Can DNA barcoding accurately discriminate megadiverse Neotropical freshwater fish fauna?

Background: The megadiverse Neotropical freshwater ichthyofauna is the richest in the world with approximately 6,000 recognized species. Interestingly, they are distributed among only 17 orders, and almost 80% of them belong to only three orders: Characiformes, Siluriformes and Perciformes. Moreover, evidence based on molecular data has shown that most of the diversification of the Neotropical ichthyofauna occurred recently. These characteristics make the taxonomy and identification of this fauna a great challenge, even when using molecular approaches. In this context, the present study aimed to test the effectiveness of the barcoding methodology (COI gene) to identify the mega diverse freshwater fish fauna from the Neotropical region. For this purpose, 254 species of fishes were analyzed from the Upper Parana River basin, an area representative of the larger Neotropical region.Results: Of the 254 species analyzed, 252 were correctly identified by their barcode sequences (99.2%). The main K2P intra- and inter-specific genetic divergence values (0.3% and 6.8%, respectively) were relatively low compared with similar values reported in the literature, reflecting the higher number of closely related species belonging to a few higher taxa and their recent radiation. Moreover, for 84 pairs of species that showed low levels of genetic divergence (<2%), application of a complementary character-based nucleotide diagnostic approach proved useful in discriminating them. Additionally, 14 species displayed high intra-specific genetic divergence (>2%), pointing to at least 23 strong candidates for new species.Conclusions: Our study is the first to examine a large number of freshwater fish species from the Neotropical area, including a large number of closely related species. The results confirmed the efficacy of the barcoding methodology to identify a recently radiated, megadiverse fauna, discriminating 99.2% of the analyzed species. The power of the barcode sequences to identify species, even with low interspecific divergence, gives us an idea of the distribution of inter-specific genetic divergence in these megadiverse fauna. The results also revealed hidden genetic divergences suggestive of reproductive isolation and putative cryptic speciation in some species (23 candidates for new species). Finally, our study constituted an important contribution to the international Barcoding of Life (iBOL.org) project, providing barcode sequences for use in identification of these species by experts and non-experts, and allowing them to be available for use in other applications. © 2013 Pereira et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Plataforma para medição de forças na região plantar de pacientes normais e hemiplégicos

This work describes an electronic system implementation with two force plates, 24 load cells with strain gages, signal conditioning circuit, interfacing circuit and data acquisition system, designed for measuring plantar force distribution in patients. The system presented linear response, low hysteresis, with determination coefficient of 0.9997, precision better than 0,84% and resolution less than 0.5 N. The Measurements are presented on a computer screen and easier visualization to specialists, mainly physicians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Using the system, the distribution of weight in the plantar region of 100 normal subjects and 10 hemiplegic patients was investigated. There were determined the relationship between weight distribution on the right and left forefoot, hemiplegic patients and normal patients, with the implemented system. © 2013 Springer.

Genetic parameters for scrotal circumference, breeding soundness examination and sperm defects in young Nellore bulls

A total of 51,161 records of scrotal circumference measurements at 18 mo of age (SCI 8) and 17,648 records of sperm defects and breeding soundness of Nellore bulls (mean age of 22.5 mo), raised under extensive conditions, were analyzed to estimate coefficients of heritability and genetic correlations of morphological semen traits by Bayesian inference. The observed semen traits were classified as minor (MID). major (MAD), and total sperm defects (TD). The animals were classified according to breeding soundness as satisfactory and unsatisfactory potential breeders. The (co)variance components and breeding values were estimated by Gibbs sampling using the GIBBS2F90 program under an animal model that included contemporary group as fixed effect, age of animal as linear covariate, and direct additive genetic effects as random effects. Heritabilities of 0.40 ± 0.02, 0.16 ± 0.02, 0.04 ± 0.01, 0.15 ± 0.01, and 0.10 ± 0.01 were obtained for SCI8, MID, MAD, TD, and breeding soundness, respectively. The SC18 showed a positive and moderate correlation with breeding soundness (0.56 ± 0.04) and a negative and low correlation with MID (-0.23 ± 0.03), MAD (-0.16 ± 0.02), and TD (-0.24 ± 0.02). In conclusion, scrotal circumference showed the best response to selection among the traits studied and was favorably correlated with breeding soundness and sperm morphology in young Nellore bulls. © 2013 American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved.

Reconhecimento de palavras, nomeação de figuras e de palavras impressas em surdos implantados pré-linguais

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

Proposta de diagnóstico para uso, instalação e descarte de transformadores de distribuição recuperados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Caracterização da fertilidade do solo da composição mineral de espécies arbóreas de restinga do litoral paulista

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fenologia e sucesso reprodutivo de Attalea geraensis e Syagrus petraea (Arecaceae) na borda e interior de um fragmento de cerrado

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Biologia Vegetal) - IBRC

Síntese e caracterização de cátodos de perovskitas 'La IND.0,6''Sr IND.0,4''Fe IND.y''Co IND.1-y''O IND.3-'delta'', para células a combustível de eletrólito sólido (SOFC) operando em temperaturas intermediárias

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Investigação das propriedades ópticas e elétricas em alexandrita natural e sintética

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Validação de questionário quantitativo de freqüência alimentar para crianças de 5 a 10 anos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Consumo alimentar familiar e indicadores antropométricos do estado nutricional de escolares de Piracicaba-SP

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Remoção mecânica do ligamento periodontal cementário necrosado com escova de Robinson e pedra pomes e com lâmina de bisturi. Análise histomorfométrica e MEV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Avaliação do efeito de derivados de parede celular de levedura de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) sobre a resposta imune de cães adultos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência in vitro da clorexidina e do chá verde na longevidade de união adesiva resina composta – dentina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Comparações produtiva, econômica e energética de sistemas convencional, orgânico e biodinâmico de cultivo de batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Energia na Agricultura) - FCA