First record of Darwin’s Slimehead, Gephyroberyx darwinii (Johnson, 1866) (Beryciformes: Trachichthyidae), in association with Brazilian deep reefs

Copyright © 2004 aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology.Três espécies da família Trachichthyidae ocorrem no sul do Brasil: Paratrachichthys atlanticus, Hoplostethus occidentalis e Gephyroberyx darwinii. Esta última é uma espécie que atinge tamanhos da ordem dos 600 mm (CT), vive na província bentopelágica até profundidades de 1210 metros. É encontrada em águas subtropicais distribuindo-se entre os paralelos 43ºN e 35ºS, sendo utilizada como fonte de alimento no leste do Atlântico central. O presente trabalho reporta a ocorrência de Gephyroberyx darwinii na costa brasileira entre as localidades de Vila Velha (ES) e Rio Grande (RS), em áreas de plataforma externa e talude superior, com profundidades variando de 70 a 520 metros. Suas ocorrências nestas áreas estiveram relacionadas a lances de pesca (onde Lophius gastrophysus é espécie alvo) sobre formações de corais vivos. Dados biométricos e merísticos de três espécimes são apresentados no trabalho.ABSTRACT: Three species of the Trachichthyidae family occur in the south of Brazil: Paratrachichthys atlanticus, Hoplostethus occidentalis and Gephyroberyx darwinii. G. darwinii may attain a length of 600 mm (TL). This benthopelagic species occurs at depths down to 1210 m and is generally found in subtropical waters between 43ºN and 35ºS. It is commercially exploited in the east central Atlantic for food and for oil. In this paper we report the occurrence of G. darwinii off the south and south-east coasts of Brazil between Vila Velha (Espírito Santo State) and Rio Grande (Rio Grande do Sul State), in outer shelf and slope areas, at depths between 70 and 520 m. In Brazil the trachichthyids were usually caught while fishing for Lophius gastrophysus over deep coral bottoms. Meristic and biometric data are presented for the three collected specimens

A Central Limit Theorem for intransitive dice

Intransive dice $D^{(1)}, \ldots, D^{(\ell)}$ are dice such that $D^{(1)}$ has advantage with respect to $D^{(2)}$, dice $D^{(2)}$ has advantage with respect to $D^{(3)}$ and so on, up to $D^{(\ell)}$, which has advantage over $D^{(1)}$. In this twofold work, we present: first, (deterministic) results on existence of general intransitive dice. Second and mainly, a central limit theorem for the vector of normalized victories of a die against the next one in the list when the faces of a die are i.i.d.\ random variables and all dice are independent, but different dice may have distinct distributions associated to, as well as they may have distinct number of faces. From this central limit theorem we derive a criteria to assure that the asymptotic probability of observing intransitive dice is null, which applies for many cases, including all continuous distributions and many discrete ones.Comment: 37 pages, 3 figure

Determinants of the Sympatric Host-Pathogen Relationship in Tuberculosis

Major contributions from pathogen genome analysis and host genetics have equated the possibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis co-evolution with its human host leading to more stable sympatric host-pathogen relationships. However, the attribution to either sympatric or allopatric categories depends on the resolution or grain of genotypic characterization. We explored the influence on the sympatric host-pathogen relationship of clinical (HIV infection and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis [MDRTB]) and demographic (gender and age) factors in regards to the genotypic grain by using spacer oligonucleotide typing (spoligotyping) for classification of M. tuberculosis strains within the Euro-American lineage. We analyzed a total of 547 tuberculosis (TB) cases, from six year consecutive sampling in a setting with high TB-HIV coinfection (32.0%). Of these, 62.0% were caused by major circulating pathogen genotypes. The sympatric relationship was defined according to spoligotype in comparison to the international spoligotype database SpolDB4. While no significant association with Euro-American lineage was observed with any of the factors analyzed, increasing the resolution with spoligotyping evidenced a significant association of MDRTB with sympatric strains, regardless of the HIV status. Furthermore, distribution curves of the prevalence of sympatric and allopatric TB in relation to patients' age showed an accentuation of the relevance of the age of onset in the allopatric relationship, as reflected in the trimodal distribution. On the contrary, sympatric TB was characterized by the tendency towards a typical (standard) distribution curve. Our results suggest that within the Euro-American lineage a greater degree of genotyping fine-tuning is necessary in modeling the biological processes behind the host-pathogen interplay. Furthermore, prevalence distribution of sympatric TB to age was suggestive of host genetic determinisms driven by more common variants.Luso-American Development Foundation: (LACR Award program - 2007), European Community fund: (FEDER)

DESENVOLVIMENTO DO RABANETE SOB DIFERENTES LÂMINAS DE IRRIGAÇÃO

O rabanete (Raphanus sativus L.) é uma das plantas da família Brassicaceae, tendo origem na região mediterrânea (RODRIGUES et al., 2013), sua raiz é formada por um bulbo de cor vermelha e sabor levemente picante. Durante o ciclo da cultura do rabanete, o estresse hídrico pode afetar seu desenvolvimento fisiológico e morfológico, refletindo diretamente na produção final, podendo resultar na isoporização das raízes, imprimindo um aspecto esponjoso e rachaduras ao longo das mesmas (FILGUEIRA, 2007). O objetivo geral desde trabalho foi de verificar o efeito do uso de distintas formas de manejo da irrigação no desenvolvimento e produtividade da cultura do rabanete. Para isso, procurou-se identificar a forma de manejo mais adequada a ser aplicada nesta cultura, evitando-se desperdício eelevação dos custos de produção. O experimento foi desenvolvido na área de produção e pesquisa do Instituto Federal Catarinense Campus Rio do Sul, no período de agosto de 2019 até julho de 2020. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos na área em blocos casualizados, sendo assim atribuídos, o primeiro (T1) referente ao manejo com tensiômetros, o segundo (T2) referente a utilização de uma lâmina fixa de 3mm, o terceiro (T3) referente ao manejo por meio da evapotranspiração da cultura e por fim, o quarto (T4) sendo a testemunha, sem irrigação. Foram determinadas as seguintes variáveis: altura das plantas; massa fresca e seca de folhas por planta; massa fresca do tubérculo por planta e diâmetro do tubérculo. As variáveis analisadas do comprimento da parte aérea e peso da parte aérea, não diferiramestatísticamente para os tratamentos, sendo o T2 o que apresentou valores menores. O diâmetro do bulbo do rabanete apresentou valor inferior para o T2, sendo que o mesmo diferiu estatísticamente com relação aos demais tratamentos, reforçando a expectativa de que uma irrigação realizada com um parâmetro empírico, sem verificar a real necessidade da cultura pode ser mais onerosa e ainda não refletir em maior produtividade ou qualidade da cultura. Para a característica, que apresenta grande relevância quando se pensa na comercialização do produto, sendo o peso do bulbo, não ocorreu diferença estatística, todavia o T3 apresentou resultados mais elevados para está variável, quando comparado ao T2, o mesmo apresentou um resultado 11% superior, o que em nível de produtividade é significativo. Neste sentido o manejo da irrigação por meio da demanda evapotranspirativa apresentou maior eficiência numérica, apesar de não apresentar significância estatística. Cabe salientar que a escolha de um período onde se apresente estiagem a cultura poderá ser comprometida, neste sentido a irrigação seria fundamental

Connectivity between countries established by landbirds and raptors migrating along the African–Eurasian flyway

The conservation of long-distance migratory birds requires coordination between the multiple countries connected by the movements of these species. The recent expansion of tracking studies is shedding new light on these movements, but much of this information is fragmented and inaccessible to conservation practitioners and policy makers. We synthesized current knowledge on the connectivity established between countries by landbirds and raptors migrating along the African–Eurasian flyway. We reviewed tracking studies to compile migration records for 1229 individual birds, from which we derived 544 migratory links, each link corresponding to a species’ connection between a breeding country in Europe and a nonbreeding country in sub-Saharan Africa. We used these migratory links to analyze trends in knowledge over time and spatial patterns of connectivity per country (across species), per species (across countries), and at the flyway scale (across all countries and all species). The number of tracking studies available increased steadily since 2010 (particularly for landbirds), but the coverage of existing tracking data was highly incomplete. An average of 7.5% of migratory landbird species and 14.6% of raptor species were tracked per country. More data existed from central and western European countries, and it was biased toward larger bodied species. We provide species- and country-level syntheses of the migratory links we identified from the reviewed studies, involving 123 populations of 43 species, migrating between 28 European and 43 African countries. Several countries (e.g., Spain, Poland, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo) are strategic priorities for future tracking studies to complement existing data, particularly on landbirds. Despite the limitations in existing tracking data, our data and results can inform discussions under 2 key policy instruments at the flyway scale: the African–Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

An analysis of Brazilian sugarcane bagasse ash behavior under thermal gasification.

Background: Ashes from sugarcane were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence, ash content, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). FactSage 6.4 database software was used to estimate viscosity at high temperatures (900 - 1550°C) of them. Results: The results showed that although ashes from sugarcane bagasse contain silica, most of its SiO2 is from soil contamination. Higher and lower silica samples treated at 1350°C for 20 minutes showed that the fine portion of fraction of the ashes melted at this temperature. Conclusions: The melting phase could act as sticking flux for the coarse silica particles on the gasifier bottom wall, which could compromise the gasification process

Leucine and HMB differentially modulate proteasome system in skeletal muscle under different sarcopenic conditions

In the present study we have compared the effects of leucine supplementation and its metabolite β-hydroxy-β-methyl butyrate (HMB) on the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the PI3K/Akt pathway during two distinct atrophic conditions, hindlimb immobilization and dexamethasone treatment. Leucine supplementation was able to minimize the reduction in rat soleus mass driven by immobilization. On the other hand, leucine supplementation was unable to provide protection against soleus mass loss in dexamethasone treated rats. Interestingly, HMB supplementation was unable to provide protection against mass loss in all treatments. While solely fiber type I cross sectional area (CSA) was protected in immobilized soleus of leucine-supplemented rats, none of the fiber types were protected by leucine supplementation in rats under dexamethasone treatment. In addition and in line with muscle mass results, HMB treatment did not attenuate CSA decrease in all fiber types against either immobilization or dexamethasone treatment. While leucine supplementation was able to minimize increased expression of both Mafbx/Atrogin and MuRF1 in immobilized rats, leucine was only able to minimize Mafbx/Atrogin in dexamethasone treated rats. In contrast, HMB was unable to restrain the increase in those atrogenes in immobilized rats, but in dexamethasone treated rats, HMB minimized increased expression of Mafbx/Atrogin. The amount of ubiquitinated proteins, as expected, was increased in immobilized and dexamethasone treated rats and only leucine was able to block this increase in immobilized rats but not in dexamethasone treated rats. Leucine supplementation maintained soleus tetanic peak force in immobilized rats at normal level. On the other hand, HMB treatment failed to maintain tetanic peak force regardless of treatment. The present data suggested that the anti-atrophic effects of leucine are not mediated by its metabolite HMB.State of São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP - 07/57613-3State of São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP - 12/13071-0State of São Paulo Research Foundation, FAPESP - 06/61523-7CNP

Effects of a Competitive Season on Autonomic Heart Rate Modulation in Field Soccer Athletes

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(2): 1198-1205, 2019. The physical demands of soccer combined with the rigor of the competitive season may have a substantial impact on autonomic modulation in field soccer athletes. The number of sudden death cases associated with soccer may be related to the physical training required to maintain performance and fitness, minimal time for recovery, and recurrent game participation. It is possible to identify individuals at risk of cardiovascular events by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), which is an indirect method for assessing autonomic activity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze HRV before and after a period of field soccer competition. We evaluated 17 healthy male professional field soccer athletes and 12 untrained controls. The HRV was analyzed during supine rest before and after a period of field soccer competition. The following parameters were evaluated: interval R wave variation (RR), standard deviation of normal–normal intervals (SDNN), Root-mean-square successive difference (RMSSD), low frequency component (LF), high-frequency component (HF) and sympathovagal balance (LF/HF). Results indicated that the RR (p\u3c .05, ES: 2.77), SDNN (p \u3c .05, ES: 1.70), LF (p\u3c .05, ES: 1.86), HF (pp\u3c .05, ES: 0.89) all decreased after the competition in the professional athletes with no change observed in the control group. In conclusion, the data suggest that a soccer competition negatively influences the autonomic regulation of heart rate

Low molecular weight heparins: Structural differentiation by spectroscopic and multivariate approaches

Various branded low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) have been used for the treatment and prevention of thrombotic for over 20 years. With the introduction of generic LMWHs and the recent events involving heparin contamination, a great deal of effort is being expended in investigating ways of monitoring and regulating this class of complex drugs. in this paper, we present the characterization of different forms of LMWHs, as well as the comparison of 5 enoxaparin copies from different manufactures. the data suggests that, while some of these drugs are structurally comparable, specific analytical methods as well as biological and pharmacological tests may be used to address their similarity, quality and potential interchangeability. the proposed approach may also be useful in comparing biosimilar and branded LMWHs. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, BR-04044020 São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Liverpool, Sch Biol Sci, Liverpool L69 7ZB, Merseyside, EnglandLoyola Univ, Med Ctr, Dept Pathol, Maywood, IL 60153 USAUniv Fed Parana, Lab Quim Carboidratos, Dept Bioquim & Biol Mol, BR-81531980 Curitiba, Parana, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Bioquim, BR-04044020 São Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc