Sao Paulo State University

About: Sao Paulo State University is a education organization based out in São Paulo, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 55715 authors who have published 100436 publications receiving 1375332 citations.

Qualidade de vida na terceira idade: um conceito subjetivo

Abstract: Tendo-se em conta a expectativa de vida cada vez mais alta, varios estudos tem sido desenvolvidos de modo a contribuir para a melhoria da qualidade de vida na terceira idade. Objetivou-se conhecer a opiniao dos idosos de um municipio de porte medio do interior paulista sobre o que e qualidade de vida, atraves de uma pergunta aberta que foi incluida como parte de um inquerito populacional sobre estilo e qualidade de vida. A analise da referida questao foi realizada atraves do metodo de Analise de Conteudo. Posteriormente calcularam-se as frequencias das categorias obtidas, agrupadas segundo o metodo de Ward, e em seguida os idosos foram agrupados segundo o metodo de k-medias. Os resultados indicaram a existencia de tres grupos de idosos segundo sua definicao de qualidade de vida: o primeiro valorizou a questao afetiva e a familia; o segundo priorizou a obtencao do prazer e conforto; o terceiro poderia ser sintetizado como o idoso que identifica a qualidade de vida colocando em pratica o seu ideario de vida. Sugere-se que, na implementacao de acoes, se objetive melhorar a qualidade de vida do idoso, levando-se em conta as magnitudes e as diferencas de cada grupo.

Bacterial diversity of terra preta and pristine forest soil from the Western Amazon

Abstract: The survey presented here describes the bacterial diversity and community structures of a pristine forest soil and an anthropogenic terra preta from the Western Amazon forest using molecular methods to identify the predominant phylogenetic groups. Bacterial community similarities and species diversity in the two soils were compared using oligonucleotide fingerprint grouping of 16S rRNA gene sequences for 1500 clones (OFRG) and by DNA sequencing. The results showed that both soils had similar bacterial community compositions over a range of phylogenetic distances, among which Acidobacteria were predominant, but that terra preta supported approximately 25% greater species richness. The survey provides the first detailed analysis of the composition and structure of bacterial communities from terra preta anthrosols using noncultured-based molecular methods.

Physiology of temperature regulation: comparative aspects.

Abstract: Few environmental factors have a larger influence on animal energetics than temperature, a fact that makes thermoregulation a very important process for survival. In general, endothermic species, i.e., mammals and birds, maintain a constant body temperature (Tb) in fluctuating environmental temperatures using autonomic and behavioural mechanisms. Most of the knowledge on thermoregulatory physiology has emerged from studies using mammalian species, particularly rats. However, studies with all vertebrate groups are essential for a more complete understanding of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of Tb. Ectothermic vertebrates-fish, amphibians and reptiles-thermoregulate essentially by behavioural mechanisms. With few exceptions, both endotherms and ectotherms develop fever (a regulated increase in Tb) in response to exogenous pyrogens, and regulated hypothermia (anapyrexia) in response to hypoxia. This review focuses on the mechanisms, particularly neuromediators and regions in the central nervous system, involved in thermoregulation in vertebrates, in conditions of euthermia, fever and anapyrexia.

Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Selection for Important Traits in Domestic Horse Breeds

Abstract: Intense selective pressures applied over short evolutionary time have resulted in homogeneity within, but substantial variation among, horse breeds. Utilizing this population structure, 744 individuals from 33 breeds, and a 54,000 SNP genotyping array, breed-specific targets of selection were identified using an FST-based statistic calculated in 500-kb windows across the genome. A 5.5-Mb region of ECA18, in which the myostatin (MSTN) gene was centered, contained the highest signature of selection in both the Paint and Quarter Horse. Gene sequencing and histological analysis of gluteal muscle biopsies showed a promoter variant and intronic SNP of MSTN were each significantly associated with higher Type 2B and lower Type 1 muscle fiber proportions in the Quarter Horse, demonstrating a functional consequence of selection at this locus. Signatures of selection on ECA23 in all gaited breeds in the sample led to the identification of a shared, 186-kb haplotype including two doublesex related mab transcription factor genes (DMRT2 and 3). The recent identification of a DMRT3 mutation within this haplotype, which appears necessary for the ability to perform alternative gaits, provides further evidence for selection at this locus. Finally, putative loci for the determination of size were identified in the draft breeds and the Miniature horse on ECA11, as well as when signatures of selection surrounding candidate genes at other loci were examined. This work provides further evidence of the importance of MSTN in racing breeds, provides strong evidence for selection upon gait and size, and illustrates the potential for population-based techniques to find genomic regions driving important phenotypes in the modern horse.