Levantamento florístico de Floresta Atlântica no sul do Estado de São Paulo, Parque Estadual Intervales, Base Saibadela

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

Chromosomal differentiation of populations of Lysapsus limellus limellus, L. l. bolivianus, and of Lysapsus caraya (Hylinae, Hylidae)

Cytogenetic analysis were done on specimens from two populations of Lysapsus limellus limellus. three of L. l. bolivianus and of one of Lysapsus caraya. All animals showed a diploid chromosomal number of 2n=24. The karyotypes of the two L. limellus subspecies were very similar, differing only by the larger amount of telomeric heterochromatin and a small pericentromeric C-band on the short arms of pair 2 in L. l. limellus specimens. The karyotype of L. caraya differed from those of the two L. limellus subspecies in terms of chromosomal morphology, C-banding pattern and location of the main NOR on chromosomes 7 and 6. respectively. The karyotype of the L. l. bolivianus population from Guajara-Mirim/RO differed from those of the other populations of the same subspecies in morphology and heterochromatin pattern of chromosomes 7 and 8. Additional NORs were detected by silver staining and confirmed by FISH in one of the homologues of pairs 1 and 8 in L. l. bolivianus and in pair 7 in L. caraya. These results suggest that a reassessment of the taxonomic status of L. limellus subspecies, especially of the L. l. bolivianus populations, may be necessary. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Submandibular Musculature of Phyllomedusinae (Anura: Hylidae): A Reappraisal

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A study of meiosis and spermiogenesis in the testicular lobes of Antiteuchus tripterus (Heteroptera : Pentatomidae)

An analysis of testicular morphology and spermatogenesis in the Heteroptera species Antileuchus tripterus (Pentatomidae) revealed that these traits differ from that recorded for other species of the same family. The testes of A. tripterus have only six lobes, while other species of the same family typically have seven lobes, including a compound lobe, i.e., a lobe containing another in its lumen. A study of meiosis and sperm structure in the different lobes of A. tripterus revealed a conventional meiosis in the lobes numbered one to three. In lobe four, however, prophase I spermatocytes exhibit the morphological characteristics of the so called diffuse stage and are larger than those in lobes 1-3 in this and the remaining phases of meiosis. Thus, the resulting spermatids are not only larger but also their head is morphologically different. Lobe 5 exhibits characteristies known from other Pentatomidae species such as an uneven distribution of chromatin to the daughter cells, which give rise to cells of different sizes. This lobe forms spermatozoa of different sizes. Lobe 6, contained within lobe 5, differs from it by having larger cells at a stage similar to the so called diffuse and spermatid tails with cross divisions, which are not found in other lobes and unreported in the literature.

Real orthogonal polynomials in frequency analysis

We study the use of para-orthogonal polynomials in solving the frequency analysis problem. Through a transformation of Delsarte and Genin, we present an approach for the frequency analysis by using the zeros and Christoffel numbers of polynomials orthogonal on the real line. This leads to a simple and fast algorithm for the estimation of frequencies. We also provide a new method, faster than the Levinson algorithm, for the determination of the reflection coefficients of the corresponding real Szego polynomials from the given moments.

New sources of oilseeds from Latin American native fruits

Three Latin American oilseeds obtained from native fruits: nopal (tuna) (Opuntia ficus-indica), cherimoya (chirimoya) (Annona cherimola), and papaya, Chilean variety (Carica pubescens or C. candamarcensis) were studied for their fatty acid composition and bioactive compounds, such as tocols and phytosterols, looking for new sources of special oilseeds for this region. The results indicated that each species represents an interesting possibility. Nopal oilseed is a good source of linoleic acid (62%), with a good balance between SFA and MUFA (1: 1.3). Cherimoya oilseed presents quite a different composition, with 24% SFA, 43% MUFA and 33% PUFA. Palmitic and stearic acids (15% and 7.6%, respectively) are the main SFA. A good balance between oleic acid (42.7%) and linoleic acid (31%) was observed. Papaya oilseed is a highly MUFA oil (72% with 71% oleic acid), with a very interesting composition, according to the new nutritional and technological recommendations.With respect to bioactive compounds, the main tocol in these three oilseeds was gamma-tocopherol, with 136, 300 and 317 mg/kg for cherimoya, papaya and nopal oilseeds, respectively. According to the total tocol content, papaya oilseed presented the highest value with 384 mg/kg. The total amount and distribution of phytosterols was different, with values of 3092, 3554 and 5474 mg/kg for nopal, cherimoya and papaya oilseeds, respectively, with beta-sitosterol forming 47.6%, 65.0 % and 78.7% of the total phytosterol fractions, respectively. From the results obtained, Chilean papaya oilseed can be considered as a very promising new source of special plant oil for different applications, followed by cherimoya and nopal oilseeds.

Thermodynamic analysis of a non linear lattice

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

Critical temperature for first-order phase transitions in confined systems

We consider the Euclidean D-dimensional -lambda vertical bar phi vertical bar(4)+eta vertical bar rho vertical bar(6) (lambda,eta > 0) model with d (d <= D) compactified dimensions. Introducing temperature by means of the Ginzburg-Landau prescription in the mass term of the Hamiltonian, this model can be interpreted as describing a first-order phase transition for a system in a region of the D-dimensional space, limited by d pairs of parallel planes, orthogonal to the coordinates axis x(1), x(2),..., x(d). The planes in each pair are separated by distances L-1, L-2, ... , L-d. We obtain an expression for the transition temperature as a function of the size of the system, T-c({L-i}), i = 1, 2, ..., d. For D = 3 we particularize this formula, taking L-1 = L-2 = ... = L-d = L for the physically interesting cases d = 1 (a film), d = 2 (an infinitely long wire having a square cross-section), and for d = 3 (a cube). For completeness, the corresponding formulas for second-order transitions are also presented. Comparison with experimental data for superconducting films and wires shows qualitative agreement with our theoretical expressions.

Duality between coordinates and Dirac field

The duality between the Cartesian coordinates on the Minkowski space-time and the Dirac field is investigated. Two distinct possibilities to define this duality are shown to exist. In both cases, the equations satisfied by prepotentials are of second order. (C) 2000 Elsevier B.V. B.V. All rights reserved.

Nonabelian Toda theories from parafermionic reductions of the WZW model

We investigate a class of conformal nonabelian-Toda models representing noncompact SL(2, R)/U(1) parafermions (PF) interacting with specific abelian Toda theories and having a global U(1) symmetry. A systematic derivation of the conserved currents, their algebras, and the exact solution of these models are presented. An important property of this class of models is the affine SL(2, R)(q) algebra spanned by charges of the chiral and antichiral nonlocal currents and the U(1) charge. The classical (Poisson brackets) algebras of symmetries VG(n), of these models appear to be of mixed PF-WG(n) type. They contain together with the local quadratic terms specific for the W-n-algebras the nonlocal terms similar to the ones of the classical PF-algebra. The renormalization of the spins of the nonlocal currents is the main new feature of the quantum VA(n)-algebras. The quantum VA(2)-algebra and its degenerate representations are studied in detail. (C) 1999 Academic Press.

On the control of a non-ideal engineering system: A friction-driven oscillating system with limited power supply

In this work a switching feedback controller for stick-slip compensation of a 2-DOF mass-spring-belt system which interacts with an energy source of limited power supply (non-ideal case) is developed. The system presents an oscillatory behavior due to the stick-slip friction. As the system equilibrium for a conventional feedback controller is not the origin, a switching control law combining a state feedback term and a discontinuous term is proposed to regulate the position of the mass. The problem of tracking a desired periodic trajectory is also considered. The feedback system is robust with respect to the friction force that is assumed to be within known upper and lower bounds.

Pb-210 and composition data of near-surface sediments and interstitial waters evidencing anthropogenic inputs in Amazon River mouth, Macapa, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Growth mechanism of octahedron-like BaMoO4 microcrystals processed in microwave-hydrothermal: Experimental observations and computational modeling

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Proline content and protein patterns in Eucalyptus grandis shoots submitted to high and low temperature shocks

As respostas às mudanças de temperatura de plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas de E. grandis cultivadas in vitro foram avaliadas considerando alterações dos níveis de prolina e proteínas solúveis totais. Análises de proteínas solúveis através de SDS-PAGE e prolina foram realizadas após 12h a 12ºC (aclimatação ao frio) ou a 33ºC (aclimatação ao calor), e imediatamente depois dos choques térmicos a 41ºC e 0ºC. Análises também foram realizadas após um período de 24h depois dos choques térmicos (período de recuperação). O tratamento de temperatura a 0ºC não alterou o padrão de proteínas nas plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas, entretanto a temperatura baixa induziu altos níveis de prolina, que se mantiveram relativamente altos após o período de recuperação. Três novas proteínas (90,5, 75 e 39 kDa), provavelmente HSPs, foram observadas nas plantas aclimatadas e não aclimatadas submetidas às temperaturas altas. As plantas expostas a 41ºC foram capazes de recuperar-se dos choques após o período de recuperação, entretanto não houve recuperação completa das plantas expostas às baixas temperaturas. O efeito da aclimatação sobre a recuperação (homeostasis) pode variar dependendo do parâmetro avaliado, tipo e duração do choque térmico.

Efeitos de doses de fósforo em mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.) cultivar 'Guarani'

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos de doses crescentes de fósforo na produção, no teor de óleo das sementes e nas concentrações de macronutrientes, exceto o S, das sementes e da casca da mamona, em cultivar 'Guarani'. As doses utilizadas foram 0-40-80-120-160-200 kg/ha de P2O5, num Latossolo Vermelho Escuro - fase arenosa de baixa fertilidade, no Município de São Manuel, Estado de São Paulo. Os resultados mostraram que o fósforo aumentou o número de frutos por cacho, diminuiu a porcentagem de casca no fruto e aumentou o peso de sementes por cacho. Disto resultou um aumento médio na produção de 100,21%, em relação à produção do tratamento sem fósforo. No que tange aos teores dos elementos nos frutos, observou-se um aumento de P e uma tendência de diminuir o N, nas sementes colhidas dos tratamentos adubados com fósforo. Os efeitos do fósforo no teor de óleo das sementes não ficou bem caracterizado, devendo o problema merecer maiores estudos.