Early specification of sensory neuron fate revealed by expression and function of neurogenins in the chick embryo

The generation of sensory and autonomic neurons from the neural crest requires the functions of two classes of basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, the Neurogenins (NGNs) and MASH-1, respectively (Fode, C., Gradwohl, G., Morin, X., Dierich, A., LeMeur, M., Goridis, C. and Guillemot, F. (1998) Neuron 20, 483-494; Guillemot, F., Lo, L.-C., Johnson, J. E., Auerbach, A., Anderson, D. J. and Joyner, A. L. (1993) Cell 75, 463-476; Ma, Q., Chen, Z. F., Barrantes, I. B., de la Pompa, J. L. and Anderson, D. J. (1998 Neuron 20, 469-482). We have cloned two chick NGNs and found that they are expressed in a subset of neural crest cells early in their migration. Ectopic expression of the NGNs in vivo biases migrating neural crest cells to localize in the sensory ganglia, and induces the expression of sensory neuron-appropriate markers in non-sensory crest derivatives. Surprisingly, the NGNs can also induce the expression of multiple pan-neuronal and sensory-specific markers in the dermomyotome, a mesodermal derivative. Taken together, these data suggest that a subset of neural crest cells may already be specified for a sensory neuron fate early in migration, as a consequence of NGN expression

Implications of symmetries in the scalar sector

Symmetries play a very important r\^ole in Particle Physics. In extended scalar sectors, the existence of symmetries may permit the models to comply with the experimental constraints in a natural way, and at the same time reduce the number of free parameters. There is a strong interplay among internal symmetries of the scalar potential, its CP properties and mass degeneracies of the physical scalars. Some of these aspects were discussed in this talk.Comment: 8 pages, to be published in the Proceedings of DISCRETE2018: 6th Symposium on Prospects in the Physics of Discrete Symmetries, 26-30 Nov 2018. Vienna, Austri

Symmetries and Mass Degeneracies in the Scalar Sector

We explore some aspects of models with two and three SU(2) scalar doublets that lead to mass degeneracies among some of the physical scalars. In Higgs sectors with two scalar doublets, the exact degeneracy of scalar masses, without an artificial fine-tuning of the scalar potential parameters, is possible only in the case of the inert doublet model (IDM), where the scalar potential respects a global U(1) symmetry that is not broken by the vacuum. In the case of three doublets, we introduce and analyze the replicated inert doublet model, which possesses two inert doublets of scalars. We then generalize this model to obtain a scalar potential, first proposed by Ivanov and Silva, with a CP4 symmetry that guarantees the existence of pairwise degenerate scalar states among two pairs of neutral scalars and two pairs of charged scalars. Here, CP4 is a generalized CP symmetry with the property that $({\rm CP}4)^n$ is the identity operator only for integer $n$ values that are multiples of 4. The form of the CP4-symmetric scalar potential is simplest when expressed in the Higgs basis, where the neutral scalar field vacuum expectation value resides entirely in one of the scalar doublet fields. The symmetries of the model permit a term in the scalar potential with a complex coefficient that cannot be removed by any redefinition of the scalar fields within the class of Higgs bases (in which case, we say that no real Higgs basis exists). A striking feature of the CP4-symmetric model is that it preserves CP even in the absence of a real Higgs basis, as illustrated by the cancellation of the contributions to the CP violating form factors of the effective ZZZ and ZWW vertices.Comment: 52 pages, 2 figures, second revised version with new material, as published by JHE

Spatial and temporal organization of a coastal lagoon fish community: Ria de Aveiro, Portugal

The fish community and its spatial and temporal organization were studied in the Ria de Aveiro. This lagoon system (43 km2 in area), has both marine and fluvial influences and is located between 40º 30’ - 40º 52’N and 8º35’ - 8º 47’W on the central coast of Portugal. The ichthyofauna was sampled monthly, from December 1996 to November 1997, at nine selected stations, with “chincha”, a traditionally-used beach-seine-type net of the region. A total of 14,598 specimens representing 43 species from 21 families were caught. The abiotic parameters (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) showed significant seasonal variations, although only salinity and transparency showed statistically significant trends among sampling stations. The diversity and evenness were greater at the borders of the lagoon. The species richness, diversity and evenness peaked in mid-Summer. Marine seasonal migrant species were the most numerous, and the marine juvenile and estuarine resident categories had the highest number of species. Species number and diversity of the ecological guilds showed some spatio-temporal patterns due to some particular dominant species. Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Moronidae and Clupeidae were the most abundant families. Six species were dominant and represented more than 74% of the total fish abundance, although they did not occur over the whole lagoon area or during the whole sampling period. The study concludes that the fish community of the Ria de Aveiro has well-defined seasonal and spatial patterns.Organis ation spatiale et temporelle de la communauté de poissons d’une lagune côtière – Ria de Aveiro, Portugal. La communauté de poissons et son organisation spatiale et temporelle ont été étudiées dans la Ria de Aveiro. Ce système de lagune (43 km2 de superficie) subit des influences maritimes et fluviales et est situé entre 40º 30’ - 40º 52’N et 8º35’ - 8º 47’W sur la côte centrale du Portugal. Des échantillons ont été prélevés mensuellement de décembre 1996 à novembre 1997, dans neuf stations, avec un filet de pêche traditionnel de la région, la “chincha”. Au total 14 2 598 spécimens ont été collectés représentant 43 espèces et 21 familles. Les paramètres abiotiques (température, salinité et oxygène dissou) ont montré des variations saisonnières significatives, tandis que sur l’ensemble des stations de prélèvement seules la salinité et la transparence ont présenté une variation significative. La diversité et l’équatibilité ont été maximales le long des rives de la lagune. La richesse en espèces, diversité et équatibilité ont leur maximum été. Les espèces marines étaient les plus nombreuses et les catégories “juvénile marin” et “résident estuarien” sont celles qui avaient le plus grand nombre d’espèces. Le nombre d’espèces et la diversité des catégories écologiques ont montré des patterns liés à certaines espèces dominantes. Mugilidae, Atherinidae, Moronidae et Clupeidae étaient les familles les plus abondantes. Six espèces dominaient, même si elles n’étaient pas présentes sur toute la superficie de la lagune ou durant toute la période des échantillons, représentant plus de 74% du total de l’abondance en poisson. Cette étude permet de conclure que la communauté de poisson de la Ria de Aveiro a des patrons saisonniers et spatiaux très bien définis

Invasive hornets on the road: motorway-driven dispersal must be considered in management plans of Vespa velutina

Understanding the mechanisms that potentiate the dispersion of an invasive species is essential to anticipate its arrival into new regions and to develop adequate management actions to minimize damage to biodiversity and society. One of the most successful invaders in Europe, the yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina), is dispersing through self-diffusion and jump dispersal. Using information on species occurrence in Portugal from 2013 to 2018, this study aimed to understand the range expansion trajectory of V. velutina and to identify the role of climate, landscape and anthropogenic variables on the two mechanisms of spread. We found that in Portugal the invasion is proceeding faster southwards (45 km/year) along the Atlantic coast than eastwards (20 km/ year) where the climatic suitability gradient is more compressed, with jump dispersal playing an important role in this difference and in the acceleration of the invasion process. Dispersal by diffusion was best explained by the annual range of temperature and precipitation of the wettest month, with distance to shrub land also having an important role. Additionally, jump dispersal appeared to be facilitated by motorways, hinting at the role of human-mediated dispersal. Indeed, the number of nests that resulted from this dispersive mechanism were significantly closer to motorways than expected by chance. To prevent the dispersal of V. velutina into Mediterranean regions, and in addition to a special attention to the advancing front, early monitoring programs should also target a buffer zone on both sides of motorways, and at freight shipping hubs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

How to increase customer loyalty in the newspaper industry in Portugal : the Global Media Group case

The Global Media Group (GMG) is one of the major media groups in Portugal, being the owner of several brands in the Press, Radio and Internet sectors, namely Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias and TSF, among others. In an industry that is now characterized by the increase in online formats as sources of information, in detriment of traditional media formats such as print newspapers, it is essential to understand how to still increase and maintain customer loyalty in this area. Therefore, this dissertation tackles concepts such as loyalty, perceived value and brand trust, and uses both primary and secondary research methods to answer the problem statement. Through a set of in-depth interviews with group management employees, a focus group among consumers, and a public survey, as well as information from the market and the company, this dissertation provides conclusions on what factors influence buying choice, perceived value and brand trust, how consumers can be characterized, and ultimately how to increase customer loyalty for the GMG and the industry in general. Moreover, the dissertation includes recommendations on specific initiatives the group can use to increase the mentioned variable. Finally, the dissertation includes a chapter with notes for using this dissertation for teaching purposes, with suggestions of questions to be made for students.O Global Media Group é um dos maiores grupos de media em Portugal, detendo marcas nos sectores de Imprensa, Rádio e Internet, nomeadamente o Diário de Notícias, Jornal de Notícias e TSF, entre outras. Numa indústria onde o formato online se impõe cada vez mais como fonte de informação, em detrimento de formatos tradicionais como jornais impressos, é essencial perceber como continuar a aumentar e manter a fidelização dos consumidores nesta área. Como tal, esta dissertação aborda conceitos como lealdade do consumidor, valor percecionado e confiança na marca, e usa métodos de investigação tanto primários como secundários para responder ao problema apresentado. Através de entrevistas estruturadas a dirigentes do Grupo, um focus group a consumidores e um questionário público, bem como informação do mercado e da empresa, esta dissertação apresenta conclusões que ajudam a identificar que fatores influenciam a decisão de compra, o valor percecionado e a confiança na marca, como se podem caracterizar os consumidores, e como, em conclusão, se pode aumentar a lealdade dos consumidores do Global Media Group, e na indústria da imprensa como um todo. Para além disso, a presente dissertação inclui recomendações sobre iniciativas concretas que o grupo pode usar para aumentar a variável mencionada. Finalmente, o documento inclui um capítulo com notas de apoio a lecionar, com sugestões de perguntas que podem ser feitas a alunos

Priming dilemmas’prisioners: an enquiry into agents’ minds

This work tries to understand how an exposure to economic logic and the current definition of rationality influences behavior. I usea randomized scrambled-sentencetestthat primes different groups either with economic or moral oriented key-words;then follows a set of ethicalgames, mainlyvariations of the Prisoner’s dilemma. In both an experimental setting (117economics/business graduates) and online survey (113 subjects), I do not findevidence that this short-term, conceptual priminghas an impact on agents’ decisions regarding this sort of dilemmas.This might be due to the ineffectiveness of the priming, or due to its subtle nature that only bigger datasets can uncover. However, it is found evidencein the online surveycorroborating the literature stance that having had an economics background alters behaviortowards defection. The evidence also highlights a particularly robust find in the literature: cooperation rates are far higher than expected by the self-interest model. These findings then open a more in depth discussion about thevery concept of rationality and theepistemological pathwithin economics

Working time and digital transition: A complex and ambiguous relationship

The digital transition underway combines different types of technology: digital, physical and biological. These three families of technologies interact, drawing on the progress in artificial intelligence and machine learning, and creating the opportunity of digitalizing all stages of production and services systems. The increase of digital work represents a deep transformation of economy and society, posing huge challenges to companies, employees and policy makers, and therefore to social scientists. In this context, in European countries, working time regulation has become central to employment policies. The guiding principles of working time management are based on three aspects: the conventional definition of working time flexibility; the development of public measures that aim at making the reduction of working hours advantageous; and the adequacy of working time management to the whole of working life. Advances in information and communication technologies that bring high convenience to personal life are also blurring the lines of work-time and personal time, threatening work-life balance. This situation is raising not only important legal issues, but also ethical considerations related to mandatory or unpaid overtime, and the possibility of employer subtle or explicit coercion. Additionally, the ethicality of unconventional shift work and long work-hour schedules is also at stake in issues like the gender-based inequities related to working hours, and employers' responsibilities for protecting individuals who are not employees from the indirect effects of demanding work schedules, namely affecting the work-family balance. In terms of research methods, after an assessment of the transformations underway, based on literature review and documentary analysis, we will develop a qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews, which will allow to analyse the position of different key actors (employers' and trade union confederations) on long working hours and their effects.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Recognition of the epidemiological significance of Neisseria meningitidis capsular serogroup W135 in the Rio de Janeiro region, Brazil

Neisseria meningitidis retains its ability to cause endemic and hiperendemic disease in human population living in any environment, as well as localized outbreaks and massive epidemics in civilians and military personnel. In Rio de Janeiro it has been reported in the 1990s as prolonged outbreak of serogroup B and at least one epidemic of serogroup C was well defined, both demanding quick action by the Public Health authorities. We report here the emergence of serogroup W135 meningococcal disease causing endemic and case cluster in Rio de Janeiro during the first years of this new century