Molecular characterization of a retrotransposon in the Rhynchosciara americana genome and its association with telomere

Non-LTR retrotransposons, also known as long interspersed nuclear elements (LINEs), are transposable elements that encode a reverse transcriptase and insert into genomic locations via RNA intermediates. The sequence analysis of a cDNA library constructed from mRNA of the salivary glands of R. americana showed the presence of putative class I elements. The cDNA clone with homology to a reverse transcriptase was the starting point for the present study. Genomic phage was isolated and sequenced and the molecular structure of the element was characterized as being a non-LTR retrotransposable element. Southern blot analysis indicated that this transposable element is represented by repeat sequences in the genome of R. americana. Chromosome tips were consistently positive when this element was used as probe in in-situ hybridization. Real-time RT-PCR showed that this retrotransposon is transcribed at different periods of larval development. Most interesting, the silencing of this retrotransposon in R. americana by RNA interference resulted in reduced transcript levels and in accelerated larval development.

Delivery care in Quang Ninh province, Northern Vietnam : resources and access to safe care.

Every mother and child has the right to survive childbirth which requires skilled birth attendants together with referral and available emergency obstetric care (EmOC). The objective of the study was to describe delivery care routines at different levels in the health care system in Quang Ninh province, Northern Vietnam. The design was cross sectional using a structured questionnaire. Two districts in Quang Ninh province with 40 Community Health Centres (CHC), three district hospitals and one region hospital was included in the study, in total 138 (CHC n=105 and hospitals n=33) health care providers participated. In our study 20% (CHC) of the health care providers assisting deliveries at CHC were midwives and health care provider’s in our study further report to have assisted at less then 10 deliveries/year (81% of respondents at CHC). Findings show that the health care provider’s routines and care for women during labour and delivery vary and that there is a need for re-training and that women in labour should be cared for by health care providers with adequate training like midwifery. In our study CHC had poor resources to provide basic or comprehensive EmOC. Our findings indicate that there is a need for re-training in delivery care among health care providers and since the number of deliveries at CHC is few they should be handled by someone who is a skilled birth attendant. Our findings also show a variation in care routines during labour and delivery among health care providers at CHC and hospital levels and this also show the need for re-training and support from proper authorities in order to improve maternal and newborn health.

Movements and mechanical stresses in gas-filled flat plate solar collectors

Sealed gas filled flat plate solar collectors will have stresses in the material since volume and pressure varies in the gas when the temperature changes. Several geometries were analyzed and it could be seen that it is possible reducing the stresses and improve the safety factor of the weakest point in the construction by using larger area and/or reducing the distance between glass and absorber and/or change width and height relationship so the tubes are getting longer. Further it could be shown that the safety factor won't always get improved with reinforcements. It is so because when an already strong part of the collector gets reinforced it will expose weaker parts for higher stresses. The finite element method was used for finding out the stresses.

Chronic Diseases: Chronic Diseases and Development 2 Health, agricultural, and economic effects of adoption of healthy diet recommendations

Transition to diets that are high in saturated fat and sugar has caused a global public health concern as the pattern of food consumption is a mayor modifiable risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases Although agri food systems are intimately associated with this transition, agriculture and health sectors are largely disconnected in their priorities policy, and analysis with neither side considering the complex inter relation between agri trade patterns of food consumption health, and development We show the importance of connection of these perspectives through estimation of the effect of adopting a healthy diet on population health, agricultural production trade the economy and livelihoods, with a computable general equilibrium approach on the basis of case studies from the UK and Brazil we suggest that benefits of a healthy diet policy will vary substantially between different populations, not only because of population dietary intake but also because of agricultural production trade and other economic factors

Thermal and mechanical shocks affecting the first flush of production of Lentinula edodes on Eucalyptus saligna logs

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do choque térmico e mecânico na produtividade de Lentinula edodes em 140 toras de Eucalyptus saligna, completamente colonizadas pelo fungo, em diferentes tempos de imersão em água e no primeiro fluxo de produção. As toras foram imersas em água resfriada (16ºC) ou à temperatura ambiente (22ºC); os períodos de imersão corresponderam a 6, 10, 14, 18, 22, 26 e 38 horas; o choque mecânico foi acompanhado por três quedas consecutivas da tora, em posição vertical, no chão. A temperatura da água e o tempo de imersão afetaram a produção de L. edodes, resultando em aumentos significativos (2 a 4 vezes) nos tratamentos em que as toras foram submetidas à água resfriada e nos tempos de imersão mais curtos (6 e 10 horas). O choque mecânico não resultou em aumento na produção de basidiomas.

Effects of substrate and mechanical scarification on the germination of Syagrus oleracea (Arecaceae) seeds

The slow and uneven germination of Syagrus oleracea seeds represents a problem for its propagation, especially for commercial production. This work aimed to study the effects of substrate and mechanical scarification on the germination of S. oleracea seeds. Germination (% G), emergence rate (ER), leaf area (cm(2)), root length (cm), leaf dry mass (g) and root dry mass (g) were also determined. Non-scarified seeds sown in vermiculite germinated faster and showed higher germination (65%), as well as greater root length (16.55 cm). leaf dry mass (5.07 g) and root dry mass (12.41 g), when compared to the scarified seeds.

Microbial populations and the activity of the soil under agricultural and agricultural-pastoral systems

The effects of agricultural-pastoral and tillage practices on soil microbial populations and activities have not been systematically investigated. The effect of no-tillage (NT), no-tillage agricultural-pastoral integrated systems (NT-I) and conventional tillage (CT) at soil depths of 0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm on the microbial populations (bacteria and fungi), biomass-C, potential nitrification, urease and protease activities, total organic matter and total N contents were investigated. The crops used were soybean (in NT, NT-I and CT systems), corn (in NT and NT-I systems) and Tanner grass (Brachiaria sp.) (in NT-I system); a forest system was used as a control. Urease and protease activities, biomass-C and the content of organic matter and total N were higher (p < 0.05) in the forest soil than the other soils. Potential nitrification was significantly higher in the NT-I system in comparison with the other systems. Bacteria numbers were similar in all systems. Fungi counts were similar in the CT and forest, but both were higher than in NT. All of these variables were dependent on the organic matter content and decreased (p < 0.05) from the upper soil layer to the deeper soil layers. These results indicate that the no-tillage agricultural-pasture-integrated systems may be useful for soil conservation.

MUC1 gene polymorphism in three Nelore lines selected for growth and its association with growth and carcass traits

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

First polymorphisms in JY-1 gene in cattle (Bos taurus indicus) and their association with sexual precocity and growth traits

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Physical and mechanical properties of thermally modified wood from E. grandis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of a probiotic soy product on fecal microbiota and its association with cardiovascular risk factors in an animal model

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Thermal and mechanical behaviour of sisal/phenolic composites

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Optical and mechanical design of an ophthalmic instrument: Slit lamp

This work has as objective to develop an interesting research line in the Optical Instrumentation area, that is to associate the Optical Design to the Ophthalmology area. The purpose of it is handling the optical design techniques to design a widely used ophthalmologic instrument called slit lamp. The optical and mechanical design of the slit lamp prototype was carefully projected in order to improve the best quality image, the comfort of the patient and the user, the simplicity of handling, the facility of production the availability of optical and mechanical components in the national market and the low cost of production. The main goal of this work was to realize a project using totally national technology, cheapening the cost and forming the optimum image required for the slit lamp optical system.