Does fire disturbance change insect composition and the frequency of darker phenotypes in a grassland community?

Disturbances like fire can change the composition and frequency of certain phenotypes in the communities due to the selection of some characteristics that would be benefited by habitat change. The present study aimed to evaluate if fire changes a grassland insect community composition and also to test if there is a higher frequency of individuals with darker phenotypes at the community, intra-order (order Orthoptera) and Monoplatina group sp. species levels. Samples were made both in a burned and an unburned area of natural grassland with sweep nets and pitfall traps. Individuals were separated in morphotypes and photographed for posterior analysis of color density with software AxioVision. A total of 253 individuals were collected distributed in 52 morphotypes. Morphotype compositions were significantly different between the two grassland areas. A t-test showed significant differences in the color intensity of individuals between the two areas for all taxonomic levels: the burned area showed a higher number of darker individuals. The results suggest that the increase in the frequency of darker individuals and species in the burned grassland is mainly linked to microevolutive changes, which would be a consequence of differential selection imposed by predators, once darker colors would provide higher protection in the environment darkened by fire

Observações Sobre a Modulação da Camada Limite Atmosférica Marinha devida à Passagem de um Sistema Frontal no Atlântico Sudoeste

Between 6-9 December 2012, the Oceanographic Vessel Alpha Crucis took oceanographic stations in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean in support to both SAMOC and ACEx projects. During the research cruise, the vessel performed measurements with the release of weather balloons. From the data collected by the radiosondes, it was possible to verify the variability of the marine atmospheric boundary layer (MABL) in the area and period of study. From meteorological and oceanographic data, it was possible to estimate the latent and sensible heat fluxes from bulk parameterization. During an episode of formation of an extratropical cyclone, the results ,of this work demonstrate the impact of the synoptic conditions influencing the evolution of the MABL. During the prefrontal condition a stratification of the MABL was verified. The  latent and sensible heat fluxes directed from the ocean to the atmosphere were low or negative (from the atmosphere to the ocean). During the post frontal condition, the MABL was well developed with a 1200 m height and the latent and sensible heat fluxes from the ocean to the atmosphere  were more intense. These observations are fundamental to widen our understanding on the physical processes occurring at the ocean-atmosphere interface and have primary importance for the weather and climate forecast of the south-southwestern region of Brazil.Entre os dias 6 a 9 de dezembro de 2012, o Navio Oceanográfico Alpha-Crucis realizou estações oceanográficas no Oceano Atlântico Sudoeste em apoio aos projetos SAMOC e ACEx. Durante o cruzeiro de pesquisa, o navio realizou medições com o lançamento de balões meteorológicos. A partir de dados coletados pelas radiossondas, foi possível verificar a variabilidade da camada limite atmosférica marinha (CLAM) na área e período de estudo. A partir de dados meteorológicos e oceanográficos, foi possível estimar os fluxos de calor latente e sensível a partir de parametrizações bulk. Durante um episódio de formação de um ciclone extratropical, os resultados desse trabalho demonstram o impacto das condições sinóticas sobre a evolução da CLAM. Na condição pré-frontal, verificou-se uma estratificação da CLAM. Os fluxos de calor latente e sensível dirigidos do oceano para a atmosfera foram baixos ou negativos (da atmosfera para o oceano). Na condição pós-frontal, a CLAM apresentou-se bem desenvolvida, com uma altura de 1200 m e os fluxos de calor latente e sensível do oceano para a atmosfera foram mais intensos. Essas observações são fundamentais para ampliar o entendimento dos processos físicos que ocorrem na interface oceano-atmosfera e tem importância primária para a previsão do tempo e clima na região sul-sudeste do Brasil

Confiabilidade intra e interobservador do teste de tração modificado para avaliar a tensão da pálpebra inferior baseado em imagens digitais

Purpose: Inferior eyelid laxity is classically evaluated using "snap-back" and "distraction" tests. This study aimed to assess the reproducibility of the technique used to indirectly quantify the horizontal tension in the lower eyelids using digital image processing. Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted to assess the reproducibility of a new technique that quantifies the horizontal tension in the lower eyelid. The study was conducted at the Hospital das Clínicas of Porto Alegre. The protocol was established by two trained ophthalmologist examiners, allowing intra- and interobserver agreement analyses. Image acquisition was done in two stages: the first image was captured with the eyelid in primary gaze position and the second with the eyelid in traction position. All images and measurements were processed using Image J 1.33μ software from the National Institute of Health. The Bland-Altman method, intraclass correlation coefficients, concordance correlation coefficients, and technical measurement error were used to evaluate reproducibility. Results: The study participants comprised healthy individuals with no ophthalmologic pathologies. The measurements obtained in the neutral position showed a slightly higher agreement than those obtained in the traction position. The mean difference between the measurements performed in the traction position was 0.028 ± 0.7 mm and 0.014 ± 0.9 mm in the intra- and interobserver analyses, respectively. The Bland-Altman method demonstrated adequate confidence limits for both measurements. Correlation coefficients for measurements varied between 0.87 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.95] and 0.91 (95% CI 0.77-0.97) in the neutral position and between 0.72 (95% CI 0.37-0.89) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.4-0.91) in the traction position. Conclusion: A high intra- and interobserver concordance was observed in the studied method to quantify lower eyelid tension. The proposed method is simple and easily reproducible, and to the best our knowledge, this is the first method that quantifies lower eyelid horizontal tension on the basis of digital image processing. This modified distraction test might be useful in studies quantifying lower eyelid horizontal tension.A frouxidão palpebral inferior é avaliada classicamente por meio de testes de "snap-back" e "distraction test". O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a reprodutibilidade da técnica utilizada para quantificar indiretamente a tensão horizontal nas pálpebras inferiores através do processamento digital de imagens. Métodos: Este estudo longitudinal foi realizado para avaliar a reprodutibilidade de uma nova técnica que quantifica a tensão horizontal na pálpebra inferior. O estudo foi realizado no Hospital das Clínicas de Porto Alegre. O protocolo foi estabelecido por dois examinadores oftalmologistas treinados, permitindo análises de concordância intra e interavaliador. A aquisição de imagens foi feita em duas etapas: a primeira imagem foi capturada com a pálpebra na posição primária do olhar e a segunda com pálpebra tracionada. Todas as imagens e medições foram processadas usando o software Image J 1.33μ do National Institute of Health. O método de Bland-Altman, os coeficientes de correlação intraclasses, os coeficientes de correlação de concordância e o erro técnico da medida foram utilizados para avaliar a reprodutibilidade. Resultados: Os participantes do estudo foram indivíduos saudáveis e sem patologias oftalmológicas. As medidas obtidas na posição neutra mostraram concordância levemente maior do que as obtidas na posição tracionada. A diferença média entre as medidas realizadas na posição tracionada foi de 0,028 ± 0,7mm e 0,014 ± 0,9mm nas análises intra e interobservadores, respectivamente. O método de Bland-Altman demonstrou limites de confiança adequados para ambas as medidas. Os coeficientes de correlação para as medidas variaram entre 0,87 [intervalo de confiança de 95% (IC) 0,68-0,95) e 0,91 (IC 95% 0,77-0,97) na posição neutra e entre 0,72 (IC 95% 0,37-0,89) e 0,76 (IC 95% 0,46-0,91) na posição tracionada. Conclusão: Observou-se elevada concordância intra e interobservador no método estudado para quantificar a tensão palpebral inferior. O método proposto é simples e facilmente reproduzível, e, do melhor modo possível, este é o primeiro método que quantifica a tensão horizontal da pálpebra inferior com base no processamento digital de imagens. Este teste de distração modificado pode ser útil em estudos que quantifiquem a tensão horizontal da pálpebra inferior

EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION AND SENSORY-MOTOR STIMULATION ON AUDITORY EVOKED POTENTIALS

There is evidence that the auditory evoked potential (AEP) is altered by malnutrition both in laboratory animals and in humans. The objective of the present study was to determine whether changes in the AEP caused by malnutrition could be reversed by nutritional rehabilitation and sensorymotor and environmental stimulation during hospitalization. Six children aged 5-33 months with severe malnutrition (kwashiorkor, marasmus and marasmic-kwashiorkor) were admitted to the Pediatric Ward of a University Hospital. Normal age and sex-matched children from the hospital day-care center were enrolled as a control group. The AEP was tested in an electrically and acoustically isolated room using a Nicolet CA 2000 microcomputer. Clicks of 90; 80; 70 and 60 dBn HL were presented through earphones. The results suggest that malnutrition leads to an increase in wave I latencies in patients with marasmus, and in waves I, III and V in those with kwashiorkor or marasmic-kwashiorkor type at 90 dB HL. At discharge, all but one patient with kwashiorkor showed reduced latencies of waves I, III and V compared to the values on admission. Despite the small sample, these preliminary results pointed out that the process of sensory stimulation used in our study in a properly directed, systematic and individualized manner showed encouraging results in terms of AEP recovery in these children. Keywords: malnutrition, infants, nutritional rehabilitation, auditory evoked potential, stimulation.

Respiratory viral infections and effects of meteorological parameters and air pollution in adults with respiratory symptoms admitted to the emergency room

Background Respiratory viral infections (RVIs) are the most common causes of respiratory infections. The prevalence of respiratory viruses in adults is underestimated. Meteorological variations and air pollution are likely to play a role in these infections. Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine the number of emergency visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and to evaluate the association between ILI/SARI, RVI prevalence, and meteorological factors/air pollution, in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, from November 2008 to October 2010. Methods Eleven thousand nine hundred and fifty-three hospitalizations (adults and children) for respiratory symptoms were correlated with meteorological parameters and air pollutants. In a subset of adults, nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected and analyzed through IFI test. The data were analyzed using time-series analysis. Results Influenza-like illness and SARI were diagnosed in 3698 (30 9%) and 2063 (17 7%) patients, respectively. Thirty-seven (9 0%) samples were positive by IFI and 93 of 410 (22 7%) were IFI and/or PCR positive. In a multivariate logistic regression model, IFI positivity was statistically associated with absolute humidity, use of air conditioning, and presence of mold in home. Sunshine duration was significantly associated with the frequency of ILI cases. For SARI cases, the variables mean temperature, sunshine duration, relative humidity, and mean concentration of pollutants were singnificant. Conclusions At least 22% of infections in adult patients admitted to ER with respiratory complaints were caused by RVI. The correlations among meteorological variables, air pollution, ILI/SARI cases, and respiratory viruses demonstrated the relevance of climate factors as significant underlying contributors to the prevalence of RVI

INFLUENCE OF DEEP WATER RUN TRAINING SUPPLEMENT ON THE MAINTENANCE OF AEROBIC PERFORMANCE AND KINEMATICS OF MIDDLE-DISTANCE RUNNERS

The purpose of this study was to examine whether trained competitive runners could maintain on-land running performance and kinematics, using 8 wk of deep water run supplement training (30%) instead of just on-land training. Eight trained male runners (V02MAX: 53,3 ± 4.1 ml. Kg,1. min,1) were assigned to one of the two groups, on-land run just (R) or water run supplement (WR). Following 8 wk of workouts, no significant intragroup or intergroup differences were observed for treadmill V02MAX, running economy, horizontal velocity, stride length, stride rate, time of support, time of flight and segmental body positions. It was concluded that deep water running may serve as an effective training supplement to land-based running for the maintenance of aerobic performance and running kinematics for up 8 wk in trained middle-distance runners

No impact of combining multi-ingredient supplementation with exercise on body composition and physical performance, in healthy middle-aged and older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Protein-based multi-ingredient (MTN) supplements have been suggested as a safe and effective way of enhancing exercise outcomes. However, their effectiveness remains controversial when compared to isocaloric and single-nutrient supplements. This review aims to systematically summarise the current knowledge of multi-ingredient supplementation to optimise body composition and physical performance in middle-aged and older adults. Material and methods A systematic review with meta-analysis was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The search of the literature was conducted using PubMed, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and SPORTDiscus from June to October 2021. Every publication identified from the outset to October 2021 was considered. The main inclusion criteria comprised randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies conducted in adults (≥45 years old), following resistance- or endurance-based training programmes for a period of 6 weeks or longer, combined with MTN supplementation and a calorie equivalent comparator (COMP) supplement (e.g., carbohydrates). Continuous data on body composition [fat-free mass (FFM) or lean body mass], strength, and functional capacity as markers of physical performance were pooled using a random-effects model. Results Initially, 3329 publications were identified. Data from nine RCTs were ultimately included, involving 476 participants. The overall quality of the included studies was high, demonstrating a low risk of bias. Compared to COMP, no significant further benefits of ingesting MTN were identified for FFM (kg) (g = 0.044, 95 % CI −0.14 to 0.22), upper-body strength (kg) (g = 0.046, 95 % CI −0.24 to 0.33), lower-body strength, leg press exercise (kg) (g = 0.025, 95 % CI −0.26 to 0.31), leg extension exercise (kg) (g = 0.106, 95 % CI −0.15 to 0.36) and functional capacity (time in seconds) (g = 0.079, 95 % CI -0.12 to 0.27). Conclusions No additional benefits of ingesting MTN vs. COMP to maximise exercise-induced outcomes on body composition and physical performance in healthy physically active middle-aged and older adults have been identified

EXTRATOS HERBAIS COMO MELHORADOR DE DESEMPENHO EM TILÁPIAS

O sistema imunológico dos peixes é diretamente influenciado por fatores ambientais. Os aditivos naturais, vegetais e herbais, são promotores de crescimento sendo que, observa-se sua utilização desde sua antiguidade. Os aditivos tem se mostrado uma alternativa eficaz frente a substituição dos antibióticos nas rações dos animais. Um dos principais modos de ação dos extratos herbais em peixes, é o seu efeito sobre o status imunológico, induzindo a uma maior resistência as doenças. Muitos mecanismos de ação benéfica têm sido propostos para estes aditivos, os quais podem alterar a estrutura intestinal, modular a resposta imune inata e adaptativa, aumentar a resistência ao estresse e afetar diretamente o desenvolvimento de organismos patogênicos, reduzindo sua capacidade de colonizar o trato digestivo e evitando assim os distúrbios que afetam a digestão e a absorção de nutrientes. O presente estudo testará a inclusão de extratos herbais como melhorador de desempenho em tilápias da linhagem GIFT,  com aproximadamente três centímetros de comprimento. O produto a ser testado será um composto de extratos herbais contendo óleo essencial carvacrol oriundo do orégano, eugenol oriundo do cravo da índia e timol oriundo do tomilho, com objetivo avaliar a influência deles sobre o ganho de peso, ingestão da dieta e conversão alimentar de tilápias. Espera-se que o extrato herbal fornecido via dieta auxilie para um melhor desempenho zootécnico das tilápia avaliadas, sendo então uma nova alternativa de produto para uso via ração

Punção da Veia Axilar para o Implante de Dispositivos Cardíacos Eletrônicos

Introdução: A obtenção do acesso venoso para implante de dispositivos cardíacos eletrônicos implantáveis (DCEIs) tem sido tradicionalmente feita por meio da punção da veia subclávia intratorácica (PVS) ou por flebotomia da veia cefálica (FVC). Evidências apontam, entretanto, para o risco aumentado de complicações a curto e longo prazos com a PVS pelo fato de ser um acesso intratorácico e pelo risco de compressão dos eletrodos pelo ligamento costoclavicular, levando a diferentes tipos de defeitos. A FVC, por sua vez, tem sido associada à taxa de insucesso que chega a 45%. A punção da veia axilar (PVA) tem sido descrita na literatura e é apresentada, aqui, como alternativa às duas técnicas mencionadas. Métodos: Realizou-se uma pesquisa pelo PubMed sobre artigos que mencionam as técnicas de PVA, PVS e FVC e que as comparam quanto aos resultados imediatos, a curto e longo prazos e taxas de sucesso para a obtenção do acesso venoso. Deu-se ênfase às comparações entre as diversas técnicas de PVA. Conclusão: A técnica de PVA para obtenção do acesso venoso apresenta algumas variações entre os diversos autores. Ela tem segurança semelhante à da FVC, taxas de sucesso comparáveis às da veia subclávia e melhores resultados a médio e a longo prazos para a função dos eletrodos