The Influence of Fragmented Landscapes on Speciation.

In the face of unprecedented global transformations, unraveling the intricate mechanisms governing biodiversity patterns is imperative for predicting and interpreting species responses. An important element in this interplay is fragmentation and the spatial mosaic or arrangement of suitable sites within the landscape. Beyond its well-documented impact on biodiversity loss, fragmented landscapes also influence the origin of biodiversity, by influencing speciation dynamics. This research employs a model that integrates spatial configuration and dispersal abilities of individuals to investigate the impact of landscape configuration on species' evolutionary trajectories. Specifically, we propose a microevolutionary model where individuals are characterized by their dispersal ability and a genome, allowing population evolution and diversification. Space is explicitly characterized by suitable and unsuitable sites that define fragmented landscapes. Our model demonstrates how intermediate dispersal abilities enhance diversification. However, simulations of more fragmented landscapes result in a lower total number of individuals and a lower percentage of occupied sites by individuals, particularly when species have limited dispersal abilities. Furthermore, we have found that intermediate levels of fragmentation can stimulate greater species richness, while higher levels of speciation and extinction events tend to occur under higher fragmentations. Our results also show a non-monotonic dependence of richness on dispersal, supporting the intermediate dispersal hypothesis as promotor of diversification, demonstrating the synergistic effects of landscape configuration and species dispersal ability in the processes of speciation, extinction, and diversification. This impact of fragmentation poses a real challenge for biodiversity in the context of a dynamic world.

Lista de verificación de enfermería para la orientación de cuidados domiciliarios a los cuidadores informales en la transición al alta hospitalaria / Nursing Checklist of Home Care Guidelines for Informal Caregivers in the Hospital Discharge Transition / Checklist de enfermagem para a orientação de cuidados domiciliares a cuidadores informais na transição de alta

Introducción: el uso de herramientas previas al alta permite al equipo de enfermería orientar a los cuidadores informales, promoviendo la continuidad de los cuidados en el domicilio, lo que puede minimizar los reingresos. Objetivo: construir y validar una lista de verificación para apoyar al equipo de enfermería en la orientación a los cuidadores informales sobre los cuidados domiciliarios durante el proceso de transición al alta. Materiales y método: investigación metodológica, aplicada a 14 enfermeros jueces, que evaluaron una lista de verificación de orientación de cuidados para cuidadores informales en la transición al alta, realizada en tres etapas: revisión de la literatura; construcción de la lista de verificación; validación por la técnica Delphi, que tuvo lugar de febrero de 2022 a enero de 2023, con los datos tratados por análisis de fiabilidad de la escala, índice de validez de contenido y coeficiente de correlación intraclase. Resultados: la lista de verificación estaba compuesta por 10 dominios: higiene y confort; traqueostomía; oxigenoterapia; nutrición; sonda vesical retrasada; ostomías; vendajes; riesgo de caídas; medicación; devoluciones y remisiones, totalizando 32 orientaciones para los cuidadores informales. La lista de verificación se sometió a dos fases de validación y, tras aplicar los cambios sugeridos por los jueces, se obtuvo un índice de validez de contenido del 100 % de concordancia entre los evaluadores, con un alfa de Cronbach de 0,84 y un índice de correlación intraclase de 0,80. Conclusiones: la lista de verificación presenta buena fiabilidad, correlación intraclase y validación de contenido, y puede ser aplicada en la práctica profesional y en el ambiente científico, en la transición del alta en pacientes críticos, ayudando a promover la continuidad de los cuidados en el domicilio.

Introdução: a utilização de ferramentas na pré-alta hospitalar capacita a equipe de enfermagem na orientação de cuidadores informais, promovendo a continuidade do cuidado no domicílio, o que pode minimizar reinternações. Objetivo: construir e validar um checklist para apoiar a equipe de enfermagem na orientação de cuidadores informais sobre os cuidados domiciliares no processo de transição de alta. Materiais e método: pesquisa metodológica, aplicada a 14 juízes enfermeiros, que avaliaram um checklist de orientação de cuidados para cuidadores informais na transição para a alta, realizada em três etapas: revisão da literatura; construção do checklist; validação pela técnica Delphi, ocorrida de fevereiro de 2022 a janeiro de 2023, sendo os dados tratados por análise de confiabilidade de escala, índice de validade de conteúdo e coeficiente de correlação intraclasses. Resultados: o checklist foi composto de 10 domínios: higiene e conforto; traqueostomia; oxigenoterapia; nutrição; sonda vesical de demora; ostomias; curativos; risco de quedas; medicações; retornos e encaminhamentos, totalizando 32 orientações aos cuidadores informais. O checklist passou por duas etapas de validação e, após a implementação das alterações sugeridas pelos juízes, obteve-se um índice de validade de conteúdo de 100 % de concordância entre os avaliadores, com um alfa de Cronbach de 0,84 e um índice de correlação intraclasses de 0,80. Conclusões: o checklist apresenta boa confiabilidade, correlação intraclasses e validação de conteúdo, podendo ser aplicado na prática profissional e no meio científico, na transição de alta em pacientes críticos, auxiliando na promoção da continuidade da assistência no domicílio.

Introduction: The use of pre-discharge tools enables the nursing team to guide informal caregivers, promoting continued care at home, which can minimize readmissions. Objective: To develop and validate a checklist to support the nursing team in guiding informal caregivers regarding home care during the discharge transition process. Materials and Methods: This is a methodological study, submitted to 14 nurse judges, who evaluated a checklist on care guidelines for informal caregivers in the hospital discharge transition. The study was performed in three stages: A literature review, the development of the checklist, and validation using the Delphi technique, which was conducted from February 2022 to January 2023, and the data was treated using scale reliability analysis, a content validity index, and an intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: The checklist was comprised of 10 domains: Hygiene and comfort; tracheostomy; oxygen therapy; nutrition; indwelling urinary catheter; ostomies; dressings; risk of falls; medication; returns and referrals, totaling 32 guidelines for informal caregivers. The checklist was submitted to two validation stages and, after implementing the changes suggested by the judges, a content validity index of 100% agreement was obtained between the evaluators, with a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.84 and an intraclass correlation index of 0.80. Conclusions: The checklist presents good reliability, intraclass correlation, and content validation, and can be applied in professional practice and scientific settings regarding the transition to hospital discharge of critically ill patients, helping to promote continued care at home.

Position of Polyclithrum within Gyrodactylidae (Monogenoidea): incongruences between morphological and molecular phylogenies.

This study aimed to enhance our understanding in monogenoid evolution by using morphological and molecular data to determine kinship relationships between species and changes in morphological structures over time. We focused on variations in characteristics among the organisms of the family Gyrodactylidae, concentrating on the phylogenetic position of Polyclithrum with other genera in the family. We collected specimens of Polyclithrum from the striped mullet, Mugil cephalus and Swingleus, and Fundulotrema specimens from mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus in estuarine systems of South Carolina, United States. In addition, we analyzed them and other genera (including e.g., Mormyrogyrodactylus, Gyrodactyloides, and Macrogyrodactylus) using both morphological and molecular (18S rDNA) approaches. We performed phylogenetic trees based on Maximum Parsymony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference, and constructed a character morphological matrix by Parsimony Reconstruction of Ancestral Character States method. Our results suggest a homoplastic origin with evolutionary convergences in characters, revealing that there is inconsistency between our data and previously published works based solely on morphological structures of the group. The homoplasy scenario found in Gyrodactylidae can be a result of the limited set of putative homologous morphological features. However, differences between the phylogenies based on morphology and those based on molecular data may arise from both databases. While morphology remains essential in understanding the evolution of this group, molecular data, otherwise, provide a less biased source of information for constructing phylogenetic hypotheses. Combining these data facilitates a better comprehension of the homologous status of morphological features and to understand Gyrodactylidae evolutionary history.

Active teaching strategies improve nursing knowledge and skills to assist burn victims.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention, on nurses' self-perception, about knowledge and skills for initial care for burn victims. METHODS: a quasi-experimental study of the type before and after, with 18 nurses who assist burn victims. The intervention was carried out for 11 days in face-to-face meetings and online activities, and comprised active case-based learning strategies, simulation training, concept maps and digital portfolio. A structured instrument was used to collect sociodemographic data, and another one related to the knowledge and essential skills to the initial care for burn victims. RESULTS: The average scores found before the intervention ranged from 2.78 to 3.33 and, after the intervention, they ranged from 3.89 to 4.72. Relevant statistical differences (p <0.005) were found in all questions addressed. CONCLUSION: this educational intervention, based on innovative teaching methods, showed a positive impact on nurses' knowledge and skills on initial care for people with burns.

Molecular evidence of new freshwater turtle blood flukes (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) in the intermediate snail host Biomphalaria occidentalis Paraense, 1981 in an urban aquatic ecosystem in Brazil.

In this study, two potentially new species of turtle blood flukes (TBFs) (Digenea: Spirorchiidae) have been recorded from South Brazil. The spirorchiid parasites infect the vascular system of turtles, thereby compromising their health. The life cycle of these parasites is not well studied. The larval stage of cercaria is found in intermediate gastropod hosts, with some species presenting similar morphological characteristics, which can result in misinterpretations when using only morphological taxonomy for species identification. In this study, we recorded a single morphotype belonging to the family Spirorchiidae in Biomphalaria occidentalis in an urban aquatic ecosystem in Brazil. However, molecular data (28S rDNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit I) confirmed the presence of two species of Spirorchiidae in the sampled environment; both phylogenetically close to genera previously studied in freshwater turtles from the Peruvian Amazon. In this study, species characterization was possible because of molecular tools. We recommend using more than one molecular marker in future studies focusing on TBFs, which need attention about their evolutionary history and ecology to understand their distribution in South America.

Active teaching strategies improve nursing knowledge and skills to assist burn victims / Las estrategias de aprendizaje activas mejoran los conocimientos y las habilidades de enfermeros para la atención de persona con quemaduras / Estratégias ativas de ensino melhoram conhecimentos e habilidades de enfermeiros, para atendimento à pessoa com queimaduras

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate the impact of an educational intervention, on nurses' self-perception, about knowledge and skills for initial care for burn victims. Methods: a quasi-experimental study of the type before and after, with 18 nurses who assist burn victims. The intervention was carried out for 11 days in face-to-face meetings and online activities, and comprised active case-based learning strategies, simulation training, concept maps and digital portfolio. A structured instrument was used to collect sociodemographic data, and another one related to the knowledge and essential skills to the initial care for burn victims. Results: The average scores found before the intervention ranged from 2.78 to 3.33 and, after the intervention, they ranged from 3.89 to 4.72. Relevant statistical differences (p <0.005) were found in all questions addressed. Conclusion: this educational intervention, based on innovative teaching methods, showed a positive impact on nurses' knowledge and skills on initial care for people with burns.

RESUMEN Objetivo: evaluar el efecto de la intervención educativa sobre la autopercepción de los enfermeros sobre los conocimientos y las habilidades para la atención inicial de las personas que sufrieron quemaduras. Métodos: estudio cuasi experimental antes-después, con 18 enfermeros que atienden a pacientes que sufrieron quemaduras. La intervención se llevó a cabo durante once días en reuniones presenciales y actividades online y incluyó estrategias de aprendizaje activas basadas en casos, simulación realista, mapas conceptuales y portafolio digital. Se utilizó un instrumento estructurado para la recolección de datos sociodemográficos y otro relacionado con los conocimientos y habilidades esenciales para la atención inicial de las personas con quemaduras. Resultados: Las puntuaciones medias obtenidas antes de la intervención oscilaron entre 2,78 y 3,33 y después de la intervención, entre 3,89 y 4,72. Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<0,005) en todas las preguntas abordadas. Conclusión: esta intervención educativa basada en métodos de enseñanza innovadores mostró un efecto positivo en los conocimientos y las habilidades de los enfermeros en la atención inicial de las personas con quemaduras.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar o efeito de intervenção educativa, na autopercepção de enfermeiros, sobre conhecimentos e habilidades para atendimento inicial a pessoa que sofreu queimaduras. Métodos: estudo quase experimental do tipo antes e depois, com 18 enfermeiros que assistem pacientes que sofreram queimaduras. A intervenção, realizada durante 11 dias em encontros presenciais e atividades on-line, compreendeu as estratégias ativas case-based learning, simulação realística, mapas conceituais e portfólio digital. Utilizou-se um instrumento estruturado para coleta de dados sociodemográficos, e outro referente ao conhecimento e habilidades essenciais ao atendimento inicial a pessoa com queimaduras. Resultados: As pontuações médias obtidas antes da intervenção variaram de 2,78 a 3,33 e, após a intervenção variam de 3,89 a 4,72. Observou-se diferenças estatisticamente significantes (p<0,005) em todas as questões abordadas. Conclusão: esta intervenção educativa, baseada em métodos de ensino inovadores, mostrou efeito positivo nos conhecimentos e habilidades dos enfermeiros sobre o atendimento inicial a pessoa com queimaduras.

Checklist of parasites in fish from the upper Paraná River floodplain: An update.

This study provides an updated list of parasite species and their respective hosts in the upper Paraná River floodplain. The list of parasites is structured by phylum, class, order and family, followed by a record of each host species. A total of 315 taxa of parasites were reported, of which 201 were identified at the species level. These 201 species comprise 3 Flagellata, 3 Myxozoa, 50 Monogenea, 43 Digenea, 40 Cestoda, 41 Nematoda, 8 Acanthocephala, 6 Copepoda, 5 Branchiura and 2 Pentastomida, arranged in 84 host fish species. This work carried out in the floodplain of the upper Paraná River contributes to the listing of parasite species and host interactions of the local ichthyofauna. Little is known about these communities and its riches are underestimated due to the high density of fish found in this region, highlighting the importance of conducting studies on the local fauna.

Checklist of parasites in fish from the upper Paraná River floodplain: An update / Lista de parasitos em peixes da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná: uma atualização

Abstract This study provides an updated list of parasite species and their respective hosts in the upper Paraná River floodplain. The list of parasites is structured by phylum, class, order and family, followed by a record of each host species. A total of 315 taxa of parasites were reported, of which 201 were identified at the species level. These 201 species comprise 3 Flagellata, 3 Myxozoa, 50 Monogenea, 43 Digenea, 40 Cestoda, 41 Nematoda, 8 Acanthocephala, 6 Copepoda, 5 Branchiura and 2 Pentastomida, arranged in 84 host fish species. This work carried out in the floodplain of the upper Paraná River contributes to the listing of parasite species and host interactions of the local ichthyofauna. Little is known about these communities and its riches are underestimated due to the high density of fish found in this region, highlighting the importance of conducting studies on the local fauna.

Resumo Este estudo fornece uma lista atualizada de espécies de parasitos e seus respectivos hospedeiros da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná. A lista de parasitos está estruturada em filo, classe, ordem e família, seguida do registro de cada espécie de hospedeiro. São relatados 315 táxons de parasitos e, destes, 201 foram identificados por espécie. Essas 201 espécies compreendem: 3 Flagellata, 3 Myxozoa, 50 Monogenea, 43 Digenea, 40 Cestoda, 41 Nematoda, 8 Acanthocephala, 6 Copepoda, 5 Branchiura e 2 Pentastomida, distribuídos em 84 espécies de hospedeiros. Este trabalho, realizado na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, contribui para a listagem de espécies de parasitos e interações parasito-hospedeiro da ictiofauna local. Pouco dessas comunidades é conhecida, e suas riquezas são subestimadas devido à alta densidade de peixes encontrados nessa região, destacando-se a importância da realização de estudos sobre a fauna local.

Neonatal exposure to bisphenol A alters the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in female rats.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and polystyrene found in many common products. Several reports revealed potent in vivo and in vitro effects. In this study we analyzed the effects of the exposure to BPA in the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in female rats, both in vivo and in vitro. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were injected sc from postnatal day 1 (PND1) to PND10 with BPA: 500 µg 50 µl-1 oil (B500), or 50 µg 50 µl-1 (B50), or 5 µg 50 µl-1 (B5). Controls were injected with 50 µl vehicle during the same period. Neonatal exposure to BPA did not modify TSH levels in PND13 females, but it increased them in adults in estrus. Serum T4 was lower in B5 and B500 with regards to Control, whereas no difference was seen in T3. No significant differences were observed in TRH, TSHß and TRH receptor expression between groups. TSH release from PPC obtained from adults in estrus was also higher in B50 with regard to Control. In vitro 24 h pre-treatment with BPA or E2 increased basal TSH as well as prolactin release. On the other hand, both BPA and E2 lowered the response to TRH. The results presented here show that the neonatal exposure to BPA alters the hypothalamic pituitary-thyroid axis in adult rats in estrus, possibly with effects on the pituitary and thyroid. They also show that BPA alters TSH release from rat PPC through direct actions on the pituitary.