Reproductive Biology and Recruitment of Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in a Marine Protected Area in the Western Atlantic: Implications for Resource Management

The potential of a recently established marine protected area (MPA) in the Western Atlantic, Brazil, as a \u27seed production\u27 and nursery ground for Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, an intensively exploited penaeid shrimp, was investigated in an attempt to reveal any future benefit of this new MPA to adjacent populations experiencing heavy exploitation. Overall, we observed that males and females \u3e12 and 20 mm carapace length, respectively, contributed the most to reproduction in the studied population. Reproductive activity of X. kroyeri was continuous at the MPA; 2 annual reproductive peaks were recorded from March to April and from November to December, which were followed by recruitment events occurring from March to April 2009 and November 2009. Sediment, temperature, and algae and plant biomass floating near the bottom were relevant in driving reproductive activity and recruitment in X. kroyeri. The high reproductive potential of the studied population and the occurrence of abundant juveniles throughout the sampling area, indicating the existence of a nursery ground within the region, suggest that this MPA might provide important benefits in the near future. We argue in favor of future long-term studies on the larval dispersion, reproductive biology and ecology of X. kroyeri in MPAs and non-MPAs to construct a base for future management of this species and to aid stock recovery in fishing areas that are heavily exploited

Abundance and Ecological Distribution of the Sete-Barbas Shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri (Heller, 1862) (Decapoda: Penaeoidea) in Three Bays of the Ubatuba Region, Southeastern Brazil

The influence of environmental factors on the abundance and spatial-temporal distribution of the shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri was investigated in southeastern Brazil over 2 years. Monthly collections were conducted in Mar Virado, Ubatuba and Ubatumirim Bays using a commercial shrimp fishing boat equipped with 2 double-rig nets. Each bay was divided into 6 sampling stations, all of which were less than 25 m deep. The spatial distribution of X. kroyeri differed among Bays. Highest abundance values were recorded in areas where silt and clay comprised more than 70% of the bottom sediment. Abundance of X. kroyeri followed a seasonal trend, being higher during fall and winter, when intrusions of tropical waters are frequent, causing an increase in salinity (\u3e 35‰) and temperature (\u3e 21° C). A clear decrease in shrimp abundance followed a decrease in bottom temperature (\u3c 20° C) during spring and summer due to the influence of cold water currents, particularly the South Atlantic Central Water. These results suggest that sediment type, salinity, and temperature are among the most important variables affecting the spatial and seasonal distribution of this species

Distribuição espacial da co-infecção M. tuberculosis/HIV no Estado de São Paulo, 1991-2001

OBJECTIVE: To assess the spatial pattern of tuberculosis incidence in relation to the Aids epidemic, with the aim of investigating the geographical influence on causality. METHODS: All Aids cases from State of São Paulo, notified to the Brazilian Ministry of Health between 1991 and 2001, were included. The cases were stratified by municipality, by administrative health regions, Aids transmission categories, gender and years since diagnosis. A Gaussian geostatistical model was used to construct a thematic risk map, utilizing the tuberculosis incidence among Aids cases as the response variable. RESULTS: Exploratory analysis showed two patterns of Aids incidence: one for the state capital, and another, with increasing risk, for the other municipalities. The more populous regions presented higher risk of tuberculosis transmission, with a pattern that matched the land occupation pattern, from east to west. The health regions with the highest Aids incidence coefficients (per 10,000 inhabitants) were Santos (53.5), São José do Rio Preto (43.1), Ribeirão Preto (42.4) and São Paulo (40.3). The health regions with greatest tuberculosis incidence among Aids cases were Santos (44.9%), Franco da Rocha (39.9%), Osasco (39.6%) and São Paulo (38.9%). CONCLUSIONS: The results allow the conclusion that geographical coordinates presented an association with tuberculosis risk, but not with Aids risk.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o padrão espacial de incidência de tuberculose na epidemia de Aids, a fim de verificar a influência do espaço físico na causalidade. MÉTODOS: Foram incluídos os casos de Aids notificados ao Ministério da Saúde, entre 1991 e 2001, provenientes do Estado de São Paulo. Os casos foram estratificados em municípios de residência, em regiões de saúde, em categorias de transmissão de Aids, em sexos e em anos do diagnóstico. Um modelo geoestatístico gaussiano foi usado para construir um mapa temático de risco, utilizando a incidência de tuberculose em casos de Aids como variável de resposta. RESULTADOS: A análise exploratória mostrou dois padrões de incidência de Aids: um, para a capital do Estado, e outro, com risco crescente, para os outros municípios. As regiões mais populosas estão sob maiores riscos de transmissão de tuberculose, mostrando um padrão concordante com o padrão de ocupação do território, do leste para o oeste. As regiões de saúde com os maiores coeficientes de incidência de Aids (por 10 mil habitantes) foram Santos (53,5), São José do Rio Preto (43,1), Ribeirão Preto (42,4) e São Paulo (40,3). As regiões de saúde com maiores incidências de tuberculose em casos de Aids foram Santos (44,9%), Franco da Rocha (39,9%), Osasco (39,6%) e São Paulo (38,9%). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados permitem concluir que as coordenadas geográficas estão associadas ao risco da tuberculose, mas não de Aids

FRD characterization in large-scale for FOCCoS of Prime Focus Spectrograph for Subaru telescope

The focal ratio degradation effects on optical fibers, technically referred to as FRD, has been the subject of intense studies since the beginning of the use of optical fibers in the construction of instruments applied in astronomy. A number of studies attempt to relate FRD to light loss in the optical system and other studies attempt to qualify and quantify FRD as a function of the stress induced during assembly of the structures supporting the ends of the optical fibers. In this work, we present a large-scale study to characterize FRD in all the fibers that make up the cables of the FOCCoS, Fiber Optical Cable and Connectors System project. FOCCoS, has the main function of capturing the direct light from the focal plane of Subaru Telescope using 2400 optical fibers, each one with a microlens in its tip, and conducting this light through a route containing connectors to a set of four spectrographs. The optical fiber cable is divided in 3 different segments called Cable A, Cable B and Cable C. Multi-fibers connectors assure precise connection among all optical fibers of the segments, providing flexibility for instrument changes. Our study provides procedures and methods to analyze the effects of FRD on all cable segments for each type of termination involved. Special attention is devoted to the understanding of how angular deviations between the input surface of the fiber and the test beam can significantly influence the calculation of FRD in optical fibers

FRD characterization in large-scale for FOCCoS of Prime Focus Spectrograph for Subaru telescope

The focal ratio degradation effects on optical fibers, technically referred to as FRD, has been the subject of intense studies since the beginning of the use of optical fibers in the construction of instruments applied in astronomy. A number of studies attempt to relate FRD to light loss in the optical system and other studies attempt to qualify and quantify FRD as a function of the stress induced during assembly of the structures supporting the ends of the optical fibers. In this work, we present a large-scale study to characterize FRD in all the fibers that make up the cables of the FOCCoS, Fiber Optical Cable and Connectors System project. FOCCoS, has the main function of capturing the direct light from the focal plane of Subaru Telescope using 2400 optical fibers, each one with a microlens in its tip, and conducting this light through a route containing connectors to a set of four spectrographs. The optical fiber cable is divided in 3 different segments called Cable A, Cable B and Cable C. Multi-fibers connectors assure precise connection among all optical fibers of the segments, providing flexibility for instrument changes. Our study provides procedures and methods to analyze the effects of FRD on all cable segments for each type of termination involved. Special attention is devoted to the understanding of how angular deviations between the input surface of the fiber and the test beam can significantly influence the calculation of FRD in optical fibers

GoldenBraid: An Iterative Cloning System for Standardized Assembly of Reusable Genetic Modules

Synthetic Biology requires efficient and versatile DNA assembly systems to facilitate the building of new genetic modules/pathways from basic DNA parts in a standardized way. Here we present GoldenBraid (GB), a standardized assembly system based on type IIS restriction enzymes that allows the indefinite growth of reusable gene modules made of standardized DNA pieces. The GB system consists of a set of four destination plasmids (pDGBs) designed to incorporate multipartite assemblies made of standard DNA parts and to combine them binarily to build increasingly complex multigene constructs. The relative position of type IIS restriction sites inside pDGB vectors introduces a double loop (“braid”) topology in the cloning strategy that allows the indefinite growth of composite parts through the succession of iterative assembling steps, while the overall simplicity of the system is maintained. We propose the use of GoldenBraid as an assembly standard for Plant Synthetic Biology. For this purpose we have GB-adapted a set of binary plasmids for A. tumefaciens-mediated plant transformation. Fast GB-engineering of several multigene T-DNAs, including two alternative modules made of five reusable devices each, and comprising a total of 19 basic parts are also described

Whole brain radiotherapy for brain metastases from breast cancer: estimation of survival using two stratification systems

BACKGROUND: Brain metastases (BM) are the most common form of intracranial cancer. The incidence of BM seems to have increased over the past decade. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) of data from three Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) trials (1200 patients) has allowed three prognostic groups to be identified. More recently a simplified stratification system that uses the evaluation of three main prognostics factors for radiosurgery in BM was developed. METHODS: To analyze the overall survival rate (OS), prognostic factors affecting outcomes and to estimate the potential improvement in OS for patients with BM from breast cancer, stratified by RPA class and brain metastases score (BS-BM). From January 1996 to December 2004, 174 medical records of patients with diagnosis of BM from breast cancer, who received WBRT were analyzed. The surgery followed by WBRT was used in 15.5% of patients and 84.5% of others patients were submitted at WBRT alone; 108 patients (62.1%) received the fractionation schedule of 30 Gy in 10 fractions. Solitary BM was present in 37.9 % of patients. The prognostic factors evaluated for OS were: age, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS), number of lesions, localization of lesions, neurosurgery, chemotherapy, absence extracranial disease, RPA class, BS-BM and radiation doses and fractionation. RESULTS: The OS in 1, 2 and 3 years was 33.4 %, 16.7%, and 8.8 %, respectively. The RPA class analysis showed strong relation with OS (p < 0.0001). The median survival time by RPA class in months was: class I 11.7, class II 6.2 and class III 3.0. The significant prognostic factors associated with better OS were: higher KPS (p < 0.0001), neurosurgery (P < 0.0001), single metastases (p = 0.003), BS-BM (p < 0.0001), control primary tumor (p = 0.002) and absence of extracranial metastases (p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, the factors associated positively with OS were: neurosurgery (p < 0.0001), absence of extracranial metastases (p <0.0001) and RPA class I (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that patients with BM from breast cancer classified as RPA class I may be effectively treated with local resection followed by WBRT, mainly in those patients with single BM, higher KPS and cranial extra disease controlled. RPA class was shown to be the most reliable indicators of survival

Modeling the Dynamic Transmission of Dengue Fever: Investigating Disease Persistence

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world and approximately 2.5 billion people live in dengue endemic countries. In Brazil it is mainly transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The wide clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic infections or mild illness, to the more severe forms of infection such as dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. The spread and dramatic increase in the occurrence of dengue cases in tropical and subtropical countries has been blamed on uncontrolled urbanization, population growth and international traveling. Vaccines are under development and the only current disease control strategy is trying to keep the vector quantity at the lowest possible levels. Mathematical models have been developed to help understand the disease's epidemiology. These models aim not only to predict epidemics but also to expand the capacity of phenomena explanation. We developed a spatially explicit model to simulate the dengue transmission in a densely populated area. The model involves the dynamic interactions between humans and mosquitoes and takes into account human mobility as an important factor of disease spread. We investigated the importance of human population size, human renewal rate, household infestation and ratio of vectors per person in the maintenance of sustained viral circulation