Biologia reprodutiva e polinização de Jacquemontia nodiflora (Desr.) G. Don (Convolvulaceae) em Caatinga na região de Petrolina, PE, Brasil.

O principal objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar aspectos da biologia da polinização, comportamento e frequência de visitantes florais, reprodução e fenologia de Jacquemontia nodiflora em área de Caatinga hiperxerófila, em Petrolina-PE, no período de março de 2004 a março de 2005. Os dados fenológicos mostraram que a brotação, floração e frutificação concentram-se na estação chuvosa, enquanto a senescência foliar ocorre na estação seca, indicando a influência de precipitação no processo de reprodução. As flores estão reunidas em cimeiras, são pequenas (10 mm de diâmetro), curto-campanuladas, brancas, inodoras e secretam pequena quantidade de néctar ( 90%) e por polinização cruzada (75,6%). Jacquemontia nodiflora pode ser considerada como uma importante fonte de néctar para abelhas de tamanho médio e pequeno, sendo A. mellifera, T. spinipes e F. doederleini consideradas como polinizadores desta espécie

Recommended procedure for the IR spectroscopic determination of water in soda-lime-silica glass : Report of the International Commission on Glass (ICG) Technical Committee 14 "Gases in Glass"

The paper illustrates a procedure recommended by Technical Committee 14 (TC14 "Gases in Glass") of the International Commission on Glass (ICG) for the determination of the water content of soda-lime-silica glass by infrared transmittance spectroscopy, based on the two bands at 2.8 and 3.6 μm using as extincdon coefficients 70 and 150 l/(mol · cm), respectively As shown by the result of two intercomparisons, the agreement on the determined water concentration values can be quite satisfactory, within ±20 ppm, provided the procedure to evaluate the spectral curves is closely specified. The selected extinction coefficients are in reasonable agreement with recent evidence obtained using Nuclear Reaction Analysis

A study of rotating globular clusters - the case of the old, metal-poor globular cluster NGC 4372

Aims: We present the first in-depth study of the kinematic properties and derive the structural parameters of NGC 4372 based on the fit of a Plummer profile and a rotating, physical model. We explore the link between internal rotation to different cluster properties and together with similar studies of more GCs, we put these in the context of globular cluster formation and evolution. Methods: We present radial velocities for 131 cluster member stars measured from high-resolution FLAMES/GIRAFFE observations. Their membership to the GC is additionally confirmed from precise metallicity estimates. Using this kinematic data set we build a velocity dispersion profile and a systemic rotation curve. Additionally, we obtain an elliptical number density profile of NGC 4372 based on optical images using a MCMC fitting algorithm. From this we derive the cluster's half-light radius and ellipticity as r_h=3.4'+/-0.04' and e=0.08+/-0.01. Finally, we give a physical interpretation of the observed morphological and kinematic properties of this GC by fitting an axisymmetric, differentially rotating, dynamical model. Results: Our results show that NGC 4372 has an unusually high ratio of rotation amplitude to velocity dispersion (1.2 vs. 4.5 km/s) for its metallicity. This, however, puts it in line with two other exceptional, very metal-poor GCs - M 15 and NGC 4590. We also find a mild flattening of NGC 4372 in the direction of its rotation. Given its old age, this suggests that the flattening is indeed caused by the systemic rotation rather than tidal interactions with the Galaxy. Additionally, we estimate the dynamical mass of the GC M_dyn=2.0+/-0.5 x 10^5 M_Sun based on the dynamical model, which constrains the mass-to-light ratio of NGC 4372 between 1.4 and 2.3 M_Sun/L_Sun, representative of an old, purely stellar population.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 12 pages, 14 figures, 2 table

Sorting Nexin 1 Down-Regulation Promotes Colon Tumorigenesis

PURPOSE: Colon cancer is one of the most common human malignancies, yet studies have only begun to identify the multiple mechanisms that underlie the development of this tumor. In this study, we have identified a novel mechanism, dysregulation of endocytic sorting, which promotes colon cancer development. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Immunohistochemical and microarray analyses were done on human colon cancer tissue specimens to determine the levels of one endocytic protein, sorting nexin 1 (SNX1). SW480 cells, a human colon cancer cell line that retains a relatively high level of SNX1 expression, were used to assess the effects of down-regulating this protein by small hairpin RNA. Activation of signal transduction cascades was evaluated in these cells using Western blotting, and multiple functional assays were done. RESULTS: We determined by immunohistochemistry that the level of SNX1 was significantly down-regulated in 75% of human colon cancers. In corroborative studies using microarray analysis, SNX1 message was significantly decreased (log(2) ratio less than -1) for 8 of 19 colon carcinomas. Cell lines with reduced SNX1 levels showed increased proliferation, decreased apoptosis, and decreased susceptibility to anoikis. They also showed increased activation of epidermal growth factor receptor and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 in response to epidermal growth factor. This increased activation was abolished by inhibition of endocytosis. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that loss of SNX1 may play a significant role in the development and aggressiveness of human colon cancer, at least partially through the mechanism of increased signaling from endosomes. Further, these findings suggest that dysregulation of endocytic proteins may represent a new paradigm in the process of carcinogenesis.Fil: Nguyen, Lananh N.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Holdren, Matthew S.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Nguyen, Anthony P.. Baylor College of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Furuya, Momoko H.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Bianchini, Michele. Fundación Cáncer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Levy, Estrella Mariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Cáncer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas; ArgentinaFil: Mordoh, Jose. Fundación Cáncer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncológicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires. Fundación Instituto Leloir. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Liu, Annie. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Guncay, Gabriela D.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Campbell, Jean S.. University of Washington; Estados UnidosFil: Parks, W. Tony. University of Washington; Estados Unido

Maintenance Task Classification: Towards Automated Robotic Maintenance for Industry

AbstractThe business model of high-value capital assets is shifting from purchasing a physical product to acquiring a result or a function supported by the product combined with a number of related services. One such service, maintenance, is perhaps the most efficient way to keep the function available during the product lifecycle. Automation has played a vital role in industry throughout history, particularly within the production line. With the movement towards providing product service systems the need for services such as maintenance are increasingly important for a manufactured product, and the pull towards automation may drive down costs and improve performance time. Although currently robotic applications to maintenance beyond monitoring and inspection tasks are not common, this research aims at exploring the feasibility of future maintenance robots that can perform a variety of maintenance tasks. As its first step, this work looks first at investigation, cataloging and classification of a number of maintenance tasks using standard industrial engineering techniques such as time motion, method or workflow analysis. This involves decomposing the maintenance work into a number of ‘unit tasks’ required to be performed in order to accomplish the specified maintenance

Estudio sobre Identificación de maderas mediante reacciones químicas

El objeto del presente trabajo es encontrar un método de identificaciónquímico de maderas, que puede ser accesible a personal de laboratorio no especializado,ya que actualmente todos los métodos de identificación estan basadosen la observación de los caracteres anatómicos de la madera. En nuestro país hubo ya tentativas de análisis de maderas indigenasde parte de Pardo y Ricci primero y de Pizarro después, En el presente trabajo,siguiendo las mismas normas generales, se estudiaron 50 especies, 34 de ellascorrespondientes a géneros estudiados por primera vez, y el resto a generos estudiados anteriormente, pero de distintas especies. I PARTE GENERAL I Composición química de la madera Se describen los dos grandes grupos en que sedividen los componentes de la madera desde el punto de vista químico: Componenteslignocelulósicos y Extractivos o Componentes menores, destacando la singularimportancia de estos últimos, ya que entre ellos hay una gran diversidad decompuestos químicos que permiten realizar reacciones de caracterización. 2 Reacciones químicas cualitativas y cuantitativas Reacción de Maule Se ha observado que las maderas de especies Angiospermas, dancoloración rojiza con esta reacción, mientras que las Coniferes dan coloraciónparduzca. Los reactivos usados son: permanganato de potasio, ácido clorhídricoe hidróxido de amonio. Se cree que el permanganato de potasio origina unaclorolignina que se colores al contacto con el amoniaco. Reacción de Styasny Mediante ella se identifican los taninos de la madera, precipitandolos catéquicos con ácido clorhídrico y formol. Se complementa la reacciónensayando 1a coloración con sales férricas en el filtrado para identificartaninos pirogálicos. Reacción de Isenberg y Buchanan Tratando una astilla de la madera con ácido clorhídricoen solución metanólica, algunas maderas dan una coloración rojo púrpura. La formación de la coloración todavia no está aclarada. Fluorescencia Se observa la fluorescencia a la luz ultravioleta del extracto acuososeco, disuelto en acetone. No se sabe con certeza la naturaleza de las sustanciasque la originan en 1a mayoria de las maderas. Reacción de flavanonas El extracto alcohólico del aserrin se trata con ácido clorhídricoy magnesio metálico, originándose una coloración rojo guinda, debido probablementea 1a presencia de la estructura 3-hidroxiflavanona y 3- dihidroflavanona. Prueba de la dilución Diluyendo el extracto alcohólico con un volumen igual deagua, la mezcla resultante es límpida, turbio u opalescente. La opalescenciaen este ensayo, parece ser típica de maderas que contienen una cantidad apreciablede materias solubles en éter. Observación de la formación de espuma Durante los extractos acuosos, se tuvo en cuenta la formación deespuma durante la ebullición. Se consideró comopositiva, cuandola espuma llenaba completamente el matraz de 250 ml. empleado para la extracción. Determinación del porcentaje de cenizas Se seca primero el aserrín en la estufa paradeterminar humedad,luego se lo calcina a 600°; el porcentaje de cenizas se expresarespecto a la madera seca. El contenido en componentes minerales es, dentro deciertos límites una constante para cada especie. Determinación de la alcalinidad de las cenizas A1 crisol que contiene las cenizas sele añade ácido sulfúrico 0,1 N, valorándose el exceso de ácido con hidróxido de sodio 0.1 N. La alcalinidad se expresa como el número de ml. de ácido necesarios paraneutralizar las cenizas que provienen de un gramo de madera seca. Resumen y conclusiones La reacción de Maule ha permitido la separación de las 3 maderas deconiferas de las 47 latifoliadas. Con respecto a las latifoliadas fueron perfectamenteindividualizadas las 26 maderas siguientes: ñandubay, tintinaco, algarrobo negro,alpataco, mora amarilla, mata ojo, viraró, fumo bravo, chañar, tala, sangre dedrago, churqui, lapacho negro, espina corona, cina-cina, molle dulce, olivillo,acacia visco, rama negra, molle, curupicaí, molle colorado, guaraniná, garabato,lata y palo cruz. En cuanto a las demás, se han podido agrupar, en base a un comportamientocomún en 1 grupo de 4 maderas, 3 grupos de 3 maderas y 4 de 2 maderas. Las coniferas también fueron individualizadas perfectamente.Fil: Rivas de Bianchini, Leontina H.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina

Controllability on infinite-dimensional manifolds

Following the unified approach of A. Kriegl and P.W. Michor (1997) for a treatment of global analysis on a class of locally convex spaces known as convenient, we give a generalization of Rashevsky-Chow's theorem for control systems in regular connected manifolds modelled on convenient (infinite-dimensional) locally convex spaces which are not necessarily normable.Comment: 19 pages, 1 figur