Group versus population level demographics: An analysis of comparability using long term data on wild white‐faced capuchin monkeys (Cebus capucinus imitator)

Primates have long been used as indicator species for assessing overall ecosystem health. However, area‐wide census methods are time consuming, costly, and not always feasible under many field conditions. Therefore, it is important to establish whether monitoring a subset of a population accurately reflects demographic changes occurring in the population at large. Over the past 35 years, we have conducted 15 area‐wide censuses in Sector Santa Rosa, Costa Rica. These efforts have revealed important trends in population growth patterns of capuchin monkeys following the protection and subsequent regeneration of native forests. During this same period, we have also intensively studied a subset of the capuchin groups. Comparing these two datasets, we investigate whether the population structures of the closely monitored groups are reliable indicators of area‐wide demographic patterns. We compare the overall group size and the individual age/sex class compositions of study groups and nonstudy groups (i.e., those contacted during area‐wide censuses only). Our study groups contained more individuals overall with a larger proportion of infants, and there were indications that the proportion of adult and subadult males was lower. These differences can be ascribed either to sampling errors or real differences attributable to human presence and/or better habitat quality for the study groups. No other sex/age classes differed, and major demographic changes were simultaneously evident in both study and nonstudy groups. This study suggests that the Santa Rosa capuchin population is similarly impacted by large‐scale ecological patterns observable within our study groups.     

Volatile profiles of human skin cell cultures in different degrees of senescence

It is known that skin releases volatile organic compounds to the environment, and also that its emission pattern changes with aging of the skin. It could be considered, that these compounds are intermediaries in cell metabolism, since many intermediaries of metabolic pathways have a volatile potential. In this work, a simple and non-destructive method consisting of SPME sampling and GC/MS analysis was developed to identify volatile organic emanations from cell cultures. This technique, applied to skin cells culture, indicates that the cells or cell metabolism produce several skin emissions. Chemometric analysis was performed in order to explore the relationship between a volatile profile and the senescence of cell cultures. Volatile profiles were different for cell cultures in different degrees of senescence, indicating that volatile compound patterns could be used to provide information about the age of skin cells.     

Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of an actinomycete (Streptomyces sp.) isolated from a Brazilian tropical forest soil

A promising producer of bioactive compounds isolated from a Brazilian tropical soil was tested for its range of antimicrobial activities. Strain 606, classified as Streptomyces sp., could not be identified up to species level, suggesting a possible new taxon. The supernatant and 10 extracts and fractions, obtained by extraction and chromatographic techniques, presented antimicrobial activity using antibiograms. The methanolic fraction was highly active against pathogenic bacteria, phytopathogenic fungi and the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. It also possessed high antiviral activity inhibiting the propagation of an acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 strain on HEp-2 cells at non-cytotoxic concentration. The strong cytotoxic effect suggests an antitumour action. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Na+/K+-ATPase Inhibition Partially Mimics the Ethanol-Induced Increase of the Golgi Cell-Dependent Component of the Tonic GABAergic Current in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells

Cerebellar granule cells (CGNs) are one of many neurons that express phasic and tonic GABAergic conductances. Although it is well established that Golgi cells (GoCs) mediate phasic GABAergic currents in CGNs, their role in mediating tonic currents in CGNs (CGN-I_tonic) is controversial. Earlier studies suggested that GoCs mediate a component of CGN-I_tonic that is present only in preparations from immature rodents. However, more recent studies have detected a GoC-dependent component of CGN-I_tonic in preparations of mature rodents. In addition, acute exposure to ethanol was shown to potentiate the GoC component of CGN-I_tonic and to induce a parallel increase in spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic current frequency at CGNs. Here, we tested the hypothesis that these effects of ethanol on GABAergic transmission in CGNs are mediated by inhibition of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase. We used whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology techniques in cerebellar slices of male rats (postnatal day 23–30). Under these conditions, we reliably detected a GoC-dependent component of CGN-I_tonic that could be blocked with tetrodotoxin. Further analysis revealed a positive correlation between basal sIPSC frequency and the magnitude of the GoC-dependent component of CGN-I_tonic. Inhibition of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase with a submaximal concentration of ouabain partially mimicked the ethanol-induced potentiation of both phasic and tonic GABAergic currents in CGNs. Modeling studies suggest that selective inhibition of the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase in GoCs can, in part, explain these effects of ethanol. These findings establish a novel mechanism of action of ethanol on GABAergic transmission in the central nervous system.     

A Statistical Approach to Provide Individualized Privacy for Surveys

In this paper we propose an instrument for collecting sensitive data that allows for each participant to customize the amount of information that she is comfortable revealing. Current methods adopt a uniform approach where all subjects are afforded the same privacy guarantees; however, privacy is a highly subjective property with intermediate points between total disclosure and non-disclosure: each respondent has a different criterion regarding the sensitivity of a particular topic. The method we propose empowers respondents in this respect while still allowing for the discovery of interesting findings through the application of well-known inferential procedures.     

Degranulation and histamine release from murine mast cells sensitized with dengue virus-immune sera

Mice were immunized with dengue type 2 virus (DEN 2) under a schedule favoring the production of IgE antibody. The antibody obtained could sensitize peritoneal resident mast cells both in vitro and in vivo so that the sensitized cells were degranulated and released histamine on challenge with the DEN 2 antigen. It was also demonstrated that the antibody was cytophilic and heat-labile. The above observations suggest that the present experimental system can be used to detect anti-DEN 2 IgE antibody in mice.     

Second-harmonic generation from organic molecules incorporated in sol-gel matrices

Orientation of optically nonlinear organic molecules inside sol-gel matrices upon application of an external D.C. electrical field is demonstrated for the first time. The quadratic nonlinear response of silicon oxide or transition metal oxide based gels containing organic molecules has been determined from Electric Field Induced Second Harmonic (EFISH) measurements. Large concentrations of Optically Nonlinear Organic Molecules (ONOM) have been either incorporated inside the macromolecular network or chemically bonded to the oxide backbone of the gels. These results demonstrate the feasibility of permanently poled doped sol-gel matrices. Moreover, EFISH measurements performed on organic molecules appear to be a useful tool for monitoring the changes occurring during sol-gel transformations.     

The role of humans in the diversification of a threatened island raptor

Background  

Anthropogenic habitat modifications have led to the extinction of many species and have favoured the expansion of others. Nonetheless, the possible role of humans as a diversifying force in vertebrate evolution has rarely been considered, especially for species with long generation times. We examine the influence that humans have had on the colonization and phenotypic and genetic differentiation of an insular population of a long-lived raptor species, the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).     

Colonization and extinction of land planarians (Platyhelminthes,Tricladida) in a Brazilian Atlantic Forest regrowth remnant

Long-term assessments of species assemblages are valuable tools for detecting species ecological preferences and their dispersal tracks, as well as for assessing the possible effects of alien species on native communities. Here we report a 50-year-long study on population dynamics of the four species of land flatworms (Platyhelminthes, Tricladida, Terricola) that have colonized or become extinct in a 70-year-old Atlantic Forest regrowth remnant through the period 1955–2006. On the one hand, the two initially most abundant species, which are native to the study site, Notogynaphallia ernesti and Geoplana multicolor have declined over decades and at present do not exist in the forest remnant. The extinction of these species is most likely related with their preference for open vegetation areas, which presently do not exist in the forest remnant. On the other hand, the neotropical Geoplaninae 1 and the exotic Endeavouria septemlineata were detected in the forest only very recently. The long-term study allowed us to conclude that Geoplaninae 1 was introduced into the study area, although it is only known from the study site. Endeavouria septemlineata, an active predator of the exotic giant African snail, is originally known from Hawaii. This land flatworm species was observed repeatedly in Brazilian anthropogenic areas, and this is the first report of the species in relatively well preserved native forest, which may be evidence of an ongoing adaptive process. Monitoring of its geographic spread and its ecological role would be a good practice for preventing potential damaging effects, since it also feeds on native mollusk fauna, as we observed in lab conditions. Júlio Pedroni: Granted by CNPQ–Brazil.     

Synthesis and in vitro anti Mycobacterium tuberculosis activity of a series of phthalimide derivatives

New phthalimide derivatives were easily prepared through condensation of phthalic anhydride and selected amines with variable yields (70–90%). All compounds (3a–l) were evaluated against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Rv using Alamar Blue susceptibility. The compounds 3c, 3i, and 3l have the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 3.9, 7.8, and 5.0 μg/mL, respectively, and could be considered new lead compounds in the treatment of tuberculosis and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis.