NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

International nosocomial infection control consortium (INICC) report, data summary of 36 countries, for 2004-2009

The results of a surveillance study conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) from January 2004 through December 2009 in 422 intensive care units (ICUs) of 36 countries in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe are reported. During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN; formerly the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system [NNIS]) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infections, we gathered prospective data from 313,008 patients hospitalized in the consortium's ICUs for an aggregate of 2,194,897 ICU bed-days. Despite the fact that the use of devices in the developing countries' ICUs was remarkably similar to that reported in US ICUs in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were significantly higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals; the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection in the INICC ICUs of 6.8 per 1,000 central line-days was more than 3-fold higher than the 2.0 per 1,000 central line-days reported in comparable US ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia also was far higher (15.8 vs 3.3 per 1,000 ventilator-days), as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (6.3 vs. 3.3 per 1,000 catheter-days). Notably, the frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates to imipenem (47.2% vs 23.0%), Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (76.3% vs 27.1%), Escherichia coli isolates to ceftazidime (66.7% vs 8.1%), Staphylococcus aureus isolates to methicillin (84.4% vs 56.8%), were also higher in the consortium's ICUs, and the crude unadjusted excess mortalities of device-related infections ranged from 7.3% (for catheter-associated urinary tract infection) to 15.2% (for ventilator-associated pneumonia). Copyright © 2012 by the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

First Sagittarius A* event horizon telescope results. II. EHT and multiwavelength observations, data processing, and calibration

Instrumentatio

Effect of chronic nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on the inflammatory responses induced by carrageenin in rats

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOThe effect of chronic inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis has been investigated in two models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenin, i.e., paw oedema and pleurisy. Chronic inhibition of NO biosynthesis was achieved by including N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in the drinking water to give a dose of approximately 75 mumol/rat/day for 2 and 4 weeks. Control animals received either tap water alone or the inactive enantiomer D-NAME. Since chronic NO inhibition increases blood pressure, rats made hypertensive (2 kidney-1 clip model; 2K-1C) were used to evaluate the effect of hypertension on the carrageenin-induced paw oedema. In a separate set of experiments, L-NAME-treated animals concomitantly received captopril (140 mumol/rat/day) to prevent hypertension. Animals chronically treated with L-NAME (but not D-NAME) for 2 and 4 weeks developed hypertension to the same extent as 2K-1C rats. Carrageenin-induced paw oedema was significantly reduced in animals chronically treated with L-NAME, but not with D-NAME or in 2K-1C rats. Subplantar injection of iloprost completely reversed the inhibition of paw oedema caused by L-NAME. Captopril (140 mumol/rat/day) significantly lowered the high blood pressure levels induced by L-NAME but did not significantly affect the inhibition of paw oedema caused by L-NAME. No changes in vascular permeability, as assessed by Evans blue extravasation, were observed in L-NAME-treated animals. The chronic treatment with L-NAME for 2 and 4 weeks did not inhibit carrageenin-induced leucocyte migration and fluid exudation into the pleural cavity. Although carrageenin-induced paw oedema is reduced in L-NAME-treated rats, this response reflects a decrease in local blood flow rather than an effect on vascular permeability.The effect of chronic inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis has been investigated in two models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenin, i.e., paw oedema and pleurisy. Chronic inhibition of NO biosynthesis was achieved by including Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in the drinking water to give a dose of approximately 75 μmol/rat/day for 2 and 4 weeks. Control animals received either tap water alone or the inactive enantiomer D-NAME. Since chronic NO inhibition increases blood pressure, rats made hypertensive (2 kidney-1 clip model; 2K-1C) were used to evaluate the effect of hypertension on the carrageenin-induced paw oedema. In a separate set of experiments, L-NAME-treated animals concomitantly received captopril (140 μmol/rat/day) to prevent hypertension. Animals chronically treated with L-NAME (but not D-NAME) for 2 and 4 weeks developed hypertension to the same extent as 2K-1C rats. Carrageenin-induced paw oedema was significantly reduced in animals chronically treated with L-NAME, but not with D-NAME or in 2K-1C rats. Subplantar injection of iloprost completely reversed the inhibition of paw oedema caused by L-NAME. Captopril (140 μmol/rat/day) significantly lowered the high blood pressure levels induced by L-NAME but did not significantly affect the inhibition of paw oedema caused by L-NAME. No changes in vascular permeability, as assessed by Evans blue extravasation, were observed in L-NAME-treated animals. The chronic treatment with L-NAME for 2 and 4 weeks did not inhibit carrageenin-induced leucocyte migration and fluid exudation into the pleural cavity. Although carrageenin-induced paw oedema is reduced in L-NAME-treated rats, this response reflects a decrease in local blood flow rather than an effect on vascular permeability2852109114FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO92/3496-