Feral horses’ (Equus ferus caballus) behavior toward dying and dead conspecifics

In the rapidly expanding field of comparative thanatology, reports from a wide range of taxa suggest that some aspects of a concept of death may be shared by many non-human species. In horses, there are only a few anecdotal reports on behaviors toward dead conspecifics, mostly concerning domestic individuals. Here, we describe the case of a 2-month-old, free-ranging male foal that died around 12 h after being found severely injured due to a presumed wolf attack, focusing on other individuals' reactions to the dying foal. We also placed camera traps near horse carcasses to investigate reactions by other horses. Kin and non-kin of both sexes showed unusual interest in the dying foal. However, horses appeared to avoid dead conspecifics. Recording individual reactions to dead and dying conspecifics in naturalistic settings will enhance our knowledge about death-related behaviors in horses, allowing comparisons with other species that have been more thoroughly studied, to understand the evolutionary basis of these behaviors

Social determinants of affiliation and cohesion in a population of feral horses

Investigating affiliative behaviors (e.g. proximity, grooming, cooperative behaviors) is essential to understand group cohesion and stability in animal societies, as they may foster, or be fostered by long-term social bonds and ultimately determine an individual’s lifetime reproductive success. Despite growing interest in affiliative behaviors across a wide range of mammalian taxa, little focus has been given to feral horse populations. In this study, we examined the influence of dyadic social factors (sex, rank difference, familiarity and genetic relatedness) on affiliative behaviors and group cohesion. We collected data on 16 feral horse groups in Northern Portugal who were subjected to both predation pressures and anthropogenic interference. A combination of all occurrence sampling methods and drone technology was used to record the horses’ social behavior and spatial data. Same-sex dyads showed a preference to remain in close proximity, however they did not groom as frequently as different-sex dyads. Similar rank individuals were observed in proximity more often than non-similar rank individuals, but only in newly formed groups. Familiar individuals spent more time in proximity and groomed more often than unfamiliar (new) dyads. However, affiliation between conspecifics was not predicted by genetic relatedness. These results suggest that social bonds and group cohesion are mostly sustained by familiar individuals in both stable and newly formed groups. While maintaining close proximity may function to sustain bonds between same-sex individuals, grooming may reinforce both intra-sexual and inter-sexual bonds. Examining the variation of affiliation patterns on horse populations may shed light on their behavioral plasticity and have crucial implications for the welfare and conservation of horse breeds

Population Characteristics of Feral Horses Impacted by Anthropogenic Factors and Their Management Implications

Feral horses form relatively stable harems over time that are characterized by long-lasting bonds among their members, a characteristic that makes them an exceptional case of a social system among terrestrial ungulates. Their social system has been described as uniform despite the wide differences in their environment and demography. Horse populations subjected to human interference often show higher levels of population instability that can ultimately compromise their reproductive success. In this article, we describe demographic and dynamic changes of a Portuguese population of Garranos in Serra d’Arga (SA), which is impacted by human and predation pressures, over six breeding seasons. Furthermore, we tested several hypotheses related to the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on the structure and dynamics of this population. Our results revealed that the SA population had relatively little human interference at the start of the project in 2016. This was supported by the natural composition of the herd (total number of individuals, 206), which consisted of several single- and multi-male harems (n = 17 and 7, respectively) and bachelor males (n = 9). However, from 2017 to 2021, SA’s Garrano population suffered a drastic decline. Approximately two-thirds of the individuals and all bachelor males disappeared, and 76% of adult female transfers occurred after the death or disappearance of the harem male. Predatory pressures and poor management of the population, which allowed illegal human interference, contributed to this population crisis. A low population growth rate, reduced birth and foal survival rates, in addition to a delayed primiparous age were observed in this population and exacerbated after its drastic decline; suggesting the viability and survival of this Garrano population were compromised. Investigating the population demographic changes and their causes and consequences can provide guidelines for managing populations and help fight the extinction of horse breeds

Translation and cultural adaptation of Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire

BACKGROUND: The translation and cultural adaptation are steps that will allow an instrument created in a particular language and culture might be used in another cultural context. The Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQ) is a quality of life questionnaire in English for patients with venous ulcers that need to be translated and culturally adapted to be used in Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To translate and culturally adapt to the Brazilian the CCVUQ. METHODS: The process consisted of two translations and two back translations performed by freelance translators, evaluation of versions, followed by the development of consensus version and pre-test commented. RESULTS: In the process of translating some words and expressions were changed in its literal aspect. Pre-test evaluation indicated changes were needed for better understanding of the respondent. The average time to respond to the questionnaire was 5 minutes and 23 seconds. CONCLUSION: The Portuguese version of the Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire was translated and adapted for use in Brazilian population.CONTEXTO: A tradução e a adaptação cultural são etapas que permitirão que um instrumento criado em determinado idioma e cultura possa ser usado em outro contexto cultural. O Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQ) é um questionário de qualidade de vida em portadores de úlceras venosas que para ser utilizado no Brasil é necessária a execução do processo de adaptação transcultural. OBJETIVO: Traduzir e adaptar culturalmente para a população brasileira o CCVUQ. MÉTODOS: O processo consistiu em duas traduções e duas retrotraduções realizadas por tradutores independentes, da avaliação das versões, seguida da elaboração de versão consensual e de pré-teste comentado. RESULTADOS: No processo de tradução, algumas palavras foram modificadas no seu aspecto literal. A análise posterior dos resultados do pré-teste apontou necessidades de modificações de alguns termos para melhor compreensão do respondente. O tempo médio de aplicação do questionário foi de 5 minutos e 23 segundos. CONCLUSÃO: A versão na língua portuguesa do Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire foi traduzida e adaptada para uso na população brasileira.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNCISALEstácio Faculdade de Alagoas curso de FisioterapiaEnfermeira da Hemodiálise do Hospital Antonio TarginoHospital Regional de Trauma de Campina Grande Unidade de Terapia Intensiva InfantilClínica de Enfermagem Especializada em CurativosUNIFESP, EPM, São PauloSciEL

Development and behavior of wild infant-juvenile East Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus morio) in Danum Valley

Orangutans have a long period of immaturity and the longest inter-birth interval (IBI) of all mammals, which can be explained by their solitary life style, preventing the mother from rearing two offspring simultaneously (solitary life hypothesis) [corrected]. We collected data on mother-offspring dyads living in a primary lowland forest in Danum Valley, East Borneo in an effort to examine the developmental and behavioral patterns of the subspecies Pongo pygmaeus morio. We analyzed developmental changes in mother-offspring distance, contact, and activity budgets in orangutans ranging from 1 to 7 years of age. The results indicated decreased resting and playing with increasing age, whereas feeding, traveling and social play all increased significantly. Mothers' feeding and traveling time were good predictors of their offspring's feeding and traveling activities. Mother-offspring contact lasted longer in resting contexts; contact during traveling was almost non-existent after 4 years of age. Comparisons with previously published data on the Sumatran species Pongo abelli revealed no fundamental differences in these behavioral measures. However, a shorter association time with the mother after behavioral independence is documented for this East Bornean population in comparison to Sumatran populations. These results are best explained by the solitary life hypothesis, in agreement with previous studies. We suggest that environmental constraints in Bornean forests, as well as a lower population density, should be considered when interpreting the differences between Sumatran and Bornean orangutans in both the period of association with mother and the IBI

Naringenin-functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes: a potential approach for site-specific remote-controlled anticancer delivery for the treatment of lung cancer cells

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with naringenin have been developed as new drug carriers to improve the performance of lung cancer treatment. The nanocarrier was characterized by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman Spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). Drug release rates were determined in vitro by the dialysis method. The cytotoxic profile was evaluated using the MTT assay, against a human skin cell line (hFB) as a model for normal cells, and against an adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial (A569) cell line as a lung cancer in vitro model. The results demonstrated that the functionalization of carbon nanotubes with naringenin occurred by non-covalent interactions. The release profiles demonstrated a pH-responsive behavior, showing a prolonged release in the tumor pH environment. The naringenin-functionalized carbon nanotubes showed lower cytotoxicity on non-malignant cells (hFB) than free naringenin, with an improved anticancer effect on malignant lung cells (A549) as an in vitro model of lung cancer.This work was supported by the Banco do Nordeste (grant FUNDECI/2016.0015), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa e à Inovação Tecnológica do Estado de Sergipe (Fapitec) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Eliana B. Souto would like to acknowledge the contributions from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT) and from European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE) for the projects M-ERA-NET/0004/2015-PAIRED and UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Taking care of yourself to take care of the other: reflections of nursing professionals about self care

Objective: To analyze the practices of nursing professionals of a Hospital Emergency and Emergency, directed to self-care; characterize them as the weekly schedule of work and ascertain the difficulties that are to take care of themselves. Method: This exploratory-descriptive and qualitative, performed with a nursing team in July 2009 in a Hospital Emergency and Emergency Campina Grande / PB / Brazil. The empirical material was analyzed using content analysis, having obeyed the precepts of Resolution 196/96, submitted to the Ethics Committee of the Centre for Higher Education and Development (CESED) which approved on 25/05/2009, No. 1846.0. 000405-09. Results: There was a perception of nursing professionals related to self-care; Practice of nursing directed to self-care for health maintenance, and difficulties encountered by practitioners for self-care. Conclusion: The practice of nursing directed to self-care showed negative aspects related to the theme

Natural and Experimental Poisoning of Cattle by Enterolobium contortisiliquum Pods (Fabaceae Mimosoideae) in Central-Western Brazil

Enterolobium contortisiliquum pods are commonly identified as being the cause of abortions and photosensitivity in cattle. This paper describes the clinical and pathological aspects of a natural outbreak of hepatogenous photosensitization by the pods of E. contortisiliquum in Brazil and the results of experimental poisoning in three bovines. The history of natural poisoning was obtained at the site of the outbreak. Clinical examinations were carried out and hepatic enzymes were analyzed. A post-mortem examination was carried out at the outbreak location on a cow that had died. Several samples were collected from the animal's internal organs to carry out histopathological examinations. E. contortisiliquum pods were given to cows in order to reproduce the disease. The natural poisonings were characterized by photosensitization and aborted young. Enterolobium photosensitization was not experimentally reproduced, but the animals fell sick and recovered after 52 days