Genomic analysis of four strains of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis bv. Equi isolated from horses showing distinct signs of infection.

The genomes of four strains (MB11, MB14, MB30, and MB66) of the species Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis biovar equi were sequenced on the Ion Torrent PGM platform, completely assembled, and their gene content and structure were analyzed. The strains were isolated from horses with distinct signs of infection, including ulcerative lymphangitis, external abscesses on the chest, or internal abscesses on the liver, kidneys, and lungs. The average size of the genomes was 2.3 Mbp, with 2169 (Strain MB11) to 2235 (Strain MB14) predicted coding sequences (CDSs). An optical map of the MB11 strain generated using the KpnI restriction enzyme showed that the approach used to assemble the genome was satisfactory, producing good alignment between the sequence observed in vitro and that obtained in silico. In the resulting Neighbor-Joining dendrogram, the C. pseudotuberculosis strains sequenced in this study were clustered into a single clade supported by a high bootstrap value. The structural analysis showed that the genomes of the MB11 and MB14 strains were very similar, while the MB30 and MB66 strains had several inverted regions. The observed genomic characteristics were similar to those described for other strains of the same species, despite the number of inversions found. These genomes will serve as a basis for determining the relationship between the genotype of the pathogen and the type of infection that it causes

Experimental study of 6He + 9Be elastic scattering at low energies

New data for the H6e+9Be reaction at Elab=16.2 and 21.3 MeV have been taken and analyzed. The effect of the collective couplings to the excited states of the target has been studied by means of coupled-channels calculations, using a double-folding potential for the bare interaction between the colliding nuclei, supplemented with a phenomenological imaginary part of Woods-Saxon type. In addition, three- and four-body continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations have been performed to investigate the effect of the projectile breakup on the elastic scattering. Both effects, the coupling to target and projectile excited states, are found to affect significantly the elastic scattering. The trivial local polarization potential extracted from the continuum-discretized coupled-channels calculations indicates that continuum couplings produce a repulsive real part and a long-range imaginary part in the projectile-target interaction.Junta de AndalucíaMinisterio de Ciencia e Innovación (España) FPA2009-07653 PCI2006-A7-0654Programa Consolider-Ingenio 2010 CSD2007-0004

Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis MB20 bv. equi Isolated from a Pectoral Abscess of an Oldenburg Horse in California.

The genome of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis MB20 bv. equi was sequenced using the Ion Personal Genome Machine (PGM) platform, and showed a size of 2,363,089 bp, with 2,365 coding sequences and a GC content of 52.1%. These results will serve as a basis for further studies on the pathogenicity of C. pseudotuberculosis bv. equi

APTIDÃO CARDIORRESPIRATÓRIA E FUNÇÃO COGNITIVA EM IDOSOS

A aptidão cardiorrespiratória parece estar positivamente relacionada ao desempenho cognitivo. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar a relação entre a aptidão cardiorrespiratória e a função cognitiva em indivíduos idosos. Participaram deste estudo 90 idosos com média de idade de 69,3±3,5 anos, inseridos nos programas de exercícios físicos da UDESC e do CATI da Grande Florianópolis, no ano de 2009. Foram utilizados: entrevista semiestruturada para identificar as características sociodemográficas e clínicas; questionário Miniexame do Estado Mental para avaliar a função cognitiva e Teste de Caminhada de uma Milha, para classificar a amostra quanto à capacidade cardiorrespiratória. Os valores do teste de caminhada foram estratificados em três grupos de aptidão física: abaixo da média, na média e acima da média, para a idade. Foram realizadas análises estatísticas descritivas e inferenciais. Verificaram-se diferenças estatisticamente significantes (p<0,05) entre os três grupos da aptidão cardiorrespiratória quanto ao sexo, à escolaridade e à renda. Observou-se tendência maior de declínio cognitivo em idosos com aptidão cardiorrespiratória abaixo da média. O estudo sugere existir uma relação diretamente proporcional entre a capacidade cardiorrespiratória e a função cognitiva em indivíduos idosos. CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS AND COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN OLDERS ADULTS abstract The cardiorespiratory fitness seems to be positively related to the cognitive function. The objective of this study was to analyze the relation between the cardiorespiratory fitness and the cognitive function in older adults. Ninety individuals, participants of programs of physical exercises, with average of age of 69,3±3,5 years, had been selected. Semi-structures interviews had been applied to identify social, demographic and clinical characteristics. The “Mini-mental state examination” had been applied to evaluate the cognitive function and Walked Test of a Mile had been used to classify the cardiorespiratory fitness. The walked test values had been divided in three groups of cardiorespiratory fitness: below the average; in the average and above the average, for the age. Its statistical analyses descriptive and inferential had been used. Significant statistical differences (p<0,05) had been founded when comparing the cardiorespiratory fitness with the sex, years of study and economic level. Bigger trend of cognitive decline was observed when the cardiorespiratory fitness was below the average. This study suggests that exist a directly proportional relation between the cardiorespiratory fitness and the cognitive function in older adults

Experimentação e uso regular de drogas ilícitas por estudantes no município de Bragança, nordeste do Pará

Este estudo determinou a prevalência e os fatores associados ao uso de drogas ilícitas entre estudantes de escolas de ensino médio do município de Bragança, Pará, norte do Brasil. Estudo transversal de base escolar, totalizando cinco escolas públicas e 1.632 estudantes do município de Bragança. O questionário auto-aplicável foi adaptado de outros estudos epidemiológicos adequados ao grupo populacional, com rigoroso procedimento, garantindo anonimato e sigilo. A prevalência de uso de drogas ilícitas entre estudantes foi 4,37%. Diversos fatores de risco ao uso de drogas lícitas e ilícitas foram detectados, dos quais destacam-se: a ausência de participação dos pais na vida escolar dos estudantes, renda familiar superior a 3 salários mínimos, pais, amigos e familiares que usam droga ilícita e a falta de incentivo para não usar droga ilícita. Em suma, este estudo identificou que o uso regular de drogas ilícitas está associada a fatores sociais e econômicos, os quais deverão ser considerados na elaboração de medidas para controle e prevenção ao uso de drogas ilícitas no município de Bragança

Sugarcane (Saccharum X officinarum): A Reference Study for the Regulation of Genetically Modified Cultivars in Brazil

Global interest in sugarcane has increased significantly in recent years due to its economic impact on sustainable energy production. Sugarcane breeding and better agronomic practices have contributed to a huge increase in sugarcane yield in the last 30 years. Additional increases in sugarcane yield are expected to result from the use of biotechnology tools in the near future. Genetically modified (GM) sugarcane that incorporates genes to increase resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses could play a major role in achieving this goal. However, to bring GM sugarcane to the market, it is necessary to follow a regulatory process that will evaluate the environmental and health impacts of this crop. The regulatory review process is usually accomplished through a comparison of the biology and composition of the GM cultivar and a non-GM counterpart. This review intends to provide information on non-GM sugarcane biology, genetics, breeding, agronomic management, processing, products and byproducts, as well as the current technologies used to develop GM sugarcane, with the aim of assisting regulators in the decision-making process regarding the commercial release of GM sugarcane cultivars