Spatial and temporal dynamics of the abundance of crustose calcareous algae on the southernmost coral reefs of the western Atlantic (Abrolhos Bank, Brazil)

Crustose calcareous algae (CCA) constitute one of the main reef builders on the Abrolhos Bank, Brazil. Once CCA taxonomy is locally understood, differences in growth-forms may be useful for the delimitation of taxa using characteristics such as the presence or absence of surface protuberances. Here, growth-forms were used to identify and quantify the most common CCA taxa on the shallow reefs (3-10 m) of the Abrolhos Bank to determine possible changes in the CCA community over a period of 10 years, and the ecological significance of CCA to local reefs was interpreted. The CCA assemblages were surveyed from 2006-2015 by using fixed photoquadrats at four sites in the inner (10-20 km from the mainland) and mid-shelf reefs (40-75 km from the mainland). The five most common CCA taxa were Pneophyllum conicum, the Lithophyllum kaiserii / Lithophyllum sp. complex, Melyvonnea erubescens, the Hydrolithon boergesenii / Porolithon onkodes complex and Peyssonelia sp. The overall mean CCA cover on the reefs was 20%. A comparison with a previous monitoring study in the same region indicated that the CCA cover nearly doubled from 2003-2008 to 2006-2015. This study reveals that the coral-killing species P. conicum dominated CCA flora on the shallow Abrolhos reefs in the last decade, and the local specific abundance of CCA slightly fluctuated over time and was species-and site-specific. The information obtained in this study contributes to the understanding of the ecology of the key calcifying components of the Abrolhos reefs and provides a useful baseline for exploring the responses of CCA to future environmental changes.PELDMudancas Climaticas scientific programmes of the Brazilian National Science Agency (CNPq)Brazilian IODP Program (CAPES/MEC)P&D Program ANP/BrasoilFAPERJDiretoria Pesquisa Cient, Inst Pesquisas, Jardim Bot Rio De Janeiro, Rua Pacheco Leao 915, BR-22460030 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Inst Biol, BR-21941599 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Dept Oceanog, Ave Fernando Ferrari 514, BR-29090600 Vitoria, ES, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Mar, Campus Baixada Santista, BR-11030400 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Paraiba, Ctr Ciencias Aplicadas & Educ, Campus 4 Litoral Norte, BR-58297000 Rio Tinto, PB, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Mar, Campus Baixada Santista, BR-11030400 Santos, SP, BrazilANP/Brasoil: 48610.011015/2014-55Web of Scienc

Frontal lobes white matter abnormalities mimicking cystic leukodystrophy in Wilson's disease

Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Neurol & Neurocirurgia, Div Neurol Geral, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Neurol & Neurocirurgia, Div Neurol Geral, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Manejo integrado de pragas de pimentas do gênero Capsicum.

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Reef fish and benthic assemblages of the Trindade and Martin Vaz Island group, southwestern Atlantic

O conjunto insular de Trindade e Martin Vaz (CITMV) está localizado a aproximadamente 1.120 km da costa brasileira. Apesar de sua importância, salientada pela presença de diversas espécies endêmicas de peixes, não existem informações detalhadas sobre as assembléias de peixes e bentos do CITMV. É apresentada aqui a primeira caracterização quantitativa das assembléias de peixes e bentos do CITMV em um gradiente de profundidade entre 5 e 45 m. Informações qualitativas adicionais sobre assembléias recifais entre 45 e 100 m foram obtidas utilizando-se técnicas avançadas de mergulho (TRIMIX) e um veículo de operação remota (VOR). Assim como outras ilhas oceânicas brasileiras, a CITMV possui assembléias depauperadas de peixes e bentos, possivelmente devido ao seu isolamento e pequeno tamanho em comparação ao continente. A profundidade foi o fator que mais afetou a estrutura das assembléias de peixes, com a densidade da maioria das espécies declinando com o aumento da profundidade. Os recifes profundos (>; 45 m) foram caracterizados pela presença de bancos extensivos de rodolitos e recifes rochosos esparsamente cobertos por algas coralináceas incrustantes, corais negros (Cirripathes sp.) e alguns corais massivos e em de forma de placa. Peixes parcialmente ou obrigatoriamente planctívoros (e.g. Cephalopholis furcifer and Clepticus brasiliensis) também dominaram em recifes profundos. Características similares foram registradas para recifes mesofóticos ao longo do Atlântico Ocidental. Evidências de sobrepesca (obtidas aqui e em outros estudos recentes), a presença de quatro espécies de peixes endêmicas e com distribuição restrita, e o aumento no número de espécies novas ainda não descritas, indicam que a adoção de medidas de conservação baseadas no princípio da precaução é urgentemente necessária para garantir a manutenção dos ecossistemas frágeis e únicos do CITMV.The Trindade and Martin Vaz island group (TMVIG) is located at about 1,120 km off the Brazilian coast. Despite its importance, highlighted by the presence of several endemic fish species, the TMVIG lacks detailed information on the structure of fish and benthic assemblages. Presented here is the first quantitative assessment of reef fish and benthic assemblages of the TMVIG in a depth gradient ranging from 5 to 45 m. Additional qualitative information on reef assemblages between 45 and 100 m was obtained using advanced gas diving techniques (TRIMIX) and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). Similarly to other Brazilian oceanic islands, the TMVIG possesses depauperated fish and benthic assemblages, possibly due to its isolation and small size in comparison to the mainland. Depth was the most important factor affecting the structure of fish assemblages, with the density of most fish species declining with depth. Deep reefs (>; 45 m) were characterized by the presence of extensive rhodolith beds and rocky reefs sparsely covered with crustose coralline algae, black coral (Cirripathes sp.) and a few massive or plate-like reef corals. Part-time or obligatory planktivorous fishes (e.g. Cephalopholis furcifer and Clepticus brasiliensis) also dominated deep reefs. Similar characteristics were recorded in mesophotic reef ecosystems across the Western Atlantic. Evidence of overfishing (obtained here and in other recent studies), the presence of four endemic and restricted range fish species, as well as the increase in number of new (and still undescribed) endemic taxa, indicates that the adoption of precautionary conservation measures are urgently needed in order to maintain the fragile and unique ecosystems of the TMVIG

A pipeline to study structural interactions among Spodoptera frugiperda serine proteinases and plant proteinase inhibitors.

We propose here a computational biology pipeline to identify and analyze possible structural determinants that could explain some level of insensitivity by S. frugiperda serine proteinases (SPs) against plant PIs observed in a real time PCR experiment.GA 330

Delocalization and spin-wave dynamics in ferromagnetic chains with long-range correlated random exchange

We study the one-dimensional quantum Heisenberg ferromagnet with exchange couplings exhibiting long-range correlated disorder with power spectrum proportional to $1/k^{\alpha}$, where $k$ is the wave-vector of the modulations on the random coupling landscape. By using renormalization group, integration of the equations of motion and exact diagonalization, we compute the spin-wave localization length and the mean-square displacement of the wave-packet. We find that, associated with the emergence of extended spin-waves in the low-energy region for $\alpha > 1$, the wave-packet mean-square displacement changes from a long-time super-diffusive behavior for $\alpha <1$ to a long-time ballistic behavior for $\alpha > 1$. At the vicinity of $\alpha =1$, the mobility edge separating the extended and localized phases is shown to scale with the degree of correlation as $E_c\propto (\alpha -1)^{1/3}$.Comment: PRB to appea

Recomendações técnicas para o controle de pragas do pepino.

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Endoscopic submucosal dissection for the treatment of early esophageal and gastric cancer - initial experience of a western center

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a new Japanese technique characterized by en-bloc resection of the entire lesion irrespective of size, with lower local recurrence when compared to endoscopic mucosal resection. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility, early results and complications of the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique for treating early gastric and esophageal cancer at the Endoscopic Unit of Clinics Hospital and Cancer Institute of the São Paulo University. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients underwent endoscopic resection using the endoscopic submucosal dissection technique for early gastric or esophageal cancer. The patients were evaluated prospectively as to the executability of the technique, the short-term results of the procedure and complications. RESULTS: Sixteen gastric adenocarcinoma lesions and six esophageal squamous carcinoma lesions were resected. In the stomach, the mean diameter of the lesions was 16.2 mm (0.6-3.5 mm). Eight lesions were type IIa + IIc, four were type IIa and four IIc, with thirteen being well differentiated and three undifferentiated. Regarding the degree of invasion, five were M2, seven were M3, two were Sm1 and one was Sm2. The mean duration of the procedures was 85 min (20-160 min). In the esophagus, all of the lesions were type IIb, with a mean diameter of 17.8 mm (6-30 mm). Regarding the degree of invasion, three were M1, one was M2, one was M3 and one was Sm1. All had free lateral and deep margins. The mean time of the procedure was 78 min (20-150 min). CONCLUSION: The endoscopic submucosal dissection technique was feasible in our service with a high success rate

Microbiota no trato digestivo em voluntários saudáveis

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to standardize the methods of sample collection of mucus from the digestive tract and to determine the microbiota in healthy volunteers from Brazil, collecting samples from the mouth, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, and rectum. METHODS: Microbiota of selected healthy volunteers from the oral cavity (n=10), the esophagus (n=10), the upper digestive tract (n=20), and the lower digestive tract (n=24) were evaluated through distinct collection methods. Collection methods took into account the different sites, using basic scraping and swabbing techniques, stimulated saliva from the oral cavity, irrigation-aspiration with sterile catheters especially designed for the esophagus, a probe especially designed for upper digestive tract, and a special catheter for the lower digestive tract. RESULTS: (i) Mixed microbiota were identified in the oral cavity, predominantly Gram-positive aerobic and anaerobic cocci; (ii) transitional flora mainly in the esophagus; (iii) Veillonella sp, Lactobacillus sp, and Clostridium sp in the stomach and duodenum; (iv) in the jejunum and upper ileum, we observed Bacteroides sp, Proteus sp, and Staphylococcus sp, in addition to Veillonella sp; (v) in the colon, the presence of "nonpathogenic" anaerobic bacteria Veillonella sp (average 10(5) UFC) indicates the existence of a low oxidation-reduction potential environment, which suggests the possibility of adoption of these bacteria as biological markers of total digestive tract health. CONCLUSIONS: The collection methods were efficient in obtaining adequate samples from each segment of the total digestive tract to reveal the normal microbiota. These procedures are safe and easily reproducible for microbiological studies.OBJETIVO: Padronizar os métodos de coleta do muco do trato digestivo e determinar a microbiota, em voluntários saudáveis no Brasil, coletando amostras da boca, esôfago, estômago, duodeno, jejunos e íleo, cólons e reto. MÉTODOS: A microbiota de voluntários saudáveis foi avaliada através de diferentes métodos de coleta: cavidade oral (n=10 voluntários), do esôfago (n=10), do trato digestivo alto (n=20) e do trato digestivo baixo (n=24). Métodos de coleta foram adotados em cada sítio restrito, usando derramar saliva, técnica de esfregar a mucosa e saliva estimulada da cavidade oral, irrigação-aspiração, cateteres específicos designados para o esôfago, sonda especial para o trato digestivo alto e cateteres especiais para o trato digestivo baixo. RESULTADOS: Identificados: (i) na cavidade oral, microbiota mista, predominando cocos aeróbios e anaeróbios Gram positivos; (ii) no esôfago, flora transitória; (iii) no estômago e duodeno, Veillonella sp, Lactobacillus sp and Clostridium sp; (iv) no jejuno e íleo proximal, Bacteróides sp, Proteus sp and Staphilococcus sp, além da Veillonella sp ; (v) no colon, foi revelada a presença "não patogênica" da bactéria anaeróbica Veillonella sp numa concentração média de 10(5) unidades formadoras de colônia, indicando um meio de baixo potencial de oxido-redução e a possibilidade de se conceituar esta bactéria como um marcador biológico do trato digestivo total em sadios. CONCLUSÃO: Estes métodos de coleta foram considerados eficientes para obtenção adequada de amostra em cada segmento do trato digestivo total para caracterizar a microbiota normal. Estes procedimentos são seguros e facilmente reprodutível para estudo microbiológico