Long-term toxicity following acute administration of nickel

Nickel compounds have high potential risk for the health of populations and for this reason their toxic effects should be urgently established. To determine the effect of nickel monosulfide in the muscle at the injection site on pancreatic, hepatic, and osteogenic lesions and the potential therapeutic effect of Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), male Wistar rats received single intramuscular injections of nickel monosulfide (NiS - 7 mg Ni2+/Kg). A group of these experimental rats were injected intraperitoneally, with a single weekly dose of SOD covalently linked to polyethylene glycol (SOD-PEG). Rats were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months after Ni2+ injection. Nickel monosulfide produced tumors at the injection site. The increased phospholipid, alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and amylase levels in serum, in absence of SOD-PEG, reflected the toxic effects on pancreatic, hepatic, and osteogenic tissues of rats. SOD activity was increased in serum of rats receiving SOD-PEG throughout the experiment, and no significant difference was observed in biochemical parameters of control and experimental rats in presence of SOD- PEG. Superoxide radical generated by Ni2+ is of primary importance in the development of tumors at the injection site. Superoxide anion (O2 -) is also an important toxic intermediate with respect to hepatic, pancreatic, and osteogenic injury, since SOD-PEG has a potential therapeutic effect.

Effect of α-tocopherol on superoxide radical and toxicity of cadmium exposure

Contamination with cadmium compounds poses high potential risk for the health of populations and for this reason the treatment of their toxic effects should urgently be established. The present study was carried out to determine whether α-tocopherol intake can protect tissues against damage induced by cadmium, and to clarify the contribution of superoxide radicals (O 2 -) in this process. Cadmium chloride was tested for tissue damage by a single intraperitoneal injection of Cd 2+ ions (2 mg Kg -1). To determine the potential therapeutic effect of vitamin E, a group of Cd 2+-treated rats received a drinking solution of α-tocopherol (40 mg l -1) for 15 days. Cadmium induced increased serum creatinine and total lactate dehydrogenase, reflecting renal and cardiac damage. The increased lipoperoxide and decreased Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase levels indicated the generation of superoxide radicals in cadmium-treated rats. Tocopherol induced increased serum high-density lipoprotein and depressed the toxic effects of Ca 2+ alone, since creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase determinations were recovered to the control values. Tocopherol decreased lipoperoxide and led the superoxide dismutase activities to approach those of the control values. We concluded that superoxide radicals are produced as mediators of cadmium toxicity. Tocopherol possesses a significant anti-radical activity and inhibits the cadmium effect on superoxide dismutase activity. Tocopherol also protected tissues from the toxic effects of cadmium by a direct antioxidant action which decreased lipoperoxide formation.

Estrutura genética de populações de Trichilia pallida Swartz (Meliaceae) por marcadores RAPD

Trichilia pallida Swartz is an Atlantic Forest shady climax tree of Meliaceae family that presents insecticide properties against chewing insects like as some family trees, making it interesting for forestry uses. Forty plants of Oito Pontas Farm population were collected in Bofete County, Santa Genebra Ecological Station in Campinas County, and Caetetus Ecological Station in Gélia County, all in the Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Leaf DNA analysis was used by RAPD method, that showed 10 highly polymorphic primers, with 72 dominant markers, used to estimate genetic diversity within and among populations. The polymorphism within populations varied from 90.3 to 97.2%, and the effective allele number varied from 1.46 ± 0.33 to 1.57 ± 0.33, while the average of genetic differentiation of populations varied from 0.27 ± 0.18 to 0, 33 ± 0.15. The gene diversity in the total population (H T) was 0.334 ± 0.02, while the average gene diversity within populations (H s) was 0.292 ± 0.017, and the coefficient of gene differentiation (G ST) was 0.125, Bofete and Campinas populations had the smallest Nei's genetic distance (0.049) and the distances of both with Gália were 0.117 and 0.107, respectively.

Redescription of Hypsiboas semiguttatus, with the description of a new species of the Hypsiboas pulchellus group

We redescribe Hypsiboas semiguttatus (Lutz, 1925) and describe its tadpole and vocalization. We also describe a new species, previously confused with H. semiguttatus from Misiones, Argentina, and potentially from Brazil. This new species differs from H. semiguttatus in being more robust, having a tadpole with complete marginal papulation (no anterior gap), and a labial tooth row formula of 3/5. We discuss the status of populations previously assigned to H. semiguttatus and discuss the relationships of the new species within the Hypsiboas pulchellus group. © 2007 by the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists.

Using tree population size structures to assess the impacts of cattle grazing and eucalypts plantations in subtropical South America

To evaluate the effects of distinct management of the matrix in which forest fragments are found upon plant populations thriving in forest remnants in south Brazil, we assessed the conservation status of populations of four woody species (Campomanesia rhombea, Diospyros incontans, Myrciaria cuspidata and Sebastiania commersoniana) through analyses of size structure. Analyzes were carried out at two scales. At a local scale, we consider populations in fragments surrounded by pastures or eucalypts forest plantations, and at a regional scale we also consider larger forest tracts taken as reference areas (Rio Grande do Sul Forest Inventory databank). Population size structures were summarized using the symmetry of height distributions. Small individual size classes prevailed at the local scale in fragments surrounded by eucalypts plantations, whereas in areas exposed to cattle ranching, populations of the same species consistently lack small individuals. At the regional scale, populations in fragments surrounded by pastures presented greater skewness (prevalence of small plants) than populations in reference areas, while populations surrounded by eucalypts plantations presented intermediate skewness. These results reinforce the notion that plantations have a higher conservation value for forest ecosystems than other commercial land uses, like cattle ranching. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

The contribution of biofuels to the sustainability of development in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Avaliação de operadores de algoritmos genéticos em otimização multidimensional

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Desenvolvimento de metodologia high-throughput para estudo populacional do mosquito Aedes aegypti e comparação de dados de genes mitocondriais

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

Caracterização molecular da estrutura genética de populações e espécies camarões palemonídeos Macrobrachium do gênero Macrobrachium

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo da variabilidade genética de populações de Aedes aegypti (Diptera,Culicidae), resistente e suscetíveis a inseticidas

Pós-graduação em Genética - IBILCE

Análise filogenética de Brachyplatytoma platynemum (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Variação genética e adaptabilidade evolutiva de Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 da soja sob condições de estresse

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização da diversidade genética e da composição química dos óleos essenciais de populações de Ocimum selloi Benth

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Results of the International Comparison Program (ICP) 2011 for Latin America and the Caribbean

The International Comparison Programme (ICP) is a worldwide statistical project whose purpose is to collect comparative price data from a broad list or basket of products and to compile detailed values for spending-side gross domestic product (GDP) in order to calculate purchasing power parities (PPPs). Using PPPs, rather than market exchange rates, to convert macroeconomic aggregates aids comparison of production across economies and of the well-being of populations in real terms, insofar as they are compared on the basis of the purchasing power of each of the participant countries.

An assessment of the economic impact of climate change on the coastal and human settlements Sector in Barbados

This study assesses the potential economic impact of climate change on coastal human settlements in the Caribbean, with specific reference to Barbados, and evaluates the costs and benefits of undertaking various adaptation strategies. The aim is to assist Caribbean territories in developing the strategies and capacity needed to deal with the potential impact of severe weather events that are anticipated to occur with increased frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. Some of the key anticipated manifestations of climate change for the Caribbean include elevated air and sea-surface temperatures, sea-level rise, possible changes in extreme events and a reduction in freshwater resources.This research focuses on how human settlements distributed along the coast of Guyana, especially those in low elevation coastal zones (LECZ)are affected by these impacts. Focusing on three potential transmission sources - sea-level rise, stronger storm hazards and increased precipitation – the study considers the vulnerability of populations in the LECZ areas and estimates the overall threat posed by climate change to coastal populations and infrastructure. Vulnerability to climate change (measured as exposed assets) was estimated for four emission scenarios as outlined by the Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES), namely the A1, A2, B1 and B2 scenarios for the period 2010 to 2100 and as detailed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), using global circulation models (GCM) and storm surge hazard maps.