Avaliação genética de tilápias-do-nilo durante cinco anos de seleção

Resumo:O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar parâmetros genéticos e valores genéticos das características peso à despesca e ganho de peso diário de tilápias-do-nilo (Oreochromis niloticus), avaliadas durante cinco anos de cultivo em tanques-rede. O conjunto de dados continha registros de 6.650 animais, com valores genéticos preditos de 8.590 animais na matriz de parentesco. O número de animais avaliados foi de 2.196 (33 famílias), em 2008; 1.721 (58 famílias), em 2009; e 2.733 (78 famílias), em 2010. Análises uni- e bicaracter do conjunto de dados foram realizadas com uso do método de inferência bayesiana, por meio do programa computacional MTGSAM. As estimativas de herdabilidade obtidas foram de média magnitude: 0,273, para ganho de peso diário; e 0,282, para peso à despesca. A participação dos efeitos de ambiente comum na variação total foi de 15% para larvicultura e de 5% para alevinagem. As correlações genéticas e fenotípicas foram de 95%, o que indica forte associação entre as características. O ganho genético foi de 3,8% por geração, com acumulado de 15% em quatro gerações. Houve progresso genético e mudanças, causadas pela seleção de tilápias-do-nilo, nas condições de cultivo avaliadas. A seleção quanto ao ganho de peso permite ganhos indiretos relacionados ao peso.

El bienestar psicológico de los preadolescentes

El estudio del bienestar psicológico, como componente de la calidad de vida, ha sido un campo de notables desarrollos durante las dos últimas décadas. No obstante, existen todavía pocos instrumentos aplicables al estudio de dicho bienestar en la adolescencia. En este articulo se presentan los resultados de la aplicación de uno de dichos instrumentos ya adaptado a la población infantil española (Alsinet, 1998), la escala SLSS de Huebner (1991a, 1994), a una muestra de 1.590 adolescentes catalanes entre 12 y 14 años. Los resultados se contrastan con 1os obtenidos al administrar escalas de afecto positivo y afecto negativo a la misma muestra y con 1os originalmente obtenidos por Huebner con una muestra norteamericana. Dichos resultados muestran una buena validez interna, una estructura factorial consistente, un buen funcionamiento de la escala con la población española y unas pautas de respuesta coherentes con las originalmente obtenidas por Huebner con muestras norteamericanas.

Obtención de líneas de trigo resistentes a Mayetiola destructor Say en la Campiña Sur de Extremadura

La línea H-93-33, homocigota para el gen H27, que confiere resistencia a Mayetiola destructor Say, ha sido cruzada con variedades comerciales de trigo seleccionadas por su calidad harinera y sus características agronómicas. Esos cruzamientos han producido numerosas líneas avanzadas. La línea Ma8, que contiene el gen H27, ha demostrado su resistencia al parásito en condiciones controladas de cámara y campo, y muestra mejores características agronómicas que las variedades comerciales con las que se ha cruzado.

Effects of CPAP on oxidative stress and nitrate efficiency in sleep apnoea: a randomised trial.

Background: Previous studies have presented contradictory data concerning obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), lipid oxidation and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. This study was undertaken to (1) compare the concentration of 8-isoprostane and total nitrate and nitrite (NOx) in plasma of middle-aged men with OSAS and no other known co-morbidity and healthy controls of the same age, gender and body mass index; and (2) test the hypothesis that nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy attenuates oxidative stress and nitrate deficiency. Methods: A prospective, randomised, placebo controlled, double-blind, crossover study was performed in 31 consecutive middle-aged men with newly diagnosed OSAS and 15 healthy control subjects. Patients with OSAS were randomised to receive sham CPAP or effective CPAP for 12 weeks. Blood pressure, urinary catecholamine levels and plasma 8-isoprostane and NOx concentrations were obtained before and after both treatment modalities. Results: Patients with OSAS had significantly higher 8-isoprostane levels (median (IQR) 42.5 (29.2-78.2) vs 20.0 (12.5-52.5) pg/ml, p = 0.041, Mann-Whitney test) and lower NOx levels (264 (165-650) vs 590 (251- 1465) mmol/l, p = 0.022) than healthy subjects. Body mass index, blood pressure and urinary catecholamines were unchanged by CPAP therapy, but 8-isoprostane concentrations decreased (38.5 (24.2-58.7) pg/ml at baseline vs 22.5 (16.2-35.3) pg/ml on CPAP, p = 0.0001) and NOx levels increased (280 (177-707) vs 1373 (981-1517) mmol/l, p = 0.0001) after CPAP. Conclusions: OSAS is associated with an increase in oxidative stress and a decrease in NOx that is normalised

Maligne Hypertonie: Klinische Zeichen von 7 Patienten Malignant Hypertension: Clinical Manifestations of 7 Cases.

Background: Malignant hypertension is defined by marked systemic arterial hypertension with retinal haemorrhages, exudation or papilloedema. Due to the rarity of this disease and due to its non-specific symptoms and lesions, the diagnosis can be challenging. Patients and Methods We investigated the types of symptoms and ocular lesions observed with ocular fundus examination, ocular fundus photography, fluorescein angiography and optical coherence tomography in a small case series of 7 patients with malignant hypertension. Results: Median systolic blood pressure (BP) was 205 mmHg ± 21. Median diastolic BP was 150 mmHg ± 16. Decrease in visual acuity (6/7 patients) and scotoma (5/7) were the main symptoms and Elschnig spot, flamed shaped haemorrhage, serous retinal detachment, cotton wool spots and optic nerve oedema were the five most frequently observed lesions. A regression of lesions was observed after therapy of systemic hypertension. Conclusion: The association of multiple lesions strongly suggests malignant hypertension. However even in cases with only one lesion malignant hypertension should be kept in mind.

The Effect of Two Speed Endurance Training Regimes on Performance of Soccer Players.

In order to better understand the specificity of training adaptations, we compared the effects of two different anaerobic training regimes on various types of soccer-related exercise performances. During the last 3 weeks of the competitive season, thirteen young male professional soccer players (age 18.5±1 yr, height 179.5±6.5 cm, body mass 74.3±6.5 kg) reduced the training volume by ~20% and replaced their habitual fitness conditioning work with either speed endurance production (SEP; n = 6) or speed endurance maintenance (SEM; n = 7) training, three times per wk. SEP training consisted of 6-8 reps of 20-s all-out running bouts followed by 2 min of passive recovery, whereas SEM training was characterized by 6-8 x 20-s all-out efforts interspersed with 40 s of passive recovery. SEP training reduced (p<0.01) the total time in a repeated sprint ability test (RSAt) by 2.5%. SEM training improved the 200-m sprint performance (from 26.59±0.70 to 26.02±0.62 s, p<0.01) and had a likely beneficial impact on the percentage decrement score of the RSA test (from 4.07±1.28 to 3.55±1.01%) but induced a very likely impairment in RSAt (from 83.81±2.37 to 84.65±2.27 s). The distance covered in the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery test level 2 was 10.1% (p<0.001) and 3.8% (p<0.05) higher after SEP and SEM training, respectively, with possibly greater improvements following SEP compared to SEM. No differences were observed in the 20- and 40-m sprint performances. In conclusion, these two training strategies target different determinants of soccer-related physical performance. SEP improved repeated sprint and high-intensity intermittent exercise performance, whereas SEM increased muscles' ability to maximize fatigue tolerance and maintain speed development during both repeated all-out and continuous short-duration maximal exercises. These results provide new insight into the precise nature of a stimulus necessary to improve specific types of athletic performance in trained young soccer players.

Cannabis use and other predictors of the onset of daily cigarette use in young men: what matters most? Results from a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: According to the gateway hypothesis, tobacco use is a gateway of cannabis use. However, there is increasing evidence that cannabis use also predicts the progression of tobacco use (reverse gateway hypothesis). Unfortunately, the importance of cannabis use compared to other predictors of tobacco use is less clear. The aim of this study was to examine which variables, in addition to cannabis use, best predict the onset of daily cigarette smoking in young men. METHODS: A total of 5,590 young Swiss men (mean age = 19.4 years, SD = 1.2) provided data on their substance use, socio-demographic background, religion, health, social context, and personality at baseline and after 18 months. We modelled the predictors of progression to daily cigarette smoking using logistic regression analyses (n = 4,230). RESULTS: In the multivariate overall model, use of cannabis remained among the strongest predictors for the onset of daily cigarette use. Daily cigarette use was also predicted by a lifetime use of at least 50 cigarettes, occasional cigarette use, educational level, religious affiliation, parental situation, peers with psychiatric problems, and sociability. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the relevance of cannabis use compared to other potential predictors of the progression of tobacco use and thereby support the reverse gateway hypothesis.

Multigene Family Evolution: Perspectives from Insect Chemoreceptors.

Understanding the birth and diversification of multigene families is a fundamental evolutionary problem. I argue for the insect chemoreceptor superfamily as an outstanding model. Although these receptors are currently the preserve of neuroscientists, putative homologous genes exist in diverse animal and plant genomes, implying an ancient origin. Moreover, functional studies suggest that they act as ligand-gated ion channels in both chemosensory and non-chemosensory processes. This family permits synergism of investigations into its structural and regulatory evolution with ecological studies of the selective pressures driving these changes. In addition, sequence divergence in these receptors can be exploited through co-evolutionary and comparative genomics analyses to help to elucidate their 3D structure and signaling mechanisms, and to reveal experimentally-accessible candidate loci to explore the genetic basis of adaptation.

Capability matrix – Identifying and evaluating the key capabilities of purchasing and supply management

Organizations gain resources, skills and technologies to find out the ultimate mix of capabilities to be a winner in the competitive market. These are all important factors that need to be taken into account in organizations operating in today's business environment. So far, there are no significant studies on the organizational capabilities in the field of PSM. The literature review shows that the PSM capabilities need to be studied more comprehensively. This study attempts to reveal and fill this gap by providing the PSM capability matrix that identifies the key PSM capabilities approached from two angles: there are three primary PSM capabilities and nine subcapabilities and, moreover, the individual and organizational PSM capabilities are identified and evaluated. The former refers to the PSM capability matrix of this study which is based on the strategic and operative PSM capabilities that complement the economic ones, while the latter relates to the evaluation of the PSM capabilities, such as the buyer profiles of individual PSM capabilities and the PSMcapability map of the organizational ones. This is a constructive case study. The aim is to define what the purchasing and supply management capabilities are and how they can be evaluated. This study presents a PSM capability matrix to identify and evaluate the capabilities to define capability gaps by comparing the ideal level of PSM capabilities to the realized ones. The research questions are investigated with two case organizations. This study argues that PSM capabilities can be classified into three primary categories with nine sub-categories and, thus, a PSM capability matrix with four evaluation categories can be formed. The buyer profiles are moreover identified to reveal the PSM capability gap. The resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capabilities view (DCV) are used to define the individual and organizational capabilities. The PSM literature is also used to define the capabilities. The key findings of this study are i) the PSM capability matrix to identify the PSM capabilities, ii) the evaluation of the capabilities to define PSM capability gaps and iii) the presentation of the buyer profiles to identify the individual PSM capabilities and to define the organizational PSM capabilities. Dynamic capabilities are also related to the PSM capability gap. If a gap is identified, the organization can renew their PSM capabilities and, thus, create mutual learning and increase their organizational capabilities. And only then, there is potential for dynamic capabilities. Based on this, the purchasing strategy, purchasing policy and procedures should be identified and implemented dynamically.

Symptoms Have Modest Accuracy in Detecting Endoscopic and Histologic Remission in Adults With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: It is not clear whether symptoms alone can be used to estimate the biologic activity of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We aimed to evaluate whether symptoms can be used to identify patients with endoscopic and histologic features of remission. METHODS: Between April 2011 and June 2014, we performed a prospective, observational study and recruited 269 consecutive adults with EoE (67% male; median age, 39 years old) in Switzerland and the United States. Patients first completed the validated symptom-based EoE activity index patient-reported outcome instrument and then underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy with esophageal biopsy collection. Endoscopic and histologic findings were evaluated with a validated grading system and standardized instrument, respectively. Clinical remission was defined as symptom score <20 (range, 0-100); histologic remission was defined as a peak count of <20 eosinophils/mm(2) in a high-power field (corresponds to approximately <5 eosinophils/median high-power field); and endoscopic remission as absence of white exudates, moderate or severe rings, strictures, or combination of furrows and edema. We used receiver operating characteristic analysis to determine the best symptom score cutoff values for detection of remission. RESULTS: Of the study subjects, 111 were in clinical remission (41.3%), 79 were in endoscopic remission (29.7%), and 75 were in histologic remission (27.9%). When the symptom score was used as a continuous variable, patients in endoscopic, histologic, and combined (endoscopic and histologic remission) remission were detected with area under the curve values of 0.67, 0.60, and 0.67, respectively. A symptom score of 20 identified patients in endoscopic remission with 65.1% accuracy and histologic remission with 62.1% accuracy; a symptom score of 15 identified patients with both types of remission with 67.7% accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with EoE, endoscopic or histologic remission can be identified with only modest accuracy based on symptoms alone. At any given time, physicians cannot rely on lack of symptoms to make assumptions about lack of biologic disease activity in adults with EoE. ClinicalTrials.gov, Number: NCT00939263.

El bienestar psicológico de los preadolescentes

Research on psychological well-being - as a component of quality of life - has paroduced notable developments during the last two decades. However, few instruments exist that are applicable to the study of psychological well-being among adolescents. This article presents the results of administering un instrument of this kind to a sample of 1590 Catalan adolescents between 12 and 14 years old. The instrument, Huebner's siss scale (Huebner, 1991a, 1994) had already been adapted to study a population of Spanish children (Alsinet, 1998). The results are compared to those of positive and negative affect scales administered to the same sample, and to those obtained by Huebner with a US sample. The results demonstrate good reliability, a consistent factor structure, a goodfunctioning of the scale in the Spanish population, and a pattern of answers consistent with the original results by Huebner

Conspectus scientiae pastoralis, in usum Seminarii theologici

Arkit: 1 arkintunnukseton lehti, A-B8.

Determination of Ni(II) in metal alloys by spectrophotometry UV-Vis using dopasemiquinone

A spectrophotometric method was proposed for Ni(II) determination in alloys using a dopa-semiquinone (L-1) to form [Ni(II)(L1-)3]1-, ε = 9.3 x 10³ L mol-1 cm-1. The optimal conditions for the determination were: wavelength 590 nm, temperature 25 °C, reaction time 45 min and pH 7.5. The Beer's law was obeyed for nickel from 3.33 x 10-5 to 1.78 x 10-4 mol L-1. The method was applied to complex samples, such as inox, nickel-titanium and cobalt-chromium alloys. A study of the potential interferents revealed that Mn was the major interferent. The limit of detection and quantification were 2.88 x 10-5 mol L-1 and 3.06 x 10-5 mol L-1, respectively.