Ants that Frequently Colonize Twigs in the Leaf Litter of Different Vegetation Habitats

Ants often colonize twigs in the leaf litter, but some species use this resource more frequently than others. We analyzed the composition of the community and the diameter of colonized twigs to test if any species had a size preference. Samples were collected in different vegetation habitats (urban parks, eucalyptus plantations and native forests). In each site, all twigs with an ant colony in six 16-m2 plots were collected and measured, and the ants occupying them were identified. For the analyses, we only included species recorded in 10 or more twigs; these species were considered “common inhabitants” of the twigs (approximately 19.7% of the fauna analyzed). Our results indicate that the community is richer and uses a larger number of twigs of different diameters in the native forest. In addition, some species colonized twigs of similar sizes in different vegetation habitats, suggesting possible selection by ants. 

Antibacterial activity of Ionic Liquids based on ampicillin against resistant bacteria

Antibacterial activity of novel Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Ionic Liquids (API-ILs) based on ampicillin anion [Amp] have been evaluated. They showed growth inhibition and bactericidal properties on some sensitive bacteria and especially some Gram-negative resistant bacteria when compared to the [Na][Amp] and the initial bromide and chloride salts. For these studies were analysed the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBIC) against sensitive Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Klebsiella pneumonia (clinically isolated), as well as sensitive Gram positive S. Aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis and completed using clinically isolated resistent strains: E. coli TEM CTX M9, E. coli CTX M2 and E. coli AmpC Mox. From the obtained MIC values of studied APIs-ILs and standard [Na][Amp] were derived RDIC values (relative decrease of inhibitory concentration). High RDIC values of [C16Pyr][Amp] especially against two resistant Gram-negative strains E. coli TEM CTX M9 (RDIC>1000) and E. coli CTX M2 (RDIC>100) point clearly to a potential promising role of APIs-ILs as antimicrobial drugs especially against resistant bacterial strains

Occurrence of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in both Leaf Litter and Twigs in Atlantic Forest

Twigs in the litter derived from the fragmentation of tree branches form one microhabitat, where entire colonies of ants, both leaf litter and arboreal species, can be found. The objective was to survey ant species that are presente in both the leaf litter and twigs simultaneously. We describe the nest type, the social structure of the colonies and the trophic guild membership of these species. Samples were collected from 10 preserved fragments of Brazilian Atlantic forest. We used Berlese funnels to collect leaf litter ants and manual collection for twig ants. We recorded 80 ant species; 60 species were in leaf litter samples and 35 species were in twigs. Of the total species, only 15 (20%) occurred simultaneously in the leaf litter and in twigs. Of these species, Gnamptogenys striatula, Pheidole sarcina, P. sospes and Solenopsis sp. 2 were the most frequent among leaf litter dwellers, and Myrmelachista catharinae was the most common arboreal species. Most of these belonged to generalista and predator guilds, with “polydomous nests” and colonies monogynous

Ansiedade infantil em contextos escolares: tudo do inventário de ansiedade escolar usando rasch

Este estudo objetivou avaliar o Inventário de Ansiedade Escolar por meio do Modelo de Rasch. Os participantes foram 101 crianças de escola pública, com idades compreendidas entre 7 e 11 anos, que frequentavam o ensino fundamental do 2º ao 5º ano e apresentavam baixo desempenho acadêmico. Aplicou-se o Inventário de Ansiedade Escolar coletivamente em sala de aula a todos os participantes autorizados pelos responsáveis. O tempo de coleta foi de 30 minutos, em média. Os resultados demonstraram que os itens foram respondidos conforme as expectativas do Modelo de Rasch, tendo os itens propriedades psicométricas adequadas. Apesar disso, foram retirados dois itens por apresentarem problema de conteúdo. O Item Separation Reliability foi de 0,98; o indicador Person Separation Reliability foi de 0,72; e o alfa de Cronbach foi de 0,74, o que permite a estimação da ansiedade escolar do aluno

ASSISTÊNCIA DE ENFERMAGEM NOS CUIDADOS PERIOPERATÓRIOS DE CIRURGIA CESARIANA: UM ESTUDO REFLEXIVO

Buscou-se compreender sobre a assistência de enfermagem nos cuidados perioperatórios de cirurgias cesarianas, Trata-se de uma abordagem reflexiva acerca dos cuidados as pacientes que são submetidas a cirurgia cesariana. O estudo tem como foco primordial a descrição e a interpretação da realidade dos cuidados desses pacientes. O estudo usou como base os artigos LILACS e SCIELO entre os períodos de 2010 e 2016. Ao final do estudo concluem que é de competência da enfermagem o acompanhamento das gestantes, educação em saúde realizada para orienta-las e retirar as duvidas, os cuidados e acompanhamento durante o puerpério que é de extrema importância para o recém-nascido e para a mãe

Qualidade do ar em ambiente interno e externo em relação ao material particulado grosso e fino em escola pública / Air quality in internal and external environment in relation to the coarse and fine particulate matter in public school

As salas de aulas constituem um ambiente interior particular, pois os jovens estudantes, principalmente as crianças, são mais suscetíveis a problemas de saúde vinculados à má qualidade do ar. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a qualidade do ar em sala de aula de escola pública comparando com ambiente externo por meio da investigação sobre a massa e composição química do material particulado grosso e fino e sua distribuição por tamanho. Os dados indicaram a presença de material partículado grosso e fino, com concentração média de 13,3 µg m3 em MP2,5 e 47,1 µg m3  em MP10 no interior da sala de aula enquanto que no ambiente externo a concentração para o MP10 foi de 29,5 µg m3 . Como fontes de material particulado foram sugeridas as fontes antrópicas e ressuspensão de partículas do solo causadas por diversas atividades desenvolvidas durante o período de ocupação. Foram determinados os íons sulfato, nitrato, cloreto e fosfato indicando fonte interna e a influência de fontes de combustão no entorno da edificação

Neuroprotective effect of pyruvate and oxaloacetate during pilocarpine induced status epilepticus in rats

Recent research data have shown that systemic administration of pyruvate and oxaloacetate causes an increased brain-to-blood glutamate efflux. Since increased release of glutamate during epileptic seizures can lead to excitotoxicity and neuronal cell death, we tested the hypothesis that glutamate scavenging mediated by pyruvate and oxaloacetate systemic administration could have a neuroprotective effect in rats subjected to status epilepticus (SE). SE was induced by a single dose of pilocarpine (350 mg/kg i.p.). Thirty minutes after SE onset, a single dose of pyruvate (250 mg/kg i.p.), oxaloacetate (1.4 mg/kg i.p.), or both substances was administrated. Acute neuronal loss in hippocampal regions CA1 and hilus was quantitatively determined five hours after SE onset, using the optical fractionator method for stereological cell counting. Apoptotic cascade in the hippocampus was also investigated seven days after SE using caspase-1 and -3 activity assays. SE-induced neuronal loss in CA1 was completely prevented in rats treated with pyruvate plus oxaloacetate. the SE-induced caspase-1 activation was significantly reduced when rats were treated with oxaloacetate or pyruvate plus oxaloacetate. the treatment with pyruvate and oxaloacetate caused a neuroprotective effect in rats subjected to pilocarpine-induced SE. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)UNIFESP São Paulo, Dept Neurol & Neurosurg, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP Santos, Dept Biosci, Santos, SP, BrazilUNIFESP São Paulo, Dept Neurol & Neurosurg, São Paulo, BrazilUNIFESP Santos, Dept Biosci, Santos, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Monitoring COVID-19 and Influenza: The Added Value of a Severe Acute Respiratory Infection Surveillance System in Portugal

Background: Severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) surveillance is recommended to assess the severity of respiratory infections disease. In 2021, the National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, in collaboration with two general hospitals, implemented a SARI sentinel surveillance system based on electronic health registries. We describe its application in the 2021/2022 season and compare the evolution of SARI cases with the COVID-19 and influenza activity in two regions of Portugal. Methods: The main outcome of interest was the weekly incidence of patients hospitalized due to SARI, reported within the surveillance system. SARI cases were defined as patients containing ICD-10 codes for influenza-like illness, cardiovascular diagnosis, respiratory diagnosis, and respiratory infection in their primary admission diagnosis. Independent variables included weekly COVID-19 and influenza incidence in the North and Lisbon and Tagus Valley regions. Pearson and cross-correlations between SARI cases, COVID-19 incidence and influenza incidence were estimated. Results: A high correlation between SARI cases or hospitalizations due to respiratory infection and COVID-19 incidence was obtained (ρ = 0.78 and ρ = 0.82, respectively). SARI cases detected the COVID-19 epidemic peak a week earlier. A weak correlation was observed between SARI and influenza cases (ρ = -0.20). However, if restricted to hospitalizations due to cardiovascular diagnosis, a moderate correlation was observed (ρ = 0.37). Moreover, hospitalizations due to cardiovascular diagnosis detected the increase of influenza epidemic activity a week earlier. Conclusion: In the 2021/2022 season, the Portuguese SARI sentinel surveillance system pilot was able to early detect the COVID-19 epidemic peak and the increase of influenza activity. Although cardiovascular manifestations associated with influenza infection are known, more seasons of surveillance are needed, to confirm the potential use of cardiovascular hospitalizations as an indicator of influenza activity.The data of the study were originally collected as part of the project “Establishing Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) surveillance and performing hospital-based COVID-19 transmission studies,” and the “Vaccine Effectiveness, Burden, and Impact Studies (VEBIS) of COVID-19 and Influenza,” funded by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control through a service contract with Epiconcept (ECD.11236 and Amendment Nos. 1 ECD.11810 and ECDC/2021/016).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio