The effect of visitor number and spice provisioning in pacing expression by jaguars evaluated through a case study / O efeito do número de visitantes e do provisionamento de especiaria na expressão do pacing por onças-pintadas avaliado por estudo de caso

Abstract Captive animals exhibit stereotypic pacing in response to multiple causes, including the inability to escape from human contact. Environmental enrichment techniques can minimize pacing expression. By using an individual-based approach, we addressed whether the amount of time two males and a female jaguar (Panthera onca) devote to pacing varied with the number of visitors and tested the effectiveness of cinnamon and black pepper in reducing pacing. The amount of time that all jaguars engaged in pacing increased significantly with the number of visitors. Despite the difference between the males regarding age and housing conditions, both devoted significantly less time to pacing following the addition of both spices, which indicates their suitability as enrichment techniques. Mean time devoted to pacing among the treatments did not differ for the female. Our findings pointed out to the validity of individual-based approaches, as they can reveal how suitable olfactory stimuli are to minimizing stereotypies irrespective of particular traits.

Resumo Animais cativos exibem a estereotipia pacing em resposta a múltiplos fatores, os quais incluem a incapacidade de escapar da exposição ao público. As técnicas de enriquecimento ambiental podem minimizar a expressão do pacing. Usando uma abordagem individual, nós investigamos se a extensão de tempo que dois machos e uma fêmea de onça-pintada (Panthera onca) dispendem com pacing variou em função do número de visitantes e testamos a eficácia da canela e da pimenta-do-reino na redução do pacing. A extensão de tempo em pacing aumentou significativamente com o número de visitantes para todos os indivíduos. Apesar da diferença entre os machos com relação à idade e às condições no cativeiro, ambos devotaram ao pacing menos tempo após a administração das duas especiarias, o que indica a adequabilidade dessas como técnicas de enriquecimento. Para a fêmea, o tempo médio dispendido com pacing não variou entre os tratamentos. Nossos resultados respaldam a validade da realização de abordagens individuais, uma vez que essas podem revelar o grau de eficácia dos estímulos olfativos na minimização de estereotipias independentemente de características particulares.

The effect of visitor number and spice provisioning in pacing expression by jaguars evaluated through a case study.

Captive animals exhibit stereotypic pacing in response to multiple causes, including the inability to escape from human contact. Environmental enrichment techniques can minimize pacing expression. By using an individual-based approach, we addressed whether the amount of time two males and a female jaguar (Panthera onca) devote to pacing varied with the number of visitors and tested the effectiveness of cinnamon and black pepper in reducing pacing. The amount of time that all jaguars engaged in pacing increased significantly with the number of visitors. Despite the difference between the males regarding age and housing conditions, both devoted significantly less time to pacing following the addition of both spices, which indicates their suitability as enrichment techniques. Mean time devoted to pacing among the treatments did not differ for the female. Our findings pointed out to the validity of individual-based approaches, as they can reveal how suitable olfactory stimuli are to minimizing stereotypies irrespective of particular traits.

Is expression of rat breast matrix components influenced by estrogen, progestins and tibolone?

AIM: To study the effects of estrogen therapy, alone or combined with progestogens, and of tibolone on the expression of heparanase (HSPE), extracellular matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9), perlecan and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in normal breast tissue. METHODS: Thirty 250-day-old Wistar rats were castrated and 3 weeks later received one of the following treatments by gavage for 5 weeks: (1) estradiol benzoate; (2) estradiol benzoate + medroxyprogesterone acetate; (3) estradiol benzoate + norethisterone acetate; (4) estradiol benzoate + dydrogesterone; (5) tibolone; (6) placebo. Following treatment, the expressions of mRNA for HSPE, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were analyzed by real-time PCR and the protein expressions of HSPE, MMP-2, MMP-9, perlecan and PCNA were quantified by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference among the groups for the expression of HSPE mRNA due to high levels in the tibolone group. The groups differed in terms of PCNA, with lower levels found in the tibolone group followed by the estradiol benzoate + dydrogesterone group. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed for PCNA versus perlecan and MMP-9. CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the effects of combinations of estradiol and different progestogens on extracellular matrix components, and breast cell proliferation was associated with increases in perlecan and MMP-9.

Placement of dental implants in the maxillary tuberosity: a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review was to identify clinical studies on implants placed in the tuberosity region to determine the survival rate of these implants when compared to implants placed in other regions of the maxilla. A search for data published up until March 2014 was undertaken using the PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and ScienceDirect databases. Eligible studies were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. The first database search revealed 310 titles. After inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, five studies remained for the detailed analysis. A total of 113 patients were followed for a period of 6-144 months; 289 implants were placed in the patients evaluated. There were eight failures/losses of dental implants in the tuberosity region; the overall survival rate was 94.63% for these implants. In controlled studies, the cumulative survival rates for implants placed in the maxillary tuberosity and other maxillary regions were 96.1% and 95%, respectively. In conclusion, implants placed into the maxillary tuberosity are a predictable alternative for the treatment of patients with insufficient bone volume in the maxillary region. However, randomized trials are needed to assess the effectiveness of this treatment.

Evaluation of the genotoxic activity of ethanol extract and secondary metabolites isolated from Aiouea trinervis Meisn. (Lauraceae).

Aiouea trinervis Meisn. is a shrub that grows in the "Cerrado" (a savanna ecosystem) of Brazil. In this study, fractionation of ethanol extracts (EEs) from the leaves of A. trinervis led to the isolation of butanolides, namely isoobtusilactone A and obtusilactone A, as well as lignans, namely sesamin, methylpiperitol, and polyprenol-12. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses. The genotoxic properties were evaluated for mutagenic and recombinogenic effects using the wing spot test (somatic mutation and recombination test, SMART) on Drosophila melanogaster. The standard and high bioactivation crosses were used. The latter cross is characterized by high sensitivity to promutagens and procarcinogens. EEs were evaluated at concentrations of 0.625, 1.25, and 2.5 mg/mL. Butanolides (isoobtusilactone A and obtusilactone A) were evaluated at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/mL. The results observed in both crosses were similar and indicated that EEs from the leaves of A. trinervis did not show genotoxicity at the doses that were used. However, the individuals resulting from standard and high bioactivation crosses that were treated with isoobtusilactone A and obtusilactone A showed statistically significant increases in mutant spots compared to those that were obtained in the negative control. Similar results were obtained between standard and high bioactivation crosses, indicating that butanolides had a genotoxic activity.

Biomechanical methods applied in martial arts studies

Martial arts are practiced in both amateur and in high professional level, stimulating scientific research in several areas of knowledge, including biomechanics. The main purpose of this review is to present the biomechanics methods used in the study of martial arts. The great importance of this study is the compilation of information science of what has already been analyzed under the biomechanics aspects related to martial arts and how this has been done. The methodology was directed to the revision of literature starting from articles, books, and seminars. From the collection of bibliographic surveys, it has been concluded that depending on the parameters studied e.g.: reaction time, speed, strength, power, among others, there is the need to apply one or more methods since there are situations in which only one biomechanical method will not be enough to answer the pointed question. It is also concluded that the investigated studies in the presented review showed the character of a descriptive examination, not directly applied to the development of techniques used on different modalities.

Preferência de oviposição e sua relação com o desempenho de Diaphania hyalinata (L, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) em cucurbitáceas / Preferência de oviposição e sua relação com o desempenho de Diaphania hyalinata (L, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) em cucurbitáceas

Diaphania hyalinata L. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) destaca-se como principal praga da família Cucurbitaceae. Este lepidóptero é oligófago de hábito polífago, que desperta largo interesse de estudos da sua ecologia comportamental por motivos de manejo em culturas de grande importância econômica como o meloeiro (Cucumis melo L.). Dada esta situação, trabalhos básicos de entendimento de aspectos da ecologia são necessários para a melhoria das formas de manejo, principalmente no aspecto do monitoramento populacional. Diante disso, a presente pesquisa teve como objetivo verificar se a escolha do hospedeiro exercida por fêmeas de D. hyalinata corresponde ao melhor desempenho da prole e como os hospedeiros influenciam sua dinâmica populacional. Testes de oviposição com chance de escolha foram realizados em melão, melancia, maxixe, bucha, melãode-são-caetano e pepino, para estabelecimento de um ranking de preferência. Para o desempenho das lagartas e reprodução foi escolhido o melão (dentre o mais preferido) e a bucha e o pepino (dentre os hospedeiros menos preferidos). Os resultados suportam a hipótese de que a escolha de hospedeiro é relacionada com o desempenho da prole e que D. hyalinata demonstrou possuir plasticidade ao lidar com diferentes hospedeiros o que pode ser um indicativo de capacidade de adaptação a recursos alimentares que flutuam em termos de qualidade e disponibilidade. No entanto, de modo geral, esta plasticidade tem custos elevados, principalmente em termos reprodutivos.

Diaphania hyalinata L. (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) stands out as a major pest of the Cucurbitaceae family. This insect is oligophagous with a polyphagous habit, which arouses wide interest in studies of their behavioral ecology for reasons of pest management in crops of high economic importance such as muskmelon (Cucumis melo L.). Given this situation, basic studies aimed at an understanding of ecological aspects of this pest are needed to improve pest management systems, especially in the aspect of population monitoring. Given this, the present study was aimed to determine whether the choice of the host exerted by females of D. hyalinata corresponds to the best performance of the offspring and how the hosts influence their population dynamics. Oviposition-choice tests were performed on melon, watermelon, cucumber, loofah, balsam apple and cucumber, to establish a ranking of preference. For the performance of larvae and reproduction the melon was chosen (among the most preferred hosts) along with loofah and cucumber (among the least preferred hosts). The results support the hypothesis that the choice of host is related to the performance of the offspring and D. hyalinata has demonstrated plasticity in dealing with different hosts which may be indicative of ability to adapt to fluctuating food resources in terms of quality and availability. However, generally this plasticity is expensive, especially in reproductive terms.

Interobserver perceptual analysis of smokers voice.

The purpose of this study was to investigate variations in the voice by three experienced speech-language therapists. Forty-eight men and nine women from the Associação dos Alcoólicos Anônimos, Santos were studied. Their ages were from 28 to 81 years, with median of 49 years and everyone was a smoker for 60 to 720 months. Most of them used more than 20 cigarettes a day and all of them had stopped alcohol use for 1 to 25 months. The perceptual analysis of the voices was performed by means of the GRBAS scale. The voice sample consisted of a sustained vowel /a/ at a comfortable pitch and loudness level. The three judges were blinded to the opinion of their colleagues and a kappa test was applied. For roughness, the concordance rates were 59.6% for observers 1 and 2 (kappa = 0.234); 47.4% for 1 and 3 (kappa = 0.047) and 52.6% (kappa = 0.016) for 2 and 3. For breathiness, the concordance rates were 80.7% for observers 1 and 2 (kappa = 0.191); 57.9% for 1 and 3 (kappa = 0.147) and 57.9% (kappa = 0.156) for 2 and 3. With regard to asthenic quality, there was concordance of 100% for observers 1 and 2, so kappa could not be applied; the concordance rate was 96.5% for 1 and 3 and for 2 and 3. The evaluation for strained voice revealed concordance rates of 71.9% for observers 1 and 2 (kappa = -0.017); 59.6% for 1 and 3 (kappa = 0.095) and 70.2% (kappa = 0.039) for 2 and 3. The disagreement among the observers was worst for pathological rather than normal voices; when disagreement was present among experienced judges, it was of only one point in the scale used.

Cellular mechanisms involved in the increased contraction of portal veins from Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice.

We previously reported that portal veins from mice infected with male Schistosoma mansoni exhibited an increased reactivity to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). Here, we extended our observations to mice infected by both male and female worms and we further investigated another constrictor agent and the mechanism(s) responsible for the enhanced maximal contraction ( E(max)). Bisexual infection increased the E(max) of 5-HT (from 0.66+/-0.06 mN.s to 1.56+/-0.38 mN.s), in a similar way to the unisexual (male) infection. Infection with male worms increased portal vein reactivity to acetylcholine, as revealed by a higher E(max) (1.03+/-0.2 mN.s) in relation to non-infected control animals ( E(max)= 0.54+/-0.08 mN.s). Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) inhibition with 100 nM thapsigargin reduced the E(max) of 5-HT by 35% in both tissues, discharging a deficiency of SERCA pump in infected animals. In contrast, the number of voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (L-type) was higher in portal veins from infected than non-infected control mice. Inhibition of Ca(2+)-activated chloride channels (Cl(Ca)) with 10 micro M niflumic acid reduced the E(max) of 5-HT in portal veins more from infected than non-infected animals (remaining tension = 60.9+/-2.2% and 70.4+/-2.3%, respectively). Histopathological analysis revealed an increased content of collagen and elastin in portal veins from male S. mansoni-infected mice, compatible with an increased intraluminal pressure. In conclusion, male S. mansoni altered portal vein physiology, increasing the E(max) of two vasoconstrictors, possibly by increasing membrane depolarisation through a more effective opening of Cl(Ca) channels, with calcium entering through L-type Ca(2+) channels.

Intracerebral hemorrhage after combined anticoagulant-thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction: two case reports and a short review.

Intracerebral hemorrhage complicating anticoagulant-thrombolytic therapy for myocardial infarction is infrequent but is associated with grave prognostic implications. We report two cases and review current management recommendations.

Hyperthermic potentiation of BCNU toxicity in BCNU-resistant human glioma cells.

Experimental evidence indicating potentiation of the cytotoxic effect of drugs at high temperatures suggests that the utilization of drug-heat combinations for gliomas of the brain might be therapeutically useful. Hyperthermia may increase the cytotoxicity of a particular drug in areas of low drug concentration/time and in cell populations resistant to the drug. We report in vitro experiments with a BCNU resistant, U-373MG, and a BCNU sensitive, U-87MG, human derived glioma cell lines under hyperthermic conditions. Temperatures equal or above 42 degrees C potentiate BCNU cell kill in both lines. The thermo-sensitizer lidocaine increases thermal cell kill but only minimally with concentrations corresponding to therapeutic plasma lidocaine levels. Within our experimental conditions, the best strategy to overcome BCNU resistance involved a combination of heat, BCNU and cis-DDP. BCNU resistant cells have no cross resistance to cis-DDP and the combination of BCNU and cis-DDP is synergistic. At modest hyperthermic conditions (42 degrees C) 99.4% BCNU resistant cells are killed by a combination of BCNU and cis-DDP at drug concentrations identical to plasma concentrations after standard IV doses. Clinical protocols using heat and drug may need to incorporate two or more drugs for optimal effects.

Brachial-plexus injury after clavicular fracture: case report and literature review.

Brachial plexus injury is a rare complication of the fractured clavicle. The authors describe the second reported case of brachial plexus injury due to secondary fracture displacement. This case emphasizes the following points: the neurologic status of the arm after a fracture of the clavicle must be documented; fractures of the middle one-third of the clavicle are prone to displacement; patients should be advised to report immediately any new symptoms in the arm; when fracture displacement is the cause of brachial-plexus compression then a trial of conservative therapy is indicated; the prognosis for neurologic recovery after this injury is good.

A comparison of heat and radiation sensitivity of three human glioma cell lines.

Three human glioma cell lines were tested for radiation and hyperthermia sensitivity and compared to the responses of a normal human fibroblast cell line. The radiation response of the glioma cell lines exhibited a large shoulder on the radiation survival curve indicating radioresistance when compared to the more radiosensitive fibroblast cell line. The hyperthermia response for the glioma cell lines was qualitatively similar to responses reported for other cell lines. When compared to normal human fibroblasts the glioma cells were found to be more sensitive to hyperthermia than the normal fibroblasts indicating hyperthermia may be a promising method or adjunct to radiotherapy in the treatment of resistant glioma cells or tumors. The results also show that both the radiation and thermal response is influenced by cell culture conditions and growth status. Two of the cell lines grown to confluency and treated in confluency showed an increased radiation resistance at low doses and the cell lines showed decreased resistance at high doses compared to cells plated to confluency (see Methods and Materials). An increased thermal resistance, especially at the lower heating temperatures, was also observed for cells grown to confluency. Measurements of residual glucose in the culture medium at the time of irradiation was about the same for the two culture methods (55%-65%). Cell cycle analysis showed that the differences were not related to changes in cell cycle distribution.

Multiple noncontiguous fractures of the cervical spine.

Multiple noncontiguous fracture-subluxations of the cervical spine are fractures and subluxations separated by at least one normal intervening cervical vertebra. A review of all 66 consecutive cervical spine fractures treated by the Division of Neurosurgery at the University of Ottawa during 26 consecutive months revealed six such cases (9%). These injuries are more common than previously recognized. Special consideration is required in their treatment because of the presence of a mobile intermediate segment in some of these patients.

Drug cytotoxicity at elevated temperature. In vitro study on the U-87MG glioma cell line.

The malignant glioma cell line U-87MG was used for 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU), aziridinylbenzoquinone (AZQ), cis-diaminodichloroplatinum (II) (cis-DDP), and spirohydantoin mustard (SHM) treatments at 37 degrees and 42 degrees C. With the exception of SHM, all drugs killed a greater proportion of cells at the higher temperature, as assessed by the colony-formation assay. Drug-dose enhancement ratios were 1.6, 2.8, 2, and 1:1 for BCNU, AZQ, cis-DDP, and SHM, respectively. Because methods to heat discrete volumes of brain are now available, we conclude that hyperthermic increase of BCNU, AZQ, and cis-DDP cytotoxicity might have therapeutic application for malignant gliomas.

Subarachnoid-pleural fistula complicating thoracotomy: case report and review of the literature.

We describe a patient who developed a persistent pleural effusion due to a subarachnoid-pleural fistula after operation for lung carcinoma and then review the literature on iatrogenic subarachnoid-pleural fistulas.

Neurolysis combined with the application of a silastic envelope for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.

Sixty-six patients with ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow underwent neurolysis and the application of a Silastic envelope in an attempt to prevent postoperative scarring and recurrence of symptoms. All patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively using a numerical scoring system that included clinical, motor, and sensory evaluation as well as nerve conduction studies. The Silastic material was well tolerated in the 70 cases. The overall 66% score improvement was more closely related to clinical relief (64%) than to improvement in motor conduction velocities (45%). Our 10-year experience indicates that ulnar neurolysis with Silastic envelope interposition is a safe surgical method of treatment for ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.

Relative biological effectiveness of 125I sources in a murine brachytherapy model.

The relative biological effectiveness of 125I and 192Ir has been determined in a murine brachytherapy model that uses a clonogenic cell assay as the end point. Removable 125I or 192Ir sources were implanted at right angles to the surface of RIF-1 tumors grown in the flanks of C3H/He mice. After irradiation for 1-5 days, mice were sacrificed and isodosed annuli of irradiated tumor tissue were sampled for the clonogenic cell assay. The slopes and intercepts of the two radiation survival curves for implanted sources with activities of 10 to 50 Gy for 125I (dose rate = 39.8 +/- 4.3 cGy/hr) and 192Ir (dose rate = 42.3 +/- 2.7 cGy/hr) were identical; the relative biological effectiveness was 1.

The meiotic chromosomes of Cebus apella (Cebidae, Platyrrhini).

An analysis of the meiotic chromosomes of Cebus apella (Cebidae, Platyrrhini) has allowed for the visualization of constitutive heterochromatic regions throughout the meiotic cycle and has permitted the identification of four chromosomes in the first and the second divisions. In pachytene nuclei, and in pachytene spreads where synaptonemal complexes were visible, one heterochromatic region was frequently unpaired. No chiasmata were found in heterochromatic regions, and there was no evidence of chiasma terminalization. The role of heterochromatin in homologous pairing and its relationship to chiasma position and number in meiotic configurations were discussed. A comparison was made between bivalent 9 in C. apella and bivalent 21 in man, based on the interspecific homologies between these chromosomes. A similar comparison was made between the Algerian and Asian hedgehogs, where marked differences in the content of constitutive heterochromatin occur in two chromosome pairs.

The meiotic chromosomes of Cebus apella (Cebidae, Platyrrhini)

An analysis of the meiotic chromosomes of Cebus apella (Cebidae, Platyrrhini) has allowed for the visualization of constitutive heterochromatic regions throughout the meiotic cycle and has permitted the identification of four chromosomes in the first and the second divisions. In pachytene nuclei, and in pachytene spreads where synaptonemal complexes were visible, one heterochromatic region was frequently unpaired. No chiasmata were found in heterochromatic regions, and there was no evidence of chiasma terminalization. The role of heterochromatin in homologous pairing and its relationship to chiasma position and number in meiotic configurations were discussed. A comparison was made between bivalent 9 in C. apella and bivalent 21 in man, based on the interspecific homologies between these chromosomes. A similar comparison was made between the Algerian and Asian hedgehogs, where marked differences in the content of constitutive heterochromatin occur in two chromosome pairs.