Morphometrical, biochemical and molecular tools for assessing biodiversity. An example in Plebeia remota (Holmberg, 1903) (Apidae, Meliponini)

We see today many efforts to quantify biodiversity in different biomes. It is very important then to develop and to apply other methodologies that allow us to assess biodiversity. Here we present an example of application of three tools with this goal. We analyzed two populations of Plebeia remota from two distinct biomes that already showed several differences in morphology and behavior. Based on these differences, it has been suggested that the populations of Cunha and Prudentopolis do not represent a single species. In order to verify the existence or absence of gene flow between these two groups, we characterized the patterns of mtDNA through RFLP, the patterns of wing venation through geometric morphometry, and the cuticular hydrocarbons through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We used bees collected in these two locations and also from colonies which have being kept for around 9 years at Sao Paulo University. We found six different haplotypes in these specimens, of which three of them occurred exclusively in the population of Cunha and three only in the Prudentopolis population. The fact that the populations do not share haplotypes suggests no maternal gene flow between them. The two populations were differentiated by the pattern of the wing veins. They also had different mixtures of cuticle hydrocarbons. Furthermore it was shown that the colonies kept at the university did not hybridize. These two groups may constitute different species. We also show here the importance of using other methodologies than traditional taxonomy to assess and understand biodiversity, especially in bees.

Coding behavioural data for cladistic analysis: using dynamic homology without parsimony

Many of the controversies around the concept of homology rest on the subjectivity inherent to primary homology propositions. Dynamic homology partially solves this problem, but there has been up to now scant application of it outside of the molecular domain. This is probably because morphological and behavioural characters are rich in properties, connections and qualities, so that there is less space for conflicting character delimitations. Here we present a new method for the direct optimization of behavioural data, a method that relies on the richness of this database to delimit the characters, and on dynamic procedures to establish character state identity. We use between-species congruence in the data matrix and topological stability to choose the best cladogram. We test the methodology using sequences of predatory behaviour in a group of spiders that evolved the highly modified predatory technique of spitting glue onto prey. The cladogram recovered is fully compatible with previous analyses in the literature, and thus the method seems consistent. Besides the advantage of enhanced objectivity in character proposition, the new procedure allows the use of complex, context-dependent behavioural characters in an evolutionary framework, an important step towards the practical integration of the evolutionary and ecological perspectives on diversity. (C) The Willi Hennig Society 2010.

Immunomodulatory effects of crotoxin isolated from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom in mice immunised with human serum albumin

Crotalus durissus terrificus venom and its main component, crotoxin (CTX), have the ability to down-modulate the immune system. Certain mechanisms mediated by cells and soluble factors of the immune system are responsible for the elimination of pathogenic molecules to ensure the specific protection against subsequent antigen contact. Accordingly, we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of CTX on the immune response of mice that had been previously primed by immunisation with human serum albumin (HSA). CTX inoculation after HSA immunisation, along with complete Freund`s adjuvant (CFA) or Aluminium hydroxide (Alum) immunisation, was able to suppress anti-HSA IgG1 and IgG2a antibody production. We showed that the inhibitory effects of this toxin are not mediated by necrosis or apoptosis of any lymphoid cell population. Lower proliferation of T lymphocytes from mice immunised with HSA/CFA or HSA/Alum that received the toxin was observed in comparison to the mice that were only immunised. In conclusion, CTX is able to exert potent inhibitory effects on humoural and cellular responses induced by HSA immunisation, even when injected after an innate immune response has been initiated. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Nykter bildning : En undersökning över IOGT, NTO och TO:s folkbildningsverksamhet i Dalarna 1921-1939

This study contents a research of the Swedish temperance movements IOGT, NTO and TO:s adult education in Dalarna between 1921 and 1939. A theory that is used in this essay is the publicity theory of Jürgen Habermas. A theory in this essay is that the adult educational work of the temperance movements could bee seen as an alternative publicity because the courses that the temperance movement held in general contents a great part of the movements own literature, the participants in the courses held their own lectures to each other and it was mostly only members of the temperance movements who could join the courses. The main subject of the courses was history in literature, English, Esperanto, and knowledge about local democracy. Not many courses content the drinking issue in Sweden at this time, even thought a national referendum was held in the issue during the research period of this essay. The lack of courses in the drinking issue illustrates of the fact that the courses only was held for the members of the temperance movement, and they don’t drink alcohol in any case. It was not a big difference in the contents of the course between the organisation in the temperance movements and between different years in this research.

Las picaduras de abeja : Un análisis retórico del humor en La Colmena de Camilo José Cela

El presente trabajo tiene el objetivo de analizar los rasgos humorísticos y figuras retóricas en La Colmena de Camilo José Cela. La tesina se basa en las teorías de la superioridad, de la descarga, de la incongruencia y las teorías sociológicas y antropológicas según el estudio de José Antonio Llera. Nuestra investigación ha examinado particularmente el humor negro, grotesco y la ironía presente en la obra de Cela. Hemos podido concluir y afirmar que Cela usa el humor y la ironía a través de descripciones grotescas las cuales forman parte de su critica social y como mecanismo de defensa. Hemos establecido que el autor usa el humor para reflejar su propia elección subjetiva de la realidad de la posguerra. Finalmente hemos constatado que el humor es algo añadido lo cual se muestra a través de sus comentarios omniscientes.

Uncertainty Characterization Of A Conceptual Rainfall-Runoff Model By Using Grey Numbers

A procedure for characterizing global uncertainty of a rainfall-runoff simulation model based on using grey numbers is presented. By using the grey numbers technique the uncertainty is characterized by an interval; once the parameters of the rainfall-runoff model have been properly defined as grey numbers, by using the grey mathematics and functions it is possible to obtain simulated discharges in the form of grey numbers whose envelope defines a band which represents the vagueness/uncertainty associated with the simulated variable. The grey numbers representing the model parameters are estimated in such a way that the band obtained from the envelope of simulated grey discharges includes an assigned percentage of observed discharge values and is at the same time as narrow as possible. The approach is applied to a real case study highlighting that a rigorous application of the procedure for direct simulation through the rainfall-runoff model with grey parameters involves long computational times. However, these times can be significantly reduced using a simplified computing procedure with minimal approximations in the quantification of the grey numbers representing the simulated discharges. Relying on this simplified procedure, the conceptual rainfall-runoff grey model is thus calibrated and the uncertainty bands obtained both downstream of the calibration process and downstream of the validation process are compared with those obtained by using a well-established approach, like the GLUE approach, for characterizing uncertainty. The results of the comparison show that the proposed approach may represent a valid tool for characterizing the global uncertainty associable with the output of a rainfall-runoff simulation model.

A relação entre nacionalidade, valores pessoais e o comportamento do consumidor em shopping centers regionais de Eugene (Estados Unidos), Montevidéu (Uruguai) e Porto Alegre (Brasil)

A globalização e o surgimento dos mercados internacionais têm trazido no bojo de sua evolução o interesse pela compreensão da relação entre a nacionalidade e o comportamento do consumidor ao redor do mundo. Embora a globalização seja um tema em evidência na literatura de marketing (Hadjimarcou, 1998), poucos são os estudos que analisam o comportamento trans -cultural do consumidor em ambientes de varejo na América do Sul. Verifica-se, nesta área, um franco predomínio da produção científica norte-americana, que se restringe a investigar a dinâmica do comportamento do consumidor entre as diversas “nações” existentes nos Estados Unidos (Czinkota e Ronkainen, 2001). Diante do desafio de se compreender a dinâmica existente entre a nacionalidade e o comportamento do consumidor em ambientes de varejo no contexto internacional, elegeu-se como cenário de pesquisa três países que guardam entre si similaridades e distinções marcantes: Brasil, Uruguai e Estados Unidos. Na busca de se colaborar com a consolidação do tema no escopo da área de marketing, este estudo investigou a relação entre a nacionalidade e o comportamento do consumidor nos shopping centers regionais em contextos internacionais. Brasileiros e uruguaios encontram-se imersos num caldo étnico e econômico que se confunde com a própria formação sócio-cultural dos dois países. Os resultados alcançados neste estudo revelam que a proximidade que eiva a relação histórica comum de Brasil e Uruguai manifestam-se valores pessoais e na forma como brasileiros e uruguaios se comportam nos shopping centers. Empregando-se a técnica de modelagem de equações estruturais, revelou-se que a nacionalidade guarda uma relação causal com os valores pessoais e o comportamento do consumidor nos shopping centers regionais dos três países. O modelo estrutural final obteve bons índices de ajustamento, indicando que a nacionalidade exerceu influência indireta sobre comportamento do consumidor nos shopping centers regionais através da mediação dos valores pessoais e atitudes em relação aos atributos daqueles centros de compras. No capítulo de conclusão apresenta-se as implicações dos resultados obtidos, as limitações do estudo e novas possibilidades de pesquisa que surgiram com a realização deste estudo.

Análise empírica do value-at-risk por simulação histórica com atualização de volatilidade para fundos de ações no Brasil

Há mais de uma década, o Value-at-Risk (VaR) é utilizado por instituições financeiras e corporações não financeiras para controlar o risco de mercado de carteiras de investimentos. O fato dos métodos paramétricos assumirem a hipótese de normalidade da distribuição de retornos dos fatores de risco de mercado, leva alguns gestores de risco a utilizar métodos por simulação histórica para calcular o VaR das carteiras. A principal crítica à simulação histórica tradicional é, no entanto, dar o mesmo peso na distribuição à todos os retornos encontrados no período. Este trabalho testa o modelo de simulação histórica com atualização de volatilidade proposto por Hull e White (1998) com dados do mercado brasileiro de ações e compara seu desempenho com o modelo tradicional. Os resultados mostraram um desempenho superior do modelo de Hull e White na previsão de perdas para as carteiras e na sua velocidade de adaptação à períodos de ruptura da volatilidade do mercado.

Uso da cola de fibrina na anastomose nervosa : estudo comparativo experimental, em ratos

A procura de um método que permita um melhor resultado na anastomose de um nervo completamente seccionado é antiga. Há muitos anos a técnica, dita convencional, para aproximação dos cotos afastados do nervo lesado, é realizada com pontos de fios microcirúrgicos. Mais recentemente, a utilização da cola de fibrina tem permitido a adesão de tecidos, como pele, fáscia e outras estruturas anatômicas. O uso da cola de fibrina, na aproximação das extremidades nervosas, tem sido propagada pela indústria como um fato incontestável. No entanto, somente com a realização de estudos comparativos clínicos e laboratoriais tornou-se possível comparar a eficácia da cola de fibrina como agente de reconstituição em lesões de nervos periféricos. Com o objetivo de comprovar essa afirmação foi realizado um trabalho através de uma mensuração nas bainhas de mielina de cotos regenerados de nervos entre diferentes tipos de anastomose nervosas em nervo isquiático de ratos da raça Wistar. Com esse mesmo escopo, foi mensurado o número de axônios em regeneração após o uso dessa cola. Foi utilizada uma amostra de 35 ratos divididos em 03 grupos (A, B e C). No grupo A, 25 ratos foram submetidos à cirurgia com o uso da cola de fibrina para a anastomose nervosa. No grupo B, 05 ratos foram submetidos ao mesmo procedimento; entretanto, ao reparo nervoso acrescentou-se a utilização de dois pontos opostos de mononylon 9-0, usando-se cola de fibrina no seu interior. No terceiro grupo (C), 05 ratos foram submetidos a neurorrafia com 6 a 8 pontos de mononylon 9-0 sem auxílio da cola de fibrina (anastomose nervosa convencional). Os animais foram submetidos a um novo procedimento após 90 dias, quando o nervo isquiático tratado foi retirado e encaminhado para o estudo. Após esse procedimento, os animais foram sacrificados. Cabe esclarecer que os espécimens foram submetidas a uma preparação histológica, sendo avaliados. Para tanto, foi realizada uma mensuração da espessura média da bainha de mielina das fibras regeneradas. Também foi realizada uma medição do número de axônios regenerados em um milímetro quadrado. Com base nesses achados, foram comparados os resultados.

International civil society actors in Genetically Modificied Organisms as a field of struggle: a neo-gramscian study in Brazil and the United Kingdom

Since the international financial and food crisis that started in 2008, strong emphasis has been made on the importance of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) (or “transgenics”) under the claim that they could contribute to increase food productivity at a global level, as the world population is predicted to reach 9.1 billion in the year 2050 and food demand is predicted to increase by as much as 50% by 2030. GMOs are now at the forefront of the debates and struggles of different actors. Within civil society actors, it is possible to observe multiple, and sometime, conflicting roles. The role of international social movements and international NGOs in the GMO field of struggle is increasingly relevant. However, while many of these international civil society actors oppose this type of technological developments (alleging, for instance, environmental, health and even social harms), others have been reportedly cooperating with multinational corporations, retailers, and the biotechnology industry to promote GMOs. In this thesis research, I focus on analysing the role of “international civil society” in the GMO field of struggle by asking: “what are the organizing strategies of international civil society actors, such as NGOs and social movements, in GMO governance as a field of struggle?” To do so, I adopt a neo-Gramscian discourse approach based on the studies of Laclau and Mouffe. This theoretical approach affirms that in a particular hegemonic regime there are contingent alliances and forces that overpass the spheres of the state and the economy, while civil society actors can be seen as a “glue” to the way hegemony functions. Civil society is then the site where hegemony is consented, reproduced, sustained, channelled, but also where counter-hegemonic and emancipatory forces can emerge. Considering the importance of civil society actors in the construction of hegemony, I also discuss some important theories around them. The research combines, on the one hand, 36 in-depth interviews with a range of key civil society actors and scientists representing the GMO field of struggle in Brazil (19) and the UK (17), and, on the other hand, direct observations of two events: Rio+20 in Rio de Janeiro in 2012, and the first March Against Monsanto in London in 2013. A brief overview of the GMO field of struggle, from its beginning and especially focusing in the 1990s when the process of hegemonic formation became clearer, serves as the basis to map who are the main actors in this field, how resource mobilization works, how political opportunities (“historical contingencies”) are discovered and exploited, which are the main discourses (“science” and “sustainability” - articulated by “biodiversity preservation”, “food security” and “ecological agriculture”) articulated among the actors to construct a collective identity in order to attract new potential allies around “GMOs” (“nodal point”), and which are the institutions and international regulations within these processes that enable hegemony to emerge in meaningful and durable hegemonic links. This mapping indicates that that the main strategies applied by the international civil society actors are influenced by two central historical contingencies in the GMO field of struggle: 1) First Multi-stakeholder Historical Contingency; and 2) “Supposed” Hegemony Stability. These two types of historical contingency in the GMO field of struggle encompass deeper hegemonic articulations and, because of that, they induce international civil society actors to rethink the way they articulate and position themselves within the field. Therefore, depending on one of those moments, they will apply one specific strategy of discourse articulation, such as: introducing a new discourse in hegemony articulation to capture the attention of the public and of institutions; endorsing new plural demands; increasing collective visibility; facilitating material articulations; sharing a common enemy identity; or spreading new ideological elements among the actors in the field of struggle.

Estilo de vida e vulnerabilidade social dos adolescentes no Bairro de Felipe Camarão, Natal/RN, 2005

Este estudo descreve o estilo de vida e vulnerabilidade dos adolescentes do bairro Felipe Camarão em Natal-RN, a fim de compreender seus comportamentos, conforme vulnerabilidades identificadas. Foram aplicados 145 questionários semi-estruturados entre os adolescentes de 12 a 18 anos, no período de janeiro, a abril de 2005. O estilo de vida descrito, conforme os dados colhidos, informa que 92,4% sabem da importância de se alimentar bem, 86,9% têm sono preservado; 76,5% têm boa relação com seus pais. Porém, 86,9% afirmaram não haver área de lazer/diversão no bairro, enquanto os 31,0% não responderam sobre higiene corporal; 41,4% consomem drogas lícitas (maioria álcool), enquanto 37,9%, as ilícitas (maioria cola); 51,7% dizem que não conversam sobre sexo, enquanto 30,3% conversam com suas mães; 38,0% estão sexualmente ativos, iniciados entre 13 a 16 anos. Os comportamentos de alguns adolescentes estudados indicam um estilo de vida saudável, enquanto outros demonstram justamente o contrário, através de práticas como: pouca participação no lazer, por falta de opção; consumo de drogas lícitas e ilícitas; a falta de diálogo com os pais sobre sexo; relacionamento sexual precoce, somados às condições econômicas e sociais desfavorecidas que os expõem à adoção de um estilo de vida que implica em vulnerabilidade

Purification and characterization of the biological effects of phospholipase A(2) from sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum

Sea anemones contain a variety of biologically active substances. Bunodosoma caissarum is a sea anemone from the Cnidaria phylum, found only in Brazilian coastal waters. The aim of the present work was to study the biological effects of PLA(2) isolated from the sea anemone B. caissarum on the isolated perfused kidney, the arteriolar mesenteric bed and on insulin secretion. Specimens of B. caissarum were collected from the Sao Vicente Channel on the southern coast of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Reverse phase HPLC analysis of the crude extract of B. caissarum detected three PLA(2) proteins (named BcPLA(2)1, BCPLA(2)2 and BcPLA(2)3) found to be active in B. caissarum extracts. MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry of BcPLA(2)1 showed one main peak at 14.7 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of BcPLA(2)1 showed high amino acid sequence identity with PLA(2) group III protein isolated from the Mexican lizard (PA23 HELSU, HELSU, PA22 HELSU) and with the honey bee Apis mellifera (PLA(2) and 1POC_A). In addition, BcPLA(2)1 also showed significant overall homology to bee PLA(2). The enzymatic activity induced by native BCPLA(2)1 (20 mu g/well) was reduced by chemical treatment with p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB) and with morin. BcPLA(2)1 strongly induced insulin secretion in presence of high glucose concentration. In isolated kidney, the PLA(2) from B. caissarum increased the perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate, and sodium, potassium and chloride levels of excretion. BcPLA(2)1, however, did not increase the perfusion pressure on the mesenteric vascular bed. In conclusion, PLA(2), a group III phospholipase isolated from the sea anemone B. caissarum, exerted effects on renal function and induced insulin secretion in conditions of high glucose concentration. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Inhibition of Neurotoxic Secretory Phospholipases A(2) Enzymatic, Edematogenic, and Myotoxic Activities by Harpalycin 2, an Isoflavone Isolated from Harpalyce brasiliana Benth

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

COMPOSITION OF FRESHLY HARVESTED BRAZILIAN ROYAL JELLY - IDENTIFICATION OF CARBOHYDRATES FROM THE SUGAR FRACTION

Samples of Brazilian royal jelly from Africanized Apis mellifera were analysed in order to determine the gross composition: crude moisture ranged from 67.80% to 69.40%, crude protein from 15.80% to 16.70%, crude lipid from 2.90% to 3.98% and-total sugars from 11.40% to 11.50%. The sugar fraction was investigated and revealed the presence of the following compounds identified by their retention time during HPLC analysis: ribose, fructose, glucose, sucrose, mannose, trehalose, erythritol, adonitol and mannitol.

BIOCHEMICAL VARIABILITY BETWEEN VENOMS FROM DIFFERENT HONEYBEE (APIS-MELLIFERA) RACES

1. The comparison of molecular exclusion cromatography profiles of venoms from sting apparatuses of Apis mellifera ligustica, Apis mellifera adansonii and Africanized honey-bees in Sephadex G-100 revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences.2. The venoms from A.m. ligustica and A.m. adansonii presented, respectively, three and two peaks characteristic of each sub-species, while Africanized honey-bee was characterized by the absence of eight peaks common to the former.3. The polypeptides with M(r) in the range from 100,000 to 7500 da correspond respectively to 62.0%, 66.6% and 68.7% of total proteins from the venon of A.m. ligustica, A.m. adansonii and Africanized honey-bees, while the peptidic fraction with M(r) range from 4100 to 2000 da corresponds to 11.4%, 32.4% and 10.2% of venom protein, respectively.