Public park policies and Carsharing Systems / Políticas de estacionamento público para sistemas de compartilhamento de veículos

This article addresses the topic of car sharing and public policies related to the regulation of parking areas for the system. The article aims to identify the practices that contribute to a better performance of sharing systems and the legal frameworks of the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro that can regulate their implementation.. 

Estudo Polínico de Espécies de Trixis P. Browne (Mutisieae, Asteraceae) Ocorrentes no Estado do Rio De Janeiro, Brasil

We analised the pollen morphology of Trixis antimenorrhea (Schrank) Kuntze subsp. antimenorrhoea, T. glaziovii Baker, T. lessingii DC., T. nobilis (Vell.) Katinas, T. praestans (Vell) Cabrera, and T. verbascifolia (Gardner) Blake subsp. verbascifolia. The samples were obtained from dried herbarium specimens deposited in herbaria of Rio de Janeiro State. Pollen grains were acetolysed, measured, described, analysed, and illustrated using light microscopy. Scanning electron micrographs were obtained using non-acetolysed material. The obtained results indicate that pollen grains vary from medium to large size, are prolate, tricolporate, have a spinulous surface, a notorious thick sexine in the polar area with increased length of the collumelae. The colpus generally presents a granulate membrane and a lalongate endoaperture. The pollen grain morphology enabled to separate the species, but we concluded that the taxa have some pollinic homogeneity.Foram estudados os grãos de pólen de Trixis antimenorrhoea (Schrank) Kuntze subsp. antimenorrhoea, T. glaziovii Baker, T. lessingii DC., T. nobilis (Vell.) Katinas, T. praestans (Vell.) Cabrera e T. verbascifolia (Gardner) Blake subsp. verbascifolia. O material polínico utilizado foi obtido de exsicatas depositadas em herbários do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, medidos e fotomicrografados em microscópio de luz. Para análise em microscópio eletrônico de varredura, as anteras foram maceradas e os grãos de pólen, não acetolisados, pulverizados sobre suportes recobertos por fita de carbono. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os grãos de pólen dos táxons estudados foram de tamanho médio ou grande, prolatos, tricolporados, de superfície espinulosa, espínulos pouco visíveis, espessamento geralmente acentuado da sexina nos pólos devido a columelas mais altas nessa região. Colpos com margens, em geral, regulares e membrana com grânulos conspícuos ou não; endoabertura nitidamente lalongada. A avaliação dos caracteres utilizados permitiu separar as espécies estudadas concluindo-se que possuem certa homogeneidade

Estudo Polínico de Espécies de Pticairnioideae e Tillandsioideae (Bromeliaceae Juss.) Ocorrentes na Restinga de Carapebus, Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Twelve species (Pticairnioideae subfamily – one species: Dyckia pseudococcinea; Tillandsoideae subfamily – eleven species: Tillandsia gardneri; T. geminiflora; T. globosa; T. mallemontii; T. polystachia; T. recurvata; T. stricta; T. tenuifolia;. T. tricholepis; T. usneoides and Vriesea neoglutinosa) belonging to the Bromeliaceae family which were found in the “restinga” of the State of Rio de Janeiro are palynologically treated in this paper. The pollen material was submited to lactic acetolize, measured, described and illustrated with light or eletronmicrography (SEM). The results showed that the species presented medium size, heteropolars, elliptical amb, plano-convex equatorially or biconvex, 1-colpate pollen grains, microreticulate, reticulate with perforate or perforate exine. The authors conclude that Tillandsia species were palynologically relatively heterogeneous and when it could be considered to characteristics of the sexine ornamentation and of the confidence interval to 95% values.São tratadas, palinologicamente, 12 espécies de duas subfamílias de Bromeliaceae encontradas em restinga do Estado do Rio de Janeiro: subfamília Pticairnioideae, uma espécie: Dyckia pseudococcinea e subfamília Tillandsoideae (onze espécies): Tillandsia gardneri; T. geminiflora; T. globosa; T. mallemontii; T. polystachia; T. recurvata; T. stricta; T. tenuifolia; T. tricholepis, T. usneoides e Vriesea neoglutinosa. Os grãos de pólen foram tratados pela acetólise láctica, medidos, descritos e ilustrados sob microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura (MEV). As espécies aqui estudadas apresentaram grãos de pólen predominantemente médios, heteropolares, âmbito elíptico, plano-convexos ou biconvexos em vista equatorial, monocolpados, exina microrreticulada, reticulada com perfurações ou perfurada. Apesar da pequena amostragem estudada, pode-se concluir que as espécies de Tillandsia são relativamente heterogêneas quando são consideradas as características da ornamentação e os valores do intervalo de confiança a 95%

Prevalence of diabetes-associated gene variants and its association with blood glucose levels in the Algarve population, Portugal

The global rise in incidence of type 2 (T2D) has been called a pandemic, constituting a major public health concern. Although environmental factors play a substantial role in the etiology of T2D, genetic susceptibility has been established as a key component in T2D risk. Given the absence of studies regarding the prevalence of T2D associated variants in the Portuguese population, our aim was to determine the prevalence of disease-associated variants and determine its relative contribution to this phenotype. For this purpose, we have recruited 221 individuals (93 males and 128 females), between 26-91 years old (mean age 57.1), who were enrolled in the Health Centre of S. Brás de Alportel (Algarve). For each participant, we have measured total glucose levels and collected DNA. In addition, each participant has answered an exhaustive questionnaire including socio-demographic information, health history and lifestyle. We have selected and analysed three of the most significant loci previously reported to be associated with T2D in Caucasian populations (TCF7L2 rs7903146, PARPG rs1801282 and FTO rs9939609) and performed an association analysis between glucose levels in this population and the selected gene variants. The mean total population glucose level was 103.85±35.3 g/dl. We found a significant difference in the mean glucose levels between males (mean = 111.5±51.3 g/dl) and females (mean = 98.4±17.6 g/dl) (Mann-Whitney test P < 0.001). The relative allele frequencies of the genotyped variants have been established. Genotype distribution for all investigated SNPs was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. We found a marginal association between glucose levels and genotypes at the TCF7L2 locus (Mann-Whitney test P = 0.045) in females but not in males, with carriers of the T allele displaying higher levels of blood glucose than homozygous for the A allele. This difference is also observed in males, although not reaching significance. No association was found between glucose levels and the other genotyped variants. These results suggest that the pathophysiology of the disease may be different between males and females, or that environmental factors are influencing this trait in males. We are currently investigating the later hypothesis by increasing our sample size and by analysing lifestyle information provided by the participants in order to evaluate gene-environment interactions influencing glucose levels in the Portuguese population.The pilot study of the Portuguese Component of the European Health Examination Survey (EHES) project has received funding from the European Commission/DG Sanco (Agreement number: 20092301 – EHES JA – EAHC). This study has also received funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Project Reference: PTDC/SAU-ESA/101743/2008)

Genetic variation at the CY2C19 gene associated with Metabolic Syndrome susceptibility in a South Portuguese population

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of conditions — increased blood pressure, high blood glucose level, excess body fat around the waist and abnormal cholesterol levels — that occur together, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. In Portugal, the MetS prevalence is estimated to be 27,5% with regional variations, being highest in the Alentejo (30,99%) and lowest in the Algarve (24,42%), constituting a public health problem. Although for clinical settings, a binary definition of MetS enabling a yes or no diagnosis is useful, it is clear that dichotomizing a continuous outcome variable reduces the statistical power of the MetS association studies. Therefore, the aim of the present study is to identify genetic risk factors involved in MetS etiology, using a continuous MetS score. To achieve our goal, a principal component analysis was performed to compute a score using the six normalized risk factors for MetS (waist circumference, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides and HDL blood levels), with a higher MetS score indicating a less favorable MetS profile. After calculating this score, an association study was performed using 37 SNPs in candidate genes involved in MetS related diseases. A total of 206 subjects, including 119 women and 87 men (mean age: 56,31± 16,37 years, range: 26-91 years) were included in this analysis. We found 4 SNPs significantly associated with higher MetS scores (rs4244285 (CYP2C19), rs279871 (GABRA2), rs1647 (NPY) and rs1142345(TPMT)). P-values are 4,36x10-4, 1,3x10-2, 1,7x10-2 and 9,76x10-3 respectively. After correcting for multiple testing only rs4244285 (CYP2C19) remains significant (p=0,016). In addition, we have performed a multiple regression analysis considering the CYP2C19 genotype as the independent variable, adjusted for age. The resulting model explains 17% of the MetS score variance. After adding the remaining SNP genotypes that do not survive the multiple testing correction, the same model is able to explain 23,1% of the score. Our findings support the evidence of an association between CYP2C19 rs4244285 gene polymorphism and the MetS score, emphasizing the importance of lipid metabolism, thought cytochrome P450 enzymes, in the MetS etiology. However, further studies will be necessary to replicate these findings in different populations as well as functional studies to clarify the role of this variant in the etiology of MetS.The pilot study of the Portuguese Component of the European Health Examination Survey (EHES) project has received funding from the European Commission/DG Sanco (Agreement number: 20092301 – EHES JA – EAHC). This study has also received funding from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) (Project Reference: PTDC/SAU-ESA/101743/2008)

Palinologia de espécies de vochysia aubl. – vochysiaceae a. St.-hil. da Mata Atlântica

This work is part of a more comprehensive study of taxonomic review of Vochysia Aubl. from Atlantic forest. The following species have been analyzed: V. angelica Vianna &amp; Fontella, V. bifalcata Warm., V. dardanoi M.C. Vianna &amp; Fontella, V. dasyantha Warm., V. glazioviana Warm., V. gummifera Warm., V. laurifolia Warm., V. lucida C. Presl, V. magnifica Warm., V. oblongifolia Warm., V. oppugnata (Vell.) Warm., V. rectiflora var. glabrescens Warm., V. rectiflora Warm var. rectiflora, V. riedeliana Stafleu, V. saldanhana Warm., V. santaluciae M.C. Vianna &amp; Fontella, V. schwackeana Warm., V. selloi Warm., V. talmonii M.C. Vianna, Fontella &amp; França e V. tucanorum Mart. The polliniferous material was obtained from herbaria, it was acetolized, measured, described and illustrated by light microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy. The results reveal that the species of Vochysia have some differences on pollen morphology as: a) the medium size on the most part of them (but V. glazioviana that has small size); b) the oblate spheroidal shape in eight species, suboblate shape (ten species), spheroidal (only V. laurifolia) and prolate spheroidal shape (only V. rectiflora var. glabrescens). The amb varied among the species: was considered triangular on most part of them, subcircular (only V. glazioviana) and circular (only V. lucida). The triangular amb had straight (on the most part them) or concave (seven species) mesocolpium. The apertures have large margo, prominent, that may show or not some ornamentation. The wall ornamentation has been described as rugulate on the mesocolpium, however, in the apocolpium was found reticulated exine on V. dasyantha and V. glazioviana; scabrate in V. dardanoi; psilate with perforations in V. angelica, V. bifalcata, V. lucida and V. oblongifolia, conspicual or not, rugulate. It can be concluded that pollen morphology is an useful tool to separate the taxa of Vochysia here studied.Este trabalho é parte de um estudo mais amplo sobre a revisão taxonômica de espécies de Vochysia Aubl. ocorrentes na Mata Atlântica, tendo sido analisados os grãos de pólen de: V. angelica M.C. Vianna &amp; Fontella, V. bifalcata Warm., V. dardanoi M.C. Vianna &amp; Fontella, V. dasyantha Warm., V. glazioviana Warm., V. gummifera Warm., V. laurifolia Warm., V. lucida C. Presl, V. magnifica Warm., V. oblongifolia Warm., V. oppugnata (Vell.) Warm., V. rectiflora var. glabrescens Warm., V. rectiflora Warm. var. rectiflora, V. riedeliana Stafleu, V. saldanhana Warm., V. santaluciae M.C. Vianna &amp; Fontella, V. schwackeana Warm., V. selloi Warm., V. talmonii M.C. Vianna, Fontella &amp; F. França e V. tucanorum Mart. O material polínico foi retirado de exsicatas depositadas em herbários nacionais, posteriormente acetolisados, medidos, descritos e ilustrados sob microscopia de luz e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. As espécies de Vochysia aqui estudadas apresentaram algumas diferenças nas características morfopolínicas podendo-se citar o tamanho, predominante médio, sendo pequeno, apenas, em V. glazioviana; forma oblato-esferoidal foi encontrada nos grãos de pólen de oito espécies, a forma suboblata, em 10, a forma esferoidal, apenas, em V. laurifolia e forma prolato-esferoidal foi encontrada, apenas, em V. rectiflora var. glabrescens. O âmbito também apresentou variações entre as espécies, sendo considerado triangular na maioria delas, subcircular apenas em V. glazioviana e circular em V. lucida. As espécies com âmbito triangular tiveram mesocolpo reto (a maioria delas) ou côncavo (em sete espécies). As aberturas possuem uma margem ampla, proeminente, que pode ou não ser ornamentada. A ornamentação da parede foi descrita como rugulada na região do mesocolpo porém, no apocolpo, pôde-se observar exina reticulada em V. dasyantha e V. glazioviana; escabrada em V. dardanoi; psilada com perfurações em V. angelica, V. bifalcata, V. lucida e V. oblongifolia; com rúgulas conspícuas ou não. Pode-se concluir que o conjunto de informações morfopolínicas comprovam ser o grão de pólen uma ferramenta diagnóstica útil na separação das espécies estudadas de Vochysia

Estudo polínico de nove espécies da subtribo Baccharinae Less. (Astereae-Asteraceae), ocorrentes no sul do Brasil

São palinologicamente estudadas cinco espécies de Baccharis L. (B. oblongifolia (Ruiz & Pavón) Pers., B. leucocephala Dusén, B. longoattenuata A.S. de Oliveira, B. glutinosa Pers. e B. riograndensis Teodoro et Vidal), três espécies de Heterothalamus Less. (Heterothalamus alienus (Spreng.) O. Kuntze, H. psiadioides Less., H. rupestris Deble, Oliveira & Marchiori) e uma espécie de Heterothalamulopsis Deble, Oliveira & Marchiori (Heterothalamulopsis wagenitzii (F. Hellw.) Deble, Oliveira & Marchiori). As amostras foram obtidas de material herborizado e os grãos de pólen foram acetolisados, medidos, descritos, analisados e fotomicrografados sob microscopia de luz; para os não acetolisados, usou-se microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Os grãos de pólen foram caracterizados quanto à forma, às dimensões, ao tipo da abertura, à ornamentação da superfície e à espessura da exina. Os resultados mostram que, para os três gêneros, os grãos de pólen são pequenos ou médios, isopolares, oblato-esferoidais ou prolato-esferoidais, tricolporados, com endoabertura lalongada, exina espinhosa e caveada. Próprios da tribo Astereae, não é possível a separação dos gêneros estudados, com base nos atributos palinológicos