The 3.4-3.5 Ga Sao Jose do Campestre massif, NE Brazil: remnants of the oldest crust in South America

The oldest fragment of continental crust recognized in South America occurs as an isolated Archean enclave in northeastem Brazil's Borborema Province, ca. 600 Ma Brasiliano-Pan African orogenic belt. This Archean fragment, the Sao Jose do Campestre massif, is surrounded by large tracts of 2.2-2.0 Ga Paleoproterozoic gneisses and is located more than 600-1500 km from the much larger assemblages of Archean rocks found in the Sao Fransciso and Amazonian cratons, located to the south and west, respectively. Geochronological studies of the Sao Jose do Campestre massif show that its oldest rocks contain zircons with U-Pb ages up to 3.5 Ga and Sm-Nd T-DM model ages of more than 3.7 Ga, indicating that they represent reworked crust. This older nucleus is flanked by both reworked and juvenile 3.25 and 3.18 Ga rocks which arc intruded by both 3.00 and 2.69 Ga plutonic bodies. The protracted evolution the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is consistent with that of a larger continental mass as opposed to a small crustal fragment that grew in isolation. As such, the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is interpreted as representing a detached piece of an evolved craton that became entrained with younger rocks during a subsequent Paleoproterozoic accretionary-orogenic event. This hypothesis is bolstered by the presence of Paleoproterozoic gneisses that envelop the Sao Jose do Campestre massif, as well as the existence of ca. 2.0 Ga metamorphic zircon and monazite within its rocks. The occurrence of several different Archean cratonic basement inliers within the greater Paleoproterozoic crustal framework of the Borborema Province suggests that cratonic slices spalled off one or more larger Archean masses prior to the ca. 2.2-2.0 Ga Paleoproterozoic orogenic collage. A important challenge is to link these older fragments to their parent cratons. Although results are not unique, the pattern of ages and isotopic signatures observed in the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is similar to that seen in parts of the Sao Francisco Craton, and it is possible that the Sao Jose do Campestre massif is a fragment of an Archean continental fragment formed during an episode of continental breakup prior to 2200 Ma. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fecundity of the crab Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) from the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil

The objective of the present study was to characterize the fecundity of Callinectes ornatus from the northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil. To study the fecundity and its relationships to size, brood weight, and egg size, the ovigerous females were collected at 2-month intervals for two consecutive years (January, 1991 to November, 1992) in the Ubatuba region using a fishing boat equipped with an otter-trawl type of net. After collecting, the animals were screened, bagged, labeled, and stored frozen. Only data from 38 females carrying early stage eggs were considered. In the laboratory, the specimens were thawed at room temperature, the pleopod structure with the egg mass was removed and the eggs were carefully removed from the pleopods. The samples were then fixed in 10% formalin and stored in 70% ethanol, until the time for processing. Processing followed the method of Hines (1982, 1988). Following the frequency determination of carapace width and fecundity, mean egg number, mean volume and mean dry weight of brooded egg mass were determined for each class obtained. Data were analyzed by regressions of log-log transformations for allometric plots (Y = aX(b)) of reproductive variables versus carapace width. Carapace width was one of the main factors for the determination of fecundity, which ranged 171 570 +/- 94 634 eggs, with females of the same size class presenting a wide amplitude of variation. This supports the hypothesis that portunid females present staggered spawning, possibly presenting more than one period of reproduction within one year. The present species showed lower fecundity than the remaining portunids studied, but they did show a rapid and efficient embryonic development, presumably capable of assuring reproductive success.

The effects of ZnGa2O4 formation on structural and optical properties of ZnO : Ga powders

Gallium-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Ga 1, 2 3, 4 and 5 at%) samples were prepared in powder form by modifying the Pechini method. The formation of zinc gallate (ZnGa2O4) With the spinel crystal structure was observed even in ZnO:Ga 1 at% by X-ray diffraction. The presence of ZnGa2O4 in ZnO:Ga samples was also evidenced by luminescence spectroscopy through its blue emission at 430 nm, assigned to charge transfer between Ga3+ at regular octahedral symmetry and its surrounding O2- ions. The amount of ZnGa2O4 increases as the dopant concentration increases, as observed by the quantitative phase analysis by the Rietveld method. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stepped light-induced transient measurements of photocurrent and voltage in dye-sensitized solar cells based on ZnO and ZnO:Ga

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Population biology of Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 (Decapoda, Portunidae) from Ubatuba (SP), Brazil

Population structure and reproductive season of the portunid crab Callinectes ornatus were studied in animals collected from the Ubatuba bays, Sao Paulo, Brazil (23°20' to 23°35' S and 44°50' to 45°14' W). The samples were taken in three trawls performed every other month from January 1991 to May 1993. A total of 3,829 specimens of C. ornatus were obtained. Their size ranged from 9.3 to 84.6 mm (carapace width). Their median size based on their cephalothoracic width and their size frequency were determined as well. Their reproduction was continuous, with variable proportions of ovigerous females. The highest incidence of ovigerous females occurred in January 1991, 1992 and 1993 and March and November 1992. The oscillations of the environmental factors between the seasons are not so intense in subtropical regions, therefore allowing the continuity of the physiological process of growth and reproduction throughout the year.

Feeding activity of Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 and Callinectes danae Smith, 1869 (Crustacea, Brachyura, Portunidae) in Ubatuba, SP, Brazil

The feeding activity along the day cycle and the time consumed for extracellular digestion were evaluated in the portunids C. ornatus and C. danae. Swimming crabs were obtained from trawling in Ubatuba bay, São Paulo, Brazil, during both the rainy and dry seasons. In each season, daily scheduled samples were taken at dawn (±6 h), noon (±12 h), dusk (±18 h) and midnight (±24 h). All individuals were dissected and the degree of stomach replenishment was recorded. In order to estimate the time elapsed for extracellular digestion, crabs were fed, and groups were dissected at 30 min intervals to check the conditions of their stomachs. In general, both species show a higher feeding activity during periods of lower light intensity, as evidenced by an increased percentage of full stomachs in dusk and midnight samples. The obtained results support higher feeding activity at night in these species and indicate short time for extracellular digestion, not exceeding 8 h. Nevertheless, full stomachs were recorded in all sampling schedules. In this case, it should be considered that elimination of certain food items such as fish bones, mollusk shells and carapace fragments of crustaceans could take more time than other items. Additionally, some crab species could require a cycle of cell replacement in the midgut gland epithelium until they can take their next meal.

Effect of Mg-Ga powder addition on the superconducting properties of MgB2 samples

MgB2 bulk samples containing different proportions of Mg-Ga powder were prepared by an in situ reaction technique. The Mg-Ga powder was obtained via high energy ball milling of a Mg-10 at.% Ga composite, which was fabricated by melting of pure magnesium and gallium metals inside encapsulated stainless steel tube at 655 °C in a controlled atmosphere. The MgB2 samples containing 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 wt.% of MgGa addition were sintered at 650 °C for 30 min in argon atmosphere. Magnetic measurements performed at 5 K and 20 K showed improved critical current density, Jc, in the low magnetic field range for samples with MgGa addition. The critical temperature, Tc, for all samples with gallium additions is consistently higher when compared to the pure MgB2. © 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

New records and distribution extensions of three species of Mesoclemmys Gray, 1863 (Testudines: Chelidae) in Mato Grosso state, Brazil, with observations on terrestrial movements

Distribution patterns of most of the 20 Neotropical freshwater turtles belonging to the family Chelidae are usually based on few locality records. We here report on vouchered records of three species of the chelid genus Mesoclemmys in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Presence of M. vanderhaegei is confirmed for the Amazon River Basin, and M. gibba and M. raniceps are recorded in Mato Grosso for the first time. © 2012 Check List and Authors.

Simultaneous spectrometric determination of Cu2+, Mn2+ and Zn2+ in polivitaminic/polimineral drug using SPA and GA algorithms for variable selection

Este artigo apresenta uma aplicação do método para determinação espectrofotométrica simultânea dos íons divalentes de cobre, manganês e zinco à análise de medicamento polivitamínico/polimineral. O método usa 4-(2-piridilazo) resorcinol (PAR), calibração multivariada e técnicas de seleção de variáveis e foi otimizado o empregando-se o algoritmo das projeções sucessivas (APS) e o algoritmo genético (AG), para escolha dos comprimentos de onda mais informativos para a análise. Com essas técnicas, foi possível construir modelos de calibração por regressão linear múltipla (RLM-APS e RLM-AG). Os resultados obtidos foram comparados com modelos de regressão em componentes principais (PCR) e nos mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS). Demonstra-se a partir do erro médio quadrático de previsão (RMSEP) que os modelos apresentam desempenhos semelhantes ao prever as concentrações dos três analitos no medicamento. Todavia os modelos RLM são mais simples pois requerem um número muito menor de comprimentos de onda e são mais fáceis de interpretar que os baseados em variáveis latentes.

Field and petrographic data of 1.90 to 1.88 Ga I- and A-type granitoids from the central region of the Amazonian Craton, NE Amazonas State, Brazil

O SW do município de Presidente Figueiredo, localizado no Estado do Amazonas, Nordeste do Cráton Amazônico Central, Brasil, hospeda granitoides do tipo I de idade entre 1890 a 1898 Ma (Terra Preta Granito, Suíte Água Branca), hornblenda-sienogranitos do tipo A (Sienogranito Canoas da Suíte Mapuera), rochas vulcânicas ácidas à intermediárias (Grupo Iricoumé) e granitos rapakivi de idades entre 1883 a 1889 Ma (Granito São Gabriel da Suíte Mapuera), e rochas afins (quartzo-gabro-anortosito e diorito), além de quartzo-monzonito Castanhal, milonitos e hornfels. A fácies quartzo-diorito do granito Terra Preta foi formada por processos de mistura entre um dique quartzo-gabro sinplutônico e um granodiorito hornblenda. Glóbulos parcialmente assimilados de sienogranitos hornblenda Canoas e seus contatos com o granodiorito hornblenda Terra Preta sugerem que o sienogranito Canoas é um pouco mais jovem do que o Granito Terra Preta. Xenólitos do sienogranito Canoas no interior do Granito São Gabriel mostram que o granito é mais jovem do que o sienogranito Canoas. Novas evidências geológicas e petrográficas avançam na compreensão petrológica destas rochas e sugerem que, além de cristalização fracionada, assimilação e mistura de magma, desempenharam um papel importante, pelo menos em escala local, na evolução e variação composicionais dos plutons. Tal evidência é encontrada no Granito Terra Preta misturado com materiais quartzo-diorito, félsico associado ao sienogranito Canoas e nos enclaves microgranulares intermediários, que apresentam biotita e hornblenda primárias, além de dissolução plagioclásio, corrosão de feldspatos, mantos feldspatos alcalinos, segunda geração de apatita, e elevados teores xenocristais em enclaves intermediários formados a partir da fragmentação de intrusões máficas. Análises petrográficas mostram que um evento deformacional registrado na parte Ocidental da área de estudo (com deformação progressiva de E para W) é estimado entre o magmatismo pós-colisional de 1,90 Ga e as invasões do Granito São Gabriel e rochas afins máficas/intermediárias (intraplaca). No entanto, torna-se extremamente necessário obter idades absolutas para este evento metamórfico.

Development of the male reproductive system in Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 (Brachyura: Portunidae)

This study describes the histology and histochemistry of the male reproductive system in Callinectes ornatus, comparing juvenile and adult developmental stages. We also analyzed changes in the gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indices, and the weights of the testis and vas deferens during the development. The results showed that all stages, beginning with the juvenile (JUV), through developing (DEV) and mature (MAT) adult males of C. ornatus produce sperm and spermatophores. During development, testicular lobes showed the same characteristics of production and release of sperm into the seminiferous duct. The vas deferens showed little histological and histochemical change in the epithelium in juvenile and adult males. The differences consisted of the larger amount of secretion in MAT males compared to JUV and DEV ones. The chemical composition of the seminal fluid was similar, but MAT males produced a more homogeneous secretion. Morphological and physiological maturation are not synchronized in C. ornatus, since JUV males produced spermatophores similar to those in DEV and MAT males. However, these JUV are not yet able to reproduce, since they still have the abdomen attached to the cephalothoracic sternum. The increase of the GSI during development was significant for MAT males, and is related to the production of sufficient volume of seminal fluid to form the sperm plug in the female seminal receptacle. The HSI decreased from DEV to MAT adult stages, indicating that reserves from the hepatopancreas are used to develop the reproductive system after the pubertal molt.

Improvements in the sensibility of MSA-GA tool using COFFEE objective function

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

Bioactivity of pyridine-2-thiolato-1-oxide metal complexes: Bi(III), Fe(III) and Ga(III) complexes as potent anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis prospective agents

In the search for new therapeutic tools against tuberculosis and to further address the therapeutic potential of pyridine-2-thiol 1-oxide (Hmpo) metal complexes, two new octahedral [M(III)(mpo)3] complexes, with M = Ga or Bi, were synthesized and characterized in the solid state and in solution. Attempts to crystallize [Ga(III)(mpo)3] in CH2Cl2 led to single crystals of the reaction product [GaCl(mpo)2], where the gallium(III) ion is in a square basis pyramidal environment, trans-coordinated at the basis to two pyridine-2-thiolato 1-oxide anions acting as bidentate ligands through their oxygen and sulfur atoms. The biological activity of the new [M(III)(mpo)3] complexes together with that of the previously reported Fe(III) analogous compound and the pyridine-2-thiol 1-oxide sodium salt (Na mpo) was evaluated on Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The compounds showed excellent activity, both in the standard strain H37Rv ATCC 27294 (pan-susceptible) and in five clinical isolates that are resistant to the standard first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs isoniazid and rifampicin. These pyridine-2-thiol 1-oxide derivatives are promising compounds for the treatment of resistant tuberculosis.

On the Ecology and Distribution of Echinococcus spp. (Cestoda: Taeniidae), and Characteristics of Their Development in the Intermediate Host. II. Comparative Studies on the Development of Larval E. multilocularis Leuckart, 1863, in the Intermediate Host

This paper reports the results of a comparative study of the development of the larval Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863), and associated tissue reaction in naturally and experimentally infected mammals representing 31 species. The histogenesis of the larval cestode was traced in detail in arvicoline rodents of several species, and interspecific differences were defined. In arvicoline rodents, the developing larva exhibited host-specific characteristics within about a month after infection was established. The tissue reaction in Microtus oeconomus was characterized by the production of a large quantity of detritus around the larva, and by the formation of a thick epithelioid zone. In one subspecies, M. oeconomus innuitus, development of the larva was retarded, and the detrital mass was often calcified; in another, M. oeconomus operarius, the detritus rarely became calcified and the larva proliferated more rapidly. In M. pennsylvanicus, the tissue reaction was minimal, and little detritus was present. The characteristics of the tissue reaction in M. montebelli placed it in an intermediate position between the aforementioned species. In Clethrionomys rutilus, a thin epithelioid zone and an outer zone of loose collagenous fibers composed the adventitial layer; exogenous budding was retarded in this vole. A minimal tissue reaction occurred in Lagurus curtatus. In Lemmus spp., larger cysts were characteristic, but areas of small-cystic proliferation were always present. Similar differences in species or subspecies of Citellus and Dicrostonyx were described. Lesions of alveolar bydatid disease in man also were studied. The invasive growth of the larval cestode in the human liver involves a process comparable to small-cystic proliferation in the natural intermediate hosts. Although the later stages of development of the larval cestode are inhibited in man, exogenous proliferation of vesicles continues for the life of the host. The lesion in man was compared with a morphologically similar formation produced by anomalous development of the larval E. granulosus in the bovine liver. The latter is distinguished by the absence of areas of small-cystic proliferation. Non-echinococcal lesions found in the tissues studied, some of which resembled foci caused by the larval E. multilocularis, were briefly discussed.