Grazing Is Associated with ADHD Symptoms, Substance Use, and Impulsivity in a Representative Sample of a Large Metropolitan Area in Brazil.

Grazing is a clinically relevant eating behaviour, especially when it presents with a sense of loss of control (compulsive grazing). There is evidence that other disordered eating patterns are associated with problematic substance use and impulsivity-related conditions, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This overlap contributes to higher psychopathology and treatment complications. Less is known about grazing, and most information originates in high-income countries. Hence, we sought to investigate relationships between grazing, tobacco and alcohol use, ADHD, and impulsivity in a large representative sample from Brazil. Data were collected by trained interviewers from adults (N = 2297) through an in-person household survey based on a stratified and clustered probability sample. We found significant associations between compulsive grazing and problematic alcohol use (OR = 3.02, 95% CI: 1.65, 5.53), ADHD (OR = 8.94, 95% CI: 5.11, 15.63), and smoking (OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.47), with impulsivity contributing to the first two relationships. The substantial association with ADHD suggests that other executive functions may promote disordered eating, possibly expressed through difficulties in adhering to regular meals. Clinically, these findings highlight the importance of assessing problematic eating patterns, such as compulsive grazing, in those presenting with difficulties with substance use or impulsivity, and vice versa.

Six new species of Elpidium Müller, 1880 (Podocopida: Limnocytheridae) from Eastern Brazil.

Elpidium is the most common ostracod genus occurring in phytotelmata in the Neotropical region, with distributions ranging from Florida, USA in the north to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in the south. However, the genus remains poorly known both in terms of diversity and of the distributional pattern of its species. Here, we describe six new species of Elpidium, E. oxumae n. sp., E. cordiforme n. sp., E. picinguabaense n. sp., E. eriocaularum n. sp., E. higutiae n. sp., E. purium n. sp., all from phytotelm environments in the Brazilian Atlantic rain forest. In addition, we discuss the distributional pattern and endemicity levels of Elpidium species in the light of these new taxonomic results and argue about possible misunderstandings on the distribution of the type species E. bromeliarum.

Thermodynamics and efficiency of sequentially collisional Brownian particles: The role of drivings.

Brownian particles placed sequentially in contact with distinct thermal reservoirs and subjected to external driving forces are promising candidates for the construction of reliable engine setups. In this contribution, we address the role of driving forces for enhancing the collisional machine performance. Analytical expressions for thermodynamic quantities such as power output and efficiency are obtained for general driving schemes. A proper choice of these driving schemes substantially increases both power output and efficiency and extends the working regime. Maximizations of power and efficiency, whether with respect to the strength of the force, driving scheme, or both have been considered and exemplified for two kind of drivings: generic power-law and harmonic (sinusoidal) drivings.

A New Species of Elpidium (Crustacea: Ostracoda: Limnocytheridae) from Brazil and a Morphological Phylogenetic Proposal for the Genus.

Elpidium species exclusively inhabiting confined and temporary environments, such as those of tank-bromeliads, are a source of interesting and diverse studies on taxonomy, evolution and ecology, to name a few. However, despite its great diversity of species or potential for study, this genus (and other phytotelm members) has been poorly studied. In the last years, however, description of Elpidium species increased from six before 2013 to 11 today. This study is an effort to keep uncovering its great diversity and to go further in order to deeply understand the genus Elpidium. To this end, this study describes another species in the genus, Elpidium litoreum sp. nov., and proposes a phylogenetic reconstruction of it based on morphological characters. Our results point to the monophyly of Elpidium and puts Intrepidocythere ibipora as its sister-group. Although the phylogeny revealed some interesting relations, it also exposed some incongruities that ultimately demonstrate how superficial the current knowledge about the genus is. All these questions are discussed in detail. We see this work as at the same time an effort to better understand Elpidium and a stimulus to other researches to turn their attention to the historically neglected phytotelmata community.

Richness and composition of Cladocera (Crustacea: Branchiopoda) in Brazilian rupestrian cerrados, with comments on distribution and taxonomy.

Several studies that involve a faunal survey of Cladocera in Brazil have been carried out in recent years; however, knowledge of the distribution and diversity of species of this group in semiterrestrial and aquatic bodies of rupestrian cerrado is still rare. The present study evaluated the richness and composition of cladoceran species in these environments in the central parts of the country. Samples were collected at nine sites of rupestrian cerrado from 2011 to 2012. In total, 47 cladocerans species were identified, belonging to six families, emphasizing the Chydoridae family with the greatest richness (32 species) and abundance. The species Bryospilus repens had its first record for the state of Goiás and the Brazilian Midwest. Other species were also recorded for the first time: Leberis davidi for the state of Minas Gerais, and Alona yara and Flavalona asymmetrica for the state of Bahia. This demonstrates that rupestrian cerrados are relevant for cladoceran diversity on a regional scale. Carrying out new inventories of cladocerans in similar phytophysiognomies could contribute significantly to the knowledge of the biodiversity of these animals in Brazil, in addition to providing updates on the geographic distribution of species already recorded in previous studies.

Aggrecan, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α profiles in the Articular Cartilage of Miniature Horses with Chondrodysplastic Dwarfism.

Dwarfism is a skeletal disorder that causes abnormal growth. In Miniature horses, dwarfism can occur as chondrodysplastic dwarfism, an autosomal recessive disorder associated with five mutations (D1, D2, D3*, D4 and c.6465A > T variant) in the aggrecan (ACAN) gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of aggrecan (at the gene and protein level) and specific cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α) in the articular cartilage of Miniature horses with chondrodysplastic dwarfism (D4/c.6465A > T genotype). Metatarsal bone samples from eight dwarf Miniature horses were collected for histopathological analysis, and articular cartilage was collected to detect and quantify aggrecan levels through Western blotting and determine the relative expression levels of ACAN, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α through qPCR. All affected animals presented chondrodysplasia-like lesions with disorganization of the chondrocyte layers and reduced the amount of an extracellular matrix. No significant difference in aggrecan expression levels in uncleaved samples from the dwarf and control groups (composed of phenotypically normal animals of similar age and breed (P = .7143)) was found using Western blotting. qPCR revealed that ACAN gene expression was higher in the affected animals than in normal animals (P = .0119). No significant difference in cytokine levels was detected between the groups. Mutant aggrecan may interfere with normal cellular function, leading to chondrodysplasia and the observed phenotypic findings.

Activated carbon obtained from amazonian biomass tailings (acai seed): Modification, characterization, and use for removal of metal ions from water.

Acai seed was used herein as an Amazon biomass waste for the synthesis of activated and modified carbon in order to find a possible use for the large volume of residues generated during the processing of this fruit and to add value to this residue. Activated carbon materials were used to remove Pb2+, Fe2+, and Mg2+ metal ions from water. The efficiency of removal of these ions by the acai seed activated carbon was compared with that by commercial activated carbon. Activated carbon materials were prepared by carbonization and chemical activation using two KOH impregnation ratios, namely 1:1 (ACK1) and 5:1 (ACK5), by mass. These samples were modified by treatment with nitric acid under microwave heating (ACK1-M) and (ACK5-M), respectively. The result of the elemental analysis indicated that this biomass has carbon and sulfur contents of 43.29% and 0.10% wt, respectively. The textural parameters showed that the obtained activated carbon samples presented high surface areas between 1462 and 2774 m2 g-1. Raman analysis revealed the different degrees of graphitization of the activated carbon materials. Boehm titration identified the presence of phenolic, carboxylic, and lactonic groups in samples that were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In the metal adsorption tests, ACK5-M showed better removal efficiency, reaching 86% removal for Pb2+, 69% for Fe2+, and 8% for Mg2+in 1 h of contact time; these results were superior to those obtained for commercial carbon. The results indicated that acai seed can be used for the production of activated carbon and can also be used for metal removal.

Description of a new species of Spongiopsyllus Johnsson, 2000, and redescriptions of Parmulodes verrucosus Wilson, 1944 and Entomopsyllus stocki Kim, 2004 with revised diagnosis of Entomopsyllus (Copepoda, Siphonostomatoida, Entomolepididae).

The Family Entomolepididae is composed by 7 genera and 15 species. During a survey on the known species and the search for new species, a new Spongiopsyllus is described associated with sponge Aplysina insularis. The new species has antennule 14-segmented, four setae on both lobes of maxillule, some unique features on the leg setation and the armature of the maxilliped. These characteristics make the new species different from all other congeners in Spongiopsyllus. The diagnosis of Entomopsyllus was also revised once it does not consider the differences to Spongiopsyllus which was created posteriorly to its erection. An analysis of Entomopsyllus stocki also indicated that leg 5 somite and the genital somite are fused, instead of separated as originally stated, the structure is also redescribed. Finally, Parmulodes verrucosus is studied and an up-to-date description is provided, correcting some inconsistencies in the armature formula of the antennule and the leg setation, and providing re-analysis of the other appendages.

On three new species of Elpidium Müller, 1880 and the re-description of Elpidium laesslei (Tressler, 1956) from Jamaica (Ostracoda: Podocopida: Limnocytheridae).

Elpidium ostracods are known by their very particular niche (water accumulated in tank-bromeliads), their relatively low dispersal ability and their dependency on amphibians for dispersal and colonization of new bromeliads. All these characteristics make the genus an interesting group for evolutionary, ecological and even taxonomic studies. However, the diversity of the group remains poorly studied. Here, we describe three new species of Elpidium, Elpidium littlei n. sp., Elpidium heberti n. sp. and Elpidium wolfi n. sp., and re-describe Elpidium laesslei, all from Jamaica. These species are characterized by a copulatory process with separated ejaculatory duct and distal glans, a feature so far unique within the genus. Each species can, in turn, be diagnosed by soft part and carapace morphology, most notably comparing hemipenis, valve ornamentation and degree of sexual dimorphism. The observed morphological diversity of Elpidium is discussed in relation to previous genetic estimates that suggested an even higher diversity in Jamaica. We point to intraspecific variation and lack of complete morphological descriptions as possible explanations. We also reaffirm the need of multidisciplinary studies in order to do more objective and secure taxonomic classifications in future studies.

A new species of Notodiaptomus from the Amazon basin (Crustacea, Copepoda, Calanoida, Diaptomidae).

A new Diaptomidae species is presented from the Neotropical region. It was found in two Amazonian lakes, Ressaca and Arapujá, both in Pará State, Brazil. The lakes are 400 km apart and threatened by the building of reservoirs for hydropower generation and pollution by human settlements. The new species resembles N. paraensis Dussart & Robertson, 1984, but it can be distinguished from this species and other congeners in having a special process on the fifth leg basis of the male, by the place of insertion of lateral spine in the last segment of right P5 of male, the shape and relationship between length and width of segments of male and female P5 exopodite 2 with stout inner process bearing short setules and outer small spine, exopodite 3, with two terminal setae, outer smaller; endopodite 1-segmented with one subterminal seta and oblique comb of spinules, the presence of a line of dorsal spinules at the distal margin of thoracic somites in both sexes. A brief comparison with other Notodiaptomus species is presented in the discussion.

Limited carbon and biodiversity co-benefits for tropical forest mammals and birds.

The conservation of tropical forest carbon stocks offers the opportunity to curb climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and simultaneously conserve biodiversity. However, there has been considerable debate about the extent to which carbon stock conservation will provide benefits to biodiversity in part because whether forests that contain high carbon density in their aboveground biomass also contain high animal diversity is unknown. Here, we empirically examined medium to large bodied ground-dwelling mammal and bird (hereafter "wildlife") diversity and carbon stock levels within the tropics using camera trap and vegetation data from a pantropical network of sites. Specifically, we tested whether tropical forests that stored more carbon contained higher wildlife species richness, taxonomic diversity, and trait diversity. We found that carbon stocks were not a significant predictor for any of these three measures of diversity, which suggests that benefits for wildlife diversity will not be maximized unless wildlife diversity is explicitly taken into account; prioritizing carbon stocks alone will not necessarily meet biodiversity conservation goals. We recommend conservation planning that considers both objectives because there is the potential for more wildlife diversity and carbon stock conservation to be achieved for the same total budget if both objectives are pursued in tandem rather than independently. Tropical forests with low elevation variability and low tree density supported significantly higher wildlife diversity. These tropical forest characteristics may provide more affordable proxies of wildlife diversity for future multi-objective conservation planning when fine scale data on wildlife are lacking.

Mucolipidosis types II and III and non-syndromic stuttering are associated with different variants in the same genes.

Homozygous mutations in GNPTAB and GNPTG are classically associated with mucolipidosis II (ML II) alpha/beta and mucolipidosis III (ML III) alpha/beta/gamma, which are rare lysosomal storage disorders characterized by multiple pathologies. Recently, variants in GNPTAB, GNPTG, and the functionally related NAGPA gene have been associated with non-syndromic persistent stuttering. In a worldwide sample of 1013 unrelated individuals with non-syndromic persistent stuttering we found 164 individuals who carried a rare non-synonymous coding variant in one of these three genes. We compared the frequency of these variants with those in population-matched controls and genomic databases, and their location with those reported in mucolipidosis. Stuttering subjects displayed an excess of non-synonymous coding variants compared to controls and individuals in the 1000 Genomes and Exome Sequencing Project databases. We identified a total of 81 different variants in our stuttering cases. Virtually all of these were missense substitutions, only one of which has been previously reported in mucolipidosis, a disease frequently associated with complete loss-of-function mutations. We hypothesize that rare non-synonymous coding variants in GNPTAB, GNPTG, and NAGPA may account for as much as 16% of persistent stuttering cases, and that variants in GNPTAB and GNPTG are at different sites and may in general, cause less severe effects on protein function than those in ML II alpha/beta and ML III alpha/beta/gamma.

El testigo en el entramado discursivo de la escena judicial en casos de crímenes de lesa humanidad / The whitness at the judicial scene discursive framework in cases of crimes against humanity

El presente trabajo expone los resultados de una investigación que indagó los efectos subjetivos que produce el acto de testimoniar en las causas judiciales por violaciones a los Derechos Humanos durante última dictadura cívico militar argentina. Se partió del supuesto de que el modo en que se les dirige la palabra a los testigos tiene efectos que producen un tipo de testigo y ello acarrea consecuencias en el testimonio. Se realizó un análisis de las voces que les hablan a los testigos. Se analizaron entrevistas a jueces, fiscales, abogados querellantes y defensores, y a psicólogos que acompañan a los testigos. Del análisis de las entrevistas se desprende que el testigo es la figura central en las causas por violaciones a DD.HH. y por lo tanto será tanto agredido como defendido según los intereses en juego...

First record of Clausidium (Copepoda, Clausidiidae) from Brazil: a new species associated with ghost shrimps Neocallichirus grandimana (Gibbes, 1850) (Decapoda, Callianassidae).

A new clausidiid copepod was found living in galleries of ghost shrimps Neocallichirus grandimana (Gibbes, 1850) in Natal, Brazil. The new species resembles to Clausidium senegalense Humes, 1957 and Clausidium vancouverense (Haddon, 1912) in the armature of P2-P5 of the female, and shares with Clausidium senegalense similar segmentation and armature of the antenna and maxilla of the female. Nevertheless, it can be easily distinguished from its congeners by the unique characteristics observed in the antenna, maxilliped and first leg of males, as well as by the anal somite, maxillule and maxilliped of the females. This new species extends the group distribution to the Southwest Atlantic and represents the first record of the genus in Brazil. A key for the identification of the species based on females of Clausidium is provided.

Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Vestalenula Rossetti & Martens, 1998 (Crustacea, Ostracoda, Darwinulidae), with the description of a new species, V. carinata n. sp., from the island of Florianópolis, Brazil.

The genus Vestalenula is the most species rich in the putative ancient asexual ostracod Family Darwinulidae. Several new Recent species were described from various continents, mostly based on carapace shape and structure. These species were found in a variety of aquatic and (semi-) terrestrial habitats, including springs, streams, interstitial waters, leaf litter in forests and in splash zones of waterfalls. Here, we describe V carinata n. sp. from moist leaf litter, collected from the Brazilian island of Florian6polis. The species belongs to the danielopoli-lineage within the genus because of its elongated internal tooth in the left valve and elongated external keel on the right valve. It can be distinguished from all other species in this group by its size, its L/H ratio and the relative length of the keel. The relationship of this new species to the enigmatic, putative marine species Senidarwinula terraenuxforna Choe, 1988, is discussed. An identification key to species of the genus is provided.

Gastrotricha: a marine sister for a freshwater puzzle.

BACKGROUND: Within an evolutionary framework of Gastrotricha Marinellina flagellata and Redudasys fornerise bear special interest, as they are the only Macrodasyida that inhabit freshwater ecosystems. Notwithstanding, these rare animals are poorly known; found only once (Austria and Brazil), they are currently systematised as incertae sedis. Here we report on the rediscovery of Redudasys fornerise, provide an account on morphological novelties and present a hypothesis on its phylogenetic relationship based on molecular data. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Specimens were surveyed using DIC microscopy and SEM, and used to obtain the 18 S rRNA gene sequence; molecular data was analyzed cladistically in conjunction with data from 42 additional species belonging to the near complete Macrodasyida taxonomic spectrum. Morphological analysis, while providing new information on taxonomically relevant traits (adhesive tubes, protonephridia and sensorial bristles), failed to detect elements of the male system, thus stressing the parthenogenetic nature of the Brazilian species. Phylogenetic analysis, carried out with ML, MP and Bayesian approaches, yielded topologies with strong nodal support and highly congruent with each other. Among the supported groups is the previously undocumented clade showing the alliance between Redudasys fornerise and Dactylopodola agadasys; other strongly sustained clades include the densely sampled families Thaumastodermatidae and Turbanellidae and most genera. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: A reconsideration of the morphological traits of Dactylopodola agadasys in light of the new information on Redudasys fornerise makes the alliance between these two taxa very likely. As a result, we create Anandrodasys gen. nov. to contain members of the previously described D. agadasys and erect Redudasyidae fam. nov. to reflect this novel relationship between Anandrodasys and Redudasys. From an ecological perspective, the derived position of Redudasys, which is deeply nested within the Macrodasyida clade, unequivocally demonstrates that invasion of freshwater by gastrotrichs has taken place at least twice, in contrast with the single event hypothesis recently put forward.

Community structure and diversity of tropical forest mammals: data from a global camera trap network.

Terrestrial mammals are a key component of tropical forest communities as indicators of ecosystem health and providers of important ecosystem services. However, there is little quantitative information about how they change with local, regional and global threats. In this paper, the first standardized pantropical forest terrestrial mammal community study, we examine several aspects of terrestrial mammal species and community diversity (species richness, species diversity, evenness, dominance, functional diversity and community structure) at seven sites around the globe using a single standardized camera trapping methodology approach. The sites-located in Uganda, Tanzania, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Suriname, Brazil and Costa Rica-are surrounded by different landscape configurations, from continuous forests to highly fragmented forests. We obtained more than 51 000 images and detected 105 species of mammals with a total sampling effort of 12 687 camera trap days. We find that mammal communities from highly fragmented sites have lower species richness, species diversity, functional diversity and higher dominance when compared with sites in partially fragmented and continuous forest. We emphasize the importance of standardized camera trapping approaches for obtaining baselines for monitoring forest mammal communities so as to adequately understand the effect of global, regional and local threats and appropriately inform conservation actions.

Conversion of waste produced by the deodorization of palm oil as feedstock for the production of biodiesel using a catalyst prepared from waste material.

The distillate produced by deodorization of palm oil (DDPO) is a waste that corresponds to 4% of the product formed in this process. DDPO is 83% free of fatty acids (FFA), making it a good material for biodiesel production. In this paper, a catalyst prepared from a waste material, Amazon flint kaolin, was used for the esterification of DDPO with methanol. Leached metakaolin treated at 950°C and activated with 4M sulfuric acid (labeled as MF9S4) offered maximum esterification activity (92.8%) at 160°C with a DDPO:methanol molar ratio of 1:60 and a 4-h reaction time. The influences of reaction parameters, such as the molar ratio of the reactants, alcohol chain length, temperature, time and the presence of glycerides and unsaponifiable matter, have also been investigated. Based on the catalytic results, esterification of DDPO using MF9S4 can be a cheaper alternative for production of sustainable fuels.

Phylogenetic position of the acariform mites: sensitivity to homology assessment under total evidence.

BACKGROUND: Mites (Acari) have traditionally been treated as monophyletic, albeit composed of two major lineages: Acariformes and Parasitiformes. Yet recent studies based on morphology, molecular data, or combinations thereof, have increasingly drawn their monophyly into question. Furthermore, the usually basal (molecular) position of one or both mite lineages among the chelicerates is in conflict to their morphology, and to the widely accepted view that mites are close relatives of Ricinulei. RESULTS: The phylogenetic position of the acariform mites is examined through employing SSU, partial LSU sequences, and morphology from 91 chelicerate extant terminals (forty Acariformes). In a static homology framework, molecular sequences were aligned using their secondary structure as guide, whereby regions of ambiguous alignment were discarded, and pre-aligned sequences analyzed under parsimony and different mixed models in a Bayesian inference. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses led to trees largely congruent concerning infra-ordinal, well-supported branches, but with low support for inter-ordinal relationships. An exception is Solifugae + Acariformes (P. P = 100%, J. = 0.91). In a dynamic homology framework, two analyses were run: a standard POY analysis and an analysis constrained by secondary structure. Both analyses led to largely congruent trees; supporting a (Palpigradi (Solifugae Acariformes)) clade and Ricinulei as sister group of Tetrapulmonata with the topology (Ricinulei (Amblypygi (Uropygi Araneae))). Combined analysis with two different morphological data matrices were run in order to evaluate the impact of constraining the analysis on the recovered topology when employing secondary structure as a guide for homology establishment. The constrained combined analysis yielded two topologies similar to the exclusively molecular analysis for both morphological matrices, except for the recovery of Pedipalpi instead of the (Uropygi Araneae) clade. The standard (direct optimization) POY analysis, however, led to the recovery of trees differing in the absence of the otherwise well-supported group Solifugae + Acariformes. CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies combining ribosomal sequences and morphology often recovered topologies similar to purely morphological analyses of Chelicerata. The apparent stability of certain clades not recovered here, like Haplocnemata and Acari, is regarded as a byproduct of the way the molecular homology was previously established using the instrumentalist approach implemented in POY. Constraining the analysis by a priori homology assessment is defended here as a way of maintaining the severity of the test when adding new data to the analysis. Although the strength of the method advocated here is keeping phylogenetic information from regions usually discarded in an exclusively static homology framework; it still has the inconvenience of being uninformative on the effect of alignment ambiguity on resampling methods of clade support estimation. Finally, putative morphological apomorphies of Solifugae + Acariformes are the reduction of the proximal cheliceral podomere, medial abutting of the leg coxae, loss of sperm nuclear membrane, and presence of differentiated germinative and secretory regions in the testis delivering their products into a common lumen.