Phytoplankton diversity and strategies in regard to physical disturbances in a shallow, oligotrophic, tropical reservoir in Southeast Brazil

The IAG Lake is a small, oligotrophic, and shallow reservoir located in the Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga Biological Reserve, south of Municipality of Sao Paulo, southeast Brazil. The study of the phytoplankton community dynamics is based on samples collected along the vertical profile of the water column in the pelagic region of the reservoir (Zmax = 4.7 m), 3 times a day (7 h, 13 h, and 19 h) during 7 consecutive days of the dry period (20-26 August 1996) and of the rainy period (22- 28 January 1997), but at 5 depths during the dry period and at 4 depths during the rainy one. The relationships among species richness, diversity, evenness, and dominance were discussed within the Connell's Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH). The responses of the descriptive species in the community and C-R-S strategies were studied. The variation of the mixing zone was the main factor responsible for the changes in the community structure as well as for the maintenance of the diversity during both climate periods. The disturbance was considered of high frequency during the dry period and of intermediate frequency during the rainy one. The diversity was higher during the rainy period, confirming the IDH, at least during the present study. Peridinium gatunense Nygaard was dominant in most sample units during the dry period. During the rainy one, Chlamydomonas debaryana Goroschankin and Oocystis lacustris Chodat were the species that contributed the most. Regarding the functional groups, S-strategists dominated the dry period, differing from the rainy one, when the functional diversity was higher. In conclusion, changes in the phytoplankton community structure were well explained by Connell's IDH.El lago IAG es un embalse pequeño, oligotrófico y somero, ubicado en la Reserva Biológica del Parque Estadual das Fontes do Ipiranga, Sur de la Municipalidad de Sao Paulo, sureste del Brasil. El estudio de la dinámica de la comunidad fitoplanctónica está basado en muestras colectadas al largo del perfil vertical de la columna de agua en la región pelágica del embalse (Zmax = 4.7 m), 3 veces al día (7 h, 13 h y 19 h) durante 7 días consecutivos de los períodos seco (20-26 Agosto 1996) y húmedo (22-28 Enero 1997), pero en 5 profundidades durante el período seco y en 4 durante el húmedo. Las relaciones entre riqueza de especies, diversidad, equitabilidad y dominancia fueron discutidos dentro de la Hipótesis de Connell de la Perturbación Intermedia (HPI). Las respuestas de las especies descriptoras de la comunidad y estrategias C-R-S fueron estudiadas. La variación de la zona de mezcla fue el factor más importante en los cambios en la estructura de la comunidad así como para el mantenimiento de la diversidad durante los dos períodos climáticos. La perturbación fue considerada de frecuencia alta durante el período seco y de frecuencia intermedia durante el húmedo. La diversidad fue más alta durante el período de lluvias, confirmando la HPI, por lo menos en este estudio. Peridinium gatunense Nygaard fue dominante en la mayoría de las unidades de muestreo durante el período seco. Durante el período húmedo, Chlamydomonas debaryana Goroschankin y Oocystis lacustris Chodat fueron las especies que más contribuyeron. Considerando los grupos funcionales, los estrategas S dominaron el período seco, a diferencia del período húmedo, cuando la diversidad funcional fue más alta. Concluyendo, los cambios en la estructura de la comunidad del fitoplancton fueron bien explicados por la HPI de Connell

A protocol for developing, disseminating, and implementing a core outcome set for stress urinary incontinence.

INTRODUCTION: Randomized trials evaluating interventions for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have been using variable outcome measures, reporting a variety of outcomes. Alongside this variation across studies, outcome-reporting flaws contribute to a limited use of research to inform clinical practice. The development and use of core outcome sets (COSs) in future trials would ensure that outcomes important to different stakeholders and primarily women with SUI are reported more consistently and comprehensively. METHODS: An international steering group including healthcare professionals, researchers, and women with urinary incontinence will guide the development of this COS. Potential outcomes will be identified through comprehensive literature reviews. These outcomes will be entered into an international, multiperspective online Delphi survey. All key stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, researchers, and women with urinary incontinence, will be invited to participate. The modified Delphi method encourages stakeholder group convergence toward collective agreement, also referred as consensus, core outcomes. DISCUSSION: Dissemination and implementation of the resulting COS within an international context will be promoted and reviewed. Embedding the COS for SUI within future clinical trials, systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines could make a significant contribution to advancing the value of research in informing clinical practice, enhancing patient care and improving outcomes. The infrastructure created by developing a COS for SUI could be leveraged in other settings, for example, selecting research priorities and clinical practice guideline development

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for deep vein thrombosis

Background Ultrasound (US) has largely replaced contrast venography as the definitive diagnostic test for deep vein thrombosis (DVT). We aimed to derive a definitive estimate of the diagnostic accuracy of US for clinically suspected DVT and identify study-level factors that might predict accuracy. Methods We undertook a systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression of diagnostic cohort studies that compared US to contrast venography in patients with suspected DVT. We searched Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, Database of Reviews of Effectiveness, the ACP Journal Club, and citation lists (1966 to April 2004). Random effects meta-analysis was used to derive pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity. Random effects meta-regression was used to identify study-level covariates that predicted diagnostic performance. Results We identified 100 cohorts comparing US to venography in patients with suspected DVT. Overall sensitivity for proximal DVT (95% confidence interval) was 94.2% (93.2 to 95.0), for distal DVT was 63.5% (59.8 to 67.0), and specificity was 93.8% (93.1 to 94.4). Duplex US had pooled sensitivity of 96.5% (95.1 to 97.6) for proximal DVT, 71.2% (64.6 to 77.2) for distal DVT and specificity of 94.0% (92.8 to 95.1). Triplex US had pooled sensitivity of 96.4% (94.4 to 97.1%) for proximal DVT, 75.2% (67.7 to 81.6) for distal DVT and specificity of 94.3% (92.5 to 95.8). Compression US alone had pooled sensitivity of 93.8 % (92.0 to 95.3%) for proximal DVT, 56.8% (49.0 to 66.4) for distal DVT and specificity of 97.8% (97.0 to 98.4). Sensitivity was higher in more recently published studies and in cohorts with higher prevalence of DVT and more proximal DVT, and was lower in cohorts that reported interpretation by a radiologist. Specificity was higher in cohorts that excluded patients with previous DVT. No studies were identified that compared repeat US to venography in all patients. Repeat US appears to have a positive yield of 1.3%, with 89% of these being confirmed by venography. Conclusion Combined colour-doppler US techniques have optimal sensitivity, while compression US has optimal specificity for DVT. However, all estimates are subject to substantial unexplained heterogeneity. The role of repeat scanning is very uncertain and based upon limited data

Rhinovirus-induced basic fibroblast growth factor release mediates airway remodeling features

BACKGROUND: Human rhinoviruses, major precipitants of asthma exacerbations, induce lower airway inflammation and mediate angiogenesis. The purpose of this study was to assess the possibility that rhinoviruses may also contribute to the fibrotic component of airway remodeling. METHODS: Levels of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) mRNA and protein were measured following rhinovirus infection of bronchial epithelial cells. The profibrotic effect of epithelial products was assessed by DNA synthesis and matrix metalloproteinase activity assays. Moreover, epithelial cells were exposed to supernatants from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells, obtained from healthy donors or atopic asthmatic subjects and subsequently infected by rhinovirus and bFGF release was estimated. bFGF was also measured in respiratory secretions from atopic asthmatic patients before and during rhinovirus-induced asthma exacerbations. RESULTS: Rhinovirus epithelial infection stimulated mRNA expression and release of bFGF, the latter being positively correlated with cell death under conditions promoting rhinovirus-induced cytotoxicity. Supernatants from infected cultures induced lung fibroblast proliferation, which was inhibited by anti-bFGF antibody, and demonstrated increased matrix metalloproteinase activity. Rhinovirus-mediated bFGF release was significantly higher in an in vitro simulation of atopic asthmatic environment and, importantly, during rhinovirus-associated asthma exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS: Rhinovirus infection induces bFGF release by airway epithelium, and stimulates stroma cell proliferation contributing to airway remodeling in asthma. Repeated rhinovirus infections may promote asthma persistence, particularly in the context of atopy; prevention of such infections may influence the natural history of asthma

Ni-based bimetallic heterogeneous catalysts for energy and environmental applications

Bimetallic catalysts have attracted extensive attention for a wide range of applications in energy production and environmental remediation due to their tunable chemical/physical properties. These properties are mainly governed by a number of parameters such as compositions of the bimetallic systems, their preparation method, and their morphostructure. In this regard, numerous efforts have been made to develop “designer” bimetallic catalysts with specific nanostructures and surface properties as a result of recent advances in the area of materials chemistry. The present review highlights a detailed overview of the development of nickel-based bimetallic catalysts for energy and environmental applications. Starting from a materials science perspective in order to obtain controlled morphologies and surface properties, with a focus on the fundamental understanding of these bimetallic systems to make a correlation with their catalytic behaviors, a detailed account is provided on the utilization of these systems in the catalytic reactions related to energy production and environmental remediation. We include the entire library of nickel-based bimetallic catalysts for both chemical and electrochemical processes such as catalytic reforming, dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, electrocatalysis and many other reactions

Un estudio sobre la evaluación de libros didácticos

El libro de texto o libro didáctico ha sido utilizado como un recurso pedagógico que la mayoría de las veces define la secuencia de contenidos que se trabajan en las clases de ciencias. Por esa razón en estos últimos años ha adquirido una  gran importancia el desarrollo de criterios de evaluación de los libros de texto. Uno de los principales objetivos de este trabajo es ofrecer al profesorado un conjunto de criterios que les permita seleccionar el material didáctico que refleje claramente y se adecue al máximo posible a la realidad de su aula. En este trabajo presentamos un análisis comparativo inicial entre los libros de texto de conocimiento del medio de primaria españoles y de ciencias de la enseñanza fundamental brasileños. Inicialmente se diseñó una ficha de evaluación preliminar con 88 ítems, distribuidos en 6 categorías diferentes lo que permitió un análisis preliminar de los libros didácticos de ciencias españoles y brasileños. Se seleccionaron para el estudio los libros de texto más utilizados en los dos países y realizamos un análisis comparativo, basados en los criterios preliminares presentados en la ficha, con la finalidad de determinar el tratamiento que se daba a los contenidos relacionados con la salud. Evaluamos la utilización de la ficha como instrumento de análisis y determinamos un conjunto de criterios que pueden ser usados como indicadores en la evaluación de los contenidos de salud en los libros de texto de ciencias o conocimiento del medio de ambos países. Uno de  los resultados preliminares, nos muestra que la ficha de evaluación, a pesar de su extensión y presentar un amplio número de criterios, no tiene la función de establecer una clara diferenciación entre las obras analizadas. En estos libros se ha podido apreciar de manera clara la influencia de las directrices curriculares nacionales, los Parâmetros Curriculares Nacionales (PCN), en Brasil, y los Diseños Curriculares Base, en España. Estos definen entre otros aspectos el formato y la selección de contenidos que son seguidos por los diferentes autores y editoriales. Ambas directrices son orientaciones definidas por los Ministerios de Educación de cada país y que recomiendan, pero sin la fuerza de las leyes, la selección de contenidos, los principios psico-pedagógicos y las metodologías usadas en los libros didácticos de ciencia

A malacological survey in the Manso Power Plant, State of Mato Grosso, Brazil: new records of freshwater snails, including transmitters of schistosomiasis and exotic species

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease of public health concern in Brazil, and the construction of hydroelectric dams, in addition to increasing permanent human settlement and tourism, has created conditions suitable for the establishment of mollusks that can transmit schistosomiasis. Such areas require a number of actions to prevent the establishment of schistosomiasis. This paper reports on a freshwater malacological survey carried out in the geographical area of the Manso Power Plant. Methods: Mollusks were collected in 18 municipalities in the State of Mato Grosso between February 2002 and February 2004 (qualitative study) and from April 2009 to February 2011 (quantitative study). Results: Thirty-one species of mollusks were collected, including newly recorded species (Antillorbis nordestensis and Burnupia ingae). In addition, the geographic distributions of known species, including Biomphalaria straminea, a snail vector of Schistosoma mansoni, were expanded. A total of 4,507 specimens were collected in the APM Manso reservoir (Usina Hidrelétrica de Aproveitamento Múltiplo de Manso) during the quantitative study, and Biomphalaria amazonica was found in six of the 10 localities analyzed. The Afroasiatic species Melanoides tuberculata, introduced after February 2009, was the dominant species (relative abundance 94.96%). Conclusions: The study area is epidemiologically important due to the occurrence of B. straminea and B. amazonica, which are vectors of schistosomiasis, and M. tuberculata, a snail host of Centrocestus formosanus, which is responsible for centrocestiasis transmission. Observations of M. tuberculata and the exotic freshwater clams Corbicula fluminea and Corbicula largillierti raise concerns about biodiversity