Significados de família sob o olhar de pais de adolescentes escolares

El objetivo fue comprender los significados de familia revelados por padres de adolescentes escolares. Investigación cualitativa llevada a cabo con nueve padres de adolescentes de escuela pública, Maranhão, Brasil. Los datos fueron colectados por entrevista no estructurada de febrero a abril de 2011 y sometidos a análisis de contenido, modalidad temática. Fueron construidos ocho temas: Estructura, valores y significados de familia; Roles/funciones de los miembros de la familia; Familia y escuela; Dinámica familiar y el proceso salud-enfermedad en la familia; Lazos afectivos y relaciones familiares; Estrategias para funcionalidad familiar; Sentimientos y red de apoyo; Adolescencia y el adolescente en la familia. Los significados de familia ultrapasaron la consanguinidad, ampliándose para lazos de amistad, solidaridad y afecto en una dinámica revelada por vínculo, diálogo, afectividad, amor y responsabilidad

Using the fungus Arthrobotrys cladodes var. macroides as a sustainable strategy to reduce numbers of infective larvae of bovine gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes

Research in the area of sanitation in ruminant production has focused on discovery of potential agents for biological control of helminths with nematophagous fungi and has provided evidence of success. The antagonistic potential of the fungus Arthrobotrys cladodes var. macroides on infective larvae of bovine gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, an in vivo test of the resistance to digestive processes and viability of the fungus was carried out using a formulation based on sodium alginate administered orally in cattle. Production of conidia and chlamydospores was high. In in vitro tests, the number of infective nematode larvae was reduced 68.7% by the fungus in the treated group compared to the control group. The interaction between the fungus and the nematodes was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Plates containing fecal samples collected after oral administration of 100 g of pellets containing the A. cladodes fungus showed that the fungus survived passage through the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, grew on agar, formed traps and preyed on L3 larvae of gastrointestinal parasites. The results of the present study provide a new opportunity for alternative, environmentally safe control of ruminant nematodes

Reduction of bovine strongilides in naturally contaminated pastures in the southeast region of Brazil

Biological control through the use of nematophagous fungi is a sustainable alternative for combatting helminthes in domestic animals and allows a reduction in the use of anthelmintics. The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficacy of the Arthrobotrys cladodes var macroides fungus in a pelleted formulation, based on sodium alginate and administered twice a week orally, as an alternative for the biological control of nematodes in field-grown young cattle. The experiment was conducted in a farm located in the municipality of Viçosa, MG, where 12 cattle, seven to nine months old, were allocated in two groups (treated group and control group) and distributed in pickets of Brachiaria decumbens, naturally infested with nematode larvae. The animals in the treated group received 1g of sodium alginate matrix pellets for every 10 kg of animal live weight, containing the nematophagous fungus Arthrobotrys cladodes var macroides and administered twice a week in conjunction with commercial feed. In the control group, each animal received 1 g of pellets for every 10 kg of animal live weight, without fungal mycelium added to the feed. Samples of feces and pastures were collected fortnightly for 12 months. The results showed that the most prevalent nematode genera in the coprocultures were Haemonchus sp., Cooperia sp. and Oesophagostomum sp., reflecting the results found in forage. The pasture that contained the animals that received feed with the fungus presented a reduction of 59% and 52% of larvae recovered at distances of 20 cm and 40 cm from the fecal pats, respectively. The mean number of eggs per gram of feces each month and animal body weight did not differ (p > 0.05) between the treated and control groups. Stool and soil samples from both groups were colonized by A. cladodes fungus and other fungi. Administration of Arthrobotrys cladodes var macroides mycelium by means of a sodium alginate matrix twice weekly reduced larval infestation of the surrounding pasture, indicating that this fungus may be a promising biological control of infecting forms of nematodes present in the environment

Tannin Extracts as a Preservative for Pine Thermo-mechanically Densified Wood

Thermo-mechanical densification modifies wood to produce a more dense and resistant lignocellulosic material and may degrade extractives that contribute to the increased susceptibility of wood to attack by xylophagous organisms. This study evaluated the efficiency of tannin extracts of Acacia mearnsii in the treatment of thermo-mechanical densified pine wood in relation to physical, mechanical, and biological resistance (Cryptotermes brevis) properties. Pinus elliottii samples were pretreated with oxalic acid in a Parr reactor, then treated by diffusion in tannin solutions at concentrations 5, 10, and 15%, and finally hot pressed. The apparent density of the modified wood was 87.8% greater than that of the in natura wood (control) with tannins at 15%. The mechanical strength increased, especially the parallel compressive strength, which had an average increase of 169% for the wood with tannins at 10 and 15%, compared with the in natura wood. There was an increase in termite mortality and a reduction in damage for the modified wood treated with 15% tannins, obtaining the best results in mechanical and biological resistance and for the physical parameters. Thermal densification pine wood and preserved with tannin extractives proved to be a potential alternative as a high performance material

Fibroblast growth factor-9 expression in airway epithelial cells amplifies the type I interferon response and alters influenza A virus pathogenesis

Influenza A virus (IAV) preferentially infects conducting airway and alveolar epithelial cells in the lung. The outcome of these infections is impacted by the host response, including the production of various cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Fibroblast growth factor-9 (FGF9) is required for lung development, can display antiviral activity in vitro, and is upregulated in asymptomatic patients during early IAV infection. We therefore hypothesized that FGF9 would protect the lungs from respiratory virus infection and evaluated IAV pathogenesis in mice that overexpress FGF9 in club cells in the conducting airway epithelium (FGF9-OE mice). However, we found that FGF9-OE mice were highly susceptible to IAV and Sendai virus infection compared to control mice. FGF9-OE mice displayed elevated and persistent viral loads, increased expression of cytokines and chemokines, and increased numbers of infiltrating immune cells as early as 1 day post-infection (dpi). Gene expression analysis showed an elevated type I interferon (IFN) signature in the conducting airway epithelium and analysis of IAV tropism uncovered a dramatic shift in infection from the conducting airway epithelium to the alveolar epithelium in FGF9-OE lungs. These results demonstrate that FGF9 signaling primes the conducting airway epithelium to rapidly induce a localized IFN and proinflammatory cytokine response during viral infection. Although this response protects the airway epithelial cells from IAV infection, it allows for early and enhanced infection of the alveolar epithelium, ultimately leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Our study illuminates a novel role for FGF9 in regulating respiratory virus infection and pathogenesis

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved