Dinâmica populacional de Podocnemis erythrocephala, no rio Ayuanã, Amazonas, Brasil.

Podocnemis erythrocephala is a species of turtle that inhabits black water rivers and lakes in the Rio Negro Basin and ventures into clear water habitats as well in the Tapajós and Trombetas rivers, in Brazil, as well as the extreme eastern tip of Colômbia and most of the states within the Venezuelan part of the Amazon Basin. As with all species in the family Podocnemididae their populations have suffered from the collection eggs and adults for human consumption. Even though this species is an important item in the food of the local population of river people where ever P. erythrocephala occurs, there are no studies documenting the natural size of these turtle populations nor monitoring programs. The existing information concerning the decline of natural populations of Podocnemididae are scarce, and not well studied, therefore the monitoring studies are needed for all of the species in this family utilizing methods that can measure the size of adult populations, size structure within populations, and sex ratios. The objective of this study was to characterize aspects of the population dynamics of P. erythrocephala in the Ayuanã River, middle Rio Negro, Amazonas State. The size at reproductive maturity in a population of turtles is important to determine such that the adult sex ratio of the population can be calculated. For this reason it was necessary to study growth and sexual maturity using the gonads, external dimorphic features, gravid females, growth rates of individuals between captures, and the model of von Bertalanffy with Fabens adjustment. The size at sexual maturity in males and females was 161 and 218 mm in straight line maximum carapace length, respectively. Juveniles growth faster than adults and have a negative linear relationship between the growth rate and the carapace length in males and females.Sexual maturity in both males and females was estimated to be nine years, however in the case of males this needs to be examined more extensively. In order to characterize the population structure, sex ratio, and proportion of juveniles in the population, as well as relative abundance of P. erythrocephala in the Ayuanã River, I marked 4.111 individual turtles from 2003 to 2008 in a section of 148.5 km of the Ayuanã River, a small lake in an island in the channel of Rio Negro and the Jurubaxi River. These population parameters differ between the capture methods used. Trammel nets proved to be more efficient than free diving for turtles. The capture index between turtles caught in trammel nets with mesh size of 18 and 21 were greater than for trammel nets with the mesh size of 11 cm. The corrected sex ratio for the population in the Ayuanã River was (0,41♂:1♀). The proportion of juveniles was corrected to be 40% for the population studied. The frequency of recaptures suggests that only a small part of this population was captured during this study. The study concerning movement patterns (defined as the linear distance between the points of capture) of P. erythrocephala indicates that this species disperses along the entire Ayuanã River, without having a small fixed area of use. The linear distance moved by females was greater than that observed for males. The longest linear distances moved were greater than 27.000 m, including the movements between Ayuanã River and a lake in the middle of the Rio Negro or to the next river entering the Rio Negro, Jurubaxi River.A espécie Podocnemis erythrocephala habita rios e lagos de água preta e clara, distribuindo-se pelas bacias do Rio Negro, Tapajós e Trombetas, no Brasil, e ainda no extremo oriental da Colômbia e na maioria dos estados amazônicos da Venezuela. Como acontece com todas as espécies da família Podocnemididae, em maior ou menor intensidade, suas populações naturais têm sofrido com coleta de ovos e de indivíduos adultos para o consumo humano. Apesar de sua importância como fonte de alimento para as populações humanas onde quer que P. erythrocephala ocorra, não existem estudos sobre o tamanho de suas populações naturais nem programas de monitoramento. As informações existentes sobre o declínio das populações naturais de Podocnemididae ainda são raras, mas as espécies desta família precisam ser monitoradas utilizando-se métodos que mensurem o tamanho de populações adultas, a estrutura populacional de tamanhos e a razão sexual. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar aspectos da dinâmica populacional de P. erythrocephala no rio Ayuanã, médio Rio Negro, estado do Amazonas. O tamanho de maturidade sexual é importante para a determinação correta da razão sexual de uma população de quelônios. Foi realizado então um estudo de crescimento e maturidade sexual utilizando análise de gônadas, dimorfismo sexual externo, fêmeas grávidas, crescimento entre as recapturas e o modelo de von Bertalanffy ajustado por Fabens. O tamanho de maturidade sexual para machos e fêmeas foi 161 e 218 mm de comprimento máximo retilíneo da carapaça, respectivamente. Juvenis crescem mais rapidamente que indivíduos adultos e existe uma relação linear negativa entre a taxa de crescimento e o tamanho da carapaça de machos e fêmeas. A idade estimada para a maturidade sexual de machos e fêmeas foi de nove anos, mas no caso dos machos este número deve ser visto com cautela. Para caracterizar a estrutura populacional, razão sexual e proporção de juvenis, bem com analisar a abundância relativa de P. erythrocephala no rio Ayuanã foram marcados 4.111 indivíduos desde 2003 a 2008 em um trecho de 148,5 km do rio Ayuanã, em uma ilha na calha do Rio Negro e no rio Jurubaxi. Estes parâmetros populacionais diferiram entre os métodos de captura utilizados. As trammel nets foram mais eficientes do que o mergulho. O índice de captura utilizando trammel nets com malhas com distâncias entre nós de 18 e 21 cm foi maior do que com trammel nets com malhas medindo 11 cm de distância entre nós. A razão sexual corrigida para a população do rio Ayuanã foi de (0,41♂:1♀). A proporção de juvenis corrigida foi de 40% na população estudada. A taxa de recaptura sugere que apenas uma pequena parcela da população tenha sido capturada durante o estudo. O estudo sobre o padrão de movimentação (aqui definido como a distância linear entre os pontos de captura) de P. erythrocephala indica que esta espécie dispersa- se ao longo de todo o rio Ayuanã sem possuir uma área fixa de vida. A distância linear percorrida pelas fêmeas foi maior do que a percorrida pelos machos. Foram observados movimentos com distâncias lineares maiores do que 27.000 m, inclusive do rio Ayuanã até um lago em uma ilha no meio do Rio Negro ou até o rio Jurubaxi, vizinho ao Ayuanã

Correcting for the missing rich: An application to Wealth Survey Data

It is a well-known criticism that if the distribution of wealth is highly concentrated, survey data are hardly reliable when it comes to analyzing the richest parts of society. This paper addresses this criticism by providing a general rationale of the underlying methodological problem as well as by proposing a specific methodological approach tailored to correcting the arising bias. We illustrate the latter approach by using Austrian data from the Household Finance and Consumption Survey. Specifically, we identify suitable parameter combinations by using a series of maximum-likelihood estimates and appropriate goodness-of-fit tests to avoid arbitrariness with respect to the fitting of the Pareto distribution. Our results suggest that the alleged non-observation bias is considerable, accounting for about one quarter of total net wealth in the case of Austria. The method developed in this paper can easily be applied to other countries where survey data on wealth are available

Aggregation and crosslinking of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide)-b-pullulan double hydrophilic block copolymers

The self‐assembly of polymers is a major topic in current polymer chemistry. In here, the self‐assembly of a pullulan based double hydrophilic block copolymer, namely pullulan‐b ‐poly(N,N ‐dimethylacrylamide)‐co ‐poly(diacetone acrylamide) (Pull‐b ‐(PDMA‐co ‐PDAAM)) is described. The hydrophilic block copolymer induces phase separation at high concentration in aqueous solution. Additionally, the block copolymer displays aggregates at lower concentration, which show a size dependence on concentration. In order to stabilize the aggregates, crosslinking via oxime formation is described, which enables preservation of aggregates at high dilution, in dialysis and in organic solvents. With adequate stability by crosslinking, double hydrophilic block copolymer (DHBC) aggregates open pathways for potential biomedical applications in the future

Prevalence and risk factors of syphilis infection among drug addicts

Scherbaum N, Baune BT, Mikolajczyk RT, Kuhlmann T, Reymann G, Reker M. Prevalence and risk factors of syphilis infection among drug addicts. BMC Infectious Diseases. 2005;5(1): 33.Background: Recent epidemiological data show an increased trend of official estimates for syphilis infection in the general population. Many of the infected cases remain undetected leaving an underestimation of the true prevalence of syphilis in the general population, but also among subpopulations such as illicit drug users. There is limited epidemiological data published on the proportion and risk factors of syphilis infections associated with illicit drug abuse. Methods: Illicit drug addicts (n = 1223) in inpatients units in Germany were screened (2000-01) for syphilis and interviewed regarding patterns of drug use and sexual behaviour. TPHA-test for initial screening and FTA-ABS-IgM test in TPHA-positive patients were used. Results: In total, TPHA-tests were positive in 39 (3.3%) and 7 patients (0.6%) were IgM positive. The prevalence rate for syphilis in males was 1.9% and for women it was 8.5%. Female patients were 4.56 (CI 95% 2.37-8.78) times more likely to have a positive TPHA test than males. Sexual behaviours such as high number of sexual partners, sex for drugs/money, sex on the first day were associated with syphilis infection only in women. Females with frequent sex for drugs or money had 4.31 (CI 95% 2.32-8.52) times more likely a reactive TPHA test than remaining patients. Neither the sociodemographic factors nor sexual behaviour were statistically significant associated with syphilis infection among men at all. Conclusion: Our data suggest the need for screening for syphilis among these illicit drug users in inpatient settings, in particular among sexual active women. This conclusion is corroborated by the finding of increasing numbers of syphilis infections in the general population. The identification of syphilis cases among drug addicts would give treatment options to these individuals and would help to reduce the spread of infection in this population, but also a spread into heterosexual populations related to prostitution

NMR characterization of hairpin polyamide complexes with the minor groove of DNA

Polyamides containing N-methylimidazole (Im) and N-methylpyrrole (Py) amino acids can be combined in antiparallel side-by-side dimeric complexes for sequence-specific recognition in the minor groove of DNA. Covalently linking polyamide subunits has led to designed ligands with both increased affinity and specificity. Simple aliphatic amino acid linkers serve as internal guide residues for turn vs extended binding in a head-to-tail-linked polyamide motif. Polyamides of sequence composition ImPyPy-X-PyPyPy containing linkers of incremental length (X = 3-aminopropionic acid (β), 4-aminobutyric acid (γ), or 5-aminovaleric acid (δ)) in complex with an undecamer DNA duplex containing a 5'-(A,T)G(A,T)(3)-3' target site were structurally characterized using NMR spectroscopy. Previous quantitative DNase I footprinting studies identified gamma as the highest affinity of these "turn" linkers. NMR titrations and 2D NOESY data combined with restrained molecular modeling reveal that polyamides with β, γ, and δ linkers all may adopt a hairpin structure. Modeling supports the idea that the linkers in the βand δcomplexes adopt an energetically less favorable turn geometry than the γlinker and confirms that the three-carbon γ linker is sufficient and optimal for the hairpin conformation

Screening antimycobacterial activity of Baccharis dracunculifolia, Centella asiatica, Lantana camara and Pterodonemarginatus

A investigação permanente de novas drogas antimicobacterianas é necessária no programa de erradicação da tuberculose e de outras doenças relacionadas com micobactérias. O objetivo deste estudo foi buscar novas fontes de drogas antimicobacterianas usando material vegetal. Neste estudo, 11 materiais de base vegetal (extratos, óleos essenciais e algumas frações) foram avaliados contra 5 espécies de micobactérias. Estes materiais foram obtidos a partir de 4 espécies de plantas medicinais tradicionalmente utilizadas como terapêutica geral para diferentes doenças e, especificamente, no tratamento de tuberculose (Baccharis dracunculifolia, Centella asiatica, Lantana camara, Pterodon emarginatus). Os ensaios foram realizados em microplacas com resazurina contra duas espécies do Complexo Mycobacterium tuberculosis e 3 espécies de micobactérias não tuberculosas. Os resultados mostraram o extrato hexânico e o óleo essencial de frutos de P. emarginatus como potenciais fontes para drogas antimicobacterianas contra quatro espécies de micobactérias testadas. A fração hexânica do extrato metanólico das folhas de C. asiatica também apresentou significativa inibição do crescimento de micobactérias apenas contra M. chelonae. Em conclusão, foi possível contribuir para as investigações de antimicobacterianos por apresentar três novas amostras de plantas com atividade antimicrobiana significativa contra quatro Mycobacterium spp e sugerir a realização de estudos futuros sobre as propriedades antimicobacterianas de frutos de P. emarginatus.The permanent investigation of new antimycobacterial drugs is necessary for the eradication programs of tuberculosis and other mycobacterium-related diseases. The aim of the present study is to search for new sources of antimycobacterial drugs using plant materials. In this study, 11 plant materials (extracts, essential oils and some fractions) obtained from 4 species of medicinal plants traditionally used as general therapeutics for different illnesses and specifically as treatment of tuberculosis, were evaluated using the microplate resazurin assay against 2 species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex and 3 nontuberculous mycobacteria. The results showed the hexane extract and the essential oil from fruits of Pterodon emarginatus (Vogel) as potential sources of antimycobacterial drugs against 4 species of tested mycobacteria. The hexane fraction of methanol extract from leaves of Centella asiatica also presented significant mycobacterial growth inhibition, but against M. chelonae only. In conclusion, it was possible to contribute to the antimycobacterial investigations by presenting three new samples of plants with significant antimicrobial activity against four Mycobacterium spp and suggest future studies about the antimycobacterial properties of fruits from P. emarginatus

Bestände und Konzentration Privater Vermögen in Österreich

This report provides an estimation of the Austrian wealth distribution based on the second wave of the Household Finance Consumption Survey (HFCS). The HFCS, conducted by the European System of Central Banks, is the best data source for empirical research on private wealth across Europe and is therefore of great importance for studying issues of distribution and wealth. This article particularly focuses on the top of the wealth distribution and introduces an estimation process for the consideration of differential non-response. While the HFCS data is an indispensable source for inequality research, it still faces the common problems of survey data on private wealth, namely the lacking coverage of the richest households. This leads to a systematic underestimation of total wealth and wealth inequality. In this paper, we aim to adjust for the undercoverage at the top of the distribution based on the assumption that the top of the wealth distribution follows a power-law. We extend this approach by also considering the role non-response bias, as there is some evidence that this aspect has become more important in the second wave of the HFCS in Austria. To account for this problem, we initially test different estimation methods by the use of Monte-Carlo simulations. Subsequently, we adjust the data accordingly to estimate the amount of wealth held by the top of the distribution. Our results show that total wealth and wealth inequality are underestimated in the HFCS raw data. Using the adjusted data, total wealth rises from 998 bn. to 1,317 bn. euro, average wealth rises 83,000 euro, and the top one percent’s share of total wealth jumps from 25 to 41 percent. These results are qualitatively in line with previous research of Eckerstorfer et al. (2013) on the first wave of the HFCS. Finally, the report provides estimates of potential tax revenues from various wealth taxation models. Depending on tax exempt amounts, tax rates and tax evasion, such taxes could generate 2.9 to 8.3 billion Euros in Austria

Supernumerary kidneys: a clinical and radiological analysis of nine cases.

BACKGROUND: A supernumerary kidney (SK) is an additional kidney with its own capsule and blood supply that is not fused with the ipsilateral kidney (IK). Because individual case reports indicate a high morbidity rate, the aim of this retrospective study was a detailed analysis of this rare anatomical variant. METHODS: Our systematic imaging-based search for SKs, conducted in the period from 2000 and to 2017, yielded 9 cases in total (5 men, 4 women; mean age: 51.8 ± 22.8 years). RESULTS: The SKs were observed on the right in six and on the left side in three cases. In six subjects (66%) they were located caudal and in three cases (33%) cranial to the ipsilateral kidney. Calculi were found in three (33%) of the renal collecting systems. Five (56%) of the SKs had hydronephrosis grade IV and one SK had recurrent pyelonephritis (11%). Two of the ureters opened into the ipsilateral seminal vesicle (22%). Two (22%) SKs were functional but atrophic. Clinically relevant findings were made in 33% of the IKs: atrophy (n = 2), calculi (n = 1), and reflux with recurrent pyelonephritis (n = 1); another 33% had anatomical anomalies without functional impairment. The correct diagnosis of a SK is possible using CT imaging in all subjects. The prevalence of SK based on CT imaging can be estimated to be 1:26750. CONCLUSIONS: CT is the method of choice for visualizing SKs. The correct diagnosis is crucial in preventing dispensable surgical procedures and for providing optimal patient treatment and outcome