Salinity Induced Changes in the Leaf Anatomy of the Mangrove Avicennia Marina Along the Anthropogenically Stressed Tropical Creek

The mangrove Avicennia marina is a dominant mangrove along the anthropogenically stressed tropical Thane creek, west coast of India. Leaf anatomy of the mangrove along the Thane creek, was assessed in relation to stationwise and seasonwise variations in salinity. It was noticed that under the conditions of higher salinity, Avicennia marina showed increased thickness of hypodermal water storage tissue in the leaf (for conservation of water) and produced taller salt extruding glands at the lower epidermis to eliminate more salt; whereas, the thickness of the photosynthetic mesophyllic tissue significantly reduced. At lower salinity or with reduction in salinity in monsoon, contrary to above occurred. These changes probably explain the stunted growth of Avicennia marina in high salinity environment and its vigorous growth at lower salinity

Composição química do óleo essencial de 40 acessos de sacaca (Croton cajucara Benth) do banco de germoplasma da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental.

A coleção de germoplasma de sacaca (Croton cajucara Benth.) da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental teve início em 1997, com acessos coletados em 15 localidades da Região Norte, objetivando realizar o estudo de variabilidade entre elas, a conservação do germoplasma da espécie e selecionar genótipos superiores para a produção de biomassa (folhas) com maior potencial para a produção de óleo essencial rico em linalol. Dois morfotipos, definidos principalmente pela diferença na coloração das folhas, foram identificados na coleção e denominados sacaca branca e sacaca vermelha. Dentro das ações previstas nesta rede, está a avaliação da composição química dos óleos essenciais

An Approach to Evaluate Soils Influence on Floristic Composition of Natural Grasslands

This trial aims to evaluate floristic composition of most abundant species in three soil typical of Pampa biome on Brazil. The survey was held at Maronna Fundation located on southern Alegrete municipality, on Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s state. Regional climate belongs to Koeppen’s Cfa class. Soil types were shallow basalt (Psamments e Orthents), deep basalt (Vertisols) and sandy soil (Acrisols or Ultisols). Floristic composition were evaluated by visual ranking of aerial biomass of the major species (transformed to kg of dry matter per hectare), calibrated by cuts at ground level, according to field procedures of BOTANAL method. Grasses were clustered according to functional groups based on its leaf traits as proposed by Cruz et al. (2010). This approach proposed a ranking of grasses that ranges from its increasing leaf dry matter, and decreasing specific leaf area, from A to C groups. Total forage mass varied according to soil type. Contribution of A, B and C groups on total forage mass range from 40 to 60 %. Paspalum notatum, from B group, were found on the three soils, being more abundant on sandy and shallow basalt soils. Andropogon lateralis, from C group, was dominant on deep basalt soils, while Axonopus affinis, from A group, has higher biomass contribution on the same soil. We concluded that soil type affected floristic composition, even with this simplified diagnosis criteria

The 17 beta-oestradiol treatment minimizes the adverse effects of protein restriction on bone parameters in ovariectomized wistar rats relevance to osteoporosis and the menopause

Insufficient protein ingestion may affect muscle and bone mass, increasing the risk of osteoporotic fractures in the elderly, and especially in postmenopausal women. We evaluated how a low-protein diet affects bone parameters under gonadal hormone deficiency and the improvement led by hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with 17 beta-oestradiol. Methods Female Wistar rats were divided into control (C), ovariectomized (OVX), and 17 beta-oestradioltreated ovariectomized (OVX-HRT) groups, which were fed a control or an isocaloric low-protein diet (LP; 6.6% protein; seven animals per group). Morphometric, serum, and body composition parameters were assessed, as well as bone parameters, mechanical resistance, and mineralogy. Results The results showed that protein restriction negatively affected body chemical composition and bone metabolism by the sex hormone deficiency condition in the OVX group. The association between undernutrition and hormone deficiency led to bone and muscle mass loss and increased the fragility of the bone (as well as decreasing relative femoral weight, bone mineral density, femoral elasticity, peak stress, and stress at offset yield). Although protein restriction induced more severe adverse effects compared with the controls, the combination with HRT showed an improvement in minimizing these damaging effects, as it was seen that HRT had some efficacy in maintaining muscle and bone mass, preserving the bone resistance and minimizing some deleterious processes during the menopause. Conclusion Protein restriction has adverse effects on metabolism, leading to more severe menopausal symptoms, and HRT could minimize these effects. Therefore, special attention should be given to a balanced diet during menopause and HRT812573581CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP#131702/2014-9; #302524/2016-9Sem informaçãos #2014/13334-7; #2015/21890-0; #2017/02739-

Phase diagram of a random-anisotropy mixed-spin Ising model

We investigate the phase diagram of a mixed spin-1/2--spin-1 Ising system in the presence of quenched disordered anisotropy. We carry out a mean-field and a standard self-consistent Bethe--Peierls calculation. Depending on the amount of disorder, there appear novel transition lines and multicritical points. Also, we report some connections with a percolation problem and an exact result in one dimension.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review

Sensory Structures on the Antenniform Legs of Whip Spider, Phrynichus phipsoni (Arachnida, Amblypygi), from the Indian State of Goa: Scanning Electron Microscopic Elucidation

Amblypygi have a tropical and sub-tropical distribution and their first of the four pairs of legs, is modified as feelers. Their activity period and dark habitats render visual cues ineffective and they rely on non-visual sensory perception. There is agreement among researchers that the whip spiders invest in olfactory and tactile senses imparted by sensory structures concentrated on the tarsal segment of the first pair of long, well-articulated non-ambulatory legs that are constantly moved in all directions to sample the environment for detecting location of prey, as also for navigating. This is the first attempt to elucidate the sensory structures present on the antenniform legs of the whip spider, Phrynichus phipsoni (Pocock, 1894), collected from the state of Goa, India; using scanning electron micro[1]scope, and paves way for further research on sensory biology of this cryptic arachnid order. The examined specimen generally conforms to the diversity and morphology of sensory assemblage on the antenniform legs reported in other amblypygi species. Sensory structures elucidated include terminal trident tarsal claws, tarsal organ, bristles, porous sensilla, club sensilla, rod sensilla, slit sensilla, trichobothria, plate organ, pit organ and foliate leaf like hairs

Eficiência alimentar de rações com diferentes níveis proteicos para o peixe ornamental Colisa lalia.

Objetivando conhecer o melhor nível proteico para terminação do crescimento de colisa-lalia, utilizou-se cinco tratamentos com cinco repetições em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Cada unidade experimental compreendia a média de características mensuradas em seis peixes.Organizado por: Sílvio Ricardo Maurano; AQUACIÊNCIA 2012

Grazing intensity as a strategy to mitigate methane in native grassland.

Ruminants, thank to symbiotic microorganisms, are particularly efficient in transforming vegetal fiber to protein destined to human feeding.Coordenador: Roberto Giolo de Almeida. II SIGEE