Arlenea delicata gen.et sp.nov.,a new ephedroid plant from the Early Cretaceous Crato Formation,Araripe Basin,Northeast Brazil

Ephedroid macrofossils have been widely documented in Cretaceous deposits,including numerous from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of NE China.However,few ephedroid macrofossils have been reported from South America.Herein,we describe a new plant of the family Ephedraceae,Arlenea delicata gen.et sp.nov.,from the Lower Cretaceous Crato Formation of the Araripe Basin,Northeast Brazil,based on the vegetative and reproductive structures.It has the typical morphological characteristics of ephedroid plants,including fertile reproductive branches,opposite phyllotaxy,terminal female cones,a sympodial branching system,longitudinally striated internodes,and swollen nodes.Our new finding is unusual in having inner chlamydosperms subtended by two pairs of bracts,reproductive units connected to branches through swollen receptacles and a smooth seed surface.This new ephedroid taxon from the Crato Formation increases our understanding of plant diversity of this group during the Early Cretaceous.Furthermore,the general morphology(fleshy bracts and enlarged receptacles)of this new fossil discovery indicates that seeds of this plant may have been dispersed by animals such as pterosaurs(mainly the Tapejaridae)and birds(Enantiornithes and Ornituromorpha).If true,this would explain the cosmopolitan distribution of Ephedraceae in the Lower Cretaceous.

Using optical coherence tomography images to evaluate fungal growth in reline resins

As changes in hard or soft oral tissues normally have a microbiological component,it is important to develop diagnostic techniques that support clinical evaluation,without destroying microbio-logical formation.The optical coherence tomography(OCT)represents an alternative to analyze tissues and microorganisms without the need for processing.This imaging technique could be defined as a fast,real-time,in situ,and non-destructive method.Thus,this study proposed the use of the OCT to visualize biofilm by Candida albicans in reline resins for removable prostheses.Three reline resins(Silagum-Comfort,Coe Comfort,and Soft-Confort),with distinct char-acteristics related to wa ter sorption and fungal inhibition were used.A total of 30 samples(10 for each resin group)were subjected to OCT scanning before and 96 h after inoculation with Candida albicans(URM 6547).The biofilm analysis was carried out through a 2D optical Callisto SD-OCT(930 nm)operated in the spectral domain.Then,the images were preprocessed using a3×3 Gaussian filter to remove the noise,and then Otsu binarization,allowing segmentation and pixel counting.The layer's biofilm formed was clearly defined and,indeed,its visualization is modified by water sorption of each material.Silagum-Comfort and Soft.Confort showed some similarities in the scattering of light between the clean and inoculated samples,in which,the latter samples presented higher values of light signal intensity.Coe-Comfort samples were the only ones that showed no di®erences between the clean or inoculated images.Therefore,the results of this study suggest that OCT is a viable technique to visualize the biolm in reline materials.Becausendings in the literature are still scarcely using the OCT technique to visualize biolm in reline resins,further studies are encouraged.It should not contain any references or displayed equations.

Mayaro fever:A brief review on the immune profile

Mayaro virus is an emergent alphavirus that infects humans,leading to Mayaro fever.Approximately fifty percent of infected patients develop arthritis symptoms in the recovery phase,a phase that can last up to a year.The literature about Mayaro virus infection and its immune response is scarce,which may hamper the development of treatment strategies.We summarize changes in cytokines and chemokines in the acute and recovery phase in Mayaro virus infected patients,and relate this molecular characterization with the immune response.VEGF and IL-12/p70 show pronounced changes in patients in the acute phase,suggesting the development of cellular immunity and Th1 response.IL-6,IL-7,CXCL8/IL-8,IL-13,IL-17,and IFN-γare elevated in patients with arthritis symptoms in the long-term recovery phase,which may be related to the continuous inflammatory process,a possible Th2 inhibiting and promoting Th17 process.Although few studies discuss the issue,with a small number of patients and different backgrounds,inflammatory and immune response and manifestations seem to be closely linked.This information may help to develop the appropriate treatment strategies in Mayaro virus infection.Therefore,we analyzed and summarized data available in literature.

Lectin from Crataeva tapia bark exerts antitumor,anti-inflammtory and analgesic activities

Crataeva tapia bark lectin was evaluated for its antitumor activity against sarcoma 180 in Swiss albino mice.The anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties were investigated in models of inflammation and nociception.The anti-inflammatory assay was induced by carrageenan induced peritonitis and the analgesic activity was induced by acetic acid-induced writhing response.The lectin presents low toxicity with a LD50 of 2,500 mg/kg body weight and significant antitumor activity causing inhibition of tumor growth.The lectin also promoted significant reduction(35.4%)in the number of neutrophil migration induced by carrageenan.Concerning its analgesic property,the lectin inhibits abdominal contractions induced by acetic acid.The current results revealed a lectin with significant antitumoral,anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities.Further investigations to unveil the exact mechanisms are needed.

Late Effects of Radiation on Skeletal Muscle: An Open Field of Research

This paper presents an overview of the state of the art about the late effects of ionizing radiation on skeletal muscle, helping new research and showing unexplored areas. For this, it was evaluated the interest reported by the scientific literature regarding the late effects in skeletal muscle resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation. Original and experimental papers mainly containing the key expressions “ionizing radiation” and “effects on skeletal muscle” were searched in computerized databases, and published in any language. Only 33 papers matched the search criteria. Analyzing the investigated radioinduced biological effects in those contributions, four topics were identified as being of major interest: 1) alterations in cellular metabolism and protein degradation;2) repercussions on satellite cells;3) formation of fibrosis and muscle atrophy;4) tissue regeneration. It was verified that no study evaluated possible late effects related to either morphology or properties of skeletal muscles after an exposure to ionizing radiation. Several aspects do not make possible a successful replication;all experiments of eligible group of articles are discussed, such as, lack of raw data, use of no sound methodology and inappropriate statistical technique. Briefly, the subject of this review is an open field of research.

Oral Health and Masticatory Performance in Adults Submitted to Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study

Background: Obesity has reached epidemic patterns and constitutes a serious public health problem due to comorbidities and the impact on life quality of affected individuals. Bariatric surgery appears as one of the most recommended treatments;however much has been known about the effects of this intervention on the functional performance of the organism as a whole. Objective: To characterize the oral health of adults submitted to bariatric surgery, before and after the intervention, with emphasis on the performance of masticatory function. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study conducted in a public reference service to the treatment of obesity in the city of Recife, State of Pernambuco. The data were obtained during the first half of 2011, through interview, intraoral physical examination and evaluation of masticatory function. Statistical treatment adopted was a CI of 95% and the chi-square test. The collection was conducted in three stages, with initial assessment in the preoperative and follow-up at 60 and 180 days. Results: The sample consisted of 20 volunteers, aged between 23 and 58 years and mean BMI of 43.2 ± 2.8. When compared the pre-operative to the control periods, there were significant differences for variables with decreased tendency towards spontaneous gingival bleeding and increased tooth hypersensitivity and tooth mobility (p < 0.05). Regarding the masticatory function, we found significant differences for most of the variables investigated, except in the coordination of movements and breathing during this function. Conclusion: The performance of masticatory function shows differences in pre- and postoperative periods for bariatric surgery.

Main Results of an Energy Audit in a Milk Processing Industry in Taquara,Southern Brazil

The industrial energy diagnosis presented in this work occurred in a milk product cooperative, from an analysis of energy consumption in the main milk industrialization and a diagnosis of energy end uses of lighting and cooling systems. Almost all stages of milk industrialization are used hot water and steam generated in the boilers. The largest electricity consumption in this sector is by electric motors followed by cooling needed to maintain the quality of milk products. Because energy costs represent a significant portion of the monthly cost of the company, an analysis of the energy costs of the past two years to check the consumption of active and reactive energy and power demand contracted is performed. This paper presents the main results of an energy audit in a milk processing industry in southern Brazil.

Fungal diversity notes 367-490:taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic papers where materials are examined,described and novel combinations are proposed where necessary to improve our traditional species concepts and provide updates on their classification.In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections,DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets(rDNA,TEF-a,RBP2 and b-Tubulin)to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic position of taxa within appropriate ranks.Wherever new species or combinations are being proposed,we apply an integrative approach(morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable).Notes on 125 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper,including eight new genera,101 new species,two new combinations,one neotype,four reference specimens,new host or distribution records for eight species and one alternative morphs.The new genera introduced in this paper are Alloarthopyrenia,Arundellina,Camarosporioides,Neomassaria,Neomassarina,Neotruncatella,Paracapsulospora and Pseudophaeosphaeria.The new species are Alfaria spartii,Alloarthopyrenia italica,Anthostomella ravenna,An.thailandica,Arthrinium paraphaeospermum,Arundellina typhae,Aspergillus koreanus,Asterina cynometrae,Bertiella ellipsoidea,Blastophorum aquaticum,Cainia globosa,Camarosporioides phragmitis,Ceramothyrium menglunense,Chaetosphaeronema achilleae,Chlamydotubeufia helicospora,Ciliochorella phanericola,Clavulinopsis aurantiaca,Colletotrichum insertae,Comoclathris italica,Coronophora myricoides,Cortinarius fulvescentoideus,Co.nymphatus,Co.pseudobulliardioides,Co.tenuifulvescens,Cunninghamella gigacellularis,Cyathus pyristriatus,Cytospora cotini,Dematiopleospora alliariae,De.cirsii,Diaporthe aseana,Di.garethjonesii,Distoseptispora multiseptata,Dis.tectonae,Dis.tectonigena,Dothiora buxi,Emericellopsis persica,Gloniopsis calami,Helicoma guttulatum,Helvella floriforma,H.oblongispora,Hermatomyces subiculosa,Juncaceicola italica,Lactarius dirkii,Lentithecium unicellulare,Le.voraginesporum,Leptosphaeria cirsii,Leptosphaeria irregularis,Leptospora galii,Le.thailandica,Lindgomyces pseudomadisonensis,Lophiotrema bambusae,Lo.fallopiae,Meliola citri-maximae,Minimelanolocus submersus,Montagnula cirsii,Mortierella fluviae,Muriphaeosphaeria ambrosiae,Neodidymelliopsis ranunculi,Neomassaria fabacearum,Neomassarina thailandica,Neomicrosphaeropsis cytisi,Neo.cytisinus,Neo.minima,Neopestalotiopsis cocoe¨s,Neopestalotiopsis musae,Neoroussoella lenispora,Neotorula submersa,Neotruncatella endophytica,Nodulosphaeria italica,Occultibambusa aquatica,Oc.chiangraiensis,Ophiocordyceps hemisphaerica,Op.lacrimoidis,Paracapsulospora metroxyli,Pestalotiopsis sequoiae,Peziza fruticosa,Pleurotrema thailandica,Poaceicola arundinis,Polyporus mangshanensis,Pseudocoleophoma typhicola,Pseudodictyosporium thailandica,Pseudophaeosphaeria rubi,Purpureocillium sodanum,Ramariopsis atlantica,Rhodocybe griseoaurantia,Rh.indica,Rh.luteobrunnea,Russula indoalba,Ru.pseudoamoenicolor,Sporidesmium aquaticivaginatum,Sp.olivaceoconidium,Sp.pyriformatum,Stagonospora forlicesenensis,Stagonosporopsis centaureae,Terriera thailandica,Tremateia arundicola,Tr.guiyangensis,Trichomerium bambusae,Tubeufia hyalospora,Tu.roseohelicospora and Wojnowicia italica.New combinations are given for Hermatomyces mirum and Pallidocercospora thailandica.A neotype is proposed for Cortinarius fulvescens.Reference specimens are given for Aquaphila albicans,Leptospora rubella,Platychora ulmi and Meliola pseudosasae,while new host or distribution records are provided for Diaporthe eres,Di.siamensis,Di.foeniculina,Dothiorella iranica,Do.sarmentorum,Do.vidmadera,Helvella tinta and Vaginatispora fuckelii,with full taxonomic details.An asexual state is also reported for the first time in Neoacanthostigma septoconstrictum.This paper contributes to a more comprehensive update and improved identification of many ascomycetes and basiodiomycetes.

Fungal diversity notes 491–602: taxonomic and phylogenetic contributions to fungal taxa

This is a continuity of a series of taxonomic and phylogenetic papers on the fungi where materials were collected from many countries,examined and described.In addition to extensive morphological descriptions and appropriate asexual and sexual connections,DNA sequence data are also analysed from concatenated datasets to infer phylogenetic relationships and substantiate systematic positions of taxa within appropriate ranks.Wherever new species or combinations are proposed,we apply an integrative approach using morphological and molecular data as well as ecological features wherever applicable.Notes on 112 fungal taxa are compiled in this paper including Biatriosporaceae and Roussoellaceae,Didysimulans gen.nov.,81 new species,18 new host records and new country records,five reference specimens,two new combinations,and three sexual and asexual morph reports.The new species are Amanita cornelii,A.emodotrygon,Angustimassarina alni,A.arezzoensis,A.italica,A.lonicerae,A.premilcurensis,Ascochyta italica,A.rosae,Austroboletus appendiculatus,Barriopsis thailandica,Berkleasmium ariense,Calophoma petasitis,Camarosporium laburnicola,C.moricola,C.grisea,C.ossea,C.paraincrustata,Colletotrichum sambucicola,Coprinopsis cerkezii,Cytospora gelida,Dacrymyces chiangraiensis,Didysimulans italica,D.mezzanensis,Entodesmium italica,Entoloma magnum,Evlachovaea indica,Exophiala italica,Favolus gracilisporus,Femsjonia monospora,Fomitopsis flabellata,F.roseoalba,Gongronella brasiliensis,Helvella crispoides,Hermatomyces chiangmaiensis,H.chromolaenae,Hysterium centramurum,Inflatispora caryotae,Inocybe brunneosquamulosa,I.luteobrunnea,I.rubrobrunnea,Keissleriella cirsii,Lepiota cylindrocystidia,L.flavocarpa,L.maerimensis,Lophiotrema guttulata,Marasmius luculentus,Morenoina calamicola,Moelleriella thanathonensis,Mucor stercorarius,Myrmecridium fluviae,Myrothecium septentrionale,Neosetophoma garethjonesii,Nigrograna cangshanensis,Nodulosphaeria guttulatum,N.multiseptata,N.sambuci,Panus subfasciatus,Paraleptosphaeria padi,Paraphaeosphaeria viciae,Parathyridaria robiniae,Penicillium punicae,Phaeosphaeria calamicola,Phaeosphaeriopsis yuccae,Pleurophoma italica,Polyporus brevibasidiosus,P.koreanus,P.orientivarius,P.parvovarius,P.subdictyopus,P.ulleungus,Pseudoasteromassaria spadicea,Rosellinia mearnsii,Rubroboletus demonensis,Russula yanheensis,Sigarispora muriformis,Sillia italica,Stagonosporopsis ailanthicola,Strobilomyces longistipitatus,Subplenodomus galicola and Wolfiporia pseudococos.The new combinations are Melanomma populina and Rubroboletus eastwoodiae.The reference specimens are Cookeina tricholoma,Gnomoniopsis sanguisorbae,Helvella costifera,Polythrincium trifolii and Russula virescens.The new host records and country records are Ascochyta medicaginicola,Boletellus emodensis,Cyptotrama asprata,Cytospora ceratosperma,Favolaschia auriscalpium,F.manipularis,Hysterobrevium mori,Lentinus sajor-caju,L.squarrosulus,L.velutinus,Leucocoprinus cretaceus,Lophiotrema vagabundum,Nothophoma quercina,Platystomum rosae,Pseudodidymosphaeria phlei,Tremella fuciformis,Truncatella spartii and Vaginatispora appendiculata and three sexual and asexual morphs are Aposphaeria corallinolutea, Dothiorabuxi and Hypocrella calendulina.