ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and non-vascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest

Epiphytes are hyper-diverse and one of the frequently undervalued life forms in plant surveys and biodiversity inventories. Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world, have high endemism and radiated recently in the Pliocene. We aimed to (1) compile an extensive Atlantic Forest data set on vascular, non-vascular plants (including hemiepiphytes), and lichen epiphyte species occurrence and abundance; (2) describe the epiphyte distribution in the Atlantic Forest, in order to indicate future sampling efforts. Our work presents the first epiphyte data set with information on abundance and occurrence of epiphyte phorophyte species. All data compiled here come from three main sources provided by the authors: published sources (comprising peer-reviewed articles, books, and theses), unpublished data, and herbarium data. We compiled a data set composed of 2,095 species, from 89,270 holo/hemiepiphyte records, in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay, recorded from 1824 to early 2018. Most of the records were from qualitative data (occurrence only, 88%), well distributed throughout the Atlantic Forest. For quantitative records, the most common sampling method was individual trees (71%), followed by plot sampling (19%), and transect sampling (10%). Angiosperms (81%) were the most frequently registered group, and Bromeliaceae and Orchidaceae were the families with the greatest number of records (27,272 and 21,945, respectively). Ferns and Lycophytes presented fewer records than Angiosperms, and Polypodiaceae were the most recorded family, and more concentrated in the Southern and Southeastern regions. Data on non-vascular plants and lichens were scarce, with a few disjunct records concentrated in the Northeastern region of the Atlantic Forest. For all non-vascular plant records, Lejeuneaceae, a family of liverworts, was the most recorded family. We hope that our effort to organize scattered epiphyte data help advance the knowledge of epiphyte ecology, as well as our understanding of macroecological and biogeographical patterns in the Atlantic Forest. No copyright restrictions are associated with the data set. Please cite this Ecology Data Paper if the data are used in publication and teaching events. © 2019 The Authors. Ecology © 2019 The Ecological Society of Americ

PORTFOLIO SELECTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS PROJECTS USING PROMETHEE V WITH C-OPTIMAL CONCEPT

This paper presents a multicriteria decision model for selecting a portfolio of information system (IS) projects, which integrates strategic and organizational view within a multicriteria decision structure. The PROMETHEE V method, based on outranking relations is applied, considering the c-optimal concept in order to overcome some scaling problems found in the classical PROMETHEE V approach. Then, a procedure is proposed in order to make a final analysis of the c-optimal portfolios found as a result of using PROMETHEE V. Also, the organizational view is discussed, including some factors that may influence decision making on IS projects to be included in the portfolio, such as adding the company's strategic vision and technical aspects that demonstrate how IS contributes value to a company's business

Using value-focused thinking in Brazil

Value-Focused Thinking (VFT) provides a systematic approach to structure complex decisions for subsequent analysis. It is a powerful complement to decision analysis and its application has been growing in recent years. This paper discusses the application of VFT in Brazil to three problems in different contexts: water management, information system/information technology (IS/IT) strategic planning, and the disposal of plaster waste. This article describes how the VFT approach was used to structure these decision problems and identify alternatives to stall them, which led to developing qualitative and quantitative models for evaluating the alternatives, and discusses how such structures can be used in other similar problems

FITOQUÍMICA E ATIVIDADE FARMACOLÓGICA PRELIMINAR DO EXTRATO AQUOSO DE Tynanthus micranthus Corr. Méllo ex K. Schum: UM EXEMPLO DA CAPACIDADE PREDITIVA E DOS CUSTOS NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DE NOVOS PRODUTOS FARMACÊUTICOS

Os produtos naturais têm servido de inspiração para o desenvolvimento de vários produtos pela indústria farmacêutica local e mundial. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a atividade farmacológica preliminar do extrato aquoso das folhas secas de Tynanthus micranthus, usando o teste hipocrático em camundongos, como uma ferramenta para direcionar estudos farmacológicos futuros, bem como avaliar os custos envolvidos na execução deste estudo. AT. micranthus Corr. Méllo ex K. Schum, conhecida popularmente como cipó-cravo, é facilmente encontrada na região Noroeste do Estado do Paraná, Brasil, sendo utilizada pela população como calmante e analgésica. No entanto, existem poucos trabalhos científicos com esta espécie vegetal. O cálculo do custo contábil foi realizado para simular o valor gasto por uma empresa privada na realização destas atividades de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento. Nossos resultados mostram que além do baixo custo, o teste hipocrático proporciona resultados importantes para a decisão da via de administração, toxicidade aguda, efeitos com altas doses e por diferentes vias, além de fornecer informações sobre a latência para os efeitos observados. Com essas informações e uma análise fitoquímica mais aprofundada, isolando e identificando os compostos majoritários, é possível avaliar na literatura a relação composto x atividade farmacológica direcionando de forma mais assertiva as pesquisas a serem realizadas. De maneira geral, apresentamos dados inéditos da espécie estudada (T. micranthus), mostrando uma estratégia de triagem farmacológica simples e de baixo custo para a pesquisa de plantas medicinais nativas que apresentem informações restritas na literatura e que possam servir para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos farmacêuticos

High sodium intake adversely affects oxidative-inflammatory response, cardiac remodelling and mortality after myocardial infarction

Enhanced sodium intake increases volume overload, oxidative stress and production of proinflammatory cytokines. In animal models, increased sodium intake favours ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction (MI). The aim of this study was to investigate, in human subjects presenting with ST-segment elevation MI (STEMI), the impact of sodium intake prior the coronary event. Consecutive patients (n = 372) admitted within the first 24 h of STEMI were classified by a food intake questionnaire as having a chronic daily intake of sodium higher (HS) or lower (LS) than 1.2 g in the last 90 days before MI. Plasma levels of 8-isoprostane, interleucin-2 (IL-2), tumour necrosis factor type α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were measured at admission and at the fifth day. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed immediately after discharge. Total mortality and recurrence of acute coronary events were investigated over 4 years of follow-up. The decrease of 8-isoprostane was more prominent and the increase of IL-2, TNF-α and CRP less intense during the first 5 days in LS than in HS patients (p < 0.05). Sodium intake correlated with change in plasma BNP between admission and fifth day (r = 0.46; p < 0.0001). End-diastolic volumes of left atrium and left ventricle were greater in HS than in LS patients (p < 0.05). In the first 30 days after MI and up to 4 years afterwards, total mortality was higher in HS than in LS patients (p < 0.05). Excessive sodium intake increases oxidative stress, inflammatory response, myocardial stretching and dilatation, and short and long-term mortality after STEMI2221284291CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQ300313/2007-

Low zinc levels is associated with increased inflammatory activity but not with atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis or endothelial dysfunction among the very elderly

Background: Reduced zinc intake has been related to atherogenesis and arteriosclerosis. We verified this assumption in very old individuals, which are particularly prone to both zinc deficiency and structural and functional changes in the arterial wall. Methods: Subjects (n = 201, 80–102 years) with uneventful cardiovascular history and who were not in use of anti-inflammatory treatments in the last 30-days were enrolled. Daily intake of zinc, lipid profile, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), plasma zinc, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), carotid ultrasonography and cardiac computed tomography were obtained. Young's Elastic Modulus, Stiffness Index and Artery Compliance were calculated. Results: There was no significant difference in clinical or laboratorial data between subjects grouped according to plasma zinc tertile, except for CRP (p = 0.01) and blood leukocytes (p = 0.002), of which levels were higher in the upper tertiles. The average daily intake of zinc was not significantly correlated with zinc or CRP plasma levels. The plasma zinc/zinc intake ratio was inversely correlated with plasma CRP levels (−0.18; p = 0.01). There was no significant difference between the plasma zinc tertiles and FMD, carotid intima–media thickness, coronary calcium score, carotid plaque presence, remodeled noncalcified coronary plaques, or low-attenuation noncalcified coronary plaques. Conclusion: Although plasma zinc level is inversely related to systemic inflammatory activity, its plasma levels of daily intake are not associated to alterations in structure or function of the arterial wall. General significance: In the very elderly plasma concentrations or daily intake of zinc is not related to endothelial dysfunction, arteriosclerosis or atherosclerotic burden at coronary or carotid arteries