Comparative analysis of sex chromosomes in Leporinus species (Teleostei, Characiformes) using chromosome painting

Background: The Leporinus genus, belonging to the Anostomidae family, is an interesting model for studies of sex chromosome evolution in fish, particularly because of the presence of heteromorphic sex chromosomes only in some species of the genus. In this study we used W chromosome-derived probes in a series of cross species chromosome painting experiments to try to understand events of sex chromosome evolution in this family.Results: W chromosome painting probes from Leporinus elongatus, L. macrocephalus and L. obtusidens were hybridized to each others chromosomes. The results showed signals along their W chromosomes and the use of L. elongatus W probe against L. macrocephalus and L. obtusidens also showed signals over the Z chromosome. No signals were observed when the later aforementioned probe was used in hybridization procedures against other four Anostomidae species without sex chromosomes.Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a common origin of sex chromosomes in L. elongatus, L. macrocephalus and L. obtusidens but suggest that the L. elongatus chromosome system is at a different evolutionary stage. The absence of signals in the species without differentiated sex chromosomes does not exclude the possibility of cryptic sex chromosomes, but they must contain other Leporinus W sequences than those described here. © 2013 Parise-Maltempi et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

Prognostic factors associated with time to hCG remission in patients with low-risk postmolar gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical factors associated with time to hCG remission among women with low-risk postmolar GTN. Methods This study included a non-concurrent cohort of 328 patients diagnosed with low-risk postmolar GTN according to FIGO 2002 criteria. Associations of time to hCG remission with history of prior mole, molar histology, time to persistence, use of D&C at persistence, presence of metastatic disease, FIGO score, hCG values at persistence, type of first line therapy and use of multiagent chemotherapy were investigated with both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results Overall median time to remission was 46 days. Ten percent of the patients required multi-agent chemotherapy to achieve hCG remission. Multivariate analysis incorporating the variables significant on univariate analysis confirmed that complete molar histology (HR 1.45), metastatic disease (HR 1.66), use of multi-agent therapy (HR 2.00) and FIGO score (HR 1.82) were associated with longer time to remission. There was a linear relationship between FIGO score and time to hCG remission. Each 1-point increment in FIGO score was associated with an average 17-day increase in hCG remission time (95% CI: 12.5-21.6). Conclusions Complete mole histology prior to GTN, presence of metastatic disease, use of multi-agent therapy and higher FIGO score were independent factors associated with longer time to hCG remission in low-risk GTN. Identifying the prognostic factors associated with time to remission and effective counseling may help improve treatment planning and reduce anxiety in patients and their families. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Studies on thermal-oxidative degradation behaviours of raw natural rubber: PRI and thermogravimetry analysis

Thermal-oxidative degradation behaviours of raw natural rubber (NR) have been investigated by using thermogravimetry analysis in inert and oxidative atmospheres and the plasticity retention index (PRI). The activation energy E a, was calculated using Horowitz-Metzger and Coats-Redfern methods and compared with PRI. The E a values obtained by each method were in good agreement with each other. The June samples are the least stable rubbers among the studied ones, whereas February samples exhibited the highest values of activation energy, therefore in agreement with the PRI behaviour, which indicates that the thermo-oxidative stability of the June samples are the poorest during the thermo-oxidative degradation reaction. Natural rubber is a product of biological origin, and thus these variations in the values of thermal behaviour and PRI might be related to the genetic differences and alterations of climatic conditions that act directly on the synthesis of non-rubber constituents, which are generally reflected in latex and rubber properties. © 2013 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining.

The advance of cloud computing

The “Implementation of the National Data Centre” project, Augusto Espín, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Information Society, Ecuador .-- Cloud computing and public policy in Brazil, Rafael Henrique Rodrigues Moreira, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Brazil .-- “The cloud is being taken up more quickly in Latin America than in the rest of the world”, interview to Lalo Steinmann, Microsoft .-- The impact of education and research networks on the development of cloud computing Eduardo Vera, University of Chile .-- “The cloud helps to narrow divides by providing access to technology resources that used to be unaffordable”, interview to Luis Urzúa, Movistar Chile .-- “Cloud computing will be a strategic sector of the economy in the coming years”, interview to Jean-Bernard Gramunt, France’s digital strategy .-- “If take-up in Latin America is as strong as predicted, it will be a good opportunity to create and export technology”, interview to Flavio Junqueira, Yahoo! Labs.

Attitudes about inclusion by educators and physical educators: Effects of participation in an inclusive adapted physical education program

This study assessed the attitudes about the inclusion of students with disability by professionals in education and health, relative to their experience and training. We compared three groups: 20 teachers and trainees who worked in an adapted physical education program (GI); 75 professionals from the municipal education system of Rio Claro subdivided according to their experience-CGyes e CGno, respectively, with and without experience. We used the inventory adapted by Palla (2001) to assess participants' attitudes and self-concepts. Overall, individuals in the group that participated in the intervention maintained their tendency of being favorable toward inclusion. Teachers in regular school settings in the municipal school system of Rio Claro (Sao Paulo, Brazil), regardless of their experience with inclusive settings, remain mostly indecisive about the benefits of inclusion.

Green chromatographic fingerprinting: An environmentally friendly approach for the development of separation methods for fingerprinting complex matrices

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

Ensuring quality in qualitative inquiry: Using key concepts as guidelines

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Response to Chemotherapy in Overweight/Obese Patients With Low-Risk Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

Objective Despite rising global obesity rates, the impact of obesity on gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) remains uninvestigated. This study aimed at investigating whether overweight/obesity relates to response to chemotherapy in low-risk GTN patients.Methods This nonconcurrent cohort study included 300 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics-defined postmolar low-risk GTN treated with a single-agent chemotherapymethotrexate or actinomycin-D (actD)between 1973 and 2012 at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center. Chemotherapy dosing was based on actual body weight regardless of obesity status, except for 5-day courses or pulse regimens of actD. Patients were classified as overweight/obese (body mass index [BMI] 25 kg/m(2)) or non-overweight/obese (BMI <25 kg/m(2)). Information on patient characteristics and response to chemotherapy (need for second-line chemotherapy, reason for changing to an alternative chemotherapy, number of cycles, need for combination chemotherapy, and time to human chorionic gonadotropin remission) was obtained.Results Of 300 low-risk GTN patients, 81 (27%) were overweight/obese. Overweight/obese patients were older than the non-overweight/obese patients (median age: 30 vs 28 years, P = 0.004). First-line therapy using actD was more frequent in overweight/obese patients (6.2% vs 1.4%, P = 0.036). Resistance and toxicity were similar between groups. No significant difference in the number of chemotherapy cycles needed for remission or time required to achieve remission was found between groups.Conclusions No association between overweight/obesity and low-risk GTN outcomes was found. Current chemotherapy dosing using BMI seems to be appropriate for overweight/obese patients with low-risk GTN.

Changing presentation of complete hydatidiform mole at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center over the past three decades: does early diagnosis alter risk for gestational trophoblastic neoplasia?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relationship between race and clinical characteristics, extent of disease, and response to chemotherapy in patients with low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Objective. To evaluate the potential effects of race on clinical characteristics, extent of disease, and response to chemotherapy in women with postmolar low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).Methods. This non-concurrent cohort study was undertaken including patients with FIGO-defined postmolar low-risk GTN treated with comparable doses and schedules of chemotherapy at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center (NETDC) between 1973 and 2012. Racial groups investigated included whites, African American and Asians. Information on patient characteristics and response to chemotherapy (need for second line chemotherapy, reason for changing to an alternative chemotherapy, number of cycles/regimens, need for combination chemotherapy, and time to hCG remission) was obtained.Results. Of 316 women, 274 (86.7%) were white, 19 (6%) African American, and 23 (7.3%) Asian. African Americans were significantly younger than white and Asian women (p = 0.008). Disease presentation, and extent of disease, including antecedent molar histology, median time to persistence, median hCG level at persistence, rate of D&C at persistence, presence of metastatic disease, and FIGO stage and risk score were similar among races. Need for second line chemotherapy (p = 0.023), and median number of regimens (p = 0.035) were greater in Asian women than in other races.Conclusions. Low-risk GTN was more aggressive in Asian women, who were significantly more likely to need second line chemotherapy and a higher number of chemotherapy regimens to achieve complete remission than women of African American and Asian descent. Further studies involving racial differences related to clinical, biological and environmental characteristics are needed. (C) 2015 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Television violence and young adults in Brazil: a content analysis of the popular telenovella, Malhação = Violência na televisão brasileira e jovens : uma análise de conteúdo da telenovela popular, Malahção

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Mrs. J. Palmer Lockwood Journal - Accession 34 - M10 (20)

The Mrs. J. Palmer Lockwood Journal consists of a 76 page journal kept by Mrs. J. Palmer (Leize) Lockwood concerning how the poem Carolina by Henry Timrod became the South Carolina state song. There is also a description of how Mrs. Lockwood worked to popularize the song, three copies of Timrod’s poem, and a copy of a poem titled “Carolina” by Mary Frances Wickliffe, Winthrop faculty member from 1895 to 1919.

Implantation of Subcutaneous Radio Transmitters in the Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina)

Radio telemetry has become a standard tool for studying the behavior, physiology, life history traits, and population dynamics of marine mammals. Radio transmitters typically are attached to the hind flippers of pinnipeds or glued to the fur using marine epoxy or other cyanocrylare adhesives (Fedak et al. 1983, Bengtson 1993, Jeffries et al. 1993). Longterm data acquisition is difficult, however, because radio-flipper transmitters commonly tear from the webbing of the flipper and instruments that are glued to the fur are shed during the seasonal molt.