Growing at the limit: Reef growth sensitivity to climate and oceanographic changes in the South Western Atlantic

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordWhilst the impacts of climatic and oceanographic change on lower latitude reefs are increasingly well documented, our understanding of how reef-building has fluctuated in higher latitude settings remains limited. Here, we explore the timing and longevity of reef-building through the mid- to late Holocene in the most southerly known reef (24°S) in the Western Atlantic. Reef core data show that reef growth was driven by a single coral species, Madracis decactis, and occurred over two phases since ~6000 calibrated (cal.) yr B.P.. These records further indicate that there was a clear growth hiatus from ~5500 to 2500 cal. yr B.P., and that there is no evidence of reef accretion on the Queimada Grande Reef (QGR) over the past 2000 yrs. It thus presently exists as a submerged senescent structure colonized largely by non-reef building organisms. Integration of these growth data with those from sites further north (18°S and 21°S) suggests that Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), South Westerlies Winds (SWW) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) variability and shifts during the Holocene drove changes in the position of the Brazil-Falklands/Malvinas Confluence (BFMC), and that this has had a strong regional influence on the timing and longevity of reef growth. Our results add new evidence to the idea that reef growth in marginal settings can rapidly turn-on or -off according to regional environmental changes, and thus are of relevance for predicting high latitude reef growth potential under climate change.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)razilian Research Council (CNPq

A qualitative study of community perception and acceptance of biological larviciding for malaria mosquito control in rural Burkina Faso

Background: Vector and malaria parasite’s rising resistance against pyrethroid-impregnated bed nets and antimalarial drugs highlight the need for additional control measures. Larviciding against malaria vectors is experiencing a renaissance with the availability of environmentally friendly and target species-specific larvicides. In this study,we analyse the perception and acceptability of spraying surface water collections with the biological larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis in a single health district in Burkina Faso. Methods: A total of 12focus group discussions and 12key informant interviews were performed in 10 rural villages provided with coverage of various larvicide treatments (all breeding sites treated, the most productive breeding sites treated, and untreated control). Results: Respondents’ knowledge about the major risk factors for malaria transmission was generally good. Most interviewees stated they performed personal protective measures against vector mosquitoes including the use of bed nets and sometimes mosquito coils and traditional repellents. The acceptance of larviciding in and around the villages was high and the majority of respondents reported a relief in mosquito nuisance and malarial episodes. There was high interest in the project and demand for future continuation. Conclusion: This study showed that larviciding interventions received positive resonance from the population. People showed a willingness to be involved and financially support the program. The positive environment with high acceptance for larviciding programs would facilitate routine implementation. An essential factor for the future success of such programs would be inclusion in regional or national malaria control guidelines

Adverse Events Related to the Use of Central Venous Catheters in Hospitalized Newborns

This study identifies the adverse events related to the use of central venous catheters (CVC) in newborns admitted to a neonatal care unit. This is a quantitative, descriptive and retrospective study. The population consisted of 167 newborns admitted in the neonatal unit of the Hospital de Clínicas at Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil which used CVCs inserted through percutaneous puncture (PICC) and surgical insertion, totaling 241 catheters. There was a higher prevalence of mechanical adverse events in the PICC line insertions, with a preponderance of catheter occlusions (19.44%) and ruptures (8.8%). The surgically inserted CVCs had a higher prevalence of catheter-related infectious adverse events with the most common being clinical sepsis (16%). This study suggests that the correct insertion technique should be used and a specialized team should monitor the CVCs to ensure safety and prevent adverse events.El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los eventos adversos relacionados con el uso de catéteres venosos centrales (CVC), en recién nacidos internados en una unidad neonatal. Se trata de investigación cuantitativa, descriptiva, retrospectiva. La población fue constituida por 167 neonatos internados en la unidad neonatal del Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre que utilizaron CVCs, inseridos por punción percutánea (PICC) e inserción quirúrgica, totalizando 241 catéteres. En los PICCs hubo mayor incidencia de eventos adversos mecánicos, predominando la oclusión (19,44%) y la ruptura del catéter (8,8%). Los CVCs por inserción quirúrgica presentaron la mayor incidencia de los eventos adversos infecciosos relacionados al catéter, siendo el más frecuente la sepsis clínica (16%). El estudio sugiere que, para mayor seguridad del uso de CVCs, es importante que sea utilizada la técnica correcta de inserción del catéter y realizado el acompañamiento de los CVCs por un equipo especializado y atento a la prevención de eventos adversos.O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar os eventos adversos relacionados ao uso de cateteres venosos centrais (CVC), em recém-nascidos internados em unidade neonatal. Trata-se de pesquisa quantitativa, descritiva, retrospectiva. A população foi constituída por 167 neonatos internados na unidade neonatal do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre que utilizaram CVCs, inseridos por punção percutânea (PICC) e inserção cirúrgica, totalizando 241 cateteres. Nos PICCs houve maior prevalência de eventos adversos mecânicos, predominando a oclusão (19,44%) e a ruptura do cateter (8,8%). Os CVCs por inserção cirúrgica apresentaram maior prevalência dos eventos adversos infecciosos relacionados ao cateter, sendo o mais frequente a sepse clínica (16%). O estudo sugere que, para maior segurança do uso de CVCs, é importante que seja utilizada a técnica correta de inserção do cateter e realizado o acompanhamento dos CVCs por equipe especializada e atenta para a prevenção de eventos adversos

Relational Experiences of Power and Gender for Nurse-Managers of Private Hospitals

Influenced by increased technology and globalization, Brazilian hospitals are undergoing significant changes. The managerial models focused on the male model are being slowly and gradually replaced, with an expressive participation of female nurses in management positions. Thus, we aimed to uncover some aspects of the relational experiences of power and gender of nine female nurse-managers working in four large and medium-sized private hospitals in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil, through a qualitative case study. The results show that management discourses value a managerial style focused on the organizations’ humanized aspects, where authoritative styles have no space. In this scenario, the work of female nurse-managers strengthens teamwork, which improves their image and contributes to forming their identity.Influenciados por la creciente incorporación de tecnologías y por el movimiento de globalización, los hospitales brasileños, están pasando por cambios significativos. Los modelos de administración centrados en la lógica masculina vienen siendo substituidos de forma lenta y gradual, con la participación, cada vez más expresiva, de enfermeras en cargos administrativos. En este sentido, buscamos aprender aspectos de las experiencias de relaciones de poder y género de nueve enfermeras en el ejercicio de función administrativa en cuatro hospitales privados de medio y gran porte de la ciudad de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, por medio de un estudio de caso cualitativo. Los resultados evidenciaron que los discursos de la administración han valorizado una actuación administrativa dirigida hacia los aspectos humanos de las organizaciones, no habiendo espacio para la figura autoritaria del administrador. En este escenario la actuación de la enfermera administradora demostró un fortalecimiento de los lazos entre el equipo, implicando en la mejoría de su imagen y contribuyendo para la formación de su identidad.Influenciados pela crescente incorporação de tecnologias e pelo movimento de globalização, os hospitais brasileiros estão passando por mudanças significativas. Os modelos gerenciais, centrados na lógica masculina, vêm sendo substituídos de forma lenta e gradativa, com a participação, cada vez mais expressiva, de enfermeiras em cargos gerenciais. Nesse sentido, buscou-se, aqui, apreender aspectos das experiências relacionais de poder e gênero de nove enfermeiras, no exercício da função gerencial, em quatro hospitais privados de médio e grande porte da cidade de Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, por meio de estudo de caso qualitativo. Os resultados evidenciaram que os discursos da gestão têm valorizado a atuação gerencial voltada para os aspectos humanos das organizações, não havendo espaço para a figura autoritária do gerente. Nesse cenário, a atuação da enfermeira-gerente demonstrou fortalecimento dos laços entre a equipe, implicando na melhoria da sua imagem e contribuindo para formação da sua identidade

Bax-Induced Apoptosis in Leber's Congenital Amaurosis: A Dual Role in Rod and Cone Degeneration

Pathogenesis in the Rpe65−/− mouse model of Leber's congenital amaurosis (LCA) is characterized by a slow and progressive degeneration of the rod photoreceptors. On the opposite, cones degenerate rapidly at early ages. Retinal degeneration in Rpe65−/− mice, showing a null mutation in the gene encoding the retinal pigment epithelium 65-kDa protein (Rpe65), was previously reported to depend on continuous activation of a residual transduction cascade by unliganded opsin. However, the mechanisms of apoptotic signals triggered by abnormal phototransduction remain elusive. We previously reported that activation of a Bcl-2-dependent pathway was associated with apoptosis of rod photoreceptors in Rpe65−/− mice during the course of the disease. In this study we first assessed whether activation of Bcl-2-mediated apoptotic pathway was dependent on constitutive activation of the visual cascade through opsin apoprotein. We then challenged the direct role of pro-apoptotic Bax protein in triggering apoptosis of rod and cone photoreceptors

Influence of glycemic control on the levels of subgingival periodontal pathogens in patients with generalized chronic periodontitis and type 2 diabetes

Abstract Objective This study evaluated the influence of glycemic control on the levels and frequency of subgingival periodontal pathogens in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and generalized chronic periodontitis (ChP). Material and Methods Fifty-six patients with generalized ChP and type 2 DM were assigned according to the levels of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) into one of the following groups: HbA1c<8% (n=28) or HbA1c&#8805;8% (n=28). Three subgingival biofilm samples from sites with probing depth (PD)<5 mm and three samples from sites with PD&#8805;5 mm were analyzed by quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the presence and levels of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, Treponema denticola, Eubacterium nodatum, Parvimona micra, Fusobacterium nucleatum ssp. and Prevotella intermedia. Results The mean counts of F. nucleatum ssp. were statistically significantly higher in the sites with PD&#8805;5 mm of the HbA1c&#8805;8% group (p<0.05). Frequencies of detection of T. forsythia, E. nodatum, P. micra and F. nucleatum ssp. were all higher in the sites with PD&#8805;5 mm of the patients with HbA1c&#8805;8%, compared with those of patients with HbA1c<8% (p<0.05). Frequency of detection of P. intermedia was higher in the sites with PD<5 mm of the patients with HbA1c&#8805;8% than those of the patients with HbA1c<8% (p<0.05). Conclusions Poor glycemic control, as indicated by HbA1c&#8805;8%, is associated with increased levels and frequencies of periodontal pathogens in the subgingival biofilm of subjects with type 2 DM and ChP

Fluctuation-Driven Neural Dynamics Reproduce Drosophila Locomotor Patterns.

The neural mechanisms determining the timing of even simple actions, such as when to walk or rest, are largely mysterious. One intriguing, but untested, hypothesis posits a role for ongoing activity fluctuations in neurons of central action selection circuits that drive animal behavior from moment to moment. To examine how fluctuating activity can contribute to action timing, we paired high-resolution measurements of freely walking Drosophila melanogaster with data-driven neural network modeling and dynamical systems analysis. We generated fluctuation-driven network models whose outputs-locomotor bouts-matched those measured from sensory-deprived Drosophila. From these models, we identified those that could also reproduce a second, unrelated dataset: the complex time-course of odor-evoked walking for genetically diverse Drosophila strains. Dynamical models that best reproduced both Drosophila basal and odor-evoked locomotor patterns exhibited specific characteristics. First, ongoing fluctuations were required. In a stochastic resonance-like manner, these fluctuations allowed neural activity to escape stable equilibria and to exceed a threshold for locomotion. Second, odor-induced shifts of equilibria in these models caused a depression in locomotor frequency following olfactory stimulation. Our models predict that activity fluctuations in action selection circuits cause behavioral output to more closely match sensory drive and may therefore enhance navigation in complex sensory environments. Together these data reveal how simple neural dynamics, when coupled with activity fluctuations, can give rise to complex patterns of animal behavior

Captive-born collared peccary (Pecari tajacu, Tayassuidae) fails to discriminate between predator and non-predator models

Captive animals may lose the ability to recognize their natural predators, making conservation programs more susceptible to failure if such animals are released into the wild. Collared peccaries are American tayassuids that are vulnerable to local extinction in certain areas, and conservation programs are being conducted. Captive-born peccaries are intended for release into the wild in Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. In this study, we tested the ability of two groups of captive-born collared peccaries to recognize their predators and if they were habituated to humans. Recognition tests were performed using models of predators (canids and felids) and non-predators animals, as well as control objects, such as a plastic chair; a human was also presented to the peccaries, and tested as a separate stimulus. Anti-predator defensive responses such as fleeing and threatening displayswere not observed in response to predator models. Predator detection behaviors both from visual and olfactory cues were displayed, although they were not specifically targeted at predator models. These results indicate that collared peccaries were unable to recognize model predators. Habituation effects, particularly on anti-predator behaviors, were observed both with a 1-h model presentation and across testing days. Behavioral responses to humans did not differ from those to other models. Thus, if these animals were to be released into the wild, they should undergo anti-predator training sessions to enhance their chances of survival