Pre-meeting support views based on SISCO model

This report presents and compares three different approaches on the implementation of a pre-meeting support sstem. The prototypes described here were developed by three independent teams, two from Brazil and one from Chile. SISCO-Recife and SISCO-Rio are the Brazilian prototypes and USISCO is Chilean. The development of the three prototypes was based on the same SISCO discussion model. SISCO has as its main goal the enhancemnt of meetings productivity through previous discussion. The developed prototypes support asynchronous collaboration, as a preparation for a face-to-face meeting

Geographic variation in phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing field cricket species

Patterns of morphological divergence across species' ranges can provide insight into local adaptation and speciation. In this study, we compared phenotypic divergence among 4,221 crickets from 337 populations of two closely related species of field cricket, Gryllus firmus and G. pennsylvanicus, and their hybrids. We found that these species differ across their geographic range in key morphological traits, such as body size and ovipositor length, and we directly compared phenotype with genotype for a subset of crickets to demonstrate nuclear genetic introgression, phenotypic intermediacy of hybrids, and essentially unidirectional mitochondrial introgression. We discuss how these morphological traits relate to life history differences between the two species. Our comparisons across geographic areas support prior research suggesting that cryptic variation within G. firmus may represent different species. Our study highlights how variable morphology can be across wide-ranging species and the importance of studying reproductive barriers in more than one or two transects of a hybrid zone

Premating Reproductive Barriers between Hybridising Cricket Species Differing in Their Degree of Polyandry

Understanding speciation hinges on understanding how reproductive barriers arise between incompletely isolated populations. Despite their crucial role in speciation, prezygotic barriers are relatively poorly understood and hard to predict. We use two closely related cricket species, Gryllus bimaculatus and G. campestris, to experimentally investigate premating barriers during three sequential mate choice steps. Furthermore, we experimentally show a significant difference in polyandry levels between the two species and subsequently test the hypothesis that females of the more polyandrous species, G. bimaculatus, will be less discriminating against heterospecific males and hence hybridise more readily. During close-range mating behaviour experiments, males showed relatively weak species discrimination but females discriminated very strongly. In line with our predictions, this discrimination is asymmetric, with the more polyandrous G. bimaculatus mating heterospecifically and G. campestris females never mating heterospecifically. Our study shows clear differences in the strength of reproductive isolation during the mate choice process depending on sex and species, which may have important consequences for the evolution of reproductive barriers

Thalidomide in the treatment of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL): systematic review of clinical trials and prospects of new investigations

FUNDAMENTOS: A hanseníase persiste como problema de saúde pública, e episódios de ENH são eventos agudos que ocorrem antes, durante e após PQT. Na última década, o uso da talidomida como agente imunomodulador foi expandido a outras doenças. OBJETIVOS: realizar revisão sistemática dos ensaios clínicos publicados sobre a eficácia e efeitos colaterais da talidomida no ENH. Descrever metodologia e resultados da triagem para recrutamento de ensaio clínico visando avaliar dose-resposta da talidomida seguida de desmame no ENH moderado e grave, realizado no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Analisaram-se ensaios publicados sobre talidomida no ENH. Foi delineado um ensaio clínico duplo-cego randomizado para avaliar dose de 100 thalid 300mg/dia de talidomida durante fase aguda de ENH, seguida de desmame da talidomida, thalid placebo. Para este ensaio clínico descreve-se metodologia e dados de recrutamento de pacientes, com ênfase na gravidade dos episódios de ENH. RESULTADOS: Os seis ensaios clínicos publicados nas décadas de 1960 e 1970 apontam para o benefício da talidomida no ENH, embora diferenças metodológicas dificultem a comparação. Na fase de recrutamento do ensaio brasileiro, dos 143 pacientes de ENH triados, 65% eram potencialmente elegíveis. A associação com neurite em 56,4% dos ENH moderados e graves exigiu co-intervenção com corticosteróide. CONCLUSÃO: O padrão de recrutamento dos pacientes evidenciou alta freqüência de neurite nos episódios de ENH. O esquema de talidomida isolada no ENH foi avaliado como infreqüente na prática clínica brasileira. O desafio atual é acumular evidências sobre a eficácia e efeitos colaterais da talidomida em associação com corticosteróides.BACKGROUND: Leprosy remains a public health problem. Episodes of erythema nodosum leprosum (ENL) are acute events that occur before, during and after polychemotherapy. In the last decade, the use of thalidomide as an immunomodulating agent was expanded to other diseases. OBJECTIVES: To perform a systematic review of published clinical trials on efficacy and side effects of thalidomide in ENL. To describe the methodology and screening results of recruiting for a clinical trial performed in Brazil, which aimed to assess the dose-response of thalidomide followed by tapering regimen in severe and moderate cases of ENL. METHODS: Published clinical trials on the use of thalidomide in ENL were analyzed. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was designed to evaluate the doses of 100mg versus 300mg/day thalidomide during the acute stage of ENL, followed by thalidomide tapering regimen versus placebo. For this clinical trial, the methodology and data for enrollment of patients were described, with an emphasis on severity of ENL episodes. RESULTS: Six clinical trials published in the 1960's and 1970's indicated the benefits of thalidomide in ENL, although methodological differences made comparison difficult. In the enrollment stage of the Brazilian trial, 65% of patients were potentially eligible out of 143 ENL patients screened. The association with neuritis in 56.4% of moderate and severe cases of ENL required the co-intervention with steroids. CONCLUSION: The patients' enrollment pattern demonstrated high frequency of neuritis in ENL episodes. The treatment regimen with thalidomide in monotherapy for ENL was considered infrequent in the clinical practice in Brazil. The current challenge is to accumulate evidence about efficacy and side effects of thalidomide in combination with steroids

Volatile Organic Compounds Emitted by Fungal Associates of Conifer Bark Beetles and their Potential in Bark Beetle Control

Conifer bark beetles attack and kill mature spruce and pine trees, especially during hot and dry conditions. These beetles are closely associated with ophiostomatoid fungi of the Ascomycetes, including the genera Ophiostoma, Grosmannia, and Endoconidiophora, which enhance beetle success by improving nutrition and modifying their substrate, but also have negative impacts on beetles by attracting predators and parasites. A survey of the literature and our own data revealed that ophiostomatoid fungi emit a variety of volatile organic compounds under laboratory conditions including fusel alcohols, terpenoids, aromatic compounds, and aliphatic alcohols. Many of these compounds already have been shown to elicit behavioral responses from bark beetles, functioning as attractants or repellents, often as synergists to compounds currently used in bark beetle control. Thus, these compounds could serve as valuable new agents for bark beetle management. However, bark beetle associations with fungi are very complex. Beetle behavior varies with the species of fungus, the stage of the beetle life cycle, the host tree quality, and probably with changes in the emission rate of fungal volatiles. Additional research on bark beetles and their symbiotic associates is necessary before the basic significance of ophiostomatoid fungal volatiles can be understood and their applied potential realized

Caracterización del "contragol" en el campeonato europeo de masculino 2018

Objetivo: identificar las posibles diferencias entre los equipos ganadores y los perdedores en el uso del “contragol", en función de los momentos del partido en que se presenta, la forma en que termina y la eficacia obtenida. Metodología: se analizaron 44 juegos, del Campeonato Europeo Masculino Senior-2018. Resultados: i) en igualdad numérica, los equipos ganadores utilizan con mayor frecuencia el “contragol” en comparación con los equipos derrotados y consiguen encontrar soluciones que les permitan finalizar más cerca del objetivo; ii) en las superioridades numéricas de 1 jugador, los equipos derrotados optan más por el “contragol”, pero iii) en inferioridad, ambos equipos eligen claramente no utilizar, o utilizar esta estrategia en casos muy específicos; iv) cuando pierden por más de 3 goles, los equipos ganadores usan el “contragol” con menos frecuencia, pero cuando están empatados, los equipos ganadores claramente usan esta estrategia con más frecuencia en comparación con los equipos derrotados, v) los equipos derrotados logran obtener más situaciones de finalización en esta acción táctica, pero también terminan estas secuencias más a menudo con fallas técnicas. Conclusión: el “contragol” es una acción táctica colectiva que puede ser utilizada, como indicador de la diferenciación del resultado final de los equipos.Objective: identify possible differences between winning and losing teams in the use of “fast execution of throw-off after a goal”, depending on the moments of the game when it occurs, the way it ends, and the effectiveness obtained. Methodology: 44 games (2018 European Men Championship). Results: i) in numerical equality, winning teams use more often this strategy compared to the defeated teams and succeed to find solutions that allows them to finish closer to the goal; ii) in numerical superiority of 1 player, defeated teams choose this strategy more often; iii) in numerical inferiority both teams clearly choose not to use or use only in very specific cases this strategy; iv) when they are losing by more than 3 goals the winning teams use less times, this strategy; v) when tied, winning teams clearly use this strategy more often; vi) winning teams obtain more situations of shoot when using this tactical action, and the defeated teams finish these attack sequences more often in technical failures. Conclusion: the “Fast execution of throw-off after a goal” is a collective tactical action that can be use, as an indicator of the differentiation of the final result of the teams.peerReviewe

Encontro de um organismo identificado como Listeria monocytogenes em bovinos do Pará (Publicado originalmente em 1962)

Ministério da Educação e Saúde. Serviço Especial de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Educação e Saúde. Serviço Especial de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Educação e Saúde. Serviço Especial de Saúde Pública. Instituto Evandro. Belém, PA, Brasil.Os autores relatam o encontro em bovinos de uma fazenda do município de Prainha, no Estado do Pará, de um organismo identificado como Listeria monocytogenes. É a primeira vez que se registra na região a presença dêsse tipo de bactéria. A identificação do organismo isolado foi baseada pelas características morfológicas, culturais, bioquímicas e inoculação em animais de laboratório. Depois de algumas considerações sôbre a patogenia da Listeria no gado, os autores terminam por demonstrar a importância da presença do germe em apreço no rebanho da região preconizando a necessidade de serem empreendidos estudos mais minuciosos sôbre o assunto

Supplementary material 1 from: Byerly AR, Jenck C, Goetz ARB, Weissman DB, Gray DA, Ross CL, Maroja LS, Larson EL (2023) Geographic variation in phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing field cricket species. Journal of Orthoptera Research 32(2): 189-200. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.32.90713

Supplementary material 1 from: Byerly AR, Jenck C, Goetz ARB, Weissman DB, Gray DA, Ross CL, Maroja LS, Larson EL (2023) Geographic variation in phenotypic divergence between two hybridizing field cricket species. Journal of Orthoptera Research 32(2): 189-200. https://doi.org/10.3897/jor.32.9071