Frugivorous bat (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) community structure and trophic relations in Atlantic Forest fragments

We evaluated the structure of a community of frugivorous bats using composition and abundance patterns, niche amplitude and food overlap of these animals in four Atlantic Forest fragments, each one exposed to different conservation realities. For twelve months, we captured six bat species and found the seeds of 13 species of pioneering plants in 158 fecal samples. The most abundant bat species were Artibeus planirostris (25.4%), Artibeus lituratus (24.1%) and Carollia perspicillata(23.9%). Only one fragment (Fazenda Unida), the most conserved area, exhibited a significantly different composition and abundance of species. We found low trophic niche amplitude values (<0.60), associated to high food overlaps. Our results suggest that bats can adjust their foraging strategy to deal with food availability variations. By favoring pioneering plant species, the fragmentation process noted of the studied areas creates an attractive environment for bats more tolerant to this type of disturbance. The sampled areas represent important secondary forest remnants in southern Brazil that require attention to avoid an even greater loss of bat diversity.

Establishment and application of intelligent nutritional diet analysis system in hospital / 医疗卫生装备

Objective To establish an intelligent nutritional diet analysis system in the hospital to guide and monitor the patient's diets and nutrition.Methods Individual health report and nutrition prescription were output intelligently through an intelligent nutritional diet knowledge-based system as well as the interfaces between the modules of electronic record interchange,intelligent nutrition analysis and diet management,and the modules were all interfaced with HIS and LIS respectively.Results The patient's diets and satisfaction were all enhanced by the system.Conclusion The system integrates computer technology into nutritional diet management to realize whole-course traceable closed-loop management.

Ecological patterns of blood-feeding by kissing-bugs (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)

Host use by vectors is important in understanding the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which can affect humans, wildlife and domestic animals. Here, a synthesis of host exploitation patterns by kissing-bugs, vectors of Chagas disease, is presented. For this synthesis, an extensive literature review restricted to feeding sources analysed by precipitin tests was conducted. Modern tools from community ecology and multivariate statistics were used to determine patterns of segregation in host use. Rather than innate preferences for host species, host use by kissing-bugs is influenced by the habitats they colonise. One of the major limitations of studies on kissing-bug foraging has been the exclusive focus on the dominant vector species. We propose that expanding foraging studies to consider the community of vectors will substantially increase the understanding of Chagas disease transmission ecology. Our results indicate that host accessibility is a major factor that shapes the blood-foraging patterns of kissing-bugs. Therefore, from an applied perspective, measures that are directed at disrupting the contact between humans and kissing-bugs, such as housing improvement, are among the most desirable strategies for Chagas disease control.

Alimentación del pez insectívoro neotropical Creagrutus bolivari (Pisces: Characidae) según los métodos gráfico y de importancia relativa / The diet of the neotropical insectivorous fish Creagrutus bolivari (Pisces: Characidae) according to the graphic and relative importance methods

The diet ofa neotropical fish species (Creagrutus bolivari) was studied using different methods: the Cortés 1997 graphic method and two relative importance indexes, one designed by George and Hadley in 1979 (% RIi) and another proposed by Cortés in 1997 (% IRIi). Only discrete prey (aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates) were used in the diet analysis. The occurrence (% A), number (% N) and weight (% G) frequencies were estimated for each food item. A total of 240 specimens (size range from 25.3 to 64.7 mm standard length) were analyzed. For values of % A > 50 %, % IRIi was higher than % RIi with an opposite trend (up to 130 times) for values of % A < 50 %. % IRIi overestimated the relative importance of prey for high values of % A, while it underestimated the relative importance of prey for low values of % A, showing a nonlinear relationship to % A. The variables used in the Cortés graphic method are insufficient to evaluate predator feeding strategy (generalization versus specialization). Therefore, we suggest including other variables, such as population and individual trophic niche breadth and a suitable field sampling record. An extended sampling record is necessary to classify prey as rare or dominant according to Cortés' classification. The indexes of relative importance and graphic method are complementary. Compound indexes that comprise mass, number, and occurrence provide a more accurate description of diet and allow comparative studies. The graphic analysis is easy to interpret and helps in the evaluation of prey importance and predator feeding strategy.

Se estudió la alimentación de un pez neotropical (Creagrutus bolivari) usando diferentes métodos: el método gráfico de Cortés (1997) y dos índices de importancia relativa (George y Hadley, 1979 (% RIi) y Cortés, 1997 (% IRIi)). Sólo las presas discretas (invertebrados acuáticos y terrestres) se emplearon en el análisis de dieta. Se estimó para cada ítem, las frecuencias de aparición (% A), numérica (% N) y gravimétrica (% G). Se analizó un total de 240 ejemplares (intervalo de talla desde 25.3 hasta 64.7 mm de longitud estándar). Para valores de % A > 50 %, el % IRIi resultó mayor al obtenido para el % RIi, con una tendencia opuesta (hasta 130 veces) para valores de % A por debajo del 50 %. El % IRIi sobreestimó la importancia relativa de las presas para valores altos de % A, mientras que subestimó la importancia relativa de las presas para valores bajos de % A y mostró un comportamiento no lineal a medida que varió el % A. Las variables empleadas en el método gráfico de Cortés son insuficientes para evaluar la estrategia alimentaria del depredador (generalismo-especialismo). De este modo, se sugiere incluir otras variables como el ancho de nicho trófico poblacional e individual así como un adecuado registro de campo. Es necesario un amplio registro de campo para clasificar a las presas como escasa o dominante de acuerdo a la clasificación de Cortés. Los índices compuestos que incluyen las variables: masa, número y aparición proporcionan una descripción más precisa de la dieta y permiten realizar estudios comparativos. El análisis gráfico es fácil de interpretar y ayuda a evaluar aspectos como la importancia de la presa y la estrategia alimentaria del depredador.

Patterns of Perimenstrual Symptoms and Related Dietary Factors to Premenstrual Syndromes / 여성건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to differentiate between women with three perimenstrual symptom severity patterns : premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual magnification (PMM), and low symptom (LS), and to explore the related dietary factors to premenstrual symptoms. METHOD: Women were asked to keep a diary record of perimenstrual symptoms and food intake for 50 days. RESULT: Symptom patterns were defined for 26 among 38 women ; Eight (21.1%) demonstrated a PMS pattern, three (7.9%) demonstrated a PMM pattern, and fifteen (39.5%) exhibited a LS pattern. There were significant differences in symptom scores during the premenstrual phase (x2=19.30, p=.000), menstrual phase (x2=13.32, p=.001), and post menstrual phase (x2=9.93, p=.007) for three groups. Protein, vit E, vit C, niacin, folic acid, and phosphorus in the premenstrual phase, and energy, and vit B6 in the menstrual period were significantly different between the three groups. Among dietary compositions, amino acids, lipids, fatty acids, saturated fatty acids, natrium, vit B6, niacin, and vit E were negatively related to PMS symptoms. CONCLUSION: Pattern of perimenstrual symptoms should be differentiated for individualized PMS management. As a more efficient diet assessment for PMS women, randomized nutritional analysis during the 3 phases of the menstrual cycle should be done and a replication study is necessary with a larger sample.