In this study we describe two new species of cavicolous-straminicolous crickets for southern Brazil. Endecous chape n. sp. and E. naipi n. sp. are sympatric crickets that inhabit the Atlantic ...Semideciduous Forest of the Iguaçu National Park and adjacent areas. The descriptions were based on morphological characters, mainly from male genitalia and tegmina of adult males. Furthermore, we describe the chromosomes and the calling song of one of the new species, E. chape n. sp., presenting a discussion about the morphology of the phallic complex of Endecous and a distribution map for the species of the genus. The type-material is deposited in the Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo (MZSP), and in the Coleção de Insetos do Departamento de Zoologia (Zoology Department Insect Collection), Universidade Estadual Paulista-UNESP-Botucatu campus.
Background and aims Inorganic nitrogen (N)—ammonium (NH4+-N) and nitrate (NO3−-N)—deposition to tropical forests near urban areas frequently exceeds 5-10 kg ha−1 yr−1, surpassing critical loads for ...many forest types. We hypothesized that throughfall N fluxes to Atlantic Forest and effects on soil N cycling and availability would increase with proximity to a megacity (population ∼12 M) on Brazil's Atlantic Coast. Methods We quantified N in rainfall and throughfall, soil nutrient status and N transformations, and relative N availability in three Atlantic Forest sites: an oceanic site ∼100 km southwest, a coastal site in, and an inland site ∼50 km northeast and downwind from Rio de Janeiro megacity. Results Annual throughfall N flux did not increase with proximity to the megacity but increased along an ocean (7.6 ± 0.3 kg ha−1) to coast (8.7 ± 1.5 kg ha−1) to inland (14 ± 2.5 kg ha−1) gradient. Potential net N mineralization and nitrification rates did not differ among forests. However, NO3:NH4 and resin bag NO3− accumulation in soil were highest at the high-N site. Conclusions Our results suggest that elevated rainfall and throughfall N increase relative N availability and potential NO3− leaching losses from Atlantic Forest soils downwind urban areas.
The objective was to investigate the prevalence of subclinical endometritis (SE) in postpartum Bos indicus multiparous beef cows using different polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) threshold ratios, and to ...evaluate the impacts of SE on their reproductive performance. A total of 689 postpartum Nellore cows (45.2 ± 7.8 days postpartum) were submitted to an estrus synchronization protocol + timed-artificial insemination (TAI). Endometrial cytology samples were collected by cytobrush before the beginning of the protocol. Cows were considered positive for SE if: (PMN) ≥ 3% (PMN3), PMN ≥ 5% (PMN5) and PMN ≥ 7% (PMN7). Pregnancy diagnosis was performed at 30 and 100 d after TAI. The prevalence of cows categorized as positive for SE increased (P < 0.05) as the threshold was lowered (PMN7 = 3.9%; PMN5 = 5.5%; PMN3 = 9.1%). Positive SE cows had similar (P > 0.41) BCS, days postpartum, and expression of estrus at TAI compared with negative SE cows. Positive SE cows had decreased (P = 0.04) pregnancy rates compared to negative SE cows in the PMN5 threshold (26.3 ± 8.7% vs 44.5 ± 4.1%); however, no difference (P > 0.45) was observed between positive and negative SE cows in the PMN3 and PMN7 thresholds. Embryonic mortality between days 30 and 100 was not affected by SE (P > 0.16). In conclusion, the prevalence of SE varies based on the PMN threshold used, whereas SE at the beginning of the TAI protocol decreased the pregnancy rates in postpartum Bos indicus beef cows when the PMN5 was used.
•The prevalence of subclinical endometritis varies based on the PMN threshold used in these studies.•Subclinical endometritis does exist in beef cattle herds.•Subclinical endometritis at the beginning of the TAI protocol decreased the pregnancy rates in postpartum Bos indicus beef cows.•Embryonic mortality between days 30 and 100 was not affected by subclinical endometritis.
The Atlantic Forest is home to several arboviruses potentially pathogenic to humans. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the effects of seasonality on mosquito populations circulating in this domain. ...We evaluated the influence of seasonal variation on the oviposition activity of epidemiologically important mosquito populations in an Environmental Protection Area in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mosquito eggs were collected using ovitraps for 1 year. During the sampling period, 1,086 eggs were collected. Of these, 39 (3.6%) did not hatch, and 1,047 (96.4%) reached the adult stage. Aedes albopictus (44.8%), Ae. terrens (6.4%), and Haemagogus leucocelaenus (48.8%) eggs and adults were identified. The changes in this community over the seasons were also analyzed. Season influence on the collections was significant. The highest numbers of collected eggs were collected in the summer and autumn, with Hg. leucocelaenus dominant in the summer and Ae. albopictus in the autumn. These two seasons were more similar to each other in terms of the composition of the collected mosquito community, forming a separate cluster from winter and spring groups. Summer, autumn, and winter presented values of Dominance (D), Shannon Diversity (H), and Evenness (J) closer to each other than spring. Climatic factors recorded throughout the collection period were not associated with egg abundance, except for temperature, which was positively correlated with Ae. albopictus presence. Finally, seasonality seemed to influence the oviposition activity of the three species recorded. Summer and autumn were the most critical seasons due to Ae. albopictus and Hg. leucocelaenus circulation. These findings should be considered in prophylaxis and implementation of entomological control strategies in the study area.
Ateleia glazioveana Baill. is a pioneer, rustic and can be used for forest recovery. This work aimed to study the process of physiological maturation of this species. The research was carried out in ...the city of Alegre - ES, the trees were identified in the floral anthesis and accompanied during the filling of the fruits and development of the seeds until the complete maturation. The fruits were harvested at the following stages 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days after anthesis, and characterized according to: morphometry, moisture, fresh and dry mass of fruits and seeds, germination, germination speed index, shoot and root length and dry mass of seedlings. The regression equations were adjusted for the main characteristics analyzed as a function of the harvest period. The point of physiological maturity of timbó occurred at 42 days after anthesis.
► A high sample mass, up to 3g was completely digested improving the limits of detection (LOD) in relation to the microwave-assisted wet digestion. ► Using only diluted nitric acid, 4moll−1 was ...possible to minimize the use of concentrated acids and residues generation following the recommendations of green chemistry. ► No special or dedicated equipments are necessary once it is possible to use the same commercial equipment of focused microwave oven used for conventional microwave-assisted wet digestion.
The advantages and shortcomings of focused microwave-induced combustion (FMIC) for digestion of plant samples were studied. The effects of sample mass, absorbing solution, oxygen gas flow-rate, and time of reflux step on recoveries of major, minor and trace metals were systematically evaluated. Afterwards, Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Mg, Mn, Ni, Sr, V, and Zn were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES) and by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The main advantages of FMIC when compared to microwave-assisted wet digestion (MAWD) and focused-microwave-assisted wet digestion (FMAWD) are the possibility to digest larger masses of samples (up to 3g) using shorter heating times and diluted nitric acid solution for absorbing all analytes. Using the selected experimental conditions for FMIC, residual carbon content was lower than 0.7% for all samples and relative standard deviation (RSD) varied from 1.5 to 14.1%. Certified reference materials (NIST 1515 apple leaves and NIST 1547 peach leaves) were used for checking accuracy and determined values for all metals were in agreement with certified values at a 95% confidence level. No statistical difference (ANOVA, 95% of confidence level) was observed for results obtained by FMIC, FMAWD, and MAWD. Limits of detection were lower when using FMIC in the range of 0.02–0.15μgg−1 for ICP OES and 0.001–0.01μgg−1 for ICP-MS, which were about 3 and 6 times lower than the values obtained by FMAWD and MAWD, respectively. It is important to point out that FMIC was a suitable sample preparation method for major, minor and trace metals by both determination techniques (ICP OES and ICP-MS). Additionally, since it allows lower LODs (because up to 3g of sample can be digested) and diluted acid solutions are used (without any further dilution), the use of ICP-MS is not mandatory.
Ultrasound-assisted oxidative desulfurization (UAOD) process was applied to diesel oil and petroleum product feedstock containing model sulfur compounds (benzothiophene, dibenzothiophene and ...dimethyldibenzothiophene). The influence of oxidant amount, volume of solvent for the extraction step and time and temperature of ultrasound treatment (20kHz, 750W, operating at 40%) was investigated. Using the optimized conditions for UAOD, sulfur removal up to 99% was achieved for model compounds in petroleum product feedstock using a molar proportion for H2O2:acetic acid:sulfur of 64:300:1, after 9min of ultrasound treatment at 90°C, followed by extraction with methanol (optimized solvent and oil ratio of 0.36). Using the same reagent amount and 9min of ultrasound the removal of sulfur was higher than 75% for diesel oil samples. Sulfur removal without ultrasound using the same conditions was lower than 82% for model compounds and 55% for diesel oil samples showing that ultrasound improved the efficiency of oxidative desulfurization. In comparison to conventional hydrodesulfurization, the proposed UAOD process can be performed under relatively mild conditions (atmospheric pressure and 90°C, without using metallic catalysts).
Summary
Fiducial markers are used in correlated light and electron microscopy (CLEM) to enable accurate overlaying of fluorescence and electron microscopy images. Currently used fiducial markers, ...e.g. dye‐labelled nanoparticles and quantum dots, suffer from irreversible quenching of the luminescence after electron beam exposure. This limits their use in CLEM, since samples have to be studied with light microscopy before the sample can be studied with electron microscopy. Robust fiducial markers, i.e. luminescent labels that can (partially) withstand electron bombardment, are interesting because of the recent development of integrated CLEM microscopes. In addition, nonintegrated CLEM setups may benefit from such fiducial markers. Such markers would allow switching back from EM to LM and are not available yet.
Here, we investigate the robustness of various luminescent nanoparticles (NPs) that have good contrast in electron microscopy; 130 nm gold‐core rhodamine B‐labelled silica particles, 15 nm CdSe/CdS/ZnS core–shell–shell quantum dots (QDs) and 230 nm Y2O3:Eu3+ particles. Robustness is studied by measuring the luminescence of (single) NPs after various cycles of electron beam exposure. The gold‐core rhodamine B‐labelled silica NPs and QDs are quenched after a single exposure to 60 ke− nm–2 with an energy of 120 keV, while Y2O3:Eu3+ NPs are robust and still show luminescence after five doses of 60 ke− nm–2. In addition, the luminescence intensity of Y2O3:Eu3+ NPs is investigated as function of electron dose for various electron fluxes. The luminescence intensity initially drops to a constant value well above the single particle detection limit. The intensity loss does not depend on the electron flux, but on the total electron dose. The results indicate that Y2O3:Eu3+ NPs are promising as robust fiducial marker in CLEM.
Lay Description
Luminescent particles are used as fiducial markers in correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) to enable accurate overlaying of fluorescence and electron microscopy images. The currently used fiducial markers, e.g. dyes and quantum dots, loose their luminescence after exposure to the electron beam of the electron microscope. This limits their use in CLEM, since samples have to be studied with light microscopy before the sample can be studied with electron microscopy. Robust fiducial markers, i.e. luminescent labels that can withstand electron exposure, are interesting because of recent developments in integrated CLEM microscopes. Also nonintegrated CLEM setups may benefit from such fiducial markers. Such markers would allow for switching back to fluorescence imaging after the recording of electron microscopy imaging and are not available yet.
Here, we investigate the robustness of various luminescent nanoparticles (NPs) that have good contrast in electron microscopy; dye‐labelled silica particles, quantum dots and lanthanide‐doped inorganic particles. Robustness is studied by measuring the luminescence of (single) NPs after various cycles of electron beam exposure. The dye‐labelled silica NPs and QDs are quenched after a single exposure to 60 ke− nm–2 with an energy of 120 keV, while lanthanide‐doped inorganic NPs are robust and still show luminescence after five doses of 60 ke− nm–2. In addition, the luminescence intensity of lanthanide‐doped inorganic NPs is investigated as function of electron dose for various electron fluxes. The luminescence intensity initially drops to a constant value well above the single particle detection limit. The intensity loss does not depend on the electron flux, but on the total electron dose. The results indicate that lanthanide‐doped NPs are promising as robust fiducial marker in CLEM.
We identify an abundant population of extreme emission-line galaxies (EELGs) at redshift z ~ 1.7 in the Cosmic Assembly Near-IR Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey imaging from Hubble Space ...Telescope/Wide Field Camera 3 (HST/WFC3). Sixty-nine EELG candidates are selected by the large contribution of exceptionally bright emission lines to their near-infrared broadband magnitudes. Supported by spectroscopic confirmation of strong O III emission lines--with rest-frame equivalent widths ~1000 A--in the four candidates that have HST/WFC3 grism observations, we conclude that these objects are galaxies with ~108 M in stellar mass, undergoing an enormous starburst phase with of only ~15 Myr. These bursts may cause outflows that are strong enough to produce cored dark matter profiles in low-mass galaxies. The individual star formation rates and the comoving number density (3.7 X 10--4 Mpc--3) can produce in ~4 Gyr much of the stellar mass density that is presently contained in 108-109 M dwarf galaxies. Therefore, our observations provide a strong indication that many or even most of the stars in present-day dwarf galaxies formed in strong, short-lived bursts, mostly at z > 1.
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