RESUMO: Objetivou-se avaliar os modelos matemáticos Gompertz, Groot, monomolecular, Richards e logístico bicompartimental para estudar a cinética de produção de gás in vitro de dietas compostas de combinações de feno ou silagem de Gliricídia. Além disso, avaliou-se os efeitos da inclusão de feno ou silagem de Gliricídia sobre a produção cumulativa de gás in vitro destas dietas. A cinética de fermentação ruminal foi avaliada pela metodologia de produção cumulativa de gás in vitro. Os parâmetros dos modelos foram estimados usando o método de Gauss Newton, com exceção do modelo de Richards, que foi usado algoritmo de Marquardt. O ajuste dos modelos foi avaliado por meio do coeficiente de determinação, teste F para a identidade dos parâmetros, coeficiente de correlação e concordância, raiz quadrada do quadrado médio do erro da predição e a decomposição do quadrado médio do erro da predição em erro médio, vício sistemático e erro aleatório. Os modelos foram comparados quanto à acurácia (quadrado médio da predição pareado) e quanto à sua precisão (critério de informação delta de Akaike). Todas as estatísticas de avaliação e comparação dos modelos foram calculadas usando o software Model Evaluation System versão 3.2.2. Os modelos de Groot e Richards não diferiram entre si (P>0.05) e foram os mais precisos e acurados (P<0.05). Portanto, modelo de Groot foi selecionado devido apresentar melhor acurácia e precisão e apresentar maior facilidade na obtenção dos parâmetros. A inclusão da silagem de Gliricídia na dieta, resultou em elevação no tempo para obtenção da máxima taxa de degradação e no tempo após a incubação em que metade do nível assintótico foi atingido. Recomenda-se a utilização do modelo de Groot para estimativa da curva média. A inclusão da silagem de Gliricídia altera a curva de produção de gás devido o maior tempo necessário para que a dieta atingisse a máxima taxa de degradação, isso pode elevar o tempo de permanência da dieta no rúmen e promover redução no consumo.

ABSTRACT: This study examined the use of the Gompertz, Groot, monomolecular, Richards and two-compartment-logistic mathematical models to investigate the kinetics of in vitro gas production of diets composed of combinations of Gliricidia hay or silage. In addition, the effects of Gliricidia hay or silage inclusion on the in vitro cumulative gas production of these diets were evaluated. Rumen fermentation kinetics were analyzed by the in vitro cumulative gas production methodology. The model parameters were estimated using the Gauss Newton method, with the exception of the Richards model, which was used by Marquardt’s algorithm. Model fit was assessed using the determination coefficient, F test for parameters identity, concordance correlation coefficient, root mean square error of prediction, and decomposition of mean square error of prediction into mean error, systematic bias and random error. The models were compared for accuracy (pairwise mean square error of prediction) and precision (delta Akaike’s information criterion). All model evaluation and comparison statistics were calculated using Model Evaluation System software version 3.2.2. The Groot and Richards models did not differ from each other (P>0.05) and were the most precise and accurate (P<0.05). Therefore, the Groot model was selected due to its better accuracy and precision and easier access to the parameters. The inclusion of Gliricidia silage in the diet resulted in an increase in the time to obtain the maximum rate of degradation and in the time after incubation when half of the asymptotic level was reached. The Groot model is recommended to estimate the average curve. Dietary inclusion of Gliricidia silage alters the gas production curve due to the longer time required for the diet to reach the maximum rate of degradation, this can increase the time the diet remains in rumen and promote a reduction in the consumption.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is a zoonosis of humans, wild and domestic mammals, including dogs. In Panama, the main T. cruzi vector is Rhodnius pallescens, a triatomine bug whose main natural habitat is the royal palm, Attalea butyracea. In this paper, we present results from three T. cruzi serological tests (immunochromatographic dipstick, indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA) performed in 51 dogs from 24 houses in Trinidad de Las Minas, western Panama. We found that nine dogs were seropositive (17.6% prevalence). Dogs were 1.6 times more likely to become T. cruziseropositive with each year of age and 11.6 times if royal palms where present in the peridomiciliary area of the dog’s household or its two nearest neighbours. Mouse-baited-adhesive traps were employed to evaluate 12 peridomestic royal palms. All palms were found infested with R. pallescens with an average of 25.50 triatomines captured per palm. Of 35 adult bugs analysed, 88.6% showed protozoa flagellates in their intestinal contents. In addition, dogs were five times more likely to be infected by the presence of an additional domestic animal species in the dog’s peridomiciliary environment. Our results suggest that interventions focused on royal palms might reduce the exposure to T. cruzi infection.

Presentamos evidencia de la contribución relativa de la dispersión primaria y secundaria de semillas en la suerte que corren las mismas y en el reclutamiento de plántulas de la especie de bosque húmedo tropical Dipteryx oleifera. Este estudio fue realizado en una parcela permanente de 6.37 ha en la que semillas y plántulas del cohorte del 2007 fueron localizadas y mapeadas. Etiquetamos 2 814 semillas para evaluar su suerte un año después de la germinación. Encontramos que la dispersión primaria por murciélagos libera a las semillas de la depredación bajo la copa del árbol adulto causada por la fase larval de un insecto. Los murciélagos dispersan semillas bajo la copa de palmas usadas como comederos, localizados a 40.94±1.48m del árbol de D. oleifera más cercano y vertebrados terrestres congregaran las semillas en caches localizados aproximadamente a 41.90±2.43m del árbol de D. oleifera. Un modelo proporcional de riesgos fue ajustado a los datos de semillas y los resultados sugieren que la dispersión decrece la probabilidad de mortalidad de las semillas 1.16% por cada metro del árbol conspecífico más cercano (p<0.001) y la dispersión secundaria de semillas decrece la probabilidad de mortalidad 23.94% por cada metro (p<0.001). Los modelos de regresión de quebrados muestran que las semillas inviables reducen la tasa de depredación de las viables. Por cada semilla inviable depositada por los murciélagos en las agrupaciones de semillas, la tasa de depredación por vertebrados terrestres decreció 6% (p<0.001). Por cada semilla dañada por vertebrados en las agrupaciones, la tasa de germinación decreció 4% (p<0.001). Por cada semilla germinada en las agrupaciones, la tasa de reclutamiento incrementó 16% (p=0.000). La sobrevivencia de plántulas con dispersión secundaria fue estadísticamente diferente a la de aquellas que únicamente tuvieron dispersión primaria (F=0.153, p=0.697, df=1.98). Ambos tipos de dispersión contribuyeron con una alta sobrevivencia de plántulas lejos del árbol congénere más cercano (r²=0.713, n=578, p=0.004). Concluimos que la distribución de las plántulas de D. oleifera es consistente con la Hipótesis de Janzen- Connell y depende de la dispersión primaria por murciélagos, dispersión secundaria por vertebrados terrestres, el efecto de enmascaramiento y el constante ataque de insectos herbívoros a las plántulas.

The relative contributions of primary and secondary seed dispersal to plant demography have received little investigation. Evidence on these seed dispersal types, on seed fate and seedling recruitment of the tropical rain forest tree Dipteryx oleifera, is presented. The study was conducted in a 6.37ha permanent plot where seeds and seedlings were located and tagged for the 2007 cohort. A total of 2 814 seeds were threaded and their fate was followed one year after germination. Primary seed dispersal by bats protected seeds from insect larval predation below the adult tree. Bats congregated seeds in bat seed piles located at a mean distance of 40.94±1.48m from the nearest adult individual of D. oleifera. Terrestrial vertebrates congregated seeds in caches located 41.90±2.43m from the nearest adult individual of D. oleifera. The results of the fitted proportional hazard model suggested that primary seed dispersal decreased seed hazard probability by 1.12% for each meter from the adult conspecific (p<0.001) and that secondary seed dispersal decreased it by 23.97% (p<0.001). Besides, the odds ratio regression models results showed that the overall effect of unviable seeds was a reduction in viable seed predation rate. For each unviable seed deposited by bats into the seed piles, the rate of seed predation by terrestrial vertebrates decreased 6% (p<0.001). For each damaged seed by terrestrial vertebrates in the seed piles, the rate of germination decreased 4% (p<0.001). For each germinated seed in the seed piles, the rate of recruitment increased 16% (p=0.001). Seedling survival of seeds that emerged after secondary seed dispersal events, showed no statistically significant difference in arthropod herbivory, in relation to seedlings that came from seeds that were dispersed only primarily by bats (F=0.153, p=0.697, df=1.98). Thus both primary and secondary dispersal contributed to higher seedling survival away from the nearest adult D. oleifera (r2=0.713, n=578, p=0.004). The distribution of D. oleifera seedlings is consistent with the Janzen-Connell Hypothesis and depends on primary dispersal by bats, secondary dispersal by terrestrial vertebrates, a seed masking effect and, the constant threat of insect herbivores on seedlings. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 991-1007. Epub 2010 September 01.

Se presenta evidencia que sugiere (1) que los niveles bajos de herbivoría de artrópodos se correlacionan con la supervivencia de plántulas y, (2) que la presencia de arañas se correlaciona con los niveles bajos de herbivoría de artrópodos, crecimiento y supervivencia de plántulas de la especie de bosque húmedo tropical Dipteryx oleifera en el este de Nicaragua. El estudio se realizó entre enero del 2005 y enero del 2006 en una parcela de 6.37 ha establecida en 2002. Se midió altura de plántulas, presencia de arañas en plántulas, comportamiento de arañas, y porcentaje de herbivoría de artrópodos. La suerte de las plántulas fue monitoreada con el objetivo de determinar su correlación con la presencia de arañas, el tamaño inicial de las plántulas y herbivoría de artrópodos. Un GLM mostró que las plántulas con bajo nivel de daño de herbivoría (<20%) sobrevivieron más que las plántulas con niveles mayores de daño por herbivoría, las cuales experimentaron mortalidades cercanas al 100 por ciento. Los resultados de otro GLM sugieren que la altura media de plántulas (aprox. 8 cm) incrementó aproximadamente 1.5 cm por cada año en el cual las arañas se encontraron presente en las plántulas, y decrecieron 0.75 cm en altura por cada unidad de herbivoría. También se reporta menor herbivoría en plántulas colonizadas por arañas de comportamiento agresivo.

This research presents evidence showing that: (1) lower arthropod herbivory correlates with seedling survival, and (2) spider presence correlates with lower arthropod herbivory, seedling growth, and seedling survival of the tropical rainforest tree species Dipteryx oleifera in eastern Nicaragua. The study was conducted from January 2005 to January 2006 in a 6.37 ha permanent plot established in 2002. Seedling height, spider behavior and presence on seedlings, and percentage of leaf area lost due to arthropod herbivory were measured. Arthropod herbivory was assessed from digital photographs of each seedling within the permanent plot. Seedling fate was followed in order to determine its correlation with spider presence, initial seedling size, and arthropod herbivory. A GLM showed that seedling survival correlated negatively with lower levels of arthropod herbivory (<20%), while seedlings with higher levels of herbivore damage experienced mortalities close to 100%. Results from another GLM suggests that seedling mean height (aprox. 8 cm) would be increased by approximately 1.5 cm for each year that spiders were present on seedlings and would be decreased 0.75 cm in height for each percent unit of arthropod herbivory. We also report a trend toward lower arthropod herbivory in seedlings colonized by spiders with aggressive traits, presumably because more aggressive spiders better defended seedlings against herbivorous arthropods than less aggressive spiders. Rev. Biol. Trop. 57 (3): 837-846. Epub 2009 September 30.

OBJETIVO: Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade de vida (QV) em três diferentes grupos de epilepsia e verificar a esfera percebida como de maior impacto na vida diária. METODOLOGIA: A amostra foi composta por 57 pacientes com epilepsias focais e generalizadas do Hospital São Paulo, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, divididos em três grupos, epilepsias do lobo temporal (ELT), extratemporais (Extra-ELT) e generalizadas idiopáticas (EGI). Os pacientes responderam a um questionário preliminar para identificar a percepção sobre os aspectos mais comprometidos em suas vidas. A QV foi avaliada por meio da versão brasileira do Quality of Life in Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE-31). A correlação dos domínios do QOLIE-31 com a duração da epilepsia e freqüência de crises foi definida pela inspeção dos gráficos de dispersão e pela correlação de Pearson e de Spearman. Foram considerados significantes os valores de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Dificuldades nas relações interpessoais, familiares e sociais foram apontadas como a esfera de maior impacto relacionado à epilepsia, citada por 13 (22,81%) pacientes. O QOLIE-31 mostrou resultado semelhante nos três diferentes tipos de epilepsia, com exceção do domínio Funcionamento Cognitivo. Os escores deste domínio foram significativamente menores (p = 0,01) no grupo com Extra-ELT (38,4) do que nos grupos ELT (52,6) e EGI (62,6). A duração da epilepsia não influenciou na QOL nesta amostra, porém foi observada uma correlação estatística significante entre a freqüência de crises e os domínios Efeitos da Medicação (p = 0,0476, alfa = 0,05) e Preocupação com Crises (p = 0,0463, alfa = 0,05). A freqüência de crises mostrou ainda uma diferença estatisticamente significante (p = 0.007) no grupo com Extra-ELT, que apresentou mais crises/paciente, quando comparado aos demais grupos. CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes identificaram as relações interpessoais, familiares e sociais como sendo a área mais afetada pela epilepsia. O domínio Funcionamento Cognitivo mostrou-se como fator determinante na QOL do grupo Extra-ELT. A freqüência de crises influenciou a QOL nos domínios Preocupação com Crises e Efeitos da Medicação nos três grupos.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life (QOL) and verify the domains of greater impact in patients with focal and generalized epilepsies. METHODS: The sample, composed by 57 subjects from Hospital São Paulo da Universidade Federal de São Paulo, was divided into 3 groups, temporal lobe epilepsies (TLE), extra-temporal epilepsies (Extra-TLE) and idiopathic generalized epilepsy (IGE). They answered a preliminary self-reported questionnaire to identify the perception of the most impaired aspects in their lives. The QOL was evaluated through the validated Brazilian version of the Quality of Life Epilepsy Inventory 31 (QOLIE-31). The correlation of the QOLIE-31 domains with epilepsy duration and seizure frequency was defined by dispersion graphics and also Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation. RESULTS: The most frequently identified impact of epilepsy was related to interpersonal, familial and social relationships mentioned by 13 (22.81%) patients. The seizure frequency per patient in Extra-TLE group was significantly greater (p = 0.007) than in the other groups. The Cognition Functioning scores were lower for the Extra-TLE group (38.4) when compared with TLE (52.6) and IGE (62.6) (p = 0.01). The correlation between epilepsy duration and QOLIE-31 domains did not demonstrate statistical significance; however, seizure frequency was correlated with Seizures Worry (p = 0.0463, alpha = 0.05) and Medication Effects (p = 0.0476, alpha = 0.05) domains. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Interpersonal, familial, and social relationships were the dimension which most impacted daily life; 2) Cognition domain in Extra-TLE group showed the worst scores; 3) QOL scores were similar in the three groups for the majority of the QOLIE-31 domains; 4) The seizure frequency in the Extra-TLE group was significantly greater; 5) Seizure frequency was associated with worse QOLIE-31 scores in the domains Seizure Worry and Medication Effects.

In the present study, a quassinoid, neosergeolide, isolated from the roots and stems of Picrolemma sprucei (Simaroubaceae), the indole alkaloids ellipticine and aspidocarpine, isolated from the bark of Aspidosperma vargasii and A. desmanthum (Apocynaceae), respectively, and 4-nerolidylcatechol, isolated from the roots of Pothomorphe peltata (Piperaceae), all presented significant in vitro inhibition (more active than quinine and chloroquine) of the multi-drug resistant K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Neosergeolide presented activity in the nanomolar range. This is the first report on the antimalarial activity of these known, natural compounds. This is also the first report on the isolation of aspidocarpine from A. desmanthum. These compounds are good candidates for pre-clinical tests as novel lead structures with the aim of finding new antimalarial prototypes and lend support to the traditional use of the plants from which these compounds are derived.