Limited pollen flow and high selfing rates toward geographic range limit in an Atlantic forest bromeliad

Bromeliaceae is a Neotropical family that evolved ecological key innovations in association with extensive adaptive radiation. Its species present a variety of different mating system strategies varying within and among species, within genera and subfamilies. Also, species with a wide geographical range can display large variation in mating system, reproductive success and genetic diversity. Here we combined data from hand pollinations and genetic analysis to assess outcomes of contemporary gene flow and mating system variation at the range edge of Vriesea gigantea. Results from pollen germination rates showed that this species is cryptically self-incompatible. Hand-pollination experiments and genetic analysis of progeny arrays revealed that V. gigantea has a mixed mating system, with high selfing rates (s = 0.612), and high inbreeding coefficient (F = 0.372). Inbreeding in V. gigantea at southern edge of its distribution range was caused by high levels of selfing rather than by mating among relatives. Moreover, strong pollen pool genetic structure was observed (Φ’FT = 0.671), with an increase from north to south. The parameters observed help us to understand historical and ecological conditions under which V. gigantea has experienced moderate to high levels of selfing in the face of reduced pollen flow from central to peripheral populations due to recent southward range expansion

“Pai à força”: desigualdades de género e configurações da parentalidade nos testes de DNA

Publicado em: "Anais do VIII Congresso Iberoamericano em Ciência, Tecnologia e Gênero". ISSN 2177-3467Descrevemos os objectivos de um projecto que envolve sociólogos e geneticistas, que aborda os impactos sociais dos testes de DNA ordenados por tribunais, em Portugal, para apuramento da paternidade biológica de crianças sem “pai oficial”. Partimos da hipótese que estes testes configuram uma co-produção complexa entre as relações sociais de género, o judicial e o científico, que reclama a consolidação de uma “epistemologia cívica” da parte das mulheres. Os usos e os impactos do DNA não são neutros, antes social e localmente construídos por diferentes actores sociais. Sobressaem, contudo, desta ecologia de saberes e práticas heterogéneos, dois dispositivos principais de biopoder, projectados pela obrigatoriedade legal de identificar o pai de toda a criança: (a) a dominação de um conceito bio-genético de paternidade ao nível jurídico, que ganha importância pela “certeza” facultada pelo DNA; (b) a tradução de factos biológicos para comportamentos e representações do que significa ser pai

Base de dados genéticos forense em Portugal e identidades tecnocientíficas. Análise a partir de grupos focais com estudantes universitários

O presente texto analisa as representações sociais em torno da criação e utilização de uma base de dados genéticos forense em Portugal, com objetivos de identificação civil e identificação criminal, a partir da organização de dois grupos focais com estudantes universitários que frequentavam licenciaturas das áreas científicas das ciências sociais e humanas e das ciências naturais e exatas. Os resultados obtidos evidenciam modalidades de cidadania biológica que projetam a construção de identidades de tipo tecnocientífico dirigidas às tecnologias genéticas forenses, que se caracterizam por surgirem ancoradas numa hierarquização de saberes e áreas científicas e que serve de referencial simbólico pelo qual os estudantes se posicionam face ao tema.Este estudo foi financiado por Fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade – COMPETE e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do projeto “Base de dados de perfis de DNA com propósitos forenses: questões atuais de âmbito ético, prático e político” (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-009231) sediado no Centro de Estudos Sociais da Universidade de Coimbra.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

University or polytechnic? : A fuzzy-set approach of prospective students' choice and its implications for higher education institutions' managers

This study aims to provide a deeper knowledge of the factors behind undergraduates' choice of an higher education institution (HEI) in Portugal. Based on Chapman's model (1981), this study presents the results of a survey on the personal characteristics and institutional drivers that influence this choice. The survey results in a sample of 368 Portuguese secondary or vocational education students in their final year who intend to apply to a public HEI. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to apply the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to this field of study. The findings indicate that the choice criteria of prospective students are the same irrespective of whether they are applying to a university or a polytechnic school. Among the criteria, job opportunities and the institution's reputation are the most important. Thus, managers should account for these criteria when seeking to increase their institution's competitive advantage.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Two cases of thoracic spinal anaesthesia in patients with severe diseases

AbstractThis manuscript describes two cases of thoracic spinal anaesthesia for patients with severe diseases, with satisfying results. Patient 1: female, 57years old, submitted to a surgical gastrostomy. She had squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx involving the C6 vertebra, carotid and thyroid, with a fistula in the cervical region. After sedation, an epidural puncture was performed in the T7–T8 interspace and an epidural catheter was introduced. Then, a 25G Quinke needle was introduced 5.4cm in the subarachnoid T8–T9 interspace and 5.0mg of isobaric bupivacaine was administered. The dermatome level of anaesthesia was established from T3 to T12, preserving the movement of lower limbs. Patient 2: male, 41years old, with alcohol-related brain atrophy, progressive strength loss in both lower and upper limbs, with spastic tetraparesis and tetrahyperreflexia. After sedation, a 25G Quinke needle was introduced in the subarachnoid T8–T9 interspace, and 5.0mg of isobaric bupivacaine was introduced. Both patients were transferred to the post-anaesthesia recovery room. The greatest cause for concern in the administration of spinal anaesthesia is the possibility of an accidental medullary puncture. In a recent study, it was found a larger distance between the dura mater and the spinal cord in T6. In another study, the largest distance between the dura mater and the spinal cord was found in T5. Thoracic spinal anaesthesia technique is another anaesthetic technique that may be used in some special situations

TAXAS DE SEDIMENTAÇÃO EM ESTUÁRIO DO SUDESTE DO BRASIL, BASEADAS EM ASSINATURA GEOQUÍMICA E HISTÓRICO INDUSTRIAL

Geoquímica de sedimentos e produção industrial de aço foram combinadas para estabelecer taxas de sedimentação em uma parte do sistema estuarino de Santos-Cubatão (Estado de São Paulo), no período de 1959 a 2004. Um polo industrial na área tem incrementado os níveis de metais nos sedimentos e o fator de enriquecimento do ferro foi usado como marcador de atividades siderúrgicas no rio Morrão. Os resultados de um testemunho (260 cm de profundidade) mostram que sedimentos profundos (>90 cm; pré-1976) contêm as menores concentrações de ferro (5,26 ± 0,69%) e taxa de sedimentação média de 7,6 cm ano-1 . Este episódio foi relacionado a um período de baixa produção industrial e crescente construção civil no polo industrial de Cubatão. Sedimentos entre 90-40 cm contêm as maiores concentrações de ferro (até 32,52%) e taxa de sedimentação média estimada em 6,6 cm ano-1. Esta sedimentação reflete o incremento na produção de aço e a deliberada descarga de resíduos industriais no período entre 1977 e 1983. A partir de 1984 (profundidad

Genetic Basis of Nonsyndromic Sensorineural Hearing Loss in the Sub-Saharan African Island Population of São Tomé and Príncipe: The Role of the DFNB1 Locus?

Hearing loss (HL) is a common condition with both genetic and environmental causes, and it greatly impacts global health. The prevalence of HL is reportedly higher in developing countries such as the Sub-Saharan African island of São Tomé and Príncipe, where the deaf community is estimated to be less than 1% of the population. We investigated the role of the DFNB1 locus (GJB2 and GJB6 genes) in the etiology of nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss (NSSHL) in São Tomé and Príncipe. A sample of 316 individuals, comprising 136 NSSHL patients (92 bilateral, 44 unilateral) and 180 controls, underwent a clinical and audiological examination. Sequencing of the GJB2 coding region and testing for the (GJB6-D13S1830) and del(GJB6-D13S1854) GJB6 deletions were performed. A total of 311 out of 316 individuals were successfully analyzed regarding the GJB2 and GJB6 genetic variations, respectively. The frequency of the GJB2 coding mutations in patients and controls was low. Some of those coding mutations are the most commonly found in Eurasian and Mediterranean populations and have also been identified in Portugal. None of the GJB6 deletions was present. The presence of certain coding variants in São Tomé and Príncipe suggests a non-Sub-Saharan genetic influx and supports the previously reported genetic influx from European (mainly Portuguese) ancestors. In summary, DFNB1 locus does not appear to be a major contributor to NSSHL in São Tomé and Príncipe. However, the presence of both pathogenic and likely pathogenic mutations in GJB2 suggests that GJB2-related NSSHL might still occur in this population, warranting further research on GJB2 testing in NSSHL cases