New morphology data and geographic distribution expansion of Leposternon mineiro Ribeiro, Silveira & Santos-Jr, 2018 (Squamata, Amphisbaenia, Amphisbaenidae)

We provide new morphological and geographic distribution data for Leposternon mineiro. Fifteen specimens of L. mineiro were analyzed (six specimens of the type series and nine additional specimens), in addition to 404 specimens of other species of the genus, used for identification and comparison. Meristic characters, morphometrics, head scale patterns and dentition matched the previously published diagnosis of the species, but we also found some variations compared to the type series. We expanded the ranges of the following diagnostic characters of L. mineiro: snout-vent length 221–380 mm, tail length 11.5–23.4 mm, 252–300 dorsal postpectoral halfannuli, 252–280 ventral postpectoral half-annuli, 14–16 caudal annuli, 26–37 dorsal segments and 24–39 ventral segments in a midbody annuli, and 2–4 precloacal pores. The new record from the municipality of Cristalina, State of Goiás, extends the geographic distribution of the species by 148 km west of nearest record.Nós fornecemos novos dados morfológicos e de distribuição geográfica para Leposternon mineiro. Foram analisados quinze espécimes de L. mineiro (seis espécimes da série-tipo e nove exemplares adicionais), além de 404 exemplares de outras espécies do gênero, utilizados para identificação e comparação. Caracteres merísticos, morfométricos, padrões de escamas da cabeça e dentição corresponderam com a diagnose da espécie publicada anteriormente, mas encontramos algumas variações em comparação à série-tipo. Nós ampliamos as variações dos seguintes caracteres diagnósticos de L. mineiro: comprimento rostro-cloacal de 221–380 mm, comprimento da cauda de 11,5–23,4 mm, 252–300 meios anéis pós-peitorais dorsais, 252–280 meios anéis pós-peitorais ventrais, 14–16 anéis caudais, 26–37 segmentos dorsais e 24–39 segmentos ventrais em um anel do meio do corpo e 2–4 poros pré-cloacais. O novo registro do município de Cristalina, Estado de Goiás, amplia a distribuição geográfica da espécie em 148 km a oeste do registro mais próximo."Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Distribution extension of Phimophis guerini (Serpentes: Dipsadidae: Xenodontinae) in the Brazilian Amazon

Phimophis guerini Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 is a Xenodontinae snake distributed in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. In Brazil, the species is broadly distributed, occurring mainly in open areas of the Cerrado, but also in the Amazon, Atlantic forest and Caatinga. We provide a new record for this species from the municipality of Santarém in the western portion of the state of Pará (Brazil). Five specimens were collected in a small area covered with Amazonian Savanna vegetation. We also provide the description of the morphological variation for the collected specimens. The new record extends the northern limit of the distribution by some 640 km (from Floresta Nacional de Carajás, Parauapebas municipality, eastern Pará). The record from Santarém provides a third locality for P. guerini within the Amazon biome and supports the hypothesis of a past ecological corridor linking the Cerrado and the open habitats within the Amazon

Inclusão, exclusão e reinclusão: Chironius brazili (Serpentes, Colubridae) no Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil

Although Chironius brazili Hamdan and Fernandes, 2015, was recently described, its occurrence in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, has been discussed for at least three decades. In this work, we evaluate the occurrence of C. brazili in Rio Grande do Sul, presenting three new records, a distribution extension and comments in its available literature records. In the Pampa biome, all records are near areas of Atlantic Forest, in grassywoody steppes with gallery forest, in western Rio Grande do Sul. Our records suggest that C. brazili might occur in the Central Depression of Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguay and adjacent areas to the Western portion of Rio Grande do Sul.Keywords: geographical distribution, gallery forest, Pampa, Southern Brazil.Embora Chironius brazili Hamdan and Fernandes, 2015, tenha sido recentemente descrita, sua ocorrência no Rio Grande do Sul tem sido discutida há, pelo menos, três décadas. Neste trabalho, avaliamos a ocorrência de C. brazili no Rio Grande do Sul, apresentando três novos registros, uma extensão de distribuição e comentários sobre seus registros disponíveis em literatura. No bioma Pampa, todos os registros estão perto de áreas de Mata Atlântica, em estepes gramíneo-lenhosas com mata ciliar, no oeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Nossos registros indicam que C. brazili pode ocorrer na Depressão Central do Rio Grande do Sul, Uruguai e áreas adjacentes à porção ocidental do Rio Grande do Sul.Palavras-chave: distribuição geográfica, floresta de galeria, Pampa, Sul do Brasil

Reflexões sobre as roças em São Tomé e Príncipe

O artigo tem como objetivo apresentar elementos constitutivos da história de São Tomé e Príncipe, segundo menor país do continente africano, que tem como língua oficial o português. Diversas leituras e dados coligidos auxiliaram na redação do texto, que define e contextualiza o universo do sistema latifundiário colonial construído nas duas ilhas e apresenta escolhas políticas e sociais realizadas em função desse sistema ao longo de sua história

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Penilaian Kinerja Keuangan Koperasi di Kabupaten Pelalawan

This paper describe development and financial performance of cooperative in District Pelalawan among 2007 - 2008. Studies on primary and secondary cooperative in 12 sub-districts. Method in this stady use performance measuring of productivity, efficiency, growth, liquidity, and solvability of cooperative. Productivity of cooperative in Pelalawan was highly but efficiency still low. Profit and income were highly, even liquidity of cooperative very high, and solvability was good