Heterorhabditis amazonensis RSC5 (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) movement and host recognition

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Deslocamento de abomaso em vacas leiteiras

The genetic selection and the nutritional management to improve milk production make the dairy cattle more susceptible to the development of diseases, such as the abomasal displacement. It is the most frequently detected abomasal problem and it is the main cause of abdominal surgeries in dairy cattle. It is a multifactorial disease that occurs mainly in dairy cattle of high production during the puerperium. The abomasal displacement can occur to the right (DAD) or to the left (DAE), being the former more frequent than the latter. It is related to feeding management and occurs in animals that also have other diseases such as hypocalcaemia, ketosis and retained placenta. The disease causes economical losses in dairy cattle because of the costs with treatment, reduction of production, increase of the interval between the parturition, loss of body weight, early discard of the matrix and mortality. The most usual clinical signs are apathy, dehydration, low to serious ruminal timpanismo (gas accumulation in the abomasum) with reduction or lack of motility, liquid splash sound during the ballottement of the right flank, metallic sound to percussion, presence of a structure similar to distended viscera in the thorax or in the paralombar cavity on the side corresponding to the displacement, and liquefied, dark, scarce and fetid feces. The treatment is surgical, and the most used technique is the omentopexy on the left flank. The hidroelectrolytic correction must be performed and the concomitant diseases must be treated. The prophylaxis consists of adequate nutrition and pre-parturition management, besides reduction of stress and other diseases of the puerperium

Effect of caffeine on larval mortality of Aedes aegypti: efficiency related to solution concentration and age

In two experiments, the duration of the effect of caffeine (CAF) solutions on larval mortality (LM) of Aedes aegypti was analyzed. In the first, LM was studied using solutions at 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL aged from zero to five days in artificial breeding sites exposed to the laboratory environment (LE). In the second, the solutions aged at 1.0, 2.0 and 2.5 mg/mL closed flasks were stored in LE or in the refrigerator (R), and the effect on LM was tested in the experimental breeding sites at 30 days interval. In the first, the duration of the effect increased with the solution age in each CAF concentration. CAF at 1.0 and 2.0 mg/mL, without addition of food, produced 100% LM until 25 days after preparation; with food, at 11 and 18 days, respectively. In the second the effectiveness of CAF solutions lasted up to the seventh month, irrespective of whether they were stored in R or in LE. No adult emerged at any of the CAF concentrations used in second experiment.

Eficiência reprodutiva e comportamento parental de camundongos isogênicos e heterogênicos produzidos em ambiente modificado

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Low serum potassium levels increase the infectious-caused mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients: a propensity-matched score study

Background and ObjectivesHypokalemia has been consistently associated with high mortality rate in peritoneal dialysis. However, studies investigating if hypokalemia is acting as a surrogate marker of comorbidities or has a direct effect in the risk for mortality have not been studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of hypokalemia on overall and cause-specific mortality.Design, Setting, Participants and MeasurementsThis is an analysis of BRAZPD II, a nationwide prospective cohort study. All patients on PD for longer than 90 days with measured serum potassium levels were used to verify the association of hypokalemia with overall and cause-specific mortality using a propensity match score to reduce selection bias. In addition, competing risks were also taken into account for the analysis of cause-specific mortality.ResultsThere was a U-shaped relationship between time-averaged serum potassium and all-cause mortality of PD patients. Cardiovascular disease was the main cause of death in the normokalemic group with 133 events (41.8%) followed by PD-non related infections, n=105 (33.0%). Hypokalemia was associated with a 49% increased risk for CV mortality after adjustments for covariates and the presence of competing risks (SHR 1.49; CI95% 1.01-2.21). In contrast, in the group of patients with K < 3.5mEq/L, PD-non related infections were the main cause of death with 43 events (44.3%) followed by cardiovascular disease (n=36; 37.1%). For PD-non related infections the SHR was 2.19 (CI95% 1.52-3.14) while for peritonitis was SHR 1.09 (CI95% 0.47-2.49).ConclusionsHypokalemia had a significant impact on overall, cardiovascular and infectious mortality even after adjustments for competing risks. The causative nature of this association suggested by our study raises the need for intervention studies looking at the effect of potassium supplementation on clinical outcomes of PD patients.

Are metabolic syndrome and its components associated with 5-year mortality in chronic obstructive pupmonary disease patients?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of mortality according to the presence of metabolic syndrome in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients who were followed for 5 years. We did not establish the influence of metabolic syndrome on mortality rate. However, an increase of 100 mg of triglycerides was associated with a 39% increase in the probability of death in the period of the study (hazard ratio 1.39, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.83).

Mortality dynamics of spodoptera frugiperda (lepidoptera: noctuidae) immatures in maize

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Geometrical parameter analysis of a high-sensitivity fiber optic angular displacement sensor

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Nano-displacement measurements of a new piezoelectric flextensional actuator by using a high dynamic range interferometry homodyne method

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Associations of vitamin D deficiency with postoperative gait and mortality among patients with fractures of the proximal femur

To assess whether serum vitamin D concentration is associated with gait status and mortality among patients with fractures of the proximal femur, six months after suffering the fracture. Consecutive patients aged ≥65 years with fractures of the proximal femur, who were admitted to the orthopedics and traumatology ward of our service between January and December 2011, were prospectively evaluated. Clinical, radiological, epidemiological and laboratory analyses were performed, including vitamin D. The patients underwent surgery and were followed up as outpatients, with return visits 15, 30, 60 and 180 days after discharge, at which the outcomes of gait and mortality were evaluated. Eighty-eight patients were evaluated. Two of them were excluded because they presented oncological fractures. Thus, 86 patients of mean age 80.2 ± 7.3 years were studied. In relation to serum vitamin D, the mean was 27.8 ± 14.5 ng/mL, and 33.7% of the patients presented deficiency of this vitamin. In relation to gait, univariate and multivariate logistic regression showed that vitamin D deficiency was not associated with gait recovery, even after adjustment for gender, age and type of fracture (OR: 1.463; 95% CI: 0.524-4.088; p = 0.469). Regarding mortality, Cox regression analysis showed that vitamin D deficiency was not related to its occurrence within six months, even in multivariate analysis (HR: 0.627; 95% CI: 0.180-2.191; p = 0.465). Serum vitamin D concentration was not related to gait status and/or mortality among patients with fractures of the proximal femur, six months after suffering the fracture.

Growth and mortality parameters of Paranchurus brasiliensis (Scianidae) captured as bycatch in southeastern of Brazil

The present work provides preliminary informations on the growth and mortality of Paralonchurus brasiliensis captured as a bycatch in the inner shelf of São Paulo Southeastern Brazil. The samplings were carried out using a shrimp fishery trawl. After trawling, the specimens were separated from the other organisms and the fish size and numbers of individuals captured were recorded. A total of 5,943 specimens ranging from 3.6 to 19.9 cm in standard length were sampled.

Modeling Age-Specific Mortality For Marine Mammal Populations

A method is presented for estimating age-specific mortality based on minimal information: a model life table and an estimate of longevity. This approach uses expected patterns of mammalian survivorship to define a general model of age-specific mortality rates. One such model life table is based on data for northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) using Siler’s (1979) 5-parameter competing risk model. Alternative model life tables are based on historical data for human females and on a published model for Old World monkeys. Survival rates for a marine mammal species are then calculated by scaling these models by the longevity of that species. By using a realistic model (instead of assuming constant mortality), one can see more easily the real biological limits to population growth. The mortality estimation procedure is illustrated with examples of spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).

Infant Mortality as a Potential Measure of Community Health in Urban Growth

This document is one of a series which contains the results of research carried out during a 1969 Summer Study of Urban Decentralization at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, sponsored by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The summary of the Summer Study is contained in "An Introduction to Urban Decentralization Research," ORNL-HUD-3.