Modeling body size evolution in Felidae under alternative phylogenetic hypotheses

The use of phylogenetic comparative methods in ecological research has advanced during the last twenty years, mainly due to accurate phylogenetic reconstructions based on molecular data and computational and statistical advances. We used phylogenetic correlograms and phylogenetic eigenvector regression (PVR) to model body size evolution in 35 worldwide Felidae (Mammalia, Carnivora) species using two alternative phylogenies and published body size data. The purpose was not to contrast the phylogenetic hypotheses but to evaluate how analyses of body size evolution patterns can be affected by the phylogeny used for comparative analyses (CA). Both phylogenies produced a strong phylogenetic pattern, with closely related species having similar body sizes and the similarity decreasing with increasing distances in time. The PVR explained 65% to 67% of body size variation and all Moran's I values for the PVR residuals were non-significant, indicating that both these models explained phylogenetic structures in trait variation. Even though our results did not suggest that any phylogeny can be used for CA with the same power, or that “good” phylogenies are unnecessary for the correct interpretation of the evolutionary dynamics of ecological, biogeographical, physiological or behavioral patterns, it does suggest that developments in CA can, and indeed should, proceed without waiting for perfect and fully resolved phylogenies

Correlatos sociodemográficos da prática de atividade física de portugueses adultos nos momentos de lazer

This study aimed to identify socio-demographic correlates of leisure time physical activity among Portuguese adults. Subjects aged 31-60 years (1,076 males, 1,383 females) were categorized into two groups according to recommended physical activities ranging from >= 10 or < 10 MET. hours. week-1. Leisure time physical activity data was self-reported, including activities, duration of each session and frequency. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were applied to the results. Among men, having a high socioeconomic status (OR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.30-2.76; p = 0.001) was associated with attaining the recommended level of physical activity. For women, middle education levels were associated with physical activity (OR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.01-1.85). Moreover, middle socioeconomic status (OR = 1.45; 95% CI: 0.80-1.91; p = 0.009) was also positively associated with meeting physical activities recommendations in the unadjusted analysis. Men and women had different patterns of socio-demographic correlates. An intervention designed to improve the levels of physical activity among Portuguese adults may take these correlates into account.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Sistema altenativo de criação de aves caipiras (SACAC): núcleo de multiplicação de galinhas.

A introdução de aves comerciais advindas de plantéis de raças melhoradas estão contribuindo de forma negativa com a conservação dos nossos recursos genéticos. A grande maioria dessas aves é híbrida e não adaptada às nossas condições ambientais, além de não apresentar produtos com as mesmas peculiaridades das nossas galinhas genuinamente caipiras. Ao contrário das nossas galinhas “caipiras” que são bastante rústicas, tolerantes às adversidade climáticas e resistentes a um grande número de doenças, a continuação da aquisição comercial dessas aves melhoradas tornará o agricultor familiar dependente dessas corporações e incubatórios multinacionais, além de contribuir significativamente com o aumento nos custos de produção. O aproveitamento racional dos nossos recursos naturais renováveis, como ingredientes dietéticos, medicamentos e material para construção de instalações e confecção de equipamentos, abre um mercado consistente na área da agroecologia, o que certamente resultará numa maior e melhor remuneração da nossa produção. Com a conservação e purificação dos nossos recursos genéticos, dentro de pouco tempo poderemos tanto suprir o mercado interno por meio dos módulos de multiplicação, como será possível colocar à disposição dos criadores aves mais competitivas tanto em termos de desempenho produtivo como em composição corporal e de ovos. O próximo passo será com certeza a geração das nossas primeiras raças de galinhas caipiras.bitstream/item/83434/1/Doc-174-Sistema-alternativo-de-criacao-de-aves-caipira.pd

The Rare Disease Person’s Card Implementation Strategy In Portugal

© 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.The Rare Disease Person’s Card (RDPC) aims to identify and display information regarding rare diseases. It was created through a collaborative work between two major Portuguese heath care stakeholders, namely the Portuguese Ministry of Health Shared Services (SPMS) and Directorate General of Health (DGS), following EU resolutions. The card aims to identify the patient and the rare disease, as well as to display a text explaining the special needs in emergency situations. The disease is coded through the ORPHA code system. RDPC was implemented through the Health Data Sharing Platform. There are three distinct circuit phases in RDPC: requisition, activation and release. Patients use the Patient Portal in order to activate the card. Until March 16 2015, there were 828 cards requested regarding 738 different rare diseases. About 51% of requests were still waiting activation by patients. 16% of activated cards were awaiting approval and printing by the coordinator physician. 33% were sent to patient’s address, thereby completing the RDPC circle. The card is increasing awareness and empowerment of rare disease’s patients, pushing forward the project and improving Health care

The Rare Disease Person’s Card Implementation Strategy In Portugal

© 2015 Published by Elsevier B.V.The Rare Disease Person’s Card (RDPC) aims to identify and display information regarding rare diseases. It was created through a collaborative work between two major Portuguese heath care stakeholders, namely the Portuguese Ministry of Health Shared Services (SPMS) and Directorate General of Health (DGS), following EU resolutions. The card aims to identify the patient and the rare disease, as well as to display a text explaining the special needs in emergency situations. The disease is coded through the ORPHA code system. RDPC was implemented through the Health Data Sharing Platform. There are three distinct circuit phases in RDPC: requisition, activation and release. Patients use the Patient Portal in order to activate the card. Until March 16 2015, there were 828 cards requested regarding 738 different rare diseases. About 51% of requests were still waiting activation by patients. 16% of activated cards were awaiting approval and printing by the coordinator physician. 33% were sent to patient’s address, thereby completing the RDPC circle. The card is increasing awareness and empowerment of rare disease’s patients, pushing forward the project and improving Health care

USPIO-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging for nodal staging in patients with head and neck cancer

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for nodal staging in patients with head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with carcinomas of the upper aerodigestive tract were prospectively enrolled. MRI was performed before and 24-36 hours after intravenous infusion of an USPIO agent, ferumoxtran-10 (Sinerem; Guerbet, France; and Combidex; Advanced Magnetics) at a dose of 2.6 mg Fe/kg using T2-weighted spin-echo and gradient-echo sequences. Surgery was performed the same day or the day after the ferumoxtran-10-enhanced MR examination. Based on MRI, selected nodes were surgically removed and directly correlated with pathology using hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Perls stainings. RESULTS: A total of 63 nodes were studied; 36 were nonmetastatic, 25 metastatic, and two inflammatory. Ferumoxtran-10-enhanced MRI allowed diagnosis of 24 metastatic and 30 nonmetastatic nodes, yielding a sensitivity of 96%, a specificity of 78.9%, a positive predictive value of 75%, and a negative predictive value of 96.8%, compared to 64%, 78.9%, 66.6%, and 76.9%, respectively, for nonenhanced MRI. Accuracy of ferumoxtran-10-enhanced MRI was 85.7%. The gradient-echo T2-weighted sequence was the most accurate to detect signal loss in nonmetastatic nodes. CONCLUSION: USPIO-enhanced MRI is useful for nodal staging of patients with head and neck cancer

A review of techniques for spatial modeling in geographical, conservation and landscape genetics

Most evolutionary processes occur in a spatial context and several spatial analysis techniques have been employed in an exploratory context. However, the existence of autocorrelation can also perturb significance tests when data is analyzed using standard correlation and regression techniques on modeling genetic data as a function of explanatory variables. In this case, more complex models incorporating the effects of autocorrelation must be used. Here we review those models and compared their relative performances in a simple simulation, in which spatial patterns in allele frequencies were generated by a balance between random variation within populations and spatially-structured gene flow. Notwithstanding the somewhat idiosyncratic behavior of the techniques evaluated, it is clear that spatial autocorrelation affects Type I errors and that standard linear regression does not provide minimum variance estimators. Due to its flexibility, we stress that principal coordinate of neighbor matrices (PCNM) and related eigenvector mapping techniques seem to be the best approaches to spatial regression. In general, we hope that our review of commonly used spatial regression techniques in biology and ecology may aid population geneticists towards providing better explanations for population structures dealing with more complex regression problems throughout geographic space

Variabilidade fenotípica e genotípica em galinhas caipiras (Gallus gallus domesticus): resultados preliminares.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a avaliação preliminar da variabilidade fenotípica presente nessas aves e a seleção de marcadores moleculares, microssatélites ancorados (ISSR), para análise da variabilidade genética...bitstream/item/80683/1/circular-46.PD