Cuticular Hydrocarbon Variation of Castes and Sex in the Weaver Ant Camponotus textor (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Cuticular hydrocarbons play important roles as chemical signatures of individuals, castes, sex and brood. They also can mediate the regulation of egg laying in ants, by informing directly or indirectly the reproductive status of queens. In this study we asked whether cuticular hydrocarbon profiles are correlated with castes and sex of Camponotus textor. Cuticular hydrocarbons were extracted from part of a mature colony (80 workers, 27 major workers, 27 queens, 27 virgin queens and 27 males). Results showed that cuticular hydrocarbons varied quantitatively and qualitatively among the groups and this variation was sufficiently strong to allow separation of castes and genders. We discuss the specificity of some compounds as possible regulatory compounds of worker tasks and reproduction in C. textor

Foraging behavior of Scaptotrigona depilis (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) and its relationship with temporal and abiotic factors

Stingless bees play an important role in Tropical and Subtropical ecosystems as pollinators of many plants. The aim of this study was to characterize the pattern of flight activity and foraging for pollen by Scaptotrigona depilis workers and their relation with climatic and temporal factors. We observed flight activity from July 2001 to June 2002 and pollen collection by scoring the flow of workers entering and exiting the colonies. We tested whether environmental (temperature, relative humidity, pluviosity and luminosity) and temporal predictors (month and time of day) affected bees’ activities. The study was conducted during one year and the records of observations showed that during the dry season when the length of light is longer, the external activity was more intensive, while during cold months with shorter light period, foraging activity was reduced. Pollen collection showed a peak in February, but in general this activity was regulated by temperature, humidity and daily luminosity

A NEW PERSPECTIVE FOR PHYSICAL HEIGHTS IN BRAZIL

The physical heights definition of heights, proposed by Helmert in 1890 is one of the commonly used heights systems in practice. In Helmert’s definition, the mean value of gravity along plumbline is computed by simplifying the topography with a Bouguer shell containing masses with mean density value. Although this approximation might be accurate enough many purposes, a more rigorous definition can be determined by considering the effects of terrain, topographic mass density variation, and masses contained in the geoid the mean gravity value along the plumbline. The purpose of this paper is to compute the corrections for the Helmert’s definition of the orthometric heights to obtain the rigorous orthometric heights in the state of São Paulo and adjacent states and to evaluate these corrections. The heights system used in Brazil (until July 2018) and some South American countries is normal-orthometric heights, therefore the corrections needs to be applied accordingly. Our numerical results show that there are significant differences between the normal-orthometric and rigorous orthometric heights, with maximum values of ~ 0.4 m, minimum of ~ -0.8 m and mean value of ~ -0.32 m. There are larger differences between normal-orthometric and normal height than the ones between normal and rigorous definition of orthometric heights.The physical heights definition of heights, proposed by Helmert in 1890 is one of the commonly used heights systems in practice. In Helmert’s definition, the mean value of gravity along plumbline is computed by simplifying the topography with a Bouguer shell containing masses with mean density value. Although this approximation might be accurate enough many purposes, a more rigorous definition can be determined by considering the effects of terrain, topographic mass density variation, and masses contained in the geoid the mean gravity value along the plumbline. The purpose of this paper is to compute the corrections for the Helmert’s definition of the orthometric heights to obtain the rigorous orthometric heights in the state of São Paulo and adjacent states and to evaluate these corrections. The heights system used in Brazil (until July 2018) and some South American countries is normal-orthometric heights, therefore the corrections needs to be applied accordingly. Our numerical results show that there are significant differences between the normal-orthometric and rigorous orthometric heights, with maximum values of ~ 0.4 m, minimum of ~ -0.8 m and mean value of ~ -0.32 m. There are larger differences between normal-orthometric and normal height than the ones between normal and rigorous definition of orthometric heights

Strategy for Connecting to the IHRF: Case Study for the Tide Gauge of Cananeia-SP

In July 2018, IBGE launched the new heights of the Brazilian Geodetic System (BGS), the normal height, which has associated gravity. These new heights are replacing the old normal-orthometric ones, in which there was only the non-parallelism correction. The IBGE informs that the values farther from the origin, have less accuracy. This lower accuracy may interfere in the future, the connection of the local tide gauges to IHRF (International Reference Frame Height). Thus, this paper proposes the integration of the local tide gauge of Cananeia-SP to the IHRF. In order to validate the methodology, the normal, Helmert, and rigorous orthometric heights using two distinct references: the Imbituba-SC tide gauge, as the origin of the BGS and the Cananeia-SP tide gauge, as a local tide gauge to be integrated into the IHRF. Calculating the three heights through these two origins, we analyzed the discrepancies in comparison to the heights calculated by IBGE. Numerical tests indicate that there was an improvement in terms of a mean and standard deviation when using the Cananeia gauge as origin in the calculation of normal, Helmert, and rigorous heights. In the congruence analysis, the calculations indicate that the highest standard deviation is presented when using IBGE normal heights. Thus, we have a new origin that is reliable and functional, can be integrated with the IHRF, where the Helmert and rigorous orthometric heights have the best statistical results

Neutral Sterols of Cephalic Glands of Stingless Bees and Their Correlation with Sterols from Pollen

Sterols are essential molecules in the membrane lipid composition and precursors of important sterol hormones that regulate many developmental processes. Insects are unable to synthesize sterols de novo and, thus, all phytophagous insects depend on an exogenous source of sterols for growth, development, and reproduction. The sterol requirements of social bees are not fully known due to the fact that there is no well-defined diet available throughout the year with regard to floral resources. Our study aimed to characterize the sterols present in pollen stored in Melipona marginata and Melipona scutellaris colonies, as well as evaluating their presence in the mandibular, hypopharyngeal, and cephalic salivary gland secretions. We analyzed the chemical composition of pollen stored in the colonies and the composition of the cephalic glands of workers in three adult functional phases (newly emerged, nurses, and foragers) by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The results showed that the pollen analyzed contained campesterol, stigmasterol, sitosterol, isofucosterol, lanosterol, and small amounts of cholesterol. The glands showed the same compounds found in the pollen analyzed, except lanosterol that was not found in M. scutellaris glands. Surprisingly, cholesterol was found in some glands with relative ratios greater than those found in pollen

Cuidados paliativos aos pacientes terminais: percepções da equipe de enfermagem no atendimento intra-hospitalar / Palliative care for terminal patients: perceptions of the nursing team for intra-hospital care

Introdução: A qualidade do atendimento intra-hospitalar ao paciente terminal depende da aplicação da Sistematização da Assistência de Enfermagem (SAE) como método científico, o que se torna padrão-ouro entre equipes interdisciplinares e multidisciplinares. Neste sentido, é fundamental que a equipe de enfermagem participe de programas de treinamentos contínuos e adote protocolos institucionais baseados nas recomendações do Ministério da Saúde a fim de prestar uma assistência segura e eficaz. Objetivo: Este estudo tem como objetivo principal identificar as principais dificuldades encontradas pela equipe de enfermagem na prestação da assistência intra-hospitalar integral ao paciente com doença terminal no município de Paripiranga/BA. O estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética e Pesquisa com Seres Humanos do Centro Universitário UniAges, sob parecer nº 087-2016. Método: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo, transversal, de campo, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado no Hospital Municipal Ismael Trindade – Paripiranga/BA. Todos os 13 profissionais que atuavam no setor de urgência e emergência participaram do estudo, (5; 38,5%) enfermeiros e (8;61,5%) técnicos de enfermagem. Resultados: Observa-se que a maioria da população é composta por mulheres (N=9; 68,2%), na faixa etária de 20 a 30 anos (N=10; 76,9%), com média de 24,4 (dp±2,9) e casadas (N=11;84,6%). O período de 5 anos de trabalho, apenas (N=6; 46,1%) receberam treinamento sobre assistência intra-hospitalar ao paciente portador de doença terminal, dos quais obtiveram por meio de recursos próprios. A maioria (N=12; 92,3%) apontou o protocolo institucional de atendimento intra-hospitalar como desatualizado e limitante da assistência. Também foram mencionadas outras dificuldades, tais como estresse profissional e deficiência no quesito segurança psicológica. Todos os participantes apontaram a ausência de regulação na rede de assistência, a falta de materiais de consumo e permanente, dificuldades de transporte de paciente para outros municípios e dimensionamento de pessoal reduzido. Conclusão: Torna-se necessário manter a capacitação destes profissionais, dar suporte básico para a realização da assistência sistematizada e segura ao paciente terminal. Os fatores relacionados à gestão do atendimento precisam ser revistos para prevenir iatrogenias e aumento da mortalidade por falta de dimensionamento de pessoal e de materiais

Lipases and lipid droplet-associated protein expression in subcutaneous white adipose tissue of cachectic patients with cancer

Background: Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial metabolic syndrome characterized by marked loss of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Fat loss from adipose tissue in cancer cachexia is partly the result of increased lipolysis. Despite the growing amount of studies focused on elucidating the mechanisms through which lipolysis-related proteins regulate the lipolytic process, there are scarce data concerning that profile in the adipose tissue of cancer cachectic patients. Considering its fundamental importance, it was our main purpose to characterize the expression of the lipolysis-related proteins in the white adipose tissue of cachectic cancer patients. Methods: Patients from the University Hospital were divided into three groups: control, cancer cachexia (CC), and weight-stable cancer patients (WSC). To gain greater insight into adipose tissue wasting during cancer cachexia progression, we have also analyzed an experimental model of cachexia (Walker 256 carcinosarcoma). Animals were divided into: control, intermediate cachexia (IC) and terminal cachexia (TC). Subcutaneous white adipose tissue of patients and epidydimal white adipose tissue of animals were investigated regarding molecular aspects by determining the protein content and gene expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), comparative gene identification-58 (CGI-58), perilipin 1, leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). Results: We found augmented lipolysis in CC associated with increased HSL expression, as well as upregulation of ATGL expression and reduction in perilipin 1 content. In IC, there was an imbalance in the secretion of pro-and anti-inflammatory factors. The alterations at the end-stage of cachexia were even more profound, and there was a reduction in the expression of almost all proteins analyzed in the animals. Conclusions: Our findings show that cachexia induces important morphological, molecular, and humoral alterations in the white adipose tissue, which are specific to the stage of the syndrome.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ São Paulo, Canc Metab Res Grp, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Surg,Fac Med, São Paulo, BrazilSão Paulo State Univ UNESP, Exercise & Immunometab Res Grp, Dept Phys Educ, Presidente Prudente, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Univ Hosp, Dept Clin Surg, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Mogi das Cruzes, Lab Adipose Tissue Biol, Ctr Integrated Biotechnol, Mogi Das Cruzes, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Ave Prof Lineu Prestes 1524,Lab 434, BR-05508900 São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Fisiol, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2012/50079-0Web of Scienc

Morphological evaluation of macrophage infected with Toxoplasma Gondii / Avaliação morfológica de macrófagos infectados com Toxoplasma Gondii

O Toxoplasma gondii é o parasita causador da toxoplasmose, doença negligenciada que ainda carece de estudos que visem elucidar a relação entre a parasitemia e o sistema imunológico. Uma das principais células do sistema imunológico são os macrófagos e estes possuem linhagens celulares imortalizadas que fornecem um modelo de estudo acessível para experimentos in vitro . Com isso, este trabalho pretende enfatizar a importância da linhagem de macrófagos J774G8 em estudos com protozoários, destacando a viabilidade e alterações morfológicas da cultura de células infectadas com Toxoplasma gondii

Ortho-nitrobenzyl derivatives as potential anti-schistosomal agents

In the search for new anti-schistosomal agents, a series of fifteen ortho-nitrobenzyl derivatives was assayed in vitro against both the schistosomulum (somule) and adult forms of Schistosoma mansoni. Compounds 8 and 12 showed significant activity against somules at low micromolar concentrations, but none was active against adults. The SAR demonstrated that the compounds most active against the parasite were mutagenic to the human cell line RKO-AS45-1 only at concentrations 10- to 40-fold higher than the worm-killing dose. Given their electrophilicity, compounds were also screened as inhibitors of the S. mansoni cysteine protease (cathepsin B1) in vitro. Amides 5 and 15 exhibited a modest inhibition activity with values of 55.7 and 50.6 % at 100 µM, respectively. The nitrobenzyl compounds evaluated in this work can be regarded as hits in the search for more active and safe anti-schistosomal agents

Junction communication in the immune system: modulation of the GAP junctions by infection with Toxoplasma gondii / Comunicação juncional no sistema imunológico: modulação das junções GAP em infecção por Toxoplasma gondii

RETOMARO Toxoplasma gondii é um protozoário parasita responsável pela toxoplasmose, podendo estar causando problemas em diferentes sistemas. Algumas dessas complicações estão associadas à alteração da comunicação intercelular mediada por Junctions Communicators que permite a comunicação direta entre os tecidos. No entanto, ainda existem sistemas que não são totalmente consistentes com a comunicação juncional, incluindo o sistema imunológico inato, representado pelos macrófagos. Assim, neutralizou a cultura da linha celular do macrófago J774-G8 infectada pela cepa RH de Toxoplasma em sua forma de taquizoíta.Os resultados revelaram que nas células J774-G8 as proteínas Cx43 e Phalloidina interagem na membrana plasmática da linhagem J774-G8, sofrendo uma sensibilidade redução na membrana após 72 horas da infecção pelo parasita. Toxoplasma gondii . A avaliação da expressão da proteína Cx43 por transferência imunoeletroforética alterada (elevada) em células de macrófagos J774-G8 infectadas com o parasita Toxoplasma gondii 24 e 48 horas em comparação com células não infectadas