Genetic Data Showing Evolutionary Links between Leishmania and Endotrypanum

Striking similarities at the morphological, molecular and biological levels exist between many trypanosomatids isolated from sylvatic insects and/or vertebrate reservoir hosts that make the identification of medically important parasites demanding. Some molecular data have pointed to the relationship between some Leishmania species and Endotrypanum, which has an important epidemiological significance and can be helpful to understand the evolution of those parasites. In this study, we have demonstrated a close genetic relationship between Endotrypanum and two new leishmanial species, L. (V.) colombiensis and L. (V.) equatorensis. We have used (a) numerical zymotaxonomy and (b) the variability of the internal transcribed spacers of the rRNA genes to examine relationships in this group. The evolutionary trees obtained revealed high genetic similarity between L. (V.) colombiensis, L. (V.) equatorensis and Endotrypanum, forming a tight cluster of parasites. Based on further results of (c) minicircle kDNA heterogeneity analysis and (d) measurement of the sialidase activity these parasites were also grouped together.

Os links e os estudos webométricos

Neste artigo são abordados os estudos quantitativos aplicados à Internet e à Web. É dada especial atenção ao conceito de webometria, à sua abrangência, aplicações e possíveis denominações. São assinaladas as suas diferenças com a cibermetria e estabelecidas as relações que estes dois métodos mantêm com os tradicionais campos da bibliometria, cientometria e informetria. É enfocado também um recurso que vem despertando grande interesse entre os investigadores, não só por facilitar a navegabilidade entre sítios dentro da Web, mas também por constituir um dos indicadores mais relevantes dentro dos estudos webométricos: os weblinks. Na parte final, é feita breve revisão das pesquisas que têm sido realizadas sobre a estrutura, as funções e as motivações para a criação de links no espaço Web.

Eficiência de nova formulação do herbicida oxyfluorfen no controle de plantas daninhas em área de Pinus caribea Morelet var. hondurensis Barr. et Golf

Foi realizado um experimento para avaliar a seletividade e a eficiência do herbicida oxyfluorfen5 formulado a 480 e 240 g/l, em área com mudas de Pinus caribea Morelet var. hondurensis Barr. et Golf. recém-transplantadas (aplicação em pré-emergência das plantas daninhas) e com 12 dias após o transplante (aplicação em pós-emergência inicial das plantas daninhas). O ensaio foi instalado no município de Paulínia, Estado de São Paulo, em um Latossolo Vermelho-Escuro, eutrófico, no ano agrícola 1999/2000. Foi adotado o delineamento em parcelas subsubdivididas no tempo, tendo como tratamento principal, disposto em blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições, o herbicida oxyfluorfen formulado a 480 g/l de ingrediente ativo (i.a.), nas doses de 1,0, 1,5 e 2,0 l/ha, e a 240 g/l (i.a.), nas doses de 2,0, 3,0 e 4,0 l/ha. Como tratamento secundário (subparcelas) considerou-se o modo de aplicação do produto (pré ou pós-emergência das plantas daninhas) e como sub-subparcelas, as diferentes épocas de avaliação da eficácia de controle. As mudas foram plantadas no espaçamento de 0,5 x 0,5 m e os tratamentos foram aplicados por meio de um pulverizador costal pressurizado a CO2, a uma pressão de 2,45 kg/cm², utilizando-se um volume de calda igual a 200 l/ha. Os resultados mostraram que o herbicida oxyfluorfen formulado a 480 g/l e 240 g/l mostrou-se eficiente no controle de Brachiaria decumbens, Panicum maximum, Ipomoea grandifolia e Sida rhombifolia em diferentes épocas de avaliação, tanto quando foi aplicado em pré como em pós-emergência, sem ocasionar danos às plantas de Pinus caribea var. hondurensis.

TRP channels, omega-3 fatty acids, and oxidative stress in neurodegeneration: from the cell membrane to intracellular cross-links

The transient receptor potential channels family (TRP channels) is a relatively new group of cation channels that modulate a large range of physiological mechanisms. In the nervous system, the functions of TRP channels have been associated with thermosensation, pain transduction, neurotransmitter release, and redox signaling, among others. However, they have also been extensively correlated with the pathogenesis of several innate and acquired diseases. On the other hand, the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 fatty acids) have also been associated with several processes that seem to counterbalance or to contribute to the function of several TRPs. In this short review, we discuss some of the remarkable new findings in this field. We also review the possible roles played by n-3 fatty acids in cell signaling that can both control or be controlled by TRP channels in neurodegenerative processes, as well as both the direct and indirect actions of n-3 fatty acids on TRP channels.

Why budget accountability fails? The elusive links between parliaments and audit agencies in the oversight of the budget

ABSTRACTParliaments and audit agencies have critical and complementary roles in the oversight of the budget and the enforcement of government accountability. Yet, the nexus between parliaments and audit agencies is one of the weakest links in the accountability chain, generating an accountability gap in the budget process. This articles analyses the interactions between parliaments and audit agencies in the oversight of government finances during the latter stages of the budget process. Using proxies to evaluate the quality of those linkages, such as the follow-up to audit findings and the discharge of government, it shows important dysfunctions in the interactions between parliaments and audit agencies due to a combination of technical capacity constraints and political economy disincentives. It suggests that the effective functioning of the system of checks and balances in public budgeting critically hinges on the agility of the linkages between accountability institutions. As such, the failure of budget accountability is due to systemic dysfunctions in the systems of accountability, rather than the failure of an individual accountability institution acting in isolation. In addition, the effectiveness of the horizontal accountability architecture depends on the political economy incentives shaping the budget process, which are generated by the interactions between the choice of institutional design and budget rules, with the degree of political competition and electoral rules.