Ant communities (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in an urban ecosystem near the Atlantic Rainforest

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Eça de Queiroz e a cozinha burguesa: literatura e alimentação

Using literature to discuss the topic of food, proper bourgeois cuisine, was the purpose of this work. As a corpus, we use one of the works of Eça de Queiroz, The City and the Mountains. Served as theoretical references the Claude Levi-Strauss s concept of universal culinary and the Jean Claude Fischler s concept of specific culinary who understands food as a cultural system which includes representations, beliefs and practices of a specific group. After the initial reading of the novel and construction of a file containing general information of the work, categories designed for elaboration of a material for analysis were these: work, characters, food, intellectuals and geographies. We realized the culinary as an epicenter for understanding the culture of a specific group: in this case, the bourgeois. We proposed a quaternary model for systematizing it: this bourgeois cuisine highlights the technique, has affection for what is rare and/or expensive but still consume it with temperance, establishing a new relationship with the use of time and, finally, it is the one that opens the ritual that involves frequent restaurants and cafes. The exercise of thinking the bourgeois cuisine through the literature suggests that the art may work on increase the comprehensive capabilities of nutritionists, professionals who deal with a complex object in your practice: the food

Secretory process of salivary glands of female Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae) ticks fed on resistant rabbits

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

Metodologia, Sistema de Codificação e Ferramenta de software para Modelagem de Móveis Modulados

On this research we investigated how new technologies can help the process of design and manufacturing of furniture in such small manufacturers in Rio Grande do Norte state. Google SketchUp, a 3D software tool, was developed in such a way that its internal structures are opened and can be accessed using SketchUp s API for Ruby and programs written in Ruby language (plugins). Using the concepts of the so-called Group Technology and the flexibility that enables adding new functionalities to this software, it was created a Methodology for Modeling of Furniture, a Coding System and a plugin for Google s tool in order to implement the Methodology developed. As resulted, the following facilities are available: the user may create and reuse the library s models over-and-over; reports of the materials manufacturing process costs are provided and, finally, detailed drawings, getting a better integration between the furniture design and manufacturing process

EFEITO do ETHEPHON em VIDEIRA 'RUBI' (Vitis vinifera L.), CULTIVADA NA REGIÃO NOROESTE do ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO

O experimento foi conduzido em vinhedo comercial da cv. Rubi, localizado na região Noroeste do Estado de São Paulo. Teve, como objetivo, verificar o efeito do ethephon, aplicado antes da poda de produção, na porcentagem de desfolhamento, tempo de realização da poda, brotação dos ramos, produção da videira, tentando reduzir os custos, melhorando a produtividade e a qualidade. Concluiu-se que a aplicação de 7500ppm de ethephon, 20 dias antes da poda, foi o tratamento que proporcionou maior porcentagem de desfolhamento, menor tempo de realização da poda, maior porcentagem de gemas brotadas e maior produção.

Avaliando a robustez e manutenibilidade do comportamento excepcional de aplicações C#

Mainstream programming languages provide built-in exception handling mechanisms to support robust and maintainable implementation of exception handling in software systems. Most of these modern languages, such as C#, Ruby, Python and many others, are often claimed to have more appropriated exception handling mechanisms. They reduce programming constraints on exception handling to favor agile changes in the source code. These languages provide what we call maintenance-driven exception handling mechanisms. It is expected that the adoption of these mechanisms improve software maintainability without hindering software robustness. However, there is still little empirical knowledge about the impact that adopting these mechanisms have on software robustness. This work addresses this gap by conducting an empirical study aimed at understanding the relationship between changes in C# programs and their robustness. In particular, we evaluated how changes in the normal and exceptional code were related to exception handling faults. We applied a change impact analysis and a control flow analysis in 100 versions of 16 C# programs. The results showed that: (i) most of the problems hindering software robustness in those programs are caused by changes in the normal code, (ii) many potential faults were introduced even when improving exception handling in C# code, and (iii) faults are often facilitated by the maintenance-driven flexibility of the exception handling mechanism. Moreover, we present a series of change scenarios that decrease the program robustness

Dinâmica da paisagem na Microbacia do Riacho Cajazeiras no semiárido potiguar

The semi-arid Northeast region are coming through changes since its formation causing changes in the landscape and increased degradation. The economic dynamics which was established at the Potiguar semiarid had for a long time settled in livestock, subsistence agriculture and cotton, however, these economies decline from the year 1970. Thus, the Potiguar spaces are undergoing by a process of space reordering marked by the growth of agricultural activities and the process of urbanization. In the Potiguar western region these changes weaken significantly transform the landscape. In these areas, the process of urbanization and agricultural activities have caused changes in the hinterland landscape changing the natural dynamics of the caatinga biome that has been subject to negative interference with the indiscriminate removal of vegetation. In this case, the specific study area of the watershed of Cajazeiras Creek located in the cities of Pau dos Ferros, Água Nova, Encanto and Rafael Fernandes, changes in the landscape has led to degradation and environmental fragility. From this perspective, the research objective is to assess the dynamics of the landscape of the watershed of Cajazeiras Creek, semiarid region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, identifying the degrading factors, the most degraded areas and/or susceptible to degradation and environmental fragility. The research investigated the phenomena of light geosystems theory that emphasizes the integration of elements in shaping the landscape. During this reporting period, it was carried out exploratory and bibliographical research, and geoprocessing techniques to assess the social and environmental conditions of the researched area and its environmental fragility. To do so, first, it was made an multitemporal analisis on the basis of the years 1984, 1996 and 2009 demonstrating that the dynamics of use and land cover in the watershed of Cajazeiras Creek showed a significant change in the landscape, especially in the caatinga vegetation. This has been recovering in various areas of the watershed, especially in its upper course in the mountains of Bom Sera, in Encanto city. The analysis showed the need to develop policies and programs for the maintenance, restoration and preservation of the caatinga vegetation of the river network and of water bodies. In addition, it was identified the most degraded areas of the watershed, environmental fragility and potential emerging that take into account the landscape components such as climate, topography, geology, pedology, geomorphology and the use and occupation of the soil in an integrated manner. The results show that the landscape of the watershed has medium and high environmental fragility throughout its area, especially on the banks of the river network provided by the use and occupation of the soil in an inadequate way with the environmental conditions of the watershed

Segmentação fuzzy de imagens coloridas com características texturais: uma aplicação a rochas sedimentares

Image segmentation is the process of labeling pixels on di erent objects, an important step in many image processing systems. This work proposes a clustering method for the segmentation of color digital images with textural features. This is done by reducing the dimensionality of histograms of color images and using the Skew Divergence to calculate the fuzzy a nity functions. This approach is appropriate for segmenting images that have colorful textural features such as geological, dermoscopic and other natural images, as images containing mountains, grass or forests. Furthermore, experimental results of colored texture clustering using images of aquifers' sedimentary porous rocks are presented and analyzed in terms of precision to verify its e ectiveness.

The Leptogium juressianum complex in southeastern Brazil

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

Intracellular papillae of Actinocephalus (Eriocaulaceae-Poales) roots and their interaction with fungi: A light and transmission electron microscopy study

The genus Actinocephalus comprises 25 species and is restricted to Brazil, occurring mainly in the Espinhaco Mountains of Minas Gerais and Bahia States. Previous anatomical studies have reported the occurrence of intracellular papillae in the Actinocephalus roots, without dealing with their ultrastructure and function. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the structure, the composition and the probable function of the intracellular papillae of Actinocephalus roots, based on light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and histochemical tests. The intracellular papillae occurred in all root tissues, from the rhizodermis to the vascular cylinder; they presented different forms and sizes and, ultrastructurally, they corresponded to material deposited between the cell wall and the plasma membrane. The histochemical tests carried out were positive for cellulose, pectin and callose. The intracellular papillae are responses of the plant cells to the interaction with fungi. They work as a physical barrier restricting fungal penetration, and they may also favor the supply of water and nutrients to the plant, since they increase root absorption surface. This might explain why the species of Actinocephalus are among the tallest Eriocaulaceae despite their reduced radicular system and the nutritional deficiency of the soil in which they grow. (C) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Staurogyne rubescens (Aeanthaeeae), a new species from southeastern Brazil

A new species of Acantbaceae, Staurogyne rubescens, is described and illustrated. It is endemic to the Brazilian moist forests on the eastern range of mountains named Serra do Mar and is thus far known only from the states of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Staurogyne rubescens can be distinguished by its lax terminal racemes, with bracts and bracteoles that are foliaceous, and the flowers that have a pink calyx and red corolla. Staurogyne itatiaiae (Wawra) Leonard also has red flowers and occurs in the highlands of the Atlantic rain forest. The distinguishing characters for these two species are presented in tabular format.

Florística e fitossociologia em parcelas permanentes da Mata Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil ao longo de um gradiente altitudinal

This paper summarizes floristic and phytossociology data of 11, out of 14 plots of 1 ha, allocated along an altitudinal gradient in the Serra do Mar, Silo Paulo, Brazil. The study was conducted at Serra do Mar State Park and the plots start at the sea level (10 m - plot of Restinga Forest that occurs at Praia da Fazenda, Picinguaba, municipality of Ubatuba) up to 1100 m above sea level (the Montane Ombrophilous Dense occurs alongside the Itamambuca Trail, municipality of Silo Luis do Paraitinga). The Restinga Forest occurs in Pleistocenic Coastal Plain where the soil is classified as a sandy Quartzipsamment (Quartzenic Neosol), while along the slopes of the Serra do Mar, the Ombrophylus Dense Forest grows on the top of a pre-Cambrian crystalline basement with granitic rocks, where the soil is a sandy-loam Dystrophic Inceptisol (Cambisol/Latosol). In all 14 plots soils are acidic (pH 3 - 4), chemically poor, with high dilution of nutrients and high saturation of aluminum. In the Restinga and at the foot of the slope the climate is Tropical/Subtropical Humid (Af/Cfa), with no dry season, an average annual rainfall over 2,200 mm and an average annual temperature of 22 degrees C. Towards the top of the Serra do Mar there is a gradual cooling along the slope, but there is no reduction in rainfall, so at 1,100 m above sea level the climate is classified as Humid Subtropical (Cfa/Cfb), with no dry season and an average annual temperature of 17 degrees C. It is important to remark that, almost daily, from 400 m above sea level up to the top of slopes the mountains are covered by a dense fog. In the 14 plots 21,733 individuals with DBH >= 4.8 cm, including trees, palms and ferns, were marked, measured and sampled. The average number of individuals sampled in each plot was 1264 ind.ha(-1)(+/- 218 SE 95%). Within the parameters considered trees prevailed (71% in the Montane ODF to 90% in the Restinga Forest), followed by palms (10% in the RF and 25% in the Montane Ombrophilous Dense Forest/ODF) and ferns (0% % in the RF and 4% in the Montane ODF). Regarding these proportions the Exploited Lowlands ODF differs from the others with only 1.8% of palm trees and striking 10% of ferns. The forest canopy is irregular with heights ranging from 7 to 9 m, rarely emergent trees reach 18 m, and due to this irregularity of the canopy the amount of light that gets through sets conditions for the development of hundreds of epiphytic species. Aside from Montana ODF, where the number of dead trees was more than 5% of individuals sampled, in the other phytophysiognomies this value was below 2.5%. In the 11 plots where the floristic study was conducted we found 562 species in 195 genera and 68 families. Only seven species - Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae), Calyptranthes lucida Mart. ex DC. and Marlierea tomentosa Cambess (both Myrtaceae), Guapira opposita (Veil.) Reitz (Nyctaginaceae), Cupania oblongifolia Mart. (Sapindaceae), Cecropia glaziovii Snethl. and Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Rizzini (both Urticaceae) - occurred from Restinga to Montane ODF, while 12 other species did not occur only in the Restinga Forest. Families with the greatest number of species are Myrtaceae (133 spp), Fabaceae (47 spp), Rubiaceae (49) and Lauraceae (49) throughout the gradient and Monimiaceae (21) specifically in portions Montane ODF. Only in the F plot, where logging has occurred between 1950 and 1985, the abundance of palm trees has been replaced by Cyatheaceae. The study shows a peak of diversity and richness, Shannon-Weiner index (H') ranging from 3.96 to 4.48 nats.ind(-1), in the intermediate altitudes (300 to 400 m) along the slope. Several explanations for this result are raised here, including the fact that these elevations are within the limits expansions and retractions of the different phytophysiognomies of the Atlantic ODF due to climate fluctuations during the Pleistocene. The results presented in this paper demonstrate the extraordinary richness of tree species of the Atlantic Rainforest from the northeastern coast of the State of São Paulo, reinforcing the importance of its conservation throughout the altitudinal gradient. The richness of this forest justifies a long term commitment to study its dynamics and functioning through permanent plots, and monitor the impacts of climate change in this vegetation.

DNA barcoding of Podonomus (Chironomidae, Podonominae) enables stage association of a named species and reveals hidden diversity in Brazilian inselbergs

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Anurans of a seasonally dry tropical forest: Morro do Diabo State Park, São Paulo state, Brazil

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

Structural and spectroscopic characterization of Al2-xCrxO3 powders obtained by polymeric precursor method

Al2O3 and Al2-x Cr (x) O-3 (x = 0.01, 0.02 and 0.04) powders have been synthesized by the polymeric precursors method. A study of the structural evolution of crystalline phases corresponding to the obtained powders was accomplished through X-Ray Diffraction and UV-vis spectroscopy (reflectance spectra and CIEL* a*b* color data). The obtained results allow to identify the gamma-Al2O3 to alpha-Al2O3 phase transition. The single-phase alpha-Al2O3 powder was obtained after heat treatment at 1050 degrees C for 2 h. The results show that the green to red color transition and ruby luminescence lines observed for the powders of Al2-x Cr (x) O-3 are related to the gamma to alpha-Al2O3 phase transition and the temperature and time range for such transition depends on the chromium content.