ANÁLISE COMPORTAMENTAL DE JABUTIS EM CATIVEIRO

O jabuti é um animal selvagem cuja principal característica é o corpo coberto por uma carapaça dura onde consegue recolher seus membros e cabeça, é de difícil acesso na natureza, porém facilmente encontrados em cativeiro. O objetivo do estudo foi ter realizada a análise comportamental em cativeiro desses quelônios, Geochelone Carbonaria e Geochelone Denticulata, foram coletadas, aproximadamente, 36 horas de observações distribuídas em métodos de Ad Libitum e Scan. O presente estudo foi realizado no Aquário Municipal de Santa Fé do Sul-SP e incluía jabutis com idades aproximadas de 10 a 30 anos A metodologia que foi utilizada é o estudo de caso comportamental. O grupo de animais observados encontra-se no Aquário Municipal de Santa Fé do Sul no estado de São Paulo. São 44 animais, dos quais 23 são fêmeas, o resultado da pesquisa concluiu que os espécimes encontrados em vida livre apresentam comportamento mais ativo se comparado aos espécimes estudados em cativeiro, pois estes não recebem estímulos físicos e mentais que resultam em uma menor porcentagem do tempo gasto em atividades. BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS OF TORTOISES IN CAPTIVITY ABSTRACT The tortoise is a wild animal whose main characteristic is the body covered by a hard shell where it can have their limbs and head retracted into, it is difficult to be found in nature, but it is easily found in captivity. The aim of the study was to analyze the behavior of these chelonians in captivity. Geochelonecarbonaria and Geochelononedenticulata, were collected and observed for a period of approximately 36 hours distributed in Ad Libitum and Scan methods. The present study was conducted at the Municipal Aquarium of Santa Fé do Sul-SP and included tortoises with ages ranging from 10 to 30 years old. The methodology that was used is the behavioral case study. The group of animals observed is housed in the Municipal Aquarium of Santa Fé do Sul in the state of São Paulo. There are 44 animals, 23 of them being females. The conclusion of the research was that the specimens found in the wild present a more active behavior when compared to the specimens studied in captivity, because they do not receive physical and mental stimuli, which results in a lower percentage of time spent in activities. Keywords: Analysis, Behavior, Captivity, Tortoise.

The physical basis of mollusk shell chiral coiling

Snails are model organisms for studying the genetic, molecular, and developmental bases of left–right asymmetry in Bilateria. However, the development of their typical helicospiral shell, present for the last 540 million years in environments as different as the abyss or our gardens, remains poorly understood. Conversely, ammonites typically have a bilaterally symmetric, planispiraly coiled shell, with only 1% of 3,000 genera displaying either a helicospiral or a meandering asymmetric shell. A comparative analysis suggests that the development of chiral shells in these mollusks is different and that, unlike snails, ammonites with asymmetric shells probably had a bilaterally symmetric body diagnostic of cephalopods. We propose a mathematical model for the growth of shells, taking into account the physical interaction during development between the soft mollusk body and its hard shell. Our model shows that a growth mismatch between the secreted shell tube and a bilaterally symmetric body in ammonites can generate mechanical forces that are balanced by a twist of the body, breaking shell symmetry. In gastropods, where a twist is intrinsic to the body, the same model predicts that helicospiral shells are the most likely shell forms. Our model explains a large diversity of forms and shows that, although molluscan shells are incrementally secreted at their opening, the path followed by the shell edge and the resulting form are partly governed by the mechanics of the body inside the shell, a perspective that explains many aspects of their development and evolution.

Chemosensory Exploitation and Predator-Prey Arms Races

Thousands of armed predatory species, distributed widely across the metazoan tree-of-life, consume only hard-shell or exoskeleton-bearing organisms (called “durophagy”). Prey armor clearly has evolved in response to selection by predators, but there is little evidence of the contrary, counter-adaptation by predators. Evolved consumer responses to prey, in general, might be more readily expressed in ways other than morphological traits, including via sensory cues. Here, we explored the chemosensory basis for durophagy in a model predator-prey system, and identified intimate associations between durophagous predators and their shelled prey. Barnacles (Balanus glandula and Semibalanus cariosus) bear hard shells and secrete, respectively, a 199 or 201 kDa glycoprotein ortholog (named “MULTIFUNCin”), with expression limited to the body armor (epidermis, cuticle, and live shell). To test for effects of MULTIFUNCin on predators, we constructed faux prey to mimic meaningful physical and chemical characteristics of live barnacles. In separate experiments, each consumer species was presented MULTIFUNCin, purified from either B. glandula or S. cariosus, at a typical armor concentration. All six predatory species (sea star, Pisaster ochraceus; whelks, Acanthinucella spirata, Nucella emarginata, N. ostrina, N. canaliculata, and N. lamellosa) attacked and ate MULTIFUNCin-infused faux prey significantly more than controls. Akin to barnacles, secretion of glycoprotein-rich extracellular matrices is common among armored prey species—from marine sponges to terrestrial vertebrates. Our results, therefore, suggest that chemosensory exploitation of glycoproteins could be widespread, with notable consequences for life on land and in the sea.

Beading Mechanism and Performance of Porous Steel Slag Microbead Abrasive

The use of the gas-quenching process for preparing porous bead slag abrasive was investigated in this paper. An X-ray diffractometer, field emission scanning electron microscope, mercury intrusion porosimetry, and stereo microscope were used to analyze the microbead forming mechanism, pore structure, acid–alkali resistance, and polishing properties of porous steel slag microbead abrasives. Results show that the porous steel slag abrasives present a mono-disperse spherical shape with a hard shell and the porosity is 42.36%. The thermodynamic fractal model indicates that the fractal dimension of the abrasive is 2.226, which shows its simple pore structure. The sample has better chemical stability in the polishing fluid than in water, acid, and alkali solution. Therefore, aluminum and copper alloys are used as substrates for polishing tests. The results indicate that the abrasives could effectively improve the quality of the workpiece surface and the polishing efficiency for aluminum alloy was higher than that for copper alloy.

Cavity vat photopolymerisation for additive manufacturing of polymer-composite 3D objects

Vat photopolymerisation describes resin-based additive manufacturing processes in which ultraviolet light is used to layer-wise solidify liquid resin into a desired 3D shape. If the starting resin is a dual-curing formulation the object is also thermally cured to attain its final properties, obtaining either an elastomer or a thermoset. Here, we introduce cavity vat photopolymerisation, in which one photopolymer resin produces a composite material of an elastomer and thermoset. Cavities of any geometry are purposefully designed in the solid object and then filled with liquid resin during printing due to negative pressure. Thermal curing then solidifies the resin in the cavities into an elastomer, forming a distinct interface held together by strong covalent bonds. Hybrid specimens indicate improved damping, reduced fragmentation upon fracture and increased local elasticity, and we suggest several hard-shell/soft-core applications that might benefit.

Determining the main regularities in the process of mineral fertilizer granule encapsulation in the fluidized bed apparatus

This paper has substantiated the expediency and prospects of obtaining organomineral fertilizers by encapsulating mineral granules with an organic suspension in fluidized bed apparatuses. An overview of existing approaches to the mathematical description of the kinetics of granule growth in granulation processes in fluidized bed apparatuses is presented. A mathematical model of the kinetics of the formation of a hard shell around granules in a fluidized bed has been built. It shows that the kinetics depend on the size of the retour particles, the specific flow rate of the suspension, the density of the suspension and granules, and the time of the process. Equations have been derived for determining the thickness of the hard shell and the specific flow rate of the suspension for individual granulation stages in a multi-stage granulator of the fluidized layer. Analytically, graphical dependences were built, which showed an increase in the thickness of the hard shell due to an increase in the specific flow rate of the suspension, the diameter of the retour particles, and the time of the encapsulation process. The equations make it possible to determine the rational regime and technological parameters of the encapsulation process in order to obtain a coating of the predefined thickness at the surface of the granules. This ensures that a quality product is obtained, with a granulometric composition in a narrower range of particle size. To obtain granules of 2.5–4 mm in size, it is necessary to carry out the process in three- or four-stage granulators of the fluidized bed at specific suspension consumption of (10–20)∙10-4 kg/(kg∙s.). It is shown that with uniform growing of granules with a constant increase in the thickness of the shell in multistage granulators, the suspension consumption decreases by 2‒3 times from the first stage to the subsequent ones. This approach reduces the operating and energy costs of the process.

Restoration of Some Anatomical Dimensions By Spiron Short Stem Hip Replacement Applied To Vietnamese People

Background: The process of using proximal bone in hip arthroplasty will allow the remaining bone to be preserved in future surgeries. To take advantage of these advantages, many types of short stem prosthetics have been developed in recent years. The obtained survey parameters combined with the obtained anatomical parameters shown that the Spiron joint is suitable when applied to adult Vietnamese.Research subjects and methods: The anatomical dimensions of the hip joint related to Spiron joint replacement were analyzed by the authors.Results: The anatomical results with Spiron showed that the acetabular average diameter and tilt angle were 49.77 mm and 41.55°. The femoral neck-to-body angle, the femoral upper-neck diameter, the distance from the crest to the hard shell along the femoral neck axis was on average 131.52°, 34, 32mm, and 51.39mm, respectively. The offset distance from the center of the crest to the axis of the femur is 38.33mm. These parameters show the working ability as well as stability when replaced by the Spiron joint.Conclusion: When applied to adult Vietnamese, the femoral neck diameter is consistent with the Spiron diameter. Preoperative planning is needed to check the femoral neck angle and femoral neck length prior to surgery to see if the Spiron joint replacement is eligible. The findings of this study support the assumption that it is feasible to use Spiron prostheses in joint replacement in Vietnamese adults.

Trichoderma reesei fungal degradation boosted the potentiality of date pit extract in fighting scopolamine-induced neurotoxicity in male rats

Date pits are nutritious by-products, containing high levels of indigestible carbohydrates and polyphenols. To maximize the biological effects of the active ingredients, the hard shell of the polysaccharide must be degraded. Therefore, the current study aimed to assess the protective potentials of date pits extract (DP) and fungal degraded date pits extract (FDDP) against scopolamine (SCO)-induced neurodegeneration in male rats. Date pits were subjected to fungal degradation and extraction, followed by the measurement of phytochemicals and free radical scavenging activities. Forty-two adult Sprague–Dawley male rats were divided into seven groups: three control groups administered with either saline, DP or FDDP; four groups with neurodegeneration receiving SCO (ip 2 mg/kg/day, SCO group) with no treatment, SCO with DP (oral 100 mg/kg/day, DP + SCO group), SCO with FDDP (oral, 100 mg/kg/day, FDDP + SCO group), and SCO with donepezil (DON, oral, 2.25 mg/kg/day, DON + SCO group). The treatment duration was 28 days, and in the last 14 days, SCO was administered daily. Morris water maze test, acetylcholine esterase activity, oxidative stress, markers of inflammation and amyloidogenesis, and brain histopathology were assessed.

Post-harvest Industrial Processes of Almond (Prunus dulcis L. Mill) in Sicily Influence the Nutraceutical Properties of By-Products at Harvest and During Storage

Almond cultivation in Sicily is experiencing a phase of great interest which is mainly concentrated in the development of specialized orchards, with irrigation and by adopting cultivars with high qualitative and quantitative performances. These are mostly Mediterranean genotypes with high fat content and hard or semi-hard shell, extremely different from the varieties of Californian diffusion. The development of the sector comprises the primary production of almonds but also a series of secondary products which often represent a burden for the company. From these considerations several researches have been developed with the aim of giving a value to these by-products through circular economy paths. One of the by-products widely produced, besides the shell, is the skin which covers the seed and is produced during the peeling phase. It is well-known that tegument is an important component of almond because it contains important bioactive substances (phenols and aromas) which are usually dispersed during peeling. This paper examined three different Italian cultivars widely spread in Sicily, two of Apulian origin, (Genco and Tuono), and one locally cultivated variety (Vinci a tutti). These three cultivars occupy an increasingly large area and are very popular with consumers and industry. The production of secondary products, therefore, evidences significant quantities and the possibility to give them an added value becomes a need for the sector. Therefore, the content of phenols and proanthocyanins in the skin at harvest and during storage was analyzed, adopting two different separation methods, with and without water. During the analysis it was possible to observe the different behavior of the three cultivars due to genetic and industrial factors. Skin separated without using hot water showed a higher total phenolic presence with average increases of about 20%, and with even higher increases, between 28 and 32%, for proanthocyanins. Vinci a tutti evidenced the highest total phenolic content after 8 months of storing while roasting has revealed to be a more effective skin separation approach.