Reptilia, Squamata, Dipsadidae, Xenodontinae, Taeniophallus brevirostris (Peters, 1863): distribution extension and new state record.

Taeniophallus brevirostris is a dipsadid snake widely distributed in Amazon. Here we report a new Brazilian state record for the species, improving our knowledge of its geographic distribution. 0n 15 May of 2008, one female specimen was collected do Serra do Santo Expediot, Aripuana municipality, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is the first record of this species for the state of Mato Grosso and extends its distribution ca. 300 kilometers from the nearest localities presented in literature.

Attraction of fruit-eating bats with essential oils of fruits: A potential tool for forest restoration

Previous tests with essential oils from ripe chiropterochoric fruits suggested they can be used to attract and capture fruit-eating bats inside forest remnants. Here we evaluated the efficiency of these oils to attract frugivorous bats to open areas. We performed field tests with artificial fruits impregnated with essential oils of the genera Piper or Ficus that were attached to two groups of mist-nets set 50 m outside the border of a forest remnant. One group of artificial fruits received the corresponding oil isolated through hydrodistillation and the other received water only. Fruits with oils attracted significantly more fruit-eating bats, especially Artibeus lituratus that regularly crosses open habitats to reach other forest remnants. The highly significant attraction of A. lituratus by the oil of Piper was unexpected, since this bat is a specialist on Ficus fruits. We hypothesize that in habitats with no fruit available it is possible to attract frugivorous bats with the odor of several ripe fruit species. Furthermore, we verified that almost half of the individuals captured defecated seeds, indicating that the oils also attract recently fed bats, even when their preferred food is available nearby. This technique potentially may increase seed rain at specific locations, being particularly promising to restoration projects.

Muscular coactivation (CA) around the knee reduces power production in elderly women

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

Use of Fruit Essential Oils to Assist Forest Regeneration by Bats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

An essential role for mast cells as modulators of neutrophils influx in collagen-induced arthritis in the mouse

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

The Q-D algorithm for transforming series expansions into a corresponding continued fraction: an extension to cope with zero coefficients

An algorithm for deriving a continued fraction that corresponds to two series expansions simultaneously, when there are zero coefficients in one or both series, is given. It is based on using the Q-D algorithm to derive the corresponding fraction for two related series, and then transforming it into the required continued fraction. Two examples are given. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interfacial surface charge and free accessibility to the PLA(2)-active site-like region are essential requirements for the activity of Lys49 PLA(2) homologues

Lys49 phospholipase A(2) homologues are highly myotoxic and cause extensive tissue damage but do not display hydrolytic activity towards natural phospholipids. The binding of heparin, heparin derivatives and polyanionic compounds such as suramin result in partial inhibition (up to 60%) of the myotoxic effects due to a change in the overall charge of the interfacial surface. In vivo experiments demonstrate that polyethylene glycol inhibits more than 90% of the myotoxic effects without exhibiting secondary toxic effects. The crystal structure of bothropstoxin-I complexed with polyethylene glycol reveals that this inhibition is due to steric hindrance of the access to the PLA(2)-active site-like region. These two inhibitory pathways indicate the roles of the overall surface charge and free accessibility to the PLA2-active site-like region in the functioning of Lys49 phospholipases A(2) homologues. Molecular dynamics simulations, small angle X-ray scattering and structural analysis indicate that the oligomeric states both in solution and in the crystalline states of Lys49 phospholipases A2 are principally mediated by hydrophobic contacts formed between the interfacial surfaces. These results provide the framework for the potential application of both clinically approved drugs for the treatment of Viperidae snakebites. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phase behavior of the orange essential oil/sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate/water system

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

An Extension of Craig's Family of Lattices

Let p be a prime, and let zeta(p) be a primitive p-th root of unity. The lattices in Craig's family are (p - 1)-dimensional and are geometrical representations of the integral Z[zeta(p)]-ideals < 1 - zeta(p)>(i), where i is a positive integer. This lattice construction technique is a powerful one. Indeed, in dimensions p - 1 where 149 <= p <= 3001, Craig's lattices are the densest packings known. Motivated by this, we construct (p - 1)(q - 1)-dimensional lattices from the integral Z[zeta(pq)]-ideals < 1 - zeta(p)>(i) < 1 - zeta(q)>(j), where p and q are distinct primes and i and fare positive integers. In terms of sphere-packing density, the new lattices and those in Craig's family have the same asymptotic behavior. In conclusion, Craig's family is greatly extended while preserving its sphere-packing properties.