Materiais de tetrapoda encontrados na formação Rio do Rasto (Permiano Superior, Bacia do Paraná)

Orientador: Nome SobrenomeMonografia (Bacharelado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná. Setor de Ciências Biológicas. Curso de Graduação em Ciências BiológicasResumo : A Formação Rio do Rasto está inserida na Superseqüência Gondwana I da Bacia do Paraná, sendo datada do Permiano Superior, e apresenta sedimentação atribuída primeiramente a um ambiente marinho raso, transicionando para depósitos de planície costeira (Membro Serrinha), passando a uma sedimentação flúvio-deltaica (Membro Morro Pelado), formando dessa forma o último ciclo transgressivoregressivo registrado na bacia. A formação se destaca pelo rico conteúdo de vertebrados fósseis encontrados em seus sedimentos. Até o presente, já foram registrados o dicinodonte Endothiodon, pareiassauros, tubarões xenacantídeos e hibodontiformes, actinopterígios, peixes paleonisciformes e dipnóicos, além de anfíbios temnospôndilos, como Australerpeton cosgriffi e Bageherpeton longignathus. O presente trabalho relata a ocorrência de novos materiais fósseis, atribuídos a anfíbios temnospôndilos, encontrados na região de São Jerônimo da Serra, no Estado do Paraná, em sedimentos do Membro Morro Pelado. Após a devida preparação, os materiais descritos compreendem fragmentos mandibulares, diversos elementos vertebrais (tanto de arcos neurais, como pleurocentros e intercentros), um fragmento de costela, uma interclavícula, um provável escápulocoracóide e um fragmento proximal de uma ulna e de um fêmur. Vista a grande semelhança das amostras com o que é descrito na literatura, sugere-se que o material pertença a anfíbios temnospôndilos do gênero Australerpeton, visto que há amplo registro desse animal no mesmo afloramento. Espera-se que essas novas ocorrências de tetrápode venham aperfeiçoar a bioestratigrafia da Formação Rio do Rasto, correlacionando a fauna da Serra do Cadeado (Estado do Paraná) com sedimentos do Permiano Superior da Bacia do Karoo, na África do Sul

The influence of wine storytelling on the global wine tourism experience

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the role of wine storytelling as an antecedent in the wine tourism experience, namely on other constructs such as winescape attributes, sensorial attraction, wine excitement and cultural experience. Th is study analyses the combined use of fi ve wine tourism experience dimensions as well the infl uence of storytelling as a key antecedent of the wine experience. Th is study extends existing knowledge by identifying new key drivers which focus on wine tourist behavioural responses within visits to the wine cellars. Data were collected within two wine tourism settings in Madeira and Porto wine cellars, from two convenience samples of 647 international wine tourists. Using partial least square structural equation modelling, the results reveal a direct impact of wine storytelling on the several dimensions of the wine tourism experiences. Furthermore, storytelling was found to directly infl uence wine excitement, and indirectly both outcome variables (wine excitement and cultural experience), trough the mediating eff ect of winescape attributes and sensorial attraction.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Encouraging wine storytelling in the tourist experience: a preliminary study

Wine tourism has long since ceased to be just a visit to wine producing regions and wineries, just to taste or buy wine. In fact, wine tourism has become more complex as a tourist product, due to the requirement of visitors to obtain a differentiated experience, composed of multiple elements Wine tourism activities consist of, above all, wine tastings and cellar, wine house and wine museum visits. Currently, and in the future, wine tourism has provided and boosted the creation of genuine and unique tourist experiences, more and more differentiated tailor-made. This preliminary approach aims to evaluate the role of wine storytelling as an antecedent in the wine tourism experience, namely on other constructs as winescape attributes, sensorial attraction, wine excitement and cultural experience. A range of practical implications are provided for wine tourism managers, marketers and wine guided tours namely on the importance on the training the storytelling skill by the wine cellars staff. The new vogue of wine tourism forces us to challenge and re-visit the power relationships that exist within contemporary tourism and the host–guest relationship. As an interdisciplinary approach, this research contributes positively to the development of theory in relationship marketing and tourism contexts in wine management (theoretical implications). At the end, guidelines for future work will be presented.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Sensate composite calcaneal flap in leg amputation: a full terminal weight-bearing surface—experience in eight adult patients

Despite modern reconstruction techniques and replantation, the preservation of a severely traumatised limb, or even a limb affected by a congenital malformation, usually gives poorer functional results compared with amputation and prosthetisation. The aim of this study was to describe a hind foot (including the calcaneum and fat pad) sensate flap with a surface that allows full terminal weight bearing in transtibial amputations in adults. Between June 2007 and September 2008, eight patients underwent leg amputations with a sensate composite calcaneal flap reconstruction of the stump. Patients consisted of four men and four women with a mean age of 46.5 (26–66) years. All amputations were unilateral. The mean follow-up was 28.3 (25–42) months. There were no complications. Calcaneum tibial fusion was observed in all patients in a mean time of 3.5 (3–4) months. A below-knee prosthesis was adapted at 16 weeks postoperatively in all cases, and no need for stump revision occurred in this series during the entire follow-up period. A transtibial amputation covered with a sensate plantar flap preserving the calcaneum was proposed. In theory, the anatomic structures spared in this technique provide a strong, full, weight-bearing terminal surface of the stump that will last a lifetime

Nicarágua em Crise

O artigo teve como propósitos apresentar os processos históricos e revolucionários para a implementação da democracia na Nicarágua durante os séculos XIX e XX, depreender como Daniel Ortega promoveu um regime político híbrido na Nicarágua, ao passo que se manteve no poder entre 2007 e 2017, e, por fim, apontar as diferentes crises decorrentes do autoritarismo do governo Ortega (2018-atualmente). A pesquisa qualitativa utilizou o método hipotético-dedutivo e se baseou em um levantamento bibliográfico, secundário e documental, permitindo análises sobre as questões sócio-políticas da Nicarágua. Concluiu-se que a interferência estrangeira e a tradição liberal da burguesia nicaraguense fazem parte do panorama que é a América Latina. Ante bases democráticas não solidificadas, esses pontos culminaram na decadência da revolução nicaraguense em 1989 e, posteriormente, na formação gradual do governo autoritário contemporâneo de Daniel Ortega.

Detection value of free cancer cells in peritoneal washing in gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Intraperitoneal free cancer cells in gastric adenocarcinoma are associated with a poor outcome. However, the true prognostic value of intraperitoneal free cancer cells is still unclear, leading to a lack of consensus in the management of gastric cancer. The aim of the present study is to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze intraperitoneal free cancer cells-positive patients with regard to tumor oncologic stage, recurrence, grade of cellular differentiation, and survival rates and to analyze the clinical significance of intraperitoneal free cancer cells with regard to prognosis. Databases were searched up to January 2016 for prognostic factors associated with intraperitoneal free cancer cells, including oncologic stage, depth of neoplasm invasion, lymph nodal spread, differentiation grade of the tumor, and recurrence and survival rates. A total of 100 studies were identified. Meta-analysis revealed a clear association between intraperitoneal free cancer cells and a poor prognosis. intraperitoneal free cancer cells -positive patients had higher rates of nodal spread (risk difference: 0.29;

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the surgical treatment of gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been recognized as one of the most serious public health crises. This study aimed to evaluate the short-term impact of the pandemic on the surgical treatment of patients with gastric cancer (GC) in addition to their clinicopathological characteristics. We also verified adherence to the COVID-19 screening protocol adopted in the institution. METHODS: All patients with GC who underwent surgical treatment between 2015 and 2021 were retrospectively evaluated and divided into two groups according to the time period: control group (2015-2019) and COVID group (2020-2021). The institutional protocol recommends that patients referred for surgery undergo RT-PCR for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. RESULTS: A total of 83 patients were classified into the COVID group and 535 into the control group. The number of surgical procedures performed in the control group was 107 (SD±23.8) per year. Diagnostic procedures (p=0.005), preoperative chemotherapy (p<0.001), and adenocarcinomas without Lauren’s subtype (p=0.009) were more frequent in the COVID group than in the control group. No significant difference was observed in the pathological characteristics and surgical outcomes of curative GC between the two groups. Evaluation of protocol compliance showed that of 83 patients with GC in the COVID group, 19 (22.9%) were not tested for COVID-19 before surgery. Two patients tested positive for COVID-19 (one preoperative and one postoperative). CONCLUSION: A decrease in the average number of surgeries and a higher frequency of diagnostic procedures occurred during the pandemic than in the previous time period. Tumor/node/metastasis classification, morbidity rates, and mortality rates in patients with GC during the pandemic did not differ from those in the previous time period. Accordingly, GC surgical treatment with acceptable screening protocol compliance could be safely performed during the COVID-19 pandemic

Clinical performance of an infliximab rapid quantification assay

Background: Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM)-based algorithms can be used to guide infliximab (IFX) adjustments in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. This study aimed to explore a rapid IFX-quantification test from a clinical perspective. Methods: This manuscript describes a prospective cohort study involving 110 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients on the maintenance phase of IFX. IFX trough levels were quantified using a rapid quantification assay and a commonly-used reference kit. Results: Irrespective of the assay used to measure IFX, its through levels were statistically different between patients with and without endoscopic remission (Mayo endoscopic score = 0), as well as between patients stratified by their faecal calprotectin (FC) levels. Despite the fact that the two methods correlated well with each other [Spearman's rank correlation coefficient = 0.843, p < 0.001; intraclass correlation coefficients = 0.857, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.791-0.903], there was a discernible systematic variation; values obtained with the reference kit were on average 2.62 units higher than those obtained with the rapid assay. Notwithstanding, 3 mu g/ml was shown to be an acceptable cut-off to assess endoscopic status and inflammatory burden levels using both assays. The percentage of patients that had a positive outcome when the IFX concentration measured by the rapid assay ranked above 3 mu g/ml was 88% both for a Mayo endoscopic score <= 1 and for an FC concentration <250 mu g/g. Conclusions: Based on this study, we concluded that using the rapid IFX assessment system with a 3 mu g/ml threshold is a reliable alternative to the time-consuming enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in patients on the maintenance phase of IFX.Portuguese IBD Group (GEDII, Grupo de Estudo da Doenca Inflamatoria Intestinal)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

New VVV Survey Globular Cluster Candidates in the Milky Way Bulge

© 2017 The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.It is likely that a number of Galactic globular clusters remain to be discovered, especially toward the Galactic bulge. High stellar density combined with high and differential interstellar reddening are the two major problems for finding globular clusters located toward the bulge. We use the deep near-IR photometry of the VISTA Variables in the Vía Láctea (VVV) Survey to search for globular clusters projected toward the Galactic bulge, and hereby report the discovery of 22 new candidate globular clusters. These objects, detected as high density regions in our maps of bulge red giants, are confirmed as globular cluster candidates by their color-magnitude diagrams. We provide their coordinates as well as their near-IR color-magnitude diagrams, from which some basic parameters are derived, such as reddenings and heliocentric distances. The color-magnitude diagrams reveal well defined red giant branches in all cases, often including a prominent red clump. The new globular cluster candidates exhibit a variety of extinctions (0.06 < A Ks < 2.77) and distances (5.3 < D < 9.5 kpc). We also classify the globular cluster candidates into 10 metal-poor and 12 metal-rich clusters, based on the comparison of their color-magnitude diagrams with those of known globular clusters also observed by the VVV Survey. Finally, we argue that the census for Galactic globular clusters still remains incomplete, and that many more candidate globular clusters (particularly the low luminosity ones) await to be found and studied in detail in the central regions of the Milky Way.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio