Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2022-09"
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- Population level variation in reproductive development and output in the golden kelp Laminaria ochroleuca under marine heat wave scenariosPublication . Strasser, Fiona-Elaine; Barreto, Luis M.; Kaidi, Soukaina; Sabour, Brahim; A, Serrão; Pearson, Gareth; Martins, NeusaThermal tolerance is often interpreted as a species-wide thermal niche in the absence of studies focusing on the adaptive potential of populations to exhibit differential thermal tolerance. Thus, considering intraspecific thermal plasticity, local adaptation or both between populations along distributional gradients when interpreting and predicting species responses to warming is imperative. Removing the effect of environmental histories by raising kelp gametophyte generations in vitro under common garden conditions allows unbiased comparison between population-specific adaptive variation under different environmental conditions. Following this approach, this study aims to detect (potentially) adaptive differentiation in microscopic life-stages (gametophytes) between populations of a temperate forest forming kelp, Laminaria ochroleuca from locations with distinct thermal conditions. Gametophytes from four geographically distinct populations were subjected to different temperature treatments (17, marine heat waves of 23, 25 and 27 degrees C) and gametophyte survival during thermal stress as well as reproductive success and photosynthetic responses during recovery were investigated. Intraspecific variation in resilience and reproductive output to thermal stress was found in L. ochroleuca; gametophytes from the most northern population (Brittany, France) were the most thermally sensitive, with mortality onset at 23 degrees C, whereas mortality in the remaining populations was only apparent at 27 degrees C. Gametophytes from northern Spain and Morocco exhibited very low reproductive success during recovery from 23 and 25 degrees C. However, when recovering from the highest thermal treatment (27 degrees C) the reproductive development and sporophyte output was higher than in the gametophytes from France and Italy (Mediterranean). The population-specific responses of gametophyte resilience and reproductive success to temperature stress suggest genetic differentiation in response to variation in local thermal regimes.
- The invasive alga Gracilaria vermiculophylla in the native northwest Pacific under ocean warming: Southern genetic consequence and northern range expansionPublication . Liu, Yi-Jia; Zhong, Kai-Le; Jueterbock, Alexander; Satoshi, Shimada; Choi, Han-Gil; Weinberger, Florian; Assis, Jorge; Hu, Zi-MinOcean warming is one of the most important factors in shaping the spatial distribution and genetic biodiversity of marine organisms worldwide. The northwest Pacific has been broadly illustrated as an essential seaweed diversity hotspot. However, few studies have yet investigated in this region on whether and how past and ongoing climate warming impacted the distribution and genetic pools of coastal seaweeds. Here, we chose the invasive species Gracilaria vermiculophylla as a model, and identified multiple genetic lineages in the native range through genome-scale microsatellite genotyping. Subsequently, by reconstructing decadal trends of sea surface temperature (SST) change between 1978 and 2018, we found that SST in northern Japan and the East China Sea indeed increased broadly by 0.25-0.4 degrees C/decade. The projections of species distribution models (SDMs) under different future climate change scenarios (RCP 2.6, RCP 4.5, RCP 6.0 and RCP 8.5) indicated that a unique genetic pool of G. vermiculophylla at its current southern range limit (i.e. the South China Sea) is at high risk of disappearance, and that the populations at its current northern range limit (i.e. in Hokkaido region) will undergo poleward expansions, particularly by the year 2100. Such responses, along with this species' limited dispersal potential, may considerably alter the contemporary distribution and genetic composition of G. vermiculophylla in the northwest Pacific, and ultimately threaten ecological services provided by this habitat-forming species and other associated functional roles.
- Low probability of detection underwater communications using a vector sensorPublication . Louza, Fabio B.; Jesus, SergioLow probability of detection underwater acoustic communications are required for command and control of mobile underwater platforms performing covert missions. To deal with multipath and increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at the receiver, this paper presents a study on the low probability of detection communications using a single vector sensor. Compact in size, vector sensors (VS) are suitable for autonomous underwater vehicles, measuring both acoustic pressure and particle velocity, and therefore providing diversity gain. As part of the multidisciplinary EMSO-PT project, an experiment took place off the coast of Algarve/Portugal on Nov 24th, 2021. A single 2D VS was posed on the bottom. Broadband signals were transmitted from several positions, varying both the source-receiver range and the direction of arrival. Recorded noise was added to the signals to reduce the SNR from 0 to -10 dB. A superimposed training passive time-reversal approach was employed for equalization. Coherent communication performance was evaluated. Results show that VS multichannel combining may provide an average SNR and mean squared-error gain of up to 9.4 and 3.1 dB, respectively, compared to the pressure channel.
- Reasons for Living Inventory for Young Adults: Psychometric Properties Among Portuguese SamplePublication . Madeira, Ana Rita Salve-Rainha; Janeiro, Luís; Carmo, Claudia; Brás, MartaA main protective factor against suicide in young adults is their reasons for living; therefore, suicide risk screening should consider these reasons. However, few psychometric instruments assess reasons for living, and none have been adapted for young adults in Portugal. Thus, we assess the psychometric characteristics of the Reasons for Living Inventory for Young Adults-II (RFL-YA-II) in participants (n = 936; Mage = 21.77; SD = 2.88) from Portugal. Participants answered measures concerning suicidal ideation, depression, hopelessness, and positive and negative affect. The results of an exploratory factorial analysis replicated the original 4-factor model of the RFL-YA-II, and a confirmatory factorial analysis indicated satisfactory indices. In terms of reliability and convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity, our results are consistent with previous research. Moreover, our results indicate that the RFL-YA-II is a valid and reliable instrument to study the protective factors against suicidal behavior in Portuguese young adults, and should thus be integrated into preventive strategies.
- Paleoproductivity proxies and alkenone precursors in the Western Mediterranean during the Early-Middle Pleistocene transitionPublication . Marino, Maria; Rodrigues, Teresa; Quivelli, Ornella; Girone, Angela; Maiorano, Patrizia; Bassinot, FranckMultidisciplinary analyses (taxonomic analysis of coccolithophore assemblages, stable oxygen isotopes, marine and terrestrial biomarkers) have been carried out on sediments from Ocean Drilling Program Site 975 in the Algero-Balearic basin, through late marine isotope stage (MIS) 20-19 (800-756 ka). The aim is to compare coccolithophore paleoproductivity proxies, such as C-37 alkenone concentration and nannofossil accumulation rate (NAR), and understand their relationship with paleoceanographic condition and paleoenvironmental changes, alkenone-producing precursors and unsaturated C-37 alkenone compounds. The patterns of C-37 alkenones and NAR provide reliable information on past paleoproductivity changes since coccolith dissolution and organic matter preservation were excluded as relevant processes at the site. This is testified by the high values of Nannofossil Dissolution Index and relation between C-37 alkenone concentration and Alcohol Preservation Index, the latter used as a proxy of sea bottom ventilation in the basin. A weak mismatching between NAR and C-37 alkenone concentration records has been observed and related to paleoenvironmental factors and ecological preferences of alkenone-producing species. Temperature variations mostly controlled the alternating interspecific abundance variations of these taxa through glacial-interglacial and stadial-interstadial climate phases. The percentage abundances of alkenone-producing species, Gephyrocapsa caribbeanica and Gephyrocapsa with open central area (mainly G. margerelii-G. muellerae) strongly co-varied with the percentages of C-37:2 and C-37:3, respectively during warm and cool-cold periods, suggesting their prominent role in producing these unsaturated C-37 alkenone compounds. Moreover, Gephyrocapsa spp. with open central area > 3 mu m were likely the main C-37:4 producers during the colder late MIS 20 stadial and stadial phases. Other factors in addition to temperature influenced the paleoproductivity proxy patterns. The oceanographic condition established during MIS 20-MIS 19 deglaciation and the more nutrient-rich surface waters during the orbitally-controlled organic-rich layer deposition in the early MIS 19 enhanced primary productivity leading to higher production and preservation of total C-37 alkenones.
- The genomic history and global expansion of domestic donkeysPublication . Todd, Evelyn T.; Tonasso-Calvière, Laure; Chauvey, Loreleï; Schiavinato, Stéphanie; Fages, Antoine; Seguin-Orlando, Andaine; Clavel, Pierre; Khan, Naveed; Pérez Pardal, Lucía; Patterson Rosa, Laura; Librado, Pablo; Ringbauer, Harald; Verdugo, Marta; Southon, John; Aury, Jean-Marc; Perdereau, Aude; Vila, Emmanuelle; Marzullo, Matilde; Prato, Ornella; Tecchiati, Umberto; Bagnasco Gianni, Giovanna; Tagliacozzo, Antonio; Tinè, Vincenzo; Alhaique, Francesca; Luis Cardoso, João; Valente, Maria João; Telles Antunes, Miguel; Frantz, Laurent; Shapiro, Beth; Bradley, Daniel G.; Boulbes, Nicolas; Gardeisen, Armelle; Horwitz, Liora Kolska; Öztan, Aliye; Arbuckle, Benjamin S.; Onar, Vedat; Clavel, Benoît; Lepetz, Sébastien; Vahdati, Ali Akbar; Davoudi, Hossein; Mohaseb, Azadeh; Mashkour, Marjan; Bouchez, Olivier; Donnadieu, Cécile; Wincker, Patrick; Brooks, Samantha A.; Beja-Pereira, Albano; Wu, Dong-Dong; Orlando, LudovicDonkeys transformed human history as essential beasts of burden for long-distance movement, especially across semi-arid and upland environments. They remain insufficiently studied despite globally expanding and providing key support to low- to middle-income communities. To elucidate their domestication history, we constructed a comprehensive genome panel of 207 modern and 31 ancient donkeys, as well as 15 wild equids. We found a strong phylogeographic structure in modern donkeys that supports a single domestication in Africa similar to 5000 BCE, followed by further expansions in this continent and Eurasia and ultimately returning to Africa. We uncover a previously unknown genetic lineage in the Levant similar to 200 BCE, which contributed increasing ancestry toward Asia. Donkey management involved inbreeding and the production of giant bloodlines at a time when mules were essential to the Roman economy and military.
- Nonlinear dependence and spillovers between cryptocurrency and global/regional equity marketsPublication . Hanif, Waqas; Areola Hernandez, Jose; Troster, Victor; Kang, Sang Hoon; Yoon, Seong-MinIn this paper, we investigate the nonlinear dependence dynamics among eight cryptocurrencies (Monero, Bitcoin, Dash, Litecoin, Stellar, XRP, Ethereum, and Nem) by applying time-varying copulas. We also examine the upside and downside spillovers between cryptocurrencies and equity markets by a conditional Value-at-Risk (CoVaR) approach. We show that the dynamics of dependence of the portfolio of cryptocurrencies reveal both symmetric and asymmetric features, with the symmetric dynamics being more predominant. NEM and Ethereum have the largest downside and upside CoVaR spillovers on the world equity index, respectively. The largest downside CoVaR spillovers from the world equity index are to NEM followed by Stellar, and the largest upside spillovers are to Ethereum followed by NEM. Stellar and Bitcoin exhibit the largest downside and upside CoVaR spillovers on the Americas equity index. The largest downside CoVaR spillovers from the Americas equity index are to Stellar and NEM, and those on the upside are to Ethereum and NEM. In addition, we find that most cryptocurrencies exhibit safe haven or hedge properties more often than rare metals and diamonds for daily equity indices. Finally, we conduct an out-of-sample analysis of optimal-weighting portfolio strategies based on C-vine copulas using cryptocurrencies and equity indices that entails forward-looking measures of risk that are economically significant, which outperform benchmark strategies.
- Comparative mitogenomic analyses and gene rearrangements reject the alleged polyphyly of a bivalve genusPublication . Cunha, Regina L.; Nicastro, Katy; Zardi, Gerardo I.; Madeira, Celine; McQuaid, Christopher D.; J. Cox, Cymon; Castilho, RitaBackground: The order and orientation of genes encoded by animal mitogenomes are typically conserved, although there is increasing evidence of multiple rearrangements among mollusks. The mitogenome from a Brazilian brown mussel (hereafter named B1) classified as Perna perna Linnaeus, 1758 and assembled from Illumina short-length reads revealed an unusual gene order very different from other congeneric species. Previous mitogenomic analyses based on the Brazilian specimen and other Mytilidae suggested the polyphyly of the genus Perna. Methods: To confirm the proposed gene rearrangements, we sequenced a second Brazilian P. perna specimen using the "primer-walking" method and performed the assembly using as reference Perna canaliculus. This time-consuming sequencing method is highly effective when assessing gene order because it relies on sequentially-determined, overlapping fragments. We also sequenced the mitogenomes of eastern and southwestern South African P. perna lineages to analyze the existence of putative intraspecific gene order changes as the two lineages show overlapping distributions but do not exhibit a sister relationship. Results: The three P. perna mitogenomes sequenced in this study exhibit the same gene order as the reference. CREx, a software that heuristically determines rearrangement scenarios, identified numerous gene order changes between B1 and our P. perna mitogenomes, rejecting the previously proposed gene order for the species. Our results validate the monophyly of the genus Perna and indicate a misidentification of B1.
- Regulamento interno das unidades curriculares de educação clínica da Licenciatura em FisioterapiaPublication . Felício, João; Fontes, Ana Paula; CINTRA, RUIA missão do curso de Licenciatura em Fisioterapia é assegurar conhecimentos, competências e aptidões requeridas para o exercício da prática profissional, nomeadamente na área da prevenção, manutenção e recuperação do movimento, promovendo a capacidade e o desempenho funcional, em circunstâncias em que as estruturas e/ou funções estão ameaçadas pelo processo de envelhecimento, por lesão ou doença. O presente Regulamento interno refere-se às Unidades Curriculares de Educação Clínica (dividida em seis módulos/períodos) do Curso de Licenciatura em Fisioterapia da ESSUAlg, orientadas para a aprendizagem em contexto de prática profissional, correspondendo a um total de 60 ECTS (ao longo dos quatro anos do Curso), sendo extensível a todos os Estudantes, independentemente do regime de frequência. Pretende esclarecer todos os intervenientes neste processo de aprendizagem, acerca dos conteúdos programáticos do curso, incluindo os diversos períodos de Educação Clínica e suas finalidades, as competências dos Estudantes enquanto futuros Fisioterapeutas e do Educador Clínico, metodologia da avaliação das Unidades Curriculares, entre outros. Ao longo do curso, os Estudantes frequentam as unidades curriculares de Educação Clínica, integrados em diferentes instituições, contextos e áreas de intervenção onde terão a oportunidade de desenvolver e demonstrar um desempenho profissional competente em situações reais.
- Framework for health care quality and evidence-based practice in radiology departments: A regional study on radiographer's perceptionsPublication . Almeida, Rui; da Silva, Carlos Alberto; Gama, Zenewton André da SilvaIntroduction: The main goals of this study were to describe, in an integrated and multidimensional way, the conditions related to the quality of care in radiology departments from Algarve (Portugal), to assess the perspective of radiographers on the use of scientific evidence in clinical practice and to validate a model that characterizes the conditions for continuous improvement. Methods: A cross sectional study was performed in four radiology departments from public and private healthcare facilities from Algarve region (Portugal). A paper-based survey was sent to all radiographers to assess the quality systems implemented in their radiology departments and their perspective on the use of scientific evidence in clinical practice. Results: In total, 62 radiographers (61.4%) completed the survey. The quality dimensions that obtained the highest degree of compliance were the existence of quality assurance and improvement activities (43.0%), existence of standards in clinical practice of radiographers (42.7%) and the existence of special provisions (37.6%). The quality dimension related to patient’s involvement was the one with the lowest level of compliance. Moreover, from the radiographers perspective, positive responses were obtained related to evidence-based actions (83.0%), sources of evidence (76.0%) and the significance of research activities (74.0%).