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Unraveling the spatial distribution and the factors that modulate biodiversity can help us better understand community dynamics and ecosystem functioning. Here, we tested the hypothesis that taxonomic diversity (TD), functional diversity (FD), and phylogenetic diversity (PD) follow a latitudinal trend driven by environmental factors, and investigated the associations among these metrics in mangrove crabs (11 species in the Ocypodidae family) of the Southwestern Atlantic (7,000 km along the Brazilian coast). Based on occurrence data, species traits, and phylogenetic information, we calculated diversity indices (TD, FD and PD) for 3° grid cells (latitude/longitude, approx. 333 km edge length) along the coast of Brazil. We built models to investigate whether latitude and nine environmental factors influence taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic indices of mangrove crabs in the Southwestern Atlantic. We also investigated the correlation among diversity indices TD × FD × PD. We observed a congruence in the latitudinal patterns of TD, FD, and PD of mangrove crabs along the Southwestern Atlantic. Specifically, we observed that all indices have higher values at intermediate latitudes, which are congruent to habitat transition zones along the Southwestern Atlantic coast. Our results also showed that air temperature, chlorophyll, and nitrate concentration are the main environmental factors that influence taxonomic, functional and phylogenetic diversity of mangrove crabs in this region. When analyzing the correlation between indices, our results suggest that targeting conservation efforts towards one specific diversity component can lead to preserving other types of diversity, at least considering our system and the set of species analyzed. This study highlights the usage of multiple metrics to unveil large-scale biodiversity patterns in one of the most abundant groups in mangrove forests, the crabs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aims to measure the effects of moderation by age and income in mobile payment systems' intended use as predictors of performance expectation, effort expectation, social influence, risk and perceived costs. Design/methodology/approach: This study is based on a survey that generated a sample of 1,742 Brazilian users that responded to the measurement scale. The research data were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation model. Findings: All proposed latent variables were significant, with income positively moderating the performance expectation and negatively moderating the perceived cost and perceived risk. In addition, age positively moderates performance expectation and negatively moderates cost perception. Originality/value: The findings evolved previous literature by understanding moderating effects that make it possible for companies operating in mobile payments to generate segmented communication and engagement plans for users of different income and age brackets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The migratory behavior of freshwater shrimps may be affected by natural barriers in limnetic environments. This study evaluated the river areas separated by natural barriers, such as waterfalls, which affect the amphidromous shrimps' (Potimirim brasiliana) population features and reproductive aspects. Results indicate that in the Félix and Prumirim Rivers from southeastern Brazil shrimps show few differences in sampling areas, and these differences may not be causally related to the waterfalls. This is demonstrated by the absence of a pattern in the size and sex ratio in each area and the absence of a significant difference in most reproductive aspects. The presence of juveniles and reproductive individuals in all sampling areas strongly indicates a constant migration along them in both rivers, indicating that all individuals evaluated correspond to one single patchy population structure for each river. This migration conducted by P. brasiliana , such as its crawling behavior, demonstrated that it would be important to maintain the minimum number of individuals flowing between the different river sampling areas in this shrimp group. Thus, based on a helpful model observed in P. brasiliana , the results help us understand how natural barriers may affect the populations of amphidromous shrimp and how the migration behavior up- and downstream can help sustain the population. This premise can help future construction decisions and impacts of unnatural barriers, such as dams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To access the sources of air pollutants is crucial to control atmospheric pollution in urban areas, minimizing human exposure. Particulate matter is a pollutant of great concern making its chemical and morpho-structural characterization of enormous importance. The present work aims at the characterization of atmospheric PM10 and PM2.5. Data of the aerosol mass concentration was correlated by multivariate analysis with water-soluble ion fraction composition accessed by ion chromatography (IC), as well as with meteorological information and air mass backward trajectories. The gravimetric analysis presented average values 3 to 4 times higher than the guide values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). A morpho-structural analysis by SEM/FEG coupled to EDS was also carried out identifying the coarse fraction elements from minerals and from soil resuspension organic spherical particles that originated from combustion processes as well as Ti, associated with long-distance transportation. In the fine fraction, Zn with origin probably in tires and vehicle brakes was found. These origins were confirmed by the air masses' backward trajectories obtained by the HYSPLIT model (NOAA). This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex composition of the particulate material in the atmosphere of Araraquara City, resulting from the combination of local and long-distance sources, and serves as a basis for the comparison with future studies related to the air quality at this and other regions in Brazil and in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of studying the atmospheric pollution due to its effects on human health and other ecosystems, the inexistence of national production of equipment for air sample collection, and the high cost of the imported equipment (especially in developing countries) led the authors of the present work to construct a low-cost Gent type sampler. The construction of the sampler was carried out by combining low-cost materials with good mechanical strength (such as nylon 6.0), hydraulic piping PVC, and the use of a 3D printer. The innovation of the present work is the employment of a 3D printer using ABS polymer to create the grids that cannot be machined. In addition to the sampler, the system is composed of a vacuum pump, a gas meter, and a rotameter. The total cost of the sampling system amounted at about 1200 USD, and the cost of the manufactured Gent type sampler did not reach 100 USD. The results obtained while using this set for sampling atmospheric aerosol for a period of 11 months were compared with the mass concentration of PM10 obtained from the official environmental company, CETESB of São Paulo State, Brazil, showing good correlation with those from CETESB — which confirmed its effectiveness and suitability for use. The low cost, easy operation, and versatility of the built Gent type sampler enable its use for scientific and academic purposes. The equipment can be useful in environmental monitoring networks, in low-income regions, and as an instrument for environmental education used in universities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Recent molecular analyses characterized the freshwater crab Trichodactylus fluviatilis as a species complex. Considering this new scenario, studies about the population features are fundamental to understanding the biology of species belongs to this complex. We investigated the population from southeastern Brazil identify as Trichodactylus cf. fluviatilis, testing the hypotheses that sex ratio differs from the expected 1:1, and that the species shows sexual dimorphism in size, weaponry and body weight. The reproductive period and handedness were also investigated. Population features were determined based on the size-frequency distribution, gonadal development and sex ratio. Sexual dimorphism was analysed comparing the average size and the allometric coefficient. Handedness was verified according to the proportion of right and left chelipeds. Sex ratio skewed towards males and the reproduction was continuous. The sexual dimorphism in T. cf. fluviatilis was found in structures related to weaponry and reproduction. In weaponry, sexual dimorphism was demonstrated by robust chelipeds and high allometric values in males. In females, a high allometric was recorded to the abdomen, structure directly related to reproduction. The right-handedness was observed to the species. All these results contribute to a better understanding of the species' life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is a major cosmopolitan pest and comprises a complex of more than 36 cryptic species that cause serious damage to agricultural crops worldwide. In this study, the Mediterranean species of B. tabaci, formerly known as Q biotype, was identified for the first time in Brazil. RESULTS Adult B. tabaci were collected from different localities and hosts from Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of the country that borders Uruguay and Argentina. Partial sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I ( mtCOI) gene indicated that B. tabaci MED species appears to be restricted to the province of Barra do Quaraí, infesting Capsicum annuum cultivated in greenhouses and Ipomoea batatas in open fields. The partial mtCOI sequences obtained shared 100% nucleotide identity with reference sequences for the Q biotype reported from Uruguay. The secondary endosymbionts Hamiltonella and Cardinium were detected by PCR in the new identified MED species from Brazil, similarly to the Q biotype from Uruguay. CONCLUSION Our results indicate the presence of the MED species in Brazil. The close monitoring of this new identified species in the southern region of Brazil is essential to avoid its geographical expansion to more important agricultural areas in the country. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The striped-legged hermit crab Clibanarius vittatus, with a geographical distribution covering a wide range of latitudes in the western Atlantic, was selected for a comparative study on population features between two different areas of the Brazilian coast that are separated by approximately 3000 km. The two populations were sampled concurrently for nine months. The populations in northern and southeastern Brazil showed different profiles in terms of size of specimens, sex ratio, and shell occupation. The observed plasticity of these life-cycle traits of C. vittatus in relation to local environmental conditions is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates the gastropod shell availability and utilization by the hermit crab in Anchieta Island, Brazil. Number of shells occupied by crabs and with live gastropods; Identification of the shells of Cerithium atratum and Morula nodulosa as the most occupied by the hermit crab; Morphometric relation between hermits and their shells.

To investigate the reproductive biology of Callinectes ornatus gonadal and moulting cycles were studied over two consecutive years in the Ubatuba region. Six stages of gonadal development were detected in females and four in males. Observations on the number of ovigerous females, on the moulting stages of males and females, and on the percentage of individuals exhibiting mature gonads reveal a continuous reproductive cycle, the stages of which progress at different rates. These data support the hypothesis that C. ornatus shows staggered spawning, with possibly more than one annual reproductive period. A pause in growth before the terminal moult may occur in this species. L'evolution des gonades et des cycles de mues a ete etudiee chez Callinectes ornatus, pendant deux ans, dans la region de Ubatuba, Bresil, afin de mieux connaitre la biologie de la reproduction de cette espece. Six stades dans le developpement des gonades ont ete observes chez les femelles et quatre chez les males. L'observation du nombre de femelles ovigeres, des stades de mue des males et des femelles et du pourcentage d'individus sexuellement murs, montre que la reproduction a lieu toute l'annee. Ceci appuie l'hypothese selon laquelle les Portunidae femelles ont une ponte echelonnee, avec probablement plus d'une periode reproductive dans l'annee. Une pause de croissance avant la mue terminale peut exister. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses Total Quality Management (TQM) in Brazil, focusing on Taylorism and the practical implementation of total quality programs. Information on TQM; Implication of TQM on the managerial field in Brazil; Details on Taylorism; Application on quality programs in Brazil.

Species of the family Pinnotheridae constitute an ideal group for morphometric studies due to their complex morphological adaptations. These adaptations respond to the selective pressure of a symbiotic life style. This study describes the relative growth and morphometric features of the symbiotic pea crab Austinixa aidae (associated with the ghost shrimp Callichirus major), from the sandy beaches in the southwest Atlantic, Brazil. Significant differences were detected in the biometric proportions, particularly the chelar propodus length and carapace width, of each sex. These dimensions were also related to the size at which the individuals reached morphological sexual maturity (5.1 mm of carapace width for both sexes). Males and females were 2.4 times wider than long, which corresponds to the principal adaptation developed by Austinixa species to live in cryptic environments. Moreover, juveniles were proportionally more rounded. The changes in the biometric proportions of carapace length and width of A. aidae were more pronounced in males and females, adaptations that facilitate roaming within the galleries of their hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Refractory cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with high mortality rates, and the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) as a therapeutic option has generated discussions. Therefore, its cost-effectiveness, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Brazil, remains uncertain.Objectives: To conduct a cost-utility analysis from the Brazilian Unified Health System perspective to assess the cost-effectiveness of VA-ECMO combined with standard care compared to standard care alone in adult refractory CS patients., Methods: We followed a cohort of refractory CS patients treated with VA-ECMO in tertiary care centers located in Southern Brazilian. We collected data on hospital outcomes and costs. We conducted a systematic review to supplement our data and utilized a Markov model to estimate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) and per life-year gained., Results: In the base-case analysis, VA-ECMO yielded an ICER of Int$ 37,491 per QALY. Sensitivity analyses identified hospitalization cost, relative risk of survival, and VA-ECMO group survival as key drivers of results. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis favored VA-ECMO, with a 78% probability of cost-effectiveness at the recommended willingness-to-pay threshold., Conclusions: Our study suggests that, within the Brazilian Health System framework, VA-ECMO may be a cost-effective therapy for refractory CS. However, limited efficacy data and recent trials questioning its benefit in specific patient subsets highlight the need for further research. Rigorous clinical trials, encompassing diverse patient profiles, are essential to confirm cost-effectiveness and ensure equitable access to advanced medical interventions within healthcare systems, particularly in socio-economically diverse countries like Brazil.

Background: The long-term impact of hospitalization for COVID-19 on patients' physical, mental, and cognitive health still needs further assessment., Objectives: This study aims to evaluate factors associated with quality of life and cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes 12 months after hospitalization for COVID-19., Methods: This prospective multicenter study intends to enroll 611 patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 (NCT05165979). Centralized telephone interviews are scheduled to occur at three, six, nine, and 12 months after hospital discharge. The primary endpoint is defined as the health-related quality-of-life utility score assessed by the EuroQol-5D-3L (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire at 12 months. Secondary endpoints are defined as the EQ-5D-3L at three, six and nine months, return to work or education, persistent symptoms, new disabilities in instrumental activities of daily living, cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms, major cardiovascular events, rehospitalization, as well as all-cause mortality at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. A p-value <0.05 will be assumed as statistically significant for all analyses., Results: The primary endpoint will be presented as the frequency of the EQ-5D-3L score 12 months after COVID-19 hospitalization. A sub-analysis to identify possible associations of independent variables with study outcomes will be presented., Conclusions: This study will determine the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life and cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes of hospitalized patients 12 months after discharge providing insights to the public health system in Brazil.

One of the quality control parameters of ethanol fuel is pH, established by the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 10891, whose scope is specific for hydrated ethanol fuel, and by the American standard ASTM D 6423, which focuses on anhydrous ethanol fuel. This study presented a modified and optimized structure using a single solvent, both for the glass electrode and the external reference electrode, to minimize the presence of the liquid junction potential for measuring the pH of hydrated ethanol fuel. The Box-Behnken design enabled us to determine the optimal condition expected for the new measurement system, which was compared with the systems proposed by the standard references and the turning range of acid-base indicators using parametric and nonparametric tests. The results revealed that the pH values obtained by the different systems are statistically different, and that only the values obtained by this proposal are suitable for the pH range found by the indicators. The optimized electrode presented an adequate response sensitivity to the Nernst equation, having an operational behavior adequate for the modified and optimized glass electrode for pH measurements in hydrated ethanol fuel.

To access the sources of air pollutants is crucial to control atmospheric pollution in urban areas, minimizing human exposure. Particulate matter is a pollutant of great concern making its chemical and morpho-structural characterization of enormous importance. The present work aims at the characterization of atmospheric PM 10 and PM 2.5 . Data of the aerosol mass concentration was correlated by multivariate analysis with water-soluble ion fraction composition accessed by ion chromatography (IC), as well as with meteorological information and air mass backward trajectories. The gravimetric analysis presented average values 3 to 4 times higher than the guide values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). A morpho-structural analysis by SEM/FEG coupled to EDS was also carried out identifying the coarse fraction elements from minerals and from soil resuspension organic spherical particles that originated from combustion processes as well as Ti, associated with long-distance transportation. In the fine fraction, Zn with origin probably in tires and vehicle brakes was found. These origins were confirmed by the air masses' backward trajectories obtained by the HYSPLIT model (NOAA). This study contributes to a better understanding of the complex composition of the particulate material in the atmosphere of Araraquara City, resulting from the combination of local and long-distance sources, and serves as a basis for the comparison with future studies related to the air quality at this and other regions in Brazil and in the world., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) incidence is high in South America, where recent data on survival are sparse. We investigated the main predictors of HNSCC survival in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Colombia., Methods: Sociodemographic and lifestyle information was obtained from standardized interviews, and clinicopathologic data were extracted from medical records and pathologic reports. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used for statistical analyses., Results: Of 1,463 patients, 378 had a larynx cancer (LC), 78 hypopharynx cancer (HC), 599 oral cavity cancer (OC), and 408 oropharynx cancer (OPC). Most patients (55.5%) were diagnosed with stage IV disease, ranging from 47.6% for LC to 70.8% for OPC. Three-year survival rates were 56.0% for LC, 54.7% for OC, 48.0% for OPC, and 37.8% for HC. In multivariable models, patients with stage IV disease had approximately 7.6 (LC/HC), 11.7 (OC), and 3.5 (OPC) times higher mortality than patients with stage I disease. Current and former drinkers with LC or HC had approximately 2 times higher mortality than never-drinkers. In addition, older age at diagnosis was independently associated with worse survival for all sites. In a subset analysis of 198 patients with OPC with available human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 data, those with HPV-unrelated OPC had a significantly worse 3-year survival compared with those with HPV-related OPC (44.6% v 75.6%, respectively), corresponding to a 3.4 times higher mortality., Conclusion: Late stage at diagnosis was the strongest predictor of lower HNSCC survival. Early cancer detection and reduction of harmful alcohol use are fundamental to decrease the high burden of HNSCC in South America.

Symbionts are widely distributed in eukaryotes, and potentially affect the physiology, ecology and evolution of their host. Most insects harbour free-living bacteria in their haemocoel and gut lumen, intracellular-living bacteria in a range of tissues or bacteria in host-derived specialized cells. Stinkbugs, as do many arthropods, harbour extracellular bacteria in the gut that may affect the fitness of their host. This study identified the culturable symbionts associated with the ovaries, spermatheca, seminal vesicle and posterior midgut region (V4) of males and females of Euschistus heros (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Several culture media were used to isolate the bacteria associated with these structures. The selected colonies (morphotypes) were cultured in liquid medium, subjected to genomic DNA extraction, 16S rRNA gene amplification, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. Morphotypes with distinct RFLP patterns were purified and sequenced, and the sequences obtained were used for putative identification and phylogenetic analysis. Comparison of the sequences with those available in the EzTaxon-e database and the use of a matrix of paired distances grouped the isolates in phylotypes belonging to the Phylum Proteobacteria. Proteobacteria was represented by γ-Proteobacteria phylotypes belonging to Enterobacteriaceae, while Firmicutes had Bacilli phylotypes distributed in Enterococcaceae and Staphylococcaceae. Some of the phylotypes identified were associated exclusively with single structures, such as ovaries, spermatheca and the V4 midgut region of males and females. All culturable bacteria associated with the seminal vesicle were also associated with other tissues.

In 1958 Francis Moore described the orthotopic liver transplantation technique in dogs. In 1963, Starzl et al. performed the first liver transplantation. In the first five liver transplantations no patient survived more than 23 days. In 1967, stimulated by Calne who used antilymphocytic serum, Starzl began a successful series of liver transplantation. Until 1977, 200 liver transplantations were performed in the world. In that period, technical problems were overcome. Roy Calne, in 1979, used the first time cyclosporine in two patients who had undergone liver transplantation. In 1989, Starzl et al. reported a series of 1,179 consecutives patients who underwent liver transplantation and reported a survival rate between one and five years of 73% and 64%, respectively. Finally, in 1990, Starzl et al. reported successful use of tacrolimus in patents undergoing liver transplantation and who had rejection despite receiving conventional immunosuppressive treatment. Liver Transplantation Program was initiated at Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein in 1990 and so far over 1,400 transplants have been done. In 2013, 102 deceased donors liver transplantations were performed. The main indications for transplantation were hepatocellular carcinoma (38%), hepatitis C virus (33.3%) and alcohol liver cirrhosis (19.6%). Of these, 36% of patients who underwent transplantation showed biological MELD score > 30. Patient and graft survival in the first year was, 82.4% and 74.8%, respectively. A major challenge in liver transplantation field is the insufficient number of donors compared with the growing demand of transplant candidates. Thus, we emphasize that appropriated donor/receptor selection, allocation and organ preservation topics should contribute to improve the number and outcomes in liver transplantation.

Macrobrachium olfersii is an amphidromous freshwater prawn, widespread along the eastern coasts of the Americas. This species shows great morphological modifications during ontogenesis, and several studies have verified the existence of a wide intraspecific variation. Because of this condition, the species is often misidentified, and several synonyms have been documented. To elucidate these aspects, individuals of M. olfersii from different populations along its range of distribution were investigated. The taxonomic limit was established, and the degree of genetic variability of this species was described. We extracted DNA from 53 specimens of M. olfersii, M. americanum, M. digueti and M. faustinum, which resulted in 84 new sequences (22 of 16S mtDNA, 45 of Cythocrome Oxidase I (COI) mtDNA, and 17 of Histone (H3) nDNA). Sequences of three genes (single and concatenated) from these species were used in the Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference phylogenetic analyses and COI sequences from M. olfersii were used in population analysis. The genetic variation was evaluated through the alignment of 554 bp from the 16S, 638 bp from the COI, and 338 bp from the H3. The rates of genetic divergence among populations were lower at the intraspecific level. This was confirmed by the haplotype net, which showed a continuous gene flow among populations. Although a wide distribution and high morphological intraspecific variation often suggest the existence of more than one species, genetic similarity of Caribbean and Brazilian populations of M. olfersii supported them as a single species.