Effect of Structural Variation of Dead Trunks on Passalid (Coleoptera: Passalidae) Assemblages in Central Amazonian Campinaranas.

The present study investigated the occurrence of passalids in dead trunks with structural variations. Trunks were found in areas of white sand forests, locally known as Campinarana, in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. The collections were extended from May to December 2009. The mean diameter of the trunks and their stage of decomposition were classified, and the species of Passalidae were classified according to the location of their galleries. We used multiple generalized models to investigate the relationship between abundance and permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) to investigate the relationships between predictors and passalid composition. A total of 361 passalids belonging to 13 species were collected from 11 tree species, of which Aldina heterophylla represented the highest proportion of logs (55%). Only the diameter of the trunk was related to the abundance of species, with trunks of larger diameters presented more individuals. The passalid composition was correlated with the diameter and decomposition of the trunks of all species of trees and only with the diameter of the trunks of A. heterophylla. Most of the species collected in Campinaranas construct their galleries in two or more regions of the trunk. The region that supported a greater number of colonies was the sapwood, followed by the inner bark and the soil-stem interface. The general habit of passalids found may be advantageous, probably to compensate for the low dispersion and isolation in areas with low availability of resources, such as Campinaranas forests in the Amazon.

Passalidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from the West-Most Brazilian Amazon Region: Checklist, New Records, and Identification Key.

We present a list of Passalidae species found in the westmost Brazilian Amazon region, which is considered to be a diversity-rich area due to being a tectonic and geographic transition zone in relation to Brazilian Amazon lowlands and the Andean range. The specimens acquired in field collections and museums were analyzed. Their geographical distributions were estimated based on data from labeled specimens and the literature. Twenty-nine species belonging to two subfamilies, six genera, and four subgenera were listed. Among them, 20, 1, and 2 showed to be new records for the region, Brazilian Amazon, and Brazil, respectively. An identification key is provided for the species being listed.

A comparative study on karyotypic diversification rate in mammals.

Chromosomal rearrangements have a relevant role in organismic evolution. However, little is known about the mechanisms that lead different phylogenetic clades to have different chromosomal rearrangement rates. Here, we investigate the causes behind the wide karyotypic diversity exhibited by mammals. In particular, we analyzed the role of metabolic, reproductive, biogeographic and genomic characteristics on the rates of macro- and microstructural karyotypic diversification (rKD) using comparative phylogenetic methods. We found evidence that reproductive characteristics such as larger litter size per year and longevity, by allowing a higher number of meioses in absolute time, favor a higher probability of chromosomal change. Furthermore, families with large geographic distributions but containing species with restricted geographic ranges showed a greater probability of fixation of macrostructural chromosomal changes in different geographic areas. Finally, rKD does not evolve by Brownian motion because the mutation rate depends on the concerted evolution of repetitive sequences. The decisive factors of rKD evolution will be natural selection, genetic drift and meiotic drive that will eventually allow or not the fixation of the rearrangements. Our results indicate that mammalian karyotypic diversity is influenced by historical and adaptive mechanisms where reproductive and genomic factors modulate the rate of chromosomal change.

Passipassalus brevicornis n. sp.: a New Passalidae (Coleoptera) from Brazilian Amazonian, with a Key to the Species of Passipassalus Reyes-Castillo & Fonseca.

Passipassalus brevicornis n. sp. is described from two specimens from Tefé and Coari, Amazonas, Brazil. This species represents the fifth species recognized of Passipassalus and differs from the other species of the genus mainly by having an apex of central tubercle of median frontal structure not free, frontal fossae with some scarce setae, metasternal fossae with scarce setae, humeri fully pubescent, and marginal groove over anterior ventral edge of femur I marked and complete. Additionally, a key to the species of Passipassalus is given.

Parasitoid Wasps in Flower Heads of Asteraceae in the Brazilian Cerrado: Taxonomical Composition and Determinants of Diversity.

This study provides the first survey of the parasitoid fauna reared in flower heads of Asteraceae in the Brazilian cerrado. We investigated the relative importance of herbivore richness and plant species commonness to differences in parasitoid species richness among the plant species. A total of 15,372 specimens from 192 morphospecies belonging to 103 genera of Hymenoptera were reared from the flower heads of 74 Asteraceae species. Chalcidoidea and Ichneumonoidea were the most common superfamilies, with Eulophidae and Braconidae as the main families of parasitoid wasps. Singletons and doubletons accounted for 45% of total parasitoid species richness. The number of parasitoid species per plant species ranged from 1 to 67, and the variation in parasitoid species richness among plants was mainly explained by the number of sites in which the plants were recorded. This study shows that there is a highly diversified fauna of Hymenoptera parasitoids associated with flower heads of Asteraceae in the Brazilian cerrado. Our findings suggest that the accumulation of parasitoid species on plants is mainly determined by the regional commonness of plant species rather than the number of herbivore species associated with the plants.

Storage of refrigerated raw goat milk affecting the quality of whole milk powder.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the growth of lipolytic bacteria in raw goat milk stored under refrigeration for different periods on quality parameters of goat milk powder during its shelf life. Fresh goat milk (100L) was collected after milking, divided into 3 identical fractions, and stored at 4°C for 1, 3, and 5d. On d 1, 3, and 5, one sample (1L) was collected and used for microbiological and chemical analysis, and the remaining fraction (almost 30L) was spray dried and stored at 25°C. Milk powder was submitted to microbiological, chemical, and sensory analysis immediately after production, and on d 60, 120, and 180. Lipolytic psychrotrophic counts and total free fatty acid content did not increase in raw milk during storage. However, peroxide value, caprylic and capric acid concentrations, and total free fatty acid content of milk powder increased during 180d of storage, with higher levels found in milk powder manufactured with raw milk stored for 5d. Capric odor and rancid flavors increased in milk powder during storage, regardless the of storage of raw milk for 1, 3, or 5d. Heat treatments used during powder processing destroyed lipolytic psychrotrophic bacteria, but did not prevent lipolysis in milk powder. Results of this trial indicate that the storage of raw goat milk at 4°C should not exceed 3d to preserve the quality of goat milk powder during its shelf life of 180d.

[Hemoperitoneum as the form of presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma. The contribution of computed tomography to the diagnosis]. / Hemoperitoneu como forma de apresentação de carcinoma hepatocelular. Contributo da Tomografia Computorizada para o diagnóstico.

Haemoperitoneum following rupture of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unusual. Two patients with secondary massive intraperitoneal haemorrhage due to spontaneous rupture of HCC diagnosed by Computed Tomography (TC) are discussed. The most important clinical and imagiological features of this pathology are presented.

[Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast with a 10-year evolution]. / Carcinoma lobular invasivo da mama com 10 anos de evolução.

The authors present a case of an 82-year-old woman with on invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast (ILC) diagnosed ten years ago in a left axillary adenopathy. Physical and mammographic findings appeared as normal. Some considerations are made about the low incidence, the clinical examination and mammographic findings. ILC is reported as being frequently multicentric and bilateral. The uncommon challenge of this clinical case is presented.