Using self-organizing maps to investigate environmental factors regulating colony size and breeding success of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

We studied variations in the size of breeding colonies and in breeding performance of White Storks Ciconia ciconia in 2006–2008 in north-east Algeria. Each colony site was characterized using 12 environmental variables describing the physical environment, land-cover categories, and human activities, and by three demographic parameters: the number of breeding pairs, the number of pairs with chicks, and the number of fledged chicks per pair. Generalized linear mixed models and the self-organizing map algorithm (SOM, neural network) were used to investigate effects of biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors on demographic parameters and on their relationships. Numbers of breeding pairs and of pairs with chicks were affected by the same environmental factors, mainly anthropogenic, which differed from those affecting the number of fledged chicks per pair. Numbers of fledged chicks per pair was not affected by colony size or by the number of nests with chicks. The categorization of the environmental variables into natural and anthropogenic, in connection with demographic parameters, was relevant to detect factors explaining variation in colony size and breeding parameters. The SOM proved a relevant tool to help determine actual dynamics in White Stork colonies, and thus to support effective conservation decisions at a regional scale

Genetic variability of conilon coffee population from cultivar ?ES8152? based on morphoagronomic variables.

This study aimed to analyze the genetic variability of Coffea canephora population with 190 genotypes from cultivar ?ES8152?, based on morphoagronomic characteristics and vegetation index, to identify the most important characteristics for genetic divergence and compare them with commercial clones. The experiment was installed, in 2019, at the Bananal do Norte Experimental Farm/INCAPER, Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, ES, Brazil. The experiment was carried out in Federer?s augmented block design with three blocks, four common treatments (commercial clones A1, LB1, V8 and V12) and 190 regular treatments, genotypes from the seed production field of the conilon coffee cultivar ?ES8152?. At 24 months of age 14 morphoagronomic characteristics and vegetation index were evaluated. Descriptive analysis of the data, the estimation of the Standardized Euclidean Distance (ED) followed by the grouping by the methods of Tocher, UPGMA and principal coordinates, in addition to the relative importance of the characters estimated by the Singh methodology were performed. The most distant genotypes were 62 and 83 (ED=2.620) and the closest were 42 and 160 (ED=0.208). Genotype 83 stood out as the most distant among the others. The optimization and hierarchical groupings allowed the identification of genotypes 15, 81, 107 and 184 as similar to commercial clones. The discard analysis of variables recommended the elimination of the vegetation index and average internode length of the next diversity analysis. Principal coordinate analysis found phenotypic similarity of the genotypes 30, 81, 115, 141 and 163 with the clone V12, of the genotype 119 with the clone A1 and genotype 17 with clone LB1. The study, of morphoagronomic characters, allowed to detection the genetic diversity existing in the materials evaluated, indicating those with phenotypic similarity with the commercial clones, being possible the early identification of promising genotypes, agronomically superior, to start a breeding program for clonal selection, recurrent selection and controlled crosses to maximize heterosis

Ribavirin as a First Treatment Approach for Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Transplant Recipient Patients

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute hepatitis of viral origin worldwide. Despite its usual course as an asymptomatic self-limited hepatitis, there are highly susceptible populations, such as those with underlying immunosuppression, which could develop chronic hepatitis. In this situation, implementation of therapy is mandatory in the sense to facilitate viral clearance. Currently, there are no specific drugs approved for HEV infection, but ribavirin (RBV), the drug of choice, is used for off-label treatment. Here, we present two cases of chronic HEV infection in transplant patients, reviewing and discussing the therapeutic approach available in the literature. The use of RBV for the treatment of an HEV infection in organ transplant patients seems to be effective. The recommendation of 12 weeks of therapy is adequate in terms of efficacy. Nevertheless, there are important issues that urgently need to be assessed, such as optimal duration of therapy and drug dosage

Elucidation of chiral Recognition mechanism of alpha-amino acids using ligand exchange high performance liquid chromatography

Ligand exchange HPLC technique was applied to resolve chiral separation of aliphatic side chain aminoacid racemates. Chiral selector was copper L-phenylalaninate (II) and the results showed the elution of D enantiomer followed by L form. Considering the 3-point interaction concept, a mechanism of chiral recognition was proposed, in which no change of configuration would follow the formation of pseudo-homochiral and heterochiral complexes. To prove the reliability of this mechanism, the trans configuration of homochiral complex had to be more stable than the cis form, which was confirmed by DFT-B3LYP calculation in gas phase. The infrared frequencies were also calculated and the comparison with the subtracted and deconvoluted spectrum of the in-solution complex also pointed to the presence of the trans diasteroisomer

Psychological impact of anti-VEGF treatments for wet macular degeneration-a review.

To review the current literature on the psychological impact of anti-VEGF treatments for wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), in terms of patients' experiences of receiving these treatments, and the impact of these treatments for patients' mental health and quality of life.We critically analyzed current literature evaluating psychological impact of anti-VEGF treatments for wAMD. Primary searches of PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science were conducted in July and August of 2015. We reviewed all papers on the topic published until August 5, 2015.Our literature search found 14 papers addressing the psychological impact of anti-VEGF treatments for wAMD. Results highlighted potential anxieties and experiences of pain caused by receiving regular intravitreal injections. A positive visual outcome of anti-VEGF therapy is associated with positive vision-related QOL outcomes, although such association seems to be dependent on improvements on visual acuity. In the literature reviewed, patients receiving anti-VEGF treatments showed a prevalence rate of depression between 20 and 26 %.Although anti-VEGF treatments can cause some anxiety and being experienced as a stressful event, especially in the beginning of the treatment, preliminary findings suggest a potential benefit for long-term vision-related quality of life. Further longitudinal and qualitative research should bring more evidence on the positive and negative effects of these treatments on patients' long-term mental health

Predicting participation of people with impaired vision in epidemiological studies

The characteristics of the target group and the design of an epidemiologic study, in particular the recruiting methods, can influence participation. People with vision impairment have unique characteristics because those invited are often elderly and totally or partially dependent on help to complete daily activities such as travelling to study sites. Therefore, participation of people with impaired vision in studies is less predictable than predicting participation for the general population.This study was supported by FCT (COMPETE/QREN) grant reference PTDC/DPT-EPI/0412/2012 in the context of the Prevalence and Costs of Visual Impairment in Portugal: a hospital based study (PCVIP-study). PLR is funded by FCT (COMPETE/QREN) grant reference SFRH/BD/119420/2016

Monitoramento de safras via Web: um caso de sucesso em pesquisa multidisciplinar.

Este trabalho descreve o projeto WebMaps em desenvolvimento na UNICAMP, um esforço multidisciplinar envolvendo ciências agrárias e de computação , cujo objetivo é desenvolver uma plataforma baseada em serviços Web para o planejamento agro-ambiental.SBIAgro 2007

The striking geographical pattern of gastric cancer mortality in Spain: environmental hypotheses revisited

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Gastric cancer is decreasing in most countries. While socioeconomic development is the main factor to which this decline has been attributed, enormous differences among countries and within regions are still observed, with the main contributing factors remaining elusive. This study describes the geographic distribution of gastric cancer mortality at a municipal level in Spain, from 1994-2003.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Smoothed relative risks of stomach cancer mortality were obtained, using the Besag-York-Molliè autoregressive spatial model. Maps depicting relative risk (RR) estimates and posterior probabilities of RR being greater than 1 were plotted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 1994-2003, 62184 gastric cancer deaths were registered in Spain (7 percent of all deaths due to malignant tumors). The geographic pattern was similar for both sexes. RRs displayed a south-north and coast-inland gradient, with lower risks being observed in Andalusia, the Mediterranean coastline, the Balearic and Canary Islands and the Cantabrian seaboard. The highest risk was concentrated along the west coast of Galicia, broad areas of the Castile & Leon Autonomous community, the province of Cáceres in Extremadura, Lleida and other areas of Catalonia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In Spain, risk of gastric cancer mortality displays a striking geographic distribution. With some differences, this persistent and unique pattern is similar across the sexes, suggesting the implication of environmental exposures from sources, such as diet or ground water, which could affect both sexes and delimited geographic areas. Also, the higher sex-ratios found in some areas with high risk of smoking-related cancer mortality in males support the role of tobacco in gastric cancer etiology.</p