Cetacean records along São Paulo state coast, Southeastern Brazil

The São Paulo state (SP) coast (23º18'S, 44º42'W; 25º14'S, 48º01'W) is of approximately 600 km in length, bordering the Western Atlantic Ocean, in southeastern Brazil. Cetacean sightings and strandings have long been observed throughout this area. Scattered data from scientific publications, skeletal remains in museums, photographs and articles from newspaper files, universities and aquaria have been organised and updated since 1993. Field investigations on strandings and sightings have also been conducted. A total of 29 cetacean species have been recorded, including 7 baleen whales (Mysticeti) and 22 toothed whales (Odontoceti), as follows: Balaenoptera physalus, B. borealis, B. edeni, B. acutorostrata, B. bonaerensis, Megaptera novaeangliae, Eubalaena australis, Physeter macrocephalus, Kogia breviceps, K. sima, Berardius arnuxii, Mesoplodon europaeus, M. mirus, Ziphius cavirostris, Orcinus orca, Feresa attenuata, Globicephala melas, G. macrorhynchus, Pseudorca crassidens, Delphinus capensis, Lagenodelphis hosei, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella frontalis, S. longirostris, S. coeruleoalba, Lissodelphis peronii, Sotalia guianensis and Pontoporia blainvillei. Several species have been observed only once and include strays from their areas of common distribution, as well as species with known preferences for offshore distribution. Others, such as P. blainvillei and S. guianensis, are common coastal dwellers year-round. Z. cavirostris, P. crassidens and L. hosei are reported for the first time on the SP coast.A costa do Estado de São Paulo (SP) (23º18'S, 44º42'O; 25º14'S, 48º01'O) apresenta aproximadamente 600 km de extensão voltada para o Oceano Atlântico Ocidental no sudeste do Brasil. Registros de encalhes e de avistamentos de cetáceos vêm sendo realizados ao longo desse litoral. Desde 1993, dados obtidos em literatura científica, material osteológico encontrado em museus, fotografias e artigos de arquivos de jornais, universidades e aquários foram organizados e atualizados. Investigações efetuadas em campo referentes a encalhes e avistamentos de cetáceos também foram conduzidas. Um total de 29 espécies de cetáceos foi registrado, incluindo 7 misticetos e 22 odontocetos, como indicados a seguir: Balaenoptera physalus, B. borealis, B. edeni, B. acutorostrata, B. bonaerensis, Megaptera novaeangliae, Eubalaena australis, Physeter macrocephalus, Kogia breviceps, K. sima, Berardius arnuxii, Mesoplodon europaeus, M. mirus, Ziphius cavirostris, Orcinus orca, Feresa attenuata, Globicephala melas, G. macrorhynchus, Pseudorca crassidens, Delphinus capensis, Lagenodelphis hosei, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella frontalis, S. longirostris, S. coeruleoalba, Lissodelphis peronii, Sotalia guianensis e Pontoporia blainvillei. Algumas espécies foram observadas apenas em uma ocasião e incluem tanto vagantes de suas áreas comuns de distribuição, assim como de conhecidas áreas de distribuições preferenciais oceânicas. Outras, como P. blainvillei e S. guianensis, são comumente encontradas em águas rasas o ano todo. Z. cavirostris, P. crassidens e L. hosei são listados pela primeira vez para a costa de SP.123142Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Cetacean records along São Paulo state coast, Southeastern Brazil

The São Paulo state (SP) coast (23º18'S, 44º42'W; 25º14'S, 48º01'W) is of approximately 600 km in length, bordering the Western Atlantic Ocean, in southeastern Brazil. Cetacean sightings and strandings have long been observed throughout this area. Scattered data from scientific publications, skeletal remains in museums, photographs and articles from newspaper files, universities and aquaria have been organised and updated since 1993. Field investigations on strandings and sightings have also been conducted. A total of 29 cetacean species have been recorded, including 7 baleen whales (Mysticeti) and 22 toothed whales (Odontoceti), as follows: Balaenoptera physalus, B. borealis, B. edeni, B. acutorostrata, B. bonaerensis, Megaptera novaeangliae, Eubalaena australis, Physeter macrocephalus, Kogia breviceps, K. sima, Berardius arnuxii, Mesoplodon europaeus, M. mirus, Ziphius cavirostris, Orcinus orca, Feresa attenuata, Globicephala melas, G. macrorhynchus, Pseudorca crassidens, Delphinus capensis, Lagenodelphis hosei, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella frontalis, S. longirostris, S. coeruleoalba, Lissodelphis peronii, Sotalia guianensis and Pontoporia blainvillei. Several species have been observed only once and include strays from their areas of common distribution, as well as species with known preferences for offshore distribution. Others, such as P. blainvillei and S. guianensis, are common coastal dwellers year-round. Z. cavirostris, P. crassidens and L. hosei are reported for the first time on the SP coast.A costa do Estado de São Paulo (SP) (23º18'S, 44º42'O; 25º14'S, 48º01'O) apresenta aproximadamente 600 km de extensão voltada para o Oceano Atlântico Ocidental no sudeste do Brasil. Registros de encalhes e de avistamentos de cetáceos vêm sendo realizados ao longo desse litoral. Desde 1993, dados obtidos em literatura científica, material osteológico encontrado em museus, fotografias e artigos de arquivos de jornais, universidades e aquários foram organizados e atualizados. Investigações efetuadas em campo referentes a encalhes e avistamentos de cetáceos também foram conduzidas. Um total de 29 espécies de cetáceos foi registrado, incluindo 7 misticetos e 22 odontocetos, como indicados a seguir: Balaenoptera physalus, B. borealis, B. edeni, B. acutorostrata, B. bonaerensis, Megaptera novaeangliae, Eubalaena australis, Physeter macrocephalus, Kogia breviceps, K. sima, Berardius arnuxii, Mesoplodon europaeus, M. mirus, Ziphius cavirostris, Orcinus orca, Feresa attenuata, Globicephala melas, G. macrorhynchus, Pseudorca crassidens, Delphinus capensis, Lagenodelphis hosei, Steno bredanensis, Tursiops truncatus, Stenella frontalis, S. longirostris, S. coeruleoalba, Lissodelphis peronii, Sotalia guianensis e Pontoporia blainvillei. Algumas espécies foram observadas apenas em uma ocasião e incluem tanto vagantes de suas áreas comuns de distribuição, assim como de conhecidas áreas de distribuições preferenciais oceânicas. Outras, como P. blainvillei e S. guianensis, são comumente encontradas em águas rasas o ano todo. Z. cavirostris, P. crassidens e L. hosei são listados pela primeira vez para a costa de SP

Surgical Myocardial Revascularization of Patients with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Severe Left Ventricular Disfunction

OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term survival, identify preoperative factors predictive of a favorable outcome, and assess functional improvement after coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with advanced left ventricular dysfunction. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2001, 244 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and had a preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction less than or equal to 35% were included. left ventricular ejection fraction was determined by uniplanar or biplanar ventriculography during left heart catheterization. Indication for surgery was predominance of tissue viability. Functional improvement was evaluated through echocardiography and gated scintigraphy at exercise/ rest. Survival was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 29±4% (ranged from 9% to 35%). An average of 3.01 coronary bypass grafts per patient were performed. In-hospital mortality was 3.7% (9 patients). The 4-year survival rate was 89.7%. Multivariate correlates of favorable short- and long-term outcome were preoperative New York Heart Association Funcional classification for congestive heart failure class I/II, lower PAsP, higher left ventricular ejection fraction and gated left ventricular ejection fraction Ex/Rest ratio >5%. Left ventricular ejection fraction rise from 32±5% to 39±5%, p <0.001. Gated left ventricular ejection fraction at exercise/ rest increased markedly after surgery: from 27±8%/ 23±7% to 37±5%/ 31±6%, p <0.001. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with severe ischemic left ventricular dysfunction and predominance of tissue viability, coronary artery bypass grafting may be capable of implement preoperative clinical/ functional parameters in predicting outcome as left ventricular ejection fraction and gated left ventricular ejection fraction at exercise/ rest

Estimando o risco país: um modelo de probabilidade de default baseado em ratings

Bibliografia: p. 432-433O objetivo deste estudo é analisar os principais determinantes dos ratings de crédito soberano fornecidos pelas principais agências de rating: Fitch Ratings, Moody s e Standard & Poor s. Foi utilizada a abordagem shadow rating a fim de modelar a probabilidade de default (PD) dos ratings e a econometria de cross section e dados em painel para selecionar as variáveis com maior poder explicativo.The purpose of this study is to examine the main determinants of the sovereign credit ratings provided by the main rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody s and Standard & Poor s. We follow the shadow rating approach in order to model the probability of default (PD) of the ratings, and apply cross section and panel data econometrics to select the most explanatory

Assessing corporate risk: a PD model based on credit ratings

Trabalho apresentado na 13th FRAP - Finance, Risk and Accounting Perspectives Conference, evento promovido pela Universidade de Cambridge, Inglaterra, nos dias 19 e 20 de novembro de 2013. Bibliografia: p. 8-9.This paper proposes a model which tries to mimic agencies corporate ratings. Using financial data for more than 1,400 firms across several years, a model based on financial statements was estimated and yielded reasonable accuracy for companies of diverse sizes and industries. The model was able to predict ratings within 3 notches of accuracy for about 90% of the cases

Assessing country risk: a PD model based on credit ratings

Trabalho apresentado na 13th FRAP - Finance, Risk and Accounting Perspectives Conference, evento promovido pela Universidade de Cambridge, Inglaterra, nos dias 19 e 20 de novembro de 2013. Bibliografia: p. 11-12.The purpose of this study is to examine the main determinants of the sovereign credit ratings provided by the three major rating agencies: Fitch Ratings, Moody s and Standard and Poor s. We follow the Shadow Rating approach in order to model the logit of the Probability of Default (PD) of the ratings, and apply cross section and panel data econometrics to select the most explanatory and robust variables

ANÁLISE PROBABILÍSTICA DA VELOCIDADE MÉDIA E CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA DIREÇÃO PREDOMINANTE DO VENTO NO MUNICÍPIO DA LAPA/PR

With the high level of pollutants emitted in the environment for the fossil fuel burning, one has looked alternative sources of energy generation, as the aeolian one. From a serie of 19 years of daily data of average speed and predominant direction of the winds of the Lapa, PR, this study characterized the behavior of the wind in the region by means of probabilist distributions. Amongst these, the one that better was adjusted to the data of average speed was the Gamma distribution. The predominant direction was the East, followed by Northeast and North. It was verified that the studied region suffers influence from diverse climatic factors.Com o alto nível de poluentes emitidos no ambiente pela queima de combustíveis fósseis, tem-se procurado fontes alternativas de geração de energia, como a eólica. A partir de uma série de 19 anos de dados diários de velocidade média e direção predominante dos ventos da Lapa, PR, caracterizou-se o comportamento do vento na região por meio de distribuições probabilísticas. Dentre estas, a que melhor se ajustou aos dados de velocidade média foi a distribuição Gama. A direção predominante foi a Leste, seguida de Nordeste e Norte. Verificou-se que a região estudada sofre influência de diversos fatores climáticos

Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation combined with gait and mobility training on functionality in children with cerebral palsy: study protocol for a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Background: The project proposes three innovative intervention techniques (treadmill training, mobility training with virtual reality and transcranial direct current stimulation that can be safely administered to children with cerebral palsy. The combination of transcranial stimulation and physical therapy resources will provide the training of a specific task with multiple rhythmic repetitions of the phases of the gait cycle, providing rich sensory stimuli with a modified excitability threshold of the primary motor cortex to enhance local synaptic efficacy and potentiate motor learning. Methods/design A prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled, analytical, clinical trial will be carried out.Eligible participants will be children with cerebral palsy classified on levels I, II and III of the Gross Motor Function Classification System between four and ten years of age. The participants will be randomly allocated to four groups: 1) gait training on a treadmill with placebo transcranial stimulation; 2) gait training on a treadmill with active transcranial stimulation; 3) mobility training with virtual reality and placebo transcranial stimulation; 4) mobility training with virtual reality and active transcranial stimulation. Transcranial direct current stimulation will be applied with the anodal electrode positioned in the region of the dominant hemisphere over C3, corresponding to the primary motor cortex, and the cathode positioned in the supraorbital region contralateral to the anode. A 1 mA current will be applied for 20 minutes. Treadmill training and mobility training with virtual reality will be performed in 30-minute sessions five times a week for two weeks (total of 10 sessions). Evaluations will be performed on four occasions: one week prior to the intervention; one week following the intervention; one month after the end of the intervention;and 3 months after the end of the intervention. The evaluations will involve three-dimensional gait analysis, analysis of cortex excitability (motor threshold and motor evoked potential), Six-Minute Walk Test, Timed Up-and-Go Test, Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory, Gross Motor Function Measure, Berg Balance Scale, stabilometry, maximum respiratory pressure and an effort test. Discussion This paper offers a detailed description of a prospective, double-blind, randomized, controlled, analytical, clinical trial aimed at demonstrating the effect combining transcranial stimulation with treadmill and mobility training on functionality and primary cortex excitability in children with Cerebral Palsy classified on Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I, II and III. The results will be published and will contribute to evidence regarding the use of treadmill training on this population. Trial registration ReBEC RBR-9B5DH

Photobiomodulatory effect of low-intensity laser radiation on multicellular spheroids

Photobiomodulatory effects of low-intensity laser radiation (LILR) in cells cultured in standard, two-dimensional conditions are well established. Conversely, the characteristics of this effect in three-dimensional (3D) cultures, which are currently recommended due to the greater similarity with cellular behavior in vivo, have not yet been widely investigated. The objective of this work was to analyze the biomodulator effect of LILR, on the wavelength (λ) of 685 nm, on the constitution process and on the viability of cells cultured as multicellular spheroid (MSs). For this, agarose molds containing microwells were seeded (2x105 cell/ml) with osteogenic precursor cells (OPCs - MC3T3-E1) and kept under ideal culture conditions. The molds were irradiated for five consecutive days with doses of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 J/cm², the first irradiation being performed immediately after sowing. The process of constitution of MSs was analyzed and the cultures were submitted to the cell viability test. The results demonstrated that the LILR at λ 685 nm exerted a dose-dependent biomodulatory effect on cell metabolism and on the process of constituting the MSs of OPCs. These results demonstrate the potential of photobiomodulation to contribute to the process of constituting MSs, which can be explored in the strategies of multicellular spheroids therapy used in regenerative medicine and bioprinting.Os efeitos biomoduladores da radiação laser de baixa intensidade (RLBI) em células cultivadas em condição bidimensional padrão já estão bem estabelecidos. Em contrapartida, as características desse efeito em cultivos tridimensionais (3D), atualmente recomendados devido à maior similaridade com o comportamento celular in vivo, ainda não foram amplamente investigados. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o efeito biomodulador da RLBI, no comprimento de onda (λ) de 685 nm, no processo de constituição e na viabilidade de células cultivadas como esferoides multicelulares (EMs). Para tal, moldes de agarose contendo micropoços foram semeados (2x105 células/ml) com células precursoras osteogênicas (CPOs - MC3T3-E1) e mantidas sob condições ideais de cultivo. Os moldes foram irradiados por cinco dias consecutivos com doses de 0.5, 1.0 e 1.5 J/cm², sendo a primeira irradiação realizada imediatamente após a semeadura. Foram analisadas o processo de constituição dos EMs e os cultivos foram submetidas ao ensaio de viabilidade celular. Os resultados demonstraram que a RLBI no λ 685 nm exerceu um efeito biomodulador dose-dependente sobre o metabolismo celular e sobre o processo de constituição dos EMs de CPOs. Estes resultados evidenciam a potencialidade da fotobiomodulação em contribuir com o processo de constituição dos EMs, podendo ser explorado nas estratégias de terapia celular utilizadas em medicina regenerativa e bioimpressão.

Estratégias para o desenvolvimento da bioeconomia no estado do Amazonas

This paper presents an overview of the state of Amazonas in terms of the development of a bioeconomy strongly linked to the potential of natural resources. This discussion fits well into the search of alternatives for the state’s economy, very centralized by the Manaus Industrial Park (PIM), which becomes increasingly threatened year after year. Thus, the article presents a relationship between the potential of local offerings and technological and market demands. It also discusses the economic and technological impacts of biodiversity innovation and human resources training, needed to leverage the development of applied science to the conversion of natural products into commercial products.O presente trabalho apresenta um panorama da realidade do estado do Amazonas com relação ao desenvolvimento de uma bioecomonia fortemente ligada com as potencialidades dos recursos naturais. Essa discussão se encaixa nas buscas por alternativas para economia do estado, muito centralizada pelo Polo Industrial de Manaus (PIM), que se torna ano a ano cada vez mais ameaçado. Dessa forma, o artigo apresenta uma relação entre as ofertas das potencialidades locais com as demandas tecnológicas e de mercado. Discute também os impactos econômicos e tecnológicos de inovação em biodiversidade e capacitação dos recursos humanos, que são necessários para alavancar o desenvolvimento de uma ciência aplicada na conversão de produtos da natureza em produtos comerciais