Spatiotemporal distribution of floral resources in a Brazilian city: Implications for the maintenance of pollinators,especially bees

Cities provide resources for the animals that live in them or their surroundings. There has been an increase in the number of ecological studies in urban areas, including interactions between plants and bees. Bees are pollinators that provide a vital ecosystem service to crops and wild plants. We assessed plant community structure in the campus of Universidade de São Paulo in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, included in the neotropical Atlantic Forest biome, focusing on floristic composition, pollination syndromes, flowering phenology, and spatiotemporal distribution of floral resources for bees. Currently, the city is surrounded by sugar cane plantations. Once a month, from April 2011 to March 2012, we sampled plant species and individuals in bloom in an area with 500 m radius from the bee-rearing facilities of Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), totaling 78 hectares. We sampled 289 plant species of 73 families; Leguminosae was the richest family. Plants pollinated by bees predominated (67%), followed by plants pollinated by hummingbirds (18%). Melittophilous species flowered throughout the year and, hence, food availability for bees was continuous. The flowering of plant individuals that provided pollen, nectar, and floral oil was seasonal in all vegetation (except for nectar in shrubs), with peaks in resource availability in the transition from the dry to the rainy season, and also in the rainy season. Our results show that the campus is able to maintain bee populations amid a monoculture matrix, acting as a refuge. In addition, it provides a list of several attractive native plants to different pollinator groups, coupled with a phenogram, that can be used in the design and planning of urban areas.     

Brain anatomy of two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus,Linnaeus, 1758): A comparative gross anatomical study of extant xenarthrans

The neural system plays an important role in understanding some features of animals. Anatomical complexity correlates with the increase of functional capacity. Xenarthrans include anteaters (Vermilingua), armadillos (Cingulata) and sloths (Folivora). This group is the base of eutherian mammals, and understanding the anatomy of its neural system could provide data for functional and evolutionary interpretations. The gross anatomy of the xenarthran brain is recorded. Four extant families of Pilosa and two families of Cingulata were sampled. Usual dissection procedures were used, and the brains were analysed macroscopically. The brain of two-toed sloth, three-toed sloth, six-banded armadillo, giant anteater and collared anteater are gyrencephalic. Pygmy anteater, nine-banded armadillo, great long-nosed armadillo, southern naked-tailed armadillo and giant armadillo are lissencephalic. In most species, the rhinal fissure presents two segments, rostral and caudal (except in Vermilingua and three-toed sloth). The diencephalon and brainstem present similar anatomy. The cerebellum is wide and presents four lobes (rostral, central, caudal and floccular). Its average volume is 12.16% (Folivora), 14.26% (Vermilingua) and 18.61% (Cingulata). Among these groups, there is a statistical difference between Folivora/Cingulata concerning the cerebellum average. The general pattern of the brain of the xenarthrans is similar to that of other mammals.     

Evaluation of hepatitis E virus infection between different production systems of pigs in Brazil

The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the occurrence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in pigs from large-scale and family-scale farms, (2) genetically characterize the strains isolated, and (3) study the pathogenesis of swine HEV infection via immunohistochemistry. A total of 50 pigs from 10 farms in Mato Grosso State, Brazil were divided according to type of production system into either large-scale farms (n?=?5) or family-scale farms (n?=?5). Samples of liver, gallbladder, small and large intestines, bile, and feces from the pigs were analyzed by nested PCR with primers targeting the ORF2 region of HEV and by immunohistochemistry. Of the eight HEV-positive samples from pigs of family-scale farms, phylogenetic analysis revealed that seven of the swine HEV isolates clustered with subtype 3b of genotype 3 and one isolate was categorized with subtype 3 f. The HEV antigen was detected mainly in the small intestine samples from family-scale farms, suggesting an early stage HEV infection. HEV was not detected in the samples of pigs from large-scale farms, reinforcing the need for additional studies to evaluate the risk of transmission of HEV to humans from pigs from family-scale farms in Mato Grosso State.     

仔猪薛氏回和外薛氏回的传入联系

用辣根过氧化物酶（ＨＲＰ）法研究了６只仔猪薛氏回和外薛氏回的传入联系。此二回接受蓝斑、脑干网状结构、中脑中央灰质、中缝背核、内侧膝状体、膝上核、丘脑枕、柜内核、纹状体、薛氏回和外薛氏回的传入纤维，薛氏回前部还接受缘回、外缘回、冠状回和十字回的传入纤维。     

Study of the Effect of Saline Solution on the Extraction of the Moringa oleifera Seed’s Active Component for Water Treatment

Several coagulants/flocculants have been studied in order to remove the color and turbidity of raw water, employing natural ones demonstrated advantages in relation to chemicals. Moringa oleifera Lam is a natural polymer that has been gaining prominence in water treatment. It acts as a clarifying agent, providing a cationic protein that destabilizes the particles contained in a liquid medium. The main objective of the present work is to study the efficiency in terms of removing color and turbidity of raw water in order to obtain drinking water. For this purpose, different coagulant solutions were obtained utilizing three solutions of KCl in different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and 1 M) and pure water combined with M. oleifera Lam seed. Each coagulant solution obtained was studied with concentrations ranging from 50 to 600 ppm of Moringa in solution. The pH was varied (4.0, 6.0, and 8.0) with 25% and 50% sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), respectively. The tests were conducted with the “Jar Test Device” and the efficiency of the process was evaluated regarding the reduction of color and turbidity. The best results were found employing the coagulant solutions extracted with 1 M salt solution, pH 8.0, and different concentrations of coagulant solution. It is important to explain that the best results were in various concentration ranges, as the concentration of protein in solution becomes higher, the greater is its power as a coagulant. The lowest content of protein was found in the solution extracted with water, which consequently had the lowest values of color and turbidity removal.     

Degradation of Prototype Pesticides Submitted to Conventional Water Treatment Conditions: The Influence of Major Parameters

The behavior of several pesticides in aqueous solution, namely bifenthrin, amethrin (pyrethroid insecticides), endosulfan and endosulfan sulfate (organochlorine pesticides), disulfoton, methyl pyrimiphos, and phorate (organophosphorus pesticides), submitted to the conditions typically employed in water treatment stations was investigated. Continuous pesticide depletion was monitored by solid-phase microextraction sampling followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The influence of major parameters (sodium hypochloride concentration, solution pH, and exposure time to ultraviolet (UV) light) was, thus, adequately established via two complementary approaches: factorial (2³, three variables—two levels) and Doehlert designs. Hence, the sodium hypochloride concentration and the solution pH produced distinct effects depending on the pesticide evaluated (for instance, acidic and basic media caused increasing rates of degradation for the organophosphorus/pyrethroid and organochlorine pesticides, respectively). Conversely, higher rates of degradation were achieved for all of the pesticides investigated when increased exposure times to UV radiation were employed. Finally, the exposure time to UV radiation that lead to complete degradation of disulfoton and endosulfan sulfate (organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides, respectively) in aqueous media under ordinary conditions employed in water treatment stations was established; disulfoton and endosulfan sulfate were completely degraded after 10 and 40 h, respectively.     

Protease-assisted clarification of black currant juice: synergy with other clarifying agents and effects on the phenol content

Conventional clarification with gelatin and silica sol removes a considerable amount of antioxidant phenolics from berry juices. This study examined the clarification and haze-diminishing effects of alternative clarification strategies on black currant juice including centrifugation and addition of acidic protease and pectinolytic enzyme preparations and gallic acid. Centrifugation of freshly pressed juice (10,000 g for 15 min) resulted in a approximately 95% reduction of immediate turbidity and had a decreasing effect on haze development in the juice during cold storage without significantly compromising the total phenols levels. The extent of clarification and haze diminishment varied after individual treatments with five different acidic proteases, but one of the protease preparations, Enzeco, derived from Aspergillus niger, consistently tended to perform best. The individual and interactive effects on juice turbidity, total phenols, and total anthocyanin contents of clarification treatments involving the use of two selected acid proteases (Enzeco and Novozyme 89L), a pectinase (Pectinex BE 3-L), and gallic acid were evaluated in a full factorial 2(4) experimental design. Haze development during cold storage decreased when gallic acid or any of the enzyme preparations were employed individually, but negative interaction effects resulted when the pectinase was employed in combination with any of the proteases. After 28 storage days at 2 degrees C, the lowest levels of haze formation were achieved when the Enzeco protease preparation, added at 0.025 g/L, was added with 0.050 g/L of gallic acid and allowed to react in the juice for 90 min at 50 degrees C. The corresponding anthocyanin reduction was approximately 12% (compared to approximately 30% with gelatin silica sol treatment). The data support the hypothesis that phenol-protein interactions are involved in juice turbidity development during cold storage of berry juices and demonstrate that precentrifugation and protease-assisted clarification show promise as an alternative, phenolics-retaining clarification strategy in black currant juice processing.     

犬眼结膜脉瘤（摘要）

对４０例小型、玩赏犬的眼结膜增生物（樱桃眼Ｃｈｅｒｒｙｅｙｅ）发生的部位、病因、症状、病理组织学和治疗方法进行了深入的观察和探讨，发现该病可以发生于犬的第三眼睑（瞬膜）也可发生于下眼睑结膜，该增生物是浆液性和粘液性的腺体增生组织，其组织结构和发生的特点符合良性单纯性腺瘤和特点，应予定名为大眼结膜腺瘤。该瘤可采取手术切除，效果好，但手术须注意钳夹止血，以减少术后出血。     

Table olives from Portugal: phenolic compounds, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activity

The phenolic compounds composition, antioxidant potential, and antimicrobial activity of different table olives from Portugal, namely, natural black olives "Galega", black ripe olive "Negrinha de Freixo", Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) "Azeitona de Conserva Negrinha de Freixo" olives, and "Azeitona de Conserva de Elvas e Campo Maior" Designation of Origin (DO) olives, were investigated. The analysis of phenolic compounds was performed by reversed-phase HPLC/DAD, and seven compounds were identified and quantified: hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, 5-O-caffeoilquinic acid, verbascoside, luteolin 7-O-glucoside, rutin, and luteolin. The antioxidant activity was assessed by the reducing power assay, the scavenging effect on DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals, and the beta-carotene linoleate model system. The antioxidant activity was correlated with the amount of phenolics found in each sample. The antimicrobial activity was screened using Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungi (Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans). PDO and DO table olives revealed a wide range of antimicrobial activity. C. albicans was resistant to all the analyzed extracts.     

Inclusion of β-1,3/1,6-glucan in the ornamental fish,Jewel tetra (Hyphessobrycon eques), and its effects on growth,blood glucose,and intestinal histology

The effects of β-1,3/1,6-glucan on Hyphessobrycon eques were assessed after 42 days of feeding diets containing 0 (control group given commercial feed), 0.5, 1, or 2 g β-glucan/kg diet. In total, 180 fish, with an initial weight of 0.43?±?0.03 g, were used. There were 15 fish in each of twelve 42-L aquariums, and there were 3 aquariums of fish for each dietary treatment. The fish were fed until apparent satiety. Performance parameters (final weight, total length, standard length, feed intake, survival rate, weight gain, feed conversion, specific growth rate, and condition factor) and plasma glucose concentration were measured. Histological analysis of the proximal portion of the intestine (width and height of the villi, depth of the crypts, height of the enterocytes, thickness of the muscle layer, and number of goblet cells) was performed. Different levels of the additive did not influence fish performance (for example, final weight: control: 0.63 g, 0.5: 0.60, 1: 0.58, and 2: 0.61). Likewise, there was no influence on the plasma glucose concentration (control: 81.80 mg/dL, 0.5: 75.33, 1: 85.00, and 2: 81.00) and intestinal morphometry of the animals. However, the results showed that 2.0 g/kg of β-1,3/1,6-glucan provided a greater abundance of goblet cells secreting acidic and neutral mucus present in the epithelium (periodic acid-Schiff: 66.67 cells, Alcian blue pH 1.0: 72,67 cells, and Alcian blue pH 2.5: 95.00 cells), showing significant differences when compared to animals in the control group, which may represent better protection of the intestinal epithelium of H. eques.