Shallow reef fish communities of South Bahia coast, Brazil

Este trabalho descreve pela primeira vez as comunidades de peixes em cinco recifes rasos de Santa Cruz de Cabrália e Porto Seguro (Araripe-AR, Itacipanema-IT, Alagados-AL, Naufrágio-NA e Recife de Fora Marine Park-RF), sul da Bahia, nordeste do Brasil. A densidade e riqueza foram obtidas utilizando censos estacionários de 2 m de raio para espécies pequenas e criptobênticas e 3 m de raio para espécies conspícuas. Um total de 1802 peixes pertencentes a 23 famílias e 54 espécies foram registrados, sendo as espécies mais abundantes dos pomacentrídeos Stegastes fuscus e Abudefduf saxatilis. Nenhuma diferença significativa foi encontrada para a riqueza entre os recifes e também para a densidade de espécies vágeis. Entretanto, a densidade de espécies criptobênticas foi mais alta em lugares com maior rugosidade. Herbívoros foram dominantes nos recifes AR, AL e RF, invertívoros em AL e a dominância dos dois grupos ocorreram em IT. Algumas variáveis ambientais como rugosidade e cobertura bentônica estão fortemente relacionadas às espécies e diferentes recifes. Estes são fisicamente heterogêneos, mas a composição e riqueza de espécies similares, o que seria esperado em comunidades recifais abrangendo estudos em pequena-escala, pois peixes recifais estão amplamente distribuídos.This study aims to describe for the first time the fish community structure of five shallow reefs located off the cities of Santa Cruz de Cabrália and Porto Seguro (Araripe-AR, Itacipanema-IT, Alagados-AL, Naufrágio-NA and Recife de Fora Marine Park-RF Reefs), South Bahia, Northeastern Brazil. Fish density and richness were assessed through stationary point counts of 2 m radius for small cryptic species and 3 m for more conspicuous species. A total of 1 802 fishes belonging to 23 families and 54 species were observed. The most abundant species were the pomacentrids Stegastes fuscus and Abudefduf saxatilis. No significant differences were found for species richness or density of conspicuous species, but density of small cryptic species was low on reefs with high bottom rugosity, where there were more holes and crevices available. Herbivores were dominant on AR, AL and RF, invertivores on AL and both groups were dominant on IT. Some habitat variables such as rugosity and benthic cover were strongly correlated to species and sites. High bottom heterogeneity was found among reefs but they still presented similar species composition, richness and density. Within small-scale studies, such similarities in composition and richness are to be expected for reef fish communities, as most of the species concerned have a wide distribution range

Resuscitative procedures at birth in late preterm infants

Objective: Evaluate the need for resuscitative procedures at birth, in late prematures.Study Design: This prospective cohort study enrolled all liveborn infants from 1 to 30 September 2003, with 34 to 41 weeks of gestation without congenital anomalies, born in 35 public hospitals of 20 Brazilian state capitals. Logistic regression analyzed variables associated with the need for bag and mask ventilation.Result: of the 10 774 infants studied, 1054 were late preterms and 485 required resuscitative measures. of the 1054, 338 ( 32%) received only free-flow oxygen, 143 ( 14%) were bag and mask ventilated, 27 ( 3%) were intubated and 10/27 received chest compressions and/or medications. Bag and mask ventilation in late preterms was associated with twin gestation, maternal hypertension, nonvertex presentation, cesarean delivery and lower gestational age.Conclusion: Improving control of maternal hypertension, prolonging gestation for 1 to 2 weeks and restricting operative deliveries could decrease the need of resuscitation of late preterms at birth.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, Div Neonatol, São Paulo, BrazilMed Sch Barbacena, Dept Epidemiol, Barbacena, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais, Dept Pediat, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilUniv Brasilia, Dept Pediat, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Pediat, Div Neonatol, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Are bioelectrical parameters and functionality associated with postural control in the elderly?

Background: Alterations in bioimpedance parameters and postural control occur with aging and contribute to the increased risk of falls. The aim of this study was to evaluate the balance behavior in relation to bioimpedance and functionality. Methods: We evaluated 21 elderly (men: 77.3 ± 9.5 years; women: 74.2 ± 9.6 years). The balance in standing posture was measured by the movement of the pressure center in seven positions. Bioimpedance was defined by its parameters resistance, reactance and phase angle, and functionality through the Timed Up and Go Test and Short Physical Performance Battery. Findings: In the analysis of the mediolateral velocity at the positions feet separated with open and closed eyes, feet together with eyes closed and semi-tandem with eyes open on the platform, an inverse correlation between balance and bioimpedance variables were verified for all models, with a coefficient of determination varying between 20% and 74%. Inverse and significant correlations between reactance and phase angle in the one-legged-support position were verified, in all adjustment models, with coefficient of determination varying between 62% and 91%. In the analysis of mediolateral velocity for the semi-tandem eyes closed position, positive correlation with TUG and an inverse correlation with bioimpedance parameters and pennation angle were observed, with coefficient of determination varying between 21% and 67%. Interpretation: The postural control is linearly related to bioimpedance parameters and functionality in the elderly. The assessment of balance can provide important information and furnishes useful insights for prevention and treatment strategies in elderly

Community structure of shallow rocky shore fish in a tropical bay of the southwestern Atlantic

Os costões rochosos do Atlântico Sul Ocidental sustentam ricas comunidades de peixes recifais. Apesar disso, o conhecimento sobre essas comunidades em zonas tropicais continua escasso, especialmente no Brasil. No presente trabalho avaliamos parâmetros das comunidades de peixes recifais, tais como composição e estrutura trófica, além de sua interação com variáveis físicas e bióticas, em quatro costões rochosos tropicais na Baía de Todos os Santos, costa leste do Brasil. Durante seis meses 80 censos visuais foram realizados, nos quais 3.582 peixes pertencentes a 76 espécies foram registrados. Os peixes herbívoros territoriais e as algas filamentosas dominaram em todos os costões. A variação espacial na estrutura da comunidade de peixes esteve relacionada com a composição bêntica e profundidade. A elevada abundância observada de peixes herbívoros territoriais e invertívoros móveis pode ser devido à alta cobertura de algas filamentosas e à baixa profundidade e exposição às ondas. Além disso, esse padrão também pode ser explicado pela baixa densidade de herbívoros errantes e grandes carnívoros, provavelmente devido à intensa pressão da atividade pesqueira. Assim, novos estudos são necessários para avaliar o real estado de conservação destes ambientes, uma vez que estão localizados em posição singular na Baía de Todos os Santos, conectando recifes internos e externos da área.Southwestern Atlantic Ocean rocky shores sustain important reef fish communities. However, those communities in tropical regions are not well understood, especially in Brazil. In this present article we assess community parameters of reef fishes such as composition, trophic organization and their relationships with physical and biological factors on four tropical rocky shores in Todos os Santos Bay, southwestern Atlantic. During six months, a total of 80 visual censuses were performed, in which 3,582 fish belonging to 76 species were recorded. Territorial herbivorous fish and turf algae were dominant at all the sites. The spatial variability of fish community structure was related to the benthic cover composition and depth. The high abundance of territorial herbivores and mobile invertebrate feeders could be associated with high levels of turf cover, low wave exposure and shallow waters. Moreover, this fact could be a consequence of the low density of roving herbivores and large carnivores probably due to the pressure of intense fishing activity. Thus complementary studies are needed to evaluate the actual conservation status of these rocky shore reefs, singularly located habitats connecting inner and outer reefs in Todos os Santos Bay

Características físicas e químicas da graviola

In this work, fruits from soursoup (Annona muricata L.) obtained in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil, were used. Physical measurements were made on the homogenized pulp of raw and ripe fruits to evaluate their industrial yield. Chemical and physical determinations were made in order to know the chemical composition of the fruits. Liquid gas chromatography was used to evaluate the percentage of the fatty acid composition of the lipid fraction of the soursoup seeds.Neste trabalho foram empregados frutos da gravioleira (Annona muricata L.), provenientes do mercado hortifrutigranjeiro de Fortaleza, Ceará. Realizaram-se medidas físicas em 30 frutos maduros. As determinações das características químicas e físicas foram realizadas na polpa homogeneizada de frutos verdes e maduros. Procedeu-se a estudo no óleo da semente da graviola através de análise cromatográfica em fase gasosa, determinando-se a percentagem de ácidos graxos presentes na fração lipídica

Costs Associated with Low Birth Weight in a Rural Area of Southern Mozambique

BACKGROUND: Low Birth Weight (LBW) is prevalent in low-income countries. Even though the economic evaluation of interventions to reduce this burden is essential to guide health policies, data on costs associated with LBW are scarce. This study aims to estimate the costs to the health system and to the household and the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) arising from infant deaths associated with LBW in Southern Mozambique. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Costs incurred by the households were collected through exit surveys. Health system costs were gathered from data obtained onsite and from published information. DALYs due to death of LBW babies were based on local estimates of prevalence of LBW (12%), very low birth weight (VLBW) (1%) and of case fatality rates compared to non-LBW weight babies [for LBW (12%) and VLBW (80%)]. Costs associated with LBW excess morbidity were calculated on the incremental number of hospital admissions in LBW babies compared to non-LBW weight babies. Direct and indirect household costs for routine health care were 24.12 US$(CI 95$ (CI 95% 6.33; 10.72). Of the 3,322 live births that occurred in one year in the study area, health system costs associated to LBW (routine health care and excess morbidity) and DALYs were 169,957.61 US$ (CI 95% 144,900.00; 195,500.00) and 2,746.06, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This first cost evaluation of LBW in a low-income country shows that reducing the prevalence of LBW would translate into important cost savings to the health system and the household. These results are of relevance for similar settings and should serve to promote interventions aimed at improving maternal care