A espécie recente Eira barbara (Mustelidae, Carnivora) possui uma distribuição geográfica desde o México até o norte da Argentina. É um importante táxon a ser estudado como modelo anatômico dentre os mustelídeos, assim como um importante modelo para uma melhor compreensão e entendimento sobre a diversificação dos Mustelidae. Atualmente, os registros fósseis de E. barbara na América do Sul são bastante escassos e restritos às idades pleistocênicas, sendo que os estudos destes fósseis são frequentemente desprovidos de maiores esforços para realização de descrições morfológicas detalhadas e de estudos paleobiogeográficos. Assim como os estudos dos fósseis de E. barbara são limitados, constatou-se que o mesmo cenário é observado quanto aos estudos sobre a morfologia e biogeografia da espécie. Desta forma, o presente trabalho se propôs a: realizar uma revisão de todos os registros da espécie e de uma forma geral, contribuir para um melhor conhecimento sobre a morfologia sincraniana e sobre a história biogeográfica e paleobiogeográfica de E. barbara. Para tanto, os seguintes objetivos foram propostos: estudo e redescrição detalhada do fóssil UFAC-PV 036, proveniente do Pleistoceno final do Alto Rio Juruá do sudoeste da Amazônia Brasileira; descrição sincraniana comparada de estruturas morfológicas externas e internas, analisando caracteres intraespecíficos da espécie E. barbara; realização de análises multivariadas a fim de investigar variações geográficas sob o uso de caracteres craniométricos de E. barbara entre os diferentes biomas brasileiros. A revisão dos registros fósseis foi de grande importância para o estabelecimento dos verdadeiros registros de Eira na América do Sul e a redescrição de UFAC-PV 36 contribui para o melhor conhecimento morfológico e paleobiogeográfico da espécie. A descrição morfológica comparada do sincrânio de E. barbara contribui de forma significativa para o conhecimento sobre a morfologia da espécie bem como, a descrição de caracteres intraespecíficos proporcionam caracteres mais apropriados em matrizes morfológicas, fornecendo maior robustez nas análises filogenéticas futuras. Este trabalho propõe que E. barbara não possui diferenças craniométricas estatisticamente significativas entre os biomas brasileiros, porém, E. barbara caracteriza-se aqui como uma espécie dimórfica, na qual os machos possuem estruturas cranianas relativamente maiores do que as fêmeas. / The recent species Eira barbara (Mustelidae, Carnivora) has a geographic distribution from Mexico to northern Argentina. It is an important taxon to be studied as an anatomical model for the mustelids, as well as an important model for a better understanding of the diversification of the Mustelidae. Currently, the fossil record of E. barbara in South America is scarce and restricted to the Pleistocene, while the studies of these fossils frequently lack greater efforts to perform detailed morphological descriptions and paleobiogeographic studies. Besides limited studies of fossil E. barbara, it was established that the same scenario is seen for the studies on the morphology and biogeography of the species. Thus, this work proposed to: perform a review of all records of the species and, in general, to contribute to a better understanding of the sincranian morphology and the biogeographic and paleobiogeographic studies of E. barbara. In order to achieve this, the following objectives were proposed: study and detailed redescription of the fossil UFAC PV-036 from the Late Pleistocene of Upper Juruá River of the southwest of Brazilian Amazon; compared sincranian description of external and internal morphological structures, analyzing intraspecific characters of extant E. barbara; performance of multivariate analysis to investigate geographical variations on the use of craniometric characters of E. barbara between different Brazilian biomes. The review of the fossil record was of great importance for the establishment of the actual records of the species in South America, while the redescription of UFAC PV-36 contributes to a better anatomical and paleobiogeographic knowledge of the species. The morphological description of the sincranium of E. barbara contribute significantly to the knowledge of the morphology of the species, as much as the description of intraspecific variation provides more appropriate morphological characters in matrices, providing greater robustness in futures phylogenetic analysis. This work proposes that E. barbara does not have statistically significant craniometric differences among Brazilian biomes; however, E. barbara is characterized here as a dimorphic species in which the males have cranial structures relatively larger than the females.

Ecpleopus gaudichaudii Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae) distribuída pelas áreas do Domínio da Mata Atlântica brasileira, é atualmente considerada monotípica. A espécie possui uma aparente homogeneidade morfológica e carece de estudos moleculares e osteológicos na literatura. No presente estudo, faz-se uma análise aprofundada sobre a morfologia do grupo (caracteres quantitativos e qualitativos) e os padrões de variação exibidos através de sua distribuição. Também é feita uma análise das diferenças moleculares em relação ao gene mitocondrial citocromo B entre as diversas populações amostradas. E, por fim, é apresentada uma descrição óssea da espécie. São reconhecidas duas linhagens diferentes com base em uma combinação dos dados morfológicos e moleculares. Os dados moleculares apontam ainda, que a real diversidade do grupo pode ser maior do que aquela demonstrada pelos caracteres morfológicos. Para a determinação da real complexidade taxonômica do grupo faz-se necessários novos testes e estudos de novos genes que permitam uma clarificação melhor das relações entre as populações e linhagens reconhecidas. / Ecpleopus gaudichaudii (Squamata, Gymnophthalmidae), distributed over areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Domain, is the only species allocated in the genus. Despite its apparently homogeneous morphology, morphological and molecular studies approaching the several populations througout the distribution of this species are lacking in the literature. In this study, we provide a thorough morphological analysis involving external features (quantitative and qualitative characters) and osteology of a sample including 183 specimens of Ecpleopus gaudichaudii, in order to assess the patterns of variation throughout its distribution. In addition, a preliminary analysis of molecular differences regarding mitochondrial cytochrome B gene among the populations is also provided. Two different groups are recognized based on a combination of morphological and molecular data. The molecular data also indicate that the actual diversity of the group may be greater than that shown by morphological characters. The ellucidation of the relationships among the populations, as well as of the taxonomy of the group, depends on further studies of molecular approach focusing nuclear and more mithocondrial genes. The results of these studies may provide more solid grounds to future taxonomic reformulations.

This study examines the economic indicator known as business climate in relation to the state level rates of child poverty. A theoretical framework is constructed which presents arguments that are opposed to and in favor of a robust business climate. Those in favor would contend that business climate is not associated with the variation in child poverty, whereas those opposed would claim that it has a negative association with the economic well-being of children. This research is cross-sectional (year 2000) and relies upon variables at the state level. Bivariate analysis indicates that there is a significant positive correlation between business climate and child poverty. However, when other factors are taken into account, such as family structure and geographic location, this relationship disappears. Therefore, the study concludes that there is not a negative association between promoting the business climate of a state and the economic wellbeing of children.

No description available.

No description available.

Invasive species often encounter climatic conditions that differ significantly from those of their native range. These environmental shifts may trigger phenotypic responses, resulting through some combination of adaptation and plasticity, that enable the invader to persist under novel thermal regimes. In this dissertation, I examine phenotypic changes in a tropical lizard that has successful invaded a cooler temperate climate, specifically examining traits that may promote survival and reproduction in their new range. First, I examined physiological traits, as I predicted greater cold tolerance would be necessary to survival in the invasive range. I found that invasive populations tolerated lower temperatures, exhibited greater maximum sprint speeds, and had higher metabolic rates than native populations. Next, I examined how life-history traits may change in the invasive range in order to facilitate reproduction under shorter breeding and growing seasons. I found that compared to native females, invasive females had shorter interlaying intervals and produced eggs that hatched more quickly. Once I quantified changes physiological and life-history traits that may have aided in successful establishment, I executed a common garden study to determine whether changes were the result of adaptation or plasticity. I found that differences in critical thermal minimum, metabolic rate, interlaying interval, and incubation period were maintained in lab-reared offspring, while measures of sprint speed converged. My results provide evidence that life history and physiology can evolve rapidly during invasion. These findings are useful to understanding contemporary evolution, and also provide valuable insight on how species respond to environmental shifts, both during invasions and as a result of climate change. / Doctor of Philosophy / When species invade a new area, they often face different climates that make can make survival and reproduction challenging. In response, species may alter traits in order to adjust to new temperatures and conditions. In this dissertation, I examine trait changes in a tropical lizard that has successfully invaded a cooler temperate climate, specifically examining traits that may help them to survive and reproduce in their new range. First, I examined physiological traits, as I predicted greater cold tolerance would be necessary to survival in the invasive range. I found that invasive populations tolerated lower temperatures, could sprint faster, and had higher metabolism than native populations. Next, I examined how reproductive traits may change in the invasive range in order to facilitate reproduction under shorter breeding and growing seasons. I found that compared to native females, invasive females had less time between egg lays and produced eggs that hatched more quickly. Once I assessed how traits may have changed in the new range, I determined whether changes resulted from evolution or not. I found that differences in low temperature tolerance, metabolic rate, the time between egg lays, and incubation period were the result of evolution, while sprint speed did not seem to be the result of evolution. My results provide evidence that traits can evolve rapidly during invasion, allowing invasive species to persist and spread in new areas.

Understanding how floral traits covary with one another and with mating patterns is an important step in understanding how and why mating systems evolve. I examined the evolution of floral and mating system variation in Camissoniopsis cheiranthifolia (Onagraceae), a species that exhibits divergence in key floral traits expected to be associated with variation in the relative importance of outcrossing vs. self-fertilization. I combined geographic surveys of floral variation with genetic estimates of the proportion of seeds outcrossed (t) and confirmed that t covaried with corolla width and herkogamy in a predictable way both within and among populations. I then performed geographic surveys, manipulative experiments and genetic analyses to evaluate the potential role that; inbreeding depression (ID), interactions between flowers, pollinators and florivores, and reproductive assurance (RA) may have played in shaping and/or maintaining the geographic pattern of mating system variation in this species. The main selective factor maintaining outcrossing in large flowered (LF) populations appears to be ID, which was much stronger in LF compared to small flowered (SF) populations. These results are also consistent with purging of ID in SF populations. Increased selfing appeared to alleviate pollen limitation (PL) because it was associated with higher and less variable fruit set and reduced florivory by a microlepidopteran. However, evidence that florivores preferentially attacked larger flowers was equivocal. LF experienced stronger PL than SF populations suggesting that one condition for the evolution of selfing via RA is met in outcrossing populations. Floral emasculation experiments revealed that the timing of selfing also covaried with flower size among and within populations. SF self-pollinate before flowers open but LF do not, suggesting that selfing evolved in response to chronic outcross PL. Negative side effects of emasculation were detected which prevented a clear interpretation of the RA value of selfing. Given that much of what is known about RA comes from emasculation experiments, my results suggest that the assumptions of this approach, which are rarely verified, require more serious consideration. Taken together my results suggest that C. cheiranthifolia has evolved multiple stable mixed mating systems perhaps in response to selection for RA. / Thesis (Ph.D, Biology) -- Queen's University, 2012-12-30 14:13:46.366

The present thesis focuses on Czech allergology and clinical immunology by studying this branch of health care in a geographic variation framework while using methods of spatial econometrics. This has been the first work with such focus. District-level data on care provision and utilization in 2012 are used. It is found that there exist geographical differences between provision and utilization and that the geographical distribution of allergists and clinical immunologists does not correspond to population's needs. Care utilization is modeled using a spatial autoregressive model specification. Based on this model, it is concluded that a shortage of physicians in the majority of districts actually limits care utilization. Also based on the utilization model, there is a discussion about the potential need for policy coordination. Care provision cannot be modeled using explanatory variables that are available, therefore, future data collection is necessary. However, it was found that variables influencing the need for care by patients do not influence care provision per physician. JEL Classification I11, I14, I19 Keywords geographic variation, Czech, allergology, clinical immunology, ACI, spatial model Author's e-mail 18702440@fsv.cuni.cz Supervisor's e-mail michal.paulus@fsv.cuni.cz

In host-parasitoid systems, there is a continuous coevolutionary arms race where each species imposes a strong selection pressure on the other. The host needs to develop defence strategies in order to escape parasitism and the parasitoid must evolve counter-defence strategies in order to overcome the host’s immune defence and successfully reproduce. This makes host-parasitoid systems excellent model systems for understanding evolutionary processes underlying host race formation and speciation. In order to gain a better understanding of the complexity of host-parasitoid interactions several aspects must be considered, such as search behaviour and host selection in the parasitoid, the development of immune responses in the host and counter-defence strategies in the parasitoid. In this thesis, I investigate interactions and coevolution in a natural host-parasitoid system, consisting of five species of Galerucella leaf beetles and three species of Asecodes parasitoids, by combining behavioural ecology with chemical ecology and immunology. In the studies performed, I found that pheromone production and responses in the beetles are connected to the phylogenetic relatedness between the Galerucella species (Paper I). I found no evidence that Asecodes exploits the adult pheromone to locate host larvae, but observed an ability in the parasitoids to distinguish a better host from a less suitable one based on larval odors (Paper II). The studies also revealed large differences in immune competence between the Galerucella species, which were linked to differences in hemocyte composition in the beetle larvae (Paper III, IV). Further, the results suggest that parasitism success in polyphagous Asecodes is strongly affected by former host species of the parasitoid (Paper IV). In conclusion, the results of this thesis suggest an on-going evolution in both parasitoid virulence and host immune responses in the Asecodes-Galerucella system. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: Manuscript. Paper 4: Manuscript.</p>

Background: Statins have questionable benefits among older adults with life-limiting illness. Statin use is widespread among U.S. older adults, but little is known about use in nursing homes. This dissertation was designed to identify the prevalence and predictors of statin pharmacotherapy use and discontinuation in U.S. nursing homes. Methods: Data sources (2011-2016) included: Minimum Data Set 3.0, Medicare administrative claims data, Provider of Service files, and Dartmouth Atlas files. Analyses included: descriptive statistics, multilevel modeling, and proportional change in cluster variations with adjustments to reduce confounding and model misspecification. Results: Approximately 36% of older adults admitted to U.S. nursing homes between 2015 – 2016 were actively using statins at the time of admission. Among long-stay residents with life-limiting illness, 34% were on statins at one time (2016; aged 65-75 years: 44%, >75 years: 31%). Statin use varied significantly by hospital referral regions, with most variation in the >75 age group. Limiting the sample to statin users, 20% discontinued statins within 30 days of nursing home admission. While discontinuation was positively associated with severity of life-limiting condition, the majority of residents remained on statins 30 days post-admission, including those with a < 6-month prognosis. Conclusion: Statin use is pervasive across US nursing homes and persists with life-limiting illness. Geographic variation appeared to coincide with clinical uncertainty, especially among adults >75 with few national guidelines. More needs to be done to prioritize statin deprescribing in nursing homes with research that identifies ways to facilitate improved patient-provider awareness and engagement in the discontinuation process.