bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reduced Reach-Related Modulation of Motor Thalamus Neural Activity in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Bosch-Bouju Clémentine , Smither Roseanna A. , Hyland Brian I. , Parr-Brownlie Louise C.
Published: November 2014

Motor thalamus (Mthal) is a key node in the corticobasal ganglia (BG) loop that controls complex, cognitive aspects of movement. In Parkinson's disease (PD), profound alterations in neuronal activity occur in BG nuclei and cortex. Because Mthal is located between these two structures, altered Mthal activity has been assumed to underlie the pathogenesis of PD motor deficits. However, to date, inconsistent changes in neuronal firing rate and pattern have been reported in parkinsonian animals. Moreover, although a distinct firing pattern of Mthal neurons, called low-threshold calcium spike bursts (LTS bursts), is observed in reduced preparations, it remains unknown whether they occur or what their role might be in behaving animals. We recorded Mthal spiking activity in control and unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine lesioned rats performing a skilled forelimb-reaching task. We show for the first time that Mthal firing rate in control rats is modulated in a temporally precise pattern during reach-to-grasp movements, with a peak at the time of the reach-end and troughs just before and after it. We identified LTS-like events on the basis of LTS burst characteristics. These were rare, but also modulated, decreasing in incidence just after reach-end. The inhibitory modulations in firing rate and LTS-like events were abolished in parkinsonian rats. These data confirm that nigrostriatal dopamine depletion is accompanied by profound and specific deficits in movement-related Mthal activity. These changes would severely impair Mthal contributions to motor program development in motor cortex and are likely to be an important factor underlying the movement deficits of PD.
Fast-Onset Long-Term Open-State Block of Sodium Channels by A-type FHFs Mediates Classical Spike Accommodation in Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons
Authors: Venkatesan Kumar , Liu Yue , Goldfarb Mitchell
Published: November 2014

Classical accommodation is a form of spike frequency adaptation in neurons whereby excitatory drive results in action potential output of gradually decreasing frequency. Here we describe an essential molecular component underlying classical accommodation in juvenile mouse hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. A-type isoforms of fibroblast growth factor homologous factors (FHFs) bound to axosomatic voltage-gated sodium channels bear an N-terminal blocking particle that drives some associated channels into a fast-onset, long-term inactivated state. Use-dependent accumulating channel blockade progressively elevates spike voltage threshold and lengthens interspike intervals. The FHF particle only blocks sodium channels from the open state, and mutagenesis studies demonstrate that this particle uses multiple aliphatic and cationic residues to both induce and maintain the long-term inactivated state. The broad expression of A-type FHFs in neurons throughout the vertebrate CNS suggests a widespread role of these sodium channel modulators in the control of neural firing.
A Common Neural Code for Perceived and Inferred Emotion
Authors: Skerry Amy E. , Saxe Rebecca
Published: November 2014

Although the emotions of other people can often be perceived from overt reactions (e.g., facial or vocal expressions), they can also be inferred from situational information in the absence of observable expressions. How does the human brain make use of these diverse forms of evidence to generate a common representation of a target's emotional state? In the present research, we identify neural patterns that correspond to emotions inferred from contextual information and find that these patterns generalize across different cues from which an emotion can be attributed. Specifically, we use functional neuroimaging to measure neural responses to dynamic facial expressions with positive and negative valence and to short animations in which the valence of a character's emotion could be identified only from the situation. Using multivoxel pattern analysis, we test for regions that contain information about the target's emotional state, identifying representations specific to a single stimulus type and representations that generalize across stimulus types. In regions of medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC), a classifier trained to discriminate emotional valence for one stimulus (e.g., animated situations) could successfully discriminate valence for the remaining stimulus (e.g., facial expressions), indicating a representation of valence that abstracts away from perceptual features and generalizes across different forms of evidence. Moreover, in a subregion of MPFC, this neural representation generalized to trials involving subjectively experienced emotional events, suggesting partial overlap in neural responses to attributed and experienced emotions. These data provide a step toward understanding how the brain transforms stimulus-bound inputs into abstract representations of emotion.
Gap Junctional Coupling is Essential for Epithelial Repair in the Avian Cochlea
Authors: Jagger Daniel J. , Nickel Regina , Forge Andrew
Published: November 2014

The loss of auditory hair cells triggers repair responses within the population of nonsensory supporting cells. When hair cells are irreversibly lost from the mammalian cochlea, supporting cells expand to fill the resulting lesions in the sensory epithelium, an initial repair process that is dependent on gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). In the chicken cochlea (the basilar papilla or BP), dying hair cells are extruded from the epithelium and supporting cells expand to fill the lesions and then replace hair cells via mitotic and/or conversion mechanisms. Here, we investigated the involvement of GJIC in the initial epithelial repair process in the aminoglycoside-damaged BP. Gentamicin-induced hair cell loss was associated with a decrease of chicken connexin43 (cCx43) immunofluorescence, yet cCx30-labeled gap junction plaques remained. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments confirmed that the GJIC remained robust in gentamicin-damaged explants, but regionally asymmetric coupling was no longer evident. Dye injections in slice preparations from undamaged BP explants identified cell types with characteristic morphologies along the neural-abneural axis, but these were electrophysiologically indistinct. In gentamicin-damaged BP, supporting cells expanded to fill space formerly occupied by hair cells and displayed more variable electrophysiological phenotypes. When GJIC was inhibited during the aminoglycoside damage paradigm, the epithelial repair response halted. Dying hair cells were retained within the sensory epithelium and supporting cells remained unexpanded. These observations suggest that repair of the auditory epithelium shares common mechanisms across vertebrate species and emphasize the importance of functional gap junctions in maintaining a homeostatic environment permissive for subsequent hair cell regeneration.
A Role for Mixed Corollary Discharge and Proprioceptive Signals in Predicting the Sensory Consequences of Movements
Authors: Requarth Tim , Kaifosh Patrick , Sawtell Nathaniel B.
Published: November 2014

Animals must distinguish behaviorally relevant patterns of sensory stimulation from those that are attributable to their own movements. In principle, this distinction could be made based on internal signals related to motor commands, known as corollary discharge (CD), sensory feedback, or some combination of both. Here we use an advantageous model system—the electrosensory lobe (ELL) of weakly electric mormyrid fish—to directly examine how CD and proprioceptive feedback signals are transformed into negative images of the predictable electrosensory consequences of the fish's motor commands and/or movements.In vivorecordings from ELL neurons and theoretical modeling suggest that negative images are formed via anti-Hebbian plasticity acting on random, nonlinear mixtures of CD and proprioception. In support of this, we find that CD and proprioception are randomly mixed in spinal mossy fibers and that properties of granule cells are consistent with a nonlinear recoding of these signals. The mechanistic account provided here may be relevant to understanding how internal models of movement consequences are implemented in other systems in which similar components (e.g., mixed sensory and motor signals and synaptic plasticity) are found.
Role of ERK1/2 MAPK Signaling in the Maintenance of Myelin and Axonal Integrity in the Adult CNS
Authors: Ishii Akihiro , Furusho Miki , Dupree Jeffrey L. , Bansal Rashmi
Published: November 2014

Oligodendrocytes form myelin during postnatal development and then maintain a functional myelin sheath throughout adult life. While many regulators of developmental myelination have been identified, the signal transduction mechanisms that regulate oligodendrocyte functions in adulthood are not well understood. The extracellular signal-regulated kinases-1 and -2 (ERK1/2), downstream mediators of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), have emerged as prominent regulators of myelin formation. Here, we investigated whether these signaling molecules are also required for myelin maintenance in the adult CNS. Inducible conditional ablation ofErk1/2in oligodendrocytes of the adult CNS resulted in a downregulation of myelin gene expression. Although myelin thickness was reduced and some axons were demyelinated, the majority of axons were wrapped by intact myelin sheaths that appeared structurally normal. However, late onset of progressive axonal degeneration, accompanied by astrogliosis, microglial activation, partial loss of oligodendrocytes, and functional impairment, occurred in the adult mice lacking ERK1/2 activity. Conditional ablation of Fibroblast Growth Factor receptors-1 and -2 (FGFR1/2) in oligodendrocytes also resulted in downregulation of myelin gene expression and development of axonal degeneration as the mice aged. Further, the level of the key transcription factor myelin gene regulatory factor (Myrf) was downregulated or upregulated in mice with genetic loss or gain of ERK1/2 function, respectively. Together, our studies demonstrate that ERK1/2-MAPK signaling is required for the long-term maintenance of myelin and axonal integrity in the adult CNS and suggest that FGFR1/2 and Myrf may, in part, contribute to signaling upstream and downstream of ERK1/2 in maintaining these oligodendrocyte functions during adulthood.
Precise Detection of Direct Glomerular Input Duration by the Olfactory Bulb
Authors: Li Anan , Gire David H. , Bozza Thomas , Restrepo Diego
Published: November 2014

Sensory neuron input to the olfactory bulb (OB) was activated precisely for different durations with blue light in mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2 in olfactory sensory neurons. Behaviorally the mice discriminated differences of 10 ms in duration of direct glomerular activation. In addition, a subset of mitral/tufted cells in the OB of awake mice responded tonically therefore conveying information on stimulus duration. Our study provides evidence that duration of the input to glomeruli not synchronized to sniffing is detected. This potent cue may be used to obtain information on puffs in odor plumes.
Arhgef7 promotes activation of the Hippo pathway core kinase Lats
Authors: Heidary Arash Emad , Song Ki Myung , Song Siyuan , Shiban Ahmed , Attisano Liliana
Published: November 2014

The Hippo pathway regulates tissue growth and organ size, and inactivation contributes to cancer. Signals flow through Mst/Lats kinases, which phosphorylate and promote cytoplasmic localization of the transcriptional regulators Yap and Taz to inhibit transcription. Here, we identify the multidomain‐containing guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Arhgef7, or βPix, as a positive Hippo pathway regulator. We show that βPix, which localizes to the cytoplasm, binds both Lats and Yap/Taz and thereby promotes Lats‐mediated phosphorylation of Yap/Taz in a GEF‐independent manner. βPix is required downstream of both cell density sensing and actin cytoskeletal rearrangements, and we demonstrate that loss of βPix expression in normal mammary epithelial cells strongly reduces Yap/Taz phosphorylation, promotes nuclear localization and increases target gene expression. Conversely, increased expression of βPIX in breast cancer cell lines re‐couples the Hippo kinase cassette to Yap/Taz, promoting localization of Yap/Taz to the cytoplasm and inhibiting cell migration and proliferation. These studies thus define βPix as a key component that links the Hippo kinase cassette to Yap/Taz in response to multiple upstream Hippo pathway activators.
Comprehensive assessment of the disputed RET Y791F variant shows no association with medullary thyroid carcinoma susceptibility
Authors: Toledo Rodrigo A , Hatakana Roxanne , Lourenço Delmar M , Lindsey Susan C , Camacho Cleber P , Almeida Marcio , Lima José V , Sekiya Tomoko , Garralda Elena , Naslavsky Michel S , Yamamoto Guilherme L , Lazar Monize , Meirelles Osorio , Sobreira Tiago J P , Lebrao Maria Lucia , Duarte Yeda A O , Blangero John , Zatz Mayana , Cerutti Janete M , Maciel Rui M B , Toledo Sergio P A
Published: November 2014

Accurate interpretation of germline mutations of the rearranged during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene is vital for the proper recommendation of preventive thyroidectomy in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC)-prone carriers. To gain information regarding the most disputed variant of RET, ATA-A Y791F, we sequenced blood DNA samples from a cohort of 2904 cancer-free elderly individuals (1261 via Sanger sequencing and 1643 via whole-exome/genome sequencing). We also accessed the exome sequences of an additional 8069 individuals from non-cancer-related laboratories and public databanks as well as genetic results from the Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) project. The mean allelic frequency observed in the controls was 0.0031, with higher occurrences in Central European populations (0.006/0.008). The prevalence of RET Y791F in the control databases was extremely high compared with the 40 known RET pathogenic mutations (P=0.00003), while no somatic occurrence has been reported in tumours. In this study, we report new, unrelated Brazilian individuals with germline RET Y791F-only: two tumour-free elderly controls; two individuals with sporadic MTC whose Y791F-carrying relatives did not show any evidence of tumours; and a 74-year-old phaeochromocytoma patient without MTC. Furthermore, we showed that the co-occurrence of Y791F with the strong RET C634Y mutation explains the aggressive MTC phenotypes observed in a large affected family that was initially reported as Y791F-only. Our literature review revealed that limited analyses have led to the misclassification of RET Y791F as a probable pathogenic variant and, consequently, to the occurrence of unnecessary thyroidectomies. The current study will have a substantial clinical influence, as it reveals, in a comprehensive manner, that RET Y791F only shows no association with MTC susceptibility.
Modelos acoplados do IPCC-AR4 e o gradiente meridional de temperatura da superfície do mar no Atlântico Tropical: relações com a precipitação no norte do nordeste do Brasil
Authors: Alves José Maria Brabo , Chaves Rosane Rodrigues , Servain Jacques , Souza Everaldo Barreiros de , Silva Emerson Mariano da , Santos Antônio Carlos Santana dos , Barbosa Augusto César Barros , Oliveira Carlos Jacinto de , Sombra Sérgio Sousa , Costa Alexandre Araújo , Pinheiro Francisco Geraldo de Melo
Published: November 2014

Este artigo mostra como três modelos acoplados do Intergovernmental on Panel Climate Change - (IPCC-AR4), o FGOALS1.0G - LASG do Institute of Atmospheric Physics of China, o GISSER da National Aeronautics Space Admnistration (NASA) e o GFDL_CM2 da National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), simularam a variabilidade do gradiente meridional de Temperatura da Superfície do Mar (TSM), entre os meses de fevereiro a maio, no Atlântico Tropical (1901-1999). A precipitação durante a estação chuvosa (fevereiro a maio) no setor norte do Nordeste do Brasil (NEB) foi também analisada pelos três modelos e comparada com as observações. Os modelos GISSER e FGOALS1.0G mostraram melhor desempenho na simulação do sinal do gradiente meridional de TSM no Atlântico Tropical para o período de 1901 a 1999. Destaca-se que os modelos apresentaram um melhor desempenho na simulação da tendência decadal, conseguindo explicar entre 50% a 80% da variabilidade do gradiente, com a TSM do setor sul sendo melhor simulada.
Desenvolvimento foliar em duas cultivares de oliveira estimado por duas categorias de modelos
Authors: Martins Fabrina Bolzan , Pereira Rodolfo Armando de Almeida , Pinheiro Marcos Vinícius Marques , Abreu Marcel Carvalho
Published: November 2014

Os modelos de simulação são ferramentas utilizadas na área de agrometeorologia para quantificar o desenvolvimento de culturas agrícolas e florestais. O trabalho teve como objetivo comparar os modelos do Filocrono (linear) e de Wang e Engel (não linear) para estimar o desenvolvimento foliar, através do aparecimento de folhas, nas cultivares de oliveira 'Arbequina' e 'MGS ASC315' durante a fase de muda. O experimento foi instalado no campo experimental da Empresa Agropecuária de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG), Maria da Fé (MG), sob o delineamento inteiramente casualizado e organizado em arranjo fatorial, sendo duas cultivares e nove épocas de transplantio com 15 repetições em cada tratamento. Os coeficientes dos modelos foram estimados pelos dados obtidos nas três primeiras épocas de transplantio e as demais épocas foram utilizadas para avaliar o desempenho dos modelos. As respostas dos modelos foram divergentes para os dois modelos. O modelo de Wang e Engel foi mais eficiente para a cultivar 'Arbequina', com raiz do quadrado médio do erro (RQME) de 3,41 folhas, enquanto a cultivar 'MGS ASC315' teve a RQME de 6,58 folhas. O modelo do Filocrono se mostrou mais eficiente para a cultivar 'MG ASC315' com RQME de 2,98 folhas, inferior ao da cultivar 'Arbequina', com RQME de 7,49 folhas.
Caracterização do Queijo do Marajó tipo manteiga produzido em duas estações do ano
Authors: Seixas Vitória Nazaré Costa , Félix Mayara Rocha , Silva Guilherme Mendes da , Perrone Ítalo Tuler , Carvalho Antonio Fernandes de
Published: November 2014

A Ilha de Marajó possui o maior rebanho bubalino do Brasil, sendo a Microrregião de Arari a principal produtora de leite e queijo de búfala. O objetivo do presente estudo foi caracterizar, por meio de análises físico-químicas e microbiológicas, o Queijo do Marajó tipo manteiga e verificar se há diferenças de suas características entre as estações do ano, chuvosa e seca. A acidez, pH e a porcentagem de gordura no extrato seco foram atributos de composição centesimal que apresentaram diferença significativa (P<0,05) pelo teste Tukey, entre as duas estações do ano. Os demais componentes (umidade, gordura, proteína total, cinza, EST e sal) desse queijo não variaram em função da época do ano. Quanto às características microbiológicas, as contagens foram maiores na estação chuvosa, exceto para as de Escherichia coli, que mantiveram-se constantes e adequadas à legislação. As contagens de Staphylococcus aureus foram altas e fora dos padrões da norma vigente. A contagem de aeróbios mesófilos foi maior na época das chuvas. Não foi detectada a presença dos patógenos Listeria monocytogenes e Salmonella sp. Apesar dos queijos analisados se enquadrarem nas legislações estadual e nacional, no tocante à composição química, os resultados indicam contagem S. aureus muito elevadas, o que enfatiza a necessidade da implementação imediata de Boas Práticas de Fabricação para a inocuidade dos produtos, a fim de atingir consonância com as contagens microbiológicas da legislação vigente
Concentrações de oleandrina nas folhas de Nerium oleander de diferentes cores da floração
Authors: Pedroza Heloisa de Paula , Ferreira Marina Guimarães , Carvalho Júlia Gomes de , Melo Karla Dias Antunes , Keller Kelly Moura , Melo Marília Martins , Soto-Blanco Benito
Published: November 2014

Nerium oleander é uma planta ornamental responsável por intoxicações em animais e humanos. Todas as partes da planta contém glicosídeos cardiotóxicos, principalmente a oleandrina. Alguns autores apontam que a toxicidade da planta apresentaria variação em função da cor da flor. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar se existe variação na concentração de oleandrina nas folhas de N. oleander de exemplares da planta com diferentes cores de inflorescências. Foram coletadas 10 amostras de folhas para cada tipo de flor (branca, rosea e vermelha). Os níveis de oleandrina foram determinados por meio de HPLC-UV após extração com metanol, precipitação com acetato de chumbo e separação em cartucho de C18. A média da concentração obtida em todas as folhas analisadas foi de 4,89mg g-1, sendo 6,20±4,08mg g-1 na variedade de flores brancas, 4,16±3,44mg g-1 na de flores roseas e 4,31±1,99mg g-1 na de flores vermelhas. As concentrações de oleandrina não apresentaram diferença estatisticamente significante entre as variedades de flores
No association between 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and prediabetes in Brazilian patients. A cross-sectional study
Authors: Giorelli Guilherme de Vieira , Matos Lívia Nascimento de , Saado Amir , Soibelman Vera Lúcia , Dias Cristiane Bitencourt
Published: November 2014

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Several studies have evaluated the role of low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD3) in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and have presented controversial results. The metabolic processes that culminate in T2DM begin under prediabetic conditions. Our aim was to analyze the association between 25OHD3 and glucose metabolism in individuals who were free from but at elevated risk of diabetes. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study at a tertiary hospital. METHODS: Anthropometric and laboratory profiles were determined in patients with one or more of the following risk factors: hypertension; body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2; waist circumference > 80 cm for women and > 94 cm for men; first-degree relatives with diabetes; women with large-for-gestational-age newborns or with gestational T2DM; HDL-cholesterol (high density lipoprotein) < 35 mg/dl; and triglycerides > 250 mg/dl. The patients were divided into two groups: one with prediabetes (abnormal fasting plasma glucose or oral glucose tolerance test) and the other with normal glucose (euglycemic). RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the prediabetic group (n = 38) and euglycemic group (n = 15) regarding age (66.4 ± 10.6 versus 62.6 ± 9.1 years), gender (52.6 versus 73.3% female) and BMI (30.1 ± 4.61 versus 27.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2). Low serum levels of 25OHD3 were found in both groups, without any statistically significant difference between them (29.1 ± 11.8 versus 26.87 ± 9.2 ng/dl). CONCLUSION: There was no association between 25OHD3 levels and the clinical or laboratorial variables analyzed.
Pattern, clinical features and response to corticoids of glomerular diseases in a Brazilian population. An analytical cross-sectional study
Authors: Queiroz Anaiara Lucena , Barreto Dulce Maria Sousa , Silva Junior Geraldo Bezerra da , Tavares Neto José Edísio da Silva , Costa Francisco Israel , Patrocínio Régia Maria do Socorro Vidal , Daher Elizabeth De Francesco , Almeida Paulo Roberto Carvalho de
Published: November 2014

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Glomerular disease registries are increasing all around the world. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment response among patients with glomerular diseases followed up in a tertiary hospital in Brazil. DESIGN AND SETTING: Analytical cross-sectional study; tertiary-level public hospital. METHODS: This study included patients with glomerular diseases followed up at a tertiary hospital in Fortaleza, northeastern Brazil. Clinical and laboratory data on each patient were registered. The response to specific treatment was evaluated after 3, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: The study included 168 patients of mean age 37 ± 14 years. The most prevalent glomerular diseases were focal segmental glomerulosclerosis FSGS] (19.6%), minimal change disease MCD] (17.9%), membranous nephropathy MN] (16.7%) and lupus nephritis LN] (11.9%). The main clinical presentations were nephrotic proteinuria (67.3%) and renal insufficiency (17.9%). The mean proteinuria value decreased after the treatment began. Regarding 24-hour proteinuria on admission, there was no significant difference between patients with a good response and those with no response (7,448 ± 5,056 versus 6,448 ± 4,251 mg/24 h, P = 0.29). The glomerular disease with the highest remission rate was MCD (92%). Absence of interstitial fibrosis presented a strong correlation with remission (remission in patients without fibrosis = 83.4% versus 16.3% in those with fibrosis, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study found that the most frequent glomerular disease was FSGS, followed by MCD, MN and LN. The presence of interstitial fibrosis was a predictor of poor therapeutic response.
Gastropoda (Mollusca) associated to Sargassum sp. beds in São Sebastião Channel - São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Longo Pedro Augusto dos Santos , Fernandes Marjorie Cattaneo , Leite Fosca Pedini Pereira , Passos Flávio Dias
Published: November 2014

The phytal is characterized by the formation of seaweed beds and a great diversity of associated species, the malacofauna being one of its main components. Aiming to record the species of Gastropoda associated to the brown algae Sargassum sp. C. Agardh, 1820, this study was carried out in São Sebastião Channel, northern coast of São Paulo, and nearby areas. A total of 13945 individuals were identified, belonging to 35 families and 62 species. Cerithiidae, Phasianellidae and Columbellidae were the most abundant families, represented by 34, 33 and 17% of the total collected individuals, respectively. Bittiolum varium (Pfeiffer, 1840) (Cerithiidae) and Eulithidium affine (C. B. Adams, 1850) (Phasianellidae) are the dominant species, followed by the columbelids Mitrella dichroa (G. B. Sowerby I, 1844), Anachis fenneli Radwin, 1968 and Costoanachis sertulariarium (d'Orbigny, 1839). Among the least abundant species, some of them may be considered as of fortuitous occurrences, while others seem to be typical in those habitats, although rare. The presence of juvenile specimens was recurrent, this indicating that the algae can function as a nursery for most of these species. The expressive values found, for both abundance and number of species, illustrate the great ecological importance of the phytal habitats for the gastropod species.
Potências médias emergentes e reforma da arquitetura financeira mundial?: Uma análise do BRICS no G20
Authors: Ramos Leonardo
Published: November 2014

A partir de 2000, na cúpula de Okinawa, o sistema G7/8 começou um movimento de outreach, ou seja, tanto de "alcançar" aqueles que se encontravam fora quanto de "expandir" o sistema G7/8. Neste sentido, pela primeira vez países não-participantes do G8 foram envolvidos tanto em encontros do G8 quanto em consultas pré-cúpula. Neste processo a cúpula de Gleneagles, em 2005, foi um marco, pois nesta pela primeira vez há um documento conjunto emitido por Brasil, Índia, China, África do Sul e México (BICSAM) - Outreach Five ou Grupo dos Cinco (+5). Tal articulação entre tais países tendo como foco o sistema G7/8 vai ocorrer até a cúpula de L’Aquila, em 2009. Não obstante, como desde 2008 o G20 vem lidando com tais questões como um fórum de líderes e a partir de 2009 o BRIC passa a se reunir como coalizão, tal articulação paralela ao G8 perde sua relevância. Neste contexto, uma questão que surge diz respeito à relação entre BRICS e G20. Como se dá a ação de tal bloco emergente neste fórum? Qual seu impacto para as decisões tomadas no âmbito de tal fórum? Qual a importância da China neste processo? Questões deste tipo são relevantes uma vez que muitas abordagens sobre o G20 e sobre as potências médias emergentes falam a respeito da legitimidade e da representatividade do G20 sem, contudo, dar a devida atenção às potências médias emergentes, suas coalizões e formas de engajamento e articulação no âmbito do G20, e é neste contexto que se insere o presente artigo, que busca analisar a inserção e articulação do BRICS no âmbito do G20, suas potencialidades e limites.
Índia em transformação: o novo crescimento econômico e as perspectivas pós-crises
Authors: Banik Arindan , Padovani Fernando
Published: November 2014

O objetivo do artigo é sistematizar dados e informações recentes sobre a economia indiana, no sentido de caracterizar o contemporâneo modelo de crescimento indiano, aqui chamado de "novo crescimento", avaliando suas fontes, lógicas, setores e atores, bem como sua inter-relação com setores específicos da sociedade indiana, como as estruturas sociais, o Estado e o setor público, a agricultura e o mundo rural, e, ainda, sobre as dinâmicas de inserção internacional. Essa sistematização visa averiguar as condições e perspectivas de sustentabilidade econômica do modelo de crescimento em curso, considerando também os desafios imediatos colocados pela crise financeira internacional. A análise aponta para a existência de condições concretas de sustentabilidade econômica do modelo indiano, baseada na perspectiva de expansão de seus setores dinâmicos, como o setor de exportação de serviços tecnológicos e de manufaturas destinadas ao mercado interno. Evoluções paralelas relacionadas à transição demográfica, à disponibilidade interna de poupança e de investimento, ao crescimento das novas classes médias, às perspectivas de continuidade de oferta de investimentos estrangeiros e de conexão com as cadeias produtivas globais, além da identificação de dinâmicas sociais de transformação e adaptabilidade, reiteram a existência de condições de sustentabilidade do atual modelo de crescimento. Entretanto, não se trata de uma sustentabilidade sem riscos, ao serem identificados também desafios de percurso importantes, como a tarefa de garantir-se a sustentabilidade financeira do Estado indiano e a consequente viabilização dos importantes investimentos em infraestrutura, educação e inovação, capazes de garantir as necessárias condições de estabilidade, absorção de mão de obra, crescimento equitativo, oferta de mão de obra qualificada e inovação, além de segurança alimentar. Essas tendências de adaptabilidade dialogam com as recorrentes interpretações elaboradas sobre a economia e a sociedade indiana que enfatizam seu extremo particularismo, focando aspectos como pobreza, arcaísmo, rigidez social, instabilidade política, diversidade cultural, entre outros elementos que dificultariam a mobilização da ação coletiva e a sustentabilidade do modelo de crescimento.
Trinta anos do bicudo-do-algodoeiro no Brasil
Authors: Azambuja Rosalia , Degrande Paulo Eduardo
Published: November 2014

Este texto é uma revisáo bibliográfica que abrange 30 anos de ocorrência do bicudo-do-algodoeiro, Anthonomus grandisBoheman, 1843 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), no Brasil. O bicudo é considerado uma das pragas mais prejudiciais à agricultura pelos danos que causa e pelas dificuldades de seu controle. Originário do México, esse inseto foi constatado pela primeira vez no Brasil em 1983 e duas safras após seu surgimento já estava disseminado nas principais áreas produtoras de algodão no país, onde se mantém até a atualidade. Quando não controlado, esse inseto pode destruir completamente a produção de um algodoal, já quando controlado os prejuízos variam de 3 a 75% da produtividade esperada. Os principais danos causados pelo bicudo são resultantes de orifícios promovidos nas estruturas reprodutivas da planta durante a alimentação e oviposição dos adultos, sendo os botões florais as estruturas preferencialmente atacadas pelo inseto. O período de ataque do bicudo às plantas de algodoeiro se inicia por volta dos 30 dias após a emergência, no estabelecimento vegetativo da cultura, passando pelo florescimento e frutificação e chegando até a fase de maturação, sendo que durante esse período vários métodos podem ser adotados visando ao seu controle. Para controle de A. grandis, no Brasil, são citados métodos de controle comportamental, controle cultural, resistência de plantas, controle biológico (predadores, parasitoides e patógenos), produtos naturais, controle legislativo e manejo integrado, além de iniciativas de programas de supressão populacional do inseto. O controle químico não é discutido neste artigo.
DNA fingerprinting of Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) cultivars based on microsatellite markers
Authors: Klabunde Gustavo Henrique Ferrero , Dalbó Marco Antonio , Nodari Rubens Onofre
Published: November 2014

Forty-seven Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) cultivars were genotyped with eight microsatellite markers, aiming at obtaining the DNA fingerprinting profiling, distinguishing and characterizing a representative set of Japanese plum cultivars. The eight SSR loci amplified 104 alleles (8 to 21 alleles per locus, mean 13). Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) ranged from 0.680 to 0.886 (mean 0.803). The observed heterozigozity (Ho) ranged from 0.529 to 0.915 (mean 0.770). Probability of Identity (I) of each locus ranged from 0.019 to 0.113 (mean 0.054). The combined Probability of Identity was 2.66 x 1011, and the Power of Exclusion of the eight loci was 99.99976%. 57 out of 104 alleles showed frequency lower than 0.05. These low allele frequencies contributed to raise the distinguish ability of plum cultivars. These results will contribute, as excellent descriptors, to select parental for crossings, to perform early identification of segregating clones with potential to be cultivars, and to protect the cultivars.
Genetic diversity and structure of Astrocaryum jauari (Mart.) palm in two Amazon river basins
Authors: Oliveira Liliane D. Santos , Ramos Santiago L. Ferreyra , Lopes Maria T. Gomes , Dequigiovanni Gabriel , Veasey Elizabeth Ann , Macêdo Jeferson L. Vasconcelos de , Batista Jacqueline S. , Formiga Kyara M. , Lopes Ricardo
Published: November 2014

Astrocaryum jauari is a non-domesticated palm that is exploited by poachers. Our objective was to investigate the organization of the geneticdiversity and structure of three A. jauari populations. The study was carried out in the state of Amazonas, between the municipalities of Coari and Manaus. Nine microsatellite loci were used for the genetic analyses. High genetic variation was found, with a mean number of alleles per locus varying from 3.9 to 4.4. The average observed heterozygosity, varying from 0.71 to 0.78, was higher than expected. No spatial genetic structure was detected, since only one cluster was observed. Our results indicate a possible dispersion strategy and suggest that conservation measures of this species should focus mainly on the populations found at the end of the main river (Solimões) where most of the plant material originating from the headwaters of the tributaries of this river is concentrated.
Gentrificação e políticas de reabilitação urbana em Portugal: uma análise crítica à luz da tese rent gap de Neil Smith
Authors: Mendes Luís
Published: November 2014

O artigo problematiza o papel que as políticas de reabilitação urbana no centro histórico das cidades portuguesas detêm no facilitar do processo de gentrificação, afirmando-se como condições necessárias, não sendo, todavia, por si só suficientes para induzir tal processo socioespacial. Ainda assim, os programas de reabilitação urbana, ao visarem estimular a requalificação de edifícios e criar condições favoráveis à atração de capitais privados para a regeneração das áreas da cidade centro, constituem um fator estratégico para a fixação das novas classes médias, contribuindo, em última análise, para a expulsão de antigos moradores, promovendo segregação residencial e desenvolvimento urbano desigual. A problemática será enquadrada pela tese de rent gap de Neil Smith mobilizando os aspectos estruturais do processo de acumulação de capital (e dos seus movimentos cíclicos) e relacionando-os com o (re)desenvolvimento urbano e com a produção de ambiente construído pela gentrificação.
Eu não tenho onde morar, é por isso que eu moro na rua. Os “sem-teto”: moradores ou transgressores?
Authors: Ferraz Sonia Maria Taddei , Machado Bruno Amadei
Published: November 2014

O texto apresenta uma análise das expulsões dos sem-teto, durante a preparação do Rio de Janeiro para sediar a Copa do Mundo em 2014 e as Olimpíadas em 2016, emolduradas pelos conflitos sociais, pelo direito à cidade, superpondo políticas de segurança das elites e desrespeito aos direitos das classes subalternas. Os discursos midiáticos e oficiais classificam essa população como “moradores de rua”, naturalizando sua condição de “sem-teto”, instituindo o mito de que, apesar de não ter casa, essa população “mora”, o que esvazia a natureza conflitante das relações sociais que operam nas cidades como razões da exclusão econômica e social e acentuando as oportunidades para milionários investimentos imobiliários em processos acelerados de gentrificação.
Treatment of rice seeds with thiamethoxam: reflections on physiological performance
Authors: Almeida Andreia da Silva , Deuner Cristiane , Borges Carolina Terra , Meneghello Géri Eduardo , Jauer Adilson , Villela Francisco Amaral
Published: November 2014

Thiamethoxam is a systemic insecticide that is transported within the plant through its cells and can activate various physiological reactions such as protein expression. These proteins interact with defense mechanisms against stress in adverse growing conditions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of thiamethoxam in rice seeds and the potential benefits that it can provide. Two experiments were carried out and, in both, seeds were treated with commercial product containing 350 g of thiamethoxam active ingredient per liter of product, at doses 0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mL.100 kg-1 of seeds: 1) it was conducted with three lots of IRGA BR 424 cultivar rice seeds, which were submitted to the following laboratory tests: germination, cold test, accelerated aging test, as well as field assessment: total seedling length, root system length, number of panicles and productivity; 2) four lots of IRGA BR 424 cultivar rice seeds, two high and two low-vigor, were subjected to the following tests: germination, cold test and greenhouse seedling emergence test. Thiamethoxam rice seed treatment positively favors the seed quality.
Spontaneous poisoning by Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) in cattle
Authors: Albuquerque Samuel S.C. , Rocha Brena P. , Albuquerque Raquel F. , Oliveira Juceli S. , Medeiros Rosane M.T. , Riet-Correa Franklin , Evêncio-Neto Joaquim , Mendonça Fábio S.
Published: November 2014

The aim of this study is to report cases of spontaneous poisoning of cattle by Ricinus communis (castor beans) in Paraíba, a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. The cases were observed in 2 herds on neighboring properties in 2013. Clinical signs developed within 6-24 h and consisted of weakness, tachycardia, dyspnea, profuse watery diarrhea, dehydration, depression, instability, cramps, permanent lateral recumbency and death within 48-72 h. Of the 60 cattle at risk, 19 were affected and 14 died. Five fully recovered after the course of 12 days. Three animals were necropsied. The main gross lesions were hemopericardium, hemothorax, pulmonary edema, petechial hemorrhages in the epicardium and endocardium, ecchymoses at the papillary muscles and suffusions on the intercostal muscles. Hemorrhages were also observed in the abdominal cavity, spleen and mucosa of the abomasum and small intestine. The rumen content was liquid with a large amount of castor bean seeds. There were circular, whitish and focally diffuse areas in the liver parenchyma. The main microscopic lesions consisted of multifocal coagulative myocardial necrosis with the presence of mononuclear cell infiltration and varying degrees of bleeding between cardiac muscle fibers. The abomasum and small intestine mucosae and submucosa had mild edema and mononuclear and polymorphonuclear inflammatory cell infiltration. The diagnosis of R. communis was based on the history of plant consumption, clinical signs, pathology of the disease and the presence of large amounts of castor bean seeds in the forestomachs.
Identificação e distribuição de lesões cardíacas em bovinos intoxicados por Amorimia exotropica
Authors: Bandinelli Marcele Bettim , Bassuino Daniele Mariath , Fredo Gabriela , Mari Cristine , Driemeier David , Sonne Luciana , Pavarini Saulo Petinatti
Published: November 2014

Amorimia exotropica é um arbusto escandente que pertence à família Malpighiacea, cujo princípio tóxico é o monofluoracetato de sódio e possui ação cardiotóxica em bovinos. Ela é a única representante, na região Sul do país, do grupo de plantas que causam morte súbita associada ao exercício. Este trabalho identificou e mapeou as lesões cardíacas observadas em bovinos intoxicados naturalmente por A. exotropica. Selecionaram-se nove corações bovinos, provenientes de um surto de intoxicação natural pela planta em uma propriedade de gado de corte do Rio Grande do Sul e procedeu-se o mapeamento de oito regiões topográficas distintas (ápice, ventrículos direito e esquerdo, septo interventricular, músculos papilares direito e esquerdo e átrios direito e esquerdo). À avaliação macroscópica quatro bovinos apresentaram lesão focal e bem delimitada no músculo papilar esquerdo. Estas áreas na histologia correspondiam à necrose de coagulação em diferentes estágios de evolução, similares a infartos. Todos os bovinos apresentavam necrose de cardiomiócitos, caracterizadas por retração e hipereosinofilia citoplasmática e fragmentação celular em todas as áreas amostradas. A severidade da injúria celular foi avaliada pela imuno-histoquímica anti-troponina C, a qual demonstrou acentuada perda e/ou diminuição de marcação citoplasmática em células necróticas. O músculo papilar esquerdo foi a região mais acometida nos casos de intoxicação por Amorimia exotropica.
Degenerative joint disease in cattle and buffaloes in the Amazon region: a retrospective study
Authors: Barbosa José Diomedes , Lima Danillo Henrique S. , Belo-Reis Alessandra S. , Pinheiro Cleyton P. , Sousa Melina G.S. , Silva Jenevaldo B. , Salvarani Felipe M. , Oliveira Carlos Magno C.
Published: November 2014

A retrospective study of the epidemiological and clinic-pathological aspects of cattle and buffaloes with degenerative joint disease (DJD) was conducted in the state of Pará, Brazil. From 1999 to 2014, eleven cattle and 24 buffaloes were evaluated. All the treated animals with suspected DJD underwent a clinical examination of the musculoskeletal system. In seven cattle and eight buffaloes with clinical signs of the disease postmortem examination was performed. The common clinical signs observed in both species were chronic lameness, stiff gait, postural changes, audible crackles in the affected limb, prolonged recumbency, difficulty in getting up and progressive weight loss. The lesions observed at necropsy were: irregular articular surfaces, erosion of the articular cartilage and the underlying bone tissue, and proliferation of the periarticular bone tissue with formation of osteophytes. The most affected joints in cattle and buffaloes wereof the hind limb. In buffaloes, the main predisposing factor to the onset of DJD was phosphorus deficiency. In cattle, defects of the anatomical conformation of the hind limbs, chronic trauma due to the activities performed, such as semen collection, and advanced age possibly contributed to the emergence of the disease.
Senecio madagascariensis Poir. (Asteraceae): uma nova causa de seneciose em bovinos no Sul do Rio Grande do Sul
Authors: Stigger Adriana Lücke , Estima-Silva Pablo , Fiss Leticia , Coelho Ana Carolina B. , Santos Bianca L. , Gardner Dale R. , Marcolongo-Pereira Clairton , Schild Ana Lucia
Published: November 2014

Descrevem-se dois surtos de intoxicação por Senecio madagascariensis Poir. diagnosticados em bovinos em outubro de 2013 na região sul do Rio Grande do Sul. A morbidade foi de 3,2% e de 6,1% respectivamente e a letalidade foi de 100%. Um terceiro caso da intoxicação ocorreu em uma propriedade na qual de 54 bovinos um morreu com sinais clínicos da intoxicação. Em todos os casos, os bovinos estavam em áreas altamente infestas por S. madagascariensis que se encontrava em floração. Os sinais clínicos caracterizaram-se por diarreia, tenesmo, opistótono e emagrecimento progressivo e a morte ocorreu entre 10 e 15 dias após o início dos sinais clínicos. Nas necropsias as lesões eram de edema do mesentério, das paredes do abomaso e do rúmen, e das paredes da vesícula biliar, além de fígado firme e com aspecto marmorizado. Histologicamente havia no fígado proliferação de tecido conjuntivo fibroso, principalmente nos espaços porta, megalocitose e hiperplasia de ductos biliares. A observação de grande quantidade de S. madagascariensis em várias propriedades nos municípios de Arroio Grande, Pedro Osório e Capão do Leão a partir do ano 2013 sugere que esta planta está em pleno processo de adaptação e disseminação nesta região e que outros surtos podem ocorrer nos próximos anos. Os surtos relatados aparentemente resultaram do consumo da planta durante o outono/inverno de 2013, quando a mesma estava já em floração. A quantificação dos alcaloides revelou a presença de 500 µg/g e 4000µg/g de planta seca de alcaloides pirrolizidínicos em duas das três propriedades com casos de seneciose. Acredita-se que a grande quantidade de planta existente nas áreas onde os animais estavam e a quantidade de alcaloides presentes na mesma foram fatores que determinaram a ocorrência dos surtos.
Long term dietary deficiency in steers: vital functions and T3 and IGF-1 relationships
Authors: Lima Alessandra S. , Sucupira Maria Claudia A. , Ortolani Enrico L.
Published: November 2014

To evaluate the influence of diets with different degrees of energy deficiency on the hormonal profile and vital functions, 12 steers were randomly distributed into 3 groups of 4 animals. For 140 days, each group received (G1) a diet to promote a weight gain of 900gr/day (17.7 Mcal/d DE and 13% CP), (G2) 80% of the maintenance requirements (5.8 Mcal/d DE and 7% CP), or (G3) 60% of the maintenance requirements (4.7 Mcal/d DE and 5% CP). In G2 and G3, the energy deficit caused a marked decrease in the heart rate and respiratory rate and a reduction in the blood levels of Insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and triiodothyronine (T3). The decrease in heart rate, respiratory movement and, to a lesser extent, reduction of the rectal temperature, reflected the low status of energy and was negatively impacted by the low levels of T3. There was a strong correlation between the hormones T3 and IGF-1 (r=0.833). There were also strong correlations between T3 and HR (r=0.701), T3 and RR (r=0.632), IGF-1 and HR (r=0.731), and IGF-1 and RR (r=0.679). There were intermediate correlations between T3 and TºC (r=0.484), T3 and insulin (r=0.506), IGF-1 and insulin (r=0.517), and IGF-1 and TºC (r=0.548). This study showed the influence of a long period of providing an energy-deficient diet on animal performance, correlating hormonal status and vital functions in growing cattle. The results indicated that the evaluated parameters represent an important tool for the early detection of dietary deficiency.