Growing towards disparity: geometric morphometrics reveals sexual and allometric differences in Aparasphenodon brunoi (Anura: Hylidae: Lophyohylinae) head shape

Sexual dimorphism and allometry feature is the main categories of intraspecific variation found in the animal kingdom, and techniques such as Geometric Morphometrics are effective to investigate variations in shape. Considering that many vertebrates exhibit substantial allometry and sexual dimorphism, we test the hypotheses that (1) Aparasphenodon brunoi displays ontogenetic and static allometry; and that (2) there is sexual dimorphism in head shape in this species. We analyzed 75 specimens of A. brunoi from Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba and found significant ontogenetic and static allometries in head shape, as well as sexual dimorphism after size correction. Regarding sexual dimorphism, females tend to have larger heads, besides slightly anteriorly positioned nostrils, smaller eyes, larger canthal ridges, narrower and longer frontoparietal ridges, and larger and laterally shifted squamosal ridges. We discuss the relevance of head morphology variation in the species, as well as the presumed consequences on the species fitness.Dimorfismo sexual e alometria são as principais categorias de variação intraespecífica encontradas em metazoários e técnicas como a Morfometria Geométrica são eficazes para investigar variações na forma. Considerando que muitos vertebrados exibem considerável alometria e dimorfismo sexual, testamos as seguintes hipóteses: (1) Aparasphenodon brunoi exibe alometria ontogenética e estática; e (2) existe dimorfismo sexual na forma da cabeça nesta espécie. Analisamos 75 espécimes de A. brunoi do Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba e encontramos alometrias ontogenética e estática significativas na forma da cabeça, além de dimorfismo sexual após a correção do tamanho. Em relação ao dimorfismo sexual, as fêmeas tendem a ter cabeças maiores, além de narinas ligeiramente posicionadas mais anteriormente, olhos menores, cristas cantais maiores, cristas frontoparietais mais estreitas e mais longas e cristas esquamosais maiores e deslocadas lateralmente. Discutimos a relevância da variação da morfologia da cabeça na espécie, bem como as consequências presumidas na aptidão da mesma.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Growing towards disparity: geometric morphometrics reveals sexual and allometric differences in Aparasphenodon brunoi (Anura: Hylidae: Lophyohylinae) head shape

Sexual dimorphism and allometry feature is the main categories of intraspecific variation found in the animal kingdom, and techniques such as Geometric Morphometrics are effective to investigate variations in shape. Considering that many vertebrates exhibit substantial allometry and sexual dimorphism, we test the hypotheses that (1) Aparasphenodon brunoi displays ontogenetic and static allometry; and that (2) there is sexual dimorphism in head shape in this species. We analyzed 75 specimens of A. brunoi from Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba and found significant ontogenetic and static allometries in head shape, as well as sexual dimorphism after size correction. Regarding sexual dimorphism, females tend to have larger heads, besides slightly anteriorly positioned nostrils, smaller eyes, larger canthal ridges, narrower and longer frontoparietal ridges, and larger and laterally shifted squamosal ridges. We discuss the relevance of head morphology variation in the species, as well as the presumed consequences on the species fitness.Dimorfismo sexual e alometria são as principais categorias de variação intraespecífica encontradas em metazoários e técnicas como a Morfometria Geométrica são eficazes para investigar variações na forma. Considerando que muitos vertebrados exibem considerável alometria e dimorfismo sexual, testamos as seguintes hipóteses: (1) Aparasphenodon brunoi exibe alometria ontogenética e estática; e (2) existe dimorfismo sexual na forma da cabeça nesta espécie. Analisamos 75 espécimes de A. brunoi do Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba e encontramos alometrias ontogenética e estática significativas na forma da cabeça, além de dimorfismo sexual após a correção do tamanho. Em relação ao dimorfismo sexual, as fêmeas tendem a ter cabeças maiores, além de narinas ligeiramente posicionadas mais anteriormente, olhos menores, cristas cantais maiores, cristas frontoparietais mais estreitas e mais longas e cristas esquamosais maiores e deslocadas lateralmente. Discutimos a relevância da variação da morfologia da cabeça na espécie, bem como as consequências presumidas na aptidão da mesma.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Growing towards disparity: geometric morphometrics reveals sexual and allometric differences in Aparasphenodon brunoi (Anura: Hylidae: Lophyohylinae) head shape

Sexual dimorphism and allometry feature is the main categories of intraspecific variation found in the animal kingdom, and techniques such as Geometric Morphometrics are effective to investigate variations in shape. Considering that many vertebrates exhibit substantial allometry and sexual dimorphism, we test the hypotheses that (1) Aparasphenodon brunoi displays ontogenetic and static allometry; and that (2) there is sexual dimorphism in head shape in this species. We analyzed 75 specimens of A. brunoi from Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba and found significant ontogenetic and static allometries in head shape, as well as sexual dimorphism after size correction. Regarding sexual dimorphism, females tend to have larger heads, besides slightly anteriorly positioned nostrils, smaller eyes, larger canthal ridges, narrower and longer frontoparietal ridges, and larger and laterally shifted squamosal ridges. We discuss the relevance of head morphology variation in the species, as well as the presumed consequences on the species fitness.Dimorfismo sexual e alometria são as principais categorias de variação intraespecífica encontradas em metazoários e técnicas como a Morfometria Geométrica são eficazes para investigar variações na forma. Considerando que muitos vertebrados exibem considerável alometria e dimorfismo sexual, testamos as seguintes hipóteses: (1) Aparasphenodon brunoi exibe alometria ontogenética e estática; e (2) existe dimorfismo sexual na forma da cabeça nesta espécie. Analisamos 75 espécimes de A. brunoi do Parque Nacional da Restinga de Jurubatiba e encontramos alometrias ontogenética e estática significativas na forma da cabeça, além de dimorfismo sexual após a correção do tamanho. Em relação ao dimorfismo sexual, as fêmeas tendem a ter cabeças maiores, além de narinas ligeiramente posicionadas mais anteriormente, olhos menores, cristas cantais maiores, cristas frontoparietais mais estreitas e mais longas e cristas esquamosais maiores e deslocadas lateralmente. Discutimos a relevância da variação da morfologia da cabeça na espécie, bem como as consequências presumidas na aptidão da mesma.Asociación Herpetológica Argentin

Influence of the APOE genotypes in some atherosclerotic risk factors

The aim of this work was to study the distribution of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes and their association with some atherosclerotic risk factors, all of them modifiable: total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, BMI, waist circumference and smoking. The sample population was constituted of 672 healthy subjects recruited in the Lisbon area. Lipids were quantified by usual automatic enzymatic methods and the APOE genotypes performed in accordance with Hixson and Vernier. Blood pressure measurement and hypertension classification followed international specifications. The frequency distribution of APOE alleles was: epsilon2 = 6.4%, epsilon3 = 83.6% and epsilon4 = 10.0% and the more prevalent genotypes were epsilon2/epsilon3, epsilon3/epsilon3 and epsilon3/epsilon4 respectively 11.0%, 70.1% and 16.1%. We could only observe associations among the most prevalent genotypes and lipids, always statistically significant, specially when the epsilon4 allele was present which was even proved by an higher prevalence of epsilon4 in dyslipidemic subjects with the only exception of those with low HDL-c values. A stronger intervention in the epsilon4 carriers is so recommended through appropriate intervention measures on the connected modifiable risk factors

Transplante autólogo de células estaminais em leucemiamielóide aguda: factores com Influência na sobrevida: experiência de 13 anos de uma Instituição

© Ordem dos MédicosWe report our results of autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) in patients with AML during the last 13 years. Between August 1990 and December 2003, 42 patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) received an autologous SCT. Patients were classified as standard risk if first complete remission (CR) was induced after one or two chemotherapy regimens and the white blood cell count at presentation was below 50,000/mL (n=12), while patients requiring more than two induction regimens to attain first CR and with CR2 ou more advanced disease and/or had a higher white blood cell count at presentation were defined as high risk (n=30). Twenty one patients were transplanted in first CR. The median patient age was 24 years (range, 2-56 years), and the median time interval from diagnosis to autologous SCT was 9 months (range 3-87 months). The conditioning regimen for SCT consisted of busulfan (BU) 16 mg/kg and melfalan (MEL) 180 mg/m2 (BUMEL) in 17 (40%) patients and busulfan 16 mg/kg and VP-16 60 mg/kg (BUVP16) in 22 (52%) patients. Three patients received a different conditioning regimen with BCNU 300 mg/m2, VP16 2 g/m2 and melphalan 160 mg/m2 (BEM). Twenty five (60%) patients received bone marrow (BM), 11 (26%) patients received peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) and 6 patients (14%) received BM plus PBSC. With a median follow-up of 7 years, the 13 year overall survival (OS) and diseasefree survival (DFS) of all patients is 52% and 40%, respectively. In univariate analysis, males had a significantly superior DFS than females (55% vs 22%, p=0.003), and patients younger than 15 years of age had significantly superior OS and DFS than older patients (50% vs 35%, p=0.05; and 50% vs 28%, p=0.03, respectively). Patients with FAB M3 subtype also had a superior OS than the other FAB subtypes (100% vs 44%, p=0.05). There was a strong statistical correlation between risk group and survival. In fact, the patients with standard risk had a superior OS and DFS than those with high risk disease (67% vs 23%, p=0.0004; and 50% vs 27%, p=0.01, respectively). When patients with FAB M3 disease were excluded from the analysis, the group with standard risk continue to have a superior OS and DFS (67% vs 13%, p=0.008; and 50% vs 14%, p=0.02, respectively). We conclude that autologous SCT is an effective treatment in AML with the possibility of long survivorship, particularly in patients with standard risk disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Shelf life extension of Ricotta cheese using coatings of galactomannans from nonconventional sources incorporating nisin against Listeria monocytogenes

Shelf life extension of Ricotta cheese was evaluated at 4 °C upon the use of edible coatings made of galactomannans from Gleditsia triacanthos incorporating nisin against Listeria monocytogenes. Three different treatments were tested in cheese: samples without coating; samples with coating without nisin; and samples with coating containing 50 IU·g−1 of nisin. To test the effectiveness of the treatments against L. monocytogenes, the surface of the cheese was inoculated with a suspension of the microorganism. Microbiological and physical−chemical analyses of the cheese samples were performed during 28 days. Results showed that the cheese coated with nisin-added galactomannan film was the treatment presenting the best results in terms of microbial growth delay (p < 0.05). The addition of nisin also affects (p < 0.05) the physical and mechanical properties of the films: O2 permeability decreased from 1.84 to 1.35 × 10−12 cm3·(Pa·s·m)−1; CO2 permeability increased from 1.96 to 6.31 × 10−12 cm3·(Pa·s·m)−1; opacity increased from 3.68 to 4.59%; tensile strength ranged from 0.84 to 1.46 MPa; and elongation at break improved from 50.93 to 68.16%. These results demonstrate that novel galactomannan-based edible coatings, when combined with nisin, may provide consumer-friendly alternatives to reduce L. monocytogenes postcontamination on cheese products during storage.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES, Brazil)Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/32566/2006, SFRH/BD/23897/200

Effect of the application of a galactomannan coating incorporating nisin on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on Ricotta cheese

Antimicrobial packaging, besides protecting the product from the external environment, inhibits or delays microorganism growth in foods and meets the actual demand of consumers for healthier foods, containing less additives (Lopez‐Rubio, Gavara, & Lagaron, 2006). Cheese is a ready‐to‐eat type of food that has been associated with foodborne listeriosis. Listeria monocytogenes is an important ubiquitous foodborne pathogen which may contaminate foods at pre‐ and post‐harvest stages of production. To overcome this problem bacteriocins could be entrapped in a suitable edible coating applied to food. Nisin is an antimicrobial peptide produced by Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis. and research studies have revealed its ability to inhibit the growth of some pathogenic bacteria (Sobrino‐López, & Martín‐Belloso, 2008). The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of coatings of galactomannans from Gleditsia triacanthos incorporating nisin against L. monocytogenes during storage of Ricotta cheese at 4 °C. Three different treatments were tested: a control with no coating; a sample with coating containing no nisin and a coating with 50 IU.g‐1 of nisin. Samples of cheese (20 g) were immersed in 0.5 % w/v galactomannan solution containing glycerol (as plasticizer) (1.5 % v/v). To test the effectiveness of the treatments Ricotta cheese samples were surface‐inoculated with a solution containing approximately 1×106 CFU.ml‐1 of L. monocytogenes. Microbiological and physicalchemical parameters (color change, pH, moisture content and weight loss) were monitored over 28 days for cheese stored at 4 ºC. Among the three treatments, the combination of coating and nisin showed the best results, followed by the coating containing no nisin. Counts of L. monocytogenes were lower (p<0.05) in nisin‐containing coating that in no‐coated cheese. The nisin‐containing coating presented a reduction from 5.1 to 4.4 log CFU.g‐1 after 2 days of storage. For samples coated with nisin, reductions of 2.2 log CFU.g‐1 were achieved for samples after 7 days of storage. These results suggest that the application of these coatings could be a potential food packaging solution for the release of nisin in view of the control of L. monocytogenes spoilage in cheese

Burden and severity of children's hospitalizations by respiratory syncytial virus in Portugal, 2015-2018

Background Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in young children and is of considerable burden on healthcare systems. Our study aimed to evaluate ALRI hospitalizations related to RSV in children in Portugal. Methods We reviewed hospitalizations potentially related to RSV in children aged <5 years from 2015 to 2018, using anonymized administrative data covering all public hospital discharges in mainland Portugal. Three case definitions were considered: (a) RSV-specific, (b) (a) plus unspecified acute bronchiolitis (RSV-specific & Bronchiolitis), and (c) (b) plus unspecified ALRI (RSV-specific & ALRI). Results A total of 9697 RSV-specific hospitalizations were identified from 2015 to 2018—increasing to 26 062 for RSV-specific & ALRI hospitalizations—of which 74.7% were during seasons 2015/2016–2017/2018 (November–March). Mean hospitalization rates per season were, for RSV-specific, RSV-specific & Bronchiolitis, and RSV-specific & ALRI, respectively, 5.6, 9.4, and 11.8 per 1000 children aged <5 years and 13.4, 22.5, and 25.9 in children aged <2 years. Most RSV-specific hospitalizations occurred in healthy children (94.9%) and in children aged <2 years (96.3%). Annual direct costs of €2.4 million were estimated for RSV-specific hospitalizations—rising to €5.1 million for RSV-specific & ALRI—mostly driven by healthy children (87.6%). Conclusion RSV is accountable for a substantial number of hospitalizations in children, especially during their first year of life. Hospitalizations are mainly driven by healthy children. The variability of the potential RSV burden across case definitions highlights the need for a universal RSV surveillance system to guide prevention strategies

Delinquency in Portugal - numbers, explanations and challenges to intervention

Introdução: A delinquência juvenil em Portugal constitui um fenómeno com uma expressão social global moderada, suscitando, contudo, preocupações relevantes do ponto de vista psicossocial, jurídico-legal e de segurança. A monitorização da sua prevalência e manifestações, a compreensão das condições em que ocorre, a eficácia da sua prevenção e a adequação das formas de intervenção são questões de debate entre as entidades competentes. Metodologia: Este painel reúne diferentes especialistas, com experiência na investigação e avaliação do fenómeno, junto da população jovem em contexto escolar, de grupos de risco e dos jovens com medidas tutelares educativas aplicadas, nomeadamente a medida de internamento. Resultados: Fazendo-se uma breve caraterização do fenómeno nos três grupos populacionais referidos, são apresentadas e discutidas as medidas atualmente aplicadas e a sua adequação ao perfil de necessidades destes jovens. Conclusões: A elevada prevalência de jovens em risco ou em situação de desproteção entre aqueles que cometem crimes permite constatar a sobreposição e continuidade dos fatores de risco e a necessidade de intervenção nos mesmos, assim como de adequação das medidas de proteção e de promoção dos direitos para correção das trajetórias desviantes, a montante do cometimento do crime, e de acompanhamento psicossocial, a jusante.introduction: Juvenile delinquency in Portugal is, generally speaking, a phenomenon with a moderate social expression, arousing, however, relevant concerns both from psychosocial and legal points of view, as well as from a security perspective. Monitoring its prevalence and manifestations, understanding the conditions in which it occurs and the effectiveness of intervention are issues of debate between the competent authorities. methodology: This panel brings together experts with experience in research and evaluation of this phenomenon, among young people in schools, risk groups and young people subject to juvenile court proceedings, particularly, internment measures. results: After a brief characterization of the phenomenon in these three population groups, we discuss legal and psychosocial intervention and their appropriateness to the profile of needs of these youngsters. conclusions: The high prevalence of young people at risk between those who commit crimes allows us to verify the overlap and continuity of the same risk factors and the need to effectively intervene early in the life course, as well as the need for appropriate protective measures to correct deviant paths before the commission of crime and, after having been committed, the need for psychosocial supportCIEC - Centro de Investigação em Estudos da Criança, IE, UMinho (UI 317 da FCT), Portugal; Fundos Nacionais através da FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia) e cofinanciado pelo Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) através do COMPETE 2020 – Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização (POCI) com a referência POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007562info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio