Amebas de vida livre (AVL) são distribuídas mundialmente no solo e na água. Um número pequeno delas é considerado importante para a saúde dos seres humanos: Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris e Sappinia diploidea. Algumas das infecções são oportunistas, ocorrendo em indivíduos imunocomprometidos, enquanto outras são não oportunistas. Amostras de água foram coletadas de banheira de hidromassagens e piscinas térmicas na cidade de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, com o objetivo de determinar a presença de Acanthamoeba, bem como realizar a caracterização fenotípica e genotípica dos isolados. Amebas foram isoladas em cultivo monoxênico com Escherichia coli. A identificação dos isolados foi baseada na morfologia dos cistos e na amplificação por PCR com oligonucleotídeos gênero-específico. De 72 amostras analisadas, 20 (27,77%) foram positivas para amebas de vida livre, e identificadas morfologicamente como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba. Destas, 11 possuíam características compatíveis com o grupo morfológico II e 9 com o grupo III. Entre os isolados, 11(55%) foram considerados potencialmente patogênicos a partir de testes de osmotolerância e termotolerância. Somente 9 isolados quando submetidos à Reação da PCR, confirmaram pertencer ao gênero Acanthamoeba. A análise do sequenciamento através da comparação das sequências dispostas no GenBank, demonstrou a distribuição nos grupos genotípicos T3 (11,1%), T5 (11,1%), T4 (33,3%) e T15 (44,4%).Os resultados obtidos com este confirmam a presença de isolados potencialmente patogênicos que podem representar um risco à saúde humana nos ambientes de banheiras de hidromassagem e piscinas térmicas. / Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely distributed in soil and water. A few number of them are implicated in human disease: Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris and Sappinia diploidea. Some of the infections were opportunistic, occurring mainly in immunocompromised hosts, while others are non opportunistic. Water samples were collecyed from both hot tubs and thermal swimming pools in the city of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba in the water as well as perform the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the isolates. Amoebae were isolated in monoxenic culture with Eschererichia coli. The identification of the isolates was based on the cysts morphology and PCR amplification using genus-specific oligonucleotides. From 72 samples analyzed, 20 (27,77%) were positive for free-living amoebae, and the isolates were morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. Out of these, 11 presented morphological characteristics compatible with group II, and 9 with group III. Among the isolates, 11 (55%) were considered potentially pathogenic according to osmotolerance and temperature assays. The isolates when submitted to PCR reaction only 9 were confirmed as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. The sequences analysis when compare to the sequences in the GenBank, showed that genotype distribution in group T3 (11,1%), T5 (11,1%), T4 (33,3%) and T15 (44,4%). The results of this study confirmed the presence of potentially pathogenic isolates of free living amoebae in hot swimming pool and spas which can present risks to human health.

Foram coletadas amostras de água de piscinas térmicas e não térmicas na cidade de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil entre os meses de maio de 2006 e março de 2007, com o objetivo de determinar a presença do gênero Acanthamoeba, bem como realizar a caracterização fenotípica e genotípica dos isolados. Amebas foram isoladas em cultivo monoxênico com Escherichia coli. A identificação dos isolados foi baseada na morfologia dos cistos e trofozoítos e na amplificação por PCR com oligonucleotídeos gênero-específico. O potencial patogênico foi avaliado usando testes de osmotolerância e termotolerância. Das 65 amostras analisadas, 13 (20%) foram positivas para amebas de vida livre e identificados morfologicamente como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba. Destas, 9 possuíam características compatíveis com o grupo morfológico II e 4 com o grupo III. Todos os isolados identificados morfologicamente quando submetidos à Reação de PCR, confirmaram pertencer ao gênero Acanthamoeba e 38% (5/13) dos isolados foram considerados potencialmente patogênicos a partir dos testes de osmotolerância e termotolerância. Neste estudo, o método molecular de RAPD ("Random Amplified Polymorphic-DNA") foi utilizado para investigar a relação genética entre os 13 isolados de piscinas e dois isolados de referência da ATCC. De 10 oligonucleotídeos decaméricos testados, quatro foram selecionados por gerarem produtos de amplificação passíveis de análise. A similaridade entre os isolados foi calculada utilizando-se o coeficiente de Jaccard e o dendrograma construído pelo método da média das distâncias entre grupos ("Average Linkage"). Quatro grupos distintos (G1-G4) de isolados foram formados de acordo com a similaridade genética entre eles. Sugeriu-se que os isolados do G1 por agruparem-se aos isolados de referência de A. castellanii (ATCC 30010 e 50492) possam pertencer a esta espécie. Os dados fenotípicos, tais como, morfologia e testes de tolerância foram relacionados aos dados genotípicos de RAPD e permitiram a caracterização dos isolados. Os resultados deste primeiro estudo de isolamento e caracterização de Acanthamoeba de água de piscinas na cidade de Porto Alegre-RS, Brasil confirmam a presença de isolados potencialmente patogênicos que podem representar um risco à saúde humana. / Water samples were collected from both heated and unheated swimming pools in the city of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil between May 2006 and March 2007, to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba in the water of swimming pools as well as perform the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the isolates. Amoebae were isolated in monoxenic culture with Escherichia coli. The identification of the isolates was based on the trophozoites and cysts morphology and on the amplification through PCR with genus-specific oligonucleotides. The potential pathogenic was assessed by osmotolerance and temperature tolerance assays. From the 65 samples analyzed, 13 (20%) were positive for free-living amoebae, and the isolates morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. Out of these, 9 presented characteristics compatible with morphological group II, and 4 with group III. All the morphologically identified isolates, when submitted to PCR, were confirmed as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba, and 38% (5/13) of the isolates were considered potentially pathogenic according to osmotolerance and temperature tolerance assays. In this study, the molecular RAPD method (Random Amplified Polymorphic-DNA) was used to investigate the genetic relationship among 13 isolates from swimming pools and two strains from the ATCC reference. From the ten decameric oligonucleotides tested, four were selected for generating products of amplification possible to be analyzed. The similarity between isolates was calculated using the Jaccard coefficient and the dendrogram constructed by using the method of the average distances between groups ("Average Linkage"). Four distinct groups (G1-G4) of isolates were separated according to genetic similarity between them. It was suggested that the isolates from G1 once group up with the reference isolates of A. castellanii may belong to this species. The phenotypic data such as morphology and tolerance tests were related to RAPD genotypic data and led to the characterization of isolates. The results of this study about isolation and characterization of Acanthamoeba in swimming pools water at Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil confirm the presence of potentially pathogenic isolates which can present risks to human health.

Amebas de vida livre (AVL) do gênero Acanthamoeba estão amplamente distribuídas no ambiente e podem tornar-se amebas patogênicas ao homem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar em de água de torneira amebas de vida livre do gênero Acanthamoeba, identificá-las e classificá-las. Um total de 132 amostras de água de torneira foi coletado de escolas estaduais e municipais entre os meses de março a novembro de 2009. As amostras passaram pelo processo de filtração e as membranas foram semeadas em ágar não-nutriente 1,5% coberto por uma suspensão de E. coli inativadas pelo calor. Todas as amostras positivas para AVL foram submetidas à clonagem celular e identificadas como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba, através da morfologia dos cistos e trofozoitos e pela PCR utilizando oligonucleotídeos gênero-específicos que amplificam a região ASA.S1 do gene 18S rDNA. Ensaios fisiológicos de termo e osmotolerância foram utilizados para avaliar a patogenicidade dos isolados. Vinte sete isolados foram positivos para AVL e 10 foram identificados como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba tanto pelas características morfológicas quanto pela análise molecular. Destes, nove isolados apresentaram características do grupo II e um do grupo III, segundo Pussard e Pons (1977). A análise do sequenciamento através da comparação das sequências dispostas no GenBank, demonstrou a distribuição no grupo genotípicos T2 (40%), T2/T6 (40%), T6 (10%) e T4 (10%). Nos ensaios de termotolerância e osmotolerância 50% dos isolados obtiveram um baixo potencial patogênico. Os resultados indicaram a presença do gênero Acanthamoeba em água tratada no estado do RS, revelando sua importância epidemiológica e a necessidade de mais estudos para determinar sua distribuição no ambiente e seu potencial patogênico. / Free-living amoebae (FLA) of Acanthamoeba genus are widely distributed in the environment and can become human pathogenic amoebae. The aim of this study was to isolate from tap water in free-living amoebae of Acanthamoeba, identify them and then classify them. A total of 132 samples of tap water was collected from state and municipal schools between march and november 2009. The samples passed through the filtration process and the membranes were seeded in non-nutrient 1.5% covered by a suspension of E. coli heatinactivated. All samples of AVL were cloned and identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba by the morphology of cysts and trophozoites by PCR using primers and genus-specific primers that amplify the ASA.S1 region of 18S rDNA gene. Tests of physiological thermotolerance and osmotolerance were used to evaluate the pathogenicity of the isolates. Twenty seven isolates of AVL and 10 were identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba through the morphological and molecular analysis. Nine of the isolates showed characteristics of group II and one isolate showed characteristics of group III, according Pussard and Pons (1977). The sequencing analysis by comparing the sequences submitted to GenBank, showed that genotype distribution in group T2 (40%), T2/T6 (40%), T6 (10%) and T4 (10%). In tests of thermotolerance and osmotolerance 50% of isolates had a low pathogenic potential. The results indicated the presence of Acanthamoeba in tap water in the RS, revealing its importance and the need for more epidemiological studies to determine their distribution in the environment and its pathogenic potential.

Amebas de vida livre (AVL) são distribuídas mundialmente no solo e na água. Um número pequeno delas é considerado importante para a saúde dos seres humanos: Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris e Sappinia diploidea. Algumas das infecções são oportunistas, ocorrendo em indivíduos imunocomprometidos, enquanto outras são não oportunistas. Amostras de água foram coletadas de banheira de hidromassagens e piscinas térmicas na cidade de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, com o objetivo de determinar a presença de Acanthamoeba, bem como realizar a caracterização fenotípica e genotípica dos isolados. Amebas foram isoladas em cultivo monoxênico com Escherichia coli. A identificação dos isolados foi baseada na morfologia dos cistos e na amplificação por PCR com oligonucleotídeos gênero-específico. De 72 amostras analisadas, 20 (27,77%) foram positivas para amebas de vida livre, e identificadas morfologicamente como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba. Destas, 11 possuíam características compatíveis com o grupo morfológico II e 9 com o grupo III. Entre os isolados, 11(55%) foram considerados potencialmente patogênicos a partir de testes de osmotolerância e termotolerância. Somente 9 isolados quando submetidos à Reação da PCR, confirmaram pertencer ao gênero Acanthamoeba. A análise do sequenciamento através da comparação das sequências dispostas no GenBank, demonstrou a distribuição nos grupos genotípicos T3 (11,1%), T5 (11,1%), T4 (33,3%) e T15 (44,4%).Os resultados obtidos com este confirmam a presença de isolados potencialmente patogênicos que podem representar um risco à saúde humana nos ambientes de banheiras de hidromassagem e piscinas térmicas. / Free-living amoebae (FLA) are widely distributed in soil and water. A few number of them are implicated in human disease: Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria fowleri, Balamuthia mandrillaris and Sappinia diploidea. Some of the infections were opportunistic, occurring mainly in immunocompromised hosts, while others are non opportunistic. Water samples were collecyed from both hot tubs and thermal swimming pools in the city of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba in the water as well as perform the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the isolates. Amoebae were isolated in monoxenic culture with Eschererichia coli. The identification of the isolates was based on the cysts morphology and PCR amplification using genus-specific oligonucleotides. From 72 samples analyzed, 20 (27,77%) were positive for free-living amoebae, and the isolates were morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. Out of these, 11 presented morphological characteristics compatible with group II, and 9 with group III. Among the isolates, 11 (55%) were considered potentially pathogenic according to osmotolerance and temperature assays. The isolates when submitted to PCR reaction only 9 were confirmed as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. The sequences analysis when compare to the sequences in the GenBank, showed that genotype distribution in group T3 (11,1%), T5 (11,1%), T4 (33,3%) and T15 (44,4%). The results of this study confirmed the presence of potentially pathogenic isolates of free living amoebae in hot swimming pool and spas which can present risks to human health.

Amebas de vida livre (AVL) do gênero Acanthamoeba estão amplamente distribuídas no ambiente e podem tornar-se amebas patogênicas ao homem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar em de água de torneira amebas de vida livre do gênero Acanthamoeba, identificá-las e classificá-las. Um total de 132 amostras de água de torneira foi coletado de escolas estaduais e municipais entre os meses de março a novembro de 2009. As amostras passaram pelo processo de filtração e as membranas foram semeadas em ágar não-nutriente 1,5% coberto por uma suspensão de E. coli inativadas pelo calor. Todas as amostras positivas para AVL foram submetidas à clonagem celular e identificadas como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba, através da morfologia dos cistos e trofozoitos e pela PCR utilizando oligonucleotídeos gênero-específicos que amplificam a região ASA.S1 do gene 18S rDNA. Ensaios fisiológicos de termo e osmotolerância foram utilizados para avaliar a patogenicidade dos isolados. Vinte sete isolados foram positivos para AVL e 10 foram identificados como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba tanto pelas características morfológicas quanto pela análise molecular. Destes, nove isolados apresentaram características do grupo II e um do grupo III, segundo Pussard e Pons (1977). A análise do sequenciamento através da comparação das sequências dispostas no GenBank, demonstrou a distribuição no grupo genotípicos T2 (40%), T2/T6 (40%), T6 (10%) e T4 (10%). Nos ensaios de termotolerância e osmotolerância 50% dos isolados obtiveram um baixo potencial patogênico. Os resultados indicaram a presença do gênero Acanthamoeba em água tratada no estado do RS, revelando sua importância epidemiológica e a necessidade de mais estudos para determinar sua distribuição no ambiente e seu potencial patogênico. / Free-living amoebae (FLA) of Acanthamoeba genus are widely distributed in the environment and can become human pathogenic amoebae. The aim of this study was to isolate from tap water in free-living amoebae of Acanthamoeba, identify them and then classify them. A total of 132 samples of tap water was collected from state and municipal schools between march and november 2009. The samples passed through the filtration process and the membranes were seeded in non-nutrient 1.5% covered by a suspension of E. coli heatinactivated. All samples of AVL were cloned and identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba by the morphology of cysts and trophozoites by PCR using primers and genus-specific primers that amplify the ASA.S1 region of 18S rDNA gene. Tests of physiological thermotolerance and osmotolerance were used to evaluate the pathogenicity of the isolates. Twenty seven isolates of AVL and 10 were identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba through the morphological and molecular analysis. Nine of the isolates showed characteristics of group II and one isolate showed characteristics of group III, according Pussard and Pons (1977). The sequencing analysis by comparing the sequences submitted to GenBank, showed that genotype distribution in group T2 (40%), T2/T6 (40%), T6 (10%) and T4 (10%). In tests of thermotolerance and osmotolerance 50% of isolates had a low pathogenic potential. The results indicated the presence of Acanthamoeba in tap water in the RS, revealing its importance and the need for more epidemiological studies to determine their distribution in the environment and its pathogenic potential.

Foram coletadas amostras de água de piscinas térmicas e não térmicas na cidade de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil entre os meses de maio de 2006 e março de 2007, com o objetivo de determinar a presença do gênero Acanthamoeba, bem como realizar a caracterização fenotípica e genotípica dos isolados. Amebas foram isoladas em cultivo monoxênico com Escherichia coli. A identificação dos isolados foi baseada na morfologia dos cistos e trofozoítos e na amplificação por PCR com oligonucleotídeos gênero-específico. O potencial patogênico foi avaliado usando testes de osmotolerância e termotolerância. Das 65 amostras analisadas, 13 (20%) foram positivas para amebas de vida livre e identificados morfologicamente como pertencentes ao gênero Acanthamoeba. Destas, 9 possuíam características compatíveis com o grupo morfológico II e 4 com o grupo III. Todos os isolados identificados morfologicamente quando submetidos à Reação de PCR, confirmaram pertencer ao gênero Acanthamoeba e 38% (5/13) dos isolados foram considerados potencialmente patogênicos a partir dos testes de osmotolerância e termotolerância. Neste estudo, o método molecular de RAPD ("Random Amplified Polymorphic-DNA") foi utilizado para investigar a relação genética entre os 13 isolados de piscinas e dois isolados de referência da ATCC. De 10 oligonucleotídeos decaméricos testados, quatro foram selecionados por gerarem produtos de amplificação passíveis de análise. A similaridade entre os isolados foi calculada utilizando-se o coeficiente de Jaccard e o dendrograma construído pelo método da média das distâncias entre grupos ("Average Linkage"). Quatro grupos distintos (G1-G4) de isolados foram formados de acordo com a similaridade genética entre eles. Sugeriu-se que os isolados do G1 por agruparem-se aos isolados de referência de A. castellanii (ATCC 30010 e 50492) possam pertencer a esta espécie. Os dados fenotípicos, tais como, morfologia e testes de tolerância foram relacionados aos dados genotípicos de RAPD e permitiram a caracterização dos isolados. Os resultados deste primeiro estudo de isolamento e caracterização de Acanthamoeba de água de piscinas na cidade de Porto Alegre-RS, Brasil confirmam a presença de isolados potencialmente patogênicos que podem representar um risco à saúde humana. / Water samples were collected from both heated and unheated swimming pools in the city of Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil between May 2006 and March 2007, to determine the presence of Acanthamoeba in the water of swimming pools as well as perform the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of the isolates. Amoebae were isolated in monoxenic culture with Escherichia coli. The identification of the isolates was based on the trophozoites and cysts morphology and on the amplification through PCR with genus-specific oligonucleotides. The potential pathogenic was assessed by osmotolerance and temperature tolerance assays. From the 65 samples analyzed, 13 (20%) were positive for free-living amoebae, and the isolates morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba. Out of these, 9 presented characteristics compatible with morphological group II, and 4 with group III. All the morphologically identified isolates, when submitted to PCR, were confirmed as belonging to the genus Acanthamoeba, and 38% (5/13) of the isolates were considered potentially pathogenic according to osmotolerance and temperature tolerance assays. In this study, the molecular RAPD method (Random Amplified Polymorphic-DNA) was used to investigate the genetic relationship among 13 isolates from swimming pools and two strains from the ATCC reference. From the ten decameric oligonucleotides tested, four were selected for generating products of amplification possible to be analyzed. The similarity between isolates was calculated using the Jaccard coefficient and the dendrogram constructed by using the method of the average distances between groups ("Average Linkage"). Four distinct groups (G1-G4) of isolates were separated according to genetic similarity between them. It was suggested that the isolates from G1 once group up with the reference isolates of A. castellanii may belong to this species. The phenotypic data such as morphology and tolerance tests were related to RAPD genotypic data and led to the characterization of isolates. The results of this study about isolation and characterization of Acanthamoeba in swimming pools water at Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil confirm the presence of potentially pathogenic isolates which can present risks to human health.

Progress in the fields of wearable sensor technologies together with specialized analysis algorithms has enabled systems for gait analysis outside labs. An example of a wearable sensor is the accelerometer embedded in a typical smartphone. The goal was to propose a system design capable of hosting existing gait analysis algorithms in a cloud environment, and tailor the design as to deliver fast results with the ambition of reaching near real-time.    The project identified a set of enabling technologies by examining existing systems for gait analysis; the technologies included cloud computing and WebSockets. The final system design is a hierarchical composition starting with a Linux VM running Node.js, which in turn connects to a database and hosts instances of the MatLab runtime. The results show the feasibility of mobile cloud based free-living gait analysis. The architectural design provides a solution to the critical problem of enabling existing algorithms to run in a cloud environment; and shows how  the graphical output of the native algorithm could be accurately reproduced in a web browser. The system can process a chunk of 1300 data points under 3 seconds for a client streaming at 128 Hz, while simultaneously streaming the real time signal.

Os nematoides causadores de doenças em cana-de-açúcar ocasionam graves problemas no rendimento desta cultura. Os gêneros mais agressivos são Meloidogyne e Pratylenchus que formam galhas e necroses nas raízes, respectivamente. A retirada da palha de cana-de-açúcar do campo para produção de etanol de segunda geração pode resultar em mudanças no comportamento das comunidades de nematoides. Assim o objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a abundância de nematoides em diferentes quantidades de palha presentes na superfície do solo. O experimento foi conduzido em Capivari - SP na unidade Bom Retiro (BR) e em Valparaíso - SP na unidade Univalem (UV). O tipo de solo de cada área experimental era, respectivamente, Latossolo Vermelho distrófico típico (textura média na camada superficial) e Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo distrófico típico (textura arenosa na camada superficial). O delineamento foi o de blocos ao acaso com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições, compostos por quantidades de palha em Mg ha-1 de massa de matéria seca, sendo em BR (0; 4,2; 8,7; 15,1; 18,9; 23,3), e em UV (0; 3,9; 10,2; 12,5; 16,4; 13,2). As amostragens de solo e raiz coletadas na profundidade de 0-20 cm na linha e entrelinha da cultura foram realizadas em BR em maio e em UV em junho, ambas em 2015. Pratylenchus zeae teve maior dominância nas áreas, seguido de nematoides de vida livre, e Helicotylenchus sp. e Meloidogyne javanica apenas foi observada na área de solo arenoso e em médias densidades. O manejo de remoção da palha de cana-de-açúcar não promoveu mudanças significativas nas abundâncias das comunidades contidas no solo, tanto de textura média quanto arenosa. Por outro lado, houve interferência das quantidades de palha na infecção pelos nematoides nas raízes, no solo de textura média 4,2 Mg ha-1 de palha diminuiu a comunidade de nematoides e no solo de textura arenosa a maior comunidade de nematoides foi em 13,2 Mg ha-1 de palha. Todavia, múltiplos fatores podem ter afetado esses resultados, não apenas o manejo de remoção da palha. São necessários mais estudos em longo prazo para se afirmar o real efeito da retirada de palha do campo / The nematodes that cause diseases in sugarcane represent serious yield problems. The most aggressive genera are Meloidogyne and Pratylenchus that form gall and necrosis in the roots, respectively. Sugarcane straw removal from the field for second generation ethanol production may change the behavior of nematode communities. Thus the objective of this study was to quantify nematode abundance in different quantities of sugarcane straw left on soil surface. The experiment was conducted in Capivari - SP at Bom Retiro (BR) mill and Valparaíso - SP at Univalem (UV) mill. The soil type of each experimental area was, respectively, Oxisol (medium texture in the surface layer) and Alfisol (sandy texture in the surface layer). The experimental design was a randomized block with six treatments and four replicates, composed of quantities of straw in Mg ha-1 of dry matter mass, where in BR (0; 4,2; 8,7; 15,1; 18,9; 23,3), and in UV (0; 3,9; 10,2; 12,5; 16,4; 13,2). Soil and root samples were collected at 0-20 cm depths in the row and inter-row position of the sugarcane crop in BR in May and UV in June, both in 2015. Pratylenchus zeae had greater dominance in both evaluated areas, followed by free-living nematodes, and Helicotylenchus sp., Meloidogyne javanica was only observed in the sandy soil area and in medium densities. Due to the high densities it would be necessary to control nematodes in the areas. In terms of communities abundance in the soil there was no difference in relation to the treatments in the two areas. However, there was interference of the straw in the nematodes infection in the roots, and this result cannot be inferred by the straw deposition. Additional long-term studies are needed to understanding the effect of straw removal from the field on nematode community

Food-searching behavior of two adult male Ferruginous Hawks (Buteo regalis) was studied by direct observation in Curlew Valley, Utah-Idaho, during the nesting seasons of 1974 and 1975. This paper analyzes the effects of vegetation type, prey distribution, cover density, previous experience, and time and energy budgets upon the predators' choice of hunting methods and hunting sites. Both hawks hunted actively throughout the day (0600 to 2100 hours MDT). Male 1 (1974) and Male 2 (1975) captured an average of 8.7 ± 2.0 and 9.0 ± 1.5 prey items per day, respectively, during the 4-wk observation period in each year. The hawks hunted by four distinguishable methods: (1) from a perch, (2) from the ground, (3) from low-altitude (active) flight, and (4) from high-altitude (soaring) flight. The birds made a total of 808 observed strikes and were successful in securing prey in 129 (16.6 percent) of those strikes. Success rate (successful strikes/total attempted strikes) varied significantly with hunting method. The hawks were selective in their use of vegetation types for hunting. Both birds used the "bare ground" and "pasture" types more than expected by chance. Male 2 also over-used the "alfalfa" type. Both hawks significantly under-used the "grass-shrub," "grass or grain," "old field," "juniper," and "rush-grass" cover types. The differences in use of vegetation types could not be related to differences in prey biomass. The birds were selective in their use of areas which differed in density of vegetative cover. Areas with no cover were used by both hawks more than expected by chance; all other areas were under-used with the single exception of "dense" cover in 1975. Previous experience was important to the birds' choice of hunting sites and hunting methods. Each hawk returned directly to the site of its last prey capture on more than half of its hunting forays. Similarly, each hawk tended to initiate a new hunting effort by using the hunting method that had been successful on its previous hunt. In 1975, Male 2 switched its emphasis to a new major hunting area during the fourth week of observation. The apparent reason for the switch was a decline in success at the first hunting area due to the growth of vegetation which concealed prey. Males 1 and 2 averaged 0.94 ± 0.43 and 1.27 ± 0.55 prey captures per hour of hunting time, respectively. Capture rates (captures/time) varied with hunting method. The amount of time a hawk spent hunting by each method was not related to its capture rate by that method. However, each bird's total use of sit-and-wait hunting (from a perch or from the ground) and of hunting from low-altitude flight was proportional to estimates of the number of captures per unit of energetic cost for those methods. Both hawks hunted from high-altitude flight more than expected on the basis of their catch/cost ratios for that technique. This suggests that soaring was not exclusively a hunting technique, but that it had some additional purpose unrelated to food gathering. There was some evidence that the hawks used major hunting sites which provided high benefit/cost ratios relative to the rest of their foraging ranges. Both hawks foraged efficiently by concentrating more of their foraging time on the hunting method and in the hunting sites which yielded the highest number of prey captures per unit of energy ex-pended. The birds' use of secondary hunting areas may have contributed to their long-term foraging efficiency by informing them of changes in the foraging potential of different portions of their home ranges. Such flexible foraging patterns may be critical to the survival of predators which rely on highly variable small-mammal populations.

Physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health and reducing the risk of various chronic diseases. Step counting has emerged as a popular method for assessing physical activity levels, given its simplicity and ease of use. However, accurately measuring step counts in free-living environments presents significant challenges, with most activity trackers exhibiting a percent error above 20%. This study aims to address these challenges by creating a machine learning algorithm that leverages activity labels to improve step count accuracy in real-world conditions. Two approaches to balancing data were used: one employed a simpler oversampling technique, while the other adopted a more nuanced approach involving the removal of outliers. Models 1 and 2 were trained on each of these uniquely balanced datasets. Model 1 performed much better than Model 2 on testing datasets, but both achieved better than 20% error on new datasets, indicating their potential for more accurate step counting in real-world conditions. Despite challenges such as data imbalance, the study demonstrated the viability of using activity labels to enhance step counting accuracy. Future research should focus on addressing data imbalances and exploring more advanced machine learning techniques for more reliable activity monitoring.