Genetic divergence of rubber tree estimated by multivariate techniques and microsatellite markers

Genetic diversity of 60 Hevea genotypes, consisting of Asiatic, Amazonian, African and IAC clones, and pertaining to the genetic breeding program of the Agronomic Institute (IAC), Brazil, was estimated. Analyses were based on phenotypic multivariate parameters and microsatellites. Five agronomic descriptors were employed in multivariate procedures, such as Standard Euclidian Distance, Tocher clustering and principal component analysis. Genetic variability among the genotypes was estimated with 68 selected polymorphic SSRs, by way of Modified Rogers Genetic Distance and UPGMA clustering. Structure software in a Bayesian approach was used in discriminating among groups. Genetic diversity was estimated through Nei's statistics. The genotypes were clustered into 12 groups according to the Tocher method, while the molecular analysis identified six groups. In the phenotypic and microsatellite analyses, the Amazonian and IAC genotypes were distributed in several groups, whereas the Asiatic were in only a few. Observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.05 to 0.96. Both high total diversity (HT' = 0.58) and high gene differentiation (G st' = 0.61) were observed, and indicated high genetic variation among the 60 genotypes, which may be useful for breeding programs. The analyzed agronomic parameters and SSRs markers were effective in assessing genetic diversity among Hevea genotypes, besides proving to be useful for characterizing genetic variability

Atendimento pré-hospitalar móvel em Fortaleza, Ceará: a visão dos profissionais envolvidos Mobile pre-hospital care in Fortaleza, Ceará: the vision of professionals involved

Com o objetivo de descrever variáveis sociodemográficas, profissionais e operacionais das diferentes categorias envolvidas no Serviço de Atendimento Móvel de Urgência, bem como a percepção destas quanto à adequação do serviço oferecido às diretrizes da Política Nacional de Atenção às Urgências, foi realizado um estudo transversal, mediante um questionário autoaplicável, em 2007/2008. Os 89 pesquisados apontaram comprometimento da estrutura física (60,7%); escassez de materiais (82,0%); incipiência de recursos humanos (37,1%); mau estado de conservação e número insuficiente de ambulâncias (67,4%). 98,9% admitiram que há integração com outros serviços, com diferença estatística entre as categorias profissionais (p = 0,037). A terceirização predominou entre 71,4% dos médicos e 84,2% dos enfermeiros (p < 0,001). A capacitação específica foi confirmada por 79,8% e a atualização por 88,8% dos profissionais. A média de tempo de resposta total foi de 29 minutos (dp ± 14,8) e 65,2% afirmaram conhecer a política. Este estudo evidenciou que o pré-hospitalar é um serviço com problemas estruturais e de planejamento, nos quais se destacaram a precariedade das condições de trabalho e a fragilidade dos vínculos.<br>A cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire was performed in 2007/2008, with the objective of describing sociodemographic, professional, and operating variables of the various professional categories involved in the Mobile Emergency Care Service, and the perception of the compliance of the service offered with the guidelines of the National Emergency Care Policy. All 89 participants indicated deficient physical structure (60.7%); shortage of materials (82.0%); unskilled human resources (37.1%); poor conservation conditions and insufficient number of ambulances (67.4%); 98.9% admitted the existence of integration with other services, with some statistical differences among professional categories (p = 0.037). Outsourcing prevailed among 71.4% of physicians and 84.2% of nurses (p < 0.001). Specific capacity building was confirmed by 79.8%, and update by 88.8% of professionals. Total average response time was 29 minutes (SD ± 14.8), and 65.2% acknowledged knowing the policy. This study showed that pre-hospital care services have structural and planning problems, among which poor working conditions and fragile ties stand out

Diversity of Chromobacterium violaceum isolates from aquatic environments of state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

The present study intended to characterize the phenotypic and genetic diversity of Brazilian isolates of Chromobacterium violaceum from aquatic environments within the Amazon region. Nineteen isolates showed morphological properties of C. violaceum and the majority grew at 44°C. Low temperatures, in contrast, showed to be inhibitory to their growth, as eleven isolates did not grow at 10ºC and nine did not produce pigmentation, clearly indicating an inhibition of their metabolism. The largest variation among isolates was observed in the citrate test (Simmons), in which 12 isolates were positive, and in the oxidation/fermentation of sucrose, with six positives isolates. Chloramphenicol, gentamicin and sulfonamides efficiently inhibited bacterial growth. Amplified products of the recA gene were digested with HindII or PstI, which produced three or four restriction fragments patterns, respectively. The combined analysis arranged the isolates into six genospecies. The higher diversity observed in Belém (genotypes C, D, E and F) may be a consequence of intense human occupation, pollution of the aquatic environment or due to the higher diversity of the environments sampled in that region. In conclusion, a high level of genetic and phenotypic diversity was observed, and four new genospecies were described

Erratum to: Thermal–mechanical behaviour of chitosan–cellulose derivative thermoreversible hydrogel films

CH, Chitosan; HPMC, (Hydroxypropyl)methyl cellulose; FT, Freeze-thaw; SC, Solvent casting; CH:HPMC (X:Y), pH Z, FT/SC, Chitosan and (hydroxypropyl)methyl cellulose hydrogel, at X and Y proportion (0-100), at Z pH (3.0-4.0) and prepared by freeze-thaw or solvent casting techniques; DSC, Differential scanning calorimetry; MDSC, Temperature modulated Differential scanning calorimetry; Tg, glass transition temperature; ΔH, enthalpy change; TGA, Thermogravimetric Analysis; TG, Thermogravimetry; DTG, Derivative or Differential thermogravimetry; σ, Tensile strength; ε, elongation at break; DMA, Dynamic mechanical analysis; X-Ray, X-radiation, FTIR-ATR, Attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; SEM, Scanning electron microscopy.The authors are thankful to the Chemistry and Physic Centres at Minho University (Pest-C/QUI/UI0686/2013 and PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2013), CNPq, FAPESP and CAPES for the financial support of this research. Sandra Cerqueira Barros and Carlos M. Costa acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology for the Post-Doc and PhD grants provided (SFRH/BPD/85399/2012 and SFRH/BD/68499/2010) and M. M. Silva acknowledges to CNPq, for the mobility grant provided by this institution. The authors of this paper are grateful to the Company Devan-Micropolis, S.A., for the material support, namely the natural polymers chitosan (CH) and (hydroxypropyl)methyl cellulose (HPMC) employed in this study. JLGR acknowledges the support of Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, MINECO, through the MAT2013-46467-C4-1-R project. CIBER-BBN is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&i Plan 2008-2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program, CIBER Actions and financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund

Late Cretaceous spore-pollen zonation of the Central African Rift System (CARS), Kaikang Trough, Muglad Basin, South Sudan: angiosperm spread and links to the Elaterates Province

This paper presents a first detailed study on and new zonation scheme for the Kaikang Trough, Muglad Basin of South Sudan. The Kaikang Trough lies within the central sediment locus of the Muglad Basin, a non-marine African cratonic basin within the Central African Rift System (CARS) Two wells, KW-1 and K-4, were examined leading to the recognition of five palynological assemblage zones: K-I (early–middle Cenomanian), K-II (late Cenomanian), K-III (Turonian?–Santonian), K-IV (Campanian–Maastrichtian) and K-V (Maastrichtian). The elaterate group are peculiarly absent in otherwise rich Cenomanian palynological assemblages of the Muglad Basin. Why this is so, and the implications for the global middle Cretaceous Elaterate Province, needs some explanation. The CARS provided a range of diverse freshwater alluvial and lake-shore substrates. Its cross-continent sweep may have played a role in the evolution and dispersal of floras including early angiosperms as the rift basin of the proto-South Atlantic became a permanently flooded fjord