Femtosecond two-photon absorption spectroscopy of poly(fluorene) derivatives containing benzoselenadiazole and benzothiadiazole

We have investigated the molecular structure and two-photon absorption (2PA) properties relationship of two push-pull poly(fluorene) derivatives containing benzoselenadiazole and benzothiadiazole units. For that, we have used the femtosecond wavelength-tunable Z-scan technique with a low repetition rate (1 kHz) and an energy per pulse on the order of nJ. Our results show that both 2PA spectra present a strong 2PA (around 600 GM (1 GM = 1×10-50 cm4 .s. photon-1)) band at around 720 nm (transition energy 3.45 eV) ascribed to the strongly 2PA-allowed 1Ag-like → mAg-like transition, characteristic of poly(fluorene) derivatives. Another 2PA band related to the intramolecular charge transfer was also observed at around 900 nm (transition energy 2.75 eV). In both 2PA bands, we found higher 2PA cross-section values for the poly(fluorene) containing benzothiadiazole unit. This outcome was explained through the higher charge redistribution at the excited state caused by the benzothiadiazole group as compared to the benzoselenadiazole and confirmed by means of solvatochromic Stokes shift measurements. To shed more light on these results, we employed the sum-over-states approach within the two-energy level model to estimate the maximum permanent dipole moment change related to the intramolecular charge transfer transition

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

The medium and large mammals of mosaics in reflorestations areas in the São Paulo center-west

Orientador: Eleonore Zulnara Freire SetzDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: A riqueza, composição e abundância da mastofauna de médio e grande porte, em duas áreas de reflorestamentos comerciais da Duraflora S/A, no centro-oeste do estado de São Paulo, foram estudadas entre 2005 e 2007. O objetivo deste estudo foi entender como a fauna de mamíferos utiliza áreas de reflorestamento e o potencial de mosaicos com predominância de monocultura madeireira para a sobrevivência da onça-parda e a conservação da mastofauna silvestre. Estudei dois mosaicos de reflorestamentos de Pinus spp. e Eucalyptus spp., um em Agudos e outro em Lençóis Paulista. O primeiro possui 16.200 ha e a formação predominante dos remanescentes de vegetação nativa é Cerrado. O mosaico de Lençóis Paulista possui 23.085 ha, sendo a principal formação remanescente a Floresta Atlântica Estacional Semidecídua. Em 2005 percorri um total de 303 km nas estradas de terra do mosaico em Agudos e 346 km em Lençóis Paulista, realizando censos de vestígios e georreferenciando-os com um GPS, além de coletar fezes de carnívoros para determinar as suas dietas. Em 2006 e 2007 utilizei parcelas de areia para estimar tanto a abundância, quanto a diversidade de mamíferos de médio e grande porte para futura compararação com outros estudos. Através de entrevistas com funcionários e pesquisa no acervo da empresa, complementei a lista de espécies presentes nos mosaicos. O esforço amostral de parcelas em Agudos foi de 1000 parcelas-noite e em Lençóis Paulista 950. O número de fezes analisadas foi 83 para Agudos e 38 para Lençóis Paulista. Embora estivessem presentes as mesmas dez ordens de mamíferos, em Agudos houve a presença de 31 espécies de 16 famílias, e em Lençóis Paulista 39 espécies de 20 famílias. Apesar do maior numero de registros de Agudos e da menor presença de espécies sensíveis à perda de habitat, principalmente primatas, os índices de similaridade qualitativa de Sorensen (0,69), e quantitativa de Morisita-Horn (0,623) indicaram considerável semelhança entre as áreas. Já o índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener, para os mamíferos registrados pelas parcelas nos reflorestamentos, foi significativamente maior (t= 2,07; gl= 67; p<0,02) para Agudos (H10'= 1,12), que para Lençóis Paulista (H10'= 0,99). Porém, em Agudos, as dietas das espécies parecem ser mais especializadas, sugerindo que Agudos possua menor diversidade de espécies de presas, ou maior abundância. Os animais de médio e grande porte mais registrados foram tatus, veados e canídeos. Lagomorfos, tamanduás e procionídeos também estiveram presentes nos reflorestamentos, assim como pequenos roedores não restritos à Floresta Atlântica. Marsupiais também foram freqüentes, ao contrário de espécies que dependem da disponibilidade de frutos como paca, cutia e cateto. Os felídeos apresentaram baixa abundância nos mosaicos, assim como em áreas naturais. A maioria dos mamíferos de médio e grande porte transita pelas áreas de reflorestamento, não ficando restritas às áreas de conservação. Mesmo sendo áreas particulares monitoradas, a fauna está sujeita à atividade de caça e à presença de cães domésticos. O ratão-do-banhado (Myocastor coypus) e o lebrão (Lepus europaeus), espécies exóticas, também foram registrados nos mosaicos, embora o ratão, assim como roedores cosmopolitas, não tenham sido registrados nas análises de fezes dos carnívoros.Abstract: Richness, composition and abundance of medium and large mammals were studied in two commercial reforestation Duraflora's areas in Northwest of São Paulo state between 2005 and 2007. The goal of this research was to understand how the mammals use the reforestations and the potential of landscape mosaics dominated by timber monoculture for the conservation of the puma and other wild mammals. The area of the Agudos' mosaic is 16200 ha, dominated by Cerrado forest in conservated areas while Lençóis Paulista's mosaic has 23085 ha, dominated by Semidecidual Atlantic Forest. During the 2005 I rode 303 Km and 346 Km in Agudos and Lençóis Paulista land-roads, doing the traces censuses, marking them with GPS and collecting carnivorous scats to point out these species diet. To estimate abundance and diversity, in 2006 and 2007 I used scent station, after I compared with the results with another same method researches. By personal interviews and research in company's library I added to the list of mammals another studied species. The Agudos' scent stations sampling effort was 1000 scent night-station, therefore Lençóis Paulista's was 950 scent night-stations. The number of feaces sampling was 83 in Agudos and 38 in Lençóis Paulista. Although the same ten mammal's orders have been present, there were 34 species from 19 families in Agudos and 38 species from 21 families in Lençóis Paulista. Compared with Lençóis Paulista, the total records was greater in Agudos, but smaller for the rare and habitat loss sensible species, mainly primates. Even if that differences, the Sorensen (0,69) and Morisita-Horn (0,623) index pointed high similarity between areas. The Shannon-Wiener diversity index about scent stations recorded mammals in Agudos's reforestation was high. In Agudos the species' diet seems to be closer than Lençóis Paulista. It suggests that Lençóis Paulista has a higher number of prey species or lower abundance of each one. The most recorded middle and big size mammals were armadillos, deers and canideos. Lagomorphs, anteaters and some procyonideos also seem to walk the reforestations, like the small rodents no restricted to the Atlantic Forest. Marsupials also appeared commonly unlike habitat-dependent species agouti, paca and peccary. Like in natural habitats felids presented low abundance. The most part of the medium and big size terrestrial mammals that use reforestation areas haven't been restricted to the conservation areas. Even if these private areas have being monitored, the fauna also suffers with hunting pressure and domestic dog presence as recorded in some situations. The presence of exotic species of nutria and European hare was also recorded. The nutria, as well as the cosmopolitan rodents, weren't recorded at carnivorous feaces.MestradoEcologiaMestre em Ecologi

Effect of different types of estrogen and treatment regimens on endometrial edema in anestrus mares

The use of acyclic mares as recipients is an alternative that optimizes embryo transfer programs, enabling the generation of a greater number of foals per year. This is only possible with the application of hormonal protocols that use estrogens and progestins in these mares, simulating an uterine environment that resembles cyclic recipients. Several studies have shown the effectiveness of using these exogenous hormones in noncycling mares in order to use them as recipients, some studies even reporting higher pregnancy rates in acyclic mares when compared to cyclic mares. As a result, these protocols have been widely used, with several variations regarding the regimen used, time of exposure to the hormone, type of hormone used, doses, routes of administration, among others. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different treatment regimens using estradiol benzoate, estradiol cypionate and estradiol-17β on the intensity and duration of uterine edema in acyclic mares, in order to bring more information that can improve the use of hormonal protocols in acyclic mares, optimizing embryo transfer programs. For this porpuse, 16 acyclic mares were used, separated into 4 groups that were treated with different estrogen regimens for 3 days. The ECP, BE and 17βE-20mg groups received doses of 10mg, 6mg and 4mg of estradiol cypionate, estradiol benzoate and 17β respectively, whereas group 17βE-40mg was treated with doses of 10mg, 20mg and 10mg of estradiol-17β. Transrectal palpations and ultrassonographic exams were performed on all mares daily, starting on the day of the first hormonal application (D0) and extending for until 10 days or until the disappearance of uterine edema. There was no difference in the intensity and duration of endometrial edema between groups BE, EC and 17βE-40mg. The group 17βE-20mg presented less lasting edema, although a statistical difference in the edema intensity from D4 to D7 was pointed out only when compared to the 17βE-40mg group. It was concluded that the BE, EC and 17βE-40mg groups had similar edema intensity and duration, while the 17βE-20mg group had less lasting and less intense edema when compared to the 17βE-40mg group.Pesquisa sem auxílio de agências de fomentoTrabalho de Conclusão de Curso (Graduação)A utilização de éguas acíclicas como receptoras é uma alternativa que otimiza programas de transferência de embriões (TE), possibilitando a geração de um número maior de potros por ano. Tal ferramenta só é possível com a aplicação de protocolos hormonais que utilizam estrógenos e progestágenos, simulando um ambiente uterino que se assemelhe ao das receptoras cíclicas. Diversos estudos mostram a eficácia da utilização desses hormônios exógenos em éguas em anestro a fim de usá-las como receptoras, alguns inclusive relatam taxas de prenhez superiores em éguas acíclicas quando comparadas às cíclicas. Com isso, esses protocolos vêm sendo amplamente utilizados, apresentando diversas variações quanto ao regime empregado, tempo de exposição ao hormônio, tipo de hormônio utilizado, doses, vias de administrações, entre outros. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes regimes de tratamento com estrógenos, utilizando benzoato de estradiol, cipionato de estradiol e 17β estradiol sobre a intensidade e duração do edema endometrial em éguas acíclicas. Foram utilizadas 16 éguas acíclicas, divididas em 4 grupos e tratadas com diferentes regimes de estrógeno durante 3 dias. Os grupos CE, BE e 17βE-20mg receberam doses de 10mg, 6mg e 4 mg de cipionato de estradiol, benzoato de estradiol e 17β estradiol respectivamente, já o grupo 17βE-40mg foi tratado com doses de 10mg, 20mg e 10mg de 17β estradiol. Foram realizadas palpações retais e avaliações ultrassonográficas do edema endometrial em todas as éguas diariamente, começando no dia da primeira aplicação hormonal (D0) e se estendendo em até 10 dias ou até o desaparecimento do edema. Foi demonstrado que não houve diferença na intensidade e duração do edema endometrial entre os grupos BE, CE e 17βE-40mg. O grupo 17βE-20mg apresentou edema menos duradouro, embora tenha sido apontada diferença estatística na intensidade do edema de D4 a D7 apenas quando comparado ao grupo 17βE-40mg. Conclui-se que os grupos BE, CE e 17βE-40mg apresentaram edemas de intensidade e duração semelhantes, enquanto o grupo 17βE-20mg edema menos duradouro e menos intenso quando comparado ao grupo 17βE-40mg

Polymorphism in the BIEC2-808543 locus and its association with growth curve in Brasileiro de Hipismo horse breed

Our objective was to evaluate whether the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) BIEC2-808543, identified in some horse breeds, also occurs in the Brasileiro de Hipismo (BH) breed. In addition, we verified if this SNP is related to the growth curve profile of these animals for the variables body mass, height at withers, and height at croup, using nonlinear mixed models. For the DNA isolation, we collected blood samples from 167 young BH horses. We obtained the genotypes of these animals using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. For the association studies of this polymorphism with the growth curve in foals, we selected three traits: body mass, height at withers, and height at croup. Polymorphism C/T exists in BH horses and is significantly associated with the evaluated traits. Animals that presented the TT genotype were smaller and lighter when compared with animals of the CT and CC genotypes. By the Akaike information criterion, the model that best described the growth curve for the body mass variable is the Brody model associated with the power of the mean variance function. For the height at withers variable, the best-fit model was von Bertalanffy, adjusted without polymorphism effect in parameter b, associated with the asymptotic variance. For the height at croup trait, the model that best described the growth curve was Brody model, associated with asymptotic variance. This polymorphism represents a good molecular marker. Nonlinear models are promising for describing growth curves in horses, particularly by the possibility of associating SNP effects to model parameter