Seasonal dynamics of benthic communities in a shallow sublitoral site of Laguna estuarine system (South, Brazil)

The seasonal variability of the benthic community in a shallow sublittoral site was analyzed at the Laguna Estuarine System, a chocked lagoon in South Brazil. Seasonal replicate samples for the microphytobenthos, meiofauna and macrofauna were undertaken from October 2003 to October 2004. The analysis of the different component of the benthos permitted to show a clear temporal asynchrony in the microphytobenthos biomass, meiofauna and macrofauna univariate measures increase and decline. Sediment chlorophyll a and phaeopigments followed a similar seasonal trend, with low biomass in the winter, higher in the summer and intermediate values in spring and autumn. The benthic fauna components of the Laguna Estuarine System also showed a clear seasonal oscillation, but with an opposite pattern of variation. Whilst the number of species and abundance of the macrofauna were significantly higher in the spring and summer, for the meiofauna, both the number of taxa and abundances were significantly higher during the winter and autumn. The results of this study suggested that the divergent seasonal variations of the meiofauna and macrofauna may be linked to their different life strategies, and that biological interactions between meiofauna and macrofauna may also play a significant role in structuring these communites.The seasonal variability of the benthic community in a shallow sublittoral site was analyzed at the Laguna Estuarine System, a chocked lagoon in South Brazil. Seasonal replicate samples for the microphytobenthos, meiofauna and macrofauna were undertaken from October 2003 to October 2004. The analysis of the different component of the benthos permitted to show a clear temporal asynchrony in the microphytobenthos biomass, meiofauna and macrofauna univariate measures increase and decline. Sediment chlorophyll a and phaeopigments followed a similar seasonal trend, with low biomass in the winter, higher in the summer and intermediate values in spring and autumn. The benthic fauna components of the Laguna Estuarine System also showed a clear seasonal oscillation, but with an opposite pattern of variation. Whilst the number of species and abundance of the macrofauna were significantly higher in the spring and summer, for the meiofauna, both the number of taxa and abundances were significantly higher during the winter and autumn. The results of this study suggested that the divergent seasonal variations of the meiofauna and macrofauna may be linked to their different life strategies, and that biological interactions between meiofauna and macrofauna may also play a significant role in structuring these communites

Response of HIV-infected patients with syphilis to therapy with penicillin or intravenous ceftriaxone

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ceftriaxone is commonly used as an alternative antibiotic drug in treating syphilis but clinical data on its efficacy are limited. Objective: To evaluate the response of HIV-infected patients with active syphilis to treatment with penicillin or ceftriaxone.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective study involving 24 consecutive patients with a positive Veneral Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL) and at least one specific treponemal test. 12 patients were treated with different regimens of high-dose penicillin G for at least 2 weeks. Another 12 patients were treated with ceftriaxone 1-2 g per day intravenously for 10-21 days.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After a median follow up of 18,3 months all patients of the penicillin-treated group and 11 of 12 ceftriaxone-treated patients showed a ≥ 4-fold decline in VDRL-titers; 91% of them already within 6 months after therapy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our serological data demonstrate a comparable efficacy of currently recommened penicillin and ceftriaxone treatment regimens for active syphilis in HIV-infected patients.</p

Paleointensity Record From the 2.7 Ga Stillwater Complex, Montana

The record of geomagnetic intensity captured in the 2.7 Ga Stillwater Complex (Montana, USA) provides a statistical description of the Archean geodynamo. We present results of modified Thellier paleointensity experiments on 441 core specimens, 114 of which pass strict reliability criteria. The specimens are from 53 sites spanning most of the Banded Series rocks in the Stillwater Complex. On the basis of thermochronologic and petrologic evidence, we interpret the highest temperature component of remanence to be a late Archean thermoremanence, though the possibility remains that it is a thermochemical remanence. Thermal models indicate that the highest temperature magnetization component at each of the sites averages ∼20–200 ka of geomagnetic secular variation. The suite of sites as distributed through the Banded Series samples a roughly a 1 Ma time interval. The average of the most reliable paleointensity measurements, uncorrected for the effects of anisotropy or cooling rate, is 38.2 ± 11.3 μT (1σ). Remanence anisotropy, cooling rate, and the nonlinear relationship between applied field and thermoremanence have a significant effect on paleointensity results; a corrected average of 30.6 ± 8.8 μT is likely a more appropriate value. Earth\u27s average dipole moment during the late Archean (5.05 ± 1.46 × 1022Am2, λpmag = 44.5°) was well within the range of estimates from Phanerozoic rocks. The distribution of site-mean paleointensities around the mean is consistent with that expected from slow cooling over timescales expected from thermal models and with secular variation comparable to that of the Phanerozoic field

PADRÃO DE ATIVIDADE DIURNA DO CAVALO-MARINHO Hippocampus reidi NO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO

The objective of this study was to characterize the diurnal patterns ofactivity of Hippocampus reidi and determine its behavioral repertoire during this period of activity. Behavioral observations were made between 07:00h and 19:30h at five different sites in Rio de Janeiro state, during whichall recorded behaviors of each observed individual were quantified over one hour. A total of 90h of observation were made, 30h for females, 30h for pregnant males and 30h for non-pregnant males. The results suggest thatseahorses are very active during the day. Swimming and foraging were the most frequent behaviors observed. Non-pregnant males presented a similar behavioral repertoire to females, while pregnant males were lessactive during the day.El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo caracterizar el patrón de actividaddiurno de la especie de caballito de mar Hippocampus reidi, si la esta presenta picos de actividad y cuáles son los comportamientos relacionados a la actividad diurna. Fueron realizadas observaciones del comportamiento entre las 07:00h y las 19:30h en cinco playas del estado de Rio de Janeiro, observando los comportamientos presentes y la duración de cada comportamiento a lo largo de una hora para cada individuo observado. Fueron realizadas un total de 90h, siendo 30 para hembras, 30 para machos incubando y 30 para machos no incubando. Los caballitos de mar presentaron un comportamiento bastante activo a lo largo de todo o período de observación, siendo los comportamientos de natación y alimentación los más frecuentes. Los machos que no estaban en estado de incubación mostraron un comportamiento activo similar al de las hembras. Por otro lado los machos en estado de incubación se mostraron poco activos a lo largo de todo el día.O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar o padrão de atividade durante o período diurno da espécie de cavalo-marinho Hippocampus reidi, se a mesma apresenta picos de atividade e quais são os comportamentos relacionados a esta atividade diurna. Foram realizadas observações comportamentais de 07:00h às 19:30h em cinco praias do estado do Rio de Janeiro, observando os comportamentos presentes e a duração de cada comportamento ao longo de uma hora para cada indivíduo observado. Foi realizado um total de 90h, sendo 30 para fêmeas, 30 para machos incubando e 30 para machos não incubando. Os cavalos-marinhos apresentaram comportamento bastante ativo ao longo de todo o período de observação, sendo os comportamentos de natação e alimentação os mais freqüentes. Os machos que não estavam em estado de incubação mostraram comportamento ativo similar ao das fêmeas. Por outro lado os machos em estado de incubação mostraram-se pouco ativos ao longo de todo o dia

Xi and AntiXi production in Pb+Pb collisions at 40 AGeV at CERN SPS

First results on the production of Xi and AntiXi hyperons in Pb+Pb interactions at 40 AGeV are presented. The AntiXi/Xi ratio at midrapidity is studied as a function of collision centrality. The ratio shows no significant centrality dependence within statistical errors; it ranges from 0.07 to 0.15. The AntiXi/Xi ratio for central Pb+Pb collisions increases strongly with the collision energy.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, proceedings of SQM03, to be published in Journal of Physics G; V2: changes in table 1 and figure

Effect of Testing and Treatment on Emergency Department Length of Stay Using a National Database

Objectives:  Testing and treatment are essential aspects of the delivery of emergency care. Recognition of the effects of these activities on emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) has implications for administrators planning efficient operations, providers, and patients regarding expectations for length of visit; researchers in creating better models to predict LOS; and policy‐makers concerned about ED crowding. Methods:  A secondary analysis was performed using years 2006 through 2008 of the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), a nationwide study of ED services. In univariate and bivariate analyses, the authors assessed ED LOS and frequency of testing (blood test, urinalysis, electrocardiogram [ECG], radiograph, ultrasound, computed tomography [CT], or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) and treatment (providing a medication or performance of a procedure) according to disposition (discharged or admitted status). Two sets of multivariable models were developed to assess the contribution of testing and treatment to LOS, also stratified by disposition. The first was a series of logistic regression models to provide an overview of how testing and treatment activity affects three dichotomized LOS cutoffs at 2, 4, and 6 hours. The second was a generalized linear model (GLM) with a log‐link function and gamma distribution to fit skewed LOS data, which provided time costs associated with tests and treatment. Results:  Among 360 million weighted ED visits included in this analysis, 227 million (63%) involved testing, 304 million (85%) involved treatment, and 201 million (56%) involved both. Overall, visits with any testing were associated with longer LOS (median = 196 minutes; interquartile range [IQR] = 125 to 305 minutes) than those with any treatment (median = 159 minutes; IQR = 91 to 262 minutes). This difference was more pronounced among discharged patients than admitted patients. Obtaining a test was associated with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.29 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.86 to 2.83) for experiencing a more than 4‐hour LOS, while performing a treatment had no effect (adjusted OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.68 to 1.03). The most time‐costly testing modalities included blood test (adjusted marginal effects on LOS = +72 minutes; 95% CI = 66 to 78 minutes), MRI (+64 minutes; 95% CI = 36 to 93 minutes), CT (+59 minutes; 95% CI = 54 to 65 minutes), and ultrasound (US; +56 minutes; 95% CI = 45 to 67 minutes). Treatment time costs were less substantial: performing a procedure (+24 minutes; 95% CI = 20 to 28 minutes) and providing a medication (+15 minutes; 95% CI = 8 to 21 minutes). Conclusions:  Testing and less substantially treatment were associated with prolonged LOS in the ED, particularly for blood testing and advanced imaging. This knowledge may better direct efforts at streamlining delivery of care for the most time‐costly diagnostic modalities or suggest areas for future research into improving processes of care. Developing systems to improve efficient utilization of these services in the ED may improve patient and provider satisfaction. Such practice improvements could then be examined to determine their effects on ED crowding.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/92123/1/j.1553-2712.2012.01353.x.pd

Trans* individuals\u27 experiences with employment discrimination : supporting self-efficacy in the job-seeking process

Transgender and gender non-conforming individuals are often the subject of blatant and covert discrimination when seeking employment and studies demonstrate the negative effects on mental health. The research question for this study was: How can social workers best support trans* clients who are in the process of searching for employment, build self-efficacy and overcome psychological barriers that have developed as a result of oppression and discrimination? This qualitative study of seven trans* individuals provides examples of discrimination as experienced by the participants, examines the effects discrimination has on mental health and self-efficacy, and provides social workers with recommendations for supporting trans* clients. The study revealed that experiences of discrimination lead to feelings of anger, frustration, and hopelessness and often transform into depression, anxiety and suicidality. Recommendations for social workers included learning about trans*-related issues, providing clients with practical resources and adopting a client-centered approach that offers empathy, encouragement and positive reinforcement. Emotional responses to discrimination and problems that arise in the process of looking for work are also discussed

Emission-Line Galaxies from the HST PEARS Grism Survey I: The South Fields

We present results of a search for emission-line galaxies in the Southern Fields of the Hubble Space Telescope PEARS (Probing Evolution And Reionization Spectroscopically) grism survey. The PEARS South Fields consist of five ACS pointings (including the Hubble Ultra Deep Field) with the G800L grism for a total of 120 orbits, revealing thousands of faint object spectra in the GOODS-South region of the sky. Emission-line galaxies (ELGs) are one subset of objects that are prevalent among the grism spectra. Using a 2-dimensional detection and extraction procedure, we find 320 emission lines orginating from 226 galaxy "knots'' within 192 individual galaxies. Line identification results in 118 new grism-spectroscopic redshifts for galaxies in the GOODS-South Field. We measure emission line fluxes using standard Gaussian fitting techniques. At the resolution of the grism data, the H-beta and [OIII] doublet are blended. However, by fitting two Gaussian components to the H-beta and [OIII] features, we find that many of the PEARS ELGs have high [OIII]/H-beta ratios compared to other galaxy samples of comparable luminosities. The star-formation rates (SFRs) of the ELGs are presented, as well as a sample of distinct giant star-forming regions at z~0.1-0.5 across individual galaxies. We find that the radial distances of these HII regions in general reside near the galaxies' optical continuum half-light radii, similar to those of giant HII regions in local galaxies.Comment: 15 pages, 13 figures; Accepted for publication in A