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In this paper we perform nanofabrication of square artificial spin ices with different lattice parameters, in order to investigate the roles of vertex excitation on the features of the system. In particular, the character of magnetic charge distribution asymmetry on the vertices are observed under magnetic hysteresis loop experiments. We then compare our results with simulation using an emergent Hamiltonian containing objects such as magnetic monopoles and dipoles in the vertices of the array (instead of the usual Hamiltonian based on the dipolar interactions among the magnetic nanoislands). All possible interactions between these objects are considered (monopole-monopole, monopole-dipole and dipole-dipole). Using realistic parameters we observe very good match between experiments and theory, which allow us to better understand the system dynamics in function of monopole charge intensity.

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Water resource degradation is one of mankind's greatest worries, as it causes direct and indirect damage to the associated biota. We initiated a water monitoring study in Pelotas Creek in 2003 in order to assess the mutagenic effect of the creek's waters. Allium cepa cells exposed to water samples and a chronically exposed macrophyte were analyzed, through evaluation of the mitotic index, mitotic anomalies, interphase anomalies, and total anomalies. Five points were chosen along the lower course of Pelotas Creek, from which water samples and floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides, Apiaceae) were collected in 2006 and 2007. The enteric bacterium Escherichia coli was found at all sampling points; in the physical-chemical analysis, a few variables exceeded permitted limits, pH (from 6 to 9), chloride (250 mg/L), hardness (from 10 to 200 mg CaCO(3)/L), and conductivity (100 microOmega/cm). There was an increased number of cytogenetic anomalies in exposed A. cepa cells and in the pennywort in 2006 relative to 2007, which may be explained by the increased rainfall, which was three times greater in 2007 at some stations than in 2006.Omega/cm). There was an increased number of cytogenetic anomalies in exposed A. cepa cells and in the pennywort in 2006 relative to 2007, which may be explained by the increased rainfall, which was three times greater in 2007 at some stations than in 2006.

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Since molecular phylogenies of stichotrich ciliates started to be published, some remarkable contradictions to morphology-based classifications have been reported, such as the Convergent Evolution of Urostylids and Uroleptids (CEUU) hypothesis, the Halteria paradox, the polyphyly of Oxytricha and of Stichotrichia. We hypothesized the internal phylogeny of 18S-rDNA from 53 morphological species of stichotrichs and their relationships with Hypotrichia and Oligotrichia using parsimony and neighbor-joining methods, including new data from Pseudouroleptus caudatus and Strongylidium pseudocrassum. Competing phylogenetic scenarios were compared using statistical tests, and the results suggest the reconsideration of both CEUU and the position of Halteria among flexible-body oxytrichids. The polyphyly of Oxytricha was not rejected and the monophyly of Stichotrichia was accepted based on parsimony analysis if Pseudoamphisiella is considered an external (discocephalid related) taxon.

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The São Gonçalo Channel is of great importance to the conservation of local biodiversity; it also is a water supply source of the city of Pelotas, Brazil, and the surrounding region. We examined the mutagenic activity of its waters. The following items were seasonally investigated in Allium cepa root radicular meristem cells: mitotic index, mitotic anomalies, interphase anomalies, and total anomalies. Water samples were collected from four different stations, Lock Dam, Santa Bárbara Channel, Pelotas Creek, and Barra do Laranjal. A drinking water negative control was used. For each sampling station, 8000 cells were counted, 2000 of which by repetition. The data were computed on a database (SPSS), and then analyzed by the chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney U-test. In 2005, the channel water provoked a significantly greater number of anomalies than the control water. The number of anomalies increased in 2007. This suggests that there was an increase in toxic substances in the channel over the years.

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The structure and evolution of the SEC1 gene were examined for the first time in New World primates of the genera Alouatta, Aotus, Ateles, Brachyteles, Callicebus, Callithrix, Cebus, Chiropotes, Lagothrix, Leontopithecus, Pithecia, Saguinus, and Saimiri. This gene has a high CG content (63.8%) and an estimated heterogeneous size ranging from 795 (Callithrix) to 1041 bp (Pithecia), due to numerous indel events. Similar to other fucosyltransferases, three conserved regions are shared by these primates, except for the callitrichines, Aotus and Pithecia, in which indel events resulted in premature stop codons that are related to the production of a supposedly non-functional protein. Phylogenetic analysis of the SEC1 gene, transition/transversion rates, and nucleotide sequence alignment support the hypothesis that primate SEC1 evolved by divergent evolution, and that the lack of activity in some lineages occurred independently at least twice in New World primates, once in the Aotus-Cebus-Callitrichinae group and again in Pithecia. Likelihood-based inference of ancestral states for the activity of SEC1 leads us to suppose that inactivation of SEC1 in the Callitrichinae was a result of a more complex series of events than in Pithecia.

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We found 34 species of ciliate protists in the samples collected by the margins of Cabiúnas Lagoon during 2001. The ciliates were cultivated in the laboratory, where they were examined in vivo and identified through silver impregnation techniques. A new species, Oxytricha marcili (Ciliophora, Oxytrichidae), was found and characterized as follows: in vivo length about 60-80 microm x 30-40 microm wide; on average 22 adoral membranelles; 18 left marginal cirri; 18 right marginal cirri; and 3 small caudal cirri. All specimens analyzed presented 7 frontal cirri (3 anterior + 4 posterior), 1 buccal cirrus, 4 ventral cirri (3 postoral + 1 pre-transverse), and 5 transverse cirri. Among the species found, some are considered as water quality indicators ranging from alpha-mesosaprobity to polysaprobity and isosaprobity.

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Foram encontradas 34 espécies de protistas ciliados nas amostras coletadas nas margens da lagoa de Cabiúnas em 2001. Os ciliados foram cultivados em laboratório, onde foram examinados in vivo e identificados por meio de técnicas de impregnação pela prata. Uma nova espécie, Oxytricha marcili (Ciliophora, Oxytrichidae), foi encontrada e caracterizada. Mede, in vivo, aproximadamente 60-80 mm de comprimento por 30-40 mm de largura. Apresenta em média 22 membranelas adorais, 18 cirros marginais esquerdos, 18 cirros marginais direitos e 3 cirros caudais de dimensões reduzidas. Todos os espécimes analisados apresentam 7 cirros frontais (3 anteriores + 4 posteriores), 1 cirro bucal, 4 cirros ventrais (3 pós-orais + 1 pré-transverso) e 5 cirros transversos. Dentre as espécies identificadas, algumas são consideradas indicadoras de qualidades de água que variam de alfa-mesossaprobidade a polissaprobidade e isossaprobidade.

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