NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Bovinos machos jóvenes castrados versus enteros; calidad de carne y propiedades del tejido conectivo

La optimización de la producción y la calidad de carne son los principales objetivos de los productores y del sector comercial de la carne. Actualmente la producción de animales de engorde a corral presenta una buena eficiencia productiva. Asimismo, en Argentina una nueva categoría de animales, machos enteros jóvenes, ha sido recientemente implementada, presentado interés e inquietud por parte de los productores y la industria de la carne. Desde el punto de vista de la tecnología de los alimentos es interesante estudiar e investigar los parámetros fisicoquímicos y reológicos que ayuden a explicar la presencia/ausencia de cambios sobre la calidad de la carne. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la calidad de la carne y las características térmicas del tejido conectivo en animales alimentados a corral, castrados versus no castrados. La ausencia de testosterona, esperable en machos castrados, no produjo diferencias significativas en la calidad de carne respecto al grupo no castrado. El color, las pérdidas por cocción y la terneza resultaron equivalentes entre ambos grupos de animales. Sin embargo la respuesta de la contracción máxima generada por el tejido conectivo perimisio del músculo LD durante el tratamiento térmico mostró diferencias significativas entre los grupos. Además la fuerza de contracción máxima también varió entre los perimisios musculares LD, ST y PP de animales castrados mientras no así la temperatura de inicio de la contracción (Tonset). Los resultados indicarían la posibilidad de que la ausencia de testosterona afecte de manera diferente la síntesis de tejido conectivo intramuscular in vivo en los diferentes músculos. Al respecto, se requerirán nuevas investigaciones que profundicen estos hallazgos

Sanguinarine suppresses basal-like breast cancer growth through dihydrofolate reductase inhibition

Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) remains a great challenge because of its clinically aggressive nature and lack of effective targeted therapy. We analyzed the potential anti-neoplastic effects of sanguinarine, a natural benzophenanthridine alkaloid, against BLBC cells. Sanguinarine treatment resulted in a reduction of cell migration, in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability and in the induction of cell death by apoptosis in both human (MDA-MB-231 cells) and mouse (A17 cells) in vitro models of BLBC. In vivo experiments demonstrated that oral administration of sanguinarine reduced the development and growth of A17 transplantable tumors in FVB syngeneic mice. Western blotting analysis revealed that suppression of BLBC growth by sanguinarine was correlated with a concurrent upregulation of p27 and downregulation of cyclin D1 and with the inhibition of STAT3 activation. In addition, we identified sanguinarine as a potent inhibitor of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), able to impair enzyme activity even in methotrexate resistant MDA-MB-231 cells. These results provide evidence that sanguinarine is a promising anticancer drug for the treatment of BLBC