Fat body cells of female reproductive castes of Attini ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): An ultrastructural and chemical analysis

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

Evaluation of solid and submerged fermentations for the production of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase by Paenibacillus campinasensis H69-3 and characterization of crude enzyme

Cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase) is an enzyme that produces cyclodextrins from starch by an intramolecular transglycosylation reaction. Cyclodextrins have been shown to have a number of applications in the food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. In the current study, the production of CGTase by Paenibacillus campinasensis strain H69-3 was examined in submerged and solid-state fermentations. P. campinasensis strain H69-3 was isolated from the soil, which grows at 45 C, and is a Gram-variable bacterium. Different substrate sources such as wheat bran, soybean bran, soybean extract, cassava solid residue, cassava starch, corn starch, and other combinations were used in the enzyme production. CGTase activity was highest in submerged fermentations with the greatest production observed at 48-72 h. The physical and chemical properties of CGTase were determined from the crude enzyme produced from submerged fermentations. The optimum temperature was found to be 70-75 degrees C, and the activity was stable at 55 degrees C for 1 h. The enzyme displayed two optimum pH values, 5.5 and 9.0 and was found to be stable between a pH of 4.5 and 11.0.

Immunity in plants and animals: common ends through different means using similar tools

A comparative approach is potentially useful for understanding the role of mammal innate immunity role in stimulating adaptive immunity as well as the relationship between these two types of immune strategies. Considerable progress has been made in the elucidation of the co-ordinated events involved in plant perception of infection and their mobilisation of defence responses. Although lacking immunoglobulin molecules, circulating cells, and phagocytic processes, plants successfully use pre-formed physical and chemical innate defences, as well as inducible adaptive immune strategies. In the present paper, we review some shared and divergent immune aspects present in both animals and plants. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of C/N Ratio and Physicochemical Conditions on the production of Rhamnolipids by Pseudomonas Aeruginosa LBI

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Textile Dye Treated Photoelectrolytically and Monitored by Winogradsky Columns

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Leaf gas exchange and fruit yield in sweet orange trees as affected by citrus variegated chlorosis and environmental conditions

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

Florestas de restinga e de terras baixas na planície costeira do sudeste do Brasil: vegetação e heterogeneidade ambiental

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

Aquatic macrophyte distribution in relation to water and sediment conditions in the Itaipu Reservoir, Brazil

Aquatic macrophyte community distribution along the eastern shoreline of the Itaipu Reservoir (one of the South America's largest impoundments) is described in relation to limnological and sedimentological factors. The central body of the reservoir is mesotrophic, while the arms (flooded influent river valleys) along the eastern shore may be oligo-mesotrophic to eutrophic, depending on time of year and sub-catchment characteristics. Macrophyte community composition and species cover were surveyed at 30 sites in four arms, in relation to sediment total P and organic matter; underwater light regime; and water total P and Kjeldahl N concentration, alkalinity, conductivity, depth and pH. Seventeen euhydrophyte and six emergent macrophyte species were recorded. Large stands of Egeria najas dominated the euhydrophyte vegetation, together with free-floating weed species (Pistia stratiotes Linn., Salvinia auriculata Aublet and Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.). Canonical Correspondence Analysis of the data showed that two sets of variables were important predictors of aquatic macrophyte community structure. Floating macrophyte assemblage was closely related to concentration of nutrients in both water and sediment, while light penetration was the strongest predictor of submerged species occurrence. Although a large number of potential nuisance species were present, dense growths were restricted to shallower areas of the Itaipu Reservoir, causing localised problems. The possibility of increasing interference by these plants with fisheries, recreational use, transport and hydroelectricity generation suggests a need for continued monitoring of weed distribution and abundance, and investigation of appropriate management measures.

Effect of conditioning methods on the microtensile bond strength of phosphate monomer-based cement on zirconia ceramic in dry and aged conditions

The objective of this study was to evaluate the durability of bond strength between a resin cement and aluminous ceramic submitted to various surface conditioning methods. Twenty-four blocks (5 X 5 X 4 mm 3) of a glass-in filtrated zirconia-alumina ceramic (inCeram Zirconia Classic) were randomly divided into three surface treatment groups: ST1-Air-abrasion with 110-mu m Al2O3 particles + silanization; ST2-Laboratory tribochemical silica coating method (110-mu m Al2O3, ilO-PM Silica) (Rocatec) + silanization; ST3-Chairside tribochemical silica coating method (30-mu m SiOx) (CoJet) + silanization. Each treated ceramic block was placed in its silicone mold with the treated surface exposed. The resin cement (Panavia F) was prepared and injected into the mold over the treated surface. Specimens were sectioned to achieve nontrimmed bar specimens (14 sp/block) that were randomly divided into two conditions: (a) Dry-microtensile test after sectioning; (b) Thermocycling (TC)-(6,000X, 5-55 degrees C) and water storage (150 days). Thus, six experimental groups were obtained (11 = 50): Gr1-ST1 + dry; Gr2-ST1 + TC. Gr3-ST2 + dry; Gr4-ST2 + TC; Gr5-ST3 + dry; Gr6ST3 + TC. After microtensile testing, the failure types were noted. ST2 (25.1 +/- 11) and ST3 (24.1 +/- 7.4) presented statistically higher bond strength (MPa) than that of STI (17.5 +/- 8) regardless of aging conditions (p < 0.0001). While Gr2 revealed the lowest results (13.3 +/- 6.4), the other groups (21.7 +/- 7.4-25. 9 +/- 9.1) showed statistically no significant differences (two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test, a 0.05). The majority of the failures were mixed (82%) followed by adhesive failures (18%). Gr2 presented significantly higher incidence of ADHESIVE failures (54%) than those of other groups (p = 0.0001). Both laboratory and chairside silica coating plus silanization showed durable bond strength. After aging, airabrasion with 110-mu m Al2O3 + silanization showed the largest decrease indicating that aging is fundamental for bond strength testing for acid-resistant Arconia ceramics in order to estimate their long-term performance in the mouth. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Entropy of bosonic open string and boundary conditions

The entropy of the states associated to the solutions of the equations of motion of the bosonic open string with combinations of Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions is given. Also, the entropy of the string in the states \A(i)] = alpha(-1)(i)\0] and \phi(a)]= alpha(-1)(a)\0] that describe the massless fields on the world-volume of the Dp-brane is computed. (C) 2002 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Anatomical characterization and chemical profile of Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn leaf blades, from impacted and non-impacted mangroves of the São Paulo Coast

Anatomical characterization and chemical profile of Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn leaf blades, from impacted and non-impacted mangroves of the São Paulo Coast. Several sources of environmental impact have caused great damage to the flora in mangroves. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the anatomy and chemical composition of Laguncularia racemosa (L.) Gaertn leaf blades, from impacted (Municipality of Santos) and non-impacted mangroves (Municipality of Peruibe) of the São Paulo Coast. For the leaf anatomy studies, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. For chemical analysis, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was conducted. The biometry revealed leaf tissues of plants from impacted mangroves with a less thick epidermis and mesophyll and higher width of the central vascular beam. A smaller number of stomata and higher amounts of daises in these leaves were also observed. Results were confirmed by the Student t-test (alpha = 5%). The chemical profiles revealed a higher ammount of secondary metabolites in leaves from the impacted environment.

Spatial variability of the physical and mineralogical properties of the soil from the areas with variation in landscape shapes

Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a influência das formas do relevo na variabilidade espacial de atributos físicos e suas relações com a mineralogia da argila de um Latossolo Vermelho eutroférrico, utilizando a técnica da geoestatística. Os solos foram amostrados nos pontos de cruzamento de uma malha, com intervalos regulares de 10 m, nas profundidades de 0,0-0,2 m, 0,2-0,4 m e 0,4-0,6 m para os atributos físicos e 0,6-0,8 m para os atributos mineralógicos. Os valores médios para a densidade do solo e resistência do solo à penetração são maiores no compartimento I onde a relação Ct/Ct+Gb é relativamente maior, indicando a presença de maior teor de caulinita. No compartimento II a condutividade hidráulica e a macroporsidade são maiores, influenciados provavelmente pelo predomínio da gibbsita. Portanto, conclui-se que a identificação das pedoformas é muito eficiente para compreender a variabilidade espacial de propriedades do solo. Sendo que, as variações na forma da paisagem promovem variabilidade espacial diferenciada das propriedades físicas e mineralógicas do solo.

Yield of four Agaricus bisporus strains in three compost formulations and chemical composition analyses of the mushrooms

Três formulações de composto, à base de palhas de Cynodom dactylon (L.) Pers. (cultivares Coast-cross e Tyfton) e Aveia-Avena sativa, foram testadas no cultivo das linhagens ABI-01/01, ABI-04/02, ABI-05/03 e ABI-06/04 de A. bisporus. O delineamento experimental foi em esquema fatorial, inteiramente casualizado com 12 tratamentos (4 linhagens de A. bisporus x 3 tipos de composto) e 8 repetições. Cada unidade experimental constou de uma caixa com 1212,5 kg de composto fresco úmido. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey. de acordo com os resultados obtidos verificou-se que a produção de cogumelos foi influenciada pela linhagem e/ou pelo tipo de composto. Também verificou-se que o teor de proteína bruta, cinzas e fibra bruta de basidiomas variou com a linhagem de A. bisporus e com o tipo de palha utilizada na formulação do composto.

Edge effect and phenology in Erythroxylum tortuosum (Erythroxylaceae), a typical plant of the Brazilian Cerrado

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

Pelagic and littoral cladocerans (Crustacea, Anomopoda and Ctenopoda) from reservoirs of the Northwest of São Paulo State, Brazil

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