Compositae: Mutisia Lutzii G. M. Barroso n. sp

Planta muitíssimo interessante, que se distingue das demais espécies do gênero pela forma pectinada da folha. Dedicamos a linda espécie ao Dr. Adolpho Lutz, eminente sábio, que tanto trabalhou em prol da ciência, no Brasil.

Ciclo biológico de Paraibatrema inesperata n.g., n.sp. (Trematoda, Paramphistomidae), a partir de metacercárias desenvolvidas em Biomphalaria tenagophila (D'Orbigny, 1835) (Mollusca, Planorbidae)

Em exemplares de B. tenagophila, capturados em ambiente natural, foram encontradas paranfistomocercárias de precoce encistamento. Procedeu-se à infecção, per os, de animais de biotério; em camundongos e ratos, verificou-se o desenvolviemnto de trematóide paranfistomídeo desconhecido e que, por suas características, não se enquadra nos g~eneros conhecidos de Paramphistomidae de mamíferos. Para o parasito em apreço é proposta a denominação Paraibatema inesperata n.g, n.sp.. A partir de miracídios, oriundos de ovos eliminados pelos roedores em experiência, procurou-se infectar B. tenagophila e B. glabrata, criadas no moluscário. Verificou-se ser ativa a penetração dos miracídios no tecido do molusco, sendo freqüente a formação de tumorações nas antenas. A evolução experimental no hospedeiro intermediário apresenta-se lenta; ao fim de 40 dias de pós-infecção, não se observou a formação de esporocistos, rédias e cercárias.

Taxonomical and biogeographical problems in Mediterranean shrews of the genus Crocidura (Mammalia, Insectivora) with reference to a new karyotype from Sicily (Italy)

Shrews of the genus Crocidura from Sicily revealed a new karyotype from Europe: 2n = 36, NF = 56, NFa = 52. With reference to the revision of Vesmanis (1976), this shrew is provisionally attributed to C. caudata Miller, 1901 and it is proposed to call it the "Sicilian shrew". Its chromosome complement is similar to that of shrews from Canary Islands and a species from Burundi (Central Africa), suggesting that it might have split off from a line of Paleotropical origin. Following these findings, the modern concept of Mediterranean island colonization by shrews must be revised. The distinctive characteristics of Mediterranean shrews should also be revised.

Expression of the alpha 1b-adrenergic receptor and G protein subunits in mammalian cell lines using the Semliki Forest virus expression system.

Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors have been efficiently used for rapid high level expression of several G protein-coupled receptors. Here we describe the use of SFV vectors to express the alpha 1b-adrenergic receptor (AR) alone or in the presence of the G protein alpha q and/or beta 2 and gamma 2 subunits. Infection of baby hamster kidney (BHK) cells with recombinant SFV-alpha 1b-AR particles resulted in high specific binding activity of the alpha 1b-AR (24 pmol receptor/mg protein). Time-course studies indicated that the highest level of receptor expression was obtained 30 hours post-infection. The stimulation of BHK cells, with epinephrine led to a 5-fold increase in inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation, confirming the functional coupling of the receptor to G protein-mediated activation of phospholipase C. The SFV expression system represents a rapid and reproducible system to study the pharmacological properties and interactions of G protein coupled receptors and of G protein subunits.

Effects of selection and drift on G matrix evolution in a heterogeneous environment: a multivariate Qst-Fst Test with the freshwater snail Galba truncatula.

Unraveling the effect of selection vs. drift on the evolution of quantitative traits is commonly achieved by one of two methods. Either one contrasts population differentiation estimates for genetic markers and quantitative traits (the Q(st)-F(st) contrast) or multivariate methods are used to study the covariance between sets of traits. In particular, many studies have focused on the genetic variance-covariance matrix (the G matrix). However, both drift and selection can cause changes in G. To understand their joint effects, we recently combined the two methods into a single test (accompanying article by Martin et al.), which we apply here to a network of 16 natural populations of the freshwater snail Galba truncatula. Using this new neutrality test, extended to hierarchical population structures, we studied the multivariate equivalent of the Q(st)-F(st) contrast for several life-history traits of G. truncatula. We found strong evidence of selection acting on multivariate phenotypes. Selection was homogeneous among populations within each habitat and heterogeneous between habitats. We found that the G matrices were relatively stable within each habitat, with proportionality between the among-populations (D) and the within-populations (G) covariance matrices. The effect of habitat heterogeneity is to break this proportionality because of selection for habitat-dependent optima. Individual-based simulations mimicking our empirical system confirmed that these patterns are expected under the selective regime inferred. We show that homogenizing selection can mimic some effect of drift on the G matrix (G and D almost proportional), but that incorporating information from molecular markers (multivariate Q(st)-F(st)) allows disentangling the two effects.

Sistema de información SIGARQ: desarrollo de un aplicativo S.I.G. para la gestión de la secuencia estratigráfica de una intervención arqueológica

El Sistema de Información Geográfica Arqueológico (SIGARQ), pretende ser una herramienta que permita integrar, gestionar y analizar todos aquellos datos procedentes de cualquier tipo de intervención arqueológica independientemente de la naturaleza del elemento patrimonial a estudiar y de la técnica de trabajo empleada en la intervención. Al mismo tiempo ha de permitir contextualizar cada una de las intervenciones y sus resultados en un marco geográfico más extenso. De esta manera, el proyecto actual también supone un avance de las potencialidades del sistema de cara a la gestión patrimonial del territorio y los estudios de carácter paisajístico.

New Sorex araneus karyotypes from Germany and the postglacial recolonization of central Europe

New G-banded karyotypes from populations of the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758 provide a clearer picture of the distribution of chromosome races in central Europe. As expected according to their occurrence in neighbouring countries, the Jutland (kq, no), Laska (k/o) and Drnholec (ko, nr) races are also found in Germany. A new chromosome race "Rugen" (kq) is described from this Baltic Island. Together with the previously recorded races Ulm and Mooswald (kr), six chromosome races are now known from Germany. The resulting distribution pattern is characterized by high frequencies of different race-specific metacentrics at the periphery of the country and clines with decreasing frequencies towards the centre which is occupied by the Ulm race. This race is acrocentric for all chromosome arms involved in the observed race-specific fusions and represents a buffer between the surrounding, more metacentric races. According to the present distribution of these metacentrics, a scenario for the postglacial recolonization of central Europe by S. araneus populations on three different routes is proposed: from the east along the northern slopes of the Carpathian Arc, from the south-east along the Danube Valley and from the south-west through the Upper Rhine Valley.

Soft tissue sarcomas with complex genomic profiles.

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) with complex genomic profiles (50% of all STS) are predominantly composed of spindle cell/pleomorphic sarcomas, including leiomyosarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, pleomorphic liposarcoma, pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, angiosarcoma, extraskeletal osteosarcoma, and spindle cell/pleomorphic unclassified sarcoma (previously called spindle cell/pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma). These neoplasms show, characteristically, gains and losses of numerous chromosomes or chromosome regions, as well as amplifications. Many of them share recurrent aberrations (e.g., gain of 5p13-p15) that seem to play a significant role in tumor progression and/or metastatic dissemination. In this paper, we review the cytogenetic, molecular genetic, and clinicopathologic characteristics of the most common STS displaying complex genomic profiles. Features of diagnostic or prognostic relevance will be discussed when needed.