Reproductive biology of Ameerega trivittata (Anura: Dendrobatidae) in an area of terra firme forest in eastern Amazonia

The reproductive success of tropical amphibians is influenced by factors such as body size and the characteristics of breeding sites. Data on reproductive biology are important for the understanding of population dynamics and the maintenance of species. The objectives of the present study were to examine the abundance of Ameerega trivittata, analyze the use of microhabitats by calling males and the snout-vent length (SVL) of breeding males and females, the number of tadpoles carried by the males and mature oocytes in the females, as well as the relationship between the SVL of the female and both the number and mean size of the mature oocytes found in the ovaries. Three field trips were conducted between January and September, 2009. A total of 31 plots, with a mean area of 2.3 ha, were surveyed, resulting in records of 235 individuals, with a mean density of 3.26 individuals per hectare. Overall, 66.1% of the individuals sighted were located in the leaf litter, while 17.4% were perched on decaying tree trunks on the forest floor, 15.7% on the aerial roots of Cecropia trees, and 0.8% on lianas. Males were observed transporting a mean of 10.8 tadpoles on their backs. A significant correlation was found between the size of the females and the mean diameter of the oocytes. New data were collected on the size of oocytes and no pattern was found in the type of perches used by calling males of the different Ameerega species.

Frugivory by birds on Schefflera morototoni (Araliaceae) in a Cerrado-Amazon orest transition area, eastern Mato Grosso, Brazil

Schefflera morototoni fruits are important food source for neotropical frugivorous birds. The objectives of the present study were to record bird species that consumed fruits of S. morototoni in a forest in the transition Cerrado-Amazon Forest, Mato Grosso, Brazil and evaluate the potential of these bird species as seed dispersers of this plant species. During 31 observation hours, from November 1 to 5, 2011, 23 bird species were recorded consuming S. morototoni fruits. Out of these, 20 bird species were considered potential seed dispersers, as they swallow the fruits whole. The species consuming the greatest number of fruits were Aburria cujubi (24% of total consumed fruits), Pteroglossus castanotis (18%), Tangara palmarum (12%), Patagioenas speciosa (11%), Ramphastos toco (8%), and Dacnis lineata (5%). The species T. palmarum showed the highest visit frequency (VF = 1.51), followed by P. castanotis (VF = 0.80), and D. lineata (VF = 0.77). All bird species employed picking foraging method for removal of fruits and in 11 species (48%) this method was the only one used. Agonistic interactions represented 13% of the total number of visits. Dacnis lineata received the highest number of attacks and P. castanotis and Pitangus sulphuratus were the more aggressive species. The high bird richness and the great number of consumed fruits indicated that the fruits of S. morototoni may be an important food resource for birds in the Cerrado-Amazon Forest transition

Litterfall production in intact and selectively logged forests in southern of Amazonia as a function of basal area of vegetation and plant density

Nutrient recycling in the forest is linked to the production and decomposition of litter, which are essential processes for forest maintenance, especially in regions of nutritionally poor soils. Human interventions in forest such as selecttive logging may have strong impacts on these processes. The objectives of this study were to estimate litterfall production and evaluate the influence of environmental factors (basal area of vegetation, plant density, canopy cover, and soil physicochemical properties) and anthropogenic factors (post-management age and exploited basal area) on this production, in areas of intact and exploited forest in southern Amazonia, located in the northern parts of Mato Grosso state. This study was conducted at five locations and the average annual production of litterfall was 10.6 Mg ha-1 year-1, higher than the values for the Amazon rainforest. There were differences in litterfall productions between study locations. Effects of historical logging intensity on litterfall production were not significant. Effects of basal area of vegetation and tree density on litterfall production were observed, highlighting the importance of local vegetation characteristics in litterfall production. This study demonstrated areas of transition between the Amazonia-Cerrado tend to have a higher litterfall production than Cerrado and Amazonia regions, and this information is important for a better understanding of the dynamics of nutrient and carbon cycling in these transition regions.

Nanocellulose in biomedical area: brief review

Due to remarkable physical properties, special surface chemistry and excellent biological properties, as low toxicity, biocompatibility and biodegradability, nanocellulose has gained much attention for its use as biomedical material, applied in medical implants, tissue engineering, drug delivery, wound-healing, cardiovascular applications, among others. This paper presents a review on nanocellulose applied in biomedical area.

O ajustamento psicossocial de jovens com consumos de substâncias psicoativas em escolas profissionais do grande Porto

Tese de Doutoramento em Estudos da Criança (Área de Especialidade Psicologia do Desenvolvimento e Educação)

Exposição a trauma e transtorno de estresse pós-traumático em usuárias de crack

OBJETIVO: Verificar a ocorrência de trauma e transtorno de estresse pós-traumático (TEPT) em uma amostra de mulheres dependentes de cocaína tipo crack. MÉTODO: A amostra foi composta por 99 mulheres, entre 18 e 52 anos, internadas em uma unidade de desintoxicação e extensamente avaliadas por meio da SCID-I e a ASI-6. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se uma taxa de exposição a trauma de 86,9% entre mulheres dependentes de cocaína tipo crack. A taxa de TEPT na amostra foi de 15,1%. Os clusters de revivescência e hiperexcitabilidade foram os mais frequentes - 24,4% e 20,9% respectivamente. Entre os tipos de eventos relatados, os mais frequentes foram sofrer agressão/abuso físico e ser testemunha de violência a outros. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados sugerem uma frequente exposição a eventos traumáticos. Com relação à idade da experiência traumática, sugere-se que as usuárias expostas a trauma durante a infância e adolescência apresentam um início do uso de drogas em idades mais precoces que aquelas cujo trauma ocorreu na vida adulta.

Desempenho intelectual na exposição alcoólica fetal: relato de série de 10 casos

OBJETIVO: Descrever o desempenho intelectual em uma amostra de crianças e adolescentes que sofreram exposição pré-natal ao álcool. MÉTODOS: Este estudo se constitui em uma série de casos, composta por 10 sujeitos entre 6 e 16 anos, com histórico de exposição alcoólica fetal. Esses sujeitos foram submetidos a uma avaliação médica para serem caracterizados como amostra clínica, respeitando critérios de inclusão e exclusão previamente estabelecidos. O desempenho intelectual da amostra foi estudado por meio dos instrumentos: Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para Criança (WISC-III) e Teste Matrizes Progressivas de Raven. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi caracterizada com desempenho médio inferior pela WISC-III. No Teste Raven, a amostra apresentou desempenho intelectualmente médio. Entre todos os índices da WISC-III, Resistência à Distração apresentou-se mais prejudicado. Os subtestes Aritmética e Arranjo de Figuras apresentaram resultados mais prejudicados comparados ao desempenho obtido nos outros subtestes. O prejuízo dessas funções pode trazer como consequência secundária e dificuldades no aprendizado e na interação social e impactar o desenvolvimento desses jovens. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados encontrados nesta série de 10 casos foram comparados àqueles descritos em estudos nacionais e internacionais. O prejuízo cognitivo causado pelo uso do álcool na gestação pode se manifestar em crianças em idade escolar por meio da dificuldade de aprendizagem e da dificuldade de estabelecer interações sociais. Dessa forma, a exposição pré-natal ao álcool torna-se um problema de saúde pública, que precisa de maior atenção das políticas públicas nacionais para a realização de identificação e intervenção precoce.

Produções independentes em arte e comunicação como ferramentas para a construção de realidades sociais: estudos de caso no Brasil

Dissertação de mestrado em Comunicação, Arte e Cultura

Noise mapping for an urban area: study case: old city of Damascus, Syria

Dissertação de mestrado em Engenharia Urbana

A realização do sujeito em complementos infinitivos de verbos causativos e percetivos no português língua de herança

Dissertação de mestrado em Ciências da Linguagem

Influence of angiotensin II receptor subtypes of the paraventricular nucleus on the physiological responses induced by angiotensin II injection into the medial septal area

OBJECTIVE: We determined the effects of losartan and PD 123319 (antagonists of the AT1 and AT2 angiotensin receptors, respectively), and [Sar¹, Ala8] ANG II (a relatively peptide antagonist of angiotensin receptors) injected into the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) on water and 3% NaCl intake, and the diuretic, natriuretic, and pressor effects induced by administration of angiotensin II (ANG II) into the medial septal area (MSA) of conscious rats. METHODS: Holtzman rats were used . Animals were anesthetized with tribromoethanol (20 mg) per 100 grams of body weight, ip. A stainless steel guide cannula was implanted into the MSA and PVN. All drugs were injected in 0.5-mul volumes for 10-15 seconds. Seven days after brain surgery, water and 3% NaCl intake, urine and sodium excretion, and arterial blood pressure were measured. RESULTS: Losartan (40 nmol) and [Sar¹, Ala8] ANG II (40 nmol) completely eliminated whereas PD 123319 (40 nmol) partially blocked the increase in water and sodium intake and the increase in arterial blood pressure induced by ANG II (10 nmol) injected into the MSA. The PVN administration of PD 123319 and [Sar¹, Ala8] ANG II blocked whereas losartan attenuated the diuresis and natriuresis induced by MSA administration of ANG II. CONCLUSION: MSA involvement with PVN on water and sodium homeostasis and arterial pressure modulation utilizing ANGII receptors is suggested.

Index filicum,sive, Enumeratio omnium generum specierumque filicum et Hydropteridum ab anno 1753 ad finem anni 1905 descriptorium : adjectis synonymis principalibus, area geographica, etc. /Carl Christensen.

Fascicles 1-12, 1753-1906

Index filicum,sive, Enumeratio omnium generum specierumque filicum et Hydropteridum ab anno 1753 ad finem anni 1905 descriptorium : adjectis synonymis principalibus, area geographica, etc. /Carl Christensen.

Suppl. 1906-12

Index filicum,sive, Enumeratio omnium generum specierumque filicum et Hydropteridum ab anno 1753 ad finem anni 1905 descriptorium : adjectis synonymis principalibus, area geographica, etc. /Carl Christensen.

Suppl. prelim. 1913-17