Interference competition and scavenging by Crematogaster ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) associated with the webs of the social spider Anelosimus eximius (Araneae: Theridiidae) in the central Amazon

Crematogaster cf. victima is a common inhabitant in the sheet web nests of the social spider Anelosimus eximius in the central Amazon basin near Manaus. A number of other ant species were found foraging on the non-sticky webs of A. eximius, but none of these reached the web occupation frequency found in C. cf. victima, nor, with the exception of an unidentified species of Pheidole, did they form satellite nests in the web, as did this species. Many prey which escaped the knock-down threads of the sheet web of A. eximius colonies were captured by ants in the lower web portions which they dominated. Furthermore, prey which were rejected by A. eximius, especially large, heavily sclerotized beetles, were also consumed by this ant. Repeated observations and experiments suggest that C. cf. victima is able to deter A. eximius activity through aerial venom release. Resources lost by A. eximius colonies to ants, especially C. cf. victima, in colonial web area and prey, may pose significant costs and may reduce colony growth.

Aspects of the activity rhythm and population size of troglophilic mygalomorph spiders (Trechona sp., Dipluridae) in a quartzite cave in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Web Science(2) Participant Information Sheet

Web Science(2) Participant Information Sheet

Web Science_Participant Information Sheet

Web Science_Participant Information Sheet

Solution structure of robustoxin, the lethal neurotoxin from the funnel-web spider Atrax robustus

The solution structure of robustoxin, the lethal neurotoxin from the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus, has been determined from 2D H-1 NMR data, Robustoxin is a polypeptide of 42 residues cross-linked by four disulphide bonds, the connectivities of which were determined from NMR data and trial structure calculations to be 1-15, 8-20, 14-31 and 16-42 (a 1-4/2-6/3-7/5-8 pattern), The structure consists of a small three-stranded, anti-parallel beta-sheet and a series of interlocking gamma-turns at the C-terminus. It also contains a cystine knot, thus placing it in the inhibitor cystine knot motif family of structures, which includes the omega-conotoxins and a number of plant and animal toxins and protease inhibitors. Robustoxin contains three distinct charged patches on its surface, and an extended loop that includes several aromatic and non-polar residues, Both of these structural features may play a role in its binding to the voltage-gated sodium channel. (C) 1997 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.

Uma aplicação Web para apoio a laboratórios remotos reconfiguráveis baseados na norma IEEE 1451.0

Nos últimos anos, o processo de ensino e aprendizagem tem sofrido significativas alterações graças ao aparecimento da Internet. Novas ferramentas para apoio ao ensino têm surgido, nas quais se destacam os laboratórios remotos. Atualmente, muitas instituições de ensino disponibilizam laboratórios remotos nos seus cursos, que permitem, a professores e alunos, a realização de experiências reais através da Internet. Estes são implementados por diferentes arquiteturas e infraestruturas, suportados por vários módulos de laboratório acessíveis remotamente (e.g. instrumentos de medição). No entanto, a sua inclusão no ensino é ainda deficitária, devido: i) à falta de meios e competências técnicas das instituições de ensino para os desenvolverem, ii) à dificuldade na partilha dos módulos de laboratório por diferentes infraestruturas e, iii) à reduzida capacidade de os reconfigurar com esses módulos. Para ultrapassar estas limitações, foi idealizado e desenvolvido no âmbito de um trabalho de doutoramento [1] um protótipo, cuja arquitetura é baseada na norma IEEE 1451.0 e na tecnologia de FPGAs. Para além de garantir o desenvolvimento e o acesso de forma normalizada a um laboratório remoto, este protótipo promove ainda a partilha de módulos de laboratório por diferentes infraestruturas. Nesse trabalho explorou-se a capacidade de reconfiguração de FPGAs para embutir na infraestrutura do laboratório vários módulos, todos descritos em ficheiros, utilizando linguagens de descrição de hardware estruturados de acordo com a norma IEEE 1451.0. A definição desses módulos obriga à criação de estruturas de dados binárias (Transducer Electronic Data Sheets, TEDSs), bem como de outros ficheiros que possibilitam a sua interligação com a infraestrutura do laboratório. No entanto, a criação destes ficheiros é bastante complexa, uma vez que exige a realização de vários cálculos e conversões. Tendo em consideração essa mesma complexidade, esta dissertação descreve o desenvolvimento de uma aplicação Web para leitura e escrita dos TEDSs. Para além de um estudo sobre os laboratórios remotos, é efetuada uma descrição da norma IEEE 1451.0, com particular atenção para a sua arquitetura e para a estrutura dos diferentes TEDSs. Com o objetivo de enquadrar a aplicação desenvolvida, efetua-se ainda uma breve apresentação de um protótipo de um laboratório remoto reconfigurável, cuja reconfiguração é apoiada por esta aplicação. Por fim, é descrita a verificação da aplicação Web, de forma a tirar conclusões sobre o seu contributo para a simplificação dessa reconfiguração.

The Effects of Some Furnish and Paper Structure Related Factors on Wet Web Tensile and Relaxation Characteristics

The objective of this thesis was to identify the effects of different factors on the tension and tension relaxation of wet paper web after high-speed straining. The study was motivated by the plausible connection between wet web mechanical properties and wet web runnability on paper machines shown by previous studies. The mechanical properties of wet paper were examined using a fast tensile test rig with a strain rate of 1000%/s. Most of the tests were carried out with laboratory handsheets, but samples from a pilot paper machine were also used. The tension relaxation of paper was evaluated as the tension remaining after 0.475 s of relaxation (residual tension). The tensile and relaxation properties of wet webs were found to be strongly dependent on the quality and amount of fines. With low fines content, the tensile strength and residual tension of wet paper was mainly determined by the mechanical interactions between fibres at their contact points. As the fines strengthen the mechanical interaction in the network, the fibre properties also become important. Fibre deformations caused by the mechanical treatment of pulp were shown to reduce the mechanical properties of both dry and wet paper. However, the effect was significantly higher for wet paper. An increase of filler content from 10% to 25% greatly reduced the tensile strength of dry paper, but did not significantly impair wet web tensile strength or residual tension. Increased filler content in wet web was shown to increase the dryness of the wet web after the press section, which partly compensates for the reduction of fibrous material in the web. It is also presumable that fillers increase entanglement friction between fibres, which is beneficial for wet web strength. Different contaminants present in white water during sheet formation resulted in lowered surface tension and increased dryness after wet pressing. The addition of different contaminants reduced the tensile strength of the dry paper. The reduction of dry paper tensile strength could not be explained by the reduced surface tension, but rather on the tendency of different contaminants to interfere with the inter-fibre bonding. Additionally, wet web strength was not affected by the changes in the surface tension of white water or possible changes in the hydrophilicity of fibres caused by the addition of different contaminants. The spraying of different polymers on wet paper before wet pressing had a significant effect on both dry and wet web tensile strength, whereas wet web elastic modulus and residual tension were basically not affected. We suggest that the increase of dry and wet paper strength could be affected by the molecular level interactions between these chemicals and fibres. The most significant increases in dry and wet paper strength were achieved with a dual application of anionic and cationic polymers. Furthermore, selectively adding papermaking chemicals to different fibre fractions (as opposed to adding chemicals to the whole pulp) improved the wet web mechanical properties and the drainage of the pulp suspension.

Aplicación web sobre los diversos perfiles de mercado en las provincias de Canadá

El proyecto de creación de una Aplicación web sobre los diferentes perfiles de mercado de las provincias canadienses, consiste en la recopilación de información de diversas fuentes académicas, con el fin de crear una guía electrónica que permita a los exportadores colombianos tener información precisa y actualizada sobre cada una de las provincias canadienses.

Teds-easy - descrição automática de transducer electronic data sheet

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Elétrica - FEIS

Building a Globally Distributed Historical Sheet Map Set

This paper describes the procedures used to create a distributed collection of topographic maps of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Spezialkarte der Öesterriechisch-ungarnischen Monarchie, Masse. 1:75,000 der natur. This set of maps was published in Vienna over a period of years from 1877 to 1914. The part of the set used in this project includes 776 sheets; all sheets from all editions number over 3,665. The paper contains detailed information on how the maps were converted to digital images, how metadata were prepared, and how Web-browser access was created using ArcIMS Metadata Server. The project, funded by a 2004 National Leadership Grant from the Institute for Museums and Library Science (IMLS), was a joint project of the Homer Babbidge Library Map and Geographic Information Center at the University of Connecticut, the New York Public Library, and the American Geographical Society’s Map Library at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

Working on a baseline for the Kongsfjorden food web: production and properties of macroalgal particulate organic matter (POM), supplementary material

Macroalgae, in particular kelps, produce a large amount of biomass in Kongsfjorden, which is to a great extent released into the water in an annual cycle. As an example, the brown alga Alaria esculenta loses its blade gradually, 3 ± 0.8 % of the blade area per day (August 2012), thereby adding to the pool of particulate organic matter (POM) in the fjord. Upon release small thallus pieces are "aging" in that they are prone to leaching and serving as substrate for microorganisms, thus turning into palatable food for suspension and bottom feeders. In order to define a macroalgal baseline for the Kongsfjorden food web, stable isotopes d14C and d15N were measured in individuals of A. esculenta, Saccharina latissima and Laminaria digitata directly sampled after collection and in artificially produced POM (aPOM) of A. esculenta that was allowed to age under experimental conditions. In aPOM from this species sampled in August 2012 the C/N ratios decreased between d1 and d8 of a 14-day culture period in parallel to the fading photosynthetic activity of the algal fragments as demonstrated by use of an Imaging-PAM. Microscopic observations of the aPOM in August 2012 and 2013 revealed the frequent occurrence of small brown algal endo- and epiphytes. First feeding experiments with Mysis oculata (Mysids) and Hiatella arctica (Bivalves) showed that these species can ingest macroalgal POM. The importance of kelp-derived POM for the food web is subject of the current research.

Web-based Biodiversity Citizen Science Database (assembled 2012)

The collective impact of humans on biodiversity rivals mass extinction events defining Earth's history, but does our large population also present opportunities to document and contend with this crisis? We provide the first quantitative review of biodiversity-related citizen science to determine whether data collected by these projects can be, and are currently being, effectively used in biodiversity research. We find strong evidence of the potential of citizen science: within projects we sampled (n = 388), ~1.3 million volunteers participate, contributing up to US Dollar 2.5 billion in-kind annually. These projects exceed most federally-funded studies in spatial and temporal extent, and collectively they sample a breadth of taxonomic diversity. However, only 12% of the 388 projects surveyed obviously provide data to peer-reviewed scientific articles, despite the fact that a third of these projects have verifiable, standardized data that are accessible online. Factors influencing publication included project spatial scale and longevity and having publically available data, as well as one measure of scientific rigor (taxonomic identification training). Because of the low rate at which citizen science data reach publication, the large and growing citizen science movement is likely only realizing a small portion of its potential impact on the scientific research community. Strengthening connections between professional and non-professional participants in the scientific process will enable this large data resource to be better harnessed to understand and address global change impacts on biodiversity.

Rock map of the Yellow River (Huang He) expedition, China, 1925-1927 : Sheet 2

This layer is part of a set of georeferenced, raster images of the manuscript, paper map set entitled: Ch'ing-Hai upper Yellow River expedition : Rock and Simpson, 1925-27, [cartography by J.F. Rock]. Scale 1:250,000. This layer image is of Sheet II [of 10] covering a portion of the Yellow River (Huang He) region in eastern Qinghai Sheng and southern Gansu Sheng, China. The map set details the route and surrounding environs of the Arnold Arboretum's "Western China" expedition led by Joseph Rock, 1924-1927. The set covers a portion of the Yellow River (Huang He) region in south central China (Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan shengs (a portion of historic Tibet)). It shows features, labeled variously in English, Chinese, Wade-Giles transliteration, and Tibetan, including: rivers, streams, lakes, mountains, gorges, valleys, plateaus, plains, cities, towns, villages, provincial capitals, county seats, passes, monasteries, ruin sites, native tribe locations, and more. Relief is shown by hachures, spot heights, and landform drawings. The original manuscript map set is part of the Harvard College Library, Harvard Map Collection. "Joseph Rock traced his travels for the [Arnold] Arboretum's [Western China] 1924-1927 expedition in a colorful, hand-drawn map entitled 'Ch'ing-Hai upper Yellow River expedition.' The pen-and-ink drawing was made on ten sheets that when joined form a single, irregularly-shaped map, approximately six by eight feet in size. The individual sheets are numbered, using roman numerals; on sheet VII is a second title, 'Choni Territory, Upper and Lower T'ieh-Pu country and route to Sung-Pan, J. F. Rock, 1925-1927.' Topographical and other features are identified using a combination of English, Chinese characters, Wade-Giles transliterations and Tibetan script. Rock's attractive cursive style and use of hachures, spot heights, and landform drawings to depict relief add character to the map." -- Text from the Arnold Arboretum Web site.

Rock map of the Yellow River (Huang He) expedition, China, 1925-1927 : Sheet 3

This layer is part of a set of georeferenced, raster images of the manuscript, paper map set entitled: Ch'ing-Hai upper Yellow River expedition : Rock and Simpson, 1925-27, [cartography by J.F. Rock]. Scale 1:250,000. This layer image is of Sheet III [of 10] covering a portion of the Yellow River (Huang He) region in eastern Qinghai Sheng and southern Gansu Sheng, China. The map set details the route and surrounding environs of the Arnold Arboretum's "Western China" expedition led by Joseph Rock, 1924-1927. The set covers a portion of the Yellow River (Huang He) region in south central China (Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan shengs (a portion of historic Tibet)). It shows features, labeled variously in English, Chinese, Wade-Giles transliteration, and Tibetan, including: rivers, streams, lakes, mountains, gorges, valleys, plateaus, plains, cities, towns, villages, provincial capitals, county seats, passes, monasteries, ruin sites, native tribe locations, and more. Relief is shown by hachures, spot heights, and landform drawings. The original manuscript map set is part of the Harvard College Library, Harvard Map Collection. "Joseph Rock traced his travels for the [Arnold] Arboretum's [Western China] 1924-1927 expedition in a colorful, hand-drawn map entitled 'Ch'ing-Hai upper Yellow River expedition.' The pen-and-ink drawing was made on ten sheets that when joined form a single, irregularly-shaped map, approximately six by eight feet in size. The individual sheets are numbered, using roman numerals; on sheet VII is a second title, 'Choni Territory, Upper and Lower T'ieh-Pu country and route to Sung-Pan, J. F. Rock, 1925-1927.' Topographical and other features are identified using a combination of English, Chinese characters, Wade-Giles transliterations and Tibetan script. Rock's attractive cursive style and use of hachures, spot heights, and landform drawings to depict relief add character to the map." -- Text from the Arnold Arboretum Web site.

Rock map of the Yellow River (Huang He) expedition, China, 1925-1927 : Sheet 4

This layer is part of a set of georeferenced, raster images of the manuscript, paper map set entitled: Ch'ing-Hai upper Yellow River expedition : Rock and Simpson, 1925-27, [cartography by J.F. Rock]. Scale 1:250,000. This layer image is of Sheet IV [of 10] covering a portion of the Yellow River (Huang He) region in eastern Qinghai Sheng, China. The map set details the route and surrounding environs of the Arnold Arboretum's "Western China" expedition led by Joseph Rock, 1924-1927. The set covers a portion of the Yellow River (Huang He) region in south central China (Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan shengs (a portion of historic Tibet)). It shows features, labeled variously in English, Chinese, Wade-Giles transliteration, and Tibetan, including: rivers, streams, lakes, mountains, gorges, valleys, plateaus, plains, cities, towns, villages, provincial capitals, county seats, passes, monasteries, ruin sites, native tribe locations, and more. Relief is shown by hachures, spot heights, and landform drawings. The original manuscript map set is part of the Harvard College Library, Harvard Map Collection. "Joseph Rock traced his travels for the [Arnold] Arboretum's [Western China] 1924-1927 expedition in a colorful, hand-drawn map entitled 'Ch'ing-Hai upper Yellow River expedition.' The pen-and-ink drawing was made on ten sheets that when joined form a single, irregularly-shaped map, approximately six by eight feet in size. The individual sheets are numbered, using roman numerals; on sheet VII is a second title, 'Choni Territory, Upper and Lower T'ieh-Pu country and route to Sung-Pan, J. F. Rock, 1925-1927.' Topographical and other features are identified using a combination of English, Chinese characters, Wade-Giles transliterations and Tibetan script. Rock's attractive cursive style and use of hachures, spot heights, and landform drawings to depict relief add character to the map." -- Text from the Arnold Arboretum Web site.