The use of the quality model of Parasuraman, Zeithaml and Berry in health services

This is an article about the theoretical model for assessing quality in health services proposed by Parasuraman, Zheitaml and Berry, in order to measure the degree of satisfaction of users. This model is based on the analysis of expectations and perceptions of users of health services, by means of five dimensions: tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. From the difference between what is expected by the user and the service offered, gaps or shortcomings are derived that may be the main obstacle for users to perceive the provision of such services with quality. It was observed that the use of the psychometric scale called Service Quality (SERVQUAL) in some studies about satisfaction, obtained very favorable results in the institutions in which it was employed. The analysis revealed the need to improve the existing models of evaluation, as well as the importance of measuring user satisfaction in health institutions.

Influence of age and diet on the performance of Cephalonomia stephanoderis (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) a parasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

The importance of age and feeding on the performance of Cephalonomia stephanoderis (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae), a parasitoid of the coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) was investigated in the laboratory. Groups of female parasitoids were subject to the following treatments: a group fed during one, five and ten days after emergence of adults with coffee borer larvae; another group fed only with honey solution during five days after emergence; and as a control, a third group was kept without food for five days. At the end of each treatment, survivorship, parasitoid activity (walking and flying capacity in an arena), search capacity for finding coffee borer-infested berries, host feeding and oviposition (on immature hosts), were assessed. Unfed females showed a significant decrease in survivorship compared to individuals that were fed. The type of meal (insects or honey) did not significantly influence parasitoid activity, search and oviposition capacities. Females fed with honey solution significantly consumed less immature coffee borers. Younger females (one day old) walked and flew out of the arena significantly faster than older ones (5 and 10 days old). Implications of these results are discussed on the performance of C. stephanoderis as a biological control agent of the coffee berry borer.

Color of berry and juice of 'Isabel' grape treated with abscisic acid in different ripening stages

Abstract : The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of (S)-cis-abscisic acid (S-ABA) application at different ripening stages, in increasing phenolic compounds and color of berry and juice of 'Isabel' grape (Vitis labrusca). The evaluated treatments were: control, without S-ABA application; 400 mg L-1S-ABA applied 7 days before veraison (DBV) + 400 mg L-1S-ABA at 35 days after first application (DAFA); 400 mg L-1S-ABA applied at veraison (V) + 400 mg L-1S-ABA at 35 DAFA; and 400 mg L-1S-ABA applied 7 days after veraison (DAV) + 400 mg L-1S-ABA at 35 DAFA. There was no difference among treatments regarding the physical characteristics of berries and clusters, as well as total polyphenols in berry and juice. However, there was an increase in total anthocyanins in berry and juice with S-ABA application. Colorimetric variables indicated the increase in color of berry treated with S-ABA. Juices produced from grapes treated with S-ABA were more appreciated by tasters. The treatments with 400 mg L-1S-ABA applied 7 days before, during, or 7 days after veraison, combined with an additional application 35 days after the first one, increment total anthocyanin concentration and color of berry and juice of 'Isabel' grape, with better juice acceptance, without affecting total polyphenol concentration.

Effect of extracts from citric biomass, rusted coffee leaves and coffee berry husks on Phoma costarricencis of coffee plants

Phoma leaf spot, caused by Phoma costarricensis poses a serious threat to coffee (Coffea arabica) production, especially in the highlands of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Extracts of citric biomass, coffee berry husks and coffee leaves severely affected by rust caused by Hemileia vastatrix, were evaluated against P. costarricensis. In an in vitro assay, aqueous extracts of rusted leaves and berry husks plus the commercial extracts based on citric biomass named Ecolife® and Agromil® were tested at various dilutions on the mycelial growth inhibition of P. costarricensis. In vivo, coffee seedlings maintained in glasshouse, were sprayed with these extracts seven days before inoculation of P. costarricensis. Only extracts from citric biomass had inhibitory effects on the fungus. In vivo, Ecolife® (5 ml/l), Agromil® (5 g/l) and the aqueous extract of rusted coffee leaves (dilution 1:6) reduced Phoma leaf spot. Both, Ecolife® and the extract of rusted coffee leaves were significantly more effective in reducing the area under the lesion progress curve when applied at lower doses, indicating a possible effect on the induction of resistance.

Mechanical behavior of 'Niagara Rosada' grape berry detachment

The 'Niagara Rosada' grape is the main Brazilian table grape belonging to the Labrusca family. It develops medium, cylindrical and compact bunches with berries presenting a pinkish skin and a foxy flavor that is valued in the Brazilian market. These berries are tender and have a pedicel-berry connection provided by the vascular bundles and surrounding skin. This cultivar is very susceptible to berry drop mainly caused by vibration and senescence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal mechanical behavior of the pedicel-berry detachment, using resistance indexes extracted from traction force-deformation curves. Test results showed two different detachment types. In the first one, which exhibited higher average resistance, a considerable portion of the vascular bundle came out attached to the pedicel and in the second type; the vascular bundle was retained inside the berry. The proposed indexes based on maximum detachment force, force at 0.2; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.2 mm, and maximum force to corresponding deformation ratio did not discriminate the senescence of the berry.

Estudo das relações anatomocirúrgicas entre os nervos laríngeos recorrentes e o ligamento de Berry

OBJETIVO: Estudar as relações anatômicas do nervo laríngeo recorrente (NLR) com o ligamento de Berry (LB), e assinalar as diferentes formas de apresentação das relações entre essas duas estruturas. MÉTODOS: Estudo realizado a partir da dissecção cervical anterior de 22 cadáveres, nos anos de 2009 e 2010, com estabelecimento das frequências de apresentações anatômicas das relações entre o NLR e o ligamento de Berry, na seguinte categorização: Tipo I ou intraligamentar: o nervo e/ou seus ramos eram visualizados na substância conjuntiva do ligamento; Tipo IIA ou lateral: nervo e/ou seus ramos apresentavam-se laterais ao ligamento; Tipo IIB ou lateral justaligamentar: nervo e/ou seus ramos estavam laterais e em contato com o ligamento, sem penetrá-lo; Tipo III ou medial: nervo e/ou seus ramos eram visualizados após a dissecção completa do ligamento em direção látero-medial. RESULTADOS: O estudo analisou 41 NLR, sendo: oito (19,5%) do Tipo I; 20 (48,8%) do Tipo IIA; cinco (12,2%) Tipo IIB e oito (19,5%) do Tipo III. Dos 19 (86,3%) NLR dissecados bilateralmente no mesmo cadáver, 11 (57,8%) eram discordantes em relação ao outro lado do pescoço quanto à classificação. CONCLUSÃO: Pela sua proximidade com o NLR e pelas variáveis anatômicas dessa topografia, o ligamento de Berry não deve ser considerado um parâmetro seguro para reparo e preservação do nervo laríngeo recorrente, não sendo recomendada a dissecção indiscriminada látero-medial do ligamento, sem a visualização direta do nervo.

Zinc supplementation, production and quality of coffee beans

Besides its importance in the coffee tree nutrition, there is almost no information relating zinc nutrition and bean quality. This work evaluated the effect of zinc on the coffee yield and bean quality. The experiment was conducted with Coffea arabica L. in "Zona da Mata" region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Twelve plots were established at random with 4 competitive plants each. Treatments included plants supplemented with zinc (eight plots) and control without zinc supplementation (four plots). Plants were subjected to two treatments: zinc supplementation and control. Yield, number of defective beans, beans attacked by berry borers, bean size, cup quality, beans zinc concentration, potassium leaching, electrical conductivity, color index, total tritable acidity, pH, chlorogenic acids contents and ferric-reducing antioxidant activity of beans were evaluated. Zinc positively affected quality of coffee beans, which presented lower percentage of medium and small beans, lower berry borer incidence, lower potassium leaching and electrical conductivity, higher contents of zinc and chlorogenic acids and higher antioxidant activity in comparison with control beans.

As espécies de Croton L. sect. Cyclostigma Griseb. e Croton L. sect. Luntia (Raf.) G. L. Webster subsect. Matourenses G. L. Webster (Euphorbiaceae s.s.) ocorrentes na Amazônia brasileira

Como parte de uma revisão taxonômica das espécies de Croton L. na Amazônia brasileira, estudou-se as seguintes espécies de Croton sect. Cyclostigma Griseb. e Croton sect. Luntia (Raf.) G. L. Webster subsect. Matourenses G. L. Webster: Croton urucurana Baill., C. draconoides Müll. Arg., C. trombetensis R. Secco, P. E. Berry & N.A. Rosa, C. sampatik Müll. Arg., C. palanostigma Kl., C. pullei Lanj. e C. matourensis Aubl. O estudo foi baseado em trabalho de campo realizado nos Estados do Pará e Maranhão, e em material depositado nos herbários IAN, INPA, MG e RB, incluindo tipos. Algumas dessas espécies, como C. urucurana, C. draconoides, C. palanostigma e C. sampatik , são frequentemente encontradas nos herbários com identificações equivocadas. São discutidas a posição taxonômica das espécies nas seções e suas afinidades, e uma chave dicotômica e ilustrações foram elaboradas para um melhor entendimento dos táxons.

Sombreamento dos cafèzais I.: resultados de três ciclos bienais (1953/1958) obtidos na escola "Luiz de Queiroz"

The present paper discusses the data obtained in shade and unshaded coffee plots at Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The results, analysed statistically, can be summarized as follows: a) unshaded plots produced 17% more than shaded ones; b) the percentage of coffee berry borer infestation was higher in shaded plots as compared with unshaded ones; c) the percentage of green (not ripened fruits) depends of the harvest time. When the harvest was retarded, the percentage of green fruits was higher in the shaded plots. When the percentage of green fruits was the same, both in shaded and unshaded plots, the percentage of ripened was higher and the percentage of dried fruits was lesser in the shaded plots as compared with unshaded ones; d) other comparisons as production of dried grains by the field fruits, relation between dried fruits and dried grains and cup-test by expert coffee-taster, did not show differences among shaded and unshaded plots.

Sombreamento dos cafèzais II: resultados do 4.° biênio (1959/1960)

This paper deals with data obtained in 1959 and 1960 in shaded and unshaded coffee plots at Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The results can be summarized as follows: a) the production, in shaded and unshaded plots, did not show differences statisticaly significant; b) the percentage of coffee berry borer infestation was higher in shaded plots as compared with unshaded ones; c) the percentage of green, ripened and dry fruits depends of the year and of the harvest time. In the same harvest time, both for shaded and for unshaded plots the percentages in the shaded plots were higher for green fruits and lesser for ripened and dry fruits; d) coffee fruits brought from the field in the harvest time yielding up in unshaded plots as compared with shaded ones; e) the relation grains/dry fruits was better in shaded plots.

Sombreamento dos cafezais: III - Resultados do 5º biênio (1961/1962)

This paper deals with data obtained in 1961 and 1962 in shaded and unshaded coffee plots at Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The results can be summarized as follows: a - the production, in shaded and unshaded plots, did not show differences statistically significant; b - the percentage of coffee berry borer infestation was higher in shaded plots as compared with unshaded ones; c - coffee fruits brought from the field in the harvest time yielding up in sunshaded plots as compared with shaded ones.

Sombreamento dos cafezais IV - resultados de mais dois biênios: 1963/1964 - 1965/1966

This paper deals with data obtained in 1963, 1964, 1965 e 1966 in shaded and unshaded coffee plots at Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil. The results can be summarized as follows: a. the production, in shaded and unshaded plots, did not show differences statisticaly significant; b. the percentage of coffee berry borer infestations was higher in shaded plots as compared with unshaded ones; c. the percentage of green, ripened and dry fruits depends on the year and on the harvest time.

Diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis: prenatal and neonatal evaluation of methods used in Toulouse University Hospital and incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of congenital toxoplasmosis (CT) and to assess the performances of prenatal and neonatal diagnoses. From 1994-2005, in Toulouse University Hospital, France, amniocentesis was performed on 352 pregnant women who were infected during pregnancy. All women were treated with spiramycin and pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine when prenatal diagnosis was positive. Among the 275 foetuses with follow-up, 66 (24%) were infected. The transmission rates of Toxoplasma gondii were 7%, 24% and 59% in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR on amniotic fluid (AF) were 91% and 99.5%, respectively. One case was diagnosed by mouse inoculation with AF and six cases were diagnosed by neonatal or postnatal screening. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR on placentas were 52% and 99%, respectively. The sensitivity of tests for the detection of specific IgA and IgM in cord blood was 53% and 64%, respectively, and specificity values were 91% and 92%. In conclusion, PCR performed on AF had the highest levels of sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of CT. This permits an early diagnosis of most cases and should be recommended.

Noctuidae moths occurring in grape orchards in Serra Gaúcha, Brazil and their relation to fruit-piercing

There is no study aiming to investigate if Noctuidae moths are responsible for piercing cultivated fruits in South America. This research aims to survey noctuid moths and list the species with mouth-parts (proboscis) morphology that suggest the capacity to cause damages to grape orchards in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Catches were carried out weekly from late November 2007 to late March 2008 (fructification period) using light traps and McPhail traps in three grape orchards in the region of Serra Gaúcha. The catches resulted in 187 taxa, with 149 identified at the specific level and 38 at genus level. The proboscises of representative taxa were removed and analyzed under stereomicroscope and scan electron microscope. It was verified that only Oraesia argyrosema (Hampson, 1926) and Gonodonta biarmata Guenée, 1852 show proboscis with suitable morphology for piercing rind and pulp of a grape berry. Achaea ablunaris (Guenée, 1852); Ascalapha odorata (Linnaeus, 1758); Letis mineis Geyer, 1827; Mocis latipes Hübner, 1823; Ophisma tropicalis Guenée, 1852, and Zale exhausta (Guenée, 1852) show proboscis only adapted to lacerate the pulp. The proboscis morphology of the remaining noctuid moths suggests lack of capacity to cause damage. Despite the presence of species capable of piercing grape berries, the populations of such species are very reduced and unable to cause damage of economic level.