Intraspecific Cuticular Chemical Profile Variation in the Social Wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

Chemical compounds present on the cuticle of social insects are important in communication, as they are used in recognition of nestmates and sexual partners as well as in caste distinction, varying according to several factors, such as genetic and environmental. In this context, some studies have explored the cuticular chemical profile as a tool for assessing intra- and interspecific differences in social insects, although few studies have investigated this in social wasps. This study aimed to assess the differences in cuticular chemical profiles among different geographic samples of the wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán. Our hypothesis was that environmental factors are decisive to compose the cuticular chemical profiles of colonies of these social wasps and that there are differences regarding the geographic distribution among colonies. We used Fourier Transform Infrared-Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) to assess the chemical profiles of samples. Our results show that despite there are differences between the cuticular chemical composition of the wasps' samples from different populations, there is no significant correlation compared to the spatial distribution of the colonies nor with the environment. Thus, our hypothesis was refuted, and we can infer that in this species neither exogenous nor genetic factors stand out to differentiate the chemical signature of their colonies, but a combination of both.

Diet and capture of Hypostomus strigaticeps (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) in a small Brazilian stream: relationship with limnological aspects.

The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether variations in the limnological parameters of the Corumbataí river resulting from the discharge of a variety of wastes into its waters may be responsible for spatial shifts in the diet and capture of the armored catfish Hypostomus strigaticeps (Regan, 1907). Individuals were collected over a period of two years from two sites with similar physical, albeit distinct limnological characteristics. As a whole, the environmental variables (temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and total coliforms and fecal coliforms) of the two sites were found to vary significantly. The food items found in the guts of these armored catfish (sediments, diatoms, fungi hyphae, chlorophytes, cyanophytes and non-identified material) ranked differently in samples from the two sites. In the more polluted (site B), diatoms and chlorophytes ranked higher in the diet than in that of individuals caught in the more preserved location (site A). This fact may be related to the greater amount of organic material found at site B, which provides favorable environmental conditions for such algae and, consequently, for algivorous fishes. Even so, fewer fish were captured at site B than at site A, suggesting that although food is more abundant in the more polluted site, its limnological conditions appear, on the whole, to be less beneficial than the conditions at site A.

Diet and capture of Hypostomus strigaticeps (Siluriformes, Loricariidae) in a small brazilian stream: relationship with limnological aspects

O propósito deste estudo é investigar se as variações dos parâmetros limnológicos do rio Corumbataí - como uma conseqüência do lançamento de dejetos em suas águas - é responsável por variações na dieta e na captura do cascudo Hypostomus strigaticeps (Regan, 1907). Os indivíduos foram coletados durante dois anos em dois pontos do rio, com características físicas semelhantes, mas sujeitos a diferentes condições limnológicas; as variáveis ambientais (temperatura, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, condutividade elétrica, coliformes totais e coliformes fecais), quando consideradas conjuntamente, variaram significativamente entre os locais. As categorias alimentares encontradas nos tubos digestórios dos cascudos (sedimento, material não identificado, hifas de fungo, diatomáceas, clorófitas e cianófitas) apresentaram ordenamento hierárquico distinto nas amostras provenientes de diferentes pontos do rio. No local mais poluído (ponto B), diatomáceas e clorófitas ocuparam postos mais importantes em relação ao observado na dieta dos indivíduos coletados no ponto mais preservado (ponto A). Este resultado possivelmente esteja relacionado à maior concentração de matéria orgânica observada no ponto B, propiciando condições ambientais favoráveis à proliferação de algas e, conseqüentemente, para um peixe comedor de algas. Contudo, o número de indivíduos capturados no ponto B foi menor, sugerindo que, embora a oferta de alimento seja mais abundante no local mais alterado, as condições limnológicas neste ponto, quando consideradas em seu conjunto, são possivelmente menos benéficas para a sobrevivência da espécie que as condições observadas no ponto A.

Perspectivas no tratamento da insuficiencia renal cronica em nosso meio. / Treatment of the chronic renal insufficiency in our milieu

Os autores analisam em varias linhas de pesquisas desenvolvidas no Centro de Pesquisas em Doencas Hepato-Renais, ate alcancar a fase de transplante renal humano. A tecnica do autotransplante em caes e descrita com detalhes Na preservacao renal, enfantizam o uso das substancias ricas em K e Mg, tendo o dextran 70 ou haemacell como coloide a 4oC. As alteracoes histopatologicas em 17 rins de caes autotransplantados foram analisadas, tendo sido estes animais divididos em tres grupos, segundo o tempo de preservacao. Em 42 animais divididos em tres grupos, estudamos o uso da ciclofosfamida e metilprednisolona no pre-tratamento do animal doador. As drogas eram feitas por via endovenosa 6 e 2 horas antes da nefrectomia. Finalmente, analisamos o desenvolvimento do transplante renal humano no Estado do Ceara