Statistical Analysis of the Leadership Perceptions in a Public Administration Office

This Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.The main purpose of this paper is to identify and characterize the leadership features in a public administration office of the Azores (Autonomous Region of the Azores), in orders to verify the existence or not of a positive leadership based on the employees’ perceptions. The main conclusions are attained using data gathered via a previously tested and validated questionnaire. Overall, we conclude that subordinates don’t consider that their leaders show behaviors that they can associate with a totally positive and effective leadership although they are pleased with the fact that they are not extremely controllers and that they seek to do what the majority of the subordinates wants.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Peixes marinhos de Santa Maria.

V Expedição Científica do Departamento de Biologia – Santa Maria e Formigas 1990.0s peixes constituem um elemento conspícuo da fauna marinha açoreana e, como tal, é relativamente elevado o número de publicações dedicadas a este grupo. Apesar disso, não existe nenhum inventário da ictiofauna de Santa Maria. Procurando contribuir para superar esta lacuna, apresenta-se neste artigo a lista das 42 espécies de peixes colectadas em Santa Maria durante a Expedição Cientifica "Santa Maria e Formigas 1990", bem como dos respectivos nome vulgar (n.v.) e local de captura. A lista das espécies ictiológicas colectadas nas Formigas integrará um relatório separado, inteiramente consagrado a estes Ihéus, enquanto a lista completa de todas as espécies colectadas durante a referida Expedição foi já publicada noutro local (Arruda et al., in press). Todos os exemplares colectados serão depositados nas colecções do Museu Carlos Machado, em Ponta Delgada

Contrasting Phenotypic Variability of Life-History Traits of Two Feral Populations of Macrolophus pygmaeus (Hemiptera: Miridae) under Two Alternative Diets

Tuta absoluta is a major pest attacking tomato crops. This invasive species emerged in Europe (Spain) in 2006, and 3 years later it spread to Portugal. In 2009/2010, it was recorded for the first time in the Azores archipelago. Macrolophus pygmaeus is a predator widely used as biological control agent against the tomato leaf miner. This study contrasted the life-history traits and population growth parameters of two feral populations of M. pygmaeus, one from Portugal mainland and one from the Azores archipelago. The predators were tested on single prey diet, either of Ephestia kuehniella eggs, a factitious prey used for mass rearing of mirids, or T. absoluta eggs. We predicted that populations would express differences in its phenotypic characteristics, with the Azorean population displaying low performance due to likely low genetic diversity, as expected for insular populations. Our results revealed the inexistence of phenotypic differences in several life history traits, such as immature developmental time, female longevity, males’ body weight and sex ratio. Contrary to our predictions, traits with direct impact on fitness, such as lifetime fertility (95.78 ± 14.23 vs. 61.38 ± 13.52 nymphs), explain better performances for the population of the Azores. Azorean M. pygmaeus females were larger, matured earlier and reproduced at a higher rate for longer periods, than mainland females. Therefore, population growth parameters show a positive advantage for the population of the Azores, fed on T. absoluta (time required for doubling the population Azores, Ek: 8.42 ± 0.50, Ta: 5.76 ± 0.31 and mainland, Ek: 10.88 ± 1.94, Ta: 12.07 ± 3.15). Biological performance of M. pygmaeus was similar when fed with T. absoluta or E. kuehniella that could be beneficial both to optimize mass production of the predator and biological control of the pest. Our results are discussed as well in a fundamental perspective, seeking if differences in biological performance can be explained by lower genetic diversity driven by geographic isolation.FUNDING: This study was financed by FEDER in 85% and by Azorean Public funds by 15% through Operational Program Azores 2020, under the project ECO2–TUTA (ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000081). L.O. was funded by Portuguese national funds FCT under the project UIDP/05292/2020 and UIDB/05292/2020. E.F. was funded by Portuguese national funds FCT Umbert-ECO PTDC/ASPPLA/29110/2017. J.C.F. and E.F. received backing from Forest Research Centre (CEF) and Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food (LEAF) research center, respectively, research units funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (UIDB/00239/2020 and UIDB/04129/2020, respectively), and both researchers from the Laboratory for Sustainable Land Use and Ecosystem Services–TERRA (LA/P/0092/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Peripheral antinociceptive action of mangiferin in mouse models of experimental pain: Role of endogenous opioids, KATP-channels and adenosine

AbstractThis study aimed to assess the possible systemic antinociceptive activity of mangiferin and to clarify the underlying mechanism, using the acute models of chemical (acetic acid, formalin, and capsaicin) and thermal (hot-plate and tail-flick) nociception in mice. Mangiferin at oral doses of 10 to 100mg/kg evidenced significant antinociception against chemogenic pain in the test models of acetic acid-induced visceral pain and in formalin- and capsaicin-induced neuro-inflammatory pain, in a naloxone-sensitive manner, suggesting the participation of endogenous opiates in its mechanism. In capsaicin test, the antinociceptive effect of mangiferin (30mg/kg) was not modified by respective competitive and non-competitive transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) antagonists, capsazepine and ruthenium red, or by pretreatment with l-NAME, a non-selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, or by ODQ, an inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase. However, mangiferin effect was significantly reversed by glibenclamide, a blocker of KATP channels and in animals pretreated with 8-phenyltheophylline, an adenosine receptor antagonist. Mangiferin failed to modify the thermal nociception in hot-plate and tail-flick test models, suggesting that its analgesic effect is only peripheral but not central. The orally administered mangiferin (10–100mg/kg) was well tolerated and did not impair the ambulation or the motor coordination of mice in respective open-field and rota-rod tests, indicating that the observed antinociception was unrelated to sedation or motor abnormality. The findings of this study suggest that mangiferin has a peripheral antinociceptive action through mechanisms that involve endogenous opioids, KATP-channels and adenosine receptors

Synthetic thiosemicarbazones as a new class of Mycobacterium tuberculosis protein tyrosine phosphatase A inhibitors.

Abstract Mycobacterium tuberculosis secretes two protein tyrosine phosphatases as virulence factors, PtpA and PtpB. Inhibition studies of these enzymes have shown significant attenuation of the M. tuberculosis growth in vivo. As PtpA mediates many effects on the regulation of host signaling ensuring the intracellular survival of the bacterium we report, for the first time, thiosemicarbazones as potential novel class of PtpA inhibitors. Several compounds were synthesized and biologically evaluated, revealing interesting results. Enzyme kinetic assays showed that compounds 5, 9 and 18 are non-competitive inhibitors of PtpA, with Ki values ranging from 1.2 to 5.6 µM. Modeling studies clarified the structure-activity relationships observed in vitro and indicated a possible allosteric binding site in PtpA structure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first disclosure of potent non-competitive inhibitors of PtpA with great potential for future studies and development of analogues

Leprosy-specific oral lesions : a report of three cases

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a bacillus that presents a peculiar tropism for the skin and peripheral nerves. The clinical spectrum of leprosy ranges from the tuberculoid form (TT) to the disseminative and progressive lepromatous form (LL). Oral lesions are rare but, when present, occur in the lepromatous form. This article describes the clinical and microscopic findings of three cases of LL with oral manifestations. All patients had the lepromatous form and their leprosy-specific oral lesions occurred in the palate. The diagnosis was based on clinical, serological and histopathological findings, and multidrug therapy for multibacillary leprosy was started and continued for 24 months. All patients completed treatment, but developed reaction episodes which were treated with prednisone and/or thalidomide. The authors emphasize the importance of oral mucosa evaluation by a dental health professional during patient care since oral lesions may act as a source of infection

Brazilian network for HIV Drug Resistance Surveillance (HIV-BresNet): a survey of treatment-naive individuals

Introduction: In Brazil, more than 487,450 individuals are currently undergoing antiretroviral treatment. In order to monitor the transmission of drug-resistant strains and HIV subtype distribution in the country, this work aimed to estimate its prevalence and to characterize the nationwide pretreatment drug resistance in individuals recently diagnosed with HIV between 2013 and 2015. Methods: The HIV threshold survey methodology (HIV-THS, WHO) targeting antiretroviral-naive individuals with recent HIV diagnosis was utilized, and subjects were selected from 51 highly populated cities in all five Brazilian macroregions. The HIV pol genotypic test was performed by genomic sequencing. Results: We analysed samples from 1568 antiretroviral-naive individuals recently diagnosed with HIV, and the overall transmitted drug resistance (TDR) prevalence was 9.5% (150 sequences). The regional prevalence of resistance according to Brazilian geographical regions was 9.4% in the northeast, 11.2% in the southeast, 6.8% in the central region, 10.2% in the north and 8.8% in the south. The inhibitor-specific TDR prevalence was 3.6% for nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), 5.8% for non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) and 1.6% for protease inhibitors (PIs)1.0% of individuals presented resistance to more than one class of inhibitors. Overall, subtype B was more prevalent in every region except for the southern, where subtype C prevails. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first TDR study conducted in Brazil with nationwide representative sampling. The TDR prevalence revealed a moderate rate in the five Brazilian geographical regions, although some cities presented higher TDR prevalence rates, reaching 14% in Sao Paulo, for example. These results further illustrate the importance of surveillance studies for designing future strategies in primary antiretroviral therapy, aiming to mitigate TDR, as well as for predicting future trends in other regions of the globe where mass antiretroviral (ARV) treatment was implemented.Brazilian Ministry of HealthUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Lab Virol Mol, Dept Genet IB, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilFdn Med Trop Amazonas, Manaus, Amazonas, BrazilLAPI Univ Fed Bahia, Hosp Univ Prof Edgar Santos, Lab Pesquisa, Salvador, BA, BrazilLab Cent Saude Publ Ceara Lacen CE, Fortaleza, Ceara, BrazilLab Cent Saude Publ Dist Fed, Setor Grandes Areas Norte SGAN 601, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Fed Minas Gerais UFMG, Fac Med, Lab Imunol & Biol Mol DIP, Belo Horizonte, MG, BrazilLab Cent Saude Publ Mato Grosso Sul, Campo Grande, MS, BrazilLab Cent Saude Publ Pernambuco, Recife, PE, BrazilLab Municipal Curitiba, Curitiba, PR, BrazilFiocruz MS, Lab AIDS & Imunol Mol, Dept Imunol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Hosp Univ Clementino Fraga Filho, Lab Carga Viral, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilInst Biol Exercito, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilLab Cent Saude Publ Rio Grande Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilLab Hosp Nossa Senhora Conceicao, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilLab Cent Saude Publ Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, SC, BrazilUNESP, Lab Biol Mol Hemocentro Botucatu, Fac Med, Botucatu, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Lab Pesquisa AIDS, Hosp Clin, Campinas, SP, BrazilInst Adolfo Lutz Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Lab Biol Mol, Sao Jose Do Rio Preto, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Lab Retrovirol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilInst Adolfo Lutz Cent, Lab Retrovirus, Ctr Virol, Nucleo Doencas Sanguineas & Sexuais, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilMinist Saude, Dept Vigilancia Prevencao & Controle DST AIDS & H, Setor Adm Fed Sul SAFS 02, Secretaria Vigilancia Saude, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Brasilia, Programa Pos Grad Saude Colet, Fac Med, Fac Ciencias Saude, Brasilia, DF, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Escola Paulista Med, Lab Retrovirol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilBMH: TC 298/12Web of Scienc

Green and roasted arabica coffees differentiated by ripeness, process and cup quality via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry fingerprinting

Direct infusion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in both the negative ESI(-)-MS and positive ESI(+)-MS ion modes are investigated to differentiate green and roasted Arabica coffees with different stages of ripeness (green, ripe and overripe), post-harvesting process (dry, wet and semi-wet) and coffees with different cup qualities. In the ESI(-)-MS of green coffees, ions from deprotonated fatty acids and chlorogenic acids are the most important for ripeness discrimination. In the ESI(+)-MS, maturity is differentiated by ions from protonated caffeine, chlorogenic acids and K+ adducts of fatty acids. To differentiate between post-harvesting process in both ionization modes, ions from fatty acids, chlorogenic acids, sugars and carboxylic acids generated in the fermentation process are the most representative. Roasted Arabica coffees are also well discriminated: in the ESI(-)-MS, ions from chlorogenic acids and short-chain organic acids derived from sugars are important. In the ESI(+)-MS, discrimination are mainly performed by low m/z ions such as protonated pyridine and alkylpiridines formed via trigonelline degradation. Both ESI(+)-MS and ESI(-)-MS are able to differentiate cup quality for Arabica roasted coffees and the ions used to perform discrimination are the same ones described in ripeness and post-harvesting processes.A habilidade da técnica de espectrometria de massas com infusão direta e ionização por eletronebulização (IES-EM), nos modos de íons positivos e negativos, foi avaliada na diferenciação de cafés Arábica verdes e torrados e com diferentes estágios de amadurecimento (verde, maduro e passado), processo pós-colheita (seco, úmido e semi-úmido) e cafés classificados por prova de xícara. No modo negativo, a análise dos cafés verdes mostrou que os íons correspondentes aos ácidos graxos e ácidos clorogênicos desprotonados são os mais importantes para a discriminação da maturidade. No modo positivo, a maturidade é diferenciada através de íons correspondentes a cafeína, ácidos clorogênicos protonados e adutos de K+ de ácidos graxos. Na diferenciação da pós-colheita, em ambos os modos de ionização, são mais importantes os íons correspondentes aos ácidos graxos, ácidos clorogênicos, açúcares e ácidos carboxílicos formados da fermentação. Cafés Arábica torrados também são discriminados com eficiência. No modo negativo, são importantes os íons correspondentes aos ácidos clorogênicos e ácidos orgânicos de cadeia curta, derivados de açúcares. No modo positivo, a discriminação é realizada por íons de baixa m/z tais como piridina e alquil piridinas protonadas, formadas através da degradação da trigonelina. Ambos os IES(+)-EM e IES(-)-EM são capazes de discriminar diferentes cafés Arábica torrados classificados por prova de xícara e os íons que permitem esta diferenciação são os mesmos descritos para a maturidade e processos pós-colheita.313321Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES