Cattell’s Personality Factor Questionnaire (CPFQ): Development and Preliminary Study

This study was aimed at: (a) developing an instrument for personality assessment according to Cattell’s model, in which the 16PF is based on; and (b) carrying out an empirical analysis of the internal structure of the instrument. Three hundred and forty seven people, mostly female (67.4%), attending higher education (62.5%) and aged between 16 and 66 (M = 25.69; SD = 8.90) participated in the study. One hundred and twenty items were created and an exploratory factor analysis of the main factors was carried out. Then, a parallel analysis, an exploratory full information factor analysis with categorical variables and an internal consistency analysis were performed. The results suggest that the instrument is composed of 12 factors of reasonable internal consistency rates. The model developed by Cattell helped to understand the structural organization found for the instrument, since there is coherency, especially in relation to more general terms (global factors).Las finalidades de este estudio fueron: (a) crear un instrumento de evaluación de la personalidad según el modelo de Cattell que fundamenta el 16PF, y (b) realizar un análisis empírico de la estructura interna del instrumento. 347 personas participaron, en su mayoría mujeres (67,4%), cursando la educación superior (62,5%) y entre 16 y 66 años (M = 25,69; DE = 8,90). 120 puntos fueron creados y se realizó un análisis exploratorio de los factores principales, seguido de un análisis paralelo, un análisis factorial exploratorio para las variables categóricas con la información completa y análisis de la consistencia interna. Los resultados sugieren que el instrumento está formado por 12 factores de consistencia interna razonable. El modelo construido por Cattell ayudó a comprender la organización estructural que se encuentra en el instrumento, ya que hay coherencia, especialmente en términos más generales (factores globales).Este estudo teve como objetivos: (a) construir um instrumento para avaliação da personalidade de acordo com o modelo de Cattell que dá base para o 16PF e (b) realizar uma análise empírica da estrutura interna desse instrumento. Participaram 347 pessoas, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino (67,4%), cursando o ensino superior (62,5%) e com idade variando de 16 a 66 anos (M = 25,69; DP = 8,90). Foram criados 120 itens e realizada uma análise exploratória de fatores principais. Posteriormente, uma análise paralela, uma análise fatorial exploratória por informação completa de variáveis categóricas e análise de consistência interna. Os resultados sugerem que o instrumento é formado por 12 fatores com índices de consistência interna razoáveis. O modelo construído por Cattell ajudou a entender a organização estrutural encontrada para o instrumento, uma vez que há coerência, principalmente em termos mais gerais (fatores globais)

Interaction between protein nutrition and reproductive features in bovine dams

Dietas com excesso de proteína bruta, em especial contendo uréia, têm sido associadas a menores taxas de prenhez, alterações hormonais e diminuição na qualidade de embriões de fêmeas bovinas. A condição de exposição desses animais à uréia por exemplo, dose diária, tipo de dieta, estádio fisiológico) parece ser fator decisivo para manifestação dessas respostas. O mecanismo pelo qual a uréia agiria ainda não foi completamente elucidado, mas algumas hipóteses aventadas são ação sobre oócitos e embriões durante as primeiras clivagens e modificações em ambiente uterino. Entretanto, o uso de uréia em alguns estudos mostrou-se inócuo ao desempenho reprodutivo de fêmeas bovinasDiets containing excessive amounts of crude protein, mainly from urea, have been associated to lower pregnancy rates, shifts in hormonal patterns and poor embryo quality in bovine female. Exposure conditions to urea (e.g., daily dose, type of diet, physiologic status) may be decisive to manifestation of these responses. Mechanism by which urea may act has not been elucidated yet, although some hypotheses are action on oocyte and early embryo and changing in the uterine milieu. Nevertheless, in some studies urea feeding has been shown being harmless to reproduction performance of bovine damn

Effects of riparian plant diversity loss on detritus food webs become more pronounced at longer times

Publicado em "Symposium for European Freshwater Sciences : abstract book"We examined the potential long-term impacts of riparian plant diversity loss on diversity and activity of aquatic microbial decomposers and on the feeding behaviour and body composition of a stream invertebrate shredder. Microbial assemblages were obtained in a mixed-forest stream by immersion of mesh bags containing alder, oak and eucalyptus leaves, commonly found in riparian corridors of Iberian streams. Simulation of species loss was done in microcosms by including a set of all leaf species, retrieved from the stream, and non-colonized leaves of 3, 2 or 1 leaf species. Leaves were renewed every month throughout 6 months, and microbial inoculum was ensured by keeping a set of colonized leaves from the previous month. After 2 (short time) and 6 months (long time) of plant species loss, microbial diversity, leaf mass loss and fungal biomass were assessed in each leaf species. Leaves from all leaf treatments were used to feed invertebrate shredders. Molecular diversity of fungi and bacteria, as the total number of OTUs per leaf diversity treatment, decreased with leaf diversity loss. Fungal biomass on oak and eucalyptus leaves tended to decrease linearly with leaf species loss. Decomposition of alder and eucalyptus leaves was affected by leaf species identity, mainly after long time. Leaf decomposition of alder decreased when mixed with eucalyptus, while decomposition of eucalyptus decreased in mixtures with oak. Time led to an increase of the positive diversity effects on leaf consumption and FPOM production by the invertebrates. Regarding invertebrates’ body composition, the % of C increased and the % of N decreased when animals were fed with leaves after long time of diversity loss. Moreover, leaf identity affected invertebrates’ body composition after feeding, suggesting deviation from strict homeostasis. Results suggest that effects of leaf diversity on microbial decomposers depended on leaf species number and also on which species were lost from the system, especially after longer time. Also, leaf diversity affected leaf consumption and FPOM production by invertebrates, as well as animals’ body composition. This may have implications for the management of riparian forests to maintain stream ecosystem functioning. FEDER-POFC-COMPETE and FCT supported this study (PEst-C/BIA/UI4050/2011, PTDC/AAC-AMB/113746/2009 and PTDC/AAC-AMB/117068/2010), SD (SFRH/BPD/47574/2008) and IF (SFRH/BD/42215/2007)FEDER-POFC-COMPETE and FCT supported this study (PEst-C/BIA/UI4050/2011, PTDC/AAC-AMB/113746/2009 and PTDC/AAC-AMB/117068/2010), SD (SFRH/BPD/47574/2008) and IF (SFRH/BD/42215/2007

Long-term effects of riparian vegetation diversity on stream-dwelling microbes and litter decomposition

Manipulations of plant litter diversity have been shown to affect litter decomposition and to alter the structure of aquatic assemblages. However, most experiments addressing biodiversity effects have been conducted at small temporal scales. Here, we used a pool of 3 common riparian plant species in Portugal (alder, oak and eucalyptus), to examine the potential long-term impacts of riparian diversity loss on litter decomposition and associated microbes. Fine-mesh bags containing mixtures of the 3 leaf species were immersed in a mixed-forested stream to allow microbial colonization. After 2 weeks, leaves were retrieved and placed in microcosms to simulate plant species loss. For that, all combinations of 1 to 3 non-colonized leaf species were enclosed in mesh containers and a set of colonized leaves was used as inoculum. This procedure was repeated each 30 days during 6 months keeping leaf species composition constant. In every 2 months, we assessed leaf mass loss, fungal biomass and microbial diversity by the number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) from denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, using primers targeting rDNA for bacteria, fungi and ciliates. The highest diversity on litter was found for bacteria (68 OTUs), followed by fungi (41 OTUs) and ciliates (31 OTUs). Litter decomposition, fungal biomass and the structure of microbial assemblages on each litter species varied along time. Fungal biomass and diversity of fungi and ciliates were affected by litter species diversity. After 6 months, fungal biomass on oak and eucalyptus was highest in mixtures with 3 litter species. Also fungal diversity on each litter species was highest in leaf mixtures, especially at longer times. Results suggest that changes in riparian vegetation, at longer time scales, can alter the structure of stream microbial assemblages and affect litter decomposition dynamics in streams.I Fernandes (SFRH/BD/42215/2007) and S Duarte (SFRH/BPD/47574/2008) were supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Long-term effects of riparian-plant diversity loss on a stream invertebrate shredder

We used a pool of 3 common riparian-plant species in Portugal (alder, oak and eucalyptus) to examine the potential long-term impacts of riparian diversity loss on the feeding behaviour and body composition of a stream invertebrate shredder (Limnephilidae). Fine-mesh bags containing mixtures of the 3 leaf species were immersed in a mixed-forested stream to allow microbial colonization. After 2 weeks, colonized leaves were transferred to microcosms containing stream water and all combinations of 1 to 3 non-colonized leaf species enclosed in mesh containers. The experiment ran for 6 months. In each month, a portion of leaf material was used to inoculate new microcosms containing non -colonized leaf material, keeping the leaf species composition constant. After 2 and 6 months, those leaves were used to feed invertebrate shredders for a period of 8 days. Leaf consumption and FPOM production by the shredder were affected by leaf species diversity, with higher values in mixtures with 3 leaf species. Leaf mass loss and FPOM production were also affected by leaf species identity, but not by time of leaf diversity loss. C:N ratio of FPOM was affected by leaf identity and showed a positive linear relationship with initial leaf C:N ratio. Invertebrate C:N ratio increased along time of leaf diversity loss. Results suggest that the riparian-plant diversity loss can affect leaf consumption, FPOM production and invertebrate body composition, but effects did not appear to change at longer times.FEDER-POFC-COMPETE and FCT supported this study (PEst-C/BIA/UI4050/2011, PTDC/AAC-AMB/117068/2010), IF (SFRH/BD/42215/2007) and SD (SFRH/BPD/47574/2008)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - PEst-C/BIA/UI4050/2011, PTDC/AAC-AMB/117068/2010, SFRH/BD/42215/2007, SFRH/BPD/47574/200

Functional diversity and primary production predict future patterns of periphyton productivity after species extinction

Understanding of the trait-based ecology of the periphytic algal community has increased in the last decade. However, the relationship between their functional diversity and ecosystem functions, such as primary production, has been speculated on, but yet not proven. Human impacts promote changes in biotic communities leading to a risk of extinction, with consequences for the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. In this study, we unraveled the associations between the taxonomic and functional components of periphytic algal diversity, stream eutrophication, and productivity patterns. Furthermore, we simulated future patterns of species extinction to predict how productivity may change when facing extinction. Primary production and taxonomic and functional diversity of the periphytic algal communities were estimated in five streams across a trophic gradient in the Ave River basin (northwest Portugal). Our results demonstrated that eutrophication led to a unimodal pattern of taxonomic diversity, while functional diversity tended to increase with increasing eutrophication. We found that only functional diversity had a positive association with primary production. The extinction estimations indicated that almost all species found in our study were at high extinction risk. When we spatially scaled our extinction simulations, we found poor-productive streams after the extirpation of a few species. However, at the regional scale, the ecosystem supports the extinction of at least 40% of species before turning into a poor-productive system. Intermediate levels of disturbance are probably beneficial for the diversity of periphytic algal communities, to a certain extent. Moreover, functionally diverse communities were more productive, and the alleged future extinction of species is likely to lead to poor-productive streams if regionally focused conservation initiatives are not implemented. We recommend that, using simulations of functional extinction, it is possible to infer how the loss of these microorganisms could alter ecosystem functioning, to better predict human impacts on aquatic ecosystems.This study was partially funded by CAPES grant number Finance Code 001. This study was supported by the Streameco project, funded by the European Regional Development Fund— Operational Competitiveness Programme (FEDER-POFC-COMPETE) and the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (PTDC/CTA-AMB/31245/2017)

American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis in the Brazilian Amazon from 2010 to 2014

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is one of the most important but neglected infectious diseases, and can cause severe deformities. ATL incidence remains high in forest regions, such as in the Amazonas State, Brazil. However, differences within the State and over time have been observed, since infection patterns are not homogeneous, and these aspects need to be clarified. This study aimed to identify the epidemiological profile of ATL and its spatial and temporal distribution in the Brazilian Amazon, from 2010 to 2014. Data were extracted from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, which descriptively evaluates the incidence rate, as well as the temporal and spatial distribution of the disease. The highest prevalence of ATL was found in men and in the age group of 20-40 years. Approximately 95% of the cases were of cutaneous ATL and they were identified through direct examination. The spatial analysis has shown that ATL was widely distributed, both in rural and urban areas, and more concentrated in the Southern part of the State. Moreover, although there was an expansion in the spatial distribution and an increasing incidence of ATL in Amazonas, the epidemiological profile remained unchanged, suggesting that other factors must be responsible for its widespread distribution and increasing incidence

O IMPACTO DOS ACORDOS REALIZADOS EM PROCEDIMENTOS SANCIONATÓRIOS DAS AGÊNCIAS REGULADORAS NO DESENVOLVIMENTO DEMOCRÁTICO DA SOCIEDADE PÓSMODERNA

OBJETIVO DO TRABALHO No âmbito da sociedade contemporânea, caracterizada pela complexidade dos processos decisórios, a prosperidade da democracia está relacionada à atuação eficiente do Estado, com vistas ao bem-estar social promovido por meio da ponderação nos conflitos distributivos de categorias econômicas. A presente pesquisa busca verificar se os acordos substitutivos à sanção em procedimentos sancionatórios, realizados nos limites de competência das agências reguladoras, contribuem para o desenvolvimento da democracia pretendida pela sociedade pósmoderna

Antimicrobial activity of phenolic extracts of Eucalyptus globulus and Juglans regia against dairy industry pathogens

Book of Abstracts of CEB Annual Meeting 2017[Excerpt] Bovine mastitis (BM) is the most expensive pathology for dairy industry and Staphylococcus aureus is amongst the most prevalent causative agents of this disease. Nowadays, it is known that S. aureus contaminated milk can enter the dairy production chain and be the origin of food contamination. Due to the poor efficacy of antibiotics and to the ability to form biofilms evidenced by this pathogen, BM has become increasingly difficult to control and to eradicate. Phenolic plant extracts are nowadays being evaluated since they are a rich source of bioactive molecules. Thus, in this work the antimicrobial activity of E. globulus and J. regia alone and in combination against S. aureus BM isolates was evaluated and compared with penicillin G (Pen G), an antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of this pathology. The evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of both extracts was also performed. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio