University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro

About: University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro is a education organization based out in Vila Real, Portugal. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2858 authors who have published 7146 publications receiving 138394 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro & UTAD.

Integrating ecosystem services and disservices: insights from plant invasions

Abstract: There is growing interest in ecosystem disservices, i.e. the negative effects of ecosystems on humans. The focus on disservices has been controversial because of the lack of clarity on how to disentangle ecosystem services and disservices related to human wellbeing. A perspective that considers both services and disservices is needed to inform objective decision-making. We propose a comprehensive typology of ecosystem disservices, and present a framework for integrating ecosystem services and disservices for human wellbeing linked to ecosystem functioning. Our treatment is underpinned by three key assumptions: (1) ecosystem attributes and functions are value-free; (2) the perception of benefits or nuisances are however dependent on societal context, and preferences and actions by societal actors may trigger, enhance or alleviate benefits or nuisances derived from ecosystems; and (3) the notion of disservices must account for the role of human management in assessments of ecosystem values, i.e. the social and technological measures that identify, protect, promote or restore desirable levels of services, and concurrently minimise, mitigate or adapt to disservices. We illustrate our ideas with examples from plant invasions as a complex social-ecological phenomenon.

Identification of molecular phenotypes in canine mammary carcinomas with clinical implications: application of the human classification

Abstract: Similarly to humans, canine mammary cancer represents a heterogeneous group in terms of morphology and biological behaviour. In the present study, we evaluated a series of canine mammary carcinomas based on a new human classification, initially based on gene expression profiling analysis. Similarly to human breast cancer, by using an immunohistochemistry surrogate panel based on five molecular markers [estrogen receptor, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), cytokeratin 5, p63 and P-cadherin], we were able to classify canine mammary carcinomas into four different subtypes: luminal A [estrogen receptor (ER)+/HER2-; 44.8%], luminal B (ER+/HER2+; 13.5%), basal (ER-/HER2- and a basal marker positive; 29.2%) and HER2 overexpressing tumours (ER-/HER2+; 8.3%). Luminal A-type tumours were characterised by lower grade and proliferation rate, whereas basal-type tumours were mostly high grade, high proliferative and positive for cytokeratin 5, p63 and P-cadherin. In addition, as in humans, basal subtype was significantly associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival rates, and we propose canine mammary carcinomas as a suitable natural model for the study of this particular subset of human carcinomas.