Análise de associação quanto à produtividade e seus caracteres componentes em linhagens e cultivares de arroz de terras altas

O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar, por meio da análise de mapeamento associativo, os marcadores moleculares relacionados à produtividade do arroz de terras altas e aos seus caracteres componentes. Foram usadas 113 linhagens e cultivares de arroz de terras altas, da Coleção Nuclear de Arroz da Embrapa, com reduzido vínculo genético entre si. Os seguintes caracteres componentes da produtividade foram avaliados: número de panículas por metro, número de grãos por panícula e peso de 100 grãos. Dos 115 marcadores utilizados, 25 (21,7%) associaram-se significativamente a um ou mais caracteres. Entre os 29 SSR ("simple sequence repeats") colocalizados em QTL ("quantitative trait loci") de produtividade de arroz, 12 foram associados aos caracteres avaliados e considerados como candidatos para uso na seleção assistida por marcadores. Os marcadores NP914540, Q6ZGD1 e Q69JE3, associados ao número de grãos por panícula, ainda não foram anotados no arroz e podem constituir o ponto de partida para estudos de genômica funcional. Entre os marcadores derivados de sequências transcritas, NP914526 e NP914533 destacam-se por pertencer a rotas metabólicas relacionadas ao aumento do potencial produtivo de arroz

Tissue engineering research: the engineer's role.

Medical device technology11133-3

Tissue engineering research: the engineer's role

Tissue engineering holds the promise of revolutionary advances for health care. Academic, clinical and industrial efforts are increasingly directed towards the development of autogenic substitutes to restore, maintain, or improve tissue and organ functions. This article summarizes the role of the engineer in the multidisciplinary environment of tissue engineering research.</p

An Asian perspective of occupational stress coping model: A case study of Sri Lankan employees

Sri Lanka has one of the highest rates of natural disasters and violent conflicts in the world. Yet there is a lack of research on its unique socio-cultural characteristics that determine an individual's cognitive and behavioural responses to distressing encounters. This study extends Goh, Sawang and Oei's (2010) revised transactional model to examine the cognitive and behavioural processes of occupational stress experience in the collectivistic society of Sri Lanka. A time series survey was used to measure the participant's stress-coping process. Using the revised transactional model and path analysis, a unique Sri Lankan model is identified that provides theoretical insights on the revised transactional model, and sheds light on socio-cultural dimensions of occupational stress and coping, thus equipping practitioners with a sound theoretical basis for the development of stress management programs in the workplace

Tissue engineered tri-leaflet heart valve - preliminary fabrication of biodegradable polymer scaffolds

Recent advances in tissue engineering have demonstrated the potential of the technique in developing customized implants which, among other advantages, are able to regenerate body organs and tissues using the patients own cells. Furthermore, as the cells in the tissue engineered implant are living, they are able to assimilate and integrate with the surrounding host tissue as well as grow and repair themselves. A tissue-engineered tri-leaflet heart valve is currently being developed to overcome the problems that have limited the long-term viability of conventional biological and mechanical replacement valves. Preliminary work on the development of 3D porous scaffolds using thermoforming methods on a biodegradable polymer has been encouraging.</p

The burden of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in an urban population of Sri Lanka

Aims To describe the burden of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in middle-aged residents (35–64 years) in an urban area of Sri Lanka. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health area, from which 2986 participants (1349 men and 1637 women) were randomly selected from the electoral registry between January and December 2007. The participants underwent a physical examination and had their height, weight, waist and hip circumferences and blood pressure measured by trained personnel. Fasting blood samples were taken for measurement of glucose, HbA1c and lipids. The prevalence of diabetes (fasting plasma glucose > 7 mmol/l) and impaired fasting glycaemia (fasting plasma glucose 5.6–6.9 mmol/l) and major predictors of diabetes in Sri Lanka were estimated from the population-based data. Results Age-adjusted prevalence of diabetes mellitus in this urban population was 20.3% in men and 19.8% in women. Through the present screening, 263 patients with diabetes and 1262 with impaired fasting glucose levels were identified. The prevalence of newly detected diabetes was 35.7% of all patients with diabetes. Among patients with diabetes, only 23.8% were optimally controlled. In the regression models, high BMI, high waist circumference, high blood pressure and hypercholesterolaemia increased the fasting plasma glucose concentration, independent of age, sex and a family history of diabetes. Conclusions Our data demonstrate the heavy burden of diabetes in this urban population. Short- and long-term control strategies are required, not only for optimal therapy among those affected, but also for nationwide primary prevention of diabetes