Influence of pesticides and abiotic conditions on biochemical biomarkers in Aegla aff. longirostri (crustacea, anomura): Implications for conservation.

Freshwater ecosystems are constantly threatened by the advance of agricultural activities. Abiotic variables (such as temperature, ammonia, and nitrite) and contaminants (e.g. pesticides) can potentially interact, increasing metabolism and the absorption of toxic substances, which can alter the ability of organisms to establish adequate stress responses. This study aimed to verify which pesticides were most frequently found and in the greatest quantities in low-order streams, and whether the combination of these pesticides with the abiotic variables altered the biological metabolism of aeglids. These freshwater crustaceans are important shredders that inhabit low-order streams and are sensitive to disturbances and/or abrupt environmental variations. The animals were exposed in situ in four streams (reference site and sites 1, 2, and 3). The reference site is a preserved stream with no apparent anthropogenic interference where aeglids still occur, while the other sites no longer exhibit populations of these animals and are influenced by agricultural activities. The exposure was performed bimonthly from November 2017 to September 2018 and lasted 96 h. Measured abiotic data and water samples were collected through all days of exposure. The analyzed biochemical parameters were acetylcholinesterase activity in muscle; and glutathione S-transferase, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, non-protein thiols, antioxidant capacity against peroxides, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in muscle, gills, and hepatopancreas. We found 24 active principles of pesticides, the most frequently being clomazone, atrazine, and propoxur. Bentazone was present at the highest amounts. The parameters evaluated in this study, including biochemical biomarkers and abiotic factors measured from the water, provided a separation of the months as a function of environmental conditions. There was a difference in activity and biomarker levels throughout the year within the same site and in some months between sites. The greater concentration or variety of pesticides associated with extreme abiotic (very high temperatures) data generated increased oxidative stress, with high levels of protein damage and considerable lipid damage in all tissues, as well as elevation in ROS, even with high levels of antioxidant capacity and non-protein thiols. With these data, we intend to warn about the risks of exposure to these environmental conditions by trying to contribute to the preservation of limnic fauna, especially aeglid crabs, because most species are under some degree of threat.

How does environment influence fighting? The effects of tidal flow on resource value and fighting costs in sea anemones.

An animal's decision to enter into a fight depends on the interaction between perceived resource value (V) and fighting costs (C). Both could be altered by predictable environmental fluctuations. For intertidal marine animals, such as the sea anemone Actinia equina, exposure to high flow during the tidal cycle may increase V by bringing more food. It may also increase C via energy expenditure needed to attach to the substrate. We asked whether simulated tidal cycles would alter decisions in fighting A. equina We exposed some individuals to still water and others to simulated tidal cycles. To gain insights into V, we measured their startle responses before and after exposure to the treatments, before staging dyadic fights. Individuals exposed to flow present shorter startle responses, suggesting that flowing water indicates high V compared with still water. A higher probability of winning against no-flow individuals and longer contests between flow individuals suggests that increased V increases persistence. However, encounters between flow individuals were less likely to escalate, suggesting that C is not directly related to V. Therefore, predictable environmental cycles alter V and C, but in complex ways.

Nutrient enrichment in water more than in leaves affects aquatic microbial litter processing.

Nutrient enrichment of soils and water will intensify in the future and has the potential to alter fundamental ecosystem processes, such as litter decomposition. We tested the direct (via water nutrient enrichment) and indirect (via changes in leaf chemistry) effects of nutrient enrichment on microbial activity and decomposability of Quercus robur L. (oak) leaves in laboratory microcosms simulating streams. Senescent leaves of oak trees grown without and with fertilization were incubated under ambient and elevated water nutrient [nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)] concentrations for 60 days. Soil fertilization led to an increase in leaf (3.4×) and leaf litter (2.3×) N concentration. Increased water-dissolved nutrients concentrations stimulated microbial activity (N uptake, microbial respiration, fungal biomass buildup and conidia production by aquatic hyphomycetes) that translated into accelerated litter decomposition (2.1× for unfertilized and 1.6× for fertilized trees). Leaves from fertilized trees had higher microbial activity and decomposition rates than leaves from unfertilized trees only at low dissolved nutrient availability. When both litter and water nutrients concentration increased, microbial activity and leaf decomposition were stimulated, but the effects were additive and direct effects from increased dissolved nutrient availability were stronger than those mediated by increases in litter N concentration (indirect effects). Our results suggest that increases in water nutrient availability (within the range used in this study) may exert a stronger control on microbial activity and litter decomposition than litter nutrient enrichment.

Richness and density of aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates after exposure to fungicides and insecticides in rice paddy fields.

The objective of this study was to verify the richness and density of aquatic benthic macroinvertebrates after exposure to fungicides and insecticides of the rice paddy fields. In the crop seasons of 2012/13 and 2013/14, field experiments were performed, which consisted of single-dose applications of the fungicides trifloxystrobin + tebuconazole and tricyclazole, and the insecticides lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam and diflubenzuron, in 10 m2 experimental plots, over rice plants in the R3 stage. Control plots with and without rice plants were maintained in order to simulate a natural environment. Soil samples were collected during rice cultivation for assessment of the macroinvertebrate fauna. Chemical-physical parameters assessed in the experiments included temperature, pH and oxygen dissolved in the water and pesticide persistence in the water and in the soil. The application of a single dose of the pesticides and fungicides in the recommended period does not cause significant negative effects over the richness and density of the macroinvertebrates. Tebuconazole, tricyclazole and thiamethoxam showed high persistence in the irrigation water of rice paddy fields. Thus, the doses and number of applications of these products in crops should be carefully handled in order to avoid contamination of the environment.

Description of one species of freshwater amphipod Hyalella (Crustacea, Peracarida, Hyalellidae) from the northwest region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil.

In this study, a new species of Hyalella is described from southern region of Brazil. Hyalella jaboticabensis n. sp. was recorded in the municipality of Jaboticaba, northwest region of state of the Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. This species is characterized by showing smooth body surface, epimeral plates not acuminated, inner face of the gnathopod 1 with nine or ten serrate setae and some simple setae (six to eight), inner ramus of uropod 1 of males with one short curved seta, peduncle of the uropod 3 with six cuspidate setae with an accessory seta and two or three cuspidate setae on the rami, telson as long as wide (square) with six to eight short and long cuspidate setae with an accessory seta. This new description increases the Brazilian known diversity of species of Hyalella to 42 (25 to southern Brazilian region) and 108 species in the Americas. It is noting that it is crucial to know the complete diversity of Hyalella genus, and to consider conservation measures to protect species like H. jaboticabensis n. sp., endemic to two single small streams.

Setal morphology of oral apparatus of Aegla longirostri Bond-Buckup & Buckup, 1994 (Decapoda: Aeglidae).

The seta, a type of projection of the cuticle in crustaceans, has essential mechanical and sensory functions. Due to the diversity of their morphology and distribution patterns on the articles of different appendages, setae can be helpful as taxonomic characters. To assist future studies on the potential use of setae as a diagnostic character in aeglids, we used scanning electron microscopy to analyze the morphology of setae from the oral apparatus of Aegla longirostri Bond-Buckup & Buckup, 1994, and compared our data to the literature. We identified nine setal types (simple, serrate, stout serrate, sword, plumose, pappose, comb, serrulate, and cuspidate), of which the last two had not been previously described in adult aeglids. Our results are a first step towards future comparisons of setal morphology in the genus Aegla, which includes cryptic species complexes, to ascertain the usefulness of setae as a character to aid in the description of species of this group, which has a conserved general morphology.

Living on the edge: Crayfish as drivers to anoxification of their own shelter microenvironment.

Burrowing is a common trait among crayfish thought to help species deal with adverse environmental challenges. However, little is known about the microhabitat ecology of crayfish taxa in relation to their burrows. To fill this knowledge gap, we assessed the availability of oxygen inside the crayfish shelter by series of in-vivo and in-silico modelling experiments. Under modeled condition, we found that, except for the entrance region of the 200 mm, a flooded burrow microenvironment became anoxic within 8 h, on average. Multiple 12-hour day-night cycles, with burrows occupied by crayfish for 12 h and empty for 12 h, were not sufficient for refreshing the burrow microenvironment. We then examined the degree to which crayfish species with different propensities for burrowing are tolerant of self-created anoxia. From these experiments, primary and secondary burrowers showed best and most consistent tolerance-exhibiting ≥ 64% survival to anoxia and 25-91% survival of ≥ 9 h at anoxia, respectively. Tertiary burrowers exhibited little to no tolerance of anoxia with 0-50% survival to anoxia and only one species exhibiting survival (2%) of ≥ 9 h at anoxia. Results suggest that moderate to strongly burrowing crayfish can quickly draw down the dissolved oxygen in burrow water but appear to have conserved a legacy of strong tolerance of anoxia from their monophyletic ancestors-the lobsters-whereas tertiary burrowers have lost (or never evolved) this ability.

Chironomidae (Insecta: Diptera) of different habitats and microhabitats of the Vacacaí-Mirim River microbasin, Southern Brazil.

The Chironomidae family is one of the main groups of aquatic insects present in streams. This work aimed to investigate the influences of anthropogenic pressures and substrate types on chironomid community composition and structure. Chironomid larvae were collected during the summer of 2007 at four sites along the Vacacaí-Mirim River microbasin, chosen based on the different available benthic substrates. The organisms were identified in the laboratory at the genus level, and the density, the rarefied taxonomic richness and the Shannon diversity index were calculated. The faunal structure was subjected to an ANOVA to compare the metrics among sites and substrates. The community composition of the sites was subjected to a multivariate statistical analysis. Differences in the composition, richness, density, and diversity were observed among the sites due to differences in the levels of nutrients and solids generated by the presence of crops close to water bodies. Samples collected from sandy substrates exhibited a lower density and taxonomic richness because sand is a poorer substrate than the others that were sampled. In organic or mixed substrates with higher energy availability and better shelter conditions, the observed densities were higher. The physical and chemical conditions and the morphometric characteristics of the sites were more influential than the substrates.

Hyalella luciae (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Hyalellidae)a new species of freshwater amphipod from Southern Brazil.

Currently, the freshwater amphipod Hyalella Smith, 1874 includes 91 valid species distributed only in the Americas. This study describes the fifth species for the Vrzea River basin, located in the northwestern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. Among its most prominent features are the presence of the curve seta on the inner ramus of uropod 1 of the males, sternal gills on segments 2-7, propodus ventral face of the gnathopod 1 with nine serrate setae and several small simple and triangular setae, peduncle of uropod 3 with 11-12 distal cuspidate setae with accessory setae, and telson with fifteen cuspidate setae with accessory setae distributed on distal margin. This study presents a detailed comparison of the species we are describing with those already discovered. The diversity of freshwater amphipods in southern Brazil is intriguing. Further investigations should open the way to elucidate the evolutionary history of these crustaceans, uncovering the potential and patterns of diversification of the genus Hyalella.

Differences in oxygen consumption and diel activity as adaptations related to microhabitat in Neotropical freshwater decapods (Crustacea).

This study evaluated oxygen consumption (MO(2)) and diel activity in Aegla longirostri, Trichodactylus panoplus and Parastacus brasiliensis (three species of freshwater decapods that occur in sympatry), under two different conditions of O(2) availability, limited and constant; and searched for the existence of a relationship between these two variables. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that in all the species, MO(2) was higher under constant O(2) availability; T. panoplus and P. brasiliensis showed an oxygen-dependent pattern, while A. longirostri showed higher MO(2) values and less variation in the values between the treatments, indicating a higher and more oxygen-independent metabolism. P. brasiliensis was more active in constant O(2). A. longirostri was more active in limited O(2) and did not show a clear diel activity in any case, showing behavioral changes when in unfavorable conditions. The Spearman's rank correlation analysis did not indicate any relationship between MO(2) and activity. These results indicate a higher metabolism in A. longirostri. The less demanding metabolisms of P. brasiliensis and T. panoplus allow these species to occupy environments that are unavailable to A. longirostri due to differences in dissolved-oxygen concentrations.

EFFICACY OF LOW-LEVEL LASER THERAPY ON FISTULA-IN-ANO TREATMENT.

BACKGROUND: Fistulous area being A control and B laser group: Arrows indicate fistulous tract much thinner in B. Treating anal fistulae is still a great challenge due to the possibility of fecal incontinence after surgery and that the use of laser has been gaining space in medicine, including as an inducing method of healing. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of low-level laser therapy on fistula-in-ano treatment in rats. METHODS: Fifteen male Wistar rats weighing approximately 250-300g were used, which were subjected to the anal fistula induction procedure and after 30 days were distributed into two groups: control group (CG, n=5) and laser group (LG, n=10) observed for another 30 days. In the CG no treatment was performed and, in the LG, low-level laser therapy was applied in fistulous tracts daily. The closure of the fistulous tract, the area of the remaining tract, the inflammatory infiltrate and vascular congestion were evaluated. RESULTS: There was no complete closure of the tract in any of the animals. The mean area of the remaining tract was 847.2 µm2 in the CG and 248.5 µm2 in the LG (p=0.001). The mean inflammatory infiltrate score was 2.4 in the CG and 1.3 in the LG (p=0.0285), while in the evaluation of vascular congestion, 1.6 was observed in the CG and 0.6 in the LG (p=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: Low-level laser therapy was able to reduce the area of the fistulous tracts as well as decrease the inflammatory process and local vascular congestion.

Harder, better, faster, stronger: Weapon size is more sexually dimorphic than weapon biomechanical components in two freshwater anomuran species.

Sexual selection influences the evolution of morphological traits that increase the likelihood of monopolizing scarce resources. When such traits are used during contests, they are termed weapons. Given that resources are typically linked to monopolizing mating partners, theory expects only males to bear weapons. In some species, however, females also bear weapons, although typically smaller than male weapons. Understanding why females bear smaller weapons can thus help us understand the selective pressures behind weapon evolution. However, most of our knowledge comes from studies on weapon size, while the biomechanics of weapons, such as the size of the muscles, efficiency, and shape are seldom studied. Our goal was to test if the theoretical expectations for weapon size sexual dimorphism also occur for weapon biomechanics using two aeglid crab species. Males of both species had larger claws which were also stronger than female claws. Male claws were also more efficient than females' claws (although we used only one species in this analysis). For weapon shape, though, only one species differed in the mean claw shape. Regarding scaling differences, in both species, male claws had higher size scaling than females, while only one species had a higher shape scaling. However, male weapons did not have higher scaling regarding strength and efficiency than females. Thus, males apparently allocate more resources in weapons than females, but once allocated, muscle and efficiency follow a similar developmental pathway in both sexes. Taken together, our results show that sexual dimorphism in weapons involves more than differences in size. Shape differences are especially intriguing because we cannot fully understand its causes. Yet, we highlight that such subtle differences can only be detected by measuring and analysing weapon shape and biomechanical components. Only then we might better understand how weapons are forged.

Raising the water temperature: consequences in behavior and biochemical biomarkers of the freshwater crab Aegla longirostri (Crustacea, Anomura).

Understanding how temperature alone affects biomarkers commonly used in ecotoxicology studies and biomonitoring programs is important to obtain a more real response in field studies, especially in freshwater. Thus, we analyzed the behavioral responses, the lethality, and the biochemical biomarkers in the freshwater crustacean Aegla longirostri at different water temperatures. Animals were exposed under laboratory conditions, to 18 °C, 21 °C, 24 °C, and 26 °C for 48 h. There were significant changes in biochemical parameters in different tissues (hepatopancreas, gills, and muscle) and in the behavioral tests in A. longirostri. Hepatopancreas was especially affected by the elevation of temperature, as showed by the high levels of carbonyl proteins. The activity of acetylcholinesterase increased in a temperature-dependent manner in muscle. Glutathione S-transferase activity decreased with the elevation of temperature in all tissues sampled. The results obtained in this study indicate that when assessing the health of polluted limnic ecosystems through the use of organisms in situ, the intrinsic effect of abiotic factors, such as temperature, on biomarkers must be considered.

Treatment of anal fistula with Baccharis dracunculifolia extract. Experimental study in rats. / Tratamento da fístula anal com extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia. Estudo experimental em ratos.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the efficacy of Baccharis dracunculifolia extract in the treatment of anal fistulas in rats. METHODS: twenty male Wistar rats were submitted to anal fistula and, after 30 days, were divided into three groups: Control Group, with five animals; Carbopol Group, with five animals; and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, with ten animals. In the Control Group, no treatment was performed. In the Carbopol Group, a daily infusion of Carbopol was performed for 30 days. In the Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, a daily infusion of Carbopol plus Baccharis dracunculifolia extract was performed for 30 days. Specimens were taken for histological analysis after euthanasia. RESULTS: there was no complete closure of the fistulous tract in any of the animals. The mean area of the remaining tract was of 847.2µm2, 565.6µm2 and 372.7µm2, in the Control Group, Carbopol Group, and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, respectively, (p=0.001). The mean of the inflammatory process score was of 2.4, 2.4, and 2.1, in the Control Group, Carbopol Group, and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, respectively, (p=0.285), while the mean values of vascular congestion were of 1.6, 1.4, and 1.1, in the Control Group, Carbopol Group, and Baccharis dracunculifolia Group, respectively, (p=0.031). CONCLUSION: Baccharis dracunculifolia extract was able to reduce the lumen of the fistulous tracts and the degree of vascular congestion, without, however, reducing the local inflammatory process or totally closing the fistulous tracts.

OBJETIVO: avaliar a eficácia do extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia no tratamento de fístulas anais em ratos. MÉTODOS: vinte ratos Wistar machos foram submetidos à confecção de fístula anal e, após 30 dias, foram distribuídos em três grupos: Grupo Controle, com cinco animais; Grupo Carbopol, com cinco animais; e Grupo Baccharis dracunculifolia, com dez animais. No Grupo Controle, não se realizou nenhum tratamento. No Grupo Carbopol, realizou-se infusão diária de carbopol, e no Grupo Baccharis dracunculifolia, infusão de extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia com carbopol, ambos por 30 dias. Foram retirados espécimes para análise histológica após a eutanásia. RESULTADOS: não houve fechamento completo do trajeto fistuloso em nenhum dos animais. A média da área do trajeto resultante foi de 847,2µm2, 565,6µm2 e 372,7µm2, respectivamente, nos Grupos Controle, Carbopol e Baccharis dracunculifolia (p=0,001). A média do escore de processo inflamatório foi de 2,4, 2,4 e 2,1, respectivamente, nos Grupos Controle, Carbopol e Baccharis dracunculifolia (p=0,285), enquanto a média de congestão vascular foi de 1,6, 1,4 e 1,1, respectivamente, nos Grupos Controle, Carbopol e Baccharis dracunculifolia (p=0,031). CONCLUSÃO: o extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia foi capaz de reduzir o lúmen dos trajetos fistulosos e a congestão vascular, sem reduzir, no entanto, o processo inflamatório local ou fechar totalmente os trajetos fistulosos.

Benthic communities of streams related to different land uses in a hydrographic basin in southern Brazil.

Different land uses affect the characteristics of a hydrographic basin, reflected in the river water quality, and consequently affecting the aquatic biota. The benthic community closely reflects the alterations caused by different human activities. In this study, the effects of different land uses were evaluated by analysis of the benthic community structure in streams with urban, agricultural and pasturage influences, as well as areas in better-conserved regions. The abiotic parameters showed distinct seasonal variability, which did not occur with the benthic organisms. A degradation gradient was observed among the study sites, in the headwaters-agriculture-pasture-urban direction. By the CCA its possible to observe that the density of organisms tended to increase along this gradient, whereas richness, diversity, evenness, and EPT families decreased. The most intense effects of land use on the benthic community composition, richness, and diversity were observed in urban areas (F (1,4) = 16.0, p = 0.01; F (1,4) = 8.97, p = 0.04; respectively). In conclusion a trend in the benthic community is observed in to predict alterations caused for the different land uses, mainly, when the source point pollution, as the case of urban area.

Underwater compensation for exaggerated weaponry: The role of morphology and environment on crab locomotor performance.

Exaggerated morphologies may increase fitness, but they might be costly to bear; heavy weight, for instance, might hinder locomotion. Evidence supporting these costs are sparse because animals that move on land or swim have traits reducing those costs, called compensatory traits. Animals that walk underwater, however, are under different environmental pressures than land animals. Buoyancy, for instance, reduces the effective weight of any object, which could decrease the locomotion costs of carrying exagerrated traits. Hence, underwater species might maintain performance without compensation. To test this, we compared males of the freshwater anomuran Aegla longirostri that bear an exaggerated claw to females (the natural control). We first tested whether the exaggerated claw decreased male locomotor performance. Next, we tested if sexual dimorphism in performance is associated with differences in leg asymmetry, length, and muscle size. Lastly, we tested if large males have proportionally heavier legs than smaller males. Unexpectedly, females are faster than males while also having relatively longer legs than males. Therefore, females might walk faster because of the longer legs, which might be unrelated to the male exaggerated claw. Furthermore, larger males did not have proportionally heavier legs than smaller males, further suggesting no compensation. Hence, even though aeglid's claw weigh ~25% of their total body weight, we did not find evidence for burden or compensation on males. The environment might thus decrease the costs of exaggerated traits.

Aegla nebeccana n. sp. (Crustacea, Aeglidae) from Ivaí Basin, Paraná, Brazil.

A new species of freshwater anomuran, Aegla nebeccana n. sp. (Decapoda: Aeglidae), is described from the Ivaí River sub-basin, a tributary of the Paraná River Basin, in Paraná state, southern Brazil. The species is illustrated in detail with drawings and photographs. It can be distinguished from its congeners based on both morphological and molecular evidence. Morphologically, the new species resembles Aegla meloi Bond-Buckup Santos, 2015 by the general shape of the carapace and chelipeds, but differs by having a developed protograstic lobe and by the cheliped ischium ornamentation. Aegla nebeccana n. sp. has pronounced protogastric lobes, similar to Aegla castro Schmitt, 1942 and Aegla schimitti Bond-Buckup Buckup, 1994 but differs clearly from these in relation to the morphology of the cheliped palmar crest. Based on molecular analysis, A. nebeccana is sister species of Aegla parva Bond-Buckup Buckup 1994.

A Game to Deal With Alcohol Abuse (Jib): Development and Game Experience Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol abuse is the primary cause of (public) health problems in most parts of the world. However, it is undeniable that alcohol consumption is a practice that is widely accepted socially in many places, even being protected by law as a cultural and historical heritage. The issue of alcohol abuse is complex and urgent, and consequently, it is necessary to create innovative approaches such as the proposal explored in this study. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the development and evaluation of a serious game for smartphones to present a novel approach to address the issue of alcohol abuse. METHODS: A serious game was developed to instill the consequences of alcohol abuse into the player through experimentation in the game. In the game, the consequences of alcohol use are demonstrated by increasing the game speed that gives an illusion of fun but also leads to a premature death. The evaluation employed an assessment based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and the Game Experience Questionnaire (GEQ). The participants belonged to the university student's house. RESULTS: The game development process has been presented, including its mechanics and gameplay. The game has the style of action and adventure games in which the player controls an indigenous avatar that can deflect or attack opponents coming his or her way. The game evaluation comprised an assessment based on 23 participants, aged 20 to 29 years. According to the AUDIT assessment, 18 participants reported having a low or nonexistent degree of alcohol dependence and 5 declared average dependence. Regarding their habit of playing games on smartphones, 9 participants declared they have this habit of playing (habitual players), and among the 14 that did not have this habit of playing (nonhabitual players), 3 participants declared not having a smartphone at all. The GEQ core assessment showed a higher positive affect among the participants with a habit of playing games, scoring 2.80 (habitual players) on a scale of 4.0 versus 1.61 (nonhabitual players), and higher tension as an opposite relationship of 0.81 (nonhabitual players) versus 0.37 (habitual players). The overall GEQ evaluation showed that the game presents a more positive than negative affect on all users, besides showing the other desirable characteristics of serious games. CONCLUSIONS: We present a new way of dealing with the issue of alcohol abuse through a game designed for smartphones. It promotes an overall positive user experience, having a greater impact on users accustomed to games. The proposed approach has its niche, though it is still a minority in the evaluated population. Further research should explore new game features, such as new styles, to make the game more attractive to a wider audience, in addition to performing an in-depth study on the effects of playing it.

The Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders: recruitment, assessment instruments, methods for the development of multicenter collaborative studies and preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the recruitment of patients, assessment instruments, implementation, methods and preliminary results of The Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders, which includes seven university sites. METHOD: This cross-sectional study included a comprehensive clinical assessment including semi-structured interviews (sociodemographic data, medical and psychiatric history, disease course and comorbid psychiatric diagnoses), and instruments to assess obsessive-compulsive (Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale and Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale), depressive (Beck Depression Inventory) and anxious (Beck Anxiety Inventory) symptoms, sensory phenomena (Universidade de São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale), insight (Brown Assessment Beliefs Scale), tics (Yale Global Tics Severity Scale) and quality of life (Medical Outcome Quality of Life Scale Short-form-36 and Social Assessment Scale). The raters' training consisted of watching at least five videotaped interviews and interviewing five patients with an expert researcher before interviewing patients alone. The reliability between all leaders for the most important instruments (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Universidade de São Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale) was measured after six complete interviews. RESULTS: Inter-rater reliability was 96%. By March 2008, 630 obsessive-compulsive disorder patients had been systematically evaluated. Mean age (+/-SE) was 34.7 (+/-0.51), 56.3% were female, and 84.6% Caucasian. The most prevalent obsessive compulsive symptom dimensions were symmetry and contamination. The most common comorbidities were major depression, generalized anxiety and social anxiety disorder. The most common DSM-IV impulsive control disorder was skin picking. CONCLUSION: The sample was composed mainly by Caucasian individuals, unmarried, with some kind of occupational activity, mean age of 35 years, onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms at 13 years of age, mild to moderate severity, mostly of symmetry, contamination/cleaning and comorbidity with depressive disorders. The Brazilian Research Consortium on Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders has established an important network for standardized collaborative clinical research in obsessive-compulsive disorder and may pave the way to similar projects aimed at integrating other research groups in Brazil and throughout the world.

Two new species of Atlantoscia Ferrara Taiti, 1981 (Isopoda: Oniscidea: Philosciidae) from southern Brazil described in the light of integrative taxonomy.

The use of molecular data in association with classical taxonomy has helped to alleviate the taxonomic impediment through the discovery, delimitation and description of new species. Terrestrial isopods are the largest suborder of Isopoda; however, there are very few active taxonomists in this group and a representative part of the terrestrial isopods world diversity remains unexplored. The genus Atlantoscia comprises five species in which diagnostic characters are few and show subtle differences among the species. The objective of this study was to delimit and describe two new species of the genus Atlantoscia from southern Brazil by using traditional taxonomy coupled with genetic information. Specimens were analyzed morphologically and by the aid of two molecular markers, mitochondrial COI and nuclear 18S rRNA. The validity of the new species Atlantoscia antennamaculata sp. nov. and Atlantoscia australis sp. nov. was corroborated, unambiguously, by morphological approach, phylogenetic analysis and species delimitation methods. Our study reinforces the fact that, despite the undeniable importance of comparative morphology in species discovery, new methods and data, particularly molecular ones, are becoming prominent and an integrative part of the taxonomy practice.