A phylogeny of the tinamous (Aves: Palaeognathiformes) based on integumentary characters

A cladistic analysis of the tinamous, including the 47 currently recognized species and some distinct subspecies, was conducted based on 80 integumentary characters from adult and natal plumage, ramphoteca (corneum sheath of bill), and podoteca (horny scales of legs). For the adult plumage (50 characters), we studied feather pigmentation patterns from different pterylae (feather tracts). A criterion of overlap of basic pigmentation elements was used to assign costs to the transformation between the states in most of these characters in such a way that transformations between more similar conditions were less costly. The consensus tree was almost fully resolved, and about 50% of its groups were relatively well supported. Because the only outgroup that could be used provided a poor root, two possible rootings of the ingroup subtree were considered; in both cases, only one of the two traditional subfamilies (the steppe tinamous) was recovered, and the other (the forest tinamous) appeared as paraphyletic. The results of the present analysis are compared with those from an osteological data set, using a strict supertree technique. The combined tree has a large number of nodes, indicating a high degree of congruence between the two data sets.Fil: Bertelli, Sara Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Giannini, Norberto Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; ArgentinaFil: Goloboff, Pablo Augusto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Tucumán. Unidad Ejecutora Lillo; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentin

Image analysis as a basis to the design of wheelchair rugby sportswear

Sportswear clothing plays a very important part in athletes’ performance. Inappropriate fit puts at risk not only the outcome of the sports event but also the safety of athletes. Wheelchair rugby is a good example of athletes wearing sportswear that is inappropriately fitted. The purpose of this study is to analyse, by means of videos and photographs, the patterns of activity and movements performed by the athletes during a set of wheelchair rugby training sessions. This analysis serves not only to inform on the movements and body postures but also on the problems and difficulties caused by the items of sportswear worn by the athletes. From the analysis it was observed that gloves are causing the most problems with performance, whilst tops and bottoms have more impact on comfort

A literature review of the anthropometric studies of school students for ergonomics purposes: are accuracy, precision and reliability being considered?

BACKGROUND: Despite offering many benefits, direct manual anthropometric measurement method can be problematic due to their vulnerability to measurement errors. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this literature review was to determine, whether or not the currently published anthropometric studies of school children, related to ergonomics, mentioned or evaluated the variables precision, reliability and/or accuracy in the direct manual measurement method. METHODS: Two bibliographic databases, and the bibliographic references of all the selected papers were used for finding relevant published papers in the fields considered in this study. RESULTS: Forty-six (46) studies met the criteria previously defined for this literature review. However, only ten (10) studies mentioned at least one of the analyzed variables, and none has evaluated all of them. Only reliability was assessed by three papers. Moreover, in what regards the factors that affect precision, reliability and accuracy, the reviewed papers presented large differences. This was particularly clear in the instruments used for the measurements, which were not consistent throughout the studies. Additionally, it was also clear that there was a lack of information regarding the evaluators’ training and procedures for anthropometric data collection, which are assumed to be the most important issues that affect precision, reliability and accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results it was possible to conclude that the considered anthropometric studies had not focused their attention to the analysis of precision, reliability and accuracy of the manual measurement methods. Hence, and with the aim of avoiding measurement errors and misleading data, anthropometric studies should put more efforts and care on testing measurement error and defining the procedures used to collect anthropometric data

Padrões de acúmulo de proteínas e carboidratos durante a embriogênese somática de Acca sellowiana

The aim of this work was to quantify the protein, starch and total sugars levels during histodifferentiation and development of somatic embryos of Acca sellowiana Berg. For histological observations, the samples were dehydrated in a battery of ethanol, embedded in historesin and stained with toluidine blue (morphology), coomassie blue (protein bodies) and periodic acid-Schiff (starch). Proteins were extracted using a buffer solution, precipitated using ethanol and quantified using the Bradford reagent. Total sugars were extracted using a methanol-chloroform-water (12:5:3) solution and quantified by a reaction with anthrone at 0.2%. Starch was extracted using a 30% perchloric acid solution and quantified by a reaction with anthrone at 0.2%. During the somatic embryogenesis' in vitro morphogenesis and differentiation processes, the total protein levels decreased and the soluble sugars levels increased during the first 30 days in culture and remained stable until the 120th day. On the other hand, total protein levels increased according to the progression in the developmental stages of the somatic embryos. The levels of total sugars and starch increased in the heart and cotyledonary stages, and decreased in the torpedo and pre-cotyledonary stages. These compounds play a central role in the development of somatic embryos of Acca sellowiana. © 2009 Embrapa Informação Tecnológica.O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar os teores de proteína, amido e açúcares totais durante a histodiferenciação e desenvolvimento dos embriões somáticos em Acca sellowiana Berg. Para as observações histológicas, as amostras foram desidratadas em uma bateria de etanol, emblocadas em historesina e coradas com azul de toluidina (morfologia), azul de coomassie (corpos proteicos) e reativo ácido periódico de Schiff (amido). As proteínas foram extraídas usando uma solução tampão, precipitadas usando etanol e quantificadas por meio do reativo de Bradford. Os açúcares totais foram extraídos usando uma solução metanol-clorofórmioágua (12:5:3) e quantificados pela reação com antrona a 0,2%. O amido foi extraído usando uma solução de ácido perclórico a 30% e quantificado pela reação com antrona a 0,2%. Durante a diferenciação e morfogênese in vitro da embriogênese somática, os teores de proteínas totais decresceram e os açúcares solúveis aumentaram durante os 30 primeiros dias em cultura e permaneceram constantes até os 120 dias. Por outro lado, os teores das proteínas totais apresentaram incremento de acordo com a progressão nos estádios de desenvolvimento dos embriões somáticos. Os teores de açúcares totais e de amido aumentaram nos estádios cordiforme e cotiledonar e diminuíram nos estádios torpedo e pré-cotiledonar. Esses compostos exercem papel central no desenvolvimento de embriões somáticos de Acca sellowiana.Fil: Cangahuala-Inocente, Gabriela Claudia. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Steiner, Neusa. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; BrasilFil: Maldonado, Sara Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Guerra, Miguel Pedro. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; Brasi

FELINE CUTANEOUS LYMPHANGIOMA- CASE REPORT

This article describes a case report of a feline cutaneous lymphangioma. Lymphangiomas (synonym: lymphangiomatosis) and lymphangiosarcomas are rare tumors, usually associated with skin, some are believed to be congenital in young animals associated with vascular abnormalities. In gross pathology description they are poorly defined, cavernous-spongy, soft and they may be identified along fascial planes, because of this it may be difficult to remove, so tumors tend to recur. In histopathology description we can see interconnecting channels lined by endothelium usually without erythrocytes, but these tumors do not have unique features

Síntesi de nanopartícules a gran escala amb major eficiència

El gran interès que han despertat els productes de nanopartícules, ha generat la necessitat de tenir a l'abast processos de síntesi que puguin ser aplicables en plantes pilot. La dificultat de controlar certs paràmetres del procés pot superar-se amb una síntesi contínua en microsistemes de flux, encara que els materials emprats habitualment tenen certs inconvenients. Un equip del Grup de Sensors i Biosensors, del Departament de Química, ha desenvolupat un innovador sistema per microflux utilitzant un material ceràmic que simplifica el muntage de la instal·lació i la monitorització del procés amb components electrònics.El gran interés que han despertado los productos de nanopartículas ha generado la necesidad de tener al alcance procesos de síntesis que puedan ser aplicables en plantas piloto. La dificultad de controlar ciertos parámetros del proceso puede superarse con una síntesis continua en microsistemas de flujo, aunque los materiales empleados habitualmente tienen ciertos inconvenientes. Un equipo del Grupo de Sensores y Biosensores, del Departamento de Química, ha desarrollado un innovador sistema con microflujo utilizando un material cerámico que simplifica el montaje de la instalación y la monitorización del proceso con componentes electrónicos

Infeções urinárias em felídeos e canídeos: etiologia e resistência aos antimicrobianos

As infeções urinarias são das patologias mais frequentes nos animais de companhia, são geralmente causadas por bactérias e o seu tratamento depende da utilização de antimicrobianos. Este estudo, realizado no âmbito de um estágio, teve como objetivo identificar a etiologia destas infeções em felídeos e canídeos, bem como estudar a sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos nos agentes etiológicos identificados. Foram incluídos neste estudo 119 animais, 67 canídeos e 52 felídeos. Os agentes etiológicos mais frequentes nos canídeos foram Escherichia coli (44,78%), Proteus mirabilis (16,42%) e Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (10,45%). Nos felídeos foram a Escherichia coli (55,77%), Enterococcus faecalis (11,54%), e Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (5,77%). Neste estudo a E.coli, agente etiológico mais frequente, apresenta resistência a cefalexina (1ºgeração) superior a 90% quer nos canídeos quer nos felídeos. Nos canídeos, verificou-se ainda resistência a 6 dos 19 antibióticos testados nos isolados de Staphylococcus aureus e nos felídeos observou-se resistência a 5 dos 15 antibioticos testados nos isolados de E.faecalis. A determinação precisa do agente e respectivo antibiograma, é relevante não só para a saúde dos próprios animais como a nível de Saúde Pública. A escolha do antimicrobiano mais adequado para o tratamento previne o aparecimento de resistências bacterianas, um dos maiores desafios de Saúde Pública

Assessing Media Literacy Competences: Reflections and Recommendations from a Quantitative Study

The assessment of media literacy is a complex task, which might attempt to reconcile a research field traditionally developed within a critical paradigm with the task of evaluating and quantifying media literacy competences through essentially quantitative methods. Despite the non-existence of consensus regarding how to evaluate and measure media literacy, namely on the definition of its levels, this purpose is increasingly discussed and stimulated by political and regulatory stances, as well as studied within the academic world. Based on one of such attempts, a study on the media literacy competences of 679 Portuguese teenagers, this paper presents a review and a reflection on the specific challenges posed by the intent to quantitatively assess media literacy, without neglecting its core critical dimension. It concludes by suggesting methodological convergence and the continuous development of valid and reliable indicators, necessarily context and subject-dependent, as a way to improve this area of research