Antibiotic resistance in enterobacteriaceae isolated from Portuguese deli meats

This study aimed to identify the presence of β-lactam-resistant bacteria in different types of Portuguese deli meats. The numbers of ampicillin resistant bacteria varied from negative in 25 g to 1.0 × 108colony-forming units/g. Within 78 randomly selected β-lactam-resistant bacteria, 24 different resistant phenotypes were found and 35.9% were multidrug resistant (MDR). The majority (87.2%) of the isolates identified belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The presence of the blaTEM gene was detected in 23 out of 67 isolates (34.3%) and 16 of them presented MDR phenotypes. Four Klebsiella oxytoca isolates (6%) harbored a gene for the CTX-M/OXY-type enzyme. The direct sequencing of their purified amplicons confirmed the presence of three types of blaOXYgenes (blaOXY-1, blaOXY-2 and blaOXY-5). These results suggest that without good hygienic practices, deli meats may act as a vehicle of transfer of β-lactam-resistant bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract of consumers

Autoconceito profissional dos professores: Construção de uma escala de avaliação

Estudo apresentado no VII Congresso Galaico-Português de Psicopedagogia, realizado em 24, 25 e 26 de Setembro de 2003, pela Universidade do Minho e pela Universidade da Corunha. Corunha: Universidade da Corunha.A falta de instrumentos de avaliação do autoconceito profissional dos docentes do ensino básico e secundário conduziu à elaboração de um instrumento que denominámos Escala de Autoconceito Profissional dos Professores (EAPP). A aplicação da escala EAPP, com 36 itens, incidiu numa amostra de 342 professores, de diferentes escolas do ensino básico e secundário, de ambos os sexos, de diferentes idades, em diferentes fases de desenvolvimento da sua carreira e com diferentes tipos de formação profissional. Foi realizada uma análise factorial de componentes principais seguida de rotação varimax, tendo surgido quatro factores (cuidado na relação interpessoal, segurança em contexto laboral, cooperatividade, e reconhecimento laboral), com uma explicação de 46.79% de variância total. Foram determinados os coeficientes de consistência interna para diferentes grupos de pertença, apresentando-se o índice alpha bastante elevado (0.90) na amostra total e no factor global. No estudo da validade externa da EAPP, os resultados evidenciaram a existência de correlações altamente significativas e negativas entre o autoconceito profissional e o “mal-estar docente”; também altamente significativas foram as correlações entre as dimensões do autoconceito profissional e cada uma das variáveis “envolvimento do professor na promoção dos alunos” e “competências para lidar com a indisciplina”, apresentando-se, neste caso e como esperado, positivas. Para além do destaque às qualidades psicométricas do instrumento criado, é relevada a sua utilidade na investigação em Educação.The lack of evaluation tools regarding basic and secondary teachers’ professional self-concept led to the elaboration of an instrument we called Teachers’ Professional Self-Concept Scale (EAPP). The EAPP scale, with 36 items, was applied to a sample of 342 teachers, from different basic and secondary schools, of both genders, different ages, in different phases of their careers and with different types of professional formation. A factria analysis of the main components followed by varimax rotation was undertaken, and four factors arose (care in interpersonal relations, safety in work, cooperativity, and recognition in work), with a 46.79% explanation of total variance. The internal consistency coefficients were established for different groups, with a rather high alpha (0.90) in the total sample and in the global factor. In the study of EAPP’s external validity, the results showed the presence of high significant, negative correlations between professional self-concept and “teachers’ discomfort”; the correlations between the dimensions of professional selfconcept and each of the variables “involvement of the teacher in students’ promotion” and “competencies to deal with indiscipline” were also highly significant and, as expected, positive. Besides highlighting the psychometric qualities of the instrument, its use in research in Education is stressed

Os medos dos professores: Elaboração de uma escala de avaliação dos medos profissionais dos professores

Estudo apresentado no VII Congresso Galaico-Português de Psicopedagogia, realizado em 24-26 de Setembro de 2003, pelas Universidades do Minho e da Corunha. Corunha: Universidade da Corunha.A falta de instrumentos que pudessem ser administrados a professores, para que se pronunciem quanto aos seus medos profissionais, conduziu à construção de um novo instrumento de avaliação. Apresentam-se as fases seguidas na construção de uma escala de avaliação dos medos profissionais dos professores (EAMPP). Após a recolha e o estudo piloto dos itens, procedeu-se à aplicação da versão final da escala (EAMPP). A amostra foi constituída por 208 professores do 2º e 3º ciclos e do ensino secundário, de ambos os sexos, de várias zonas do país e com tempo de serviço diversificado. Procedeu-se ao estudo da fidelidade e da validade de construto e externa. Uma análise factorial de componentes principais com rotação varimax revelou a existência de sete dimensões dos medos profissionais: medos associados à indisciplina e gestão dos alunos nas aulas, medos associados à não satisfação da necessidade de reconhecimento enquanto professor, medos associados à gestão da profissão pela tutela, medos associados à falta de competências de ensino, medos derivados de obstáculos à realização profissional, medos associados à aceitação de desafios na escola e medos associados a uma avaliação negativa de si próprio vinda dos outros em contexto escolar. A variância total explicada por tais factores apresentou-se bastante elevada (61.67%), bem como os coeficientes de consistência interna (índices alpha), a variarem entre 0.80 e 0.97 para diferentes grupos. Os coeficientes de validade concorrente foram também muito consistentes. Os resultados salientam as boas qualidades da escala EAMPP, assim construída e disponibilizada para futuras investigações com professores.The lack of instruments to apply to teachers so they may discuss their professional fears led to the construction of a new evaluation tool. This paper presents the phases of the construction of an evaluation tool for teachers’ professional fears (EAMPP). After the collection and the pilot study of the items, the final version of the scale (EAMPP) was applied. The sample consisted of 208 teachers of the 2 nd and 3 rd cycles and secondary education, of both genders, from several areas of the country and with different lengths of experience. Construct and external reliability and validity were measured. Factorial analysis of the main components with varimax rotation revealed the presence of seven dimensions of professional fears: fears related to indiscipline and the management of pupils in class, fears related to not meeting the need for recognition as a teacher, fears related to the management of their profession by the educational administration, fears related to the lack of teaching competencies, fears deriving from obstacles for professional realisation, fears related to accepting challenges in school and fears related to a negative evaluation of oneself by others in the school context. The total variance explained by these factors was rather high (61.67%), as were the internal consistency coefficients (alpha indexes), that varied between 0.80 and 0.97 for different groups. The concurrent validity coefficients were also very consistent. Results stress the fine qualities of the EAMPP scale, thus constructed and made available for future research with teachers

Eco Valorization of Eucalyptus globulus Bark and Branches through Liquefaction

Eucalyptus globulus forest residues, bark, and branches, were characterized by wet chemistry methods and involved in the liquefaction process using a glycerol-ethylene glycol reaction mixture (1:1, v/v) catalyzed by strong mineral acid (3% H2SO4) or strong mineral base (6% KOH). The effect of the reaction conditions (temperature and duration) and the particle size on the yield of liquefied products have been evaluated. Acid catalysis revealed remarkably higher yields (25–50%) than when using basic catalyst. It was considered that bark was more vulnerable to liquefaction with respect to particle size than branches. Too high temperatures (>180 °C) are not advantageous regarding the liquefaction yields and, therefore, temperatures around 160–180 °C would be preferable. The best yield for the bark sample (>80 mesh fraction) was obtained at 180 °C for 60 min (61.6%), while for the branches the best yield was obtained at 160 °C for 60 min (62.2%). Under compromised conditions (180 °C for 60 min), the fine fraction (>80 mesh) of bark and branches did not show significant differences between their liquefaction yields and can be processed together while adjusting the suitable processing time. The main advantage of the use of these residues instead of solid wood is that it would bring the Forest managing companies a much higher income for their wastes that are usually burned and the use of lignocellulosic materials in detriment of petroleum-based materials for the production of polymers would make industry less dependent on oil prices fluctuations.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

In vitro transference and molecular characterization of bla TEM genes in bacteria isolated from Portuguese ready-to-eat foods

The principal aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of transference to Escherichia coli of β-lactam resistance genes found in bacteria isolated from ready-to-eat (RTE) Portuguese traditional food. From previous screenings, 128 β-lactam resistant isolates (from different types of cheese and of delicatessen meats), largely from the Enterobacteriaceae family were selected and 31.3% of them proved to transfer resistance determinants in transconjugation assays. Multiplex PCR in donor and transconjugant isolates did not detect bla CTX, bla SHV and bla OXY, but bla TEM was present in 85% of them, while two new TEMs (TEM-179 and TEM-180) were identified in two isolates. The sequencing of these amplicons showed identity between donor and transconjugant genes indicating in vitro plasmid DNA transfer. These results suggest that if there is an exchange of genes in natural conditions, the consumption of RTE foods, particularly with high levels of Enterobacteriaceae, can contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases from the North of Portugal in the boundaries to Spain: emergence of high resistance to 4th generation cephalosporins

During the past 15 years, emergence and dissemination of third-generation cephalosporins resistance in nosocomial Enterobacteriaceae became a serious problem worldwide, due to the production of extended-spectrum-β-lactamases (ESBLs). The aim of this study was to investigate among the presence of ESBL-producing enterobacteria among Portuguese clinical isolates nearby Spain, to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and to compare the two countries. The β-lactamases genes, blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX-M were detected by molecular methods. Among the ESBL-producing isolates it was found extraordinary levels (98.9%) of resistance to the fourth-generation cephalosporin Cefepime. These findings point to the need of reevaluate the definition of ESBL.Nos últimos 15 anos, a emergência e disseminação da resistência das enterobactérias nosocomiais às cefalosporinas de teceira geração devido à produção de β-lactamases de espectro ampliado (ESBL) tem-se tornado uma preocupação a nível mundial. O objectivo deste estudo é determinar a presença de ESBL em isolados clínicos de enterobactérias, o perfil de susceptibilidade aos antimicrobianos e comparar a situação portuguesa com a espanhola. Os genes blaTEM, blaSHV e blaCTX-M das β-lactamases foram detectados por métodos moleculares. Nas estirpes portuguesas produtoras de ESBL foram detectados níveis preocupantes de resistência à Cefepima (4ª geração), 98,9%, levando-nos a questionar sobre a necessidade de redefinir ESBL

Acetonitrile adducts of tranexamic acid as sensitive ions for quantification at residue levels in human plasma by UHPLC-MS/MS

The quantitative analysis of pharmaceuticals in biomatrices by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) is often hampered by adduct formation. The use of the molecular ion resulting from solvent adducts for quantification is uncommon, even if formed in high abundance. In this work, we propose the use of a protonated acetonitrile adduct for the quantitative analysis of tranexamic acid (TXA) by LC-MS/MS. The high abundance of the protonated acetonitrile adduct [M + ACN + H]+ was found to be independent of source-dependent parameters and mobile phase composition. The results obtained for TXA analysis in clinical samples were comparable for both [M + ACN + H]+ and [M + H]+ , and no statistically significant differences were observed. The relative stability and structure of the [M + ACN + H]+ ions were also studied by analyzing probable structures from an energetic point of view and by quantum chemical calculations. These findings, and the studied fragmentation pathways, allowed the definition of an acetimidium structure as the best ion to describe the observed acetonitrile protonated adduct of TXA.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio