SEDIMENT BIOTURBATION POTENTIAL of UCA RAPAX and UCA URUGUAYENSIS AS A RESULT of THEIR FEEDING ACTIVITY

Bioturbation of mangrove sediments by Uca uruguayensis (Nobili, 1901) and U. rapax (Smith, 1870) was compared based on the grain-size composition and organic content in surface sediment around the burrow and feeding pellets in two mangrove zones of the Sao Vicente Estuary, state of São Paulo, Brazil. For each species, 25 burrows with active crabs were selected. All pellets within a 15-cm radius of each burrow were carefully collected; samples of substrate were taken; and the crab occupant was excavated, sexed, and measured for carapace width (CW). The number of spoon-tipped setae on the second maxilliped of each species was estimated; U. uruguayensis showed more of these setae than U. rapax. For both species, the sediment post-processed by feeding activity (feeding pellets) showed a similar increase of coarser fractions and a smaller organic content. However. U. uruguayensis was more efficient in removing organic matter (88.1%) from the sediment than U. rapax (37.5%). These results suggest that different numbers of spoon-tipped setae on the second maxillipeds of the fiddler crabs do not affect the potential for grain-size selection, but result in differing abilities to remove organic matter from the sediment.

Estilo de vida individual de universitários jovens com excesso de peso da Universidade Católica de Murcia-Espanha

Individual lifestyle includes health and risk behaviors that can altar health status. Excess weight is a public health problem of modern civilization and there is an estimated mean prevalence of 45% in European countries. In Spain, the Murcia Region is an area of high morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disorders. In this study we assess the differences in health and risk behaviors in ove/weight and normal weight undergraduates at the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM). Methods: Transversal design of parallel groups (overweight - cases and normal weight - control) , formed using the anthropometric technique. A questionnaire applied to a sample of 471 undergraduates of either sex, between the ages of 18 and 29 years, enrolled in 4 bachelor degree courses (ADE, CA, PER, PUB) at UCAM. We performed a standardized measurement of body mass (weight in kg), height (in meters) using a Seca® scale with calibrated stadiometer, waist and hip circumferences (in cm) with an inelastic tape and skinfolds thickness (triceps and subscapular in mm) with a Holtain® caliper, to calculate body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and the sum of skinfolds (SSF). We applied a lifestyle questionnaire about alcohol and tobacco consumption, knowledge and behaviors related to health indicators (arterial pressure and cholesterol), diet and physical activity. The information was collected in April and May, 2001 at the UCAM laboratory of Applied Nutrition. Statistical analysis: analysis of independent groups, contingency tables that reveal which qualitativa variables show differences and associations between the groups, Pearson's chi-square,and a significance levei of p < 0.05 followed by a residual analysis (1.96). Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to establish the two groups: case and contrai with 65 men and 26 women each who had BMI < 25 kg/m2. Results: A total of 65 of the men assessed (14%) and 26 (6%) of the women were overweight. Mean body mass index of the case group was 27. 78 ±: 2.83 kg/m2 in the men and 26.26 ± 1.37 kg/m2 in the women, while contrai group men had mean BMI of 22.36 ± 1.72 kg/m2, while for the women it was 20.76 ±: 2.13 kg/m2. The self-declared values of weight and height were underestimated, but with high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. Thus, these can be used to calculate the BMI of overweight Spanish undergraduates. Regular vigorous physical activity was observed only in normal weight men. The analysis showed the following significant differences for the qualitativa variables of the two groups. The contrai group was interested in arterial hypertension, believed that they were not overweight, that they had no abdominal fat, and had not considered controlling 'fatty food consumption. Those who thought of controlling it sometimes, did so without professional help. However, part of the overweight group believed that they were overweight and had abdominal fat between average and considerable, had often or always considered controlling fatty foods and had often or always tried to control consumption with the help of professionals. They had always thought of engaging in physical activities, unlike the normal weight individuals. Nearly all (95%) of the overweight undergraduates and most (75%) of the normal weight group reported that they sometimes or always controlled fatty food ingestion. Mean physical activity was nearly twice as high in the summer than in the winter. Conclusions: The overweight undergraduates in this sample displayed a lifestyle with a greater number of healthy behaviors when compared to normal weight individuals

Digital monitoring of mycelium growth kinetics and vigor of shiitake (Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler) on agar medium

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

Ocupação de área e interações de golfinhos-rotadores (Stenella longirostris) com o turismo náutico no Arquipélago de Noronha/PE, Brasil

Several works characterize the presence of spinner dolphins at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in the Dolphins Bay. Though, the dolphins abidance inside this cove has decreased and a new area has been occupied by the animals to achieve the same behaviors, that are resting, breeding and nursing. This area comprises the Inside Sea northeast border of Fernando s de Noronha Island, including the opposing Middle and Dog shore area, the San Antonio Bay and the Between Islands region. The aim was to characterize the dolphins occupation and describe their interactions with the tourism in this area. Data were collected in 2008 and 2009 through a fixed point observation. The study area was divided into seven sub-areas, recording: presence/absence of dolphins, days abidance endurance, abidance length in each area, estimated number of individuals, dolphins direction and speed of displacement, boats presence, interaction period, monitoring, boats attitude and velocity. The dolphins abidance time displayed the same pattern during both years of study, with the higher occupancy in the Between Islands region. Groups with farther than 200 individuals were more frequent both 2008 (46.2%) and 2009 (42.3%). Thus the displacement s slow speed as the preferred direction towards Rat Island also showed the same pattern in both years. The Between Islands region also presented the boats major abidance near the dolphins groups. Boats moved farther in slow speed (95%) than at high speed (5%). The legislation s compliance for the cetaceans protection occurred in 89.7% of 2.839 interactions between boats and spinners, in which this variable was recorded. Whenever boats moved at a slow speed during the meetings with spinner dolphins groups, animals also moved at a slow speed (n = 337), significantly more than the fast displacements (n = 128) ix or "porpoise" (n = 4) (X2 = 318.543, p = -0.001). When boats quickly passed by groups, a significant difference between the dolphins displacement speeds was observed (X2 = 18.264, p =- 0.001), however, the slow (47%) and fast (47% ) displacements frequency was equal, noted the difference with the porpoise displacements (6%), which had the lowest frequency. Data indicate the establishment of a new occupation pattern of the spinner dolphins at Fernando de Noronha, with the Between Islands area being of great importance to the dolphins habits and currently the main area of the boats meeting with the dolphins, showing the need of new conservation measures in this area

Biocompatibility of a resin-modified glass-ionomer cement applied as pulp capping in human teeth

Purpose: to evaluate the human pulp response following pulp capping with calcium hydroxide (CI-I, Group 1), and the resin-modified glass-ionomer Vitrebond (VIT, Group 2). Materials and Methods: Intact teeth with no cavity preparation were used as control Group (ICG, Group 3). Buccal Class V cavities were prepared in 34 sound human premolars. After exposing the pulps, the pulp capping materials were applied and the cavities were Filled using Clearfil Liner Bond 2 bonding agent and Z100 resin-based composite. The teeth were extracted after 5, 30, and from 120 to 300 days, fixed in 10% buffered formalin solution, and prepared according to routine histological techniques. 6-mu m sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, or Brown gr Brenn technique for bacterial observation. Results: At 5 days, CH caused a large zone of coagulation necrosis, the mononuclear inflammatory reaction underneath the necrotic zone was slight to moderate. VIT caused a moderate to intense inflammatory pulp response with a large necrotic zone. A number of congested venules associated with plasma extravasation and neutrophilic infiltration was observed. Over time, only CH allowed pulp repair and complete dentin bridging around the pulp exposure site. VIT components displaced into the pulp tissue triggered a persistent inflammatory reaction which appeared to be associated with a lack of dentin bridge formation. After 30 days a few histological sections showed a number of bacteria on the lateral dentin walls. In these samples the pulp response was similar to those samples with no microleakage. VIT was more irritating to pulp tissue than CH, which allowed pulp repair associated with dentin bridge formation. These results suggested that VIT is not an appropriate dental material to be used in direct pulp capping for mechanically exposed human pulps.

Human pulpal response to direct pulp capping with an adhesive system

Purpose: To evaluate clinically and microscopically the human pulp response when directly capped with an adhesive system or calcium hydroxide over short (9-12 days) and long (53-204 days) experimental periods. Materials and Methods: Fifty-one sound human premolars scheduled for orthodontic extraction, had their pulp horns gently exposed with a diamond point. Debris in the pulp wound was washed out with a sterile saline solution. The pulps were then capped with either an adhesive system (Scotchbond Multi-Purpose Plus) or calcium hydroxide. All teeth were subsequently restored with resin-based composite (Z-100) according to the manufacturer's instructions. After the experimental periods, the teeth were extracted and processed for light microscopic examination. Results: Short-term: the pulp tissue capped with SBMP-P exhibited dilated and congested blood vessels associated with a mo;derate inflammatory response and blanching of pulp cell nuclei. Long-term: no evidence of healing and bridge formation was observed. A persistent mild inflammatory pulp response was present. Micro-abscesses were detected in three cases associated with bacterial infiltration. Calcium hydroxide stimulated early pulp repair and dentin bridging which extended into the longest period.

Composite surfaces after finishing and polishing techniques

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of finishing and polishing techniques on surface roughness of resin-based composites (RBCs). Materials and Methods: Forty specimens of each material were cured under Mylar strips and immersed in artificial saliva for 1 wk. Samples were tested with a profilometer to obtain baseline average surface roughness (Ra). Specimens of both RBCs were then finished and polished according to four techniques: (1) Sof-Lex disks; (2) Sof-Lex disks followed by Prisma Gloss; (3) Enhance points; (4) Enhance points followed by Prisma Gloss application. New readings of the roughness pattern were carried out and the difference of post-polishing and baseline values were analyzed. Results: ANOVA test (alpha= 0.05) did not show differences between materials (P= 0.9393) nor interaction effects (P= 0.3094), but significant difference among the finishing/polishing techniques were detected (P= 0.0157). Tukey's test showed that the smoothest surface was obtained when the specimens were treated by Sof-Lex followed by Prosma Gloss polishing paste; and the worst results were obtained after using Enhance points alone.

Ability of Gutta-Percha and Resilon to Fill Simulated Lateral Canals by Using the Obtura II System

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of Resilon (Resilon Research, LLC, North Branford, CT) and 2 types of gutta-percha to fill simulated lateral canals when using the Obtura II system (Model 823-700; Obtura Spartan, Fenton, MO). Methods: Forty-five human single-rooted teeth were selected and subjected to root canal preparation. After that, simulated lateral canals were made at 2, 5, and 8 mm from the working length (WL). The specimens were divided into 3 groups (n = 15) according to the filling material used: Obtura Flow 150 gutta-percha (Obtura flow), Odous Endo Flow gutta-percha (Odous; Odous de Deus Ind e Corn. Ltda Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil), and Resilon pellets (Resilon). Root canals were filled using the Obtura II system with the tip inserted to 3 mm from the WL. No sealer was used for root canal obturation. Specimens were subjected to a tooth decalcification and clearing method, and filling of the lateral canals was analyzed by digital radiography and photographs. The measurement of lateral canal filling was done using Image Tool software (UTHSCSA Image Tool for Windows version 3.0, San Antonio, TX). Data were statistically analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis test at 5% significance. Results: All materials showed an ability to penetrate into the simulated lateral canals, with a minimum percentage of 73% in all thirds of the root canal. Conclusions: It was concluded that gutta-percha and Resilon are solid core materials with a lateral canal filling ability when used with the Obtura II system. (J Endod 2012;38:676-679)

MORPHOLOGICAL EVIDENCE FOR PROTANDRIC SIMULTANEOUS HERMAPHRODITISM IN THE CARIDEAN EXHIPPOLYSMATA OPLOPHOROIDES

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Population biology of the freshwater anomuran Aegla longirostri (Aeglidae) from South Brazilian streams

This paper describes a population of Aegla longirostri from Ibicui-Mirim River, Itaara, Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil, evaluating the size at onset of sexual maturity, relative growth, mean size, size-frequency distribution, sex ratio, ovigerous-rate, and recruitment. Samples were collected monthly from September 1996 to August 1997. Sex, carapace length (CL), cheliped length (ChL), abdomen width (AW), and front width (FW) were recorded for each crab. A total of 586 specimens were collected (277 males, 244 females, and 65 unsexed juveniles). The smallest specimen was 1.5 mm CL and the largest male was 23.8 mm CL. The relative growth analysis and the Mature software showed that the size at onset of sexual maturity was 13.7 mm CL in males and 10.7 mm CL in females. Females were smaller than males and were more abundant in adult classes, whereas males were more representative in juvenile classes. The sex ratio did not differ from 1:1 throughout the collecting period. Recruitment was observed throughout the entire sampling period, but it was higher in the winter months (from June to August). However, ovigerous females were present in spring and summer (from January to April). This population seemed to be at equilibrium during the study period. Recently, this area has been changed because of the construction of a reservoir, and a new study is required to evaluate the present condition of this population of A. longirostri.

Postlarval stages and growth patterns of the spider crab Pyromaia tuberculata (Brachyura, Majidae) from laboratory-reared material

The spider crab Pyromaia tuberculata was introduced into southeastern Brazil; ovigerous material was collected and reared in the laboratory. Morphologic changes and growth patterns of post-larval development are reported. Results show that within-stage size variation is lowest in mature stages, especially in the case of females in which there is an apparent size threshold for the last juvenile stages to undergo the puberty molt. A prepuberty molt taking place at the fourth crab stage is indicated by analyzing the allometric growth of the abdomen in females. In contrast, the same procedure using the allometric growth of chelae failed in detecting both the prepuberty and puberty molts in males. Conversely to females, which develop a complex brood chamber at the puberty molt, the enlargement of chelae was not consistent in all postpuberty males. The short instar sequence of this species, in no case exceeding nine stages, is marked by conspicuous morphologic alterations achieved at each molt. Almost all stages can be identified by examining diagnostic features of rostrum, abdomen, sternum, and pleopods.

Population structure and reproductive period of the tropical hermit crab Calcinus tibicen (Decapoda : Diogenidae) in the region of Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil

The population of the hermit crab Calcinus tibicen in the Ubatuba region was studied with emphasis on seasonal abundance, seasonal size-frequency distribution, sex-ratio, and reproductive period based on the percentage of ovigerous females. The animals were collected at 2-month intervals for 2 consecutive years (from January 1993 to November 1994). Total mean animal size in shield length was 5.14 +/- 1.23 mm for males, 4.23 +/- 0.79 mm for females, and 4.53 +/- 0.60 for ovigerous females. A discontinuity in reproduction was observed, with an absence of ovigerous females in July (winter) and a high incidence from September to May (spring to autumn). Calcinus tibicen is sexually dimorphic in relation to size, with a higher growth rare in males. The sex-ratio pattern changes with season, indicating that it is more a function of season or habitat than of size.

Latitudinal variation in population structure and reproductive pattern of the endemic south american shrimp Artemesia longinaris (Decapoda : Penaeoidea)

Population Structure and reproductive Maturity of females were investigated in the shrimp Artemesia longinaris Bate, 1888 from coastal waters of northern São Paulo State (Brazil. 23 degrees S) and Mar del Plata (Argentina, 38 degrees S) from June 2001 to May 2002. Monthly collections were taken by, commercial shrimp fishing boats equipped with bottom trawl nets. Population parameters from size frequency distributions and size (carapace length = CL) of female reproductive maturity were analyzed and compared front the two sampling areas. Latitudinal trends in reproductive parameters of A. longinaris were shown in overall body size and size of reproductive maturity, both of which were smaller in females from the tropical location than those front the cold-temperate sampling area. Largest females (> 30 turn CL) were collected in Argentina, while Brazilian specimens reached maximum size at 27 nun CL. The smallest Size of female sexual maturity was estimated at 13.6 nun CL in Brazilian samples compared to 22.1 mm CL calculated for those from Argentina. Populations from both regions exhibited a bimodal size distribution in the spring, with the peak at small body size probably corresponding to recent recruits and the peak at larger body, size to reproductive females or shrimps migrating in from deeper waters or other latitudinal regions. In late spring and summer. an intrusion of the cold South Atlantic Coastal Water mass was observed which lowered water temperature and stimulated plankton production. The primary food source for the larvae of a typically cold-temperate species such as A. longinaris. The trend of increasing body size and delay of sexual maturity with increasing latitude appears to be correlated with the decreasing water temperature and increasing plankton productivity at higher latitudes.

Reproductive cycle and recruitment period of Ocypode quadrata (Decapoda, Ocypodidae) at a sandy beach in southeastern Brazil

The reproductive cycle and recruitment period of a ghost crab population from Ubatuba, São Paulo, Brazil were investigated by means of examining the developmental stages of gonads of breeding crabs and the ingress of young recruits to the studied population. Monthly collections over a one-year period were carried out during nocturnal low-tide periods at Vermelha beach. The morphology of the abdomen and pleopods was used for sex determination. All captured crabs were measured for carapace width and dissected for the determination of the development stage of the gonads. A total of 582 specimens was captured: 271 males, 241 females, and 70 juveniles. Size ranged from 8.5 to 37.5 mm for males, from 9.5 to 39.2 mm for females, and from 5.8 to 12 mm for early juveniles. Median size of males and females did not differ statistically. The frequency of ovigerous females was markedly low. The onset of sexual maturity in females is achieved at around 23 mm of carapace width. Mature females with advanced gonad stages were not recorded from May to September. Recruitment of young was highest during summer, but the presence of early and late juvenile specimens throughout the year indicates that continuous recruitment is taking place in the studied population.

Spatial and seasonal distributions of Callinectes danae (Decapoda, Portunidae) in Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo, Brazil

The spatial and seasonal distributions of Callinectes danae Smith, 1869, in Ubatuba Bay, São Paulo, Brazil, were investigated as a part of a broad study on the general biology of portunids along the northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil. Swimming crabs were collected during one year, from September 1995 to August 1996, along eight transects determined according to local physiographic features. Three replicate trawls were performed monthly at each transect. Depth. salinity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, organic matter content, and texture of the sediment were measured. Callinectes danae individuals were concentrated in shallow water close to the discharge of estuaries where the bottom is composed of fine and very fine sand. The species was more abundant in the warmer months. During the study period, C. danae exhibited continuous reproduction with a peak of reproductive intensity in June. Within this area, some sites are particularly favorable for C. danae establishment due to a combination of factors and prevailing local conditions.