Responses of aquatic insect functional diversity to landscape changes in Atlantic forest

The Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 25 world's hotspots for biodiversity, has experienced dramatic changes in its landscape. While the loss of species diversity is well documented, functional diversity has not received the same amount of attention. In this study, we evaluated functional diversity of insects in streams utilizing three indices: functional diversity (FD), functional dispersion (FDis), and functional divergence (FDiv), seeking to understand the roles of three predictor sets in explaining functional patterns: (1) bioclimatic and landscape variables; (2) spatial variables; and (3) local environmental variables. We determined the amount of variation in different measures of functional diversity that was explained by each predictor set and their interplays using variation partitioning. Our study showed that variation in functional diversity is better explained by a set of variables linked to different scales dependent on spatial structures, indicating the importance of landscape and mainly environmental variables in the functional organization of aquatic insect communities, and that the relative importance of predictor sets depends on the indices considered. Variation in FD was better explained by the interplay among the three predictor sets and by local environmental variables, whereas variation in FDis was better explained by spatial variables and by the interplay between environmental and spatial variables. Variation in FDiv was not significantly explained by any predictors. Our study adds more evidence on the harmful effects caused by landscape changes on biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest, suggesting that these effects also influence the functional organization of stream insect communities. © 2013 The Author(s) Journal compilation © 2013 by The Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation.

The roles of environmental conditions and spatial factors in controlling stream macroalgal communities

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

Efeito do gradiente interior-borda-matriz, e do tipo de matriz sobre a entomofaúna edáfica em fragmentos de cerrado

edge effect. Thus, under the influence of the adjacent matrix, fragments undergo microclimatic alterations that accentuate changes in species composition and community structure. In order to better understand edge and matrix effects on the richness and abundance of edaphic arthropods, this study assessed: (a) the difference between habitat (fragment) and non-habitat (matrix); (b) whether there is a continuous interior-edge-matrix gradient; and (c) the difference between matrices for arthropod orders richness and abundance. We selected 15 landscapes, 5 of which contained a cerrado fragment surrounded by sugarcane cultivation, 5 with a cerrado fragment within eucalyptus and 5 with a cerrado fragment within pasture. In each landscape the soil fauna was collected along with the soil and then extracted with the aid of the modified Berlese-Tullgren funnel. We chose the orders Coleoptera, Collembola, Mesostigmata and Oribatida for analysis, and after separation of the individuals we used model selection analysis via AIC. The model type fragment x matrix was the most likely to explain richness, total and relative abundances of the four orders (wAICc between 0,6623 and 1,0). The model of edge distance (edge effect) was plausible to total abundance and relative abundance of Mesostigmata order (wAICc=0,2717 and 0,186). Local environmental variables (soil texture, temperature and relative humidity), and fragment size were also measured to avoid confounding factors and were not presented as plausible models to explain the patterns. So edaphic arthropods, despite protecting themselves under the ground, are extremely sensitive to fragmentation, even with the replacement of natural habitat by agricultural use, such as sugarcane, pasture and eucalyptus. This group should be studied environmental impact assessments because provides important ecosystem se ravincde s inacnludd eisd ainn efficient bio-indicator

Screening of Formulation Variables for the Preparation of Poly(epsilon-caprolactone) Nanocapsules Containing the Local Anesthetic Benzocaine

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

Encapsulation of Local Anesthetic Bupivacaine in Biodegradable Poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) Nanospheres: Factorial Design, Characterization and Cytotoxicity Studies

Local anesthetic agents cause temporary blockade of nerve impulses productiong insensitivity to painful stimuli in the area supplied by that nerve. Bupivacaine (BVC) is an amide-type local anesthetic widely used in surgery and obstetrics for sustained peripheral and central nerve blockade. in this study, we prepared and characterized nanosphere formulations containing BVC. To achieve these goals, BVC loaded poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanospheres (NS) were prepared by nanopreciptation and characterized with regard to size distribution, drug loading and cytotoxicity assays. The 2(3-1) factorial experimental design was used to study the influence of three different independent variables on nanoparticle drug loading. BVC was assayed by HPLC, the particle size and zeta potential were determined by dynamic light scattering. BVC was determined using a combined ultrafiltration-centrifugation technique. The results of optimized formulations showed a narrow size distribution with a polydispersivity of 0.05%, an average diameter of 236.7 +/- 2.6 nm and the zeta potential -2.93 +/- 1,10 mV. In toxicity studies with fibroblast 3T3 cells, BVC loaded-PLGA-NS increased cell viability, in comparison with the effect produced by free BVC. In this way, BVC-loaded PLGA-NS decreased BVC toxicity. The development of BVC formulations in carriers such as nanospheres could offer the possibility of controlling drug delivery in biological systems, prolonging the anesthetic effect and reducing toxicity.

Distribution of stream macroalgal communities from the mid-western region of Paraná state, southern Brazil: importance of local scale variation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Local and regional ecological drivers of fish assemblages in Brazilian estuaries

Spatial patterns in assemblage structures are generated by ecological processes that occur on multiple scales. Identifying these processes is important for the prediction of impact, for restoration and for conservation of biodiversity. This study used a hierarchical sampling design to quantify variations in assemblage structures of Brazilian estuarine fish across 2 spatial scales and to reveal the ecological processes underlying the patterns observed. Eight areas separated by 0.7 to 25 km (local scale) were sampled in 5 estuaries separated by 970 to 6000 km (regional scale) along the coast, encompassing both tropical and subtropical regions. The assemblage structure varied significantly in terms of relative biomass and presence/absence of species on both scales, but the regional variation was greater than the local variation for either dataset. However, the 5 estuaries sampled segregated into 2 major groups largely congruent with the Brazilian and Argentinian biogeographic provinces. Three environmental variables (mean temperature of the coldest month, mangrove area and mean annual precipitation) and distance between estuaries explained 44.8 and 16.3%, respectively, of the regional-scale variability in the species relative biomass. At the local scale, the importance of environmental predictors for the spatial structure of the assemblages differed between estuarine systems. Overall, these results support the idea that on a regional scale, the composition of fish assemblages is simultaneously determined by environmental filters and species dispersal capacity, while on a local scale, the effect of environmental factors should vary depending on estuary-specific physical and hydrological characteristics © 2013 Inter-Research.

Influência do local de seguimento da mola hidatiforme no prognóstico e tratamento da neoplasia trofoblástica gestacional pós-molar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Produção e composição do leite de cabras alpinas submetidas ao transporte, à mudança de local de ordenha e à administração de ACTH

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Subsídios à elaboração de políticas públicas de turismo sustentável com base local: diretrizes, programas, ações e indicadores de avaliação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Screening of Conditions for the Preparation of Poly( -Caprolactone) Nanocapsules Containing the Local Anesthetic Articaine

The local anesthetic articaine (ATC) is widely used in dentistry; however, its side effects can include paresthesia and nerve injury. Polymeric nanocapsules (PN) can be used as carriers for drugs, and help to reduce undesirable symptoms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of different factors on the average size, polydispersion, and encapsulation efficiency of PN containing ATC. Poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) nanocapsules containing ATC were prepared by the oil-in-water emulsion/solvent evaporation method. The final ATC concentration was 2%. The preparation conditions were optimized using a central composite blocked cube-star design to investigate the influence of two variables at five levels, with 22 factorial points (–1 and +1), two replicates of the central point, 2×2 axial points (–1.414 and +1.414), and an orthogonal distribution, resulting in 10 experiments. The factors varied were the PVA concentration and the sonication time. The nanocapsules showed a satisfactory size range, a polydispersivity index less than 0.2, and high encapsulation efficiency. The values of the factors had no significant influence on either average size or polydispersion, although the encapsulation efficiency was significantly influenced by the sonication time. Improved formulations were identified using the central composite design, which revealed that the main consideration in selecting a suitable formulation was the encapsulation efficiency. Two of the formulations showed both high encapsulation efficiency and colloidal characteristics appropriate for the route of administration.