Abstract Background The relationship between Multidrug Resistant-Gram Negative Bacteria (MDR-GNB) infection and colonization in critically ill COVID-19 patients has been observed, however, it is still poorly understood. This study evaluated the risk factors for acquiring MDR-GNB in patients with severe COVID-19 in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Methods This is a nested case-control study in a cohort of 400 adult patients (≥ 18 years old) with COVID-19, hospitalized in the ICU of 4 hospitals in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. Cases were critical COVID-19 patients with one or more MDR GNB from any surveillance and/or clinical cultures were taken during their ICU stay. Controls were patients from the same units with negative cultures for MDR-GNB. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were done. Results Sixty-seven cases and 143 controls were included. Independent risk factors for MDR bacteria were: male gender (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.28‒5.33; p = 0.008); the hospital of admission (OR = 3.24; 95% CI 1.39‒7.57; p = 0.006); mechanical ventilation (OR = 25.7; 95% CI 7.26‒91; p < 0.0001); and desaturation on admission (OR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.27‒5.74; p = 0.009). Conclusions Male gender, desaturation, mechanical ventilation, and the hospital of admission were the independent factors associated with MDR-GNB in patients in the ICU with COVID-19. The only modifiable factor was the hospital of admission, where a newly opened hospital posed a higher risk. Therefore, coordinated actions toward a better quality of care for critically ill COVID-19 patients are essential.

Ascorbic acid has important nutritional characteristics such as high antioxidant potential, preventing diverse damage and diseases in the tissues and the process of aging. Different isomeric forms of the ascorbic acid can be found in nature and each one have different potential antioxidant and different activity pro-vitamin C. This work examined a method to detect and quantify the isomers L-ascorbic acid (LAA) and D-iso-ascorbic acid (DIAA) in jelly fruit. The method showed acceptable selectivity, linearity, repeatability and recovery. DIAA was not found in the analyzed samples, but LAA was found up to 605 mg in 100 g of sample.

O artigo trata de um estudo empírico em que a análise de redes sociais é utilizada para mapear o capital social de atores envolvidos em processos de governança ambiental na Amazônia brasileira. Por meio de entrevistas, foi mapeada a rede de relações de diálogo sobre questões socioambientais de um conjunto de 505 atores no Território Portal da Amazônia. Foram identificadas 3384 relações de diálogo, com uma média de 6,7 parceiros de diálogo por ator. A análise dos aspectos estruturais da rede de diálogo foi utilizada para construir indicadores de capital social de ligação, com mapeamento da organização interna dos atores de um mesmo município, e de conexão, com a caracterização das relações entre atores de municípios diferentes. Em nível municipal, a distribuição das duas formas de capital social permitiu caracterizar os grupos de atores de acordo com as suas atuações diferenciadas na governança ambiental do Território. Em nível territorial, o padrão de conectividade entre os 16 municípios mostra um equilíbrio entre as duas formas de capital social e revela o potencial de comunicação e organização dos atores, como demonstrado no exemplo dos projetos de Agendas 21 locais. Estes resultados demonstram como a análise de redes sociais pode contribuir na definição (ou redefinição) das fronteiras dos territórios de modo a incluir um conjunto de municípios cujos atores mantêm relações sociais efetivas. Ações de governança no Portal da Amazônia são propostas com potencial para fortalecer os processos de diálogo, diminuir os conflitos e promover o uso sustentável dos recursos naturais na Amazônia.

The article presents an empirical study where social network analysis is used to map social capital among actors involved in environmental governance processes in the Brazilian Amazon. Using interviews, we carried out the mapping of the dialogue network regarding socio-environmental issues among 505 actors from the Amazonian Gateway Territory. The analysis identified 3384 dialogue relationships. Each actor has an average of 6,7 dialogue partners. The analysis of the structural characteristics of the dialogue network was used to build indicators of social capital of the bonding type, based on the mapping of the organization among actors from the same municipalities, and bridging type, based on the identification of relationships among actors from different municipalities. At the municipal level, the distribution of the two types of social capital allowed the characterization of groups of actors according to their differing participation in the environmental governance of the Territory. At the territorial level, the connectivity pattern among the 16 municipalities exhibits a balance between the two types of social capital and reveals the potential of communication and organization among actors, as demonstrated through the example of the local Agenda 21 projects. These results demonstrate how social network analysis can contribute to the definition (or re-definition) of the territories frontiers in order to include a set of municipalities whose cohesion is based on effective social relationships. We also propose governance actions for the Amazonian Gateway aiming at strengthening dialogue processes, reducing conflicts and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources in the Amazon.

Objetivou-se neste trabalho propor uma metodologia para classificação comercial dos capítulos de gérbera com base no coeficiente de sobreposição das flores trans. Foram utilizados três a oito capítulos de vinte e oito cultivares de gérbera com aptidão para corte e sete acessos não comerciais. Em cada um dos capítulos realizou-se a medição da largura do conjunto das flores trans (flores do raio interno) e a soma da largura do conjunto das flores trans e do raio (flores do raio externo). Com isso, calcularam-se os coeficientes de sobreposição das flores trans (CS= largura do conjunto das flores trans / Σ da largura do conjunto das flores trans e do raio) e submeteram-se os dados à análise multivariada, com a finalidade de verificar o agrupamento mediante matriz de distância euclidiana média. Propõe-se que gérberas com CS= 0,01 a 0,15 sejam classificadas como simples, CS= 0,16 a 0,40, semidobradas e CS superior a 0,41, dobradas. O coeficiente de sobreposição pode ser utilizado para sistematizar a classificação dos capítulos de gérbera, reduzindo as divergências e a subjetividade nas decisões de produtores, floricultores e melhoristas.

The aim of this work was to propose a methodology for commercial classification of gerbera´s capitulum based on the trans flowers overlap coefficient. Three to eight capitula of twenty-eight cultivars of gerbera cut flower and seven non-commercial accesses were used. The width measurement of the trans flowers group (internal ray flower) as well as the sum of the width of the trans and ray flowers (external ray flower) groups were taken from each capitulum. The average of each access and the overlap coefficient were calculated (CS = width of the trans flowers group / Σ of the width of the trans and ray flowers groups) and submitted to the multivariate analysis, to verify the grouping by the average Euclidian distance matrix. It is proposed that gerberas with CS= 0.01 to 0.15 be classified as simple, CS= 0.16 to 0.40 as semi-double and CS superior to 0.41 as double. The overlap coefficient (CS) can be used to systematize the classification of the gerbera capitula, reducing the divergences in the classification and the subjectivity in the decisions of producers, florists and breeders.

A metodologia indicada pela AOAC para a determinação de Vitamina C em sucos e preparados emprega uma titulação com o indicador 2,6-diclorofenol-indofenol. Esta técnica apresenta dificuldades quando são analisadas amostras com intensa coloração. Tendo em vista a necessidade de uma metodologia mais adequada para estas amostras, foram feitas modificações no método tradicional e sua eficácia foi comprovada. Testes comparativos foram realizados entre a metodologia original, a modificada e um método cromatográfico. Seis diferentes geleias de frutas foram analisadas e as modificações propostas foram satisfatórias, ao passo que os resultados foram mais semelhantes aos obtidos pelo método cromatográfico. O sistema apresentou-se linear, repetitivo (desvio padrão de 2,50%), com alta recuperação (102,10%), e uma economia de 92,88% de reagentes foi realizada. Foram encontradas concentrações entre 0 a 6,08 mg de ácido ascórbico por 100 g de amostra.

The AOAC standard methodology for determination of vitamin C in juices and preparations employs a titration with the indicator 2,6-di-chlorophenol-indophenol. This technique presents difficulties when samples with intense coloration are analyzed. Considering the need for a more adequate methodology to deal with these samples, adaptations of the traditional method were performed and their efficacy was verified. Comparative tests were performed on the standard methodology, the modified methodology and the chromatography method. Six different jelly fruits were analyzed and the proposed modifications were considered satisfactory, because these results were closest to the chromatographic results. The system proved to be linear, repeatable (standard deviation of 2.50%), with high recovery (102.10%) and an economy of 92.88% of reagents was achieved. Concentrations were between 0 to 6.08 mg of ascorbic acid per 100 g of sample.

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de confirmar o número de cromossomos em cultivares de Gerbera hybrida Hort., determinar o número de cromossomos em acessos não comerciais de Gerbera sp., avaliar a viabilidade de pólen e a possibilidade de cruzamentos entre cultivares e acessos não comerciais. Foram coletados ápices de raízes e pólen de seis cultivares e de sete acessos não comerciais. O material coletado foi corado com carmim acético a 45%. A contagem dos cromossomos foi realizada em células metafásicas intactas e a estimativa de viabilidade de pólen realizada por meio da contagem do número de grãos de pólen viáveis e não viáveis. A possibilidade de cruzamento entre as cultivares e entre as cultivares e acessos não comerciais foi avaliada por meio da hibridação entre os genitores femininos, cv. Terra Fame e acesso A8, e masculinos, cvs. Cariba e Azteca. Todos os acessos contiveram cinqüenta cromossomos, indicando que a variação morfológica nos capítulos (simples, semidobrado e dobrado) não é devida a mutações cromossômicas numéricas ou a poliploidia. A viabilidade do pólen variou de 87,67% a 99,27%. A formação de sementes foi de 4,46% nos cruzamentos entre cultivares, e de 50% entre o A8 e as cultivares. A compatibilidade genômica entre os acessos, a alta viabilidade do pólen e o sucesso na obtenção de sementes entre acessos comercias e não comerciais, revela a possibilidade de produção de híbridos com novas combinações alélicas e transferência de caracteres desejáveis dos acessos não comerciais para os comerciais

This work was conducted to confirm the chromosomes number of Gerbera hybrida Hort. cultivars, to determine the chromosomes number in the non commercial accessions of Gerbera sp., and to estimate the pollen viability and the possibility of crossings among different accessions. Root-tip and pollen were collected from six cultivars and seven non commercial accessions. The collected material was stained with acetic carmim at 45%. The chromosome counting was performed in metafasic intact cells and the pollen viability estimated by counting the number of viable and non viable pollen grains. The crossing possibility among cultivars and among cultivars and non commercial accessions was evaluated through the hybridization between the feminine cv. Terra Fame and A8 and masculine genitors, cvs. Cariba and Azteca. All accessions presented fifty chromosomes, indicating that the morphological variation in the capitulum (simple, semidouble and double) is not due to the chromosome number mutation or polyploidy. The evaluated accessions displayed high pollen viability, varying from 87.67% to 99.27. The seed formation was 4.46% in the crossings among cultivars, and 50% among cultivar and non commercial accession of gerbera. The genomic compatibility among the accessions, the high pollen viability and the success in the seed formation among commercial and non-commercial accessions, reveal the possibility of hybrid production with new allelic combination and transference of desirable traits from the non-commercial to the commercial accessions.

The maned wolf feeds mainly on fruits and small vertebrates. The diet of maned wolf was studied at Águas Emendadas Ecological Station (AEES) through 328 faecal samples collected from November 1996 to August 1999. To evaluate the seasonal variation in food availability, the fruit phenology of the wolf's fruit, the main food item in maned wolf's diet, was monitored counting the fruits produced in 20 marked plants. Fructification phenology of fleshy fruit plants in the cerrado habitat of AEES was recorded monitoring five plots of 100 x 20 m , where the number of fruit producing species and individuals were recorded. The diet composition was 60% vegetal items and 40% animal ones. The wolf's fruit, other fruits and small mammals were the most frequent consumed categories, but armadillos, wolf's fruit, medium size mammals, and small mammals were the most important categories considering biomass. Maned wolves are generalist, with a broad diet, and consume most of the food items according to their availability. However, wolves are selective with regard to some food items, particularly the wolf's fruit during the dry season.

El aguará guazú se alimenta principalmente de frutos y vertebrados pequeños. Si bien se ha obtenido mucha información acerca de la dieta del aguará guazú, datos sobre la ecología trófica de esta especie en reservas pequeñas del Cerrado son importantes para establecer estrategias de conservación. Se estudió la dieta del aguará guazú en la Estación Ecológica de Águas Emendadas (EEAE) a través de 328 muestras de heces colectadas entre noviembre de 1996 y agosto de 1999. Para evaluar la variación estacional en la disponibilidad de alimentos se analizó la fenología frutal de Solanum lycocarpum, el principal componente de la dieta de este cánido, contando los frutos producidos en 20 plantas marcadas. Se estudió la fenología de fructificación de plantas con frutos carnosos en el ambiente de Cerrado de la EEAE en cinco parcelas de 100 x 20 m , registrándose el número de especies productoras de frutos y sus individuos. La composición de la dieta fue de 60% de ítems vegetales y de 40% de ítems animales. Solanum lycocarpum, otros frutos y los micromamíferos fueron las categorías consumidas con mayor frecuencia, pero considerando la biomasa las categorías más importantes fueron los armadillos, el Solanum lycocarpum y los mamíferos medianos y pequeños. El aguará guazú es generalista, con una dieta amplia, consumiendo la mayor parte del alimento de acuerdo a su disponibilidad. Sin embargo, estos cánidos son selectivos al considerar algunos alimentos, particularmente el Solanum lycocarpum durante la estación seca.