A Audaciosa Viagem Temporal sobre Perfis da Fauna Brasileira ao Longo dos Séculos

A Audaciosa Viagem Temporal sobre Perfis da Fauna Brasileira ao Longo dos Séculos Lorelai Kuri (org.) Representações da fauna do Brasil séculos XVI ”“ XX. Rio de Janeiro: AndreaJakobsson Estúdio Editorial, 2014. Contém ilustrações. 284 p. ISBN 9788588742642

Reply to "Comment on "Stratigraphy of the Northern Pulo do Lobo Domain, SW Iberia Variscides: A palynological contribution" by Zelia Pereira et al. (2018) - Geobios 51, 491-506"

We acknowledge M. Francisco Pereira, D. Martínez Poyatos, I. Pérez-Cáceres, Cristina Gama and António Azor for the interest shown in our work, and appreciate the chance to clarify a few questions raised by Pereira et al.’s (2018) research. The main aim of Pereira et al. (2018) study was to better constrain the ages of the lithostratigraphic units that make the Northern Pulo do Lobo Domain, SW Iberia Variscides.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The role of c-kit and imatinib mesylate in uveal melanoma

BACKGROUND: Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular tumor in adults, leading to metastasis in 40% of the cases and ultimately to death in 10 years, despite local and/or systemic treatment. The c-kit protein (CD117) is a membrane-bound tyrosine kinase receptor and its overexpression has been observed in several neoplasms. Imatinib mesylate is a FDA approved compound that inhibits tyrosine quinase receptors, as well as c-kit. Imatinib mesylate controls tumor growth in up to 85% of advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors, a neoplasia resistant to conventional therapy. METHODS: Fifty-five specimens of primary UM selected from the archives of the Ocular Pathology Laboratory, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, were immunostained for c-kit. All cells displaying distinct immunoreactivity were considered positive. Four human UM cell lines and 1 human uveal transformed melanocyte cell line were tested for in vitro proliferation Assays (TOX-6) and invasion assay with imatinib mesylate (concentration of 10 μM). RESULTS: The c-kit expression was positive in 78.2% of the UM. There was a statistical significant decrease in the proliferation and invasion rates of all 5 cell lines. CONCLUSION: The majority of UM expressed c-kit, and imatinib mesylate does decrease the proliferation and invasion rates of human UM cell lines. These results justify the need for a clinical trial to investigate in vivo the response of UM to imatinib mesylate

Distribuicao de dermatofitos isolados de solos de cidades do Estado da Paraiba, Brasil

SUMMARY The dermatophytes, keratinophilic fungi, represent important microorganisms of the soil microbiota, where there are cosmopolitan species and others with restricted geographic distribution. The aim of this study was to broaden the knowledge about the presence of dermatophytes in soils of urban (empty lots, schools, slums, squares, beaches and homes) and rural areas and about the evolution of their prevalence in soils of varying pH in cities of the four mesoregions of Paraiba State, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from 31 cities of Paraiba State. Of 212 samples, 62% showed fungal growth, particularly those from the Mata Paraibana mesoregion (43.5%), which has a tropical climate, hot and humid. Soil pH varied from 4.65 to 9.06, with 71% of the growth of dermatophytes occurring at alkaline pH (7.02 - 9.06) (ρ = 0.000). Of 131 strains isolated, 57.3% were geophilic species, particularly Trichophyton terrestre (31.3%) and Mycrosporum gypseum (21.4%). M. nanum and T. ajelloi were isolated for the first time in Paraiba State. The zoophilic species identified were T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (31.3 %) and T. verrucosum (7.6 %), and T. tonsurans was isolated as an anthropophilic species. The soils of urban areas including empty lots, schools, slums and squares of cities in the mesoregions of Paraiba State were found to be the most suitable reservoirs for almost all dermatophytes; their growth may have been influenced by environmental factors, soils with residues of human and/or animal keratin and alkaline pH.RESUMO Os dermatófitos, fungos queratinofílicos, representam importantes microrganismos da microbiota do solo, onde existem espécies cosmopolitas e outras de distribuição geográfica restrita. Este estudo teve como objetivo ampliar o conhecimento da distribuição de dermatófitos do solo proveniente de áreas urbanas (terrenos baldios, escolas, favelas, praças, praias e residências) e rurais de quatro mesorregiões paraibanas e da influência do pH na adaptação desse grupo de fungos. Amostras de solos urbanos e rurais foram coletadas de 31 cidades do estado da Paraíba, Brasil. De 212 amostras 62% apresentaram crescimento fúngico, destacando-se a Mesorregião da Mata Paraibana (43.5%), a qual apresenta clima tropical, quente e úmido. O pH das amostras de solo variou de 4.65 a 9.06, com crescimento de 71% dos dermatófitos em pH alcalino (7.02 - 9.06) (ρ = 0.000). Das 131 cepas isoladas 57.3% eram espécies geofílicas, destacando-se Trichophyton terrestre (31.3%) e Microsporum gypseum (21.4%). M. nanum e T. ajelloi foram isolados pela primeira vez no estado da Paraíba. Entre as espécies zoofílicas foram identificadas T. mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (31.3%) e T. verrucosum (7.6%) e como espécie antropofílica foi isolada T. tonsurans. Os solos de terrenos baldios, escolas, favelas e praças de cidades paraibanas são os reservatórios mais adequados dos dermatófitos, cujo crescimento pode ter sido influenciado por fatores ambientais, solos com resíduos de queratina humana e ou animal e pH alcalino

Assessing thermal maturity through a multi-proxy approach: a case study from the Permian Faraghan Formation (Zagros Basin, Southwest Iran)

This study focuses on the thermal maturity of Permian deposits from the Zagros Basin, Southwest Iran, employing both optical methods (Thermal Alteration Index, Palynomorph Darkness Index, Vitrinite Reflectance, UV Fluorescence) and geochemical analyses of organic matter (Rock Eval Pyrolysis and MicroRaman spectroscopy) applied to the Faraghan Formation along two investigated Darreh Yas and Kuh e Faraghan surface sections. Furthermore, an integrated palynofacies and lithofacies analysis was carried out in order to integrate the few studies on the depositional environment. The Faraghan Formation, which is widely distributed in the Zagros area, generally consists of shale intercalated with sandstones and pebble conglomerates in the lower part, followed by a succession of sandstone, siltstone and shaly intercalations and with carbonate levels at the top. The integrated palynofacies and lithofacies data confirm a coastal depositional setting evolving upwards to a shallow marine carbonate environment upwards. Rock Eval Pyrolysis and Vitrinite Reflectance analysis showed that the organic matter from samples of the Darreh Yas and Kuh e Faraghan sections fall in the mature to postmature range with respect to the oil to gas generation window, restricting the thermal maturity range proposed by previous authors. Similar results were obtained with MicroRaman spectroscopy and optical analysis such as Thermal Alteration Index and UV Fluorescence. Palynomorph Darkness Index values were compared with Rock Eval Pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance values and discussed for the first time in the late stage of oil generation.This research was funded by PRIN (2017RX9XXXY-CIRILLI), by Fondo Ricerca di Base Department of Physics and Geology, University of Perugia (SPIRICBAS2018-SPINA), by the project “Paleontological Studies and Biozonation of Paleozoic Sediments in Central Iran and Zagros Basins” (coordinator R. Rettori) and MIUR grants-SORCI to PhD School of Science and Technology for Physics and Geology (XXXIV Cycle), University of Perugia; Project “Paleontological Studies and Biozonation of Paleozoic Sediments in Central Iran and Zagros Basins” (RETTORI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

O Design Participativo e as Ferramentas para a Autoria de Conteúdos em Ambientes Imersivos Educacionais

A partir da definição de abordagens que permitem envolver o usuário no processo  de  desenvolvimento,  dentre  elas  o  Design  Participativo  e  o  Design  de Interação, é discutido o processo de autoria para os ambientes imersivos educacionais. Diante desse cenário, observa-se que os atores/autores deste processo poderiam possibilitar diferentes considerações e reflexões no desenvolvimento destes ambientes. Esse artigo tem como objetivo apresentar um levantamento de softwares indicados para o processo de autoria dos ambientes desta natureza. Foi realizada uma avaliação dos softwares e posterior discussão para incorporá-los em abordagens participativas

The Middle Jurassic palynostratigraphy of the northern Lusitanian Basin, Portugal

A composite largely Middle Jurassic succession spanning the Toarcian–Aalenian transition to the lowermost Bathonian exposed at Cabo Mondego and São Gião in the northern Lusitanian Basin, western Portugal, was examined palynologically. The 129 samples are correlated to ammonite biozones spanning Pleydellia aalensis to Zigzagiceras zigzag. The Cabo Mondego succession comprises the type section of the Cabo Mondego Formation and spans virtually the entire interval studied. This is a significant interval because it includes the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) and the Auxiliary Stratigraphical Section and Point (ASSP) for the Bajocian and Bathonian stages respectively. The Cabo Mondego Formation largely yielded relatively abundant palynomorph associations in the 68 productive samples recovered. By contrast, the Pó'voa da Lomba Formation at São Gião only includes the Toarcian–Aalenian transition; the 21 productive horizons produced sparse assemblages. The uppermost Toarcian to lowermost Bajocian is characterised by a low diversity dinoflagellate cyst association, typified by Nannoceratopsis. Above this is a markedly more diverse assemblage. This influx, in the Witchellia laeviuscula ammonite biozone AB, represents a global evolutionary radiation which may be linked to sea level rise. The trend of increasing dinoflagellate cyst diversity continued at the Bajocian–Bathonian transition. The Middle Jurassic dinoflagellate cyst assemblages of the Lusitanian Basin are significantly less diverse than coeval palynobiotas from eastern and northern Europe, and the Arctic. The Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event (T-OAE) profoundly inhibited cyst-forming dinoflagellates in this depocentre, and the recovery was protracted. Hence the T-OAE may have suppressed dinoflagellate cyst diversity well into the Middle Jurassic. This phenomenon may have been exacerbated by the absence of typically Arctic taxa through latitudinal controls and/or global cooling during the early Aalenian. These low levels of dinoflagellate cyst species richness may also be related to the palaeogeography of the Lusitanian Basin. This relatively isolated deepwater depocentre close to the Proto Atlantic, may have precluded extensive biotal exchange with the widespread shelfal areas of the western Tethys. The absence of Dissiliodinium giganteum in the Lusitanian Basin is consistent with this scenario. The pollen and spores observed in this study are typical of Middle Jurassic assemblages worldwide. Araucarian pollen, largely Callialasporites, diversified and became prominent during the Aalenian

Comprehensive inventory of true flies (Diptera) at a tropical site

Peer reviewe

Comprehensive inventory of true flies (Diptera) at a tropical site

Estimations of tropical insect diversity generally suffer from lack of known groups or faunas against which extrapolations can be made, and have seriously underestimated the diversity of some taxa. Here we report the intensive inventory of a four-hectare tropical cloud forest in Costa Rica for one year, which yielded 4332 species of Diptera, providing the first verifiable basis for diversity of a major group of insects at a single site in the tropics. In total 73 families were present, all of which were studied to the species level, providing potentially complete coverage of all families of the order likely to be present at the site. Even so, extrapolations based on our data indicate that with further sampling, the actual total for the site could be closer to 8000 species. Efforts to completely sample a site, although resource-intensive and time-consuming, are needed to better ground estimations of world biodiversity based on limited sampling