Ultrastructure of last larval instar fat body cells of Pachycondyla (= Neoponera) villosa (Formicidae : Ponerinae): cytochemical and chemical analysis

The ultrastructure of the fat body cells (trophocytes) of the last larval instar of Pachycondyla (= Neoponera) villosa is presented. The cytoplasm is restricted to the cell periphery and to the smaller strips among the vacuoles, protein granules, lipid droplets, and around the nucleus. Cytochemically, the presence of basic amino acids in the protein granules and in the nuclei was observed by using the ethanolic phosphotungstic acid technique (EPTA). The lipid droplets stained for unsaturated lipids. This result was further confirmed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, where the unsaturated fatty acids were identified as oleic and linoleic acids together with saturated fatty acids such as palmitic and stearic acid. Carbohydrates (glycogen) were also detected in the fat body. The glycogen is present as beta particles distributed among the lipid droplets and sometimes attached to them.

Handicrafts from Jalapao (TO), Brazil, and their relationship to plant anatomy

EICHEMBERG, M. T. and V. L. SCATENA (Universidade Estadual Paulista, Departamento de Botanica, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil). J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 138:34-40. 2011.-Handicrafts from Jalapao (TO), Brazil, and their Relationship to Plant Anatomy. In the state of Tocantins, midwestern Brazil, communities from the region of Jalapao use scapes of "capim dourado" (golden grass - Syngonanthus nitens- Eriocaulaceae) and leaves of "buriti" (Mauritia flexuosa - Arecaceae) to make handicrafts (baskets and ornaments). The predominant biome of this area is cerrado (savanna), with a notable presence of buriti in the "veredas" (swampy forest-like vegetation), and of golden grass, which is one of the most common plants in humid grasslands. These traditional handicrafts represent a significant source of income for local communities. The whole scapes of Syngonanthus nitens are used due to their golden color, which is a reflection of such internal structures as thick walled cells and lignin in the epidermis and cortex. The strips called "seda" (silk) used to sew the scapes in the making of handicrafts come from young leaves of Mauritia,flexuosa. They are constituted by the adaxial epidermis and bundles of subepidermic fibers, both showing thick-walled cells. Since the cells of the bundles of sclerenchymatic fibers from the abaxial surface of buriti leaves present stegmata containing silica bodies, their mechanical properties are less adapted to the production of "silk", justifying the use of the leaf adaxial surface. Anatomical characteristics such as the thickening and composition of the cell walls of both species together with sociocultural factors, allow a better knowledge of the use of plant structures in the making of handicrafts.

High-fat diet associated with obesity induces impairment of mouse corpus cavernosum responses

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

Oral manifestations of diabetes mellitus in complete denture wearers

Statement of problem. The oral mucosa has been reported to show a variety of changes in subjects with diabetes mellitus.Purpose. The purpose of this study was to compare diabetic and nondiabetic subjects wearing complete dentures with regard to salivary flow, salivary buffering capacity, denture retention, and oral mucosal lesions.Material and methods. Sixty subjects, 30 with and 30 without a diagnosis of diabetes, were matched for gender, race, and age. Salivary flow, salivary buffering capacity, glycemia, blood pressure, presence of mucosal lesions, denture retention, use of medications, and behavioral factors (controlled or uncontrolled diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking) reported by the subjects, were evaluated. For the salivary buffering capacity test, 1 mL of saliva was pipetted into a test tube containing 3 mL 0.005 N of hydrochloric acid, and the pH was measured with indicator strips. Group differences were statistically analyzed using the Student t test and the Mann-Whitney test for quantitative variables and the chi-square test for qualitative variables (alpha = .05).Results. Mean (SD) salivary flow was 1.14 (0.87) mL/min in the nondiabetic subjects and 0.95 (0.61) mL/min in the diabetic subjects. Evaluation of self-reported denture retention revealed no significant difference between groups. Denture retention was observed in 66.7% (20/30) of the control group and in 50% (15/30) of the diabetic group. The prevalence of mucosal lesions was 90% (27/30) in the control group and 83.3% (25/30) in the diabetic group. Salivary buffering capacity was 5.80 (0.85) in the control group and 5.26 (0.83) in the diabetic group (P = .017).Conclusions. Within the limitations of this study, no significant differences were observed in salivary flow, denture retention, or oral lesions in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects.

Streptococcus mutans Biofilm Adhesion on Composite Resin Surfaces After Different Finishing and Polishing Techniques

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

Metabolite fingerprint of "capim dourado" (Syngonanthus nitens), a basis of Brazilian handcrafts

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Developmental anatomy of Cyperus laxus (non-Nranz) and Fimbristylis dichotoma (Kranz) (Cyperaceae, Poales) and tissue continuity

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

Anatomia dos órgãos vegetativos e do escapo floral de Leiothrix crassifolia (Bong.) Ruhl., Eriocaulaceae, da Serra do Cipó-MG

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Soil loss risk and habitat quality in streams of a meso-scale river basin

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

Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) as an attractive crop to natural enemies in onion fields

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

Conjunctival impression cytology in dogs

Objective Ocular conjunctivas of healthy dogs were studied by conjunctival impression cytology for evaluation of feasibility, protocol standardization, and normal cytologic pattern recognition of this technique.Animals studied Twenty healthy, adult, cross-breed dogs.Procedures Samples of the bulbar conjunctiva were collected after instillation of topical anesthetic drops at the ocular surface. Impression cytology was performed by applying asymmetric strips of Millipore filter on the superior temporal bulbar conjunctiva near the limbus. The filter strip was gently pressed against the conjunctiva for 5 s and removed with a peeling motion. Samples were immediately fixed in 95% ethyl alcohol, stained with periodic acid-Schiff and hematoxylin, and mounted on slides cover-slipped using synthetic resin. The slides were examined by light microscopy.Results Microscopic examination of the impressions revealed superficial, intermediate and basal epithelial cells arranged in sheets. Keratinized epithelial cells, goblet cells and leukocytes, as well as cellular debris and mucus were observed.Conclusions Feasibility of impression cytology for sampling the bulbar conjunctiva of the dog and the standardization the the proposed protocol was shown. The results allowed the recognition the the normal cytologic pattern of healthy conjunctivas in dogs.

Maturação de sementes de aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb). II. Maturidade da panícula e da espigueta

The present work aims at defining the panicle and spikelet maturity of Avena strigosa Schreb. Four experiments were carried out under field conditions during 1989 (E1 and E2) and 1990 (E3 and E4) in Botucatu county, São Paulo State, Brazil. The sowings were made in 04.19.89 (E1) and 06.18.89 (E2). Maturity of panicle was evaluated by weekly (E1) or biweekly harvests (E2) beginning at total emergence of the panicle. In E3 and E4, sowing was made in 06.04.90 and each experiment had a single harvest date (E3 = 11.01.90 and E4 = 11.07.90). After harvest, the spikelets with similar stage of development were grouped and evaluated. Based on dry matter accumulation and germination percentage of the seeds, it was observed that the maturity of the seeds in the panicle was reached at 28 and 35 days after total emergence of the panicle in the April sowing, and between 24.5 and 28 days in the June sowing. During this period a few percentage of panicles not yet yellow became all yellow, the cariopsis at semi-hard stage became hard and moisture of the seeds dropped from 32% to 12%. The maturity of the seeds in the spikelet was reached when the glumes changed their color from yellowish to yellow, the lemma and palea changed from yellow with black strips to black, the cariopsis changed from farinaceous stage to semi-hard and the moisture content of the seeds changed from 40% to 25%.

Density and spatial distribution of Atta sexdens rubropilosa and Atta laevigata colonies (Hym., Formicidae) in Eucalyptus spp. forests

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Reação do tecido conjuntivo subcutâneo e de feridas incisas em contacto com gaze furacinada: estudo histológico

Strips of gauze and furacin gauze were implanted into the subcutaneous space and employed as dressing of dorsal incisions of albino rats. The animals were sacrificed after 24 hours, 2, 5, and 7 post-operative days. The pieces were processed for histological examination. It is possible to conclude that furacin gauze provokes more severe inflammatory reactions and does not favour connective neoformation and epithelization. Furacin gauze should be utilized only as a germicidal aim.

Desenvolvimento micelial de Lentinula edodes como efeito da profundidade e suplementação do substrato

The objective of the present study was to assess the rate of mycelium development of Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler as an effect of depth and supplementation of the sugar cane bagasse substrate with different amounts of rice bran and sugar cane molasses. The experimental design consisted in a 7 × 2 factorial scheme (seven levels of bran or molasses x two growth phases) using autoclavable glass flasks to keep the substrates. The proportions of rice bran tested were: 0, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 40% (dry weight/bagasse dry weight), and the concentrations of sugar cane molasses were: 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 g/kg substrate. Graph paper strips externally slicked to the flask were used to measure the mycelial development. To differentiate the growth as a function of depth, the mycelial development was divided into two phases: an initial one (upper half of the flask) and a final one (lower half). The rate of mycelium formation was always higher in the early growth than in the final phase regardless of the amount of supplement. High bran proportions reduced the rate of mycelium formation, especially during the final phase, and sugar cane molasses did not affect growth rate.