Development of LaxCa1-xMnO3 materials for Bezaktiv Blue removal in aqueous media.

In this work, mixed oxides of LaxCa1-xMnO3 perovskite type (x = 0, 0.5 and 1.0) were synthesized through modified proteic method using collagen and calcination process at 700 °C/2 h in order to remove the commercial textile dye Bezaktiv Blue S-MAX from water. Oxides were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), N2 physisorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and point of zero charge (PZC) techniques while the dye only by the first two techniques. The XRD showed that perovskite monophase was obtained for x = 0.5 and 1.0. However, for x = 0, the low crystalline perovskite phase was obtained in the midst of precursor oxides. FTIR showed the adsorption process did not damage the adsorbents structure. The successful obtained materials have meso and macroporous with slit or cavity shape, rough surface and particles with varying sizes. The pseudo-second-order model was the one that best fit the kinetic data. The process must occur through electrostatic surface interactions between the adsorbent surface and the dye molecule. For the equilibrium study, Langmuir isotherm is the most suitable when using LaMnO3 adsorbent, while Freundlich isotherm was better suited when used the other two materials. The adsorbents were termally regenerated and reused five times. The best performance was exhibited by LaMnO3.

Data-intensive Undergraduate Research Project Informs to Advance Healthcare Analytics.

The overarching framework for incorporating informatics into the Wesley College (Wesley) undergraduate curriculum was to teach emerging information technologies that prepared undergraduates for complex high-demand work environments. Federal and State support helped implement Wesley's undergraduate Informatics Certificate and Minor programs. Both programs require project-based coursework in Applied Statistics, SAS Programming, and Geo-spatial Analysis (ArcGIS). In 2015, the State of Obesity listed the obesity ranges for all 50 US States to be between 21-36%. Yet, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mortality records show significantly lower obesity-related death-rates for states with very high obesity-rates. This study highlights the disparities in the reported obesity-related death-rates (specified by an ICD-10 E66 diagnosis code) and the obesity-rate percentages recorded for all 50 US States. Using CDC mortality-rate data, the available obesity-rate information, and ArcGIS, we created choropleth maps for all US States. Visual and statistical analysis shows considerable disparities in the obesity-related death-rate record-keeping amongst the 50 US States. For example, in 2015, Vermont with the sixth lowest obesity-rate had the highest reported obesity-related death-rate. In contrast, Alabama had the fifth highest adult obesity-rate in the nation, yet, it had a very low age-adjusted mortality-rate. Such disparities make comparative analysis difficult.

Unique effects of energy versus estrogen deficiency on multiple components of bone strength in exercising women.

Many female athletes are energy and/or estrogen deficient, but the independent effects on bone health have not been isolated. Energy deficiency was detrimental at the tibia while estrogen deficiency was detrimental at the radius. Nutrition must be considered alongside menstrual recovery when addressing compromised bone health in female athletes. INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to describe volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD), bone geometry, and estimated bone strength in exercising women (n = 60) grouped according to energy status (energy replete (EnR: n = 30) vs. energy deficient (EnD: n = 30)) and estrogen status (estrogen replete (E2R: n = 33) vs. estrogen deficient (E2D: n = 27)), resulting in four distinct groups: EnR + E2R (n = 17), EnR + E2D (n = 13), EnD + E2R (n = 16), EnD + E2D (n = 14). METHODS: Energy status was determined using the ratio of measured to predicted resting energy expenditure (mREE/pREE). Estrogen status was based on self-reported menstrual status confirmed by daily evaluation of urinary estrone-1-glucoronide (E1G), pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Eumenorrheic women were considered E2R, amenorrheic women were E2D, and oligomenorrheic women were categorized based on history of menses in the past year. Bone was assessed using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). RESULTS: EnD women exhibited lower total vBMD, trabecular vBMD, cortical area, and BSI at the distal tibia and lower total vBMD, smaller cortical area and cortical thickness, and larger endosteal circumference at the proximal tibia compared to EnR women (p < 0.042). E2D women had lower total and cortical vBMD, larger total and trabecular area, and lower BSI at the distal radius and lower cortical vBMD at the proximal radius compared to E2R women (p < 0.023). Energy and estrogen interacted to affect total and trabecular area at the distal tibia (p < 0.021). CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to correct energy deficiency, which in turn may promote reproductive health, are warranted in order to address the unique contributions of energy status versus estrogen status to bone health.

Less-than-expected weight loss in normal-weight women undergoing caloric restriction and exercise is accompanied by preservation of fat-free mass and metabolic adaptations.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Normal-weight women frequently restrict their caloric intake and exercise, but little is known about the effects on body weight, body composition and metabolic adaptations in this population. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a randomized controlled trial in sedentary normal-weight women. Women were assigned to a severe energy deficit (SEV: -1062±80 kcal per day; n=9), a moderate energy deficit (MOD: -633±71 kcal per day; n=7) or energy balance (BAL; n=9) while exercising five times per week for 3 months. Outcome variables included changes in body weight, body composition, resting metabolic rate (RMR) and metabolic hormones associated with energy conservation. RESULTS: Weight loss occurred in SEV (-3.7±0.9 kg, P<0.001) and MOD (-2.7±0.8 kg; P=0.003), but weight loss was significantly less than predicted (SEV: -11.1±1.0 kg; MOD: -6.5±1.1 kg; both P<0.001 vs actual). Fat mass declined in SEV (P<0.001) and MOD (P=0.006), whereas fat-free mass remained unchanged in all groups (P>0.33). RMR decreased by -6±2% in MOD (P=0.020). In SEV, RMR did not change on a group level (P=0.66), but participants whose RMR declined lost more weight (P=0.020) and had a higher baseline RMR (P=0.026) than those whose RMR did not decrease. Characteristic changes in leptin (P=0.003), tri-iodothyronine (P=0.013), insulin-like growth factor-1 (P=0.016) and ghrelin (P=0.049) occurred only in SEV. The energy deficit and adaptive changes in RMR explained 54% of the observed weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: In normal-weight women, caloric restriction and exercise resulted in less-than-predicted weight loss. In contrast to previous literature, weight loss consisted almost exclusively of fat mass, whereas fat-free mass was preserved.

Hybrid Self-Adaptive Evolution Strategies Guided by Neighborhood Structures for Combinatorial Optimization Problems.

This article presents an Evolution Strategy (ES)--based algorithm, designed to self-adapt its mutation operators, guiding the search into the solution space using a Self-Adaptive Reduced Variable Neighborhood Search procedure. In view of the specific local search operators for each individual, the proposed population-based approach also fits into the context of the Memetic Algorithms. The proposed variant uses the Greedy Randomized Adaptive Search Procedure with different greedy parameters for generating its initial population, providing an interesting exploration-exploitation balance. To validate the proposal, this framework is applied to solve three different [Formula: see text]-Hard combinatorial optimization problems: an Open-Pit-Mining Operational Planning Problem with dynamic allocation of trucks, an Unrelated Parallel Machine Scheduling Problem with Setup Times, and the calibration of a hybrid fuzzy model for Short-Term Load Forecasting. Computational results point out the convergence of the proposed model and highlight its ability in combining the application of move operations from distinct neighborhood structures along the optimization. The results gathered and reported in this article represent a collective evidence of the performance of the method in challenging combinatorial optimization problems from different application domains. The proposed evolution strategy demonstrates an ability of adapting the strength of the mutation disturbance during the generations of its evolution process. The effectiveness of the proposal motivates the application of this novel evolutionary framework for solving other combinatorial optimization problems.

Exercise during energy restriction mitigates bone loss but not alterations in estrogen status or metabolic hormones.

UNLABELLED: Energy restriction causes bone loss, increasing stress fracture risk. The impact of exercise during energy restriction on bone and endocrine factors is examined. Exercise with energy restriction did not influence endocrine factors, but did mitigate some bone loss seen with energy restriction in sedentary rats. INTRODUCTION: Chronic dietary energy restriction (ER) leads to bone loss and increased fracture risk. Strictly controlled trials of long-term ER with and without vigorous exercise are required to determine whether exercise loading can counterbalance ER-induced bone loss. The aim of this current project is to elucidate the impact of exercise and ER on bone mass, estrogen status, and metabolic hormones. METHODS: Twenty-four virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8/group) were divided into three groups-ad libitum fed + exercise (Adlib + EX), 40 % energy restricted + exercise (ER + EX), and 40 % energy restricted + sedentary (ER + SED). Energy availability between ER groups was equal. Treadmill running was performed 4 days/week at 70 % VO2max for 12 weeks. RESULTS: Fat and lean mass and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) were lower after 12 weeks (p < 0.05) for ER + EX vs Adlib + EX, but ER + EX aBMD was higher than ER + SED (p < 0.0001). Serum leptin and a urinary estrogen metabolite, estrone-1-glucuronide (E1G), were lower at week 12 (p = 0.0002) with ER, with no impact of exercise. Serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) declined (p = 0.02) from baseline to week 12 in both ER groups. ER + EX exhibited higher cortical volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) at the midshaft tibia (p = 0.006) vs ER + SED. CONCLUSION: Exercise during ER mitigated some, but not all, of the bone loss observed in sedentary ER rats, but had little impact on changes in urinary E1G and serum IGF-I and leptin. These data highlight the importance of both adequate energy intake and the mechanical loading of exercise in maintaining bone mass.

U1 snDNA clusters in grasshoppers: chromosomal dynamics and genomic organization.

The spliceosome, constituted by a protein set associated with small nuclear RNA (snRNA), is responsible for mRNA maturation through intron removal. Among snRNA genes, U1 is generally a conserved repetitive sequence. To unveil the chromosomal/genomic dynamics of this multigene family in grasshoppers, we mapped U1 genes by fluorescence in situ hybridization in 70 species belonging to the families Proscopiidae, Pyrgomorphidae, Ommexechidae, Romaleidae and Acrididae. Evident clusters were observed in all species, indicating that, at least, some U1 repeats are tandemly arrayed. High conservation was observed in the first four families, with most species carrying a single U1 cluster, frequently located in the third or fourth longest autosome. By contrast, extensive variation was observed among Acrididae, from a single chromosome pair carrying U1 to all chromosome pairs carrying it, with occasional occurrence of two or more clusters in the same chromosome. DNA sequence analysis in Eyprepocnemis plorans (species carrying U1 clusters on seven different chromosome pairs) and Locusta migratoria (carrying U1 in a single chromosome pair) supported the coexistence of functional and pseudogenic lineages. One of these pseudogenic lineages was truncated in the same nucleotide position in both species, suggesting that it was present in a common ancestor to both species. At least in E. plorans, this U1 snDNA pseudogenic lineage was associated with 5S rDNA and short interspersed elements (SINE)-like mobile elements. Given that we conclude in grasshoppers that the U1 snDNA had evolved under the birth-and-death model and that its intragenomic spread might be related with mobile elements.

B chromosome prevalence and physical mapping of 18S rDNA and H4 histone sites in the grasshopper Xyleus discoideus angulatus (Romaleidae).

We sampled 11 natural populations of the grasshopper Xyleus discoideus angulatus in Northeastern Brazil to analyze B chromosome frequency and meiotic behavior. We observed a single large B chromosome, resembling the X chromosome, in 29 of the 402 specimens. Eight of the 11 populations had B chromosomes, with a rather broad geographical distribution, suggesting that this is an ancient polymorphism; significant differences were observed in B chromosome prevalence among the populations. Presence of the B chromosome was associated with increased frequency of macrospermatids. Fluorescent in situ hybridization revealed 18S rDNA sites in the pericentromeric regions of the X and L3 chromosomes, although some populations had an additional locus on the M4 chromosome. No variation was found for chromosome location of H4 histone genes, which were always observed in paracentromeric regions of the L2, M4 and X chromosomes, a rather unusual location compared to locations known from the families Acrididae and Proscopiidae. These B chromosomes lacked these two kinds of repetitive DNA, at least in amounts that can be visualized by fluorescent in situ hybridization, suggesting that these B chromosomes did not originate from any of the four chromosomes carrying rDNA or H4 histone genes.

Postprandial peptide YY is lower in young college-aged women with high dietary cognitive restraint.

Acylated ghrelin and peptide YY (PYY3-36) are involved in appetite-regulation and energy homeostasis. These gastrointestinal hormones provide peripheral signals to the central nervous system to regulate appetite and short term food intake, and interact with leptin and insulin to regulate energy balance. Dietary restraint is an eating behavior phenotype that manifests as a conscious cognitive control of food intake in order to achieve or sustain a desired body weight. The purpose of the current study was to determine if college-aged women (18 to 25 years) with different eating behavior phenotypes, i.e., high vs normal dietary restraint, differ with respect to circulating concentrations of gastrointestinal hormones during and following a test meal. We hypothesized that women with high dietary cognitive restraint [High CR (score ≥ 13, n=13)] would have elevated active ghrelin and PYY3-36 concentrations after a test meal compared to women with normal dietary cognitive restraint [Normal CR (score < 13, n=30)]. Gastrointestinal hormones were assessed before (-15 and 0 min) and after (10, 15, 20, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min) the consumption of a mixed composition meal (5.0 kcal per kg/body weight). In contrast to our hypothesis, mean PYY3-36 concentrations (p=0.042), peak PYY3-36 concentrations (p=0.047), and PYY3-36 area under the curve (p=0.035) were lower in the High CR group compared to the Normal CR group after controlling for body mass index. No group differences were observed with respect to acylated ghrelin before or after the meal. In conclusion, PYY3-36 concentrations were suppressed in the women with High CR compared to the women with Normal CR. While the current study is cross-sectional and cause/effect of high dietary restraint and suppressed PYY3-36 concentrations cannot be determined, we speculate that these women with high cognitive restraint may be prone to weight gain or weight re-gain related to the suppressed circulating PYY after a meal. Further investigations need to explore the relationship between dietary cognitive restraint, circulating PYY, and weight gain.

In vitro investigation of a terbinafine impregnated subcutaneous implant for veterinary use.

A terbinafine impregnated subcutaneous implant was evaluated to determine if drug was released into isotonic saline over the course of 6 months at two different temperatures, 37°C and 4°C. These temperatures were chosen to simulate the nonhibernating (37°C) and hibernating body (4°C) temperatures of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus). Insectivorous bats of North America, including little brown bats, have been devastated by white nose syndrome, a fungal infection caused by Geomyces destructans. No treatments exist for bats infected with G. destructans. Implants were placed into isotonic saline; samples were collected once per week and analyzed with HPLC to determine terbinafine concentrations. The mean amount of terbinafine released weekly across the 28 weeks was approximately 1.7 µg at 4°C and 4.3 µg at 37°C. Although significant differences in the amount released did occur at some time points, these differences were not consistently greater or less at either of the temperatures. This study showed that terbinafine was released from an impregnated implant over the course of 6 months at concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 0.06 µg/mL depending on temperature, which may be appropriate for little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) infected with Geomyces destructans, the etiologic agent of white nose syndrome.

Cytogenetics of the darkling beetles Zophobas aff. confusus and Nyctobates gigas (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae).

Males of Zophobas aff. confusus and Nyctobates gigas (Tenebrionidae) collected in the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, were studied through conventional staining, C-banding, silver nitrate impregnation (AgNO3), and the base specific fluorochromes CMA3 and DAPI. Z. aff. confusus was found to have 2n = 20 (9+Xyp) while N. gigas exhibited 2n = 18 (8+neoXY). Large pericentromeric blocks of constitutive heterochromatin (CH) were detected throughout the autosomal complement of the two species, except in one autosomal pair of N. gigas in which no heterochromatic block was observed. The sex chromosomes of both species were almost totally heterochromatic. Double staining with CMA3/DA (distamycin) and DAPI/DA marked CH in Z. aff. confusus. However, DAPI staining was more intense. N. gigas was found to possess blocks of CH-positive CMA3 and homogeneous DAPI. AgNO3 staining also revealed differences between the two species. In Z. confusus an NOR was observed in the sexual bivalent Xyp and N. gigas was found to have an autosomal NOR.

Heterochromatin, sex chromosomes and rRNA gene clusters in Coprophanaeus beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae).

Repetitive DNA sequences constitute a high fraction of eukaryotic genomes and are considered a key component for the chromosome and karyotype evolution. For a better understanding of their evolutionary role in beetles, we examined the chromosomes of 5 species of the genus Coprophanaeus by C-banding, fluorochrome staining CMA3/DA/DAPI, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with probes for 18S and 5S rRNA genes. The Coprophanaeus species have identical chromosome numbers and a conserved chromosome morphology. However, they show different sex chromosome forms, XY, Xy, XY(p), and heterochromatin seems to be involved in the origin and diversification of these forms. C-banding showed primarily the presence of diphasic chromosomes in all species examined. After CMA3/DA/DAPI staining, 1-9 autosomal pairs showed CMA3-positive blocks depending on the species, while DAPI-positive blocks were detected only in Coprophanaeusdardanus. FISH mapping revealed 5S rDNA signals in one autosomal pair in each species, whereas the number of pairs with 18S rDNA signals varied from 1-8 between the Coprophanaeus species. Our results suggest that distinct genetic mechanisms had been involved in the karyotype evolution of Coprophanaeus species, i.e. mechanisms maintaining the conserved number of 5S rDNA clusters and those generating variability in the amount of heterochromatin, sex chromosome forms, and distribution of 18S rDNA clusters.

Phosphorylation of histone H3S10 in animal chromosomes: is there a uniform pattern?

Phosphorylation of serine 10 in histone H3 (H3S10ph) has been extensively analyzed and appears to be a conserved chromatin change associated with chromosome condensation in different eukaryotic organisms. In this work, we report the distribution of H3S10ph during meiosis in monocentric and holokinetic chromosomes of 6 insect species and in mitotic chromosomes of 7 mammalian species, aiming to investigate the labeling patterns in phylogenetically distant groups. The results indicated a very similar phosphorylation timing and distribution pattern among insects. The sex chromosomes of insects analyzed were always undercondensed and hypophosphorylated. Similarly, the micro chromosomes of the bug Pachylis aff pharaonis were also undercondensed and hypophosphorylated. Holokinetic chromosomes of bugs and monocentric chromosomes of grasshoppers and beetles displayed identical phosphorylation pattern in spite of the difference in the centromere type. Among mammals, a uniform chromosome phosphorylation was observed in marsupials, whereas bat chromosomes displayed a longitudinal banding pattern. These data indicate that, in general, the intensity of H3S10 phosphorylation in animal chromosomes is variable among the distinct chromosome types and associated with the degree of chromatin condensation at metaphase, but it may vary between different groups of animals.

Formulation, pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of Ofloxacin-loaded albumin microparticles and nanoparticles.

Albumin microparticles containing Ofloxacin (Fluoroquinolone derivative commonly used in hospitals) were formulated by the spray dry method. By decreasing the pump feed rate or the total polymer concentration, a mixture of albumin/hypromellose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) microparticles and nanoparticles (MP/NP), containing Ofloxacin, were formulated. MP/NP were characterized, in vitro (particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency). A comparison of the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of aqueous Ofloxacin and Ofloxacin-loaded MP/NP, in Balb/c mice, revealed that peak concentrations were reduced in the serum, liver, spleen and brain, and a more sustained release was observed in serum and all of the organs tested for Ofloxacin MP/NP, compared to aqueous Ofloxacin. The MP/NP formulation allowed extended release by 24 h in the liver and more than 48 h in the brain. In serum, the elimination rate of Ofloxacin MP/NP is slower, the half life is longer, area under the plasma concentration time curve is decreased and volume of distribution is increased.

Estrogen and peptide YY are associated with bone mineral density in premenopausal exercising women.

BACKGROUND: In women with anorexia nervosa, elevated fasting peptide YY (PYY) is associated with decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Prior research from our lab has demonstrated that fasting total PYY concentrations are elevated in exercising women with amenorrhea compared to ovulatory exercising women. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between fasting total PYY, average monthly estrogen exposure and BMD in non-obese premenopausal exercising women. METHODS: Daily urine samples were collected and assessed for metabolites of estrone 1-glucuronide (E1G) and pregnandiol glucuronide (PdG) for at least one menstrual cycle if ovulatory or a 28-day monitoring period if amenorrheic. Fasting serum samples were pooled over the measurement period and analyzed for total PYY and leptin. BMD and body composition were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple regression analyses were performed to determine whether measures of body composition, estrogen status, exercise minutes, leptin and PYY explained a significant amount of the variance in BMD at multiple sites. RESULTS: Premenopausal exercising women aged 23.8±0.9years with a mean BMI of 21.2±0.4kg/m(2) exercised 346±48min/week and had a peak oxygen uptake of 49.1±1.8mL/kg/min. Thirty-nine percent (17/44) of the women had amenorrhea. Fasting total PYY concentrations were negatively associated with total body BMD (p=0.033) and total hip BMD (p=0.043). Mean E1G concentrations were positively associated with total body BMD (p=0.033) and lumbar spine (L2-L4) BMD (p=0.047). The proportion of variance in lumbar spine (L2-L4) BMD explained by body weight and E1G cycle mean was 16.4% (R(2)=0.204, p=0.012). The proportion of variance in hip BMD explained by PYY cycle mean was 8.6% (R(2)=0.109, p=0.033). The proportion of variance in total body BMD explained by body weight and E1G cycle mean was 21.9% (R(2)=0.257, p=0.003). CONCLUSION: PYY, mean E1G and body weight are associated with BMD in premenopausal exercising women. Thus, elevated PYY and suppressed estrogen concentrations are associated with, and could be directly contributing to, low BMD in exercising women with amenorrhea, despite regular physical activity.

Circulating leptin concentrations do not distinguish menstrual status in exercising women.

BACKGROUND: Low concentrations of leptin secondary to low body fat or other modulators are thought to be a key signal whereby an energy deficit suppresses the reproductive axis in exercising women resulting in functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA). The purpose of this study was to first examine leptin concentrations in exercising women with and without FHA to address whether there is a threshold concentration of leptin below which reproductive function is suppressed. Secondly, we examined the role of adiposity and other possible modulators of leptin to ascertain whether leptin regulation differs depending on reproductive status. METHODS: This study assessed 50 exercising, premenopausal women (aged 18-30 years) over the course of one menstrual cycle (eumenorrheic women) or one 28-day monitoring period (amenorrheic women). Quantification of daily urinary ovarian steroids and menstrual history were used to determine menstrual status. Body composition was assessed using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, and leptin was determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Key modulators of leptin such as serum insulin concentration, carbohydrate intake, glucose availability, indirect indices of sympathetic nervous activity and other factors were assessed using linear regression. RESULTS: Percentage body fat (%BF) (21.0 ± 1.0 versus 26.8 ± 0.7%; P < 0.001) and leptin concentration (4.8 ± 0.8 versus 9.6 ± 0.9 ng/ml; P < 0.001) were lower in the exercising women with amenorrhea (ExAmen; n = 24) compared with the exercising ovulatory women (ExOvul; n = 26). However, the ranges in leptin were similar for each group (ExAmen: 0.30-16.98 ng/ml; ExOvul: 2.57-18.28 ng/ml), and after adjusting for adiposity the difference in leptin concentration was no longer significant. Significant predictors of log leptin in ExAmen included %BF (ß = 0.826, P < 0.001), log insulin (ß = 0.308, P = 0.012) and log glycerol (ß = 0.258, P = 0.030), but in ExOvul only %BF predicted leptin. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that leptin concentrations per se are not associated with FHA in exercising women, but the modulation of leptin concentrations may differ depending on reproductive status.

Chromosomal homologies among vampire bats revealed by chromosome painting (phyllostomidae, chiroptera).

Substantial effort has been made to elucidate karyotypic evolution of phyllostomid bats, mostly through comparisons of G-banding patterns. However, due to the limited number of G-bands in respective karyotypes and to the similarity of non-homologous bands, an accurate evolutionary history of chromosome segments remains questionable. This is the case for vampire bats (Desmodontinae). Despite several proposed homologies, banding data have not yet provided a detailed understanding of the chromosomal changes within vampire genera. We examined karyotype differentiation of the 3 species within this subfamily using whole chromosomal probes from Phyllostomus hastatus (Phyllostominae) and Carollia brevicauda (Carolliinae). Painting probes of P. hastatus respectively detected 22, 21 and 23 conserved segments in Diphylla ecaudata, Diaemus youngi, and Desmodus rotundus karyotypes, whereas 27, 27 and 28 were respectively detectedwith C. brevicauda paints. Based on the evolutionary relationships proposed by morphological and molecular data, we present probable chromosomal synapomorphies for vampire bats and propose chromosomes that were present in the common ancestor of the 5 genera analyzed. Karyotype comparisons allowed us to relate a number of conserved chromosomal segments among the 5 species, providing a broader database for understanding karyotype evolution in the family.

Cytogenetic mapping of 5S and 18S rRNAs and H3 histone genes in 4 ancient Proscopiidae grasshopper species: contribution to understanding the evolutionary dynamics of multigene families.

This paper reports on the chromosomal location of 18S rRNA, 5S rRNA and H3 histone multigene families in 4 species of a relatively ancient and diversified group of grasshoppers belonging to the family Proscopiidae. The 5S rRNA and H3 histone genes were highly conserved in the number of sites and chromosomal position in the 4th chromosome pair in all species analyzed, whereas the 18S rRNA genes showed slightly more variation because they were present on one or 2 chromosome pairs, depending on the species. The 5S and 18S rRNA gene families occurred in different chromosomes; in contrast, H3 histone and 5S rRNA genes co-localized in the same chromosomal position, with an apparently interspersed organization. Considering that the Proscopiidae family is a relatively ancient group compared with the Acrididae family, the association of the H3 histone and 5S rRNA multigene families can represent a basal condition for grasshoppers, although more research is needed on other representatives of this insect group to confirm this statement. The presence of such an association of 5S rDNA and H3 histone in mussels and arthropods (beetles, grasshoppers and crustaceans) suggests that this linked configuration could represent an ancestral pattern for invertebrates. These results provide new insights into the understanding of the genome organization and the evolution of multigene families in grasshoppers and in insects as a whole.

Ommexecha virens (Thunberg, 1824) and Descampsacris serrulatum (Serville, 1831) (Orthoptera, Ommexechidae): karyotypes, constitutive heterochromatin and nucleolar organizing regions.

Chromosomes of Ommexecha virens and Descampsacris serrulatum (Ommexechidae) were analyzed through conventional staining, C-banding, base specific fluorochromes, silver nitrate impregnation (AgNO3), and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with probe for 45S rDNA. The two species presented diploid number 2n= 23,X0 in males and acrocentric autosomes, except the pair one that presented submetacentric morphology. The X chromosome has distinct morphology in the two analyzed species, being a medium acrocentric in Ommexecha virens and large submetacentric in Descampsacris serrulatum. The C-banding revealed pericentromeric blocks of constitutive heterochromatin (CH) in all the chromosomes of Descampsacris serrulatum. For Ommexecha virens it was evidenced that the blocks of CH are preferentially located in the pericentromeric area (however some bivalents presents additional blocks) or in different positions. The staining with CMA3/DA/DAPI showed GC rich CH blocks (CMA3+) in some chromosomes of the two species. The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) were located in the bivalents L2, S9, S10 of Ommexecha virens and M5, M6, M7, S11 of Descampsacris serrulatum. The FISH for rDNA showed coincident results with the pattern of active NORs revealed by AgNO3. This work presents the first chromosomal data, obtained through differential cytogenetics techniques in Ommexechidae, contributing to a better characterization of karyotypic evolution for this grasshopper family.