Phenotypic correlations and path analysis for plant architecture traits and grain production in three generations of cowpea

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to analyze the phenotypic correlation and path analysis of traits related to plant architecture, earliness and grain yield in F2, BC1 and BC2 generations, from crosses between cowpea cultivars BRS Carijó and BR14 Mulato. Most phenotypic correlations of the examined traits were concordant in statistical significance, with approximate values ​​among the examined generations. For the trait seed weight, significant and positive phenotypic correlations were observed in the three generations only for the trait number of secondary branches. The values ​​of the direct effects were in agreement with the values ​​of the phenotypic correlations, which indicate true association by the phenotypic correlation among the traits of grain yield examined. Path analysis indicated that the selection of productive plants will result in early plants and an increased number of secondary branches. In F2, plants with shorter length of the main branch and shorter length of secondary branches can be obtained. The causal model explained 15 to 30% of the total variation in grain weight in relation to the traits examined. The analyses indicated the possibility of selecting plants with a higher and early grain yield, shorter length of primary branches and lower number of nodes, which are important variables for mechanical or semi-mechanical harvesting.

EVIDENCE OF Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum INFECTION IN DOGS FROM JUIZ DE FORA, MINAS GERAIS STATE, BRAZIL, BASED ON IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHIC DUAL-PATH PLATFORM (DPP®) AND PCR ASSAYS

In Brazil, domestic dogs are branded as the primary reservoir for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis, due to the clear positive correlation observed between human and canine infection rates. This study aimed to carry out a serological survey of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in dogs housed at a public kennel in the municipality of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, using the immunochromatographic TR DPP® CVL rapid test. Additionally, conventional and/or real time PCR assay was used to detect and confirm L. infantum infection in the DPP positive dogs only. Of the 400 dogs studied, most did not present clinical signs for CVL (p < 0.05), and fifteen (3.8%) were seropositive in the DPP test. There was no statistically significant difference between the DPP seropositive dogs and the clinical signs of the disease (p > 0.05). Both conventional and real time PCR tests confirmed L. infantum infection in nine (75.0%) of the twelve DPP seropositive dogs that remained alive during the follow-up period. This study is the first seroepidemiologic survey of CVL held in the city of Juiz de Fora, and the results reinforce the idea that this disease is currently in a process of expansion and urbanization in Brazil. Furthermore, this study highlights the use of the DPP test as an alternative for diagnosing CVL in large and mid-sized cities, due to its ease of implementation.

Morphometric study of the fibrosis and mast cell count in the circular colon musculature of chronic Chagas patients with and without megacolon

A morphometric study of the circular colon musculature was performed, in which the mast cell count was determined and the connective fibrous tissue in this layer was measured. The objective was to gain better understanding of Chagas megacolon morphology and contribute towards the knowledge of fibrosis pathogenesis in Chagas megas. An evaluation was made of 15 distal sigmoid rings from Chagas patients with megacolon (MCC), 15 without megacolon (CSMC) and 15 non-Chagas patients (NC). The rings were fixed in formol, embedded in paraffin, and 7mm thick sections were cut and stained using Azan-Heidenhain and Giemsa. The mast cell count and fibrosis were greater in the MCC group than in the CSMC and NC groups (p < 0.05; Kruskal-Wallis test) and there was no significant difference between the latter two. The fibrosis and increased mast cell count in the colon musculature of the MCC group possibly indicates that there is a relationship between mastocytosis and fibrosis, as has already been demonstrated in other pathologies.

Effects of circular myotomy on the healing of esophageal suture anastomosis: an experimental study

For esophageal reconstruction in newborns with esophageal atresia, esophageal reunion with an end-to-end anastomosis is the ideal procedure, although it may result in leaks and strictures due to tension on the suture line, mainly in cases with a wide gap between the ends. Circular myotomy (Livaditis' procedure) is the best method to elongate the proximal esophageal pouch and reduce anastomotic tension. This experimental investigation in dogs was undertaken to attempt to verify that circular myotomy decreases the anastomotic leak rate in newborns with wide gap esophageal atresia, and to analyze whether the technique promotes morphologic changes in the anastomotic scar. A pilot study demonstrated that it is necessary to resect more than 8 cm (40% of the total esophageal length) in order to obtain high leak rates. In the experimental project, such resection was performed in dogs divided into two groups (control group, anastomosis only, and experimental group, anastomosis plus circular myotomy in the proximal esophageal segment). The animals were killed in the 14th postoperative day, submitted to autopsy, and were evaluated as to the presence of leaks and strictures, as well as to the features (macroscopic and microscopic aspects) of the anastomosis. Leak rates were the same in both groups. Morphometric analysis revealed that in animals in the experimental group, the anastomotic scar was thinner than the control animals, and the isolated muscular manchette distal to the site of myotomy was replaced by fibrous tissue. Correspondingly, a decreased number of newly formed small vessels were noted in the experimental animals, compared to control animals. We concluded that circular myotomy does not decrease the incidence of anastomotic leaks, and it also promotes deleterious changes in anastomotic healing.

Lipoxin agonists: turn right! to path of resolving neutrophil

An impressive array of cellular and molecular adaptive responses achieves homeostasis. The inflammatory reaction is an adaptive response triggered by an insult to culminate into the overt cardinal signs of inflammation, eventually leading to resolution and returning the organism back to its original centered state. This article focuses on some aspects of the lipoxin A4 signaling pathway during the resolution phase, to better understand molecular mechanisms by which a neutrophil directs an inflammatory reaction to switch off and resume homeostasis. Defining the resolution state of a neutrophil at the molecular level will aid in treatments of diseases that are associated with an exaggerated and uncontrolled inflammation.

Repeatability, correlation and path analysis of physical and chemical characteristics of peach fruits

This study aimed to determine the number of measurements necessary to evaluate physical and chemical characteristics of peach fruits, study the relationships between them and their direct and indirect effects on the content of ascorbic acid and total carotenoids. The characteristics skin and pulp color, fruit weight, suture, equatorial and polar diameters, firmness, soluble solids (SS), titratable acidity (TA), SS/TA ratio, ascorbic acid and total carotenoids were evaluated in 39 cultivars of peach and 3 cultivars of nectarine from the orchard of the Universidade Federal de Viçosa. The repeatability coefficient was estimated by ANOVA and CPCOR. Phenotypic correlation coefficients (rf) were estimated and, after the multicollinearity diagnostics, they were unfolded to direct and indirect effects of the explanatory variables on the response variable using path analysis. There was agreement on the magnitude of repeatability coefficients obtained by the two methods; however, they varied among the 14 characteristics. The highest correlations were found between FW, SD, ED and PD. Seven fruits are sufficient to evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of peach with a correlation coefficient of 90%. The characteristics considered in the path diagrams (b* skin, hº skin, b* pulp, hº pulp, ED, PD, FIR, SS, SS/AT and TC) are not the main determinants of the ascorbic acid. The yellow hue of the pulp (hº pulp) has the potential to be used in indirect selection for total carotenoids.

Cadastral maps of irrigated areas by center pivots in the State of Minas Gerais, using CBERS-2B/CCD satellite imaging

Medium-resolution satellite images have been widely used for the identification and quantification of irrigated areas by center pivot. These areas, which present predominantly circular forms, can be easily identified by visual analyses of these images. In addition to identifying and quantifying areas irrigated by center pivot, other information that is associated to these areas is fundamental for producing cadastral maps. The goal of this work was to generate cadastral mapping of areas irrigated by center pivots in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the purpose of supplying information on irrigated agriculture. Using the satellite CBERS2B/CCD, images were used to identify and quantify irrigated areas and then associate these areas with a database containing information about: irrigated area, perimeter, municipality, path row, basin in which the pivot is located, and the date of image acquisition.3,781 center pivots systems were identified. The smallest area irrigated was 4.6 hectares and the largest one was 192.6 hectares. The total estimated value of irrigated area was 254,875 hectares. The largest number of center pivots appeared in the municipalities of Unaí and Paracatu, with 495 and 459 systems, respectively. Cadastral mapping is a very useful tool to assist and enhance information on irrigated agriculture in the State of Minas Gerais.

Ferramenta computacional para dimensionamento de silo unicelular de concreto armado – parte I: silo de seção circular

Silos são construções que, em função de sua finalidade de utilização, estão sujeitos a carregamentos peculiares, tais como pressões horizontais e verticais - estáticas ou dinâmicas, dependendo da fase de operação - atrito nas paredes e cargas térmicas, todos causados pela presença do produto armazenado. Com o objetivo de sistematizar os procedimentos necessários para o dimensionamento de silos unicelulares de concreto armado, um programa computacional denominado SILOS foi desenvolvido, sendo composto por dois módulos: Módulo 1, para silos cilíndricos de seção circular e Módulo 2, para silos prismáticos de seção retangular. Neste artigo (Parte I), são apresentados os procedimentos que compõem o Módulo 1. O Módulo 2 será apresentado em artigo subsequente (Parte II). O programa foi desenvolvido na linguagem DELPHI e pode ser utilizado por profissionais e estudantes da área de Construções Rurais, independentemente da familiaridade do usuário com a linguagem computacional empregada.

Alterações morfométricas da musculatura dos músculos longitudinal e circular de ratos submetidos à criação de piloros no intestino delgado

OBJETIVO: Realizar um estudo morfométrico comparativo da musculatura longitudinal e circular do intestino delgado de ratos submetidos à construção cirúrgica de um e de dois piloros no intestino delgado utilizando-se da técnica de criação de piloros proposta por Rena et al. MÉTODO: Foram utilizados 52 ratos Wistar machos divididos em três grupos. O Grupo A, destacado como controle, composto de 10 animas, cada um forneceu 20mm de segmento de intestino para o estudo. Os animais do Grupo B, composto de 32 animais, foram submetidos à construção de dois piloros, um a 100mm e outro a 150mm da válvula ileocecal e os animais do grupo C, composto de 10 animais, foram submetidos à construção de um piloro a 100mm da mesma. A eutanásia ocorreu no décimo dia. A morfometria das camadas musculares longitudinal e circular acima e abaixo dos piloros foi estudada com utilização do microscópico modelo "Axiostar plus" conectado à câmera "Axioncam Version 5.05.10" com objetiva X5 / 0,12 no o programa "AxioVision 3.1.2.1". RESULTADOS: As alças apresentaram aumento da espessura da camada muscular acima e abaixo do ponto da operação. O estudo morfométrico comparativo das camadas musculares longitudinal e circular mostrou aumento significativo em comparação ao controle, não demonstrando significância entre os grupos B e C. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados deste estudo revelaram importante aumento de espessura das camadas musculares, porém, menos acentuados que aqueles descritos na literatura quando foram realizados em animais submetidos à estenose fixa. Esses dados indicam que a construção operatória de piloros pela técnica utilizada promove alterações musculares de menor monta, possivelmente, pela função valvular do piloro.

Pressure drop coefficients for elliptic and circular sections in one, two and three-row arrangements of plate fin and tube heat exchangers

The objective of the present work is the experimental determination of pressure drop coefficients (loss coefficients) for elliptic and circular sections in one, two and three-row arrangements of plate fin and tube heat exchangers. The experiments permitted to correlate the dimensionless loss coefficient with the flow Reynolds number in the rectangular channel formed by the plate fins. The experimental technique consisted of the measurement of the longitudinal pressure distribution along the flow channel, for several values of air mass flow rate. The total number of data runs, each one characterized by the flow Reynolds number, was 216. The present geometry is used in compact heat exchangers for air conditioning systems, heaters, radiators, and others. Also, it is verified the influence of the utilization of elliptic tubes, instead of circular ones, in the pressure drop. The measurements were performed for Reynolds numbers ranging from 200 to 1900.

Harrod sob análise: path-dependence, tempo histórico e mudança estrutural endógena

Harrod under analysis: path-dependence, historic time and endogenous structural change. The article aims to demonstrate how the Harrod's approach (1937, 1938, 1948) can offer theoretical elements to form a complex, historicists and non-determinist view of the economic system. The relaxation of the constant warranty rate hypothesis make possible the system suffers endogenous qualitative change. It results in the notion of path-dependence and historic time. By the endogenization of the expectations and the existence of turn-points mechanisms, this approach allows a synthesis between non-convergency and economic regulation.

Causação circular do crescimento das economias em desenvolvimento: uma ponte entre as abordagens evolucionária e pós keynesiana

Based on the Post Keynesian approach and on the Evolutionary literature, this study seeks to demonstrate the causal relationships between the National Innovation System and the national and international financial systems. This study shows that there is a circular causation in the less developed economies that contributes to the immaturity of its National Innovation System and to its structural external vulnerability. Conclusions highlight that the cycles in the less developed economies mirror the cycles of international liquidity.