Host Tree Influences on Longicorn Beetle (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) Attack in Subtropical Corymbia (Myrtales: Myrtaceae)

Phoracantha longicorn beetles are endemic to Australia, and some species have become significant pests of eucalypts worldwide, yet little is known about their host plant interactions and factors influencing tree susceptibility in Australia. Here, we investigate the host relationships of Phoracantha solida (Blackburn, 1894) on four eucalypt taxa (one pure species and three hybrid families), examining feeding site physical characteristics including phloem thickness, density, and moisture content, and host tree factors such as diameter, height, growth, taper, and survival. We also determine the cardinal and vertical (within-tree) and horizontal (between-tree) spatial distribution of borers. Fewer than 10% of P. solida attacks were recorded from the pure species (Corymbia citriodora subsp. variegate (Hook)), and this taxon also showed the highest survival, phloem thickness, relative growth rate, and bark:wood area. For the two most susceptible taxa, borer severity was negatively correlated with moisture content, and positively related to phloem density. Borers were nonrandomly and nonuniformly distributed within trees, and were statistically aggregated in 32% of plots. More attacks were situated on the northern side of the tree than the other aspects, and most larvae fed within the lower 50 cm of the bole, with attack height positively correlated with severity. Trees with borers had more dead neighbors, and more bored neighbors, than trees without borers, while within plots, borer incidence and severity were positively correlated. Because the more susceptible taxa overlapped with less susceptible taxa for several physical tree factors, the role of primary and secondary chemistries in determining host suitability needs to be investigated. Nevertheless, taxon, moisture content, phloem density, tree size, and mortality of neighboring trees appeared the most important physical characteristics influencing host suitability for P. solida at this site.

Ecological processes and large-scale climate relationships in northern coniferous forests

Ilmasto vaikuttaa ekologisiin prosesseihin eri tasoilla. Suuren mittakaavan ilmastoprosessit, yhdessä ilmakehän ja valtamerien kanssa, säätelevät paikallisia sääilmiöitä suurilla alueilla (mantereista pallopuoliskoihin). Tämä väistöskirja pyrkii selittämään kuinka suuren mittakaavan ilmasto on vaikuttanut tiettyihin ekologisiin prosesseihin pohjoisella havumetsäalueella. Valitut prosessit olivat puiden vuosilustojen kasvu, metsäpalojen esiintyminen ja vuoristomäntykovakuoriaisen aiheuttamat puukuolemat. Suuren mittakaavan ilmaston löydettiin vaikuttaneen näiden prosessien esiintymistiheyteen, kestoon ja levinneisyyteen keskeisten sään muuttujien välityksellä hyvin laajoilla alueilla. Tutkituilla prosesseilla oli vahva yhteys laajan mittakaavan ilmastoon. Yhteys on kuitenkin ollut hyvin dynaaminen ja muuttunut 1900-luvulla ilmastonmuutoksen aiheuttaessa muutoksia suuren mittakaavan ja alueellisten ilmastoprosessien välisiin sisäisiin suhteisiin.

Formulation development and evaluation of lamivudine controlled release tablets using cross-linked sago starch

Objectives: Modified starches based polymeric substances find utmost applicability in pharmaceutical formulation development. Cross-linked starches showed very promising results in drug delivery application. The present investigation concerns with the development of controlled release tablets of lamivudine using cross-linked sago starch. Methods: The cross-linked derivative was synthesized with phosphorous oxychloride and native sago starch in basic pH medium. The cross-linked sago starch was tested for acute toxicity and drug-excipient compatibility study. The formulated tablets were evaluated for various physical characteristics, in vitro dissolution release study and in vivo pharmacokinetic study in rabbit model. Results: In vitro release study showed that the optimized formulation exhibited highest correlation (R) in case of zero order kinetic model and the release mechanism followed a combination of diffusion and erosion process. There was a significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters (T-max, C-max, AUC, V-d, T-1/2, and MDT) of the optimized formulation as compared to the marketed conventional tablet Lamivir (R). Conclusion: The cross-linked starch showed promising results in terms of controlling the release behavior of the active drug from the matrix. The hydrophilic matrix synthesized by cross-linking could be used with a variety of active pharmaceutical ingredients for making their controlled/sustained release formulations.

Evaluation of microwave assisted grafted sago starch as controlled release polymeric carrier

In the present investigation an attempt has been made to develop a new co-polymeric material for controlled release tablet formulations. The acrylamide grafting was successfully performed on the backbone of sago starch. The modified starch was tested for acute toxicity and drug-excipient compatibility study. The grafted material was used in making of controlled release tablets of lamivudine. The formulations were evaluated for physical characteristics such as hardness, friability, %drug content and weight variations. The in vitro release study showed that the optimized formulation exhibited highest correlation (R) value in case of Higuchi model and the release mechanism of the optimized formulation predominantly exhibited combination of diffusion and erosion process. There was a significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters (T-max, C-max, AUC, V-d, T-1/2 and MDT) of the optimized formulation as compared to the marketed conventional tablet Lamivir (R) was observed. The pharmacokinetics parameters were showed controlled pattern and better bioavailability. The optimized formulation exhibited good stability and release profile at the accelerated stability conditions. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Determination of Proper Processing Conditions of Material Surface Heat Treatment Through Finite Element Method

A two-dimensional model has been developed based on the experimental results of stainless steel remelting with the laminar plasma technology to investigate the transient thermo-physical characteristics of the melt pool liquids. The influence of the temperature field, temperature gradient, solidification rate and cooling rate on the processing conditions has been investigated numerically. Not only have the appropriate processing conditions been determined according to the calculations, but also they have been predicted with a criterion established based on the concept of equivalent temperature area density (ETAD) that is actually a function of the processing parameters and material properties. The comparison between the resulting conditions shows that the ETAD method can better predict the optimum condition.

2002-03 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary science report: An ecosystem report card after five years of marine zoning

Executive Summary: Circulation and Exchange of Florida Bay and South Florida Coastal Waters The coastal ecosystem of South Florida is comprised of distinct marine environments. Circulation of surface waters and exchange processes, which respond to both local and regional forcings, interconnect different coastal environments. In addition, re-circulating current systems within the South Florida coastal ecosystem such as the Tortugas Gyre contribute to retention of locally spawned larvae. Variability in salinity, chlorophyll, and light transmittance occurs on a wide range of temporal and spatial scales, in response to both natural forcing, such as seasonal precipitation and evaporation and interannual “El Niño” climate signals, and anthropogenic forcing, such as water management practices in south Florida. The full time series of surface property maps are posted at www.aoml.noaa.gov/sfp. Regional surface circulation patterns, shown by satellite-tracked surface drifters, respond to large-scale forcing such as wind variability and sea level slopes. Recent patterns include slow flow from near the mouth of the Shark River to the Lower Keys, rapid flow from the Tortugas to the shelf of the Carolinas, and flow from the Tortugas around the Tortugas Gyre and out of the Florida Straits. The Southwest Florida Shelf and the Atlantic side of the Florida Keys coastal zone are directly connected by passages between the islands of the Middle and Lower Keys. Movement of water between these regions depends on a combination of local wind-forced currents and gravitydriven transports through the passages, produced by cross-Key sea level differences on time scales of several days to weeks, which arise because of differences in physical characteristics (shape, orientation, and depth) of the shelf on either side of the Keys. A southeastward mean flow transports water from western Florida Bay, which undergoes large variations in water quality, to the reef tract. Adequate sampling of oceanographic events requires both the capability of near real-time recognition of these events, and the flexibility to rapidly stage targeted field sampling. Capacity to respond to events is increasing, as demonstrated by investigations of the 2002 “blackwater” event and a 2003 entrainment of Mississippi River water to the Tortugas. (PDF contains 364 pages.)

Distribution and sighting frequency of reef fishes in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

This study analyzed species richness, distribution, and sighting frequency of selected reef fishes to describe species assemblage composition, abundance, and spatial distribution patterns among sites and regions (Upper Keys, Middle Keys, Lower Keys, and Dry Tortugas) within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) barrier reef ecosystem. Data were obtained from the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) Fish Survey Project, a volunteer fish-monitoring program. A total of 4,324 visual fish surveys conducted at 112 sites throughout the FKNMS were used in these analyses. The data set contained sighting information on 341 fish species comprising 68 families. Species richness was generally highest in the Upper Keys sites (maximum was 220 species at Molasses Reef) and lowest in the Dry Tortugas sites. Encounter rates differed among regions, with the Dry Tortugas having the highest rate, potentially a result of differences in the evenness in fishes and the lower diversity of habitat types in the Dry Tortugas region. Geographic coverage maps were developed for 29 frequently observed species. Fourteen of these species showed significant regional variation in mean sighting frequency (%SF). Six species had significantly lower mean %SF and eight species had significantly higher mean %SF in the Dry Tortugas compared with other regions. Hierarchical clustering based on species composition (presence-absence) and species % SF revealed interesting patterns of similarities among sites that varied across spatial scales. Results presented here indicate that phenomena affecting reef fish composition in the FKNMS operate at multiple spatial scales, including a biogeographic scale that defines the character of the region as a whole, a reef scale (~50-100 km) that include meso-scale physical oceanographic processes and regional variation in reef structure and associated reef habitats, and a local scale that includes level of protection, cross-shelf location and a suite of physical characteristics of a given reef. It is likely that at both regional and local scales, species habitat requirements strongly influence the patterns revealed in this study, and are particularly limiting for species that are less frequently observed in the Dry Tortugas. The results of this report serve as a benchmark for the current status of the reef fishes in the FKNMS. In addition, these data provide the basis for analyses on reserve effects and the biogeographic coupling of benthic habitats and fish assemblages that are currently underway. (PDF contains 61 pages.)

A 30-Year History of Tide and Current Measurements in Elkhorn Slough, California

Elkhorn Slough was first exposed to direct tidal forcing from the waters of Monterey Bay with the construction of Moss Landing Harbor in 1946. Elkhorn Slough is located mid-way between Santa Cruz and Monterey close to the head of Monterey Submarine Canyon. It follows a 10 km circuitous path inland from its entrance at Moss Landing Harbor. Today, Elkhorn Slough is a habitat and sanctuary for a wide variety of marine mammals, fish, and seabirds. The Slough also serves as a sink and pathway for various nutrients and pollutants. These attributes are directly or indirectly affected by its circulation and physical properties. Currents, tides and physical properties of Elkhorn Slough have been observed on an irregular basis since 1970. Based on these observations, the physical characteristics of Elkhorn Slough are examined and summarized. Elkhorn Slough is an ebb-dominated estuary and, as a result, the rise and fall of the tides is asymmetric. The fact that lower low water always follows higher high water and the tidal asymmetry produces ebb currents that are stronger than flooding currents. The presence of extensive mud flats and Salicornia marsh contribute to tidal distortion. Tidal distortion also produces several shallow water constituents including the M3, M4, and M6 overtides and the 2MK3 and MK3 compound tides. Tidal elevations and currents are approximately in quadrature; thus, the tides in Elkhorn Slough have some of the characters of a standing wave system. The temperature and salinity of lower Elkhorn Slough waters reflect, to a large extent, the influence of Monterey Bay waters, whereas the temperature and salinity of the waters of the upper Slough (>5 km from the mouth) are more sensitive to local processes. During the summer, temperature and salinity are higher in the upper slough due to local heating and evaporation. Maximum tidal currents in Elkhorn Slough have increased from approximately 75 to 120 cm/s over the past 30 years. This increase in current speed is primarily due to the change in tidal prism which has increased from approximately 2.5 to 6.2 x 106 m3 between 1956 and 1993. The increase in tidal prism is the result of both 3 rapid man-made changes to the Slough, and the continuing process of tidal erosion. Because of the increase in the tidal prism, the currents in Elkhorn Slough exhibit positive feedback, a process with uncertain consequences. [PDF contains 55 pages]

Nanostructured tungsten trioxide photoanodes for solar energy conversion

Nanostructured tungsten trioxide (WO₃) photoelectrodes are potential candidates for the anodic portion of an integrated solar water-splitting device that generates hydrogen fuel and oxygen from water. These nanostructured materials can potentially offer improved performance in photooxidation reactions compared to unstructured materials because of enhancements in light scattering, increases in surface area, and their decoupling of the directions of light absorption and carrier collection. To evaluate the presence of these effects and their contributions toward energy conversion efficiency, a variety of nanostructured WO₃ photoanodes were synthesized by electrodeposition within nanoporous templates and by anodization of tungsten foils. A robust fabrication process was developed for the creation of oriented WO₃ nanorod arrays, which allows for control nanorod diameter and length. Films of nanostructured WO₃ platelets were grown via anodization, the morphology of the films was controlled by the anodization conditions, and the current-voltage performance and spectral response properties of these films were studied. The observed photocurrents were consistent with the apparent morphologies of the nanostructured arrays. Measurements of electrochemically active surface area and other physical characteristics were correlated with observed differences in absorbance, external quantum yield, and photocurrent density for the anodized arrays. The capability to quantify these characteristics and relate them to photoanode performance metrics can allow for selection of appropriate structural parameters when designing photoanodes for solar energy conversion.

The ecology of Bassenthwaite Lake (English Lake District)

Bassenthwaite Lake is, in many ways, different from the other major lakes in the English Lake District: it is the most northerly, the shallowest, has the largest catchment and the shortest mean retention time. There is also considerable temporal variation in lake level. This article summarises the limnological features of Bassenthwaite Lake, the catchment and physical characteristics before describing the water chemistry, phytoplankton, macrophytes, zooplankton, invertebrates, fish, mammal and invertebrate population. The authors then describe the ecological pressures faced by Bassenthwaite Lake such as nutrients, sediments and introduced species.

Studies of temperature sensitive mutants of polyoma virus

Polyoma virus can undergo two different types of interactions with susceptible cells; one type of interaction leads to the production of new infectious virus and eventual cell death while the other leads to a neoplastically transformed cell which is able to continue to divide under conditions that inhibit the multiplication of uninfected normal cells. In order to study the viral genes involved in both of these virus-cell interactions the isolation of temperature sensitive mutants of polyoma virus was undertaken.

Two strains (TS-a, TS-b) which were temperature sensitive in their plaque forming ability at 38.5˚C, but not at 31.5˚C, were isolated from a mutagenized stock of the polyoma wild type virus (PY). TS-a was studied in further detail.

TS-a grown at 31.5˚C was found to be indistinguishable from PY in a number of physical characteristics including the heat sensitivity of the completed viral components. TS-a was inhibited in its ability to produce infectious virus in mouse cells when incubated at 38.5˚C; this inhibition could be overcome by infection with high multiplicities.

The nature of the intracellular temperature sensitive step of TS-a was analysed to some degree. It was found that this step occurs after uncoating of the infecting virus particles and about the time of new viral DNA synthesis. New infectious viral DNA does not appear to be made at the nonpermissive temperature; in contrast noninfectious capsids are made at 38.5˚C, but in amounts smaller than a full yield, such as made by TS-a at 31.5˚C or by PY at both the high and low temperature.

TS-a has also been found to be temperature sensitive in its transforming ability in vitro. Cells transformed at 31.5˚C by TS-a retain their transformed characteristics upon cultivation at 38.5˚C. Thus the temperature sensitive function seems to be important for the initiation of transformation, but not essential for the maintenance of the transformed state. TS-a also appears to be temperature sensitive in the production of tumors in newborn hamsters.

Levantamento e estudo das ocorrências de grafita do Distrito Grafitífero Aracoiába-Baturité, CE

O Distrito Grafitífero Aracoiába-Baturité apresenta depósitos do tipo gnaisse grafitoso (minério disseminado) e veio (minério maciço) com diferentes origens genéticas e com características físicas e ambientes geológicos de formação próprios. O minério tipo gnaisse grafitoso é de origem sedimentar, singenético, com teores de 1,5 a 8% de C, que se distribuem ao longo de duas extensas faixas paralelas, hospedadas na Subunidade Baturité, que constitui um importante metalotecto regional. A associação de grafita metamórfica disseminada em metassedimentos da Sequência Acarápe constitui um geoindicador de antiga bacia sedimentar neoproterozóica e, também, pode ser considerado como zona de geosutura resultante do subsequente fechamento de um oceano primitivo. As rochas desta subunidade correspondem na paleogeografia da Sequência Acarápe aos fácies de sopé de talude e de planície abissal. O minério tipo veio (fluido depositado) é epigenético e, com teores entre 20% e 70% de C, forma corpos tabulares e bolsões, controlados em escala local por estruturas de alívio (falhas, fraturas, zonas de contato, eixos de dobras etc.) que permitiram a percolação de soluções penumatolíticas relacionadas ao corpo plutônico de Pedra Aguda. As variações dos valores das relações entre isótopos estáveis de carbono (δ13C) na grafita do minério disseminado são de -26,72 a -23,52 e do minério maciço de -27,03 a -20,83, revelando sinal de atividades biológicas (bioassinaturas) e permitem afirmar que a grafita das amostras acima são derivadas de matéria orgânica. Foram apresentados os principais guias de prospecção para grafita e testados os seguintes métodos geofísicos: Eletro-Resistividade; GPR - Ground Penetrating Radar; Magnetometria; VLF (Very Low Frequency); e Polarização Induzida Espectral (IPS) / Resistividade (ER). A conjugação dos métodos de Polarização Induzida Espectral (IPS) e Eletro Resistividade (ER) foi o que demonstrou a melhor eficiência. Com relação à determinação do teor de carbono por termogravimetria (ATG), que é o método mais utilizado para este elemento. Verificou-se, que as faixas de queima atribuídas ao carbono no minério do Distrito de Aracoiába-Baturité (340 a 570C e de 570 a 1050C) eram diferentes das faixas do minério de Minas Gerais (350C a 650C e 650C a 1.050C). Esta constatação indica a necessidade de se determinar previamente as faixas de temperatura para cada região pesquisada.

Effects of flow regime on the young stages of salmonid fishes. Summary and conclusions based on results for 1981-1985

The main British salmonid species spawn in clean gravel in streams and rivers, many of them in the upland areas of Britain. The earliest stages of the life cycle (eggs and alevins) spend some months within the gravel of the river bed. During this period their survival rate can be strongly influenced by flow regime and by related phenomena such as movement of coarse river bed material, changes in water level and the deposition of silt. In recent years human influence upon the flow regimes of upland water courses and upon the sediment inputs to them has increased. In order to conserve and, if possible, enhance the populations of salmonid fishes a deeper understanding of the interrelationships between survival of young salmonids and flow-related phenomena is needed. The acquisition of appropriate information is the main aim of the present project, which included: Studies on silt movement and the infilling of gravel voids by fine sediments, together with initial studies on the relationship between intragravel oxygen supply rate and the survival of intragravel stages of salmonids; studies in the general field of egg washout. The latter investigated the physical background to gravel bed disruption, the examination of the physical characteristics of sites chosen for redds, dimensions of redds and burial depth of eggs relative to the size of the fish constructing the redd and a series of smaller studies on other aspects of egg washout.

Variations saisonnières des facteurs hydrologiques et du biovolume microalgal benthique au sein d'un habitat artificiel (acadja-enclos) dans la lagune Ebrié: site d'Adjapoté

This paper presents the results of a comparative study of chemical and physical characteristics (temperature, oxygen, salinity, turbidity, pH, nutrient: phosphates, nitrates, nitrites, ammoniac) within the extensive aquaculture structure (acadja-enclosure or artificial habitats for fishes) and in the surrounding water. Biological characteristics of the periphyton growing on bamboos from acadja-enclosure were also described.

Transtorno de pânico um estudo sobre as matrizes sociais de seu surgimento: a sociedade do risco e a construção contemporânea de bioidentidades

O transtorno de pânico é uma das questões preocupantes em termos de saúde coletiva. Pensamos que tal transtorno se configura como uma nova forma de adoecimento psíquico, categoria que tem penetrado em diferentes espaços sociais, e suas descrições vêm sendo incorporadas ao arcabouço identitário dos sujeitos. Problematizar as matrizes culturais da emergência e difusão deste transtorno, no campo da construção de subjetividade e de identidade, é o objetivo deste estudo. Na pós-modernidade, por um lado, nos centramos nas características do que se denomina sociedade de risco, (BECK, 1998) a qual gera sentimentos de imprevisibilidade, desenraizamento e desfiliação; por outro, juntamente com o desprestígio do ideal da interioridade, observa-se um recurso a se recorrer ao registro do corpo e da biologia como âncora subjetiva. (COSTA, 2005). Com a predominância de um cenário de incerteza e de risco permanente, cria-se uma atmosfera em que a previsibilidade e a confiabilidade são constantemente ameaçadas, Ou seja, o valor da confiança no registro da ontologia refere-se à existência de um ambiente suficientemente confiável e previsível para que os sujeitos experienciem uma constância dos ambientes de ação social e material circundante (WINNICOTT, 1963). Verificaremos, em meio a um cenário de risco ambiente, como o pânico emerge e é difundido com base em matrizes desviantes. O transtorno de pânico, pretensamente radicado no cérebro e determinado pela genética, parece ser uma das entidades às quais as pessoas aderem e ao redor das quais se agregam. Nesse sentido, defendendo que os tipos de patologia, nos quais se inclui o transtorno de pânico, podem servir também como redes de pertencimento, formas de sociabilidade que se organizam em torno de predicados físicos, tanto na esfera da normalidade quanto da patologia, entre as quais o corpo anatomofisiológico se destaca como fenômeno identitário, denominado por alguns autores de bioidentidade (ORTEGA, 2000). Humanizar o conceito transtorno de pânico, portanto, é afirmar que tais sintomas já conheceram outras utilizações. Entendendo o sujeito como um conjunto de crenças podem ser alteradas, revistas, repensadas, redimensionadas (COSTA, 1994). Ao sair da esfera da universalidade e essencialidade, típicas de classificações reducionistas no campo da psiquiatria, para a perspectiva de que existem jogos de linguagem diferentes para se referir ao pânico, percebemos que em vez de o transtorno de pânico existem os pânicos, ou seja, são plurais e diversificadas as diferentes gramáticas para se falar daquilo a que se reduz hoje essa classificação psiquiátrica.