Primer registro de leño de conifera de la formación Cañadón Asfalto (Jurásico temprano–medio), provincia de Chubut, Argentina

Se describe una nueva especie de madera fósil de conífera, Brachyoxylon currumilii sp. nov., del Jurásico Inferior a Medio de la provincia de Chubut, Argentina. Los especímenes estudiados fueron coleccionados en una localidad donde aflora la Formación Cañadón Asfalto, en las cercanías de la aldea de Cerro Cóndor. Los troncos, estudiados, se caracterizan por el punteado radial de las traqueidas de tipo mixto, predominantemente uniseriado, campos de cruzamiento de tipo araucarioide, radios uniseriados bajos y ausencia de canales resiníferos. La observación bajo MEB y microscopio con luz transmitida y epifluorescencia permitió además la identificación de caracteres tales como la presencia de torus-margo en las punteaduras y estructuras de leño de compresión. Ambos caracteres son discutidos en relación a su relevancia sistemática. Sobre esta base, se discute la afinidad sistemática de la madera estudiada, la cual posee rasgos que la vincularían con la familia de coníferas extintas Cheirolepidiaceae, uno de los grupos de plantas dominantes durante el Jurásico y Cretácico de PatagoniaA new fossil conifer wood —Brachyoxylon currumilii sp. nov.— is described from the Lower–Middle Jurassic of Chubut Province (Argentina). The specimens were collected at a locality where the Cañadón Asfalto Formation is exposed, in the vicinity of the Cerro Cóndor village. The studied wood is characterized by mixed pitting in radial tracheid walls (predominantly uniseriate), araucarioid cross fields, low uniseriate rays and the absence of resin canals. The use of transmitted light and epifluorescence microscopy together with SEM imaging allowed the identification of additional characters such as the presence of pitting with torus-margo and compression wood. These characters are discussed in terms of their systematic relevance. On these grounds, the systematic affinity of the studied wood is discussed and linked to the extinct conifer family Cheirolepidiaceae, one of the dominant plant groups during the Jurassic and Cretaceous in Patagonia.Fil: Bodnar, Josefina. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Area Paleobotánica; ArgentinaFil: Escapa, Ignacio Hernan. Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio; ArgentinaFil: Cuneo, Nestor Ruben. Museo Paleontologico Egidio Feruglio; ArgentinaFil: Gnaedinger, Silvia Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Nordeste. Centro de Ecologia Aplicada del Litoral (i); Argentin

A new cupressaceous wood from the Lower Cretaceous of central Patagonia reveals possible clonal growth habit

A new genus and species, Austrocupressinoxylon barcinense, based on remains of cupressaceous wood is described for the Lower Cretaceous of central Patagonia, Argentina. The studied specimens are silicified fragments of picnoxylic and homoxylic wood that exhibit a combination of characters not previously reported, therefore a new genus is erected. The characters are: 1- growth ring boundaries distinct, 2- transition from earlywood to latewood gradual, 3- axial parenchyma diffuse,4- radial tracheid pitting predominantly abietinean,5- cross-field pitting cupressoid, arranged in both cupressoid and araucarioid patterns, 6- rays uniseriate heterocellular, 7- end and horizontal walls of ray parenchyma cells smooth or slightly nodular, and 8- ray tracheids with smooth walls. The cross-field pitting patterns and the presence of ray tracheids are two traits of particular interest in the context of systematic affinities. The fragments were collected from two stumps found in life position attached to each other by a main root, consequently, the disposition of the stumps suggests a case of clonal growth by root suckering. This is the second report of such mechanisms in the fossil records worldwide and the first one for South America.Fil: Nunes, Cristina Isabel. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Bodnar, Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Escapa, Ignacio Hernán. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Gandolfo, Maria Alejandra. Cornell University; Estados UnidosFil: Cúneo, Néstor Rubén. Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; Argentin

Implicación taxonómica de estudios morfológicos comparativos en Blechnum L. (Blechnaceae – Pteridophyta)

Se han estudiado comparativamente cuatro especies de Blechnum con el fin de actualizar la taxonomía y aportar nuevos datos al conocimiento del género. Los táxones estudiados son: B. asplenioides Sw., B. blechnoides (Lag. ex Sw.) C. Chr., B. polypodioides Raddi y B. unilaterale Sw. Los caracteres seleccionados para el estudio fueron: arquitectura foliar, morfología del indumento de láminas y ejes, modelos epidérmicos, estomas adultos y esporas. El análisis de estos rasgos aportó evidencias a favor de considerar que las cuatro especies estudiadas son coespecíficas.Four species of the genus Blechnum are comparatively studied with the goal of updating the taxonomy and contributing new data to the understanding of the genus. The taxa studied are: B. asplenioides Sw., B. blechnoides (Lag. ex Sw.) C. Chr., B. polypodioides Raddi and B. unilaterale Sw. The characters selected for this study were: architecture of fronds, morphology of the indument of laminae and axis, epidermal patterns, adult stomata and spores. The analysis of these features provided evidence in favor of considering that these four species are cospecific

A new cupressaceous wood from the Lower Cretaceous of central Patagonia reveals possible clonal growth habit

A new genus and species, Austrocupressinoxylon barcinense, based on remains of cupressaceous wood is described for the Lower Cretaceous of central Patagonia, Argentina. The studied specimens are silicified fragments of picnoxylic and homoxylic wood that exhibit a combination of characters not previously reported, therefore a new genus is erected. The characters are: 1- growth ring boundaries distinct, 2- transition from earlywood to latewood gradual, 3- axial parenchyma diffuse,4- radial tracheid pitting predominantly abietinean,5- cross-field pitting cupressoid, arranged in both cupressoid and araucarioid patterns, 6- rays uniseriate heterocellular, 7- end and horizontal walls of ray parenchyma cells smooth or slightly nodular, and 8- ray tracheids with smooth walls. The cross-field pitting patterns and the presence of ray tracheids are two traits of particular interest in the context of systematic affinities. The fragments were collected from two stumps found in life position attached to each other by a main root, consequently, the disposition of the stumps suggests a case of clonal growth by root suckering. This is the second report of such mechanisms in the fossil records worldwide and the first one for South America.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Avaliação da Aprendizagem em Gerenciamento de Custos de Materiais Aplicado à Enfermagem Hospitalar

Pesquisa exploratório-descritiva com objetivo de descrever as contribuições da WebQuest sobre gerenciamento de custos aplicados à Enfermagem, na perspectiva dos estudantes de enfermagem. Participaram 25 estudantes do curso de graduação em Enfermagem, mediante aprovação pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. A plataforma Moodle foi utilizada para disponibilização da WebQuest. Na avaliação da aprendizagem, foi identificada a predominância de acertos e não foi constatada diferença estatisticamente significante entre as notas dos questionários aplicados antes e depois da aula. Por outro lado, observou-se diferença na redução do tempo utilizado para se responder ao questionário. Na avaliação da proposta, considerando-se a autoavaliação e a avaliação do grupo, foi atribuída nota média de 96,34, com predominância de desempenho excelente e satisfatório, no atendimento aos requisitos estabelecidos. Os estudantes reconheceram a importância da temática na formação do enfermeiro; manifestaram satisfação na utilização de estratégias ativas e colaborativas para simulação da realidade, utilizando tecnologias da informática e informação; apresentaram sugestões relacionadas ao tempo disponibilizado para as atividades em sala de aula. Os resultados evidenciam o potencial de aprendizagem proporcionado pela WebQuest como estratégia de ensino crítica e reflexiva, que contribui para o desenvolvimento de competências inerentes ao processo de tomada de decisão, enquanto fundamento para o gerenciamento de custos de materiais em Enfermagem.This exploratory and descriptive research aims to describe the contributions of the WebQuest on Cost Management applied to Nursing, from the perspective of nursing students. Sample consisted of 25 students of Undergraduate Nursing, under approvement of the Research Ethics Committee. Moodle platform was employed in order to provide the WebQuest. In the assessment of learning was identified predominance of correct answers, was not found statistically significant differences between the scores of questionnaires before and after class, but significant differences were observed in reducing the time taken to answer the questionnaire. In suggestion evaluation, selfassessment and group assessment was assigned mean score of 96.34, most excellent and satisfactory performance in meeting the requirements determined. The students identified the importance of the subject for the nurse’s development; showed satisfaction by using active and collaborative strategies for simulating reality, by the use of information technology and informatics; showed suggestions related to the time invested on the assignments in class. The results show the potential of learning proved by WebQuest like critical and reflective teaching strategy, that contributes to the development of inherent competencies to the process of making decision, while groundwork to costs management with nursing materials

Gastrointestinal presentation of kawasaki disease: A red flag for severe disease?

Background Kawasaki disease (KD) is a febrile systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology and the main cause of acquired heart disease among children in the developed world. To date, abdominal involvement at presentation is not recognized as a risk factor for a more severe form of the disease. Objective To evaluate whether presenting abdominal manifestations identify a group at major risk for Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG)-resistance and coronary lesions. Methods Retrospective study of KD patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2015 in 13 pediatric units in Italy. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of abdominal manifestations at onset. We compared their demographic and clinical data, IVIG-responsiveness, coronary ectasia/aneurysms, laboratory findings from the acute and subacute phases. Results 302 patients (181 boys) were enrolled: 106 patients with, and 196 patients without presenting abdominal features. Seasonality was different between the groups (p = 0.034). Patients with abdominal manifestations were younger (p = 0.006) and more frequently underwent delayed treatment (p = 0.014). In the acute phase, patients with abdominal presentation had higher platelet counts (PLT) (p = 0.042) and lower albuminemia (p = 0.009), while, in the subacute phase, they had higher white blood cell counts (WBC) and PLT (p = 0.002 and p < 0.005, respectively) and lower red blood cell counts (RBC) and hemoglobin (Hb) (p = 0.031 and p 0.009). Moreover, the above mentioned group was more likely to be IVIG-resistant (p < 0.005) and have coronary aneurysms (p = 0.007). In the multivariate analysis, presenting abdominal manifestations, age younger than 6 months, IVIG- resistance, delayed treatment and albumin concentration in the acute phase were independent risk factors for coronary aneurysms (respectively p<0.005, <0.005, = 0.005 and 0.009). Conclusions This is the first multicenter report demonstrating that presenting gastrointestinal features in KD identify patients at higher risk for IVIG-resistance and for the development of coronary aneurysms in a predominantly Caucasian population

Dentists, members of the French Resistance movement during the World War II

The Resistance was a reaffirmation of France's independence and individuality, as well as a struggle to regain freedom and, above all, national integrity. In fact, many historians appreciate that the French Resistance could have achieved more if it had been more effectively integrated into Allied plans and strategies. Thus, in this material we tried to present some short biographies of dentists who worked in the French Resistance against the German occupation troops, some of them even paying with their lives for the courage they showed

Effects of PI and PIII Snake Venom Haemorrhagic Metalloproteinases on the Microvasculature: A Confocal Microscopy Study on the Mouse Cremaster Muscle

The precise mechanisms by which Snake Venom Metalloproteinases (SVMPs) disrupt the microvasculature and cause haemorrhage have not been completely elucidated, and novel in vivo models are needed. In the present study, we compared the effects induced by BaP1, a PI SVMP isolated from Bothrops asper venom, and CsH1, a PIII SVMP from Crotalus simus venom, on cremaster muscle microvasculature by topical application of the toxins on isolated tissue (i.e., ex vivo model), and by intra-scrotal administration of the toxins (i.e., in vivo model). The whole tissue was fixed and immunostained to visualize the three components of blood vessels by confocal microscopy. In the ex vivo model, BaP1 was able to degrade type IV collagen and laminin from the BM of microvessels. Moreover, both SVMPs degraded type IV collagen from the BM in capillaries to a higher extent than in PCV and arterioles. CsH1 had a stronger effect on type IV collagen than BaP1. In the in vivo model, the effect of BaP1 on type IV collagen was widespread to the BM of arterioles and PCV. On the other hand, BaP1 was able to disrupt the endothelial barrier in PCV and to increase vascular permeability. Moreover, this toxin increased the size of gaps between pericytes in PCV and created new gaps between smooth muscle cells in arterioles in ex vivo conditions. These effects were not observed in the case of CsH1. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that both SVMPs degrade type IV collagen from the BM in capillaries in vivo. Moreover, while the action of CsH1 is more directed to the BM of microvessels, the effects of BaP1 are widespread to other microvascular components. This study provides new insights in the mechanism of haemorrhage and other pathological effects induced by these toxins

Victor Babeş's contribution to the development of dental medicine

Dental medicine set up and developed concomitantly with another medical specialties in our country, some famous doctors contributing through their studies to clear up a lot of dental medical problems. Victor Babeş had an important role, through his many-sided scientific researches in oro-maxillo-facial pathology as: microbiology of gums and mucous membrane affection, oral septic and malformed diseases, neoplasms, etc. In this paper we put forward some of Victor Babeş's valuable contributions to the development of dental medicine in our country

Dental management of patient with psychiatric disorders

Aim of this paper was to create a correlation between the patient with psychiatric disorders and the therapeutic attitude of dentist, to it. The working method consisted of monitoring the patients with known psychiatric disorders and under treatment and patients clinically undiagnosed but which, the carefully conducted clinical examination by dentists, clearly revealed the existence of such mental behavioral disorders. The research results reveal the fact that for the majority of patients with psychiatric problems, the mere presence in the dental office environments and the idea of dental treatment are equal to the challenge of pain and can cause unpleasant incidents during treatment. The conclusion that emerges clearly is that these incidents can be avoided or reduced through a better knowledge of the patient and through appropriate behavior depending on the patient's psyche