Abstract Tijuca National Park (TNP) covers an area corresponding to 3.5% of the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is an Atlantic Rainforest fragment with peaks and watersheds that make this protected area a mosaic of habitats. It is composed of four subunits: Serra da Carioca, Pedra Bonita and Pedra da Gávea Inselbergs, Tijuca Forest, and the Pretos Forros/ Covanca Considering the importance of conserving biodiversity in rainforest fragments, such as those found in Tijuca National Park and its subunits, we analyzed the spatial distribution of species in relation to climatic factors that could impact species richness. In addition to floristic analysis, we provide details of endemism, conservation status, substrate and habitat preferences, as well as data on geographic distribution patterns for each species. Precipitation during the wettest month was shown to be one of the most important climatic features in the study area and may be related to floristic richness and composition. The TNP holds about 38.5% of known species in the state of Rio de Janeiro with 254 taxa distributed in 26 families and 83 genera. Floristic richness can be impacted by environmental variables, including climatic factors. Our results show that relating floristic richness to environmental variables can be a way to understand biodiversity.

Resumo O Parque Nacional da Tijuca ocupa uma área correspondente a 3,5% da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. É um fragmento de Mata Atlântica com picos e bacias hidrográficas que fazem desta área protegida um mosaico de habitats. É composto por quatro subunidades: Serra da Carioca, Pedra Bonita e Pedra da Gávea Inselbergs, Tijuca Forest, e Pretos Forros/ Covanca. As espécies foram analisadas quanto à sua distribuição espacial, relacionando-as com os fatores climáticos que poderiam afetar a riqueza. Além disso, fornecemos comentários sobre o endemismo, estado de conservação das espécies, uma análise florística e dados sobre os padrões de distribuição geográfica. A precipitação do mês mais chuvoso foi uma das características ambientais mais importantes para essas áreas e pode estar relacionada à similaridade florística entre elas. O Parque Nacional da Tijuca detém cerca de 38,5% das espécies conhecidas para o estado do Rio de Janeiro, com 254 taxa, distribuídos em 26 famílias e 83 gêneros. Os nossos resultados mostram que, relacionar a riqueza florística às variáveis ambientais, pode ser uma caminho para o entendimento da biodiversidade..

Abstract Objective To evaluate the frequencies of iNKT cells and their subsets in patients with deep endometriosis. Methods A case-control study was conducted between 2013 and 2015, with 73 patients distributed into two groups: 47 women with a histological diagnosis of endometriosis and 26 controls. Peripheral blood, endometriosis lesions, and healthy peritoneal samples were collected on the day of surgery to determine the frequencies of iNKT cells and subtypes via flow cytometry analysis. Results The authors observed a lower number of iNKT (p= 0.01) and Double-Negative (DN) iNKT cells (p= 0.02) in the blood of patients with endometriosis than in the control group. The number of DN iNKT IL-17+ cells in the secretory phase was lower in the endometriosis group (p= 0.049). There was an increase in the secretion of IL-17 by CD4+ iNKT cells in the blood of patients with endometriosis and severe dysmenorrhea (p= 0.038), and severe acyclic pelvic pain (p= 0.048). Patients with severe dysmenorrhea also had a decreased number of CD4+ CCR7+ cells (p= 0.022). Conclusion The decreased number of total iNKT and DN iNKT cells in patients with endometriosis suggests that iNKT cells play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis and can be used to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic agents.

Resumen La hoja del jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus) es la parte de la planta de interés económico de la cual se extrae la pilocarpina, por lo que la producción de hojas es la principal variable que determina la productividad de esa especie. La producción de hojas del Pilocarpus puede ser manejada por medio de la poda de sus ramas durante su fase de desarrollo. Con base en esto, el objetivo del trabajo es evaluar la regeneración de ramas de jaborandi sometidas a dos tipos de cortes y bajo sistemas de cultivos diferentes. En este experimento se realizaron podas en plantas de jaborandi, provenientes de diferentes accesos del Banco Activo de Germoplasma (Bag) de jaborandi, que estaban bajo diferentes sistemas de cultivos, a pleno sol y sombra. Con el auxilio de tijera de poda, se realizaron cortes a la altura de 10 y 20 cm de distancia de las bifurcaciones de las ramas en plantas de jaborandi. Los resultados mostraron que independiente de las distancias de los cortes realizados, las podas beneficiaron el surgimiento de nuevas brotaciones, logrando anticipar la cosecha e influir en la producción de hojas sin perjudicar el desarrollo de la planta. La poda drástica realizada en la especie Pilocarpus microphyllus estimula una regeneración eficiente sin dañar la planta proporcionando mayor producción de hojas independiente de la dirección de la poda realizada en el arbusto. Se observa que el cultivo del jaborandi se vuelve más productivo cuando se cultiva a pleno sol independiente del germoplasma utilizado y la cosecha de las hojas puede ser realizada durante todos los meses del año.

Abstract The leaf of the jaborandi (Pilocarpus microphyllus) is the part of the plant of economic interest, from which the pilocarpine is extracted, therefore, leaf production is the main variable that determines the productivity of this species. Pilocarpus leaf production can be managed during its development phase. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate branch regeneration of jaborandi submitted to two types of cutting/pruning and different cropping systems. Prunings were carried out in jaborandi plants from different accessions from the Janorandi Active Germoplasm Bank (BGA), that were under different cropping systems, full sun and shade. With pruning shears, cuts were made 10 and 20 cm from the branch bifurcations. The results showed that regardless of the distances of the cuts in the jaborandi plants, the prunings benefited new shoots production and the harvest and influence on leaf production could be anticipated without harming the plant's development. The drastic pruning performed on the species also stimulated efficient regeneration without damaging the plant, resulting in bigger leaf production, regardless of the pruning direction. It was also observed that jaborandi cultivation becomes more productive when it is grown under full sun regardless of the germplasm used, and the leaves can be harvested in all the months of the year.

The ongoing decline in abundance and diversity of shark stocks, primarily due to uncontrolled fishery exploitation, is a worldwide problem. An additional problem for the development of conservation and management programmes is the identification of species diversity within a given area, given the morphological similarities among shark species, and the typical disembarkation of processed carcasses which are almost impossible to differentiate. The main aim of the present study was to identify those shark species being exploited off northern Brazil, by using the 12S-16S molecular marker. For this, DNA sequences were obtained from 122 specimens collected on the docks and the fish market in Bragança, in the Brazilian state of Pará. We identified at least 11 species. Three-quarters of the specimens collected were either Carcharhinus porosus or Rhizoprionodon sp, while a notable absence was the daggernose shark, Isogomphodon oxyrhyncus, previously one of the most common species in local catches. The study emphasises the value of molecular techniques for the identification of cryptic shark species, and the potential of the 12S-16S marker as a tool for phylogenetic inferences in a study of elasmobranchs.