Vectorial Competence of Larvae and Adults of Alphitobius diaperinus in the Transmission of Salmonella Enteritidis in Poultry

Introduction: The ingestion of food products originating from poultry infected with Salmonella spp. is one of the major causes of food poisoning in humans. The control of poultry salmonellosis is particularly difficult since birds are asymptomatic and numerous factors may expedite the maintenance of bacteria in poultry production facilities. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the vectorial capacity of adults and larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in the experimental transmission of Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4 to 1-day-old specific pathogen-free White Leghorn chicks. Methods: Adult insects and larvae were starved for 1 day, fed for 24 h or 7 days on sterile ration that had been treated with Salmonella Enteritidis phage type 4, and the levels of bacterial infection were determined. Infected adult insects and larvae were fed to groups of day-old chicks, after which bacteria were recovered from cecum, liver, and spleen samples over a 7-day period. Results: Infected larvae were more efficient than adult insects in transmitting Salmonella Enteritidis to chicks. Higher concentrations of bacteria could be reisolated from the cecum, liver, and spleen of chicks that had ingested infected larvae compared with those that had ingested infected adults. Conclusions: The control of A. diaperinus, and particularly of the larvae, represents a critical factor in the reduction of Salmonella spp. in poultry farms.

Effect of Hormonal Supplementation Periods and In Vitro Maturation Media on Developmental Competence of Pig Oocytes

Background: The oocyte ability to undergo successful fertilization, cleavage and embryonic development depends on meiotic maturation and developmental competence acquisition. In vitro maturation (IVM) protocols currently use eCG, hCG or a combination of both, the effect of these gonadotrophins during IVM and subsequent embryonic development is still controversial. Several media have been used for IVM of porcine oocytes: TCM199, Whitten's and NCSU23 have also been shown to support pig oocyte IVM. This study was designed to determine the effect of hormonal supplementation period and maturation media during in vitro maturation of pig oocytes (1) and subsequent embryonic development (2). Materials, Methods & Results: Oocytes with intact cumulus oophurus layers and homogeneous cytoplasm were collected from prebubertal gilts. IVM was subjected in NCSU23, TCM199 or Whitten's media supplemented with 10 IU/mL eCG and 10 IU/mL hCG for the first 24 or 48 h of IVM. In each replicate the oocytes were fixed every 4 h from 32 to 48 h IVM or the past 48 h after IVM, oocytes were fertilized in vitro in mTBM medium for six hours and cultured in NCSU23 medium for nine days. Cleavage, blastocyst and hatching rates were evaluated at 48 h (day 2), 168 h (day 7) and 216 h (day 9), respectively. The addition of eCG and hCG during the first 24 h IVM increased the proportion of oocytes that reached MII stage at 44 h of maturation in NCSU23 medium. This effect was also observed in Whitten medium at 44 and 48 h (P < 0.05). However, it was not observed in the TCM199 medium. No effect of maturation medium on oocyte nuclear maturation (P > 0.05) was observed in oocytes matured in the presence of eCG and hCG during the first 24 h IVM or during 48 h IVM. A progressive increase of maturation indexes was observed on oocytes matured with hormonal supplementation in Whitten media for 24 h. Higher indexes were obtained at 44 and 48 h. When NCSU23 media was used, no difference after 36 h of maturation was observed. The same result was observed in TCM199. A progressive increase of maturation indexes was observed on oocytes matured with hormonal supplementation for 48 h in Whitten media. Higher indexes were obtained in 36 and 40 h. When NCSU23 or TCM199 were used, no difference was observed. No effect of IVM media on the percentage of fertilized oocytes and polyspermic oocytes or number of spermatozoa per fertilized oocytes was observed. Also, no effect of IVM media on cleavage and blastocyst rates was seen. However, the proportion of hatched blastocysts was lower in NCSU23 compared to Whitten or TCM199. Discussion: Similar results were reported by Marques et al. [13], that it no differences between hormonal supplementation for 22 or 44 h were observed. Therefore, more studies are needed to elucidate the role of these hormones in nuclear in vitro maturation in pig oocytes. In conclusion, no effect of maturation media on meiotic progression was observed. However, the proportion of oocytes that reached metaphase II (MII) stage was higher when eCG + hCG were added for 24 h than 48 h mainly at the 44 h of maturation. In addition, no differences were observed in cleavage and blastocyst rates of the cultured embryos. However, embryos cultured in NCSU23 showed lower rates of hatching compared to other media. These results indicated no effect of maturation media on the fertilization and embryonic development even in the presence of cysteine, PFF and EGF, except for hatched embryos that these rates were lower in NCSU23.

The ethical component of professional competence in nursing: An analysis

The purpose of this article is to initiate a philosophical discussion about the ethical component of professional competence in nursing from the perspective of Brazilian nurses. Specifically, this article discusses professional competence in nursing practice in the Brazilian health context, based on two different conceptual frameworks. The first framework is derived from the idealistic and traditional approach while the second views professional competence through the lens of historical and dialectical materialism theory. The philosophical analyses show that the idealistic view of professional competence differs greatly from practice. Combining nursing professional competence with philosophical perspectives becomes a challenge when ideals are opposed by the reality and implications of everyday nursing practice.

Tiering strategic environmental assessment and project environmental impact assessment in highway planning in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Constructing highways in dense urban areas is always a challenge. In Sao Paulo Metropolitan Region, heavy truck traffic contributes to clog streets and expressways alike. As part of the traffic neither originates nor head to the region, a peripheral highway has been proposed to reduce traffic problems. This project called Rodoanel, is an expressway approximately 175 km long. The fact that the projected south and north sections would cross catchments that supply most of the metropolis water demand was strongly disputed and made the environmental permitting process particularly difficult. The agency in charge commissioned a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of a revamped project, and called it the Rodoanel Programme. However, the SEA report failed to satisfactorily take account of significant strategic issues. Among these, the highway potential effect of inducing urban sprawl over water protection zones is the most critical issue, as it emerged later as a hurdle to project licensing. Conclusion is that, particularly where no agreed-upon framework for SEA exists, when vertical tiering with downstream project EIA is sought, then a careful scoping of strategic issues is more than necessary. If an agreement on `what is strategic` is not reached and not recognized by influential stakeholders, then the unsettled conflicts will be transferred to project EIA. In such a context, SEA will have added another loop to the usually long road to project approval. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Strategic alignment and performance: Brazilian companies in the medical diagnostics sector

A gap has been identified in the literature on the diagnosis and monitoring of the degree of strategic alignment. The main objective of this article is to diagnose and analyze the strategic alignment profile using the alignment diagnostic profile (ADP) tool, which enables organizations to show visually their degree of strategic alignment. The methodological approach adopted is multiple-case studies, which were conducted at five organizations in the medical diagnostics sector. The results indicate that the ADP enables organizations to understand the steps required to improve their level of alignment and to identify and locate gaps and conflicts.

Mapping the Contemporary Studies on Alliances and Strategic Networks

The competition among the companies depends on the velocity and efficience they can create and commercialize knowledge in a timely and cost-efficient manner. In this context, collaboration emerges as a reaction to the environmental changes. Although strategic alliances and networks have been exploited in the strategic literature for decades, the complexity and continuous usage of these cooperation structures, in a world of growing competition, justify the continuous interest in both themes. This article presents a scanning of the contemporary academic production in strategic alliances and networks, covering the period from January 1997 to august 2007, based on the top five journals accordingly to the journal of Citation Report 2006 in the business and management categories simultaneously. The results point to a retraction in publications about strategic alliances and a significant growth in the area of strategic. networks. The joint view of strategic alliances and networks, cited by some authors a the evolutionary path of study, still did not appear salient. The most cited topics found in the alliance literature are the governance structure, cooperation, knowledge transfer, culture, control, trust, alliance formation,,previous experience, resources, competition and partner selection. The theme network focuses mainly on structure, knowledge transfer and social network, while the joint vision is highly concentrated in: the subjects of alliance formation and the governance choice.

Cattle Grazing Distribution and Efficacy of Strategic Mineral Mix Placement in Tropical Brazilian Pastures

A study was conducted in Brazil to identify factors affecting grazing distribution of yearling Nelore cross heifers and to evaluate the efficacy of placement of a salt-mineral mix away from water to improve uniformity of grazing. Two pastures (25 ha and 42 ha) were evaluated for four 15-d sessions. Mineral mix was placed 590 m to 780 m from water during two sessions and at water for two sessions. Stubble heights were measured at the beginning and end of each session in 1-ha subunits of each pasture. Cattle locations were recorded oil clay 13 and 14 of each session by horseback observers. Heifers avoided areas with a preponderance of forbs and taller grass (P < 0.001). For the first 15 days of the study cattle avoided subunits farther from water. Thereafter, horizontal distance from water had no affect on grazing use (P > 0.10). Stubble height reduction was more uniform (P < 0.05) when the mineral mix was Lit water compared to away from water. In contrast, heifers spent less time farther from water when Mineral mix was placed at water (P = 0.02) based Oil Visual observations. Strategic placement of a salt-mineral mix away from water does not appear to be a reliable tool to improve cattle grazing distribution in humid tropical pastures from 25 ha to 45 ha in size.

The game to play: expanding the co-opetition proposal through the strategic games matrix

Purpose - Using Brandenburger and Nalebuff`s 1995 co-opetition model as a reference, the purpose of this paper is to seek to develop a tool that, based on the tenets of classical game theory, would enable scholars and managers to identify which games may be played in response to the different conflict of interest situations faced by companies in their business environments. Design/methodology/approach - The literature on game theory and business strategy are reviewed and a conceptual model, the strategic games matrix (SGM), is developed. Two novel games are described and modeled. Findings - The co-opetition model is not sufficient to realistically represent most of the conflict of interest situations faced by companies. It seeks to address this problem through development of the SGM, which expands upon Brandenburger and Nalebuff`s model by providing a broader perspective, through incorporation of an additional dimension (power ratio between players) and three novel, respectively, (rival, individualistic, and associative). Practical implications - This proposed model, based on the concepts of game theory, should be used to train decision- and policy-makers to better understand, interpret and formulate conflict management strategies. Originality/value - A practical and original tool to use game models in conflict of interest situations is generated. Basic classical games, such as Nash, Stackelberg, Pareto, and Minimax, are mapped on the SGM to suggest in which situations they Could be useful. Two innovative games are described to fit four different types of conflict situations that so far have no corresponding game in the literature. A test application of the SGM to a classic Intel Corporation strategic management case, in the complex personal computer industry, shows that the proposed method is able to describe, to interpret, to analyze, and to prescribe optimal competitive and/or cooperative strategies for each conflict of interest situation.

Adoption of Strategic Alliances by Shoes Industries of the Vale do Rio dos Sinos-RS and Franca-SP clusters: an exploratory study

The new environment of the companies, result of the relative opening of the market caused by the globalization has set a new challenge to assure the continuity of the businesses. Competitive strategies have been implemented aiming to overcome such challenge and, amongst them, strategic alliances have shown to be a viable alternative. In this context, this article has as objective to investigate the degree of use of strategic alliances by the medium and large companies of the shoes industries located in clusters of Vale do Rio dos Sinos (RS) and Franca (SP). This exploratory and descriptive research had the participation of 54 companies, being 3 from Vale do Rio dos Sinos and 21 from Franca, which answered a questionnaire with closed questions. The analysis of the data was given through descriptive statistics. Main conclusions, follow as: (1) the majority of the companies have joint activities; (2) the companies are nearer to alliances that do business than to the strategic ones; (3) alliances with competitors are inexpressive - suppliers and customers predominate; (4) the control of alliances result is insufficient; (5) trust and adequate partner are determinative factors.

Personal Values as Basis for Strategic Segmentation: a study with Professionals from Sao Paulo

An important segmentation basis used by firms is related to consumers` personal values which are investigated in this study. It was used a descriptive research with the survey method of data collection in a sample of executives from Sao Paulo who are considered to be potential buyers of high value and innovative goods. An exploratory factor analysis was employed in order to reduce the values scale used and a cluster analysis was performed to identify the groups of executives according to the importance attached to different person values. Concluding, it was observed that there was a similarity among the three personal values dimensions, named as Civility (concerns about having a good conduct before society according to social rules of interaction), Self-Direction (intellectual aspects and practical orientation in their conducts) and Conformity (restriction of actions, inclinations and impulses, that are likely to harm others and would violate expectations) and the ones reported in the theory Rokeach`s theory about instrumental personal values. Furthermore, three groups of executives were identified (good conduct group, low restriction group and high restriction group). The differences observed in the importance of personal values here presented by the dimensions called Civility, Self-Direction and Conformity can lead to different buying behaviors and product preferences. From the results found in this study the companies could adapt their current and new products offers, as well as their communication in order to better serve these segments of executives from Sao Paulo.

The low fertility of repeat-breeder cows during summer heat stress is related to a low oocyte competence to develop into blastocysts

It was hypothesized the lower fertility of repeat-breeder (RB) Holstein cows is associated with oocyte quality and this negative effect is enhanced during summer heat stress (HS). During the summer and the winter, heifers (H; n = 36 and 34, respectively), peak-lactation (PL; n = 37 and 32, respectively), and RB (n = 36 and 31, respectively) Holstein cows were subjected to ovum retrieval to assess oocyte recovery, in vitro embryonic developmental rates, and blastocyst quality [terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and total cell number]. The environmental temperature and humidity, respiration rate, and cutaneous and rectal temperatures were recorded in both seasons. The summer HS increased the respiration rate and the rectal temperature of PL and RB cows, and increased the cutaneous temperature and lowered the in vitro embryo production of Holstein cows and heifers. Although cleavage rate was similar among groups [H = 51.7% +/- 4.5 (n = 375), PL = 37.9% +/- 5.1 (n = 390), RB = 41.9% +/- 4.5 (n = 666)], blastocyst rate was compromised by HS, especially in RB cows [H = 30.3% +/- 4.8 (n = 244) vs. 23.3% +/- 6.4 (n = 150), PL = 22.0% +/- 4.7 (n = 191) vs. 14.6% +/- 7.6 (n = 103), RB = 22.5% +/- 5.4 (n = 413) vs. 7.9% +/- 4.3 (n = 177)]. Moreover, the fragmentation rate of RB blastocysts was enhanced during the summer, compared with winter [4.9% +/- 0.7 (n = 14) vs. 2.2% +/- 0.2 (n = 78)] and other groups [H = 2.5% +/- 0.7 (n = 13), and PL = 2.7% +/- 0.6 (n = 14)] suggesting that the association of RB fertility problems and summer HS may potentially impair oocyte quality. Our findings provide evidence of a greater sensitivity of RB oocytes to summer HS.

Strategic maxillary second-molar extraction in Class II malocclusion

Maxillary second-molar extraction in Class II malocclusion is a controversial issue in orthodontics. This treatment protocol is rigorous and not routine. In this case report, we present the orthodontic treatment of a patient with a Class II malocclusion, maxillary crowding, and no mandibular first molars, treated with extraction of the maxillary second molars. The mechanotherapy and indications of maxillary second- molar extraction are discussed. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2009;136:878-86)

A retrospective model of oocyte competence: global mRNA and housekeeping transcripts are not associated with in vitro developmental outcome

Oocyte developmental competence depends on maternal stores that support development throughout a transcriptionally silent period during early embryogenesis. Previous attempts to investigate transcripts associated with oocyte competence have relied on prospective models, which are mostly based on morphological. criteria. Using a retrospective model, we quantitatively compared mRNA among oocytes with different embryo development competence. A cytoplasm biopsy was removed from in vitro matured oocytes to perform comparative analysis of amounts of global polyadenylated (polyA) mRNA and housekeeping gene transcripts. After parthenogenetic activation of biopsied oocytes, presumptive zygotes were cultured individually in vitro and oocytes were classified according to embryo development: (i) blocked before the 8-cell stage; (ii) blocked between the 8-cell and morulae stages; or (iii) developed to the blastocyst stage. Sham-manipulated controls confirmed that biopsies did not alter development outcome. Total polyA mRNA amounts correlate with oocyte diameter but not with the ability to develop to the 8-cell and blastocyst stages. The last was also confirmed by relative quantification of GAPDH, H2A and Hprt1 transcripts. In conclusion, we describe a novel retrospective model to identify putative markers of development competence in single oocytes and demonstrate that global mRNA amounts at the metaphase II stage do not correlate with embryo development in vitro.

Cytoplasmic maturation of bovine oocytes: Structural and biochemical modifications and acquisition of developmental competence

Oocyte maturation is a long process during which oocytes acquire their intrinsic ability to support the subsequent stages of development in a stepwise manner, ultimately reaching activation of the embryonic genome. This process involves complex and distinct, although linked, events of nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation. Nuclear maturation mainly involves chromosomal segregation, whereas cytoplasmic maturation involves organelle reorganization and storage of mRNAs, proteins and transcription factors that act in the overall maturation process, fertilization and early embryogenesis. Thus, for didactic purposes, we subdivided cytoplasmic maturation into: (1) organelle redistribution, (2) cytoskeleton dynamics, and (3) molecular maturation. Ultrastructural analysis has shown that mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, cortical granules and the Golgi complex assume different positions during the transition from the germinal vesicle stage to metaphase II. The cytoskeletal microfilaments and microtubules present in the cytoplasm promote these movements and act on chromosome segregation. Molecular maturation consists of transcription, storage and processing of maternal mRNA, which is stored in a stable, inactive form until translational recruitment. Polyadenylation is the main mechanism that initiates protein translation and consists of the addition of adenosine residues to the 3` terminal portion of mRNA. Cell cycle regulators, proteins, cytoplasmic maturation markers and components of the enzymatic antioxidant system are mainly transcribed during this stage. Thus, the objective of this review is to focus on the cytoplasmic maturation process by analyzing the modifications in this compartment during the acquisition of meiotic competence for development. (c) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.