Molecular and morphological data reveal three new cryptic species of \u3cem\u3eChiasmocleis\u3c/em\u3e (Mehely 1904) (Anura, Microhylidae) endemic to the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

Three new cryptic species of Chiasmocleis from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil are described. Two of these species occur in the northeastern states of Sergipe and Bahia, whereas the third species is found in the southeastern state of São Paulo. The new species can be distinguished from other congeneric species by the molecular data, as evidenced in the phylogeny, and by a combination of morphological characters including: size, foot webbing, dermal spines, and coloration patterns. Chiasmocleis species differ in osteological traits, therefore we also provide an osteological description of each new species and comparisons with data reported for other species in the genus

Data on network of live cattle exports from Brazil

This report describes the network of live cattle exports from Brazil using Microsoft Office Excel® files, Terraview®, Maporama®, Pajek® and Google Maps® softwares. The database contains estimates obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA) and underwent descriptive, spatial and flow network. The network of live cattle exports from Brazil was determined using data from 27,517 Animal Transit Certificates (ATC) and 579 Veterinary Certificate for International Trade. International departure points, municipalities and states of origin, destination countries, purpose of export and compliance with sanitary requirements for exports, cattle movement and the main transportation corridors were showed through flow network. The states that exported live cattle were Pará, Rio Grande do Sul, Tocantins, São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Maranhão. Vila do Conde Port, located in Barcarena municipality in the state of Pará, was the main international departure point of animals, which were intended mostly for immediate slaughter in the importing country. The internal cattle transportation corridors of the main counties and farms that provide animals for exports in 2009 were mapped

Study of sol-gel derived di-ureasils doped with zinc triflate

Prova tipográfica (In Press)A publicar em "Solid States Sciences".Zinc triflate (Zn(CF3SO3)2)-doped sol-gel derived di-urea cross-linked POE/siloxane ormolytes (designated as di-ureasils) with ∞ > n ≥ 1 (where the salt content is expressed as n, the molar ratio of oxyethylene moieties to Zn2+ ions) were investigated. The hybrids with n ≥ 5 are entirely amorphous; those with n > 10 are thermally stable up to approximately 305 ºC. The siliceous network of representative samples (n = 200 and 10) is essentially composed of (SiO)3Si(CH2)- environments and is thus highly branched. The distance between the structural units in samples with 200 ≥ n ≥ 10 and n ≤ 7 is 4.2 and 4.3 Å, respectively. The estimated interdomain distance is 11 and 13 Å for xerogels with 200 ≥ n ≥ 20 and n ≤ 10, respectively. At n = 1 a crystalline POE/Zn(CF3SO3)2 complex of unknown stoichiometry is formed. The conductivity maxima are located at n = 60 (3x10-6 S cm-1) and n = 20 (7x10-5 S cm-1) at 30 and 100 ºC, respectively.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia - POCTI/P/CTM/46780/03; SFRH/BD/13559/03

Sol-gel derived Li+-doped poly(ε-caprolactone)/siloxane biohybrid electrolytes

Electrolytes based on a poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL)/siloxane organic/inorganic host framework doped with lithium triflate (LiCF3SO3) were synthesised through the sol-gel process. In this biohybrid matrix short PCL chains are covalently bonded via urethane linkages to the siliceous network. Samples with salt composition n (molar ratio of PCL repeat units per Li+ ion) ranging from ∞ to 0.5 were investigated. All the ormolyte materials analysed are amorphous. Xerogels with n > 0.5 are thermally stable up to about 300°C. The most conducting ormolyte of the series is that with n = 0.5 (1.6×10−7 and 3.2×10−5 Ω−1 cm−1 at 25 and 100°C, respectively). This sample is electrochemically stable between −1 and 6 V versus Li+.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - POCTI/P/CTM/33653/00, SFRH/BD/13559/03, POCTI/P/CTM/46780/03.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

2,4,5-Triaminopyrimidines as blue fluorescent probes for cell viability monitoring: synthesis, photophysical properties, and microscopy applications

Monitoring cell viability is critical in cell biology, pathology, and drug discovery. Most cell viability assays are cell-destructive, time-consuming, expensive, and/or hazardous. Herein, we present a series of newly synthesized 2,4,5-triaminopyrimidine derivatives able to discriminate between live and dead cells. To our knowledge, these compounds are the first fluorescent nucleobase analogues (FNAs) with cell viability monitoring potential. These new fluorescent molecules are synthesized using highly efficient and cost- effective methods and feature unprecedented photophysical properties (longer absorption and emission wavelengths, environment-sensitive emission, and unprecedented brightness within FNAs). Using a live– dead Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell and theoretical assays, the fluorescent 2,4,5-triaminopyrimidine derivatives were found to specifically accumulate inside dead cells by interacting with dsDNA grooves, thus paving the way for the emergence of novel and safe fluorescent cell viability markers emitting in the blue region. As the majority of commercially available viability dyes emit in the green to red region of the visible spectrum, these novel markers might be useful to meet the needs of blue markers for co-staining combinations

Cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica na detecção da isquemia silenciosa em pacientes diabéticos assintomáticos

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate myocardial perfusion in asymptomatic patients with type 1 (DM1) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) without previous diagnoses of coronary artery disease (CAD) or cerebral infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-nine consecutive asymptomatic patients (16 DM1, 43 DM2) underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with 99mTc-sestamibi (MPS). They were evaluated for body mass index, metabolic control of DM, type of therapy, systemic arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, nephropathy, retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, smoking, and familial history of CAD. RESULTS: MPS was abnormal in 15 patients (25.4%): 12 (20.3%) with perfusion abnormalities, and 3 with isolated left ventricular dysfunction. The strongest predictors for abnormal myocardial perfusion were: age 60 years and above (p = 0.017; odds ratio [OR] = 6.0), peripheral neuropathy (p = 0.028; OR = 6.1), nephropathy (p = 0.031; OR = 5.6), and stress ECG positive for ischemia (p = 0.049; OR = 4.08). CONCLUSION: Silent myocardial ischemia occurs in more than one in five asymptomatic diabetic patients. The strongest predictors of ischemia in this study were: patient age, peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy and a stress ECG positive for ischemia.OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve por finalidade avaliar a perfusão miocárdica de pacientes com diabetes mellitus tipo 1 (DM1) e tipo 2 (DM2) assintomáticos, sem diagnóstico prévio de doença arterial coronariana (DAC) ou acidente vascular cerebral. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Cinquenta e nove pacientes consecutivos (16 DM1, 43 DM2) foram submetidos a cintilografia de perfusão miocárdica com sestamibi-99mTc (CPM). Foram avaliados quanto ao índice de massa corpórea, controle metabólico do diabetes, dislipidemia, terapia para o diabetes, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, nefropatia, retinopatia, neuropatia periférica, tabagismo e história familiar de DAC. RESULTADOS: CPM foi anormal em 25,4%: 12 (20,3%) com alterações de perfusão e 3 com disfunção ventricular esquerda isolada. Os mais fortes preditores de perfusão miocárdica anormal foram: idade igual ou maior a 60 anos (p = 0,017, odds ratio [OR] = 6,0), neuropatia periférica (p = 0,028, OR = 6,1), nefropatia (p = 0,031, OR = 5,6) e ECG de esforço positivo para isquemia (p = 0,049, OR = 4,08). CONCLUSÃO: A isquemia miocárdica silenciosa ocorre em mais de um em cada cinco diabéticos assintomáticos. Os mais fortes preditores de isquemia foram: idade avançada, neuropatia periférica, nefropatia, retinopatia e ECG de esforço positivo para isquemia.714Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

The evolution of diabetic chronic complications after pancreas transplantation

Pancreas transplantation is an invasive procedure that can restore and maintain normoglycemic level very successfully and for a prolonged period in DM1 patients. The procedure elevates the morbimortality rates in the first few months following the surgery if compared to kidney transplants with living donors, but it offers a better quality of life to patients