Airborne observations of electric fields around growing and decaying cumulus clouds

Airborne electric field data were gathered in an atmospheric electrification study near Cape Canaveral, FL. A Learjet 36A was instrumented with eight electric field meters (mills) and five different particle probes. The local electric field enhancements at each field mill site were determined under lab conditions and verified using in-flight data. The overdetermined system of eight equations (one for each field mill) was solved using a weighted least squares algorithm to compute the magnitude and direction of the ambient electric field. The signal processing system allowed the measured data to be expressed in terms of earth coordinates, regardless of the attitude of the aircraft. Thus, it was possible to take maximum advantage of the Learjet's speed and maneuverability in studying the electric field structure in the vicinity of the clouds. Data gathered while circling just outside the boundary of a growing cumulus cloud show a nonsymmetric pattern of electric field strength. Field intensity grew rapidly over a period of less than 10 minutes. The observed direction of the ambient electric field vector can be explained by an ascending motion of the charge centers of a classic tripole model of a thunderstorm

Evidenze di lineamenti strutturali da dati aeromagnetici mediante tecniche di filtraggio direzionale

In questo lavoro vengono presentati i risultati derivanti da analisi dei dati della nuova Carta Aeromagnetica d’Italia (Eni Exploration & Production division e Cunispe, 2002) relativi all’area del Tirreno centrale mediante le tecniche di filtraggio direzionale. L’area in analisi comprende la regione del Tirreno centrale in particolare la fascia geografica del 41° parallelo. Lungo questo parallelo sono allineate diverse strutture geologiche come, seamount, faglie profonde e le strutture vulcaniche dell’area campana......

Inoculação em sementes e via foliar da estirpe ZAE 94 de Herbaspirillum seropedicae em híbrido de milho BRS1010.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-04-09T14:12:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 50InoculacaoemsementeseviafoliardaestirpeZAE94de.pdf: 15184 bytes, checksum: 4b2b494ee189a9b33e5721a92421bd5d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-07201

Inoculação de bactérias diazotróficas e diferentes doses de nitrogênio em dois genótipos de trigo em condições de campo.

bitstream/item/159664/1/FD-0356.pdfTrabalho apresentado na IX Semana Científica Johanna Dobereiner, Seropédica, out. 2009. Ver também SP-15709

Cellular preservation of musculoskeletal specializations in the Cretaceous bird Confuciusornis

The hindlimb of theropod dinosaurs changed appreciably in the lineage leading to extant birds, becoming more ‘crouched’ in association with changes to body shape and gait dynamics. This postural evolution included anatomical changes of the foot and ankle, altering the moment arms and control of the muscles that manipulated the tarsometatarsus and digits, but the timing of these changes is unknown. Here, we report cellular-level preservation of tendon- and cartilage-like tissues from the lower hindlimb of Early Cretaceous Confuciusornis. The digital flexor tendons passed through cartilages, cartilaginous cristae and ridges on the plantar side of the distal tibiotarsus and proximal tarsometatarsus, as in extant birds. In particular, fibrocartilaginous and cartilaginous structures on the plantar surface of the ankle joint of Confuciusornis may indicate a more crouched hindlimb posture. Recognition of these specialized soft tissues in Confuciusornis is enabled by our combination of imaging and chemical analyses applied to an exceptionally preserved fossil

Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the evolution of form and function in the amniote jaw.

The amniote jaw complex is a remarkable amalgamation of derivatives from distinct embryonic cell lineages. During development, the cells in these lineages experience concerted movements, migrations, and signaling interactions that take them from their initial origins to their final destinations and imbue their derivatives with aspects of form including their axial orientation, anatomical identity, size, and shape. Perturbations along the way can produce defects and disease, but also generate the variation necessary for jaw evolution and adaptation. We focus on molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate form in the amniote jaw complex, and that enable structural and functional integration. Special emphasis is placed on the role of cranial neural crest mesenchyme (NCM) during the species-specific patterning of bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and other jaw tissues. We also address the effects of biomechanical forces during jaw development and discuss ways in which certain molecular and cellular responses add adaptive and evolutionary plasticity to jaw morphology. Overall, we highlight how variation in molecular and cellular programs can promote the phenomenal diversity and functional morphology achieved during amniote jaw evolution or lead to the range of jaw defects and disease that affect the human condition

Evaluation of Commercial Probiotic Products

Although there is a vast number of probiotic products commercially available due to their acceptability and increasing usage, their quality control has continuously been a major concern. This study aimed to assess some commercially available probiotics on the UK market for content in relation to their label claim. Seven products were used for the study. The bacteria content were isolated, identified and enumerated on selective media. The results revealed that all products evaluated contained viable probiotic bacteria but only three out of the seven products (43%) contained the claimed culture concentration or more. None of the multispecies product contained all the labelled probiotic bacteria. Misidentification of some species occurred. The results concurred with previous studies and showed that quality issues with commercial probiotics remain. Since probiotic activity is linked with probiotic concentration and is strain specific, the need exist for a global comprehensive legislation to control the quality of probiotics whose market is gaining huge momentum