Precipitation and temperature effects on populations of Aedes albopictus (Diptera : Culicidae): Implications for range expansion

We investigated how temperature and precipitation regime encountered over the life cycle of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) affects populations. Caged populations of A. albopictus were maintained at 22, 26, and 30 degreesC. Cages were equipped with containers that served as sites for oviposition and larval development. All cages were assigned to one of three simulated precipitation regimes: (1) low fluctuation regime - water within the containers was allowed to evaporate to 90% of its maximum before being refilled, (2) high fluctuation regime - water was allowed to evaporate to 25% of its maximum before being refilled, and (3) drying regime - water was allowed to evaporate to complete container dryness before being refilled. Greater temperature and the absence of drying resulted in greater production of adults. Greater temperature in combination with drying were detrimental to adult production. These precipitation effects on adult production were absent at 22 C. Greater temperatures and drying treatments yielded higher and lower eclosion rates, respectively and, both yielded greater mortality. Development time and size of adults decreased with increased temperatures, and drying produced larger adults. Greater temperatures resulted in greater egg mortality. These results suggest that populations occurring in warmer regions are likely to produce more adults as long as containers do not dry completely. Populations in cooler regions are likely to produce fewer adults with the variability of precipitation contributing less to variation in adult production. Predicted climate change in North America is likely to extend the northern distribution of A. albopictus and to limit further its establishment in arid regions

Invertebrate carcasses as a resource for competing Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti (Diptera : Culicidae)

However, little is known of the role of these carcasses in other containers, which also receive leaf fall and stemflow inputs. This experiment investigated effects of accumulated invertebrate carcasses as a resource for two competing mosquitoes, Aedes albopictus (Skuse) and Aedes aegypti (L.) whether either species differentially benefited from accumulated carcasses, and if such a benefit affected interspecific competition. First, we measured accumulation of invertebrate carcasses in standard containers at a field site. We then used a replacement series with five different species ratios at the same total density: and varied the input of invertebrate carcasses [dead Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) ] in three levels: none, the average input from our field site, or the maximum input recorded at our field site. Survivorship, development time, and mass were measured for each mosquito species as correlates of population growth, and were used to calculate a population performance index, lambda\u27. There were strong positive effects of invertebrate carcass additions on all growth correlates and lambda\u27. Differences in performance between species were pronounced in small or no carcass additions and absent in large inputs of invertebrate carcasses, but there was little evidence that inputs of invertebrate carcasses altered the competitive advantage in this system. These results suggest that terrestrial invertebrate carcasses may be an important resource for many types of container communities, and large accumulations of dead invertebrates may: reduce resource competition between these mosquitoes. thus favoring coexistence. We propose that the total amount of resource, including accumulated invertebrate carcasses, may explain observed patterns of replacement involving these mosquitoes

Further notes on the capture of a Carcharhinus leucas, in a northeastern Atlantic oceanic insular shelf, the Azores archipelago, Portugal

Copyright © 2006 Société Française d’Ichtyologie.In March 1993, a specimen of Carcharhinus leucas was captured by fishermen on the south coast of Te rceira Island, the Azores Archipelago. Its head was recovered and its jaws were preserved. This is the first capture of this species on an oceanic insular shelf in the Atlantic. The distribution of C. leucas in this ocean is commented.RÉSUMÉ: Note complémentaire sur la capture de Carcharhinus leucas (Carcharhinidae) dans une île océanique de l’Atlantique nord-est, l’archipel des Açores, Portugal. En mars 1993, un spécimen de Carcharhinus leucas a été capturé par des pêcheurs sur la côte sud de l’île Terceira dans l’archipel desAçores. Sa tête a été récupérée et ses mâchoires préservées. Il s’agit de la première capture de cette espèce sur une plateforme océanique de l’Atlantique. La distribution de C. leucas dans cet océan est commentée

Cysteine 904 is required for maximal insulin degrading enzyme activity and polyanion activation

Cysteine residues in insulin degrading enzyme have been reported as non-critical for its activity. We found that converting the twelve cysteine residues in rat insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) to serines resulted in a cysteine-free form of the enzyme with reduced activity and decreased activation by polyanions. Mutation of each cysteine residue individually revealed cysteine 904 as the key residue required for maximal activity and polyanion activation, although other cysteines affect polyanion binding to a lesser extent. Based on the structure of IDE, Asn 575 was identified as a potential hydrogen bond partner for Cys904 and mutation of this residue also reduced activity and decreased polyanion activation. The oligomerization state of IDE did not correlate with its activity, with the dimer being the predominant form in all the samples examined. These data suggest that there are several conformational states of the dimer that affect activity and polyanion activation

On the fate of dead coral colonies

Carbonate budgets dynamically balance production and loss of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) on coral reefs. To sustain or expand the coral reef framework, CaCO3 production by calcifying organisms must be higher than erosion. However, global climate change has been negatively impacting carbonate production, with bleaching events causing widespread coral mortality. Although bleaching and coral mortality are well documented, the fate of coral colonies after their death, including their erosion rates, are still poorly known. We followed the fate of 143 recently dead individual coral colonies with complex growth forms (arborescent, caespitose, corymbose, digitate and tabular), whose mortality was triggered by two consecutive bleaching events. These colonies, spread over 16 km2 of the Lizard Island reef complex, were tracked for up to 5 years, allowing detailed examination of erosion rates and post-mortality structural persistence. We also tested how variables that are commonly used in coral reef erosion studies relate to spatial and temporal variability in the erosion rates of dead coral colonies. We revealed rapid erosion of dead coral colonies, with an average of 79.7% of dead colonies completely disintegrating within 60 months. The predicted half-life of a dead coral colony was 40 months, with limited variation among wave exposure levels. Remarkably, we found no effect of estimated parrotfish bioerosion, wave exposure, nor coral growth form, on observed erosion rates. Our results suggest that our understanding of the erosion of dead corals may be more limited than previously thought. The rapid loss of coral colonies on our study sites calls for a re-evaluation of the role of corals with complex growth forms in reef growth and of parrotfishes in reef erosion

Influence of roof material on thermal comfort in broiler housings in the state of São Paulo

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo da influência de diferentes materiais de cobertura no conforto térmico de instalações destinadas à criação de frangos de corte. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Câmpus Experimental da UNESP de Dracena - SP. Quatro protótipos em escala real foram construídos, com área de 28 m² cada, cobertos com telha reciclada à base de embalagens longa vida, telha cerâmica, telha cerâmica pintada de branco e telha de fibrocimento. Os dados foram coletados durante o período de inverno de 2007, totalizando 90 dias. Com esses dados, foram calculados os índices de conforto térmico Carga Térmica Radiante (CTR) e a variável ambiental (Ta). Uma análise estatística por inferência e descritiva foi realizada com os valores do índice de conforto térmico e da variável ambiental. Com os resultados obtidos, é possível afirmar que a telha reciclada apresentou índices de conforto térmico semelhantes àqueles encontrados para as telhas cerâmicas. O protótipo coberto com telha de fibrocimento apresentou os maiores índices, e o coberto com telha cerâmica branca, os menores índices de conforto térmico. No entanto para o período de inverno e para os horários avaliados, todas as instalações apresentaram índices de conforto térmico fora da zona de termoneutralidade do frango de corte.This paper presents a different roof tiles influence study on the thermal comfort for broiler housings. The research was conducted at UNESP's Experimental Campus at Dracena, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Four prototypes in real scale were built, each with an area of 28 m². The prototype was covered with roof tiles made of recycled long-life packing material, ceramic tiles, ceramic tiles painted with white coating, and fiber/cement tiles. Temperatures inside the structures were recorded in the winter 2007 over a 90-day period. The results obtained indicated that recycled tile thermal behavior was similar to ceramic tiles. However for the winter period all the prototypes had presented comfort thermal index not in the broilers thermo neutral zone.FAPESPCNP

OSB sandwich panel with undulated core of balsa wood waste

The production of wood-based materials is currently being expanded by the furniture industry and civil construction sector. In order to find new alternatives for the panel market, new configuration possibilities (geometry) of panels and the use of renewable raw materials must be explored. In this scope, the objective of this research was to evaluate OSB sandwich panels with an undulated core and flat faces (OSBUC panels) made of Balsa wood waste strands (Ochroma pyramidale) bonded with two-component castor oil polyurethane resin for use in civil construction. Two types of panels were produced with 13 % resin and varying the density of the core (OSBUC-T1 - faces 550 kg/m³ and core 400 kg/m³) and (OSBUC-T2 - faces 550 kg/m³ and core 500 kg/m³). The water absorption and thickness swelling of the face panels were determined based on the Brazilian standard NBR 14810 and the bending test properties of the OSBUC panels determined by the recommendations of the ASTM C393 standard. The results obtained were compared with the specifications of the PS-2-10 –“Performance Standard for Wood-Based Structural-Use Panels” that provides bending stiffness (EI) values and maximum bending moment (FbS) requirements for OSB panels according to different classes of use. The sandwich panels had maximum values of EI 6,48 x 106 N·mm²/mm and FbS 3065 N·mm/mm. The OSBUC-T1 treatment proved to be the most efficient, as it has mechanical properties that meet the normative recommendations for structural use and as flooring, with lower material consumption (lower density). &nbsp

Dangerous demographics in post-bleach corals reveal boom-bust versus protracted declines

Thermal-stress events have changed the structure, biodiversity, and functioning of coral reefs. But how these disturbances affect the dynamics of individual coral colonies remains unclear. By tracking the fate of 1069 individual Acropora and massive Porites coral colonies for up to 5 years, spanning three bleaching events, we reveal striking genus-level differences in their demographic response to bleaching (mortality, growth, and recruitment). Although Acropora colonies were locally extirpated, substantial local recruitment and fast growth revealed a marked capacity for apparent recovery. By contrast, almost all massive Porites colonies survived and the majority grew in area; yet no new colonies were detected over the 5 years. Our results highlight contrasting dynamics of boom-and-bust vs. protracted declines in two major coral groups. These dangerous demographics emphasise the need for caution when documenting the susceptibility and perceived resistance or recovery of corals to disturbances

Descrição de sistemas de criação tradicionais de ovinos da Nhecolândia, Pantanal, MS.

Este trabalho tem como objetivo principal resgatar o conhecimento empírico sobre o sistema de criação tradicional de ovinos no Pantanal, caracterizando-o e descrevendo-o a partir de oito fazendas da sub-região da Nhecolândia, Pantanal, MS. Devido a crescente demanda do mercado por carne ovina, os produtores do Pantanal podem diversificar a produção animal. A região apresenta potencial para a produção de ovelhas pantaneiras para cruzamentos no planalto, produção de cordeiros (orgânicos), produção de subsistência da fazenda, entre outros. Para tanto, há a necessidade de desenvolver práticas sustentáveis de manejo da ovinocultura no Pantanalbitstream/item/80589/1/CT94.pd

Improved nuclear localization of DNA-binding polyamides

Regulation of endogenous genes by DNA-binding polyamides requires effective nuclear localization. Previous work employing confocal microscopy to study uptake of fluorophore-labeled polyamides has demonstrated the difficulty of predicting a priori the nuclear uptake of a given polyamide. The data suggest that dye identity influences uptake sufficiently such that a dye-conjugate cannot be used as a proxy for unlabeled analogs. Polyamides capable of nuclear localization unaided by fluorescent dyes are desirable due to size and other limitations of fluorophores. Recently, a polyamide-fluorescein conjugate targeted to the hypoxia response element (HRE) was found to inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in cultured HeLa cells. The current study uses inhibition of VEGF expression as a biological read-out for effective nuclear localization of HRE-targeted polyamides. We synthesized a focused library of non-fluorescent, HRE-targeted polyamides in which the C-terminus ‘tail’ has been systematically varied. Members of this library bind the HRE with affinities comparable or superior to that of the fluorescein-labeled analog. Although most library members demonstrate modest or no biological activity, two non-fluorescent polyamides are reported with activity rivaling that of the previously reported fluorescein-labeled polyamide. We also show evidence that promoter occupancy by HIF-1, the transcription factor that binds the HRE, is inhibited by HRE-targeted polyamides