Noise and the quality of sleep in two hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Male patients of two hospitals in Belo Horizonte completed a questionnaire during an interview on the day of discharge in order to evaluate sleeping conditions related to noise during the previous night and were retested 24 h later. Patients had a worse perception of sleep at the noisier hospital, the University Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (N = 13), whose internal mean nocturnal noise level was Leq = 53.7 db(A), than at the quieter hospital, Baleia (N = 22), whose internal mean nocturnal noise level was Leq = 45.5 db(A). Noise was the only sleep-disturbing factor which was statistically significant.

Noise and the quality of sleep in two hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil

Male patients of two hospitals in Belo Horizonte completed a questionnaire during an interview on the day of discharge in order to evaluate sleeping conditions related to noise during the previous night and were retested 24 h later. Patients had a worse perception of sleep at the noisier hospital, the University Hospital of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (N = 13), whose internal mean nocturnal noise level was Leq = 53.7 db(A), than at the quieter hospital, Baleia (N = 22), whose internal mean nocturnal noise level was Leq = 45.5 db(A). Noise was the only sleep-disturbing factor which was statistically significant.

Effect of external carbon dioxide concentration on electric organ dischargge frequency by the gymnotiform fish Apteronotus albifrons

A model is described for the instantaneous frequency (F) of electric organ discharge in Apteronotus albifrons: F=H/(aH + b), where a and b are linear parameters and H, hydrogen ion concentration, pH from 7.10 to 4.89 was modified by increasing external carbon dioxide concentrations. With the increase in pH from 5.17 to 7.40, corresponding to a decrease of carbon dioxide concentration, the equation was as follows: F=(logH)/(a ,log H=b). The model search consisted of the adjustment of a simple linear regression using fucntion transformation for the most adequate residue analysis by the Durbin-Watson test. The parallelism was checked by comparing regression lines with homogeneous variances and using other tests for non-homogeneous variances

Effect of temperature on the reproduction of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata.

1. The reproduction of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, one of the intermediate hosts of Schistosoma mansoni, was evaluated under laboratory conditions by measuring egg production, number of ovipositions, number of eggs per oviposition, and hatching rate using a Latin square design with five different temperature treatments. This permitted the elimination of occasional variation in oviposition due to manipulation or a priori group. 2. Egg production and spawning rates were higher at temperatures between 20.0 and 27.5 degrees C than at 17.5 degrees C. Number of eggs per spawning and hatching rate did not vary with temperature. 3. During a 3-day adaptation phase, a short-term thermal effect appeared in which some indices of reproductive rates differed significantly from those of the experimental phase.

Influence of experimental illumination and seasonal variation on crossbreending mating in the snail Biomphalaria

The crossbreeding activities of the Schistosoma mansoni vector snail Biomphalaria glabrata were counted in a laboratory aquarium throughout the year under two regimes of 12h light: 12h dark from 7 A., M. to 10 P. M. Mating increased significantly in Authmn and Winter and just missed a significant inverse correlation with temperature and a direct one with locomotion. Other similar experiments were carried out to compare mating under various ilumination conditions in complete daily cycle measurements. Mating counts decreased under the regimes which submited snail to a total exposure of 12h light and 12 dark during a daily cycle in the following sequence: 12h light: 12h dark alternating hourly with light gradient, 12h light: 12h dark, 1h light: 1h dark and 12h dark: 12h light. Under two constant illuminations, the mating scored less than under the previous conditions, except under 12h light. Under darkeness the mating count was lower than light conditions. There was no way to differentiate the night and day rhythms of mating on different days in each regime, except for mating under 12h light: 12 dark alternating with light gradient, constant dark and 12h dark: 12h light conditions. Mating increased in certain light and temperature conditions, in wich the intensities, should have an optimum value

Electric organ discharge frequencies from two weakly electric gymnotiform fish exposed to carbon dioxide, conductivity and pH changes.

Electric organ discharge (EOD) frequencies of two weakly electric, gymnotiform, water-breathing fish decreased abruptly with an increase in carbon dioxide concentration and decrease in pH, caused by bubbling carbon dioxide in water. After carbon dioxide bubbling ceased, the recovery of EOD frequencies was linear with the return toward normal pH, but with a lag, so that the frequency was below normal even 24 h after pH returned to the control value. In another series of experiments, blood collected by cardiac puncture after carbon dioxide bubbling was cut off showed pH values below normal, indicating a lag in the blood buffering capability. Conductivity of the water did not influence EOD frequency.

Influence of experimental illumination and seasonal variation on crossbreeding mating in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata.

The crossbreeding activities of the Schistosoma mansoni vector snail Biomphalaria glabrata were counted in a laboratory aquarium throughout the year under two regimes of 12h light: 12h dark from 7 A. M. to 10 P. M. Mating increased significantly in Autumn and Winter and just missed a significant inverse correlation with temperature and a direct one with locomotion. Other similar experiments were carried out to compare mating under various illumination conditions in complete daily cycle measurements. Mating counts decreased under the regimes which submitted snail to a total exposure of 12h light and 12h dark during a daily cycle in the following sequence: 12h light:12h dark alternating hourly with light gradient, 12h light:12h dark, 1h light:1h dark and 12h dark:12h light. Under two constant illuminations, the mating scored less than under the previous conditions, except under 12h dark:12h light. Under darkness the mating count was lower than under light conditions. There was no way to differentiate the night and day rhythms of mating on different days in each regime, except for mating under 12h light:12h dark alternating with light gradient, constant dark and 12h dark:12h light conditions. Mating increased in certain light and temperature conditions, in which the intensities should have an optimum value.

The effect of seasonal temperature and experimental illumination on reproductive rate in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata.

1. Reproduction in the snail Biomphalaria glabrata, a vector of Schistosoma mansoni, was measured by egg production and other parameters such as number of clutches, eggs per clutch and egg hatching, under laboratory conditions. 2. Reproductive rates were highest in terms of total number of eggs, clutches and hatching under constant illumination, followed by conditions similar to the natural rhythm of illumination. The greatest reduction in reproduction occurred in constant darkness. In summary, reproductive rate was dependent on both the intensity of absolute illumination and the schedule of illumination exposure. 3. Seasonal variation in reproductive rate appeared to vary inversely with local temperature in Belo Horizonte, situated in a tropical zone (latitude 20 S) owing probably to a temperature preference of 20 to 25 degrees C by the snail. The highest reproductive rates occurred in winter, except for the parameter eggs per clutch which was maximal in autumn. Snail reproduction appeared to be most reduced during summer. There was no linear correlation between reproductive rate and temperature.

Temperature influence and social interaction on the frequency of electric organ discharges in Rhamphicthys rostratus.

The frequency of electric organ discharges (EOD) of a gymnotiform fish of "pulse" frequency (40-100 Hz) from South America - Ramphicthys rostratuswas studied. The animals were settled in pairs in a aquarium and thus observed: variation in EOD frequency had at least two components: one more positively correlated with temperature, another less positively correlated due to social interaction.

A frequência de descargas do órgão elétrico {DOE) de um peixe gymnotiforme de freqüência "em pulso" (40-100 Hz) da América do Sul - Rhamphicthys rostratus - foi estudada. Os animais foram colocados aos pares em aquários e depois observados: variação da freqüência do DOE tinha sido menor duas componentes: uma mais positivamente correlacionada devido a interação social.

Temperature influence and social interaction on the frequency of electric organ discharges in Rhamphicthys rostratus

The frequency of electric organ discharges (EOD) of a gymnotiform fish of "pulse" frequency (40-100 Hz) from South America - Ramphicthys rostratuswas studied. The animals were settled in pairs in a aquarium and thus observed: variation in EOD frequency had at least two components: one more positively correlated with temperature, another less positively correlated due to social interaction.

A frequência de descargas do órgão elétrico {DOE) de um peixe gymnotiforme de freqüência "em pulso" (40-100 Hz) da América do Sul - Rhamphicthys rostratus - foi estudada. Os animais foram colocados aos pares em aquários e depois observados: variação da freqüência do DOE tinha sido menor duas componentes: uma mais positivamente correlacionada devido a interação social.

[Dualist nature of cutaneous pain. Review of the literature]. / Natureza dualista da dor cutanea. Revisão da literatura.

The double nature of the cutaneous pain is evident since the peripheral level, projecting in different structures of the central nervous system. In certain levels their ways converge, in other ones they diverge. Their characteristics appear since the stimulation, going beyond through different properties of receptive fields, and reaching particular associated responses. They seem also different in the ways of blocking and have interactions between them and with the dorsal column and lemniscal system, that conveys the sensibility of fine touch.

Natureza dualista da dor cutanea: revisao da literatura. / Dualist nature of cutaneous pain:review of the literature

A natureza dualista da dor cutanea aparece desde o nivel periferico, projetando-se em diferentes estruturas no sistema nervoso central. Em certos pontos ha convergencia, em outros ha divergencia das vias. Suas caracteristicas aparecem desde as formas de estimulacao, passando pelas propriedades diversas dos campos receptivos, e associadas a respostas particulares. Parecem tambem diferentes nas formas de bloqueio e exercem interacoes entre si e com os sistemas da coluna dorsallemniscal, que conduz a sensibilidade do tato fino

Aspectos do uso da descarga do órgão elétrico e eletrorrecepção nos Gymnotoidei e outros peixes amazônicos

Summary An overview of the families, genera and some species of the Gymnotoidei is presented with a review of their behaviour and natural history. Characteristics of the electric organs and electric organ discharge (EOD) for various species are presented. The role of EOD on the animal's life is discussed, especially as it relates to behaviour and other events. Electroreception, its special sense organs and brain-processing, including use by non-electric fish is discussed. The results of these studies are interpreted in terms of their pratical and ecological significance in the life of this group of fish.

Resumo Após fazer-se um estudo sobre aspectos gerais de familias, gêneros e algumas espécies de Gymnotoidei e outros peixes elétricos amazônicos, bem como sobre seus habitats e hábitos de vida, analisam-se os órgãos elétricos e respectivas descargas em várias espécies. Procuram estabelecer-se as funções da descarga do órgão elétrico. (DOE) na vida do animal, correlacionando-se a mesma com o comportamento e outros eventos. Em seguida, estuda-se a eletrorrecepção, seus órgãos dos sentidos especiais e processamento cerebral, inclusive o uso de eletrorrecepção por peixes não elétricos. Conclui-se o trabalho, Interpretando-se o possível significado ecológico e prático dos fatos observados.

Aspectos do uso da descarga do órgão elétrico e eletrorrecepção nos Gymnotoidei e outros peixes amazônicos

Summary An overview of the families, genera and some species of the Gymnotoidei is presented with a review of their behaviour and natural history. Characteristics of the electric organs and electric organ discharge (EOD) for various species are presented. The role of EOD on the animal's life is discussed, especially as it relates to behaviour and other events. Electroreception, its special sense organs and brain-processing, including use by non-electric fish is discussed. The results of these studies are interpreted in terms of their pratical and ecological significance in the life of this group of fish.

Resumo Após fazer-se um estudo sobre aspectos gerais de familias, gêneros e algumas espécies de Gymnotoidei e outros peixes elétricos amazônicos, bem como sobre seus habitats e hábitos de vida, analisam-se os órgãos elétricos e respectivas descargas em várias espécies. Procuram estabelecer-se as funções da descarga do órgão elétrico. (DOE) na vida do animal, correlacionando-se a mesma com o comportamento e outros eventos. Em seguida, estuda-se a eletrorrecepção, seus órgãos dos sentidos especiais e processamento cerebral, inclusive o uso de eletrorrecepção por peixes não elétricos. Conclui-se o trabalho, Interpretando-se o possível significado ecológico e prático dos fatos observados.