Search

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) has been widely studied due to its environmental persistence and bioaccumulation potential, raising concerns about its effects on aquatic life. This research evaluates the impact of PFOA on the antioxidant defenses and stress response systems of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Mussels were exposed to three concentrations of PFOA (1, 10, and 100 µg·L−1) over 28 days. Several biomarkers, including glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), lipid peroxidation (LPO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), vitellogenin (VTG), ubiquitin (UBI), and caspase-3 (CASP) were analyzed. The results suggest stress responses, particularly in animals exposed to higher concentrations, as shown by GST and SOD activities which increased according to PFOA concentrations. Additionally, oxidative stress markers such as MDA and CAT showed variable responses depending on the exposure concentration tested. This study underscores the need for further investigation into the effects of PFOA on mollusks but also the need to unveil gender-specific responses in aquatic organisms exposed to this contaminant. The concentrations of PFOA used in our research are lower than those examined in previous studies, providing crucial insights into the impacts of even minimal exposure levels. It highlights the potential of M. galloprovincialis as a bioindicator in environmental monitoring programs, providing crucial insights for environmental management and policymaking regarding regulating and monitoring PFOA in marine settings. Consequently, in a country where seafood consumption is the second largest in Europe, implementing environmental policies and regulatory measures to manage and monitor PFOA levels in marine environments is crucial.

Estudio sobre el diagnóstico de trastornos de comportamiento en niños de ocho a once años utilizando modelos de regresión lineal y redes neuronales artificiales. El estudio se llevó a cabo en una muestra de 176 niños de una unidad educativa en la provincia de Cotopaxi, Ecuador, utilizando el instrumento del proyecto ESPERI para recopilar datos. El estudio se centró en cuatro factores principales: inatención/impulsividad/hiperactividad, oposicional-desafiante, predisocial y disocial. Los datos fueron preprocesados, limpiados y normalizados utilizando Microsoft Excel, y se realizaron análisis descriptivos y pruebas estadísticas para determinar la significancia de las relaciones entre las variables independientes y la variable dependiente. Se seleccionaron cuatro variables para el modelo de regresión lineal: inatención/impulsividad/hiperactividad, factor disocial, factor predisocial y factor oposicional-desafiante. El modelo fue creado utilizando Python y Google Colaboratory, y se utilizaron diferentes métricas para evaluar su rendimiento. El modelo fue validado utilizando un conjunto de datos independiente y los resultados se interpretaron para determinar las variables que tienen la mayor influencia en el diagnóstico de trastornos de comportamiento. Los resultados del estudio mostraron que la prevalencia de trastornos de comportamiento en niños era del 4,8% al 7,4% en niños y del 2,1% al 3,2% en niñas. El modelo de regresión lineal tuvo un buen ajuste a los datos y fue capaz de explicar la variabilidad en la variable dependiente con un bajo error de predicción en el conjunto de prueba. En el artículo también se proporciona el código completo del modelo para ser probado en un entorno de producción.

Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is a fire-retardant containing bromine, produced in large quantities worldwide and extensively used in several industrial products. This compound was identified as a potential contaminant of the environment, causing toxicity to organisms. However, its toxicity remains poorly understood in marine bivalves. The first objective of this work was to evaluate the impact of TBBPA on mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) exposed for 28 days to various concentrations of TBBPA (0, 1, 10, and 100 µg·L−1), by assessing stress biomarkers’ responses (Glutathione S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity, total ubiquitin, caspase-3 and acetylcholinesterase). The results showed that lower concentrations (1 and 10 µg·L−1) were efficiently detoxified, as suggested by GST activities, which were supported by the responses of the other biomarkers. The most pronounced effects were observed in animals exposed to the highest concentration of TBBPA (100 µg·L−1), suggesting oxidative stress. Additionally, significant strong correlations were found between total antioxidant capacity and some biomarkers (superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation), showing that processes involved in oxidative stress fighting are working to avoid cell injury. In brief, mussels’ defense mechanisms were capable of dealing with exposure to the lower concentrations tested. Despite this, the risk of consuming shellfish or other fishery products contaminated with TBBPA should be a cause for concern.

Background/Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cause of cancer worldwide. More than 90% of cases occur in cirrhotic patients, with the degree of fibrosis being the main risk factor for the development of HCC. Liver biopsy is the gold-standard for fibrosis assessment, but it is an invasive procedure. Liver stiffness measurement (LSM) has shown high accuracy for diagnosing liver cirrhosis, as well as for predicting decompensation and HCC development. More recently, spleen stiffness measurement (SSM) has presented excellent results for ruling in/out high-risk varices and the presence of clinical significant portal hypertension. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between LSM and SSM and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A prospective study on cirrhotic patients was performed in a tertiary center from January 2020 to May 2024. All patients were submitted to liver and spleen elastography (with a new probe of 100 Hz) by the same blinded operator and were treated in the same institution for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Results: We included 299 cirrhotic patients, 75.9% male, with a mean age of 61.8 years (±10.0). The median value of LSM was 25.7 kPa [4.5–75.0] and that of SSM was 44.6 kPa [7.9–100.0]. The median follow-up time was 505 days [114.0–1541.0]. During this period, 18 patients developed HCC, with a median time to HCC diagnosis after LSM and SSM of 321 days [63.0–1227.0]. LSM was the only factor associated with the development of HCC (p = 0.002) with an AUC of 0.715. On the other hand, SSM was not associated with the development of HCC. Conclusions: We found that the risk of developing HCC is associated with liver fibrosis but not with portal hypertension (assessed using SSM).

ABSTRACT Paramycodrosophila Duda, 1924 is a small cosmopolitan genus which encompasses 16 described species. In the Neotropical region there are records of only two species, P. costaricana Duda, 1925 and P. nephelea Wheeler, 1968. In this paper, we describe the first 19 new species from South America – P. itatiaiensis n. sp., P. blauthae n. sp., P. rafaeli n. sp., P. boldrinii n. sp., P. roraimensis n. sp., P. amazonensis n. sp., P. moratoi n. sp., P. mineira n. sp., P. leonensis n. sp., P. marinhoi n. sp., P. viscondedemauaensis n. sp., P. pedraseladensis n. sp., P. vicenziae n. sp., P. pallidifacies n. sp., P. acreensis n. sp., P. mantiqueira n. sp., P. maculosa n. sp., P. melana n. sp., P. puri n. sp. – based on morphological traits. A distribution map and a taxonomic key for male imagoes of the Neotropical species was also produced. By adding 19 new species, we establish the Neotropical region as the biogeographical region with the most known diversity in the world for the genus.

Abstract Background Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity, is often part of interventions targeting childhood overweight and obesity. However, to properly inform the objectives of the intervention, reliable psychometric measures are needed to better understand children’s and their families necessities and characteristics. Objectives To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Physical Activity Parenting Practices questionnaire in a community sample of Portuguese parents of children aged 5–10, assess measurement invariance across children’s weight status, and construct validity. Methods Five hundred three parents completed the Portuguese version of the Physical Activity Parenting Practices (PAPP) questionnaire, a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Comprehensive Feeding Practices Questionnaire, and the Lifestyle Behavior Checklist. A subsample (n = 125) completed the PAPP questionnaire 1 month later. Data analyses were performed using R’s lavaan (version 0.6–12) and psych (version 2.2.9) packages. Results Confirmatory factor analyses revealed good psychometric properties for the PAPP’s single-factor Encouragement scale and the three-factor Discouragement scale. Configural, metric, and scalar invariance were found across parents of children with different weight statuses for both scales’ factor structures. Internal reliability ranged from α = .64 to α = .89, and test-retest reliability ranged from r = .57 to r = .74. Conclusions The constructs evaluated by PAPP questionnaire revealed adequate validity. The Portuguese version of the PAPP questionnaire is a reliable measure to assess relevant physical activity parenting practices, capable of differentiating the practices of parents with children of different weight statuses, and useful for both research and intervention purposes.

ABSTRACT Ecological interactions are diverse, variable across space and time and not always well understood. The use of interaction network analysis has become a tool that promotes a deeper understanding on ecological and evolutionary processes. The interaction between insects and fungi is an interesting research model, helping to understand colonization dynamics and species specialization in spatially aggregated and ephemeral resources. Here, we describe the interactions between Drosophilidae species and the fungal basidiocarps in a subtropical forest in Brazil. Flies were collected when were visiting basidiocarps and then the basidiocarps themselves were also collected to obtain the emerging flies whose larvae fed on the fungi. We observed 31 species of drosophilids interacting with basidiocarps of 23 fungi species. An ecological network analysis was performed for the drosophilids breeding on basidiocarps and for those visiting them as adults. We found a specialized breeding network, with stronger interactions involving Hirtodrosophila and Auricularia and Zygothrica bilineata and a Marasmius species. Our results indicate the generalist habit of most Zygothrica species. The visitation network was highly specialized. Despite being well represented in the sampling, most Zygothrica species did not emerge from any fungal species. This study advances the knowledge on patterns of Drosophilid-fungi interactions and provides insights into their drivers.

ABSTRACT Zygothrica is a genus of Drosophilidae (Diptera) whose species utilize flowers and fungi for breeding sites, with records of fungi being used as courtship arena. Due to this habit, its representation in Drosophilidae surveys using banana-baited traps is generally low. However, Zygothrica orbitalis was well represented in a few samples with these traps. In this study, we report for the first time the breeding site of Z. orbitalis in living fruits of Psychotria brachyceras (Rubiaceae), noting that the use of living fruits is rare among Drosophilidae. The fructification of the plant occurs in the area of study from May to August, with previous collection records of the species in the Restinga (sandbank or strand) forest. Additionally, the emergence of some individuals of the invasive species Drosophila suzukii was observed, which highlights the necessity for continuous study of this plant to understand the dynamics between a native and an exotic species. Besides the ecological importance, our results are relevant for understanding the evolution of trophic resource use by the Zygothrica genus.

The impacts of anthropogenic activities are increasing at alarming rates, leading to biodiversity loss and the displacement of native habitats. One of the main contributors to human disturbances is livestock farming, which degrades native habitats through cattle grazing and trampling. To understand these impacts, we investigated the effects of cattle trampling on the structure and diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies in Restinga forests of southern Brazil. We addressed questions regarding the effects of cattle raising on butterfly diversity and composition, identified indicator species, and examined the influence of environmental variables on butterfly richness, dominance, abundance, and species composition. Our dataset comprises the long-term monitoring of fruit-feeding butterflies in Restinga forests from 2014 to 2019, across sites with low, medium, and high levels of disturbance due to cattle trampling. We found that medium and high levels of disturbance increased butterfly richness and abundance, whereas low-level disturbance was associated with lower abundance. Additionally, the species composition of butterflies in medium to highly disturbed sites differed from that in preserved Restinga forests, indicating that any perturbation can markedly alter alpha and beta diversity parameters. These changes simplify the native forest structure, open the canopy, disrupt the understory, and favor butterfly species commonly associated with disturbed forests.

ABSTRACT Hirtodrosophila Duda, 1923 is a worldwide genus that encompasses about 170 species. In the Neotropical Region there are records of 38 species. In this paper, we describe three new species of Neotropical Hirtodrosophila - H. pilosa n. sp., H. fluminensis n. sp. and H. brasiliensis n. sp. -, which are not assigned to any species group. The three new species can be easily distinguished from any known American species by their external morphological traits. Furthermore, we describe a female specimen, refraining from designating it as a new species because of the lack of characteristics to adequately delimit the species.

Introdução: Doentes acamados com imobilidade prolongada desenvolvem frequentemente complicações como pneumonia, úlceras de pressão, atrofia muscular e trombose venosa profunda (TVP), aumentando as taxas de mortalidade durante o internamento e após alta, e com um impacto relevante em termos económicos. Atualmente, o desenvolvimento de dispositivos médicos inovadores, principalmente na tecnologia de reabilitação, é uma tendência da área da saúde que visa aumentar e manter a independência e a autonomia de pessoas com deficiência física. Para responder a esta realidade e, assim, contribuir para a resolução dos problemas mencionados, o projeto “Ablefit” propõe o desenvolvimento de um sistema avançado de reabilitação. Objetivos: Avaliar a funcionalidade, ergonomia e segurança do protótipo Ablefit desenvolvido. Material e Métodos: Um estudo pré-clínico foi realizado através de um design centrado no usuário e uma abordagem de método misto com usuários finais. Recrutou-se uma amostra não randomizada de oito idosos (65 anos ou mais) em condição física saudável. Os participantes realizaram exercícios passivos e ativos nos membros superiores e inferiores utilizando o Ablefit. Vários parâmetros foram avaliados e registados antes, durante e após os exercícios. Entrevistas semiestruturadas foram realizadas ao final dos testes. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados através do SPSS, nomeadamente estatística descritiva e os dados qualitativos, através da análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Os participantes tinham entre 69 e 89 anos (M= 78,60; DP=6,98), e sete (70,0%) eram do sexo feminino. As diferenças não foram significativas na pressão arterial, frequência cardíaca e saturação de oxigênio. A análise de conteúdo revelou cinco categorias: segurança, facilidade de uso/aprendizagem, conforto, movimentos e benefícios. Conclusão: Este estudo contribuiu para desenvolver um novo protótipo atualizado e otimizado, com inclusão de mudanças nas categorias identificadas, com reforço de um sistema de feedback ao usuário final, demonstrando a necessidade de desenvolver soluções centradas na pessoa.

We study a setting in which a company not only has a fleet of capacitated vehicles and drivers available to make deliveries but may also use the services of occasional drivers (ODs) willing to make deliveries using their own vehicles in return for a small fee. Under such a business model, a.k.a crowdshipping, the company seeks to make all the deliveries at the minimum total cost, i.e., the cost associated with their vehicles plus the compensation paid to the ODs.We consider a stochastic and dynamic last-mile delivery environment in which customer delivery orders, as well as ODs available for deliveries, arrive randomly throughout the day, within fixed time windows.We present a novel deep reinforcement learning (DRL) approach to the problem that can deal with large problem instances. We formulate the action selection problem as a mixed-integer optimization program.The DRL approach is compared against other optimization under uncertainty approaches, namely, sample-average approximation (SAA) and distributionally robust optimization (DRO). The results show the effectiveness of the DRL approach by examining out-of-sample performance.

Background: Recent studies suggest that follow-up paracentesis (FuP) in cases of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) should only be performed if there is a clinical and/or analytic worsening. We aimed to evaluate which patients with SBP would benefit from the FuP. Métodos: This retrospective study included consecutive patients diagnosed with SBP between January 2011 and June 2018 in our tertiary center. Clinical and analytical data were obtained at baseline and on the third day of antibiotic therapy. An adequate response on the third day of treatment was defined by a decrease of ≥25% in the neutrophil count of the ascitic fluid (AF). Results: Ninety-six episodes of PBE in 75 patients (79% male sex, mean age 61 ± 11 years old) were included. At admission, a higher serum neutrophil count (p = 0.043), a lower level of serum total proteins (p = 0.040), a positive culture in AF (p < 0.001) and a previous diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.035) were related to inadequate response (IR). At day 3, acute kidney injury (p = 0.023), C-reactive protein >100 mg/L (p < 0.001), the presence of fever (p = 0.047) and abdominal pain (p < 0.001) were also associated with IR. In multivariate analysis, the presence of respiratory insufficiency (OR = 16.403; 95% CI: 2.315–116.222; p = 0.005) and abdominal pain (OR = 10.381; 95% CI: 1.807–59.626; p = 0.009) at admission, serum white blood cell count >9 × 109 (OR = 5.832; 95% CI: 1.275–26.669; p = 0.023), and CRP >100 mg/L (OR = 5.043; 95% CI: 1.267–20.076; p = 0.022) at day 3 of antibiotic therapy were predictors of IR. The predictive model presented good accuracy [AUROC of 0.893 (p < 0.001)] – a cutoff of 0.090 had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for IR of 97, 46, 83, and 77%, respectively. Conclusions: The performance of FuP on day 3 after the beginning of empiric therapy should be individualized, according to clinical and analytic variables of this predictive model.

Anthropogenic habitat fragmentation directly affects ecological processes, leading to negative biodiversity impacts for insects and other biota. Increased edge effects are one consequence of fragmentation, and may alter the composition or abundance of species in the remaining habitat fragments. Understanding the ways in which edge effects impact upon the biota is essential for conservation decision-making in fragmented landscapes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the seasonal patterns of abundance, richness, and composition of Drosophilidae in a Restinga forest fragment in the extreme south of Brazil, as a function of the distance from the edge to the interior of the fragment. The data were analyzed using SIMPER analyses, which showed that the edge and the forest interior were most dissimilar during winter, followed by spring, autumn and summer. An NMDS and the SIMPER analyses showed that the lower dissimilarity between the edge and interior in spring, autumn and summer, compared to winter, is driven by immigration of individuals from outside of the forest fragment. Furthermore, some species were asymmetrically distributed in the fragment, with some species restricted to the edge of the fragment and others to the interior. This information aids in the understanding of the functioning and dynamics of fragmentation, which is fundamental for the maintenance and integrity of environments and their fauna.

O artigo chama atenção da formação de professores para a necessidade de superação da mediação docente baseada na lógica unidirecional da cultura audiovisual (impresso, rádio e tv) na sala de aula híbrida. Distingue a lógica unidirecional, própria da cultura audiovisual, da dinâmica comunicacional que emerge com o cenário social e técnico da cibercultura, da cultura digital, e aí situa a docência e a aprendizagem. Chama atenção para a teoria e a prática da interatividade, entendida como dinâmica comunicacional que expressa a coautoria da emissão e recepção na construção da mensagem ou do conhecimento. E aborda a dinâmica comunicacional da cibercultura (autoria, compartilhamento, conectividade, colaboração, cocriação) favorável ao legado pedagógico baseado nos princípios autonomia, diversidade, interação, dialogia e democracia.

The placement of an intragastric balloon (IGB) plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of obesity. The authors describe the cases of 2 female patients, 34 and 62 years old, who were submitted to the implantation of a Spatz3® IGB to treat obesity. Ten to fourteen weeks later, the patients presented complaints of epigastric pain, vomiting, and abdominal distension. A bulging of the upper abdominal wall was noticed upon physical examination. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed the clinical suspicion of IGB hyperinflation. It was decided to remove the 500 mL of saline solution with methylene blue from inside the balloon. During the same procedure, the IGB was refilled with 500 mL of fresh saline solution, methylene blue, and empiric β-lactam antibiotic. The extracted content of the hyperinflated IGB was sent for microbiological culturing and was found to be positive for Streptococcus viridans in one of the cases. In the other case, the culture examination was negative, and after 8 weeks, the patient presented again with hyperinflation of the IGB. It was then decided to substitute the IGB with another balloon; the procedure was uneventful. The content of the removed IGB was sent for microbiological testing, and colonization by Candida tropicaliswas confirmed. This is a rare but potentially serious complication of IGB placement. Randomized trials are needed to clarify the role of antibiotics and antifungals in primary and secondary prophylaxis against IGB hyperinflation.

Abstract Roraima is a Brazilian state located in the northern portion of the Amazon basin, with few studies regarding its biodiversity. The Ecological Station of Maracá (Brazil, state of Roraima) harbors the third largest Brazilian pluvial island and is composed of a transitional landscape of savanna and Amazon rainforest components. Despite its ecological importance and strategic localization, few studies covered the dipterofauna of this locality. An updated checklist addressing 41 families of true flies (Diptera) occurring in Roraima is presented based on the literature and the specimens collected during a field expedition that occurred in 2015. This checklist brings several improvements such as new records of 165 taxa to the state of Roraima, 29 taxa to Brazil, and 259 morphotypes, mostly likely representing undescribed species.

This paper provided a list of all new Brazilian Hexapoda species described in 2020. Furthermore, based on the information extracted by this list, we tackled additional questions regarding the taxa, the specialists involved in the species descriptions as well as the journals in which those papers have been published. We recorded a total of 680 new Brazilian species of Hexapoda described in 2020, classified in 245 genera, 112 families and 18 orders. These 680 species were published in a total of 2019 articles comprising 423 different authors residing in 27 countries. Only 30% of these authors are women, which demonstrates an inequality regarding sexes. In relation to the number of authors by species, the majority of the new species had two authors and the maximum of authors by species was five. We also found inequalities in the production of described species regarding the regions of Brazil, with Southeast and South leading. The top 10 institutions regarding productions of new species have four in the Southeast, two at South and with one at North Region being the outlier of this pattern. Out of the total 219 published articles, Zootaxa dominated with 322 described species in 95 articles. The average impact factor was of 1.4 with only seven articles being published in Impact Factors above 3, indicating a hardship on publishing taxonomic articles in high-impact journals. The highlight of this paper is that it is unprecedent, as no annual record of Hexapoda species described was ever made in previous years to Brazil.

The Zygothrica genus group has been shown to be speciose, with a high number of cryptic species. DNA barcoding approaches have been a valuable tool to uncover cryptic diversity in this lineage, as recently suggested for the Neotropical Mycodrosophila projectans complex, which seems to comprise at least three different species. The aim of this study was to confirm the subdivision of the M. projectans complex while shedding some light on the patterns and processes related to its diversification. In this sense, the use of single and multi-locus datasets under phylogenetic, distance, coalescence, and diagnostic nucleotide approaches confirmed the presence of at least three species under the general morphotype previously described as M. projectans. Only a few subtle morphological differences were found for the three species in terms of aedeagus morphology and abdominal color patterns. Ecologically, sympatry and syntopy seem to be recurrent for these three cryptic species, which present widely overlapping niches, implying niche conservatism. This morphological and ecological similarity has persisted though cladogenesis within the complex, which dates back to the Miocene, providing an interesting example of morphological conservation despite ancient divergence. These results, in addition to contrasting patterns of past demographic fluctuations, allowed us to hypothesize patterns of allopatric or parapatric diversification with secondary contact in Southern Brazil. Nevertheless, genetic diversity was generally high within species, suggesting that migration may encompass an adaptive response to the restrictions imposed by the ephemerality of resources.

This research aims at analyzing and comparing the class management times and the different behaviors of the trainer in regular judo and adapted judo training. The trainer who was observed was responsible for both classes, so we checked to see if there were differences in their behavior taking into account the type of individuals that constituted their work groups. We used the Pieron observation system, focusing on the variables of classroom time management and teaching behaviors. Due to the great importance of the feedbacks for the development of the individuals' performance, a multidimensional analysis was performed, taking into account the various variables defined (Number of Feedbacks Issued, Rate and Frequency, Objective, Form, Direction, Moment and Context). The results showed that the coach of judo does not differ significantly in his behavioral intervention in both contexts. Apparently, the judo coach revealed a pedagogical approach to the adapted judo collective, namely in teaching behaviors and multidimensional feedback analysis.

Mycodrosophila is a cosmopolitan genus of Drosophilidae that comprises approximately 130 species with mycophagous habitats. In this study, we described a new species of Mycodrosophila based on morphological traits and included details of the male terminalia. The holotype is from Eugênio Lefévre, locality in Campos do Jordão municipality, SP, Brazil, located in the Atlantic rainforest biome and was sampled in the 1930s. Keywords: Insecta, Atlantic Rain Forest, Southeastern Brazil, Male terminalia

Background and Purpose: Patency capsule (PC) examination is usually performed – previously to capsule endoscopy – to evaluate small-bowel patency in patients with established Crohn’s disease (CD). The reported PC retention rate is significantly higher than expected. Our aims were to assess small-bowel patency, to determine the precise location of the retained PC in patients with CD, and to determine the false positive rate of evaluation with a radiofrequency identification tag (RFIT) scanner. Methods: This is a prospective single-center study including CD patients with clinical indication for small-bowel capsule endoscopy. PillCam® PC examination was performed on all patients to assess small-bowel patency. On all patients with a positive identification of the PC using an RFIT scanner, 30 h after ingestion, an abdominal CT was performed in order to identify its precise location. Results: Fifty-four patients were included. The PC retention rate, according to evaluation with the RFIT scanner, was 20% (in 11 patients) 30 h after ingestion. These patients were then submitted to abdominal CT, which revealed that there was small-bowel retention in 5 cases (9%). Higher CRP levels, penetrating disease, and a history of abdominal surgery were associated with an increased risk of PC retention (p = 0.007, p = 0.011, and p = 0.033, respectively). On multivariate analysis, there was an independent association between small-bowel PC retention and CRP levels >5 mg/dL (OR = 15.5; p = 0.03). Discussion: The small-bowel PC retention rate (9%) was considerably lower than those found in previous reports. Our results show that, with this protocol, the false-positive cases of RFIT scans or plain abdominal X-rays may be avoided. This may contribute to more extensive application of capsule endoscopy without the risk of small-bowel retention.

In this work, we study a flexible compensation scheme for last-mile delivery where a company outsources part of the activity of delivering products to its customers to occasional drivers (ODs), under a scheme named crowdshipping. All deliveries are completed at the minimum total cost incurred with their vehicles and drivers plus the compensation paid to the ODs. The company decides on the best compensation scheme to offer to the ODs at the planning stage. We model our problem based on a stochastic and dynamic environment where delivery orders and ODs volunteering to make deliveries present themselves randomly within fixed time windows. The uncertainty is endogenous in the sense that the compensation paid to ODs influences their availability. We develop a deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm that can deal with large instances while focusing on the quality of the solution: we combine the combinatorial structure of the action space with the neural network of the approximated value function, involving techniques from machine learning and integer optimization. The results show the effectiveness of the DRL approach by examining out-of-sample performance and that it is suitable to process large samples of uncertain data, which induces better solutions.

ABSTRACT Hexapods, commonly known as insects, are a neglected taxonomic group in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, with unanswered questions about their species richness and the ecological processes in which they are involved (e.g., colonization, introduction, establishment, and extinction). Herein, we provide an updated Hexapod checklist with current nomenclatural combinations. The entomofauna of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago is currently composed of 453 species in 21 orders. The orders, and their respective number of species, are: Blattaria (9), Coleoptera (118), Collembola (29), Dermaptera (3), Diplura (1), Diptera (134), Embioptera (1), Hemiptera (29), Hymenoptera (59), Isoptera (2), Lepidoptera (25), Mantodea (1), Neuroptera (3), Odonata (5), Orthoptera (11), Phasmatodea (1), Phthiraptera (6), Psocoptera (3), Siphonaptera (1), Thysanoptera (10), and Zygentoma (2). The archipelago has 263 new taxon records (family + genera + species). Thirty-eight species (3.39%) were described from local specimens and most of them are likely endemic species. This study more than doubles our knowledge (from the previous 190 records) of the entomofauna in this large Brazilian archipelago. This study also provides a baseline for studies on its conservation status and for implementing future environmental management programs.

Digital transformation has increased the demand for skilled Information Technology (IT) professionals, to an extent that universities cannot satisfy it with newly graduated students. Furthermore, the economical downturn has created difficulties and scarcity of opportunities in other areas of activity. This combination of factors led to the need to consider requalification programmes that enable individuals with diverse specialisations and backgrounds to realign their careers to the IT area. This has led to the creation of many coding bootcamps, providing intensive full-time courses focused on unemployed people or unhappy with their jobs, and individuals seeking a career change. A multidisciplinary group of higher education teachers, in collaboration with several industry stakeholders, have designed and promoted an embedded systems programming course, using an intensive project-based learning approach comprising 6 months of daylong classes and a 9 months internship. Having finished two editions of the programme, a questionnaire was presented to the students that finished successfully, in order to evaluate the long-term benefits to graduates and companies. This paper presents a brief discussion of the programme organisation and pedagogical methodologies, as well as the results of the questionnaire, conducted following a Goal–Question–Metric (GQM) approach. The results demonstrate very positive outcomes, both for graduates and companies.

Although members of Drosophilidae are frequently the topic of ecological studies in Brazil, few have explored Restinga or, until only recently, Pampa biome environments. This study proposes to describe the diversity and temporal variation of the Drosophilidae assemblage from a Restinga forest of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. We performed monthly collections from February 2013 to January 2014 using yeasted banana-baited traps. A total of 25,093 individuals of 46 species were sampled. Drosophila simulans and the D. willistoni subgroup were the dominant taxa; D. polymorpha, D. immigrans, D. paraguayensis and Zygothrica orbitalis were of intermediate abundance, and the other 40 species were rare. Based on sampling effort estimators, our collections were sufficient. Jaccard and Morisita indices evaluated using ANOSIM reveal little similarity in the composition of samples across months. Canonical correspondence analysis shows that the variables of maximum and minimum temperature are the main factors responsible for differentiation of the species composition of the assemblage throughout the year, whereby collections in the coldest periods (July, August and September) are those with a more differentiated composition. In these months, the dominance of D. simulans and the D. willistoni subgroup decreases while increased abundance of the D. tripunctata group (as D. paraguayensis) and Z. orbitalis occurs. In comparison to other studies carried out in environments in southernmost Brazil, we observed a similar pattern of fluctuation in abundance over the year, with a higher abundance of dominant species in warmer months and population sizes decreasing in colder months. Keywords: Biodiversity analysis, Community ecology, New distribution record, Pampa biome, Taxonomic survey

Background and study aims A variety of endoscopic techniques are currently available for treatment of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) anastomotic leaks; however, no definite consensus exists on the most appropriate therapeutic approach. Our aim was to explore current management of UGI anastomotic leaks. Methods A survey questionnaire was distributed among international expert therapeutic endoscopists regarding management of UGI anastomotic leaks. Results A total of 44 % of 163 surveys were returned; 69 % were from gastroenterologists and 56 % had > 10 years of experience. A third of respondents treat between 10 and 19 patients annually. Fifty-six percent use fully-covered self-expandable metal stents as their usual first option; 80% use techniques to minimize migration; 4 weeks was the most common reported stent dwell time. Sixty percent perform epithelial ablation prior to over-the-scope-clip placement or suturing. Regarding endoscopic vacuum therapy (EVT), 56 % perform balloon dilation and intracavitary EVT in patients with large cavities but small leak defects. Regarding endoscopic septotomy, 56 % consider a minimal interval of 4 weeks from surgery and 90 % consider the need to perform further sessions. Regarding endoscopic internal drainage (EID), placement of two stents and shorter stents is preferred. Persistent inflammation with clinical sepsis was the definition most commonly reported for endoscopic failure. EVT/stent placement and EVT/EID were the therapeutic options most often chosen in patients with previous oncologic surgery and previous bariatric surgery, respectively. Conclusions There is a wide variation in the management of patients with UGI anastomotic leaks. Future prospective studies are needed to move from an expert- to evidence- and personalization-based care.

Background: Suppressor of Tumorigenicity 2 (ST2) is an IL33 receptor detected in the mucosa and serum of ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We evaluated soluble ST2 (sST2) as a surrogate biomarker of disease outcome and therapeutic response, in moderate-to-severe UC patients treated with golimumab. Methods: We conducted an open-label single-arm multicentre prospective study. At screening/baseline, week 6 (W6) and week 16 (W16), clinical and endoscopic activity (total Mayo score), histologic activity (Geboes index) and biomarkers were evaluated. Results: From 38 patients, 34 (89.5%) completed W6 and 29 (76.3%) completed W16. Mean age (±SD) was 34.6 ± 12.6 years; 55.9% were female. At W16, 62.1% achieved clinical response. Patients with endoscopic activity at W6 ( n = 20) had higher baseline sST2 (median, 24.5 versus 18.7 ng/ml, p = 0.026) and no decrease from baseline (median change, 0.8 versus −2.7, p = 0.029). At W6, sST2 levels correlated with endoscopic activity ( rs = 0.45, p = 0.007) but not with histological activity ( rs = 0.25, p = 0.151). The best cut-offs for endoscopic activity were sST2 = 16.9 ng/ml (sensitivity = 85%; specificity = 71%) and faecal calprotectin (FC) = 353 μg/g (sensitivity = 90%, specificity = 67%). Patients with histological activity at W6 ( n = 27) had higher baseline ST2 levels (median, 23.0 versus 13.7 ng/ml, p = 0.035). sST2 did not correlate with FC or serum C-reactive protein. FC levels correlated with histological activity and baseline FC were higher when Geboes ⩾3.1 at W6. Conclusions: sST2 may be a surrogate biomarker of UC activity and therapeutic response as it correlates with endoscopic and clinical activity at W6 of golimumab treatment, and subjects with endoscopic and histological activity at W6 had higher baseline ST2 levels.

Abstract The composition and potential hosts of mycophagous Drosophilidae from a section of the Brazilian Amazon forest in the Caxiuanã National forest were investigated. Sampling was performed in three different periods at long the wet season (January (beginning) and July (end) 2013 and May (middle) 2014). The samples were collected from existing trails by actively searching for fungal fruiting bodies where Drosophilidae were present. We present composition and richness analysis over two years of sampling sampling Drosophilidae and Fungi. We evaluate sampling completeness using asymptotic species richness estimators. Out of 159 fruiting body samples and 64 fungal species, 5,124 drosophilids belonging to 55 species and 5 genera were collected. The mycophagous Drosophilidae richness values estimated by Jackknife 1 and Bootstrap were 69 and 61, respectively. The estimated fly richness correlated positively with fungal richness and abundance. Among the Drosophilidae species identified in this study, approximately 5% represent new occurrences for Brazil and 56% represent new species. Four genera belonging to the Zygothrica genus group are found in the Amazon region, and these genera represent 80% of the fungus-associated fauna known to date for the tropics. In conclusion, our results show that the fungal richness and abundance were the factors that determined the high diversity of mycophagous Drosophilidae.

ABSTRACT There are approximately 130 species of MycodrosophilaOldenberg, 1914 worldwide, although only nine species were recorded in American countries so far, three of which are exclusively Nearctic, five exclusively Neotropical and one found in both biogeographic regions (Mycodrosophila projectans). Such a small number of American species is likely a consequence of collecting bias, which favors the capture of frugivorous drosophilids, and to the general absence of Neotropical Mycodrosophila studies in the last 50 years. Here, we describe two commonly sampled species of Mycodrosophila from the Amazonian and Pampa Brazilian biomes, which share morphological similarities with Mycodrosophila neoprojectans and M. projectans, respectively. We compared sequences of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI), external morphology characteristics and male terminalia among these species. Based on a DNA barcoding approach coupled to morphological differences, we proposed the delimitation of two new species, Mycodrosophila hofmanni sp. nov. and Mycodrosophila valentae sp. nov. An updated key to identifying Neotropical and Nearctic Mycodrosophila species is also provided.

Background and Aims: Despite the increasing use of noninvasive methods for the assessment of liver fibrosis and steatosis, the effect of fasting and food intake on these parameters is not yet clear. Our aims were to evaluate the effect of food intake on liver stiffness (LS) (measured by transient elastography) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) in patients with different degrees of liver disease and healthy volunteers, and secondarily, to assess possible factors associated with variations of LS and CAP. Methods: We performed a prospective single-center study including patients with liver disease and healthy volunteers. LS and CAP were evaluated using FibroScan® (Echosens, Paris, France), before (fasting ≥8 h) and 30 min after intake of a standardized breakfast. We used common cutoffs for LS: > 7 kPa for significant fibrosis (F2 to F4) and > 11 to 14 kPa (mean 12.5 kPa) for cirrhosis. Results: Fifty-nine (72%) patients with liver disease and 22 (28%) healthy volunteers were included. LS significantly increased 30 min after food intake (pre-meal 6.1 kPa [IQR: 4.7–9.8] vs. after-meal 6.8 kPa [IQR: 5.5–10.6]; p < 0.001). This difference was only significant in patients with chronic liver disease (p = 0.02) and not in healthy volunteers (p = 0.106). CAP values did not increase significantly after food intake. Gender, body mass index, mass of body fat, lean body mass, and percent of body fat were not related with significant variations of LS and CAP values after meal intake. Conclusions: Significant variations of LS were observed after ingestion of a standard meal, which may have consequences for patient management. CAP values were not significantly affected by food intake. Therefore, we consider that before the isolated evaluation of CAP, it is not necessary to perform any fasting period.

Gastrointestinal endoscopy and the acquisition of tissue samples are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases of the digestive system. However, given the differences between the recommendations and the clinical practice, the inexorable increase of requests for endoscopic examinations and the financial burden associated with it, it is crucial that we concentrate on the challenge that endoscopic biopsies represent. In this review we describe the available evidence in the literature, including the more recent published guidelines, on when or not to perform endoscopic biopsies in upper and lower endoscopy, focusing on the precise diagnosis of the most common gastrointestinal diseases that motivate endoscopic examinations and on the rational use of available resources without compromising proper management of patients.

Protein-calorie malnutrition is a transversal condition to all stages of chronic liver disease. Early recognition of micro or macronutrient deficiencies is essential, because the use of nutritional supplements reduces the risk of complications. The diet of patients with chronic liver disease is based on a standard diet with supplements addition as necessary. Restrictions may be harmful and should be individualized. Treatment management should aim to maintain an adequate protein and caloric intake and to correct nutrient deficiencies. The large majority of patients with grade I/II hepatic encephalopathy can tolerate a regular diet. Protein restriction can aggravate malnutrition and is not recommended, except in cases of hepatic encephalopathy unresponsive to optimized therapy.

Background: Weight regain occurs in about 20% of patients after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Studies have reported that in most cases this regain is associated with dilatation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis. To correct this dilatation, one of the methods used is the application of argon plasma coagulation (APC). Case: The authors report the case of a 39-year-old woman submitted to RYGB who had weight regain. In the endoscopic evaluation, the patient presented with dilatation of the gastrojejunal anastomosis, for which treatment with APC and an adjusted diet was proposed. After 3 sessions of APC, the patient presented with a reduction of the anastomosis diameter, weight loss, and increased satiety to food, with an increased gastric emptying time evidenced by scintigraphy. Conclusion: APC proved to be a safe and efficacious method.

Olive leaf (OL) supplements are marketed as promoting health and supporting the body in preventing free radical damage. This study examined the effect of different concentrations of OL supplement on the haematological and lipid profile and on the oxidative stability of red blood cells (RBCs). A cohort of healthy pigs was used as a model in a single-centre, randomized, prospective pilot comparison. Twenty four pigs were assigned to three experimental diets: a control group fed the conventional diet and two groups fed the conventional diet supplemented at 50 and at 100 g/kg with OL, during 8 weeks. Blood was collected for haematological, biochemical, and haemostatic studies. OL supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in plasmatic triacylglycerols (TAGs) concentration, aligned with a lower body mass and fat storage but no significant reductions were found for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc) and oxLDL levels. The use of the highest dose resulted in significant RBC membrane destabilization.

Apesar de o Rio Grande do Sul ser considerado um dos estados mais bem inventariados em relação a borboletas, ainda existem lacunas sobre o conhecimento da distribuição de suas espécies. Uma dessas lacunas se encontra na região do extremo sul do estado, onde a maioria dos inventários não especifica a localidade exata da coleta dos exemplares. Nesse sentido, foram identificadas e catalogadas as espécies de borboletas depositadas na Coleção Entomológica da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG. Os 146 exemplares de borboletas depositados na Coleção Entomológica da FURG estão distribuídos em 36 espécies pertencentes às famílias Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae e Nymphalidae. Nymphalidae foi a família mais rica e que apresentou o maior número de indivíduos, enquanto Lycaenidae apresentou a menor riqueza e menor número de exemplares. As espécies mais representadas na Coleção foram Heraclides thoas brasiliensis (Rothschild & Jordan), Agraulis vanillae maculosa (Stichel) e Danaus erippus (Cramer). Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Hesperioidea and Papilionoidea) Identification and Cataloging from the Entomological Collection of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande Abstract. Although Rio Grande do Sul State is considered one of the best inventoried States in relation to the butterflies, there are still gaps in the knowledge of their species distribution. One of these gaps is in the southern extreme of the State, where the majority of the inventories does not specify the exact location where the specimens were collected. Thus, the species of the butterflies deposited in the Entomological Collection of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG were identified and cataloged. The 146 butterfly specimens deposited in the Entomological Collection are distributed in 36 species belonging to the families Hesperiidae, Papilionidae, Pieridae, Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae. Nymphalidae was the richest family and had the highest number of individuals, while Lycaenidae had the lowest richness and number of specimens. The most representative species in the Collection were Heraclides thoas brasiliensis (Rothschild & Jordan), Agraulis vanillae maculosa (Stichel) and Danaus erippus (Cramer).

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most frequent primitive liver malignancy and is responsible for 3% of the malignant gastrointestinal neoplasms. The aims of this study were to determine the association of serum levels of CA 19-9 at diagnosis with other clinical data and serum liver function tests and to identify possible factors that influence the survival rates during follow-up. Methods: Retrospective observational study of 89 patients with a diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma followed at the Department of Gastroenterology during 5 years. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: Patients were followed up for a median time of 127 days (IQR: 48-564), and the median age at diagnosis was 71.0 years (IQR: 62.0-77.5). The median survival rate was 14.0 months (IQR: 4.3-23.7), and the mortality rate was 79%. Patients with CA 19-9 levels ≥103 U/L had lower albumin levels and higher levels of alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyltransferase. CA 19-9 levels ≥103 U/L were associated with a higher probability of metastization (p = 0.001) and lower rates of treatment with curative intent (p = 0.024). In a multivariate analysis, CA 19-9 levels Conclusion: Predictive factors for overall survival were identified, namely presence of metastasis, surgery, and chemotherapy. CA 19-9 levels ≥103 U/L were predictive factors for survival and metastization.

Inflammation is the driving force in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and its link to oxidative stress and carcinogenesis has long been accepted. The antioxidant system of the intestinal mucosa in IBD is compromised resulting in increased oxidative injury. This defective antioxidant system may be the result of genetic variants in antioxidant genes, which can represent susceptibility factors for IBD, namely Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the antioxidant genes SOD2 (rs4880) and GPX1 (rs1050450) were genotyped in a Portuguese population comprising 436 Crohn's disease and 367 ulcerative colitis patients, and 434 healthy controls. We found that the AA genotype in GPX1 is associated with ulcerative colitis (OR = 1.93, adjusted P-value = 0.037). Moreover, we found nominal significant associations between SOD2 and Crohn's disease susceptibility and disease subphenotypes but these did not withstand the correction for multiple testing. These findings indicate a possible link between disease phenotypes and antioxidant genes. These results suggest a potential role for antioxidant genes in IBD pathogenesis and should be considered in future association studies.