Phylogeny of Diving Beetles Reveals a Coevolutionary Arms Race between the Sexes

BACKGROUND: Darwin illustrated his sexual selection theory with male and female morphology of diving beetles, but maintained a cooperative view of their interaction. Present theory suggests that instead sexual conflict should be a widespread evolutionary force driving both intersexual coevolutionary arms races and speciation. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We combined Bayesian phylogenetics, complete taxon sampling and a multi-gene approach to test the arms race scenario on a robust diving beetle phylogeny. As predicted, suction cups in males and modified dorsal surfaces in females showed a pronounced coevolutionary pattern. The female dorsal modifications impair the attachment ability of male suction cups, but each antagonistic novelty in females corresponds to counter-differentiation of suction cups in males. CONCLUSIONS: A recently diverged sibling species pair in Japan is possibly one consequence of this arms race and we suggest that future studies on hypoxia might reveal the key to the extraordinary selection for female counter-adaptations in diving beetles

Prevalence Of Drug Use During Pregnancy: A Pharmacoepidemiological Approach

Introduction. Few Brazilian papers on the use of medication in pregnancy have been found in the indexed medical literature. This paper describes the use of medication during pregnancy among women who gave birth in a teaching maternity hospital in the city of Campinas, Brazil. Methods. A retrospective study on the pattern of drug use during pregnancy was conducted among 1,000 mothers who were interviewed using a structured questionnaire after delivery, while they were still in hospital. The following parameters were registered: sociodemographic characteristics, obstetric and contraceptive history, data on prenatal care and medications used during pregnancy. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA and chi-square test at p = 0.05. Results. Among the interviewed patients, 94.6% had taken at least one medication during pregnancy, and 46.1% had used medication in the first trimester. Of 3,778 medications reported, 88.8% had been prescribed by a doctor. The median of medications taken was 3 (ranging from 0 to 18). The six most used classes of medications were: analgesics, spasmolytics, gynecological antiinfectious agents, antianemics, antacids and systemic antibiotics. The five most used medications were: butyl scopolamine, ferrous sulfate, dipirone, nistatin and multivitamin tablets. Only 27.7% of the patients had been alerted to the risk of taking medication during pregnancy. Conclusion. Knowing the profile of medications used during pregnancy may help devising programs to provide information to the patients and continuing education to health care professionals.362205212Barros, J.A.C., Propaganda de medicamentos: Atentado a saúde (1995), São Paulo: Hucitec/SobravimeBonassi, S., Magnani, M., Calvi, A., Repetto, E., Puglisi, P., Pantarotto, F., Factors related to drug consumption during pregnancy (1994) Acta Obstet. Gynecol. Scand, 73, pp. 535-540Bonati, M., Bortolus, R., Marchetti, F., Romero, M., Tognoni, G., Drug use in pregnancy: An overview of epidemiological (drug utilization) studies (1990) Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol, 38, pp. 325-328Briggs, G.G., Freeman, R.K., Yaffe, S.J., (1994) Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk, , 4th ed. Baltimore: Williams & WilkinsClavijo, H.A., Baquero, J.A., Ulloa, S., Morales, A., Self-medication during pregnancy (1995) World Health Forum, 16, pp. 403-404Coelho, H.L., Teixeira, A.C., Cruz, M.deF., Gonzaga, S.L., Arrais, P.S., Luchini, L., Misoprostol: The experience of women in Fortaleza, Brazil (1994) Contraception, 49, pp. 101-110Medication during pregnancy: An intercontinental cooperative study (1992) Int. J. Gynecol. Obstet, 39, pp. 185-196. , Collaborative Group on Drug use in Pregnancy (CGDUP)De Jong-Van den Berg, L.T.W., Van den Berg, P.B., Haaijer-Ruskamp, F.M., Dukes, M.N.G., Wesseling, H., Investigating drug use in pregnancy: Methodological problems and perspectives (1991) Pharm. Weekbl. Sci, 13, pp. 32-38Dupuy, J.P., Karsenty, S., A invasão farmacêutica (1980), Rio de Janeiro: GraalGomes, K.R.O., Contribuição ao estudo do uso de medicamentos durante a gravidez (1994), [Dissertação de Mestrado]. São Paulo: Faculdade de Saúde Pública da USPHeikkilä, A.M., Erkkola, R.U., Nummi, S.E., Use of medication during pregnancy: A prospective cohort study on use and policy of prescribing (1994) Ann. Chirurg. Gynaecol, 83, pp. 80-83Hoffmann, A., Jäger, O., Peiker, G., Reimann, I., Drug use in pregnancy: East German data of an international collaborative study (1992) Int. J. Clin. Pharm Ther. Toxicol, 30, pp. 462-464International Agranulocytosis and Aplastic Anemia Study. Risks of agranulocytosis and aplastic anemia. A first report of their relation to drug use with special reference to analgesics (1986) JAMA, 256, pp. 1749-1757Mitchell, A.A., Cottler, L.B., Shapiro, S., Effect of questionnaire design on recall of drug exposure in pregnancy (1986) Am. J. Epidemiol, 123, pp. 670-676Rubin, J.D., Ferencz, C., Loffredo, C., Use of prescription and non-prescription drugs in pregnancy (1993) J. Clin. Epidemiol, 46, pp. 581-589. , Baltimore-Washington Infant Study GroupSplinter, M.Y., Sagraves, R., Nightengale, B., Rayburn, W.F., Prenatal use of medications by women giving birth at a university hospital (1997) South Med. J, 90, pp. 498-50

Effect of floor type on the performance, physiological and behavioural responses of finishing beef steers

peer-reviewedBackground:The study objective was to investigate the effect of bare concrete slats (Control), two types of mats [(Easyfix mats (mat 1) and Irish Custom Extruder mats (mat 2)] fitted on top of concrete slats, and wood-chip to simulate deep bedding (wood-chip placed on top of a plastic membrane overlying the concrete slats) on performance, physiological and behavioral responses of finishing beef steers. One-hundred and forty-four finishing steers (503 kg; standard deviation 51.8 kg) were randomly assigned according to their breed (124 Continental cross and 20 Holstein–Friesian) and body weight to one of four treatments for 148 days. All steers were subjected to the same weighing, blood sampling (jugular venipuncture), dirt and hoof scoring pre study (day 0) and on days 23, 45, 65, 86, 107, 128 and 148 of the study. Cameras were fitted over each pen for 72 h recording over five periods and subsequent 10 min sampling scans were analysed. Results: Live weight gain and carcass characteristics were similar among treatments. The number of lesions on the hooves of the animals was greater (P < 0.05) on mats 1 and 2 and wood-chip treatments compared with the animals on the slats. Dirt scores were similar for the mat and slat treatments while the wood-chip treatment had greater dirt scores. Animals housed on either slats or wood-chip had similar lying times. The percent of animals lying was greater for animals housed on mat 1 and mat 2 compared with those housed on concrete slats and wood chips. Physiological variables showed no significant difference among treatments. Conclusions: In this exploratory study, the performance or welfare of steers was not adversely affected by slats, differing mat types or wood-chip as underfoot material

Polypharmacy Among The Elderly In The City Of São Paulo, Brazil - Sabe Study [polifarmácia Entre Idosos Do Município De São Paulo - Estudo Sabe]

Polypharmacy for the elderly and associated factors were assessed. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the SABE Study (Health, Well-being and Aging), 2006. 1,115 individuals representing 422,377 elderly aged 65 or more, living in São Paulo City, were interviewed. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of five or more medications. A multivariate regression logistics was used. Polypharmacy prevalence was 36%. Female (OR = 1.7; IC 95%: 1.0; 2.9), age over 75 years (OR = 1.9; CI 95%: 1.3; 2.7), higher income (OR = 1.8; CI 95%: 1.2; 2.8), working (OR = 1.8; CI 95%: 1.1; 2.9), regular self assessed health (OR = 1.6; CI 95%: 1.1; 2.3) or poor (OR = 2.6; CI 95%: 1.4; 4.9), hypertension (OR = 2.0; CI 95%: 1.4; 2.9), diabetes (OR = 4.1; CI 95%: 2.2; 7.5), rheumatic diseases (OR = 2.3; CI 95%: 1.5; 3.6) and cardiac problems (OR = 2.9; CI 95%: 1.9; 4.5) were associated positively with polypharmacy. Using only the public health system (OR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3; 0.7) was inversely associated with polypharmacy. Medicines for the cardiovascular system and for the alimentary tract and metabolism were the most used. The knowledge of factors associated with polypharmacy, such as those identified in this study, may be useful to alert health professionals about the importance of identifying and monitoring the elderly groups most vulnerable to polypharmacy.154817827Ramos, L.R., Fatores determinantes do envelhecimento saudável em idosos residentes em centro urbano: Projeto Epidoso, São Paulo (2003) Cad Saúde Pública, 19, pp. 793-798(2002) Active Ageing. A Policy Framework, , http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2002/WHO_NMH_NPH_02.8.pdf, World Health Organization, Geneva: WHO;,. Disponível em, [Acessado em 20 de fevereiro de 2006]Coelho Filho, J.M., Marcopito, L.F., Castelo, A., Medication use patterns among elderly people in urban area in Northeastern Brazil (2004) Rev Saude Publica, 38, pp. 557-564Qato, D.M., Alexander, G.C., Conti, R.M., Johnson, M., Schumm, P., Lindau, S.T., Use of prescription and over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements among older adults in the United States (2008) JAMA, 300, pp. 2867-2878Ribeiro, A.Q., Rozenfeld, S., Klein, C.H., César, C.C., Acurcio Fde, A., Survey on medicine use by elderly retirees in Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil (2008) Rev Saúde Pública, 42, pp. 724-732Flores, L.M., Mengue, S.S., Uso de medicamentos por idosos em região do sul do Brasil (2005) Rev Saúde Pública, 39, pp. 924-929Kaufman, D.W., Kelly, J.P., Rosenberg, L., Anderson, T.E., Michell, A.A., Recent patterns of medication use in the ambulatory adult population of the United States (2002) JAMA, 287, pp. 337-344Safran, D.G., Neuman, P., Schoen, C., Kitchman, M.S., Wilson, I.B., Cooper, B., Prescription drug coverage and seniors: Findings from a 2003 national survey (2005) Health Aff, , (Millwood),Suppl Web Exclusives: W5-152-W5-166Prybys, K.M., Melville, K., Hanna, J., Gee, A., Chyka, P., Polypharmacy in the elderly: Clinical challenges in emergency practice: Part 1 overview, etiology, and drug interactions (2002) Emerg Med Rep, 23, pp. 145-153Rozenfeld, S., Fonseca, M.J.M., Acurcio, F.A., Drug utilization and polypharmacy among the elderly: A survey in Rio de Janeiro City, Brazil (2008) Pan Am J Public Health, 23, pp. 34-43Lebrão, M.L., Duarte, Y.A.O., (2003) SABE-Saúde, Bem Estar e envelhecimento-O projeto SABE no município de São Paulo:Uma abordagem inicial [livro na internet], , http://www.opas.org.br/sistema/arquivos/l_saber.pdf, Brasília: Athalaia Bureau;,. Disponível em, [Acessado em 20 de fevereiro de 2006](2006) Anatomical therapeutic chemical (ATC) classification index with defined daily doses (DDDs), , http://www.whocc.no/atcddd/index, World Health Organization, [homepage na Internet]. Genevac2007. Disponível em, [atualizado em 16 de dezembro de, e acessado em 16 de março de 2007]Rao, J.N.K., Scott, A.J., On chi-squared tests for multiway contingency tables with cell proportions estimated from survey data (1984) Annals of Statistics, 12, pp. 46-60(2009) Stata Statistical Software: Release 11, , StataCorp, College Station. Texas: StataCorp LPRollason, V., Vogt, N., Reduction of polypharmacy in the elderly. A systematic review of the role of the pharmacist (2003) Drugs Aging, 20, pp. 817-832Rochon, P.A., Gurwitz, J.H., Optimising drug treatment for elderly people: The prescribing cascade (1997) BMJ, 315, pp. 1096-1099Gurwitz, J.H., Polypharmacy: A new paradigm for quality drug therapy in the elderly? (2004) Arch Int Med, 164, pp. 1957-1959Loyola Filho, A.I., Uchoa, E., Lima-Costa, M.F., A population-based study on use of medication by the elderly in Greater Metropolitan Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (2006) Cad Saude Publica, 22, pp. 2657-2667Linjakumpu, T., Hartikainen, S., Klaukka, T., Veijola, J., Kivelä, S.L., Isoaho, R., Use of medications and polypharmacy are increasing among the elderly (2002) J Clin Epidemiol, 55, pp. 809-817Jörgensen, T., Johansson, S., Kennerfalk, A., Wallander, M.A., Svärdsudd, K., Prescription drug use, diagnoses, and healthcare utilization among the elderly (2001) Ann Pharmacother, 35, pp. 1004-1009Loyola Filho, A.I., Uchoa, E., Firmo, J.O., Lima-Costa, M.F., A population-based study on use of medications by elderly Brazilians: The Bambuí Health and Aging Study (BHAS) (2005) Cad Saúde Pública, 21, pp. 545-553Loyola Filho, A.I., Uchoa, E., Firmo, J.O., Lima-Costa, M.F., Influence of income on the association between cognitive impairment and polypharmacy: Bambuí Project (2008) Rev Saúde Pública, 42, pp. 89-99Rosholm, J.U., Christensen, K., Relationship between drug use and self-reported health in elderly Danes (1997) Eur J Clin Pharmacol, 53, pp. 179-183Parente, F., Cucino, C., Gallus, S., Bargiggia, S., Greco, S., Pastore, L., Bianchi Porro, G., Hospital use of acid-suppressive medications and its fall-out on prescribing in general practice: A 1-month survey (2003) Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 17, pp. 1503-1506Alves, L.C., Rodrigues, R.N., Determinantes da autopercepção de saúde entre idosos do Município de São Paulo, Brasil (2005) Rev Panam Salud Publica, 17 (5-6), pp. 333-341Woodward, M.C., Deprescribing: Achieving better health outcomes for older people through reducing medications (2003) J Pharm Pract Res, 33, pp. 323-328Stein, C., Moritz, I., (1999) A life course perspective of maintaining independence in older age, , http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/1999/WHO_HSC_AHE_99.2_life.pdf, Geneva: WHO.,. Disponível em, [Acessado em 20 de fevereiro de 2006](2006) Dispõe sobre o salário mínimo a partir de 1o de abril de, , http://www010.dataprev.gov.br/sislex/paginas/42/2006/11321.htm, BRASIL, Lei no 11.321, de 7 de julho de 2006, Disponível em, [Acessado em 23 de outubro de 2011

Avaliação e perspectivas da abordagem à conservação do patrimônio organístico no Brasil

Órgãos de tubos são construídos no Brasil, ou importados do exterior, desde as primeiras décadas do período colonial. Estes instrumentos, apesar de constituírem um conjunto relativamente exíguo, representam um testemunho histórico e musical de valor inestimável. No entanto, de um modo geral, encontram-se em condições precárias de funcionamento e, em parte, mais ou menos descaracterizados profundamente, quanto à sua estrutura e configuração original, às vezes em estado de abandono e, por incrível que pareça, ainda sujeitos ao risco de intervenções arbitrárias e desprovidas de bases técnicas e de preocupação histórica e musicológica. Neste artigo, busca-se percorrer o caminho que levou à atual situação e discutem-se os princípios e os critérios de processos de recuperação, manutenção e conservação preventiva desse patrimônio, partindo dos pressupostos do respeito à sua originalidade e do direito a restauros segundo os rigorosos cânones já definidos para objetos com plena condição de bem cultural, cujo reconhecimento para os órgãos de qualquer época deve ser urgentemente garantido.Pipe organs have been built in Brazil or imported from elsewhere since the very first decades of the colonial period. Albeit relatively small in number, such instruments have inestimable historical and musical value. Notwithstanding, they are generally in very poor working condition and some have lost much of their original structure and configuration; they are often found in a state of abandonment and, incredible as it may seem, still under the threat of arbitrary interventions performed with no technical expertise or any concern for their historical and musicological significance. This article is an effort to understand how this state of affairs came to be, and discusses principles and criteria for the restoration, maintenance and preventive conservation of this legacy, based on assumptions regarding its original conditions and entitlement to restoration in accordance with the stringent standards already set for artifacts that enjoy the full status of cultural assets, which should also be urgently granted to pipe organs of any time and age

Practising Mathematics Teacher Education: Expanding The Realm of Possibilities

It is often said that student teachers’ underlying beliefs of what mathematics consists of and how it should be taught are restricted in two ways. On the one hand, future elementary teachers in general use only weak mathematical conceptions, which often do not help them to realise their educational ambitions. On a general educational level, many of these students advocate discovery learning and collective problem solving, but when it comes down to the mathematical activities that have to be prepared, their experience of “traditional” school mathematics is of little help. On the other hand, future (higher) secondary teachers mostly are very well prepared with respect to formal academic mathematics when entering mathematics education programmes, either because they have already passed a mathematical formation at university or because their teacher education programmes emphasise the study of academic mathematics and not of educational or didactical modules

Photoswitchable diacylglycerols enable optical control of protein kinase C.

Increased levels of the second messenger lipid diacylglycerol (DAG) induce downstream signaling events including the translocation of C1-domain-containing proteins toward the plasma membrane. Here, we introduce three light-sensitive DAGs, termed PhoDAGs, which feature a photoswitchable acyl chain. The PhoDAGs are inactive in the dark and promote the translocation of proteins that feature C1 domains toward the plasma membrane upon a flash of UV-A light. This effect is quickly reversed after the termination of photostimulation or by irradiation with blue light, permitting the generation of oscillation patterns. Both protein kinase C and Munc13 can thus be put under optical control. PhoDAGs control vesicle release in excitable cells, such as mouse pancreatic islets and hippocampal neurons, and modulate synaptic transmission in Caenorhabditis elegans. As such, the PhoDAGs afford an unprecedented degree of spatiotemporal control and are broadly applicable tools to study DAG signaling