Abstract Ecosystem engineering species create, modify, and/or maintain the characteristics of the environment. The polychaete Phragmatopoma caudata builds large sand reefs in the intertidal region of the Brazilian coast with high structural complexity, favoring the increase of diversity and interactions among the species associated. However, there are no studies concerning the association of polychaetes with crustacean macrofauna in the northeastern Brazil ecoregion, leaving an information gap on baseline biodiversity. Our aim was to analyze the effect of P. caudata colonies (PC) on the local diversity of macrocrustaceans compared to the rocky shore (RS) microhabitat. Monthly collections were carried out in low tide from September 2015 to August 2016 on 10 × 10 m quadrants for fauna and environmental variables (temperature and salinity) samples. In each microhabitat, the capture effort was two hours by two researchers. We collected 3,390 individuals, 60% associated with the colonies of PC and 40% with the RS. The PC obtained higher Shannon diversity, Pielou evenness and species richness coupled with milder water temperature and salinity conditions (minor air exposure during tide), compared to the RS that obtained greater species dominance and more extreme abiotic conditions (major air exposure). The Porcellanidae family stood out because all its species were highly abundant and had high occurrence in the colonies. The tropical Brazil porcelain crab Pachycheles greeleyi was dominant in both microhabitats (major dominance in PC). The structural complexity in the reefs of PC promoted higher availability of niches for the species, as more shelter for the resident species and refugium for temporary species with preference for more complex microhabitats. Conservation managers should prioritize the health of these colonies and subsequent species that constitute important ecosystemic and fishery resources.

ABSTRACT Leishmaniasis is a disease that affects millions of people and it is an important public health problem. The drugs currently used for the treatment of leishmaniasis present undesirable side effects and low efficacy. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro activity of Melampodium divaricatum (MD-EO) and Casearia sylvestris (CS-EO) essential oils (EO) against promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis. Sesquiterpenes E-caryophyllene (56.0%), germacrene D (12.7%) and bicyclogermacrene (9.2%) were identified as the main components of MD-EO, whereas E-caryophyllene (22.2%), germacrene D (19.6%) and bicyclogermacrene (12.2%) were the main constituents of CS-EO. CS-EO and E-caryophyllene were active against promastigote forms of L. amazonensis (IC50 24.2, 29.8 and 49.9 µg/mL, respectively). However, MD-EO, CS-EO and E-caryophyllene were more active against amastigote forms, with IC50 values of 10.7, 14.0, and 10.7 µg/mL, respectively. E-caryophyllene presented lower cytotoxicity against macrophages J774-A1 (CC50 of 62.1 µg/mL) than the EO. The EOs and E-caryophyllene should be further studied for the development of new antileishmanial drugs.

Abstract: This work focuses on developing a fast coral reef detector, which is used for an autonomous underwater vehicle, AUV. A fast detection secures the AUV stabilization respect to an area of reef as fast as possible, and prevents devastating collisions. We use the algorithm of Purser et al. (2009) because of its precision. This detector has two parts: feature extraction that uses Gabor Wavelet filters, and feature classification that uses machine learning based on Neural Networks. Due to the extensive time of the Neural Networks, we exchange for a classification algorithm based on Decision Trees. We use a database of 621 images of coral reef in Belize (110 images for training and 511 images for testing). We implement the bank of Gabor Wavelets filters using C++ and the OpenCV library. We compare the accuracy and running time of 9 machine learning algorithms, whose result was the selection of the Decision Trees algorithm. Our coral detector performs 70ms of running time in comparison to 22s executed by the algorithm of Purser et al. (2009).

Resumen: El presente trabajo se enfoca en el desarrollo de un detector de coral de desempeño rápido que se utiliza para un vehículo autónomo submarino (AUV, por sus siglas en inglés). Una detección rápida de coral garantiza la estabilización del AUV en las cercanías del arrecife de coral en el menor tiempo posible, evitando que la desorientación del AUV destruya al arrecife. En este trabajo se usó la investigación de Purser, Bergmann, Lundälv, Ontrup, & Nattkemper (2009), por su precisión. Este detector consta de una parte de extracción de vectores característicos, la cual se realiza con filtros Gabor Wavelets; y una parte de clasificación de vectores que usa máquinas de aprendizaje, basado en Redes Neuronales. Debido al extenso tiempo de ejecución de las Redes Neuronales, se reemplazaron por un algoritmo de clasificación basado en Árboles de Decisión. Se utilizó una base de datos de 621 imágenes de corales de Belice (110 imágenes de entrenamiento y 511 imágenes de prueba). Se implementó un banco de filtros Gabor Wavelets utilizando C++ y la librería OpenCV. Se realizó la comparación de la precisión y el tiempo de ejecución de 9 algoritmos de máquinas de aprendizaje, cuyo resultado fue la selección del algoritmo de Árboles de Decisión. Nuestro detector de coral posee un tiempo de ejecución de 70ms en comparación con 22s desarrollados por el algoritmo de Purser et al. (2009).

INTRODUÇÃO: Strongyloides venezuelensis tem sido utilizado como um modelo para estudo da estrongiloidose humana. MÉTODOS: O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a capacidade predatória dos fungos nematófagos Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), Arthrobotrys robusta (I-31) e Monacrosporium sinense (SF53) sobre larvas infectantes (L3) de Strongyloides venezuelensis em condições laboratoriais no meio ágar-água 2%. RESULTADOS: Ao final do experimento, os percentuais de redução de L3 de Strongyloides venezuelensis observados foram de: 93% (AC001); 77,2% (I-31) e 65,2% (SF53). CONCLUSÕES: Os fungos nematófagos foram capazes de capturar e destruir in vitro as L3, podendo ser utilizados como controladores biológicos de Strongyloides venezuelensis.

INTRODUCTION: Strongyloides venezuelensis has been used as a model for studying human strongyloidosis. METHODS: This study aimed to compare the ability of predatory nematophagous fungi Duddingtonia flagrans (AC001), Arthrobotrys robusta (I-31) and Monacrosporium sinense (SF53) and on infective larvae (L3) of Strongyloides venezuelensis in laboratory conditions on 2% water-agar medium. RESULTS: At the end of the experiment, the percentage reductions of Strongyloides venezuelensi L3 were: 93% (AC001), 77.2% (I-31) and 65.2% (SF53). CONCLUSIONS: The nematophagous fungi were able to capture and destroy the L3 in vitro and can be used as biological controllers of Strongyloides venezuelensi.

O presente trabalho verificou o comportamento, sobrevivência e o efeito letal de 1,5 ppb de ivermectina em larvas de Culex quinquefasciatus. As possíveis alterações morfológicas no corpo gorduroso das larvas, no número médio de ovos por postura da fêmea e a duração do período larval foram avaliadas. Na sua execução foram utilizadas 601 larvas de 3º e 4º ínstar do mosquito. Após a postura, os ovos foram separados e as larvas eclodidas contadas. Algumas larvas submetidas à solução 1,5 ppb de ivermectina, foram utilizadas para o preparo de amostras para estudos histológicos. Os resultados mostraram que a ivermectina na concentração de 1,5 ppb causou paralisia nas larvas com 73,38% de mortalidade, mobilização das substâncias estocadas no corpo gorduroso larval e uma diminuição do número de posturas.

The present work investigated the behavior, survival rate and lethal effect of 1.5 ppb ivermectin on Culex quinquefasciatus larvae, based on morphological and biological parameters, and possible alterations of their fat body. Changes in the number of eggs/egg mass and length of the larval stage were investigated. For this experiment, 600 larvae of 3rd and 4th instars of the mosquito were tested. The laid eggs were separated and the hatched larvae were counted. Some larvae submitted to 1.5 ppb ivermectin solution were used to prepare samples for histological study. Results obtained showed that ivermectin in a concentration of 1.5 ppb caused paralysis to the larvae with a mortality rate of 73.38%, mobilization of substances stored in the fat body and reduction of the number of egg laid in the adult stage.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a possível associação entre algumas variáveis do perfil lipídico e a densidade mineral óssea e se estas variáveis poderiam ser usadas como indicadoras de massa óssea em mulheres menopausadas, atendidas no ambulatório de menopausa do CAISM-Unicamp, no ano de 1995. Estudaram-se 72 pacientes pós-menopausadas, sem fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares e para osteoporose, por meio da dosagem de colesterol total e frações e da avaliação da densidade mineral óssea por densitometria óssea em aparelho Lunar DPX (Dexa). Dentre as variáveis do perfil lipídico, a densidade mineral óssea associou-se inversamente à lipoproteína HDL de alta densidade (p = 0,001). A análise de regressão múltipla observou que níveis de colesterol total acima de 240mg% associaram-se a menor densidade mineral óssea (p = 0,026). A razão entre a lipoproteína de baixa densidade e a lipoproteína de alta densidade (índice de Castelli 2) correlacionou-se positivamente com a densidade mineral óssea (p = 0,002). O teste de validação diagnóstica mostrou que todas as variáveis do perfil lipídico apresentaram baixa sensibilidade e especificidade como indicadoras de diminuição de massa óssea. Conclui-se que, apesar de algumas variáveis do perfil lipídico apresentarem associação estatisticamente significativa com a massa óssea, elas foram contraditórias e não têm boa capacidade diagnóstica.

A total of 72 postmenopausal patients presenting no risk factors for cardiovascular disease nor osteoporosis, were studied. The study evaluated total serum cholesterol and fractions and bone mass by densitometry of the lumbar spine and femur using a Lunar-DPX. There was no association between lipid profile variables and bone mineral density, except for high density lipoprotein (HDL), which showed an inverse correlation (p = 0.001). Multiple regression showed that total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg% had a positive association with BMD (p = 0.026). In addition, the ratio between LDL and HDL (Castelli 2 index) showed a negative association with BMD (p = 0.002). The diagnostic validation test showed that all lipid profile variables had low sensitivity and specificity as indicators for osteoporosis. The conclusions were that lipid profile variables did not show a significant association with bone mass and could not be used as indicators for bone mineral density.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a possível associação entre algumas variáveis do perfil lipídico e a densidade mineral óssea e se estas variáveis poderiam ser usadas como indicadoras de massa óssea em mulheres menopausadas, atendidas no ambulatório de menopausa do CAISM-Unicamp, no ano de 1995. Estudaram-se 72 pacientes pós-menopausadas, sem fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares e para osteoporose, por meio da dosagem de colesterol total e frações e da avaliação da densidade mineral óssea por densitometria óssea em aparelho Lunar DPX (Dexa). Dentre as variáveis do perfil lipídico, a densidade mineral óssea associou-se inversamente à lipoproteína HDL de alta densidade (p = 0,001). A análise de regressão múltipla observou que níveis de colesterol total acima de 240mg% associaram-se a menor densidade mineral óssea (p = 0,026). A razão entre a lipoproteína de baixa densidade e a lipoproteína de alta densidade (índice de Castelli 2) correlacionou-se positivamente com a densidade mineral óssea (p = 0,002). O teste de validação diagnóstica mostrou que todas as variáveis do perfil lipídico apresentaram baixa sensibilidade e especificidade como indicadoras de diminuição de massa óssea. Conclui-se que, apesar de algumas variáveis do perfil lipídico apresentarem associação estatisticamente significativa com a massa óssea, elas foram contraditórias e não têm boa capacidade diagnóstica.

A total of 72 postmenopausal patients presenting no risk factors for cardiovascular disease nor osteoporosis, were studied. The study evaluated total serum cholesterol and fractions and bone mass by densitometry of the lumbar spine and femur using a Lunar-DPX. There was no association between lipid profile variables and bone mineral density, except for high density lipoprotein (HDL), which showed an inverse correlation (p = 0.001). Multiple regression showed that total cholesterol levels higher than 240 mg% had a positive association with BMD (p = 0.026). In addition, the ratio between LDL and HDL (Castelli 2 index) showed a negative association with BMD (p = 0.002). The diagnostic validation test showed that all lipid profile variables had low sensitivity and specificity as indicators for osteoporosis. The conclusions were that lipid profile variables did not show a significant association with bone mass and could not be used as indicators for bone mineral density.