Genetic similarity between Brazilian bovine breeds

A similaridade genética entre animais de duas raças bovinas brasileiras (Crioulo Lageano e Junqueira) foi estimada pela análise de polimorfismo de DNA amplificado ao acaso (RAPD), tendo como referência (outgroups) animais de raças comerciais das espécies Bos taurus e B. indicus. Estas duas raças possuem grande similaridade fenotípica, sugerindo uma origem genética comum. Uma matriz de similaridade genética baseada em polimorfismo de DNA foi obtida e representada graficamente por um dendrograma, definido após processo estatístico de reamostragem bootstrap. Ao contrário do que era previsto com base nas semelhanças morfológicas das duas raças, os animais das raças Crioulo Lageano e Junqueira não apresentaram similaridade elevada entre si quando comparados com animais de outras raças comerciais. Os dados indicam que as duas raças sofreram contribuições genéticas distintas no processo de formação racial.The genetic similarity between animals of two Brazilian bovine breeds (Crioulo Lageano e Junqueira) was estimated based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using animals belonging to commercial breeds of the species Bos taurus and B. indicus as reference (outgroups). A matrix of genetic similarity was obtained and displayed as a dendrogram, which was defined after bootstrap resampling statistics. Contrary to what was expected based on the mophological similarities of the two breeds, the Crioulo Lageano and Junqueira animals do not show high levels of genetic similarity when compared to animals of other commercial breeds. The data indicate that the two breeds had different genetic contributions during the process of breed development

Análise de QTL da produtividade em linhagens de introgressão de Oryza sativa x O. glumaepatula

The objective of this work was to evaluate the yield performance of two generations (BC2F2 and BC2F9) of introgression lines developed from the interspecific cross between Oryza sativa and O. glumaepatula, and to identify the SSR markers associated to yield. The wild accession RS‑16 (O. glumaepatula) was used as donor parent in the backcross with the high yielding cultivar Cica‑8 (O. sativa). A set of 114 BC2F1 introgression lines was genotyped with 141 polymorphic SSR loci distributed across the whole rice genome. Molecular analysis showed that in average 22% of the O. glumaepatula genome was introgressed into BC2F1 generation. Nine BC2F9 introgression lines had a significantly higher yield than the genitor Cica‑8, thus showing a positive genome interaction among cultivated rice and the wild O. glumaepatula. Seven QTL were identified in the overall BC2F2, with one marker interval (4879‑EST20) of great effect on yield. The alleles with positive effect on yield came from the cultivated parent Cica‑8.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho produtivo de duas gerações (RC2F2 e RC2F9) de linhagens de introgressão, desenvolvidas a partir do cruzamento interespecífico entre Oryza sativa e O. glumaepatula, bem como identificar marcadores SSR associados à produtividade. O acesso selvagem RS‑16 (O. glumaepatula) foi utilizado como doador parental no retrocruzamento com a cultivar elite Cica‑8 (O. sativa). Uma série de 114 linhagens de introgressão RC2F1 foi genotipada com 141 locos SSR polimórficos distribuídos ao longo de todo o genoma do arroz. A análise molecular indicou que, em média, 22% do genoma de O. glumaepatula foi introgredida na geração RC2F1. Nove linhagens de introgressão RC2F9 tiveram produção significativamente maior que o genitor Cica‑8, o que mostra uma interação genômica positiva entre o arroz cultivado e a espécie silvestre O. glumaepatula. Sete QTL foram identificados em toda geração RC2F2, com um intervalo de marcadores (4879‑EST20) de grande efeito sobre a produtividade. Os alelos com efeitos positivos sobre a produtividade foram provenientes do genitor cultivado Cica‑8

Development of herbicide-tolerant irrigated rice cultivars

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver novas linhagens de arroz irrigado tolerantes ao herbicida imidazolinona. O método de retrocruzamento foi usado para transferir o alelo de tolerância à imidazolinona do mutante 93AS3510 para os genitores recorrentes 'BRS 7 Taim' e 'BRS Pelota'. Indivíduos tolerantes ao herbicida foram selecionados em cada geração, por três gerações de retrocruzamento (RC1 a RC3), seguidas por três gerações de autofecundação (RC3F1 a RC3F3). As quatro melhores linhagens RC3F3 quanto às características agronômicas foram genotipadas com 44 marcadores microssatélites. O índice de conversão observado nas novas linhagens tolerantes à imidazolinona variou de 91,86 a 97,67%. A análise de distância genética par-a-par, entre estas linhagens e 22 acessos do banco de germoplasma de arroz da Embrapa, agrupou-as com os seus respectivos genitores recorrentes, mas não com 'IRGA 417', que foi originalmente usada como genitor para derivar a IRGA 422 CL, única cultivar tolerante ao herbicida imidazolinona recomendada para cultivo no Brasil. Portanto, estas linhagens representam novas opções de acessos geneticamente diversos de arroz irrigado com tolerância ao herbicida imidazolinona. As linhagens CNA10756 ('BRS Sinuelo' CL) e CNA10757 serão lançadas para cultivo no sistema de produção "Clearfield" no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil.The objective of this work was to develop new irrigated rice lines tolerant to imidazolinone herbicides. The backcross breeding procedure was used to transfer the imidazolinone tolerance allele from mutant 93AS3510 to the recurrent parents 'BRS 7 Taim' and 'BRS Pelota'. Individual herbicide-tolerant plants were selected in each generation, for three backcrossings (RC1 to RC3), followed by three selfing generations (RC3F1 to RC3F3). The best four RC3F3 lines for agronomic traits were genotyped with 44 microsatellite markers. The observed conversion index of the new imidazolinone-tolerant lines varied from 91.86 to 97.67%. Pairwise genetic distance analysis between these lines and 22 accessions from the Embrapa's Rice Germplasm Bank clustered the new lines with their respective recurrent parents, but not with 'IRGA 417', which was originally used as recurrent parent to derive IRGA 422 CL, the only imidazolinone-tolerant irrigated rice cultivar recommended for cultivation in Brazil. Therefore, these lines represent new options of genetically diverse imidazolinone-tolerant rice accessions. Lines CNA10756 ('BRS Sinuelo CL') and CNA10757 will be released for cultivation in the Clearfield irrigated rice production system in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART). Methods/Design: ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH(2)O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure <= 30 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle. Discussion: If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration method.Hospital do Coracao (HCor) as part of the Program 'Hospitais de Excelencia a Servico do SUS (PROADI-SUS)'Brazilian Ministry of Healt

Comparative linkage mapping of Oryza glumaepatula and Oryza sativa interspecific crosses based on microsatellite and expressed sequence tag markers

Molecular linkage maps representing the rice genome have been an important tool for breeding programs because they allow the elucidation of polygenic traits and are an efficient tool for monitoring wild introgressions in interspecific crosses. Common markers among rice genetic maps are important in defining the homology of chromosomes and the synteny between genomic target regions. We used 148 markers (expressed sequence tags, microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms) to construct a molecular linkage map based on co-dominant markers for an interspecific backcross population using a wild rice (Oryza glumaepatula) from Brazil and performed a comparative analysis with other interspecific maps. The comparative analysis revealed a Spearman correlation index of 0.86 for marker order conservation to a previous map constructed for an interspecific cross using the same wild parent. Approximately 90% of markers common to other interspecific maps kept the same order. These results indicate that it will be possible to generate a unique genetic map using the wild donor and that it may be a helpful tool for breeding programs because plants derived from different interspecific populations can be rapidly scanned using markers associated with useful wild traits

The effects of chronic exposure to traffic derived air pollution on the ocular surface

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical relevance of chronic exposure to ambient levels of traffic derived air pollution on the ocular surface. Methods: A panel study involving 55 volunteers was carried out in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We measured the mean individual levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) exposure for 7 days. All subjects answered the Ocular Symptom Disease Index (OSDI) and a symptoms inventory. Subsequently, subjects underwent Schirmer I test, biomicroscopy, vital staining and tear breakup time (TOUT) assessment. Subject`s mean daily exposure to NO(2) was categorized in quartiles. Statistical analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA, Tukey HSD and Chi-Square tests. Results: A dose-response pattern was detected between OSDI scores and NO(2) quartiles (p < 0.05). There was a significant association between NO(2) quartiles and reported ocular irritation (X(2) = 9.2, p < 0.05) and a significant negative association between TBUT and NO(2) exposure (p < 0.05, R = -0.316. Spearman`s correlation). There was a significant increase in the frequency of meibomitis in subjects exposed to higher levels of NO(2) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Subjects exposed to higher levels of traffic derived air pollution reported more ocular discomfort symptoms and presented greater tear film instability, suggesting that the ocular discomfort symptoms and tear breakup time could be used as convenient bioindicators of the adverse health effects of traffic derived air pollution exposure. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.CNPq[55223/2006-0]FAPESP[03/10772-9]Laboratories of Medical Investigation of the School of Medicine, University of Sao Paulo (FM/USP)Discipline of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine of the University of Sao Paulo (USP)Laboratory of Ocular Research of the Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Buenos Aires, Argentin

Métodos avaliativos das características qualitativas e organolépticas da carne de ruminantes

The damages of the discard of meats with altered characteristics affect all of the producing countries. Therefore the increase of the acting without concern with the quality of that product and their attractive characteristics to the consumer cannot be the best form of viability of the production. The qualitative characteristics and organoleptic are used by the industry and for the researchers, looking for to establish attractive characteristics to the consumer. The objective is to do an updated revision on the methods used for determinations of the qualitative parameters and organoleptic of the meat.Os prejuízos do descarte de carnes com características alteradas afeta todos os países produtores. Portanto o aumento do desempenho sem preocupação com a qualidade desse produto e suas características atrativas ao consumidor pode não ser a melhor forma de viabilidade da produção. As características qualitativas e organolépticas são utilizadas pela indústria e pelos pesquisadores, buscando estabelecer características atrativas ao consumidor. O objetivo é fazer uma revisão atualizada sobre os métodos utilizados para determinações dos parâmetros qualitativos e organolépticos da carne

MÉTODOS AVALIATIVOS DAS CARACTERÍSTICAS QUALITATIVAS E ORGANOLÉPTICAS DA CARNE DE RUMINANTES

Os prejuízos do descarte de carnes com características alteradas afeta todos os países produtores. Portanto o aumento do desempenho sem preocupação com a qualidade desse produto e suas características atrativas ao consumidor pode não ser a melhor forma de viabilidade da produção. As características qualitativas e organolépticas são utilizadas pela indústria e pelos pesquisadores, buscando estabelecer características atrativas ao consumidor.  O objetivo é fazer uma revisão atualizada sobre os métodos utilizados para determinações dos parâmetros qualitativos e organolépticos da carne