Life mode of in situ Conularia in a Middle Devonian epibole

Exceptionally abundant specimens of Conularia aff. desiderata Hall occur in multiple marine obrution deposits, in a single sixth-order parasequence composed of argillaceous and silty very fine sandstone, in the Otsego Member of the Mount Marion Formation (Middle Devonian, Givetian) in eastern New York State, USA. Associated fossils consist mostly of rhynchonelliform brachiopods but also include bivalve molluscs, orthoconic nautiloids, linguliform brachiopods and gastropods. Many of the brachiopods, bivalve molluscs and conulariids have been buried in situ. Conulariids buried in situ are oriented with their aperture facing obliquely upward and with their long axis inclined at up to 87degree to bedding. Most specimens are solitary, but some occur in V-like pairs or in radial clusters consisting of three specimens, with the component specimens being about equally long or (less frequently) substantially different in length. The compacted apical end of Conularia buried in situ generally rests upon argillaceous sandstone. With one possible exception, none of the examined specimens terminates in a schott (apical wall), and internal schotts appear to be absent. The apical ends of specimens in V-like pairs and radial clusters show no direct evidence of interconnection of their periderms. The apical, middle or apertural region of some inclined specimens abuts or is in close lateral proximity to a recumbent conulariid or to one or more spiriferid brachiopods, some of which have been buried in their original life orientation. The azimuthal bearings of Conularia and nautiloid long axes and the directions in which conulariids open are nonrandom, with conulariids being preferentially aligned between 350 and 50degree and with their apertural end facing north-east, and nautiloids being preferentially aligned between 30 and 70degree. Otsego Member Conularia were erect or semi-erect, epifaunal or partially infaunal animals, the apical end of which rested upon very fine bottom sediment. The origin of V-like pairs and radial clusters remains enigmatic, but it is probable that production of schotts was not a regular feature of this animal's life history. Finally, conulariids and associated fauna were occasionally smothered by distal storm deposits, under the influence of relatively weak bottom currents. © The Palaeontological Association.

Rap: o duelo de rimas no cotidiano do jovem

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Role of the clinical pharmacist in detection of drug therapy problemas in critically impatients: experience report

This is an experience report on clinical pharmacy in New York, United States of America, in a teaching hospital, describing the results of drug therapy monitoring in critically ill patients, as well as interventions to solve or prevent identified drug therapy problems. The cross-sectional study was conducted by the clinical staff at the Surgical Intensive Care Unit during August 20th to 24th, 2012. Blood counts, serum levels of certain antibiotics, microbiological cultures and their antibiotic susceptibility, possible drug interactions, dosage of each drug prescribed and the compatibility between the route of administration and pharmaceutical form were assessed daily through review of electronic medical records. Twenty seven patients were followed up and 16 drug therapy problems were identified: Unnecessary drug therapy (seven), adverse drug reaction (four), needs additional drug therapy (two), noncompliance (two) and dosage too low (one). After evaluation, the drug therapy problems and their pharmaceutical interventions were reported to clinical pharmaceutical responsible for the Surgical ICU, as well as the multidisciplinary team. Further, the clinical outcomes were monitored and interventions were classified as to its acceptance. Data demonstrate that clinical pharmacists can contribute to the security and proper use of medications, as the trigger tools for intensive monitoring helps in early detection of drug therapy problems and patient safety.