GRFT – Genetic Records Family Tree Web Applet

Current software for storing and displaying records of genetic crosses does not provide an easy way to determine the lineage of an individual. The genetic records family tree (GRFT) applet processes records of genetic crosses and allows researchers to quickly visualize lineages using a family tree construct and to access other information from these records using any Internet browser. Users select from three display features: (1) a family tree view which displays a color-coded family tree for an individual, (2) a sequential list of crosses, and (3) a list of crosses matching user-defined search criteria. Each feature contains options to specify the number of records shown and the latter two contain an option to filter results by the owner of the cross. The family tree feature is interactive, displaying a popup box with genetic information when the user mouses over an individual and allowing the user to draw a new tree by clicking on any individual in the current tree. The applet is written in JavaScript and reads genetic records from a tab-delimited text file on the server, so it is cross-platform, can be accessed by anyone with an Internet connection, and supports almost instantaneous generation of new trees and table lists. Researchers can use the tool with their own genetic cross records for any sexually reproducing organism. No additional software is required and with only minor modifications to the script, researchers can add their own custom columns. GRFT’s speed, versatility, and low overhead make it an effective and innovative visualization method for genetic records. A sample tool is available at http://stanford.edu/walbot/grft-sample.html

Comparative profiling of the sense and antisense transcriptome of maize lines

BACKGROUND: There are thousands of maize lines with distinctive normal as well as mutant phenotypes. To determine the validity of comparisons among mutants in different lines, we first address the question of how similar the transcriptomes are in three standard lines at four developmental stages. RESULTS: Four tissues (leaves, 1 mm anthers, 1.5 mm anthers, pollen) from one hybrid and one inbred maize line were hybridized with the W23 inbred on Agilent oligonucleotide microarrays with 21,000 elements. Tissue-specific gene expression patterns were documented, with leaves having the most tissue-specific transcripts. Haploid pollen expresses about half as many genes as the other samples. High overlap of gene expression was found between leaves and anthers. Anther and pollen transcript expression showed high conservation among the three lines while leaves had more divergence. Antisense transcripts represented about 6 to 14 percent of total transcriptome by tissue type but were similar across lines. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations were assigned and tabulated. Enrichment in GO terms related to cell-cycle functions was found for the identified antisense transcripts. Microarray results were validated via quantitative real-time PCR and by hybridization to a second oligonucleotide microarray platform. CONCLUSION: Despite high polymorphisms and structural differences among maize inbred lines, the transcriptomes of the three lines displayed remarkable similarities, especially in both reproductive samples (anther and pollen). We also identified potential stage markers for maize anther development. A large number of antisense transcripts were detected and implicated in important biological functions given the enrichment of particular GO classes

Design management in the toy industry: Case studies on design insertion for the development process in Brazilian toy companies

Design is assuming more strategic roles in the industry, bringing different approaches to the development of new products that enables innovations and higher acceptance. Like other segments, the toy industry is also modifying to meet new demands, seeking to develop games and toys aligned with the contemporary child. To improve the quality of the national toy, design insertion has been stated as a desired goal. However, there are not significant reports in the literature about how it is integrated in the segment. This study aimed to evaluate the integration of designers in the development process of new products of three different Brazilian toy companies that acted as case studies. Based on Design Management (DM) and Product Development Process (PDP) Models, we implemented a new model that aided in organizing and analyzing records of the companies’ structures and development processes. Results indicated the difficulties and improvement points to insert Designers in a formalized process, being those located mostly on the initial planning, product prototyping, and post launch stages. A recent increase in design acceptance and usage, however, was noted, with Design being considered as directly related with the quality increase of the company’s products.Keywords: design management, toy industry, development of new product, Brazilian industry, industrial design

Rapid Maize Leaf and Immature Ear Responses to UV-B Radiation

Because of their sessile lifestyle, plants have evolved adaptations to environmental factors, including UV-B present in solar radiation. To gain a better understanding of the initial events in UV-B acclimation, we have analyzed a 10 min to 1 h time course of transcriptome responses in irradiated and shielded leaves, and immature maize ears to unravel the systemic physiological and developmental responses in exposed and shielded organs. After 10 min of UV-B exposure, 262 transcripts are changed by at least two-fold in irradiated leaves, and this number doubles after 1 h. Indicative of the rapid modulation of transcription, 130 transcripts are only changed after 10 min. This is true not only in irradiated leaves, but also in shielded tissues. After 10 min of exposure, the overlap in transcriptome changes in irradiated and shielded organs is significant; however, after 30 min of UV-B, there are only two transcripts showing similar UV-B regulation between the three organs; 35 are similarly regulated in both IL and SL. Therefore, at longer irradiation times, there is more specificity of responses, and these are organ-specific. We suggest that early signaling in different tissues may be elicited by common signaling pathways, while at longer exposure times responses become more specific. To identify metabolites as possible signaling molecules, we looked for compounds that increased within 5–90 min in both irradiated and shielded leaves, to explain the kinetics of profound transcript changes within 1 h. We found that myoinositol is one such candidate metabolite; and we also demonstrate that if 0.1 mM myoinositol is applied to leaves of greenhouse maize, some metabolites that are changed by UV-B are also changed similarly by the chemical treatment. Therefore, this metabolite can partially mimic UV irradiation

Relation between the genetic variation of quantitative traits and the molecular markers in subpopulations (Eugenia dysenterica DC)

O objetivo do trabalho foi relacionar a diversidade genética medida a partir de três diferentes marcadores moleculares, com a variação genética quantitativa de caracteres poligênicos, estimada em ensaio de progênies, sob condições controladas. As progênies, oriundas de dez subpopulações naturais de cagaiteira do sudeste de Goiás, foram avaliadas em experimento em blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições e uma planta por parcela. Foram estimadas a herdabilidade ao nível de média de progênies (h mi ²) e o coeficiente de variação genética (CVgi) de cada subpopulação para a altura da planta e o diâmetro do fuste, por quatro anos, bem como para as respectivas taxas de crescimento. Estimativas da diversidade gênica (Hei) e do índice de fixação (f i) foram obtidas com dados de marcadores codominantes e dominantes. Correlação linear e regressão múltipla foram usadas para inferir sobre a associação entre a divergência quantitativa e molecular nos níveis intra e interpopulacional, A fraca correlação entre as medidas de divergência obtidas com marcadores moleculares dominantes e codominantes reduziu a expectativa de correlação positiva entre essas medidas e a diversidade quantitativa. Em geral, não foi confirmada a possibilidade de usar com segurança medidas de divergência molecular intrapopulacional para inferir a variação genética de caracteres quantitativos no nível de precisão que prevaleceu. Com o marcador baseado em maior número de locos (RAPD), verificou-se a possibilidade de uma inferência desse tipo. Em nível interpopulacional, encontrou-se associação mais pronunciada entre a divergência molecular e a quantitativa.This research aimed to measure the association between molecular diversity and the genetic variation of quantitative traits, estimated from a progeny trial, under controlled conditions. Ten natural subpopulations of cagaita tree from the southeast of Goiás State, Brazil, were investigated. The maternal families were evaluated in a trail using the randomized complete block design with four replications and a single tree per plot. Quantitative data were analyzed estimating the coefficient of heritability (h mi² ), on a progeny mean basis and the genetic coefficient of variation (CVgi) for each subpopulation. The traits considered were: plant height and the respective diameter and the corresponding annual rates of increment. Estimates of gene diversity (Hei) and fixation index (f i), available for the same subpopulations, based on isozymes, SSR and RAPD markers, were taken for comparison. Simple linear correlation and multiple regression analysis were used for measuring the association between those estimates on intra and interpopulation level. The weak correlation between gene diversity estimated with codominant and dominant markers reduced the expectation of a good correlation between those statistics and the genetic variation of the quantitative traits. In general, the possibility to infer the magnitude of quantitative variation within subpopulations, based on molecular gene diversity, was not confirmed. RAPD results were more promising, indicating the importance to have an adequate genomic coverage in this kind of research. On the other hand, the interpopulation level, a much better association was detected for all markers. The possibility of predicting quantitative variation based on molecular information was, therefore, not excluded.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CNP

Effects of grape seed extract on properties of type I collagen scaffolds

 To obtain a material with potential for use in tissue engineering, anionic collagen was obtained from porcine serosa (S) and bovine tendon (T) by alkaline hydrolysis for 72h. Part of this collagen was mixed with water to obtain 4 % (weight/weight) collagen suspension and part was solubilized in acetic acid pH 3.5 to obtain 1.5% (w/w) gel. The suspensions were mixed with their respective gels (2:1) (suspension: gel) and grape seed extract, whose main product is proanthocyanidin, was added at concentrations of 0.03% and 0.5%, thus obtaining the scaffolds SC (serosa collagen suspension and gel), TC (tendon collagen suspension and gel), SCP003 (SC with 0.03% extract), TCP003 (TC with 0.03% extract), SCP05 (SC with 0.5% extract added) and TCP05 (TC with 0.5% extract). The materials were analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and characterized by phosphate buffered saline absorption assay and in vitro biological stability assay. By DSC it is observed that the addition of 0.5% of extract increases the denaturation temperature (Td) of collagen, indicating that at this concentration the extract acts as polymer crosslinking agent. SEM shows disorganized cross-section pores in all scaffolds, not exceeding 130 ?m. Absorption and degradation assays indicated that the addition of 0.5% extract increases the absorption of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) by the scaffolds and decreases the degradation percentage by collagenase. These results suggests that the scaffolds can be used for different applications, e.g. as hemostatic agent. 

Encontro Entre Política De Qualificação E Trajetórias Sociais

Este trabalho analisa o processo de implantação e expansão do Programa de Aprimoramento em Serviço Social da UNICAMP−Campinas em dupla dimensão: sua inscrição no Programa do Estado de São Paulo relacionada à política de saúde brasileira e experiências das alunas profissionais que o realizaram, com inserção no mercado de trabalho. O recorte espaço/tempo definiu-se pelo Aprimoramento em Serviço Social realizado no Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP no período de 1994/2001, implantação e estabilização de cursos/ bolsas. Trata-se de um estudo quanti-qualitativo, utilizando fontes documentais, bibliográficas, questionários ao universo total de alunos, privilegiando trajetórias sociais através de fonte oral, com depoimentos.6653-66Serviço Socia

Panorama e particularidades do Programa de Aprimoramento Profissional em Saúde

Este artigo tem por objetivo trazer uma contribuição ao debate sobre a formação profissional e educação permanente, abordando um panorama sobre os Programas de Aprimoramento Profissional para a Saúde, modalidade de pós-graduação lato sensu instituída particularmente no Estado de São Paulo, respondendo a demanda por mudanças na atenção e prestação de serviços para a saúde incluindo outras profissões na atenção às necessidades da população. Analisa a origem do Programa e sua inserção no contexto das lutas pela redemocratização do país, mais especificamente do Movimento da Reforma Sanitária, a expansão desta modalidade de formação nos anos 90 e as particularidades que envolvem os Programas de formação do Serviço Social

Encontro entre política de qualificação e trajetórias sociais

Este trabalho analisa o processo de implantação e expansão do Programa de Aprimoramento em Serviço Social da UNICAMP−Campinas em dupla dimensão: sua inscrição no Programa do Estado de São Paulo relacionada à política de saúde brasileira e experiências das alunas profissionais que o realizaram, com inserção no mercado de trabalho. O recorte espaço/tempo definiu-se pelo Aprimoramento em Serviço Social realizado no Hospital de Clínicas da UNICAMP no período de 1994/2001, implantação e estabilização de cursos/ bolsas. Trata-se de um estudo quanti-qualitativo, utilizando fontes documentais, bibliográficas, questionários ao universo total de alunos, privilegiando trajetórias sociais através de fonte oral, com depoimentos