Genetic molecular diversity, production and resistance to witches’ broom in cacao clones

The 32 cacao clones selected as being resistant following the witches’ broom epidemic and for having distinct productivitywere characterized according to their genetic diversity and were submitted to a new selection. These plants were assessed for eightyears at the Oceania Farm (FO) in Itagibá, Bahia, Brazil. The 13 microsatellite primers generated an average of 11.7 amplicons perlocus, and based on them it was demonstrated that the 32 clones distribute themselves in groups apart from the nine clones used ascontrols. The 32 materials displayed significant differences in relation to the characters assessed in the field. Two criteria were formedfrom the classification of the most productive and resistant plants, and then used to select plants within the clusters. The selected plantsdisplayed potential for the cacao improvement program, that they have a high production and high resistance to witches’ broom

Avaliação do sistema de compressão de dois componentes no tratamento de úlcera varicosa

Os profissionais responsáveis pelo tratamento de pacientes com úlcera varicosa devem ser competentes na escolha e aplicação de terapias de compressão em consonância com as necessidades individuais dos pacientes. Para isso, faz-se necessário conhecer a performance dos produtos. OBJETIVO: avaliar o desempenho do sistema de compressão de duas bandagens no tratamento de úlcera varicosa. MÉTODO: estudo de caso descritivo de avaliação de produto com seguimento por 12 semanas de pacientes com idade superior a 20 anos, diagnóstico médico de úlcera varicosa, índice de pressão tornozelo/braço (ITB) > 0,8 e medidas da circunferência do tornozelo entre 18 e 25 cm ou 25 e 32 cm. As variáveis de desempenho foram a porcentagem da alteração da área; edema da perna; deslizamento da bandagem; eventos adversos. RESULTADOS: os participantes eram obesos, idade superior a 36 anos, ITB =1, edema na perna, relação circunferência panturrilha/tornozelo de 1,5, variação reduzida do movimento do tornozelo, úlceras com área de 1,0 a 5,4 cm². CONCLUSÃO: as variáveis utilizadas são adequadas para avaliação do desempenho de sistemas de compressão no tocante à porcentagem da alteração da área; edema da perna; deslizamento da bandagem; evento adverso (necrose na pele) e o sistema de dois componentes avaliado pode representar uma terapia adequada para tratamento de úlcera varicosa na prática clínica, no Brasil

O uso de sistemas agroflorestais diversificados na restauração florestal na Mata Atlântica

The Brazilian new environmental law permits the use of agroforestry systems to restore degraded areas protected by legislation, especially in small farms. One question that arises is if it is possible to reduce costs of the restoration process with these agroforestry systems and, at the same time, to offer ecological services, similar to afforestation with the exclusive use of native species of the Atlantic Forest biome. Seeking results to proof the effectivity, an agroforestry system established in 2005, at Seropédica, RJ state, with the objective of connecting two forest fragments, went through a series of evaluations realized on the ecological effectiveness on the connection of these fragments. The results indicated that the quantity and quality of soil fauna and mycorrhizal fungi obtained benefits by the agroforestry system in comparison to the pasture matrix, but are still at lower levels than the forest fragments. Pasture near the agroforestry system has benefited from the environmental improvement there, originated from a “positive edge effect”, a situation quite different from the pasture that was farther from the area of influence of the agroforestry corridor. For the indicators used, the agroforestry system was eficient.Com a nova legislação ambiental brasileira vislumbra-se a possibilidade do uso de sistemas agroflorestais diversificados para recompor áreas de preservação permanente e reserva legal, principalmente em pequenas propriedades rurais. Uma pergunta que surge, diz respeito a capacidade desses sistemas em reduzir custos na restauração florestal e ao mesmo tempo apresentar eficiência ecológica similar aos plantios em que se faz uso exclusivo de espécies nativas do bioma em questão. Buscando a resposta avaliou-se nesse estudo um sistema agroflorestal implantado em 2005, em Seropédica, RJ, que tinha o objetivo de interligar dois fragmentos florestais ali existentes. Desde então foram feitas uma série de avaliações sobre a eficácia ecológica desse “corredor agroflorestal” na interligação desses fragmentos. Os resultados indicaram que a quantidade e a qualidade da fauna do solo e fungos micorrízicos foram favorecidos pelo sistema agroflorestal em comparação à matriz de pastagem, mas ainda se encontram em níveis inferiores aos fragmentos florestais interligados. A pastagem próxima ao sistema agroflorestal vem se beneficiando da melhoria ambiental ali existente, criando um “efeito de borda positivo”, situação bem distinta da pastagem que se encontrava mais distante da área de influência do corredor agroflorestal. Para os indicadores utilizados, o sistema agroflorestal foi eficiente.

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

The selenium-binding protein of Theobroma cacao: A thermostable protein involved in the witches’ broom disease resistance

International audienceThe selenium-binding proteins are known to be inducers of apoptosis in human and animals, and have been studied as target for the treatment of various types of cancer. In plants, SBP expression has been related to abiotic and biotic stress resistance. The SBP from Theobroma cacao (TcSBP) was first identified from a cocoa-Moniliophthora perniciosa cDNA library. The present study provides details on the TcSBP gene and protein structure. Multiple alignments revealed conserved domains between SBP from plants, human and archea. Homology modeling and molecular docking were performed and showed that the TcSBP has affinity to selenite in the active CSSC site. This result was confirmed by circular dichroism of the recombinant TcSBP, which also presented thermostable behavior. RT-qPCR analysis showed that TcSBP was differentially expressed in resistant vs susceptible cacao varieties inoculated by M. perniciosa and its expression was probably due to hormone induction via cis-regulating elements present in its promotor. The presence of the CSSC domain suggested that TcSBP acted by altering oxidation/reduction of proteins during H2O2 production and programmed cell death in the final stages of the witches' broom disease. To our knowledge, this is the first in silk and in vitro analysis of the SBP from cacao

Princípios para o cuidado domiciliar por profissionais de nível superior

Módulo da Atenção Domiciliar compõe o curso Princípios para o Cuidado Domiciliar por Profissionais de Nível Superior que é um dos cursos do Programa Multicêntrico de Qualificação Profissional em Atenção Domiciliar a distância. Produzido pelo Núcleo de Educação em Saúde Coletiva da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (Nescon/UFMG) sob a coordenação do Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria da Gestão do Trabalho e da Educação em Saúde e Universidade Aberta do SUS (MS/SGTES-UNASUS) . Contém uma carga horária de 60 horas, suas atividades são autoinstrucionais e sua temática desenvolve-se por meio das seguintes unidades educacionais: Unidade 1 – Estomas; Unidade 2 – Lesões Cutâneas Crônicas; Unidade 3 – Acesso Venoso Central; Unidade 4 – Fecaloma: abordagem clínica, princípios e intervenções; Unidade 5 – Diálise; Unidade 6 – Paracentese Abdominal Terapêutica; Unidade 7 – Princípios para o cuidado à saúde bucal na atenção domiciliar.Ministério da Saúd

A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges