Prediction of genetic gain from selection indices for disease resistance in papaya hybrids

In order to select superior hybrids for the concentration of favorable alleles for resistance to papaya black spot, powdery mildew and phoma spot, 67 hybrids were evaluated in two seasons, in 2007, in a randomized block design with two replications. Genetic gains were estimated from the selection indices of Smith & Hazel, Pesek & Baker, Williams, Mulamba & Mock, with selection intensity of 22.39%, corresponding to 15 hybrids. The index of Mulamba & Mock showed gains more suitable for the five traits assessed when it was used the criterion of economic weight tentatively assigned. Together, severity of black spot on leaves and on fruits, characteristics considered most relevant to the selection of resistant materials, expressed percentage gain of -44.15%. In addition, there were gains for other characteristics, with negative predicted selective percentage gain. The results showed that the index of Mulamba & Mock is the most efficient procedure for simultaneous selection of papaya hybrid resistant to black spot, powdery mildew and phoma spot.

Agronomic performance of 27 cocoa progenies and plant selection based on productivity, self-compatibility and disease resistance

The objective of the present work was to evaluate 27 progenies of cocoa crosses considering the agronomic traits and select F1 plants within superior crosses. The experiment was installed in March 2005, in the Experimental Station Joaquim Bahiana (ESJOB), in Itajuipe, Bahia. The area of the experiment is of approximately 3 ha, with a total of 3240 plants. Thirteen evaluations of vegetative brooms, five of cushion brooms and 15 of number of pods per plant were accomplished. Thirty pollinations were made for each selected plant to test for self-compatibility. The production, based on the number of pods per plant, and resistance to witches´ broom indicated CEPEC 94 x CCN 10, RB 39 x CCN 51 and CCN 10 x VB 1151 as superior progenies. All selections tested were self-compatible. The analyses of progenies and individual tree data, associated to visual field observations, allowed the selection of 17 plants which were included in a network of regional tests to determine the phenotypic stability.

Penetration resistance in a latosol under different moisture and penetration speeds

The soil penetration resistance has been used to represent the compaction situation and several authors have attempted to relate the cone index (CI) with the bulk density. The importance of using the CI as source of information for decisions in agricultural activities, livestock and forestry manner, has become increasingly larger, which requires more knowledge about the penetrometers and penetrographs behavior. This study aimed to verify, in controlled laboratory conditions, the influence of soil water content and cone penetration rate to obtain the cone index, when density variation occurs. The soil was compacted by compression through a universal press cylinder which was specially designed to produce the test specimens. Bulk densities were determined from samples taken from the test specimens and their moisture content. The CI values obtained were between 0.258 and 4.776 MPa, measured in 4 moistures and 7 soil densities with 3 penetration speeds. It was concluded that the determination of IC is strongly influenced by the soil moisture but the penetration speed variation, used in this study, was not sufficient to influence the IC determination. However, the decrease in soil water content may increase the sensitiveness to detect a variation in bulk density by the use of cone index.

Organizing resistance movements: contribution of the political discourse theory

The main purpose of this paper is to explore the possibility of articulating Political Discourse Theory (PDT) together with Organizational Studies (OS), while using the opportunity to introduce PDT to those OS scholars who have not yet come across it. The bulk of this paper introduces the main concepts of PDT, discussing how they have been applied to concrete, empirical studies of resistance movements. In recent years, PDT has been increasingly appropriated by OS scholars to problematize and analyze resistances and other forms of social antagonisms within organizational settings, taking the relational and contingent aspects of struggles into consideration. While the paper supports the idea of a joint articulation of PDT and OS, it raises a number of critical questions of how PDT concepts have been empirically used to explain the organization of resistance movements. The paper sets out a research agenda for how both PDT and OS can together contribute to our understanding of new, emerging organizational forms of resistance movements.

Virus-Resistance Genes: The Mouse Model

Os Homens e os animais diferem grandemente nas suas respostas às infecções virais. Os vírus podem induzir, em alguns, sintomas ligeiros, enquanto que em outros podem provocar patologias graves mesmo mortais. Acumulam-se evidências que o património genético é um dos factores primordiais a condicionar e contribuir para a complexidade das interações vírus-hospedeiro. A identificação de genes com papel na resposta à infecção viral tornouse pois o tema de investigação de muitos laboratórios, com o objectivo de elucidar os processos fisiopatológicos que regem e determinam esse tipo de resposta. Neste artigo de revisão pretende-se ilustrar como o modelo murino têm sido utilizado para a identificação de genes de resistência viral, e como estes podem funcionar como base para a descoberta de genes homólogos em outras espécies. na elucidação dos mecanismos de resistência, e em novos componentes da reunir todos os genes de resistência viral descobertos em murganhos.

O estresse ocupacional do professor do ensino superior: a relação entre os sintomas de estresse e a atividade docente em duas instituições de ensino superior da cidade de Teresina-pi

RESUMO: Com a globalização e as mudanças provenientes da mesma, o ser humano vem sofrendo com o estresse ao tentar se adaptar e acompanhar tais acontecimentos seja no âmbito familiar, social, afetivo e profissional. Para desempenhar as funções docentes do ensino superior, são exigidas diversas condições, e o professor sofre um desgaste físico e psicológico ao tentar suprir determinadas demandas, o que em muitos casos, ocasiona o estresse ocupacional. Com o propósito de aprofundar conhecimentos sobre a relação existente entre o estresse e a atividade docente, fizemos o seguinte questionamento: quais os sintomas de estresse apresentados em professores do ensino superior? Com Objetivo geral de estudar os sintomas e níveis de estresse, relacionando-os à carreira docente do ensino superior, com as variáveis: regime de trabalho, vínculo institucional, idade, sexo, tempo de trabalho, tipo de IES, em uma população específica pertencente a duas Instituições de Ensino Superior -IES da cidade de Teresina, Estado do Piauí- Brasil, sendo uma pública e uma privada. Visando atingir os objetivos propostos, utilizamos da metodologia de caráter exploratório e descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa dos dados recorrendo à estatística descritiva. O instrumento de coleta de dados utilizado foi o “Inventário de Sintomas de Stress Lipp – ISSL” da autora Marilda Lipp (2000), aplicado em uma amostra de cem (100) professores, com idade entre 22 e 55 anos de idade. Mediante a análise dos dados, pode-se verificar que apesar das diferenças existentes entre IES públicas e privadas, a maioria dos resultados foram semelhantes. Em ambas as IES houve presença de estresse nos docentes, prevalecendo a fase de alerta, logo após a fase de resistência, em seguida a fase de quase-exaustão,Houve um predomínio de sintomas psicológicos, onde na IES privada se destacam: aumento súbito de motivação e entusiasmo súbito. E como sintomas físicos: boca seca e nó no estômago. Na IES públicas os sintomas psicológicos foram: entusiasmo súbito e aumento súbito de motivação. E físicos: tensão muscular e nó no estômago. Em relação as co-variáveis que apresentaram maior relação com o estresse pode-se apresentar na IES privada o sexo masculino e feminino possuem a mesma representatividade, a faixa etária de 31 a 39 anos, estado civil casado, tempo de serviço de 7 a 13 anos, jornada de trabalho integral e vínculo efetivo. Já na IES pública verifica-se relação com o sexo feminino, idade variando de 31 a 39 anos, estado civil solteiro, tempo de serviço de 7 a 13 anos, jornada de trabalho parcial e vínculo substituto. De acordo com o que foi analisado, percebe-se que os docentes do ensino superior, independente do tipo de IES ao qual estão vinculados, estão sujeitos ao estresse e que estes não devem ser responsabilizados pelo mesmo, nem por adoção de medidas preventivas, visto que toda a IES sofre as conseqüências, e tem condições de auxiliar o professor com situações preventivas, de controle a partir do conhecimento, interpretação e mudança de hábitos do professor no ambiente universitário. ABSTRACT: With globalization and its changes, the human being has suffered from stress while trying to adapt and monitor such events, within family, social, emotional or professional scope. To play as teacher in higher education, they are required various conditions and the teacher suffers physical and psychological wear trying to meet certain demands, which in many cases leads to occupational stress.Aiming to deepen knowledge about the relationship between stress and teaching activities, we made the following question: what are the symptoms of stress presented by higher education teachers? With the general objective of study the symptoms and the stress levels, linking them to the teaching career in higher education, using the following variables: working regime, institutional link, age, sex, working time, type of HEI, in a specific population belongs to two Higher Education Institutions HEI - of Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, one public and one private. Aiming to achieve the proposed objectives, we used a exploratory - descriptive study, with quantitative approach of data using graphs and tables. The data collection instrument used was the "Lipp Stress Symptoms Inventory - ISSL" by the author Marilda Lipp (2000), applied to a sample of a hundred (100) teachers, between 22 and 55 years of age. Through data analysis, despite the differences between public and private HEIs, we can see that the most results were similar. In both HEIs, the results revealed that the alert phase of stress had prevailed, followed by resistance and almost-exhaustion phases. A small number presented stress in exhaustion phase and another group did not present stress. There was a predominance of psychological symptoms, which in private HEIs stands out: increase of motivation and enthusiasm suddenly. And as physical symptoms: dry mouth and stomached. In public HEI, psychological symptoms were sudden enthusiasm and increse of motivation. And physical symptoms: muscle tension and stomached. In relation to the co-variables that showed a greater relationship with stress, in private HEIs males and females have the same representation, between 31-39 years, married, working time of 7-13 years, full working day and effective link. Already in public HEIs, female, between 31-39 years, unmarried, working time of 7-13 years, partial working day and substitute link had prevailed. According to analysis, we find that teachers in higher education, regardless of the HEI to which they are linked, are subject to stress. And they should not be blamed for the onset of stress, neither by adopting preventive measures, since all the HEI suffers the consequences, and it is able to help teachers with preventive measures based on the knowledge, interpretation and change habits of the teacher in the university environment.

Asphalt rubber mixtures in Portugal: fatigue resistance

This paper presents a study concerning the fatigue behaviour of asphalt mixtures with bitumen modified with high content of crumb rubber used in Portugal. For assessing the fatigue behaviour of this type of mixtures, four asphalt mixtures with high content of crumb rubber were used: two field bituminous mixtures – an open-graded and a gap-graded – both with granite aggregates; and two laboratory manufactured bituminous mixtures – an open-graded mixture with granite aggregates and a gap-graded mixture with crushed gravel aggregates. Since this type of mixtures are mainly applied in wearing courses, the effect of ageing in the fatigue behaviour of one of the studied asphalt rubber mixtures was also assessed through laboratory testing. The paper presents the main results achieved so far concerning the fatigue resistance and it could be concluded that all the materials have exhibited a good behaviour, in agreement with others previous studies. In the case of the aged gap-graded material, it was observed a slight reduction on the fatigue life comparatively to the un-aged one.

Seismic resistance of earth construction in Portugal

This paper presents an assessment of the potential seismic performance of new earth construction in Portugal. Results of a parametric study on a properly designed rammed earth construction, considering several strengthening solutions, are presented and discussed. It is concluded that single storey houses can have acceptable seismic performance even in high seismicity areas, provided that the structure is adequately strengthened by reinforced concrete columns and beams. Improvement of the characteristics of the structural material (earth) may be necessary to reduce damage.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases from the North of Portugal in the boundaries to Spain: emergence of high resistance to 4th generation cephalosporins

During the past 15 years, emergence and dissemination of third-generation cephalosporins resistance in nosocomial Enterobacteriaceae became a serious problem worldwide, due to the production of extended-spectrum-β-lactamases (ESBLs). The aim of this study was to investigate among the presence of ESBL-producing enterobacteria among Portuguese clinical isolates nearby Spain, to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and to compare the two countries. The β-lactamases genes, blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M were detected by molecular methods. Among the ESBL-producing isolates it was found extraordinary levels (98.9%) of resistance to the fourth-generation cephalosporin Cefepime. These findings point to the need of reevaluate the definition of ESBL.

Yeast resistance and its reversion

Actualmente, a resistência a drogas é um dos grandes problemas na terapia de diferentes patologias e também na biotecnologia e agricultura. O objectivo do presente estudo foi elucidar a resistência a drogas em leveduras patogénicas ou alimentares, que mais frequentemente são encontradas. Assim, diferentes antifungicos clínicos e novos compostos recentemente sintetizados foram testados por um método para avaliar a resistência e sua reversão que foi previamente desenvolvido. Foi testado um painel de diferentes drogas para reverter a resistência. Mostramos que alguns destes moduladores foram capazes de reverter eficazmente a resistência.

Resistance to β-lactams in bacteria isolated from different types of Portuguese cheese

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of beta-lactam-resistant bacteria in six different types of Portuguese cheese. The numbers of ampicillin resistant (AMP(r)) bacteria varied from 4.7 x 10(2) to 1.5 x 10(7) CFU/g. Within 172 randomly selected beta-lactam-resistant bacteria, 44 resistant phenotypes were found and 31.4% were multidrug resistant. The majority (85%) of the isolates identified belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The presence of the bla(TEM) gene was detected in 80.9% of the tested isolates. The results suggest that without thermal processing of the milk and good hygienic practices, cheese may act as a vehicle of transfer of beta-lactam-resistant bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract of consumers.

ß-Lactams: chemical structure, mode of action and mechanisms of resistance

This synopsis summarizes the key chemical and bacteriological characteristics of β-lactams, penicillins, cephalosporins, carbanpenems, monobactams and others. Particular notice is given to first-generation to fifth-generation cephalosporins. This review also summarizes the main resistance mechanism to antibiotics, focusing particular attention to those conferring resistance to broad-spectrum cephalosporins by means of production of emerging cephalosporinases (extended-spectrum β-lactamases and AmpC β-lactamases), target alteration (penicillin-binding proteins from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and membrane transporters that pump β-lactams out of the bacterial cell.

Antibiotic resistance in enterobacteriaceae isolated from Portuguese deli meats

This study aimed to identify the presence of β-lactam-resistant bacteria in different types of Portuguese deli meats. The numbers of ampicillin resistant bacteria varied from negative in 25 g to 1.0 × 108colony-forming units/g. Within 78 randomly selected β-lactam-resistant bacteria, 24 different resistant phenotypes were found and 35.9% were multidrug resistant (MDR). The majority (87.2%) of the isolates identified belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The presence of the blaTEM gene was detected in 23 out of 67 isolates (34.3%) and 16 of them presented MDR phenotypes. Four Klebsiella oxytoca isolates (6%) harbored a gene for the CTX-M/OXY-type enzyme. The direct sequencing of their purified amplicons confirmed the presence of three types of blaOXYgenes (blaOXY-1, blaOXY-2 and blaOXY-5). These results suggest that without good hygienic practices, deli meats may act as a vehicle of transfer of β-lactam-resistant bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract of consumers.

Magnesium, insulin resistance and body composition in healthy postmenopausal women

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the association between magnesium (Mg), body composition and insulin resistance in 136 sedentary postmenopausal women, 50 to 77 years of age. Methods: Diabetics, hypertensives and women on hormonal replacement therapy were excluded and the remaining 74 were divided according to BMI≥25 (obese: OG) and BMI<25 kg/m2 (non-obese: NOG). Nutritional data disclosed that intakes were high for protein and saturated fat, low for carbohydrates, polyunsaturated fat and Mg and normal for the other nutrients, according to recommended dietary allowances (RDA). Mg values in red blood cells (RBC-Mg) and plasma (P-Mg), were determined, as were fasting glucose, and insulin levels, Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA), body mass index (BMI), body fat percent (BF %), abdominal fat (AF) and free fat mass (FFM). Results: RBC-Mg values were low in both groups when compared with normal values. There were significant differences in body composition parameters, HOMA and insulin levels, with higher basal insulin levels in OG. RBC-Mg was directly correlated with insulin, HOMA and FFM in both groups, according to Pearson correlations. HOMA in OG was also directly correlated with BMI, FFM and AF. In NOG, HOMA was only correlated with FFM. The low RBC-Mg levels observed were probably due to low Mg intake and to deregulation of factors that control Mg homeostasis during menopause. Conclusions: Both Mg deficit and obesity may independently lead to a higher risk for insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.