Preliminary observations on behaviour and prey items of the whale shark Rhincodon typus in a juvenile aggregation site (Nosy Be, Madagascar)

Rhincodon typus, commonly known as whale shark, is currently listed by the IUCN in the “Endangered” category; it’s believed to feed primarily on meso- and macrozooplankton and has been reported to gather seasonally at a few, well known, coastal regions where has been fuelling a growing tourism industry (Rowat & Brooks, 2012). However, legislation to regulate the interaction between tourists and the foraging sharks is lacking. Well known threats affect the survival of this species, but many aspects of its ecology are still unknown: a deeper knowledge of R. typus feeding ecology is required to better manage interactions at these sites and guarantee a sustainable exploitation of the specie

Influence of Male Presence on the Socıal Structure of Lesser Spotted Dogfısh (Scyliorhinus canicula) Female Groups

Sexual segregation in the lesser spotted dogfish (Scyliorhinus canicula) is most likely driven by the female strategy of avoidance of the males, which causes the formation of female groups in the nooks and shelters on the seafloor. This strategy allows them to reduce the multiple events of male sexual advances, which are energetically expensive. In order to examine the existence of a social structure in female lesser spotted dogfish aggregations and the impact of the presence of males on them, we analyzed the structure of the social network and the temporal stability of the associations of two populations each one including five females. An easy insertion of the males in female population was made possible by the presence of a homogeneous initial social structure with quite weak bonds. The social structure is regulated by differences in the individual behaviour, resulting in different strength and stability of aggregations of conspecifics. The addition of the males produced a reduction of the Average Association Index and of the measures related to the populations’ network, strength of the associations and level of indirect connections of the individual. The presence of the males seems to have a greater effect on the individuals that are more weakly linked; while key individuals typically reduce their network values, but remain well integrated in the population; peripheral individuals have more variables values. This result indicates that relations exist between the sex, which is in contrast with the hypothesis of the female avoidance of males, which should produce strong and stable female groups. The actual knowledge of the behaviour and distribution of the Mediterranean lesser spotted dogfish does not prove the existence of a sexual segregation in this species. Based on the results we can assume that the home-ranges of females and males are not separated and that the male presence does not trigger a female aggregation mechanism. It is noteworthy that males have a destructive effect on the female associations, as these ones have shown a reduction of all the values. This might suggest that, in nature, the male presence and therefore the potential male sexual coercion may cause the spatial dispersion of the individuals of the population and reduce the cohesion of the group

ACVIM consensus statement guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, treatment, and monitoring of pulmonary hypertension in dogs.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by increased pressure within the pulmonary vasculature, is a hemodynamic and pathophysiologic state present in a wide variety of cardiovascular, respiratory, and systemic diseases. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide a multidisciplinary approach to guidelines for the diagnosis, classification, treatment, and monitoring of PH in dogs. Comprehensive evaluation including consideration of signalment, clinical signs, echocardiographic parameters, and results of other diagnostic tests supports the diagnosis of PH and allows identification of associated underlying conditions. Dogs with PH can be classified into the following 6 groups: group 1, pulmonary arterial hypertension; group 2, left heart disease; group 3, respiratory disease/hypoxia; group 4, pulmonary emboli/pulmonary thrombi/pulmonary thromboemboli; group 5, parasitic disease (Dirofilaria and Angiostrongylus); and group 6, disorders that are multifactorial or with unclear mechanisms. The approach to treatment of PH focuses on strategies to decrease the risk of progression, complications, or both, recommendations to target underlying diseases or factors contributing to PH, and PH-specific treatments. Dogs with PH should be monitored for improvement, static condition, or progression, and any identified underlying disorder should be addressed and monitored simultaneously

Salbutamol transport and deposition in the upper and lower airway with different devices in cats: a computational fluid dynamics approach

Pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDI) with or without spacers are commonly used for the treatment of feline inflammatory airway disease. During traditional airways treatments, a substantial amount of drugs are wasted upstream of their target. To study the efficiency of commonly used devices in the transport of inhaled salbutamol, different computational models based on two healthy adult client-owned cats were developed. Computed tomographic images from one cat were used to generate a three-dimensional geometry, and two masks (spherical and conical shapes) and two spacers (10 and 20 cm) completed the models. A second cat was used to generate a second model having an endotracheal tube (ETT) with and without the same spacers. Airflow, droplet spray transport, and deposition were simulated and studied using computational fluid dynamics techniques. Four regions were evaluated: device, upper airways, primary bronchi, and downstream lower airways/parenchyma ('lung'). Regardless of the model, most salbutamol is deposited in devices and/or upper airways. In the first model, particles reaching the lung varied between 5.8 and 25.8%. Compared with the first model, pMDI application through the ETT with or without a spacer had significantly higher percentages of particles reaching the lung (p = 0.006).Mauro Malvè and Rocío Fernández-Parra gratefully acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry, and Competitiveness through the research project DPI2017-83259-R (AEI/FEDER, UE)

Níveis de actividade física e composição corporal em jovens de diferentes ciclos escolares

O estudo dos níveis de actividade física, obteve-se através da avaliação de 59 alunos de ambos os sexos, com idades compreendidas entre os 8 e os 18 anos, pertencentes às classes de 4.º, 6.º, 9.º e 12.º ano. Para este efeito foram utilizados acelerómetros ActiLife v4.4.1. Como forma de obter a composição corporal, recorreu-se a uma balança de bioimpedância (Tanita). O objetivo do estudo, foi medir os níveis de actividade física e composição corporal nos diferentes ciclos escolares. Os resultados obtidos, revelam que à medida que avança a idade, o tempo despendido em actividade física diminui. Por sua vez o estudo demonstra que a maioria dos alunos cumpre os requisitos de actividade diária sugerida pelo ACSM, nomeadamente o cumprimento de 60 minutos de actividade moderada/intensa na maior parte dos dias; ABSTRACT: The studies of the physical activity levels was obtained through the evaluation of 59 students of both genders, with an age range between 8 and 20 years old, attending 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th grades. For this purposed we used the ActiLife v4.4.1 accelerometers. In order to acquire the body composition, we used a bio impedance scale (Tanita). The aim of the study was to measure the physical activity levels and body composition in young the different school cycles. The obtained results, reveal that as the age increases, the time spent in physical activities decreases. In conclusion, the study shows that the majority of the students meets the requirements of daily activity suggested by ACSM, mainly completing 60 minutes of moderate/severe activity most of the days

Salbutamol transport and deposition in healthy cat airways under different breathing conditions and particle sizes

Salbutamol is a bronchodilatator commonly used for the treatment of feline inflammatory lower airway disease, including asthma or acute bronchospasm. As in humans, a pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) is used in conjunction with a spacer and a spherical mask to facilitate salbutamol administration. However, efficacy of inhalation therapy is influenced by different factors including the noncooperative character of cats. In this study, the goal was to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to analyze the impact of breathing patterns and salbutamol particle size on overall drug transport and deposition using a specific spherical mask and spacer designed for cats. A model incorporating three-dimensional cat airway geometry, a commercially available spherical mask, and a 10  cm spacer, was used for CFD analysis. Two peak inspiratory flows were tested: 30  mL/s and 126  mL/s. Simulations were performed with 30s breathing different inspiratory and expiratory times, respiratory frequencies and peaks. Droplet spray transport and deposition were simulated with different particle sizes typical of the drug delivery therapies (1, 5, 10, and 15  μm). The percentage of particle deposition into the device and upper airways decreased with increasing particle diameter during both flows imposed in this cat model. During increased mean ventilatory rate (MVR) conditions, most of the salbutamol was lost in the upper airways. And during decreased MVR conditions, most of the particles remained in suspension (still in hold-up) between the mask and the carina, indicating the need for more than 30  s to be transported. In both flows the percentage of particles traveling to the lung was low at 1.5%–2.3%. In conclusion, in contrast to what has been described in the human literature, the results from this feline model suggest that the percentage of particles deposited on the upper airway decreases with increasing particle diameter.This study is supported by grants PID2021-125731OB-C31 and PID2021-125731OB-C33 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ and FEDER (“A way to build Europe”)

Passive Prey Discrimination in Surface Predatory Behaviour of Bait-Attracted White Sharks from Gansbaai, South Africa

5noopenBetween the years 2008 and 2013, six annual research expeditions were carried out at Dyer Island (Gansbaai, South Africa) to study the surface behaviour of white sharks in the presence of two passive prey: tuna bait and a seal-shaped decoy. Sightings were performed from a commercial cage-diving boat over 247 h; 250 different white sharks, with a mean total length (TL) of 308 cm, were observed. Of these, 166 performed at least one or more interactions, for a total of 240 interactions with bait and the seal-shaped decoy. In Gansbaai, there is a population of transient white sharks consisting mainly of immature specimens throughout the year. Both mature and immature sharks preferred to prey on the seal-shaped decoy, probably due to the dietary shift that occurs in white sharks whose TL varies between 200 cm and 340 cm. As it is widely confirmed that white sharks change their diet from a predominantly piscivorous juvenile diet to a mature marine mammalian diet, it is possible that Gansbaai may be a hunting training area and that sharks show a discriminate food choice, a strategy that was adopted by the majority of specimens thanks to their ability to visualize energetically richer prey, after having been attracted by the odorous source represented by the tuna bait.openMicarelli, Primo; Chieppa, Federico; Pacifico, Antonio; Rabboni, Enrico; Reinero, Francesca RomanaMicarelli, Primo; Chieppa, Federico; Pacifico, Antonio; Rabboni, Enrico; Reinero, Francesca Roman

Development of a self-report questionnaire designed for population-based surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents: assessment of content validity and reliability

The major infectious diseases in Chile encompass the periodontal diseases, with a combined prevalence that rises up to 90% of the population. Thus, the population-based surveillance of periodontal diseases plays a central role for assessing their prevalence and for planning, implementing, and evaluating preventive and control programs. Self-report questionnaires have been proposed for the surveillance of periodontal diseases in adult populations world-wide. Objective This study aimed to develop and assess the content validity and reliability of a cognitively adapted self-report questionnaire designed for surveillance of gingivitis in adolescents. Material and Methods Ten predetermined self-report questions evaluating early signs and symptoms of gingivitis were preliminary assessed by a panel of clinical experts. Eight questions were selected and cognitively tested in 20 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years from Santiago de Chile. The questionnaire was then conducted and answered by 178 Chilean adolescents. Internal consistency was measured using the Cronbach’s alpha and temporal stability was calculated using the Kappa-index. Results A reliable final self-report questionnaire consisting of 5 questions was obtained, with a total Cronbach’s alpha of 0.73 and a Kappa-index ranging from 0.41 to 0.77 between the different questions. Conclusions The proposed questionnaire is reliable, with an acceptable internal consistency and a temporal stability from moderate to substantial, and it is promising for estimating the prevalence of gingivitis in adolescents

Aportes para construcción de nuevas categorías de análisis: Economía Social, Solidaria, Popular y Feminista

Desde nuestra experiencia en la extensión universitaria en el marco de la Economía Social y Solidaria, pudimos visualizar una diferenciación teórica entre los conceptos de Economía Social y Solidaria, Economía Popular y Economía Feminista. Este trabajo se propone discutir en torno a dichos conceptos, considerando que es necesario promover una mirada integradora que nos permita superar la fragmentación existente entre los mismo. En este trabajo, no aspiramos a construir un paquete de metodologías ni una caja de herramientas lista para aplicar, sino más bien generar un diálogo entre estas categorías y reflexionar acerca de su interrelación. Luego de transitar el debate entre los conceptos antes mencionados, se propone incorporar la categoría Economía Social, Solidaria, Popular y Feminista (ESSPyF), para seguir aportando a la construcción de otra economía sobre la base del pensamiento crítico.Fil: Bracot Reinero, Salomé. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina.Fil: Palladino, Máximo. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Sociales; Argentina