FERIDAS SUPERFICIAIS: FATORES TÉCNICOS ASSOCIADOS A COMPLICAÇÕES LOCAIS

Background: Trauma is a serious public health problem with relevant social and economic consequences. The open cutaneous wounds, despite less severe, are not different, because they have high prevalence, and the patients often need to be away from their functions. This study aims to evaluate these wounds, establishing relations between technique factors of the initial management with unwanted scar and local complications. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, observational and analytical analysis was performed. Data were collected at Hospital do trabalhador (Curitiba/PR), through two questionnaires: the first was filled in the emergency care, and the second in the outpatient clinic return, within 05 to 11 days. Results: 232 patients were evaluated, and 87 returned to outpatient clinic. Considering the total, the epidemiological profile was male (81.5%) with mean age of 38.5 years. Related to the wound, 55% were cut-blunt, located at hands and frontispiece (62.7%), and 86.7% were less than 06 cm length. The initial treatment was cleaning with saline solution (94.7%), wound’s closure with simple interrupted suture (98.85%),  in a number of 06 or less (75.7%), with 3-0 or 4-0 (85.2%) nylon (98.25%). Antibiotic was prescribed to 42.7% of the patients. In outpatient clinic, it was found stitches dehiscence in 13.80%, infection signs in 14.95% and necrosis in 19.5%. Conclusions: Greater amount of stitches in suture, topical substances in home care and use of systemic antibiotics were related with high rates of necrosis, as well as application of hydrogen peroxide with hight rates of necrosis. Introdução: O trauma é um grave problema de saúde pública com relevantes consequências sociais e econômicas. As feridas cutâneas traumáticas, apesar de menor gravidade, não fogem esta regra, pois além da grande prevalência em atendimentos emergenciais, suas vítimas, não raro, necessitam de afastamento de suas funções. Este estudo objetiva avaliar o atendimento inicial dessas feridas, estabelecendo correlações entre fatores técnicos empregados e resultado cicatricial não desejado ou presença de complicações locais. Métodos: Foi realizada uma análise prospectiva, longitudinal, observacional e analítica. Os dados foram coletados no Hospital do Trabalhador (Curitiba/PR) através de dois questionários: o primeiro no atendimento inicial no pronto socorro, e o segundo no retorno ambulatorial em 05 a 11 dias. Resultados: Foram avaliados 232 pacientes, com seguimento ambulatorial de 87. Do total da amostra, a maioria foi de homens (81,5%) com idade média de 38,5 anos. Quanto aos ferimentos, 55% foram corto-contusos, localizados em mãos e face (62,7%), e 86,7% menores do que 6,0 cm. O manejo inicial realizado foi limpeza com soro fisiológico (94,7%), sutura com ponto simples (98,85%), em número menor ou igual a 06 (75,7%), utilizando fio de nylon (98,25%) de tamanho 3-0 e 4-0 (85,2%). Antibioticoterapia foi prescrita para 42,7% dos pacientes. No retorno, observou-se deiscência de pontos em 13,80%, sinais de infecção em 14,95% e necrose em 19,5%. Conclusão: Maior quantidade de pontos na sutura, uso de substâncias tópicas domiciliares e antibioticoterapia apresentaram possível correlação com altas taxas de necrose, assim como aplicação de peróxido de hidrogênio com altas taxas de infecção

Integridade superficial resultante de diferentes processos de usinagem

Among the factors that influence the performance of mechanical components, stand the material and surface conditions. During the machining process, the surface generated can be altered, which have influence on the properties of the material. Due to the variety of machining processes, it is necessary to evaluate the different processes in order to select the most appropriate for each manufacturing operation. Thus, the goal of this work was to evaluate the influence of different processes in the integrity of the generated surface using two conventional processes: drilling and milling, and one unconventional: electrical discharge machining (EDM). In drilling and milling tests were used carbide tools, and in EDM was used a copper electrode. The machined material was ABNT 1045 steel. The results showed bigger changes in the surface generated by the EDM process than those caused by the conventional processes. Key words: drilling, milling, EDM, properties of materials, process selection.Dentre os fatores que exercem influência sobre o desempenho dos componentes mecânicos, destacam-se o material utilizado e as condições da superfície. Durante o processo de usinagem, a superfície gerada pode sofrer alterações, as quais têm influência sobre as propriedades do material. Devido à variedade de processos de usinagem, é fundamental a avaliação dos diferentes processos, de modo a selecionar o mais adequado para cada operação de fabricação. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência de diferentes processos sobre a integridade da superfície gerada, utilizando dois processos convencionais: furação e fresamento, e um não-convencional: a eletroerosão. Na realização dos ensaios de furação e fresamento foram utilizadas ferramentas inteiriças de metalduro, e na usinagem por eletroerosão foi utilizado um eletrodo de cobre. O material usinado foi o aço ABNT 1045. Os resultados encontrados demonstraram maiores alterações na superfície gerada pelo processo de eletroerosão do que as provocadas pelos processos convencionais. Palavras-chave: furação, fresamento, EDM, propriedades dos materiais, seleção de processos

Taking the pulse of Earth's tropical forests using networks of highly distributed plots

Tropical forests are the most diverse and productive ecosystems on Earth. While better understanding of these forests is critical for our collective future, until quite recently efforts to measure and monitor them have been largely disconnected. Networking is essential to discover the answers to questions that transcend borders and the horizons of funding agencies. Here we show how a global community is responding to the challenges of tropical ecosystem research with diverse teams measuring forests tree-by-tree in thousands of long-term plots. We review the major scientific discoveries of this work and show how this process is changing tropical forest science. Our core approach involves linking long-term grassroots initiatives with standardized protocols and data management to generate robust scaled-up results. By connecting tropical researchers and elevating their status, our Social Research Network model recognises the key role of the data originator in scientific discovery. Conceived in 1999 with RAINFOR (South America), our permanent plot networks have been adapted to Africa (AfriTRON) and Southeast Asia (T-FORCES) and widely emulated worldwide. Now these multiple initiatives are integrated via ForestPlots.net cyber-infrastructure, linking colleagues from 54 countries across 24 plot networks. Collectively these are transforming understanding of tropical forests and their biospheric role. Together we have discovered how, where and why forest carbon and biodiversity are responding to climate change, and how they feedback on it. This long-term pan-tropical collaboration has revealed a large long-term carbon sink and its trends, as well as making clear which drivers are most important, which forest processes are affected, where they are changing, what the lags are, and the likely future responses of tropical forests as the climate continues to change. By leveraging a remarkably old technology, plot networks are sparking a very modern revolution in tropical forest science. In the future, humanity can benefit greatly by nurturing the grassroots communities now collectively capable of generating unique, long-term understanding of Earth's most precious forests.Additional co-authors: Susan Laurance, William Laurance, Francoise Yoko Ishida, Andrew Marshall, Catherine Waite, Hannsjoerg Woell, Jean-Francois Bastin, Marijn Bauters, Hans Beeckman, Pfascal Boeckx, Jan Bogaert, Charles De Canniere, Thales de Haulleville, Jean-Louis Doucet, Olivier Hardy, Wannes Hubau, Elizabeth Kearsley, Hans Verbeeck, Jason Vleminckx, Steven W. Brewer, Alfredo Alarcón, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, Eric Arets, Luzmila Arroyo, Ezequiel Chavez, Todd Fredericksen, René Guillén Villaroel, Gloria Gutierrez Sibauty, Timothy Killeen, Juan Carlos Licona, John Lleigue, Casimiro Mendoza, Samaria Murakami, Alexander Parada Gutierrez, Guido Pardo, Marielos Peña-Claros, Lourens Poorter, Marisol Toledo, Jeanneth Villalobos Cayo, Laura Jessica Viscarra, Vincent Vos, Jorge Ahumada, Everton Almeida, Jarcilene Almeida, Edmar Almeida de Oliveira, Wesley Alves da Cruz, Atila Alves de Oliveira, Fabrício Alvim Carvalho, Flávio Amorim Obermuller, Ana Andrade, Fernanda Antunes Carvalho, Simone Aparecida Vieira, Ana Carla Aquino, Luiz Aragão, Ana Claudia Araújo, Marco Antonio Assis, Jose Ataliba Mantelli Aboin Gomes, Fabrício Baccaro, Plínio Barbosa de Camargo, Paulo Barni, Jorcely Barroso, Luis Carlos Bernacci, Kauane Bordin, Marcelo Brilhante de Medeiros, Igor Broggio, José Luís Camargo, Domingos Cardoso, Maria Antonia Carniello, Andre Luis Casarin Rochelle, Carolina Castilho, Antonio Alberto Jorge Farias Castro, Wendeson Castro, Sabina Cerruto Ribeiro, Flávia Costa, Rodrigo Costa de Oliveira, Italo Coutinho, John Cunha, Lola da Costa, Lucia da Costa Ferreira, Richarlly da Costa Silva, Marta da Graça Zacarias Simbine, Vitor de Andrade Kamimura, Haroldo Cavalcante de Lima, Lia de Oliveira Melo, Luciano de Queiroz, José Romualdo de Sousa Lima, Mário do Espírito Santo, Tomas Domingues, Nayane Cristina dos Santos Prestes, Steffan Eduardo Silva Carneiro, Fernando Elias, Gabriel Eliseu, Thaise Emilio, Camila Laís Farrapo, Letícia Fernandes, Gustavo Ferreira, Joice Ferreira, Leandro Ferreira, Socorro Ferreira, Marcelo Fragomeni Simon, Maria Aparecida Freitas, Queila S. García, Angelo Gilberto Manzatto, Paulo Graça, Frederico Guilherme, Eduardo Hase, Niro Higuchi, Mariana Iguatemy, Reinaldo Imbrozio Barbosa, Margarita Jaramillo, Carlos Joly, Joice Klipel, Iêda Leão do Amaral, Carolina Levis, Antonio S. Lima, Maurício Lima Dan, Aline Lopes, Herison Madeiros, William E. Magnusson, Rubens Manoel dos Santos, Beatriz Marimon, Ben Hur Marimon Junior, Roberta Marotti Martelletti Grillo, Luiz Martinelli, Simone Matias Reis, Salomão Medeiros, Milton Meira-Junior, Thiago Metzker, Paulo Morandi, Natanael Moreira do Nascimento, Magna Moura, Sandra Cristina Müller, Laszlo Nagy, Henrique Nascimento, Marcelo Nascimento, Adriano Nogueira Lima, Raimunda Oliveira de Araújo, Jhonathan Oliveira Silva, Marcelo Pansonato, Gabriel Pavan Sabino, Karla Maria Pedra de Abreu, Pablo José Francisco Pena Rodrigues, Maria Piedade, Domingos Rodrigues, José Roberto Rodrigues Pinto, Carlos Quesada, Eliana Ramos, Rafael Ramos, Priscyla Rodrigues, Thaiane Rodrigues de Sousa, Rafael Salomão, Flávia Santana, Marcos Scaranello, Rodrigo Scarton Bergamin, Juliana Schietti, Jochen Schöngart, Gustavo Schwartz, Natalino Silva, Marcos Silveira, Cristiana Simão Seixas, Marta Simbine, Ana Claudia Souza, Priscila Souza, Rodolfo Souza, Tereza Sposito, Edson Stefani Junior, Julio Daniel do Vale, Ima Célia Guimarães Vieira, Dora Villela, Marcos Vital, Haron Xaud, Katia Zanini, Charles Eugene Zartman, Nur Khalish Hafizhah Ideris, Faizah binti Hj Metali, Kamariah Abu Salim, Muhd Shahruney Saparudin, Rafizah Mat Serudin, Rahayu Sukmaria Sukri, Serge Begne, George Chuyong, Marie Noel Djuikouo, Christelle Gonmadje, Murielle Simo-Droissart, Bonaventure Sonké, Hermann Taedoumg, Lise Zemagho, Sean Thomas, Fidèle Baya, Gustavo Saiz, Javier Silva Espejo, Dexiang Chen, Alan Hamilton, Yide Li, Tushou Luo, Shukui Niu, Han Xu, Zhang Zhou, Esteban Álvarez-Dávila, Juan Carlos Andrés Escobar, Henry Arellano-Peña, Jaime Cabezas Duarte, Jhon Calderón, Lina Maria Corrales Bravo, Borish Cuadrado, Hermes Cuadros, Alvaro Duque, Luisa Fernanda Duque, Sandra Milena Espinosa, Rebeca Franke-Ante, Hernando García, Alejandro Gómez, Roy González-M., Álvaro Idárraga-Piedrahíta, Eliana Jimenez, Rubén Jurado, Wilmar López Oviedo, René López-Camacho, Omar Aurelio Melo Cruz, Irina Mendoza Polo, Edwin Paky, Karen Pérez, Angel Pijachi, Camila Pizano, Adriana Prieto, Laura Ramos, Zorayda Restrepo Correa, James Richardson, Elkin Rodríguez, Gina M. Rodriguez M., Agustín Rudas, Pablo Stevenson, Markéta Chudomelová, Martin Dancak, Radim Hédl, Stanislav Lhota, Martin Svatek, Jacques Mukinzi, Corneille Ewango, Terese Hart, Emmanuel Kasongo Yakusu, Janvier Lisingo, Jean-Remy Makana, Faustin Mbayu, Benjamin Toirambe, John Tshibamba Mukendi, Lars Kvist, Gustav Nebel, Selene Báez, Carlos Céron, Daniel M. Griffith, Juan Ernesto Guevara Andino, David Neill, Walter Palacios, Maria Cristina Peñuela-Mora, Gonzalo Rivas-Torres, Gorky Villa, Sheleme Demissie, Tadesse Gole, Techane Gonfa, Kalle Ruokolainen, Michel Baisie, Fabrice Bénédet, Wemo Betian, Vincent Bezard, Damien Bonal, Jerôme Chave, Vincent Droissart, Sylvie Gourlet-Fleury, Annette Hladik, Nicolas Labrière, Pétrus Naisso, Maxime Réjou-Méchain, Plinio Sist, Lilian Blanc, Benoit Burban, Géraldine Derroire, Aurélie Dourdain, Clement Stahl, Natacha Nssi Bengone, Eric Chezeaux, Fidèle Evouna Ondo, Vincent Medjibe, Vianet Mihindou, Lee White, Heike Culmsee, Cristabel Durán Rangel, Viviana Horna, Florian Wittmann, Stephen Adu-Bredu, Kofi Affum-Baffoe, Ernest Foli, Michael Balinga, Anand Roopsind, James Singh, Raquel Thomas, Roderick Zagt, Indu K. Murthy, Kuswata Kartawinata, Edi Mirmanto, Hari Priyadi, Ismayadi Samsoedin, Terry Sunderland, Ishak Yassir, Francesco Rovero, Barbara Vinceti, Bruno Hérault, Shin-Ichiro Aiba, Kanehiro Kitayama, Armandu Daniels, Darlington Tuagben, John T. Woods, Muhammad Fitriadi, Alexander Karolus, Kho Lip Khoon, Noreen Majalap, Colin Maycock, Reuben Nilus, Sylvester Tan, Almeida Sitoe, Indiana Coronado G., Lucas Ojo, Rafael de Assis, Axel Dalberg Poulsen, Douglas Sheil, Karen Arévalo Pezo, Hans Buttgenbach Verde, Victor Chama Moscoso, Jimmy Cesar Cordova Oroche, Fernando Cornejo Valverde, Massiel Corrales Medina, Nallaret Davila Cardozo, Jano de Rutte Corzo, Jhon del Aguila Pasquel, Gerardo Flores Llampazo, Luis Freitas, Darcy Galiano Cabrera, Roosevelt García Villacorta, Karina Garcia Cabrera, Diego García Soria, Leticia Gatica Saboya, Julio Miguel Grandez Rios, Gabriel Hidalgo Pizango, Eurídice Honorio Coronado, Isau Huamantupa-Chuquimaco, Walter Huaraca Huasco, Yuri Tomas Huillca Aedo, Jose Luis Marcelo Peña, Abel Monteagudo Mendoza, Vanesa Moreano Rodriguez, Percy Núñez Vargas, Sonia Cesarina Palacios Ramos, Nadir Pallqui Camacho, Antonio Peña Cruz, Freddy Ramirez Arevalo, José Reyna Huaymacari, Carlos Reynel Rodriguez, Marcos Antonio Ríos Paredes, Lily Rodriguez Bayona, Rocio del Pilar Rojas Gonzales, Maria Elena Rojas Peña, Norma Salinas Revilla, Yahn Carlos Soto Shareva, Raul Tupayachi Trujillo, Luis Valenzuela Gamarra, Rodolfo Vasquez Martinez, Jim Vega Arenas, Christian Amani, Suspense Averti Ifo, Yannick Bocko, Patrick Boundja, Romeo Ekoungoulou, Mireille Hockemba, Donatien Nzala, Alusine Fofanah, David Taylor, Guillermo Bañares-de Dios, Luis Cayuela, Íñigo Granzow-de la Cerda, Manuel Macía, Juliana Stropp, Maureen Playfair, Verginia Wortel, Toby Gardner, Robert Muscarella, Hari Priyadi, Ervan Rutishauser, Kuo-Jung Chao, Pantaleo Munishi, Olaf Bánki, Frans Bongers, Rene Boot, Gabriella Fredriksson, Jan Reitsma, Hans ter Steege, Tinde van Andel, Peter van de Meer, Peter van der Hout, Mark van Nieuwstadt, Bert van Ulft, Elmar Veenendaal, Ronald Vernimmen, Pieter Zuidema, Joeri Zwerts, Perpetra Akite, Robert Bitariho, Colin Chapman, Eilu Gerald, Miguel Leal, Patrick Mucunguzi, Miguel Alexiades, Timothy R. Baker, Karina Banda, Lindsay Banin, Jos Barlow, Amy Bennett, Erika Berenguer, Nicholas Berry, Neil M. Bird, George A. Blackburn, Francis Brearley, Roel Brienen, David Burslem, Lidiany Carvalho, Percival Cho, Fernanda Coelho, Murray Collins, David Coomes, Aida Cuni-Sanchez, Greta Dargie, Kyle Dexter, Mat Disney, Freddie Draper, Muying Duan, Adriane Esquivel-Muelbert, Robert Ewers, Belen Fadrique, Sophie Fauset, Ted R. Feldpausch, Filipe França, David Galbraith, Martin Gilpin, Emanuel Gloor, John Grace, Keith Hamer, David Harris, Tommaso Jucker, Michelle Kalamandeen, Bente Klitgaard, Aurora Levesley, Simon L. Lewis, Jeremy Lindsell, Gabriela Lopez-Gonzalez, Jon Lovett, Yadvinder Malhi, Toby Marthews, Emma McIntosh, Karina Melgaço, William Milliken, Edward Mitchard, Peter Moonlight, Sam Moore, Alexandra Morel, Julie Peacock, Kelvin Peh, Colin Pendry, R. Toby Pennington, Luciana de Oliveira Pereira, Carlos Peres, Oliver L. Phillips, Georgia Pickavance, Thomas Pugh, Lan Qie, Terhi Riutta, Katherine Roucoux, Casey Ryan, Tiina Sarkinen, Camila Silva Valeria, Dominick Spracklen, Suzanne Stas, Martin Sullivan, Michael Swaine, Joey Talbot, James Taplin, Geertje van der Heijden, Laura Vedovato, Simon Willcock, Mathew Williams, Luciana Alves, Patricia Alvarez Loayza, Gabriel Arellano, Cheryl Asa, Peter Ashton, Gregory Asner, Terry Brncic, Foster Brown, Robyn Burnham, Connie Clark, James Comiskey, Gabriel Damasco, Stuart Davies, Tony Di Fiore, Terry Erwin, William Farfan-Rios, Jefferson Hall, David Kenfack, Thomas Lovejoy, Roberta Martin, Olga Martha Montiel, John Pipoly, Nigel Pitman, John Poulsen, Richard Primack, Miles Silman, Marc Steininger, Varun Swamy, John Terborgh, Duncan Thomas, Peter Umunay, Maria Uriarte, Emilio Vilanova Torre, Ophelia Wang, Kenneth Young, Gerardo A. Aymard C., Lionel Hernández, Rafael Herrera Fernández, Hirma Ramírez-Angulo, Pedro Salcedo, Elio Sanoja, Julio Serrano, Armando Torres-Lezama, Tinh Cong Le, Trai Trong Le, Hieu Dang Tra

Grinding wheel characterization by X-ray tomography for grinding cycle optimization

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro Tecnológico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Florianópolis, 2019.A redução dos tempos de ciclo na retificação cilíndrica periférica de mergulho influencia a qualidade do produto manufaturado. De modo a obter um componente livre de alterações deletérias ao seu rendimento e tempo de vida, é de prática comum na indústria reduzir a taxa de retificação específica, aumentando o tempo de processo. Desta forma, torna-se oportuno empregar ciclos de retificação com sequências otimizadas de desbaste até acabamento, baseadas no conhecimento da profundidade das modificações na subsuperfície retificada, evitando assim alteração de propriedades mecânicas do componente final e obtendo tempo de processo reduzido. Rebolos com abrasivos de óxido de alumínio microcristalino garantem excelente resistência ao desgaste e versatilidade no dressamento da ferramenta, entretanto com efeitos na subsuperfície ainda não completamente entendidos. Este trabalho mostra que para obter ciclos mais sustentáveis de retificação cilíndrica externa de mergulho de múltiplos estágios, utilizando como ferramenta rebolos vitrificados convencionais, é de fundamental importância conhecer as características reais dos rebolos. Corpos de prova anelares em aço AISI 1040 (temperados e revenidos), foram retificados com rebolos com diferentes concentrações de óxido de alumínio microcristalino (de 0 % até 45%), empregando taxas de retificação específica de desbaste e acabamento. Os critérios de avaliação foram a força de retificação e a integridade da superfície. Os resultados alimentam uma base de dados e auxiliam na determinação de ciclos com tempo de retificação otimizados, restringidos pela espessura das alterações na camada limite e pela rugosidade do componente. A tomografia de raios-X revelou que os rebolos fornecidos sem e com a menor concentração de óxido de alumínio microcristalino apresentam percentuais de ligante maiores que os rebolos com as maiores concentrações de óxido de alumínio microcristalino. A avaliação dos resultados das componentes de força, rugosidade e camada limite afetada, considerando a fração volumétrica de abrasivos, ligantes e poros, permitiu uma avaliação consistente dos resultados. A otimização dos ciclos de desbaste, restrita pela integridade de superfície a ser removido no acabamento, permite reduzir os tempos de retificação com o emprego de ciclos de retificação de múltiplos incrementos, entretanto que ainda exige dados experimentais mais abrangentes para tornar os resultados mais consistentes. Conclui-se também que a substituição de rebolos convencionais por rebolos contendo óxido de alumínio microcristalino deve considerar o conhecimento da composição e da estrutura dos rebolos para permitir previsões adequadas da influência desta sobre a camada limite afetada.Abstract: Cycle time reduction in cylindrical peripheral plunge grinding influences on the quality of the manufactured product. In order to obtain a component free of deleterious modifications to its performance and lifespan, it is a common practice in the industry to reduce the specific material removal rate which increases the process time. Thus, it becomes opportune to employ grinding cycles, with optimized roughing to finishing sequences, based on the knowledge of the damage depth on the ground subsurface during roughing, avoiding mechanical property?s modification on the final component, as well as obtaining reduced process times. Conventional grinding wheels with microcrystalline aluminum oxide abrasive ensure excellent wear resistance and tool dressing flexibility, however with effects on the subsurface still not completely understood. This study shows that to obtain more sustainable multi-step external cylindrical plunge grinding cycles for grinding with conventional grinding wheels, it is of fundamental importance to acknowledge the real grinding wheel characteristics. Ring-shape quenched and tempered AISI 1040 steel workpieces, were ground with grinding wheels with different content of microcrystalline aluminum oxide (from 0%, up to 45%), employing specific material removal rates from roughing to finishing. The evaluation criteria were the grinding force and surface integrity. The results supply a database and help the determination of grinding cycles with optimized grinding time, constrained by the boundary-affected layer thickness and surface roughness of the component. The X-ray tomography revealed that the provided wheels without and with the lowest microcrystalline aluminum oxide content present a higher binder percentage than the wheels with the higher microcrystalline aluminum oxide content. The evaluation of the grinding force components, surface roughness, and boundary-affected layer results, considering volumetric fraction of the abrasives, binder, and pores, allowed a consistent evaluation of the results. The roughing cycle optimization, restricted by the surface integrity and to be removed on the finishing operation, allows the reduction of the grinding times with the use of multi-step grinding cycles, however still requiring consistent reliable in-depth data to make consistent results. It is also concluded that the replacement of the conventional grinding wheels with grinding wheels containing microcrystalline aluminum oxide in the abrasive composition must consider the knowledge of the grinding wheel composition and structure to allow adequate prediction of its influence on the boundary-affected layer

12,500+ and counting: biodiversity of the Brazilian Pampa

Knowledge on biodiversity is fundamental for conservation strategies. The Brazilian Pampa region, located in subtropical southern Brazil, is neglected in terms of conservation, and knowledge of its biodiversity is fragmented. We aim to answer the question: how many, and which, species occur in the Brazilian Pampa? In a collaborative effort, we built species lists for plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi that occur in the Brazilian Pampa. We included information on distribution patterns, main habitat types, and conservation status. Our study resulted in referenced lists totaling 12,503 species (12,854 taxa, when considering infraspecific taxonomic categories [or units]). Vascular plants amount to 3,642 species (including 165 Pteridophytes), while algae have 2,046 species (2,378 taxa) and bryophytes 316 species (318 taxa). Fungi (incl. lichenized fungi) contains 1,141 species (1,144 taxa). Animals total 5,358 species (5,372 taxa). Among the latter, vertebrates comprise 1,136 species, while invertebrates are represented by 4,222 species. Our data indicate that, according to current knowledge, the Pampa holds approximately 9% of the Brazilian biodiversity in an area of little more than 2% of Brazil’s total land. The proportion of species restricted to the Brazilian Pampa is low (with few groups as exceptions), as it is part of a larger grassland ecoregion and in a transitional climatic setting. Our study yielded considerably higher species numbers than previously known for many species groups; for some, it provides the first published compilation. Further efforts are needed to increase knowledge in the Pampa and other regions of Brazil. Considering the strategic importance of biodiversity and its conservation, appropriate government policies are needed to fund studies on biodiversity, create accessible and constantly updated biodiversity databases, and consider biodiversity in school curricula and other outreach activities

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

A randomized trial of planned cesarean or vaginal delivery for twin pregnancy

Background: Twin birth is associated with a higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes than singleton birth. It is unclear whether planned cesarean section results in a lower risk of adverse outcomes than planned vaginal delivery in twin pregnancy.\ud \ud Methods: We randomly assigned women between 32 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days of gestation with twin pregnancy and with the first twin in the cephalic presentation to planned cesarean section or planned vaginal delivery with cesarean only if indicated. Elective delivery was planned between 37 weeks 5 days and 38 weeks 6 days of gestation. The primary outcome was a composite of fetal or neonatal death or serious neonatal morbidity, with the fetus or infant as the unit of analysis for the statistical comparison.\ud \ud Results: A total of 1398 women (2795 fetuses) were randomly assigned to planned cesarean delivery and 1406 women (2812 fetuses) to planned vaginal delivery. The rate of cesarean delivery was 90.7% in the planned-cesarean-delivery group and 43.8% in the planned-vaginal-delivery group. Women in the planned-cesarean-delivery group delivered earlier than did those in the planned-vaginal-delivery group (mean number of days from randomization to delivery, 12.4 vs. 13.3; P = 0.04). There was no significant difference in the composite primary outcome between the planned-cesarean-delivery group and the planned-vaginal-delivery group (2.2% and 1.9%, respectively; odds ratio with planned cesarean delivery, 1.16; 95% confidence interval, 0.77 to 1.74; P = 0.49).\ud \ud Conclusion: In twin pregnancy between 32 weeks 0 days and 38 weeks 6 days of gestation, with the first twin in the cephalic presentation, planned cesarean delivery did not significantly decrease or increase the risk of fetal or neonatal death or serious neonatal morbidity, as compared with planned vaginal delivery

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora