Publicações científicas eletrônicas no Brasil : mudanças na comunicação formal, também?

Results of an exploratory study which aimed to identify the occurrence of electronic publications (journals, books and conference proceedings) produced by academic institutions (universities and learned societies) in Brazil are presented. Relates, in the light of the recent literature, technology developments for electronic publishing, the issue of innovation adoption and the peer review process. Some comments on changes on the formal communication (publishing) as compared to impacts already perceived on the informal communication are presented, on the basis of a hybrid communication model that depicts the co-existence of the print and electronic media nowadays. The research data gathered in the study show that there is a low adoption of information technology in formal communication amongst academic researchers in Brazil. Most of the publications found constitute an electronic version of a print-on-paper one, and are from disciplines in the sciences. There has been a significant role played by Scielo in this process. Moreover, it seems that there has not been a fully exploitation of the technology already available to electronic publishing in the country so far. The peer review process, as it happens in the print-based communication model, is also an essential issue in this scenario.Apresenta resultados de um estudo exploratório que visou à identificação da ocorrência de publicações eletrônicas (periódicos, livros e anais de congressos) produzidas no âmbito de instituições acadêmicas (universidades e sociedades científicas) no Brasil. Discorre, de forma sucinta e com base na literatura recente, a respeito questões consideradas relevantes sobre desenvolvimentos da tecnologia de informação empregada em publicações eletrônicas, a questão da adoção de inovações e o processo de revisão pelos pares. Comenta as mudanças na comunicação formal (publicação) em comparação aos impactos já verificados na comunicação informal, à luz de um modelo híbrido do processo de comunicação que ilustra a coexistência dos meios impresso e eletrônico no cenário atual. Os resultados do estudo mostram baixa adoção das tecnologias de informação na comunicação formal entre pesquisadores acadêmicos no Brasil (poucas publicações produzidas). A maior parte das publicações disponibilizadas constituem versões eletrônicas de publicações impressas e ocorrem na área das ciências naturais, com uma significativa participação do Scielo nesse processo. Além disso, parece não haver ainda no país a exploração inteligente das tecnologias disponíveis para a produção de publicações eletrônicas, e o processo de revisão pelos pares, tal como se dá no modelo impresso, constitui igualmente questão fundamental nesse novo cenário

Insights into Candida tropicalis nosocomial infections and virulence factors

Candida tropicalis is considered the first or the second non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species most frequently isolated from candidosis, mainly in patients admitted in intensive care units (ICUs), especially with cancer, requiring prolonged catheterization, or receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. The proportion of candiduria and candidemia caused by C. tropicalis varies widely with geographical area and patient group. Actually, in certain countries, C. tropicalis is more prevalent, even compared with C. albicans or other NCAC species. Although prophylactic treatments with fluconazole cause a decrease in the frequency of candidosis caused by C. tropicalis, it is increasingly showing a moderate level of fluconazole resistance. The propensity of C. tropicalis for dissemination and the high mortality associated with its infections might be strongly related to the potential of virulence factors exhibited by this species, such as adhesion to different host surfaces, biofilm formation, infection and dissemination, and enzymes secretion. Therefore, the aim of this review is to outline the present knowledge on all the above-mentioned C. tropicalis virulence traits.The authors acknowledge Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), Brazil, for supporting Melyssa Negri (BEX 4642/06-6) and Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, for supporting Sonia Silva (SFRH/BPD/71076/2010), and European Community fund FEDER, trough Program COMPETE under the Project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007025 (PTDC/AMB/68393/2006) is gratefully acknowledged

Reproduction and feeding of the colubrid snake Tomodon dorsatus from south-eastern Brazil

Body size, sexual dimorphism, reproductive cycles, fecundity, diet and feeding behaviour of the colubrid snake Tomodon dorsatus from south-eastern Brazil were studied. Females of this viviparous species attained larger body sizes than males, the latter maturing with smaller body size than the former. Vitellogenesis occurred at the onset of rainy season, ovulation by mid rainy season, and parturition from late dry to early rainy season. Reproductive cycle was extended, maybe as a consequence of the low metabolism and food intake. Litter size ranged 4-26 offspring and was correlated with maternal body size. Relative clutch mass ranged 0.48-0.82, and neonates ranged 12-17 cm in snout-vent length. Tomodon dorsatus was shown to feed exclusively on veronicellid slugs quickly swallowed by long excursions of the specialized upper jaw units.261333