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Verbenaceae is an important element of Neotropical flora, and Stachytarpheta is the second largest genus in the family. Whereas pollen morphology has helped in the differentiation of several taxonomic groups, palynological data on Stachytarpheta are still scarce, especially for Brazil, where its greatest species richness is concentrated. The present work aimed to analyze the pollen morphology of selected species of Stachytarpheta sect. Stachytarpheta, to aid in the taxonomy of the group. Pollen grains from 11 species were analyzed before and after chemical treatment, measured and treated statistically; multivariate analyses were also performed. The pollen grains of S. sect. Stachytarpheta are large or very large monads, that are radially symmetric and isopolar, with amb varying among triangular, subtriangular, subcircular, and quadrangular, and shape among subspheroidal, oblate-spheroidal, prolate-spheroidal, and subprolate. The three or four apertures are of the colpus type and narrow. The ornamentation is verrucate, with perforations at the base of the verrucae and isolated granules. The pollen grains also possess a margin and an anapertural membrane, which are the main characteristics useful for differentiating the species of the section. The size, amb, shape, apertural type, and ornamentation are also important for morphological differentiation, but multivariate analyses did not support the groups formed based on pollen characterization. An identification key is provided to distinguish the 11 studied species based on pollen morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speed is an essential skill in sports performance and an important performance metric in talent identification. This study aims to evaluate and compare the sprint acceleration characteristics across different age groups in an elite soccer academy. A total of 141 elite academy soccer players were recruited to participate in the study, and they were assigned to their respective competitive age groups, ranging from under-14 to the B-team. An individual in-situ acceleration-speed (A-S) profile was assessed and derived from Global Position System (GPS) speed-acceleration raw data, from 10 consecutive football sessions, in the beginning of the season. The results showed that under-14 players exhibited significantly lower theoretical maximum speed (S0) ($\eta _p^2$ η p 2 = 0.215, p < 0.01) when compared with all other age groups. However, no differences were found between maximum theoretical acceleration (A0) and A-S slope between age groups. The results suggest that sprint mechanical profiles of young soccer athletes remain stable throughout their athletic development. Nevertheless, younger athletes have less capacity to apply horizontal force at higher speeds (S0). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocotea minarum (Nees & Mart.) Mez is a tree belonging to the Lauraceae family and found in the Brazilian Cerrado ecosystem. Although the chemical composition of this species has already been described, little is known about the biological activities of one of the constituents of its fruits-the alkaloid tryptophol-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. In the present study, we assessed the anti-neuroinflammatory, mutagenic and recombinogenic properties of this indole alkaloid. Cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activities were performed using a model of LPS-stimulated microglia BV-2. Mutation detection and somatic recombination were performed in Drosophila melanogaster wing cells. The results showed that tryptophol-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was not cytotoxic to BV-2 cells at the concentrations tested. The results also showed that this alkaloid inhibited by 75% the inflammatory response induced by LPS at the concentration of 189 μM with IC50 = 12.07±0.35 μM. The analysis of the MH offspring showed that different concentrations of the alkaloid did not induce statistically significant increases in the frequencies of mutant spots when compared to those observed in the negative control. With these results, we can conclude that tryptophol-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside presents therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with no mutagenic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The woodlouse hunter Dysdera spiders have colonized all Macaronesian archipelagos. We report here for the first time an evolutionary connection between the Iberian Peninsula, Madeira, and the remote archipelago of Azores. Based on museum specimens from the 1950s, we describe the first endemic Dysdera species from the Azores. Additionally, we report the recent collection of immature individuals related yet probably not conspecific to the new species, rejecting previous suggestions that the endemic lineage had gone extinct. A multi-locus target phylogeny revealed that an undescribed species from Madeira was the closest relative to the Azores lineage, and that both island taxa were in turn sister to an Iberian endemic species, within a mostly Iberian clade. Interestingly, the Madeiran relative was not closely related to the remaining endemic species reported in the archipelago, suggesting an independent colonization. A divergence time estimation analysis unravelled that Dysdera colonized both archipelagos early after their emergence. The colonization pathway remains ambiguous, but the Iberian Peninsula acted as the ultimate source of the ancestral colonizers. Finally, we describe the new species Dysdera cetophonorum Crespo & Arnedo sp. nov. from Pico and Dysdera citauca Crespo & Arnedo, sp. nov. from Ilhéu de Cima (Porto Santo) and redescribe and illustrate the female genitalia for the first time of their poorly known closest relative, Dysdera flavitarsis Simon, 1882 from the north-western Iberian Peninsula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize the phenotype and genotype of a syndrome associating posterior microphthalmos (PM), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), foveoschisis, and foveal hypoplasia (FH) in a consanguineous Portuguese family. Three siblings were studied and underwent comprehensive eye examinations for best-corrected visual acuity, axial length, refractive error, B-mode ultrasound, electroretinography, retinography, fluorescein angiography (FA), kinetic visual field (VF), and optical coherence tomography (OCT). Molecular analysis was performed by Sanger sequencing of the entire coding region of the MFRP gene. All members presented nyctalopia, decreased visual acuity, and constriction of the VF, as well as bilateral shortening of the posterior ocular segment and normal anterior segment dimensions. The fundoscopy and ERG results were compatible with RP. Macular OCT analysis revealed schisis of the outer retinal layer, FH, as well as retinal and choroidal folds. We identified a homozygous mutation in intron 9 of the membrane frizzled-related protein (MFRP) gene (c.1124 + 1 G > A). Our study shows a family with PM and RP due to a mutation in the MFRP gene. The relationship has previously been proven, but this specific mutation has never been described. These gene mutations show wide phenotypic variability, being evident in the presence of foveoschisis, retinal and choroidal folds, and FH, other than PM and RP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although radiation dermatitis is a widely known complication of radiotherapy, its association with fluoroscopy-guided interventional procedures is yet under recognized. We present a case of a 66-year-old man with a left scapular cutaneous lesion, initially diagnosed as a fixed drug eruption. The subsequent knowledge of a previous percutaneous aortic paravalvular leak closure procedure allowed a correct clinicopathological correlation and the final diagnosis of subacute radiodermatitis associated with fluoroscopy. Many of the patients with skin injury associated with fluoroscopic procedures do not associate both and seek physicians other than the one who performed the procedure. Besides interventional physicians, dermatologists and other physicians should be aware of this form of radiation injury and its manifestations. Suspicion and active search for a history of previous fluoroscopic procedures in patients with figurate cutaneous lesions in allusive locations may allow the diagnosis of this potentially serious complication that should have long follow-up due to the possibility of long-term side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in academia to provide biodiversity data to both the scientific community and the public. We present an internet database of the terrestrial lichens, bryophytes, vascular plants, molluscs, arthropods, vertebrates and coastal invertebrates of the Azores archipelago (Portugal, North Atlantic): the Azorean Biodiversity Portal (ABP, http://www.azoresbioportal.angra.uac.pt/). This is a unique resource for fundamental research in systematics, biodiversity, education and conservation management. The ABP was based on a regional species database (ATLANTIS), comprised of grid-based spatial incidence information for c. 5000 species. Most of the data rely on a comprehensive literature survey (dating back to the 19th century) as well as unpublished records from recent field surveys in the Azores. The ABP disseminates the ATLANTIS database to the public, allowing universal, unrestricted access to much of its data. Complementarily, the ABP includes additional information of interest to the general public (e.g. literature on Macaronesian biodiversity) together with images from collections and/or live specimens for many species. In this contribution we explain the implementation of a regional biodiversity database, its architecture, achievements and outcomes, strengths and limitations; we further include a number of suggestions in order to implement similar initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micromilling is a process that utilizes end mills that typically vary in diameter from 100 to 1000 µm and have edge radii that vary from 1 to 10 µm. In the present article, the machining of microsurfaces on aluminium alloy is made, using conventional CNC (Computer numerical control) milling center and commercially available miniature tools. In order to perform a comprehensive study on the surface roughness of the machined surfaces cutting parameters such as feed rate as well as machining strategies were varied to optimisation micromilling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]