Tourist-Communicational Ecosystem in Cirandas of Manacapuru – Amazon

This article presents a partial report of a research on the Brazilian Amazon, entitled Ciranda de Manacapuru as a metaphor for the Amazon: signs of the touristic, communicational, and subjective ecosystem of the region. Ciranda de Manacapuru is a popular dance festival that takes place every year in August in the municipality of Manacapuru, located in the Metropolitan Region of Manaus, in the state of Amazonas, in northern Brazil. This is an event promoted by the State and local government with the participation of three ciranda associations: Flor Matizada, Guerreiros Mura, and Tradicional. This festival is considered the largest Festival of Cirandas in the state, attracting around 50,000 tourists every year. During the Covid19 pandemic, the festival was presented by social media platforms (2020 and 2021). In this cultural manifestation of the city, an important sign of local tourism can be seen, considering the various agents involved, which is capable of attracting a differentiated, expressive, and consumer public. In theoretical terms, the research is being developed with an ecosystemic-complex orientation, which has been marking the studies of AMORCOMTUR! – Study Group on Communication, Tourism, Amouroness, and Autopoiesis. The methodological strategy is the Cartography of Knowledge, qualitative, procedural, and multi-methodological, with development in five investigative paths: We-interlaces, Personal Knowledge, Theoretical Knowledge, Production Plant, and Intuitive Research Dimension. The preliminary results indicated the expressive power of the narratives produced in the Cirandas by the various subjects involved, which makes it possible to reflect on the Tourism-Communication Ecosystemic plot that is established, evaluating the interrelationship of the city of Manacapuru and the cultural manifestation of Ciranda as an autopoietic power.   CITE THIS PAPER: Baptista, Maria L. C.; Santos, Gernei G. (2023). “Tourist-Communicational Ecosystem in Cirandas of Manacapuru – Amazon” Journal of Social Sciences: Transformations & Transitions (JOSSTT) 3(06):27. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52459/josstt3627052

Growth and reproduction of <i>Xyrichthys novacula</i> (Pisces: Labridae) in the Mediterranean Sea

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Common features between neoplastic and preneoplastic lesions of the biliary tract and the pancreas

The bile duct system and pancreas show many similarities due to their anatomical proximity and common embryological origin. Consequently, preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the bile duct and pancreas share analogies in terms of molecular, histological and pathophysiological features. Intraepithelial neoplasms are reported in biliary tract, as biliary intraepithelial neoplasm (BilIN), and in pancreas, as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasm (PanIN). Both can evolve to invasive carcinomas, respectively cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Intraductal papillary neoplasms arise in biliary tract and pancreas. Intraductal papillary neoplasm of the biliary tract (IPNB) share common histologic and phenotypic features such as pancreatobiliary, gastric, intestinal and oncocytic types, and biological behavior with the pancreatic counterpart, the intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas (IPMN). All these neoplastic lesions exhibit similar immunohistochemical phenotypes, suggesting a common carcinogenic process. Indeed, CCA and PDAC display similar clinic-pathological features as growth pattern, poor response to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy and, as a consequence, an unfavorable prognosis. The objective of this review is to discuss similarities and differences between the neoplastic lesions of the pancreas and biliary tract with potential implications on a common origin from similar stem/progenitor cells

Computed tomography of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura abutting the mediastinum: A diagnostic challenge

Background: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) arising from the mediastinal pleura may be confused with primary mediastinal tumors. We studied the computerized tomographic (CT) findings of patients with SFTP that could suggest a diagnosis of SFTP. Materials and Methods: At our hospital from January 1995 to June 2012, 39 patients with histologically confirmed SFTP were surgically treated; seven of them abutting the mediastinal pleura. The study group included seven patients aged between 53 and 81 years. Baseline CT scans were retrospectively reviewed to identify radiological findings suggestive of SFTP including: (1) smooth and sharply delineated contours; (2) obtuse, acute, or tapering angles between the lesion and the mediastinum depending on the size; (3) homogeneous soft-tissue attenuation; (4) “geographic pattern” due to the contemporary presence of large vessels, necrosis, and calcifications; (5) displacement of the lung parenchyma; (6) presence of a cleavage plane; and (7) absence of lymphadenopathy or pleural methastasis. Results: All tumors formed acute angles with the pleura. Six out of the seven presented smoothly tapering margins, three had a “geographic pattern” of attenuation and displaced the anterior junction line; one showed an outside junction line development. Four cases had a clear pleural origin. Conclusions: The possibility of SFTP should be taken into account when a mass abuts the mediastinum projecting inside the thoracic cavity in the presence of an intense and “geographical pattern” of enhancement without lymphoadenopathy or pleural metastasis. These findings assume greater significance in the presence of discrepancy between the size of the lesion and the clinical presentation

Determination of n-3 index and arachidonic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid ratio in dried blood spot by gas chromatography

Background: Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that analysis of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) is essential to evaluate nutritional requirements and disease risk. We describe a simple, sensitive and non-invasive method for estimating the n-3 index and arachidonic acid (AA)/eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio in dried blood spots (DBSs). Experimental: After obtaining DBSs on a spot card, PUFAs were transesterified (direct, acidic transesterification) and subsequently extracted with n-hexane. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) was used to analyze the extracted PUFAs, and then n-3 index and AA/EPA ratio were calculated. Method validation showed satisfactory precision and linearity. Conclusion: This analysis is simple and reliable to estimate PUFA status, and it was successfully applied to samples from 20 subjects, demonstrating its applicability

Estimating specific surface area of fine stream bed sediments from geochemistry

Specific surface area (SSA) of headwater stream bed sediments is a fundamental property which determines the nature of sediment surface reactions and influences ecosystem-level, biological processes. Measurements of SSA – commonly undertaken by BET nitrogen adsorption – are relatively costly in terms of instrumentation and operator time. A novel approach is presented for estimating fine (2.5 mg kg−1), four elements were identified as significant predictors of SSA (ordered by decreasing predictive power): V > Ca > Al > Rb. The optimum model from these four elements accounted for 73% of the variation in bed sediment SSA (range 6–46 m2 g−1) with a root mean squared error of prediction – based on leave-one-out cross-validation – of 6.3 m2 g−1. It is believed that V is the most significant predictor because its concentration is strongly correlated both with the quantity of Fe-oxides and clay minerals in the stream bed sediments, which dominate sediment SSA. Sample heterogeneity in SSA – based on triplicate measurements of sub-samples – was a substantial source of variation (standard error = 2.2 m2 g−1) which cannot be accounted for in the regression model. The model was used to estimate bed sediment SSA at the other 1792 sites and at 30 duplicate sites where an extra sediment sample had been collected, 25 m from the original site. By delineating sub-catchments for the headwater sediment sites only those sub-catchments were selected with a dominant (>50% of the sub-catchment area) bedrock formation and land use type; the bedrock and land use classes accounted for 39% and 7% of the variation in bed sediment SSA, respectively. Variation in estimated, fine bed sediment SSA from the paired, duplicate sediment sites was small (2.7 m2 g−1), showing that local variation in SSA at stream sites is modest when compared to that between catchments. How the approach might be applied in other environments and its potential limitations are discussed

Cell Therapy and Bioengineering in Experimental Liver Regenerative Medicine: In Vivo Injury Models and Grafting Strategies

Abstract Purpose of Review To describe experimental liver injury models used in regenerative medicine, cell therapy strategies to repopulate damaged livers and the efficacy of liver bioengineering. Recent Findings Several animal models have been developed to study different liver conditions. Multiple strategies and modified protocols of cell delivery have been also reported. Furthermore, using bioengineered liver scaffolds has shown promising results that could help in generating a highly functional cell delivery system and/or a whole transplantable liver. Summary To optimize the most effective strategies for liver cell therapy, further studies are required to compare among the performed strategies in the literature and/or innovate a novel modifying technique to overcome the potential limitations. Coating of cells with polymers, decellularized scaffolds, or microbeads could be the most appropriate solution to improve cellular efficacy. Besides, overcoming the problems of liver bioengineering may offer a radical treatment for end-stage liver diseases

Spatially explicit stock assessment uncovers sequential depletion of northern shrimp stock components in the North Sea

Space is a critical component of fisheries management. Despite this, very few of the world's fish and shellfish stocks are currently assessed using methods that are spatially structured. In the Northeast Atlantic, northern shrimp in the North Sea and Skagerrak, is currently assessed using a spatially structured assessment model. This metapopulation model includes two spatial units (the Norwegian Deep and the Skagerrak), however, in the recent past, the fishery on northern shrimp in the North Sea also occurred in a third neighbouring fishing area, the Fladen Ground. Here, we have reconstructed the dynamics of northern shrimp in the Fladen Ground using historic landings, a standardized commercial index of abundance and fragmented survey data and integrated this third spatial unit into the assessment model of the stock. In doing so, we find evidence of sequential spatial depletion, whereby high rates of fishing mortality have successively eroded stock components in a west to east pattern of overexploitation and produced cryptic collapses. This finding is the first documented case of sequential spatial depletion in the Northeast Atlantic, a phenomenon that could be common and largely overlooked by stock assessment methods that are inherently non-spatial