Genetic diversity and relationship in American and African oil palm as revealed by RFLP and AFLP molecular markers

The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity, its organization and the genetic relationships within oil palm (Elaeis oleifera (Kunth) Cortés, from America, and E. guineensis (Jacq.), from Africa) germplasm using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP). In complement to a previous RFLP study on 241 E. oleifera accessions, 38 E. guineensis accessions were analyzed using the same 37 cDNA probes. These accessions covered a large part of the geographical distribution areas of these species in America and Africa. In addition, AFLP analysis was performed on a sub-set of 40 accessions of E. oleifera and 22 of E. guineensis using three pairs of enzyme/primer combinations. Data were subjected to Factorial Analysis of Correspondence (FAC) and cluster analysis, with parameters of genetic diversity being also studied. Results appeared congruent between RFLP and AFLP. In the E. oleifera, AFLP confirmed the strong structure of genetic diversity revealed by RFLP, according to geographical origin of the studied material, with the identification of the same four distinct genetic groups: Brazil, French Guyana/Surinam, Peru, north of Colombia/Central America. Both markers revealed that genetic divergence between the two species is of the same magnitude as that among provenances of E. oleifera. This finding is in discrepancy with the supposed early tertiary separation of the two species.

A Spanish version of the short Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS)

The aim of this studywas to adapt and assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the sMARS in terms of evidence of validity and reliability of scores. The sMARS was administered to 342 students and, in order to assess convergent and discriminant validity, several subsamples completed a series of related tests. The factorial structure of the sMARSwas analyzed by means of a confirmatory factor analysis and results showed that the three-factor structure reported in the original test fits well with the data. Thus, three dimensions were established in the test: math test, numerical task and math course anxiety. The results of this study provide sound evidence that demonstrates the good psychometric properties of the scores of the Spanish version of the sMARS: strong internal consistency, high 7-week testretest reliability and good convergent/discriminant validity were evident. Overall, this study provides an instrument that allows us to obtain valid and reliable math anxiety measurements. This instrument may be a useful tool for educators and psychologists interested in identifying individuals that may have a low level of math mastery because of their anxiety.

Performance and hormonal profile in broiler chickens fed with different energy levels during post restriction period

The aim of this work was to investigate the influence of diet energy level on performance and hormonal profiles of broilers during post restriction period. It was a split-plot experiment, and the main treatments were in a 2x2 factorial scheme. Birds were fed restricted to 30% of the ad libitum intake, from 7 to 14 days of age. After the restriction period, birds were fed ad libitum with diets containing low (2,900 kcal ME/kg) or high (3,200 kcal ME/kg) energy until 49 days of age. Broilers fed with high energy ration showed lower feed intake and better feed conversion and decreased carcass protein; however, abdominal fat pad, and total carcass fat were not affected by ration energy levels or feeding program. Neither diet energy level nor feed restriction program changed body weight at 49 days. The profile of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) was reduced during the feed restriction period, but increased at refeeding period. Feeding program and ration energy level did not affect T3, T4 and growth hormone serum concentrations. Feed restriction at 30% of ad libitum intake is not enough to promote changes on carcass quality, related to fat deposition, and on metabolic hormone levels, except IGF-1 seric level that has rapid increase after feed restriction.

Investigación de la reincidencia delictiva en los agresores de pareja : el impacto diferencial de la prisión y de las penas alternativas

La reincidencia delictiva es uno de los principales temas de estudio de la Criminología. Una alta tasa de reincidencia es una muestra de que el actual modelo de tratamiento hacia los delincuentes no está dando buenos resultados. Además, podría implicar el fracaso de la prevención especial y del modelo rehabilitador como finalidad principal de la pena, ya que una sociedad que emplea grandes recursos en reinsertar a sus criminales, exige mejores resultados.La aplicación de medidas penales alternativas (en adelante MPA) por parte de los jueces ha aumentado mucho en los últimos años, sobre todo a partir de 2003 (Contreras, 2010). Centrándome en concreto en la pena de trabajos en beneficio de la comunidad (en adelante TBC) y en la suspensión de la pena de prisión (en adelante suspensión), un tema que considero muy interesante investigar es si la aplicación de estas medidas alternativas aportan mejores resultados en términos de reincidencia delictiva que el ingreso en prisión.En esta investigación cuantitativa, la metodología que he utilizado es un diseño cuasi experimental, para comparar el impacto que tienen las MPA como tratamiento en la reincidencia delictiva, utilizando el análisis estadístico de una base de datos de delincuentes condenados por un delito de violencia ocasional contra la pareja. Concretamente, las técnicas utilizadas son el cruce de una serie de variables y el análisis de supervivencia.Partiendo de la hipótesis principal de que las MPA registran menores tasas de reincidencia que la prisión, estudio también la influencia de otras variables como la edad, la nacionalidad y los antecedentes delictivos en el impacto detectado.Los resultados confirman la hipótesis central, pero me llevan rechazar las hipótesis referentes a las demás variables. No obstante, gracias al análisis de esas variables se ha puesto demanifiesto que la variable “antecedentes” tiene una gran validez predictiva de la reincidencia futura y, pese a los problemas y limitaciones reconocidas en la investigación, permiten extraerconclusiones muy interesantes para futuras investigaciones sobre la reincidencia. La conclusión más importante es la evidencia de que las MPA son un tratamiento reductor de la reincidencia a medio y largo plazo, lo cual hace recomendable seguir ampliando y mejorandosu aplicación.

Bases Teóricas y Herramientas para el Análisis y Comparación de Sistemas de Votación de Código Abierto

Dentro del proceso de definición de las vías de participación en el PLAN DIRECTOR DE PARTICIPACIÓN CIUDADANA 2010-2015 del Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, se plantea la necesidad de fomentar mecanismos de participación directa y a, partir de esta necesidad, se plantea el desarrollo de una aplicación de Consultas Populares.Dentro de los procesos participativos, las consultas a realizar pueden ser vinculantes y por tanto resulta de la mayor importancia fundamentar su desarrollo garantizando la corrección formal de todo el proceso.Entre los requerimientos, especificados por en Instituto Municipal de Informática, el sistema de votación a plantear debe estar cubierto por alguna de las licencias consideradas libres o de código abierto. Una de las principales características de este tipo de aplicaciones es que resulta posible la utilización y modificación del código.Como primer paso se definen los conceptos básicos implicados comenzando con la del propio concepto de e-Voting. A partir de las experiencias previas realizadas en nuestro entorno geográfico, es posible establecer que los estándares más utilizados son los generados por el Consejo de Europa, qué utilizaremos para concretar las diferentes fases de un Proceso de Consulta, los actores implicados así como las diferentes funciones a de cada uno de ellos para cada una de las fases.Sobre esta base se analizan las diferentes alternativas existentes entre lo que se denominan Esquemas de Votación. Centrándonos en el escogido como más conveniente, el Esquema de Voto Oculto, se describen las características de seguridad que permiten dar validez a un proceso de consulta realizado por este medio. Así mismo se describen los principales conceptos teóricos implicados mediante una aproximación que permita su comprensión de forma intuitiva, especialmente en lo que se refiere a las técnicas criptográficas implicadas.En tercer lugar se ha realizado una búsqueda de posibles aplicaciones que sirvan de punto de partida y se han hecho pruebas comparativas para las cuales se han adaptado las herramientas correspondientes a QSOS, relacionando los estándares especificados por el Consejo Europeo y las características de seguridad que deben cumplirse.

A randomized trial of glutamine and antioxidants in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Critically ill patients have considerable oxidative stress. Glutamine and antioxidant supplementation may offer therapeutic benefit, although current data are conflicting. METHODS: In this blinded 2-by-2 factorial trial, we randomly assigned 1223 critically ill adults in 40 intensive care units (ICUs) in Canada, the United States, and Europe who had multiorgan failure and were receiving mechanical ventilation to receive supplements of glutamine, antioxidants, both, or placebo. Supplements were started within 24 hours after admission to the ICU and were provided both intravenously and enterally. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Because of the interim-analysis plan, a P value of less than 0.044 at the final analysis was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: There was a trend toward increased mortality at 28 days among patients who received glutamine as compared with those who did not receive glutamine (32.4% vs. 27.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 1.64; P=0.05). In-hospital mortality and mortality at 6 months were significantly higher among those who received glutamine than among those who did not. Glutamine had no effect on rates of organ failure or infectious complications. Antioxidants had no effect on 28-day mortality (30.8%, vs. 28.8% with no antioxidants; adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.40; P=0.48) or any other secondary end point. There were no differences among the groups with respect to serious adverse events (P=0.83). CONCLUSIONS: Early provision of glutamine or antioxidants did not improve clinical outcomes, and glutamine was associated with an increase in mortality among critically ill patients with multiorgan failure. (Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00133978.).

Creation and Validation of Chronojump-Boscosystem: A Free Tool to Measure Vertical Jumps

Measuring the height of the vertical jump is an indicator of the strength and power of the lower body. The technological tools available to measure the vertical jump are black boxes and are not open to third-party verification or adaptation. We propose the creation of a measurement system called Chronojump-Boscosystem, consisting of open hardware and free software. Methods: A microcontroller was created and validated using a square wave generator and an oscilloscope. Two types of contact platforms were developed using different materials. These platforms were validated by the minimum pressure required for activation at different points by a strain gauge, together with the on/off time of our platforms in respect of the Ergojump-Boscosystem platform by a sample of 8 subjects performing submaximal jumps with one foot on each platform. Agile methodologies were used to develop and validate the software. Results: All the tools fall under the free software / open hardware guidelines and are, in that sense, free. The microcontroller margin of error is 0.1%. The validity of the fiberglass platform is 0.95 (ICC). The management software contains nearly 113.000 lines of code and is available in 7 languages.

Control de Sitophilus zeamais con polvos vegetales de tres especies del género Chenopodium

Se evaluaron polvos vegetales de Chenopodium ambrosioides L., Chenopodium album L. y Chenopodium quinoa Willd. para el control de Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, bajo condiciones de laboratorio. Los parámetros evaluados fueron mortalidad y emergencia de insectos adultos, pérdida de peso y germinación de los granos, efecto ovicida y larvicida, fumigación, repelencia y residualidad de los polvos. El diseño experimental fue completamente al azar, con un arreglo factorial y tres repeticiones. La mayor mortalidad de insectos se obtuvo con los polvos de la inflorescencia y la mezcla de hojas y tallos de Chenopodium ambrosioides L., al 2% (p/p) con valores de 69,4% y 67,9% respectivamente. La menor emergencia de adultos se obtuvo con los mismos tratamientos. La pérdida de peso de granos, en todos los tratamientos de C. ambrosioides, no superó el 3%. Para el tratamiento inflorescencia de C. ambrosioides al 2% (p/p), la residualidad de los polvos se mantuvo hasta los 15 días, con una mortalidad de 98,3%. Esta misma especie presentó una mortalidad de huevos y larvas de 100%, además de presentar un efecto fumigante con una mortalidad de adultos de 100%, en todos los tratamientos evaluados. El polvo de C. ambrosioides es repelente para S. zeamais.

Do walking strategies to increase physical activity reduce reported sitting in workplaces: a randomized control trial

Background: Interventions designed to increase workplace physical activity may not automatically reduce high volumes of sitting, a behaviour independently linked to chronic diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes. This study compared the impact two different walking strategies had on step counts and reported sitting times. Methods: Participants were white-collar university employees (n = 179; age 41.3 ± 10.1 years; 141 women), who volunteered and undertook a standardised ten-week intervention at three sites. Preintervention step counts (Yamax SW-200) and self-reported sitting times were measured over five consecutive workdays. Using pre-intervention step counts, employees at each site were randomly allocated to a control group (n = 60; maintain normal behaviour), a route-based walking group (n = 60; at least 10 minutes sustained walking each workday) or an incidental walking group (n = 59; walking in workday tasks). Workday step counts and reported sitting times were re-assessed at the beginning, mid- and endpoint of intervention and group mean± SD steps/day and reported sitting times for pre-intervention and intervention measurement points compared using a mixed factorial ANOVA; paired sample-t-tests were used for follow-up, simple effect analyses. Results: A significant interactive effect (F = 3.5; p < 0.003) was found between group and step counts. Daily steps for controls decreased over the intervention period (-391 steps/day) and increased for route (968 steps/day; t = 3.9, p < 0.000) and incidental (699 steps/day; t = 2.5, p < 0.014) groups. There were no significant changes for reported sitting times, but average values did decrease relative to the control (routes group = 7 minutes/day; incidental group = 15 minutes/day). Reductions were most evident for the incidental group in the first week of intervention, where reported sitting decreased by an average of 21 minutes/day (t = 1.9; p < 0.057). Conclusion: Compared to controls, both route and incidental walking increased physical activity in white-collar employees. Our data suggests that workplace walking, particularly through incidental movement, also has the potential to decrease employee sitting times, but there is a need for on-going research using concurrent and objective measures of sitting, standing and walking.

Drying rates of Rubi grapes submitted to chemical pretreatments for raisin production

The objective of this work was to determine the most appropriated chemical treatment to be used to dry grapes cv. Rubi for raisin production. Drying curves for convective drying with air at 50ºC, in a tray drier, were obtained for grapes submitted to chemical pretreatments with different concentrations of potassium carbonate and olive oil, and different dipping times, according to factorial designs. Convective drying curves were also obtained for grapes pretreated in aqueous suspensions of soybean lecithin, at varied lecithin concentrations and dipping times. Page model was adjusted to the experimental drying curves, and the calculated drying times showed that the best pretreatment consisted in dipping grapes for 2 minutes in a 5% olive oil and 6% K2CO3 emulsion, at 50ºC, which resulted in a drying time close to that of the pretreatment with 2.5% of olive oil, but with a lower consumption of this substance. In addition, the immersion of grapes in an aqueous suspension of 2% soy lecithin, at 50ºC, for 5 minutes, resulted in a total drying time slightly higher than the most effective pretreatment.

Testing the effects of genetic crossing distance on embryo survival within a metapopulation of brown trout (Salmo trutta)

Predicting progeny performance from parental genetic divergence can potentially enhance the efficiency of supportive breeding programmes and facilitate risk assessment. Yet, experimental testing of the effects of breeding distance on offspring performance remains rare, especially in wild populations of vertebrates. Recent studies have demonstrated that embryos of salmonid fish are sensitive indicators of additive genetic variance for viability traits. We therefore used gametes of wild brown trout (Salmo trutta) from five genetically distinct populations of a river catchment in Switzerland, and used a full factorial design to produce over 2,000 embryos in 100 different crosses with varying genetic distances (FST range 0.005-0.035). Customized egg capsules allowed recording the survival of individual embryos until hatching under natural field conditions. Our breeding design enabled us to evaluate the role of the environment, of genetic and nongenetic parental contributions, and of interactions between these factors, on embryo viability. We found that embryo survival was strongly affected by maternal environmental (i.e. non-genetic) effects and by the microenvironment, i.e. by the location within the gravel. However, embryo survival was not predicted by population divergence, parental allelic dissimilarity, or heterozygosity, neither in the field nor under laboratory conditions. Our findings suggest that the genetic effects of inter-population hybridization within a genetically differentiated meta-population can be minor in comparison to environmental effects.

Evaluation of Gap-Graded Asphalt Concrete Mixtures Part II: Statistical Design and Analysis, HR-157, 1973

This report presents the results of a comparative laboratory study between well- and gap-graded aggregates used in asphalt concrete paving mixtures. A total of 424 batches of asphalt concrete mixtures and 3, 960 Marshall and Hveem specimens were examined. The main thrust of the statistical analysis conducted in this experiment was in the calibration study and in Part I of the experiment. In the former study, the compaction procedure between the Iowa State University Lab and the Iowa Highway Commission Lab was calibrated. By an analysis of the errors associated with the measurements we were able to separate the "preparation" and "determination" errors for both laboratories as well as develop the calibration curve which describes the relationship between the compaction procedures at the two labs. In Part I, the use of a fractional factorial design in a split plot experiment in measuring the effect of several factors on asphalt concrete strength and weight was exhibited. Also, the use of half normal plotting techniques for indicating significant factors and interactions and for estimating errors in experiments with only a limited number of observations was outlined,

Phosphate solubilization and synergism between P-solubilizing and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

The objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of several P-solubilizing fungi to solubilize aluminum phosphate and Araxá apatite as well as the synergism between the P-solubilizing fungus, PSF 7, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to promote clover growth amended with aluminum phosphate. Two experiments were carried out, the first under laboratory conditions and the second in a controlled environmental chamber. In the first experiment, PSF 7, PSF 9, PSF 21 and PSF 22 isolates plus control were incubated in liquid medium at 28ºC for eight days. On the 2nd, 4th and 8th day of incubation, pH and soluble P were determined. In the second experiment, clover was sowed in plastic pots containing 300 g of sterilized substrate amended with aluminum phosphate, 3 g L-1, in presence and absence of PSF 7 isolate and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. A completely randomized design, in factorial outline 2x2 (presence and absence of PSF 7 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi) and five replicates were used. In the first experiment, higher P content was detected in the medium containing aluminum phosphate. PSF 7 is the best fungi isolate which increases aluminum solubilization with major tolerance to Al3+. Clover growth was stimulated by presence of PSF 7 and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. There is synergism between microorganisms utilized to improve plant nutrition.

Variación anual de las propiedades insecticidas de Peumus boldus sobre Sitophilus zeamais

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar la variación anual en las propiedades insecticidas de Peumus boldus Molina, en el control de Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky, bajo condiciones de laboratorio. El polvo de hojas de P. boldus se evaluó durante 12 meses, en concentraciones de 0,5, 1 y 2% (p/p). Se evaluaron 36 tratamientos con tres repeticiones, en un diseño experimental completamente al azar, con un arreglo factorial. Se determinó el porcentaje de mortalidad y emergencia de insectos adultos e inmaduros y pérdida de peso y germinación del grano. La mayor mortalidad se obtuvo en los meses de agosto y septiembre de 2003, para las tres concentraciones con un 100%, mientras que la menor fue en mayo de 2003, cuando solo la concentración de 2% fue próxima a 100% de mortalidad. La menor emergencia de insectos adultos y pérdida de peso se obtuvieron en los mismos tratamientos. El efecto sobre estados inmaduros fue menor que contra adultos, y la germinación de los granos de maíz fue afectada por los polvos de P. boldus. Las propiedades insecticidas del polvo de hojas de P. boldus no son estables durante el año, Mayo es el mes con la menor eficacia insecticida, y la germinación de las semillas se ve afectada por el polvo.

Escala d'Intensitat dels Suports per a Infants i Adolescents : resultados de la prueba piloto

La actual concepción de discapacidad intelectual, de acuerdo con la American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD), pone de manifiesto que la implementación de apoyos adecuados mejora el funcionamiento individual de las personas con discapacidad intelectual (DI). Con el fin de valorar las necesidades de apoyo que los niños y adolescentes con DI manifiestan en su vida cotidiana y, a partir de dicho conocimiento facilitar la elaboración de planes de apoyo individualizados, actualmente un grupo de trabajo internacional liderado por la propia AAIDD, entre los que se encuentra el grupo Discapacitat i Qualitat de Vida: Aspectes Educatius, está desarrollando la Supports Intensity Scale (SIS) for Children. El objetivo del presente artículo es dar a conocer el proceso de adaptación transcultural de la SIS for Children al contexto catalán, así como algunos resultados obtenidos en la prueba piloto que se ha llevado a cabo con una muestra de 33 niños y adolescentes de Cataluña, los cuales destacan la fiabilidad y validez del instrumento. Finalmente, el trabajo de validación de la escala actualmente en proceso, permitirá a los profesionales planificar y supervisar planes individualizados dirigidos a la promoción de experiencias de inclusión educativa y de integración a la comunidad.