Yes, they can! Three-banded armadillos Tolypeutes sp. (Cingulata: Dasypodidae) dig their own burrows.

It is believed that the two species of Tolypeutes Illiger, 1811are the only armadillos that do not dig their own burrows, and that these species simply re-use burrows dug by other species. Here, we show that Tolypeutes matacus (Desmarest, 1804) and Tolypeutes tricinctus (Linnaeus, 1758) dig their own burrows. We describe the burrows and three other types of shelters used by them, and provide measurements and frequency of use of the different types of shelter. We have studied free-ranging individuals of T. matacus in two locations in Central Brazil and individuals of T. tricinctus in semi-captivity in the Northeast of Brazil. Individuals of T. matacus were found primarily in small burrows (76%), straw nests (13%), shallow depressions covered with leaf-litter (7%) or in straw nests made on shallow depressions (4%). Adult males and females of T. matacus did not differ in frequency of use of different types of shelter. Sub-adults T. matacus used shallow depressions and nests more often (40%) than adults (22%) and nurslings (10%). Nurslings of T. matacus reused the shelters more frequently (66%), than sub-adults (46%) and adults (35%). Adult females reused burrows and other types of shelter more frequently than adult males. Tolypeutes tricinctus rested mainly in burrows and under leaf-litter, but did not dig depressions or build nests. Tolypeutes tricinctus occasionally used burrows dug by Euphractus sexcinctus (Linnaeus, 1758), but T. matacus never used burrows dug by other species. Nursling T. matacus always shared shelter with an adult female therefore, both used shelters with similar frequency. Adult females and nurslings of T. matacus reused shelters in higher frequency. That can be explained by the fact that adult females with offspring tend to remain for consecutive nights in the same burrow when cubs are recently born. Due to their smaller body size, subadult T. matacus used shelter strategies that require less energetic effort more frequently than adults and nurslings. The habit of covering the burrow entrance with foliage and the burrow?s reduced depth, indicates that Tolypeutes use of burrows is more likely to be related to parental care behavior and thermoregulation strategies than to defense mechanisms. We are confident that the burrows used for resting were indeed dug by Tolypeutes because, besides the direct observation of armadillos digging burrows, the measures of the burrows are very distinctive from those presented as characteristic for the co-occurring burrowing species and are congruent with Tolypeutes size and carapace shape. The newly acquired knowledge that species of Tolypeutes dig burrows can be used to increase the well-being of individuals kept in captivity by adapting enclosures to enable their digging behavior. In addition, this information contributes not only to the study of the ecology and natural history of the species, but can shed new light on the study of the anatomy of specialized diggers. Tolypeutes spp. can comprise the least fossorial of all living armadillo species, but they can no longer be classified as non-diggers

Acute mesenteric ischaemia in refractory shock on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Background: Acute mesenteric ischaemia is a severe complication in critically ill patients, but has never been evaluated in patients on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-A ECMO). This study was designed to determine the prevalence of mesenteric ischaemia in patients supported by V-A ECMO and to evaluate its risk factors, as well as to appreciate therapeutic modalities and outcome. Methods: In a retrospective single centre study (January 2013 to January 2017), all consecutive adult patients who underwent V-A ECMO were included, with exclusion of those dying in the first 24 hours. Diagnosis of mesenteric ischaemia was performed using digestive endoscopy, computed tomography scan or first-line laparotomy. Results: One hundred and fifty V-A ECMOs were implanted (65 for post-cardiotomy shock, 85 for acute cardiogenic shock, including 39 patients after refractory cardiac arrest). Overall, median age was 58 (48-69) years and mortality 56%. Acute mesenteric ischaemia was suspected in 38 patients, with a delay of four (2-7) days after ECMO implantation, and confirmed in 14 patients, that is, a prevalence of 9%. Exploratory laparotomy was performed in six out of 14 patients, the others being too unstable to undergo surgery. All patients with mesenteric ischaemia died. Independent risk factors for developing mesenteric ischaemia were renal replacement therapy (odds ratio (OR) 4.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3-15.7, p=0.02) and onset of a second shock within the first five days (OR 7.8, 95% CI 1.5-41.3, p=0.02). Conversely, early initiation of enteral nutrition was negatively associated with mesenteric ischaemia (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.69, p=0.02). Conclusions: Acute mesenteric ischaemia is a relatively frequent but dramatic complication among patients on V-A ECMO

‘I think I'm more free with them'—Conflict, Negotiation and Change in Intergenerational Relations in African Families Living in Britain

While the family is increasingly being recognised as pivotal to migration, there remain too few studies examining how migration impacts on intergenerational relationships. Although traditional intergenerational gaps are intensified by migration, arguably there has been an over-emphasis on the divisions between ‘traditional’ parents and ‘modern’ children at the expense of examining the ways in which both generations adapt. As Foner and Dreby [2011. “Relations Between the Generations in Immigrant Families.” Annual Review of Sociology 37: 545–564] stress, the reality of post-migration intergenerational relations is inevitably more complex, requiring the examination of both conflict and cooperation. This article contributes to this growing literature by discussing British data from comparative projects on intergenerational relations in African families (in Britain, France and South Africa). It argues that particular understandings can be gained from examining the adaptation of parents and parenting strategies post-migration and how the reconfiguration of family relations can contribute to settlement. By focusing on how both parent and child generations engage in conflict and negotiation to redefine their relationships and expectations, it offers insight into how families navigate and integrate the values of two cultures. In doing so, it argues that the reconfiguration of gender roles as a result of migration offers families the space to renegotiate their relationships and make choices about what they transmit to the next generation

Universal Parametric Correlations of Conductance Peaks in Quantum Dots

We compute the parametric correlation function of the conductance peaks in chaotic and weakly disordered quantum dots in the Coulomb blockade regime and demonstrate its universality upon an appropriate scaling of the parameter. For a symmetric dot we show that this correlation function is affected by breaking time-reversal symmetry but is independent of the details of the channels in the external leads. We derive a new scaling which depends on the eigenfunctions alone and can be extracted directly from the conductance peak heights. Our results are in excellent agreement with model simulations of a disordered quantum dot.Comment: 12 pages, RevTex, 2 Postscript figure

The variational Bayesian approach to fitting mixture models to circular wave direction data

The emerging variational Bayesian (VB) technique for approximate Bayesian statistical inference is a nonsimulation- based and time-efficient approach. It provides a useful, practical alternative to other Bayesian statistical approaches such as Markov chain Monte Carlo–based techniques, particularly for applications involving large datasets. This article reviews the increasingly popular VB statistical approach and illustrates how it can be used to fit Gaussian mixture models to circular wave direction data. This is done by taking the straightforward approach of padding the data; this method involves adding a repeat of a complete cycle of the data to the existing dataset to obtain a dataset on the real line. The padded dataset can then be analyzed using the standard VB technique. This results in a practical, efficient approach that is also appropriate for modeling other types of circular, or directional, data such as wind direction

Mammals, Serra da Concórdia, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The Atlantic Forest in the state of Rio de Janeiro is extremely fragmented and reduced in its originalextension. Although there are a great number of studies related to the biome, few lists are available for this region. Thepresent study seeks to get information on the mammals of a remnant forest in Serra da Concórdia, an area from whichno information is currently available. The rapid mammal's survey was accomplished by use of pitfalls, live traps,transects, mist nets, and camera traps. We recorded 37 terrestrial species that represent 22.3 % of Rio de Janeiro statemammal species. Among the recorded species, six are endemic of the Atlantic Forest, one is endemic of the state, andeight are in the state list of threatened or presumably threatened species. The area presents great mammal richness andan increasing effort will probably reveal the presence of additional species

A Uniform Approximation for the Fidelity in Chaotic Systems

In quantum/wave systems with chaotic classical analogs, wavefunctions evolve in highly complex, yet deterministic ways. A slight perturbation of the system, though, will cause the evolution to diverge from its original behavior increasingly with time. This divergence can be measured by the fidelity, which is defined as the squared overlap of the two time evolved states. For chaotic systems, two main decay regimes of either Gaussian or exponential behavior have been identified depending on the strength of the perturbation. For perturbation strengths intermediate between the two regimes, the fidelity displays both forms of decay. By applying a complementary combination of random matrix and semiclassical theory, a uniform approximation can be derived that covers the full range of perturbation strengths. The time dependence is entirely fixed by the density of states and the so-called transition parameter, which can be related to the phase space volume of the system and the classical action diffusion constant, respectively. The accuracy of the approximations are illustrated with the standard map.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, accepted in J. Phys. A, special edition on Random Matrix Theor

Surgery and COVID-19: Balancing the nosocomial risk a french academic center experience during the epidemic peak

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Beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes: faunal, ecological and functional contributions of recent studies in the canton of Geneva (Switzerland)

Description of the subject. In the context of biodiversity maintenance in agricultural environments and of risk reduction related to the use of phytosanitary products, it seems essential to improve our knowledge of the beneficial insects that develop in these ecosystems.Objectives. This article reviews the state of knowledge regarding insect auxiliaries and highlights the main faunal, ecological and functional contributions from recent studies carried out in an agricultural context in Geneva.Method. Data were collected from 2014 to 2019 on several families of predatory and pollinating auxiliaries in various agricultural contexts (extensive grasslands, vineyards, orchards, rapeseed crops, vegetable crops) using Barber, Malaise and emergence traps.Results. 48,921 individual records were collected belonging to 477 species of the main families of auxiliaries. Of these, four species were observed for the first time in Switzerland and 50 in the canton of Geneva. 357 (+/- 75%) of the species had a predatory stage and 103 (+/- 22%) could be regarded as valuable crop auxiliaries. The use of emergence traps made it possible to attest that at least a third of the species, including some rare or threatened species, are able to successfully carry out their life cycles within agricultural environments or to use them as overwintering sites.Conclusions. This review increases our understanding of the composition of the biodiversity of agricultural environments, which constitutes a significant component of biodiversity in Switzerland and in neighboring countries. It also highlights the role of semi-natural habitats as extensive grasslands or inter-rows of vineyards in supporting the development of many rare and sometimes threatened species