Occurrence of Gastroliths in _Baurusuchus_ (Baurusuchidae, Mesoeucrocodylia) from Adamantina Formation, Bauru Basin

The fossil record of Baurusuchidae Mesoeucrocodylia in the General Salgado county and its surroundings is one of the best regarding preservation, completeness and articulation of skull and skeleton remains, including specimens that shown even the most delicate bone structures and cartilaginous tissues. 

One of them, UFRJ DG 288-R, has preserved its skull and about 80% of its skeleton. During the removal of the rock matrix, on what should be the specimen’s abdominal region, together with fragments of gastralia were observed some small well-polished weathered angulous to subrounded clasts, presumed to be gastroliths. 

These xenoliths occur in a restrict cluster, where at least four peeble-sized stones are visible in the surface of the specimen. The texture and fabrics of these rock fragments differs from the surrounding matrix, presenting darker purplish tones. In thin section, one of the fragments revealed isotropic texture, with opaque minerals in abundance, of euhedric to subhedric habits. The mineralogical composition presents mainly clay minerals as weathering products; biotite and chlorite are common, being the last the result of hidratation of the first. Although highly altered, the low quartz content, small-sized and well-formed crystals suggests maphic composition in volcanic context, possibly representing a basalt fragment. 

In extant Crocodyliformes, the occurrence of gastroliths is commonly associated with food processing in the stomach, diving ballast, hunger stress and/or supplementary mineral ingestion. 

As baurusuchids are characterized as medium to large size fully terrestrial predator/scavengers, based on skeletal data, the ballast function of gasthroliths is excluded in this case. As mentioned above, extant crocodyliforms such as _Caiman_ and _Crocodylus_ ingest stones when under stressful conditions of lack of food, water or when in high population density. Osteoderms are one of the primary sources for calcium and a reservoir for the homeostasis. The hunger stress can be observed in the osteoderms histological cuts as an abnormal concentration of osteoclasts at its inner region overwhelming the presence of osteoblasts and consuming the osteocytes. The preservation of osteoderms associated with gasthroliths may reveal if the stone ingestion in baurusuchids is a normal or driven by hunger behavior. 

The paleoenvironmental conditions dominating the Adamantina Formation during the Late Cretaceous are considered mainly arid, marked with strong seasonality, alternating long droughts and short rainy periods, associated with flashflood events. The stressful condition created during the dry season would cause famine and mass mortality, thus forcing animals to endure or escape. The baurusuchids underwent the dry seasons through behavorial responses of self burial and probably stone ingestion, although natural bahavior cannot be eliminated as a cause. 

Financial support provided by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, grant no 305780/2006–9), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) and Instituto Virtual de Paleontologia/ Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (IVP/FAPERJ, grant no E–26/152.541/2006).
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Digital electric field induced switching of plasmonic nanorods using an electro-optic fluid fiber

We demonstrate the digital electric field induced switching of plasmonic nanorods between 1 and 0 orthogonal aligned states using an electro-optic fluid fiber component. We show by digitally switching the nanorods, that thermal rotational diffusion of the nanorods can be circumvented, demonstrating an approach to achieve submicrosecond switching times. We also show, from an initial unaligned state, that the nanorods can be aligned into the applied electric field direction in 110 nanoseconds. The high-speed digital switching of plasmonic nanorods integrated into an all-fiber optical component may provide novel opportunities for remote sensing and signaling applications

Systematic revision and phylogeny of the South American sun-spider genus Gaucha Mello-Leitão (Solifugae: Mummuciidae), with description of four new species and two new generic synonymies

The South American sun-spider genus Gaucha Mello-Leitão, 1924 is herein studied from a combined approach of cladistics and traditional taxonomy. This is the first cladistic analysis for a group of mummuciid solifuges, and it is pioneer in integrating traditional morphological characters with landmark data for inferring the phylogeny of any group of Solifugae. As a result, Gaucha is redefined and its monophyly demonstrated. Gaucha fasciata Mello-Leitão, 1924, type species of this formerly monotypic genus, is redescribed based on specimens from the type locality, in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Three new species are described from Brazil: Gaucha avexada sp.nov. from Bahia and Tocantins, Gaucha curupi sp.nov. from Rio Grande do Sul, and Gaucha eremolembra sp.nov. from Minas Gerais. A fourth new species, Gaucha casuhati sp.nov., is described from Buenos Aires province, Argentina. In addition, Metacleobis Roewer, 1934 and Gauchella Mello-Leitão, 1937 are synonymized with Gaucha, following the examination of the type specimens and based upon evidence from the cladistic analysis. Gaucha fulvipes (Roewer, 1934) comb.nov., from Mato Grosso (Brazil), is therefore proposed, whereas Gaucha stoeckeli Roewer, 1934 comb.rest., from Luribay (Bolivia), is restored into its original name combination. Gaucha ibirapemussu (Carvalho et al., 2010) comb.nov. and Gaucha mauryi (Rocha, 2001) comb.nov., from the Brazilian states of Piauí and Bahia, are also transferred, from Mummucia Simon, 1879. Gaucha is here defined, among other characters, by the large size of the cheliceral movable finger MP tooth as compared to MM tooth, and by the presence of a pronounced gnathal edge carina on the movable finger mucron of males. Two species groups are herein defined within the genus: the fasciata group, for G. casuhati sp.nov., G. curupi sp.nov., G. fasciata, G. fulvipes comb. nov. and G. stoeckeli comb.rest., and the ibirapemussu group, for G. avexada sp.nov., G. eremolembra sp.nov., G. ibirapemussu comb. nov. and G. mauryi comb.nov. A key to the identification of Gaucha species is included. Fil: Botero Trujillo, Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia"; ArgentinaFil: Ott, Ricardo. Fundacao Zoobotanica Do Rio Grande Do Sul; BrasilFil: Carvalho, Leonardo S.. Universidade Federal Do Piauí; Brasil. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasi

New lower bound for the Hilbert number in low degree Kolmogorov systems

Our main goal in this paper is to study the number of small-amplitude isolated periodic orbits, so-called limit cycles, surrounding only one equilibrium point a class of polynomial Kolmogorov systems. We denote by $\mathcal M_{K}(n)$ the maximum number of limit cycles bifurcating from the equilibrium point via a degenerate Hopf bifurcation for a polynomial Kolmogorov vector field of degree $n$. In this work, we obtain another example such that $\mathcal M_{K}(3)\geq 6$. In addition, we obtain new lower bounds for $\mathcal M_{K}(n)$ proving that $\mathcal M_{K}(4)\geq 13$ and $\mathcal M_{K}(5)\geq 22$

Organic farming take off in Portugal

Organic farming is booming in Portugal. CAP subsidies are the main reason beyond this boom. Converted farms are still a small proportion of the country’s total farms. They are mostly extensive (low input) Mediterranean farms located in the mainland interior and less developed regions. Large farms and highly educated farmers are the ones converting. Olive oil is the main organic production. The market for organic products in Portugal is segmented and distribution channels are narrow. In general, people are not aware of organic products and/or lack the money to pay the required price premium. However, a segment of highly educated consumers with above average income do exist. Two private bodies provide certification for organic products under the supervision of the Government. Several national and regional Associations provide technical support, training and education to farmers but they face many barriers. The lack of public environmental education and the lack of research on the sector constitute other important institutional barriers to the Portuguese organic sector development

Water requirement and yield of fig trees under different drip irrigation management.

This work aimed to study the effect of drip irrigation management on growth and yield of the 'Roxo de Valinhos' fig tree (Ficus carica L.), at three years old, and to determine crop coefficients (Kc) and its water requirement (ETc) under Baixada Fluminense climate and soil conditions, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study was carried out in the experimental area of SIPA (Sistema Integrado de Produção Agroecológica) in Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro State, from July 2011 to May 2012. The experimental area was divided in two blocks, named B1 (sandy clay loam texture) and B2 (loamy sand texture). In each block, irrigation frequencies (IF) of two (T1) and four days (T2) were evaluated, as well as the irrigation absence (T3). Irrigation management and water consumption determination were performed through the soil water balance, using the TDR technique. Plant growth was not affected by IF, differing only in the number of produced internodes. For both soil textures, the mean Kc was 0.60, with a significant difference (p<0.05) only for IF. The estimated mean yield showed no significant differences between both textural classes, ranging from 6,612 kg ha-1 (T3) to 8,554 kg ha-1 (T1). This study indicates the importance of irrigation frequency in the irrigation management of fig trees cultivated in soils with different physical characteristics

Dichotomaria marginata (Rhodophyta) as a bioindicator for marine pollution: An overview about its metabolites and adsorbed pollutants

Macroalgae are considered bioindicators for marine pollution, because they have the ability to quickly react to changes in their environment. In consequence, macroalgae populations fluctuate, according to species characteristics and adaptive strategies. Their cell wall polysaccharides contain sulfate groups that are capable of retaining and accumulating heavy metals. In addition to traditional contaminants, emerging pollutants are being recognized in aquatic environments. Herein, emerging pollutants have been identified after being desorbed from the macroalga Dichotomaria marginata, collected from Fortaleza Beach, Ubatuba -SP, Brazil. Based on that algal polysaccharide networks have the potential of forming hydrogen bonds with polar compounds, it was hypothesized that these pollutants would be bound to sugar polymers. Compounds present in the D. marginata samples were identified using both gas and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS and HPLC/MS), assisted by computational methods. It was possible to unequivocally identify 22 emerging contaminants with GC/MS, and 16 substances with HPLC/MS

Estudo preliminar dos microfósseis (ostracodes, radiolários e foraminíferos) do Cretáceo Superior da porção noroeste da Ilha James Ross, Antártica

Estudos micropaleontológicos para a porção noroeste da Ilha James Ross são raros e revestem-se de grande importância para a compreensão e a evolução geológica da Península Antártica. A Bacia James Ross foi formada por diversos eventos extensivos de bacias de retro-arco, durante o meso-Mesozóico ao neo-Cenozóico. A seção estudada está inserida nas unidades litológicas Formação Whisky Bay (Albiano ao Coniaciano) e Formação Santa Marta (Santoniano ao Campaniano). Foram analisadas 159 amostras oriundas de afloramentos, coletadas durante o verão de 2007 pelo Museu Nacional/RJ. As amostras são constituídas de rochas sedimentares clásticas finas a grossas. Para sua preparação foram utilizados os métodos usuais com peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) e a posterior separação em quatro diferentes frações. O objetivo desse trabalho é a identificação taxonômica da microfauna recuperada que inclui ostracodes, radiolários e foraminíferos. Os ostracodes pertencem aos gêneros Bythocypris, Cytherella, Majungaella e Paracypris característicos de uma fauna marinha e de idade campaniana. Em relação aos radiolários foram encontrados espumelários e nasselários, pertencentes às espécies Archaeodictyomitra squinaboli Pessagno, Praeconocaryomma californiensis? Pessagno, Stichomitra livermorensis? Campbell e Clark, Stichomitra sp., Pseudoaulophacus sp., Pseudodictyomitra sp., Paronaella sp. e Cryptamphorella sphaerica? White. A fauna de radiolários caracteriza-se pela presença de espécies consideradas cosmopolitas e espumelários esféricos esponjosos indeterminados. As espécies identificadas como Archaeodictyomitra squinaboli Pessagno e Praeconocaryomma californiensis? Pessagno são restritas ao Cretáceo Superior. Os foraminíferos apresentaram-se mais abundantes nas amostras, tendo sido recuperadas as espécies bentônicas Pyrgo sp., Fissurina sp., Lenticulina sp., Textularia sp. e Ammodiscus sp. A associação dos foraminíferos bentônicos bem como dos ostracodes encontrados, permite inferir um ambiente plataforma externa para a regiãoSimposio VI: Microfósiles del Mesozoico y Cenozoico de América del Sur y Antártida. Nuevas aplicaciones y problemáticas asociadasFacultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse