In euglossine we trust as ecological indicators: a reply to Añino et al. (2019)

Orchid bees have been considered as good ecological indicators of habitat disturbances but recently Añino et al. (2019. Sociobiology, 66: 194-197) highlighted reasons why Euglossini role as indicators should be reevaluated. Despite agreeing with some points raised by them, we present an alternative view for the use of orchid bees as indicators. For us, the main problematic issues are: (i) the authors do not present a clear definition of ecological indicator, including its role as an indirect measure of biota response to disturbed environments; (ii) they do not properly acknowledge the relative good taxonomic status of orchid bees when compared with the remaining bees; (iii) and they do not distinguish the use of particular Euglossini species as indicators in certain circumstances. In spite of some knowledge gaps, we argue that Euglossini is a good candidate to be ecological indicators in tropical forests, maybe the best candidate among all the bees

Orchid bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Euglossini) are seasonal in Seasonal Semideciduous Forest fragments, southern Brazil: English

Seasonal fluctuations in the abundance of orchid bees have already been reported. The variations in population dynamics may be expected to occur in more predictable and pronounced manners in environments with a clear distinction between rainy and dry seasons, where climatic variables are regarded to be good predictors of populational patterns. The main goal of this paper is to investigate the seasonality of males of orchid bees in fragments of Seasonal Semideciduous Forest in southern Brazil. Data comprise bait samples from five one-year periods on four forest fragments. The seasonality of species abundance was tested with circular statistics. Results suggest two phenological patterns, one for Eufriesea violacea (Blanchard), Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier and Euglossa cordata (Linnaeus), whose abundances are concentrated in late spring and early-middle summer and another for Euglossa fimbriata Moure with a tendency to be collected in middle-late summer and early autumn. These patterns are discussed, as well the possible driven factors, (i) the species life cycle and nesting behavior, (ii) synchrony with resource, and (iii) climate. We can postulate an important impact of climate change in local euglossine assemblage due to the small populations and marked seasonality

Estudo Malacológico de Sambaquis de Momuna (Iguape - SP) e o seu significado paleoambiental

The shell-middens present in the Iguape (São Paulo State) coastal plain are situated at different distances from the present shoreline. In general, the more external shell-middens, which show a dominance of Anomalocardia brasiliana shells, give younger ages than the more internal shell-middens, which correspond to the Holocene most important lagoon expansion occurred between 5 and 6 ky B.P., and are commonly composed of Crassostrea brasiliana shells. Moreover, it was observed that the δ13C(PDB) ratios of the shells change according to the geographic location of the shell-middens, as a function of RSL (Relative Sea-Level) fluctuations with time. In this paper, the malacofauna of the shell-middens of the Momuna 1 and 2, both located at the homonymous village (Iguape, São Paulo State, Brazil), on the Cananeia Formation (120 ky B.P.), was studied.Na planície costeira de Iguape (SP) ocorrem sambaquis, que se acham situados a diferentes distâncias da atual linha de costa. Em geral, os sambaquis mais externos apresentam idades mais novas com predominância de conchas de Anomalocardia brasiliana, enquanto que os sambaquis mais internos, correspondentes à fase de maior expansão lagunar holocênica, entre 5 a 6 ka B.P., comumente apresentam a Crassostrea brasiliana. Além disso, têm sido verificado que as razões δ13C(PDB) das conchas variam segundo as posições geográficas dos sambaquis, em função das flutuações do NRM (nível relativo do mar) com o tempo. Neste trabalho foram estudadas malacofaunas de sambaquis de Momuna 1 e 2, situados na localidade homônima (Iguape, SP), sobre terraços pleistocênicos da Formação Cananeia (120 ka B.P.)

Kasugamycin influence on bacterial blight of coffee and on green coffee beans physicochemical quality

Brazil stands out as the world’s largest coffee exporter. However, in the cold and windy regions, such as the southern of Minas Gerais, have been undergoing attack of diseases, including the bacterial blight of coffee caused by the bacterium Pseudomonas syringae pv. garcae, which despite not having the same importance as the coffee leaf rust, is causing damages and losses to the coffee plantation. The control is mainly done through preventive measures such as installation of windbreaks. When bacterial blight of coffee is already installed, the chemical control is used with syrups of copper-based products and antibiotics. The aim of the present study was to verify the efficiency of the antibiotic kasugamycin associated with copper hydroxide in the control of bacterial blight of coffee and raw coffee beans quality. The experimental design was a randomized block with five treatments, four replicates and plots of 10 plants in the field where the treatments consisted of different concentrations of the kasugamycin: 0.0, 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mL ha-1 added with 1.0 L copper hydroxide. The percent analysis was performed on the raw beans in order to verify their physical and chemical quality. The obtained results demonstrate that the solution is efficient in the control of bacterial blight of coffee as well as in the improvement of vegetative vigor and production, but does not influence the quality of raw coffee bean

VARIABILIDADE DO ÍNDICE DE VEGETAÇÃO POR DIFERENÇA NORMALIZADA (NDVI) EM ÁREAS DE REFLORESTAMENTO: FLORESTA ESTADUAL ‘EDMUNDO NAVARRO DE ANDRADE’ (FEENA)/RIO CLARO (SP)

Este trabalho apresenta a análise qualitativa da densidade e da intensidade da atividade fotossintética da vegetação com possíveis consequências no fluxo de carbono na região da Floresta Estadual “Edmundo Navarro de Andrade”, FEENA, por meio da variação do Índice de Vegetação por Diferença Normalizada (NDVI). A FEENA é uma Unidade de Conservação e tem sua maior parte contida na área do município de Rio Claro. Rio Claro está localizado no Centro-Leste do Estado de São Paulo, entre as coordenadas 22°05’ de Latitude Sul e 47°55’ de Longitude Oeste de Greenwich. Na análise foram utilizadas imagens do sensor TM Landsat de 1991 a 2011. Foram consideradas medidas da estatística descritiva, tendência central e de dispersão, do NDVI, além de curvas de tendência. Como ferramentas foram utilizadas Sistemas de Informações Geográficas (SIG) e Planilhas Eletrônicas. As médias da série temporal dos mapas de NDVI da FEENA apresentaram amplitude total 0,05 e média geral 0,68. Esses valores indicam que a Floresta manteve nesse período alta densidade e alta intensidade da atividade fotossintética de sua vegetação. Em função disso, pode-se inferir que ocorreu variação positiva do sequestro de carbono da atmosfera na região

Safety analysis of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with heart failure in Vitória, Espírito Santo

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan has proven its efficacy to reduce cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality and sudden death in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Thus, it becomes important to evaluate the safety profile of the medication in clinical practice. Objectives: This study aimed to assess safety outcomes on the use of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with HFrEF attended in a Brazilian specialized service. Methods: Prospective observational study that included patients with HFrEF from a specialized ambulatory service, in functional class II-IV, initiated on sacubitril/valsartan as per clinical indication, with a four-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were the occurrence of symptomatic arterial hypotension, hyperkalemia and reduction of renal function. Serum potassium values, blood pressure and creatinine clearance were analyzed at inclusion and at the end of follow-up. A 5% significance level was considered for comparisons. Results: Twenty-six patients were analyzed, 57.7% male, mean age 57.8 ± 10 years, average left ventricle ejection fraction 29.9 ± 7.7%. Symptomatic hypotension occurred in 53.8%, hyperkalemia in 19.2% and reduction of renal function in 6.7%. There was significant difference from initial to final systolic (122 ± 24mmHg versus 109 ± 15mmHg; p=0.024) and diastolic (76 ± 18mmHg versus 66 ± 12mmHg; p=0.022) blood pressure, but no difference in serum potassium (4.8 ± 0.4mEq/L versus 5.0 ± 0.3mEq/L; p=0.07) and creatinine clearance (65 ± 23mL/min/1.73m² versus 66 ± 29mL/min/1.73m²; p=0.89). Conclusions: Symptomatic hypotension was the most frequent side-effect of sacubitril/valsartan. Reduction of blood pressure was observed at the end of follow-up, but no reduction of renal function or significant increase of serum potassium

Comparative Analysis of Continuous versus Reciprocating Instruments in Retreatment of Flat-oval Root Canals

Introduction: Flat-oval root canals of incisors can be problematic in retreatments. This study assessed the efficacy of continuous and reciprocating rotation instruments in retreatment of flat-oval root canals in lower incisors via micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). File systems studied were ProTaper universal retreatment rotary system associated with ProTaper Next (PTUR+PTN), D-RaCe associated with iRaCe (DR+iR), Reciproc (REC), and WaveOne (WO). Materials and Methods: Thirty-two mandibular incisors with flat root canal were divided into 4 groups (n=8). The groups were initially prepared with PTN, iRaCe, REC, and WO, then instrumented, filled, and subjected to micro-CT analyses. All the canals were then retreated with the PTUR+PTN, DR+iR, REC, and WO, and then subjected to new micro-CT analysis  which allowed quantification of residual filling material volume and change in the diameter of the root canal apical third. Endodontic retreatment time was also quantified. Data were analyzed with One-Way ANOVA and post hoc t tests. Results: None of the systems completely removed the filling material. The groups differed in terms of remnant filling material volume (PTUR+PTN=2.9±1.1 mm3; DR+iR=3.6±3.1 mm3; REC=4.9±1.9 mm3; WO=3.1±1.9 mm3) and retreatment time (PTUR+PTN=1:36±0:12 sec; DR+iR=0:57±0:13 sec; REC=2:10±0:44 sec; WO=2:03±0:31 sec), but had similar values in terms of change in apical root canal diameter (P>0.05). Conclusions: Based on this in vitro study, the type of endodontic instrument did not affect the diameter of the root canal apical third. However, PTUR with ProTaper Next had the lowest residual filling material volume and second lowest retreatment time, in flat-oval root canals in mandibular incisors

Reflexões acerca das nanotecnologias e as novas densidades técnicas-científicas-informacionais na agricultura

As pesquisas sobre os potenciais usos das nanotecnologias no agronegócio suscitam enormes dúvidas sobre os reais benefícios ou malefícios em relação à adoção desta inovação. Daí a preocupação desta investigação em incluir as ciências humanas nos debates sobre a difusão das nanotecnologias. Pressupõe-se que, dada a efetiva incorporação dos novos produtos e processos nanotecnológicos, irá se configurar um aprofundamento das densidades técnicas-científicas- informacionais no espaço agrário brasileiro

The GTPase TcRjl of the human pathogen Trypanosoma cruzi is involved in the cell growth and differentiation

AbstractThe protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas Disease, undergoes through a complex life cycle where rounds of cell division and differentiation occur initially in the gut of triatominae vectors and, after transmission, inside of infected cells in vertebrate hosts. Members of the Ras superfamily of GTPases are molecular switches which play pivotal regulatory functions in cell growth and differentiation. We have previously described a novel GTPase in T. cruzi, TcRjl, which belongs to the RJL family of Ras-related GTP binding proteins. Here we show that most of TcRjl protein is found bound to GTP nucleotides and may be locked in this stage. In addition, we show that TcRjl is located close to the kinetoplast, in a region corresponding possibly to flagellar pocket of the parasite and the expression of a dominant-negative TcRjl construct (TcRjlS37N) displays a significative growth phenotype in reduced serum medium. Remarkably, overexpression of TcRjl inhibits differentiation of epimastigotes to trypomastigote forms and promotes the accumulation of intermediate differentiation stages. Our data suggest that TcRjl might play a role in the control of the parasite growth and differentiation

Rare Gastric Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor in an Adult Woman: A Case Report with Review of the Literature

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) of the stomach is extremely rare and its prognosis is unpredictable. We present a 37-year-old woman with a gastric IMT. She presented epigastric pain since 2 months, anemia and weight loss associated. Physical examination showed cutaneous pallor and mild abdominal tenderness in the epigastrium. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a tumor near the pancreas and the CT scan revealed that the lesion was arising from the stomach. Upper endoscopy showed a submucosal lesion of approximately 7.5 cm located in the posterior wall of the gastric body such as a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). The patient underwent a subtotal gastrectomy and Billroth I reconstruction. The histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed an IMT that originated from the gastric wall