Pollen analysis of honey and pollen stored by Melipona (Melikerria) fasciculata Smith, 1854 (Apidae Meliponini), in an Amazon and Cerrado transition area, Maranhão, Brazil.

The identification of meliponicultural flora is fundamental for the preservation of bees, as well as enabling the development of pollinator management and reforestation programs. In this context, this study aimed to investigate the types of pollen found in the honey and pollen pots of the Melipona fasciculata bee in Arari, State of Maranhão, between August 2022 and July 2023. 40 types of pollen were identified, distributed among 18 botanical families, with Fabaceae standing out (46.15% in pollen pots and 37.86% in honey pots), Myrtaceae (11.53% in pollen and 13.51% in honey) and Rubiaceae (7.69% in pollen and 5.40% in honey). Sapindaceae, in the honey pots, accounted for 5.40%. The other families showed lower percentages, 3.84% in the pollen pots and 2.70% in the honey pots. In terms of similarity, two distinct groups were observed in both the pollen and honey pots. In the pollen pots, group A (May-June ~ 97%) and group B (Feb-Mar ~ 99%) stood out, while in the honey pots, group A (Mar-Apr ~ 98%) and group B (Jun-Jul-Sept ~ 98%) showed the highest percentages. These findings highlight the wide range of resources used by the M. fasciculata species, as well asits preference for Fabaceae and Myrtaceae, due to the diversity and availability of trophic resources. An understanding of the meliponicultural flora is essential to support effective conservation strategies, which aim not only to guarantee the survival of the bees, but also to ensure the continued production of honey, a resource of great importance to local communities.

Cellular consequences of small supernumerary marker chromosome derived from chromosome 12: mosaicism in daughter and father.

Constitutional genomic imbalances are known to cause malformations, disabilities, neurodevelopmental delay, and dysmorphia and can lead to dysfunctions in the cell cycle. In extremely rare genetic conditions such as small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC), it is important to understand the cellular consequences of this extra marker, as well the factors that contribute to their maintenance or elimination through successive cell cycles and phenotypic impact. The study of chromosomal mosaicism provides a natural model to characterize the effect of aneuploidy on genome stability and compare cells with the same genetic background and environment exposure, but differing in the presence of sSMC. Here, we report the functional characterization of different cell lines from two familial patients with mosaic sSMC derived from chromosome 12. We performed studies of proliferation dynamics, stability, and variability of these cells using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), and conventional staining. We also quantified the telomere-related genomic instability of sSMC cells using 3D telomeric profile analysis by quantitative-FISH. sSMC cells exhibited differences in the cell cycle dynamics compared to normal cells. First, the sSMC cells exhibited lower proliferation index and higher frequency of SCE than normal cells, associated with a higher level of chromosomal instability. Second, sSMC cells exhibited more telomeric-related genomic instability. Lastly, the differences of sSMC cells distribution among tissues could explain different phenotypic repercussions observed in patients. These results will help in our understanding of the sSMC stability, maintenance during cell cycle, and the cell cycle variables involved in the different phenotypic manifestations.

Cellular consequences of small supernumerary marker chromosome derived from chromosome 12: mosaicism in daughter and father

Constitutional genomic imbalances are known to cause malformations, disabilities, neurodevelopmental delay, and dysmorphia and can lead to dysfunctions in the cell cycle. In extremely rare genetic conditions such as small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC), it is important to understand the cellular consequences of this extra marker, as well the factors that contribute to their maintenance or elimination through successive cell cycles and phenotypic impact. The study of chromosomal mosaicism provides a natural model to characterize the effect of aneuploidy on genome stability and compare cells with the same genetic background and environment exposure, but differing in the presence of sSMC. Here, we report the functional characterization of different cell lines from two familial patients with mosaic sSMC derived from chromosome 12. We performed studies of proliferation dynamics, stability, and variability of these cells using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), and conventional staining. We also quantified the telomere-related genomic instability of sSMC cells using 3D telomeric profile analysis by quantitative-FISH. sSMC cells exhibited differences in the cell cycle dynamics compared to normal cells. First, the sSMC cells exhibited lower proliferation index and higher frequency of SCE than normal cells, associated with a higher level of chromosomal instability. Second, sSMC cells exhibited more telomeric-related genomic instability. Lastly, the differences of sSMC cells distribution among tissues could explain different phenotypic repercussions observed in patients. These results will help in our understanding of the sSMC stability, maintenance during cell cycle, and the cell cycle variables involved in the different phenotypic manifestations.

Cubane and cubanoid: Structural, optoelectronic and thermodynamic properties from DFT and TD-DFT method.

In this paper, we report structural, electronic and optical properties of cubane (C8H8) and cubanoids (cubane-like molecules) using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The cubanoids are cubanes for which Carbon atoms have been substituted by Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Boron (B), Silicon (Si), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb) or Bismuth (Bi) atoms. These molecules presented exceptional stability with several different symmetry point groups, being the majority Td. All calculated vibrational frequencies are positive for any studied molecules indicating that all these structures are in a stable state. The HOMO-LUMO gaps and DOS were calculated converged towards to values between 1.87 eV and 5.61 eV, actually showing promising electronic properties (Just for comparison, the cubane energy gap is 7.50 eV). The optical absorptions were also calculated for the cubanoid structure using the Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory (TD-DFT). Their dependence on the wavelength is analyzed, where five of theses structures absorb on the visible region. Finally, the extrapolation of thermodynamic properties indicates that these cubanoid could be potentially synthesized spontaneously, where four structures, the synthesis would occur for temperatures below 400 K, while for Si4Bi4H4 structure, the synthesis would occur at room temperature.

Phylogeny of the genus Stephomyia Tavares, 1916 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) / Filogenia do gênero Stephomyia Tavares, 1916 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)

Abstract Stephomyia Tavares, 1916 comprises seven species, all Neotropical: S. clavata (Tavares, 1920); S. epeugeniae Gagné, 1994; S. espiralis Maia, 1993; S. mina Maia, 1993; S. rotundifoliorum Maia, 1993; S. tetralobae Maia, 1993; and S. eugeniae (Felt, 1913). In the present study, a cladistic analysis based upon adult, pupa, larva and gall morphological characters as well as host plant data is carried out in order to discuss the monophyly of the genus and the relationships among the known species. The Stephomyia monophyly was supported by eight synapomorphies: five homoplastic characters and three non-homoplastic characters. Analyzes showed S. clavata with great instability within the genus, probably due to lack of larva, pupa and female data, so S. clavata was deactivated in analyze. The topology found was (S. mina ((S. eugeniae + S. epeugeniae) (S. tetralobae (S. rotundifoliorum + S. espiralis)))).

Resumo Stephomyia Tavares, 1916 compreende sete espécies, todas neotropicais: S. clavata (Tavares, 1920); S. epeugeniae Gagné, 1994; S. espiralis Maia, 1993; S. mina Maia, 1993; S. rotundifoliorum Maia, 1993; S. tetralobae Maia, 1993 e S. eugeniae (Felt, 1913). Neste estudo, uma análise cladística baseada em caracteres morfológicos dos adultos, pupa, larva e galha, bem como na informação das plantas hospedeiras é realizada e a monofilia do gênero e as relações entre as espécies conhecidas são discutidas. A monofilia de Stephomyia foi suportada por oito sinapomorfias: cinco caracteres homoplásticos e três não homoplásticos. Análises mostraram uma grande instabilidade de S. clavata dentro do gênero, provavelmente devido à falta de informações sobre a larva, a pupa e a fêmea, o que resultou em desativação na análise. A topologia encontrada foi (S. mina ((S. eugeniae + S. epeugeniae) (S. tetralobae (S. rotundifoliorum + S. espiralis)))).

Phylogeny of the genus Stephomyia Tavares, 1916 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae).

Stephomyia Tavares, 1916 comprises seven species, all Neotropical: S. clavata (Tavares, 1920); S. epeugeniae Gagné, 1994; S. espiralis Maia, 1993; S. mina Maia, 1993; S. rotundifoliorum Maia, 1993; S. tetralobae Maia, 1993; and S. eugeniae (Felt, 1913). In the present study, a cladistic analysis based upon adult, pupa, larva and gall morphological characters as well as host plant data is carried out in order to discuss the monophyly of the genus and the relationships among the known species. The Stephomyia monophyly was supported by eight synapomorphies: five homoplastic characters and three non-homoplastic characters. Analyzes showed S. clavata with great instability within the genus, probably due to lack of larva, pupa and female data, so S. clavata was deactivated in analyze. The topology found was (S. mina ((S. eugeniae + S. epeugeniae) (S. tetralobae (S. rotundifoliorum + S. espiralis)))).

Diversity of Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Brazil's Tinguá Biological Reserve.

The Calliphoridae are flies of great ecological, medical and sanitary importance because they are decomposers of organic matter, mechanical vectors of pathogenic agents, and causers of myiasis. This paper attempts to ascertain the diversity of Calliphoridae in the Tinguá Biological Reserve and correlate meteorological data (temperature, relative humidity of the air, and precipitation) with the occurrence of these flies. The study was conducted at a site in the Tinguá Biological Reserve, located in the municipality of Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Four traps were set up using chicken viscera as bait. The experiment was conducted over the period of May 2001 to April 2002, with two monthly collections. The captured flies were killed with ether and conserved in 70% alcohol and identified in the Laboratory of Diptera Studies (UNIRIO) and the Laboratory of Vector Insect Biology and Control (FIOCRUZ), both headquartered in the city of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. A total of 1,987 insects were captured, 37.5% belonging to the family Calliphoridae, 29.4% to Muscidae, 16.0% to Sarcophagidae, and 17.1% to other families. The most representative species found was Phaenicia eximia (47.0%), followed by Hemilucilia semidiaphana (23.6%), Mesembrinella bellardiana (13.7%), Hemilucilia segmentaria (7.5%), Chloroprocta idioidea (4.9%), Chrysomya albiceps (1.2%), Chrysomya megacephala (0.9%), Phaenicia sericata (0.6%), Eumesembrinella sp. (0.5%), and Chrysomya putoria (0.1%). Large numbers of Calliphoridae were noted in May, June, September and January, coinciding with low rainfall and an average temperature of 21.8 to 27.0 degrees C. A negative correlation was found between the number of Calliphoridae captured and meteorological factors.

Diversity of Calliphoridae (Diptera) in Brazil's Tinguá Biological Reserve

Os califorídeos são dípteros de grande importância ecológica e médico-sanitário, em virtude de serem decompositores de matéria orgânica, vetores mecânicos de agentes patogênicos e causadores de miíases. O presente trabalho objetivou verificar a diversidade de califorídeos na Reserva Biológica do Tinguá e correlacionar os dados meteorológicos (temperatura, umidade relativa do ar e precipitação) com a ocorrência desses dípteros. O estudo foi realizado em uma localidade da Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, município de Nova Iguaçu. Foram instaladas quatro armadilhas de captura, utilizando como isca vísceras de frango. O experimento foi conduzido no período de maio/2001 a abril/2002, sendo realizadas duas coletas mensais. Os dípteros capturados foram sacrificados com éter, conservados em álcool 70% e sua identificação ocorreu no Laboratório de Estudo de Dípteros (UNIRIO) e no Laboratório de Biologia e Controle de Insetos Vetores (FIOCRUZ). Foram capturados 1987 insetos pertencentes às famílias Calliphoridae (37,5%), Muscidae (29,4%), Sarcophagidae (16,0%) e outras (17,1%). Phaenicia eximia foi a espécie mais representativa (47,0%), seguida por Hemilucilia semidiaphana (23,6%), Mesembrinella bellardiana (13,7%), Hemilucilia segmentaria (7,5%), Chloroprocta idioidea (4,9%), Chrysomya albiceps (1,2%), Chrysomya megacephala (0,9%), Phaenicia sericata (0,6%), Eumesembrinella sp. (0,5%), e Chrysomya putoria (0,1%). Observou-se um maior percentual de fêmeas (70,6%). Constatou-se elevada incidência de califorídeos em maio, junho, setembro e janeiro, coincidindo com baixa precipitação e temperatura média entre 21,8 e 27,0 ºC. Constatou-se uma correlação negativa entre o número de califorídeos capturados e os fatores meteorológicos.

Autoantibodies in leprosy sera.

Our objective was to assess the prevalence of autoantibodies in patients with leprosy. Forty-one cases of lepromatous leprosy were studied. For the detection of autoantibodies we used the Elisa technique using the following purified antigens in an Elisa assay: dsDNA, ssDNA, histone, mitochondria, RNA, RNP, SS-A, SS-B, Sm, Scl-70, Anca C, Anca P and the cardiolipin complex. As a "cut off" point we used values shown on previous studies to differentiate normal from elevated values. Antibodies to SS-B, mitochondria and cardiolipin were the most prevalent in our study. Antimitochondrial antibodies distinct from those seen in primary biliary cirrhosis and antiphospholipid antibodies with variable ligand activity to B2GIP are frequent in the sera of leprosy patients.

Fluxo migratório de casos de malária em Cuiabá/MT, 1986 / Migrating flow of malaria cases in Cuiabá/MT, 1986

Foram estudadas 2.406 pessoas que procuraram a SUCAM/Cuiabá para diagnóstico e tratamento da malária. Destes, l.l5l tiveram lâminas positivas através da gota espessa: 720 P. vivax, 421 P. falciparum e 10 forma mista; 1.255 foram negativos à pesquisa de hematozoários. As entrevistas foram realizadas através de questionário padronizado onde procurou-se categorizar as pessoas conforme o sexo, idade, profissäo, naturalidade, renda mensal, procedência e destino. Da análise efetuada vimos que os casos de malária originaram-se mais da micro-regiäo Norte-Matogrossense para a Baixada Cuiabana (56,5%), colocando em risco toda a populaçäo desta micro-regiäo, que encontra-se com borrificaçäo suspensa (DDT) na maioria das localidades. É também importante o fluxo de casos de malária do Estado de Rondônia (20,6%) e para os Estados da regiäo Sul e Sudeste (4,4%) do país. Concluímos que medidas urgentes devam ser tomadas para a reformulaçäo da campanha de controle da malária, planejando a intervençäo nos aspectos sociais, políticos e econômicos

Analise de 4.316 pesquisas de celulas LE no Hospital dos Servidores do Estado RJ. / Analysis of 4.316 researches of LE cells at the Hospital dos Servidores do Estado (Rio de Janeiro)

Sao analizadas retrospectivamente as 4.316 pesquisas de celulas LE realizadas no Hospital dos Servidores do Estado - INAMPS - RJ.Somente 262 testes foram positivos, correspondendo a 102 doentes, na sua maioria de LES (93,13%) e em todas essas tinham-se laminas com varias celulas LE, corpusculos hematoxiclinicos e fenomeno de roseta. Em raras situacoes clinicas observou-se o teste positivo (artrite reumatoide, artrite psoriatica, sindrome de Sjogren e gota) e, nesses casos,trata-se de laminas com raras celulas LE. Trata-se de um exame de facil realizacao tecnica, pouco dispendioso e altamente especifico para o diagnostico do lupus eritematoso sistemico

Estudo ecocardiografico na esclerose sistemica progressiva. / Echocardiographic study in progressive systemic sclerosis

Os autores estudam, por ecocardiografia, 18 portadores de esclerose sistemica progressiva, correlacionando os achados com dados clinicos. Mostram a importancia deste metodo nao invasivo para detectar alteracoes pericardicas, miocardicas e endocardicas, mesmo em pacientes sem quaisquer manifestacoes aparentes para o lado do aparelho cardiovascular. O envolvimento pericardico foi detectado em 39%. Alteracoes de valva mitral e aortica ocorreram 39% dos casos. Comprometimento miocardico ocorreu em 11 casos e pancardite em 2 casos. Consideram o ecocardiograma um importante metodo para detectar a cardiopatia esclerodermica e para seguir o curso da doenca