Pre-emptive breeding to combine superior eating quality in tropical super sweet corn with resistance to major diseases

This report presents the process and outcomes of a five year project, which employed genetics and breeding approach for integrating disease resistance,agronomy and quality traits that enhances sustainable productivity improvement in sweet corn production. The report outlines a molecular markers based approach to introgress quantitative traits loci that are believed to contribute to resistance to downy mildew, a potentially devastating disease that threatens sweet corn and other similar crops. It also details the approach followed to integrate resistances for other major diseases such as southern rust (caused by Puccinia polysora Underw), Northern Corn Leaf Blight (Exserohilum turcicum) with improved agronomy and eating quality. The report explains the importance of heterosis (hybrid vigour) and combining ability in the development of useful sweet corn hybrids. It also explains the relevance of parental performance to predict its breeding value and the performance of its hybrids.

Aqueous colloidal stability evaluated by zeta potential measurement and resultant TiO2 for superior photovoltaic performance

Controlling the morphological structure of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) is crucial for obtaining superior power conversion efficiency for dye-sensitized solar cells. Although the sol-gel-based process has been developed for this purpose, there has been limited success in resisting the aggregation of nanostructured TiO2, which could act as an obstacle for mass production. Herein, we report a simple approach to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) by controlling the degree of aggregation and particle surface charge through zeta potential analysis. We found that different aqueous colloidal conditions, i.e., potential of hydrogen (pH), water/titanium alkoxide (titanium isopropoxide) ratio, and surface charge, obviously led to different particle sizes in the range of 10-500 nm. We have also shown that particles prepared under acidic conditions are more effective for DSSC application regarding the modification of surface charges to improve dye loading and electron injection rate properties. Power conversion efficiency of 6.54%, open-circuit voltage of 0.73 V, short-circuit current density of 15.32 mA/cm2, and fill factor of 0.73 were obtained using anatase TiO 2 optimized to 10-20 nm in size, as well as by the use of a compact TiO2 blocking layer.

Nerve growth factor induced turnover of phosphatidylinositol in rat superior cervical ganglia

The addition of nerve growth factor to organ cultures of superior cervical ganglia from immature rats specifically stimulated the incorporation of 32P-orthophosphate into phosphatidylinositol fraction. Equimolar concentrations of other hormones such as insulin, glucagon, thyroxine and growth hormone did not cause any stimulation of the incorporation of 14C-myoinositol into phosphatidylinositol. The stimulation of phosphatidylinositol turnover was observed over a concentration of nerve growth factor ranging from 10?10M to 10?7M. Nerve growth factor specific �inositide effect� was found to be sensitive to nerve growth factor antibody, 2,4-dinitrophenol, a high concentration of bovine growth hormones but not to Actinomycin D. The physiological significance of this finding in relation to nerve growth factor action in this target tissue is discussed.NGF, Nerve Growth Factor; SCG, Superior Cervical Ganglia; PI, Phosphatidylinositol

SnO2 nanowire anchored graphene nanosheet matrix for the superior performance of Li-ion thin film battery anode

All solid state batteries are essential candidate for miniaturizing the portable electronics devices. Thin film batteries are constructed by layer by layer deposition of electrode materials by physical vapour deposition method. We propose a promising novel method and unique architecture, in which highly porous graphene sheet embedded with SnO2 nanowire could be employed as the anode electrode in lithium ion thin film battery. The vertically standing graphene flakes were synthesized by microwave plasma CVD and SnO2 nanowires based on a vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism via thermal evaporation at low synthesis temperature (620 degrees C). The graphene sheet/SnO2 nanowire composite electrode demonstrated stable cycling behaviours and delivered a initial high specific discharge capacity of 1335 mAh g(-1) and 900 mAh g(-1) after the 50th cycle. Furthermore, the SnO2 nanowire electrode displayed superior rate capabilities with various current densities.

Superior Performance of a MoS2-RGO Composite and a Borocarbonitride in the Electrochemical Detection of Dopamine, Uric Acid and Adenine

A MoS2-RGO composite and borocarbonitride (BC5N) have been used as electrodes to selectively detect dopamine and uric acid in the presence of ascorbic acid. Both the electrodes show excellent eletrocatalytic activity towards the detection of dopamine, the detection limits being 0.55 mu M and 2.1 mu M in the case of MoS2-RGO and BCN respectively. MoS2-RGO shows a linear range of current over the 1-110 mu M concentrations of dopamine, while BCN shows over the 2.3-20 mu M range. BCN also exhibits satisfactory performance in the oxidation of uric acid with a detection limit of 3.8 mu M and the linear range from 4 to 40 mu M. The MoS2-RGO has also been used to detect adenine as well.

Responsabilidad social universitaria (RSU): nuevo paradigma en la educación superior

Resumen: La Universidad, como actor social, debe contribuir al desarrollo integral de la comunidad en la cual se halla inserta. El conocimiento no es patrimonio exclusivo de ella, sino que debe ponerlo al servicio de las transformaciones exigidas por la dignidad humana, la justicia y la equidad. En particular, la Universidad Católica está llamada a una presencia activa y perseverante en el mundo actual, por ser parte de la misión de la Iglesia, permaneciendo fiel al Evangelio y a la Doctrina Social

A profissionalização dos servidores do legislativo e o curso superior e administração legislativa da Unisul

Desde 1995, o Brasil apresenta uma nova onda de profissionalização do serviço público. No campo do Legislativo, esse movimento levou à criação de escolas do legislativo e à preocupação com a adoção de modernas técnicas de gestão pública. Há que se indagar, entretanto, qual o perfil desejado para o profissional do Legislativo. O curso de graduação tecnológica em Administração Legislativa, oferecido pela Unisul como uma oportunidade de formação específica dos servidores do Legislativo, traz uma definição desse profissional que é analisada criticamente neste estudo.

Ausência de política pública de cotas raciais para ingresso em instituições públicas de ensino superior no Brasil

Descreve o atual panorama normativo para as cotas raciais no Brasil com base em estudo realizado com utilização de a análise documental e bibliográfica. Os resultados indicaram que a ausência de uma norma federal implicou baixa adesão ao sistema de cotas, o que é ratificado pelo insignificante número de Instituições Públicas de Ensino Superior (Ipes) que adotaram norma de cota racial - apenas 17,79%. Verificou-se, ainda, que essa ausência cria lacunas na adoção de diretrizes nacionais para a interpretação e a compreensão das ações afirmativas. Tais lacunas refletem diretamente no ciclo da política pública, comprometendo a avaliação e o acompanhamento da efetividade e do sucesso da política, o que é extremamente perigoso para a segurança jurídica na área de direitos humanos e para a garantia da equidade de fato nos espaços político, econômico e social.

A ordem do dia e o sistema de trocas : os atos de fala no debate parlamentar

Análise linguístico-discursiva dos atos de fala presentes nas manifestações dos Parlamentares, especialmente no período da sessão denominado Ordem do Dia, incluídas aí as trocas conversacionais. Apresenta como base teórica a Linguística Sistêmico-Funcional, de Halliday – especificamente o Sistema de Troca da Linguagem –, a teoria dialógica de Bakhtin e o sistema estrutural conversacional proposto por Martin e Rose.

Ampliação de benefícios tributários à luz da LRF, limites do poder regulamentar e afronta às prerrogativas do Poder Legislativo : atos decorrentes do Parecer PGFN/CAT/Nº 1503/2010 - inclusão de dependente homoafetiva para efeitos fiscais

Consultoria de Orçamento e Fiscalização Financeira - Núcleo Execução e Avaliação da Despesa Pública.

Os efeitos da extinção do fator previdenciário e do retorno à média curta

Consultoria de Orçamento e Fiscalização Financeira - Núcleo Trabalho, Previdência e Assistência Social.

O eucalipto e os efeitos ambientais do seu plantio em escala

Consultoria Legislativa - Área XI - Meio Ambiente e Direito Ambiental, Organização Territorial e Desenvolvimento Urbano e Regional.