae as this one. Although dietary richness was lower, the main food items (wolf fruit, armadillos, rodents, birds) were the same as study sites in 'cerrado' and upland meadows. In this region, the open habitats occupied by the maned wolf were previously covered by Atlantic forest, suggesting that landscape modification such as cattle ranching has opened new frontiers for distribution expansion of the maned wolf. The impact of loss of dietary richness and the increase in Solanaceae on the survival of the maned wolf need to be evaluated.

Diet of the maned wolf, Chrysocyon brachyurus (Mammalia : Canidae), during wet and dry seasons at Ibitipoca State Park, Brazil

Analysis of 141 seats of maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus collected in a region of upland forest and meadows of south-eastern Brazil yielded 351 food items in the wet season (60 seats) and 407 in the dry season (81 seats). Scarabaeidae and rodents were the most frequent animal food in both seasons, complemented by birds in the wet season and unidentified mammals in the dry season. Seeds revealed Solanum lycocarpum to be the most frequent plant food in the dry season and an Annonaceae and a Cactaceae the most frequent in the wet season. A total of 33 seed morphospecies were retrieved. Although our results reveal some shared and some divergent trends from dietary studies undertaken in savanna ('cerrado') areas, we found a very high frequency of potentially harmful tourists' garbage. This highlights the necessity for better environmental education and confirms that the maned wolf is a generalist and opportunist omnivore.

THE HIGGS PORTAL and AN UNIFIED MODEL FOR DARK ENERGY and DARK MATTER

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influences of the load centre of gravity on heavy vehicle acceleration

The aim of this paper is to analyse the influence of the load centre of gravity on heavy vehicle acceleration. This analysis is done through a method in which a vehicle centre of gravity map is used. A model for the driving force is presented for bus, truck and tractor-semi trailer combinations. The proposed model takes into consideration the resistance forces (drag, rolling resistance, translation and rotation acceleration, climbing resistance) and the 4 X 2 traction system. The positions of the vehicle centre of gravity as a function of the position of the load centre of gravity are determined. The vehicle acceleration is calculated based on the position of the load centre of gravity. This study analyses the acceleration of one of the Mercedes-Benz do Brasil tractor-semitrailer vehicle. A comparison of the acceleration for different maximum adhesion coefficients and ramps are presented, showing new results. An example showing the variations of the load centre of gravity position with the acceleration time and distance is provided. The load centre of gravity position is important for vehicle safety and the efficiency and economy in the transportation of the load.

Non-linear dynamics of a tower orchard sprayer based on an inverted pendulum model

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

Determinação da circunferência de rolamento de pneus agrícolas utilizando dois métodos: manual e eletrônico

A circunferência de rolamento dinâmica dos pneus agrícolas é uma medida importante para o estudo do desempenho de tratores agrícolas. Neste trabalho, compararam-se dois métodos de determinação da circunferência de rolamento dinâmica - um manual e um eletrônico (com instrumentação das rodas de tração) - sob duas velocidades de deslocamento e cinco combinações de pressão de inflação nos pneus dianteiros e traseiros. O método manual forneceu valores estatisticamente superiores aos do eletrônico, com diferença absoluta máxima de 0,24%. A pressão de inflação influenciou significativamente os valores medidos, enquanto a velocidade de deslocamento, para os valores do ensaio (3,0 e 6,0 km.h-1), não apresentou influência significativa.

Planejamento e controle da produção de cilindros para laminação: um estudo de caso quantitativo

Este trabalho apresenta um modelo de otimização-simulação aplicado em um estudo de caso real no setor de cilindros para laminação de uma siderúrgica, buscando melhorar o gerenciamento da área/equipamento gargalo da linha de produção. A simulação atuou em conjunto com um modelo de otimização da programação linear inteira (PLI) para melhorar o atendimento de prazo junto aos clientes em uma produção não seriada. Como resultado deste procedimento combinado da PLI e simulação, o processo produtivo foi otimizado e as filas de espera e o lead-time foram reduzidos, melhorando o atendimento aos clientes.

Historical land-cover/use in different slope and riparian buffer zones in watersheds of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

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

Processing and properties of Ag/BSCCO PIT tapes containing different proportions of silver metal powder

Monofilamentary tapes (150 pm thickness) were prepared by swaging and rolling silver tubes containing the Bi:2212 ceramic (granulation below 20 mum) and the silver powder (about 0.8 mum). The study has been made, among other samples, on tapes with nominal proportions of 0, 10 and 20 wt.% of silver. The samples were characterized by SEM, and by electrical measurements under varying applied magnetic field. The measurements of J(c) showed that the addition of 10 wt.% silver powder is very beneficent to this property, doubling the obtained values at 60 K, while the 20 wt.% tape presented very low J(c). The tape with no silver content showed to have a J(c) as high as 2.2 x 10(5) A/cm(2), at 4.2 K, zero applied magnetic field. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Biological and biochemical properties of the Brazilian Potamotrygon stingrays : Potamotrygon cf. scobina and Potamotrygon gr. orbignyi

Stingrays of the family Potamotrygonidae are widespread throughout river systems of South America that drain into the Atlantic Ocean. Some species are endemic to the most extreme freshwater environment of the Brazil and cause frequent accidents to humans. The envenomation causes immediate, local, and intense pain, soft tissue edema, and a variable extent of bleeding. The present study was carried out in order to describe the principal biological and some biochemical properties of the Brazilian Potamotrygon fish venoms (Potamotrygon cf. scobina and P. gr. orbignyi). Both stingray venoms induced significant edematogenic and nociceptive responses in mice. Edematogenic and nociceptive responses were reduced when the venom was incubated at 37 or 56 degrees C. The results showed striking augments of leukocytes rolling and adherent cells to the endothelium of cremaster mice induced by both venoms. The data also presented that injection of both venoms induced necrosis, low level of proteolytic activity, without inducing haemorrhage. But when the venoms of both stingray species were injected together with their mucus secretion, the necrotizing activity was more vigorous. The present study provided in vivo evidence of toxic effects for P. cf. scobina and P. gr. orbignyi venoms. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All fights reserved.

RESULTS FROM THE SLD BARREL CRID DETECTOR

We report on operational experience with an experimental performance of the SLD barrel Cherenkov Ring Imaging Detector from the 1992 and 1993 physics runs. The liquid (C6F14) and gas (C5F12) radiator recirculation systems have performed well, and the drift gas supply system has operated successfully with TMAE for three years. Cherenkov rings have been observed from both the liquid and gas radiators. The number and angular resolution of Cherenkov photons have been measured, and found to be close to design specifications.

Analysis of the inflammatory reaction induced by the catfish (Cathorops spixii) venoms

Cathorops spixii is one of the most abundant venomous fish of the southeastern coast of the State of São Paulo, and consequently causes a great part of the accidents seen there. The accidents affect mainly fishermen, swimmers and tourists and are characterized by punctiform or wide wounds, erythema, edema, pain, sudoresis, indisposition, fever, nausea, vomiting and secondary infection. The objective of this work was to characterize the inflammatory response induced in mice by both venoms (mucus and sting) of the catfish C spixii. Our results demonstrated that both venoms induced a great number of rolling and adherent leukocytes in the post-capillary venules of cremaster muscle of mice, and an increase in the vascular permeability in peritoneal cavity. Mucus induced the recruitment of neutrophils immediately after injection followed later by macrophage infiltration. In contrast, the cellular infiltration elicited by sting venom was rapidly resolved. The peritonitis reaction provoked by venoms was characterized by cytokine (IL-6), chemokines (MCP-1 and KC) or lipid mediator (LTB4) production in the peritoneal cavity. The macrophages from 7-day mucus venom-induced exudates upon in vitro mucus venom stimulation, expressed CD1 Ic x MHC class II and release bioactive IL-12p70. on the other hand, sting venom-elicited peritoneal macrophages lost the ability to differentiate into dendritic cells, following re-stimulation in vitro with sting venom, they do not express CD11c, nor do they exhibit sufficient levels of MHC class II. In conclusion, both types of venoms (mucus or sting) promote inflammatory reaction with different profiles, and the inflammatory reaction induced by the first was characterized by antigen persistence in peritoneal cavity that allowed the activation of phagocytic cells with capacity of antigenic presentation. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

PERFORMANCE OF THE SLD BARREL CRID DURING THE 1992 PHYSICS DATA RUN

The SLD Barrel Cherenkov Ring Imaging Detector was fully operational in the 1992 physics data run. The electron drift velocity and magnetic field deflection of electron trajectories have been measured. Cherenkov rings have been observed from both the liquid and gas radiators. The number and the resolution of the angle of Cherenkov photons have been measured to be approximately equal to design specifications.

A neural network-based preset generation tool for a steel tandem cold mill

This paper traces the development of a software tool, based oil a combination of artificial neural networks (ANN) and a few process equations. aiming to serve as a backup operation instrument in the reference generation for real-time controllers of a steel tandem cold mill By emulating the mathematical model responsible for generating presets under normal operational conditions, the system works as ail option to maintain plant operation in the event of a failure in the processing unit that executes the mathematical model. The system, built from the production data collected over six years of plant operation, steered to the replacement of the former backup operation mode (based oil a lookup table). which degraded both product quality and plant productivity. The study showed that ANN are appropriated tools for the intended purpose and that by this instrument it is possible to achieve nearly the totality of the presets needed by this land of process. The text characterizes the problem, relates the investigated options to solve it. justifies the choice of the ANN approach, describes the methodology and system implementation and, finally, shows and discusses the attained results. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Potencial alelopático de extrato etanólico de Anadenanthera macrocarpa e Astronium graveolens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the allelophatic potential ethanol extract of leaves of Anadenanthera macrocarpa (Benth.) Brenan (angico) and Astronium graveolens Jacq (aroeira) on the biomonitor germination of Brassica chinensis (Malaysia's cabbage) and Lactuca sativa (lettuce). For the test of allelopathy was the bioassay of germination of B. chinensis and L. sativa using solutions of ethanol extracts in different concentrations (5, 10 and 20 mg / mL) with continuous light for 11 days. The experimental and control groups were divided into the Petri dish containing 50 seeds of B. chinensis and L. sativa each. Were performed six replicates for each concentration of extract of leaves of A. macrocarpa and A. graveolens and the negative control (water). The rolling action of the treatments was performed by quantitative observation and monitoring of germination every six hours. The results show that the ethanol extract of A. macrocarpa and A. graveolens presents allelopathic potential, regardless of the concentration used, but with answers dose-dependent, and thus able to interfere directly in germination, average speed and time of germination biomonitor of B. chinensis and L. sativa.