A Statistic Method for Anatomical and Evolutionary Analysis

Rules, formulas, and statistical tests have been widely used in studies that analyze continuous variables with the normal (Gaussian) distribution or defined parameters. Nevertheless, in some studies such as those in gross anatomy, only statistics with discrete or nominal variables are available. In fact, the existence or absence of an anatomical structure, its features and internal aspects, innervation, arterial and vein supplies, etc. can be analyzed as discrete and/or nominal variables. However, there have been no adequate methods, which allow transformation of data with qualitative/nominal variables in gross anatomy to those with quantitative variables. To resolve the issue, we have purposed a new method that allows, in order, descriptions based on numerical analyses, the statistical method for comparative anatomy (SMCA), and proposed the formula for comparison of groups of anatomical structures among different species that allows to infer evolutionary perspective. The important features of this method are as follows: (1) to allow to analyze numerical data, which are converted from discrete or nominal variables in morphological areas and (2) to quantitatively compare identical structures within the same species and across different species. The SMCA fills the lack of a specific method for statistical works in comparative anatomy, morphology, in general, and evolutional correlations

The Construction of the Tower of Pisa as a Basis for Problem-Solving in the Exact Sciences and the Use of Interdisciplinarity in Teaching

Background: Learning in exact sciences is a common problem for education in all countries. New education technologies are proposed to solve these situations, and using real problems in teaching is suggested. Objectives: This article associates Pólya’s problem-solving method with the real problems in the construction of the Tower of Pisa. Design: In this work, we propose a multidisciplinary approach to the history of the construction of the Tower of Pisa, related to the social, historical, geological, and mainly physics and engineering problems shown in this work. Setting and participants: The authors were responsible for elaborating and solving the proposed problems.   Data collection and analysis: The data used come from the history of the Leaning Tower of Pisa as a pedagogical basis for teaching, especially in the exact sciences. Results: Many problems and resolutions via Pólya’s problem-solving method were performed to show teaching possibilities to teachers and students. Conclusions: The Tower of Pisa theme can be used to implement new education technologies, such as modelling, problem-solving, and real-life problems, as it enriches school culture and attracts an inter-and multidisciplinary character to teaching, as shown through the proposed teaching in exact sciences examples

Validation of a spectrophotometric method to determine ciprofibrate content in tablets

Ciprofibrate is a drug indicated in cases of hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, but no monographs are available in official compendia for the analysis of this substance in tablets. The objective of this work was to develop and validate a spectrophotometric method for routine analysis of ciprofibrate in tablets. In this study, commercial and standard ciprofibrate were used, as well as placebo in absolute ethanol, analyzed by UV spectrophotometer. All tests followed the rules of Resolution RE-899, 2003. The results showed that the developed and validated method offers low cost, easy implementation, precision and accuracy, and may be included in the routine of quality control laboratories.O ciprofibrato é um fármaco indicado em casos de hipertrigliceridemia e hiperlipidemia mista, mas não há monografias em compêndios oficiais para a análise desta substância em comprimidos. O objetivo deste trabalho é desenvolver e validar um método espectrofotométrico para análise de rotina de ciprofibrato em comprimidos. Neste estudo foram empregados ciprofibrato comercial, padrão e placebo em etanol absoluto, analisadas por espectrofotometria UV. Todos os testes seguiram as regras da Resolução RE- 899, 2003. Os resultados mostraram que o método desenvolvido e validado apresenta baixo custo, fácil implementação, precisão e exatidão e pode ser incluído em rotina de laboratórios de controle de qualidade

Anatomia comparativa dos nervos da pelve de macacos-prego (Sapajus sp)

Bearded capuchins (Sapajus sp), unexpectedly, share with chimpanzees behavioral features such as high cognitive ability, good memory, tool use with intermittent bipedalism, and social tolerance; although its anatomy is still little studied. To test the hypothesis that bearded capuchins might share similar anatomical features with chimpanzees, we investigated the pelvic nerves of the bearded capuchin and compared them with the data in the previous literature for modern humans, chimpanzee, and baboons in terms of origin, trajectory and innervated structures, when the data are available. Variation is very common in the primates because of, inter alia, 1) the problem of the anatomical position, i.e., some primatologists used the human anatomical position to describe those in non-human primates, while others used the non-human anatomical position, and the definition of anatomical position (human or non-human position) is not clear; 2) the lateralized and semi-bend pelvis limbs in non-humans primates compared with modern humans; 3) the absence of the some muscles (e.g., scansorius and ilioschiofemoralis) in modern humans in the thigh; and 4) the difference in the numbers of vertebrae among the authors, even in the same species, such as chimpanzees and bearded capuchins.Macacos-prego (Sapajus sp), inesperadamente, compartilham com chimpanzés comportamentos como alta cognição e memória, uso de ferramentas com o bipedalismo intermitente, tolerância social. No entanto, sua anatomia ainda é pouco estudada. Para verificar a hipótese com qual espécie e/ou grupo de primatas os macacos-prego compartilham mais características, o objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os nervos pélvicos do Sapajus e compará-los com dados da literatura anatômica sobre os seres humanos, chimpanzés e babuínos, considerando aspectos como origem, trajetória e estruturas inervadas. Foi observado que existem grandes variações nos nervos pélvicos entre os primatas estudados aqui, quais sejam, 1) o problema da posição anatômica, i.e., alguns primatologistas consideram a posição anatômica humana para os primatas, outros consideram a posição anatômica animal, e a opção por um ou outro não é clara nos textos; 2) o problema dos membros pélvicos em primatas não humanos serem lateralizados e semi-fletidos em relação aos seres humanos modernos; 3) o problema da ausência, nos seres humanos modernos, de alguns músculos da coxa em relação aos outros primatas como o escansório e o iliosquiofemoral; e 4] o problema da diferença do número de vértebras nos primatas estudados aqui, inclusive com diferenças para a mesma espécie citadas por diferentes autores tanto para chimpanzés como para macacos-prego

Estudo anatômico comparativo dos nervos da perna de Cebus (macaco-prego) com babuínos, chimpanzés e humanos modernos

Os estudos anatômicos comparativos entre os primatas são importantes para pesquisas associadas com a etologia, evolução, taxonomia e compreensão dos usos de ferramentas pelos hominídeos. Especificamente, o conhecimento anatômico sobre Cebus contribui para sua própria conservação e para o desenvolvimento de procedimentos cirúrgicos e tratamentos clínicos destes animais, pois são frequentemente vítimas de acidentes automobilísticos. Recentemente, estudos sobre características comportamentais de Cebus indicaram conclusões erradas sobre sua anatomia, o que pode ser atribuído aos poucos dados disponíveis sobre a anatomia desses animais na literatura especializada. Portanto, para fornecer dados anatômicos e fornecer suporte para as outras ciências relacionadas com a anatomia e também desenvolver procedimentos cirúrgicos e/ou clínicos, foram descritos os nervos das pernas de Cebus com enfoque sobre a posição, a trajetória e os músculos inervados, e comparar esses resultados com os dos humanos modernos e outros primatas. Oito espécimes adultos de macacos-prego foram usados para este estudo. O estudo anatômico comparativo dos nervos da perna de Cebus demonstrou que, em geral, a organização estrutural dos nervos é semelhante entre os quatro primatas aqui analisados (Cebus, chimpanzés, babuínos e humanos modernos), o que pode ser atribuído ao fato de que os quatro primatas terem estruturas corporais semelhantes. No entanto, a trajetória dos nervos e a inervação dos músculos em Cebus o aproximam dos babuínos.The anatomical comparative studies among the primates are important for the investigation of ethology, evolution, taxonomy, and comprehension of tools by hominoids. Especially the anatomical knowledge of Cebus contributes to conservation of the species, and to development of surgical procedures and clinical treatments of these animals, as they frequently are victims of automobile accidents. Recent anatomical studies came to a wrong conclusion regarding behavioral traits of Cebus, ascribed to few data available in previous literature. Therefore, to provide anatomical data and to support the other sciences related to anatomy, and to develop surgical and/or clinical procedures, we described the nerves of the legs of Cebus foccusing on their position and trajectory, as wll as innerved muscles, and compared these results with those of humans and other primates. Eight adult capuchin specimens were used for this study. The anatomical comparative study of the leg's nerves of Cebus demonstrated that, in general, structural organization of the nerves is similar among the four primates analyzed here (Cebus, chimpanzees, baboons and humans), which might be attributed to the fact that the all four primates have similar body structures. However, nerve trajectory and muscles innervation in Cebus was more similar to baboons

Morphometric and statistical analysis of the palmaris longus muscle in human and non-human primates

The palmaris longus is considered a phylogenetic degenerate metacarpophalangeal joint flexor muscle in humans, a small vestigial forearm muscle; it is the most variable muscle in humans, showing variation in position, duplication, slips and could be reverted. It is frequently studied in papers about human anatomical variations in cadavers and in vivo, its variation has importance in medical clinic, surgery, radiological analysis, in studies about high-performance athletes, in genetics and anthropologic studies.Most studies about palmaris longus in humans are associated to frequency or case studies, but comparative anatomy in primates and comparative morphometry were not found in scientific literature. Comparative anatomy associated to morphometry of palmaris longus could explain the degeneration observed in this muscle in two of three of the great apes. Hypothetically, the comparison of the relative length of tendons and belly could indicate the pathway of the degeneration of this muscle, that is, the degeneration could be associated to increased tendon length and decreased belly from more primitive primates to those most derivate, that is, great apes to modern humans. In conclusion, in primates, the tendon of the palmaris longus increase fromLemuriformes tomodern humans, that is, from arboreal to terrestrial primates and the muscle became weaker and tending to be missing