Unusual occurrence of termite nests close to shoreline: neoichnological insights

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Paleoicnologia e a palinologia dos ritmitos do Grupo Itararé na pedreira de Águas Claras (Santa Catarina, Brasil)

This paper focuses on an integrated analysis of the paleoichnology and the palynology of the Rio do Sul siltstone-mudstone rhythmites cropping out at Águas Claras Quarry, Santa Catarina State, south of Brazil. Trace fossil assemblage is dominated by mollusk trails and perycaridean or syncaridean crustacean and merosomates trackways, preserved as undertracks. Protovirgularia isp., followed by Diplichnites gouldi and Diplopodichnus biformis are the commonest ichnospecies, but Maculichia varia and Umfolozia sinuosa are also frequent. Shallow burrows of soft-bodied animals (Cochlichnus anguineus, Hormosiroidea meandrica, and Treptichnus isp.) and arthropod resting traces (Gluckstadella cooperi) are also present. Palynological analysis carried through in the samples of the same levels where ichnofaunas are found it disclosed scarce palynological elements, with dominance of monosaccate pollen grains and opaque phytoclasts. The presence of Vittatina vittifera, Protohaploxypinus goraiensis and Illinites unicus suggests a lower Permian age, with correspondence with Protohaploxypinus goraiensis subzone base for the Vittatina costabilis zone. The dominance of Protovirgularia isp. and its presence in almost all bedding surfaces, allied with the abundance of wrinkle marks in these beddings suggest deposition in marginal marine mud flats possibly influenced by tides. The local occurrence of freshwater shallow burrows points to periodic freshwater influx into these flats, as a consequence of deglaciation pulses. Otherwise, the common occurrence of myriapod and merostomate trackways preserved as palimpsest over the aquatic suites also reveals the periodically subaerial exposure of the substrate. These data are coherent with the dominance of pollen grains and the great amount of cloudy phytoclasts, strengthening a distal positioning to the source area, with strong continental influence. Key words: paleoichnology, palynology, Rio do Sul Formation, Itararé Group, Paraná Basin.O presente estudo faz uma análise integrada da paleoicnologia e da palinologia dos ritmitos siltico-argilosos da Formação Rio do Sul aflorantes na pedreira de Águas Claras, com vistas à sua caracterização paleoambiental. A assembléia icnofossilífera é dominada por pistas de moluscos e por trilhas de crustáceos pericarídeos ou sincarídeos e merostomados, preservadas como subimpressões. Protovirgularia isp., seguida por Diplichnites gouldi e Diplopodichnus biformis são as icnoespécies mais comuns, além de Maculichna varia e Umfolozia sinuosa. Escavações rasas de organismos vermiformes (Cochlichnus anguineus, Hormosiroidea meandrica e Treptichnus isp.) e impressões de repouso de artrópodes (Gluckstadella cooperi) complementam a assembléia icnofossilífera. A análise palinológica realizada em amostras dos mesmos níveis onde se registra a icnofauna revelou elementos palinológicos escassos, com dominância de grãos de pólen monossacados e fitoclastos opacos. A presença de Vittatina vittifera, Protohaploxypinus goraiensis e Illinites unicus permite sugerir idade permiana inferior, correspondente à Subzona Protohaploxypinus goraiensis base da Zona Vittatina costabilis. A dominância de Protovirgularia isp. sobre as demais icnoespécies, sua ocorrência na maior parte dos níveis rítmicos da sucessão e a abundância de marcas de enrugamento geradas por esteiras microbianas sugerem deposição em planícies marginais marinhas, na zona de intermaré. A ocorrência localizada de escavações rasas de organismos dulciaqüícolas revela que essas planícies eram periodicamente inundadas pelas águas de degelo. Por outro lado, a presença comum de trilhas de artrópodes de hábito terrestre por sobre as suítes subaquáticas sugere períodos de exposição subaérea desses substratos. O domínio de grãos de pólen e a grande quantidade de fitoclastos opacos reforçam um posicionamento mais distal à área fonte, com forte influência continental. Palavras-chave: paleoicnologia, palinologia, Formação Rio do Sul, Grupo Itararé, Bacia do Paraná

Paleoicnologia e a palinologia dos ritmitos do Grupo Itararé na pedreira de Águas Claras (Santa Catarina, Brasil)

This paper focuses on an integrated analysis of the paleoichnology and the palynology of the Rio do Sul siltstone-mudstone rhythmites cropping out at Águas Claras Quarry, Santa Catarina State, south of Brazil. Trace fossil assemblage is dominated by mollusk trails and perycaridean or syncaridean crustacean and merosomates trackways, preserved as undertracks. Protovirgularia isp., followed by Diplichnites gouldi and Diplopodichnus biformis are the commonest ichnospecies, but Maculichia varia and Umfolozia sinuosa are also frequent. Shallow burrows of soft-bodied animals (Cochlichnus anguineus, Hormosiroidea meandrica, and Treptichnus isp.) and arthropod resting traces (Gluckstadella cooperi) are also present. Palynological analysis carried through in the samples of the same levels where ichnofaunas are found it disclosed scarce palynological elements, with dominance of monosaccate pollen grains and opaque phytoclasts. The presence of Vittatina vittifera, Protohaploxypinus goraiensis and Illinites unicus suggests a lower Permian age, with correspondence with Protohaploxypinus goraiensis subzone base for the Vittatina costabilis zone. The dominance of Protovirgularia isp. and its presence in almost all bedding surfaces, allied with the abundance of wrinkle marks in these beddings suggest deposition in marginal marine mud flats possibly influenced by tides. The local occurrence of freshwater shallow burrows points to periodic freshwater influx into these flats, as a consequence of deglaciation pulses. Otherwise, the common occurrence of myriapod and merostomate trackways preserved as palimpsest over the aquatic suites also reveals the periodically subaerial exposure of the substrate. These data are coherent with the dominance of pollen grains and the great amount of cloudy phytoclasts, strengthening a distal positioning to the source area, with strong continental influence. Key words: paleoichnology, palynology, Rio do Sul Formation, Itararé Group, Paraná Basin.O presente estudo faz uma análise integrada da paleoicnologia e da palinologia dos ritmitos siltico-argilosos da Formação Rio do Sul aflorantes na pedreira de Águas Claras, com vistas à sua caracterização paleoambiental. A assembléia icnofossilífera é dominada por pistas de moluscos e por trilhas de crustáceos pericarídeos ou sincarídeos e merostomados, preservadas como subimpressões. Protovirgularia isp., seguida por Diplichnites gouldi e Diplopodichnus biformis são as icnoespécies mais comuns, além de Maculichna varia e Umfolozia sinuosa. Escavações rasas de organismos vermiformes (Cochlichnus anguineus, Hormosiroidea meandrica e Treptichnus isp.) e impressões de repouso de artrópodes (Gluckstadella cooperi) complementam a assembléia icnofossilífera. A análise palinológica realizada em amostras dos mesmos níveis onde se registra a icnofauna revelou elementos palinológicos escassos, com dominância de grãos de pólen monossacados e fitoclastos opacos. A presença de Vittatina vittifera, Protohaploxypinus goraiensis e Illinites unicus permite sugerir idade permiana inferior, correspondente à Subzona Protohaploxypinus goraiensis base da Zona Vittatina costabilis. A dominância de Protovirgularia isp. sobre as demais icnoespécies, sua ocorrência na maior parte dos níveis rítmicos da sucessão e a abundância de marcas de enrugamento geradas por esteiras microbianas sugerem deposição em planícies marginais marinhas, na zona de intermaré. A ocorrência localizada de escavações rasas de organismos dulciaqüícolas revela que essas planícies eram periodicamente inundadas pelas águas de degelo. Por outro lado, a presença comum de trilhas de artrópodes de hábito terrestre por sobre as suítes subaquáticas sugere períodos de exposição subaérea desses substratos. O domínio de grãos de pólen e a grande quantidade de fitoclastos opacos reforçam um posicionamento mais distal à área fonte, com forte influência continental. Palavras-chave: paleoicnologia, palinologia, Formação Rio do Sul, Grupo Itararé, Bacia do Paraná

Avaliação da eficácia de cremes dentais clareadores com uso associado ou não de escova dental especial

It was evaluated the bleaching effect of whitening toothpastes with use associated or not of special toothbrush. Sixty-four patients were randomly divided into groups according to the bleaching treatment used (G1A: neutral fluoride gel; G1B: nightguard vital bleaching / carbamide peroxide 10%; G2: Colgate ® Branqueadora , G3: Malvatricin Branqueadora; G4: manipulated toothpaste - Phormula Ativa). The experimental groups were divided into subgroups A: Use of conventional toothbrush Oral B Indicator ® plus; B: use of special toothbrush Oral B ® Advanced Ártica. The analysis of the difference of color observed initially and after four weeks of treatment using the Mann-Whitney test didn´t show significant differences (p> 0.05) when compared experimental groups with the Negative Control Group, but showed difference when compared to the Positive Control Group, with better results for the nightguard vital bleaching. The comparison between the toothbrushes used didn´t reveal statistical differences. It was possible to conclude that the toothpastes evaluated were not effective in producing a significant whitening effect; the combination with special toothbrush didnt' exercise significant statistically influence on the whitening effect of any of the products used.Avaliou-se o efeito do uso de cremes dentais clareadores, associado ou não, a escova dental especial, sobre a cor dos dentes. 64 pacientes foram aleatoriamente divididos em grupos segundo o tratamento clareador: G1A - flúor gel neutro (controle negativo); G1B - Peróxido de Carbamida a 10% (controle positivo); G2 - Colgate® Branqueadora; G3 - Malvatricin Branqueadora; G4 - Creme dental clareador manipulado - Phormula Ativa). Os grupos experimentais foram subdivididos em subgrupos: A - Utilização de escova dental convencional Oral B ® Indicator plus; B - uso de escova especial Oral B® Advanced Ártica. As alterações cromáticas observadas inicialmente e após quatro semanas com uso do espectrofotômetro digital não revelaram diferenças significativas (p>0,05 - Teste de Mann-Whitney) quando comparados os grupos experimentais com o Grupo Controle Negativo, mas revelou diferença quando comparado ao Grupo Controle Positivo. A comparação entre as escovas dentais utilizadas não revelou diferenças estatísticas. Concluiu-se que os cremes dentais avaliados não foram capazes de produzir efeito clareador semelhante ao clareamento supervisionado; o uso da escova dental especial não exerceu influência sobre o efeito clareador de nenhum dos produtos utilizados

U-Pb Zircon Geochronology of Detrital and Ash Fall Deposits of the Southern Paraná Basin: A Contribution for Provenance, Tectonic Evolution, and the Paleogeography of the SW Gondwana

Zircon U-Pb geochronology was applied to investigate the provenance, depositional ages, and paleogeography of the southwestern Gondwana in detrital and ash fall sediments from Carboniferous to Jurassic succession of the southern Paraná Basin. Four detrital age populations suggest provenance from local and distal sources located to the south, southeast, and southwest: (i) Archean to Paleoproterozoic zircons from the Rio de La Plata Craton, Nico Peres and Taquarembó terranes; (ii) Grenvillian zircons from the basement of the Gondwanides and Namaqua–Natal belts; (iii) Neoproterozoic grains from the Don Feliciano Belt; and (iv) Phanerozoic populations from Paleozoic orogenic belts and related foreland systems in Argentina, as well as eroded units of the Paraná Basin. The paleogeographic reconstruction indicates an evolution in three distinct stages: (1) a gulf open to the Panthalassa Ocean during the Carboniferous; (2) an epicontinental sea with the rise of the Gondwanides Orogeny during the Permian; and (3) continental deposits controlled by an intra-plate graben system during the Triassic. Permian–Triassic volcanogenic zircons provide constrained maximum depositional ages and attested persistent volcanism, related to the Choiyoi magmatism and effects of the climate change episodes. During the Triassic, the extensional graben system recorded the uplift of the basement through regional northwest and northeast fault systems, and the recycling of Permian zircons, modifying source-to-sink relationships

Influence of Molybdenum and Organic Sources of Copper and Sulfur on the Performance, Carcass Traits, Blood Mineral Concentration, and Ceruloplasmin Activity in Lambs

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of molybdenum (Mo) and organic and inorganic sources of copper (Cu) and sulfur (S) on the performance, carcass traits, and blood concentration of these minerals in lambs. Forty male non-castrated crossbred Dorper x Santa Inês lambs (20 ± 1.2 kg of body weight and 90 ± 2 d of age) were randomly allocated into one of the ten following treatments: (T0) control, basal diet; (T1) Mo; (T2) inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T3) inorganic Cu and organic S; (T4) organic Cu and inorganic S; (T5) organic Cu and organic S; (T6) Mo plus inorganic Cu and inorganic S; (T7) Mo plus inorganic Cu and organic S; (T8) Mo plus organic Cu and inorganic S; and (T9) Mo plus organic Cu and organic S. Regardless of the source, Mo, Cu, and S were added at levels of 10 mg, 10 mg, and 2000mg/kg DM, respectively. The mineral supplements (Mo, Cu, and S) were added into the total mixed ration (TMR) by mixing them apart with the mineral and vitamin premix and then put into the TMR. The animals were kept in individual pens and received a total mixed ration for 84 days. Body weight and blood sampling was performed every 28 days. All animals were slaughtered after 84 days, and carcass traits were evaluated. Although organic sources of Cu and S added to Mo supplementation had increased the ADG throughout the study, this effect did not reflect in the heavier final BW outcomes for this treatment. In addition, no effect of these treatments was observed on the carcass traits. The serum Cu concentration was higher for the T0 group compared to the other groups; otherwise, Mo reduced the serum Cu concentration compared to the other groups. Considering the interaction among the minerals and their sources at 84 d of study, organic sources of Cu and S treatment and Mo associated with inorganic sources of Cu plus organic S treatment had an increased serum Cu concentration compared to other groups. Regardless of time, organic sources of Cu and S increased serum S concentration. At 84 days after enrollment, serum Mo concentration was lower for the control group compared to the other groups. Further, Mo supplementation increased its blood concentration compared to the control group throughout the study. The control group had the highest ceruloplasmin activity compared to the other groups; otherwise, at 84 d of the study, either Mo or inorganic S supplementation reduced ceruloplasmin activity. Serum ceruloplasmin activity was higher when Cu supplementation, regardless of source, was associated with organic S. However, at d 84 of the study, inorganic Cu associated to organic S supplements increased serum ceruloplasmin activity. In this current study, it was not possible to identify a pattern in the variables studied, however, further studies are needed to confirm that organic sources of Cu and S interacted alone without a defined pattern

Age constraints of the glaciation in the Paraná Basin: evidence from new U–Pb dates

Summary of LA-ICP-MS U–Pb zircon isotopic dating for Itararé Group ash fall horizon sample

Age constraints of the glaciation in the Paraná Basin: evidence from new U–Pb dates

Data reporting Template (Information) for LA-ICP-MS U–Th–Pb dat