Effects of Clustering Herds with Small-Sized Contemporary Groups in Dairy Cattle Genetic Evaluations

Most test-day models used in genetic evaluations of dairy cattle define contemporary groups (CG) as the herd-test-date effect. Fitting this effect as fixed may minimize prediction bias, but requires a minimum number of observations per CG to simultaneously maximize the effective number of observations and minimize the residual error and prediction error variance. Nearly 4 million test-day records from the Portuguese Holstein database of 238,271 cows calving in 1,330 herds from 1994 through 2006 were used to evaluate the effect of clustering CG from small herds based on the similarity of their production environments. Principal component analysis was used to summarize 14 descriptive variables in 5 eigenvectors that explained 88% of the total variation. Based on the distance matrix, 2 different approaches were applied to group the herds. For each approach, 4 data sets were built having at least 3, 5, 10, or 15 observations per CG, respectively. For the data sets of group A, all herds, with or without the required number of observations per CG, were used in the clustering process. For the data sets of group B, only herds without the minimum number of observations were candidates to form clusters. All data sets were analyzed by an autoregressive test-day animal model fitting a fixed herd test date in a multiple-lactation setting, and results were compared with the current clustering procedure used in the Portuguese genetic evaluations. The data set from group B, with a minimum of 3 records per CG, was the one that provided the highest accuracy of prediction and the smaller within-CG variance, revealing a better fit for the data. This procedure also preserved the original herd structure of the database, better maximizing the number of herd groups. Correlations among EBV, rank, prediction error variance, and accuracies of prediction for this data set were high (0.97, 0.97, 0.85, and 0.82, respectively), suggesting that no major reranking is to be expected

Influence of Listeria innocua on the growth of Listeria monocytogenes

The growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Listeria innocua strains was monitored during this study: (i) in TSB–YE media and (ii) in a food matrix (pasteurized milk) according to the ISO 11290-1 methodology. Different inocula concentrations and mixtures were tested. The response was shown to be strain dependent. In TSB–YE the inhibition of a L. monocytogenes strain was observed in just one of the three mixtures (L. monocytogenes_1340 with L. innocua_11288) showing a reduction of 1.37 log cfu/ml after 42.5 h and 1.85 log after 66.5 h of incubation. In pasteurized milk the inhibition of L. monocytogenes by L. innocua was always observed when L. innocua was present in higher concentrations than L. monocytogenes. The reverse was also observed but only in one mixture (cocktail of six L. monocytogenes with L. innocua_ 2030c) when the initial concentration of L. monocytogenes was 100 times higher than L. innocua suggesting the phenomenon of quorum sensing. Furthermore, inhibitory activity was not caused by bacteriocins, and no correlation between the growth rate and inhibition was demonstrated.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Board performance in strategic monitoring: Evidence from Portugal

Despite the growing interest in the performance of boards of directors, most studies in the field concentrate on board structure instead of the ways they actually work. Few studies have shed light on how the work practices of boards may influence their performance on strategic tasks. In particular, no studies have analysed the Portuguese context in this regard. This paper analyses the influence of non-structural factors that may affect the effectiveness of Portuguese boards in the task of strategic monitoring. To do so, a replication study was conducted with basis on the model developed by Amaral-Baptista (2013) in the context of Brazilian firms. To test the model in the Portuguese empirical setting, a survey with 105 non-executive directors of Portuguese companies was conducted in 2014. The results showed that 67% of the variance observed in Board Effectiveness in Strategic Monitoring was explained by the antecedents Chairperson Leadership, Attention to Strategic Monitoring and Work Dynamics. Although Access to Information had a significant and positive influence on Business Knowledge, the effects of these factors on Board Effectiveness in Strategic Monitoring were not confirmed. These findings were generally consistent with the results of Amaral-Baptista (2013). The study is concluded with implications for management practice and future studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

DDIT3, STT3A (ITM1), ARG2 and FAM129A (Niban, C1orf24) in diagnosing thyroid carcinoma: variables that may affect the performance of this antibody-based test and promise

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol & Genet, Lab Base Genet Turmores Tiroide, BR-04039032 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Morphol & Genet, Lab Base Genet Turmores Tiroide, BR-04039032 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

The Psychometric Properties of the Scale of Body Connection (SBC) in a Portuguese Sample

Aim: The Scale of Body Connection (SBC) is a measure aimed at examining body awareness (BA), specifically awareness of inner body sensations, and bodily dissociation (BD), or the sense of separation from the body. The aim of this study was to develop a Portuguese version of the SBC. Method: An online survey was completed by 445 women, with an average age of 30.47 (SD = 9.87), and 464 men, with an average age of 37.54 (SD = 12.34). Ages ranged from 18 to 72 years old. Results: Results showed Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of .86 for BA and .73 for BD. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed reasonable goodness-of-fit indices (χ2/df = 9.0; GFI = .84; NFI = .72; CFI = .74; PGFI = .68; PCFI = .66; RMSEA = .09). Conclusion: Positive correlations between the SBC factor scores and the scores of the General Body Dissatisfaction Scale and the Cognitive Distraction Scale confirmed convergent validity. These findings support the reliability and validity of the SBC in a Portuguese sample

Intravitreal ranibizumab for myopic choroidal neovascularization: 12-month results

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravitreal ranibizumab after 12 months in the treatment of choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia. METHODS: This was a prospective, multicenter, consecutive, nonrandomized, interventional case series. The study included 34 eyes of 32 patients with choroidal neovascularization secondary to pathologic myopia; 13 eyes had previous photodynamic therapy, and 21 eyes had no previous treatment. The patients were followed for > or = 12 months. Best-corrected visual acuity, optical coherence tomography, and the presence of metamorphopsia were assessed monthly. RESULTS: Mean visual acuity improved 8 letters from baseline to 12-month follow-up, and the difference was statistically significant (P or = 3 lines, 44% improved > or = 2 lines, 65% improved > or = 1 line, and 79% improved > or = 0 lines. Central retinal thickness decreased significantly from baseline to the 12-month follow-up (P < 0.01). A mean of 3.6 treatments were performed during the 12-month follow-up, and no systemic or ocular side effects were registered during that time. CONCLUSION: One-year results of intravitreal ranibizumab for myopic choroidal neovascularization are very promising. Additional prospective studies are necessary to better determine long-term efficacy and safety

Canine parvovirus 2c infection in central Portugal

Canine parvovirus (CPV) has been evolving, generating new genetic and antigenic variants throughout the world. This Study was conducted to determine the types of CPV circulating in dogs in Figueira da Foz, Portugal. Thirty fecal samples, collected between 2006 and 2007 from dogs with clinical signs of CPV infection, were tested for CPV by a rapid, in-clinic, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)/immunomigration test, by conventional real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and by minor-groove binding TaqMan PCR. Of the 29 PCR-positive samples, 15 were identified as CPV-2b and 14 as CPV-2c. No CPV-2a was detected. The sensitivity of the ELISA test was 82.76% compared with the PCR assays. No significant associations were found between CPV type, clinical outcome, breed, vaccination status, or age