Abstract The appearance of complex megascopic multicellular eukaryotes in the Ediacaran occurred just when the dynamics of a cooling Earth allowed establishment of a new style of global tectonics that continues to the present as “modern-type plate tectonics”. The advent of this style was first registered in 620 Ma-old coesite-bearing Ultra-High Pressure eclogites within the Transbrasiliano-Kandi mega-shear zone along the site of the West Gondwana Orogeny (WGO). These eclogites comprise the oldest evidence of slab-pull deep subduction capable of inducing continental collisions and producing high-relief Himalayan-type mega-mountains. Life, prior to this time, was essentially microscopic. Yet with increasing Neoproterozoic oxygenation and intensified influx of nutrients to Ediacaran oceans, resulting from the erosion of these mountains, complex macroscopic heterotrophic eukaryotes arose and diversified, taking the biosphere to a new evolutionary threshold. The repeated elevation of Himalayan-type mega-mountains ever since then has continued to play a fundamental role in nutrient supply and biosphere evolution. Other authors have alluded to the influence of Gondwana mountain-building upon Ediacaran evolution, however we claim here to have identified when and where it began.

Objetivos: Apresentar resultados da aplicação da bomba espiral que emprega efeitos hidráulicos centrífugo e axial de bombeamento como elemento propulsor do circuito de circulação extracorpórea em pacientes submetidos a cirurgias cardíacas após modificações introduzidas no design do projeto original. Métodos: O estudo foi realizado em 52 pacientes (51% masculinos), com idade entre 20 a 80 (67±14,4) anos, peso 53 a 102 (71,7±12,6) kg, submetidos na maioria a cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica (34,6%) e Orovalvar (32,8%). Além das avaliações rotineiras, foram registrados rotação, tempo de CEC e para análise do impacto traumático à crase sanguínea, hemoglobina livre na urina (+ a 4+), desidrogenase láctica, fibrinogênio (mg/dL) e contagem de plaquetas (nº/mm3). Resultados: Observou-se a manutenção de parâmetros pressóricos e metabólicos adequados. Quanto aos marcadores de danos à crase sanguínea, as alterações estiveram proporcionais ao tempo maior de circulação extracorpórea. Os níveis de Hemoglobina Livre permaneceram com valores normais, com ligeiro aumento a partir dos 90 minutos de circulação extracorpórea. A Desidrogenase Láctica mostrou aumento, variando as medianas entre 550 a 770 UI/L enquanto o Fibrinogênio mostrou queda das medianas de 130 a 100 mg/dl. O número de plaquetas mostrou ligeira queda das medianas variando entre 240.000 a 200.000/mm3. Não ocorreram dificuldades de saída de perfusão, não se observou óbito imediato e todos os pacientes, exceto 1, obtiveram alta hospitalar. Conclusão: A bomba espiral aplicada como bomba propulsora de sangue durante cirurgia cardíaca se mostrou confiável e segura, não causou impacto traumático à crase sanguínea importante e se constitui opção como dispositivo original, concebido em nosso meio.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to present the results from Spiral Pump clinical trial after design modifications performed at its previous project. This pump applies axial end centrifugal hydraulic effects for blood pumping during cardiopulmonary bypass for patients under cardiac surgery. Methods: This study was performed in 52 patients (51% males), between 20 to 80 (67±14.4) years old weighing 53 to 102 (71.7±12.6) kg, mostly under myocardial revascularization surgery (34.6%) and valvular surgery (32.8%). Besides the routine evaluation of the data observed in these cases, we monitored pump rotational speed, blood flow, cardiopulmonary bypass duration, urine free hemoglobin for blood cell trauma analysis (+ to 4+), lactate desidrogenase (UI/L), fibrinogen level (mg/dL) and platelet count (nº/mm3). Results: Besides maintaining appropriate blood pressure and metabolic parameters it was also observed that the Free Hemoglobin levels remained normal, with a slight increase after 90 minutes of cardiopulmonary bypass. The Lactate Dehydrogenase showed an increase, with medians varying between 550-770 IU/L, whereas the decrease in Fibrinogen showed medians of 130-100 mg/dl. The number of platelets showed a slight decrease with the medians ranging from 240,000 to 200,000/mm3. No difficulty was observed during perfusion terminations, nor were there any immediate deaths, and all patients except one, were discharged in good condition. CONCLUSION: The Spiral Pump, as blood propeller during cardiopulmonary bypass, demonstrated to be reliable and safe, comprising in a good option as original and national product for this kind of application.

OBJETIVO: Apresentar os resultados da aplicação deste dispositivo em animais de experimentação, promovendo auxílio hemodinâmico apenas ao ventrículo esquerdo (VE). MÉTODOS: Entre junho 2002 e outubro 2009, foram implantados em 27 bezerros com idade 2½ a 4 meses e peso 80/100 kg e, por meio de anestesia geral e ventilação controlada e de toracotomia lateral esquerda, era introduzida cânula no ápice do VE e anastomose término/lateral de tubo vascular de politetrafluoretileno (PTFE) com a porção descendente da aorta torácica, ambos interligados ao dispositivo implantado no subcutâneo abaixo do diafragma (24) e intratorácico (três). Em cinco bezerros, o dispositivo foi aplicado com auxílio de circulação extracorpórea (CEC) e, em 22, sem CEC. RESULTADOS: Ocorreram dois óbitos durante o implante e três por causas diversas nas primeiras horas de pós-operatório (PO), sendo um relacionado ao dispositivo. A sobrevivência entre o 1º e 6º dia de PO ocorreu em 17 animais e entre o 8º e 31º dia de PO em cinco, com causas determinantes diversas, não só por problemas clínico/cirúrgicos, mas também relacionados ao dispositivo. O impacto hemodinâmico avaliado pela análise da pressão sistêmica mostrou incremento que variou de 20 a 40 mmHg e os dados laboratoriais analisados demonstraram baixos impactos traumáticos à crase sanguínea e boa biocompatibilidade. CONCLUSÃO: Trata-se de pesquisa árdua e complexa onde a cada experimento são identificados problemas não só de implantabilidade, mas também relacionados ao dispositivo, que vão sendo sistematicamente corrigidos, tornando-o cada vez mais seguro e eficaz.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to present the results of the application this device in experimental animals unloading only the left ventricle. METHODS: Between June 2002 and October 2009, were implanted in 27 calfs with age between 2½ to 4 months and 80 to 100 kg of weight, with general anaesthesia and controled ventilation, by mean of left thoracotomy a cannula in the apex of VE and a lateral anastomose of a GTFE vascular graft tube in the descending portion of the thoracic aorta, both connected to the device implanted below the diaphragm in the subcutaneous (24) and intrathoracic (three). The cardiopulmonary bypass (BP) was used in five calves, and directly introduce the outflow cannula in 22. RESULTS: During the implant two and in the first hours of the post operative period (PO) three deaths were observed, one related to the device. The survival between the first and the six PO day was found in 17 calves and between day 8 and day 31 (PO) in five all caused by clinical/surgical problems, and related to the device. The hemodynamic impact by the systemic pressure analysis showed 20 to 40 mmHg increase and the laboratory parameters showed lower levels of traumatic impact to the blood and a good biocompatibility. CONCLUSIONS: This kind of research is arduous and complex where at each experiment many problems are indentified in the implantability and in the device, which are sistematic correct, to became device/procedure safe and effective.

Renewed interest in conulariids has resulted in clarification of problems in the paleobiology of this group. Discoveries of skeletal structures and specimens preserved in situ, coupled with cladistic analyses, have led to a revival of Kiderlen's (1937) hypothesis that conulariids were polypoid scyphozoans or a sister taxon of this class. Until 1979, research on conulariids centered on the description of new species and on the erection of subgroups using phenetic approaches. Few papers addressed the paleobiology and phylogenetic affinities of conulariids, and none employed cladistics. In contrast, the 1980's saw the publication of major papers on the paleoecology of conulariids, and during this decade the hypothesis that conulariids were benthic organisms was corroborated. Also, new ideas concerning the affinities of conulariids, including the proposal that conulariids represent an extinct phylum, were presented. During the 1990's, the problem of conulariid affinities was widely debated, with authors advocating either that conulariids represent a separate phylum or that they were cnidarians. Near the close of that decade, certain advocates of a cnidarian affinity argued that conulariids were most closely related to Cnidaria. Taphonomic evidence indicates that conulariids were benthic animals originally oriented with their aperture opening upward and that they attached to or were embedded in hard and soft substrates. To understand unresolved problems we recommend that (1) conulariid specialists develop a standard morphological nomenclature based on rigorous definitions; and (2) studies on conulariid paleoecology be carried out using a sequence stratigraphy approach.

El renovado interés en los conuláridos ha dado como resultado la clarificación de los problemas sobre su paleobiología. Descubrimientos sobre la morfología del peridermo y especímenes preservados in situ, juntamente con la aplicación de la teoría cladística en el análisis de afinidades de los conuláridos, contribuyeron a revivir las ideas de Kiderlen (1937), de que los conuláridos fueron afines a los Scyphozoa. Hasta 1979, las investigaciones sobre los conuláridos estuvieron concentradas en la descripción y propuesta de nuevas especies, fundamentadas en criterios fenéticos. Pocos trabajos abarcaron la paleobiología y afinidades filogenéticas de los conuláridos. En los años 80, el enfoque cambió y se publicaron artículos sobre la paleoecología, siendo ampliamente aceptada la hipótesis de que este grupo fue formado por organismos sésiles. En ese período se presentaron ideas sobre sus afinidades evolutivas, incluyendo la propuesta de que los conuláridos representaban un linaje evolutivo independiente. Durante la década de 90, el problema de las afinidades de los conuláridos fue intensamente debatido. En ese período, muchos autores obtuvieron nuevas evidencias que reforzaron conclusivamente la idea de que los conuláridos son afines a los Cnidaria. Evidencias tafonómicas indicaron que los conuláridos fueron organismos bentónicos fijados o anclados al substrato. Sin embargo, varios problemas permanecen aún no resueltos por lo que recomendamos (1) los especialistas en conuláridos deben aclarar los diversos términos morfológicos y (2) la estratigrafía secuencial debe ser integrada a los estudios sobre la paleoecología de los conuláridos.

INTRODUÇÃO: O trabalho aborda projeto original relativo à concepção, ao desenvolvimento e à aplicação clínica de bomba sangüínea que associa forças centrífuga e axial de propulsão hidráulica, baseada no princípio de Arquimedes, denominada Bomba Espiral (BE), tendo recebido Patente Nacional e Relatório Preliminar Internacional categorizando-a como invento. MÉTODO: Visa avaliar sua capacidade hidrodinâmica e seu impacto aos elementos figurados do sangue por meio de testes "in vitro", como Eficiência Hidrodinâmica, Hemólise Normalizada e Visibilização de Escoamento, e, nos testes "in vivo" experimentais, feitos em carneiros submetidos a Circulação Extracorpórea (CEC), e clínico, em 43 pacientes submetidos a operações cardíacas com CEC, nas quais o elemento propulsor foi a BE. RESULTADOS: Na dependência da distância entre o rotor e a carcaça (fenda) da bomba pôde-se observar que com 1,5 mm gerou escoamento ao redor de 9 L/min, pressão acima de 400mmHg com 1500 rotações por minuto (rpm), índices de Hemólise Normalizada não superiores a 0,0375 g/100l em condições de alto fluxo e pressão, e pelo estudo de Visibilização do Escoamento no interior da bomba não se detectou áreas de estagnação ou turbulência na entrada, saída e junto à extremidade dos fusos. Nas pesquisas "in vivo" experimentais em ovinos em CEC por 6 horas a BE foi capaz de manter parâmetros pressóricos adequados e Hemoglobina Livre entre 16,36 mg% e 44,90 mg%. Durante sua aplicação em cirurgias cardíacas com CEC, num grupo de 43 pacientes, pôde-se constatar variações pré e pós-CEC, na Hemoglobina Livre de 9,34 a 44,16 mg%, no Fibrinogênio, de 236,65 a 547,26 mg%, na contagem do número de Plaquetas de 152,465 a 98,139, Desidrogenase Láctica, de 238,12 a 547,26 mg%, com tempo de coagulação ativada ao redor de 800 seg. quando em CEC. CONCLUSÕES: A BE mostrou resolutividade por gerar escoamento e pressão adequados, sem causar danos excessivos aos elementos figurados do sangue.

INTRODUCTION: This paper addresses an original project that encompasses the conception, development and clinical application of a helical bypass pump called the Spiral Pump, that uses the association of centrifugal and axial propulsion forces based de the Archimedes principle. This project has obtained a Brazilian Patent and an International Preliminary Report, defining it as an invention. METHODS: The aim of this work was to evaluate the hemodynamic capacity and the impact of its application on blood cells by means of experimental in vitro tests, including hydrodynamic efficiency, effect on hemolysis and flow visualization. Moreover, in vivo experimental tests were carried out on lambs that were submitted to cardiopulmonary bypass for six hours and in 43 patients submitted to heart bypass surgery using the Spiral Pump. RESULTS: When the rotor-plastic casing gap was 1.5mm, the flow generated was nearly 9 L/min, the pressure was greater than 400 mmHg at 1500 rpm, and the normalized hemolytic indexes were not greater than 0.0375 g/100L in high-flow and pressure conditions. Additionally, by the flow visualization techniques, stagnation was not seen inside the pump nor was turbulence identified at the entrance or exit of the pump, or at the ends of the spindles. In the in vivo tests using cardiopulmonary bypasses for 6 hours in lambs, the pump maintained adequate pressure rates and the free hemoglobin levels ranged between 16.36 mg% and 44.90 mg%. Evaluating the results of the 43 patients who used this pump in heart bypass operations we observed that the free hemoglobin ranged from 9.34 mg% before to 44.16 mg% after surgery, the serum fibrinogen was from 236.65 mg% to 547.26mg%, platelet blood count from 152,465 to 98,139 and the lactic dehydrogenase from 238.12mg% to 547.26mg%. The Activated Coagulation Time was close to 800 seconds during the bypass. CONCLUSION: The Spiral Pump was very effective in generating adequate flow and pressure and caused no excessive harm to the blood cells.

Camadas ricas em conulários da Formação Ponta Grossa (Devoniano) da Bacia do Paraná, sul do Brasil, contêm espécimes de Conularia quichua Ulrich e Paraconularia africana Sharpe bem preservados, muitos em posição de vida. Adicionalmente, um exemplar de C. quichua apresenta cinco faces verdadeiras (ao invés de quatro), constituindo evidência adicional para a afinidade entre conulários e cnidários. Os conulários em rochas do Membro Jaguariaíva (ou Seqüência B, um trato de sistemas trangressivos) que encerra diversos depósitos de sufocamento abaixo de superfícies transgressivas. Dados tafonômicos obtidos dos depósitos de sufocamento mostram que C. quichua e P. africana foram invertebrados sésseis de epifauna originamente orientados com seu eixo maior perpendicular ao fundo e com a região da abertura voltada para cima. Dos 136 espécimes de C. quichua examinados, 125 ocorrem isolados. 11 espécimes de C. quichua formam cinco agrupamentos, consistindo de dois ou três espécimes. Todos os espécimes estão inflados (exibindo seção transversal retangular) ou ligeiramente comprimidos longitudinalmente. Em todos os espécimes o ápice está faltando e, desse modo, o problema se, os agrupamentos são colônias clonais ou formados pelo assentamento preferencial de larvas, não pode ser solucionado. Entretanto, três espécimes de um único agrupamento, todos orientados perpendicularmente ao plano de acamamento, não convergem adapicalmente. Contato entre os espécimes se dá apenas ao longo da porção média/superior das tecas. Essas características, juntamente com a ausência de estolão laminar de brotamento, sugerem que, pelo menos esse agrupamento, foi formado por assentamento preferencial das larvas.

The "Conularia beds" of the Ponta Grossa Formation (Devonian) of the Paraná Basin, southern Brazil, yield well-preserved specimens of Conularia quichua Ulrich and Paraconularia africana Sharpe. Many of these are preserved in life orientation. Also, one of the C. quichua specimens has five faces instead of four, providing additional evidence of a cnidarian affinity for conulariids. Conulariids occur in the Jaguariaíva Member (or Sequence B, transgressive system tract) containing several obrution deposits beneath marine flooding surfaces. Taphonomic data obtained from these beds show conclusively that both C. quichua and P. africana were epibenthic, sessile invertebrates originally oriented with their long axis perpendicular to the bottom and with their aperture opening upward. Of the 136 C. quichua specimens examined here, 125 occur isolated. Eleven of the C. quichua specimens collectively occur in five discrete clusters consisting of two or three specimens. All of the clustered specimens are fully inflated (exhibiting a rectangular transverse cross section) or slightly compressed longitudinally. In all of these specimens the apex is missing, and thus the problem of whether the clusters were clonal colonies or formed through preferential larval settlement cannot be resolved conclusively. However, in the single cluster consisting of three specimens, the specimens are oriented perpendicular to bedding, and thus they do not converge adapically. The three specimens are in contact with each other along the upper portion of their median region. These and the lack of any evidence of a sheet of budding stolons, suggest that this cluster was formed by preferential larval settlement.

The holotype of Malvinoconularia cahuanotensis (Braniša and Vanek) (Devonian, Bolivia), the type species of the monospecific genus Malvinoconularia Babcock et al., is redescribed and refigured. M. cahuanotensis exhibits several gross morphological features that together are uniquely shared with Reticulaconularia baini (Babcock and Feldmann). In both taxa, the transverse ribs are nodose, the interspaces bear longitudinal ridges (bars or crests) that are collinear (line up) across the transverse ribs, and the longitudinal centerline (midline) of the faces is marked by a subdued ridge. Additionally, the two species may also be similar in the anatomy and external ornament of the corner sulcus. The slightly undulose geometry of the transverse ribs of M. cahuanotensis also is exhibited by certain specimens of Reticulaconularia; however, whether this feature is primary or taphonomic in origin is unclear at present. Together, these similarities suggest that the genus Malvinoconularia probably is a junior synonym of the genus Reticulaconularia.

El holotipo de Malvinoconularia cahuanotensis (Braniša y Vanek) (Devónico, Bolivia), la especie tipo del género Malvinoconularia Babcock et al., es reinterpretado y refigurado. M. cahuanotensis exhibe varios rasgos morfológicos que en conjunto son compartidos únicamente con Reticulaconularia baini (Babcock y Feldmann). En ambos taxones las costillas transversas son nodosas, los interespacios poseen aristas longitudinales (barras o crestas) que son colineares a las costillas transversas, y las caras presentan una pequeña elevación externa sobre su línea media. Además, estas especies parecen ser similares en la anatomía y ornamentación externa del surco marginal. La geometría suavemente ondulada de las costillas de M. cahuanotensis es también exhibida por ciertos especímenes de Reticulaconularia, aunque aún no es claro si esta característica es primaria o tafonómica en su origen. En conjunto, estas similitudes sugieren que Malvinoconularia es un sinónimo junior de Reticulaconularia.