Estresses hídrico e salino no processo germinativo das sementes de Plantago ovata Forsk. (Plantaginaceae)

Plantago ovata é espécie medicinal de grande importância cultivada na Índia, no Irã e no Paquistão. As sementes possuem de 20 a 30% de mucilagem utilizada pelas indústrias farmacêuticas nos tratamentos de constipação crônica, câncer intestinal e amebíase. A Índia é o principal exportador mundial das sementes de Plantago ovata, tendo o produto comercial com essas sementes, no Brasil, o nome de Agiolax. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os possíveis efeitos dos estresses hídrico e salino na germinação de sementes de Plantago ovata. As sementes foram colocadas para germinar em papel umedecido com 15 mL de soluções nos potenciais osmóticos de 0,0; -0,2; -0,4; -0,6; e -0,8 MPa, induzidos com polietileno glicol (PEG 6000), NaCl e CaCl2. O experimento constou de quatro repetições com 50 sementes cada, na temperatura de 25 ºC, na presença de luz. A análise dos resultados permitiu a conclusão de que o estresse hídrico acarreta maior redução na porcentagem e velocidade de germinação das sementes de P. ovata do que o estresse salino, e, independentemente da substância utilizada para indução do estresse, o limite para germinação está entre -0,4 e 0,6 MPa.

Germinação de sementes de Plantago ovata Forsk. (Plantaginaceae): temperatura e fotoblastismo

Plantago ovata é espécie medicinal de grande importância cultivada na Índia, no Irã e no Paquistão. Suas sementes possuem de 20 a 30% de mucilagem, utilizada pelas indústrias farmacêuticas nos tratamentos de constipação crônica, câncer intestinal e amebíase. A Índia é o principal exportador mundial de sementes de Plantago ovata, e o produto comercial originado dessas sementes, no Brasil, leva o nome de Agiolax. Este trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o efeito da luz e temperatura na germinação de sementes dessa espécie. Para tanto, foram utilizadas quatro repetições com 50 sementes cada uma, colocadas para germinar em papel-filtro umedecido com 12 mL de água destilada, nas temperaturas de 5 a 35 ºC, com intervalos de 5 ºC, na ausência e presença de luz. As sementes germinaram tanto na luz quanto no escuro e apresentaram comportamento de fotoblásticas neutras na faixa de temperatura de 10 a 25 ºC, com faixa ótima de 20 a 25 ºC, em que ocorreram maiores porcentagens e velocidade de germinação.

Qualidade fisiológica e tratamentos de sementes de cedrela fissilis procedentes do sul do Brasil

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: avaliar a qualidade fisiológica de sementes de cedro (Cedrela fissilis), procedentes de localidades do sul do Brasil, através de testes de vigor e avaliar diferentes tratamentos nas sementes para controle de patógenos e para promoção da germinação da espécie. Para tanto, foram utilizadas seis amostras com procedências dos Estados do Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina e Paraná, as quais foram submetidas à determinação de teor de água, teste de germinação e primeira contagem, envelhecimento acelerado (testando períodos de exposição às condições de envelhecimento), emergência em viveiro e tratamento de sementes. Os tratamentos utilizados para controle de patógenos foram: testemunha (T0); físico com calor seco a 70°C±3°C por 48 horas (T1); extrato aquoso de alho (Allium sativum) (T2); biológico à base de Trichoderma spp. - Agrotich Plus® (T3); e químico com fungicida protetor Captan (T4). A germinação variou de 56 a 87%; o período de 48 h sob temperatura de 41 °C foi o mais eficiente para estratificar as amostras em níveis de vigor; a emergência variou de 51 a 88% e as variáveis de desempenho de plântulas analisadas conseguiram estratificar as amostras em níveis de vigor. Quanto ao tratamento de sementes, o calor seco e o tratamento à base de extrato de alho se mostram eficientes no controle de microrganismos em semente de cedro, sem prejuízos ao vigor destas.

Sosiaalisen oppimisympäristön tasa-arvoisuus Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulussa

Suomalaista siviiliyhteiskuntaa pidetään kansainvälisesti tasa-arvoisena. Naiset ovat entistä korkeammin koulutettuja ja vaativat tasa-arvoisia opiskelu- ja työmahdollisuuksia miesten rinnalla. Lisäksi opiskelu- ja työolosuhteisiin on alettu kiinnittää entistä enemmän huomiota. Tämä on luonut tarpeen tutkia eri aloilla opiskelevien ja työskentelevien naisten sosiaalista oppimisympäristöä ja sen ohella tasa-arvon toteutumista. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli tutkia naisten sosiaalista oppimisympäristöä Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulussa selvittäen, toimitaanko Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulussa syvän johtamisen mallin mukaan naisten opiskellessa ja valmistuessa sotilasammattiin. Tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulussa kadettikurssilla ja Maanpuolustusopistossa peruskurssilla opiskelleiden naisten opiskelua edistäviä ja heikentäviä asioita. Samalla tutkittiin, onko naisten opiskelu ollut tasa-arvoista esimerkiksi kouluttajien ja kurssitovereiden taholta. Arvostelun tasa-arvoisuus ja oikeudenmukaisuus oli yksi tarkastelun kohde. Myös häirinnän eri muodot, kuten henkinen, seksuaalinen ja sukupuolinen häirintä olivat omalta osaltaan tutkittavana. Tutkimuksella pyrittiin selvittämään mahdolliset epäkohdat ja etsimään oppimisympäristön ongelmat. Esiin tulleisiin epäkohtiin ei esitetä yksityiskohtaisia ratkaisumalleja. Tutkimuksessa haastateltiin Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulussa kadettikurssilla ja Maasotakoulussa peruskurssilla opiskelevia naisia sekä jo valmistuneita että keskeyttäneitä naisia. Mahdollisimman realistisen kuvan saamiseksi haastateltiin myös heidän esimiehiään sekä vertaisiaan eri kadettikursseilta. Tutkimuksessa todettiin, että pääsääntöisesti Maanpuolustuskorkeakoulussa toimitaan syvän johtamisen mallin mukaisesti. Epäkohtia kuitenkin löytyy, joihin organisaation täytyisi puuttua. Tärkeimpinä mainittakoon sukupuoleen kohdistuva häirintä, vertaisarvioinnin heikentävä vaikutus naisopiskelijoiden johtajana kehittymiseen ja sijoittumiseen kurssilla sekä käyttäytymismallien sopimattomuus nyky-yhteiskunnan tasa-arvoisen ajattelun sekä organisaation omien ohjeiden kanssa.

Prevalência e caracterização de espécies de lactobacilos vaginais em mulheres em idade reprodutiva sem vulvovaginites

OBJETIVO: identificar espécies de lactobacilos isolados do conteúdo vaginal de mulheres saudáveis e assintomáticas; determinar as espécies mais prevalentes e caracterizá-las fenotipicamente. MÉTODOS: lactobacilos foram isolados em meio seletivo a partir de amostras de conteúdo vaginal de 135 mulheres, sem queixa de corrimento e com diagnóstico laboratorial negativo para infecções vaginais, acompanhadas em um ambulatório de Planejamento Familiar. Os isolados foram identificados por PCR multiplex e, quando necessário, submetidos ao sequenciamento do gene RNAr 16S. Foram também avaliados quanto à acidificação do meio de cultura, à produção de ácido láctico, de H2O2, bacteriocinas e a capacidade de adesão às células epiteliais. RESULTADOS: oitenta e três cepas de lactobacilos foram isoladas e identificadas, sendo as espécies predominantes L. crispatus (30,1%), L. jensenii (26,5%), L. gasseri (22,9%) e L. vaginalis (8,4%). Apenas 20 destes isolados não produziram H2O2 em quantidades detectáveis. Das 37 linhagens selecionadas para teste de adesão a células epiteliais, 12 apresentaram adesão entre 50 a 69%, 10 apresentaram 70% ou mais, e as restantes pouca ou nenhuma adesão. Nenhum dos isolados produziu bacteriocinas. CONCLUSÕES: as espécies de lactobacilos mais prevalentes em mulheres sem vulvovaginites, isoladas em meio de cultura seletivo e identificadas por métodos moleculares, foram L. crispatus, L. jensenii e L. gasseri. Além de mais frequentes, tais linhagens também apresentaram melhor produção de H2O2 e atingiram menores valores de pH em meio de cultura.

Gordura corporal total e do tronco e o desempenho da marcha em mulheres na menopausa

OBJETIVO: Verificar a relação entre gordura corporal total e de tronco com o desempenho da marcha em mulheres na menopausa.MÉTODOS: Trinta e nove mulheres na menopausa, com idade de 50 anos ou mais, foram avaliadas. As avaliações foram: peso e estatura para cálculo do índice de massa corporal (IMC), composição corporal pela técnica de Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) e marcha utilizando um baropodômetro. As variáveis de composição corporal utilizadas foram gordura corporal total, percentual de gordura corporal e gordura de tronco, enquanto as variáveis da marcha foram porcentagem de tempo de duplo apoio e de apoio simples e velocidade. As mulheres foram divididas de acordo com a mediana em dois grupos para cada variável da composição corporal: menos e mais gordura corporal, menos e mais percentual de gordura e menos e mais gordura de tronco. Para comparar as variáveis de marcha nesses grupos, foi utilizado o teste de Mann-Whitney. Para avaliar as possíveis relações entre as variáveis de composição corporal e marcha, o teste de correlação de Spearman foi utilizado. Todas as análises foram realizadas com nível de significância de 5%.RESULTADOS: O grupo com mais gordura de tronco, quando comparado com o grupo com menos gordura de tronco, apresentou maiores valores de duplo apoio (p=0,007) e menores valores de apoio simples (0,03). Foram encontradas correlações significativas e positivas entre gordura de tronco e duplo apoio (R=0,40) e negativas entre gordura de tronco e apoio simples (R=-0,32).CONCLUSÃO: Mulheres na menopausa que apresentam maiores quantidade de gordura no tronco tendem a apresentar desempenho prejudicado na marcha.

Etiologia das infecções intramamárias em vacas primíparas no período pós-parto

Foram analisadas 664 amostras de leite de 83 vacas primíparas da raça Holandesa. As amostras foram colhidas no primeiro e no sétimo dia após o parto. Das 664 amostras analisadas, 488 (73,50%) foram bacteriologicamente negativas e 176 (26,50%), positivas para microrganismos aeróbios. Foi observado um alto índice de mastite clínica (20,48%). Os agentes isolados com maior freqüência foram os Staphylococcus spp coagulase negativo (64,20%), Staphylococcus spp coagulase positivo (8,52%), Streptococcus spp (7,96%), Actinomyces pyogenes (4,55%), Mycoplasma bovigenitalium (3,40%) e Escherichia coli (2,84%). Foi observado um maior índice de isolamento de patógenos no primeiro dia (17,62%) em relação ao sétimo (8,88%).

Detection of illegal estrogen administration through immunohistochemical markers in the bovine prostate

The immunodetection of diverse cell markers was evaluated in prostatic samples from bullocks, and bullocks showing epithelial hyperplasia-metaplasia, with oestrogen-induced changes, and in experimental samples from bullocks inoculated with dietylstilbestrol (DES). Antigen-retrieval procedures allowed the use of tissues that had been fixed in formalin for long periods. Three tissue markers were chosen for the study: cytokeratins 13 and 16, vimentin and desmin. Monoclonal antibody K8.12 (specific for cytokeratins 13 and 16) stained basal cells and hyperplastic-metaplastic epithelium; monoclonal antivimentin, and desmin, allowed the definition of fibromuscular changes.

Mastite bovina por Mycoplasma bovis em rebanhos leiteiros

Foram examinadas 713 vacas de três rebanhos leiteiros localizados na região norte do Estado do Paraná e sudoeste do Estado de São Paulo, das quais 137 apresentaram mastite. Nas três propriedades foram detectados oito animais (1,12%) com mastite clínica por Mycoplasma bovis. Destes animais, quatro tratados com oxitetraciclina e tilosina e três com enrofloxacina, não responderam ao tratamento e foram descartados no decorrer da lactação. Uma vaca medicada com enrofloxacina recuperou quase que totalmente a secreção láctea mas a eliminação de M. bovis persistiu por toda lactação. Esta vaca apresentou cura bacteriológica na lactação seguinte. O descarte dos animais positivos, monitora-mento bacteriológico e a aplicação correta das medidas de prevenção para as mastites contagiosas controlaram a disseminação de M. bovis nos rebanhos.

Interdependence of Emerging Eastern European stock markets

One of the main developments in the global economy during the past decades has been the growth of emerging economies. Projections for their long-term growth, changes in the investment climate, corporate transparency and demography point to an increasing role for these emerging economies in the global economy. Today, emerging economies are usually considered as financial markets offering opportunities for high returns, good risk diversification and improved return-to-risk ratios. However, researchers have noted that these advantages may be in decline because of the increasing market integration. Nevertheless, it is likely that certain financial markets and specific sectors will remain partially segmented and somewhat insulated from the global economy for the year to come. This doctoral dissertation investigates several stock markets in Emerging Eastern Europe (EEE), including the ones in Russia, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Slovenia. The objective is to analyze the returns and financial risks in these emerging markets from international investor’s point of view. This study also examines the segmentation/integration of these financial markets and the possibilities to diversify and hedge financial risk. The dissertation is divided into two parts. The first includes a review of the theoretical background for the articles and a review of the literature on EEE stock markets. It includes an overview of the methodology and research design applied in the analysis and a summary of articles from the second part of this dissertation and their main findings. The second part consists of four research publications. This work contributes to studies on emerging stock markets in four ways. First, it adds to the body of research on the pricing of risk, providing new empirical evidence about partial stock market segmentation in EEE. The results suggest that the aggregate emerging market risk is a relevant driver for stock market returns and that this market risk can be used to price financial instruments and forecast their performance. Second, it contributes to the empirical research on the integration of stock markets, asset prices and exchange rates by identifying the relationships between these markets through volatility and asset pricing. The results show that certain sectors of stock markets in EEE are not as integrated as others. For example, the Polish consumer goods sector, the Hungarian telecommunications sector, and the Czech financial sector are somewhat isolated from their counterparts elsewhere in Europe. Nevertheless, an analysis of the impact of EU accession in 2004 on stock markets suggests that most of the EEE markets are becoming increasingly integrated with the global markets. Third, this thesis complements the scientific literature in the field of shock and volatility spillovers by examining the mechanism of spillover distribution among the EU and EEE countries. The results illustrate that spillovers in emerging markets are mostly from a foreign exchange to the stock markets. Moreover, the results show that the effects of external shocks on stock markets have increased after the enlargement of the EU in 2004. Finally, this study is unique because it analyzes the effects of foreign macroeconomic news on geographically closely related countries. The results suggest that the effects of macroeconomic announcements on volatility are significant and have effect that varies across markets and their sectors. Moreover, the results show that the foreign macroeconomic news releases, somewhat surprisingly, have a greater effect on the EEE markets than the local macroeconomic news. This dissertation has a number of implications for the industry and for practitioners. It analyses financial risk associated with investing in Emerging Eastern Europe. Investors may use this information to construct and optimize investment portfolios. Moreover, this dissertation provides insights for investors and portfolio managers considering asset allocation to protect value or obtain higher returns. The results have also implications for asset pricing and portfolio selection in light of macroeconomic news releases.

Towards novel biogas upgrading processes

Biogas production has considerable development possibilities not only in Finland but all over the world since it is the easiest way of creating value out of various waste fractions and represents an alternative source of renewable energy. Development of efficient biogas upgrading technology has become an important issue since it improves the quality of biogas and for example facilitating its injection into the natural gas pipelines. Moreover, such upgrading contributes to resolving the issue of increasing CO2 emissions and addresses the increasing climate change concerns. Together with traditional CO2 capturing technologies a new class of recently emerged sorbents such as ionic liquids is claimed as promising media for gas separations. In this thesis, an extensive comparison of the performance of different solvents in terms of CO2 capture has been performed. The focus of the present study was on aqueous amine solutions and their mixtures, traditional ionic liquids, ‘switchable’ ionic liquids and poly(ionic liquid)s in order to reveal the best option for biogas upgrading. The CO2 capturing efficiency for the most promising solvents achieved values around 50 - 60 L CO2 / L absorbent. These values are superior to currently widely applied water wash biogas upgrading system. Regeneration of the solvent mixtures appeared to be challenging since the loss of initial efficiency upon CO2 release was in excess of 20 - 40 vol %, especially in the case of aqueous amine solutions. In contrast, some of the ionic liquids displayed reversible behavior. Thus, for selected “switchable” ionic and poly(ionic liquid)s the CO2 absorption/regeneration cycles were performed 3 - 4 times without any notable efficiency decrease. The viscosity issue, typical for ionic liquids upon CO2 saturation, was addressed and the information obtained was evaluated and related to the ionic interactions. The occurrence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) before and after biogas upgrading was studied for biogas produced through anaerobic digestion of waste waters sludge. The ionic liquid [C4mim][OAc] demonstrated its feasibility as a promising scrubbing media and exhibited high efficiency in terms of the removal of VOCs. Upon application of this ionic liquid, the amount of identified VOCs was diminished by around 65 wt %, while the samples treated with the aqueous mixture of 15 wt % N-methyldiethanolamine with addition of 5 wt % piperazine resulted in 32 wt % reduction in the amounts of volatile organic compounds only.

Epidemiological survey on Mycoplasma gallisepticum and M. synoviae by multiplex PCR in commercial poultry

Mycoplasmas are important avian pathogens, which cause respiratory and joint diseases that result in large economic losses in Brazilian and world-wide poultry industry. This investigation regarding the main species of mycoplasmas, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS), responsible for the above mentioned conditions, was carried out through PCR Multiplex analysis. One thousand and forty-six (1,046) samples of tracheal swabs and piped embryos were collected from 33 farms with laying hens, breeders, broilers or hatchery, located in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Paraná and Pernambuco, where respiratory problems or drops in egg production had occurred. The MG and MS prevalence on the farms was 72.7%. These results indicated (1) high dissemination of mycoplasmas in the evaluated farms, with predominance of MS, either as single infectious agent or associated with other mycoplasmas in 20 farms (60.6%), and (2) an increase of MS and decrease of MG infection in Brazilian commercial poultry.

Fowl adenovirus Group I as a causal agent of inclusion body hepatitis/hydropericardium syndrome (IBH/HPS) outbreak in brazilian broiler flocks

Commercial broiler flocks from a farm located in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, presented diarrhea, depression, increased mortality and poor weight gain. Upon post-mortem examination, classical signs of Inclusion Body Hepatitis/Hydropericardium Syndrome (IBH/HPS) were observed, including enlarged pale yellow-colored livers and straw-colored liquid in the pericardial sac. In addition, gross lesions were also observed in the kidneys, pancreas, thymus, intestines and gallbladder. Samples of these organs were analyzed by PCR for the detection of the hexon gene of the Fowl Adenovirus (FAdVs) Group I. The results were positive for both flocks (A and B) assayed by PCR. The macroscopic lesions associated with the detection of FAdV Group I by PCR in several of these affected organs allowed for the identification of IBH/HPS. In fact, this is the first report in Brazil of IBH/HPS in broilers, which identifies FAdVs group I as a causal agent of the disease. These findings may contribute to the worldwide epidemiology of the adenovirus-mediated hepatitis/hydropericardium syndrome.

Evaluation of a PCR multiplex for detection and differentiation of Mycoplasma synoviae, M. gallisepticum, and M. gallisepticum strain F-vaccine

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) are the mycoplasma infections of most concern for commercial poultry industry. MG infection is commonly designated as chronic respiratory disease (CRD) of chickens and infections sinusitis of turkeys. MS causes sub clinical upper respiratory infection and tenosynovitis or bursitis in chickens and turkeys. The multiplex PCR was standardized to detect simultaneously the MS, MG field strains and MG F-vaccine strain specific. The generic PCR for detection of any species of Mollicutes Class was performed and compared to the multiplex PCR and to PCR using species-specific primers. A total of 129 avian tracheal swabs were collected from broiler-breeders, layer hens and broilers in seven different farms and were examined by multiplex PCR methods. The system (multiplex PCR) demonstrated to be very rapid, sensitive, and specific. Therefore, the results showed a high prevalence of MS in the flocks examined (27.9%), and indicate that the MS is a recurrent pathogen in Brazilian commercial poultry flocks.

Effects of obtained benefits on willingness to pay and word-of-mouth behavior in newspaper industry

The purpose of this master’s thesis was to investigate the effects which benefits obtained from reading a newspaper and using its website have on behavioral outcomes such as word-of-mouth behavior and willingness to pay. Several other antecedents of willingness to pay have been used as the control variables. However, their interrelations haven’t been hypothesized. The empirical part focused on a case company – Finnish regional newspaper. Empirical research has been conducted using a quantitative method and data was collected via online survey placed on newspaper’s website during 2010. 1001 responses have been collected. The results showed that benefits obtained both from traditional printed newspaper and from online one have positive effects on the word-of-mouth about this newspaper and its website. However, it has been revealed that benefits obtained from reading the newspaper don’t have effect on the willingness to pay for this newspaper. Additionally, only interpersonal and convenience benefits obtained from using the newspaper’s website influence on the willingness to pay for it. Finally, willingness to pay for the bundle of printed newspaper and its website access is affected positively only by the information/learning benefits obtained from reading the newspaper and by the interpersonal benefits obtained from using the newspaper’s website.