Influence of the shoot density of Halodule wrightii Ascherson from rocky and sandy habitats on associated macroalgal communities

This study evaluated the influence of the shoot density of the shoal grass Halodule wrightii on the composition of the associated algal community, in rocky and sandy habitats on the coast of Ceará in northeastern Brazil. The phycological community included 18 species in 10 families, members of Rodophyta (72.2%), Chlorophyta (22.2%) and Phaeophyceae (5.5%). The largest proportion were epilithic (50%), followed by epiphytes on H. wrightii (38.4%), epipsammics (8%), and epiphytes on other algae (4%). Epiphytes on H. wrightii occurred mainly associated with rhizomes, but also tendrils of H. musciformis occurred attached to the leaves. The phycological community varied according to the density of H. wrightii, independently of particular characters of the meadows, although both habitat and other environmental variables seemed to influence the macroalgae composition and diversity. The rocky habitat was more diverse than the sandy habitat, but in the sandy habitat the shoal grass was important for algal settlement in areas where hard substrates were scarce or absent

Floristic composition and community structure of epiphytic angiosperms in a terra firme forest in central Amazonia

This survey aimed to describe the floristic composition and structure of the epiphytic community occurring in a terra firme forest in the city of Coari, Brazil, in the Amazon region. Data collection was performed with a 1.5 ha plot method, with which upland, slope and lowland habitats were sampled. All angiosperm epiphytes and their host plants (diameter at breast height > 10 cm) were sampled. We recorded 3.528 individuals in 13 families, 48 genera and 164 species. Araceae was the most prevalent family with regard to the importance value and stood out in all related parameters, followed by Bromeliaceae, Cyclanthaceae and Orchidaceae. The species with the highest epiphytic importance values were Guzmania lingulata (L.) Mez. and Philodendron linnaei Kunth. The predominant life form was hemiepiphytic. Estimated floristic diversity was 3.2 (H'). The studied epiphytic community was distributed among 727 host plants belonging to 40 families, 123 genera and 324 species. One individual of Guarea convergens T.D. Penn. was the host with the highest richness and abundance of epiphytes. Stems/trunks of host plants were the most colonized segments, and the most favorable habitat for epiphytism was the lowlands, where 84.1% of species and 48.2% of epiphytic specimens were observed

Development Of A Dynamic Model For A Diesel Hydrotreating Reactor

An adiabatic trickle bed reactor was developed and simulated numerically to study the dynamic behavior of the diesel hydrotreating (HDT) reactor using an industrially validated kinetic model. The model reproduced the main dynamic characteristics of the HDT reactor despite several changes in the system operating parameters. The temperature and conversion profiles indicated a non-linear behavior in the middle and in the end of the reactor for perturbation in the feeding temperature and hydrogen mass flow. Thus, measurement sensors placed in the entrance of the reactor would not give relevant information to operational decisions and the monitoring of intermediate regions. The reactor outlet is the best choice. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 18th International Congress of Chemical Process Engineering (Praque, Czech Republic 8/24-28/2008)

Petroleomics: Rapid And Comprehensive Characterization Of Crude Oil And Derivatives Via Ultra-high Resolution And Accuracy Ft Ms Mass Spectrometry [petroleômica: Caracterização Rápida E Abrangente De Petróleo Bruto E Derivados Via Espectrometria De Massas Ft Ms De Altíssima Resolução E Exatidão]

A new frontier in the characterization of crude oil emerged through the development of a new technique known as petroleomics. This innovative technique uses electrospray ionization and Fourier transform mass spectrometry (ESI-FT MS), allowing the analysis of polar compounds present in oils with high speed and ultra-high resolution and accuracy. In doing so, the technique reveals new classes of biomarkers for various aspects of geochemical exploration and refining, such as origin, biodegradation, thermal evolution, acidity, corrosiveness, and API grade. This study shows the results obtained in the development of new methods and application of this technique in the characterization of Brazilian oils.2001/02/15211228Belov, M.E., Nikolaev, E.N., Anderson, G.A., Udseth, H.R., Conrads, T.P., Veenstra, T.D., Masselon, C.D., Smith, R.D., Design and performance of an ESI interface for selective external ion accumulation coupled to a fourier transform ion cyclotron mass spectrometer (2001) Analytical Chemistry, 73 (2), pp. 253-261. , Washington JanComisarow, M.B., Marshall, A.G., Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance spectroscopy (1974) Chemical Physical Letters, 25 (2), pp. 282-283. , Holanda MarCorilo, Y.E., Vaz, B.G., Simas, R.C., Lopes Nascimento, H.D., Klitzke, C.F., Pereira, R.C.L., Bastos, W.L., Eberlin, M.N., Petro mass spec: Simplifying petroleomic data analysis via software processing data (2010) AMERICAN SOCIETY for MASS SPECTROMETRY CONFERENCE on MASS SPECTROMETRY and ALLIED TOPICS, 58. , Salt Lake City. Proceedings⋯ Canada: University of Victoria, 2010Hatcher, P.G., Lerch, H.E., Bates, A.L., Verheyen, T.V., Solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies of coalified gymnosperm xylem tissue from Australian brown coals (1989) Organic Geochemistry, 14 (2), pp. 145-155. , United KingdomHughey, C.A., Hendrickson, C.L., Rodgers, R.P., Marshall, A.G., Kendrick mass defect spectrum: A compact visual analysis for ultrahigh-resolution broadband mass spectra (2001) Analytical Chemistry, 73 (19), pp. 4676-4681. , Washington OctKendrick, E., A mass scale based on CH2 = 14.0000 for high resolution mass spectrometry of organic compounds (1963) Analytical Chemistry, 35 (13), pp. 2146-2154. , Washington DecMarshall, A.G., Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (1985) Accounts of Chemical Research, 18 (10), pp. 316-322. , United States Oc tMarshall, A.G., Rodgers, R.P., Petroleomics: The next grand challenge for chemical analysis (2004) Accounts of Chemical Research, 37 (1), pp. 53-59. , United StatesMarshall, A.G., Hendrickson, C.L., Jackson, G.S., Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry: A primer (1998) Mass Spectrometry Reviews, 17 (1), pp. 1-35. , United StatesPeters, K.E., Moldowan, J.M., (1993) The Biomarker Guide: Interpreting Molecular Fossils in Petroleum and Ancient Sediments, 363p. , New Jersey: Prentice-HallRodgers, R.P., Blumer, E.N., Hendrickson, C.L., Marsahall, A.G., Stable isotope incorporation triples the upper mass limit for determination of elemental composition by accurate mass measurement (2000) Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 11 (10), pp. 835-840. , New York OctRodgers, R.P., Schaub, T.M., Marshall, A.G., Petroleomics: MS returns to its roots (2005) Analytical Chemistry, 77 (1), pp. 20A-27A. , Washington JanSchmitt-Kopplin, P., Englmann, M., Rossellomora, R., Schiewek, R., Brockmann, K.J., Benter, T., Schmitz, O.J., Combining chip-ESI with APLI (cESILI) as a multimode source for analysis of complex mixtures with ultrahigh-resolution mass spectrometry (2008) Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 391 (8), pp. 2803-2809. , Germany AugSchrader, W., Panda, S.K., Brockmann, K.J., Thorsten Benter, T., Characterization of non-polar aromatic hydrocarbons in crude oil using atmospheric pressure laser ionization and fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (APLI FT-ICR MS) (2008) The Analyst, 133 (7), pp. 867-869. , United Kingdom JulySmith, D.F., Rahimi, P., Teclemariam, A., Rodgers, R.P., Marshall, A.G., Characterization of athabasca bitumen heavy vacuum gas oil distillation cuts by negative/positive electrospray ionization and automated liquid injection field desorption ionization fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (2008) Energy & Fuels, 22 (5), pp. 3118-3125. , United StatesTissot, B.P., Welte, D.H., (1984) Petroleum Formation and Occurrence, 699p. , 2nd. Berlin: Springer-VerlagVan Krevelen, D.W., Graphical-statistical method for the study of structure and reaction processes of coal (1950) Fuel, 29 (12), pp. 269-284. , DunkerqueZhan, D.L., Fenn, J.B., Electrospray mass spectrometry of fossil fuels (2000) International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 194 (2-3), pp. 197-208. , United Kingdom Ja

Metacercariae of Austrodiplostomum compactum (Lutz, 1928) (Trematoda, Diplostomidae) infecting the eyes of Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840) (Perciformes, Scienidae) from Lake Catalão, Amazonas, Brazil

ABSTRACT Austrodiplostomum compactum is a digenetic trematode whith metacercariae that occur in the eyes of a wide variety of fish species. In Brazil, A. compactum metacercariae have been reported in many fish species, but there are only a few studies in the Amazon region. Due to the lack of information in the Amazon, the aim of this study was to report the occurrence of A. compactum metacercariae in the eyes of 15 specimens of Plagioscion squamosissimus from the Lake Catalão, in Amazonas, Brazil. Fishes were collected using gill nets placed randomly in the lake, euthanized in a field laboratory, and had their eyes dissected and examined under a stereomicroscope. A total of 801 metacercariae were registered infecting the eyes of the hosts with a parasitic prevalence of 100%. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of metacercariae recorded and the standard body length of fishes. No significant correlation was found between the number of metacercariae and the weight and relative condition factor (Kn) of the hosts. Values of the variance-to-mean ratio and Green's index suggested an aggregate distribution of the parasites in the hosts, with a low degree of aggregation. This is the first report of occurrence of A. compactum parasitizing a fish in the Lake Catalão

A randomised, blinded, trial of clopidogrel versus aspirin in patients at risk of ischaemic events (CAPRIE). CAPRIE Steering Committee

Many clinical trials have evaluated the benefit of long-term use of antiplatelet drugs in reducing the risk of clinical thrombotic events. Aspirin and ticlopidine have been shown to be effective, but both have potentially serious adverse effects. Clopidogrel, a new thienopyridine derivative similar to ticlopidine, is an inhibitor of platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate. METHODS: CAPRIE was a randomised, blinded, international trial designed to assess the relative efficacy of clopidogrel (75 mg once daily) and aspirin (325 mg once daily) in reducing the risk of a composite outcome cluster of ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death; their relative safety was also assessed. The population studied comprised subgroups of patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease manifested as either recent ischaemic stroke, recent myocardial infarction, or symptomatic peripheral arterial disease. Patients were followed for 1 to 3 years. FINDINGS: 19,185 patients, with more than 6300 in each of the clinical subgroups, were recruited over 3 years, with a mean follow-up of 1.91 years. There were 1960 first events included in the outcome cluster on which an intention-to-treat analysis showed that patients treated with clopidogrel had an annual 5.32% risk of ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death compared with 5.83% with aspirin. These rates reflect a statistically significant (p = 0.043) relative-risk reduction of 8.7% in favour of clopidogrel (95% Cl 0.3-16.5). Corresponding on-treatment analysis yielded a relative-risk reduction of 9.4%. There were no major differences in terms of safety. Reported adverse experiences in the clopidogrel and aspirin groups judged to be severe included rash (0.26% vs 0.10%), diarrhoea (0.23% vs 0.11%), upper gastrointestinal discomfort (0.97% vs 1.22%), intracranial haemorrhage (0.33% vs 0.47%), and gastrointestinal haemorrhage (0.52% vs 0.72%), respectively. There were ten (0.10%) patients in the clopidogrel group with significant reductions in neutrophils (< 1.2 x 10(9)/L) and 16 (0.17%) in the aspirin group. INTERPRETATION: Long-term administration of clopidogrel to patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease is more effective than aspirin in reducing the combined risk of ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or vascular death. The overall safety profile of clopidogrel is at least as good as that of medium-dose aspirin