Brazilian soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. cultivars adapted to low latitude regions: seed composition and content of bioactive proteins

Among the goals of the Brazilian soybean improvement programmes, the breeding strategies for cultivars adapted to low latitudes have been included to extend crop areas and to increase production. Seeds of nine Brazilian soybean cultivars adapted to low latitudes were investigated regarding to their composition, and amino acid and antinutritional/toxic protein contents. Protein (394.5 ± 13.1 to 445.3 ± 8.0 g kg-1 dry matter) and oil (200.6 ± 1.2 to 232.3 ± 4.7 g kg-1 dry matter) contents showed low correlation to each other (r = -0.06). The total carbohydrate (141.7 ± 6.1 to 211.1 ± 15.0 g kg-1 dry matter) and ash contents (48.2 ± 4.2 to 52.2 ± 0.5 g kg-1 dry matter) were similar to data available for other soybean cultivars. All soybean cultivars presented low levels of tryptophan and sulphur amino acids. The lectin (1,152 to 147,456 HU kg-1 flour), trypsin inhibitor (34.45 ± 2.28 to 77.62 ± 2.63 g trypsin inhibited kg-1 flour), toxin (6,210 ± 134 to 34,650 ± 110 LD50 kg-1 flour) and urease (0.74 ± 0.02 to 1.22 ± 0.10 g kg¹ flour) presented variations in their contents amongst the cultivars. Compared to other soybean cultivars, urease was higher, the acute toxicity lower and the lectin and trypsin inhibitor contents similar to data available. In general, soybean cultivars showed similar biochemical composition to those developed in different geographic regions. The relevance of these findings to the agronomic features and to choice of soybean cultivars to be used as food or feed is discussed.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Suicidal Behavior: A Latent Class Analysis among Young Adults

Although there is a general consensus among researchers that engagement in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with increased risk for suicidal behavior, little attention has been given to whether suicidal risk varies among individuals engaging in NSSI. To identify individuals with a history of NSSI who are most at risk for suicidal behavior, we examined individual variability in both NSSI and suicidal behavior among a sample of young adults with a history of NSSI (N = 439, Mage = 19.1). Participants completed self-report measures assessing NSSI, suicidal behavior, and psychosocial adjustment (e.g., depressive symptoms, daily hassles). We conducted a latent class analysis using several characteristics of NSSI and suicidal behaviors as class indicators. Three subgroups of individuals were identified: 1) an infrequent NSSI/not high risk for suicidal behavior group, 2) a frequent NSSI/not high risk for suicidal behavior group, and 3) a frequent NSSI/high risk for suicidal behavior group. Follow-up analyses indicated that individuals in the ‘frequent NSSI/high risk for suicidal behavior��� group met the clinical-cut off score for high suicidal risk and reported significantly greater levels of suicidal ideation, attempts, and risk for future suicidal behavior as compared to the other two classes. Thus, this study is the first to identity variability in suicidal risk among individuals engaging in frequent and multiple methods of NSSI. Class 3 was also differentiated by higher levels of psychosocial impairment relative to the other two classes, as well as a comparison group of non-injuring young adults. Results underscore the importance of assessing individual differences in NSSI characteristics, as well as psychosocial impairment, when assessing risk for suicidal behavior.

Cambios en el régimen de pensiones en Colombia y su efecto en el margen intensivo de la oferta laboral

En Colombia, como en muchos países de América Latina, en los años 80 y 90 se hicieron cambios importantes en los regímenes de pensiones. Este trabajo hace un análisis de uno de esos cambios en Colombia. El cambio consistió en aumentar el tiempo de cotización necesario para reclamar los beneficios pensionales y la inclusión del salario dentro de la fórmula del monto de pensiones. Para este propósito se estudia el impacto sobre la oferta laboral de un cambio exógeno en estas condiciones usando un diseño de regresión discontinua. Se encuentra un efecto positivo sobre las horas promedio trabajadas en la semana.

Medidas de bienestar en empleados: análisis de los estudios realizados entre 2002 y 2012 desde la noción de organización saludable

Actualmente se considera que las organizaciones con resultados positivos y rendimientos crecientes tienen aspectos y características particulares que las diferencian de aquellas organizaciones que no obtienen los mejores resultados en el mercado. Para que las organizaciones sean saludables deben garantizar el bienestar del empleado y comprometerse con el mejoramiento continuo del mismo. Es así como surgen las escalas de medidas de bienestar, las cuales contribuyen directamente al bienestar del empleado y sus resultados positivos dentro de la organización. Este estudio hace referencia a las medidas de bienestar más utilizadas en un periodo de diez años (2002-2012), con el propósito de establecer la relación entre las medidas de bienestar, el bienestar de los empleados y las organizaciones saludables. Para determinar dicha relación, se llevó a cabo un análisis detallado de los estudios realizados sobre las escalas de medidas de bienestar utilizadas durante el periodo de tiempo 2002 y 2012. Los resultados arrojados señalan que las medidas de bienestar más utilizadas durante este periodo son: Satisfacción laboral, Clima organizacional, Engagement y Calidad de vida laboral, mientras que las cuatro medidas de bienestar menos utilizadas son: Remuneración y Bienestar subjetivo.

Caracterización de la cultura organizacional y lineamientos de intervención para la implementación de procesos de cambio en las organizaciones. Caso empresa sector financiero

El presente Trabajo de Grado busca caracterizar la cultura organizacional de una empresa del sector Financiero en Colombia y realizar orientaciones de acciones para el cambio organizacional de acuerdo con la estrategia de perdurabilidad establecida por la Alta Dirección de dicha empresa. Para este fin, se realiza una cuidadosa revisión y actualización del estado del arte de los conceptos clave ¨Cultura Organizacional¨ y ¨Cambio Organizacional¨. Es de resaltar que para el primero de ellos, se toma como punto de partida el estado del arte sobre Cultura Organizacional realizado por el profesor Carlos Eduardo Méndez Álvarez y cuyo marco temporal abarca desde los orígenes del concepto en el siglo XIX hasta el año 2006. Asimismo, luego de una cuidadosa revisión de los Modelos de Cambio Organizacional existentes y de la realidad de la empresa objeto de estudio, se adopta el Modelo ADKAR que consta de cinco fases: Conciencia del Cambio, Deseo, Conocimiento, Capacidad – Habilidad y Refuerzo. Asimismo, a partir de la construcción de un fundamento teórico sólido y a través de la aplicación de la metodología para describir la Cultura Organizacional en Colombia MEDECO se busca una aproximación a la Cultura Organizacional de la empresa objeto de estudio con el fin de describir e identificar los rasgos predominantes de su cultura organizacional y entregar una propuesta final con los rasgos necesarios que alientan la consecución exitosa de los procesos de cambio.

Caracterización de la competencia entre dos organizaciones del sector de seguros en Colombia

En la permanente búsqueda de mejores condiciones que las organizaciones realizan con el propósito de dar respuesta a los cambios del entorno y la complejidad de la interacción con las organizaciones del mismo sector, se encuentra necesario identificar las características que les permiten a estas, sobrevivir, mantenerse en el mercado o crecer en él. En este orden de ideas, en este documento se desarrolla la caracterización de la forma como dos organizaciones importantes y líderes del sector asegurador en Colombia: Seguros Bolívar y Suramericana de Seguros, compiten, desde el punto de vista comercial, con el propósito de identificar como esto influye en cada organización. La investigación se centró en explicar a partir de los autores revisados y analizados con respecto al concepto de la competencia, en particular, la forma como se enfrenta la organización al entorno tanto interno como externo, la influencia de cada organización según su estructura, su importancia, la disponibilidad de los recursos necesarios para desarrollar sus actividades, el impacto y las implicaciones organizacionales a partir de la forma cómo se enfrenta el entorno. Para lo anterior y con base a la revisión conceptual, se realizó la recolección de datos y cifras tanto de las organizaciones como del sector al cual pertenecen, adicionalmente se realizaron entrevistas tanto estructuradas como semi estructuradas al área de ventas, debido a que es el área de las organizaciones encargada de generar estrategias de ventas, posicionar productos en el mercado, identificar el perfil del consumidor, conocer y comprender el mercado y la competencia. Lo anterior con el fin de caracterizar a las organizaciones analizadas, determinando cómo responden a la competencia y al entorno, para finalmente establecer cuáles son los comportamientos recurrentes, similares y diferentes entre ellas. Por lo tanto, los resultados obtenidos en la investigación permiten establecer si dos empresas con estructuras, tamaño y participación en el mercado similares compiten de igual forma y que implicación tiene esto en el comportamiento organizacional.

Synthesis of new phosphino amino alcohol ligands via ortho-alkyllithiation reactions. Versatile coordination behavior toward copper(I) and palladium(II)

2-[Methyl(2-methylphenyl)amino]ethanol undergoes an ortho-alkyllithiation reaction with n-butyllithium to lead to a new mixed benzyllithium−lithium alkoxide. This organolithium species reacts with PPh2Cl, with selective P−C bond formation, to afford the ligand 2-[methyl(2-((diphenylphosphino)methyl)phenyl)amino]ethanol L1. The coordination of the ligand L1 to copper(I) leads to the complex [Cu(L1)2](BF4), whose structure has been determined by an X-ray diffraction study. In the solid state, one of the ligands acts as a monodentate phosphine while the other adopts a tridentate P,N,O coordination mode. A variable-temperature 31P NMR study demonstrated the existence of an equilibrium between the two modes in solution, with a coalescence temperature of ca. 0 °C, indicating a double-hemilabile behavior for the nitrogen and the oxygen functions. L1 reacts with [Pd(Me)(Cl)(COD)] to give a dinuclear complex in which the ligand appears to behave as a bridging anionic P,O ligand. Such a complex could serve as a model for a key intermediate in the proposed mechanism for the homogeneous catalysis of the methoxycarbonylation of propyne by certain palladium(II) complexes containing P,N ligands. L1 can undergo a second ortho-alkylmetalation reaction with n-butyllithium which, after addition of PPh2Cl, provides the new ligand 2-{methyl[2-(bis(diphenylphosphino)methyl)phenyl]amino}ethanol (L2) in high yield.

Conformational behavior of different possible ways of oligoglycine formation in a solvent-free environment

The possible ways for glycine oligopeptide formation in gas phase, both in the extended P-strand like conformation and folded 2(7)-ribbon like conformations are analyzed using quantum chemical calculations. We focus on the sequential formation of peptide bond through upgradation of the immediate lower order molecule and observe the consequences in other related processes like oligoglycine formation through simultaneous peptide linkage of n glycine monomers and interchange of molecular conformation through peptide linkage. A comparison is made between the structures and binding energies obtained for both conformers. All binding energies are increased by the zero-point energy contribution. The role of electron correlation effects is briefly analyzed. The folded 2(7)-ribbon-like conformations in vacuo are found to be more stable in comparison to the extended structure. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Temperature Dependence of the Intergranular Critical Current Density in Uniaxially Pressed Bi(1.65)Pb(0.35)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10+delta) Samples

We have studied the normal and superconducting transport properties of Bi(1.65)Pb(0.35)Sr(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10+delta) (Bi-2223) ceramic samples. Four samples, from the same batch, were prepared by the solid-state reaction method and pressed uniaxially at different compacting pressures, ranging from 90 to 250 MPa before the last heat treatment. From the temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity, combined with current conduction models for cuprates, we were able to separate contributions arising from both the grain misalignment and microstructural defects. The behavior of the critical current density as a function of temperature at zero applied magnetic field, J (c) (T), was fitted to the relationship J (c) (T)ae(1-T/T (c) ) (n) , with na parts per thousand 2 in all samples. We have also investigated the behavior of the product J (c) rho (sr) , where rho (sr) is the specific resistance of the grain-boundary. The results were interpreted by considering the relation between these parameters and the grain-boundary angle, theta, with increasing the uniaxial compacting pressure. We have found that the above type of mechanical deformation improves the alignment of the grains. Consequently the samples exhibit an enhance in the intergranular properties, resulting in a decrease of the specific resistance of the grain-boundary and an increase in the critical current density.

Phase-transition studies of Ba(0.90)Ca(0.10)(Ti(1-x)Zr(x))O(3) ferroelectric ceramic compounds

Perovskite-structured Ba(0.90)Ca(0.10)(Ti(1-x)Zr(x))O(3) ceramics were prepared in this work and subsequently studied in terms of composition-dependent dielectric and high-resolution long-range order structural properties from 30 to 450 K. The dielectric response of these materials was measured at several frequencies in the range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz. Combining both techniques, including Rietveld refinement of the X-ray diffraction data, allowed observing that, when increasing Zr(4+) content, the materials change from conventional to diffuse and relaxor ferroelectric compounds, the transition occurring spontaneously at the x = 0.18 composition. Interestingly, this spontaneous transition turned out to be prevented for a further increase of Zr(4+). On the basis of all the dielectric and structural results processed, a phase diagram of this system is presented. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

SBTX, a new toxic protein distinct from soyatoxin and other toxic soybean [Glycine max] proteins, and its inhibitory effect on Cercospora sojina growth

SBTX, a novel toxin from soybean, was purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by chromatographic steps DEAE-Cellulose, CM-Sepharose and Superdex 200 HR fast-protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Lethality of SBTX to mice (LD50 5.6 mg/kg) was used as parameter in the purification steps. SBTX is a 44-kDa basic glycoprotein composed of two polypeptide chains (27 and 17 kDa) linked by a disulfide bond. The N-terminal sequences of the 44 and 27 kDa chains were identical (ADPTFGFTPLGLSEKANLQIMKAYD), differing from that of 17 kDa (PNPKVFFDMTIGGQSAGRIVMEEYA). SBTX contains high levels of Glx, Ala, Asx, Gly and Lys and showed maximum absorption at 280 nm, epsilon(1 cm) (1%) of 6.3, and fluorescence emission in the 290-450nm range upon excitation at 280nm. The secondary structure content was 35% alpha-helix, 13% beta-strand and beta-sheet, 27% beta-turn, 25% unordered, and 1% aromatic residues. Immunological assays showed that SBTX was related to other toxic proteins, such as soyatoxin and canatoxin, and cross-reacted weekly with soybean trypsin inhibitor and agglutinin, but it was devoid of protease-inhibitory and hemagglutinating activities. The inhibitory effect of SBTX on growth of Cercospora sojina, fungus causing frogeye leaf spot in soybeans, was observed at 50 mu g/ml, concentration 112 times lesser than that found to be lethal to mice. This effect on phytopathogenic fungus is a potential attribute for the development of transgenic plants with enhanced resistance to pathogens. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Crystal structures and thermal behavior of alkaline earth tricyanomethanides

The alkaline earth tricyanomethanides Mg(tcm)(2) center dot 2H(2)O, Ca(tcm)(2), Sr(tcm)(2) - H2O and Ba(tcm)(2) center dot 2H(2)O were prepared from aqueous solutions of the respective chlorides and silver tricyanomethanide. Their IR spectra and thermal behavior are described. The crystal structures of Ca(tcm)(2) and Ba(tcm)(2) center dot 2H(2)O were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The structure of Ca(tcm)(2) is of the type found for several transition metal tricyanomethanides [1], containing two independent interpenetrating networks. Ba(tcm)(2) center dot 2H(2)O has a unique crystal structure corresponding to a three-dimensional coordination polymer with nine fold coordinated Ba atoms connected by water molecules and tricyanomethanide anions.

PREDICTION OF METAL CATION TOXICITY TO THE BIOLUMINESCENT FUNGUS GERRONEMA VIRIDILUCENS

A correlation between the physicochemical properties of mono- [Li(I), K(I), Na(I)] and divalent [Cd(II), Cu(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), Mg(II), Ca(II)] metal cations and their toxicity (evaluated by the free ion median effective concentration. EC50(F)) to the naturally bioluminescent fungus Gerronema viridilucens has been studied using the quantitative ion character activity relationship (QICAR) approach. Among the 11 ionic parameters used in the current study, a univariate model based on the covalent index (X(m)(2)r) proved to be the most adequate for prediction of fungal metal toxicity evaluated by the logarithm of free ion median effective concentration (log EC50(F)): log EC50(F) = 4.243 (+/-0.243) -1.268 (+/-0.125).X(m)(2)r (adj-R(2) = 0.9113, Alkaike information criterion [AIC] = 60.42). Additional two- and three-variable models were also tested and proved less suitable to fit the experimental data. These results indicate that covalent bonding is a good indicator of metal inherent toxicity to bioluminescent fungi. Furthermore, the toxicity of additional metal ions [Ag(I), Cs(I), Sr(II), Ba(II), Fe(II), Hg(II), and Pb(II)] to G. viridilucens was predicted, and Pb was found to be the most toxic metal to this bioluminescent fungus (EC50(F)): Pb(II) > Ag(I) > Hg(I) > Cd(II) > Cu(II) > Co(II) Ni(II) > Mn(II) > Fe(II) approximate to Zn(II) > Mg(II) approximate to Ba(II) approximate to Cs(I) > Li(I) > K(I) approximate to Na(I) approximate to Sr(II)> Ca(II). Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:2177-2181. (C) 2010 SETAC

EVALUATION OF METAL TOXICITY BY A MODIFIED METHOD BASED ON THE FUNGUS GERRONEMA VIRIDILUCENS BIOLUMINESCENCE IN AGAR MEDIUM

Metal cation toxicity to basidiomycete fungi is poorly understood, despite its well-known importance in terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, there is no reported methodology for the routine evaluation of metal toxicity to basidiomycetes. In the present study, we describe the development of a procedure to assess the acute toxicity of metal cations (Na(+), K(+), Li(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Co(2+), Zn(2+), Ni(2+), Mn(2+), Cd(2+), and Cu(2+)) to the bioluminescent basidiomycete fungus Gerronema viridilucens. The method is based on the decrease in the intensity of bioluminescence resulting from injuries sustained by the fungus mycelium exposed to either essential or nonessential metal toxicants. The assay described herein enables LIS to propose a metal toxicity series to Gerronenia viridilucens based on data obtained from the bioluminescence intensity (median effective concentration [EC50] values) versus metal concentration: Cd(2+) > Cu(2+) > Mn(2+) approximate to Ni(2+) approximate to Co(2+) > Zn(2+) > Mg(2+) > Li(+) > K(+) approximate to Na(+) > Ca(2+), and to shed some li-ht on the mechanism of toxic action of metal cations to basidiomycete fungi. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:320-326. (C) 2009 SETAC

Bichromophoric behavior of nitrophenyl-triazene anions: a resonance Raman spectroscopy investigation

Highly delocalized molecular frameworks with intense charge transfer transitions, known as push-pull systems, are of central interest in many areas of chemistry, as is the case of nitrophenyl-triazene derivatives. The 1,3-bis(2-nitrophenyl)triazene and 1,3-bis(4-nitrophenyl)triazene were investigated by electronic (UV-Vis) and resonance Raman (RR) spectroscopies. The bichromophoric behavior of 1,3-bis(4-nitrophenyl)triazene anion opens the possibility of tuning with visible radiation, two distinct electronic states. The RR profiles of nitrophenyl-triazene derivatives clearly show that the first allowed electronic state can be assigned to a charge transfer from the ring pi system to the NO2 moiety (ca 520 nm), while the second, as a charge transfer from N-3(-) to the aromatic ring (ca 390 nm). In the para-substituted derivative, a more efficient electron transfer and a greater energy separation between the two excited states are observed. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.