Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among front-line healthcare workers in Northeast Brazil : a respondent-driven sampling approach

Objectives We assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages and occurrence of biological accidents among front-line healthcare workers (HCW). Design, setting and participants Using respondent-driven sampling, the study recruited distinct categories of HCW attending suspected or confirmed patients with COVID-19 from May 2020 to February 2021, in the Recife metropolitan area, Northeast Brazil. Outcome measures The criterion to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW was a positive self-reported PCR test. Results We analysed 1525 HCW: 527 physicians, 471 registered nurses, 263 nursing assistants and 264 physical therapists. Women predominated in all categories (81.1%; 95% CI: 77.8% to 84.1%). Nurses were older with more comorbidities (hypertension and overweight/obesity) than the other staff. The overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 61.8% (95% CI: 55.7% to 67.5%) after adjustment for the cluster random effect, weighted by network, and the reference population size. Risk factors for a positive RT-PCR test were being a nursing assistant (OR adjusted: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.42 to 4.61), not always using all recommended PPE while assisting patients with COVID-19 (OR adj: 2.15; 95% CI: 1.02 to 4.53) and reporting a splash of biological fluid/respiratory secretion in the eyes (OR adj: 3.37; 95% CI: 1.10 to 10.34). Conclusions This study shows the high frequency of SARS-CoV2 infection among HCW presumably due to workplace exposures. In our setting, nursing assistant comprised the most vulnerable category. Our findings highlight the need for improving healthcare facility environments, specific training and supervision to cope with public health emergencies

Species Richness and Evidence of Random Patterns in Assemblages of South American Titanosauria during the Late Cretaceous (Campanian–Maastrichtian)

<div><p>The Titanosauria were much diversified during the Late Cretaceous, but paleobiological information concerning these sauropods continues to be scarce and no studies have been conducted utilizing modern methods of community analysis to infer possible structural patterns of extinct assemblages. The present study sought to estimate species richness and to investigate the existence of structures in assemblages of the South American Titanosauria during the Late Cretaceous. Estimates of species richness were made utilizing a nonparametric estimator and null models of species co-occurrences and overlapping body sizes were applied to determine the occurrence of structuring in this assemblages. The high estimate of species richness (n = 57) may have been influenced by ecological processes associated with extinction events of sauropod groups and with the structures of the habitats that provided abundant support to the maintenance of large numbers of species. The pseudocommunity analysis did not differ from that expected by chance, indicating the lack of structure in these assemblages. It is possible that these processes originated from phylogenetic inertia, associated with the occurrence of stabilized selection. Additionally, stochastic extinction events and historical factors may also have influenced the formation of the titanosaurian assemblages, in detriment to ecological factors during the Late Cretaceous. However, diagenetic and biostratinomic processes, influenced by the nature of the sedimentary paleoenvironment, could have rendered a random arrangement that would make assemblage structure undetectable.</p></div

Estimates of species richness represented by rarefaction curves calculate with data of fossil records.

<p>The curves were generated from 1000 randomizations with replacement and the sampling units corresponding to the total of fossil record (<i>n</i>) in the stratigraphic formations of Late Cretaceous in South America (Campanian–Maastrichtian). Sobs: richness observed.</p

Matrix of occurrence of Titanosauria species recorded in the stratigraphic formations of the Late Cretaceous.

<p>A: Adamantina Formation, B: Anacleto Formation, C: Angostura Colorada Formation, D: Allen Formation, E: Los Alamitos Formation, F: Bajo Barreal Formation, G: Marília Formation, H: Palacio Formation, I: Plottier Formation, J: Cambambe Formation, K: Bajo de la Carpa Formation, L: Pari Aike Formation; M: Lecho Formation, N: Tolar Formation.</p><p>Matrix of occurrence of Titanosauria species recorded in the stratigraphic formations of the Late Cretaceous.</p

Frequency distribution of checkerboard <i>C</i>-scores obtained from 10,000 simulations produced by randomizations of titanosaurian assemblages.

<p>Arrow indicates the observed mean and <i>P</i> is the probability of the observed mean to be statistically greater than that expected.</p

Observed and expected size overlap of Titanosauria species during the Late Cretaceous in South America.

<p>The dimensions used were minimum segment length and variance in segment length, with values log transformed. The arrows indicate observed means and <i>P</i> indicates the probability that the observed value is greater than the expected value (10,000 simulations).</p

Técnicas aplicadas no fundeio e manutenção de um ondógrafo direcional

Aqui descrevemos as técnicas aplicadas na implantação e manutenção do Programa de Informação Costeira (PIC on—line), que manteve um ondógrafo fundeado ao largo da Ilha de Santa Catarina entre Dezembro de 2001 e Novembro de 2003. O documento cobre informações que vão desde a preparação do equipamento e seu lançamento, até uma descrição detalhada dos componentes do fundeio. Três operações de resgate do ondógrafo foram registradas e são descritas em conjunto à análise dos fundeios recuperados. Por fim, são dadas recomendações para continuação de futuros programas de medições.Here we describe the techniques used to implant and maintain the Coastal Information Program (PIC online- Programa de Informação Costeira), which maintained an ondograph anchored off the Island of Santa Catarina from December 2001 to November 2003. The document includes information ranging from the preparation of the equipment and its launching to a detailed description of the anchoring components. Three ondograph retrieval operations were recorded and are described together with the analysis of the anchorages retrieved. Finally, recommendations are made to continue future measurement programs

COVID-19 EM PACIENTES COM DIABETES MELLITUS TIPO 2: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA

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