The Role of Mucus in Mytella falcata (Orbigny 1842) Gills from Polluted Environments

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - This paper presents experimental data on particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the atmosphere of Candiota—South Brazil. Samples were collected using...     

Chlamydial infections in duck farms associated with human cases of psittacosis in France

Five severe cases of psittacosis in individuals associated with duck farms were notified in France between January and March 2006. Diagnostic examination included serology and/or molecular detection by PCR from respiratory samples. As a consequence, we investigated all duck flocks (n=11) that were housed in the three farms where human infections occurred. While serology by complement fixation test was negative for all samples, cloacal and/or tracheal chlamydial excretion was detected by PCR in all three units. Notably, one duck flock was tested strongly positive in 2 of the 3 affected farms, and Chlamydophila (C.) psittaci strains were isolated from cloacal and/or tracheal swab samples from both farms. Human samples and duck isolates exhibited the same PCR-RFLP restriction pattern, which appeared to be an intermediate between genotypes A and B. Analysis of ompA gene sequences and comparison to those of the type strains showed that the isolates could not be strictly assigned to any of the generally accepted genotypes of C. psittaci. Further analysis by MLVA of the PCR-positive human samples revealed two distinct patterns, which were related to previously isolated C. psittaci duck strains.     

Floristic and ecological differences between recent and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils

The aim of this work was to investigate differences in soil chemistry and understory composition between recent forests (sites afforested in the last 170 years) and ancient forests growing on non-acidic soils. The study was carried out on hardwood forests at moderate elevation (400–600 m asl) in the Jura Mountains (N.E. France) on four main pedological substrates with different characteristics. The floristic composition of 127 stands from recent forests (n = 65) or ancient forests (n = 62) was surveyed. Some functional traits and the Ellenberg indicator values of the surveyed species were recorded. In addition, the topsoil from 30 stands was analysed. The composition of the flora was analysed by Detrended Correspondence Analysis and the species which were typical of one class of forest age were identified using a chi-square (χ²) test. The difference between forest classes for plant traits, their indicator values, or soil chemistry was tested using the generalized linear model and Bonferroni t-tests (or Kruskall–Wallis tests). The floristic composition of the ancient forests was significantly different from that of the recent forests and was characterized by a high occurrence of shrub species in recent forests. These differences were associated with higher specific leaf area, low-range seeds dispersal, and some life forms like geophytes. There was no clear difference in soil chemistry between the two classes of forests, except for δ¹⁵N values. The weakness of the difference in the soil between ancient and recent forests suggested that changes in soil chemistry caused by a former agricultural land use were not responsible for the differences in understory composition recorded. The differences in functional traits between the two forest classes supported this conclusion. We finally concluded that (i) past land use modifies the vegetation composition of current forests, even on neutral soils and that (ii) in our context, biological filters were probably responsible for these changes.     

Temperature and storage period over spermatic parameters of jundiá, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the spermatic parameters of jundia, Rhamdia quelen, semen stored for short periods under different temperatures. Fifteen males were used in a time factorial experimental design (13 × 3 × 3 × 3). The sperm was stored at: 15; 25 and 35°C and activated in water at: 15; 25 and 35°C each, respectively, within storage periods of: 0; 2; 4; 6; 8; 10; 12; 16; 20; 24; 32; 40 and 48 h after collection. The treatments were performed in triplicates and in sequential protocols every 50 h. The motility parameters were evaluated using Pearson's correlation analysis and the significant parameters (P < 0.05) were summarized using principal component analysis forming two predicted groups. Group 01 composed the following parameters: curvilinear velocity, wobble and linearity; group 02 comprised average path velocity, straight line velocity, beating cross frequency and motility rate. Effects (P < 0.05) of treatments were observed only in group 02, with interaction between time and temperature of exposure and between exposure time and water temperature. Superior results of spermatic parameters of group 02 were observed right after collection. However, the exposure and spermatic activation at 15°C assured significant results 48 h after collection when compared with 25 and 35°C.     

Monitoring of eucalyptus sprouts control using digital images obtained by unmanned aerial vehicle

This study evaluated the effectiveness of chemical control for eradicating eucalyptus sprouts using images obtained with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The study was carried out in eucalyptus plantations in Itabela, BA, in replanting areas during pre-planting application of herbicide. Aerial images obtained by a UAV were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the herbicide application for sprouts control. After the images were acquired, they were processed to calculate the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and submitted to a supervised classification to quantify the percentage reduction of sprout green matter. The percentage data were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey test at 5%. The differences, both visual and average percentages were observed only during the evaluation period with no evident effect of the treatments on sprout control. The images provided by the UAV allowed to monitor and identify visually the plots where biomass reduced or increased and to evaluate the effectiveness of chemical control of eucalyptus sprouts, indicating areas where it was nonexistent, partial or total.     

Lime and Nutrients Effects on Jatropha curcas Cultivated on an Amazonian Soil

We evaluated the effects of macronutrient and micronutrient omission, and of liming, on Jatropha curcas (JC) in greenhouse study. The experimental design was a factorial combination of 2 liming treatments (nil or 4.5 t. ha^?1 of dolomitic lime) x 7 combinations of fertility status, with five replications. The concentrations and uptake of nutrients by JC plants follow the order: nitrogen > potassium > calcium ≥ Magnesium > sulfur > phosphorus > iron > boron > manganese > zinc > copper (N > K > Ca ≥ Mg > S > P > Fe > B > Mn > Zn > Cu), but the growth of JC plants was negatively affected mainly by omission of macronutrients, in the following order: P > N = K = S, on limed soil. Phosphorus is the most critical element for development. JC is responsive to micronutrients only when applied together with macronutrients. Potassium chloride is not recommended as K⁺ source for JC crop. Lime is recommended to improve growth and nutritional status of JC plants.     

Morphological study of Socorro Island Merino sheep and its crosses with hair breeds

Tropical Animal Health and Production - A study was conducted with the objective to characterize the morphology of Socorro Island Merino sheep. A total of 67 sheep, 62 females, 26 purebred and 36...     

Correlations between the stability and adaptability statistics of popcorn cultivars

In plant breeding, correlations between the statistics of stability and adaptability of popcorn cultivars are not yet well understood. Therefore, the objectives of the present experiment was to investigate the correlations between s_di² \sigma_{\rm di}^{2} and b_i \beta_{\rm i} from Eberhart and Russell, ω_i from Wricke, \textS_\texti⁽¹⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(1)} , \textS_\texti⁽²⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(2)} and \textS_\texti⁽³⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(3)} from Huehn, P_i from Lin and Binns and the rank-sum from Kang, and indicate the most reliable method for selecting popcorn cultivars. These statistics were estimated by data of crop yield from 19 Brazilian genotypes under 21 environments and popping expansion under 16 environments. The ω_i, \textS_\texti⁽¹⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(1)} , \textS_\texti⁽²⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(2)} , \textS_\texti⁽³⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(3)} and s_di² \sigma_{\rm di}^{2} were positively and significantly correlated indicating that just one in these five statistics is sufficient for selecting stable genotypes although they were not correlated with the means of crop yield and popping expansion. The b_i \beta_{\rm i} was negatively and significantly correlated with P_i for crop yield indicating that the most adaptable genotypes tend to have the lowest estimates of P_i. Although P_i was not correlated with ω_i, \textS_\texti⁽¹⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(1)} , \textS_\texti⁽²⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(2)} , \textS_\texti⁽³⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(3)} , or s_di² \sigma_{\rm di}^{2} statistics, it displayed positive correlation with the Index 1 (crop yield and popping expansion +  \textS_\texti⁽¹⁾ {\text{S}}_{\text{i}}^{(1)} rank) and Index 2 (crop yield and popping expansion + W_i) indicating that superior popcorn genotypes are also stable. Finally, both P_i and the rank-sum are useful statistics in breeding programmes where crop yield, popping expansion and stability are essential traits for selecting genotypes.     

A Web-based system for vineyards management, relating inventory data, vectors and images

A Web-based system is presented, integrating spatial information from remote sensing images, GPS measurements and inventory data. Monitoring, research and management of the grape production at Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil (624,000 metric tons in 2006) can be done through a system entirely based in open-source codes. Information from three different sources are integrated: Information on production comes from the State’s Viticultural Inventory, detailing the regional yearly grape production; positional information comes from field GPS measurements of vine parcels and the system’s capabilities of making maps; imagery information comes from aerial or satellite images. Further capabilities on image classification leads to the identification of vine areas; this allows crossing this data with information provided by owners. This system allows both the monitoring of grape production for administrative purposes and investigations either on regional land and soil cover, or in other applications derived from image classification. The system concept can be readily extended to other applications in land use monitoring.     

Morphological comparison of wild,farmed and hybrid specimens of two South American silversides,Odontesthes bonariensis and Odontesthes hatcheri

In this study, body shape of hybrid and presumptive introgressed South American silversides was studied. Body shape of O. bonariensis and O. hatcheri from wild populations and farmed stocks was compared to provide basic information on the effects of fish farming on morphometric parameters. Subsequently, wild presumptive introgressed individuals and artificially hybridized farmed individuals were morphologically analysed to assess the effects of hybridization on the same parameters. Most farmed purebred individuals were shorter and higher than their wild counterparts, which is probably due to the favourable growth conditions compared to the wild habitat. However, the results evidenced that purebred individuals were more slender than both hybrid (farmed) fish and introgressed (wild) fish. Further studies on the growth performance of hybrid Odontesthes will be required in order to assess whether the combination of hybridization and sterilization could produce, under farming conditions, growth performances which satisfy the requirements of aquaculture.