Tipologia socioambiental de cidades médias no Brasil: aportes para um desenvolvimento urbano sustentável

The global urbanization of the territories, which is an important ongoing human ecological phenomenon, and whose environmental impacts have local, regional and global levels, has the remarkable property of a sharp growth of small and intermediate cities, in which capacity of planning and management is usually negligible, when they are compared to large cities. This is what takes place in Brazil, where medium-sized cities, those with populations between 100,000 and 500,000 residents are growing faster than large cities from mid-1990. The article aims to chart a typology of medium Brazilian cities, through multivariate statistical analysis. The resulting typology identifies two types of cities, with different social, environmental and management demands. Some of these cities are located in biodiversity hotspots. In parallel, we have compiled statistics on environmental management in place in these cities. Our results demonstrate low effectiveness of environmental management actions in these municipalitiesA CAPES, y al Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente del gobierno español, por la financiación al Proyecto Ecología Urbana en Regiones Metropolitanas de Brasil: Paisaje, Calidad de Vida y Desarrollo Humano [Plan Nacional de I+D+i (CSO2009 12689)

Comparison of dimensionality reduction methods to predict genomic breeding values for carcass traits in pigs

A significant contribution of molecular genetics is the direct use of DNA information to identify genetically superior individuals. With this approach, genome-wide selection (GWS) can be used for this purpose. GWS consists of analyzing a large number of single nucleotide polymorphism markers widely distributed in the genome; however, because the number of markers is much larger than the number of genotyped individuals, and such markers are highly correlated, special statistical methods are widely required. Among these methods, independent component regression, principal component regression, partial least squares, and partial principal components stand out. Thus, the aim of this study was to propose an application of the methods of dimensionality reduction to GWS of carcass traits in an F2 (Piau x commercial line) pig population. The results show similarities between the principal and the independent component methods and provided the most accurate genomic breeding estimates for most carcass traits in pigs

Bayesian Forecasting Of Temporal Gene Expression By Using An Autoregressive Panel Data Approach

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)We propose and evaluate a novel approach for forecasting gene expression over non-observed times in longitudinal trials under a Bayesian viewpoint. One of the aims is to cluster genes that share similar expression patterns over time and then use this similarity to predict relative expression at time points of interest. Expression values of 106 genes expressed during the cell cycle of Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used and genes were partitioned into five distinct clusters of sizes 33, 32, 21, 16, and 4. After removing the last observed time point, the agreements of signals (upregulated or downregulated) considering the predicted expression level were 72.7, 81.3, 76.2, 68.8, and 50.0%, respectively, for each cluster. The percentage of credibility intervals that contained the true values of gene expression for a future time was ~90%. The methodology performed well, providing a valid forecast of gene expression values by fitting an autoregressive panel data model. This approach is easily implemented with other time-series models and when Poisson and negative binomial probability distributions are assumed for the gene expression data. © FUNPEC-RP.152CAPES, Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorCNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico#APQ 00825, FAPEMIG, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas GeraisFUNARBE, Fundação Arthur BernardesCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Genetic evaluation of age at first calving for Guzerá beef cattle using linear, threshold, and survival Bayesian models

Age at first calving (AFC) is characterized as a censored trait due to missing values provided by recording mistakes and nonoccur-rence or delay in calving communication. In this context, we aimed to compare several statistical methods for genetic evaluation of AFC in Guzerá beef cattle under a Bayesian approach. Seven different methods were used for this purpose. The traditional linear mixed model (LM), which considers only uncensored records; the LM with simulated records (SM), which is based on data augmentation framework; the penalty method, in which a constant of 21 d was added to censored records; the bivariate threshold-linear method considering (TLcens) or not (TLmiss) censored information; and the piecewise Weibull proportional hazards model considering (PWPHcens) or not (PWPH) censored records. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.19 (TLcens) to 0.28 (SM) in non-survival approaches; and 0.40 and 0.46 to PWPH and PWPHcens methods, respectively. In general, breeding values correlations between different methods and the percentage of selected bulls in common indicated reranking, with these correlation ranging from -0.28 (between SM and PWPH) to 0.99 (between TLmiss and LM). The traditional LM, which considers only uncensored records, should be preferred due to its robustness and simplicity. Based on cross-validation analyses, we conclude that the TLmiss could be also a suitable alternative for breeding value prediction, and censored methods did not improve the analysis

Estimating additive and dominance variances for complex traits in pigs combining genomic and pedigree information

Knowledge of dominance effects should improve ge-netic evaluations, provide the accurate selection of purebred animals, and enable better breeding strategies, including the exploitation of het-erosis in crossbreeds. In this study, we combined genomic and pedi-gree data to study the relative importance of additive and dominance genetic variation in growth and carcass traits in an F2 pig population. Two GBLUP models were used, a model without a polygenic effect (ADM) and a model with a polygenic effect (ADMP). Additive effects played a greater role in the control of growth and carcass traits than did dominance effects. However, dominance effects were important for all traits, particularly in backfat thickness. The narrow-sense and broad-sense heritability estimates for growth (0.06 to 0.42, and 0.10 to 0.51, respectively) and carcass traits (0.07 to 0.37, and 0.10 to 0.76, respec-tively) exhibited a wide variation. The inclusion of a polygenic effect in the ADMP model changed the broad-sense heritability estimates only for birth weight and weight at 21 days of age

Impact of water matrix on the removal of micropollutants by advanced oxidation technologies

Micropollutants (MPs) in the aquatic compartments are originated from many sources and particularly from the effluents of urban wastewater treatment plants (UWWTPs). Advanced oxidation technologies (AOTs) usually applied after biological processes, have recently emerged as effective tertiary treatments for the removal of MPs, but the oxidation rates of the single compounds may be largely affected by the constituent species of the water matrix. These species include dissolved organic matter and inorganic species (e.g., carbonate, bicarbonate, nitrite, sulphate, chloride). This review analyses the impact of such substances on common AOTs including photolysis, UV/H2O2, Fenton, photocatalysis, and ozone-based processes. The degradation efficiency of single MPs by AOTs results from the combined impact of the water matrix constituents, which can have neutral, inhibiting or promoting effect, depending on the process and the mechanism by which these water components react. Organic species can be either inhibitors (by light attenuation; scavenging effects; or adsorption to catalyst) or promoters (by originating reactive oxygen species (ROS) which enhance indirect photolysis; or by regenerating the catalyst). Inorganic species can also be either inhibitors (by scavenging effects; formation of radicals less active than hydroxyl radicals; iron complexation; adsorption to catalyst or decrease of its effective surface area) or promoters (e.g., nitrate ions by formation of ROS; iron ions as additional source of catalyst). The available data reviewed here is limited and the role and mechanisms of individual water components are still not completely understood. Further studies are needed to elucidate the wide spectrum of reactions occurring in complex wastewaters and to increase the adoption of AOTs in UWWTPs

Prevalence Of Obesity And The Body Fat Topography In Children And Teenagers With Down Syndrome

Objective: to evaluate the prevalence of obesity and the body fat topography in children and adolescents from both sexes aged 6 to 19 years old with Down syndrome, residents in the city of Campinas, São Paulo. Methods: there were nine anthropometric measurements taken, including weight, height, and tricipital, bicipital, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal, thigh, and calf skin folds. The fat percentage was determined by employing the prediction equations from Slaughter et al. Statistical analysis was performed using the computer package R Commander 1.6-3, with the descriptive statistics (median and 25th and 75th percentiles), the Mann-Whitney test, and the t-test for comparison between age groups, at the 5% (p > 0.05) level. Results: most subjects had excess body fat, with the higher values being found among the females. The obesity was not a prominent characteristic among the boys, unlike the other age groups who had manifestations of elevated obesity. Regarding the body fat topography, most showed higher concentration of fat in the thigh, and smaller deposits in the biceps region. In the transition from childhood to adolescence, it was verifiable that boys and young men differ in the amounts of adipose tissue. However, no significant differences were observed among the girls, and the young women. Conclusion: the assessment of the prevalence of obesity and subcutaneous fat topography are important resources to support researchers, and practitioners who work directly on improving the quality of life of children and adolescents with Down syndrome.2316570Speiser, P.W., Rudolf, M.C.J., Anhalt, H., Camacho-Hubner, C., Chiarelli, F., Eliakim, A., Consensus statement: childhood obesity (2005) J Clin Endocrinol Metab., 90 (3), pp. 1871-1887Reilly, J.J., Methven, E., Mcdowell, Z.C., Hacking, B., Alexander, D., Stewart, D., Health consequences of obesity (2003) Arch Dis Child., 88 (9), pp. 748-752Grundy, S.M., Benjamin, I.J., Burke, G.L., Chait, A., Eckel, R.H., Howard, B.V., Diabetes and cardiovascular disease: a statement for healthcare professionals from the American Heart Association (1999) Circulation., 100 (10), pp. 1134-1146Obesity: preventing and managing the global epidemic (2000) Geneva: Report on a WHO Consultation on Obesity, , World Health OrganizationGonzález-Agüero, A., Ara, I., Moreno, L.A., Vicente-Rodríguez, G., Casajús, J.A., Fat and lean masses in youths with Down syndrome: Gender differences (2011) Res Dev Disabil., 32 (5), pp. 1685-1693González-Agüero, A., Vicente-Rodriguez, G., Moreno, L.A., Casajús, J.A., Dimorfismo sexual en grasa corporal en adolescentes com síndrome de Down (2010) Rev Esp Obes., 8 (1), pp. 28-33Slaughter, M.H., Lohman, T.G., Boileau, R.A., Horswill, C.A., Stillman, R.J., Van Loan, M.D., Skinfold equations for estimation of body fatness in children and youth (1988) Hum Biol., 60 (5), pp. 709-723Guedes, D.P., Guedes, J.E.R.P., Crescimento, composição corporal e desempenho motor em crianças e adolescentes (1997) São Paulo: CLR BalieiroGonzález-Agüero, A., Vicente-Rodríguez, G., Ara, I., Moreno, L.A., Casajús, J.A., Accuracy of prediction equations to assess percentage of body fat in children and adolescents with Down syndrome compared to air displacement plethysmography (2011) Res Dev Disabil., 32 (5), pp. 1764-1769Queiroga, M.B., Utilização de medidas antropométricas para a determinação da distribuição de gordura corporal (1998) Atividade física & saúde., 3 (1), pp. 37-47Guedes, D.P., Guedes, J.E.R.P., Manual prático para avaliação em educação física (2006) Barueri: ManoleMalina, R.M., Bouchard, C., Bar-Or, O., Growth, Maturation, and Physical Activity (2004) Champaign, IL: Human KineticsGuedes, D.P., Guedes, J.E.R.P., Controle do peso corporal: composição corporal, atividade física e nutrição (2003) Rio de Janeiro: ShapeDwyer, T., Blizzard, C.L., Defining obesity in children by biological endpoint rather than population distribution (1996) Int J Obes Relat Metab Disordv., 20 (5), pp. 472-480Cooke, P.S., Heine, P.A., Taylor, J.A., Lubahn, D.B., The role of estrogen and receptor-alpha in male adipose tissue (2001) Mol Cell Endocrinol., 178 (1-2), pp. 147-154Ferrara, M., Capozzi, L., Russo, R., Impact of er gene polymorphisms on overweight and obesity in Down syndrome (2008) Cent Eur J Med., 3 (3), pp. 271-278Marreiro, D.N., De Sousa, A.F., Nogueira, N.N., Oliveira, F.E., Effect of zinc supplementation on thyroid hormone metabolism of adolescents with Down syndrome (2009) Biol Trace Elem Res., 129 (1-3), pp. 20-27Ordóñez-Munoz, F.J., Rosety, M., Rodriguez, M.R., Influence of 12-week exercise training on fat mass percentage in adolescents with Down syndrome (2006) Med Sci Monit., 12 (10), pp. 416-419Guedes, D.P., Guedes, J.E.R.P., Prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade em crianças e adolescentes do município de Londrina (PR), Brasil (1998) Motriz., 4 (1), pp. 18-25Costa, L.T., Alternativa metodológica para mensurar a maturação somática em crianças e adolescentes com síndrome de Down. (Dissertação) (2011) Campinas: Faculdade de Educação Física da Universidade Estadual de CampinasVelásquez-Meléndez, G., Silveira, E.A., Allencastro-Souza, P., Kac, G., Relationship between sittingheight-to-stature ratio and adiposity in Brazilian women (2005) Am J Hum Biol., 17 (5), pp. 646-653Tannirandorn, Y., Manotaya, S., Uerpairojkit, B., Tanawattanacharoen, S., Wacharaprechanont, T., Charoenvidhya, D., Evaluation of fetal femur length to detect Down syndrome in a Thai population (2001) Int J Gynaecol Obstet., 73 (2), pp. 117-123Despres, J.P., Moorjani, S., Lupien, P.J., Tremblay, A., Nadeau, A., Bouchard, C., Regional fat distribuition of body fat, plasma lipoproteins, and cardiovascular disease (1990) Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol., 10, pp. 497-511Dietz, W.H., Critical periods in childhood obesity (1994) Am J Clin Nutr., 59 (5), pp. 955-959Rogers, P.T., Coleman, M., Buckley, S., Medical care in Down syndrome -A Preventive medicine approach (1992) Pediatric Habilation: Marcel Dekke