What triggers phenological events in plants under seasonal environments? A study with phylogenetically related plant species in sympatry

Abstract In this study, we evaluated variation in vegetative and reproductive phenological events of four phylogenetically related plant species subjected to a seasonal environment. To this aim, we sampled 15 individuals of each plant species every fortnight for one year, between January and December of 2017. To assess when a given phenophase occurred more intensely in the population, the Fournier intensity index was used and the synchrony of individuals of the sample in a given phenological event was estimated using the activity index. The Rayleigh (Z) test was used to determine whether the phenological events have seasonal distribution. The relationship of abiotic factors (photoperiod, precipitation, relative humidity and temperature) with the intensity of phenophases was evaluated for each plant species using generalized linear models (GLMs). The phenophases of all plants showed a seasonal distribution pattern, as well as variation in synchrony of phenophases and specific sets of abiotic factors significantly influenced their phenophases. New leaves, for example, were produced throughout the seasons, with intense leaf fall in the dry season. Flowering periods, on the other hand, did not overlap. Indeed, species exhibited sequential flowering and asynchronous flowering among individuals. Our results suggest that the phenological patterns of four sympatric plant species are directly linked to climatic variables, but different abiotic factors affected different phenophases.

Resumo Neste estudo, avaliamos a variação nos eventos fenológicos vegetativos e reprodutivos de quatro espécies de plantas filogeneticamente relacionadas submetidas a um ambiente sazonal. Para isso, amostramos 15 indivíduos de cada espécie quinzenalmente, pelo período de um ano, entre janeiro e dezembro de 2017. Para avaliar quando uma determinada fenofase ocorreu de modo mais intenso na população foi utilizado o índice de intensidade de Fournier e a sincronia dos indivíduos da amostra em determinado evento fenológico foi estimada utilizando-se o índice de atividade. O teste de Rayleigh (Z) foi usado para determinar se os eventos fenológicos têm distribuição sazonal. A relação dos fatores abióticos (fotoperíodo, precipitação, temperatura e umidade relativa) com a intensidade das fenofases foi avaliada para cada espécie de planta usando modelos lineares generalizados (GLMs). As fenofases de todas as plantas apresentaram um padrão de distribuição sazonal, bem como variação na sincronia das fenofases e conjuntos específicos de fatores abióticos influenciaram significativamente suas fenofases. Folhas novas, por exemplo, foram produzidas ao longo das estações, com intensa queda de folhas na estação seca. Os períodos de floração, por outro lado, não se sobrepuseram. De fato, as espécies exibiram floração sequencial e floração assíncrona entre os indivíduos. Nossos resultados sugerem que os padrões fenológicos das quatro espécies de plantas simpátricas estão diretamente ligados às variáveis climáticas, mas diferentes fatores abióticos afetaram diferentes fenofases.

What triggers phenological events in plants under seasonal environments? A study with phylogenetically related plant species in sympatry / O que desencadeia eventos fenológicos em plantas em ambientes sazonais? Um estudo com espécies de plantas filogeneticamente relacionadas e em simpatria

In this study, we evaluated variation in vegetative and reproductive phenological events of four phylogenetically related plant species subjected to a seasonal environment. To this aim, we sampled 15 individuals of each plant species every fortnight for one year, between January and December of 2017. To assess when a given phenophase occurred more intensely in the population, the Fournier intensity index was used and the synchrony of individuals of the sample in a given phenological event was estimated using the activity index. The Rayleigh (Z) test was used to determine whether the phenological events have seasonal distribution. The relationship of abiotic factors (photoperiod, precipitation, relative humidity and temperature) with the intensity of phenophases was evaluated for each plant species using generalized linear models (GLMs). The phenophases of all plants showed a seasonal distribution pattern, as well as variation in synchrony of phenophases and specific sets of abiotic factors significantly influenced their phenophases. New leaves, for example, were produced throughout the seasons, with intense leaf fall in the dry season. Flowering periods, on the other hand, did not overlap. Indeed, species exhibited sequential flowering and asynchronous flowering among individuals. Our results suggest that the phenological patterns of four sympatric plant species are directly linked to climatic variables, but different abiotic factors affected different phenophases.

Neste estudo, avaliamos a variação nos eventos fenológicos vegetativos e reprodutivos de quatro espécies de plantas filogeneticamente relacionadas submetidas a um ambiente sazonal. Para isso, amostramos 15 indivíduos de cada espécie quinzenalmente, pelo período de um ano, entre janeiro e dezembro de 2017. Para avaliar quando uma determinada fenofase ocorreu de modo mais intenso na população foi utilizado o índice de intensidade de Fournier e a sincronia dos indivíduos da amostra em determinado evento fenológico foi estimada utilizando-se o índice de atividade. O teste de Rayleigh (Z) foi usado para determinar se os eventos fenológicos têm distribuição sazonal. A relação dos fatores abióticos (fotoperíodo, precipitação, temperatura e umidade relativa) com a intensidade das fenofases foi avaliada para cada espécie de planta usando modelos lineares generalizados (GLMs). As fenofases de todas as plantas apresentaram um padrão de distribuição sazonal, bem como variação na sincronia das fenofases e conjuntos específicos de fatores abióticos influenciaram significativamente suas fenofases. Folhas novas, por exemplo, foram produzidas ao longo das estações, com intensa queda de folhas na estação seca. Os períodos de floração, por outro lado, não se sobrepuseram. De fato, as espécies exibiram floração sequencial e floração assíncrona entre os indivíduos. Nossos resultados sugerem que os padrões fenológicos das quatro espécies de plantas simpátricas estão diretamente ligados às variáveis climáticas, mas diferentes fatores abióticos afetaram diferentes fenofases.

Sclerotherapy of benign oral vascular lesions with non-diluted ethanolamine oleate / Escleroterapia de lesiones vasculares orales benignas con oleato de etanolamina no diluido

Benign oral vascular lesions are anomalies characterized by the blood vessels proliferation or malformation and the treatment with the sclerosing agent ethanolamine oleate acts irrigating the vessel producing a sterile inflammatory response. The objective of this study was to report and discuss the results from treatment of benign oral vascular lesions with non-diluted ethanolamine oleate through the analysis of clinical records. The sample was composed by the selection of twenty-six patients (12 male and 14 female), with oral vascular malformations. All lesions were treated with intralesional injections of undiluted ethanolamine oleate. These patients attended in Oral Medicine outpatient clinic of the Federal University of Paraná between the years of 2011 to 2015. The average age was 60.65 years, with a higher prevalence for women. The majority of the individuals had one lesion and its location was mostly in the lower lip. The main complaint was about a physical discomfort. The lesions had the average size of 6.52 mm and received a median number of 2.32 applications. Only one patient reported feeling pain in the postoperative week. In most cases the resolution of the lesion was considered partial. Follow-up was obtained up to one month after the end of treatment. The sclerotherapy with undiluted ethanolamine oleate shows acceptable results in the treatment of small benign oral vascular lesions with a few minor side effects.

Las lesiones vasculares orales benignas son anomalías caracterizadas por la proliferación o malformación de los vasos sanguíneos y el tratamiento con el agente esclerosante etanolamina oleato actúa irrigando el vaso produciendo una respuesta inflamatoria estéril. El objetivo de este estudio fue informar y discutir los resultados del tratamiento de lesiones vasculares orales benignas con oleato de etanolamina no diluido a través del análisis de historias clínicas. La muestra estuvo compuesta por la selección de veintiséis pacientes (12 hombres y 14 mujeres), con malformaciones vasculares orales. Todas las lesiones fueron tratadas con inyecciones intralesionales de oleato de etanolamina sin diluir. Estos pacientes acudieron a la clínica ambulatoria de Medicina Oral de la Universidad Federal de Paraná entre los años 2011 a 2015. La edad promedio fue de 60,65 años, con una mayor prevalencia para las mujeres. La mayoría de los individuos tenían una lesión y su ubicación era principalmente en el labio inferior. La queja principal era sobre una molestia física. Las lesiones tenían un tamaño promedio de 6,52 mm y recibieron una mediana de 2,32 aplicaciones. Solo un paciente informó haber sentido dolor en la semana postoperatoria. En la mayoría de los casos, la resolución de la lesión se consideró parcial. El seguimiento se obtuvo hasta un mes después del final del tratamiento. La escleroterapia con oleato de etanolamina sin diluir muestra resultados aceptables en el tratamiento de pequeñas lesiones vasculares orales benignas con algunos efectos secundarios menores.

Developmental norms for eight instruments used in the neuropsychological assessment of children: studies in Brazil

Norms for a battery of instruments, including Denckla's and Garfield's tests of Motor Persistence, Benton's Right-Left Discrimination, two recall modalities (Immediate and Delayed) of the Bender Test, Wechsler's Digit Span, the Color Span Test and the Human Figure Drawing Test, were developed for the neuropsychological assessment of children in the greater Rio de Janeiro area. Additionally, the behavior of each child was assessed with the Composite Teacher Rating Scale (Brito GNO and Pinto RCA (1991) Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 13:417-418). A total of 398 children (199 boys and 199 girls balanced for age) with a mean age of 9.3 years (SD=2.8), who were attending a public school in Niterói, were the subjects of this study. Gender and age had significant effects on performance which depended on the instrument. Nonachievers performed worse than achievers in most neuropsychological tests. Comparison of our data to the available counterparts in the United States revealed that American children outperformed Brazilian children on the Right-Left Discrimination, Forward Digit Span, Color Span and Human Figure Drawing Tests. Further analysis showed that the neurobehavioral data consist of different factorial dimensions, including Human Body Representation, Motor Persistence of the Legs, Orbito-Orobuccal Motor Persistence, Attention-Memory, Visuospatial Memory, Neuropsychomotor Speed, Hyperactivity-Inattention, and Anxiety-Negative Socialization. We conclude that gender and age should be taken into account when using the normative data for most of the instruments studied in the present report. Furthermore, we stress the need for major changes in the Brazilian public school system in order to foster the development of secondary cognitive abilities in our children.

Characterization of the receptors responsible for the diphasic effect of bradykinin in rat duodenum

The response of the rat duodenum to bradykinin (BK) consists of relaxant and contractile components, which have been atributed to different receptor types. To characterize the receptor responsible for this diphasic response we studied the effects of BK analogues known to act on B1 or B2 receptors in other systems. DesArg**9-Leu**8-BK and Thi**5,**8DPhe**7-BK presented only relaxant and only contractile effects, respectively, whereas DArgOHyp883Thi**5,**8DPhe**7-BK was a potent antagonist of the relaxation (but not of the contraction) induced by BK. Our results show that the relaxant and contractile components of the rat duodenum's response to BK are due to B2 and B1 receptor subtypes, respectively