Synanthropy Of Sarcophagidae (diptera) In Southeastern Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Sarcophagidae (Diptera) are potential vectors of several pathogens. They are also very important in forensic entomology, providing basic information on the circumstances of death. The objective of this study was to determine the synanthropic index of adult Sarcophagidae collected in Rio Claro, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Sampling occurred between September 2009 and August 2010. Traps baited with sardines, beef liver, or minced meat were set for five consecutive days per month in three distinct ecological areas representing urban, rural, and forest environments. A total of 440 specimens of sarcophagids were collected. The most abundant species was Peckia (Sarcodexia) lambens (Wiedemann), followed by Oxysarcodexia thornax (Walker), Peckia (Euboettcheria) collusor (Curran & Walley), Peckia (Euboettcheria) sp., and Peckia (Pattonella) intermutans (Walker). The only species with positive synanthropic index values were O. thornax and P. (S.) lambens, which demonstrated a greater preference for inhabited areas. Peckia (Euboettcheria) florencioi (Prado & Fonseca), P. (P.) intermutans, and Peckia (Euboettcheria) australis (Townsend) were only found in the forested area, which demonstrates their importance in forensic entomology because of their preference for a particular type of environment. The greatest number of sarcophagids was found in the forest environment; however, only the forest and rural areas were significantly different in Sarcophagidae abundance. © 2016, Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.4566376412009/03540-0, FAPESP, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

CONTRIBUIÇÕES DA GEOMORFOLOGIA COSTEIRA AOS ESTUDOS SOBRE PELLETS DE PLÁSTICO EM PRAIAS DE SP, BRASIL

Avanços científicos produziram divisões nas Ciências e suas disciplinas, resultando, a exemplo da Geomorfologia, em diversos campos de análise. As interações com o meio e a produção do espaço pelo homem motivaram novas questões voltadas à compreensão da dinâmica do espaço geográfico. Por esta razão, o presente trabalho objetiva elucidar algumas constatações decorrentes da correlação entre um tema ambiental emergente como os pellets de plástico (microlixo marinho) e a Geomorfologia Costeira

Environmental heterogeneity caused by anthropogenic disturbance drives forest structure and dynamics in Brazilian Atlantic Forest

We evaluated how tree community floristic composition, forest structure and dynamics varied over a period of 13 years across a topographic gradient of ravines created by anthropic disturbance in Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The study area is located within a fragment of Atlantic Forest (21° 09' S, 44° 54' W), in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. This work was based on data of tree diameter at 1.3 m from the soil, collected in four inventories. Each individual was recorded as being in one of three stratified topographic classes: hilltop, slope and bottom. We used direct gradient analysis to evaluate floristic compositional changes, phytosociological analysis to evaluate structural variations, and assessed demographic and biomass changes over time through analysis of rates of forest dynamics. The results did not reflect modifications in the patterns of floristic composition and species diversity along the topographic gradient, while differences in forest structural attributes and dynamics may be detected at these smaller spatial scales. Thus, the same species group may employ different strategies against different restrictive environmental factors. Finally, we suggest that floristic composition and species diversity may be less sensitive parameters for post-disturbance responses than forest dynamics and structure

Variables associated with the tolerance to water deficit in forage grasses

Avaliou-se, sob condições de campo, a tolerância ao déficit hídrico de quatro gramíneas forrageiras. Determinaram-se o potencial hídrico da folha, a resistência estomática, a altura dos perfilhos e o comprimento do limbo foliar do capim-carimagua (Andropogon gayanus), capim-bufel (Cenchrus ciliaris) cvs. Gayndah e Biloela, e quicuio-da-amazônia (Brachiaria humidicola). Os capins carimagua, 'Gayndah' e 'Biloela' sob regime seco, não atingiram um valor crítico de potencial hídrico da folha para o fechamento estomático. O capim quicuio-da-amazônia atingiu mais baixo potencial hídrico da folha (-21 bares) e mais alta resistência estomática (20 seg.cm-1) em relação aos demais capins estudados neste trabalho. Com relação a altura do perfilho e comprimento do limbo foliar, os capins carimagua, 'Gayndah' e 'Biloela' também se comportaram como mais tolerantes ao déficit hídrico. Dessa forma, os capins carimagua, 'Gayndah' e 'Biloela' são opções mais seguras para as áreas onde ocorrem estiagens de mais de 120 dias.The tolerance to water deficit of four tropical grasses was evaluated under field conditions. The leaf water potential, stomatal resistance, sprout height and leaf blade length were determined for Carimagua grass (Andropogon gayanus) buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) cvs. Gayndah and Biloela, and Brachiaria Amazonian kikuyo grass (Brachiaria humidicola). The carimagua, 'Gayndah' and Biloela' grasses, under water deficit conditions, did not attain the critical level of leaf water potential for stomatal closing. The Amazonian kikuyo grass attained the lowest leaf water potential (-21 bars) and greatest diffusive stomatal resistance (20 seg. Cm-1) of the grasses studied here. The carimagua 'Gayndah' and 'Biloela' grasses also demonstrated, in relation to sprout height and leaf blade length, greater tolerance to water deficit than Amazonian kikuyo grass. Hence, the carimagua, 'Gayandah' and Biloela' grasses are a choice for areas where drought occurs for more than 120 days

The initial months of antiretroviral therapy and its influence on AGEs, HMGB1, and sRAGE levels in asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals

The development of the typical comorbidities of aging which currently affects people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) can be partially ascribed to the persistent immune activation and chronic inflammation characterizing these individuals. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect exerted by combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) administration on plasma levels of HMGB1 (high mobility group box protein-1), AGEs (advanced glycation end products), their soluble receptor sRAGE, cytokines, C-reactive protein (CRP), and some metabolic markers in asymptomatic PLWHA. Analyses were performed longitudinally in 30 PLWHA, before and about 6\u201312 months after cART initiation. We observed that lower levels of AGEs in post-cART group were accompanied by an increase of CRP and triglyceride levels already in the early months of therapy. Because of the current ever-earlier recommendations to start cART and its prolonged use, these and other markers should be investigated in order to monitor and postpone the appearance of non-AIDS comorbidities in PLWHA

Antiretroviral therapy initiation alters the redox system of asymptomatic HIV-Infected individuals

Background. The combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) increases the oxidative stress in HIV-infected people, which in turn favors the onset and aggravation of non-AIDS comorbidities, a common situation affecting these individuals. We aimed to evaluate the influence of cART initiation on oxidative stress parameters. This is a longitudinal study including 30 asymptomatic patients divided according to their CD4+ T cell count (G1: 500 cell/mL) before (M0) and after (M1) cART initiation. We analyzed total antioxidant capacity (TAC), fat-soluble vitamins, malondialdehyde, 8-isoprostane, and DNA damage. Results. Results showed a decrease in TAC, retinol, \u3b1-tocopherol, and some carotenoids, in addition to a significant increase in DNA damage at M1. These changes were more evident in G2 subjects. Moreover, there was a significant 8-isoprostane increase at M1 in individuals belonging to G1. Conclusion. The results indicate that cART interfered in the redox system, mainly by reducing the antioxidant defenses. In addition, patients who had CD4+ T counts higher than 500 cells/mm3 showed more susceptibility to genotoxicity, while patients with less CD4+ T counts displayed more damage triggered by lipoperoxidation. Considering the early beginning of cART, its chronic use, and its capacity to alter the redox status, further long-term studies on larger cohorts are needed to define the best time to initiate therapy and to investigate new strategies to delay the development of non-AIDS diseases