Three-dimensional geometric morphometrics for studying floral shape variation

Variation in floral shape is of major interest to evolutionary and pollination biologists, plant systematists and developmental geneticists. Quantifying this variation has been difficult due to the three-dimensional (3D) complexity of angiosperm flowers. By combining 3D geometric representations of flowers obtained by micro-computed tomography scanning with geometric morphometric methods, well established in zoology and anthropology, floral shape variation can be analyzed quantitatively, allowing for powerful interpretation and visualization of the resulting patterns of variation

Design of a Software System to Support Value Education in Sports Through Gamification Techniques

Nowadays, it is quite common to find violent acts in grassroot sports, such as football. Almost every week, it is possible to find news about team supporters fighting against each other, or football players arguing aggressively to the referee. And the worst part in this story is that most of these acts are watched by children. In order to alleviate this situation and create awareness of the necessity to create educational programs to prevent violence in sports, the European Union has funded several projects focused on this area. One of this project is called SAVEit project, and its goal is to create and develop innovative educational tools to promote values in grassroot sports. This paper presents the software architecture designed in SAVEit project to achieve this goal. This architecture is mainly composed of a Learning Management System, where coaches will learn about the values; a Team Management Site, where coaches can evaluate the values acquired by the children of the teams; and finally, a Video Game that using gamification techniques will keep the motivation of children during the learning process

Box counting dimension of red blood cells samples when filtered with wavelet transform

Automatic recognizing of different populations of several millions of red blood cells (RBCs) is a useful tool in Hematology and Clinical Diagnosis. In this work we studied samples of several millions of RBCs: on one hand healthy control RBCs and on the other hand control RBCs incubated with Trichinella spiralis larval parasites. The alteration on the cells membrane with the parasite can be studied with box-counting dimension on both samples. Previously we applied wavelet transform to all the samples in order to improve the results. The procedure to remove noise from an image is based on the decomposition of the observed signal in a set of wavelets and taking threshold values to select the appropriate coefficients through which the signal can be reconstructed. In our work we compared the results obtained when analyzing the raw signals and the ones obtained after applying wavelet transform, and the results were different and more clearly characterized when the signal were treated with wavelet transform. Finally, the present method using wavelet transform is suitable to optimize the characterization of the RBCs damage when incubated with the larval parasites.Publicado en: Mecánica Computacional vol. XXXV, no. 43Facultad de Ingenierí

Molecular diversity within clones of cv. Tannat (Vitis vinifera)

DNAs from 9 clones of cv. Tannat (Vitis vinifera) were analyzed at 89 microsatellite loci. Only one, VMCNg 1d12, showed a differential pattern that separated the clones in two groups. The statistical analysis of concentrations for aroma compounds from microvinifications also resulted in the same two groupings of clones. Many analyzed microsatellite loci amplified only one allele, implying that Tannat is a highly homozygous variety. For a given set of 15 microsatellites the level of homozygosity was 53 % for Tannat, in contrast to 6 % for Pinot, 20 % for both Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay and 33 % for Cabernet Sauvignon. We provide molecular data for Tannat, originating from southwestern France and nowadays becoming the emblematic cultivar of Uruguayan fine red wines. We also report a correlation between aroma-related compounds and molecular markers within clones of a cultivar.

Traditional system of goat management. III. Reproductive performance of SRD (non-descript) does and kid mortality

Avaliou-se o desempenho de 50 fêmeas de cabras SRD adultas mantidas em um piquete de pastagem nativa com uma lotação de 1 a 1,5 ha/cab/ano. Neste rebanho, dois reprodutores foram usados em monta natural de setembro de 1978 a dezembro de 1980. Foram observados 93 partos e 28 abortos. Ocorreram três prenhezes antes do início do experimento. Dos 90 partos restantes, 57,1%, 35,6%, 1,1% e 5,6% forem simples, duplos, triplos e não determinados, respectivamente. O rebanho mostrou uma prolificidade de 1,38. Para o rebanho inicial 15 (30%), 28 (56%),  5 (10%) e 2 (4%) das cabras pariram uma, duas, três e nenhuma vez, respectivamente, durante o período estudado. O período de gestação e o intervalo entre os partos não foram influenciados pelo tipo de nascimento. O período vazio foi influenciado pela estação do ano, quando os dados foram classificados por estação e tipo de parto. A combinação do tipo de parto, na parição inicial e na parição seguinte, teve influência significativa no período vazio. Os animais que pariram primeiramente simples e depois simples ou duplos apresentaram um período vazio menor (109 vs 188 dias) do que os animais que pariram primeiramente múltiplos e depois abortaram na prenhez seguinte. O pique de mortalidade (32%) ocorreu entre 7 e 112 dias de idade. A mortalidade de cabritos parece não ter sido influenciada pelo sexo e tipo de nascimento. A mortalidade total das crias foi de 76%. A idade à morte desses animais foi influenciada pela estação, sexo e interação de ambos. Os machos nascidos durante a estação chuvosa sobreviveram mais tempo do que os nascidos nas outras classes estudadas.The reproductive performance of 50 adult SRD does maintained in native caatinga pasture at a stocking rate of 1 to 1.5 ha/head/year was evaluated. Two bucks were used in natural matings from September 1978 until December 1980. A total of 93 kiddings and 28 abortions occurred. Three pregnancies occurred before initiation of the experiment. From the 90 parturitions, 57.7%, 35.6%, 1.1% and 5.6% bore singles, twins, triplets and undetermined, respectively. The flock showed an overall prolificacy of 1.38. From the initial flock, 15 (30%), 28 (56%), 5 (10%) and 2 (4%) does presented one, two, three and zero kiddings, respectively, during the period of study. Neither gestation length nor kidding interval were influenced by type of birth. Length of open period was influenced by season of the year when data were classified by season and kidding status at the open period. Combination of kidding type at previous and following kiddings showed a significant influence (P < 0.05) on the length of the open period. Animals that kidded first singles and then singles or twins showed a shorter open period than animals that firstly kidded twins and then aborted at the following pregnancy (109 vs 188 days). The peak of kid mortality occurred between 7 and 112 days of age. Kid mortality appears not to be influenced by sex or type of birth. Overall kid mortality was 76%. The age at death of kids was influenced by season and sex as well as by their interaction. Males born during the rainy season survived longer than any other class studied.