Áreas Potenciais à Formação De Corredores Ecológicos Entre Remanescentes De Mata Atlântica

In Brazil, the remaining areas of Atlantic Forest are intensely fragmented. The connection of forest fragments through ecological corridors is an important step in biodiversity conservation. Certain areas are more resilient, and in those areas, natural forest regeneration, for example, can be encouraged. The aim of this study was to identify areas of greater resilience in order to support the connection of Atlantic Forest fragments with ecological corridors. Forest fragments in the municipality of Paraíba do Sul, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, were mapped using the supervised maximum likelihood classification of an Operational Land Imager (OLI)/Landsat-8 sensor image. Next, we analyzed the influence of terrain attributes (aspect, incident solar radiation, slope, and curvature profile) on natural regeneration. The areas with the greatest potential to achieve natural regeneration and to form ecological corridors were indicated through fuzzy membership functions. Within Paraíba do Sul, 31% of the territory is covered by vegetation in different stages of regeneration. Recordings were made of 1,251 forest fragments in a middle or advanced stage of regeneration. These fragments are usually situated in the southeast, south, and southwest aspects, in areas that receive the least amount of global solar radiation (Wh·m-2) per year, and on slopes with an angle of inclination greater than 20%. The adjustment of fuzzy functions identified 17,327.5 ha with a tendency to recover, and which are therefore strategic areas in the development of ecological corridors. © 2016, Sociedade de Investigacoes Florestais. All rights reserved.40580381

The anisotropic Ashkin-Teller model: a renormalization group study

The two-dimensional ferromagnetic anisotropic Ashkin-Teller model is investigated through a real-space renormalization-group approach. The critical frontier, separating five distinct phases, recover all the known exacts results for the square lattice. The correlation length $(\nu_T)$ and crossover $(\phi)$ critical exponents are also calculated. With the only exception of the four-state Potts critical point, the entire phase diagram belongs to the Ising universality class.Comment: 3 ps figures, accepted for publication in Physica

Mills’ syndrome: case report

The syndrome of progressive, ascending or descending hemiplegia, with no significant sensory impairment was first describes by Mills in 1900, which several cases were reported later. However after diagnostic tests and image improvements, the number of reports has shortened. A possible explanation for this shortage is the identification of other diseases that could mimic the clinical picture. Currently, the syndrome has an uncertain nosological status, since it was described based on clinical examination only. We can find this clinical presentation (Mills syndrome) in cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), predominant upper motor neuron amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (UMN-ALS) and primary lateral sclerosis (PLS), besides its symptomatic (secondary) forms. We describe a case (initial presentation and one year follow-up) of progressive ascending hemiplegia with clinical isolated upper neuron signs and normal sensory examination, discussing its nosological status, electromyographic findings, differential diagnosis and prognosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: one or multiple causes?

The Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease in the adulthood, and it is characterized by rapid and progressive compromise of the upper and lower motor neurons. The majority of the cases of ALS are classified as sporadic and, until now, a specific cause for these cases still is unknown. To present the different hypotheses on the etiology of ALS. It was carried out a search in the databases: Bireme, Scielo and Pubmed, in the period of 1987 to 2011, using the following keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, motor neuron disease, etiology, causes and epidemiology and its similar in Portuguese and Spanish. It did not have consensus as regards the etiology of ALS. Researches demonstrates evidences as regards intoxication by heavy metals, environmental and occupational causes, genetic mutations (superoxide dismutase 1), certain viral infections and the accomplishment of vigorous physical activity for the development of the disease. There is still no consensus regarding the involved factors in the etiology of ALS. In this way, new research about these etiologies are necessary, for a better approach of the patients, promoting preventive programs for the disease and improving the quality of life of the patients

Benign fasciculations and corticosteroid use: possible association? An update

Fasciculations are characterized by visible subtle and fast contractions of muscle, even wormlike in movement, by the contraction of a fascicle of muscle fibers. The authors present the case study of a 28-year-old patient with the appearance of migratory and diffuse fasciculations with an onset after partial tapering off of oral corticosteroides (60 mg total dose) indicated for treatment of Minimal change Glomerulopathy. Clinical Neurological physical exam allied with an ENMG, besides other complementary laboratory exams were used for screening the above-mentioned patient. Afterwards, current research relating to the topic at hand was made in order to update the data available in the Bireme, Scielo and PubMed Data Banks using the following key words: Fasciculation's, motor neuron disease, and benign fasciculations in the Portuguese, English as well as Spanish language. Although fasciculation's are most commonly associated with Motor neuron disease as well as with certain metabolic disorders, they may also be present in individuals with absolutely no underlying pathological disorders. In our case, fasciculation potentials that have been present for six months, with no other signs of a neurogenic disorder as well as absence of laboratory findings, the patient received a diagnosis of Benign Fasciculation Syndrome (BFS).We believe that the use of corticosteroides in high doses with subsequent tapering contributed to the fasciculation's, especially due to the changes that this causes on the ionic channels. Fasciculation's are symptoms seen in a large range of conditions, and also being the main symptom of the so-called Benign Fasciculation Syndrome. We have presented an example of this clinical syndrome in a patient whose complaint was fasciculation's, with complete clinical remission of symptoms following complete tapering off of corticosteroid six months previously

Fibrosis assessment using FibroMeter combined to first generation tests in hepatitis C

AIM: To evaluate the performance of FibroMeter combined to the first generation tests aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) or Forns index to assess significant fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). METHODS: First generation tests APRI or Forns were initially applied in a derivation population from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil considering cut-offs previously reported in the literature to evaluate significant fibrosis. FibroMeter was sequentially applied to unclassified cases from APRI or Forns. Accuracy of non-invasive combination of tests, APRI plus FibroMeter and Forns plus FibroMeter was evaluated in the Brazilian derivation population. APRI plus FibroMeter combination was validated in a population of CHC patients from Angers in France. All patients were submitted to liver biopsy staged according to METAVIR score by experienced hepatopathologists. Significant fibrosis was considered as METAVIR F ≥ 2. The fibrosis stage classification was used as the reference for accuracy evaluation of non-invasive combination of tests. Blood samples for the calculation of serum tests were collected on the same day of biopsy procedure or within a maximum 3 mo interval and stored at -70 °C. RESULTS: Seven hundred and sixty CHC patients were included (222 in the derivation population and 538 in the validation group). In the derivation population, the FibroMeter AUROC was similar to APRI AUROC (0.855 0.815, = 0.06) but higher than Forns AUROC (0.769, < 0.001). The best FibroMeter cut-off to discriminate significant fibrosis was 0.61 (80% diagnostic accuracy; 75% in the validation population, = 0.134). The sequential combination of APRI or Forns with FibroMeter in derivation population presented similar performance compared to FibroMeter used alone (79% 78% 80%, respectively, = 0.791). Unclassified cases of significant fibrosis after applying APRI and Forns corresponded to 49% and 54%, respectively, of the total sample. However, the combination of APRI or Forns with FibroMeter allowed 73% and 77%, respectively, of these unclassified cases to be correctly evaluated. Moreover, this combination resulted in a reduction of FibroMeter requirement in approximately 50% of the entire sample. The stepwise combination of APRI and FibroMeter applied to the validation population correctly identified 74% of patients with severe fibrosis (F ≥ 3). CONCLUSION: The stepwise combination of APRI or Forns with FibroMeter may represent an accurate lower cost alternative when evaluating significant fibrosis, with no need for liver biopsy