LONGITUDINAL DISTRIBUTION OF MACROALGAE IN 2 TROPICAL LOTIC ECOSYSTEMS FROM SOUTHEASTERN BRAZIL

Macroalgal species richness and diversity were analysed along a longitudinal profile in small and large scales during Spring, Fall and Winter, respectively in a small stream and a mid size river in the northwest region of São Paulo State, southeastern Brazil (20 degrees 23'-20 degrees 49'S, 49 degrees 26'-51 degrees 19'W). Longitudinal variation in species richness and diversity in small scale was strongly associated with incident light. Microhabitat distribution (from data taken by quadrat technique) revealed no significant correlations. Principal coordinates analysis (PCO) indicated no consistent groupings among sampling sites in distinct seasons (Spring, Fall and Winter). Longitudinal analysis in large scale revealed different patterns in the two seasons sampled (Spring and Winter), whereas species diversity presented a consistent tl end: high upstream, low in mid reaches and higher downstream. It was associated with type of substratum in Spring, rocky substrata presenting the highest values for species richness and diversity. Weak correlations were observed in Winter. Microhabitat distribution showed significant correlations between species abundance and the following variables: positive for rocky substrata and current velocity and negative for sandyclayish substratum and macrophyte-dominated substratum. PCO delineated only one consistent grouping formed by the two headwater sites. Small scale macroalgal distribution corroborated the longitudinal pattern predicted by the River Continuum Concept, whereas the large scale approach showed a distribution more associated with substratum type than to light availability. These results showed an opposite trend in relation to the expected distributional pattern. Longitudinal distribution in macroalgal community structure has yet to be better documented, particularly for tropical streams and no generalization is possible at this stage.

Modulation of coronary flow and cardiomyocyte size by sensory fibers

Cardiac tissue is densely innervated by sensory neurons that an believed to play important modulatory roles in cardiac functions. In this study, pretreatment of neonate mts with capsaicin was performed. In adult rats, cardiomyocyte size and amount of fibrous tissue in left ventricles as well as in vitro coronary flow were evaluated, the chronotropic and inotropic responses to beta-adrenoceptor agonists (norepinephrine and isoproterenol), muscarinic agonists (carbachol and pilocarpine), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were also investigated with the use of the isolated right atria preparation. Capsaicin pretreatment significantly (P<0.05) reduced both basal coronary flow (18% reduction) and cardiomyocyte size (34% reduction) without affecting the amount of fibrous tissues in the left ventricles. The positive inotropic and chronotropic effects in response to norepinephrine in the isolated rat heart did not significantly differ between control and capsaicin-treated rats, Similarly, the positive chronotropic effects in response to norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and CGRP as well as the negative chronotropic responses to carbachol and pilocarpine in the isolated light atria were not affected by capsaicin pretreatment, Our data are consistent with the suggestion that reductions of both basal coronary flow and cardiomyocyte size seen in hearts from capsaicin-pretreated rats may be consequences of CGRP depletion. The cardiomyocyte size reduction produced by capsaicin treatment may be related to a modulatory role of CGRP as a growth factor.

Drying kinetics of tomato by using electric resistance and heat pump dryers

Drying kinetics of tomato was studied by using heat pump dryer (HPD) and electric resistance dryers with parallel and crossed airflow. The performance of both systems was evaluated and compared and the influence of temperature, air velocity, and tomato type on the drying kinetics was analyzed. The use of HPD showed to be adequate in the drying process of tomatoes, mainly in relation to the conversion rate of electric energy into thermal energy. The heat pump effective coefficient of performance (COPHT,EF) was between 2.56 and 2.68, with an energy economy of about 40% when compared to the drying system with electric resistance. The Page model could be used to predict drying time of tomato and statistical analysis showed that the model parameters were mainly affected by drying temperature.

Evaluation of water and sucrose diffusion coefficients in potato tissue during osmotic concentration

The water and sucrose effective diffusion coefficients behavior were studied in potato tubers immersed in aqueous sucrose solution, 50% (w/,A), at 27 degreesC. Water and sucrose concentration profiles were measured as function of the position for 3, 6 and 12 h of immersion. These were adjusted to a mathematical model for three components that take into account the bulk flow in a shrinking tissue and the concentration dependence of the diffusion coefficients.The binary effective coefficients were an order of magnitude lower than those for pure solutions of sucrose. These coefficients show an unusual concentration dependence. Analysis of these coefficients as functions of the concentration and position demonstrates that, cellular tissue promotes high resistance to diffusion in the tuber and also the elastic contraction of material influences the species diffusion. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genotyping of Epstein-Barr virus in Brazilian Burkitt's lymphoma and reactive lymphoid tissue - Type A with a high prevalence of deletions within the latent membrane protein gene

Both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) types A and B are found in endemic Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) occurring in equatorial Africa. We studied 17 cases of Brazilian BL previously demonstrated to be EBV-positive to determine the EBV type as well as the presence of a characteristic 30 bp deletion within the 3' end of the latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) gene that may be important to the pathogenesis of several EBV-associated neoplasms. All case in which the age was known were children. We found type A EBV in 13 of 14 (93%) evaluable cases, and type B in one case. The LMP-1 deletion was found in 12 of 15 (80%) evaluable cases, including the one case of type B EBV, and a similar high prevalence (59%) of the deletion was detected in EBV-positive normal and reactive lymphoid tissues from individuals from the same geographic region. The high proportion of cases associated with type A EBV suggests that immunodeficiency is not an important factor in the pathogenesis of Brazilian BL, in contrast to endemic African BL. The presence of the LMP-1 deletion in a high prevalence in the normal population in this region is unexplained.

Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and antimutagenicity of hexane extracts of Agaricus blazei determined in vitro by the comet assay and CHO/HGPRT gene mutation assay

Agaricus blazei Murrill ss. Heinem, known as the sun mushroom or himematsutake, is a basidiomycete native to Brazil, which is popular for its medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to test hexane extracts (one fraction and its four sub-fractions) of A. blazei for bioactivity in cultured mammalian cells (CHO-K1). The comet assay, the colony forming assay (CFA) and CHO/HGPRT gene mutation assay were used respectively to determine genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and antimutagenicity of these extracts at different concentrations. The cells were incubated in culture medium and treated for 3 h according to the standard protocol for each assay. The DNA damage-inducing agent ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) was utilized as the positive control and also in combination with extracts to test for a protective effect. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test. A relationship between cytotoxicity and genotoxicity could be established and two extracts EH6B and EH6D showed a protective tendency, while the others did not, with the primary extract EH6 causing the most substantial damage to genetic material. These findings warrant more in-depth studies of the active principles of this mushroom. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chewing in temporomandibular disorder patients: an exploratory study of an association with some psychological variables

Aims: To compare kinematic parameters (ie, amplitude, velocity, cycle frequency) of chewing and pain characteristics in a group of female myofascial temporomandibular disorder (TMD) patients with an age-matched control female group, and to study correlations between psychological variables and kinematic variables of chewing. Methods: Twenty-nine female participants were recruited. All participants were categorized according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for TMD (RDC/TMD) into control (n = 14, mean age 28.9 years, SD 5.0 years) or TMD (n = 15, mean age 31.3 years, SD 10.7) groups. Jaw movements were recorded during free gum chewing and chewing standardized for timing. Patients completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS-42), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Fear of Pain Questionnaire-III (FPQ-III), and the Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ). Statistical analyses involved evaluation for group differences, and correlations between kinematic variables and psychological questionnaire scores (eg, depression, anxiety, stress) and pain intensity ratings. Results: Velocity and amplitude of standardized (but not free) chewing were significantly greater (P < .05) in the TMD group than the control group. There were significant (P < .05) positive correlations between pain intensity ratings and velocity and amplitude of standardized chewing but not free chewing. There were significant (P < .05) positive correlations between depression and jaw amplitude and stress and jaw velocity for standardized but not free chewing. Conclusion: This exploratory study has provided data suggesting that psychological factors, manifesting in depression and stress, play a role in influencing the association between pain and motor activity. J OROFAC PAIN 2011;25:56-67

Relationship Between Speed and Time in Running

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of using different mathematical models to describe the relationship between treadmill running speed and time to exhaustion. All models generated a value for an aerobic parameter (critical speed; S(critical)). 35 university students performed 5-7 constant-speed 0%-slope treadmill tests at speeds that elicited exhaustion in similar to 3 min to similar to 10 min. Speed and time data were fitted using 3 models: (1) a 2-parameter hyperbolic model; (2) a 3-parameter hyperbolic model; and (3) a hybrid 3-parameter hyperbolic + exponential model. The 2-parameter model generated values for S(critical) (mean (+/- SD): 186 +/- 33 m.min(-1)) and anaerobic distance capacity (ADC; 251 +/- 122 m) with a high level of statistical certainty (i.e., with small SEEs). The 3-parameter models generated parameter estimates that were unrealistic in magnitude and/or associated with large SEEs and little statistical certainty. Therefore, it was concluded that, for the range of exercise durations used in the present study, the 2-parameter model is preferred because it provides a parsimonious description of the relationship between velocity and time to fatigue, and it produces parameters of known physiological significance, with excellent confidence.

Use of Pyrosequencing and Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis to Examine the Effects of Probiotics and Essential Oil Blends on Digestive Microflora in Broilers Under Mixed Eimeria Infection

A protective digestive microflora helps prevent and reduce broiler infection and colonization by enteropathogens. In the current experiment, broilers fed diets supplemented with probiotics and essential oil (EO) blends were infected with a standard mixed Eimeria spp. to determine effects of performance enhancers on ileal and cecal microbial communities (MCs). Eight treatment groups included four controls (uninfected-unmedicated [UU], unmedicated-infected, the antibiotic BMD plus the ionophore Coban as positive control, and the ionophore as negative control), and four treatments (probiotics BC-30 and Calsporin; and EO, Crina Poultry Plus, and Crina PoultryAF). Day-old broilers were raised to 14 days in floor pens on used litter and then were moved to Petersime batteries and inoculated at 15 days with mixed Eimeria spp. Ileal and cecal samples were collected at 14 days and 7 days postinfection. Digesta DNA was subjected to pyrosequencing for sequencing of individual cecal bacteria and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) for determination of changes in ileal and cecal MC according to percentage similarity coefficient (%SC). Pyrosequencing is very sensitive detecting shifts in individual bacterial sequences, whereas DGGE is able to detect gross shifts in entire MC. These combined techniques offer versatility toward identifying feed additive and mild Eimeria infection modulation of broiler MC. Pyrosequencing detected 147 bacterial species sequences. Additionally, pyrosequencing revealed the presence of relatively low levels of the potential human enteropathogens Campylobacter sp. and four Shigella spp. as well as the potential poultry pathogen Clostridiun perfringens. Pre- and postinfection changes in ileal (56%SC) and cecal (78.5%SC) DGGE profiles resulted from the coccidia infection and with increased broiler age. Probiotics and EO changed MC from those seen in UU ilea and ceca. Results potentially reflect the performance enhancement above expectations in comparison to broilers not given the probiotics or the specific EO blends as feed supplements.

High-speed video observations of positive ground flashes produced by intracloud lightning

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Squeezed states, generalized Hermite polynomials and pseudo-diffusion equation

We show that the wavefunctions 〈pq; λ|n〈, of the harmonic oscillator in the squeezed state representation, have the generalized Hermite polynomials as their natural orthogonal polynomials. These wavefunctions lead to generalized Poisson Distribution Pn(pq;λ), which satisfy an interesting pseudo-diffusion equation: ∂Pnp,q;λ) ∂λ= 1 4 [ ∂2 ∂p2-( 1 λ2) ∂2 ∂q2]P2(p,q;λ), in which the squeeze parameter λ plays the role of time. Th entropies Sn(λ) have minima at the unsqueezed states (λ=1), which means that squeezing or stretching decreases the correlation between momentum p and position q. © 1992.

Characterization of the antinociceptive and sedative effect of amitraz in horses

Amitraz, an acaricide used to control ectoparasites in animals has a complex pharmacological activity, including α2-adrenergic agonist action. The purpose of this research was to investigate the possible antinociceptive and/or sedative effect of amitraz in horses. The sedative effect of the intravenous (i.v.) injection of dimethylformamide (DMF, 5 mL, control) or amitraz (0.05, 0.10, 0.15 mg/kg), was investigated on the head ptosis test. The participation of α2-adrenergic receptors in the sedative effect provoked by amitraz was studied by dosing yohimbine (0.12 mg/kg, i.v.). To measure the antinociception, xylazine hydrochloride (1 mg/kg, i.v., positive control) and the same doses of amitraz and DMF were used. A focused radiant light/heat directed onto the fetlock and withers of a horse were used as a noxious stimulus to measure the hoof withdrawal reflex latency (HWRL) and the skin twitch reflex latency (STRL). The three doses of amitraz used (0.05, 0.10 and 0.15 mg/kg) provoked a dose-dependent relaxation of the cervical muscles. The experiments with amitraz and xylazine on the HWRL showed that after i.v. administration of all doses of amitraz there was a significant increase of HWRL up to 150 min after the injections. Additionally, there was a significant difference between control (DMF) and positive control (xylazine) values up to 30 min after drug injection. On the other hand, the experiments on the STRL show that after administration of amitraz at the dose of 0.15 mg/kg, a significant increase in STRL was observed when compared with the control group. This effect lasted up to 120 min after injection. However, no significant antinociceptive effect was observed with the 0.05 and 0.10 mg/kg doses of amitraz or at the 1.0 mg/kg dose of xylazine.

Effect of different plot coverings on emergence and early development of seven palm species (arecaceae)

The Arecaceae family comprises plants with economical importance in many Brazilian regions, for agricultural exploration or for landscaping. In great portion, species of this family present low germination velocity and percentage. This work meant to evaluate the germination and early development of seven palm species (Archontophoenix alexandrae H. Wendl. et Drude, Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H.E. Moore, Latania commersonii Gmel., Livistona chinensis R. Br., Syagrus campos-portoana Bondar, Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Beccari, Syagrus picrophylla Barb. Rod.), submitted to three kinds of seed bed plot coverings. Three 10 x 2 m seedbeds were built and filled with a mixture of sand, soil and chicken manure (1:3:0.5 proportion), where two lines were sown with each specie. On top of each seedbed, plastic covering and fifty percent screen were set allowing one third of the seedbed to full sunlight exposure. Seedbeds were irrigated by dripping system. All species had the same germination rate, regardless of the covering, by the end of the experiment (146 days after sowing), eventhough, A. alexandrae under plastic covering conditions, L. commersonii at full sunlight exposure and Syagrus campos-portoana under fifty percent shade, had reached that percentage around 51 days after sowing. The remaining species reached the greatest germination percentage earlier with some of the coverings, rather than at full sunlight exposure. For the studied conditions, covering type had no effect in leaf length and width. For leaf number, there was interaction between species x covering type for Livistona chinensis and Copernicia prunifera.

Somatic meiosis and development of the juvenile gametophyte in members of the Batrachospermales sensu lato (Rhodophyta)

Seven populations (six in culture and one sampled directly from nature) of the freshwater red algal families Batrachospermaceae, Lemaneaceae and Thoreaceae were examined, involving three species of Batrachospermum, two of Paralemanea and one of Thorea. All 'Chantransia' stages ultimately produced juvenile gametophytes. The production of juvenile gametophytes in the three populations of Batrachospermum was generally most abundant at 15°C and low irradiances (47-68 μmol photons m-2 s-1). The most abundant gametophyte development in the Paralemanea species was observed at 10°C and low or high irradiances (47-142 μmol photons m-2 s-1). Gametophyte production in Thoreaceae occurred at higher temperatures (20°C) and also at low irradiances. In species of the Batrachospermaceae and Lemaneaceae, the 'elimination cells' can be situated on the basal or suprabasal cell of the juvenile gametophyte, but the position is usually fixed in individual species. The presence and position of the elimination cells remain to be established in Thoreaceae. Our results corroborate a previous study suggesting that the position of elimination cells is such a constant feature that it is of potential diagnostic value at the generic or infrageneric (sectional or specific) level. The characteristics observed in the development of the juvenile gametophytes in species of Batrachospermaceae and Lemaneaceae essentially agreed with general descriptions in the previous studies. The characteristics of the Thoreaceae, with a distinctive developmental pattern of the juvenile gametophyte and the occurrence of two morphological types in the 'Chantransia' stage, support the proposal to elevate it to the ordinal level. Two remarkable observations in Batrachospermum species were the production of numerous juvenile gametophytes from filaments of the same plant of the 'Chantransia' stage and the formation of a system of rhizoidal filaments or cell agglomeration of the juvenile gametophytes, which produced new gametophytes. These two characteristics potentially increase the formation of additional gametophytes under favourable conditions.

Longitudinal distribution of Copepoda populations in the transition zone of Paranapanema River and Jurumirim Reservoir (São Paulo, Brazil) and interchange with two lateral lakes.

Longitudinal changes in composition, abundance, and distribution of copepods were studied at the transition zone of Paranapanema River-Jurumirim Reservoir (SP, Brazil). The interchange of biotic material between marginal lakes and the river system was also examined. Water samples were obtained from 6 stations along a stretch of 13 km of the Paranapanema River, from an upstream reach with high water velocity up to the river mouth into Jurumirim Reservoir. Two other sites in lateral lakes were also sampled. Nine copepod taxa were identified: 3 calanoids (Argyrodiaptomus furcatus Sars, Notodiaptomus iheringi Wright, and N. conifer Sars) and 6 cyclopoids (Eucyclops Claus, Microcyclops Claus, Mesocyclops longisetus Thiébaud, Thermocyclops decipiens Fischer, T. minutus Lowndes, and Paracyclops Claus). Harpacticoids were also collected. Calanoid and cyclopoid nauplii and copepodids, and harpacticoids were the most abundant organisms. In general, there was a longitudinal decrease in copepod abundance, whereas an increase was detected near the lakes. The abundance of most copepods was inversely correlated with current velocity and suspended solids. Higher abundance was observed in the river main course during the rainy season, during which there is a higher connectivity between the lakes and the main river. This promotes exportation of biologic material from marginal lakes to the river system, a biotic exchange reflecting the importance of marginal lakes to the river community structure.