Enhancing sampling design in mist-net bat surveys by accounting for sample size optimization

The advantages of mist-netting, the main technique used in Neotropical bat community studies to date, include logistical implementation, standardization and sampling representativeness. Nonetheless, study designs still have to deal with issues of detectability related to how different species behave and use the environment. Yet there is considerable sampling heterogeneity across available studies in the literature. Here, we approach the problem of sample size optimization. We evaluated the common sense hypothesis that the first six hours comprise the period of peak night activity for several species, thereby resulting in a representative sample for the whole night. To this end, we combined re-sampling techniques, species accumulation curves, threshold analysis, and community concordance of species compositional data, and applied them to datasets of three different Neotropical biomes (Amazonia, Atlantic Forest and Cerrado). We show that the strategy of restricting sampling to only six hours of the night frequently results in incomplete sampling representation of the entire bat community investigated. From a quantitative standpoint, results corroborated the existence of a major Sample Area effect in all datasets, although for the Amazonia dataset the six-hour strategy was significantly less species-rich after extrapolation, and for the Cerrado dataset it was more efficient. From the qualitative standpoint, however, results demonstrated that, for all three datasets, the identity of species that are effectively sampled will be inherently impacted by choices of sub-sampling schedule. We also propose an alternative six-hour sampling strategy (at the beginning and the end of a sample night) which performed better when resampling Amazonian and Atlantic Forest datasets on bat assemblages. Given the observed magnitude of our results, we propose that sample representativeness has to be carefully weighed against study objectives, and recommend that the trade-off between logistical constraints and additional sampling performance should be carefully evaluated

Microbial Diversity of a Brazilian Coastal Region Influenced by an Upwelling System and Anthropogenic Activity

BACKGROUND: Upwelling systems are characterised by an intense primary biomass production in the surface (warmest) water after the outcrop of the bottom (coldest) water, which is rich in nutrients. Although it is known that the microbial assemblage plays an important role in the food chain of marine systems and that the upwelling systems that occur in southwest Brazil drive the complex dynamics of the food chain, little is known about the microbial composition present in this region. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We carried out a molecular survey based on SSU rRNA gene from the three domains of the phylogenetic tree of life present in a tropical upwelling region (Arraial do Cabo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). The aim was to analyse the horizontal and vertical variations of the microbial composition in two geographically close areas influenced by anthropogenic activity (sewage disposal/port activity) and upwelling phenomena, respectively. A lower estimated diversity of microorganisms of the three domains of the phylogenetic tree of life was found in the water of the area influenced by anthropogenic activity compared to the area influenced by upwelling phenomena. We observed a heterogenic distribution of the relative abundance of taxonomic groups, especially in the Archaea and Eukarya domains. The bacterial community was dominated by Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla, whereas the microeukaryotic community was dominated by Metazoa, Fungi, Alveolata and Stramenopile. The estimated archaeal diversity was the lowest of the three domains and was dominated by uncharacterised marine Crenarchaeota that were most closely related to Marine Group I. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The variety of conditions and the presence of different microbial assemblages indicated that the area of Arraial do Cabo can be used as a model for detailed studies that contemplate the correlation between pollution-indicating parameters and the depletion of microbial diversity in areas close to anthropogenic activity; functional roles and geochemical processes; phylogeny of the uncharacterised diversity; and seasonal variations of the microbial assemblages

Cardiovascular health and particulate vehicular emissions: a critical evaluation of the evidence

A major public health goal is to determine linkages between specific pollution sources and adverse health outcomes. This paper provides an integrative evaluation of the database examining effects of vehicular emissions, such as black carbon (BC), carbonaceous gasses, and ultrafine PM, on cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Less than a decade ago, few epidemiological studies had examined effects of traffic emissions specifically on these health endpoints. In 2002, the first of many studies emerged finding significantly higher risks of CV morbidity and mortality for people living in close proximity to major roadways, vs. those living further away. Abundant epidemiological studies now link exposure to vehicular emissions, characterized in many different ways, with CV health endpoints such as cardiopulmonary and ischemic heart disease and circulatory-disease-associated mortality; incidence of coronary artery disease; acute myocardial infarction; survival after heart failure; emergency CV hospital admissions; and markers of atherosclerosis. We identify numerous in vitro, in vivo, and human panel studies elucidating mechanisms which could explain many of these cardiovascular morbidity and mortality associations. These include: oxidative stress, inflammation, lipoperoxidation and atherosclerosis, change in heart rate variability (HRV), arrhythmias, ST-segment depression, and changes in vascular function (such as brachial arterial caliber and blood pressure). Panel studies with accurate exposure information, examining effects of ambient components of vehicular emissions on susceptible human subjects, appear to confirm these mechanisms. Together, this body of evidence supports biological mechanisms which can explain the various CV epidemiological findings. Based upon these studies, the research base suggests that vehicular emissions are a major environmental cause of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in the United States. As a means to reduce the public health consequences of such emissions, it may be desirable to promulgate a black carbon (BC) PM2.5 standard under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which would apply to both on and off-road diesels. Two specific critical research needs are identified. One is to continue research on health effects of vehicular emissions, gaseous as well as particulate. The second is to utilize identical or nearly identical research designs in studies using accurate exposure metrics to determine whether other major PM pollutant sources and types may also underlie the specific health effects found in this evaluation for vehicular emissions

Topological sensitivity analysis in large deformation problems

The aim of the present work is to apply the topological sensitivity analysis (TSA) to large-deformation elasticity based on the total Lagrangian formulation. The TSA results in a scalar function, denominated topological derivative, that gives for each point of the domain the sensitivity of a given cost function when a small hole is created. An approximated expression for the topological derivative is obtained by numerical asymptotic analysis. Numerical results of the presented approach are considered for elastic plane problems.37214916

Do young Carollia perspicillata (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) present higher infestation rates of Streblidae (Diptera)?

Ecological aspects related to parasitism are one of the less studied issues in parasitology research, and the scarce evidence available supports that younger specimens present higher infestation rates. The purpose of this work is to establish if higher infestation rates are observed in nursing females and their young captured inside their roost. Bats were captured inside a shelter located in RPPN Estação Veracel, Santa Cruz de Cabrália, Bahia state, Brazil. A total of 56 individuals of Carollia perspicillata were observed, 17 captured inside the roost during the day and 39 in trails at night. Captures of C. perspicillata during the day in a shelter yielded similar infestation rates to bats netted in trails and higher prevalence. The hypothesis that young were more infected was confirmed, based on the higher infestation of nursing females with neonates and on the significant inverse relation between body weight and number of parasites in young and subadults

Surgery cancelling at a teaching hospital: implications for cost management Cancelamiento de cirugías en un hospital-escuela: implicaciones para la gestión de costos Cancelamento cirúrgico em um hospital escola: implicações sobre o gerenciamento de custos

This study discusses the problem of surgery cancellation on the economic-financial perspective. It was carried out in the Surgical Center Unit of a school hospital with the objective to identify and analyze the direct costs (human resources, medications and materials) and the opportunity costs that result from the cancellation of elective surgeries. Data were collected during three consecutive months through institutional documents and a form elaborated by the researchers. Only 58 (23.3%) of the 249 cancelled scheduled surgeries represented costs for the institution. The cancellations direct total cost was R$1.713.66 (average cost per patient R$ 29.54); distributed as follows: expenses with consumption materials R$333.05; sterilization process R$201.22; medications R$149.77 and human resources R$1,029.62. The human resources costs represented the greatest percentile in relation to the total cost (60.40%). It was observed that most of the cancellations could be partially avoided. Planning on management; redesigning work processes, training the staff and making early clinical evaluation can be strategies to minimize this occurrence.<br>Este artículo discute la problemática del cancelamiento de cirugías bajo una perspectiva económico-financiera. Fue llevado a cabo en la Unidad del Centro Quirúrgico de un hospital-escuela con objeto de identificar y analizar los costos directos (recursos humanos, recursos materiales y medicamentos) e indirectos ocasionados por el cancelamiento de cirugías no urgentes. Los datos fueron recogidos durante tres meses consecutivos mediante documentos institucionales y un cuestionario elaborado por las investigadoras. Solamente 58 (23,3%) de las 249 operaciones previstas y que fueron canceladas resultaron en costos para la institución. El costo directo total de los cancelamientos fue R$1.713,66 (costo medio por paciente de R$ 29,54), repartidos así: gastos con materiales de consumo R$333,05 y proceso de esterilización R$ 201,22, medicamentos R$149,77 y recursos humanos R$ 1.029,62. El costo de los recursos humanos repesentó el mayor porcentaje en relación al costo total (60,1 %). Se constató que la mayor parte de los cancelamientos podría haber sido evitada. Planificación administrativa, rediseño de los procesos de trabajo, medidas educativas del personal y evaluaçión clínica previa constituyen estrategias recomendadas para reducción de los casos de cancelamiento.<br>Este estudo discute a problemática do cancelamento de cirurgias sob a perspectiva econômico-financeira. Foi realizado na Unidade de Centro Cirúrgico de um hospital de ensino, com o objetivo de identificar e analisar os custos diretos (recursos humanos, medicamentos e materiais) e custo de oportunidade gerados pelo cancelamento de cirurgias eletivas. Os dados foram coletados durantes três meses consecutivos, utilizando-se documentos institucionais e formulário elaborado pelas pesquisadoras. Apenas 58 (23,3%) das 249 cirurgias programadas canceladas representaram custos para a instituição. O custo direto total dos cancelamentos foi de R$1.713,66 (custo médio por paciente de R$ 29,54), assim distribuídos: despesas com materiais de consumo R$333,05; processo de esterilização R$ 201,22; medicamentos R$149,77 e recursos humanos R$ 1.029,62. O custo com recursos humanos representou o maior percentual em relação ao custo total (60,1%). Observou-se que a maior parte dos cancelamentos eram potencialmente evitáveis. Planejamento administrativo, redesenho dos processos de trabalho, medidas educativas de pessoal e avaliação clínica prévia constitue em estratégias recomendadas para minimização da ocorrência