Manipulation of the Spatial Grazing Behaviour of Livestock in Extensive Grassland Systems

Spatial behaviour of livestock is a critical factor in grassland management. Recent and ongoing research suggests that new approaches can be used to manipulate where cattle graze. The combination of strategic supplement placement and low-stress herding can be used to target cattle grazing and potentially may be useful for managing fine fuels. A phenotype to genotype association study of cattle spatial behavior suggests that use of rugged terrain and areas far from water is inherited. Although more research is needed, selection for animals specifically adapted for mountainous terrain or extensive paddocks may be an alternative for managing grasslands in the near future

The origin and speciation of orchids

SummaryOrchids constitute one of the most spectacular radiations of flowering plants. However, their origin, spread across the globe, and hotspots of speciation remain uncertain due to the lack of an up-to-date phylogeographic analysis.We present a new Orchidaceae phylogeny based on combined high-throughput and Sanger sequencing data, covering all five subfamilies, 17/22 tribes, 40/49 subtribes, 285/736 genera, and c. 7% (1921) of the 29 524 accepted species, and use it to infer geographic range evolution, diversity, and speciation patterns by adding curated geographical distributions from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants.The orchids' most recent common ancestor is inferred to have lived in Late Cretaceous Laurasia. The modern range of Apostasioideae, which comprises two genera with 16 species from India to northern Australia, is interpreted as relictual, similar to that of numerous other groups that went extinct at higher latitudes following the global climate cooling during the Oligocene. Despite their ancient origin, modern orchid species diversity mainly originated over the last 5 Ma, with the highest speciation rates in Panama and Costa Rica.These results alter our understanding of the geographic origin of orchids, previously proposed as Australian, and pinpoint Central America as a region of recent, explosive speciation

Comparación plan de estudios programa administración de empresas Uniminuto y Columbus State University

Realizar comparaciones entre los modelos educativos enfocándonos en las asignaturas que se enseñan a los estudiantes de la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios y Columbus State University (CSU), es un proceso que se inicia con el conocimiento de la malla curricular de las dos Universidades para intentar así, identificar cuáles serían las asignaturas con mayor similitud en Columbus, sin embargo los enfoques que se manejan son diferentes, teniendo en cuenta que la demanda y población a la cual se dirigen, por razones económicas, condiciones sociales y características de los estudiantes, como también el mercado laboral que ofrece el entorno

Comparación plan de estudios programa administración de empresas Uniminuto y Columbus State University

Realizar comparaciones entre los modelos educativos enfocándonos en las asignaturas que se enseñan a los estudiantes de la Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios y Columbus State University (CSU), es un proceso que se inicia con el conocimiento de la malla curricular de las dos Universidades para intentar así, identificar cuáles serían las asignaturas con mayor similitud en Columbus, sin embargo los enfoques que se manejan son diferentes, teniendo en cuenta que la demanda y población a la cual se dirigen, por razones económicas, condiciones sociales y características de los estudiantes, como también el mercado laboral que ofrece el entorno

Effect of sitagliptin on cardiovascular outcomes in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND: Data are lacking on the long-term effect on cardiovascular events of adding sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, to usual care in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. METHODS: In this randomized, double-blind study, we assigned 14,671 patients to add either sitagliptin or placebo to their existing therapy. Open-label use of antihyperglycemic therapy was encouraged as required, aimed at reaching individually appropriate glycemic targets in all patients. To determine whether sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo, we used a relative risk of 1.3 as the marginal upper boundary. The primary cardiovascular outcome was a composite of cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for unstable angina. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 3.0 years, there was a small difference in glycated hemoglobin levels (least-squares mean difference for sitagliptin vs. placebo, -0.29 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.32 to -0.27). Overall, the primary outcome occurred in 839 patients in the sitagliptin group (11.4%; 4.06 per 100 person-years) and 851 patients in the placebo group (11.6%; 4.17 per 100 person-years). Sitagliptin was noninferior to placebo for the primary composite cardiovascular outcome (hazard ratio, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.09; P<0.001). Rates of hospitalization for heart failure did not differ between the two groups (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.20; P = 0.98). There were no significant between-group differences in rates of acute pancreatitis (P = 0.07) or pancreatic cancer (P = 0.32). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, adding sitagliptin to usual care did not appear to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, hospitalization for heart failure, or other adverse events

PROCESSOS DECISÓRIOS ESTRATÉGICOS EM ORGANIZAÇÕES EMPRESARIAIS: UMA PROPOSTA DE MODELO

The aim of this present research is to disseminate a business culture that systematically carries out actions based on the process of decision making, using effective tools and supporting processes, identified in the literature as well as in the business practices that were researched. It is hoped that this contribution will enable decision makers to obtain the greatest possible rate of success, and therefore a better optimization of the resources applied in the cost-benefit binomial, increasing the tangible and intangible results of business organizations, aiming at proactive results in society as a whole, and at the group or individual success of the decision maker(s). Field research was carried out by means of structured questionnaires and interviews that were conducted with business executives (supervisors and managers) linked directly to the board of a multinational company a manufacturer of high aggregate-value vehicles which in this study is called the ENTERPRISE. This study can be justified based on the supposition that its results will combine, corroborate and demonstrate the need to improve and increase the systematic and coherent use of strategic decision-making processes, in view of a prospect of a holistic reflection and the extent to which decisions impact business. Considering the state of the art, the field of action and the extent of the studies in the decision-making process, it is argued that the decisions taken and/or implemented culminate in the success, indifference or failure of performance both at the organizational level and as regards the scope of the individual and/or the group themselves.Universidade Federal FluminenseObjetiva-se com este trabalho de pesquisa a disseminação de uma cultura empresarial que pratique, de forma sistemática, ações estruturadas do processo decisório, valendo-se da eficácia de ferramentas e processos de apoio, identificadas na literatura e em práticas empresariais pesquisadas. Espera-se contribuir para que os tomadores de decisão obtenham o maior índice possível de acertos e, consequentemente, melhor otimização de recursos da aplicação do binômio custo x benefício, aumentando os resultados tangíveis e intangíveis de organizações empresariais, visando desdobramentos proativos à sociedade como um todo, ao sucesso grupal e individual do tomador ou tomadores de decisão. A pesquisa de campo desenvolveu-se mediante aplicação de questionário estruturado e entrevistas realizadas com executivos (supervisores e gerentes) diretamente ligados à diretoria de uma empresa multinacional, fabricante de veículos automotores de alto valor agregado, denominada neste estudo de EMPRESA. Justifica-se o estudo partindose do pressuposto de que seus resultados coadunem-se, corroborem e demonstrem a necessidade de melhorar e aumentar a utilização sistemática e coerente de métodos de processos decisórios estratégicos, diante de uma perspectiva de reflexão holística do alcance que as decisões impactam os negócios. Considerandose o estado da arte, o campo de domínio e de abrangência dos estudos em processo decisório, argumenta-se que as ações decisórias praticadas e/ou implementadas culminam com o sucesso, indiferença ou fracasso de desempenho tanto em nível organizacional, quanto no próprio escopo grupal e/ou individual

Neuropeptidome of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland of indicine × taurine heifers: evidence of differential neuropeptide processing in the pituitary gland before and after puberty

Puberty in cattle is regulated by an endocrine axis, which includes a complex milieu of neuropeptides in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The neuropeptidome of hypothalamic-pituitary gland tissue of pre- (PRE) and postpubertal (POST) Bos indicus-influenced heifers was characterized, followed by quantitative analysis of 51 fertility-related neuropeptides in these tissues. Comparison of peptide abundances with gene expression levels allowed assessment of post-transcriptional peptide processing. On the basis of classical cleavage, 124 mature neuropeptides from 35 precursor proteins were detected in hypothalamus and pituitary gland tissues of three PRE and three POST Brangus heifers. An additional 19 peptides (cerebellins, PEN peptides) previously reported as neuropeptides that did not follow classical cleavage were also identified. In the pre-pubertal hypothalamus, a greater diversity of neuropeptides (25.8%) was identified relative to post-pubertal heifers, while in the pituitary gland, 38.6% more neuropeptides were detected in the post-pubertal heifers. Neuro-tissues of PRE and POST heifers revealed abundance differences ( p < 0.05) in peptides from protein precursors involved in packaging and processing (e.g., the granin family and ProSAAS) or neuron stimulation (PENK, CART, POMC, cerebellins). On their own, the transcriptome data of the precursor genes could not predict the neuropeptide profile in the exact same tissues in several cases. This provides further evidence of the importance of differential processing of the neuropeptide precursors in the pituitary before and after puberty

Neuropeptidome of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland of Indicine × Taurine Heifers: Evidence of Differential Neuropeptide Processing in the Pituitary Gland before and after Puberty

Puberty in cattle is regulated by an endocrine axis, which includes a complex milieu of neuropeptides in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The neuropeptidome of hypothalamic–pituitary gland tissue of pre- (PRE) and postpubertal (POST) <i>Bos indicus</i>-influenced heifers was characterized, followed by quantitative analysis of 51 fertility-related neuropeptides in these tissues. Comparison of peptide abundances with gene expression levels allowed assessment of post-transcriptional peptide processing. On the basis of classical cleavage, 124 mature neuropeptides from 35 precursor proteins were detected in hypothalamus and pituitary gland tissues of three PRE and three POST Brangus heifers. An additional 19 peptides (cerebellins, PEN peptides) previously reported as neuropeptides that did not follow classical cleavage were also identified. In the pre-pubertal hypothalamus, a greater diversity of neuropeptides (25.8%) was identified relative to post-pubertal heifers, while in the pituitary gland, 38.6% more neuropeptides were detected in the post-pubertal heifers. Neuro-tissues of PRE and POST heifers revealed abundance differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in peptides from protein precursors involved in packaging and processing (e.g., the granin family and ProSAAS) or neuron stimulation (PENK, CART, POMC, cerebellins). On their own, the transcriptome data of the precursor genes could not predict the neuropeptide profile in the exact same tissues in several cases. This provides further evidence of the importance of differential processing of the neuropeptide precursors in the pituitary before and after puberty

Neuropeptidome of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland of Indicine × Taurine Heifers: Evidence of Differential Neuropeptide Processing in the Pituitary Gland before and after Puberty

Puberty in cattle is regulated by an endocrine axis, which includes a complex milieu of neuropeptides in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The neuropeptidome of hypothalamic–pituitary gland tissue of pre- (PRE) and postpubertal (POST) <i>Bos indicus</i>-influenced heifers was characterized, followed by quantitative analysis of 51 fertility-related neuropeptides in these tissues. Comparison of peptide abundances with gene expression levels allowed assessment of post-transcriptional peptide processing. On the basis of classical cleavage, 124 mature neuropeptides from 35 precursor proteins were detected in hypothalamus and pituitary gland tissues of three PRE and three POST Brangus heifers. An additional 19 peptides (cerebellins, PEN peptides) previously reported as neuropeptides that did not follow classical cleavage were also identified. In the pre-pubertal hypothalamus, a greater diversity of neuropeptides (25.8%) was identified relative to post-pubertal heifers, while in the pituitary gland, 38.6% more neuropeptides were detected in the post-pubertal heifers. Neuro-tissues of PRE and POST heifers revealed abundance differences (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in peptides from protein precursors involved in packaging and processing (e.g., the granin family and ProSAAS) or neuron stimulation (PENK, CART, POMC, cerebellins). On their own, the transcriptome data of the precursor genes could not predict the neuropeptide profile in the exact same tissues in several cases. This provides further evidence of the importance of differential processing of the neuropeptide precursors in the pituitary before and after puberty