Sugar digestion in mosquitoes: Identification and characterization of three midgut alpha-glucosidases of the neo-tropical malaria vector Anopheles aquasalis (Diptera : Culicidae)

Dietary carbohydrates provide an important source of energy for flight, and contribute to longevity and fecundity of mosquitoes. The most common sugar mosquitoes ingest is sucrose, and digestion of this substance is carried out mainly by alpha-glucosidases. In the current work, we tested the efficiency of sucrose on Anopheles aquasalis female diet. The best longevity (days) was reached when sugar was available in the diet, whereas most only blood fed females were dead 6 days after emergence. Three alpha-glucosidase isoforms were detected in the adult female midgut, named alpha Glu1, alpha Glu2 and alpha Glu3. These are acidic alpha-glucosidases with optima pH around pH 5.5. alpha Glu1 and alpha Glu2 are present in both secreted and membrane-bound forms, whereas alpha Glu3 only in anchored to membranes. The alpha-glucosidase activity is concentrated mainly in the posterior midgut (70%), both in non-fed or 10% sucrose fed females. The single form of these a-glucosidases seemed to be similar to 70 kDa polypeptides, although alpha Glu2 is presented in >= 600 kDa self-aggregates. K, values of alpha Glu1, alpha Glu2 and alpha Glu3 differed significantly from each other, supporting the statement that three alpha-glucosidases are produced in the female midgut. Together, all data suggest that sugar is an essential component of A. aquasalis female diet. In addition, alpha-glucosidases are synthesized in the same place where sucrose is digested and absorbed, the midgut. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sex ratio and dynamic behavior in populations of the exotic blowfly Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera, Calliphoridae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Dynamics of handling time and functional response by larvae of Chrysomya albiceps (Dipt., Calliphoridae) on different prey species

One way to understand the behavioural patterns exhibited by a predator in response to prey density is to evaluate its functional response. Such evaluation yields information about basic mechanisms of prey-predator dynamics, and is an essential component of prey-predator models. In this paper we analysed experimentally the functional response and the handling time spent by Chrysomya albiceps on different prey species and larval instars of blowflies. The type II functional response was observed when second instar larvae of Chrysomya megacephala and Chrysomya macellaria were consumed. The handling time spent by the predator was significantly different between instars and species. The implications of the functional response and handling time for the interaction dynamics of Brazilian Chrysomyinae species are discussed.

A visual tool for building synchronous generator capability curves

Synchronous generators are essential components of electric power systems. They are present both in hydro and thermal power plants, performing the function of converting mechanical into electrical energy. This paper presents a visual approach to manipulate parameters that affect operation limits of synchronous generators, using a specifically designed software. The operating characteristics of synchronous generators, for all possible modes of operation, are revised in order to link the concepts to the graphic objects. The approach matches the distance learning tool requirements and also enriches the learning process by developing student trust and understanding of the concepts involved in building synchronous machine capability curves. © 2012 IEEE.

Classificação da curvatura de vertentes em perfil via Thin Plate Spline e Inferência Fuzzy

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalência de síndrome metabólica em nipo-brasileiros de acordo com diferentes critérios de definição

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinação da infecção em Anopheles por diagnóstico molecular

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mapeamento de sensibilidade ao derrame de óleo dos ambientes costeiros dos municípios de São Vicente, Santos e Guarujá - SP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

A construção da defesa da concorrência no MERCOSUL: uma perspectiva construtivista - cooperação e interesses nas relações internacionais

Pós-graduação em Relações Internacionais (UNESP - UNICAMP - PUC-SP) - FFC

Oxidação da hemoglobina como modelo de estudo do sistema de óxido-redução eritrocitário: interação entre nitrito de sódio, azul de metileno e cistamina

Pós-graduação em Fisiopatologia em Clínica Médica - FMB

Vitamina E no plasma de recém-nascidos de pré-termo de muito baixo peso no primeiro mês de vida. Relação com a vitamina E recebida

Pós-graduação em Pediatria - FMB

O profissional da informação no contexto da gestão esportiva: clubes de futebol, uma proposta para o Marília Atlético Clube

The information professional as essential component in the soccer‟s club and this article approaches the importance of the information professional insertion inside the soccer‟s club. Know the structure of the clubs, as well like identify the diverse information that are inserted in this context – internal and external environment – of these organizations is necessary for a better comprehension of the activities that the information professional can perform in the clubs. Carrying out a parallel with the organizational structure model proposal by Mintzberg (1995) with the structure of Marília Athletic Club stayed clear the need of the information professional insert, therefore the Club is inserted in a highly competitive environment, there is many information, but little explored.

Fácies e associação de fácies da formação Pirambóia na região de Descalvado/SP

The Pirambóia Formation is a lithostratigraphic unit of the Paraná Basin, positioned between the Corumbataí (lower) and Botucatu (upper) Formations on the eastern edge of the basin. This unit is focused by many studies due to its great importance as an essential component in the Guarani Aquifer System (SAG) and the petroleum system “Irati-Pirambóia”, as excellent reservoirs. The Pirambóia Formation is historically the subject of several controversies on issues like age, contact relationships with the upper unit and depositional paleoenvironment. Despite these aspects, the Pirambóia Formation is commonly taken to be of Triassic age and is considered a product of wet aeolian systems, with plenty of wet interdunes and subordinate fluvial facies. In this work, by using techniques such as facies analysis, depositional architecture and facies association, facies of this unit were characterized and their depositional paleoenvironment was inferred particularly in Jundu Mining, region of Descalvado in northeastern São Paulo. Techniques such as grain size and petrographic analyses, aimed to characterize this unit as a potential reservoir rock. Five facies were described for the Pirambóia Formation in the studied region: St, Sh, Sm, Sr and Gt facies, generated by sedimentary processes of the bottom load type, mostly under low flow regime (with exception for the Sh facies, which is formed by upper flow regime processes). In addition to that, four facies associations were recognized from the architectural elements, primarily contained within the main channel: complex channel bars, composed by foreset macroforms (FM), sandy bedforms (SB) and gravel bars and bedforms (GB); flood deposits, constituted by laminated sand sheets (LS); deposits of hyperconcentrated flows and eolian deposits. It was interpreted that the Pirambóia Formation in Descalvado (SP) is the record of the sedimentation of braided rivers, with dunes and interdunes deposits...

A inclusão de temas ambientais nos cursos de Ciências Biológicas de universidades públicas paulistas

Environmental education (EE) is considered an essential component in individual education and requires prepared professionals to deal with the issues it covers. Teacher’s education courses should include the environmental dimension in their curriculum. Nevertheless, studies show that the EE in degrees occurs in an incipient way. This research aimed to analyze the inclusion of environmental issues in Biological Science teacher formation courses, at public universities in São Paulo. We analyzed the summaries of the disciplines in the curriculum of the courses in relation to the number of threads that refer to environmental issues. We found that the courses analyzed include the environmental dimension in the summaries of some disciplines, but in most of them, in an insignificant way. We also found that, in most cases, the disciplines are restricted to ecological aspects of environmental issues. We conclude that the investigated courses do not meet the recommendations of the legislation as regards the inclusion of the environmental dimension in the curriculum of teacher’s education.

Bioética para estudantes de ciências biológicas: investigação sobre os fundamentos que compõem ou deveriam compor a área

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)