Photography-based taxonomy is inadequate, unnecessary, and potentially harmful for biological sciences

The question whether taxonomic descriptions naming new animal species without type specimen(s) deposited in collections should be accepted for publication by scientific journals and allowed by the Code has already been discussed in Zootaxa (Dubois & Nemésio 2007; Donegan 2008, 2009; Nemésio 2009a–b; Dubois 2009; Gentile & Snell 2009; Minelli 2009; Cianferoni & Bartolozzi 2016; Amorim et al. 2016). This question was again raised in a letter supported by 35 signatories published in the journal Nature (Pape et al. 2016) on 15 September 2016. On 25 September 2016, the following rebuttal (strictly limited to 300 words as per the editorial rules of Nature) was submitted to Nature, which on 18 October 2016 refused to publish it. As we think this problem is a very important one for zoological taxonomy, this text is published here exactly as submitted to Nature, followed by the list of the 493 taxonomists and collection-based researchers who signed it in the short time span from 20 September to 6 October 2016

Influence of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on ouabain activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in the rat hippocampus

It has been shown that ouabain (OUA) can activate the Na,K-ATPase complex and mediate intracellular signaling in the central nervous system (CNS). Inflammatory stimulus increases glutamatergic transmission, especially at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, which are usually coupled to the activation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) activation modulates the expression of genes involved in development, plasticity, and inflammation. The present work investigated the effects of OUA on NF-kappa B binding activity in rat hippocampus and the influence of this OUA-Na,K-ATPase signaling cascade in NMDA-mediated NF-kappa B activation. The findings presented here are the first report indicating that intrahippocampal administration of OUA, in a concentration that did not alter Na,K-ATPase or NOS activity, induced an activation of NF-kappa B, leading to increases in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), inducible NOS (iNos), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (Tnf-alpha), and B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) mRNA levels. This response was not linked to any significant signs of neurodegeneration as showed via Fluoro-Jade B and Nissl stain. Intrahippocampal administration of NMDA induced NF alpha B activation and increased NOS and alpha 2/3-Na,K-ATPase activities. NMDA treatment further increased OUA-induced NF-kappa B activation, which was partially blocked by MK-801, an antagonist of NMDA receptor. These results suggest that OUA-induced NF-kappa B activation is at least in part dependent on Na,K-ATPase modulatory action of NMDA receptor in hippocampus. The interaction of these signaling pathways could be associated with biological mechanisms that may underlie the basal homeostatic state linked to the inflammatory signaling cascade in the brain. (c) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESP [2003/08989-0]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNPq [485953-2007-2]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Universidade de Sao PauloUniversidade de Sao Paul

Biomarkers and Echocardiographic Predictors of Cardiovascular Outcome in Patients With Chronic Chagas Disease

Background Chagas disease (CD) presents an ominous prognosis. The predictive value of biomarkers and new echocardiogram parameters in adjusted models have not been well studied. Methods and Results There were 361 patients with chronic CD (57.6% men, 61±11 years of age, clinical forms: indeterminate 27.1%, cardiac 56.6%, digestive 3.6%, cardiodigestive 12.7%) included in this single‐center, observational, prospective longitudinal study. Echocardiographic evaluation included strain analyses of left atrial, left ventricular (LV), and right ventricular and 3‐dimensional analyses of left atrial and LV volumes. Biomarkers included cardiac troponin I, brain natriuretic peptide, transforming growth factor β1, tumor necrosis factor, matrix metalloproteinases, and Trypanosoma cruzi polymerase chain reaction. The studied end point was a composite of CD‐related mortality, heart transplant, hospital admission due to worsening heart failure, or new cardiac device insertion. Event‐free survival was analyzed by multivariable regression analyses adjusted for competing risks. P values <0.05 were considered significant. The composite event occurred in 79 patients after 4.9±2.0 years follow‐up. LV end‐diastolic volume (hazard ratio [HR], 1.01 [95% CI, 1.00–1.02]; P=0.02), peak negative global atrial strain (HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 1.00–1.17]; P=0.04), LV global circumferential strain (HR, 1.12 [95% CI, 1.04–1.21]; P=0.003), LV torsion (HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.35–0.81]; P=0.003), brain natriuretic peptide (HR, 2.03 [95% CI, 1.23–3.34]; P=0.005), and positive T cruzi polymerase chain reaction (HR, 1.80 [95% CI, 1.12–2.91]; P=0.01) were end point predictors independent from age, sex, 2‐dimensional echocardiographic indexes, hypertension, previous cardiac device, and CD cardiac form. Conclusions Two‐dimensional strain‐ and 3‐dimensional‐derived parameters, brain natriuretic peptide, and positive T cruzi polymerase chain reaction can be useful for prediction of CD cardiovascular events

El desafio de integrarse para crecer. Balance y perspectiva del MERCOSUR en su primera década.

El propósito central de este libro es brindar información y elementos analíticos que sean útiles para elaborar respuestas a interrogantes sobre el bloque como medio para la integración. Además de realizar un balance de lo ocurrido con la integración en la última década, se evalúan las perspectivas y se discuten propuestas. Se abarcan prácticamente todos los temas que, a diez años del tratado de Asución eran relevantes en la agenda del MERCOSUR. Su análisis se organiza en base a los tres grandes desafíos presentes del bloque: avanzar en la integración profunda, consolidar las instituciones y la presencia internacional del MERCOSUR, y convertir a éste en herramienta para el crecimiento y la competitividad. Red MERCOSURReD MERCOSUR, crecer, MERCOSUR, crecimiento, integrarse, integración

Estruturas de governança em arranjos produtivos locais: um estudo comparativo nos arranjos calçadistas e sucroalcooleiro no estado de São Paulo

A governança nos arranjos produtivos refere-se ao modo de coordenação, comando, intervenção e participação dos atores do arranjo. Devido ao significativo aumento do interesse da política pública em arranjos produtivos locais no Brasil, é oportuno compreender essa variação e/ou interdependência de governança de cada arranjo territorial. O presente artigo compara estruturas de governança em três arranjos produtivos locais (APLs): a) Birigui (calçados infantis), b) Jaú (calçados femininos) e c) Piracicaba (APL do álcool). A coleta de dados em organizações de interesses e em 31 empresas dos três arranjos paulistas foi realizada por entrevistas em profundidade in loco nas empresas. No artigo são identificadas as influências distintas nas governanças dos arranjos produtivos. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam: 1) a governança teve interferência positiva na cooperação e no desenvolvimento de empresas; 2) as possibilidades de desenvolvimento dos APLs dependem em grande parte das formas de governança pública ou privada; 3) as governanças desses arranjos produtivos locais são heterogêneas, complexas e, em alguns casos, interdependentes com outras distintas; e 4) os atores coordenadores dos arranjos determinam as relações, recursos e regras, propondo novas ordens institucionais e organizacionais

Alvorecer de uma nova ciência: a medicina tropicalista baiana The dawning of a new science

No século XIX, o saber e o ensino médico e a assistência clínica, de caráter especulativo e elitista, entram em choque, no Brasil, com novas teorias da doença e do cuidado médico baseadas na parasitologia, bacteriologia e anatomopatologia e numa clínica experimental orientada para enfermidades tropicais dos pobres. O novo referencial teórico e social, que influi na política pública de saúde, entra em decadência quando é apropriado pela ideologia da inferioridade racial e cultural da população de origem africana. Duas novas disciplinas - antropologia física criminal e medicina legal - geram conhecimentos inéditos nos meios intelectuais e, ao mesmo tempo, são funcionais à ordem dominante, dando curso forçado a princípios e dispositivos de que a mesma elite usa para se perpetuar no poder. Essa construção híbrida é o legado de barbárie à civilização atual.<br>Medicine in 19th-century Brazil was a scientific field where traditional knowledge, academic teaching, and clinical care found themselves clashing with new theories of illness and medical care underpinned by pioneer disciplines like parasitology, bacteriology, and anatomopatbology and an experimental clinical practice focused on tropical diseases which afflict the poor. This new set of theoretical and social references which affected public health-care policy saw its decadence when it was appropriated by an ideology that argued that the Afro-Brazilian population was racially and culturally inferior. Two new disciplines- criminal physical anthropology and legal medicine- contributed to the development of specialized knowledge within intellectual circles. At the same time, they were placed at the service of the ruling order, reinforcing principles and devices that the elite utilized to keep itself in power. This hybrid structure constitutes the legacy of barbarianism which is sundering today's civilization