Nursing workload in specialized Semi-intensive Therapy unit: workforce size criteria

Abstract OBJECTIVE To assess the nursing workload (NW) in Semi-intensive Therapy Unit, specialized in the care of children with Craniofacial anomalies and associated syndromes; to compare the amount of workforce required according to the Nursing Activities Score (NAS) and the COFEN Resolution 293/04. METHOD Cross-sectional study, whose sample was composed of 72 patients. Nursing workload was assessed through retrospective application of the NAS. RESULTS the NAS mean was 49.5%. Nursing workload for the last day of hospitalization was lower in patients being discharged to home (p<0.001) and higher on the first compared to last day of hospitalization (p< 0.001). The number of professionals required according to NAS was superior to the COFEN Resolution 293/04, being 17 and 14, respectively. CONCLUSION the nursing workload corresponded to approximately 50% of the working time of nursing professional and was influenced by day and outcome of hospitalization. The amount of professionals was greater than that determined by the existing legislation.

A new species of Calloconophora Dietrich (Hemiptera, Membracidae) from the semi-arid region of northeastern Brazil

A new species of treehopper, Calloconophora gaudencia sp. nov., from Araruna, Paraíba State, is described and illustrated.

Duas novas espécies de Enchenopa Amyot & Serville (Hemiptera, Membracidae) do semi-árido do Estado da Paraíba, Brasil

Enchenopa eunicea sp. nov. e Enchenopa minuta sp. nov. (ambas de São José dos Cordeiros, Paraíba, Brasil ) são descritas e ilustradas.

Breeding system and genetic variance in the monogamous, semi-social shrew, Crocidura russula

The population-genetic consequences of monogamy and male philopatry (a rare breeding system in mammals) were investigated using microsatellite markers in the semisocial and anthropophilic shrew Crocidura russula. A hierarchical sampling design over a 16-km geographical transect revealed a large genetic diversity (h = 0.813) with significant differentiation among subpopulations (F-ST = 5-6%), which suggests an exchange of 4.4 migrants per generation. Demic effective-size estimates were very high, due both to this limited gene inflow and to the inner structure of subpopulations. These were made of 13-20 smaller units (breeding groups), comprising an estimate of four breeding pairs each. Members of the same breeding groups displayed significant coancestries (F-LS = 9-10%), which was essentially due to strong male kinship: syntopic males were on average related at the half-sib level. Female dispersal among breeding groups was not complete (similar to 39%), and insufficient to prevent inbreeding. From our results, the breeding strategy of C. russula seems less efficient than classical mammalian systems (polygyny and male dispersal) in disentangling coancestry from inbreeding, but more so in retaining genetic variance.

III Simpósio Brasileiro de Captação de Água de Chuva no Semi-Árido - os Sistemas de Water Harvesting e sua Aplicação em Cabo Verde

A localização geográfica do arquipélago de Cabo Verde na zona saheliana entre as isoietas de 250 mm e 500 mm aproximadamente, aliada aos condicionalismos físicos, climáticos e económicos explicam em grande parte, os escassos recursos hídricos disponíveis. Devido ao caracter torrencial das chuvas, os resultados de aplicação das diferentes técnicas e sistemas de “water harvesting”, provaram no passado de que se tratam de tecnologias que podem contribuir para uma melhor gestão dos recursos hídricos. Por esta razão, deverão continuar a fazer parte dos programas de investigação aplicada, aperfeiçoadas e divulgadas no seio das comunidades rurais e nas áreas urbanas devido ao baixo custo do preço da água captada e as vantagens de caracter ambiental. Este trabalho faz uma abordagem sobre as tecnologias de aproveitamento de águas superficiais, com destaque para os sistemas de “water harvesting”, e discute as potencialidades do seu desenvolvimento em Cabo Verde.

Seasonality of insects in the semi-arid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil

Insects are essential to tropical ecosystems functioning. In semi-arid regions, the increase in abundance and/or activity (e.g. reproduction and foraging behavior) of insects is usually associated with climatic variables. The present study investigates which climatic variables are best predictors of insect abundance in an area of Caatinga in northeastern Brazil. Individuals were sampled for 24 months using Malaise and pitfall traps, and beating trays. A total of 58925 individuals belonging to 20 insect orders were collected. The most abundant orders were Hymenoptera, Diptera, Collembola and Coleoptera. Most orders studied showed a clear maximum abundance in the rainy season. Rainfall and humidity were the best predictors of insect abundance in the Caatinga. However, no climatic variable could explain Psocoptera and Blattodea variance in abundance/activity. Our results suggest that climatic changes associated with rainfall patterns in the Caatinga may affect ecosystem processes and services that depend direct or indirectly on insect abundance/activity.

Fick's law adapted to cationic diffusion in a semi-infinite solid: application to spinel megacrystals

In alkaline lavas, the chemical zoning of megacrystals of spinel is due to the cationic exchange between the latter and the host lava. The application of Fick's law to cationic diffusion profiles allows to calculate the time these crystals have stayed in the lava. Those which are in a chemical equilibrium were in contact with the lava during 20 to 30 days, whereas megacrystals lacking this equilibrium were in contact only for 3 or 4 days. The duration of the rise of an ultrabasic nodule in the volcanic chimney was calculated by applying Stokes' law.

Seasonal activity of Dinoponera quadriceps Santschi (Formicidae, Ponerinae) in the semi-arid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil

Seasonal activity of Dinoponera quadriceps Santschi (Formicidae, Ponerinae) in the semi-arid Caatinga of northeastern Brazil. We studied seasonal foraging patterns of the queenless ant D. quadriceps (Formicidae, Ponerinae) for 24 months in a Caatinga area of northeastern Brazil, an ecosystem characterized by strong climatic changes throughout the year, in order to determine if regulation of worker activity is based on environmental conditions (air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation) and/or food resources (potential prey: Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Araneae, Chilopoda and Diplopoda). Foraging activity of D. quadriceps varied over the course of both years, with the highest frequency occurring from May to August, corresponding to the late rainy season and early dry season. This foraging activity was negatively correlated with temperature and positively correlated with the availability of potential prey, but not with total abundance of soil arthropods or with rainfall and relative humidity. Diet composition, in relation to the main taxonomic prey groups, seems to be common to the species, regardless of habitat. Our results suggest that D. quadriceps workers adjust foraging activity to the most suitable period of the year, to avoid thermal stress and increase efficiency. Thus, they present an appropriate behavioral response to seasonal fluctuations in the Caatinga.

O Sistema Semi-Presidencialista Cabo-verdiano: A Relação entre os Poderes Executivo e Legislativo

O artigo procura analisar a relação que se estabelece entre o poder executivo e legislativo no sistema de governo cabo-verdiano, onde Investigadores buscam compreendê-lo, tendo em conta a sua configuração prática, teórica e constitucional. Há que realçar a proeminência do debate e dos estudos realizados no sentido de compreender como é que a academia científica procura debelar esta problemática. Duas questões são pertinentes neste debate: a primeira refere-se à configuração teórico-constitucional do sistema de governo cabo-verdiano e a outra à prática política e legislativa.

The semi-presidential system of Cape Verde: the relationship between the executive and the legislative powers = O sistema semi-presidencialista caboverdiano: a relação entre os poderes executivo e legislativo

e article analyses the relationship established between the executive and legislative powers in the Cape Verdean government system where researchers seek to understand it, taking into account their theoretical and constitutional setting practice. It should be noted the prominence of the debate and studies undertaken to understand how the scienti c academy seeks to eradicate this problem. Two issues are relevant in this debate: the rst reporting to the theoretical and constitutional con guration of Cape Verdean government system and the other to its policy and legislative practice. Keywords: Cape Verde. Semi-presidential System. Systems of Government. Legislative and Executive Powers.

Fixação do N2 em leucena (Leucaena leucocephala) em solo da região semi-árida brasileira submetido à salinização

Com a finalidade de avaliar a tolerância de rhizobium loti em Leucaena leucocephala cv K8, submetida a níveis crescentes de salinidade, realizou-se um experimento em casa de vegetação, usando-se um Podzólico Vermelho-Amarelo textura franco-arenosa, coletado em Serra Talhada (PE). O experimento obedeceu ao arranjo fatorial 5 x 4, no delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com 3 repetições. Foram usados 5 níveis de salinidade do solo (C.E. = 1,5; 6,6; 10,1; 12,8 e 14,4 dS m-1) e 2 tratamentos inoculados (NFB 494 e SEMIA 6069), fertilização nitrogenada com 200 mg kg-1 de N (NH4NO3), e o controle sem inoculação e sem adubação nitrogenada. O incremento dos níveis crescentes de salinidade reduziu a nodulação (número e massa de nódulos), o rendimento de matéria seca e a acumulação de N na parte aérea. O tratamento com fertilização nitrogenada inibiu totalmente a nodulação em leucena, em todos os níveis de salinidade; contudo, promoveu melhores rendimentos na acumulação de N e na produção de matéria seca. Observou-se resposta significativa das plantas inoculadas com a estirpe SEMIA 6069, em todas as características avaliadas, superando os resultados obtidos com o isolado NFB 494.

Influence of tree species on the herbaceous understory and soil chemical characteristics in a silvopastoral system in semi-arid northeastern Brazil

Studies from some semi-arid regions of the world have shown the beneficial effect of trees in silvopastoral systems, by promoting the formation of resource islands and increasing the sustainability of the system. No data are available in this respect for tree species of common occurrence in semi-arid Northeastern Brazil. In the present study, conducted in the summer of 1996, three tree species (Zyziphus joazeiro, Spondias tuberosa and Prosopis juliflora: ) found within Cenchrus ciliaris pastures were selected to evaluate differences on herbaceous understory and soil chemical characteristics between samples taken under the tree canopy and in open grass areas. Transects extending from the tree trunk to open grass areas were established, and soil (0-15 cm) and herbaceous understory (standing live biomass in 1 m² plots) samples were taken at 0, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200% of the average canopy radius (average radius was 6.6 ± 0.5, 4.5 ± 0.5, and 5.3 ± 0.8 m for Z. joazeiro, P. juliflora, and S. tuberosa , respectively). Higher levels of soil C, N, P, Ca, Mg, K, and Na were found under the canopies of Z. joazeiro and P. juliflora: trees, as compared to open grass areas. Only soil Mg organic P were higher under the canopies of S. tuberosa trees, as compared to open grass areas. Herbaceous understory biomass was significantly lower under the canopy of S. tuberosa and P. juliflora trees (107 and 96 g m-2, respectively) relatively to open grass areas (145 and 194 g m-2). No herbaceous biomass differences were found between Z. joazeiro canopies and open grass areas (107 and 87 g m-2, respectively). Among the three tree species studied, Z. joazeiro was the one that presented the greatest potential for use in a silvopastoral system at the study site, since it had a larger nutrient stock in the soil without negatively affecting herbaceous understory biomass, relatively to open grass areas.

Estimativa da acidez potencial pelo pH SMP em solos do semi-árido do Nordeste brasileiro

Neste estudo avaliou-se a relação entre o teor de H + Al e o pH SMP, visando estabelecer uma equação para estimar a acidez potencial de solos do Semi-Árido do Nordeste Brasileiro. As análises dos teores de H + Al e dos valores de pH SMP foram realizadas em 81 amostras de solo, variando os teores de carbono de 1,8 a 35,6 g kg-1 e os de argila de 60 a 590 g kg-1. Os resultados demonstraram que a acidez potencial dessas amostras de solo, expressa em mmol c dm-3, pode ser estimada pelo valor do pH em solução tampão SMP, por meio da equação de regressão: H + Al = 31,521 (pH SMP)² - 451,61 pH SMP + 1625,3 (R² = 0,87**).

Diet and breeding success of long-eared owls in a semi-arid environment

Only a few studies, and mostly in temperate climates in Europe, have examined the breeding and diet of long-eared owls (Asia otus) compared to studies of cavity-breeding owls, possibly because of the difficulties in reaching the nests of the former. Here we studied a population of long-eared owls, monitoring the diet of breeding owls and that of owls at a communal roost, every two to three months during 2006 -2009, in a semi-arid region in Israel. It was found that the studied owls produced more young than in most countries in Europe. Diet was not associated with breeding parameters of the owls, whereas laying date was negatively correlated with both clutch size and number of nestlings. We found that more social voles (Microtus socialis) and fewer birds and house mice (Mus musculus) made up the diet at nests than that of adults at the roosts. The diet and breeding of long-eared owls in Israel differ from that in Europe, with birds and mice comprising an important part of the diet, in addition to voles.

Tomografia computadorizada na avaliação da densidade de um solo do semi-árido brasileiro

A densidade do solo de amostras indeformadas foi determinada por meio das técnicas de tomografia computadorizada e do torrão impermeabilizado, visando à identificação de processos de compactação do solo e a comparação de métodos. A pesquisa também visou auxiliar um levantamento pedológico elaborado com fins de classificação de terras para irrigação. As amostras de solo foram coletadas da região semi-árida de Petrolina (PE), ao longo de perfis do solo, da superfície até 1 m de profundidade, em camadas de 0,1 m e em duas áreas distintas quanto à sua ocupação vegetal e manejo: (1) vegetação natural (caatinga); (2) área cultivada e irrigada por pivô central. As tomografias foram realizadas com um tomógrafo de primeira geração, constituído por uma fonte de radiação gama de 137Cs e um detetor cintilador de NaI(Tl), com eletrônica padrão de espectrometria gama e sistema de movimentação de amostra controlados por uma interface específica acoplada a um microcomputador. Na área de caatinga, os resultados evidenciam a ocorrência de um adensamento do solo em camadas mais profundas, abaixo de 0,4 m, bem como de uma camada adensada e, ou, compactada entre aproximadamente 0 e 0,4 m, na área cultivada com pivô central, possivelmente em virtude da ação de máquinas e implementos utilizados no preparo e cultivo do solo.