HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE and HUMAN CONSEQUENCES of AFRICANIZED BEE STINGS IN THE AMERICAS

In 1956, Africanized bees began to spread in the American continent from southern Brazil, where original African bees mated with European bees. A few years later, in 1990, these Africanized bees reached the United States and were found in Texas. Currently, these hybrid bees are found in several North American states and will probably reach the Canadian border in the future. Although the presence of Africanized bees had produced positive effects on Brazilian economy, including improvement in crop pollination and in honey production, turning Brazil into a major exporter, the negative impacts-such as swarming, aggressive behavior, and the ability to mass attack-resulted in serious and fatal envenomation with humans and animals. Victims of bee attacks usually develop a severe envenomation syndrome characterized by the release of a large amount of cytokines [interleukins (IL) IL-1, IL-6, IL-8], and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Subsequently, such cytokines produce an acute inflammatory response that triggers adverse effects on skeletal muscles; bone marrow; hepatic and renal functions; and cardiovascular, central nervous, and immune systems. Finally, the aim of the present review is to study historical characteristics and current status of Africanized bees' spread, the composition of their venom, the impact of the bees on the Brazilian economy and ecology, and clinical aspects of their stings including immune response, and to suggest a protocol for bee sting management since there is no safe and effective antivenom available.

Experimental pancreas transplantation: the consequences of the portocaval shunt on the blood glucose, plasma insulin, and glucagon

A proposição foi realizada, no período pós-operatório imediato, em 40 ratos Wistar, distribuídos por sorteio em doi grupos: grupo NC, vinte ratos correspondentes ao grupo controle, não diabético, submetidos a operação simulada e o grupo PT, 20 ratos correspondentes ao grupo diabético que recebeu transplante de pâncreas heterotópico de ratos Wistar normais. Durante sete dias, antes do transplante, e 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 horas após, determinava-se a glicose sanguínea, a insulina plasnática e o glucagon. Estes parâmetros eram obtidos também do grupo NC. Diabetes mellitus experimental era induzida pela administração intravenosa de aloxana. O grupo PT era imunosuprimido com ciclosporina A. O grupo NC apresentou níveis normais de glicose sanguínea, de insulina plásmica e de glucagon, durante todo o experimento. Foi encontrada nítida hiperinsulinemia no sangue venoso periférico do grupo PT. A insulina plasmática era significantemente maior no grupo PT comparada ao grupo NC começando 72 horas após o transplante. O glucagon plasmático, elevado no período pré-transplante, não se alterou após o transplante. Apesar de hiperinsulinemia e hiperglucagonemia, os níveis de glicose sanguínea eram elevados 6 horas após o transplante e mantiveram-se normais após este período. Considerando-se os níveis de glicose sanguínea 12 horas pós-transplante, não houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos PT e NC, até o sacrifício.

Consequences of Chronic Nasal Obstruction on the Laryngeal Mucosa and Voice Quality of 4- to 12-Year-Old Children

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Productive consequences of fasting neonatal chicks of different genetic constitutions for growing

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Cellular and extracellular behavior in the gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus) ventral prostate following different types of castration and the consequences of testosterone replacement

Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were grouped into two experimental groups: GEx.01 suffered orchiectomy and after 30 days received doses of testosterone cipionate (T), while GEx.02 received weekly and alternated doses of the anti-androgens cyproterone acetate and flutamide for 30 days, and the animals were then euthanized. Structural evaluation reveals a more intense reduction in epithelial height in GEx.02. Smooth muscle cells (SMC) presented a star-shaped aspect after 30 days of hormonal ablation and basal membrane was shown to be more intensely grooved in GEx.01. In both groups, after hormonal replacement, recovery in epithelial height could be noted and the SMC presented its phenotypes, but an increase in RER was seen, characterizing a modulation from its contractile to secreting phenotype. In conclusion, the prostate presented involution capacity after androgen ablation and the ability to reorganize after hormonal replacement, but events resulting from orchiectomy and subsequent T replacement were shown to be more aggressive to the prostate. (c) 2006 International Federation for Cell Biology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Consequences of dark matter-dark energy interaction on cosmological parameters derived from type Ia supernova data

Models where the dark matter component of the Universe interacts with the dark energy field have been proposed as a solution to the cosmic coincidence problem, since in the attractor regime both dark energy and dark matter scale in the same way. In these models the mass of the cold dark matter particles is a function of the dark energy field responsible for the present acceleration of the Universe, and different scenarios can be parametrized by how the mass of the cold dark matter particles evolves with time. In this article we study the impact of a constant coupling delta between dark energy and dark matter on the determination of a redshift dependent dark energy equation of state w(DE)(z) and on the dark matter density today from SNIa data. We derive an analytical expression for the luminosity distance in this case. In particular, we show that the presence of such a coupling increases the tension between the cosmic microwave background data from the analysis of the shift parameter in models with constant w(DE) and SNIa data for realistic values of the present dark matter density fraction. Thus, an independent measurement of the present dark matter density can place constraints on models with interacting dark energy.

Consequences of refuge for the functional response of Dermestes ater (Coleoptera : Dermestidae) to Musca domestica (Diptera : Muscidae)

It is well known that a predator has the potential to regulate a prey population only if the predator responds to increases in prey density and inflicts greater mortality rates. Predators may cause such density-dependent mortality depending on the nature of the functional and numerical responses. Yet, few studies have examined the relationship between the addition of refuges and the characteristic of functional response fits. We investigated whether addition of a refuge changed the type of functional response exhibited by Dermestes ater on Musca domestica, comparing the inherent ability of D. ater to kill houseflies in the absence and in the presence of refuge. An additional laboratory experiment was also carried out to assess handling and searching times exhibited by D. ater. Logistic regression analyses revealed a type III functional response for predator-prey interaction without refuge, and results were described by the random predator equation. The mean number of prey killed did not differ between experimental habitats, indicating that the addition of refuge did not inhibit predation. However, predators that interacted with prey without refuge spent less time searching for prey at higher densities, increasing predatory interaction. We concluded that this interaction may be weak, because data from experiments with refuge fitted poorly to models. However, the high variability and the nonsignificance of the data from the experiment with refuge show the importance of refuge for promoting spatial heterogeneity, which may prevent prey extinction.

Consequences of crown fractures with pulpal exposure: histopathological evaluation in dogs

When a crown fracture involving pulpal exposure is produced, the therapeutic treatment to be applied depends to a great extent on the general histopathological condition of the exposed pulp. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate histopathological and bacteriological changes occurring in dental tissue and periradicular tissue of crown-fractured teeth with pulpal exposure. Twenty-four anterior teeth (central and lateral incisors) from the maxillary teeth of four young, adult Mongrel dogs were used. At 48 and 72 h after performing the crown fractures, the animals were sacrificed and the results evaluated. Both observation periods revealed the existence of an area of superficial inflammation with the formation of hyperplastic tissue towards the external surface. Intense neutrophilic infiltrate was observed below it. Mean depth of inflammation was greater at 48 h (4633.33 mum) than at 72 h (3933.33 mum), perhaps coinciding with the bigger pulp chamber opening (x1332.14 mum at 48 h vs. x479.52 mum at 72 h). Upon approaching the cervical portion, the inflammation became less. Bacterial contamination was constant in all the cases evaluated, worsening the histopathological findings with exposure time. This study demonstrates that when a crown fracture with pulpal exposure is produced, the success in treating it depends partly on how quickly therapeutic treatment is administered.

SOME CONSEQUENCES OF A SYMMETRY IN STRONG DISTRIBUTIONS

Some polynomials and interpolatory quadrature rules associated with strong Stieltjes distributions are considered, especially when the distributions satisfy a Certain symmetric property. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.

Tracheobronchial consequences of the use of heat and moisture exchangers in dogs

Purpose: To determine the effect of heat and moisture exchange (HME) on the tracheobronchial tree (TBT) using a unidirectional anesthesic circuit with or without CO2 absorber and high or low fresh gas flow (FGF), in dogs. Methods: Thirty-two dogs were randomly allocated to four groups: G1 (n = 8) valvular circuit without CO2 absorber and high FGF (5 L·min-1); G2 (n = 8) as G1 with HME; G3 (n = 8) circuit with CO2 absorber with a low FGF (1 L·min-1); G4 (n = 8) as G3 with HME. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with pentobarbital. Tympanic temperature (TT), inhaled gas temperature (IGT), relative (RH) and absolute humidity (AH) of inhaled gas were measured at 15 (control), 60, 120 and 180 min of controlled ventilation. Dogs were euthanized and biopsies in the areas of TBT were performed by scanning electron microscopy. Results: The G2 and G4 groups showed the highest AH (>20 mgH2O·L-1) and G1 the lowest (< 10 mgH2O·L-1) and G3 was intermediate (<20 mgH2O·L-1) (P < 0.01). There was no difference of TT and IGT among groups. Alterations of the mucociliary system were greatest in G1, least in G2 and G4, and intermediate in G3. Conclusion: In dogs, introduction of HME to a unidirectional anesthetic circuit with/without CO2 absorber and high or low FGF preserved humidity of inspired gases. HME attenuated but did not prevent alterations of the mucociliary system of the TBT.

Consequences of quadratic frictional force on the one dimensional bouncing ball model

Some dynamical properties of the one dimensional Fermi accelerator model, under the presence of frictional force are studied. The frictional force is assumed as being proportional to the square particle's velocity. The problem is described by use of a two dimensional non linear mapping, therefore obtained via the solution of differential equations. We confirm that the model experiences contraction of the phase space area and in special, we characterized the behavior of the particle approaching an attracting fixed point. © 2007 American Institute of Physics.

Mating preferences and consequences of choosing sibling or non-sibling mates by females of the predator Podisus nigrispinus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Ecological and evolutionary consequences of living in a defaunated world

Defaunation, the loss or population decline of medium and large native vertebrates represents a significant threat to the biodiversity of tropical ecosystems. Here we review the anthropogenic drivers of defaunation, provide a brief historical account of the development of this field, and analyze the types of biological consequences of this impact on the structure and functioning of tropical ecosystems. We identify how defaunation, operating at a variety of scales, from the plot to the global level, affects biological systems along a gradient of processes ranging from plant physiology (vegetative and reproductive performance) and animal behavior (movement, foraging and dietary patterns) in the immediate term; to plant population and community dynamics and structure leading to disruptions of ecosystem functioning (and thus degrading environmental services) in the short to medium term; to evolutionary changes (phenotypic changes and population genetic structure) in the long-term. We present such a synthesis as a preamble to a series of papers that provide a compilation of our current understanding of the impact and consequences of tropical defaunation. We close by identifying some of the most urgent needs and perspectives that warrant further study to improve our understanding of this field, as we confront the challenges of living in a defaunated world. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.