Production of mosquitoes in rainwater tanks and wells on Yorke Island, Torres Strait: Preliminary study

The Torres Strait in northernmost Queensland, Australia, is subject to periodic outbreaks of dengue. A large outbreak of dengue 2 in 1996-97 affected five islands, resulting in 200 confirmed cases. On most of the affected islands, rainwater tanks were a common breeding site for vector mosquitoes. Rainwater tanks, wells and household containers filled with water are the most common breeding sites for dengue mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti), the primary vector of dengue in Queensland. We report on surveys conducted in February 2002 to measure the productivity of rainwater tanks and wells on Yorke Is. (Torres Strait), the first time the productivity of rainwater tanks has been measured in Australia. Of 60 rainwater tanks sampled, 10 had broken screens. Using a sticky emergence trap, 179 adult mosquitoes were collected, consisting of 63 Aedes scutellaris and 116 Culex quinquefasciatus. One unscreened tank produced 177 (99%) of the adults. A plankton net was used to sample 16 wells; 12 positive wells yielded 111 immature (larvae and pupae) mosquitoes, consisting of 57% and 43% Ae. scutellaris and Cx. quinquefasciatus, respectively. The apparent displacement of Ae. aegypti by Ae. scutellaris is discussed. Measures to reduce the likelihood of future dengue outbreaks are recommended.

Post-discharge surveillance: can patients reliably diagnose surgical wound infections?

Post-discharge surgical wound infection surveillance is an important part of many infection control programs. It is frequently undertaken by patient self-assessment, prompted either by a telephone or postal questionnaire. To assess the reliability of this method, 290 patients were followed for six weeks post-operatively. Their wounds were photographed and also covertly assessed for signs of infection by two experienced infection control nurses (ICNs). Patients also responded to a postal questionnaire seeking evidence of infection at both week four and week six post-surgery. Correlation between the patient's assessment of their wound and the ICNs diagnosis was poor (r = 0. 37) with a low positive predictive value (28.7%), although negative predictive value was high (98.2%). Assessment of photos for signs of infection by two experienced clinicians also correlated poorly with the ICNs diagnosis of infection (r = 0.54). The patient's recall of prescription of an antibiotic by their general practitioner (GP) for wound infection during the postoperative period correlated best with the ICNs diagnosis (r = 0.76). This latter measure, particularly when confirmed by the GP in those patients reporting an infection, appears to provide the most valid and resource efficient marker of post-discharge surgical wound infection.

Kunjin virus replicon vectors for human immunodeficiency virus vaccine development

We have previously demonstrated the ability of the vaccine vectors based on replicon RNA of the Australian flavivirus Kunjin (KUN) to induce protective antiviral and anticancer CD8(+) T-cell responses using murine polyepitope as a model immunogen (I. Anraku, T. J. Harvey, R. Linedale, J. Gardner, D. Harrich, A. Suhrbier, and A. A. Khromykh, J. Virol. 76:3791-3799, 2002). Here we showed that immunization of BALB/c mice with KUN replicons encoding HIV-1 Gag antigen resulted in induction of both Gag-specific antibody and protective Gag-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses. Two immunizations with KUNgag replicons in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs) induced anti-Gag antibodies with titers of greater than or equal to1:10,000. Immunization with KUNgag replicons delivered as plasmid DNA, naked RNA, or VLPs induced potent Gag-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses, with one immunization of KUNgag VLPs inducing 4.5-fold-more CD8(+) T cells than the number induced after immunization with recombinant vaccinia virus carrying the gag gene (rVVgag). Two immunizations with KUNgag VLPs also provided significant protection against challenge with rVVgag. Importantly, KUN replicon VLP vaccinations induced long-lasting immune responses with CD8(+) T cells able to secrete gamma interferon and to mediate protection 6 to 10 months after immunization. These results illustrate the potential value of the KUN replicon vectors for human immunodeficiency virus vaccine design.

Sox18 mutations in the ragged mouse alleles ragged-like and opossum

The ragged (Ra) spontaneous mouse mutant is characterised by abnormalities in its coat and cardiovascular system. Four alleles are known and we have previously described mutations in the transcription factor gene Sox18 in the Ra and Ra-J alleles. We report here Sox18 mutations in the remaining two ragged alleles, opossum (Ra-op) and ragged-like (Ragl). The single-base deletions cause a C-terminal frameshift, abolishing transcriptional trans-activation and impairing interaction with the partner protein MEF2C. The nature of these mutations, together with the near-normal phenotype of Sox18-null mice, suggests that the ragged mutant SOX18 proteins act in a dominant-negative fashion. The four ragged mutants represent an allelic series that reveal SOX18 structure-function relationships and implicate related SOX proteins in cardiovascular and hair follicle development. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A comparison of two methods for the calculation of accumulated oxygen deficit

The aim of this study was to compare accumulated oxygen deficit data derived using two different exercise protocols with the aim of producing a less time-consuming test specifically for use with athletes. Six road and four track male endurance cyclists performed two series of cycle ergometer tests. The first series involved five 10 min sub-maximal cycle exercise bouts, a (V) over dotO(2peak) test and a 115% (V) over dotO(2peak) test. Data from these tests were used to estimate the accumulated oxygen deficit according to the calculations of Medbo et al. (1988). In the second series of tests, participants performed a 15 min incremental cycle ergometer test followed, 2 min later, by a 2 min variable resistance test in which they completed as much work as possible while pedalling at a constant rate. Analysis revealed that the accumulated oxygen deficit calculated from the first series of tests was higher (P< 0.02) than that calculated from the second series: 52.3 +/- 11.7 and 43.9 +/- 6.4 ml . kg(-1), respectively (mean +/- s). Other significant differences between the two protocols were observed for (V) over dot O-2peak, total work and maximal heart rate; all were higher during the modified protocol (P

Cultivo in vitro de plântulas de orquídea em meios com diferentes concentrações de fertilizante mineral

Existem diversos meios nutritivos utilizados no cultivo in vitro de orquídeas, com diferentes composições e concentrações de sais, resultando em respostas distintas entre eles. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento in vitro de plântulas de orquídea (Cattleya walkeriana Gardner) sob diferentes doses de fertilizante NPK, adicionado ao meio de cultivo, como fonte de nutrientes. Foi utilizado o fertilizante Peters® na formulação NPK 10-30-20 + Mg + micronutrientes, nas doses de: 0,0; 1,0; 2,0; 3,0; 4,0; 5,0 e 10,0 g L-1 de meio, acrescido de água de coco (150 mL L-1), sacarose (20 g L-1), carvão ativado (2 g L-1) e pH corrigido para 5,6. Foram utilizados frascos de vidro de 320 mL de capacidade, contendo 35 mL de meio onde foram inoculadas dez plântulas com seis meses de idade, previamente germinadas em meio Knudson C. O experimento foi mantido em sala de crescimento a 27 ± 2 ºC, 16/8 h luz/escuro e irradiância de 48 µmol m-2 s-1. A produção máxima de matéria seca da parte aérea das plantas, aos seis meses de idade, foi estimada em 0,255 g/frasco com uso de 5,22 g L-1 do fertilizante adicionado ao meio de cultura. Considerando a possibilidade de salinidade elevada do meio, para algumas espécies de orquídea, estimou-se a dose de fertilizante (3,55 g L-1) necessária para obtenção de 90% da produção máxima. As raízes apresentaram drástica redução do crescimento (menor número e curtas) em condições de alta concentração de fertilizante.

Especificidades da formação de professores de artes e de humanidades

A questão de partida da presente reflexão é a de saber se a formação de professores deve ter em conta a especificidade do domínio de conhecimento dos formandos. Será que um professor de artes e um professor de humanidades deve ter exactamente a mesma formação que um professor de ciências naturais ou exactas? Ou será que deve haver uma diferenciação em termos de formação? Se sim, a que nível? Na base desta questão encontra‑se o debate acerca da generalidade versus especificidade do desenvolvimento e da produção do conhecimento. Será que o desenvolvimento do conhecimento e a sua produção são gerais, independentes dos domínios onde surgem, como no caso dos grandes criadores do Renascimento que “brilhavam” tanto nas ciências como nas artes (Martindale, 1989)? Ou será que se trata de conhecimentos isolados em múltiplos domínios como avançam autores como Gardner (1988)? Ou será, ainda, que a produção do conhecimento num determinado domínio constitui uma forma de expressão diferente de um mesmo processo de desenvolvimento que deve ser tido em conta na formação de professores? A análise dos argumentos esgrimidos por 46 professores de humanidades e de artes que frequentaram nos últimos anos o Curso de Profissionalização em Serviço da FPCE‑UL sobre necessidade de uma formação específica permite avançar com a ideia de que o contexto particular deste domínio do conhecimento deve ser tido em conta na formação, nomeadamente, o seu carácter estético, crítico e criativo. Os professores inquiridos foram unânimes em afirmar que a formação deve ser específica, referindo não só razões didácticas, como também aspectos de natureza teórica e meta‑teórica relativas à especificidade natureza das disciplinas que leccionam bem como às dificuldades na implementação dos seus conteúdos concretos. Estas respostas parecem ir ao encontro da assunção de Boorstin e Pelikan (1981) de que existem algumas diferenças em termos dos domínios específicos do desenvolvimento e da produção do conhecimento e que essas diferenças devem ser tomadas em consideração quando se procura fomentar o processo de desenvolvimento e de produção do conhecimento, que constitui, em última instância, o objectivo central da formação de professores.

Critérios de divisibilidade e truques com cartas

Martin Gardner (1914-2010) foi um excelente divulgador de Matemática Recreativa. Durante mais de 25 anos escreveu uma coluna intitulada "Jogos Matemáticos" para a Scientific American, revista americana de divulgação científica. Escreveu também com regularidade para a revista Skeptical Inquirer e foi autor de mais de 70 obras. O seu trabalho inspirou centenas de leitores a apreciar e a querer saber mais sobre o vasto mundo da Matemática. Gardner é conhecido por apresentar interessantes enigmas e desafios matemáticos. Neste texto, analisamos três problemas da sua autoria. (...) O segredo para uma rápida resposta a estes problemas reside no conhecimento dos critérios de divisibilidade do 3 e do 9. Aproveitamos, por isso, a oportunidade para rever alguns dos principais critérios de divisibilidade. Como forma de testar a informação que apresentaremos de seguida, o leitor pode socorrer-se de um número com vários algarismos que tenha à mão. Nos exemplos abaixo, utilizaremos o ISBN-13 do livro Grupos de Simetria: Identificação de Padrões no Património Cultural dos Açores, publicado recentemente pela Associação Ludus e pela Apenas Livros, da autoria conjunta de Ricardo Teixeira, Susana Costa e Vera Moniz. O número é o seguinte: 9 789 896 185 039. (...) O leitor pode mesmo aproveitar para aplicar estes critérios de divisibilidade e fazer um brilharete junto de familiares e amigos. Por exemplo, pode virar-se de costas e pedir a um amigo que construa uma sequência de 5 cartas, utilizando cartas numeradas do Ás ao 5, pela ordem que bem entender; sem ver a sequência formada, a sua "intuição de mágico" dar-lhe-à a certeza de que o número é divisível por 3!

Agressão no trabalho em processos de mudança organizacional: O papel mediador do cinismo organizacional e do comportamento político

Workplace aggression is a factor that shapes the interaction between individuals and their work environment and produces many undesirable outcomes, sometimes introducing heavy costs for organizations. Only through a comprehensive understanding o f the genesis of workplace aggression is possible to develop strategies and interventions to minimize its nefarious effects. The existent body of knowledge has already identified several individual, situational and contextual antecedents of workplace aggr ession, although this is a research area where significant gaps occur and many issues were still not addressed (Dupré & Barling, 2006). According to Neuman and Baron (1998) one of these predictors is organizational change, since certain changes in the work environment (e.g., changes in management) can lead to increased aggression. This paper intends to contribute to workplace aggression research by studying its relationship with organizational change, considering the mediation role of political behaviors an d organizational cynicism (Ammeter, Douglas, Gardner, Hochwarter, & Ferris, 2002). The literature review suggests that mediators and moderators that intervene in the relationships between workplace aggression and its antecedents are understudied topics. Ja mes (2005) sustains that organizational politics is related to cynicism and the empirical research of Miranda (2008) has identified leadership political behavior as an antecedent of cynicism but these two variables were not yet investigated regarding their relationship with workplace aggression. This investigation was operationalized using several scales including the Organizational Change Questionnaire - climate of change, processes, and readiness (Bouckenooghe, Devos, & Broeck, 2009), a Workplace Aggressio n Scale (Vicente, 2008, 2009), an Organizational Cynicism Scale (Wanous, Reichers, & Austin, 1994) and a Political Behavior Questionnaire (Yukl & Falbe, 1990). Participants representing a wide variety of jobs across many organizations were surveyed. The r esults of the study and its implications will be presented and discussed. This study contribution is also discussed in what concerns organizational change practices in organizations.

Possibilidade de desenvolvimento integrado pela expressão musical: Uma experiência no 1º CEB

Desde o primeiro momento, este projeto procurou libertar-se dos cenários tradicionais em que a aprendizagem era encarada como uma atividade solitária e individual; ao longo do processo, cada aluno encontrava-se sozinho perante a tarefa, sob olhar atento do professor (tais posturas eram próprias de uma cultura autoritária e pouco solidária na apropriação do saber). Decorrente dessa vontade de alterar formas de atuação, este projeto assentou os seus pressupostos teóricos na teoria em espiral de Bruner e na teoria das inteligências múltiplas de Gardner. Assim, o aluno é sempre encarado como um ser em desenvolvimento, razão pela qual urge ter uma visão holística e integrada desse desenvolvimento. Como tal, associada a estas teorias aparece a aprendizagem cooperativa e, consequentemente, o conceito de Zona de Desenvolvimento Proximal de Vygotsky e a integração curricular diretamente ligada à metodologia de projeto defendida por autores como Dewey e Kilpatrik, pontos basilares de todo este estudo. Tal como o próprio nome do projeto indica Possibilidades de desenvolvimento integrado pela Expressão Musical: Uma experiência no 1.º CEB, o objetivo principal é investigar as possibilidades de desenvolvimento global do aluno, com a interligação dos vários saberes que lhe permitam construir o seu conhecimento de uma forma integrada, tendo como ponto de partida a expressão musical. Desde a elaboração das planificações, passando pelas atividades desenvolvidas ao longo das aulas, houve sempre a preocupação em promover a participação ativa dos alunos e, como é evidente pelos mapas de conceitos, privilegiar a integração curricular bem como o desenvolvimento global dos alunos. Os dados obtidos através da entrevista efetuada aos alunos e do inquérito final demonstram o reconhecimento, por parte dos alunos, da expressão musical como uma mais3 valia para a sua aprendizagem nas diversas disciplinas, bem como a sua preferência pelo trabalho cooperativo.

Torpedo Maculopathy with an Anisometropic Amblyopia in a 5-Year-Old Caucasian Girl: Case Report

The aim of this study is to report a clinical case of asymptomatic female Caucasian children with torpedo maculopathy. A 5-year-old girl was referred to our clinic for routine evaluation. The ophthalmic examination revealed best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 in both eyes, without any changes in the biomicroscopy. Fundus examination showed normal findings in one eye, whereas in the contralateral eye it disclosed, in the temporal sector of the macular region, a whitish, atrophic, oval chorioretinal lesion with clearly defined margins. Posterior evaluations documented the stability of the lesion. Torpedo maculopathy diagnosis is based on its characteristic shape and peculiar location. The differential diagnosis has to be established versus choroidal lesions (melanoma and nevus), congenital or iatrogenic hyperplasia of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and particularly versus the congenital pigmented lesions associated with Gardner's syndrome.

Long-Term Lamivudine Treatment of Children with Chronic Hepatitis B: Durability of Therapeutic Responses and Safety

Lamivudine has been demonstrated safe and efficacious in the short term in a large cohort of children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), but optimal duration of treatment has not been elucidated and limited data on the safety of long-term lamivudine administration have been reported. In addition, the durability of favourable therapeutic outcomes after lamivudine therapy in children has not been well characterized. The aim of this study was to examine the safety of lamivudine and the durability of clinical responses in a group of children who received up to 3 years of treatment for CHB. One hundred and fifty-one children from centres in nine countries who had previously received lamivudine in a large prospective trial were enrolled. During the first year, children had been randomized to either lamivudine or placebo treatment. Subsequently, in a separate extension study, those who remained hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive were given lamivudine for up to 2 years and those who were HBeAg negative were observed for additional 2 years. Results of these studies have been previously reported. In this study, these children were followed for 2 additional years. Data gathered from medical record review included weight, height, signs and symptoms of hepatitis, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, serologic markers, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels and serious adverse events (SAEs). Other pharmacological treatments for CHB were allowed according to the practices of individual investigators and were documented. Subjects were divided into two groups for analysis, those who had achieved virological response (VR), defined as HBeAg negative and undetectable HBV DNA by the bDNA assay by the end of the extension study at 3 years, and those who had not. In those who had achieved VR by the end of the extension study, long-term durability of HBeAg seroconversion was 82% and >90% in those who had received lamivudine for 52 weeks and at least 2 years respectively. This compares to 75% for those who had achieved seroconversion after placebo. In those who had not achieved VR by the end of the extension study, an additional 11% did so by the end of the study; they had all received lamivudine in the previous trial, and none had received further treatment during the study. Eight children lost hepatitis B surface antigen during the study and all had received lamivudine at some point during the previous trials. Evaluation of safety data revealed no SAEs related to lamivudine. There was no effect of treatment on weight or height z scores. Clinically benign ALT flares (>10 times normal) were seen in 2% of children. Favourable outcomes from lamivudine treatment of CHB in children are maintained for at least several years after completion of treatment. Up to 3 years of lamivudine treatment is safe in children.