Interação sexual: perspectiva etológica do dimorfismo sexual humano

A interação sexual no sentido de ação conjunta ou recíproca supõe a existência de parceiros dimorficamente caracterizados a partir da estrutura cromossomial X-X ou X-Y. A diferenciação do sexo, entretanto, não depende apenas da condição cromossomial, podendo mesmo ser invertida quando a ação hormonal for alterada. Os dados disponíveis apontam os andrógenos como um dos principais agentes de diferenciação, afetando o organismo "básico" feminino num sentido masculinizante. A medida que se progride na escala animal, contudo, os aspectos estritamente biológicos perdem em importância e as condições ambientais aos poucos se impõem . Nos primatas superiores, caso não se estabeleçam condições adequadas de aprendizagem, o desenvolvimento sexual não se completa e a cópula se torna inviável. No ser humano, além dessa aprendizagem, fatores socio-culturais respondem pelo comportamento considerado masculino ou feminino que supostamente será exibido por cada parceiro da interação. Também as noções de estética são seriamente determinadas pela tradição cultural, com cada povo tendendo a valorizar os próprios traços raciais como ideal de beleza. Do ponto de vista físico, entretanto, pode-se tentar estabelecer algumas constantes, como as formas arredondadas para a mulher e o porte atl6tico ou capacidades gerais , para o homem. Uma vez estabelecida a atração e encontrado local e momento adequado, a interação sexual tende a uma progressiva intensificação e genitalização, que, nas sociedades de tradição judaico-cristã se reflete numa sequência, mais ou menos previsível, envolvendo carícias gerais, beijos, acariciamento de seios e genitais até a união genito-genital o significado e a forma como cada cultura desenvolve os contatos físicos de intercambio erógeno revelam tão grande variedade que já se apontou essa polimorfismo corno aquisição típica do ser humano. Assim, ao contrário do que faz supor o ideal de abstinência, é na capacidade de buscar e estender o prazer além da s1mples atividade orgânico-sexual que o homem, em sexo, se liberta da limitação animal.

Quinze anos de ação comunitária: uma análise descritiva de uma prática educacional

Este estudo aborda a Ação Comunitária, forma de intervenção educacional em populações carentes, no período de 1950 a 1975. Avalia esta ação, baseando no binômio "Dependência-independência" , partindo do pressuposto que a Ação Comunitária, Dor definição, deve levar as populações-alvo à urna postura de independência para tornarem-se interdependentes na consecução do objetivo do desenvolvimento. o objeto principal do estudo é a evolução histórica de urna instituição particular, a FASE, comparada com outras instituições públicas e privadas, que atuaram nas comunidades ditas marginalizadas, na época analisada. Analisam-se as redefinições de objetivos da instituição e, posteriormente, reformulações das estratégias pedagógicas, usadas no decorrer destes anos, Dara definir três tipos básicos de intervenção: 1. O assistencialismo que, sem usar metodologia específica, atende as comunidades nas suas supostas necessidades, numa postura anti-pedagógica, porque aumenta com isso os laços de dependência da comunidade em relação à instituição interveniente. 2. O DC (desenvolvimento comunitário), metodologia propagada 4 nela 0NU na década de 60, baseada ora em técnicas de planejamento, ora em teorias sociais, e que pretende obter maior participação da comunidade na definição e implementação do seu auto desenvolvimento . Conclui-se que a experiência do De no Brasil, em geral falhou, não tanto por falta de continuidade, mas mais por conjunturas políticosociais adversas, falta de planeiamento global e superficialidade na condu~ão do processo, ficando o DC limitado à Or~ani ? ação da Comunidad e e algumas melhoria s de infra- estrutura hásica, obtidas através de estratéqias de auto-ajuda e mutirãô, sem nun ca atingir os problemas estruturais, causas da mar ginalizacão e da dependência. 3. A Educação oara o Desenvolvimento , ornoosta na d! cada de 70 7 ~ue se limitou em primeira instância a UM mera nualificação do capital humano , e, na medida no avanço da abertura oolítica, se redifi niu numa nedaqoqia de conscientização e oarticipa cao. Enquant~ a ~rimeira estratéqia educacional transfere a dependência do indivíduo ao ânbito do sistema capitalista, a segunda esbarra contra os nro~lemas estruturais s6cio-econômicos de um nais eM fase de caritalismo denendente. Conclui-se que a Acão Comunitária, nara alcancar seu objetivo que é a independência dos ind ivíduos e rlas comunidades, marginalizadas, nara tornarem-se narceiras i 9uais particioativos no orocesso de desenvolvimento nacionaL depende, basicamente , da conjuntura nolítica e das estruturas econômico- sociais do pais.

The impact of the 2008 economic recession on three residential property type investments: a case study of five diverse zip codes in Washington DC, USA

There has been 47 recessions in the United States of America (US) since 1790. US recessions have increasingly affected economies of other countries in the world as nations become more and more interdependent on each other. The worst economic recession so far was the “Great Depression” – an economic recession that was caused by the 1929 crash of the stock market in the US. The 2008 economic recession in the US was a result of the burst of the “housing bubble” created by predatory lending. The economic recession resulted in increased unemployment (according to NBER 8.7 million jobs were lost from Feb. 2008 to Feb. 2010); decrease in GDP by 5.1%; increase in poverty level from 12.1% (2007) to 16.0% (2008) (NBER) This dissertation is an attempt to research the impact of the 2008 economic recession on different types of residential investments: a case study of five (5) diverse neighborhoods/zip codes in Washington DC, USA The main findings were that the effect of the 2008 economic depression on the different types of residential properties was dependent on the location of the property and the demographics/socio-economic factors associated with that location.

Apitidão funcional e comportamentos relacionados à saúde em mulheres idosas do município de Jequié-BA

The identification of the factors that interfere in the decline of functional conditions is useful in the planning of actions addressing the improvement in the conditions of the lives of elderly people. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the relationship between social demographics and health aspects of the functional condition in elderly women of low income of the Brazilian northeast. This crosssectional study involved a representative sample of 222 women with an average age of 70 years (± 7.1), belonging to coexisting groups and that were resident in the urban area of the municipal district of Jequié /Bahia. In order to achieve this objective, a battery of physical tests of functional aptitude was carried out previously tested in pilot study, anthropometric measurements collected with a comparison of the measures referred to the reported weight and height as well as the application of an interview with questions containing subjects related to social demographic variables, clinical conditions and health, physical conditions and behaviors. Descriptive statistics Proceedings (frequency, average, standard deviation and percent distribution) were used for statistic analysis, and the calculation of the respective odds ratio by binary logistics regression, for the analysis of factors hierarchically grouped; p<0.05. The prevalence of 56% (n=122) of women considered with moderated or serious type of functional limitations was found, In which from multi-varied hierarchical analysis, significant association was verified with the age group over 80 years (p=0.02), conditions of widowhood (p=0.04), presence of arterial hypertension (p=0.001), and physical inactivity during leisure time (p=0.03). On the other hand for functional incapacities the prevalence was of 46.8% (n=104) being associated to the increase of the age (p=0.01), hospitalization (p=0.02), absence of physical activities along their lives (p=0.001) and the occurrence of alterations in the cognitive function (p=0.001). The normative table for the parameters of physical fitness generated conducive to health professionals in the diagnosis of health conditions and the prescription of physical exercises. The identified characteristics that are associated with the functional limitations / functional incapacities suggest a complex causal net in the determination of the functional condition in elderly women. However, actions addressed to the incentive of the practice of physical activities in the leisure time and the preservation of the cognitive function can contribute to a life with more quality for these people. This research was multidisciplinary approach to involve elements of psychology, nutrition and Physical Education in the elucidation of the object of study related to the functional condition of elderly women

Distribuição espacial, formação de grupos, uso do hábitat e ecologia comportamental de jovens de tubarão limão, negaprion brevirostris (poey 1868), no arquipélago de fernando de noronha

Lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, are common in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, but detailed information about the species in this site is lacking. The aim of this study was to describe the spatial distribution, grouping behavior, habitat use and behavioral ecology of juvenile lemon sharks in the archipelago, and their interaction with some environmental and ecological factors. During 2006 and 2007, the presence and spatial distribution of juvenile sharks were quantified through scuba diving and snorkeling at several sites of the archipelago. In 2008 the habitat use of juvenile sharks was quantified through visual census while snorkeling along 300 x 8 m strip transects. During these transects the grouping behavior of lemon sharks was quantified by ad libitum. Results indicate that Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is used as a nursery area for lemon sharks, and the parturition occurs from November to April. Juveniles preferred using shallower areas available by the tide variation and formed groups only in the presence of adult conspecifics. This preference for shallower habitats and the group behavior probably are anti-predatory tactics used by juvenile lemon sharks, in response to the low availability of shelter and high predation risk of the studied areas. Quantifications of prey availability and predation risk of juveniles showed that, in general, lemon sharks are trading-off food by security and investing in sites with higher possibility of energetic return. Behavioral observations enabled to record juvenile carangid fishes following juvenile lemon sharks, remora host-parasite and juvenile sharks foraging on schools of herrings and octopuses. We also recorded the behavior of juvenile sharks following conspecifics of similar size, circling with two or three individuals and smaller individuals giving way to larger juveniles. When adults are present, juvenile lemon sharks are more social than solitary, indicating that predation is one of the factors that contribute to social behaviors of the species. Results also suggest that when grouped the juveniles have a hierarchical organization according to body size. Furthermore, observation of large adult females with several fresh mating bites and scars in the same habitats used by juvenile lemon sharks, indicates that Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is used as nursery and mating grounds by this species

Dieta e compotamento de forrageio de duas espécies de Tropidurus (Squamata,Tropiduridae) em uma área de Caatinga do Nordeste do Brasil

Tropidurus semitaeniatus and Tropidurus hispidus are lizard species that are widely distributed in Brazil. The former is endemic to the Caatingas, where they live in syntopy with the latter, which is distributed in other ecosystems and biomes. In this work, diet was evaluated including seasonal variations as well as foraging behavior, to determine the importance of these factors in the structure of these populations and the coexistence of these species in syntopy. No significant difference was found in diet composition between the two species, although T. hispidus feed on larger preys than do T. semitaeniatus; this fact, along with the different foraging behavior in the rainy season, are ecological factors that contribute to the syntopic coexistence of these species in the Caatinga area studied

O efeito inimigo íntimo é aplicável a Dinoponera quadríceps (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)?

Food access, territory or reproductive partner can generate conflicts between individuals in many species with occurrence of aggressive behaviors. However some species respond less aggressively to intrusion by neighbors than non-neighbors in its territory to minimize the costs of continuous fight. This difference in aggression is called Dear Enemy Effect described in various vertebrates and invertebrates. To investigate if this phenomenon occurs in Dinoponera quadriceps (Hymenopetra, Formicidae) three colonies, two neighbors and one non-neighbor, were captured in its natural environment then transfered to the laboratory where we did experimental confrontation intra and inter colonies involving one pair of workers. We compared the behavioral frequency exhibited by each worker, the intensity and duration of the confrontation between a neighbor and a non-neighbor referring the place where they were collected. Our results revealed that Dear Enemy Effect does not apply to D. quadriceps due aggressive response is more intense and longest toward neighbor than non-neighbor, probably due intra specific competition, ecological factors and characteristic of the species

Comportamento social de botos-cinza, sotalia guianensis, na praia de Pipa, RN, Brasil: dinâmica, sequência, sincronia e respostas ao turismo de observação

Social behavior of Guiana dolphins, Sotalia guianensis, at Pipa Beach, RN, Brazil: dynamics, sequence, breathing synchrony, and responses to dolphin watching. Social animals form groups that can range from temporary to permanent. Depending on the nature of the social relationships developed between individuals, groups present a particular social organization and the effect of these interactions shapes the activity patterns of these animals. This study investigates: (i) fission-fusion dynamics of Guiana dolphins, through the analysis of three dimensions of the social system (variation in spatial cohesion, variation in size and composition of groups), (ii) sequence, routine and behavioral stability, (iii) breathing intervals in synchronized groups and (iv) behavioral responses of the animals to dolphin watching. Systematic observations of Guiana dolphins were made from a platform located in cliffs about 25 m above sea level that surround Madeiro Bay, Pipa Beach. Sampling occurred from December 2007 to February 2009 between 0600 h and 1600 h, and the groups of Guiana dolphins were investigated according to their size (alone and group) and composition (adults, adults and juveniles, and adults and calves). According to the analysis of fission-fusion dynamics, Guiana dolphin groups frequently changed their composition, modifying their patterns of spatial grouping and cohesion every 20 minutes on average. More than 50% of the individuals maintained a distance of up to 2 m from other group members and new individuals were attracted to the group, especially during feeding, leaving it for foraging. Large groups were more unstable than small, while groups containing only adults were more stable than groups of adults and juveniles. According to the Z-score analysis to investigate the sequence and behavioral routine, lone individuals were more ! .7! ! involved in foraging and feeding, while resting was more common in groups. Foraging and feeding were more common in homogeneous groups (individuals of the same age class), while heterogeneous groups (different age classes) were often involved in socialization, displaying a broader behavioral repertoire. Foraging and resting behavior presented higher stability (continuous duration in minutes) than the other behaviors. The analysis of breathing intervals in synchronized groups showed significant differences depending on type of behavior, composition and area preference. During resting, breathing intervals were of longer duration, and groups with calves showed shorter breathing intervals than groups without calves. Lone individuals also preferred areas called corral , often used for the entrapment of fishes. The Markov chain analysis revealed behavioral changes in the presence of boats, according to the type of group composition. Groups composed of adults presented decreased resting and increased in traveling during the presence of boats. Groups of adults and juveniles showed a massive reduction of socialization, while the behavior transition probability traveling-traveling was higher in groups of adults and calves. In the presence of the boats, stability of resting was reduced by one third of its original duration and traveling more than doubled. The behavioral patterns analyzed are discussed in light of socio-ecological models concerning costs and benefits of proximity between individuals and behavioral optimization. Furthermore, significant changes in behavioral patterns indicate that Guiana dolphins, at Pipa Beach, have suffered the effects of tourism as a result of violation of rules of conduct established for the study area

Distribution of paracoccidioidomycosis: determination of ecologic correlates through spatial analyses

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is endemic in Latin America and in countries like Brazil it carries a high mortality rate. The fungus' habitat has not been precisely determined. The present study aims to identify ecologic correlates based on PCM distribution in a hyper-endemic area in southeastern Brazil. The Geographic Information System (GIS) and spatial statistics were used to associate environmental attributes, human population density and, PCM distribution. By means of the Pearson r correlation coefficient, the highest statistically significant associations with prevalence density were the percent area (by county) of: basaltic rocks (r = 0.63; P < 0.0001), Podzolic soils (r = - 0.48; P < 0.001), Latosol soils (r = 0.40; P < 0.01), mean annual precipitation between 1500 and 1600 mm (r = 0.46; P < 0.001) and, mean precipitation during the wet season between 940 and 1040 mm (r = - 0.44; P < 0.01). Soil texture and precipitation analyzed together reached r = 0.61 (P < 0.000002) for fine-textured soils with annual precipitation above 1400 mm. Environmental correlates indicate that moisture availability plays an important role in PCM distribution.

Distribuição socioespacial dos fatores dinâmicos da população na Região Metropolitana de Natal

The Metropolitan Region of Natal, like other metropolitan regions in Brazil, was marked by intense and rapid urbanization of the country occurred only in the second half of the twentieth century, coinciding with the process of consolidation of the industry in the country, resulting in serious urban social problems, such as the increase in slums, lack of infrastructure and this increase in violence in urban centers. When enters the reality of the metropolitan region, assessing the impacts of restructuring productive in the context of globalization, analyzing how the socio-economic factors influencing the dynamic of the population, whose configuration was shown to be contradictory according to social class busy. Accordingly, we studied the demographic configuration of the Metropolitan Region of Natal, analyzing their spatial distribution and their socio-demographic differences in light of building a type socio-space, which cuts the metropolitan space in homogeneous areas

Consumo de álcool entre estudantes do ensino médio do município de Passos - MG

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fatores abióticos que afetam a distribuição do gênero Astyanax baird & Girard, 1854 em riachos de cabeceiras de Chapada dos Guimarães, bacia do Rio Cuiabá, Mato Grosso

The main factors that influence the species distribution are related mainly with the dispersion capacity, behavior, presence of other species and to the factors physicist-chemistries. Had been evaluated ecological factors that affect the distribution of the genus Astyanax in Chapada dos Guimaraes headstreams, Cuiaba River basin, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Samples in 27 streams had been made in Chapada dos Guimaraes, and the fish had been collected through the method of electric fish, and the ambient data had been analyzed with one technique of called ordinance of Principal Components Analysis (PCA). 250 individuals had been collect, being 95 A. asuncionensis, 62 A. abramis, 36 A. lineatus and 57 individuals had been captured identified like A. scabripinnis (Jenyns, 1842) sensu Eigenmann, 1927. In relation the ambient characteristics, the variables gotten allowed two axes of the PCA, who explain 53,114 % of the variance of the seven variables analyzed. Axle 1, Main Component 1, explained 31,147 % and Axle 2, Main Component 2, explained 21,967 % of the variation of the ambient data. The formation of axle 1 was influenced positively by the depth and negative by the conductivity and pH. The formation of axle 2 was influenced positively by the Turbidity and negative to the Dissolved Oxygen. The ordinance of the species throughout for the axes corroborated for the understanding of the distribution of specimens.

Does gestation or feeding affect the body temperature of the golden lancehead, Bothrops insularis (Squamata: Viperidae) under field conditions?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

When Basking Is Not an Option: Thermoregulation of a Viperid Snake Endemic to a Small Island in the South Atlantic of Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Modelagem matemática aplicada ao controle biológico de Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) por Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmed (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) em Citrus

O modelo matemático apresentado tem como objetivos: (1) simular as dinâmicas populacionais de um sistema hospedeiro parasitóide de três níveis tróficos composto pelas populações de mosca-do-mediterrâneo Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), vespa braconídea parasitóide Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmed) e frutos cítricos; (2) auxiliar no melhor entendimento dos principais fatores biológicos e ecológicos que regem as interações populacionais e (3) colaborar com programas mais eficientes de controle biológico para o sistema em questão. A metodologia empregada baseou-se na formulação de sistemas de equações de diferenças que descrevessem os processos de interação do sistema trófico. Posteriormente, foram elaboradas resoluções numéricas desses sistemas de equações e sua representação gráfica, utilizando-se o programa computacional Matlab, versão 6.1. Os dados biológicos e ecológicos necessários para a formulação das equações matemáticas foram fornecidos por especialistas em controle de C. capitata e retirados da literatura referente ao controle biológico das moscas-das-frutas em plantações de citros no Brasil, principalmente através da utilização de vespas parasitóides, como D. longicaudata. Os resultados obtidos nas simulações sugerem que o modelo proposto descreve adequadamente o sistema ecológico em questão e permite entender melhor suas principais características biológicas e ecológicas. em conseqüência pode auxiliar na escolha do modo e momento para liberação da vespa parasitóide para o controle mais efetivo de C. capitata.