Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Myrmecocichla formicivora (Vieillot, 1881) and Philetairus socius (Latham, 1790) (Aves; Passeriformes), with a new interpretation of the passeridan acrosome

Passerine spermatozoa exhibit apomorphies that distinguish them from non-passerine neognaths and palaeognaths. The acrosome is longer than the nucleus (excepting the suboscines, most Corvida, and a few Passerida). A perforatorium and endonuclear canals are absent. The proximal centriole is absent (except in the suboscines). The distal centriole is secondarily short, contrasting with its elongate condition in palaeognaths and Galloanserae. In the Passerida a single mitochondrial strand winds extensively along the axoneme (restricted to the anterior axoneme in suboscines and Corvida). A fibrous, or amorphous, periaxonemal sheath, seen in palaeognaths and many non-passerines, respectively, is absent. The acrosome in Myrmecocichla formicivora and Philetairus socius is bipartite: an acrosome core is surmounted by an acrosome crest; the core is ensheathed by a layer which is a posterior extension of the crest. The acrosome helix is a lateral extension of the crest and the crest layer with (Myrmecocichla) or without (Philetairus) protrusion of material of the acrosome core into it. In M. formicivora, as in other muscicapoids, a fibrous helix is intertwined with at least the more proximal region of the mitochondrial helix. The fibrous helix is absent at maturity in Philetairus and other described passeroid spermatozoa with the possible exception of Passer italiae. In Philetairus a granular helix precedes the mitochondrial helix.

Musical commonplace book : manuscript, [approximately 1790-approximately 1810]

Contains songs, partly from English operas, and instrumental music.

Growth And Body Composition In Brazilian Female Rhythmic Gymnastics Athletes.

The aim was to analyse the physical growth and body composition of rhythmic gymnastics athletes relative to their level of somatic maturation. This was a cross-sectional study of 136 athletes on 23 teams from Brazil. Mass, standing height and sitting height were measured. Fat-free and fat masses, body fat percentages and ages of the predicted peak height velocity (PHV) were calculated. The z scores for mass were negative during all ages according to both WHO and Brazilian references, and that for standing height were also negative for all ages according to WHO reference but only until 12 years old according to Brazilian reference. The mean age of the predicted PHV was 12.1 years. The mean mass, standing and sitting heights, body fat percentage, fat-free mass and fat mass increased significantly until 4 to 5 years after the age of the PHV. Menarche was reached in only 26% of these athletes and mean age was 13.2 years. The mass was below the national reference standards, and the standing height was below only for the international reference, but they also had late recovery of mass and standing height during puberty. In conclusion, these athletes had a potential to gain mass and standing height several years after PHV, indicating late maturation.

O desafio da descentralização do Sistema Único de Saúde em município de grande porte: o caso de São Paulo, Brasil

A descentralização do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) ainda enfrenta importantes desafios, em particular a busca de alternativas para grandes municípios. Por se caracterizar como um processo eminentemente político, variáveis político-institucionais, dentre as quais se destaca a capacidade de gestão do nível local, são determinantes para a conformação da descentralização em cada contexto. Utilizando o referencial do triângulo de governo para avaliar a capacidade de gestão, realizou-se um estudo de caso, com o objetivo de analisar o processo de descentralização do SUS no Município de São Paulo, Brasil, a maior metrópole brasileira. Pela análise de entrevistas com gestores selecionados e documentos da gestão, identificou-se um movimento de centralização da saúde na gestão municipal 2005-2008, acompanhado do desconcerto das estruturas locorregionais da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde, o que resultou no esvaziamento técnico e político dessas instâncias. Apesar dos limites da descentralização, destaca-se sua potência enquanto estratégia operacional para alcançar os objetivos do SUS. Aponta-se a necessidade de retomar o processo de descentralização da saúde no Município de São Paulo que, além de avançar para instâncias locorregionais, esteja articulado à descentralização da gestão pública municipal.

Apparent digestibility of diets with different concentrations of lysine and energy in piglets with different body weights and post-weaning age

The effects of body weight or age and dietary digestible lysine and metabolizable energy on apparent digestibility of energy and dry matter were evaluated in piglets after weaning. The animals were weaned at 21 days of age and distributed in two groups: 8.68 ± 0.76 kg at 28 days of age (weaned 7 days earlier); and 12.73 ± 0.99 kg at 35 days of age (weaned 14 days earlier). The pigs were allotted in digestibility cages in a completely randomized block design with the following factorial arrangements: 2 × 4 composed of two weight categories and four levels of digestible lysine (1.222; 1.305; 1.390 and 1.497%); and 2 × 3 composed of two weight categories and three levels of metabolizable energy (3,510; 3,700 and 3,830 kcal/kg rations). Digestible lysine was evaluated in six replications and metabolizable energy in eight replications and each animal constituted an experimental unit. Piglets with higher body weight and age were more efficient in nitrogen retention and energetic balance, compared to lighter and younger piglets, particularly those given lower concentration of lysine in the diet. The energy increase favored nitrogen retention by the heavier and older piglets. However, coefficients of dry matter and energy apparent digestibility did not differ among weight categories. Older and heavier piglets were more efficient in nitrogen retention, although this efficacy depended on concentration of the energy in the diet. This better use of protein and energy suggest differences on nutritional requirements.

Allozymatic divergence between border populations of two cryptic species of the Drosophila buzzatii cluster species (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Drosophila antonietae and Drosophila gouveai are allopatric, cactophilic, cryptic and endemic of South America species, which aedeagus morphology is considered the main diagnostic character. In this work, single close populations from the edge distributions of each species, located in an ""introgressive corridor"", were analyzed regarding temporal isozenzymatic genetic variability. Isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh) appeared as a diagnostic locus between D. antonieate and D. gouveai because each population was fixed for different alleles. Moreover, several polymorphic loci showed accentuated divergence in the allele frequency, as evidenced by Nei`s l(0.3188) and D (1.1432), and also by Reynolds` genetic distance and identity (1.3207 and 0.7331, respectively). Our results showed that, in spite of the very similar external morphology, related evolutionary histories, close distributions, and events of introgression in the studied area, these cryptic species have high allozymatic differentiation, and this is discussed here. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Characterization of temperature dependent and substrate-binding cleft movements in Bacillus circulans family 11 xylanase: A molecular dynamics investigation

Background: Xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) hydrolyze xylan, one of the most abundant plant polysaccharides found in nature, and have many potential applications in biotechnology. Methods: Molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the effects of temperature between 298 to 338 K and xylobiose binding on residues located in the substrate-binding cleft of the family 11 xylanase from Bacillus circulans (BcX). Results: In the absence of xylobiose the BcX exhibits temperature dependent movement of the thumb region which adopts an open conformation exposing the active site at the optimum catalytic temperature (328 K). In the presence of substrate, the thumb region restricts access to the active site at all temperatures, and this conformation is maintained by substrate/protein hydrogen bonds involving active site residues, including hydrogen bonds between Tyr69 and the 2` hydroxyl group of the substrate. Substrate access to the active site is regulated by temperature dependent motions that are restricted to the thumb region, and the BcX/substrate complex is stabilized by extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonding with residues in the active site. General significance: These results call for a revision of both the ""hinge-bending"" model for the activity of group 11 xylanases, and the role of Tyr69 in the catalytic mechanism. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Utilization of Interactive Internet in High Education

The present work reports on the practical cooperation between two Universities from Hungary and Portugal. Students from Portugal are remotely accessing an experimental facility, which is physically in Hungary. The cooperation among these Higher Education establishments allowed the development and testing of a Remote Laboratory at the BME. This paper reports on the characteristics and initial testing of the Thermocouples Rise Time Measurement System and provides information on development and students' feedback.

Open access - Open minds: o caso do Repositório Científico do Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa

O Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa (IPL) nasceu em 1986 e reúne oito unidades orgânicas com temáticas diversas: comunicação social, contabilidade e administração, dança, educação, engenharias, música, teatro e cinema e tecnologias da saúde. Em Outubro de 2011, o Repositório Científico foi disponibilizado à comunidade académica do IPL. Até 2011, o IPL usava de forma inconsciente e involuntária o Portal RCAAP a partir dos resultados obtidos através dos motores de busca, apesar das intervenções efectuadas pelos seus bibliotecários junto dos estudantes através da formação presencial em contexto de aula ou na Biblioteca e dos docentes. A situação alterou-se com o Repositório Científico e foram, em especial, os docentes e investigadores que rapidamente se aperceberam do alcance do Repositório e das vantagens da sua integração no Portal RCAAP.

Para a história do ensino contabilistico de Lisboa e do porto no Portugal de oitocentos

Na segunda metade do século XIX foram fundados nas duas maiores cidades do país, Lisboa e Porto, nos anos de 1869 e 1886, respectivamente, dois estabelecimentos de ensino público de contabilidade: o Instituto Comercial de Lisboa e o Instituto Industrial e Comercial do Porto. ...

Basic dyestuffs removal from textile effluents using feathers: equilibrium, kinetic and column studies

This research work has been focused in the study of gallinaceous feathers, a waste that may be valorised as sorbent, to remove the Dark Blue Astrazon 2RN (DBA) from Dystar. This study was focused on the following aspects: optimization of experimental conditions through factorial design methodology, kinetic studies into a continuous stirred tank adsorber (at pH 7 and 20ºC), equilibrium isotherms (at pH 5, 7 and 9 at 20 and 45ºC) and column studies (at 20ºC, at pH 5, 7 and 9). In order to evaluate the influence of the presence of other components in the sorption of the dyestuff, all experiments were performed both for the dyestuff in aqueous solution and in real textile effluent. The pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models were fitted to the experimental data, being the latter the best fit for the aqueous solution of dyestuff. For the real effluent both models fit the experimental results and there is no statistical difference between them. The Central Composite Design (CCD) was used to evaluate the effects of temperature (15 - 45ºC) and pH (5 - 9) over the sorption in aqueous solution. The influence of pH was more significant than temperature. The optimal conditions selected were 45ºC and pH 9. Both Langmuir and Freundlich models could fit the equilibrium data. In the concentration range studied, the highest sorbent capacity was obtained for the optimal conditions in aqueous solution, which corresponds to a maximum capacity of 47± 4 mg g-1. The Yoon-Nelson, Thomas and Yan’s models fitted well the column experimental data. The highest breakthrough time for 50% removal, 170 min, was obtained at pH 9 in aqueous solution. The presence of the dyeing agents in the real wastewater decreased the sorption of the dyestuff mostly for pH 9, which is the optimal pH. The effect of pH is less pronounced in the real effluent than in aqueous solution. This work shows that feathers can be used as sorbent in the treatment of textile wastewaters containing DBA.

Natural organic matter fractionation along the treatment of water for human consumption

The main objective of this study was to characterize the organic matter present in raw water and along the treatment process, as well as its seasonal variation. A natural organic matter fractionation approach has been applied to Lever water treatment plant located in Douro River, in Oporto (Portugal). The process used was based on the sorption of dissolved organic matter in different types of ion exchange resins, DAX-8, DAX-4 and IRA-958, allowing its separation into four fractions: very hydrophobic acids (VHA), slightly hydrophobic acids (SHA), charged hydrophilic (CHA) and hydrophilic neutral (NEU). The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) determination was used to quantify dissolved organic matter. Samples were collected monthly, during approximately one year, from raw water captured at the surface and under the bed of the river, and after each step of the treatment: pre-filtration in sand/anthracite filters, ozonation, coagulation/flocculation, counter current dissolved air flotation and filtration (CoCoDAFF) and chlorination. The NEU fraction showed a seasonal variation, with maximum values in autumn for the sampling points corresponding to raw water captured at the surface and under the bed of the river. It was usually the predominating fraction and did not show a significant decrease throughout the treatment. Nevertheless their low concentration, the same occurred for the CHA and VHA fractions. There was an overall decrease in the SHA fraction throughout the water treatment (especially after CoCoDAFF and ozonation) as well as in the DOC. The TSUVA254 values obtained for raw water generally varied between 2.0 and 4.0 L mgC-1 m-1 and between 0.75 and 1.78 L mgC-1 m-1 for treated water. It was observed a decrease of TSUVA values along the treatment, especially after ozonation. These results may contribute to a further optimization in the process of treating water for human consumption.

O quadrado mágico de Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) foi jornalista, cientista, inventor, homem de estado e diplomata. (...) Benjamin Franklin era um entusiasta de quadrados mágicos. Chegou mesmo a criar os seus próprios quadrados. O mais conhecido é o quadrado 8 por 8 apresentado na imagem. Numa carta publicada em 1769, Franklin refere: "Na minha juventude, divertia-me a construir quadrados mágicos, de modo a que a soma dos números de cada linha, de cada coluna e de cada uma das duas diagonais principais fosse sempre a mesma; com o passar do tempo, conseguia criar quadrados mágicos, de tamanho razoável, tão depressa quanto conseguia escrever os números nas suas linhas e colunas; mas, por não estar totalmente satisfeito com estes quadrados, que eram demasiado fáceis, impus a mim mesmo o desafio de construir outro tipo de quadrados mágicos, que apresentassem propriedades mais ricas e que constituíssem, assim, um maior estímulo à curiosidade." Em relação ao quadrado mágico da imagem, são utilizados todos os números naturais, do 1 ao 8x8=64, uma e uma só vez. Além disso, a soma dos números de cada linha e de cada coluna é sempre igual a 260, a constante mágica. Existem muitas outras formas de obter o valor 260 (...)

A importância das tecnologias de informação e do factor humano nos sistemas antropocêntricos e flexíveis de produção

As Tecnologia de Informação, são certamente uma pedra base da sociedade de hoje e das vindouras. Estas têm modificado as relações sociais, culturais e organizacionais, tendo-se repercutido na sociedade, de diferentes formas. A análise aqui proposta, visa o mundo das organizações e o reconhecimento do peso do factor humano dentro desta, quer na forma como as relações entre os vários actores são mediadas por estas novas tecnologias, quer no que conceme às modificações produzidas por estas no trabalho e consequentemente nas qualificações dos operadores. O desenvolvimento desta análise, parte de uma perspectiva antropocêntrica, que tem, como premissas de partida o valor humano e as características culturais de cada organização. A proposta aqui apresentada, é sobretudo um alerta, para uma maior colaboração interdiscipliiar no desenho das Tecnologias de Informação, visando a plena integração do factor humano no desempenho destas tecnologias. Por último cabe aqui aludir ao estudo de caso, que tem por objecto de estudo um Sistema Flexível de Produção e a inclusão de um posto de trabaího no Sistema. A opção de organização do trabalho, visa sobretudo capacitar, o factor humano de competências e qualificações que lhe permitam o enobrecimento do seu posto de trabalho. É uma opção que assenta na divisão maleável do trabalho, sendo necessário um operador qualificado, mas também polivalente de forma a permitir ao indivíduo executar o conjunto de tarefas que comporta o posto de trabalho.