The skull of the carettochelyid turtle <i>Anosteira</i> <i>pulchra</i> from the Eocene (Uintan) of Wyoming and the carotid canal system of carettochelyid turtles

Here we document the morphology of the only known skull of a carettochelyid turtle from North America. The specimen originates from the middle Eocene (early Uintan) Washakie Formation of Sweetwater County, Wyoming, and is referred to Anosteira pulchra based on temporal considerations. The skull of Anosteira pulchra broadly corresponds in its morphology to that of other carettochelyids but exhibits numerous differences that are related to it being more gracile. As a meaningful outgroup is lacking, it is not possible to determine if the gracile morphology seen in this taxon is apomorphic or plesiomorphic for the Anosteira–Allaeochelys clade. Anosteira pulchra and Carettochelys insculpta lack an ossified palatine canal. We conclude by reference to extant trionychids that the palatine (mandibular) canal is likely present but branches from the cerebral (pseudopalatine) canal following its exit from the sella turcica. As in trionychids, the vidian branch of the facial nerve (VII) of Anosteira pulchra and Carettochelys insculpta mostly traverses the palatine.</p

UV SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC METHOD FOR QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF AGOMELATINE IN COATED TABLETS

UV spectrophotometry is an analytical technique used routinely for qualitative and quantitative assay due the low cost and reliability during analysis. In this work, it was validated a quantitative UV method for determination of agomelatine in coated tablets. The parameters specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness were evaluated according to official guidelines. Methanol was selected as solvent and the maximum wavelength for drug analysis was 230 nm. The purposed assay showed to be specific and the linearity was proved in a range of 0.5 - 2.5 µg/mL. The RSD values obtained during precision assay (inter-day RSD = 1.75%) indicated the method reproducibility, and the accuracy testing showed good results from recovery test. Robustness assay was complementary and showed that the purposed method is adequate for drug quantitation in commercial samples, being a reliable alternative to chromatographic assay.UV spectrophotometry is an analytical technique used routinely for qualitative and quantitative assay due the low cost and reliability during analysis. In this work, it was validated a quantitative UV method for determination of agomelatine in coated tablets. The parameters specificity, linearity, precision, accuracy and robustness were evaluated according to official guidelines. Methanol was selected as solvent and the maximum wavelength for drug analysis was 230 nm. The purposed assay showed to be specific and the linearity was proved in a range of 0.5 - 2.5 µg/mL. The RSD values obtained during precision assay (inter-day RSD = 1.75%) indicated the method reproducibility, and the accuracy testing showed good results from recovery test. Robustness assay was complementary and showed that the purposed method is adequate for drug quantitation in commercial samples, being a reliable alternative to chromatographic assay

Effective Study: Development and Application of a Question-Driven, Time-Effective Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Scanning Protocol

BACKGROUND: Long scanning times impede cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) clinical uptake. A “one‐size‐fits‐all” shortened, focused protocol (eg, only function and late‐gadolinium enhancement) reduces scanning time and costs, but provides less information. We developed 2 question‐driven CMR and stress‐CMR protocols, including tailored advanced tissue characterization, and tested their effectiveness in reducing scanning time while retaining the diagnostic performances of standard protocols. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty three consecutive patients with cardiomyopathy or ischemic heart disease underwent the tailored CMR. Each scan consisted of standard cines, late‐gadolinium enhancement imaging, native T1‐mapping, and extracellular volume. Fat/edema modules, right ventricle cine, and in‐line quantitative perfusion mapping were performed as clinically required. Workflow was optimized to avoid gaps. Time target was 30% (CMR: from 42±8 to 28±6 minutes; stress‐CMR: from 50±10 to 34±6 minutes, both P45% of cases. Quality grading was similar between the 2 protocols. Tailored protocols did not require additional staff. CONCLUSIONS: Tailored CMR and stress‐CMR protocols including advanced tissue characterization are accurate and time‐effective for cardiomyopathies and ischemic heart diseas

Strategies and Tools for Supporting the Appropriateness of Drug Use in Older People

Through this structured review of the published literature, we aimed to provide an up-to-date description of strategies (human-related) and tools (mainly from the digital field) facilitating the appropriateness of drug use in older adults. The evidence of each strategy and tool’s effectiveness and sustainability largely derives from local and heterogeneous experiences, with contrasting results. As a general framework, three main steps should be considered in implementing measures to improve appropriateness: prescription, acceptance by the patient, and continuous monitoring of adherence and risk-benefit profile. Each step needs efforts from specific actors (physicians, patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals) and dedicated supporting tools. Moreover, how to support the appropriateness also strictly depends on the particular setting of care (hospital, ambulatory or primary care, nursing home, long-term care) and available economic resources. Therefore, it is urgent assigning to each approach proposed in the literature the following characteristics: level of effectiveness, strength of evidence, setting of implementation, needed resources, and issues for its sustainability

Levosimendan improves exercise performance in patients with advanced chronic heart failure

AIMS: Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) provides parameters such as peak VO2 and ventilation/CO2 production (VE/VCO2) slope, which are strong prognostic predictors in patients with stable advanced chronic heart failure (ADHF). The study aim was to evaluate the effects of the inodilator levosimendan on CPET in patients with ADHF under stable clinical conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled patients with ADHF (peak VO2\u2009<\u200912\u2009mL/min/kg) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled protocol. Patients were randomly assigned to i.v. infusion of placebo (500\u2009mL 5% glucose; n\u2009=\u200919) or levosimendan (in 500\u2009mL 5% glucose; n\u2009=\u200923). Before and 24\u2009h after the end of the infusion, patients underwent determination of New York Heart Association class, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), haemoglobin, serum creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen levels, as well as CPET, standard spirometry, and alveolar capillary gas diffusion. BNP showed no change with placebo (1042\u2009\ub1\u2009811 to 1043\u2009\ub1\u2009867\u2009pg/mL), but it was decreased with levosimendan (1163\u2009\ub1\u2009897 to 509\u2009\ub1\u2009543\u2009pg/mL, P\u2009<\u20090.001). No changes were observed for haemoglobin, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen in either group. With levosimendan, a minor improvement was observed in spirometry measurements, but not in alveolar capillary gas diffusion. Peak VO2 showed a small, non-significant increase with placebo (9.5\u2009\ub1\u20091.7 to 10.0\u2009\ub1\u20092.1\u2009mL/kg/min, P\u2009=\u20090.12), and a greater increase with levosimendan (9.8\u2009\ub1\u20091.7 to 11.0\u2009\ub1\u20091.9\u2009mL/kg/min, P\u2009<\u20090.005). The VE/VCO2 slope showed no change (44.0\u2009\ub1\u200911 vs. 43.4\u2009\ub1\u200910.3, P\u2009=\u20090.44), and a decrease (41.9\u2009\ub1\u200910 vs. 36.6\u2009\ub1\u20096.4, P\u2009<\u20090.001) in the placebo and in the levosimendan group, respectively. CONCLUSION: Levosimendan treatment significantly improves peak VO2 and reduces VE/VCO2 slope and BNP in patients with ADHF

Artificial photosynthesis: photoanodes based on polyquinoid dyes onto mesoporous tin oxide surface

Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells represent an appealing solution for artificial photosynthesis, aimed at the conversion of solar light into fuels or commodity chemicals. Extensive efforts have been directed towards the development of photoelectrodes combining semiconductor materials and organic dyes; the use of molecular components allows to tune the absorption and redox properties of the material. Recently, we have reported the use of a class of pentacyclic quinoid organic dyes (KuQuinone) chemisorbed onto semiconducting tin oxide as photoanodes for water oxidation. In this work, we investigate the effect of the SnO2 semiconductor thickness and morphology and of the dye-anchoring group on the photoelectrochemical performance of the electrodes. The optimized materials are mesoporous SnO2 layers with 2.5 mu m film thickness combined with a KuQuinone dye with a 3-carboxylpropyl-anchoring chain: these electrodes achieve light-harvesting efficiency of 93% at the maximum absorption wavelength of 533 nm, and photocurrent density J up to 350 mu A/cm(2) in the photoelectrochemical oxidation of ascorbate, although with a limited incident photon-to-current efficiency of 0.075%. Calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) support the role of the reduced species of the KuQuinone dye via a proton-coupled electron transfer as the competent species involved in the electron transfer to the tin oxide semiconductor. Finally, a preliminary investigation of the photoelectrodes towards benzyl alcohol oxidation is presented, achieving photocurrent density up to 90 mu A/cm(2) in acetonitrile in the presence of N-hydroxysuccinimide and pyridine as redox mediator and base, respectively. These results support the possibility of using molecular-based materials in synthetic photoelectrochemistry.[GRAPHICS]

Redes neurais artificiais na classificação de áreas cafeeiras da região de Guaxupé.

A cultura cafeeira tem o padrão espectral muito próximo ao da mata, dificultando a classificação automática dessas classes uso da terra. A aplicação de Redes Neurais Artificiais (RNA) na classificação de dados de Sensoriamento Remoto tem se mostrado uma abordagem promissora na discriminação de classes de maior complexidade. No presente trabalho foram utilizadas três bandas espectrais da imagem do satélite SPOT da região de Guaxupé, MG. O software utilizado para o processamento das imagens e classificação foi o IDRISI. Este trabalho visa à avaliação do uso de RNA para classificação automática de áreas cafeeiras em imagens de alta resolução espectral. Para validação dos mapas obtidos pela classificação, realizou-se o cruzamento do mapa de uso e ocupação da terra por classificação visual com o gerado pela RNA. Em relação ao mapa de referência, o índice Kappa (k) do mapa classificado pela RNA ficou em 71,85%, é considerado um índice bom. A metodologia de redes neurais artificiais multilayer perceptron (MLP) apresentou um bom resultado, porém é necessário que se utilize outros dados de entrada para a RNA, uma vez que somente as bandas espectrais não são suficientes para uma classificação otimizada

Multi-trait multi-environment models in the genetic selection of segregating soybean progeny.

At present, single-trait best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) is the standard method for genetic selection in soybean. However, when genetic selection is performed based on two or more genetically correlated traits and these are analyzed individually, selection bias may arise. Under these conditions, considering the correlation structure between the evaluated traits may provide more-accurate genetic estimates for the evaluated parameters, even under environmental influences. The present study was thus developed to examine the efficiency and applicability of multi-trait multi-environment (MTME) models by the residual maximum likelihood (REML/BLUP) and Bayesian approaches in the genetic selection of segregating soybean progeny. The study involved data pertaining to 203 soybean F2:4 progeny assessed in two environments for the following traits: number of days to maturity (DM), 100-seed weight (SW), and average seed yield per plot (SY). Variance components and genetic and non-genetic parameters were estimated via the REML/BLUP and Bayesian methods. The variance components estimated and the breeding values and genetic gains predicted with selection through the Bayesian procedure were similar to those obtained by REML/BLUP. The frequentist and Bayesian MTME models provided higher estimates of broad-sense heritability per plot (or heritability of total effects of progeny; h2 prog) and mean accuracy of progeny than their respective single-trait versions. Bayesian analysis provided the credibility intervals for the estimates of h2 prog. Therefore, MTME led to greater predicted gains from selection. On this basis, this procedure can be efficiently applied in the genetic selection of segregating soybean progeny

Evolução das principais doenças em lavouras de cafeeiros no município de Lavras, MG, nos anos agrícolas 2011-2012 e 2012-2013 - Projeto SIMAFF.

No Brasil, os órgãos de pesquisa envolvidos com a cultura cafeeira sempre têm procurado investimentos para os avanços tecnológicos para a produção, qualidade e competitividade no mercado nacional e internacional. Nesse sentido, a EMBRAPA/Café vem coordenando um projeto cuja finalidade consiste em realizar o monitoramento agrometeorológico, fenológico e fitossanitário do café arábica nos estados de Minas Gerais, São Paulo e Paraná, sendo que, essas informações serão disponibilizadas via internet no sistema denominado SIMAFF-Café. O SIMAFF-Café terá como principal função subsidiar os cafeicultores e/ou órgãos competentes quanto ao acompanhamento produtivo do cafeeiro, permitindo assim tomar decisões nesse agronegócio. Portanto, várias áreas de lavouras cafeeiras amostrais dos Estados envolvidos estão sendo constantemente monitoradas desde o início do projeto (novembro/2011). Especificamente para Lavras, MG, região Sul do Estado, quanto às doenças do cafeeiro, acompanhou-se, mensalmente, nos anos agrícolas 2011-2012 e 2012-2013, as suas respectivas evoluções para cada ano agrícola na fazenda denominada ?Macaco?. O acompanhamento das possíveis doenças auxilia o produtor na tomada de decisões quanto ao controle e até mesmo no manejo nutricional da lavoura. A escolha dos talhões atendeu à metodologia da Fundação PROCAFÉ sediada em Varginha, MG e adotada como padrão pelo SIMAFF. Foram selecionadas duas variedades Catuaí (CT) e Icatu (IC). No ano 2011-2012 para a ocorrência da ferrugem, em ambas as variedades, o auge da infestação foi entre abril e junho, sendo o CT mais intensamente infestado. Já no ano agrícola 2012-2013 os índices de ferrugem apresentaram valores atípicos para os meses compreendidos entre outubro e maio. Para ambos os anos agrícolas, a infestação por Cercóspora foi mais intensa para a variedade Catuaí, destacando os meses de novembro e dezembro. Quanto ao ataque da Phoma, no ano de 2011-2012, o Icatú atingiu índices de infestação ligeiramente superiores ao Catuaí, sendo que os maiores índices ocorreram entre maio e junho, atingindo até 60 % no IC, espaçamento largo (L) e carga alta (A). Contudo no ano 2012-2013, esse comportamento tendeu a se inverter, sendo que os maiores valores de infestação ocorreram em outubro e entre fevereiro e março