Abstract: The taxonomic history of bats of the tribe Lasiurini (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) has undergone significant changes over time. Authors at different times have recognized various numbers of genera and subgenera within the tribe. The most recent proposed change to generic level taxonomy (that there should be three genera recognized instead of a single genus) has been debated in the literature. We reviewed papers that commented on the recent changes to lasiurine generic taxonomy, as well as those that have adopted the new taxonomy and the ones that have not. We also reviewed the relevant taxonomic literature from 1942 to the present that shows the fluid taxonomic history of these bats. The literature review shows that the recently proposed taxonomic change recognizing the three groups of lasiurine bats as distinct genera is the only taxonomy that differentiates the tribe from the genera. Examination of times to most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of 24 vespertilionid genera shows Lasiurus, if it comprises all Lasiurini, to be an outlier. Here, we support the recognition of three genera and explain how this arrangement best reflects the evolutionary history and biodiversity of the tribe by bringing the three distinct lineages in line with other vespertilionid genera with respect to divergence times and genetic distances. Considering the Lasiurini to comprise a single genus, Lasiurus, that genus has the greatest TMRCA of all vespertilionid genera analyzed, comparable only to the genus Kerivoula of the monotypic subfamily Kerivoulinae. However, recognizing the three deeply diverged lasiurine lineages (red bats, yellow bats, and hoary bats) as genera brings their TMRCAs in line with other genera and approximates the mean TMRCA of the 24 genera analyzed. Opponents of Baird et al.’s taxonomy argued that these three lineages should be considered as subgenera to avoid changing scientific names for purpose of nomenclatural stability and ease of conducting a literature search and because the three deep lineages are all monophyletic. That argument ignores the biological reality that these lineages are morphologically distinct, and that they are genetically as distinct from one another as other genera of vespertilionid bats; there is ample precedent in the mammalian literature to use values of TMRCA as a metric to maintain consistency of higher taxonomic categories such as genus. We encourage other mammalogists to utilize taxonomy to its maximum descriptive potential, while taking into account phylogenetic relationships of the taxa of interest.

Resumen: La historia taxonómica de murciélagos del tribu Lasiurini (Chiroptera: Vespertiliónidae) muestra grandes cambios significativos con el tiempo. Varios autores han reconocido diferentes números de géneros y subgéneros dentro del tribu. La taxonomía mas recién propone cambios a nivel de géneros (sugeriendo que existen tres géneros y no solamente uno). Este punto de vista ha sido debatiado en la literatura. Hemos revisado los trabajos que tratan de la taxonomía de estos murciélagos, notando que algunos autores aceptan la nueva taxonomía y otros autores no. Hemos revisado la bibliografía desde 1942, y por lo general, subraya la taxonomía fluida de estos murciélagos. La bibliografía muestra que solamente los estudios recientes que reconocen los 3 grupos de murciélagos como tres géneros distintos pueden diferenciar filogenéticamente el tribu del género o géneros. Considerando el tiempo del ancestro en común mas recién (TMRCA) de 24 géneros de vespertiliónidos muestra que Lasiurus, si incluye el total de Lasiurini, es un caso aparte. En este trabajo apoyamos el reconocimiento de tres géneros distintos y notamos como describe la evolución de los Lasiurini cuando se comparen géneros de Lasiurini con géneros de los vespertiliónidos con respeto a las divergencias evolucionarias y distancias genéticas. Si consideramos que los Lasiurini efectivamente está descrito solamente por el género Lasiurus, tal género va a tener el TMRCA mas grande, y comparable solamente con la subfamilia Kerivoulinae. Sin embargo, si reconocmos los tres géneros muy divergidos (murciélagos rojos, amarillos, canosos) como géneros hace sus TMRCA comparables a los otros géneros y a los otros 24 géneros analizados. Los que difieren con nosotros piden estabilidad de nomenclatura porque hace mas fácil la búsqueda de información bibliográfica y porque cada lineaje es monofilética. Ese argumento ignora la realidad biológica que estas lineas son tan distintas una del otra que de los otros géneros de vespertiiónidos. Recomendamos que mastozoólogos utilicen la taxonomía que tiene el máximo poder explicativa e incluye las relaciones filogenéticas del tribu, es decir los valores de TMRCA como una medida más para describir las categorías mas altas, como género, de la taxonomía.

Biodiesel made from oils is rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids methyl esters, and, consequently, presents high tendency to oxidize. Biodiesel made from fats, on the other hand, is mainly comprised by saturated chains. Although it is highly stable, they easily crystalize at low temperatures. Blends from both can exhibit optimized properties. In this work, oxidative stability, expressed by induction period (IP), and cold filter plugging point (CFPP) of blends from palm, palm kernel, babassu, tallow or lard biodiesels with soy one were measured. Biodiesel samples were prepared by two steps transesterification methodology with KOH catalysis followed by H2SO4. IP increases, as the fat biodiesel content in the blend is higher, as expected. Blends comprised by 60% of fat biodiesel by volume had their IP increased from 1.5 (lard) to 2 times (palm kernel), compared to soy one. At this level, IP was found 8 h or higher, except for palm, which 80% was required. CFPP was observed at 8 °C or lower for the blends containing up to 60% of all the fat biodiesel, except for the palm one, which a 20% content must not be surpassed. Palm kernel 80% biodiesel blend reached the Brazilian specification, that is, IP higher than 12 h and CFPP lower than 5 °C.

RESUMO O cruzamento com a raça Jersey vem sendo utilizado principalmente como alternativa para o aumento da concentração de sólidos do leite em rebanhos puros Holandês, sendo a capacidade de produção desses animais conhecida em diversos estudos. Entretanto, ainda existem limitadas informações sobre diversos fatores relevantes para a tomada de decisão e para o manejo de rebanhos cruzados, tais como resistência a doenças e facilidade de parto, sendo esta a motivação do presente trabalho, o qual objetivou avaliar a sanidade, a imunidade e a facilidade de parto de vacas mestiças Holandês x Jersey em relação a vacas puras Holandês. Foram analisados dados de dificuldade de parto, duração da gestação, retenção de placenta, indicadores sanguíneos para doenças metabólicas pós-parto (cetose e paresia puerperal hipocalcêmica) e de imunidade obtidos em vacas mestiças Holandês x Jersey e puras Holandês durante o período de um ano. O grupamento genético não afetou a facilidade de parto (P=0,4376), a retenção de placenta (P=0,7074) e a duração da gestação (P=0,2812). Vacas mestiças apresentaram maiores concentrações de gamaglobulinas (1,776 contra 1,456g/dL) e de proteína total (7,019 contra 6,525g/dL). Quanto à concentração de β-hidroxibutirato (BHBA), ocorreu diferença somente no dia do parto, com valores mais altos para as vacas mestiças (0,580 contra 0,427mmol/L). Observou-se diferença entre grupamentos genéticos para concentração de cálcio iônico (P=0,082), com vacas mestiças apresentando concentração mais baixa (3,92 contra 4,3 mg/dL). Conclui-se que vacas mestiças apresentam melhor performance em indicadores de imunidade e pior nos indicadores de cetose e paresia puerperal hipocalcêmica no pós-parto em relação às puras Holandês. O cruzamento não aumenta o risco de distocia em vacas inseminadas com touros Holandês.

ABSTRACT The crossbreed with the Jersey breed has been used mainly as an alternative to increasing the concentration of milk solids in Holstein herds, the production capacity of these animals having become the focus of several studies. However, there is still limited information on many relevant factors for decision-making and management of crossbreed herds, such as disease resistance and ease of calving, and this is the motivation for this work, which aimed to evaluate the health, immunity and calving difficulty in Holstein x Jersey crossbred cows compared to pure Holstein cows. Data from calving difficulty, retained placenta, gestation length, blood indicators for postpartum metabolic diseases (ketosis and hypocalcemic puerperal paresis) and immunity in a herd composed by crossbreeds and Holstein cows during one year was analyzed. The genetic groups did not affect ease of calving (P = 0.4376), retained placenta (P = 0.7074) and gestation length (P=0.2812). Crossbred cows had higher concentrations of gammaglobulins (1.776 versus 1.456g/dL) and total protein (7.019 versus 6.525g/dL). For the concentration of BHBA, differences occurred only at calving, with higher values for crossbred cows (0.580 versus 0.427mmol/L). Difference was observed between genetic groups for concentration of ionized calcium (P = 0.082), with crossbred cows presenting lower concentrations (3.92 versus 4.3mg/dL). In conclusion, crossbred cows have superior performance compared to Holstein cows for immunity indicators and lower for hypocalcemic puerperal paresis and ketosis indicators on the day of calving. Crossbred cows do not have an increased risk of dystocia in relation to pure Holstein cows when mated with Holstein bulls.

This paper provides a progress update on three tap-block monitoring technologies that Hatch has been developing with our clients for non-ferrous smelting furnaces. The Tapblock Diagnostic System (TDS) is an advanced on-line monitoring system that uses temperature data along with embedded thermal model results to evaluate the condition of a tap-block over its campaign life. Hatch recently installed a second TDS and this paper provides some details on this second installation. The Taphole Acoustic Monitoring (TAM) system is installed on water-cooled copper tap-blocks and uses the noise from the tapping channel to provide a qualitative indication of wear and deterioration of the tapping channel refractory. In addition, TAM can be used to monitor drilling and lancing performance and potentially could also be used in the future as a guide for automatic drilling and lancing systems. The third technology is the use of fibre optic sensors to measure temperature on the hot face and in the tapping channel of a tap-block. Fibre optic technology allows installation of numerous sensors in key locations where they are very sensitive to tap-block condition, and also provide more extensive spatial coverage than is possible with traditional instruments. This paper provides an update on our efforts to address issues with premature failure of the sensor cables due to corrosion, and also to turn the vast amount of data from the sensor cable into information that can be used by furnace operators.

The pressure sensitivities of the near infrared spectra of the light-harvesting (LH2) complex and a mutant complex with a simplified BChl-B850 binding pocket were compared. In the mutant an abrupt change in the spectral properties occurred at 250 MPa, which was not observed with the native sample. Increased disorder due to collapse of the chromophore pocket is suggested.

Com o objetivo de verificar a efetividade da energia de microondas na polimerização da resina acrílica próxima ao metal, foram confeccionados 36 corpos-de-prova cilíndricos com 30,0 mm de diâmetro x 4,0 mm de espessura, contendo no seu interior uma sela metálica com 28,0 mm x 8,0 mm x 0,5 mm, divididos aleatoriamente em 3 grupos e submetidos aos seguintes processamentos: G1) resina Clássico polimerizada em ciclo curto; G2) resina Acron-MC polimerizada em forno de microondas por 3 minutos a 500 W; G3) resina Clássico polimerizada em forno de microondas por 3 minutos a 500 W. Após a polimerização, cada amostra foi dividida em duas partes aproximadamente iguais, sendo que uma das partes foi utilizada para a avaliação de monômero residual, enquanto a outra foi submetida aos testes de dureza e porosidade. A dosagem de monômero liberada na água durante doze dias consecutivos foi avaliada através da espectrofotometria. A dureza Knoop foi verificada nas distâncias de 50, 100, 200, 400 e 800 <FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m da sela metálica, e a porosidade interna e externa foi avaliada a olho nu e com auxílio de microscópio com aumento de 100 X. Diante dos resultados obtidos, concluiu-se que a energia de microondas pode ser utilizada para a polimerização da resina acrílica contendo sela metálica no seu interior e que as resinas acrílicas convencionais, quando polimerizadas através da energia de microondas, apresentaram maior quantidade de poros.

The conventional method to process acrylic resin is a time consuming step to construct removable prosthodontics. Microwave energy could provide a solution, but there are still questions regarding this process taking place in the presence of metal. The aim of this study was, therefore, to compare residual monomer, microhardness and porosity of two acrylic resins cured by different methods in the presence of a metal framework. The conditions evaluated were: Group 1 - Acrylic resin Clássico, short cycle heatcured for 3 h; Group 2 - Acron MC resin cured in microwave oven for 3 min at 500 W; Group 3 - Acrylic resin Clássico cured in microwave oven for 3 min at 500 W. For each group 12 specimens measured were prepared, measuring 30 X 4 mm (diameter X thickness) and containing inside a metal framework of 28 X 8 X 0.5 mm. After curing the samples were individually imersed in 6.0 ml of deionized water. Residual monomer released in the water, which was changed daily, was measured spectrophotometrically for 12 days. The specimens were polished in order to measure microhardness at the distances of 50 to 800 <FONT FACE="Symbol">m</font>m of the metal framework. The specimens were cross-sectioned to evaluate the internal and external porosity under the naked eye and using a X100 magnification. Porosity under the naked eye was observed in all of the Group 3 samples and in 50% of those from Groups 1 and 2. Under magnification, porosity was found externally and internally in all of samples. It was concluded that microwave energy can be effectively used to polymerized removable partial denture, and that, when polymerized with microwave energy, conventional resin presents higher porosity.

É registrado o encontro de dois novos focos de transmissão do Schistosoma mansoni, com a presença da Biomphalaria glabrata naturalmente infectada, em uma localidade do município de Viseu e na cidade de Belém Estado do Pará. Nas mesmas áreas foram também encontrados exemplares não infectados de Biomphalaria straminea, além dos planorbideos Biomphalaria schrammi, Drepanotrema lucidum e D. anatinum. Até agora só eram conhecidas em Belém duas espécies de Biomphalaria, B. straminea e B. schrammi, sendo este o primeiro registro da ocorrencia da B. glabrata naquela cidade.

Two new foci of transmission of Schistosoma mansoni in the state of Pará are recorded, with the finding of naturally infected Biomphalaria glabrata in the municipalities of Viseu and Belém. Uninfected specimens of Biomphalaria straminea, as well as the planorbid species Biomphalaria schrammi, Drepanotrema lucidum and D. anatinum, were found in the same area.