ABSTRACT Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA) is a private, protected area inside a remnant of the Atlantic Forest with high biodiversity. Although the bats of the reserve have been sampled for more than two decades, few studies have been published about them. Based on a compilation of data from several surveys, we present an updated list of the bat species there and compare it with surveys from other locations in the Atlantic Forest. From August 1998 to September 2021, at least 194 sampling nights were carried out at REGUA by different research groups from various institutions, totaling 448,092 m2.h of sampling. A total of 4,069 individuals were captured, belonging to 47 species and six families. Additionally, our results indicate that it is possible that some species that occur at REGUA have not been recorded yet. REGUA has the greatest number of bat species known for the Atlantic Forest. This most likely results from the fact that the reserve includes large areas of mature, continuous forest connected with other protected areas in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Another factor contributing to the high diversity of bat species at REGUA is that the area has been intensely sampled for many years. Given that the bat assemblage there appears to be a good proxy to ascertain the ecological patterns of biodiversity in well-preserved forests, we consider REGUA to be an important area for long-term ecological research. The basic knowledge about the ecological interactions of bats with different food resources and zoonotic microorganisms offers a unique opportunity to carry out research in several areas of knowledge, making it possible to address questions about bat assemblage structure, bat-parasite ecology, competition, niche partitioning, and other related studies.

ABSTRACT This is the first attempt to assess life parameters of little tunny Euthynnus alletteratus in the southwestern Atlantic. Fin spines, liver, and gonad information from 345 fishes (330-780 mm fork length) sampled from artisanal landings between March 2018, and February 2019 were used to analyze age, growth, and sexual maturity. Age was estimated by counting and measuring increments in sectioned spines, and the von Bertalanffy growth function was used to fit length-at-age data. There was no significant difference between male and female size distributions. Gonadosomatic index peaked from November to February in both sexes, associated with the South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) upwelling in temperatures between 15-18°C. Reproduction in cold waters has never been reported before and is possibly related to a richer environment for feeding and growth of larvae. The coefficient of variation among successive readings was 9.2%. The oldest fish was 5 years, and one annual increment for 2 and 3-year-old fish was observed to form associated with SACW. Little tunny growing in southeastern Brazil shows a higher growth rate and smaller asymptotic length when compared to most stocks in Mediterranean waters. Growth was not significantly affected by sex, and the von Bertalanffy growth parameters for all fish were L∞ = 791.9 mm, k = 0.42, and t0 = −0.97 yr-1. Length at first maturity is attained by 1-year-old fish of either sex (423-492 mm), suggesting that a small proportion (8%) of juveniles was recorded from fishery landings.

Algumas espécies de morcegos são capazes de se adaptar às áreas urbanas, onde encontram alimento e abrigo. Apesar do elevado número de parques nas cidades brasileiras estas ainda não despertaram o interesse dos zoólogos, exceção feita a inventários de aves e borboletas. Os objetivos do presente estudo foram: (i) inventariar as espécies de morcegos da Quinta da Boa Vista (QBV), um grande (25 ha) parque urbano centralmente localizado na povoada cidade do Rio de Janeiro, a segunda maior metrópole do Brasil; (ii) comparar a riqueza de espécies observadas em refúgios com a riqueza registrada através de redes de neblina abertas em rotas de voo e perto de figueiras em frutificação; e (iii) analisar as recapturas de morcegos marcados neste parque e recapturados em outras localidades, e vice-versa. A amostragem totalizou 104 noites, resultando em 3.256 capturas (incluindo 133 recapturas) entre abril de 1989 e dezembro de 2004. Nós também amostramos abrigos e recebemos alguns exemplares de visitantes do parque e dos cidadãos. No total, nós documentamos 21 espécies de morcegos, com a predominância de grandes frugívoros. O número de espécies esperadas para este parque foi de 24,0 ± 4,6, e o total amostrado representado foi de 87,5% do esperado. As recapturas de morcegos marcados em torno dos fragmentos florestais e em QBV mostram a importância de parques urbanos para a manutenção da diversidade de morcegos. As buscas e amostragens em abrigos resultaram em duas espécies que não tinham sido capturadas com outros métodos. As amostragens perto de figueiras em frutificação não diferiram em termos de riqueza em relação às amostragens realizadas longe destas árvores, ou durante os seus períodos de não frutificação.

Some bat species are able to adapt to urban areas, where they find food and roosts. Despite the high number of parks in Brazilian cities, they did not yet raise the interest of most zoologists, except for some surveys of birds and butterflies. The objectives of the present study were: (i) to inventory the bat species of Quinta da Boa Vista (QBV), a large (25 ha) urban park centrally located in densely populated Rio de Janeiro, which is Brazil's second largest metropolis; (ii) to compare the species richness observed in roosts with the richness recorded through mist netting in flight routes and near fruiting fig trees; and (iii) to analyze recaptures of bats marked in this park and recaptured in other sites and vice-versa. Sampling totaled 104 sampling nights resulting in 3,256 captures (including 133 recaptures) between April 1989 and December 2004. We also sampled roosts and received some specimens from park visitors and city workers. We documented 21 bat species, predominantly large frugivores. The number of expected species for this park was 24.0 ± 4.6, and the total sampled represented 87.5% of the expected. The recapture of bats marked in surrounding forest fragments and in QBV shows the importance of urban parks for the maintenance of bat diversity. Inspection of roosts produced two species that had not been captured with other methods. Sampling near fruiting fig trees did not differ in terms of richness from sampling carried out far from these trees or during their non-fruiting periods.

Foi conduzido um ensaio em casa de vegetação com o objetivo de avaliar a eficácia da aplicação seqüencial de pequenas doses do fomesafen por via da água de irrigação (herbigação) por aspersão no controle de Bidens pilosa. Os tratamentos foram dispostos no esquema fatorial 4 x 3 x 2 + 3: doses de fomesafen (50, 100, 150 e 200 g ha-1), seqüências de dias após a emergência (DAE) de B. pilosa em que foram realizadas as aplicações do herbicida (7-14-21, 14-21-28 e 21-28-35 DAE), métodos de aplicação (pulverização e herbigação), mais três testemunhas sem herbicida (uma para cada idade da planta daninha). As três idades de B. pilosa foram conseguidas com a semeadura a intervalos de sete dias. Foi empregado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com três repetições. Cada unidade experimental constou de um vaso com 12 L de solo, onde 50 sementes de B. pilosa foram distribuídas. A primeira aplicação, em cada seqüência de dias, foi feita com um quarto da dose; a segunda, com um quarto; e a terceira, com metade da dose. Foi empregado um pulverizador costal de CO2 com volume de calda equivalente a 200 L ha-1. A herbigação foi feita com um simulador de irrigação (4,52 mm ou 45.200 L ha-1). Na pulverização, houve excelente controle da planta daninha com as doses de 100, 150 e 200 g ha-1, independentemente da seqüência de dias da aplicação. Na herbigação, as aplicações seqüenciais foram ineficazes.

A trial was carried out in a greenhouse to evaluate the efficacy of sequential applications of low rates of fomesafen through sprinkler irrigation water (herbigation) for Bidens pilosa control. The following 4x3x2+3 factorial scheme was used: rates of fomesafen (50, 100, 150, and 200 g ha-1 ), sequence of days after emergence (DAE) when herbicide was applied (714-21, 14-21-28, and 21-28-35 DAE), application methods (spray and herbigation), and three untreated controls (one for each weed age). Weed ages were obtained by sowing at seven day intervals. A completely randomized design with three replications was used. The experimental unit consisted of a pot with 12 liters of soil, where fifty seeds were sown. The first, second, and third applications in each sequence of days consisted of ¼, ¼ and ½ of the total rate, respectively. A CO2 spray was used to apply the herbicide in 200 L ha-1 of water. For herbigation, a volume of 4.52 mm (45,300 L ha-1 ) of water was applied using an irrigation simulator. Spraying provided excellent weed control at the rates of 100, 150, and 200 g ha-1 , regardless of weed ages. Sequential applications using sprinkler irrigation water proved to be inefficient.

RESUMO Tetrastichus giffardianus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) foi introduzido em 1937 no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, para o controle biológico da mosca do mediterrâneo, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). Apesar de na época este parasitóide ter sido criado em grandes quantidades e liberado em várias fazendas, nunca mais foi relatado no país, levantando controvérsias sobre seu estabelecimento. Este trabalho relata a redescoberta desta espécie no Brasil, mas em locais distantes de onde fora originalmente liberado. Estas novas ocorrências estão na Região Nordeste, onde T. giffardianus parece ter se adaptado melhor do que no território paulista.

ABSTRACT Tetrastichus giffardianus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was introduced in 1937 in São Paulo state, southeast Brazil, to control the medfly, Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae). In spite of its being mass reared and released in several farms at that time, there were no further reports about its occurrence in the country, giving rise to controversies about its establishment. This paper deals with the rediscovering of T. giffardianus, but in a region far from where it was released. The new findings are in northeast Brazil, where this species seems to be better adapted to the local conditions.

The present study evaluated the acute effect of the intraperitoneal (ip) administration of a whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) on systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP) and renal sodium handling by conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The ip administration of WPH in a volume of 1 ml dose-dependently lowered the SBP in SHR 2 h after administration at doses of 0.5 g/kg (0.15 M NaCl: 188.5 ± 9.3 mmHg vs WPH: 176.6 ± 4.9 mmHg, N = 8, P = 0.001) and 1.0 g/kg (0.15 M NaCl: 188.5 ± 9.3 mmHg vs WPH: 163.8 ± 5.9 mmHg, N = 8, P = 0.0018). Creatinine clearance decreased significantly (P = 0.0084) in the WPH-treated group (326 ± 67 µL min-1 100 g body weight-1) compared to 0.15 M NaCl-treated (890 ± 26 µL min-1 100 g body weight-1) and captopril-treated (903 ± 72 µL min-1 100 g body weight-1) rats. The ip administration of 1.0 g WPH/kg also decreased fractional sodium excretion to 0.021 ± 0.019% compared to 0.126 ± 0.041 and 0.66 ± 0.015% in 0.15 M NaCl and captopril-treated rats, respectively (P = 0.033). Similarly, the fractional potassium excretion in WPH-treated rats (0.25 ± 0.05%) was significantly lower (P = 0.0063) than in control (0.91 ± 0.15%) and captopril-treated rats (1.24 ± 0.30%), respectively. The present study shows a decreased SBP in SHR after the administration of WPH associated with a rise in tubule sodium reabsorption despite an angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting in vitro activity (IC50 = 0.68 mg/mL). The present findings suggest a pathway involving ACE inhibition but measurements of plasma ACE activity and angiotensin II levels are needed to support this suggestion.

We determined if the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) exerts tonic control of basal and stimulated sodium and water intake. Male Wistar rats weighing 300-350 g were microinjected with phosphate buffer (PB-DRN, N = 11) or 1 µg/0.2 µl, in a single dose, ibotenic acid (IBO-DRN, N = 9 to 10) through a guide cannula into the DRN and were observed for 21 days in order to measure basal sodium appetite and water intake and in the following situations: furosemide-induced sodium depletion (20 mg/kg, sc, 24 h before the experiment) and a low dose of dietary captopril (1 mg/g chow). From the 6th day after ibotenic acid injection IBO-DRN rats showed an increase in sodium appetite (12.0 ± 2.3 to 22.3 ± 4.6 ml 0.3 M NaCl intake) whereas PB-DRN did not exceed 2 ml (P < 0.001). Water intake was comparable in both groups. In addition to a higher dipsogenic response, sodium-depleted IBO-DRN animals displayed an increase of 0.3 M NaCl intake compared to PB-DRN (37.4 ± 3.8 vs 21.6 ± 3.9 ml 300 min after fluid offer, P < 0.001). Captopril added to chow caused an increase of 0.3 M NaCl intake during the first 2 days (IBO-DRN, 33.8 ± 4.3 and 32.5 ± 3.4 ml on day 1 and day 2, respectively, vs 20.2 ± 2.8 ml on day 0, P < 0.001). These data support the view that DRN, probably via ascending serotonergic system, tonically modulates sodium appetite under basal and sodium depletion conditions and/or after an increase in peripheral or brain angiotensin II.

The present study determined the effect of an electrolytic lesion of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) on water intake and sodium appetite. Male Wistar rats weighing 290-320 g with a lesion of the DRN (L-DRN), performed two days before experiments and confirmed by histology at the end of the experiments, presented increased sensitivity to the dehydration induced by fluid deprivation. The cumulative water intake of L-DRN rats reached 23.3 ± 1.9 ml (a 79% increase, N = 9) while sham-lesioned rats (SL-DRN) did not exceed 13.0 ± 1.0 ml (N = 11, P < 0.0001) after 5 h. The L-DRN rats treated with isoproterenol (300 µg kg-1 ml-1, sc) exhibited an increase in water intake that persisted throughout the experimental period (L-DRN, 15.7 ± 1.47 ml, N = 9 vs SL-DRN, 9.3 ± 1.8 ml, N = 11, P < 0.05). The L-DRN rats also showed an increased spontaneous sodium appetite during the entire period of assessment. The intake of 0.3 M NaCl after 12, 24, 36 and 72 h by the L-DRN rats was always higher than 20.2 ± 4.45 ml (N = 10), while the intake by SL-DRN was always lower than 2.45 ± 0.86 ml (N = 10, P < 0.00001). Sodium- and water-depleted L-DRN rats also exhibited an increased sodium appetite (13.9 ± 2.0 ml, N = 11) compared to SL-DRN (4.6 ± 0.64 ml, N = 11) after 120 min of observation (P < 0.02). The sodium preference of L-DRN rats in both conditions was always higher than that of SL-DRN rats. These results suggest that electrolytic lesion of the DRN overcomes a tonic inhibitory component of sodium appetite.

We report results obtained with sera from 58 chronic chagasic patients that were evaluated for effects on heart rate and atrioventricular (AV) conduction in isolated rabbit hearts and screened for the presence of muscarinic and beta-adrenergic activity. We show that sera from 26 patients decreased heart rate, while 10 increased it and 22 had no effect. Additionally, sera from 20 of the 58 patients blocked AV conduction. Muscarinic activation seems to be involved in both effects, but is not the only mechanism, since atropine did not antagonize the decrease in heart rate in 23% of sera or AV block in 40%. Sera from patients with complex arrhythmias were significantly more effective in depressing both heart rate and AV conduction. Sera that induce increases in heart rate seem to operate exclusively through beta-adrenergic activation. Two of these sera, evaluated with respect to intercellular communication in primary cultures of embryonic cardiomyocytes were able to block gap junction conductance evaluated by a dye injection technique after 24-h exposure. The mechanisms underlying this uncoupling effect are currently being investigated.

In this work a hybrid neural modelling methodology, which combines mass balance equations with functional link networks (FLNs), used to represent kinetic rates, is developed for bioprocesses. The simple structure of the FLNs allows the easy and rapid estimation of network weights and, consequently, the use of the hybrid model in an adaptive form. As the proposed model is able to adjust to kinetic and environmental changes, it is suitable for use in the development of optimization strategies for fed-batch bioreactors. The proposed methodology is used to model the processes for penicillin and ethanol production, and the development of an adaptive optimal control scheme is discussed using ethanol fermentation as an example.

Gene vaccines represent a new and promising approach to control infectious diseases, inducing a protective immune response in the appropriate host. Several routes and methods of genetic immunization have been shown to induce antibody production as well as T helper (Th) cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activation. However, few studies have compared the nature of the immune responses generated by different gene vaccination delivery systems. In the present study we reviewed some aspects of immunity induced by gene immunization and compared the immune responses produced by intramuscular (im) DNA injection to gene gun-mediated DNA transfer into the skin of BALB/c mice. Using a reporter gene coding for ß-galactosidase, we have demonstrated that im injection raised a predominantly Th1 response with mostly IgG2a anti-ßgal produced, while gene gun immunization induced a mixed Th1/Th2 profile with a balanced production of IgG2a and IgG1 subclasses. Distinct types of immune responses were generated by different methods of gene delivery. These findings have important implications for genetic vaccine design. Firstly, a combination between these two systems may create optimal conditions for the induction of a broad-based immune response. Alternatively, a particular gene vaccine delivery method might be used according to the immune response required for host protection. Here, we describe the characteristics of the immune response induced by gene vaccination and the properties of DNA involved in this process.

Abstract - The start-up of continuous bioreactors is solved as an optimal control problem. The choice of the dilution rate as the control variable reduces the dimension of the system by making the use of the global balance equation unnecessary for the solution of the optimization problem. Therefore, for systems described by four or less mass balance equations, it is always possible to obtain an analytical expression for the singular arc as a function of only the state variables. The steady state conditions are shown to satisfy the singular arc expression and, based on this knowledge, a feeding strategy is proposed which leads the reactor from an initial state to the steady state of maximum productivity

A variação do pH e a produção de nitrato foram estudados em um Latossolo Vermelho Escuro, Série Guamium, em função da adição de 200 e 400 ppm de N nas formas de uréia e sulfato de amônio, em presença e ausência de Ca(OH)2 por um período de 30 dias. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o pH decresceu com o sulfato de amônio e aumentou com a uréia. As variações foram observadas mesmo empresença de Ca(0H)2. A produção de nitrato aumentou com o pH, considerando o mesmo nível e fonte de nitrogênio. Não foi observado no conjunto uma relação entre pH e produção de nitrato.

The variation of pH and the production of nitrate were studied in a Dark Red Latosol, Guamium séries, in function of the addition of 200 and 400 ppm of N, as urea and ammonium sulphate in the presence and absence of Ca(0H)2, for a period of 30 days. The results obtained showed that the pH decreased with ammonium sulphate and increased with urea. The variations were observed even in the presence of Ca(0H)2. The production of nitrate increased with pH considering the same level and source of nitrogen.