Chromosome polymorphism in the Brazilian dwarf brocket deer, Mazama nana (Mammalia, Cervidae)

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

Pré-condicionamento das sementes de mamoneira para o teste de tetrazólio

Preconditioning of castor bean seeds for the tetrazolium test. This research had the objective of standardizing the methodology for preconditioning of castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) seeds for the evaluation of their physiological potential by the tetrazolium test. The evaluated seed preconditioning methods were: seeds with coat between moist paper towel at 30, 35 and 40 degrees C for 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 hours; and seeds without coat between moist paper towel; and seeds with coat immersed in water, at 25, 30, 35 and 40 degrees C for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hours. After preconditioning, the seed coat was removed, the seeds were cut lengthwise, and immersed in tetrazolium solution at a concentration of 0.2% for 120 minutes at 35 degrees C. The seeds' germination percentage, moisture content before and after preconditioning, and staining uniformity after the tetrazolium were evaluated. The statistical design was completely randomized, and the means comparisons were accomplished by the Tukey test at 0.05 level of probability. It was concluded that castor bean seeds should be preconditioned with coat between moist paper towel at 35 degrees C for 12 hours, so that the results of the tetrazolium test will be similar to those obtained in the germination test.

Produção de grês porcelanato a partir de matérias-primas do Rio Grande do Norte e queima a gás natural

The State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, possess major deposits of feldspar, clay, kaolin and talc, all raw materials used in the production of porcelainized stoneware tiles. Conversely, state industries manufacture only low added value red ceramics. Porcelainized stoneware tiles is one of the noblest ceramics, depicting low water absorption (typically below of 0,5%), in addition to excellent staining resistance and mechanical strength. The present work aims at investigating the potential of local raw materials for the production of porcelainized stoneware tiles. To that end, these materials were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis and thermal differential analysis. Admixtures containing different compositions were prepared and fired at three temperatures, 1150, 1200 and 1250°C for 30 min. After firing, tests samples were characterized by water absorption tests, linear retraction, dilatometric analysis, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, flexural strength, and microstructural analysis by XRD and SEM. The results revealed that ceramics with porcelainized stoneware tiles characteristics could be produced from raw materials originated in the State of Rio Grande do Norte

Produção de grês porcelanato a partir de matérias-primas do estado da Bahia

The State Bahia, Brazil, presents different geological sites it with a very expressive variety minerals. It is situated among the very important States which produces minerals for industries, such as pointed aggregate, ornamentals stones and ceramics raw materials. Nowadays only four companies producting ceramics tiles. Porcelainized stoneware tiles is one of the noblest ceramics, depicting low water absorption (typically below of 0,5%), in addition to excellent staining resistance and mechanical strength. The present work aims at investigating the potential of local raw materials for the production of porcelainized stoneware tiles. For this purpose, these materials were characterized by X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, thermal gravimetric analysis, thermal differential analysis and dilatometric analysis. Admixtures containing different compositions were prepared and fired at four temperatures, 1100 ºC, 1150 ºC, 1200 ºC and 1250 ºC with isotherm for 60 minute and heathing rate of 5 oC/min. After firing the samples, they were characterized by water absorption tests, linear retraction, analysis, apparent porosity, apparent specific mass, flexural strength, and microstructural analysis by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy . The results revealed three ceramics with porcelainized stoneware tiles characteristics and porcelain tile will be produce from raw materials originated in the State of Bahia

Método de preparo das sementes de mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.) para o teste de tetrazólio

O teste de tetrazólio é um método rápido e eficaz para avaliar a viabilidade e o vigor de sementes. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo padronizar o método de preparo das sementes de mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.) para a avaliação do potencial fisiológico pelo teste de tetrazólio. Foram testados os seguintes métodos de preparo das sementes: corte longitudinal mediano através do tegumento, endosperma e embrião; corte longitudinal diagonal sem atingir o eixo embrionário; remoção do tegumento; remoção do tegumento com corte longitudinal mediano através do endosperma e embrião; e remoção do tegumento com corte longitudinal mediano, paralelo aos cotilédones, através do endosperma e embrião. Antes dos preparos, as sementes foram pré-condicionadas entre papel toalha umedecido por 18 horas a 30ºC, e após os preparos, as sementes foram imersas na solução de tetrazólio na concentração de 0,5% e mantidas em câmara escura a 35ºC para o desenvolvimento da coloração. Avaliou-se a uniformidade da coloração das sementes após cada preparo, por meio da comparação entre eles. Para a avaliação do potencial fisiológico das sementes de mamoneira pelo teste de tetrazólio o método indicado de preparo é a remoção do tegumento, com posterior corte longitudinal e mediano, no sentido do comprimento, através do endosperma e embrião.

Concentração da solução de tetrazólio e período de coloração do teste para sementes de mamoneira

O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar a concentração da solução de tetrazólio e o período de coloração do teste para a avaliação do potencial fisiológico de sementes de mamoneira (Ricinus communis L.), padronizando a nomenclatura das cores observadas nas sementes após a coloração. Os tratamentos de concentração da solução de tetrazólio e períodos de coloração estudados foram: 0,075% e 0,1% por 120, 180 e 240 minutos, 0,2% por 60, 120 e 180 minutos, 0,5% por 60, 90 e 120 minutos e 1,0% por 30, 60 e 90 minutos. Os resultados foram comparados com os obtidos nos testes de germinação. A coloração das sementes após o teste de tetrazólio, em cada tratamento, foi avaliada mediante comparação com as fichas de cor do catálogo de Munsell, determinando-se a porcentagem de sementes observada em cada cor. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado e a comparação de médias realizada pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Para avaliar o potencial fisiológico pelo teste de tetrazólio, as sementes de mamoneira devem ser imersas na solução de tetrazólio na concentração de 0,2% por 120 minutos, a 35ºC. Nesse tratamento, as sementes viáveis após a coloração na solução de tetrazólio apresentaram predominantemente as cores rosa e rosa-escuro em suas estruturas essenciais, portanto essas podem ser consideradas como as cores características para o teste de tetrazólio em sementes de mamoneira.

Morphoquantitative aspects of nitrergic myoenteric neurons from the stomach of diabetic rats supplemented with acetyl-L-carnitine

The NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) positive myoenteric neurons from the body of the stomach of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes with or without supplementation with acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) were evaluated. At the age of 105 days the animals were divided into four groups: normoglycaemic (C), normoglycaemic supplemented with ALC (CC), diabetic (D) and diabetic supplemented with ALC (DC). The supplementation with ALC (200 mg/kg body weight/day) to groups CC and DC was made during 105 days. After this period the animals were killed and the stomach removed and subjected to the histochemical technique of NADPH-d for the staining of the neurons of the myoenteric plexus. The area of 500 neurons of each group was investigated, as well as the neuronal density in an area of 23.84 mm(2) in each stomach. ALC promoted reduction (P < 0.05) of fasting glycaemia, water ingestion and areas of the profiles of the cell bodies of the NADPH-d neurons in the diabetic animals. The density of these neurons was not statistically different in the groups studied. It is suggested, therefore, a moderate neuroprotective effect of ALC, because the diminishment of the areas of the neuronal profiles in the supplemented diabetic animals, although being statistically significant relative to the non-supplemented diabetics, was not sufficient to equal the values from the non-diabetic controls.