Quantitative trait loci and candidate gene mapping of aluminum tolerance in diploid alfalfa

Aluminum (Al) toxicity in acid soils is a major limitation to the production of alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa L.) in the USA. Developing Al-tolerant alfalfa cultivars is one approach to overcome this constraint. Accessions of wild diploid alfalfa (M. sativa subsp. coerulea) have been found to be a source of useful genes for Al tolerance. Previously, two genomic regions associated with Al tolerance were identified in this diploid species using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers and single marker analysis. This study was conducted to identify additional Al-tolerance quantitative trait loci (QTLs); to identify simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers that flank the previously identified QTLs; to map candidate genes associated with Al tolerance from other plant species; and to test for co-localization with mapped QTLs. A genetic linkage map was constructed using EST-SSR markers in a population of 130 BC(1)F(1) plants derived from the cross between Al-sensitive and Al-tolerant genotypes. Three putative QTLs on linkage groups LG I, LG II and LG III, explaining 38, 16 and 27% of the phenotypic variation, respectively, were identified. Six candidate gene markers designed from Medicago truncatula ESTs that showed homology to known Al-tolerance genes identified in other plant species were placed on the QTL map. A marker designed from a candidate gene involved in malic acid release mapped near a marginally significant QTL (LOD 2.83) on LG I. The SSR markers flanking these QTLs will be useful for transferring them to cultivated alfalfa via marker-assisted selection and for pyramiding Al tolerance QTLs

Predictors of Treatment Attrition Among an Outpatient Clinic Sample of Youths With Clinically Significant Anxiety

Predictors of treatment attrition were examined in a sample of 197 youths (ages 5–18) with clinically-significant symptoms of anxiety seeking psychotherapy services at a community-based outpatient mental health clinic (OMHC). Two related definitions of attrition were considered: (a) clinician-rated dropout (CR), and (b) CR dropout qualified by phase of treatment (pre, early, or late phases) (PT). Across both definitions, rates of attrition in the OMHC sample were higher than those for anxious youths treated in randomized controlled trials, and comorbid depression symptoms predicted dropout, with a higher rate of depressed youths dropping out later in treatment (after 6 sessions). Using the PT definition, minority status also predicted attrition, with more African-American youths lost pre-treatment. Other demographic (age, gender, single parent status) and clinical (externalizing symptoms, anxiety severity) characteristics were not significantly associated with attrition using either definition. Implications for services for anxious youths in public service settings are discussed. Results highlight the important role of comorbid depression in the treatment of anxious youth and the potential value of targeted retention efforts for ethnic minority families early in the treatment process

Fragmentos históricos da assistência psiquiátrica no Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil Fragmentos de la historia en la atención psiquiátrica en Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil Fragments of history in psychiatric care Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

O presente artigo objetiva resgatar aspectos do funcionamento terapêutico do Hospital-Dia (HD) Dr. Élger Nunes, em Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, durante sua vigência, e analisar os resultados referentes ao número de usuários atendidos no período de 1996 a 2004. Trata-se de um estudo empírico, descritivo, exploratório, ex posto facto de abordagem quantitativa, realizado a partir dos registros e prontuários de 910 usuários atendidos no HD. As informações foram submetidas ao recurso informacional Microsoft Excel e transformadas em gráficos. Os resultados constataram uma maior acessibilidade à modalidade de tratamento, diminuição no tempo de permanência e melhoria das condições de alta dos usuários com redução no número de interrupções no tratamento. Salienta-se a importância do HD no processo de reforma psiquiátrica, com atendimento pautado na utilização de práticas terapêuticas humanizadas e sem perda do vínculo com a família e a sociedade.<br>Este artículo tiene como objetivo el rescate de los aspectos del funcionamiento terapéuticos del hospital-día (HD) Dr. Elger Nunes, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, durante su mandato, e analizar los resultados relacionado con el número de pacientes tratados en el período de 1996 a 2004. Es un estudio empírico, descriptivo, de carácter exploratorio, ex posto facto con enfoque cuantitativo, realizado a partir de los registros de 910 usuarios atendidos en el HD. Las informaciones fueran tratadas en el programa Microsoft Excel y procesadas en gráficos. Los resultados verifican una mayor accesibilidad a esta modalidad de tratamiento, disminución de la duración del tiempo de permanencia y mejorar de las condiciones para alta hospitalaria de los usuarios con reducción en el número de interrupciones en el tratamiento. Se enfatiza la importancia del HD en proceso de reforma psiquiátrica, con un tratamiento basado en el uso de prácticas terapéuticas y humanizada, sin pérdida de vínculo con la familia y la sociedad.<br>This article aims to rescue aspects of the performing therapeutic of the Day Hospital (HD) Dr. Élger Nunes, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, during its term, and analyze the results regarding to the number of patients assisted from 1996 to 2004. This is an empirical, descriptive and exploratory study, ex post facto with a quantitative approach, carried out from records of 910 people attended in the hospital. The data was submitted to the informational resource software Microsoft Excel and converted into diagrams. The results shows a greater accessibility to this treatment modality, decreasing in hospitalization-time length and improving hospital discharge conditions for users, with reduction in number of patients who interrupted treatment. It focus on the importance of the Day Hospital in the process of psychiatric reform, with care grounded on the use of the humanized therapeutic practices, and still not losing the bond with family and society