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Recentemente, os jogos digitais e a tecnologia de realidade virtual vêm sendo utilizados como um recurso complementar para a reabilitação. É importante destacar que diversos fatores devem ser levados em consideração ao desenvolver um artefato digital para auxiliar na reabilitação virtual de idosos. Sendo assim, o objetivo desse artigo foi propor um checklist para auxiliar no desenvolvimento e avaliação de jogos digitais em realidade virtual para a reabilitação virtual de idosos. A metodologia foi dividida em quatro etapas: revisão sistemática de literatura, proposição do checklist, coleta e análise de dados. A pesquisa pode ser classificada como um estudo quanti-qualitativo. Foi feito um grupo focal confirmatório com dois participantes para validar o checklist proposto. O instrumento para a coleta de dados foi a entrevista semiestruturada. Como resultado, foi feita uma revisão de literatura a fim de levantar um conjunto de diretrizes para a reabilitação virtual de idosos. Foi aplicada a atividade de card sorting para sistematizar esse conjunto de diretrizes. A partir disso, foi apresentado um checklist que visa orientar o desenvolvimento e a avaliação de um artefato digital para auxiliar na reabilitação virtual dos idosos. O checklist proposto inclui 29 itens, organizados nas seguintes categorias: terapia, motivação, interação e segurança. Foram sugeridas duas versões do checklist. A primeira é voltada para os desenvolvedores e visa orientar a construção do artefato digital. Já a segunda pode ser aplicada na etapa de avaliação para verificar se o jogo digital em realidade virtual atende às necessidades e preferências do público sênior.

Accipiter bicolor is a widely distributed Neotropical raptor but knowledge about its ecology is poor, particularly in urban areas. In this work, we document the presence of A. bicolor in the city of Guayaquil and in nearby forested areas, in addition, we provide new records on its diet and discuss possible foraging strategies in synanthropic environments. Also, reports of this species are considered on citizen science platforms. Accipiter bicolor was observed consuming an individual of Columbina bluckeyi and another of Artibeus fraterculus; near a colony of this species of bat. Finally, we found 59 records of A. bicolor between 2007 and 2022 for Guayaquil and its surrounding areas, 14 records were in urban habitats. Observations in different urban and peri-urban habitats are discussed, as well as their feeding habits., Accipiter bicolor es una rapaz Neotropical ampliamente distribuida pero el conocimiento sobre su ecología es escaso en particular en zonas urbanas. En este trabajo, documentamos la presencia de A. bicolor en la ciudad de Guayaquil y en áreas boscosas cercanas, además, proveemos nuevos registros sobre su dieta y discutimos posibles estrategias de forrajeo en ambientes sinantrópicas. También, se consideran reportes de esta especie en plataformas de ciencia ciudadana. Accipiter bicolor fue observada consumiendo un individuo de Columbina bluckeyi y otro de Artibeus fraterculus; cerca de una colonia de esta especie de murciélago. Finalmente, se encontraron 59 registros de A. bicolor entre el 2007 y 2022 para Guayaquil y sus áreas circundantes, 14 registros fueron en hábitat urbanos. Se discute las observaciones en diferentes hábitats urbanos y periurbanos, así como sus hábitos de alimenticios.

Este artículo de revisión se basó en el examen de los informes y anexos reportados durante la ejecución del proyecto: “Prestación del servicio de apoyo pedagógico para la inclusión de estudiantes con necesidades educativas especiales de los municipios no certificados de Santander”, el cual fue realizado durante el 2020 con miras a implementar el Decreto 1421 de 2017 (MEN, p. 1) que establece las directrices para la educación inclusiva. Así pues, el artículo busca identificar los hallazgos para la implementación de la educación inclusiva en entornos virtuales. Se empleó entonces una metodología cualitativa, apoyada en la observación y la revisión documental, signada por muestras diversas o de máxima variación (Álvarez, 2008; Hernández, Fernández y Baptista, 2014). Se identificaron, además, las situaciones expuestas dentro de los documentos anexos, ya que estas se han convertido en reto para los docentes y padres de familia en el desarrollo de las labores académicas y laborales durante la pandemia.

RESUMEN Introducción: La malnutrición está relacionada con una disminución de las capacidades funcionales en personas adultas mayores. Estudios en población adulta mayor han demostrado asociación directa entre el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y las limitaciones funcionales. Objetivo: Determinar la relación existente entre el nivel de autovalencia y el estado nutricional en población de adultos mayores chilenos. Metodología: Este estudio de carácter cuantitativo descriptivo transversal, analizó una muestra de 837 sujetos de la comuna Los Andes en Chile, a través de una base de datos anonimizada con las atenciones realizadas el año 2017. Para análisis estadístico se aplicó la prueba Chi-cuadrado con un nivel de confianza del 95%, y se determinó el OR para observar el tipo de asociación. Resultados: Según los resultados estadísticamente significativos, existe una asociación negativa entre el “estado nutricional normal” y la “autovalencia con riesgo” (OR= 0,62 p= 0,0012), comportándose como factor protector. Por otra parte, existe una asociación negativa entre el “estado nutricional de obesidad” y la “autovalencia sin riesgo” (OR= 0,51 p= 0,0001) y una asociación positiva con la “autovalencia con riesgo” (OR= 1,54 p= 0,0067) y la dependencia (OR= 1,68 p= 0,001). Conclusión: Un estado nutricional normal se asoció a un menor riesgo de dependencia en la población adulta mayor. La malnutrición por exceso podría ser un factor de riesgo de dependencia.

Este artículo de investigación tiene como objetivo, exponer la manera en la que los derechos fundamentales de las personas del Área Metropolitana de Bucaramanga se ven protegidos a través del mecanismo jurídico denominado «derecho de petición de atención prioritaria», con el fin de identificar su eficacia. Para ello, se utilizó como base de análisis los casos presentados en el Consultorio Jurídico de la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Seccional Bucaramanga, durante el periodo comprendido entre el segundo semestre de 2018 y primer semestre de 2019. En el desarrollo de este trabajo se aplicó un método investigativo de tipo cuantitativo, el cual se vio materializado en el análisis de los diferentes documentos presentados durante el desarrollo de casos en el Consultorio Jurídico de la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Seccional Bucaramanga. En ese sentido, se realizó un estudio de derechos de petición con atención prioritaria y las acciones de tutela, en los casos en que fue necesario acudir ante la jurisdicción para la protección de los derechos fundamentales del usuario de Consultorio Jurídico. Lo anterior, con el fin de establecer la eficacia del mecanismo sujeto a estudio. Como se evidenció en los resultados, al derecho de atención prioritaria no se le está dando el tratamiento jurídico especial consagrado en la ley, tanto por las entidades públicas como las privadas. Como conclusiones, observamos que, la figura es usada en su mayoría para la protección del derecho a la salud y aun haciendo uso de este derecho de petición las entidades no responden en los términos legales.

O objetivo desse artigo foi sistematizar um conjunto de diretrizes, recomendações e princípios de design para a reabilitação virtual de idosos por meio da atividade de card sorting. A metodologia incluiu quatro etapas. Na primeira etapa, foi feito um levantamento bibliográfico para a reabilitação virtual de idosos. Na segunda etapa, foi realizada a atividade de card sorting para classificar um conjunto de diretrizes conforme os grupos já definidos. Na terceira etapa, foi feita a análise estatística dos dados coletados. Na etapa final, as diretrizes foram reagrupadas conforme os resultados encontrados na pesquisa. A aplicação do card sorting possibilitou sistematizar um conjunto de 60 diretrizes para a reabilitação virtual de idosos em quatro grupos, sendo eles: terapia, motivação, interação e segurança.

Predation is a major evolutionary force in animal ecology. Mechanisms by which prey coloration provides camouflage has been widely studied. However, predator response to prey camouflage and concealment has received less attention. Understanding vegetation structure effect on depredation success could help managers design strategies to mitigate the depredation of managed species (e.g., threatened or hunted). We aimed to investigate the relationship between depredation rate, nest camouflage and concealment in ground-nesting birds of farmlands, and their predators. We set up an experiment of 2576 artificial ground nests to assess the role of egg coloration (white, light green, and dark green), egg size (small, medium, and large), and vegetation structure (vegetation height and land use) in nest survival rates. We also explored the role of predator searching strategies by analysing clumped depredation and multiple depredation events. Of the nests, 34.0% were depredated, with corvids as the predators 78.5% of the time. Corvid depredation decreased by 40-60% in grasslands and spring crops above a vegetation height of 30 cm. In contrast, vegetation height and land use may be of far less importance in avoiding depredation by other predators. The probability of depredation was spatially clumped, suggesting that predators increase search effort in areas where a nest was previously encountered. Neighboring depredation and depredation repetition were more frequent in corvids than in other predators. Our study indicates that nests in vegetation higher than 30 cm had a drastic reduction in depredation rates by corvids. Management of vegetation structure is a key tool to mitigate depredation risk, and improving the availability of alternative food resources may be a complementary tool.

Glycaemic response (GR) to starch-based meals depends on their food composition and microstructure. We studied the effect of palm and soybean oils on the microstructure of a solid starch-oil-gluten matrix, on the starch gelatinisation and

Introducción: En el mundo se pierden cerca de un tercio de todos los alimentos producidos para consumo humano en el mundo, mientras que en Jalisco sólo 68.5% de la población tiene seguridad alimentaria. Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue caracterizar a los beneficiarios socio-demográficamente y evaluar seguridad y pobreza alimentaria. Material y método: Se obtuvieron datos del proyecto “Modelo logístico para el aprovechamiento, conservación y manejo de alimentos: plataforma de alimentos (JAL 2016-01-02-279011)” muestreo a conveniencia de familias atendidas por Banco de Guadalajara, Zapotlanejo y Tepatitlán (n=311). Se evaluó el grado de seguridad y pobreza alimentaria, escolaridad, ingreso familiar comparado con la línea de bienestar mínimo, gasto en alimentación; variables cuantitativas en mediana y rango intercuartilar; cualitativas en frecuencia y porcentaje. Resultados: El 97.4% son mujeres, solo 10% de ellas concluyó preparatoria, 75% presentaron sobrepeso u obesidad. Únicamente 7.4% se clasificó como seguridad alimentaria,Guadalajara tuvo el mayor porcentaje con inseguridad alimentaria moderada y severa (29.7% y 4.7%), y Tepatitlán leve (73.5%), 60% del ingreso se destina a alimentación, 78% muestran pobreza alimentaria. Conclusiones: La pobreza alimentaria coexiste con desnutrición y la obesidad, las mujeres son las encargadas del hogar y la alimentación, por lo que debe intervenirse con enfoque de género y la inseguridad alimentaria leve debe considerarse un problema a atender.

High plasma lactate levels have been associated with reduced mitochondrial respiratory capacity and increased type 2 diabetes risk, while mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number has been proposed as a biomarker of mitochondrial function linked to glucose homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between circulating lactate levels and leukocyte mtDNA copy numbers with insulin secretion/sensitivity indexes in 65 Chilean non-diabetic women. mtDNA copy numbers were measured in leukocytes using qPCR and digital-droplet PCR. A 75-g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) was performed to calculate systemic and tissue-specific insulin sensitivity indexes, as well as insulin secretion surrogates based on plasma c-peptide. An intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT; 0.3 g/kg) was also carried out. Disposition indexes were calculated as the product of insulin secretion × sensitivity. Plasma levels of leptin, adiponectin, TNF-α, MCP-1, and non-esterified fatty acids were also determined. Fasting plasma lactate shows a significant association with a wide range of insulin sensitivity/resistance indexes based on fasting plasma samples (HOMA-S, adipose IR index, Revised-QUICKI, leptin-adiponectin ratio, TyG index, McAuley index and TG-to-HDL-C ratio), as well as OGTT-based measures such as the Matsuda index, the hepatic insulin resistance index, and the disposition index. Fasting plasma lactate was also positively associated with the circulating adipokines TNF-α and MCP-1. We also detected a direct association between fasting plasma lactate with leukocyte mtDNA copy numbers. The above results support the use of fasting plasma lactate, and possibly leukocyte mtDNA copy numbers, as biomarkers of reduced oxidative mitochondrial capacity, decreased hepatic insulin sensitivity, and future diabetes risk.

Understanding of ecosystem structure and functioning requires detailed knowledge about plant–animal interactions, especially when keystone species are involved. The recent consideration of parrots as legitimate seed dispersers has widened the range of mechanisms influencing the lifecycle of many plant species. We examined the interactions between the burrowing parro tCyanoliseus patagonus and two dominant algarrobo trees (Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra) in the Monte Desert, Argentina. We recorded the abundance and foraging behaviour of parrots; quantified the handling, consumption, wasting, and dispersal of ripe and unripe pods; and tested the viability of soft and hardripe seeds wasted and transported by parrots. We found a high abundance of burrowing parrots.They predated on soft seeds from unripe pods while exclusively feeding upon pulp wrapping hardseeds from ripe pods. Frequent pod wasting beneath the plant or transport at a distance invariablyimplied the dispersal of multiple seeds in each event. Moreover, soft seeds retained viability afterdesiccation outside the mother plant, suggesting effective seed dispersal after partial pod predation due to a predator satiation effect. In about half of the foraging flocks, at least one parrot departed in flight with pods in its beak, with 10–34% of the flock components moving pods at distances averaging 238 m (P. alba) and 418 m (P. nigra). A snapshot sampling of faeces from livestock and wildmammals suggested a low frequency of seed dispersal by endozoochory and secondary dispersalby ants and dung beetles. The nomadic movements and long flights of burrowing parrots betweenbreeding and foraging sites can lead to the dispersal of huge amounts of seeds across large areas thatare sequentially exploited. Further research should evaluate the role of the burrowing parrot as afunctionally unique species in the structure of the Monte Desert woods and the genetic structure ofalgarrobo species., This research was funded by the Loro Parque Fundación (grant reference: PP-146-2018-1).

As tecnologias são um importante aliado para promover o envelhecimento saudável. Nesse contexto, a realidade virtual vem sendo utilizada como um recurso de apoio para o treinamento e avaliação do equilíbrio. O objetivo da pesquisa é desenvolver um jogo digital em realidade virtual que possa auxiliar na reabilitação virtual dos idosos. A pesquisa caracteriza-se como um estudo do tipo design science research. Houve três grupos de participantes em momentos distintos da pesquisa. Primeiramente, foi feito um grupo focal exploratório para auxiliar na sistematização de diretrizes. Depois, foi feito um grupo focal confirmatório para validar o checklist proposto. Por fim, estava prevista uma verificação com um grupo de participantes com mais de 60 anos que iriam testar e avaliar o artefato proposto. No entanto, não foi possível realizá-la em virtude da pandemia de Covid-19. Os instrumentos para a coleta de dados foram: card sorting, entrevista semiestruturada, observação e checklist. Foi feita uma revisão de literatura a fim de levantar um conjunto de diretrizes para a reabilitação virtual de idosos. Foi aplicada a atividade de card sorting para sistematizar o conjunto de diretrizes em quatro categorias, sendo eles: terapia, motivação, interação e segurança. A partir disso, foi proposto um checklist que visa orientar a construção de um artefato digital. Finalmente, a ferramenta proposta foi utilizada para nortear o projeto e desenvolvimento de um jogo digital em realidade virtual para auxiliar na reabilitação virtual do público sênior. Technologies are an important ally to promote healthy aging. In this regard, virtual reality has been used as a supporting feature for balance training and evaluation. The objective of the research is to develop a virtual reality game in order to contribute to the virtual rehabilitation of the elderly. The research is described as a study of design science research type. There were three groups of participants at different moments of the research. At first, it was conducted an exploratory focus group to assist in the systematization of guidelines. Secondly, it was accomplished by a confirmatory focus group to validate the proposed checklist. Lastly, an evaluation was planned with a group of participants over 60 years of age, who would test and evaluate the proposed artifact. However, it was not possible to carry it out due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The assessment tools were: card sorting, semi-structured interview, observation and checklist. A bibliographic review was carried out in order to raise a set of guidelines for the virtual rehabilitation of the elderly. The card sorting activity was applied to systematize a set of guidelines in four criteria, including: therapy, motivation, interaction and safety. Based on that, a checklist was proposed to orientate the construction of a digital artifact. Finally, the proposed tool was used to guide the design and development of a digital game in virtual reality to assist the virtual rehabilitation of the senior user.

Background: Diets combine food types according to some trade-offs, as for example maximising nutrients and minimising toxins. But some diets include elements because of their activity against the host parasites and other pathogens. This so-called medicinal role of food is under-reported in the literature, either because toxic elements in diets of livestock and wildlife are infrequent, or because their activity against parasites and pathogens has not been fully documented. We contribute to fill this knowledge gap by testing the activity of extracts and essential oils from Papaver rhoeas and Echium plantagineum against a selection of laboratory pathogens. These plants are strongly selected by great bustards Otis tarda during the mating season. Results: During this season we found a significantly higher frequency of P. rhoeas in male than in female faeces. The activity of different extracts of these plants against some laboratory models including a flagellated protozoan (Trichomonas gallinae), a nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) and a fungus (Aspergillus niger) was evaluated. We found activity against nematodes and trichomonads in non-polar and polar extracts of the aerial parts of P. rhoeas, especially the extracts of flowers and capsules, and E. plantagineum, especially the extracts of leaves and flowers.Conclusions: Both plants showed anti-parasitic activity, a result compatible with the hypothesis that great bustards eat plants for non-nutritional purposes, likely to assist them in coping with parasites and other pathogens, and P. rhoeas could be especially helpful for males during the mating season, when their immune system is weakened by the investment in secondary sexual characters and sexual display. The self-medication properties of plants and animals included in diets should be considered in studies of foraging behaviour, habitat selection, and even conservation biology of wildlife.

Methylation in CpG sites of the PPARGC1A gene (encoding PGC1-&alpha, ) has been associated with adiposity, insulin secretion/sensitivity indexes and type 2 diabetes. We assessed the association between the methylation profile of the PPARGC1A gene promoter gene in leukocytes with insulin secretion/sensitivity indexes in normoglycemic women. A standard oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and an abbreviated version of the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) were carried out in n = 57 Chilean nondiabetic women with measurements of plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide. Bisulfite-treated DNA from leukocytes was evaluated for methylation levels in six CpG sites of the proximal promoter of the PPARGC1A gene by pyrosequencing (positions -816, -783, -652, -617, -521 and -515). A strong correlation between the DNA methylation percentage of different CpG sites of the PPARGC1A promoter in leukocytes was found, suggesting an integrated epigenetic control of this region. We found a positive association between the methylation levels of the CpG site -783 with the insulin sensitivity Matsuda composite index (rho = 0.31, p = 0.02) derived from the OGTT. The CpG hypomethylation in the promoter position -783 of the PPARGC1A gene in leukocytes may represent a biomarker of reduced insulin sensitivity after the ingestion of glucose.

International audience; Nest predation is a major cause of reproductive failure in birds, but predator identity often remains unknown. Additionally, although corvids are considered major nest predators in farmland landscapes, whether breeders or floaters are involved remains contentious. In this study, we aimed to identify nest predators using artificial nests, and test whether territorial or non-breeders carrion crow (Corvus corone) and Eurasian magpie (Pica pica) were most likely involved. We set up an experiment with artificial ground nests (n = 1429) in farmland landscapes of western France, and assessed how different combinations of egg size and egg material (small plasticine egg, large plasticine egg, quail and natural hen eggs) might influence predation rates and predator species involved. Nest predators were identified using remotely triggered cameras and marks left in plasticine eggs. Corvids were by far the predators most involved (almost 80% of all predation events), independent of egg type. Carrion crows alone were involved in 60% of cases. Probability of predation increased with egg size, and predation rate was higher for natural than for artificial eggs, suggesting that, in addition to egg size, predators might perceive plasticine and natural eggs differently. Predation rates of artificial nests by corvids were related significantly to corvid abundance, and far more to breeder than floater abundances, for both carrion crows and magpies. This study emphasizes the importance of identifying predators at species level, and considering their social status when assessing corvid abundance impact on prey population dynamics. Combining camera traps and plasticine eggs can achieve this objective. Given the high predation rate by carrion crows, a better understanding of landscape-mediated changes in predator diet seems mandatory to design mitigation schemes able to confront ecological challenges raised by generalist predators.

espanolObjetivo: analizar los retos y oportunidades que enfrentan las instituciones en la implementacion del Decreto 1421 de 2017 del Ministerio de Educacion de Colombia, mediante acompanamiento tecnico-pedagogico, el cual se desarrollo en un colegio publico rural de Santander. El problema aborda la exclusion escolar desde las dificultades para implementar la normativa que orienta la atencion de personas con discapacidad en el marco de la educacion inclusiva. Metodo: investigacion cualitativa, de alcance descriptivo y experimental, de tipo investigacion-accion practica. Estrategias: realizando el analisis del discurso con base en las dimensiones para el mejoramiento institucional de politicas, practicas y cultura. Originalidad: el proceso permitio la identificacion de factores que facilitan y dificultan la provision de un servicio de calidad para todos, minimizando el problema de la exclusion y facilitando la construccion y actualizacion de procesos institucionales. Conclusiones: los resultados permitieron identificar los retos y oportunidades que se presentan en el camino de la educacion inclusiva, los procesos de acompanamiento sistematizados y adaptados al contexto, desarrollados con tiempos suficientes y liderados por los miembros de la comunidad impactan directamente en el sistema educativo, generando dinamicas y reformas que favorecen el acceso, la permanencia y la calidad educativa de todos los estudiantes. EnglishTaking into account the importance of the processes of inclusive education in the Colombian context and how the incorporation of new practices preceded by the diffusion of the norm, can generate conflicts within the educational community, the objective of this work was to analyze the challenges and opportunities that the institutions face in the implementation of Decree 1421 of 2017 of the Ministry of Education of Colombia, it was developed in a rural public school in the department of Santander through a technical-pedagogical support. The problem addresses the school exclusion regarding the difficulties of implementing the norm that guide the care of people with disabilities within the framework of inclusive education. The research was carried out under the qualitative methodological approach, descriptive and experimental, of a research-practical action type. There was applied the discourse analysis based on the dimensions for the institutional improvement of policies, practices, and culture. The process allowed the identification of factors that can facilitate or can hinder the provision of a quality of service for all, minimizing the problem of exclusion and making easier the construction of institutional processes in an updated way. This research concludes that to face the challenges and opportunities that arise on the path of inclusive education, the systematized accompanying processes and adapted to the context, developed during enough period of time and lead for the members of communities impact directly in the educational system, developing new dynamics and reforms to be part of, the stay and quality of all students. portuguesConsiderando a importância dos processos da educacao inclusiva no contexto colombiano e como a implementacao de novas praticas precedidas pela difusao da norma podem gerar tensoes dentro da comunidade educacional, o objetivo do presente trabalho consistiu em analisar os desafios e possibilidades que enfrentam as instituicoes na implementacao do Decreto 1421 de 2017 do Ministerio da Educacao da Colombia, mediante acompanhamento tecnico-pedagogico, o qual se desenvolveu em um colegio publico rural do estado de Santander. O problema aborda a exclusao escolar desde as dificuldades para implementar a normativa que orienta a atencao de pessoas com deficiencia no marco da educacao inclusiva. A pesquisa se desenvolveu sob o enfoque metodologico qualitativo, de forma descritiva e experimental, de tipo pesquisa-acao pratica, realizando a analise do discurso com base nas dimensoes para aprimoramento institucional de politicas, praticas e cultura. O processo permitiu a identificacao de fatores que facilitam e dificultam a prestacao de um servico de qualidade para todos, minimizando o problema da exclusao e facilitando a construcao e atualizacao de processos institucionais. Essa pesquisa conclui que para afrontar os desafios e possibilidades que se apresentam no caminho para a construcao de uma educacao inclusiva, os processos de acompanhamentos sistematizados e adaptados ao contexto, desenvolvidos com tempos suficientes e liderados pelos membros das comunidades, impactam diretamente no sistema educativo, gerando novas dinâmicas e reformas que favorecem o acesso, a permanencia e a qualidade educativa de todos os estudantes.

[Aims]: Seed dispersal by endozoochory is an important process in plant regeneration and the establishment of new populations. Seeds with dormancy may especially benefit after disperser gut passage. However, the ways in which gut passage affect the germination of plant species with physiological dormancy remain unclear. Here, we experimentally assessed the mutualistic interaction between the Austral parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus) as a disperser of calafate (Berberis microphylla), a thorny bush inhabiting the understory of the Austral temperate forests of South America with seeds that are characterized by deep physiological dormancy., [Methods]: Germination success and viability of calafate seeds obtained from faeces and from intact fruits were tested under four treatments: (i) digested seeds, (ii) digested seeds with faecal extract, (iii) intact seeds from fruit and (iv) intact seeds from fruit with pulp., [Important]: Findings About 65% of the Austral parakeet droppings contained calafate seeds. Viability of seeds did not differ between treatments. However, germination was significantly higher in digested seeds than in intact seeds from fruits, while no difference was found between faecal and pulp extracts. Neither faecal matter nor fruit pulp provided seeds with any ecological advantages derived from enhancing germinability, but did confer some disadvantage in germination time. Faecal matter is expected to be completely lacking around seeds after several months under snow before germinating in the following spring, given intense washing due to persistent rain and the spring thaw in the Patagonian Andes. The higher germinability along with faster germination of digested seeds supports the hypothesis of a legitimate mutualistic interaction between Austral parakeets and calafate. We hypothesized that the passage through the disperser digestive tract might break physiological dormancy as differences in germinability between ingested and non-ingested seeds. Our results highlight the relevant role of endozoochory in plant species with physiological dormancy living in highly seasonal environments., K.S. and S.A.L. were funded by the projects PICT 2015-2072 and PICT 2018-1623.

Establishing whether herb seed endozoochory is accidental or has evolved independently or in combi-nation with other dispersal mechanisms may be valuable in the study of plant–animal interactions, but it remains unexplored for birds. We tested whether an Australian cockatoo, the galah (Eolophus roseicapilla), swallows entire seeds when feeding on other tissues without subsequent seed digestion, thus enhancing seed dispersal (the ‘foliage is the fruit’ hypothesis). Our preliminary sampling provides strong evidence supporting that this seed predator also acts as a legitimate endozoochorous disperser. A large proportion of droppings contained numerous seeds of six herb species of three plant families, surviving gut passage to be dispersed as viable propagules. The wide range in the number of seeds found in combinations with up to five species in particular droppings suggests both simultaneous and sequential passive ingestion without seed digestion and/or focused seed predation and digestion. As expected for inadvertent ingestion and inefficient digestion, our findings suggest that seed number and richness of dispersed plants are associated traits in this particular mutualistic interaction. This relationship can have important implications in community-wide processes, favouring herbs whose seeds are disseminated in a viable state over those predated or negatively affected by gut transit., We thank J. Griffith and the owners of Artemis Station for help in the fieldwork and Fundacion Repsol for funding. Adam Lovas-Kiss was supported by the Janos Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and by the New National Excellence Programme of the Ministry of Human Capacities (UNKP-19-4-DE-172).

O aumento da população senescente no Brasil e no mundo implica ações específicas para satisfazer às necessidades e preferências do público idoso. Nesse contexto, novas tecnologias de intervenção baseadas nos jogos digitais têm sido utilizadas para promover a prática de atividade física com o propósito de prevenir o declínio funcional em idosos. Entretanto, torna-se necessário desenvolver produtos interativos que levem em consideração as exigências e aspirações desse grupo de usuários. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi demonstrar a aplicação do Desdobramento da Função Qualidade (QFD) na definição e priorização de requisitos de projeto para o desenvolvimento de jogos digitais para os idosos. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo de caso com três idosos frequentadores do projeto de extensão do Centro de Estudos de Lazer e Atividade Física do Idoso (Celari) da Escola de Educação Física (ESEF) da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Os procedimentos para a realização da pesquisa foram: estratégia de divulgação, seleção dos participantes e distribuição aleatória dos grupos, coleta de dados (pré-teste) e Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido (TCLE), realização da intervenção e coleta de dados (pós-teste) e análise dos dados. Os resultados mostram que a utilização do método QFD possibilitou: i. obtenção de um conjunto de requisitos de usuário; ii. obtenção de um conjunto priorizado de requisitos de projeto; iii. análise das relações de conflito entre os requisitos técnicos do projeto; iv. análise dos produtos concorrentes. As conclusões indicam que os achados dessa pesquisa podem, eventualmente, contribuir para orientar o desenvolvimento de um jogo digital utilizando a interface natural para o público de usuários idosos. The increase in the elderly population in Brazil and in the world implies specific actions to meet the needs and preferences of the elderly. In this context, new digital game-based intervention technologies have been used to promote the practice of physical activity aiming at preventing functional decline in the elderly. However, it is necessary to develop interactive products that take into account the needs and aspirations of this user’s group. The objective of this paper was to demonstrate the application of Quality Function Deployment (QFD) in the definition and prioritization of design requirements for the development of digital games for the elderly. For this purpose, a case study was accomplished with three older people goers of the extension project of the Center of Studies of Leisure and Physical Activity for the Elderly (Celari) from the School of Physical Education (ESEF), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). The proceedings for the accomplishment of the research were: dissemination strategy, selection of the participants, random allocation of the groups, data collection (pre- test) and Informed Consent Form, accomplishment of the intervention and data collection (post- test) plus results analysis. The results show the use of the QFD method allowed: i. obtaining a set of customer’s requirements; ii. obtaining a prioritized set of design requirements; iii. analysis of relations of conflict between the technical requirements of the project; iv. analysis of the competing products. The conclusions indicate the findings of this research may contribute to orientate the development of a digital game using the natural user interface for the audience of elderly users.

Intra-specific coloration polymorphism coupled with an ancient process of lineage differentiation in Berberomeloe majalis (Linnaeus, 1758) offers the opportunity to analyse the temporal scenario in which the correlation between toxicity and coloration might have evolved. Based on phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses, we identified the timing for the split between red-striped and entirely black morphotypes of B. majalis. To evaluate whether coloration patterns and toxicity are related in this species, we quantified the concentration of cantharidin across morphotypes and phylogeographic lineages. Phylogenetic analyses based on cox1 mitochondrial DNA sequences recovered three major clades where both morphotypes were intermingled, indicating a multiple homoplastic origin for the entirely black coloration. Our analyses showed that cantharidin content did not differ between morphs of B. majalis; however, it significantly increased in haemolymph in females kept isolated from males, which reveals the females’ ability either to concentrate cantharidin towards haemolymph or to synthesize cantharidin themselves. Lack of monophyly and absence of genetic isolation in both morphotypes favour the hypothesis of a recent homoplastic phenomenon to explain the loss of the striped pattern. Our phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses show that changes in coloration are recent, suggesting that the ancient pressures that fixed and maintained red-striped colorations are no longer acting today on B. majalis. The absence of change in cantharidin content (i.e. entirely black and red-striped specimens are equally poisonous) suggests that the evolution of colour polymorphisms in B. majalis is probably decoupled from toxicity., CGL2010-15786, CGL2008-02567, CGL2012-36345, y CGL2015-66571-P

How animals use food resources according to their relative availability is essential for our understanding and predictions of ecosystem interaction. Non-linear functions between use and availability are described with the feeding functional response, a key tool to describe such functions that is still poorly understood in some cases. For example, in species with a marked sexual size dimorphism it is not clear how such non-linear functions differ between males and females. Here, we used likelihood methods and model selection to model non-linear functions in legume use by male and female great bustards (Otis tarda) based on diet composition data from droppings. The great bustard shows the highest sexual size dimorphism among birds, and it has opportunistic and generalist foraging habits, with a strong selection for legumes. Simple functional-response models described the proportion of legumes in great bustard droppings as a non-linear function of legume availability. Functional response type II fitted to data better than type III in autumn and winter, whereas in spring, type III was the best-fitted model, describing a dietary switch of great bustards feeding on legumes. The best-fitted functional response included an effect of sex in the asymptote of the curve; the female diet included a higher proportion of legumes than the male diet, suggesting a possible effect of sexual size dimorphism. We concluded that great bustards behaved as opportunistic foragers, whose sexual size dimorphism might play a role in the functional response to legumes., This study was supported by the Spanish Administration (grant numbers CGL2005-04893, CGL2008-02567, CGL2012-36345 and CGL2017-87206-P; AEI/FEDER, UE) and HENARSA-CSIC contract. The first author would like to thank Spanish SEPE from Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance for its funding support.

Hyperglycaemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are associated with impaired insulin secretion and/or insulin action. Since few studies have addressed the relation between DNA methylation patterns with elaborated surrogates of insulin secretion/sensitivity based on the intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT), the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between DNA methylation and an insulin sensitivity index based on IVGTT (calculated insulin sensitivity index (CSi)) in peripheral white blood cells from 57 non-diabetic female volunteers. The CSi and acute insulin response (AIR) indexes, as well as the disposition index (DI = CSi &times, AIR), were estimated from abbreviated IVGTT in 49 apparently healthy Chilean women. Methylation levels were assessed using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450k BeadChip. After a statistical probe filtering, the two top CpGs whose methylation was associated with CSi were cg04615668 and cg07263235, located in the catenin delta 2 (CTNND2) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) genes, respectively. Both CpGs conjointly predicted insulin sensitivity status with an area under the curve of 0.90. Additionally, cg04615668 correlated with homeostasis model assessment insulin-sensitivity (HOMA-S) and AIR, whereas cg07263235 was associated with plasma creatinine and DI. These results add further insights into the epigenetic regulation of insulin sensitivity and associated complications, pointing the CTNND2 and LPL genes as potential underlying epigenetic biomarkers for future risk of insulin-related diseases.