Progress in mass and clonal selection of grapevine varieties in Portugal

Since 1978 we have developed methods for mass and clonal selection of grapevine well adapted to the conditions of Portuguese viticulture. The most remarkable innovation of this methodology is the establishment of large experimental populations of clones in which good estimates of yield heritability and genetic gain can be obtained. The aim of the present paper is to clarify some methodological aspects such as (1) the ideal composition and structure of the experimental populations of clones and (2) the application of this methodology to a large number of Portuguese varieties, in order to maximize the rate of yield improvement. At present we can point out the following results: According to experimental data and computer simulation; we may conclude that the optimal number of clones to be included in each population is about 200-300, each one represented by 4 vines in 5 replications. By this way we can usually obtain heritability estimates between 30 and 80% and genetic gain values higher than 15%.Until now, we have succeeded in applying this methodology to 30 of the most important Portuguese varieties, which represent more than 80% of all varieties normally propagated in the country

Equality of opportunity and educational achievement in Portugal

Portugal has one of the highest levels of income inequality in Europe, and low wages and unemployment are concentrated among low skill individuals. Education is an important determinant of inequality. However, there are large differences in the educational attainment of different individuals in the population, and the sources of these differences emerge early in the life-cycle when families play a central role in individual development. We estimate that most of the variance of school achievement at age 15 is explained by family characteristics. Observed school inputs explain very little of adolescent performance. Children from highly educated parents benefit of rich cultural environments in the home and become highly educated adults. Education policy needs to be innovative: (1) it needs to explicitly recognize the fundamental long run role of families on child development; (2) it needs to acknowledge the failure of traditional input based policies

First report of a linezolid-resistant MRSA (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus) isolated from a dog with a severe bilateral otitis in Portugal

The widespread use of antimicrobials has lead to the emergence of resistant bacteria to one or more antibiotic, including new drugs like linezolid. This antimicrobial is the first of the oxazolidinone group and soon after its approval in 2000, linezolid-resistant MRSA and linezolid vancomycin-resistant enterococci have emerged. Several outbreaks of linezolid-resistant MRSA have been reported worldwide but, to our knowledge, this is the first report of a linezolid-resistant MRSA isolated from a dog in Portugal. The animal arrived at the Teaching Hospital of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Technical University of Lisboa with a severe bilateral otitis that was refractory to antibiotic therapy. Bacteriology showed that the infection was caused by a multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus strain that also phenotipically expressed other virulence factors. Besides the challenge to practitioners, the isolation of this strain is of pub­lic health concern due to its antimicrobial resistant profile.

Non-singular inflation with vacuum decay

On the basis of a semi-classical analysis of vacuum energy in an expanding spacetime, we describe a non-singular cosmological model in which the vacuum density decays with time, with a concomitant production of matter. During an infinitely long period we have an empty, inflationary universe, with H \approx 1. This primordial era ends in a fast phase transition, during which H and \Lambda decrease to nearly zero in a few Planck times, with release of a huge amount of radiation. The late-time scenario is similar to the standard model, with the radiation phase followed by a long dust era, which tends asymptotically to a de Sitter universe, with vacuum dominating again. An analysis of the redshift-distance relation for supernovas Ia leads to cosmological parameters in agreement with other current estimations.Comment: Work presented at IRGAC 2006, Barcelona, July 11-15 2006. To appear in a special issue of Journal of Physics

Hospedabilidade de espécies frutíferas a meloidogyne ethiopica.

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Use of Supplements for Maintenance of Nelore Bullocks in \u3ci\u3eBrachiaria decumbens\u3c/i\u3e, during the Dry Season in Acre, Brazilian Amazon

This study had the objective of evaluating animal performance and net economic returns of Nelore bullocks receiving: 1) mineral mixture (MM), 2) mineral mixture + urea (MMU), and 3) multiple supplement (MS), during the dry season of 1999 in Acre, Brazilian Amazon. The animals were maintained in pastures of Brachiaria decumbens, and liveweight gains, forage availability and chemical composition were assessed during the experimental period. Liveweight gains of 0.58, 0.65 and 0.60 kg/day, respectively, for MM, MMU and MS, were not different (P\u3e 0.05). The use of MMU provided additional net economic return of 10.8% in comparison with the treatment with MM