Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Effect of Low-Level Laser on Bone Defects Treated with Bovine or Autogenous Bone Grafts: In Vivo Study in Rat Calvaria

Objective. The purpose of this study was to histologically evaluate the effect of low-level laser (LLL) on the healing of critical size defects (CSD) in rat calvaria, filled with autogenous or inorganic bovine bone grafts. Methods. Sixty rats were divided into 6 groups (n=10): C (control—filled with blood clot), LLL (low-level laser—GaAlAs, λ 780 nm, 100 mW, 210 J/cm2, Φ 0.05 cm2; 6 J/point), AB (autogenous bone), ABL (autogenous bone + low-level laser), OB (inorganic bovine bone), and OBL (inorganic bovine bone + LLL). Material and Methods. The animals were killed after 30 days. Histological and histometric analyses were performed by light microscopy. Results. The groups irradiated with laser, LLL (47.67% ± 8.66%), ABL (39.15% ± 16.72%), and OBL (48.57% ± 28.22%), presented greater area of new bone formation than groups C (9.96% ± 4.50%), AB (30.98% ± 16.59%), and OB (11.36% ± 7.89%), which were not irradiated. Moreover, they were significantly better than group C (Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Dunn test, P<0.05). Conclusion. The laser accelerated the healing of bone defects and the resorption of particles of the graft material

Efeito do genótipo e do sexo sobre a composição química e o perfil de ácidos graxos da carne de cordeiros Effect of genotype and sex on chemical composition and fatty acid profile of sheep meat

Este estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos do sexo e do genótipo sobre a composição centesimal e o perfil de ácidos graxos do músculo Semimembranosus (SM) de ovinos submetidos às mesmas condições de confinamento. Foram utilizados 12 cordeiros, quatro machos inteiros e quatro fêmeas da raça Santa Inês (SI) e quatro machos inteiros mestiços ½ Santa Inês x ½ Dorper (SI-D). A raça e o sexo não influenciaram a composição centesimal da carne dos cordeiros. No entanto, as concentrações de fósforo e cálcio diferiram significativamente quando considerados estes dois fatores. Os ácidos graxos encontrados em maior quantidade na fração lipídica da carne dos animais foram o oléico, o palmítico e o esteárico. Houve efeito do sexo sobre o perfil dos ácidos graxos monoinsaturados na carne dos animais Santa Inês. O perfil de ácidos graxos de mestiços machos SI-D comprovou melhor valor nutricional da carne, pelo maior percentual de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados, pela maior relação AGPI/AGS e pela menor relação w6:w3.<br>The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of sex and genotype (breed) on the composition and fatty acid profile of the semimembranosus (SM) muscle of feedlot sheep. Four Santa Inês (SI) males, four SI females, and four ½ Santa Inês x ½ Dorper (SI-D) males were used in this trial. Neither breed nor sex significantly affected the chemical composition of meat. However, the meat contents of phosphorus and calcium were both significantly changed by breed and sex. Oleic, palmitc, and stearic were the fatty acids found in larger amounts in the intramuscular fat of lamb meat in this study. There was a significant effect of sex on the profile of unsaturated fatty acids within the SI breed. The fatty acid profile of meat from SI-D sheep showed greater nutritional value because of the highest content of PUFA and PUFA/SFA ratio and the lowest w6:w3 ratio

Análise de trilha em caracteres produtivos de Pennisetum sob corte em Itambé, Pernambuco Path analysis in productive characters of Pennisetum under cut in Itambé-PE

Objetivou-se obter estimativas de coeficientes de correlação genética e avaliar os desdobramentos das correlações em efeitos diretos e indiretos (análise de trilha) das variáveis independentes explicativas sobre a produção de matéria seca (variável dependente principal) em cinco clones de capim-elefante. Foram realizados cinco cortes a cada 60 dias nas condições edafoclimáticas da Zona da Mata de Pernambuco. Cada parcela experimental apresentou 24 m², com 2 m² de área útil. Houve alta correlação entre quase todas as variáveis explicativas e a variável principal. Entretanto, a característica número de lâminas foliares por perfilho explicou melhor o potencial de produção de matéria seca e atuou de forma direta e indireta sobre as variáveis explicativas.<br>This work aimed to estimate the correlation coefficients, determining the direct and indirect effects (path analysis) of explanatory independent variables on total dry matter production (main dependent variables) of five elephant grass clones in five cuts accomplished at the forest zone of Pernambuco. Each experimental plot measured 24 m² with 2 m² of utile area. There was high correlation between almost all the independent variables and the main variable. The characteristic leaf blade number per tiller, however, explained better the potential of dry matter production and leaf blade dry matter production, acting, respectively, in a direct and indirect way on the explanatory variables

Características estruturais e morfológicas de genótipos de Pennisetum sp. sob pastejo no período de seca Structural and morphological characteristics of Pennisetum sp. genotypes under grazing during the dry period

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de estudar características estruturais e morfológicas de cinco genótipos de Pennisetum sp. (CE 08 A.D., Venezuela, HV-241, Elefante B e Hexaplóide) sob pastejo no período de seca na Zona da Mata de Pernambuco. Os genótipos foram manejados sob lotação rotacionada (44 dias de descanso e quatro dias de pastejo) ao longo de dois ciclos de pastejo. Os dados foram analisados em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas (os genótipos representaram as parcelas e os ciclos de pastejo, as subparcelas) e quatro repetições. Houve variação nas características estruturais e morfológicas de genótipos de Pennisetum sp. Os genótipos CE 08 A.D. e Elefante B apresentaram maior densidade de lâmina foliar verde, menor porcentagem de material morto e maior densidade de perfilhos basais remanescentes e aéreos novos, com médias de 5,0±0,4 kg de MS/ha/cm, 33,0±0,2%, 22,0±0,2 e 146,0±0,4 perfilhos/m², respectivamente. O HV-241 apresentou alta participação de material morto em sua biomassa aérea (55,6±0,3%), o que pode ser atribuído à alta mortalidade de perfilhos (19,0±0,3 e 114,0±0,4 perfilhos basais e aéreos mortos/m², respectivamente). Os genótipos CE 08 A.D. e Elefante B destacaram-se como promissores para utilização sob pastejo no período de seca. O genótipo HV-241, híbrido de capim-elefante com o milheto, foi mais afetado pelos efeitos do estresse hídrico no período seco do ano.<br>The experiment was carried out to study structural and morphologic characteristics of five Pennisetum sp. genotypes (CE 08 A.D., Venezuela, HV-241, Elephant B and Hexaplóide) under grazing during the dry period in Pernambuco Forest Zone. Genotypes were managed under rotational stocking (44 days of resting and four days of grazing period). The experimental design was randomized blocks in a split plot arrangement, and four replications. The genotypes represented the plots, and grazing cycles, the subplots. There was variation in the structural and morphologic characteristics of the Pennisetum sp. genotypes. The CE 08 A.D. and Elephant B presented high density of green leaf blade, low percentage of dead material and high density of remaining basal tillers and new aerial tillers, with averages of 5.0±0.4 kg DM/ha/cm; 33±0.2%; 22±0.2 and 146±0.4 tillers/m², respectively. The HV-241 presented high participation of dead material in its aerial biomass (55.6±0.3%) due to high tiller mortality (19±0.3 and 114±0.4 basal and aerial dead tillers/m², respectively). The genotypes CE 08 A.D. and Elephant B had been distinguished as promising to be used under grazing in the dry period. The genotype HV-241, elephantgrass hybrid with pearl millet, was more affected by water stress during the dry period of the year

Is the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms among Brazilian children related to socioeconomic status?

Objective. To evaluate the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms among Brazilian children. Methods. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) written questionnaire was applied to 23,457 six- to seven- year-old schoolchildren (SC) and 58,144 thirteen- to fourteen-year-old adolescents (AD) from 20 Brazilian cities. SES was evaluated by infant mortality index, poverty index, and average nominal income for people older than 10 years of age. Results. Current asthma ranged from 16.5% to 31.2% among SC and from 11.8% to 30.5% among AD and severe asthma from 2.9% to 8.5% (SC) and 2.6% to 9.1% (AD). Higher values were observed in Brazilian-Northern, -Northeastern and -Southeastern centers. No significant association between SES and prevalence of asthma and related symptoms was observed. Conclusions. In Brazil, the prevalence of asthma and related symptoms is quite variable and independent of SES. Copyright © 2008 Informa Healthcare USA, Inc