Eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) from fruit trees in Northeastern Brazil-a new genus, three new species and a redescription

A new genus and two new species of eriophyoid mites in the family Diptilomiopidae associated with Spondias mombin L. (Anacardiaceae), namely Solivagus n. gen. alpha n. sp. and Davisella spondias n. sp., are described. In addition, a new species of Eriophyidae associated with Eugenia uniflora L. (Myrtaceae), namely Dichopelmus ibapitanga n. sp., is described and Aculus pitangae Boczek & Davis, also from E. uniflora, is redescribed including a description of the male, and its classification is discussed. All material studied was collected in the State of Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil.

Antioxidant capacity of the striped sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) seed extracts evaluated by three in vitro methods

The antioxidant capacity of the striped sunflower seed cotyledon extracts, obtained by sequential extraction with different polarities of solvents, was evaluated by three different in vitro methods: ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), 2.2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays. In the three methods, the aqueous extract at 30 mu g/ml showed a higher antioxidant capacity value (FRAP, 45.27 mu mol; DPPH, 50.18%; ORAC, 1.5 Trolox equivalents) than the ethanolic extract (FRAP, 32.17 mu mol; DPPH, 15.21%; ORAC, 0.50 Trolox equivalents). When compared with the synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxyl toluene, the antioxidant capacity of the aqueous extract varied from 45% to 66%, according to the used method. The high antioxidant capacity observed for the aqueous extract of the studied sunflower seed suggests that the intake of this seed may prevent in vivo oxidative reactions responsible for the development of several diseases, such as cancer.

The viability of three probiotic organisms grown with yoghurt starter cultures during storage for 21 days at 4 degrees C

This study investigated the viability of probiotic (Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5, Lactobacillus rhamnosus LBA and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BL-04) in milk fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LB340 and Streptococcus thermophilus TAO (yoghurt - Y). Each probiotic strain was grown separately in co-culture with Y and in blends of different combinations. Blends affected fermentation time(s), pH and firmness during storage at 4 degrees C. The product made with Y plus B. animalis subsp. lactis and L. rhamnosus had counts of viable cells at the end of shelf life that met the minimum required to achieve probiotic effect. However, L. acidophilus and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus were inhibited.

Detailed H-1 and C-13 NMR structural assignment and relative stereochemistry determination for three closely related sesquiterpene lactones

A complete analysis of H-1 and C-13 NMR spectra of the trypanocidal sesquiterpene lactone eremantholide C and two of its analogues is described. These structurally similar sesquiterpene lactones were submitted to H-1 NMR, C-13 (H-1) NMR, gCOSY, gHSQC, gHMBC, J-resolved and DPFGSE-NOE NMR techniques. The detailed analysis of those results, correlated to some computational calculations (molecular mechanics), led to the total and unequivocal assignment of all H-1 and C-13 NMR data. The determination of all H-1/H-1 coupling constants and all signal multiplicities, together with the elimination of previous ambiguities were also achieved. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enantioselective analysis of mirtazapine and its two major metabolites in human plasma by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry after three-phase liquid-phase microextraction

A three-phase liquid-phase microextraction (LPME) method using porous polypropylene hollow fibre membrane with a sealed end was developed for the extraction of mirtazapine (MRT) and its two major metabolites, 8-hydroxymirtazapine (8-OHM) and demethylmirtazapine (DMR), from human plasma. The analytes were extracted from 1.0 mL of plasma, previously diluted and alkalinized with 3.0 mL 0.5 mol L-1 pH 8 phosphate buffer solution and supplemented with 15% sodium chloride (NaCl), using n-hexyl ether as organic solvent and 0.01 moL L-1 acetic acid solution as the acceptor phase. Haloperidol was used as internal standard. The chromatographic analyses were carried out on a chiral column, using acetonitrile-methanol-ethanol (98:1:1, v/v/v) plus 0.2% diethylamine as mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL min(-1). Multi-reaction monitoring (MRM) detection was performed by mass spectrometry (MS-MS) using a triple-stage quadrupole and electrospray ionization interface operating in the positive ion mode. The mean recoveries were in 18.3-45.5% range with linear responses over the 1.25-125 ng mL(-1) concentration range for all enantiomers evaluated. The quantification limit (LOQ) was 1.25 ng mL(-1). Within-day and between-day assay precision and accuracy (2.5, 50 and 100 ng mL(-1)) showed relative standard deviation and the relative error lower than 11.9% for all enantiomers evaluated. Finally, the method was successfully used for the determination of mirtazapine and its metabolite enantiomers in plasma samples obtained after single drug administration of mirtazapine to a healthy volunteer. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Comparative Analysis of the Changes During Evaporation of Three Different Commercial Emulsion of Unknown Composition

Optical microscope and centrifugation were used to observe the structure change during evaporation of three different commercial emulsions of unknown composition. The degree of evaporation under an infrared lamp at 70 degrees C was determined from the changed weight of a microscope slide with the emulsion on a defined area and thickness. The results revealed information as to which kind of structure would appear after evaporation.

Two times three little pigs: Dysfluency, cognitive complexity and autism

This paper presents an analysis of dysfluencies in two oral tellings of a familiar children's story by a young boy with autism. Thurber & Tager-Flusberg (1993) postulate a lower degree of cognitive and communicative investment to explain a lower frequency of non-grammatical pauses observed in elicited narratives of children with autism in comparison to typically developing and intellectually disabled controls. we also found a very low frequency of non-grammatical pauses in our data, but indications of high engagement and cognitive and communicative investment. We point to a wider range of disfluencies as indicators of cognitive load, and show that the kind and location of dysfluencies produced may reveal which aspects of the narrative task are creating the greatest cognitive demand: here, mental state ascription, perspectivization, and adherence to story schema. This paper thus generates analytical options and hypotheses that can be explored further in a larger population of children with autism and typically developing controls.

Three-bedroom townhouses, Air Niugini Staff Housing, Papua New Guinea

Street elevation, carports below entry balconies.

Three-bedroom townhouse, Air Niugini Staff Housing, Papua New Guinea

Side elevation, showing upper level bedroom windows.

Constraints on the spatiotemporal accuracy of interceptive action: effects of target size on hitting a moving object

Results of two experiments are reported that examined how people respond to rectangular targets of different sizes in simple hitting tasks. If a target moves in a straight line and a person is constrained to move along a linear track oriented perpendicular to the targetrsquos motion, then the length of the target along its direction of motion constrains the temporal accuracy and precision required to make the interception. The dimensions of the target perpendicular to its direction of motion place no constraints on performance in such a task. In contrast, if the person is not constrained to move along a straight track, the targetrsquos dimensions may constrain the spatial as well as the temporal accuracy and precision. The experiments reported here examined how people responded to targets of different vertical extent (height): the task was to strike targets that moved along a straight, horizontal path. In experiment 1 participants were constrained to move along a horizontal linear track to strike targets and so target height did not constrain performance. Target height, length and speed were co-varied. Movement time (MT) was unaffected by target height but was systematically affected by length (briefer movements to smaller targets) and speed (briefer movements to faster targets). Peak movement speed (Vmax) was influenced by all three independent variables: participants struck shorter, narrower and faster targets harder. In experiment 2, participants were constrained to move in a vertical plane normal to the targetrsquos direction of motion. In this task target height constrains the spatial accuracy required to contact the target. Three groups of eight participants struck targets of different height but of constant length and speed, hence constant temporal accuracy demand (different for each group, one group struck stationary targets = no temporal accuracy demand). On average, participants showed little or no systematic response to changes in spatial accuracy demand on any dependent measure (MT, Vmax, spatial variable error). The results are interpreted in relation to previous results on movements aimed at stationary targets in the absence of visual feedback.

A cross-linguistic comparison of address pronoun use in four European languages: Intralingual and interlingual dimensions

As part of a major ongoing project, we consider and compare contemporary patterns of address pronoun use in four major European languages- French, German, Italian and Swedish. We are specifically interested in two major aspects: intralingual behaviour, that is, within the same language community, and interlingual dimensions of address pronoun use. With respect to the former, we summarize our key findings to date. We then give consideration in a more preliminary fashion to issues and evidence relevant to the latter.

Quantum dynamics of three coupled atomic Bose-Einstein condensates

The simplest model of three coupled Bose-Einstein condensates is investigated using a group theoretical method. The stationary solutions are determined using the SU(3) group under the mean-field approximation. This semiclassical analysis, using system symmetries, shows a transition in the dynamics of the system from self trapping to delocalization at a critical value for the coupling between the condensates. The global dynamics are investigated by examination of the stable points, and our analysis shows that the structure of the stable points depends on the ratio of the condensate coupling to the particle-particle interaction, and undergoes bifurcations as this ratio is varied. This semiclassical model is compared to a full quantum treatment, which also displays a dynamical transition. The quantum case has collapse and revival sequences superimposed on the semiclassical dynamics, reflecting the underlying discreteness of the spectrum. Nonzero circular current states are also demonstrated as one of the higher-dimensional effects displayed in this system.

Positive selection on an acrosomal sperm protein, M7 lysin, in three species of the mussel genus Mytilus

Marine invertebrate sperm proteins are particularly interesting because they are characterized by positive selection and are likely to be involved in prezyogotic isolation and, thus, speciation. Here, we present the first survey of inter and intraspecific variation of a bivalve sperm protein among a group of species that regularly hybridize in nature. M7 lysin is found in sperm acrosomes of mussels and dissolves the egg vitelline coat, permitting fertilization. We sequenced multiple alleles of the mature protein-coding region of M7 lysin from allopatric populations of mussels in the Mytilus edulis species group (M. edulis, M. galloprovincialis, and M. trossulus). A significant McDonald-Kreitman test showed an excess of fixed amino acid replacing substitutions between species, consistent with positive selection. In addition, Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests showed significant heterogeneity in polymorphism to divergence ratios for both synonymous variation and combined synonymous and non-synonymous variation within M. galloprovincialis. These results indicate that there has been adaptive evolution at M7 lysin and, furthermore, shows that positive selection on sperm proteins can occur even when post-zygotic reproductive isolation is incomplete.

Leadership Attributes and Cultural Values in Australia and New Zealand Compared: An Initial Report Based on GLOBE Data.

This paper reports a comparative study of Australian and New Zealand leadership attributes, based on the GLOBE (Global Leadership and Organizational Behavior Effectiveness) program. Responses from 344 Australian managers and 184 New Zealand managers in three industries were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Results supported some of the etic leadership dimensions identified in the GLOBE study, but also found some emic dimensions of leadership for each country. An interesting finding of the study was that the New Zealand data fitted the Australian model, but not vice versa, suggesting asymmetric perceptions of leadership in the two countries.