NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Prospecção fitoquímica do arilo de sementes de maracujá amarelo e influência em germinação de sementes Phytochemical screening of the arils of yellow passion fruits seeds and influence on the seed germination

O maracujazeiro amarelo é propagado por sementes que apresentam problemas na sua germinação devido à presença do arilo que pode conter substâncias inibidoras. O trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de identificar as classes de metabolitos especiais contidas no arilo das sementes de maracujá amarelo. Para isso, após a extração do arilo das sementes de maracujá amarelo, foram obtidos os extratos de diclorometano e metanol. As classes foram identificadas por meio de prospecção fitoquímica aliada à análise de espectros de infravermelho e ressonância magnética nuclear de hidrogênio (RMN 1H) de frações dos extratos obtidas com fracionamento em coluna de gel de sílica. Para avaliação da sensibilidade das sementes a essas substâncias, foram instalados testes de germinação com sementes de alface. No extrato de arilo obtido com diclorometano, identificaram-se esteróides e triterpenóides, verificou-se inibição da germinação das sementes. No extrato metanólico, identificaram-se açúcares redutores e verificou-se redução da germinação das sementes.<br>The passion fruit is propagated by seeds that have problems in their germination due to the presence of aryl which may contain inhibitory substances. The aim of this research was to identify the metabolites classes contained on the aril of yellow passion fruit. For this, after arils extraction, dichlorometane and methanol extracts were obtained. The Classes of metabolites were identified by phytochemical screening coupled with infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and extract fractions were obtained by fractionation on a column of silica gel. To evaluate the sensitivity of seeds to these substances, germination tests with lettuce seeds were installed. In aril extract obtained with dichloromethane, steroids and triterpenoids were identified and inhibition of seeds germination observed. In the methanol extract, reducing sugars were found and it was verified reduction of seeds germination

Selected Papers From Sblp 2006: The 10th Brazilian Symposium On Programming Languages J.ucs Special Issue

[No abstract available]12776276

The conservative physiology of the immune system

Current immunological opinion disdains the necessity to define global interconnections between lymphocytes and regards natural autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells as intrinsically pathogenic. Immunological theories address the recognition of foreignness by independent clones of lymphocytes, not the relations among lymphocytes or between lymphocytes and the organism. However, although extremely variable in cellular/molecular composition, the immune system preserves as invariant a set of essential relations among its components and constantly enacts contacts with the organism of which it is a component. These invariant relations are reflected, for example, in the life-long stability of profiles of reactivity of immunoglobulins formed by normal organisms (natural antibodies). Oral contacts with dietary proteins and the intestinal microbiota also result in steady states that lack the progressive quality of secondary-type reactivity. Autoreactivity (natural autoantibody and autoreactive T cell formation) is also stable and lacks the progressive quality of clonal expansion. Specific immune responses, currently regarded as the fundament of the operation of the immune system, may actually result from transient interruptions in this stable connectivity among lymphocytes. More permanent deficits in interconnectivity result in oligoclonal expansions of T lymphocytes, as seen in Omenn's syndrome and in the experimental transplantation of a suboptimal diversity of syngeneic T cells to immunodeficient hosts, which also have pathogenic consequences. Contrary to theories that forbid autoreactivity as potentially pathogenic, the physiology of the immune system is conservative and autoreactive. Pathology derives from failures of these conservative mechanisms