Genetic variability in species of bats revealed by RAPD analysis

Random amplified polymorphic DNA molecular marker was utilized as a means of analyzing genetic variability in seven bat species: Molossus molossus, M. rufus, Eumops glaucinus, E. perotis, Myotis nigricans, Eptesicus furinalis, and Artibeus planirostris. The determination of genetic diversity was based on 741 bands produced by a 20-random primer set. Only eight bands were considered monomorphic to one species. The greatest number of bands and the most polymorphic condition were exhibited by M. molossus, followed by M. nigricans, A. planirostris, E. furinalis, E. glaucinus, M. rufus, and E. perotis. Nei's genetic diversity index in the seven species considering the 20 primers was not greater than 0.22, but some primers were capable of detecting values between 0.39 and 0.49. Nei's unbiased genetic distance values and the UPGMA clustering pattern show that M. molossus and M. rufus have a close genetic relationship, unlike that observed between E. perotis and E. glaucinus. The latter was clustered with A. planirostris and E. furinalis. The low values for genetic diversity and distance observed indicate a genetic conservatism in the seven species. The fluorescent in situ hybridization experiments did not confirm a monomorphic condition for the eight bands identified, demonstrating that the monomorphic bands obtained by random amplified polymorphic DNA are insufficient for the identification of bat species.

The dawn lek of the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird

We studied the lek behavior of the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (Eupetomena macroura) in an urbanized area in S (a) over tildeo Paulo state, Southeastern Brazil. During the 22-month study we identified a total of 26 lekking territories in one lek that covered an area of approximately 12 ha. The lek was active throughout the year; the number of singing males per morning ranged from 6-15. The abandonment of territories and the establishment of new ones caused continuous rearrangement of lek boundaries. Lekking territories had a mean size of 217 m(2) and were separated from each other by 24-120 m. on average, males started singing 27 min before sunrise and kept singing for 17 min. At the end of this period and after a few minutes of silent perching, they abandoned their lekking territories until the next morning. During the singing period. males spent 72-100% of the time inside their territories. The lek behavior of E. macroura is unusual compared to other lekking hummingbirds because of the short daily period of lekking, restricted to just before Sunrise. Since males and females of E. macroura possibly defend feeding territories throughout the rest of the day, the short lekking period may represent a tradeoff between two different time budget pressures from lekking and feeding activities.

Produtividade e qualidade de frutos do mamoeiro em função de tipos e doses de biofertilizantes

Biofertilizers are organic products usually obtained from an anaerobic process, evaluated mainly as phytoprotectors for agriculture, although they can improve fruit production. By this way, a field experiment was carried out in Remigio County, Paraiba State, Brazil, to evaluate the effects of two bovine biofertilizers on yield, medium mass and quality of papaya fruits (Carica papaya L.), 'Baixinho de Santa Amalia cultivar. Treatments were distributed in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications and 15 plants in each parcel, in a 2 x 5 factorial arrangement, with two biofertilizers: simple (water and fresh bovine manure) and supermagro (water, fresh bovine manure, macro and micronutrients and a protein mix), applied in soil under liquid form at five volumes, as follows: 0.0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; e 2.0 L cave(-1). There was no statistical difference between biofertilizers for fruit mass, yield and external and internal fruit quality variables, while between volumes differences were registered for both biofertilizers. The results, except for fruit firmness, registered positive effects of the biofertilizers on 'Baixinho de Santa Amalia' papaya cultivar in relation to yield and physical and chemical fruit quality.

Atividade antimicrobiana de Lactobacillus acidophilus, contra microrganismos patogênicos veiculados por alimentos

The antimicrobial activity of a commercial probiotic culture, Lactobacillus acidophilus (La5), was tested against two foodborne pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The antagonistic effect of the probiotic culture in vitro was performed by applying both Multilayer Agar Plate and Agar Well Diffusion methods. The results indicated that the inhibitory substance present on 72 hours culture broth supernatant was extracellular and diffusible. The incubation period of the lactic acid bacteria on MRS Broth, at 3 7 degrees C in aerobic conditions, for the highest lactic acid production (1,08 g/%) was 72 hours, which gave a minimum pH value of the supernatant (3,90) and the best inhibition results by the Well Diffusion Agar Assay, showing inhibition zone diameters of 14,75mm and 15,0mm for E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. The inhibitor compound was not sensitive to proteolytic enzyme and freezing, but was totally inactivated when the supernatant was neutralized with NaOH 1 N solution. The results suggest that the inhibitory activity was due to the lactic acid concentration and the low pH of the probiotic culture broth.

Efeito da ovariectomia em novilhas Nelore x Angus, Bos taurus indicus x Bos taurus taurus sobre os ganhos de peso

This study aimed to evaluate the weight gain in cross breed heifers Nelore X Angus, spayed and nonspayed, kept on pasture and confinement. The animals were allotted in two groups as follows: group I consisted of 30 nonspayed heifers with 18 months old. Group 2 was composed of 30 spayed heifers with 18 months old. The animals were allotted in pasture of Brachiaria decumbens and weighted at 39 and 75 days. Significant difference was observed between the average daily gain of the two groups - G1 and G2 (75(th) day), respectively (0.51 kg and 0.65 kg; P<0.0 1). The following day (761 day), all animals were allotted and kept on confinement during 144 days. Significant difference was observed between the average daily gain of the two groups - G I and G2 (1441 day), respectively (0.73 kg and 0.58 kg; P<0.0 1). The results of this experiment show that spayed heifers presented a higher daily gain on pasture.

Influência do fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina I (IGF-I) adicionado ao meio fluido sintético de tuba uterina (SOF) sobre a maturação in vitro de oócitos caninos (Canis familiaris)

The follicular growth and oocyte maturation knowledge are very important to the development and improvement of new biotechnologies such as in vitro fertilization and somatic cell nuclear transfer. In order to the necessity of clarify the basic mechanisms related to canine oocyte maturation, this investigation focuses on the evaluation of the effect of insulin-like growth factor-i (IGF-I), added to synthetic oviductal fluid medium (SOF) on the in vitro maturation of domestic dog oocytes. Thirty-seven bitches undergoing ovariohysterectomy for castration or due to pathological conditions of the uterus were selected as oocytes' donors (n=875). The oocytes were allocated in the following groups: MO (stained in the collection's time), Control (72h in SOF) and Experimental (72h in SOF plus 100 ng IGF-I). After 72 hours of maturation the oocytes' nuclear status were assessed by Hoechst 33342 dye. The best results in terms of oocyte harvest were observed in those juvenile donors,, females in estrus, nuliparous and pure breeds. No significant differences were observed between treatments control (SOF) or experimental (IGF-I).

Qualidade do melão ‘Orange Flesh’ minimamente processado armazenado sob atmosfera modificada

This work aimed at evaluate the effect of the fresh cut 'Orange Flesh' melon stored under modified atmosphere. The cubes of melons were sanitizationed with 100 mg L-1 of hypoclorite of sodium for one minute, washed, drained and wrapped with different concentrations of O-2 and CO2 in plastic bags of polyethylene (Nylon Polished). They were appraised every other day for ten days as regards the firmness, total pectin, soluble pectin and activity of the polifenoloxidase and peroxidase. At the end of the conservation period, it was verified that melons sustained the firmest texture of the vegetable products under modified atmosphere, and the concentration of 5%O-2 + 3% CO2 showed smaller content of total pectin and together with the concentration of 100% N-2 the smallest content of soluble pectin, the polifenoloxidase activity was not verified as well as of the peroxidase.

Hemoglobin and HFE gene polymorphisms in Brazilian populations in regions endemic for malaria

Our objective was to determine how the distribution of red blood cell diseases is related to malaria occurrence in north Brazil, a region endemic for malaria. We evaluated the incidence of two mutations in the HFE gene, H63D and C282Y, in two study groups: a control blood donor group, with no indication of malaria infection, and a group constituted of malaria patients of four states of the Amazonian region. The hemoglobin polymorphisms were obtained by HPLC and classical laboratory methodologies, and the two mutations in the HFE gene were assayed by PCR-RFLP. We found a high frequency of alpha thalassemia, but there were no significant differences between blood donors and malaria patients. There were also no significant differences in the frequencies of HbA(2); however, the frequency of HbF was significantly different in individuals with malaria from Para and Rondonia. The mean number of reticulocytes was significantly reduced in the blood donors from the northern region, suggesting an adaptive strategy of these populations to parasitic attack by Plasmodium. Most individuals were heterozygous for the H63D allele of the HFE gene in both study groups. In the blood donors group, the greatest frequency of the H63D allele was found in Caucasians of all the states. In the malaria patients group in Rondonia, there was a high frequency of the H63D allele among the non-Caucasians. In the other states, and in the malaria patients group, the H63D allele was the most frequent among the Caucasians. Based on our results, we suggest that the maintenance of polymorphism of the mutations in the gene HFE can be explained by selective factors other than malaria, or it is due to simple allelic oscillation and by the constant gene flow among the populations in Brazil.

Behavior of overhead transmission line parameters on the presence of ground-wires

Initially this paper shows the ground wire reduction process for generic multiphase transmission lines and after, the ground wire reduction process for a specilic 440-kV three-phase overhead transmission line. Following this, the influence of the ground wire reduction process considering two situations is shown: first, considering frequency independence and second, when these parameters are considered as frequency dependent. This paper presents analytical results for generic multiphase transmission lines. For a specific 440-kV three-phase overhead transmission line, analytical and graphic results are shown considering real data for every frequency between 10 Hz and 1 MHz.

Electrophoretic and chromatographic profile for S-like hemoglobin

Hemoglobin variants originate mainly by simple amino acid substitutions, the result of nucleotide sequence changes. Recently, the number of known abnormal hemoglobins has increased due to improvement in analysis methodologies; however, many laboratories are not prepared to correctly identify mutants. Hb S is a very well-characterized hemoglobin variant that varies in prevalence in different regions of Brazil. However, there is a type of Hb that presents electrophoretic migration in alkaline pH similar to Hb S, named S-like Hb, which can be incorrectly diagnosed; therefore, its frequency is underestimated. We obtained reference ranges for Hb S by HPLC, and we examined the electrophoretic and chromatographic profiles of S-like Hb. Hb Hasharon, Hb D-Los Angeles, Hb Korle-Bu, Hb Lepore, Hb D-Iran, Hb G-like, Hb Queens, Hb Montgomery, and Hb Q-India were found. Cases of association between two beta chain mutants were also found. Electrophoresis in alkaline and acid pH was utilized to initially screen these Hb variants, and globin chain electrophoresis at both high and low pH was performed to identify the globin chain mutant. Chromatographic analysis permitted the identification of the hemoglobin variant and also facilitated the quantification of these variants. Therefore, an association of classical laboratory diagnostic methodologies is fundamental for the correct identification of suspect Hb variants. The S and S-like hemoglobin profiles determined in this study will help in the diagnosis of these variants in health care services.