Association of two new Coryphasia species (Araneae, Salticidae) with tank-bromeliads in southeastern Brazil: Habitats and patterns of host plant use

Two allopatric species of Coryphasia (Araneae: Salticidae), both described for the first time in this study, have been found associated with Bromeliaceae in distinct phytophysiognomies (e.g., inselbergs, highland forests and restingas) from southeastern Brazil. In this study, we investigated whether these salticids were associated specifically with bromeliads, and whether they used bromeliads of different species and sizes in distinct geographic regions. The Coryphasia species were rarely found outside bromeliads, occupied larger bromeliad species among those available, and were generally more frequent on bromeliads in open areas, such as inselbergs on mountain tops. The two Coophasia species were observed submerging in phytotelmata, possibly as an anti-predatory behavior. The patterns of spatial and microspatial distribution and the submergence behavior of these species were similar to those of other bromeliad-dwelling salticids, which suggests a convergence among spiders that live on bromeliads.

Comparative cytogenetic studies of eleven species of the Tropidurus torquatus group (Sauria, Tropiduridae), with banding patterns

The chromosomes of 173 specimens representing eleven species of the Tropidurus torquatus group, from 33 localities in Brazil, were analysed after Giemsa staining, C-banding, NORs, and replication banding techniques. A karyotype with 2n = 36, including 12 macrochromosomes and 24 microchromosomes (12 M + 24 m), and sex determination of the XY:XX type were found in Tropidurus cocorobensis, T. erythrocephalus, T. etheridgei, T. hispidus, T. hygomi, T. montanus, T. mucujensis, T. oreadicus, and T. torquatus. The two other species, T. itambere and T. psammonastes, presented 2n = 36 (12 M + 23 m) karyotype only in females while males had 2n = 35 (12 M + 23 m), due to the sex determination of the X(1)X(2)Y:X(1)X(1)X(2)X(2) type. Other interspecific differences as well as some intraspecific variation regarding the NORs and C-banding patterns have been observed, mainly in the microchromosome set. on the contrary, the macrochromosomes were highly conservative. Although consistent karyotypic diversity occurred in the torquatus group, the cytogenetic data obtained up to now did not allow us to clarify the phylogenetic relationships of the species. Nevertheless, the geographical distribution of the distinct cytotypes in T. hispidus and T. torquatus suggested that more than one species might be involved in each case.

A LINE2 repetitive DNA sequence from the cichlid fish, Oreochromis niloticus: sequence analysis and chromosomal distribution

We report the cloning and characterization of a long interspersed nucleotide element (LINE) fi-om a cichlid fish, Oreochromis niloticus, and show the distribution of this element, called CiLINE2 for cichlid LINE2, in the chromosomes of this species. The identification of an open reading frame in CiLINE2 with amino acid sequence similarity to reverse transcriptases encoded by LINE-like elements in Caenorhabditis elegans, Platemys spixii, Schistosoma mansoni, Gallus gallus (CRI), Drosophila melanogaster (I factor), and Homo sapiens (LINE2), as well as the structure of the element, suggest it is a member of this family of non-long terminal repeat-containing retrotransposons. Search of a DNA sequence database identified sequences similar to CiLINE2 in four other fish species (Haplotaxodon microlepis, Oreochromis mossambicus, Pseudotropheus zebra, and Fugu rubripes). Southern blot hybridization experiments revealed the presence of sequences similar to CiLINE2 in all Tilapiini species analyzed from the genera Oreochromis, Tilapia, and Sarotherodon, and gave an estimated copy number of about 5500 for the haploid genome of O. niloticus. Fluorescent in situ hybridization showed that CiLINE2 sequences were organized in small clusters dispersed over all chromosomes of O. niloticus, with a higher concentration near chromosome ends. Furthermore the long arm of chromosome 1 was strikingly enriched with this sequence. The distribution of LINE2-related elements might underlie the difference in chromosome banding patterns observed between cold-blooded vertebrates and mammals.

Habitat patch size modulates terrestrial mammal activity patterns in Amazonian forest fragments

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Phylogenetic Relationships in Eleocharis (Cyperaceae): C-4 Photosynthesis Origins and Patterns of Diversification in the Spikerushes

Eleocharis (Cyperaceae) is a morphologically and physiologically diverse lineage of 250 + species with a cosmopolitan distribution. We here explore phylogenetic relationships in this lineage using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference analyses of nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnC-ycf6 and ycf6-psbM sequence data with the goals of comparing our phylogenetic hypotheses to previous classifications, morphological variation, and photosynthetic pathway variation. Our results suggest that in Eleocharis C, photosynthesis has been derived at least three times, with several cases of possible reversion to C-3-like or intermediate pathways and several additional origins of C-3-C-4 intermediate photosynthetic pathways, as inferred by carbon isotope ratio measurements. Many classification units currently recognized in Eleocharis are not monophyletic, however, E. subgenus Limnochloa and E. subgenus Scirpidium are monophyletic. Other classification units largely corresponding to clades include E. subgenus Zinserlingia, E. subseries Chaetariae, and E. series Maculosae. Problems with species circumscription and morphological variation in several groups are discussed in light of the phylogeny, particularly in the context of species membership of seven focal clades found in the analyses.

Horizontal distribution of megalopae of Brachyura (Crustacea, Decapoda) in a South American tropical estuary

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Detection of estrogen receptor in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded breast carcinoma: correlation with histological patterns.

The authors studied the expression of estrogen receptor (ER) in tissues of breast carcinomas which were previously fixed in formalin and paraffin-embedded. The ER expression was correlated with several histological findings, namely grade of differentiation, tumor necrosis, desmoplasia, lymphocytic infiltration and elastosis. The ER was detected in tissues using the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique associated with the H222 monoclonal antibody from Abbott. All 39 biopsies were of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast and 16 of them expressed ER. The statistical analysis showed that the expression of ER was correlated with histological findings of good prognosis as well differentiated carcinomas, no tumor necrosis, absence or mild lymphocytic infiltration around the tumor cells and severe elastosis.

Cotton growth and boron distribution in the plant as affected by a temporary deficiency of boron

The knowledge of nutrient mobility is an important tool to define the best fertilizer management and diagnosis techniques. Patterns of boron (B) mobility in plants have been reviewed, but there is very little information on B distribution and mobility in cotton. An experiment was conducted to study plant growth and B distribution in cotton when the nutrient was applied in the nutrient solution or to the leaves, and when a temporary deficiency was imposed. Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum, Latifolia, cv. IAC 22) was grown in nutrient solutions where B was omitted or not for 15 days. Boron was applied to young or mature cotton leaves in some of the minus B treatments. Root growth decreased when the plants were transferred to B solutions, but there was a full recovery when B was replaced in the nutrient medium. Boron deficiency, even when temporary, reduced cotton shoot dry matter yields, plant height and flower and fruit set, and these could not be prevented by foliar application of B. Because of decreased dry matter production, leaves of deficient cotton plants actually showed higher B concentrations than non deficient leaves. This would be misleading when a mature leaf is sampled for diagnosis. If there is any B mobility in cotton phloem, it is very low.

Patterns of honey storage in nests of the neotropical paper wasp Polistes simillimus Zikán, 1951 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae)

This study describes, for the first time, the occurrence of two patterns of honey storage in nests of the paper wasp Polistes simillimus. During the period of January of 1997 to September of 2000 we visited 262 colonies of P. simillimus, found at several places in States of São Paulo and Minas Gerais, in the southeast region of Brazil. Only in 2.67% of the colonies of P. simillimus searched presented the behavior of honey storage. Two of these colonies were in the pre-emergency phase, two in the post-emergency and three in decline. The results suggest that the honey storage can be correlated with the number of present individuals in the colony, because the colonies in decline, with larger number of individuals, presented many more cells occupied with honey than the nests in pre and post-emergency. There was not a pattern for the distribution of the cells with honey in the nests in decline. The honey storage in the colonies in pre and post-emergency of P. simillimus, suggests a strategy to increase success of foraging activity in the function of parental care. Already for the colonies in decline, this strategy seems to be associated with the individuals' survival in the aggregation, since the wasps are awaiting the passage of the unfavorable climatic conditions for the dispersion and foundation of new colonies.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder: Influence of age at onset on comorbidity patterns

Purpose: This study investigates the influence of age at onset of OCS on psychiatric comorbidities, and tries to establish a cut-off point for age at onset. Methods: Three hundred and thirty OCD patients were consecutively recruited and interviewed using the following structured interviews: Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale; Yale Global Tic Severity Scale and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Data were analyzed with regression and cluster analysis. Results: Lower age at onset was associated with a higher probability of having comorbidity with tic, anxiety, somatoform, eating and impulse-control disorders. Longer illness duration was associated with lower chance of having tics. Female gender was associated with anxiety, eating and impulse-control disorders. Tic disorders were associated with anxiety disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. No cut-off age at onset was found to clearly divide the sample in homogeneous subgroups. However, cluster analyses revealed that differences started to emerge at the age of 10 and were more pronounced at the age of 17, suggesting that these were the best cut-off points on this sample. Conclusions: Age at onset is associated with specific comorbidity patterns in OCD patients. More prominent differences are obtained when analyzing age at onset as an absolute value. © 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Exploring the patterns and determinants of U.S. antidumping actions against Latin American imports, 1980-2004

Includes bibliography

Income distribution and poverty through crisis and adjustment

Includes bibliography

Comparison of the population biology of Epialtus bituberculatus from two rocky shores with distinct hydrodynamic patterns

The population biology of Epialtus bituberculatus was compared between two different intertidal localities with differing levels of wave exposure. Sampling was conducted monthly between January and December, 2001 on seaweed banks of Sargassum cymosum in the intertidal zone of the rocky shores Grande (GR) (23°23′S-45°03′W) and Domingas Dias (DD) (23°29′S-45°08′W). Four hundred and twenty-eight crabs were captured at the GR site: 111 juvenile males, 106 adult males, 57 juvenile females, 17 adult females and 137 ovigerous females; while 455 specimens were obtained at the DD site: 76 juvenile males, 113 adult males, 37 juvenile females, 40 adult females and 189 ovigerous females. The population from GR showed a non-normal distribution and from DD a normal distribution. The sex-ratio (female/male) was 1:0.97 at GR (χ2 = 0.77, P = 0.084), whereas it was 1:1.41 at DD (χ2 = 13.03, P < 0.001). The largest individuals occurred at DD (U = 78249.0, P < 0.001). The estimated size at sexual maturity was 6.3 and 5.0 mm carapace width (CW) for males, and 5.4 and 5.2 mm CW for females, from GR and DD, respectively. The observed differences in E. bituberculatus between the studied localities might be explained by the different degrees of wave exposure between sites. However, other factors that might also explain the observed differences (e.g. temperature, salinity and food availability) cannot be discarded as relevant in influencing the population structure between sites herein studied. © 2012 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom.

Infection patterns of Paradollfusnema amphisbaenia (Nematoda: Cosmocercidae) in a population of Amphisbaena wuchereri (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae) from Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, and its relations with host size, sex and fat body mass

Specimens (n= 41) of the amphisbaenid Amphisbaena wuchereri taken from a population in Minas Gerais state, south-eastern Brazil, were examined for gastrointestinal parasites. A single nematode species was found, Paradollfusnema amphisbaenia. This was a new host record for this nematode species. This parasite was encountered in the large intestine (prevalence of 100%), in the stomach (prevalence of 2%) and in the small intestine (prevalence of 7.3%). The intensity of infection ranged from 1 to 457 individual parasites per host and was positively correlated with body size of both male and female amphisbaenians. The discrepancy index (D) indicated that P. amphisbaenia tended to an even distribution in this host population. The nematode, which did not affect fat body mass, induced inflammatory infiltrations in the small intestine, indicating that the parasites might injure the host's organs. Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012.

Disturbances, elevation, topography and spatial proximity drive vegetation patterns along an altitudinal gradient of a top biodiversity hotspot

The correlation between vegetation patterns (species distribution and richness) and altitudinal variation has been widely reported for tropical forests, thereby providing theoretical basis for biodiversity conservation. However, this relationship may have been oversimplified, as many other factors may influence vegetation patterns, such as disturbances, topography and geographic distance. Considering these other factors, our primary question was: is there a vegetation pattern associated with substantial altitudinal variation (10-1,093 m a.s.l.) in the Atlantic Rainforest-a top hotspot for biodiversity conservation-and, if so, what are the main factors driving this pattern? We addressed this question by sampling 11 1-ha plots, applying multivariate methods, correlations and variance partitioning. The Restinga (forest on sandbanks along the coastal plains of Brazil) and a lowland area that was selectively logged 40 years ago were floristically isolated from the other plots. The maximum species richness (>200 spp. per hectare) occurred at approximately 350 m a.s.l. (submontane forest). Gaps, multiple stemmed trees, average elevation and the standard deviation of the slope significantly affected the vegetation pattern. Spatial proximity also influenced the vegetation pattern as a structuring environmental variable or via dispersal constraints. Our results clarify, for the first time, the key variables that drive species distribution and richness across a large altitudinal range within the Atlantic Rainforest. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.