Habitat characteristics and selection by ornate box turtles in the Sandhills of South Dakota

The ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata Agassiz) is a species of greatest conservation need in South Dakota. Habitat loss through agricultural development and fragmentation is the main threat to the species throughout its range, which extends from Wisconsin and northern Indiana through the central Great Plains, and from southern South Dakota to Arizona, northern Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of Texas. The objectives of this study were to determine the ornate box turtle’s preferred vegetation characteristics (microhabitat) compared to the available habitat (macrohabitat) on the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota Sandhills region, during 2010–2011. In both years, using a modified Robel pole method, we determined that turtles selected microhabitat with greater visual obstruction readings (VORs) than those within the random available macrohabitat (P \u3c 0.01), with means of 22 cm and 15 cm, respectively. Higher VOR values indicate greater vegetation height and/or density. Canopy cover results showed that ornate box turtles exhibited high selection (P \u3c 0.01) for sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia Torr.) coverage (38%) but selected lower cover than available within the macrohabitat for total grasses (37%), total forbs (19%), and bare ground (14%). Shrubs, such as sand sagebrush, are an important component of box turtle microhabitat, as they facilitate thermoregulation by providing cool areas during the summer and favorable hibernation sites during the winter. Shrub coverage is highly recommended for consideration when developing habitat management plans that aim to increase or sustain ornate box turtle populations in the Sandhills ecological type

Incarcerated elderly

Introduction: Older adults deprived of freedom are submitted to significant changes in their social and affective life, involving the beliefs and values they have about the others and themselves. Objective: To understand the expectations of older adults incarcerated in relation to the future, after the execution of the sentence. Methods: A qualitative research was carried out, based on the Thematic Analysis method. Forty-two older adults deprived of liberty from four penitentiaries at the western State region of São Paulo, Brazil participated. Data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, with the following guiding question: "How do you imagine your life when you are at liberty?". Results: From the analysis of the data obtained, four themes emerged Claim of a new beginning; Self and health care; From the idealization of freedom to the recognition of difficulties; and Focus on religiosity. Conclusion: The themes highlighted the desire of restarting a new life, self-care and of religious practice even knowing the difficulties to be faced

DISTRIBUIÇÃO ESPACIAL DAS NOTIFICAÇÕES DE AIDS EM MULHERES NO MUNICÍPIO DE SÃO PAULO NOS PERÍODOS DE 1999-2001 E 2009-2011: UMA ANÁLISE SOB A ÓTICA DA DESIGUALDADE SOCIOESPACIAL

In Brazil, from 1980 to 2014, AIDS reached 757.042 cases, with concentration in the Southeast and South regions, which account for 75% of all Brazilian cases. Since 1989, the AIDS epidemic in Brazil has presented characteristics of feminization and impoverishment, indicating the overlapping of vulnerabilities in women, related to income, education, violence and gender inequity. The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate the spatial distribution of AIDS in women aged 13 or older in the city of Sao Paulo, according to the administrative district of residence. The incidences of disease were analyzed from the perspective of social exclusion/inclusion and illiteracy in householder women in two periods: 1999-2001 and 2009-2011. The results denoted a correlation between the incidence of AIDS in women and the two indexes analyzed - social exclusion (IEX-Composed) and illiteracy in householder women (IEX-Illiterate householder women) in the second three-year period (2009- 2011). These findings indicate the need of implementing specific public policies for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in women, prioritizing those living in geographic areas with high inequality and social exclusion.No Brasil, desde 1980 até o ano de 2014, a Aids atingiu 757.042 indivíduos, com concentração nas regiões Sudeste e Sul, que somaram 75% dos casos do país. Desde 1989, a epidemia tem exibido características de feminização e pauperização, indicando a sobreposição de vulnerabilidades em mulheres, relativas à renda, escolaridade, violência e iniquidade de gênero. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi descrever e avaliar a distribuição espacial da Aids em mulheres com 13 anos ou mais de idade no município de São Paulo, segundo distritos administrativos de residência. As incidências da doença foram analisadas sob a ótica da exclusão/inclusão social e do analfabetismo em chefes de família mulher em dois períodos: 1999-2001 e 2009-2011. Os resultados obtidos denotaram a existência de uma correlação entre a incidência de Aids em mulheres e os dois indicadores analisados - a exclusão social (IEX-Composto) e o analfabetismo em mulheres chefes de família (IEX-Chefe de família mulher sem alfabetização) no segundo triênio (2009-2011). Esses achados indicam a necessidade de implementação de políticas públicas específicas para a prevenção e o tratamento do HIV/Aids em mulheres, com priorização daquelas que vivem em áreas geográficas com elevada iniquidade e exclusão social

Características do uso de medicamentos durante a lactação

Introdução: É inquestionável a importância do aleitamento materno. Seus benefícios abrangem o lactente, a nutriz, a família e a sociedade. A Organização Mundial de Saúde preconiza o aleitamento exclusivo até os seis meses de idade, o qual pode ser comprometido por alguns motivos, dentre eles o uso de medicamentos. Objetivo: Caracterizar os medicamentos utilizados por nutrizes, no que se refere a: categorias de risco; locais e responsáveis pela prescrição médica e orientações recebidas. Método: estudo transversal, retrospectivo, quantitativo. Os dados foram coletados na Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) com 161 nutrizes nos anos de 2012 e 2013, por meio de questionário estruturado, contendo informações sobre o uso de medicamentos durante a lactação. Os dados foram apresentados em frequências absolutas e relativas, e comparados às variáveis selecionadas no estudo para verificação da existência de associação, utilizando-se o Teste do Qui-quadrado. Resultados: 55,9% das entrevistadas referiram uso de medicamentos, predominando os que atuam no Sistema hormonal, seguidos dos de uso sistêmico e cardivascular. O clínico geral foi o que mais prescreveu, seguido do ginecologista, na ESF. 64,4% das entrevistadas receberam algum tipo de orientação. A análise estatística demonstrou associação positiva entre categoria de risco e as variáveis especialidade médica (p=0,03) e local de atendimento (p=0,001). Conclusão: A classe de medicamento mais utilizada foi a dos anticoncepcionais. Todo medicamento classificado como contra indicado foi prescrito, na Atenção Primária, pelo clínico geral. Sendo assim, destaca-se a necessidade de profissionais qualificados em toda rede de atenção à saúde.

Anti-proliferative effect of Rosmarinus officinalis L. extract on human melanoma A375 cells

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) has been used since ancient times in traditional medicine, while nowadays various rosemary formulations are increasingly exploited by alternative medicine to cure or prevent a wide range of health disorders. Rosemary's bioproperties have prompted scientific investigation, which allowed us to ascertain antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytostatic, and cytotoxic activities of crude extracts or of pure components. Although there is a growing body of experimental work, information about rosemary's anticancer properties, such as chemoprotective or anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells, is very poor, especially concerning the mechanism of action. Melanoma is a skin tumor whose diffusion is rapidly increasing in the world and whose malignancy is reinforced by its high resistance to cytotoxic agents; hence the availability of new cytotoxic drugs would be very helpful to improve melanoma prognosis. Here we report on the effect of a rosemary hydroalcoholic extract on the viability of the human melanoma A375 cell line. Main components of rosemary extract were identified by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS/MS) and the effect of the crude extract or of pure components on the proliferation of cancer cells was tested by MTT and Trypan blue assays. The effect on cell cycle was investigated by using flow cytometry, and the alteration of the cellular redox state was evaluated by intracellular ROS levels and protein carbonylation analysis. Furthermore, in order to get information about the molecular mechanisms of cytotoxicity, a comparative proteomic investigation was performed

Marine Bioactives: Pharmacological Properties and Potential Applications against Inflammatory Diseases

Inflammation is a hot topic in medical research, because it plays a key role in inflammatory diseases: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other forms of arthritis, diabetes, heart diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, allergies, asthma, even cancer and many others. Over the past few decades, it was realized that the process of inflammation is virtually the same in different disorders, and a better understanding of inflammation may lead to better treatments for numerous diseases. Inflammation is the activation of the immune system in response to infection, irritation, or injury, with an influx of white blood cells, redness, heat, swelling, pain, and dysfunction of the organs involved. Although the pathophysiological basis of these conditions is not yet fully understood, reactive oxygen species (ROS) have often been implicated in their pathogenesis. In fact, in inflammatory diseases the antioxidant defense system is compromised, as evidenced by increased markers of oxidative stress, and decreased levels of protective antioxidant enzymes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). An enriched diet containing antioxidants, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene and phenolic substances, has been suggested to improve symptoms by reducing disease-related oxidative stress. In this respect, the marine world represents a largely untapped reserve of bioactive ingredients, and considerable potential exists for exploitation of these bioactives as functional food ingredients. Substances such as n-3 oils, carotenoids, vitamins, minerals and peptides provide a myriad of health benefits, including reduction of cardiovascular diseases, anticarcinogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. New marine bioactives are recently gaining attention, since they could be helpful in combating chronic inflammatory degenerative conditions. The aim of this review is to examine the published studies concerning the potential pharmacological properties and application of many marine bioactives against inflammatory diseases

First Evidence of Reproductive Adaptation to “Island Effect” of a Dwarf Cretaceous Romanian Titanosaur, with Embryonic Integument In Ovo

<div><h3>Background</h3><p>The Cretaceous vertebrate assemblages of Romania are famous for geographically endemic dwarfed dinosaur taxa. We report the first complete egg clutches of a dwarf lithostrotian titanosaur, from Toteşti, Romania, and its reproductive adaptation to the “island effect”.</p> <h3>Methodology/Findings</h3><p>The egg clutches were discovered in sequential sedimentary layers of the Maastrichtian Sânpetru Formation, Toteşti. The occurrence of 11 homogenous clutches in successive strata suggests philopatry by the same dinosaur species, which laid clutches averaging four ∼12 cm diameters eggs. The eggs and eggshells display numerous characters shared with the positively identified material from egg-bearing level 4 of the Auca Mahuevo (Patagonia, Argentina) nemegtosaurid lithostrotian nesting site. Microscopic embryonic integument with bacterial evidences was recovered in one egg. The millimeter-size embryonic integument displays micron size dermal papillae implying an early embryological stage at the time of death, likely corresponding to early organogenesis before the skeleton formation.</p> <h3>Conclusions/Significance</h3><p>The shared oological characters between the Haţeg specimens and their mainland relatives suggest a highly conservative reproductive template, while the nest decrease in egg numbers per clutch may reflect an adaptive trait to a smaller body size due to the “island effect”. The combined presence of the lithostrotian egg and its embryo in the Early Cretaceous Gobi coupled with the oological similarities between the Haţeg and Auca Mahuevo oological material evidence that several titanosaur species migrated from Gondwana through the Haţeg Island before or during the Aptian/Albian. It also suggests that this island might have had episodic land bridges with the rest of the European archipelago and Asia deep into the Cretaceous.</p> </div

Habitat characteristics and selection by ornate box turtles in the Sandhills of South Dakota

The ornate box turtle (Terrapene ornata Agassiz) is a species of greatest conservation need in South Dakota. Habitat loss through agricultural development and fragmentation is the main threat to the species throughout its range, which extends from Wisconsin and northern Indiana through the central Great Plains, and from southern South Dakota to Arizona, northern Mexico, and the Gulf Coast of Texas. The objectives of this study were to determine the ornate box turtle’s preferred vegetation characteristics (microhabitat) compared to the available habitat (macrohabitat) on the Pine Ridge Reservation, South Dakota Sandhills region, during 2010–2011. In both years, using a modified Robel pole method, we determined that turtles selected microhabitat with greater visual obstruction readings (VORs) than those within the random available macrohabitat (P \u3c 0.01), with means of 22 cm and 15 cm, respectively. Higher VOR values indicate greater vegetation height and/or density. Canopy cover results showed that ornate box turtles exhibited high selection (P \u3c 0.01) for sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia Torr.) coverage (38%) but selected lower cover than available within the macrohabitat for total grasses (37%), total forbs (19%), and bare ground (14%). Shrubs, such as sand sagebrush, are an important component of box turtle microhabitat, as they facilitate thermoregulation by providing cool areas during the summer and favorable hibernation sites during the winter. Shrub coverage is highly recommended for consideration when developing habitat management plans that aim to increase or sustain ornate box turtle populations in the Sandhills ecological type

The association between continual, year-round hunting and bellowing rate of bison bulls during the rut

The impact of hunting (selective harvest, trophy hunting) on the demography of mammals is well documented. However, despite continual year-round hunting of bison in some populations, little is known about how the behavior of survivors may be altered. Therefore, in this initial study, we used focal-animal observations in adjacent populations of continually hunted and protected Plains bison (Bison bison bison) in western South Dakota, to examine the potential impact of hunting on bellowing rate—an important behavior that serves to intimidate rival bulls and potentially influences mate choice by females. In addition to hunting, we investigated how the number of attendant males, number of adult females, group size, and number of days from the start of rut influenced bellowing rate. Bulls bellowed an order of magnitude more often in the protected population than in the hunted populations, whereas bellowing rate was not significantly different in the hunted populations. Hunting was significantly and negatively associated with bellowing rate, while all other predictors were found to be positively associated with bellowing rate. Furthermore, the impact of hunting on bellowing rate became more pronounced (i.e., dampened bellowing rate more strongly) as the number of attendant males increased. Changes in bellowing behavior of bulls (and possibly mate choice by cows) can alter breeding opportunities. Therefore, our data suggest the need for studies with broader-scale geographical and temporal replication to determine the extent that continual year-round hunting has on bellowing rate of bison during the rut. If reduced bellowing is associated with human hunting on a larger scale, then wildlife managers may need to adjust hunting rate and duration, timing (season), and the time lag between hunting events in order to insure that bison are able to express their full repertoire of natural mating behaviors