Distribution of Atta (Hymenoptera - Formicidae) in "terra-firme" rain forest of Central Amazonia: density, species composition and preliminary results on effects of forest fragmentation

One hundred and fourteen hectares of a "terra-fiirme" rain forest 70 km north of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, were surveyed for leaf-cutting ant colonies (Atta spp). One half of this area was in isolated forest fragments (surrounded by pastures or second growth) of two sizes: 1 and 10 ha. The other half was in non-isolated fragments (connected to a large parch of forest) of the same sizes. Only two species occured in this forest: Atta sexdens sexdens L. and A. cepfhalotes L. The first was the most abundant species with a mean density of 0.35 colonies per ha. The mean density of A. cephalotes colonies was 0.03 per ha. The density of colonies was not significantly different between the isolated fragments and the continuous forest. Furthermore, the species composition did not change with isolation. However, pre-isolation data and long term monitoring are necessary to conclude that the isolation of a forest fragment has no effect upon Atta colonies. The non-uniform spatial distribution of Atta colonics within the "terra-firme" forest must be taken into account when selecting conservation areas in the Amazon, in order to preserve this important group of ants together with their native habitat.

VARIA����O SAZONAL DE SULFATO, ENXOFRE TOTAL E MAT��RIA ORG��NICA NO G��NERO HUMIRIANTHERA,EM FUN����O DA IDADE

No per��odo de janeiro a dezembro de 1986 foram coletados 28 (v��nte e oito) esp��cimens de H. ampla e 09 (nove) de H. rupestris, nas idades adulta e jovem, para determina����o dos teores de S04~ e S-total em folha, caule, tub��rcolo e no solo onde as mesmas se desenvolveram. Em H. ampla o teor de 504~ variou de 0,22-0,78% e em H. rupestris de 0,22-1,30%. O teor de 5 em H. ampla variou de 0,74-0,96% e em H. rupestris de 0,75-1,02%. O teor de S04~em H. ampla obedece a rela����o folha>tub��rculo>caule independente da ��poca e idade fisiol��gica, enquanto em H. rupestris a rela����o �� tub��rculo>folha>caule. 0 S apresenta um comportamento diferente, mantendo a rela����o tub��rculo>caule>folha para H. ampla e tub��rculo>folha>caule para H. rupestris. No solo onde H. ampla se desenvolveu n��o se observou varia����o do teor de S04~(0,52%) enquanto para H. rupestris a varia����o foi de 0,27-0,63% sendo maiores na ��poca chuvosa. Devido a interrela����o vegeta����o-solo analisou-se os teores de C-org��nico no material vegetal e no solo.

A cost study of common surface finish systems for steel structures

This paper presents part of a study aimed at ���nding a suitable, yet cost-effective, surface ���nish for a steel structure subject to the car washing environment and corrosive chemicals. The initial, life cycle and average equivalent annual (AEAC) costs for surface ���nishing methods were calculated for a steel structure using the LCCC algorithm developed by American Galvanizers Association (AGA). The cost study consisted of 45 common surface ���nish systems including: hot-dip galvanization (HDG), metallization, acrylic, alkyd and epoxy as well as duplex coatings such as epoxy zinc and inorganic zinc (IOZ). The results show that initial, life cycle and AEAC costs for hot dip galvanization are the lowest among all the other methods, followed by coal tar epoxy painting. The annual average cost of HDG for this structure was estimated about ���0.22/m2, while the other cost-effective alternatives were: IOZ, polyurea, epoxy waterborne and IOZ/epoxy duplex coating.

Observation and measurement of Higgs boson decays to WW��� with the ATLAS detector

We report the observation of Higgs boson decays to WW��� based on an excess over background of 6.1 standard deviations in the dilepton final state, where the Standard Model expectation is 5.8 standard deviations. Evidence for the vector-boson fusion (VBF) production process is obtained with a significance of 3.2 standard deviations. The results are obtained from a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 25 pb���1 from s���=7 and 8 TeV pp collisions recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. For a Higgs boson mass of 125.36 GeV, the ratio of the measured value to the expected value of the total production cross section times branching fraction is 1.09+0.16���0.15 (stat.)+0.17���0.14 (syst.). The corresponding ratios for the gluon fusion and vector-boson fusion production mechanisms are 1.02��0.19 (stat.)+0.22���0.18 (syst.) and 1.27+0.44���0.40 (stat.)+0.30���0.21 (syst.), respectively. At s���=8 TeV, the total production cross sections are measured to be ��(gg��� H���WW���)=4.6��0.9(stat.)+0.8���0.7(syst.)pb and ��(VBF H���WW���)=0.51+0.17���0.15(stat.)+0.13���0.08(syst.)pb. The fiducial cross section is determined for the gluon-fusion process in exclusive final states with zero or one associated jet.

Influence of climate on clinical diagnostic dry eye tests: pilot study

Purpose. To analyze dry eye disease (DED) tests and their consistency in similar nonsymptomatic population samples living in two geographic locations with different climates (Continental vs. Atlantic). Methods. This is a pilot study including 14 nonsymptomatic residents from Valladolid (Continental climate, Spain) and 14 sex-matched and similarly aged residents from Braga (Atlantic climate, Portugal); they were assessed during the same season (spring) of two consecutive years. Phenol red thread test, conjunctival hyperemia, fluorescein tear breakup time, corneal and conjunctival staining, and Schirmer test were evaluated on three different consecutive visits. Reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and weighted kappa (J) coefficient for quantitative and ordinal variables, respectively. Results. Fourteen subjects were recruited in each city with a mean (TSD) age of 63.0 (T1.7) and 59.1 (T0.9) years (p = 0.08) in Valladolid and Braga, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficient and J values of the tests performed were below 0.69 and 0.61, respectively, for both samples, thus showing moderate to poor reliability. Subsequently, comparisons were made between the results corresponding to the middle and higher outdoor relative humidity (RH) visit in each location as there were no differences in mean temperature (p Q 0.75) despite RH values significantly differing (p e 0.005). Significant (p e 0.05) differences were observed between Valladolid and Braga samples on tear breakup time (middle RH visit, 2.76 T 0.60 vs. 5.26 T 0.64 seconds; higher RH visit, 2.61 T 0.32 vs. 5.78 T 0.88 seconds) and corneal (middle RH, 0.64 T 0.17 vs. 0.14 T 0.10; higher RH, 0.60 T 0.22 vs. 0.0 T 0.0) and conjunctival staining (middle RH, 0.61 T 0.17 vs. 0.14 T 0.08; higher RH, 0.57 T 0.15 vs. 0.18 T 0.09). Conclusions. This pilot study provides initial evidence to support that DED test outcomes assessing the ocular surface integrity and tear stability are climate dependent. Future large-sample studies should support these outcomes also in DED patients. This knowledge is fundamental for multicenter clinical trials. Lack of consistency in diagnostic clinical tests for DED was also corroborated. (Optom Vis Sci 2015;92:e284Ye289)

Incremento, ingresso e mortalidade em uma floresta de contato ombr��fila aberta/estacional em Marcel��ndia, Estado do Mato Grosso

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo estudar o incremento em di��metro, ��rea basal e volume, o ingresso e a mortalidade de uma floresta ombr��fila aberta/estacional no munic��pio de Marcel��ndia. Os dados s��o provenientes de 69 parcelas permanentes instaladas e medidas em 2001 e remedidas em 2003 e 2007. Foram avaliados o n��mero de indiv��duos e os incrementos em di��metro, ��rea basal e volume para o per��odo de 2001 a 2007. O ingresso foi determinado como sendo as ��rvores que atingiram ou ultrapassaram o di��metro de 17 cm. A mortalidade foi calculada pela soma de todas as ��rvores com di��metro igual ou superior a 17 cm encontradas mortas em cada medi����o. No per��odo considerado de seis anos, teve como resultado para o incremento em di��metro, ��rea basal e volume respectivamente, 0,34 cm; 0,22 m��.ha-1 e 2,11 m��.ha-1. Os valores m��dios para as taxas de mortalidade e ingresso foram, respectivamente, 0,78% e 0,30%.

Morcegos (Mammalia: Chiroptera) da regi��o do M��dio Rio Teles Pires, Sul da Amaz��nia, Brasil

A Amazônia é a maior floresta tropical do mundo e pelo menos 147 espécies de morcegos ocorrem neste ambiente. A despeito desta grande riqueza, a diversidade de morcegos da Amazônia é pobremente conhecida e existem grandes lacunas neste conhecimento. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi descrever a assembleia de morcegos ocorrentes na região do Médio Teles Pires (MTP), no sul da Amazônia. Além disso, avaliou-se a similaridade dessa assembleia em relação a 14 assembleias estudadas em outras localidades amazônicas e avaliou-se a correlação entre as similaridades destas localidades e suas distâncias. Trinta e três espécies de morcegos foram registradas, representando 71% das espécies estimadas (Jackknife2). As três espécies com maior abundância relativa foram: Carollia perspicillata, Pteronotus parnellii e Phyllostomus hastatus que somadas contam com mais de 50% das capturas. O grupo funcional dos frugívoros obteve o maior número de espécies capturadas. Foi encontrada uma correlação negativa entre as distâncias e as similaridades das assembleias de morcegos amazônicos (r = -0,22; p = 0,014). A distância geográfica pode explicar apenas 6% da similaridade entre as assembleias analisadas, ainda assim, as similaridades destas assembleias permitem que as mesmas sejam agrupadas por suas distâncias geográficas. Além disso, a fauna de morcegos do MTP é diferenciada de outras áreas da Amazônia o que lhe confere um papel especial na conservação dos morcegos amazônicos

Tratamento medicamentoso da insufici��ncia card��aca em hospital terci��rio de S��o Paulo

OBJETIVO: Verificar como s��o tratados pacientes com insufici��ncia card��aca (IC) em hospital terci��rio de S��o Paulo. M��TODOS: Analisados 100 pacientes com IC, em tratamento ambulatorial, com idade m��dia de 56,8 anos, sendo 76 homens. Todos realizaram estudo ecocardiogr��fico, que identificou di��metros ventriculares entre 48 e 89mm (m��dia 65,9) e fra����o de eje����o (FE) entre 0,22 e 0,59 (m��dia 0,43). A etiologia da disfun����o ventricular (DV) foi isqu��mica em 42 casos, cardiomiopatia dilatada em 28, secund��ria �� valvopatia em 12, doen��a de Chagas em 10 e cardiomiopatia hipertensiva em 8. Analisou-se a terap��utica prescrita, se continha inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina (IECA) e qual a sua dosagem. Foi analisado, tamb��m, se a etiologia ou o grau de DV tinha influ��ncia na prescri����o. RESULTADOS: Oitenta e sete pacientes receberam IECA, sendo que em 31 a dose foi inferior �� preconizada nos grandes estudos. Digoxina foi prescrita em 69 casos, diur��ticos em 85 e ��cido acetilsalic��lico em 33. Dividindo os pacientes em dois grupos, com FE maior e menor que 0,45, observamos que, no ��ltimo, foi maior a prescri����o de IECA (91,5% vs 80,4%) e maior o uso de doses adequadas (61% vs 48,7%). CONCLUS��O: A maioria dos pacientes foi tratada conforme recomenda����es atuais, apresentando boa tolerabilidade para IECA, contudo 1/3 deles n��o usou IECA em dose considerada adequada. Esquemas terap��uticos com betabloqueadores e inibidores da angiotensina II n��o fizeram parte da pr��tica cl��nica rotineira.

Monitoriza����o residencial da press��o arterial e monitoriza����o ambulatorial da press��o arterial versus medida de press��o arterial no consult��rio

OBJETIVOS: Comparar a monitoriza����o residencial da press��o arterial (MRPA) e monitoriza����o ambulatorial da press��o arterial (MAPA) com os registros de consult��rio e correlacionar o ��ndice de massa de ventr��culo esquerdo (IMVE) com a MRPA e medida de consult��rio. M��TODOS: Protocolo 1 - Sessenta e oito hipertensos (58��12 anos, 37 mulheres) realizaram: a) MRPA durante 7 dias; b) MAPA de 24h; e c) medida da press��o arterial no consult��rio, pelo m��dico. Protocolo 2 - 41 hipertensos (48 �� 14 anos, 25 mulheres) al��m de MRPA e medida no consult��rio, realizaram ecocardiograma bi-dimensional. RESULTADOS: Protocolo 1 - a medida de consult��rio (153��24/96��13mmHg) foi maior (p<0,05) do que a obtida pela MAPA diurna (137��17/87��12mmHg) e pela MRPA (133��18/84��12mmHg). Protocolo 2 - o IMVE mostrou correla����o com as m��dias de press��o sist��lica/diast��lica da MRPA (r= 0,39/0,49, p<0,05) mas n��o com as de consult��rio (r= 0,02/0,22, p>0,05). CONCLUS��O: A MRPA apresentou valores menores do que a medida de consult��rio e semelhantes aos da MAPA, al��m de melhor correla����o com IMVE do que a medida de consult��rio.

Influence of chitosan coating on protein-based nanohydrogels properties and in vitro gastric digestibility

Chitosan coating was applied in Lactoferrin (Lf)-Glycomacropeptide (GMP) nanohydrogels by layer-by-layer coating process. A volume ratio of 0.1 of Lf-GMP nanohydrogels (0.2 mg.mL-1, at pH 5.0) to chitosan (1 mg.mL-1, at pH 3) demonstrated to be the optimal condition to obtain stable nanohydrogels with size of 230 �� 12 nm, a PdI of 0.22 �� 0.02 and a -potential of 30.0 �� 0.15 mV. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the application of chitosan coating in Lf-GMP did not affect the spherical shape of nanohydrogels and confirmed the low aggregation of nanohydrogels in solution. The analysis of chemical interactions between chitosan and Lf-GMP nanohydrogels were performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and by circular dichroism (CD) that revealed that a specific chemical interaction occurring between functional groups of protein-based nanohydrogels and active groups of the chitosan was established. The effect of chitosan coating on release mechanisms of Lf-GMP nanohydrogels at acid conditions (pH 2, 37 ��C) was evaluated by the encapsulation of a model compound (caffeine) in these systems. Linear Superposition Model was used to fit the experimental data and revealed that Fick and relaxation mechanisms are involved in caffeine release. It was also observed that the Fick contribution increase with the application of chitosan coating. In vitro gastric digestion was performed with Lf-GMP nanohydrogels and Lf-GMP nanohydrogels with chitosan coating and it was observed that the presence of chitosan improve the stability of Lf and GMP (proteins were hydrolysed at a slower rate and were present in solution by longer time). Native electrophoreses revealed that the nanohydrogels without coating remained intact in solution until 15 min and with chitosan coating remained intact until 60 min, during gastric digestion.

Short-term follow-up of patients after aneurysmectomy of the left ventricle

OBJECTIVE: Left ventricular aneurysm is a complication of myocardial infarction that can best be treated by reconstructive surgeries that can restore ventricular geometry. We analyzed immediate results in a group of consecutive patients who underwent surgical correction of left ventricular aneurysms. METHODS: From January '90 to August '99, 94 patients - mean age 58.4 (ranging from 36 to 73 years), 65 (69.1%) males and 9 ( 30.8%) females - were operated upon. Pre-operative ejection fraction ranged from 0.22 to 0.58 (mean = 0.52), and the aneurysm was located in the antero-lateral area in 90.4% of the cases. Functional class III and IV (NYHA) was present in 82 (87.2%) patients, and 12 (12.7%) were in functional class I and II. Congestive heart failure was the most frequent cause (77.6%), occurring in isolation in 24.4% or associated with coronary artery diseases in 53.2%. RESULTS: Short-term follow-up showed a 7.4% mortality, and low cardiac output was the main cause of death. Coming off pump was uneventful in 73 patients (77.6%), with a 3.2% mortality and with the use of inotropics in 20 (21.3%). One patient (1%) did not come off the pump. CONCLUSION: Surgical correction was adequate in the immediate follow-up of operated patients, and mortality was higher in patients with higher functional class.

The use of abciximab associated with primary angioplasty for treating acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefit resulting from the use of abciximab associated with primary angioplasty. The following parameters were analyzed in-hospital, at 30 days, and 6 months: (a) flow in the culprit artery; (b) ventricular function; (c) combined outcome of death, acute myocardial infarction, and aditional revascularization. METHODS: From November 1997 to June 1999, a longitudinal nonrandomized study with historical data of 137 patients with acute myocardial infarction within the first 12 hours. Patients undergoing primary angioplasty and were divided into 2 groups: those receiving (A) abciximab (26) or (B) conventional therapy (111). TIMI flow and regional ventricular function estimated by the standard deviation (SD)/chordis index were analyzed. RESULTS: At the end of angioplasty, TIMI 3 flow was observed in 76.9% and 83.8% of the patients in groups A and B, respectively (P=0.58). In the reevaluation, patients with TIMI flow <3 showed a 100% improvement in group A and a 33% in group B (P<0.0001). A significant improvement (P<0.0001) in regional ventricular function, by SD/chordis index, occurred in each group; no significant difference between groups however, was observed (29.9% x 20.2%; P=0.58). A nonsignificant reduction in the combined outcome in the in-hospital phase (3.85% A x 9.0% B; P=0.34) and on the 30th day (4.0% x 12.0%; P=0.22) was observed in group A. CONCLUSION: Abciximab improved blood flow. Primary angioplasty improved regional ventricular function independent of antithrombotic therapy. Abciximab showed a trend toward reducing the combined outcome in the in-hospital phase and on the 30th day.

Analysis of the Association Between Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in an Elderly Population with Longevity

OBJECTIVE: To establish the allelic and genotypic frequencies related to apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphism and association of the genotypes with risk factors and cardiovascular morbidity in an elderly population with longevity. METHODS: We analyzed 70 elderly patients aged 80 years or more who were part of the Projeto Veran��polis. We used the gene amplification technique through the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and cleavage with the restriction enzyme Hha I to identify the ApoE genotypes. The most frequent genotypes were compared considering biological variables and cardiovascular risks and morbidity. RESULTS: The frequencies of the E2, E3, and E4 alleles were 0.05, 0.84, and 0.11, respectively, and of the genotypes were as follows: E3E3 (0.70), E3E4 (0.22), E2E3 (0.06), and E2E2 (0.02). Individuals with the E3E4 had a mean age greater than those with the E3E3. No association was observed between the genotypes and the variables analyzed, except for obesity, which was associated with the E3E3 genotype. Individuals with the E3E4 genotype had high levels of LDL-cholesterol and fibrinogen as compared with those with the E3E3 genotype. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the E4E4 genotype may be associated with early mortality. A balance between the protective or neutral factors and the cardiovascular risk factors may occur among the individuals with different genotypes, attenuating the negative effects of the E4 allele.

Characterization of the in vivo cardiac electrophysiologic effects of high-dose cocaine in closed-chest, anesthetized dogs with normal hearts

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the cardiac electrophysiologic effects of cocaine. METHODS: In 8 dogs (9-13 kg), electrophysiologic parameters and programmed stimulation were undertaken using transvenous catheters at baseline, and after cocaine intravenous infusion (12 mg/kg bolus followed by 0.22 mg/kg/min for 25 minutes). RESULTS: Cocaine plasma levels (n=5) rose to 6.73�� 0.56 mg/mL. Cocaine did not affect sinus cycle length and arterial pressure. Cocaine prolonged P wave duration (54��6 vs 73��4 ms, P<0.001), PR interval (115��17 vs 164��15 ms, P<0.001), QRS duration (62��10 vs 88��14 ms, P<0.001), and QTc interval (344��28 vs 403��62 ms, P=0.03) but not JT interval (193��35 vs 226��53 ms, NS). Cocaine prolonged PA (9��6 vs 23��8 ms, P<0.001), AH (73��16 vs 92��15 ms; P=0.03), and HV (35��5 vs 45��3ms; P<0.001) intervals and Wenckebach point (247��26 vs 280��28 ms, P=0.04). An increase occurred in atrial (138��8 vs 184�� 20 ms; P<0.001) and ventricular (160��15 vs 187��25 ms; P=0.03) refractoriness at a cycle length of 300 ms. Atrial arrhythmias were not induced in any dog. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced in 2/8 dogs at baseline and 4/8 dogs after cocaine. CONCLUSION: High doses of cocaine exert significant class I effects and seem to enhance inducibility of VF but not of atrial arrhythmias.

Avalia����o da fun����o auton��mica na cardiomiopatia hipertr��fica

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a fun����o auton��mica na cardiomiopatia hipertr��fica (CMH) atrav��s da variabilidade da freq����ncia card��aca (VFC) e correlacion��-la com dados ecocardiogr��ficos. M��TODOS: Foram estudados 2 grupos pareados por sexo, idade e freq����ncia card��aca: A) 10 pacientes com CMH septal (70% n��o obstrutiva); B) 10 volunt��rios saud��veis. A VFC foi analisada durante quatro est��gios sucessivos: repouso, respira����o controlada, teste de inclina����o e respira����o controlada associada ao teste de inclina����o. Compararam-se as m��dias das vari��veis entre os grupos, intragrupos durante os est��gios, e no grupo A, correlacionando com as medidas ecocardiogr��ficas (septo interventricular e di��metro atrial esquerdo). RESULTADOS: N��o observamos diferen��a na VFC entre os grupos nos 3 primeiros est��gios. No 4�� est��gio, constatamos que medidas de atividade vagal apresentaram valores maiores no grupo A [logaritmo da raiz m��dia quadr��tica das diferen��as entre intervalos RR (LogRMSSD) - 1,35&plusmn;0,14 vs 1,17&plusmn;0,16; p=0,019; logaritmo do componente alta freq����ncia (LogAF)-4,89&plusmn;0,22 vs 4,62&plusmn;0,26; p=0,032]. Durante os est��gios, tamb��m verificamos que medidas vagais [propor����o de pares de intervalos RR consecutivos cuja diferen��a > 50ms (pNN50) e LogAF] apresentaram menor redu����o durante o 3�� est��gio no grupo A, e o LogAF, um aumento no ��ltimo est��gio (p=0,027), indicando marcante atividade parassimp��tica neste grupo. A an��lise da VFC do grupo A n��o revelou diferen��a entre pacientes com maior hipertrofia ou di��metro atrial. CONCLUS��O: 1) ocorreu predom��nio parassimp��tico durante estimula����o auton��mica nos pacientes com CMH; 2) n��o encontramos correla����o entre VFC e as medidas ecocardiogr��ficas analisadas.