Drosophila melanogaster larvae make nutritional choices that minimize developmental time

Organisms from slime moulds to humans carefully regulate their macronutrient intake to optimize a wide range of life history characters including survival, stress resistance, and reproductive success. However, life history characters often differ in their response to nutrition, forcing organisms to make foraging decisions while balancing the trade-offs between these effects. To date, we have a limited understanding of how the nutritional environment shapes the relationship between life history characters and foraging decisions. To gain insight into the problem, we used a geometric framework for nutrition to assess how the protein and carbohydrate content of the larval diet affected key life history traits in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. In no-choice assays, survival from egg to pupae, female and male body size, and ovariole number - a proxy for female fecundity - were maximized at the highest protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratio (1.5:1). In contrast, development time was minimized at intermediate P:C ratios, around 1:2. Next, we subjected larvae to two-choice tests to determine how they regulated their protein and carbohydrate intake in relation to these life history traits. Our results show that larvae targeted their consumption to P:C ratios that minimized development time. Finally, we examined whether adult females also chose to lay their eggs in the P:C ratios that minimized developmental time. Using a three-choice assay, we found that adult females preferentially laid their eggs in food P:C ratios that were suboptimal for all larval life history traits. Our results demonstrate that D. melanogaster larvae make foraging decisions that trade-off developmental time with body size, ovariole number, and survival. In addition, adult females make oviposition decisions that do not appear to benefit the larvae. We propose that these decisions may reflect the living nature of the larval nutritional environment in rotting fruit. These studies illustrate the interaction between the nutritional environment, life history traits, and foraging choices in D. melanogaster, and lend insight into the ecology of their foraging decisions.

Three-Dimensional kinetic adaptations of gait throughout pregnancy and postpartum

Biomechanical adaptations that occur during pregnancy can lead to changes on gait pattern. Nevertheless, these adaptations of gait are still not fully understood. The purpose was to determine the effect of pregnancy on the biomechanical pattern of walking, regarding the kinetic parameters. A three-dimensional analysis was performed in eleven participants. The kinetic parameters in the joints of the lower limb during gait were compared at the end of the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy and in the postpartum period, in healthy pregnant women. The main results showed a reduction in the normalized vertical reaction forces, throughout pregnancy, particularly the third peak. Pregnant women showed, during most of the stance phase, medial reaction forces as a motor response to promote the body stability. Bilateral changes were observed in hip joint, with a decrease in the participation of the hip extensors and in the eccentric contraction of hip flexors. In ankle joint a decrease in the participation of ankle plantar flexors was found. In conclusion, the overall results point to biomechanical adjustments that showed a decrease of the mechanical load of women throughout pregnancy, with exception for few unilateral changes of hip joint moments.

Influence of body composition on gait Kknetics throughout pregnancy and postpartum period

Pregnancy leads to several changes in body composition and morphology of women. It is not clear whether the biomechanical changes occurring in this period are due exclusively to body composition and size or to other physiological factors. The purpose was to quantify the morphology and body composition of women throughout pregnancy and in the postpartum period and identify the contribution of these parameters on the lower limb joints kinetic during gait. Eleven women were assessed longitudinally, regarding anthropometric, body composition, and kinetic parameters of gait. Body composition and body dimensions showed a significant increase during pregnancy and a decrease in the postpartum period. In the postpartum period, body composition was similar to the 1st trimester, except for triceps skinfold, total calf area, and body mass index, with higher results than at the beginning of pregnancy. Regression models were developed to predict women’s internal loading through anthropometric variables. Four models include variables associated with the amount of fat; four models include variables related to overall body weight; three models include fat-free mass; one model includes the shape of the trunk as a predictor variable. Changes in maternal body composition and morphology largely determine kinetic dynamics of the joints in pregnant women.

O sistema PBL, problem-based learning, no ensino de medicina no Brasil : análise bibliográfica sobre a sua execução

Introdução: Entre as estratégias de ensino e aprendizagem utilizadas nas práticas pedagógicas, a Problem Based Learning (PBL) (Aprendizagem Baseada em Problemas) é utilizada desde 1960, em especial nos cursos de Medicina. Mesmo sendo uma estratégia valiosa, um dos seus obstáculos é a pouca prática dos alunos em atividades autodirigidas, pesquisa e construção coletiva do conhecimento. Objetivo: Rastrear elementos constitutivos da PBL através de dados colhidos em artigos pesquisados em sítios de divulgação científica; Avaliar, nos estudos selecionados, os aspectos positivos e negativos que estejam relacionados com a metodologia do Sistema PBL aplicada ao ensino médico no Brasil. Metodologia: Estudo bibliográfico de 13 textos utilizando um modelo de desconstrução, denominada Análise Textual Discursiva (ATD) que consiste em: transformação dos artigos em pedaços menores; análise textual; identificação de padrões convergentes e divergentes em relação a PBL; organização e síntese dos dados, culminando com a elaboração de estratégia adaptativa da PBL para o curso de Medicina. Resultados: Foram encontradas 116 citações que convergiam para referências positivos acerca da metodologia PBL e 40 citações que divergiam acerca dos pontos positivos. Os aspectos positivos como o desenvolvimento de atitudes e habilidades; desenvolvimento de competências anteriores ao curso; efeitos positivos depois de terminada a graduação, como autonomia de estudo e a articulação entre currículo e realidade profissional, representam pontos a serem reforçados na aula. Em contraponto, foi observado que dentre os negativos a não compreensão do papel do professor como tutor; necessidade de conteúdo formal tradicional pelos alunos e a expectativa que o professor retire as suas dúvidas são pontos a serem evitados. Conclusões: A metodologia PBL deverá servir como metodologia ativa para aproveitar ao máximo as habilidades que os alunos já apresentam, potencializando o aprendizado na educação médica em sala de aula. Palavras-Chave: PBL; curso de medicina; metodologia ativa; educação médica.

Body condition indices of Asian green mussels, Perna viridis, from Indonesia

While part of a single country, the Indonesian archipelago covers several biogeographic regions, and the high levels of national shipping likely facilitate transfer of non-native organisms between the different regions. Two vessels of a domestic shipping line appear to have served as a transport vector for the Asian green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) between regions. This species is indigenous in the western but not in the eastern part of the archipelago, separated historically by the Sunda Shelf. The green mussels collected from the hulls of the ferries when in eastern Indonesia showed a significantly lower body condition index than similar-sized individuals from three different western-Indonesian mussel populations. This was presumably due to reduced food supply during the ships' voyages. Although this transportinduced food shortage may initially limit the invasive potential (through reduced reproductive rates) of the translocated individuals, the risk that the species will extend its distributional range further into eastern Indonesia is high. If the species becomes widely established in eastern Indonesia, there will then be an increased risk of incursions to Australia, where the mussel is listed as a high-priority pest species.

Calibration of three year old child dummies. Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

Calibration of three year old child dummies (phase II). Final report.

Mode of access: Internet.

A study of body fatness and nitrogen metabolism of obese young women during weight reduction.

In pocket: Report on field observation and experience in community nutrition.

Some studies on the gross body composition of sixty elderly men.

Special problem (M. N. S.)--Cornell Univ., Feb. 1961.

Geometrical amusements: or, A course of lessons in construction and analysis, in three parts ...

No more published.

Theological sketch-book or skeletons of sermons; carefully arranged in systematic order so as to constitute a complete body of divinity : partly original but chiefly selected from Simeon's Horæ homilicticæ and skeletons; Sketches of sermons; Pulpit assistant; Benson's plans; Preacher; Pulpit, and other approved publication. designed for the use of students of divinity, minsters of the gospel and private Christians.

"In three volumes."

Das psycho-physische Problem; eine erkenntnistheoretische Untersuchung zur Unterscheidung des physischen und psychischen Überhaupt.

Mode of access: Internet.

Changes in body water distribution during treatment with inhaled steroid in pre-school children

Primary objective: The study aimed to examine the changes in water distribution in the soft tissue during systemic steroid activity. Research design: A three-way cross-over, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial was used, including 4 weeks of fluticasone propionate pMDI 200 mug b.i.d. delivered via Babyhaler(R), budesonide pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) 200 mug b.i.d. delivered via Nebuchamber(R) and placebo. Spacers were primed before use. In total, 40 children aged 1-3 years, with mild intermittent asthma were included. Twenty-five of the children completed all three treatments. At the end of each treatment period body impedance and skin ultrasonography were measured. Methods and procedures: We measured changes in water content of the soft tissues by two methods. Skin ultrasonography was used to detect small changes in dermal water content, and bioelectrical impedance was used to assess body water content and distribution. Main outcomes and results: We found an increase in skin density of the shin from fluticasone as measured by ultrasonography (p = 0.01). There was a tendency for a consistent elevation of impedance parameters from active treatments compared to placebo although overall this effect was not statistically significant (0.1< p <0.2). However, sub-analyses indicated a significant effect on whole-body and leg impedance from budesonide treatment (p <0.05). Conclusion: Decreased growth during inhaled steroid treatment seems to partly reflect generalized changes in body water.

Family average income and body mass index above the healthy weight range among urban and rural residents in regional Mainland China

Objective: To explore the relationship between family average income (FAI; an index of socio-economic status) and body mass index (BMI; a widely used, inexpensive indicator of weight status) above the healthy weight range in a region of Mainland China. Design: Population-based cross-sectional study, conducted between October 1999 and March 2000 on a sample of regular local residents aged 35 years or older who were selected by random cluster sampling. Setting: Forty-five administrative villages selected from three urban districts and two rural counties of Nanjing municipality, Mainland China, with a regional population of 5.6 million. Subjects: In total, 29 340 subjects participated; 67.7% from urban and 32.3% from rural areas; 49.8% male and 50.2% female. The response rate among eligible participants was 90.1%. Results: The proportion of participants classified as overweight was 30.5%, while 7.8% were identified as obese. After adjusting for possible confounding variables (age, gender, area of residence, educational level, occupational and leisure-time physical activity, daily vegetable consumption and frequency of red meat intake), urban participants were more likely to be overweight or obese relative to their rural counterparts, more women than men were obese, and participants in the lowest FAI tertile were the least likely to be above the healthy weight range. Conclusions: The proportion of adults with BMI above the healthy weight range was positively related to having a higher socio-economic status (indexed by FAI) in a regional Chinese population.

Thermal injuries in three children caused by an electrical warming mattress

Peroperative hypothermia is recognized to increase mortality and morbidity, and the paediatric anaesthetist faces specific challenges resulting from the increased body surface to volume ratio, particularly in smaller children. We describe three children who were consecutive patients on one operating list and sustained severe thermal injuries. These were due to a malfunctioning electrical heating mat, despite appropriate use and monitoring by the attending anaesthetist. It is rare for thermal warming devices to cause injury. We review the use of heating mats, and suggest modifications in their manufacture which may minimize the risks associated with heating devices.