Efeitos de atrativos e repelentes sobre o comportamento da abelha (Apis mellifera, l.)

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

Heavy metals in Oxisols amended with biosolids and cropped with maize in a long-term experiment

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

Composição corporal de bovinos de quatro raças zebuínas, abatidos em diferentes estádios de maturidade

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar a composição química corporal de 63 animais não-castrados das raças Gir, Guzerá, Mocho de Tabapuã e Nelore, em confinamento, com pesos vivos médios iniciais de 376,4; 357,6, 362,0; e 368,6 kg, respectivamente. em cada raça, os animais foram divididos em cinco categorias: abate inicial, alimentação ad libitum com ração contendo 50% de concentrado até atingirem pesos individuais de abate de 405, 450 e 500 kg, respectivamente, e, finalmente, categoria alimentação restrita recebendo a mesma ração, suprindo níveis de proteína e energia 15% acima da mantença. Não houve diferenças entre as raças quanto aos conteúdos corporais de proteína, gordura, energia e macroelementos minerais (Ca, P, Mg, K e Na). Os animais abatidos com pesos mais elevados apresentam menores porcentagens de proteína e macroelementos minerais (Ca, P, Mg, K e Na) no corpo, ocorrendo o inverso para a gordura corporal.

Efeitos do estresse térmico nas concentrações plasmáticas de progesterona (P4) e estradiol 17-b (E2) e temperatura retal em cabras da raça Pardo Alpina

Seis cabras lactantes foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em um delineamento experimental em crossover, em dois grupos: sob condições termoneutras e estresse térmico. Um período de adaptação de 28 dias foi seguido por quatro períodos de 14 dias cada, quando os animais sob estresse térmico foram expostos à temperatura média de 33,84ºC; THI de 86,20; BGT de 36,18 e BT de 32,11ºC das 8 às 17 horas, incluindo radiação solar simulada das 10 às 15 horas. Não houve diferença entre as concentrações plasmáticas de progesterona, mas as fêmeas submetidas ao estresse térmico apresentaram diminuição nas concentrações plasmáticas de estradiol, quando comparados ao grupo termoneutro. A temperatura retal dos animais sob estresse térmico foi mais elevada quando foi comparada à do grupo de animais em condições de termoneutralidade. As cabras mantiveram as concentrações plasmáticas da progesterona, com diminuição na secreção de estradiol, quando expostas a um estresse repetido e intermitente, a despeito de ocorrer hipertermia durante o estresse pelo calor.

Neutrinos and electromagnetic gauge invariance

We examine a recently proposed connection constraining U(1)(em) electromagnetic gauge invariance and the nature of neutrino mass terms in the framework of G(0) = SU(3)(C) x G(W) x U(1)(N) gauge extensions of the standard model where G(W) denotes the weak isospin special unitary extended groups. We show that in a large class of G(0) models there is a unique fermion representation content and scalar fields which select the neutrino mass terms. Noteworthy. even though there are mathematically equivalent representation contents then can be different aspects concerning the physical consequences which are not a mere truism.

Crystal growth of Ce-doped and undoped LiCaAlF6 by the Czochralski technique under CF4 atmosphere

Ce-doped and undoped LiCaAlF6 (LiCAF) single crystals 50 mm in diameter were grown by the Czochralski technique. The formation of inclusions and cracks accompanying the crystal growth was investigated. The dependence of lattice parameters on the temperature was measured for LiCAF and LiSrAlF6 single crystals. Linear thermal expansion coefficients for both these crystals were evaluated. Higher transmission properties for LiCAF single crystals were achieved in the UV and VUV wavelength regions. (C) 2001 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

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.

Manifest electromagnetic duality in closed superstring field theory

The free action for massless Ramond-Ramond fields is derived from closed superstring field theory using the techniques of Siegel and Zwiebach. For the uncompactified Type IIB superstring, this gives a manifestly Lorentz-covariant action for a self-dual five-form field strength. Upon compactification to four dimensions, the action depends on a U(1) field strength from 4D N = 2 supergravity. However, unlike the standard Maxwell action, this action is manifestly invariant under the electromagnetic duality transformation which rotates F-mn into epsilon(mnpq)F(pq).

Genetic and environmental effects on parturition and lactation intervals in water buffaloes from Brazil

Genetic and environmental effects on parturition interval (PI) and duration of lactation (DL) were evaluated in 107 Jafarabadi, 98 Mediterranean, 1027 Murrah and 624 crossbred buffalo females (n=1856), based on data from the Buffalo Genetic Improvement Program-PROMEBUL from 1980 to 2003. The statistical model included effects of herd, parturition year and month, calf's sex, parturition order and genetic group, composing 11, 34, 12, 2, 12 and 4 classes, respectively. A significant effect over PI was observed (P<0.01) in all classes, excepting sex. Mean parturition intervals per genetic group presented significant differences through SNK test (P<0.05), with mean values of 451.29; 429.47; 406.97 and 389.78 days in Mediterranean, crossbred, Murrah and Jafarabadi, respectively. Mean DL values were 276.68; 270.33; 258.03 and 235.59 days for Mediterranean, Murrah, crossbred and Jafarabadi groups, respectively. No significant differences in DL were observed in relation to genetic groups. However, herd and parturition order, year and month significantly influenced DL (P<0.01). The herd was the main source of variation over DL, followed by parturition year and month. A regression based on parturition month in relation to PI and DL showed that females giving birth in the last months of the year presented higher PI and DL.

The high-eccentricity asymmetric expansion of the disturbing function for non-planar resonant problems

In this paper we present an extension to the nonplanar case of the asymmetric expansion of the averaged resonant disturbing function of Ferraz-Mello & Sato (1989, A&A 225, 541-547). Comparions with the exact averaged disturbing function are also presented. The expansion gives a good approximation of the exact function in a wide region around the center of expansion.

The N terminus of the human alpha(1D)-adrenergic receptor prevents cell surface expression

We previously reported that truncation of the N-terminal 79 amino acids of alpha(1D)-adrenoceptors (Delta(1-79)alpha(1D)-ARs) greatly increases binding site density. In this study, we determined whether this effect was associated with changes in alpha(1D)-AR subcellular localization. Confocal imaging of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged receptors and sucrose density gradient fractionation suggested that full-length alpha(1D)-ARs were found primarily in intracellular compartments, whereas Delta(1-79)alpha(1D)-ARs were translocated to the plasma membrane. This resulted in a 3- to 4-fold increase in intrinsic activity for stimulation of inositol phosphate formation by norepinephrine. We determined whether this effect was transplantable by creating N-terminal chimeras of alpha(1)-ARs containing the body of one subtype and the N terminus of another (alpha(1A) NT-D, alpha(1B) NT-D, alpha(1D) NT-A, and alpha(1D)NT-B). When expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells, radioligand binding revealed that binding densities of alpha(1A)- or alpha(1B)-ARs containing the alpha(1D)-N terminus decreased by 86 to 93%, whereas substitution of alpha(1A)- or alpha(1B)-N termini increased alpha(1D)-AR binding site density by 2- to 3-fold. Confocal microscopy showed that GFP-tagged alpha(1D)NT-B-ARs were found only on the cell surface, whereas GFP-tagged alpha(1B)NT-D-ARs were completely intracellular. Radioligand binding and confocal imaging of GFP-tagged alpha(1D)- and Delta(1-79)alpha(1D)-ARs expressed in rat aortic smooth muscle cells produced similar results, suggesting these effects are generalizable to cell types that endogenously express alpha(1D)-ARs. These findings demonstrate that the N-terminal region of alpha(1D)-ARs contain a transplantable signal that is critical for regulating formation of functional bindings, through regulating cellular localization.

Effect of denture fabrication and wear on closest speaking space and interocclusal distance during deglutition

Statement of problem. The accuracy of assessing maxillomandibular relationships for trial bases and dentures using phonetic and swallowing methods has not been compared to that observed with definitive prostheses. Thus, there is no evidence to prove whether measurements obtained through such methods remain the same after adaptation to dentures.Purpose. This study investigated changes in the closest speaking space, interocclusal rest space, and interocclusal distance during deglutition in edentulous patients during and after complete denture treatment.Material and methods. Eighteen edentulous subjects participated in this study and measurements were performed after 7 Intervals of time: (1) with occlusion rims and record bases following creation of the maxillomandibular relationship record, (2) with trial dentures, (3) at Insertion of definitive complete dentures, (4) 1 week, (5) 2 weeks, (6) 1 month, and (7) 3 months after insertion. Recordings of interocclusal distances were made with a mandibular kinesiograph. Closest speaking space was measured during the pronunciation of the word 'seis'. The distance between postural rest position and centric occlusion, or interocclusal rest space, was measured using a kinesiograph. Interocclusal distance during deglutition was tested by recording the closest mandibular position recorded during swallowing of 20 mL of water. Data were analyzed using repeated-measure ANOVA, followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test (alpha=.05).Results. A significant (P <.01)reduction in the mean closest speaking space was found when it was evaluated using occlusion rims and record bases (4.6 mm) compared with other stages (3.0 to 3.4 mm). No significant differences were found in mean interocclusal rest space and interocclusal distance during deglutition among the time periods evaluated.Conclusions. The presence of occlusion rims can influence mandibular position during pronunciation of the /s/ sound. The arrangement of artificial teeth changes the closest speaking space. However, rest position and deglutition were not affected, either during denture fabrication or short-term use.