Growth of Chrysanthemum grandiflorum in different peats and change of peat properties during cultivation

Marketable chrysanthemums were produced in several different peat types. Only the plants in one of the dredged frozen black peats and one of the milled white peats had a significant lower shoot dry weight than those in one of the sod and milled white peats, respectively. As the N-contents of the fertilized peats show neither deficiency nor excess in nutrient supply, possibly they are not the reason for the differences in shoot dry weight. The air capacity, which is extremely low in both dredged frozen black peats and dropped further during the cultivation period due to decomposition, also cannot explain the differences in shoot dry weight sufficiently (R2=0.44*; n=12). A close linear negative correlation (R2=0.77** n=12) was found between the CAT (VDLUFA) soluble Fe and the shoot dry weight. Therefore, the Fecontents might be a quality factor of peat to be used as a growing medium.

Dynamics of change of mathematics education in Brazil and a scenario of current research

Mathematics education in Brazil, if we consider what one may call the scientific phase, is about 30 years old. The papers for this special issue focus mainly on this period. During these years, many trends have emerged in mathematics education to address the complex problems facing Brazilian society. However, most Brazilian mathematics educators feel that the separation of research into trends is a theoretical idealization that does not respond to the dynamics of the problems we face. We raise the conjecture that the complexity of Brazilian society, where pockets of wealth coexist with the most shocking poverty, has contributed to the adoption and generation of different strands in mathematics education, crossing the boundaries between trends. At a more micro level, we also raise the conjecture that Brazilian trends in research are interwoven because of the way that Brazilian mathematics educators have experienced the process of globalization over these 30 years. This tapestry of trends is a predominant characteristic of mathematics education in Brazil. © FIZ Karlsruhe 2009.

Influence of different disinfecting solutions on the color change of artificial irises used in ocular prostheses

Making an artificial iris with an aesthetically acceptable color is an important aspect of ocular rehabilitation. This work evaluated the influence of different disinfecting solutions on changes to the color of artificial irises used in ocular prostheses. Fifty samples simulating ocular prostheses were produced with cobalt blue artificial irises and divided (n = 10) according to the disinfectant used: neutral soap, Opti-free, Efferdent, 1% hypochlorite, and 4% chlorhexidine. The samples were disinfected for 120 days and subjected to a color readings by spectrophotometry, using the CIE L*a*b* system, before the disinfection period (B), after 60 days of disinfectant exposure (T 1), and after 120 days of disinfectant exposure (T 2). Color differences (ΔE) were calculated for the intervals between T 1 and B (T 1B), and between T 2 and B (T 2B). The data were evaluated by analysis of variance and the Tukey Honestly Significantly Different (α = 0.05). All disinfectant groups exhibited color changes. The mean color change observed for all groups overall during T 2B (ΔE = 3.51) was significantly greater than that observed during T 1B (ΔE = 2.10). All groups exhibited greater color change for the b* values when compared to the a* and L* values. There were no significant differences between the disinfectant groups. It can be concluded that the time period of disinfection and storage significantly affected the stability of artificial iris color, independent of the disinfectant used. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Cambio de nombre del Instituto Latinoamericano de Planificación Económica y Social = Change of name of the Latin American Institute for Economic and Social Planning

Somete a consideracion de las delegaciones el cambio de nombre del Instituto por el de Instituto Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Planificacion Economica y Social, cambio aprobado en la VI Reunion del Comite Tecnico del ILPES (Mexico, abril de 1985).

Sudden change of quantum discord for a system of two qubits

It is known that quantum discord might experience a sudden transition in its dynamics when calculated for certain Bell-diagonal states (BDS) that are in interaction with their surroundings. We examine this phenomenon, known as the sudden change of quantum discord, considering the case of two qubits independently interacting with dephasing reservoirs. We first demonstrate that, for a class of initial states which can be chosen arbitrarily close to BDS, the transition is in fact not sudden, although it might numerically appear so if not studied carefully. Then, we provide an extension of this discussion covering the X-shaped density matrices. Our findings suggest that the transition of quantum discord might be sudden only for an highly idealized zero-measure subset of states within the set of all possible initial conditions of two qubits. © 2013 American Physical Society.

Involvement of pituitary gonadotropins, gonadal steroids and breeding season in sex change of protogynous dusky grouper, Epinephelus marginatus (Teleostei: Serranidae), induced by a non-steroidal aromatase inhibitor

Two experiments were performed using the aromatase inhibitor (AI) letrozole (100mg/kg) to promote sex change, from female-to-male, in protogynous dusky grouper. One experiment was performed during the breeding season (spring) and the other at the end of the breeding season (summer). During the spring, AI promoted sex change after 9weeks and the sperm produced was able to fertilize grouper oocytes. During the summer, the sex change was incomplete; intersex individuals were present and sperm was not released by any of the animals. Sex changed gonads had a lamellar architecture; cysts of spermatocytes and spermatozoa in the lumen of the germinal compartment. In the spring, after 4weeks, 11ketotestosterone (11KT) levels were higher in the AI than in control fish, and after 9weeks, coincident with semen release, testosterone levels increased in the AI group, while 11KT returned to the initial levels. Estradiol (E2) levels remained unchanged during the experimental period. Instead of decreasing throughout the period, as in control group, 17 α-OH progesterone levels did not change in the AI-treated fish, resulting in higher values after 9weeks when compared with control fish. fshβ and lhβ gene expression in the AI animals were lower compared with control fish after 9weeks. The use of AI was effective to obtain functional males during the breeding season. The increase in androgens, modulated by gonadotropins, triggered the sex change, enabling the development of male germ cells, whereas a decrease in E2 levels was not required to change sex in dusky grouper. © 2013 Elsevier Inc.

Mineral loss and color change of enamel after bleaching and staining solutions combination

Pigments of food and beverages could affect dental bleaching efficacy. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate color change and mineral loss of tooth enamel as well as the influence of staining solutions normally used by adolescent patients undergoing home bleaching. Initial hardness and baseline color were measured on enamel blocks. Specimens were divided into five groups (n = 5): G1 (control) specimens were kept in artificial saliva throughout the experiment (3 weeks); G2 enamel was exposed to 10% carbamide peroxide for 6 h daily, and after this period, the teeth were cleaned and stored in artificial saliva until the next bleaching session; and G3, G4, and G5 received the same treatments as G2, but after bleaching, they were stored for 1 h in cola soft drink, melted chocolate, or red wine, respectively. Mineral loss was obtained by the percentage of hardness reduction, and color change was determined by the difference between the data obtained before and after treatments. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Fisher's test (a = 0.05). G3 and G5 showed higher mineral loss (92.96 +/- 5.50 and 94.46 +/- 1.00, respectively) compared to the other groups (p = 0.05). G5 showed high-color change (9.34 +/- 2.90), whereas G1 presented lower color change (2.22 +/- 0.44) (p = 0.05). Acidic drinks cause mineral loss of the enamel, which could modify the surface and reduce staining resistance after bleaching. (C) 2013 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

Effect of staining agents on color change of composites

Composite resins are materials that can present color changing when exposed to pigments. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate, in vitro, the color changing of composites after immersion in different substances for different periods. Material and methods: Two microhybrid composite resins: Charisma (Heraeus – Kulzer) and Opallis (FGM) were used. Red wine and acai pulp were also used as immersion medium. For this study, 32 specimens with 10 mm of diameter and 2 mm of thickness were used, divided into 4 groups: Group 1 – Opallis composite immersed in red wine solution; Group 2 – Opallis composite immersed in acai berry pulp solution; Group 3 – Charisma composite immersed in red wine solution; Group 4 – Charisma composite immersed in acai berry pulp solution. The specimens were evaluated in the following time periods: T0 – baseline, T1 – 24 hours, T2 – 48 hours, T3 – 72 hours and T4 – 96 hours. For the assessment of staining, a spectrophotometer for colorimetry was used (Color Guide 45 / 0, PCB 6807 BYK-Gardner Gerestsried GmBH, Germany), and the values obtained were transferred to a computer and recorded according to CIELAB system. Results: The data were evaluated using Kruskal- Wallis non-parametric tests with the following mean values for the immersion periods of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours, respectively: G1 – 7.35, 7.84, 9.04,10.48; G2 – 2.92, 4.15, 4.30, 4.64; G3 – 3.14, 7.35, 8.13, 8.43, G4 – 4.49, 5.99, 6.92, 6.76. Conclusion: Red wine showed a higher tendency toward altering the composite color than acai berry pulp. In addition, no significant difference was found concerning to the behavior of the two composite resins. Concerning to the immersion time periods, significant differences were only observed among the groups in the 24 hour time period.

Alteração da fertilidade do solo como indicador do processo de antropização e presença de atividades não agrícolas no assentamento rural Horto Aimorés, municípios de Bauru e Pederneiras/SP =: Change of soil fertility as an indicator of the anthropization process and presence of non agricultural activities at the rural settlement Horto Aimorés, cities of Bauru and Pederneiras/ SP

Pós-graduação em Geografia - FCT

Extensive structural change of the envelope protein of dengue virus induced by a tuned ionic strength: conformational and energetic analyses

The Dengue has become a global public health threat, with over 100 million infections annually; to date there is no specific vaccine or any antiviral drug. The structures of the envelope (E) proteins of the four known serotype of the dengue virus (DENV) are already known, but there are insufficient molecular details of their structural behavior in solution in the distinct environmental conditions in which the DENVs are submitted, from the digestive tract of the mosquito up to its replication inside the host cell. Such detailed knowledge becomes important because of the multifunctional character of the E protein: it mediates the early events in cell entry, via receptor endocytosis and, as a class II protein, participates determinately in the process of membrane fusion. The proposed infection mechanism asserts that once in the endosome, at low pH, the E homodimers dissociate and insert into the endosomal lipid membrane, after an extensive conformational change, mainly on the relative arrangement of its three domains. In this work we employ all-atom explicit solvent Molecular Dynamics simulations to specify the thermodynamic conditions in that the E proteins are induced to experience extensive structural changes, such as during the process of reducing pH. We study the structural behavior of the E protein monomer at acid pH solution of distinct ionic strength. Extensive simulations are carried out with all the histidine residues in its full protonated form at four distinct ionic strengths. The results are analyzed in detail from structural and energetic perspectives, and the virtual protein movements are described by means of the principal component analyses. As the main result, we found that at acid pH and physiological ionic strength, the E protein suffers a major structural change; for lower or higher ionic strengths, the crystal structure is essentially maintained along of all extensive simulations. On the other hand, at basic pH, when all histidine residues are in the unprotonated form, the protein structure is very stable for ionic strengths ranging from 0 to 225 mM. Therefore, our findings support the hypothesis that the histidines constitute the hot points that induce configurational changes of E protein in acid pH, and give extra motivation to the development of new ideas for antivirus compound design.

Surface roughness and color change of a composite: Influence of beverages and brushing

This study evaluated the influence of beverages and brushing on the surface roughness(SR) and color change(Delta E) of a composite resin. For this, 120-disks(10 mmx2 mm) of composite resin(Filtek-Z250) were prepared and polished. Initials SR(Ra-mu m) and color(CIELab-system) were measured with rugosimeter and spectrophotometer; specimens were divided into four groups(red wine, soft drink, sugar cane spirit, or artificial saliva=control) and three subgroups(without brushing; brushed with Colgate or with Close-Up). Specimens were immersed in the beverage 5x/day, for 5', over 30 day, being two subgroups brushed(120 strokes/day). Color was measured at 15th day, 30th day and after repolishment; SR at 30th day. Delta E-values were statistically different after immersion in the beverages(p<0.05). Red wine promoted the highest alteration, followed by soft drink=sugar cane spirit and finally saliva. At 30th day, specimens exhibited Delta E higher than 15th day; after repolishing, Delta E was similar to 15th day. Beverages and brushing negatively influenced the SR. Therefore, Delta E and SR can be influenced by beverages and brushing.

Ontogenetic and evolutionary change of external morphology of the neotropical shrimp potimirim (Holthuis, 1954) explained by a molecular phylogeny of the genus

A phylogenetic analysis of a fragment of the mitochondrial gene 16S was used to test the monophyletic status of Potimirim. Existing doubts on the taxonomic status of brasiliana (once P glabra) and P potimirim (once P mexicana) were clarified. Potimirim mexicana and P potimirim are distinct species according to molecular data and appendix masculina morphology. A new species (Potimirim sp. 1) from Puerto Rico was revealed with molecular data, and it is evolutionarily related to P potimirim and P mexicana according to our analysis. We found out three distinct species under the name P glabra. Then, we recommend the application of the name P glabra for the populations of the Pacific slope of Central America and revalidation of P brasiliana for the Brazilian ones. The need for a new name to those "P glabra" of the Caribbean is highlighted, and it was provisionally referred as Potimirim sp. 2. The ontogenetic (juveniles to adults) development of the appendix masculina of P brasiliana was observed and compared to the other species of Potimirim (adults). In the light of our phylogenetic hypothesis, we postulate a pattern of character addition for the evolution of the appendix masculina of Potimirim. This hypothesis is plausible for two key reasons. First. Potimirim is a monophyletic group according to our hypothesis. Second, the shape of appendix masculina found in adults of P. americana is similar and comparable to those found in the earliest juvenile stages of P brasiliana, a derived species according to our phylogeny (P americana, ((P mexicana, Potimirim sp. 1. P potimirim), (P glabra, (brasiliana, Potimirim sp. 2)))). As so, the basal P americana retain the ancestral morphological state of the appendix masculina when compared to the other species of Potimirim. In our interpretation the ontogeny of the appendix masculina recapitulated the proposed phylogeny, giving further support to it.

Atomically resolved study of the morphology change of InAs/GaAs quantum dot layers induced by rapid thermal annealing

The optoelectronic properties of InAs/GaAs quantum dots can be tuned by rapid thermal annealing. In this study, the morphology change of InAs/GaAs quantum dots layers induced by rapid thermal annealing was investigated at the atomic-scale by cross-sectional scanning tunneling microscopy. Finite elements calculations that model the outward relaxation of the cleaved surface were used to determine the indium composition profile of the wetting layer and the quantum dots prior and post rapid thermal annealing. The results show that the wetting layer is broadened upon annealing. This broadening could be modeled by assuming a random walk of indium atoms. Furthermore, we show that the stronger strain gradient at the location of the quantum dots enhances the intermixing. Photoluminescence measurements show a blueshift and narrowing of the photoluminescence peak. Temperature dependent photoluminescence measurements show a lower activation energy for the annealed sample. These results are in agreement with the observed change in morphology. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4770371]