Abstract The Caatinga biome is the largest dry tropical forest region in South America as well as one of the most vulnerable regions in the world to the climate changes forecast for this century. Climate forecasts for the biome include increased air temperature, reduced rainfall and aridization. This biome does not have a homogeneous landscape; instead it has several rainforest enclaves. This article describes a study to model the potential distribution of four epiphytic cactus species (Epiphyllum phyllanthus (L.) Haw., Rhipsalis floccosa Salm-Dyck ex Pfeiff., Rhipsalis lindbergiana K. Schum and Rhipsalis russellii Britton & Rose.) in the biome under future climate scenarios and traces out a prognosis for the enclaves and the biome. For that purpose, we used the MaxEnt modeling method, considering two future time intervals (2041-2060 and 2061-2080) and the interval 1961-1990 for the current situation, with the RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The projections for future potential distribution showed a spatial contractions greater than 88% found in the areas of high potential presence for the target species throughout the biome and in all the scenarios. The results strengthen the expectation of aridization in the Caatinga biome, with the loss or shrinkage of rainforest enclaves as time progresses.

Abstract Species distribution models (SDMs) are one of the most widely used tools to predict areas with potential for occurrence of native, invasive and endangered species, based on current and future environmenal and climate conditions. Despite their global use, evaluating the accuracy of SDMs based only on presence records is still a challenge. The performance of models depends on the sample size and species prevalence. Recently, studies to model the distribution of species in the Caatinga biome in Northeast Brazil have gained force, raising the question about the minimum number of presence records adjusted to different prevalences that are necessary to generate accurate SDMs. In this context, the objective of this study was to indicate minimum numbers of presence records for species with different prevalences in the Caatinga biome to obtain accurate SDMs. For that purpose, we used a method involving simulated species and performed repeated evaluations of the models’ performance in function of the sample size and prevalence. The results indicated that for this approach in the Caatinga biome, the minimum required numbers of specimen records were 17 and 30 for species with narrow and widespread distributions, respectively.

The automatic generation of formal specifications from requirements suppresses the complexity of formal models manual creation and reveals the immediate benefits of its usage, such as the possibility to carry out refinements, and property verification, which contributes to project cost reduction and quality improvement. This paper proposes a Controlled Natural Language (CNL), a subset of English, used to write use case specifications according to a template. From these use cases a complete strategy and tools enable the generation of process algebraic formal models in the CSP notation. We define templates that represent requirements at different levels of abstraction, capturing different views of the system behavior. Moreover, a refinement notion is defined to connect the generated CSP models through an event mapping relation between abstract and concrete models. This notion is further applied to detail use case specifications and to automate its execution.

Data abstraction is a powerful technique to overcome state explosion in model checking. For CSP Z (a formal integration of the well-known specification languages CSP and Z), current approaches can mechanically abstract infinite domains (types) as long as they are not used in communications. This work presents a compositional and systematic approach to data abstract CSP Z specifications even when communications are based on infinite domains. Therefore, we deal with a larger class of specifications than the previous techniques. Our approach requires that the domains (used in communications) being abstracted do not affect the behaviour of the system (data independence). This criteria is used to achieve an internal partitioning of the specification in such a way that complementary techniques for abstracting data types can be applied to the components of the partition. Afterwards, the partial results can be compositionally combined to abstract the entire specification. We propose an algorithm that implements the partitioning and show the application of the entire approach to a real case study.

Morgan's approach to program development is a refinement calculus: using this method, programs are developed from specifications through the successive application of refinement laws. This programming technique has been widely accepted, but it has been shown that Morgan's approach to procedures and parameters has an inconsistency. Back presents an alternative formalisation of procedures and parameters which is consistent, but does not propose any refinement law. In this paper, we present refinement laws that allow the development of (possibly parametrised and recursive) procedures in the style of Morgan, and derive these laws based on Back's formalism. Some of the refinement laws we present have a counterpart in Morgan's calculus, but some are new laws that support his approach to the development of recursive procedures

Com o objetivo de testar o sal sódico de fluoresceína na indicação da viabilidade intestinal em casos de processos isquêmicos do intestino delgado de eqüinos, desenvolveu-se um modelo isquêmico através de ligadura artério-venosa durante 120 minutos. Foram utilizados 10 animais, SRD, sendo seis machos, com peso e idade médios de 293kg e 11 anos. Cada animal foi submetido a duas cirurgias, uma para a realização das ligaduras e observação do desempenho da fluoresceína e outra, 24 horas após, para confirmação macroscópica das informações obtidas na primeira cirurgia. O acesso adotado foi pela linha média, sendo exteriorizado um segmento de aproximadamente 20 cm de intestino delgado. Após o período estabelecido para a isquemia, as ligaduras foram desfeitas e o segmento intestinal foi avaliado através da fluoresceína sódica, aplicada sistematicamente na dose de 100 mg/kg, quanto às condições de viabilidade tecidual. A fluoresceína sódica mostrou-se como um objetivo e seguro método de indicação da viabilidade intestinal.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of fluorescein as an indicator of intestinal viability under schemic processes induced by A-V ligature during 120 minutes. Ten mixed-breed horses, 6 males and 4 females, with an average weight and age of 293kg and 11 years, respectively were submitted to two surgeries, one to make the ligatures and to observe the effects of fluorescein; the second, 24 hours later, to confirm macroscopically the information obtained during the first. The surgical approach was made through the abdominal midline and a 20cm long segment of the small intestine was exteriorized. After the ischemic period the ligatures were removed and the intestinal segment was evaluated for tissue viability by the systemic injection of 100mg/B.W. of sodic fluorescein. The results revealed that sodicfluorescein is a good and safe indicator of intestinal viability.

Em dois grupos de três coelhos, de ambos os sexos, com idade e peso variáveis, foi produzida isquemia intestinal por um período de uma hora no primeiro grupo e duas horas no segundo. Feito isso, os animais receberam 100mg/kg de fluoresceína sódica, por via intravenosa, observando-se a ocorrência ou não de fluorescência da área isquêmica. A fluoresceína mostrou-se eficaz, sendo um método prático e de baixo custo na avaliação da viabilidade intestinal, sem a ocorrência de complicações secundárias.

In two groups of three rabbits of both sexes, with variable weight and age, were produced intestinal ischemia for one hour in the first group and two hours in the second. After the animals received 100mg/kg of fluorescein dye, by intravenous route, it was observed the ocurrence or not of fluorescence in the ischemic area. The fluorescein was efficacious, practical and low cost method in the intestinal viability evaluation, without secondary complications.

Foram investigados os efeitos do cloridrato de detomidina como medicação pré-anestésica em eqüinos anestesiados com halotano e submetidos à laparotomia mediana pré-retroumbilical. Os parâmetros de freqüência cardíaca e respiratória, tempo de reperfusão capilar, equilíbrio ácido-base, equilíbrio hidroeletrolítico e o perfil hematológico foram analisados. Os eqüinos foram tratados com detomidina e anestesiados com tiopental sódico e halotano em oxigênio a 100%. A avaliação da técnica demonstrou facilidade de manejo no período pré-operatório e indução sem excitação. As freqüências cardíaca e respiratória diminuíram significativamente. A hematologia e o equilíbrio hidroeletrolítico e ácido-base sofreram alteração significativa nos tempos estudados. O protocolo utilizado demonstrou ocorrer acidose respiratória aguda estando os valores obtidos dentro da variação aceita para eqüinos sob anestesia geral volátil, posicionados em decúbito dorsal.

This study examines the effects of detomidine as preanesthetic medication in equine halothane anesthesia during preretroumbilical midline laparotomy on physiological parameters of heart rate, respiratory rate, cappilary refil time, acid-base and hidroeletrolytic balance and haematological profile. The anesthetic protocol included detomidine, thiopentone sodium and halothane/oxygen. Clinical Evaluation demonstrated an easy handle of the horses and smooth induction. Cappilary refil time elevated but not significantly. Heart and respiratory rate changed significantly. Haematological and eletrolytic parameters and acid base balance changed significantly, Respiratory acidosis with acidemy occured but the data was acceptable for horses undergoing general halogenated anesthesia in dorsal recumbancy.