Exploring the utility of Geometric Morphometrics to analyse prehistoric hand stencils.

Hand stencils are a remarkable graphic expression in Prehistoric rock art, dating back to 42 ka BP. Although these stencils provide direct impressions of the artists' hands, the characterization of their biological profile (i.e., biological sex and age) is very challenging. Previous studies have attempted this analysis with traditional morphometrics (TM), whereas little research has been undertaken using Geometric Morphometrics (GM), a method widely used in other disciplines but only tentatively employed in rock art studies. However, the large variation in relative finger position in archaeological hands poses the question of whether these representations can be examined through GM, or, in contrast, if this creates an unmanageable error in the results. To address this issue, a 2D hand scans sample of 70 living individuals (F = 35; M = 35) has been collected in three standardized positions (n = 210) and digitized with 32 2D conventional landmarks. Results show that the intra-individual distance (mean Procrustes distance between Pos. 1-2 = 0.132; 2-3 = 0.191; 1-3 = 0.292) is larger than the inter-individual distance (mean in 1 = 0.122; 2 = 0.142; 3 = 0.165). Finally, it has been demonstrated that the relative finger positions, as well as the inclusion of all hand parts in the analysis, have an overshadowing effect on other variables potentially involved in the morphometric variability of the hand, such as biological sex.

Genotype by feed interaction for feed efficiency and growth performance traits in pigs.

A major objective of pork producers is to reduce production cost. Feeding may account for over 75% of pork production costs. Thus, selecting pigs for feed efficiency (FE) traits is a priority in pig breeding programs. While in the Americas, pigs are typically fed high-input diets, based on corn and soybean meal (CS); in Western Europe, pigs are commonly fed diets based on wheat and barley with high amounts of added protein-rich coproducts (WB), e.g., from milling and seed-oil industries. These two feeding scenarios provided a realistic setting for investigating a specific type of genotype by environment interaction; thus, we investigated the genotype by feed interaction (GxF). In the presence of a GxF, different feed compositions should be considered when selecting for FE. This study aimed to 1) verify the presence of a GxF for FE and growth performance traits in different growth phases (starter, grower, and finisher) of 3-way crossbred growing-finishing pigs fed either a CS (547 boars and 558 gilts) or WB (567 boars and 558 gilts) diet; and 2) to assess and compare the expected responses to direct selection under the 2 diets and the expected correlated responses for one diet to indirect selection under the other diet. We found that GxF did not interfere in the ranking of genotypes under both diets for growth, protein deposition, feed intake, energy intake, or feed conversion rate. Therefore, for these traits, we recommend changing the diet of growing-finishing pigs from high-input feed (i.e., CS) to feed with less valuable ingredients, as WB, to reduce production costs and the environmental impact, regardless of which diet is used in selection. We found that GxF interfered in the ranking of genotypes and caused heterogeneity of genetic variance under both diets for lipid deposition (LD), residual energy intake (REI), and residual feed intake (RFI). Thus, selecting pigs under a diet different from the diet used for growing-finishing performance could compromise the LD in all growth phases, compromise the REI and RFI during the starter phase, and severely compromise the REI during the grower phase. In particular, when pigs are required to consume a WB diet for growing-finishing performance, pigs should be selected for FE under the same diet. Breeding pigs for FE under lower-input diets should be considered, because FE traits will become more important and lower-input diets will become more widespread in the near future.

Genetic correlations between feed efficiency traits, and growth performance and carcass traits in purebred and crossbred pigs.

Selection for feed efficiency (FE) is a strategy to reduce the production costs per unit of animal product, which is one of the major objectives of current animal breeding programs. In pig breeding, selection for FE and other traits traditionally takes place based on purebred pig (PB) performance at the nucleus level, while pork production typically makes use of crossbred animals (CB). The success of this selection, therefore, depends on the genetic correlation between the performance of PB and CB (rpc) and on the genetic correlation (rg) between FE and the other traits that are currently under selection. Different traits are being used to account for FE, but the rpc has been reported only for feed conversion rate. Therefore, this study aimed 1) to estimate the rpc for growth performance, carcass, and FE traits; 2) to estimate rg between traits within PB and CB populations; and 3) to compare three different traits representing FE: feed conversion rate, residual energy intake (REI), and residual feed intake (RFI). Phenotypes of 194,445 PB animals from 23 nucleus farms, and 46,328 CB animals from three farms where research is conducted under near commercial production conditions were available for this study. From these, 22,984 PB and 8,657 CB presented records for feed intake. The PB population consisted of five sire and four dam lines, and the CB population consisted of terminal cross-progeny generated by crossing sires from one of the five PB sire lines with commercially available two-way maternal sow crosses. Estimates of rpc ranged from 0.61 to 0.71 for growth performance traits, from 0.75 to 0.82 for carcass traits, and from 0.62 to 0.67 for FE traits. Estimates of rg between growth performance, carcass, and FE traits differed within PB and CB. REI and RFI showed substantial positive rg estimates in PB (0.84) and CB (0.90) populations. The magnitudes of rpc estimates indicate that genetic progress is being realized in CB at the production level from selection on PB performance at nucleus level. However, including CB phenotypes recorded on production farms, when predicting breeding values, has the potential to increase genetic progress for these traits in CB. Given the genetic correlations with growth performance traits and the genetic correlation between the performance of PB and CB, REI is an attractive FE parameter for a breeding program.

Teor de metionina + cistina para codornas de corte do nascimento aos 21 dias de idade / Total methionine + cystine level for European quail from hatch to 21 days of age

Estudou-se o efeito do teor de metionina + cistina sobre o desempenho de codornas de corte durante a fase inicial (nascimento ao 21° dia). Foram utilizadas 360 codornas, de ambos os sexos, distribuídas em delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso. Os tratamentos consistiram em seis níveis de metionina + cistina total (0,86; 0,96; 1,06; 1,16; 1,26 e 1,36), quatro repetições e 15 aves por unidade experimental. As características avaliadas foram o peso corporal, ganho de peso, consumo e conversão alimentar para fase inicial. Observou-se efeito quadrático significativo do teor de metionina + cistina sobre todas as variáveis avaliadas do nascimento ao 21° dia de idade, sendo observado melhor desempenho nas codornas alimentadas com 1,21% de metionina + cistina para peso corporal e ganho de peso, 1,36% de metionina + cistina para consumo e 1,1% de metionina + cistina para conversão alimentar. A exigência de metionina + cistina para máximo ganho de peso na fase inicial é de 1,21%.

The effect of total methionine + cystine level on the performance traits of European quails during the initial phase of the growth period (from hatch to 21 days of age) was evaluated in a completely randomized experimental design with six levels of total methionine + cystine (.86; .96; 1.06; 1.16;1.26;1.36), with four replicates and 15 quails per experimental unit. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed: weight gain ratio were evaluated. Significant quadratic effects of total methionine + cystine level on the performance traits recorded from hatch to 21 days of age were observed. Highest body weight and weight gain were estimated for quails fed 1.21% total methionoine + cystine diets, lowest feed intake was estimated for quails fed 1.36% diets and best feed: weight gain ratio was estimated for quails fed 1.1% total methionoine + cystine diet. The total methionine + cystine requirement for weight gain from hatch to 21 days of age is 1.21%.

Características de carcaça de codornas de corte EV1 alimentadas com diferentes níveis de metionina+cistina total / Carcass traits of EV1 quail strain fed different methionine+cystine level diets

O peso e o rendimento das carcaças de codornas de corte da linhagem EV1 foram avaliados no 35° dia de idade em delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, com os tratamentos consistidos de um fatorial 2 x 6, ou seja, dois sexos e seis níveis de metionina+cistina totais (0,73; 0,79; 0,85; 0,91; 0,97 e 1,03%), quatro repetições e 12 aves por unidade experimental. Foram avaliados peso corporal, peso e rendimento de carcaça, peito, coxa, asas, vísceras comestíveis e gordura abdominal. Não houve efeito da interação sexo x nível de metionina das dietas para nenhuma das variáveis analisadas. Houve efeito quadrático dos níveis de metionina+cistina sobre peso corporal, carcaça, peito, coxa, asa e coração, com pontos de máximo em 0,93% para peso corporal, carcaça, peito e coxa; 0,90% para peso de asa e 0,92% para peso de coração. O peso de fígado aumentou de forma linear à medida que foram aumentados os níveis de metionina+cistina das dietas. Os níveis de metionina+cistina da dieta influenciaram de forma quadrática nos rendimentos de peito e asas, com pontos de máximo estimados para codornas alimentadas com dietas contendo 0,96% e 0,98% de metionina+cistina, respectivamente. O maior rendimento de moela foi obtido nas codornas alimentadas com 0,73% de metionina+cistina. O peso corporal de carcaça, peito, coxa, asa, fígado, moela e o rendimento de fígado nas fêmeas foram maiores que nos machos. A exigência de metionina+cistina para pesos de carcaça e peito é 0,93%, e para rendimento de peito 0,96%...

Carcass weight and yield of European quail strain EV1 were evaluated at 35 days of age in a completely randomized experimental design, with the treatments consisting of a 2 x 6 factorial combination, two sexes and six different methionine+cystine levels of diets (.73; .79; .85; .91; .97 and 1.03%), with four replicates and 12 quails per experimental unit. Body weight, weights and yields of carcass, breast, thigh, wing and, edible giblets and abdominal fat were recorded. Significant and quadratic effect of methionine+cystine level on body weight, weights of carcass, breast, thigh and heart were observed with estimated maximum of body weight and weights of carcass, breast and thigh for quails fed .93% methionine+cystine diets, .90% for wing weight and .92% for heart weight. Increasing and linear response of liver weight to methionine+cystine level of diet was estimated while breast and wing yields showed quadratic responses with estimated maximum for quails fed .96% and .98% methionine+cystine level diets. Higher gizzard yield was observed for quails fed .73% diets. Higher body weight, and weights of carcass, thigh, wing, liver, gizzard and liver yields were estimated for females. Methionine+cystine requirement for quail carcass and breast weights is .93% and for breast yield .96%...

Teor de metionina + cistina total para codornas de corte do grupo genético EV2 durante o período de crescimento / Total methionine + cystine diet content for EV2 strain of European quail during the growing period

Avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes porcentagens de inclusão de metionina + cistina sobre o desempenho de codornas de corte durante as fases inicial - nascimento ao 21º dia - e total de criação - nascimento a 35º dia de idade. Foram utilizadas 288 codornas, de ambos os sexos, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com seis porcentagens de inclusão de metionina + cistina total, 0,73; 0,79; 0,85; 0,91; 0,97 e 1,03%, quatro repetições e 12 aves por unidade experimental. As variáveis avaliadas foram peso corporal, ganho de peso, consumo e conversão alimentar do nascimento ao 21º dia e do nascimento ao 35º dia de idade. Verificou-se efeito quadrático da inclusão do nascimento ao 21º dia de idade para todas as características avaliadas, observando melhor desempenho com 0,97% de metionina + cistina para peso corporal e ganho de peso, e 0,96% para consumo e conversão alimentar. Houve efeito quadrático da adição nível de metionina + cistina do nascimento ao 35º dia de idade para peso corporal, ganho de peso e consumo alimentar, com melhor desempenho com 0,95; 0,95 e 0,96%, respectivamente. A exigência de metionina + cistina para máximo ganho de peso na fase inicial foi de 0,97%, e para fase total de criação 0,95%.

The effect of total methionine + cystine on performance of European quail EV2 strain during two phases of the growth period (from hatch to 21 days and from hatch to 35 days of age) were evaluated in a completely randomized experimental design, with six levels of methinine + cystine (.73; .79; .85; .91; .97 and 1.03), four replicates and 12 quails per experimental unit. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed:weight gain ratio were recorded from hatch to 21 days and from hatch to 35 days of age. The quadratic effect of methionine + cystine was observed for all traits measured from hatch to 21 days of age. Highest body weight and weight gain were estimated for quails fed .95% methionine + cystine diets, while better feed intake and feed:weight gain ratio were estimated for those fed .96% diets. The quadratic effects of methionine + cystine levels on body weight, weight gain and feed intake were also observed from hatch to 35 days of age, with estimated highest performance for quails fed .95%; .95%;and .96% diets, respectively. Methionine + cystine requirement for EV2 strain is .97% from hatch to 21 days of age and .97% from hatch to 35 days of age.

Exigência de metionina + cistina para codornas de corte durante a fase de crescimento / Methionine + cystine requirement for European quail during the growing phase

Estudou-se o efeito de diferentes níveis de metionina+cistina sobre o desempenho de codornas de corte durante a fase inicial (nascimento ao 21º dia) e fase total de criação (nascimento ao 35º dia de idade). Foram utilizadas 288 codornas, de ambos os sexos, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. Os tratamentos consistiram de seis níveis de metionina+cistina total (0,73; 0,79; 0,85; 0,91; 0,97 e 1,03 por cento), quatro repetições e doze aves por unidade experimental. Os parâmetros avaliados foram peso corporal, ganho de peso, consumo e conversão alimentar para fase inicial e total de criação. Observou-se efeito quadrático significativo do nascimento ao 21º dia de idade para todos os parâmetros avaliados, sendo observado melhor desempenho nas codornas alimentadas com 0,95 por cento de metionina+cistina para peso corporal e ganho de peso, e 0,94 por cento para consumo e conversão alimentar. Houve efeito quadrático do nível de metionina+cistina do nascimento ao 35º dia de idade para peso corporal, ganho de peso e consumo alimentar, com melhores desempenhos nos níveis de 0,93; 0,93 e 0,94 por cento, respectivamente. A exigência de metionina+cistina para máximo ganho de peso na fase inicial é de 0,95 por cento, e para fase total de criação é de 0,93 por cento.

The effect of the methionine+cystine level on the performance of European quail during two phases in the growing period (from hatch to 21 days of age and from hatch to 35 days of age) was evaluated in a completely randomized experimental design with six levels of total methionine+cystine (.73; .79; .85; .91; .97 and 1.03 percent), and four replicates and 12 quails per experimental unit. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed:weight gain ratio were evaluated in both phases. Significant and quadratic effects of methionine+cystine on the performance traits recorded from hatch to 21 days of age were observed. The highest body weight and weight gain and lowest feed intake and feed:weight gain ratio were estimated for quails fed .95 percent and .94 percent diets. Significant and quadratic effects of metionine+cystine on body weight, weight gain and feed intake from hatch to 35 days of age were estimated for quails fed .93 percent; .93 percent; and .94 percent diets, respectively. Weight gain methioninine+cystine requirement from hatch to 21 days is .95 percent, and from hatch to 35 days of age is .93 percent.

Accumulation of trace elements in the peripheral and central parts of two species of epiphytic lichens transplanted to a polluted site in Portugal.

This paper compares the dynamics, i.e. the rates of change in element concentrations of young and older lichen thallus parts, of one foliose and one fruticose lichen, during a transplant experiment to a polluted site. Both lichen parts respond to environmental changes. Here, differential accumulation suggests that differential constitution leads to differential uptake and release, and/or the overall behaviour is partly due to internal translocation and regulation mechanisms within the whole lichen. For thallus parts, internal translocation should be taken into account as one more factor affecting lichen "memory length". Young parts of the thallus presented higher rates of change, but different lichen parts accumulate different elements to different extents. Therefore tissue selection in monitoring may depend on the element of interest, and cannot be made into a generalized approach in survey set-ups: the choice depends on the element.

Bioaccumulation behaviour of transplants of the lichen Flavoparmelia caperata in relation to total deposition at a polluted location in Portugal.

This experiment compares the short and long time element accumulation behaviour of transplants of Flavoparmelia caperata lichen thalli and total deposition in an atmospheric polluted area. It was found that lichens exposed for a short time behaved differently from lichens in cumulative exposition suggesting the presence of acclimatization behaviour. The lichen transplant elemental content does not unequivocally represent the average or cumulative environmental availability of the exposure period. Reflection characteristics depend on the element and the lichen physiological conditions. Good correlations between lichen elemental contents and total deposition were obtained when a physiological lichen parameter was introduced in a mathematical model, suggesting that metabolically mediated accumulation is important.

Criteria used to judge obese persons in the workplace.

Researchers have speculated that employers are less likely to hire obese persons for more publicly visible jobs, although this hypothesis remains untested. In the present study, 54 undergraduate students rated 40 jobs on several items, including the likelihood they would hire an obese person for each job. Multidimensional scaling showed a one-dimensional solution, labeled as physical activity, with participants less likely to hire obese persons for more active jobs. For hiring likelihood ratings for jobs at either end of the dimension appear to be most similar for men and individuals with more positive attitudes toward obese persons versus women and individuals with more negative attitudes toward obese persons. Implications for both theory and practice are discussed.