Electoral surveys influence on the voting processes: a cellular automata model

Nowadays, in societies threatened by atomization, selfishness, short-term thinking, and alienation from political life, there is a renewed debate about classical questions concerning the quality of democratic decision-making. In this work a cellular automata (CA) model for the dynamics of free elections based on the social impact theory is proposed. By using computer simulations, power law distributions for the size of electoral clusters and decision time have been obtained. The major role of broadcasted electoral surveys in guiding opinion formation and stabilizing the ``{\it status quo}'' was demonstrated. Furthermore, it was shown that in societies where these surveys are manipulated within the universally accepted statistical error bars, even a majoritary opposition could be hindered from reaching the power through the electoral path.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Epidemiology and pathology of bovine schistosomiasis in Mozambique

AIM: To study the epidemiology and pathology of bovine schistosomiasis in Mozambique. BACKGROUND: - Bovine schistosomiasis is of great importance in Africa. It is caused by Schistosoma bovis; - In bovines the symptoms are similar to humans, mainly intestinal, hepato-splenic, vesical and genital; - It has been shown to be endemic through all Africa and in some Mediterranean countries (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Iraque and Israel); - Hybrids of S. haematobium and S. bovis are known to infect humans.N/

Clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological characteristics of bacteremia caused by high-level gentamicin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis

Enterococcus spp bacteremia is associated with high mortality and the appearance of high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) created additional challenges for the treatment of these infections. We evaluated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with bacteremias caused by HLGR and non_HLGR Enterococcus faecalis isolates at a teaching hospital in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Patients with bacteremia due to E. faecalis diagnosed between January 1999 and December 2003 were included in the study. We collected clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological data from medical records. Banked isolates were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. We identified 145 cases of E. faecalis bacteremia: 66 (45.5%) were caused by HLGR isolates and 79 (54.5%) by non_HLGR. In the univariate analysis, patients with HLGR infection were older, had higher rates of bladder catheterization, and more often had treatment with cephalosporin, quinolone, and/or carbapenem compared with patients with non_HLGR infection (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that older age, hematological malignancy, and previous use of vancomycin were independently associated with HLGR (P < 0.05). Mortality rates were not significantly different among patients with HLGR (50%) and non_HLGR (43%) infections (P = 0.40). Of the 32 genotyped isolates, 16 were distributed into 6 main electrophoresis patterns and 16 others had distinct patterns. E. faecalis bacteremia is associated with high mortality and is frequently caused by HLGR isolates at this teaching hospital. The variability among genotyped isolates suggests that endogenous infections, rather than patient-to-patient transmission of E. faecalis, are more common at this institution.89089

PERFIL LONGITUDINAL E A APLICAÇÃO DO ÍNDICE DE GRADIENTE (RDE) NA BACIA HIDROGRÁFICA DO ALTO CURSO DO RIO PITANGUI – PR.

Este trabalho apresenta uma análise do perfil longitudinal e da aplicação do índice de gradiente (RDE) no Alto curso do Rio Pitangui - PR, com o objetivo de detectar anomalias de drenagem ao longo de seu curso principal. Este rio possui uma extensão de 42,384 km e amplitude de relevo de 156 m. Em sua maior parte, o canal encontra-se desajustado, sendo que esses trechos estão associados a mudanças litológicas, lineamentos do relevo e encontro de tributários significativos

Repeated exposure of adolescent rats to oral methylphenidate does not induce behavioral sensitization or cross-sensitization to nicotine

Several lines of evidence indicate that the use of stimulant drugs, including methylphenidate (MPD), increases tobacco smoking. This has raised concerns that MPD use during adolescence could facilitate nicotine abuse. Preclinical studies have shown that repeated treatment with an addictive drug produces sensitization to that drug and usually cross-sensitization to other drugs. Behavioral sensitization has been implicated in the development of drug addiction. We examined whether repeated oral MPD administration during adolescence could induce behavioral sensitization to MPD and long-lasting cross-sensitization to nicotine. Adolescent male Wistar rats were treated orally with 10 mg/kg MPD or saline (SAL) from postnatal day (PND) 27 to 33. To evaluate behavioral sensitization to MPD in adolescent rats (PND 39), the SAL pretreated group was subdivided into two groups that received intragastric SAL (1.0 mL/kg) or MPD (10 mg/kg); MPD pretreated rats received MPD (10 mg/kg). Cross-sensitization was evaluated on PND 39 or PND 70 (adulthood). To this end, SAL- and MPD-pretreated groups received subcutaneous injections of SAL (1.0 mL/kg) or nicotine (0.4 mg/kg). All groups had 8 animals. Immediately after injections, locomotor activity was determined. The locomotor response to MPD challenge of MPD-pretreated rats was not significantly different from that of the SAL-pretreated group. Moreover, the locomotor response of MPD-pretreated rats to nicotine challenge was not significantly different from that of the SAL-pretreated group. This lack of sensitization and cross-sensitization suggests that MPD treatment during adolescence does not induce short- or long-term neuroadaptation in rats that could increase sensitivity to MPD or nicotine

Inventário De Moluscos Do Estuário Do Rio Paraíba No Nordeste Do Brasil

Coastal ecosystems of northeastern Brazil have important biodiversity with regard to marine mollusks, which are insufficiently studied. Here we provide an inventory of mollusks from two sites in the estuary of the Paraíba River. Mollusks were collected in 2014 and 2016 on the coast and sandbanks located on the properties of Treze de Maio and Costinha de Santo Antônio. The malacofaunal survey identified 12 families, 20 genera and 21 species of bivalves, 17 families, 19 genera and 20 species of gastropods and one species of cephalopod. Bivalves of the family Veneridae Rafinesque, 1815 were the most representative, with a total of five species. Gastropods of the family Littorinidae Children, 1834 had the greatest species richness. The most abundant species were: Neritina virginea (Linnaeus, 1758), Brachidontes exustus (Linnaeus, 1758), Crassostrea brasiliana (Lamarck, 1819), Cerithium atratum (Born, 1778), Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791), Parvanachis obesa (C. B. Adams, 1845), Phrontis polygonata (Lamarck, 1822), Littoraria angulifera (Lamarck, 1822), L. flava (King, 1832), Tagelus plebeius (Lightfoot, 1786), Echinolittorina lineolata (d’Orbigny, 1840) and Iphigenia brasiliensis (Lamarck, 1818). The results show that the study area has considerable species richness of Mollusca, requiring environmental monitoring in the region mainly due to the economic importance of some species to the local population. © 2017, Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP. All rights reserved.17

Zinc accumulation in Solanum Nigrum is enhanced by different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Solanum nigrum was found to proliferate in sediments with high levels of metal pollution. The effect of Zn on plant growth and tissue metal accumulation was assessed. The response of the plant to the inoculation with four different isolates of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) (Glomus sp. BEG140, Glomus claroideum, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices) was studied. While the isolates of AMF did not have a significant (P < 0.05) influence on mycorrhizal colonisation, increasing Zn concentration to high levels (500 and 1000 mg kg 1) induced significant (P < 0.05) decrease of the AMF colonisation. In general, the presence of AMF did not affect the growth and biomass of S. nigrum individuals. However, the level of metal in the matrix affected S. nigrum growth; plants grown at 100 mg kg 1 had significantly (P < 0.05) lower leaf, stem, root and total biomass than control ones and plants growing at 500 and 1000 mg kg 1 had the significantly (P < 0.05) lowest biomass. Plants inoculated with the AMF G. claroideum and G. intraradices presented significantly (P < 0.05) higher Zn accumulation in all plant tissues. In general, the stem tissues had the higher Zn content while the leaves registered the lowest values, which indicate a high translocation of the metal. AMF inoculation had no significant (P < 0.05) influence on the metal translocation within the plant. This study suggests that inoculation with the AMF G. claroideum or G. intraradices, can enhance the Zn accumulation in the tissues of S. nigrum, not affecting the plant translocation capacities

Laparoscopic Upper-pole Nephroureterectomy In Infants

Objective: Report the results of laparoscopic upper-pole nephroureterectomy in infants. Materials and Methods: Six consecutive infants underwent 7 laparoscopic upper-pole nephroureterectomy. Pre and post-operative evaluation included renal sonography, voiding cystourethrogram and renal scintigraphy. All infants showed upper-pole exclusion. Surgery was performed through a transperitoneal approach with full flank position in all infants. Three or 4 ports were used according to the necessity of retracting the liver. The distal ureter was ligated close to the bladder whenever reflux was present and the dysplastic upper-pole was divided with the help of an electrocautery. Data regarding operative time, postoperative use of analgesics, time to resume oral feeding, hospital stay and tubular function were collected and analyzed. Results: All procedures were concluded as planned. Mean operative time was 135 min. One patient underwent staged bilateral upper-pole nephrectomy. There were no complications and the postoperative hospital stay was 48 hours in 5 procedures and 24 hours in 2 procedures. Pain medication was required only in the first day. Renal tubular function showed improvement in half of the cases. Conclusion: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is a safe and feasible procedure in infants. Due to the magnification provided by the lenses, a better vision of the structures is achieved, facilitating selective dissection of vascular upper-pole, renal parenchyma and distal ureter. This approach is less damaging to the lower pole, and is associated to low morbidity and a short hospital stay.3318791Peters, C.A., Laparoscopic and robotic approach to genitourinary anomalies in children (2004) Urol Clin North Am, 31, pp. 595-605Robinson, B.C., Snow, B.W., Cartwright, P.C., De Vries, C.R., Hamilton, B.D., Anderson, J.B., Comparison of laparoscopic versus open partial nephrectomy in a pediatric series (2003) J Urol, 169, pp. 638-640Steyaert, H., Valla, J.S., Minimally invasive urologic surgery in children: An overview of what can be done (2005) Eur J Pediatr Surg, 15, pp. 307-313Koyle, M.A., Woo, H.H., Kavoussi, L.R., Laparoscopic nephrectomy in the first year of life (1993) J Pediatr Surg, 28, pp. 693-695Valla, J.S., Breaud, J., Carfagna, L., Tursini, S., Steyaert, H., Treatment of ureterocele on duplex ureter: Upper pole nephrectomy by retroperitoneoscopy in children based on a series of 24 cases (2003) Eur Urol, 43, pp. 426-429Jordan, G.H., Winslow, B.H., Laparoendoscopic upper pole partial nephrectomy with ureterectomy (1993) J Urol, 150, pp. 940-943Horowitz, M., Shah, S.M., Ferzli, G., Syad, P.I., Glassberg, K.I., Laparoscopic partial upper pole nephrectomy in infants and children (2001) BJU Int, 87, pp. 514-516Gill, I.S., Delworth, M.G., Munch, L.C., Laparoscopic retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy (1994) J Urol, 152, pp. 1539-1542Borzi, P.A., A comparison of the lateral and posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach for complete and partial nephroureterectomy in children (2001) BJU Int, 87, pp. 517-520Desgrandchamps, F., Gossot, D., Jabbour, M.E., Meria, P., Teillac, P., Le Duc, A., A 3 trocar technique for transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy (1999) J Urol, 161, pp. 1530-1532Hulbert, W.C., Rabinowitz, R., Prenatal diagnosis of duplex system hydronephrosis: Effect on renal salvage (1998) Urology, 51, pp. 23-26El-Ghoneimi, A., Farhat, W., Bolduc, S., Bagli, D., McLorie, G., Khoury, A., Retroperitoneal laparoscopic vs open partial nephroureterectomy in children (2003) BJU Int, 91, pp. 532-535Jednak, R., Kryger, J.V., Barthold, J.S., Gonzalez, R., A simplified technique of upper pole heminephrectomy for duplex kidney (2000) J Urol, 164, pp. 1326-1328Borzi, P.A., Yeung, C.K., Selective approach for transperitoneal and extraperitoneal endoscopic nephrectomy in children (2004) J Urol, 171, pp. 814-816Guillonneau, B., Ballanger, P., Lugagne, P.M., Valla, J.S., Vallancien, G., Laparoscopic versus lumboscopic nephrectomy (1996) Eur Urol, 29, pp. 288-291Janetschek, G., Seibold, J., Radmayr, C., Bartsch, G., Laparoscopic heminephroureterectomy in pediatric patients (1997) J Urol, 158, pp. 1928-193