Systematics of species of the genus Akodon (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in southeastern Brazil and implications for the biogeography of the Campos de Altitude

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/111041/1/MP197.pd

Key factors influencing the sale of bulls in livestock auctions

This research determines which factors most influence the purchase price of bulls in livestock auctions in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. Hence, 760 beef bulls sold in eleven different auctions between August and November 2013 were analysed. The data consists of: breed, muscularity (MUSC), frame (FRAME), body condition score (BCS), scrotal circumference (SC) and body weight (BW). Other data such as the animal entry order and the purchase price of the bulls was collected during the auction. A linear generalized model was used to evaluate the interaction of each variable with the purchase price of the bulls. An ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc was used to compare the differences between the categories that influenced the purchase price of bulls and were realized in the software SPSS 20.0. All breeds presented declining pricesfrom the first to the second entry order and increasing purchase prices from the order third to forth. Bulls with large frame received higher purchase prices independent of the auction order, except for the second order of entry, in which medium and small animals were more valued. Angus bulls obtained the highest prices in relation to the breeds Brangus and Hereford. The frame and breed constituted the main phenotypic characteristics that influence in price. In addition, the order of entry of bulls in the ring influence the purchase price

Systematics of species of the genus Akodon (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae) in southeastern Brazil and implications for the biogeography of the Campos de Altitude.

Faunal inventories of the highest peaks of the Atlantic forests of South America, in the Caparaó and Itatiaia mountain ranges in Southeastern Brazil, have revealed a new community of small mammals. The species making up this community appear to be restricted to the highest altitudinal zones and are found in close association with scattered montane grasslands (campos de altitude). Their phylogenetic relationships can provide insights into speciation in mountaintop communities of the Atlantic forest. In this paper we review the taxonomic identity and systematic relationships of Akodon mystax, a high- altitude endemic described from Caparaó. We demonstrate that populations from Itatiaia previously assigned to mystax are morphologically, cytogenetically and genetically distinct from that species and appear to represent a northern isolate of Akodon paranaensis, and that Akodon mystax is closely related to Akodon lindberghi from the Central Brazilian grasslands. Phylogenetic relationships among these populations demonstrate that differentiation of the mountaintop endemics of Caparaó and Itatiaia is not solely attributable the isolation of campos de altitude from southern grasslands of Brazil and Uruguay as grasslands retreated southward, phylogenetic analyses of some groups suggest connections between the campos de altitude and Central Brazil."http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102734/1/MP197.pd

Metabolic and nutritional triggers associated with increased risk of liver complications in SARS-CoV-2

Obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, cancer and smoking are risk factors for negative outcomes in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which can quickly induce severe respiratory failure in 5% of cases. Coronavirus disease-associated liver injury may occur during progression of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with or without pre-existing liver disease, and damage to the liver parenchyma can be caused by infection of hepatocytes. Cirrhosis patients may be particularly vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 if suffering with cirrhosis-associated immune dysfunction. Furthermore, pharmacotherapies including macrolide or quinolone antibiotics and steroids can also induce liver damage. In this review we addressed nutritional status and nutritional interventions in severe SARS-CoV-2 liver patients. As guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 in intensive care (IC) specifically are not yet available, strategies for management of sepsis and SARS are suggested in SARS-CoV-2. Early enteral nutrition (EN) should be started soon after IC admission, preferably employing iso-osmolar polymeric formula with initial protein content at 0.8 g/kg per day progressively increasing up to 1.3 g/kg per day and enriched with fish oil at 0.1 g/kg per day to 0.2 g/kg per day. Monitoring is necessary to identify signs of intolerance, hemodynamic instability and metabolic disorders, and transition to parenteral nutrition should not be delayed when energy and protein targets cannot be met via EN. Nutrients including vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc, selenium and ω-3 fatty acids have in isolation or in combination shown beneficial effects upon immune function and inflammation modulation. Cautious and monitored supplementation up to upper limits may be beneficial in management strategies for SARS-CoV-2 liver patients

Entanglement in Weisskopf-Wigner theory of atomic decay in free space

In this paper, we use the Weisskopf-Wigner theory to study the entanglement in the state of the free-space radiation field produced from vacuum due to atomic decay. We show how bipartite entanglement is shared between different partitions of the radiation modes. We investigate the role played by the size of the partitions and their detuning with the decaying atom. The dynamics of the atom-field entanglement during the atomic decay is also briefly discussed. From this dynamics, we assert that such entanglement is the physical quantity that fix the statistical atomic decay time.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, changed from purity to entropy of entanglement calculations in the replaced versio

Dimensional Dependence of Black Hole Formation in Self-Similar Collapse of Scalar Field

We study classical and quantum self-similar collapses of a massless scalar field in higher dimensions, and examine how the increase in the number of dimensions affects gravitational collapse and black hole formation. Higher dimensions seem to favor formation of black hole rather than other final states, in that the initial data space for black hole formation enlarges as dimension increases. On the other hand, the quantum gravity effect on the collapse lessens as dimension increases. We also discuss the gravitational collapse in a brane world with large but compact extra dimensions.Comment: Improved a few arguments and added a figur

Lemaitre-Tolman-Bondi model and accelerating expansion

I discuss the spherically symmetric but inhomogeneous Lemaitre-Tolman- Bondi (LTB) metric, which provides an exact toy model for an inhomogeneous universe. Since we observe light rays from the past light cone, not the expansion of the universe, spatial variation in matter density and Hubble rate can have the same effect on redshift as acceleration in a perfectly homogeneous universe. As a consequence, a simple spatial variation in the Hubble rate can account for the distant supernova data in a dust universe without any dark energy. I also review various attempts towards a semirealistic description of the universe based on the LTB model.Comment: Invited Review for a special Gen. Rel. Grav. issue on Dark Energy. 17 pages, 3 figure

Aspectos Relevantes de Recomendações Para Prevenção Clínica em Idoso - 2013

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) updated, in 2012, the “Recommendations for Clinical Preventive Services.”, based on the homonymous publication by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). These recommendations are provided as an aid for physicians in clinical decision making regarding the care of their patients. They reflect the best clinical evidence available at the time of publication. It should be used with the clear understanding that development of new knowledge may consequently result in updates and modifications at the recommended statements. Some recommendations of the USPSTF are important in clinical practice with the elderly, being presented in conjunction with other scientific societies.A American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) atualizou, em 2012, as “Recommendations for Clinical Preventive Services”, com base na publicação homônima editada pela United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). Estas recomendações são fornecidas como um auxílio para os médicos na tomada de decisões clínicas quanto aos cuidados de seus pacientes. Refletem as melhores evidências clínicas existentes no momento da publicação. Devem ser usadas com o claro entendimento de que o desenvolvimento de novos conhecimentos pode resultar na necessidade de atualizações e modificações nas condutas recomendadas. Dentre essas recomendações algumas são importantes na prática clínica com o paciente idoso, sendo apresentadas em conjunto com de outras sociedades científicas