Antarctic ice-free areas are dominated by wind-dispersed organisms. However, which organisms arrive and circulate in Antarctica and how remain poorly understood. Due to their proximity to South America and less extreme conditions, the South Shetland Islands are likely to receive higher diaspore numbers. One possible consequence of climate change is that newcomers will be able to colonize ice-free areas, altering community compositions and impacting the native biota. We used DNA metabarcoding to identify non-fungal eukaryotic DNA present in the air that could potentially reach and circulate in Antarctica. Air was sampled near the Brazilian Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station on King George Island between December 2019 and January 2020. Sequences representing a total of 35 taxa from 10 phyla and 3 kingdoms were assigned: Chromista (Ciliophora, Cercozoa, Haptophyta and Ochrophyta), Plantae (Chlorophyta, Bryophyta and Magnoliophyta) and Animalia (Mollusca, Arthropoda and Chordata). The most diverse group were the plants (26 taxa), followed by Chromista (6 taxa). The most abundant sequences represented the green algae Chlamydomonas nivalis. The two angiosperm sequences represent exotic taxa; Folsomia is also exotic and was recorded only on Deception Island. Metabarcoding revealed the presence of previously undocumented airborne diversity, suggesting that the Antarctic airspora includes propagules of both local and distant origin.

Fifty years of deforestation in the Arc of Deforestation have put at risk species survival, ecosystem services and the stability of biogeochemical cycles in Amazonia, with global repercussions. In response, we need to understand the diversity, distribution and abundance of flagship species groups, such as primates, which can serve as umbrella species for broad biodiversity conservation strategies and help mitigate climate change. Here we identify the range, suitable habitat areas and population size of Vieira's titi monkey Plecturocebus vieirai and use it as an emblematic example to discuss biodiversity conservation and climate change mitigation in one of the largest deforestation frontiers. Our findings show that deforestation for agriculture and cattle-ranching expansion is the major threat to P. vieirai and is responsible for present (56%) and projected (14%) reductions in habitat area and population size. We also found that human-driven climate change affects the P. vieirai niche negatively, triggering habitat degradation and further population decline even inside protected areas. Primate watching can be a profitable alternative to forest exploitation on private, public or Indigenous lands in the Arc of Deforestation and is a way to shift the traditional, predatory extraction of natural resources from Amazonia towards sustainable land use based on biodiversity conservation at local, regional and global scales, local people's welfare and climate change mitigation. New models of land use and income generation are required to protect the unique natural and human heritages of the Arc of Deforestation and the life-supporting ecosystem services and products provided by Amazonia.

Astronium concinnum Schott ex Spreng. (Anacardiaceae) is a species used in civil construction, naval, luxury furniture, in addition to the potential for recovery and restoration of habitats. The objective of this work was to characterize the diversity and genetic structure of the A. concinnum in the Conservation Units, National Forest of Pacotuba and Private Natural Heritage Reserve of Cafundó, located in the south of the state of Espírito Santo. Eight ISSR primers were used, which produced 121 DNA fragments and 73.55% polymorphism. In the analysis of genetic dissimilarity, seven distinct groups were identified, with the majority of individuals (from both Conservation Units) being brought together into a single group. The genetic diversity of Nei (H*) and the Shannon index (I*), provided values for the species of 0.312 and 0.473, respectively, indicating the genetic diversity conserved in the species and its potential use for collecting genetically diversified seeds. The analysis of molecular variance revealed that most of the diversity (92.54%) is distributed within populations and the value of gene flow (Nm = 10.629) indicates the high rate of genetic exchange between Conservation Units. The results of the genetic structuring indicated the division of individuals into three genetic groups (K = 3), however, it was possible to observe a mixture of genetic material with the sharing of alleles between the three groups. The results indicate that A. concinnum trees maintain genetic diversity for their maintenance. In addition, the potential of the analysed individuals was certified as future matrixes for seed collection.

Excess body weight confers a high risk to human health. Body weight variation between subjects can be partially explained by genetic differences. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association of genetic variants in the ADIPOQ (rs2241766) and LEP (rs7799039) genes with body weight trajectories in children from birth to 6 years of age. This was a prospective cohort (PREDI Study). Socio-economic, biological and anthropometric data were collected at four time points: at birth in the maternity unit; 1–2, 4–5 and 6 years old at the participants’ homes. Genotyping was performed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Poisson regression and linear mixed-effect regression models were used to address the association of ADIPOQ and LEP genotypes with BMI. Excessive body weight at pre-pregnancy (β = 0·339, P = 0·01) and excessive gestational weight gain (β = 0·51, P < 0·001) were associated with children’s BMI trajectory from birth to 6 years. The ADIPOQ-rs2241766 TG or GG genotype was associated with a higher risk of excess body weight in the first 6 years of life (both sexes relative risk 1·25, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·56; female relative risk 1·67, 95 % CI 1·20, 2·31). BMI increased over the years according to the presence of the TG or GG genotype (β = 0·01, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·02), particularly in females (β = 0·02, 95 % CI 0·01, 0·04). The ADIPOQ-rs2241766 TG and GG genotypes increased the risk of excess body weight in children from birth to 6 years of age and had a positive effect on body weight trajectories in girls. The LEP-rs7799039 genetic variant was not associated with body weight trajectory in children.

Sodium smectite clays were enriched with ferric ions (Argel-Fe and Volclay-Fe) to convert the surface charge of the clays from negative to positive and to use the clays in the discolouration of a synthetic effluent composed of seven anionic dyes (mixed from tartrazine, Brilliant Blue FCF and amaranth). The iron content increased from 5.99% to 11.02% for Argel-Fe and from 5.39% to 10.54% for Volclay-Fe. The efficiency of the discolouration of the anion dye mixture was evaluated by measuring the absorbance of the mixture at 562 nm, where the band with the greatest intensity was found. The contact time required for the system to reach equilibrium was ~5 min for both adsorbents. The kinetic adsorption data supported a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The experimental data support the dual-site Langmuir–Freundlich isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacities were 88.68 mg g–1 for Argel-Fe and 392.21 mg g–1 for Volclay-Fe. The enrichment of clays with Fe(III) added functionality to the clays and generated adsorbents with rapid adsorption abilities and high discolouration capacities.

The extremotolerant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans is used as a model to explore the limits of life on Earth and beyond. In experiments performed in an ultra-high vacuum chamber with a vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) synchrotron beamline, this microorganism was exposed to conditions present on an extraterrestrial environment unprotected by an atmosphere, such as outside a spacecraft or on an asteroid, relevant in the context of planetary protection and panspermia hypothesis. Different methods were used to obtain the biologically relevant information from this investigation. Counting of colony forming units, the traditional approach for viability assessment, is limited to measuring the survival of the cells. For a more in-depth study of damage mechanisms at subcellular levels, specific molecular probes (propidium iodide and dihydrorhodamine 123) were applied and whole populations could be analysed, cell by cell, by flow cytometry. VUV radiation caused a substantial loss of viability, though only a fraction of the cells presented membrane damages even at the largest tested fluences. Additionally, intracellular oxidative stress was also detected upon exposure. These results point to significant VUV inactivating effects extending beyond the cells' outermost structures, in contrast to a more superficial role that could be expected due to the highly interacting nature of this radiation range. Nevertheless, it was observed that microscopic-level shading sufficed to allow the persistence of a small surviving subpopulation for the longer expositions. This study contributes to unveiling the response of biological systems under space conditions, assessing not just cell viability but also the mechanisms that lead to inactivation.

Urban slums provide suitable conditions for infestation by rats, which harbour and shed a wide diversity of zoonotic pathogens including helminths. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with the probability and intensity of infection of helminths of the digestive tract in an urban slum population of Rattus norvegicus. Among 299 rats, eleven species/groups of helminths were identified, of which Strongyloides sp., Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and, the human pathogen, Angiostrongylus cantonensis were the most frequent (97, 41 and 39%, respectively). Sex interactions highlighted behavioural differences between males and females, as eg males were more likely to be infected with N. brasiliensis where rat signs were present, and males presented more intense infections of Strongyloides sp. Moreover, rats in poor body condition had higher intensities of N. brasiliensis. We describe a high global richness of parasites in R. norvegicus, including five species known to cause disease in humans. Among these, A. cantonensis was found in high prevalence and it was ubiquitous in the study area – knowledge which is of public health importance. A variety of environmental, demographic and body condition variables were associated with helminth species infection of rats, suggesting a comparable variety of risk factors for humans.

Introduction: Aripiprazole, a dopamine D2 receptor partial agonist, has also partial agonist activity at serotonin (5-HT)1A receptors and antagonist activity at 5-HT2A receptors.

Methods: In this 8-week, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, open-label, flexible-dose study, patients diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were randomized to aripiprazole 15–30 mg/day or haloperidol 10–15 mg/day.

Results: Patients treated with both aripiprazole and haloperidol improved from baseline in Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total, positive, and negative scores as well as in Clinical Global Impressions scores (all P<.001). At the end of the study, the percentage of patients classified as responders—according to ≥40% reduction in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale negative subscale score—was significantly higher in the aripiprazole group (20%) than in the haloperidol group (0%) (P<.05). Additionally, a higher number of patients receiving haloperidol required more anticholinergic medications (P<.001) than aripiprazole-treated patients, whereas more aripiprazole (45.5%) than haloperidol-treated patients (12.9%) required benzodiazepines (P=.002). At endpoint, rates of preference of medication were higher in the aripiprazole group (63.2%) than in the haloperidol group (21.7%), as expressed by patients and caregivers (P=.001).

Conclusion: Aripiprazole and haloperidol had similar efficacy in terms of reduction of overall psychopathology. Although aripiprazole has been demonstrated to be superior concerning negative symptoms and in terms of tolerability (extrapyramidal symptoms) and preferred by patients and caregivers than haloperidol, significantly more aripiprazole-treated patients required benzodiazepines.

Embryological studies in fish species are useful to the understanding of their biology and systematics. The available biological data in Leiarius marmoratus are scarce and additional information about its reproductive biology is needed, mainly because this species has been commercially exploited and used in production of hybrid lineages. In order to evaluate the temporal–morphological embryonic modifications in L. marmoratus, samples of nearly 200 embryos were collected at random at different stages of development, starting from fecundation (time zero). Embryos were fixed in modified Karnovsk's solution and 2.5% glutaraldehyde, processed and analysed under optic and electron microscopy. The incubation period of L. marmoratus was equal to 14.42 h at a mean temperature of 28.3 ± 0.07°C. The following stages of embryonic development were established: zygote, cleavage, gastrula, organogenesis and hatching. These stages were divided into phases, as follows: cleavage – phases of 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 cells and morula; gastrula – phases of 25, 50, 75 and 90% of epiboly and blastopore closure; and organogenesis – neurula, segmentation and pre-larval phases. The embryogenesis of L. marmoratus was typical of neotropical teleosteans, with peculiarities in species development.

In this paper we describe the preparation of fluorescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) for traceable drug delivery systems. The nanoparticles were prepared following a sol–gel procedure, incorporating a modified perylenediimide dye in the silica structure. Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy show that the nanoparticles are monodispersed, with a spheroid shape and a raspberry-type surface morphology. The hybrid MSNs are robust, maintaining the mesoporous structure after template removal, with a pore diameter above 2 nm. A polymer shell was synthesized from the external surface of the hybrid nanoparticles by atom transfer radical polymerization, showing temperature-switchable collapsed/expanded conformation control. The fluorescent properties of the perylenediimide dye incorporated in the MSN pore walls are intact, and internalization in HEK293 cells shows that the nanoparticles are efficiently dispersed in the cytosol. These results show that the mesoporous fluorescent hybrid nanoparticles are an excellent platform for development of a traceable drug delivery system.

In this work, we evaluated the influence of long rocky jetties (~5 km) on fish abundance and diversity between sheltered and exposed marine sandy beaches. We also described and compared the fish community structure and investigated the relationships between environmental variables and fish assemblages. Fish were collected monthly with a beach seine net from May 2001 to May 2002 at the Cassino and Mar Grosso beaches. Twenty-nine taxa were caught and the fish assemblage showed similar composition between beaches (Sj = 62.1%; %Min = 52.3%), with 18 species in common. Most of the fish were juveniles, mainly young-of-the-year with sizes ≤60 mm total length. Eight species (Trachinotus marginatus, Mugil liza, Brevoortia pectinata, Menticirrhus littoralis, Menticirrhus americanus, Odontesthes argentinensis and Oncopterus darwinii) were the most abundant, accounting for 95.6% of the total catch. At both beaches, only T. marginatus, M. liza and M. littoralis were frequent and abundant, but with some differences in their relative abundance. The canonical correspondence analysis results showed that temperature had the highest correlation with fish abundance. Seasonal changes in fish assemblage structure were evident, with a greater species diversity and abundance in the spring and summer. The overall results indicate that the presence of jetties had no effect on fish assemblages of adjacent sandy beaches. Moreover, differences between beaches were related to some species abundance and not to differences in the number and composition of species between beaches.

This review reports the Brazilian history in astrobiology, as well as the first delineation of a vision of the future development of the field in the country, exploring its abundant biodiversity, highly capable human resources and state-of-the-art facilities, reflecting the last few years of stable governmental investments in science, technology and education, all conditions providing good perspectives on continued and steadily growing funding for astrobiology-related research. Brazil is growing steadily and fast in terms of its worldwide economic power, an effect being reflected in different areas of the Brazilian society, including industry, technology, education, social care and scientific production. In the field of astrobiology, the country has had some important landmarks, more intensely after the First Brazilian Workshop on Astrobiology in 2006. The history of astrobiology in Brazil, however, is not so recent and had its first occurrence in 1958. Since then, researchers carried out many individual initiatives across the country in astrobiology-related fields, resulting in an ever growing and expressive scientific production. The number of publications, including articles and theses, has particularly increased in the last decade, but still counting with the effort of researchers working individually. That scenario started to change in 2009, when a formal group of Brazilian researchers working with astrobiology was organized, aiming at congregating the scientific community interested in the subject and to promote the necessary interactions to achieve a multidisciplinary work, receiving facilities and funding from the University de Sao Paulo and other funding agencies.

Introduction. Alternative propagation techniques must be developed in order to reduce the time required to evaluate germplasm in citrus breeding programs. Our study investigated the rooting capacity and initial plant development of different citrus somatic hybrids that have potential for use as rootstocks. Materials and methods. Eleven different hybrids were tested. Cuttings of these plants were placed in trays inside an intermittent mist chamber. After 100 days, the percentage of cuttings with callous and with roots, average number of roots, and root length were recorded. The cuttings were then transferred to plastic bags and kept in the greenhouse. The flush length was recorded monthly. After 7 months, the percentage of plants suitable for grafting and the average scion and root dry mass were calculated. Results and discussion. [Caipira sweet orange + Cleopatra mandarin], [Caipira sweet orange + Volkamer lemon], [Rangpur lime + Sunki mandarin] and [Rohde Red Valencia sweet orange + Volkamer lemon] hybrids developed many roots, while [Caipira sweet orange + Volkamer lemon] and [Rohde Red Valencia sweet orange + Volkamer lemon] hybrids showed the best development after the transplant.