The first cases of gynandromorphism in oil-collecting bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae: Centridini, Tapinotaspidini)

Here we provide descriptions of gynandromorphs of two species oil-collecting bees: Lophopedia nigrispinis and Epicharis iheringii, both with partial bilateral phenotypic asymmetry. The bees have a female phenotype predominantly on mesosoma and metasoma. The specimen of L. nigrispinis has distinct characteristics on legs, suggesting a mosaic pattern of gynandromorphism. The pollen and oil loads on legs suggest that the bee was foraging normally. The gynander specimen of E. iheringii has mostly a female phenotype, except for head, with right half female type and left half male type. The specimen of L. nigrispinis was collected foraging on flowers of Bidens sp. at Parque Nacional Iguazú, Argentina with loads of pollen on legs suggesting it was reproductive and was provisioning a nest. The specimen of Epicharis iheriingi has no evidence of any oil or pollen collection, despite its mostly female phenotype

Transport and consumption of organic detritus in a neotropical limestone cave

Caves are permanently aphotic environments, a fact that precludes the occurrence of photosynthetic organisms. In these systems the resource is allochthonous, coming mainly from the surrounding epigean environment, being imported by physical and biological agents. Even knowing about the importance of the organic allochthonous resources in caves, little is known of their importation and processing. The present work had as an objective, the measuring the coarse particulate organic matter processing and import rates in the subterranean environment. The cave studied was Lapa da Fazenda Extrema I, limestone cave, located in Brazilian savanna biome. Through bimonthly collections, it was observed that the organic detritus penetrated into the cave in low amounts in dry season and high amounts in rainy season. The processing of the organic plant matter in the aquatic hypogean environment was moderate (K-day=0.025), in the epigean environment the processing was predominantly slow (K-day =0.0104). The detritus commonly brought to the interior of the cave were large woods (58.18 g/day), followed by leaves and fragmented material (12.76 g/day), fruits and seeds (0.0069 g/day), animal carcasses (0.002 g/day) and roots (0.001 g/day). The highest richness and abundances of invertebrates were found in the same periods in which there were the highest rates of organic matter import to the cave.Keywords: cave, detritus processing, energy flow

Investigation of the potential sources of water pollution affecting the companhia hidromineral Caldas da Imperatriz through physical, chemical, and biological analyses

Water is an essential element for life. Accessing good quality and adequate water is directly linked to the people’s health. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential sources of water pollution affecting the Company Hidromineral Caldas da Imperatriz through physical, chemical, and biological analysis to reduce the risks of health hazards. Laboratory tests encompassed chemical parameters (pH, DO, BOD, nitrite, nitrate, and sulfate), physical parameters (color, turbidity and temperature), and biological parameters (total and thermotolerant coliforms). The results obtained were compared to the maximum values allowed by the CONAMA resolutions 357/2005 and 396/2008, and by Ordinance 2914/2011of the Ministry of Health. The analyzed parameters met the current legislation, except for the nitrite analysis performed on March 2, which presented alterations probably because of the rainfall during the previous days, and BOD for all samples, which was above the maximum value allowed by the CONAMA resolution 357/2005. Wastewaters from nearby hotels were the possible source of pollution affecting the waters of the Companhia Hidromineral Caldas da Imperatriz, since there were no other sources of anthropic pollution, such as plantations, livestock, and industries

O paradoxo epidemiológico do baixo peso ao nascer no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the low birth weight (LBW) paradox exists in Brazil. METHODS: LBW and cesarean section rates between 1995 and 2007 were estimated based on data from SINASC (Brazilian Live Births Database). Infant mortality rates (IMRs) were obtained using an indirect method that correct for underreporting. Schooling information was obtained from census data. Trends in LBW rate were assessed using joinpoint regression models. The correlations between LBW rate and other indicators were graphically assessed by lowess regression and tested using Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: In Brazil, LBW rate trends were non-linear and non-significant: the rate dropped from 7.9% in 1995 to 7.7% in 2000, then increased to 8.2% in 2003 and remained nearly steady thereafter at 8.2% in 2007. However, trends varied among Brazilian regions: there were significant increases in the North from 1999 to 2003 (2.7% per year), and in the South (1.0% per year) and Central-West regions (0.6% per year) from 1995 to 2007. For the entire period studied, higher LBW and lower IMRs were seen in more developed compared to less developed regions. In Brazilian States, in 2005, the higher the IMR rate, the lower the LBW rate (p=0.009); the lower the low schooling rate, the lower the LBW rate (p=0.007); the higher the number of neonatal intensive care beds per 1,000 live births, the higher the LBW rate (p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: The low birth weight paradox was seen in Brazil. LBW rate is increasing in some Brazilian regions. Regional differences in LBW rate seem to be more associated to availability of perinatal care services than underlying social conditions.OBJETIVO: Identificar la presencia de la paradoja de bajo peso al nacer (BPN) en Brasil. MÉTODOS: Las tasas de BPN y de cesárea, de 1995 a 2007, fueron estimadas a partir del Sistema de Informaciones sobre Nacidos Vivos. Las tasas de mortalidad infantil fueron calculadas por métodos indirectos, con corrección para subregistro. La tasa de escolaridad fue obtenida de datos de censos. Las tendencias de la tasa de bajo peso al nacer fueron evaluadas utilizándose modelos de regresión joinpoint. Las asociaciones entre la tasa de bajo peso al nacer con otros indicadores fueron evaluadas por regresión lowess y correlación de Spearman. RESULTADOS: En Brasil, las tendencias en la tasa de BPN fueron no lineares y no significativas: la tasa disminuyó de 7,9% en 1995 a 7,7% en 2000, aumentando a 8,2% en 2003, y permaneciendo estable en 8,2% en 2007. Mientras, las tendencias variaron en las regiones brasileras: hubo aumentos significativos en el Norte (2,7% por año), de 1999 a 2003, y en el Sur (1,0% por año) y Centro-Oeste (0,6% por año), de 1995 a 2007. Las tasas de BPN fueron más altas y las tasas de mortalidad infantil más bajas en las regiones más desarrolladas en comparación con las menos desarrolladas. En 2005, cuanto más elevada la tasa de mortalidad infantil, menor fue la tasa de BPN (p=0,009); cuanto más alta la tasa de baja escolaridad, menor la tasa de BPN (p=0,007); cuanto mayor el número de lechos de terapia intensiva neonatal por 1000 nacidos vivos, más elevada la tasa de BPN (p=0,036). CONCLUSIONES: La paradoja del BPN fue detectado en Brasil. La tasa de BPN está aumentando en algunas regiones brasileras. Diferencias regionales en la tasa de BPN parecen estar más relacionadas con la disponibilidad de asistencia perinatal que con las condiciones sociales.OBJETIVO: Identificar a presença do paradoxo do baixo peso ao nascer (BPN) no Brasil. MÉTODOS: As taxas de BPN e de cesárea, de 1995 a 2007, foram estimadas a partir do Sistema de Informações sobre Nascidos Vivos. As taxas de mortalidade infantil, foram calculadas por métodos indiretos, com correção para sub-registro. A taxa de escolaridade foi obtida de dados censitários. As tendências da taxa de BPN foram avaliadas utilizando-se modelos de regressão joinpoint. As associações entre a taxa de BPN com outros indicadores foram avaliadas por regressão lowess e correlação de Spearman. RESULTADOS: No Brasil, as tendências da taxa de BPN foram não lineares e não significantes: a taxa caiu de 7,9% em 1995 para 7,7% em 2000, aumentando para 8,2% em 2003 e permanecendo estável em 8,2% em 2007. Entretanto, as tendências variaram nas regiões brasileiras: houve aumentos significantes no Norte (2,7% por ano), de 1999 a 2003, e no Sul (1,0% por ano) e Centro-Oeste (0,6% por ano), de 1995 a 2007. As taxas de BPN foram mais altas e as taxas de mortalidade infantil mais baixas nas regiões mais desenvolvidas do que nas menos desenvolvidas. Em 2005, quanto mais elevada a taxa de mortalidade infantil, menor foi a taxa de BPN (p = 0,009); quanto mais alta a taxa de baixa escolaridade, menor foi a taxa de BPN (p = 0,007); quanto maior o número de leitos de terapia intensiva neonatal por 1.000 nascidos vivos, mais elevada foi a taxa de BPN (p = 0,036). CONCLUSÕES: O paradoxo do BPN foi detectado no Brasil. A taxa de BPN está aumentando em algumas regiões brasileiras. Diferenças regionais na taxa de BPN parecem estar mais relacionadas à disponibilidade de assistência perinatal do que às condições sociais

Corrupción en la función pública: un estudio sobre correlaciones entre corrupción, calidad de la democracia, gobernanza, desigualdad de renta y desempleo en el mundo (2008-2012)

In recent decades, the quantitative study of corruption has grown opening unprecedented paths for social research. This paper stablishes a transnational comparison on the perception of corruption in public office from 2008 to 2012 and works with three hypotheses: 1) corruption is more prevalent in countries with less democratic quality; 2) all governance indicators exert any effect on corruption; 3) inequality is a major predictor of the corruption levels, even more than unemployment. To test these hypothetical details Democracy Ranking of the Quality of Democracy, Corruption Perception Index, Worldwide Governance Indicators, data from the World Development Indicators and World Bank, these data calculate the global level of unemployment and the Gini index, which measures the inequality in purchasing power and income were used. The results show that the first two hypotheses are adherent, as they are highly negative in correlation between corruption in the public service and quality of democracy , in addition to the six governance indicators. The third hypothesis scenario shows a relative adherence because income inequality and unemployment are correlated with corruption in the public functionalism, however, the correlation has a low value of significance indicating that these two factors are just part of a whole between factors that increase the level of corruption.© Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales.El estudio cuantitativo de la corrupción ha crecido en las últimas décadas, abriendo caminos sin precedentes para la pesquisa social. En este trabajo, se hace una comparación transnacional sobre la percepción de corrupción en la función pública desde 2008 hasta 2012. Se trabaja con tres hipótesis: 1) la corrupción es más frecuente en países con menor calidad democrática; 2) todos los indicadores de gobernanza ejercen algún efecto sobre la corrupción; 3) la desigualdad es un importante predictor del nivel de corrupción, aún más que el desempleo. Para probar estas hipótesis se utilizan datos del Democracy Ranking of the Quality of Democracy, Corruption Perception Index, Worldwide Governance Indicators, datos del World Development Indicators y del Banco Mundial, datos estos que calculan el nivel global de desempleo y el índice Gini, que mide la desigualdad de consumo y renta. Los resultados muestran que las dos primeras hipótesis son adherentes, ya que hay alta correlación negativa entre corrupción en la función pública y cualidad de la democracia además de los seis indicadores de gobernanza. La tercera hipótesis muestra relativa adherencia pues, desigualdad de renta y desempleo están correlacionados con la corrupción en el funcionalismo público, sin embargo, la correlación tiene bajo valor de significancia, lo que indica que estos dos factores son apenas parte de un todo entre factores que componen el nivel de corrupción. © Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales

Administração pública e corrupção: relação entre corrupção na função pública, desemprego, desigualdade, qualidade da democracia e governança

O estudo quantitativo da corrupção vem crescendo nas ultimas décadas, abrindo caminhos sem precedentes para a pesquisa social. Neste trabalho, fizemos uma comparação transnacional sobre a percepção de corrupção no funcionalismo público no período de 2008 á 2012. Trabalhamos com 3 hipótese: 1) a corrupção é mais frequente em países com menor qualidade de democracia; 2) todos os indicadores de governança exercem algum efeito sobre a corrupção; 3) desigualdade, mais do que desemprego é um importante preditor do nível de corrupção. Para testar nossas hipóteses utilizamos dados do The Democracy Ranking of the Quality of Democracy, Corruption Perception Index, Worldwide Governance Indicators, dados do World Development Indicators, do banco mundial, sobre nível global de desemprego e do índice de Gini, que mede a desigualdade de consumo e renda. Os resultados mostram que as hipóteses 1 e 2 são aderentes, vide que há alta correlação negativa entre corrupção no funcionalismo publico e qualidade da democracia e também para com todos os 6 indicadores de governança. A hipótese 3 mostra relativa aderência pois, desigualdade de renda e desemprego estão correlacionados com a corrupção no funcionalismo publico, contudo, as correlações tem baixo valor de significância. O que indica que estes dois fatores são apenas parte de um todo entre fatores que compõem o nível de corrupção

Endobronchial myxoma: Case report

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary myxoma is an extremely rare benign neoplasm. It is mostly parenchymal but may occasionally occur within the tracheobronchial tree. There are very few reports of endobronchial myxoma. CASE REPORT: We describe a case of endobronchial myxoma in a 40-year-old female patient with a history of asthma and repeated right-sided pneumonia. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed medium lobe atelectasis. Fiber optic bronchoscopy revealed a polypoid, well-circumscribed tumor, causing total obstruction of the medium lobe bronchus. Biopsy of the mass was non-diagnostic. Further study included a positron emission tomography (PET) which demonstrated low metabolic activity of the tumor and no evidence of neoplasia in other location. The patient was submitted to a medium lobectomy and microscopic examination of the tumor revealed myxoid stroma with lobulated pattern, elongated and stellate cells, compatible with myxoma. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary myxoma is extraordinary rare and endobronchial location is very few reported in medical literature

Clinical and Molecular Disorders Caused by COVID-19 During Pregnancy as a Potential Risk for Enamel Defects

This paper discusses the potential risk that COVID-19 generates for the development of enamel defects. This hypothesis was built based on the etiopathogenesis of enamel defects and the relationship with the symptom’s characteristic of COVID-19. Pregnancy is a critical period for the child's development; exposure to pathological agents can cause systemic imbalances and risks of adverse perinatal and prenatal outcomes. The main clinical symptoms of this disease and its association with that dental outcome were considered. Fever, breathing, cardiovascular disorders, and diarrhea were related as potential etiological factors of ameloblast metabolism imbalance, which can interfere qualitatively and quantitatively in the development, maturation and mineralization of the tooth enamel. Molecular disorders derived from COVID-19, as well as their clinical symptoms, can be considered potential risk factors for the development of enamel defects. Individuals with enamel defects experienced high stress levels during pregnancy or early childhood. The approach adopted may help build new research to ensure understanding of the etiology of the development of dental enamel defects and its relationship with COVID-19. However, longitudinal studies need to be conducted to confirm the association between COVID-19 and adverse events during pregnancy