Inclusão de animais oriundos da técnica de transferência de embriões, na estimação de parâmetros genéticos de bovinos da raça Simental

peer reviewedWeight records from Simmental cattle provided by the Associação Brasileira dos Criadores das Raças Simental e Simbrasil (ABCRSS) were used in genetic parameters estimation by with (MTM2) or without (MTM1) inclusion of animals from the embryo transfer technique (ET). The genetic parameters were estimated by restrict maximum likelihood (REML). The direct heritabilities (h2d) in MTM1 were 0.04, 0.11, 0.20, 0.27, 0.31, 0.42, and in MTM2 were 0.11, 0.11, 0.17, 0.21, 0.22 and 0.26, respectively, for ages at 100, 205, 365, 450, 550 and 730 days. The inclusion of animals from the technique of embryo transfer can result in potential accuracy gains in genetic evaluations and more genetic gains because of the reduction of the generation interva

Genomic prediction and genetic correlations estimated for milk production and fatty acid traits in Walloon Holstein cattle using random regression models.

peer reviewedThe aims of this study were to: (1) estimate genetic correlation for milk production traits (milk, fat and protein yields and fat and protein contents) and fatty acids (FA: C16:0, C18:1 cis-9, LCFA, SFA, and UFA) over days in milk, (2) investigate the performance of genomic predictions using single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP) based on random regression models (RRM), and (3) identify the optimal scaling and weighting factors to be used in the construction of the H matrix. A total of 302 684 test-day records of 63.875 first lactation Walloon Holstein cows were used. Positive genetic correlations were found between milk yield and fat and protein yield (rg from 0.46 to 0.85) and between fat yield and milk FA (rg from 0.17 to 0.47). On the other hand, negative correlations were estimated between fat and protein contents (rg from -0.22 to -0.59), between milk yield and milk FA (rg from -0.22 to -0.62), and between protein yield and milk FA (rg from -0.11 to -0.19). The selection for high fat content increases milk FA throughout lactation (rg from 0.61 to 0.98). The test-day ssGBLUP approach showed considerably higher prediction reliability than the parent average for all milk production and FA traits, even when no scaling and weighting factors were used in the H matrix. The highest validation reliabilities (r2 from 0.09 to 0.38) and less biased predictions (b1 from 0.76 to 0.92) were obtained using the optimal parameters (i.e., ω = 0.7 and α = 0.6) for the genomic evaluation of milk production traits. For milk FA, the optimal parameters were ω = 0.6 and α = 0.6. However, biased predictions were still observed (b1 from 0.32 to 0.81). The findings suggest that using ssGBLUP based on RRM is feasible for the genomic prediction of daily milk production and FA traits in Walloon Holstein dairy cattle

Uso da regressão quantílica regularizada para predição de mérito genético em suínos quanto a características assimétricas de carcaça

The objective of this work was to evaluate the use of regularized quantile regression (RQR) to predict the genetic merit of pigs for asymmetric carcass traits, compared with the Bayesian lasso (Blasso) method. The genetic data of the traits carcass yield, bacon thickness, and backfat thickness from a F2 population composed of 345 individuals, generated by crossing animals from the Piau breed with those of a commercial breed, were used. RQR was evaluated considering different quantiles (τ = 0.05 to 0.95). The RQR model used to estimate the genetic merit showed accuracies higher than or equal to those obtained by Blasso, for all studies traits. There was an increase of 6.7 and 20.0% in accuracy when the quantiles 0.15 and 0.45 were considered in the evaluation of carcass yield and bacon thickness, respectively. The obtained results are indicative that the regularized quantile regression presents higher accuracy than the Bayesian lasso method for the prediction of the genetic merit of pigs for asymmetric carcass variables.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso da regressão quantílica regularizada (RQR) para predição do mérito genético em suínos quanto a características assimétricas de carcaça, em comparação ao método do lasso bayesiano (Blasso). Foram utilizados dados genéticos das características rendimento de carcaça, espessura de bacon e espessura de toucinho de uma população F2 composta por 345 indivíduos, obtida pelo cruzamento de animais da raça Piau com os de raça comercial. A RQR foi avaliada tendo-se considerado diferentes quantis (τ = 0,05 a 0,95). O modelo de RQR utilizado para estimar o mérito genético apresentou acurácias maiores ou iguais àquelas obtidas pelo Blasso, para todas as características estudadas. Houve incremento de 6,7 e 20,0% na acurácia, quando se consideraram os quantis 0,15 e 0,45 na avaliação do rendimento de carcaça e da espessura de bacon, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos são indicativos de que a regressão quantílica regularizada apresenta maior acurácia que o método lasso Bayesiano para predição do mérito genético de variáveis assimétricas de carcaça

Protocolo Calma En Esta Hora: acogimiento interdisciplinario en salud mental para situaciones de crisis y emergencias

O estudo apresenta o protocolo de acolhimento do Calma Nessa Hora, um serviço de e-health via chat, de apoio a pessoas em sofrimento psico- lógico diante da COVID-19. Foi elaborado um diagrama de fluxo de atendimento com previsão de início e fim em uma sessão, contendo três etapas: avaliação, acolhimento e finalização. Cada etapa possuía marcos de tomada de decisão sobre o fluxo diante do conteúdo e do grau de risco da demanda. Na etapa de acolhimento foram priorizadas demandas de baixo e médio risco associadas à COVID-19, como questões sociais e de saúde; ansiedade, depressão ou luto; conflitos familiares e de trabalho. Situações de elevado risco, como intenção suicida e violência, seguiram fluxo específico de encaminhamento para a rede de saúde. O artigo descreve cada etapa e os diferentes fluxos a partir de casos- -exemplo. O protocolo é interdisciplinar, com potencial aplicação em serviços de atenção à saúde e serviços-escola nas universidades. Palavras-chave: COVID-19, educação em saúde, saúde mental, e-HealthThis paper presents the protocol of support from Keep Calm, an e-health service via chat for people suffering from psychological distress related to COVID-19. A flowchart diagram of one-session chats was developed. Each session consisted of three steps: evaluation, support and conclusion. For each stage, decision-making milestones on what to do next were taken according to content and risk degree of the demand. At the support step, demands related to COVID-19 that did not involve high-risk situations were prioritized, that is, social and health issues, anxiety, depression symptoms or grief, and family or work conflicts. High-risk situations such as suicidal intention and violence, followed a specific referral flow to healthcare services. The article describes each step in detail and exemplifies the different flows according to case examples. The protocol is interdisciplinary and has the potential to be applied in health care services and school care services in universities. Keywords: COVID-19, health education, mental health, eHealthEl estudio presenta el protocolo del apoyo del Calma En Esta Hora, un servicio de e-health via chat de apoyo para personas con problemas psicológicos como consecuencia de COVID-19. Se preparó un flujograma con inicio y fin en una sesión, en tres etapas: evaluación, acogimiento y finalización. Para cada etapa se definieron hitos de decisión sobre el flujo en función del contenido y el grado de riesgo de la demanda. En la etapa de acogida, se priorizaron las demandas de bajo y medio riesgo asociadas a Covid-19, como problemas sociales y de salud;ansiedad, depresión o duelo; conflictos familiares y laborales.Las situaciones de alto riesgo, como intención de suicídio y violencia, siguieron un flujo específico a la red sanitaria. El artículo describe cada paso y los flujos basándose en casos de ejemplo. El protocolo es interdisciplinario con potencial aplicación en los servicios de salud y en las universidades. Palabras clave: COVID-19, educación en salud, salud mental, eHealt

A Structural Equations Modeling Approach

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH) has caused concerns due to the possible fluctuations that may occur directly impacting the control of the pandemic. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 VH in Portuguese-speaking countries. We developed a web survey (N:6,843) using an online, structured, and validated questionnaire. We used Measurement Models, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Exploratory Structural Equation Models, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis for the data analysis. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 VH in Portuguese-speaking countries was 21.1%. showed a statistically significant direct effect for VH: vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs (VB) (β = 0.886), perceived stress (PS) (β = 0.313), COVID-19 Misinformation (MIS) (β = 0.259) and individual responses to COVID-19 (CIR) (β = −0.122). The effect of MIS and CIR for VH was greater among men and of PS and VB among women; the effect of PS was greater among the youngest and of VB and CIR among the oldest. No discrepant differences were identified in the analyzed education strata. In conclusion, we found that conspiracy beliefs related to the vaccine strongly influence the decision to hesitate (not to take or to delay the vaccine). Specific characteristics related to gender, age group, social and cognitive vulnerabilities, added to the knowledge acquired, poorly substantiated and/or misrepresented about the COVID-19 vaccine, need to be considered in the planning of vaccination campaigns. It is necessary to respond in a timely, fast, and accurate manner to the challenges posed by vaccine hesitancy.publishersversionpublishe

Covid-19 misinformation in Portuguese-speaking countries: agreement with content and associated factors

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a complex phenomenon called the “infodemic” has emerged, compromising coping with the pandemic. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of agreement with misinformation about COVID-19 and to identify associated factors. A web survey was carried out in Portuguese-speaking countries in two stages: 1. the identification of misinformation circulating in the included countries; 2. a multicentric online survey with residents of the included countries. The outcome of the study was agreement or disagreement with misinformation about COVID-19. Multivariate analyzes were conducted using the Poisson regression model with robust variance, a logarithmic link function, and 95% confidence intervals. The prevalence of agreement with misinformation about COVID-19 was 63.9%. The following factors increased the prevalence of this outcome: having a religious affiliation (aPR: 1454, 95% CI: 1393–1517), having restrictions on leisure (aPR: 1230, 95% CI: 1127–1342), practicing social isolation (aPR: 1073, 95% CI: 1030–1118), not avoiding agglomeration (aPR: 1060, 95% CI: 1005–1117), not seeking/receiving news from scientific sources (aPR: 1153, 95% CI: 1068–1245), seeking/receiving news from three or more non-scientific sources (aPR: 1114, 95% CI: 1049–1182), and giving credibility to news carried by people from social networks (aPR: 1175, 95% CI: 1104–1251). There was a high prevalence of agreement with misinformation about COVID-19. The quality, similarity, uniformity, and acceptance of the contents indicate a concentration of themes that reflect “homemade”, simple, and easy methods to avoid infection by SARS-CoV-2, compromising decision-making and ability to cope with the disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Liver Plays a Major Role in Clearance and Destruction of Blood Trypomastigotes in Trypanosoma cruzi Chronically Infected Mice

Intravenous challenge with Trypanosoma cruzi can be used to investigate the process and consequences of blood parasite clearance in experimental Chagas disease. One hour after intravenous challenge of chronically infected mice with 5×106 trypomastigotes, the liver constituted a major site of parasite accumulation, as revealed by PCR. Intact parasites and/or parasite remnants were visualized at this time point scattered in the liver parenchyma. Moreover, at this time, many of liver-cleared parasites were viable, as estimated by the frequency of positive cultures, which considerably diminished after 48 h. Following clearance, the number of infiltrating cells in the hepatic tissue notably increased: initially (at 24 h) as diffuse infiltrates affecting the whole parenchyma, and at 48 h, in the form of large focal infiltrates in both the parenchyma and perivascular spaces. Phenotypic characterization of liver-infiltrating cells 24 h after challenge revealed an increase in Mac1+, CD8+ and CD4+ cells, followed by natural killer (NK) cells. As evidence that liver-infiltrating CD4+ and CD8+ cells were activated, increased frequencies of CD69+CD8+, CD69+CD4+ and CD25+CD122+CD4+ cells were observed at 24 and 48 h after challenge, and of CD25−CD122+CD4+ cells at 48 h. The major role of CD4+ cells in liver protection was suggested by data showing a very high frequency of interferon (IFN)-γ-producing CD4+ cells 24 h after challenge. In contrast, liver CD8+ cells produced little IFN-γ, even though they showed an enhanced potential for secreting this cytokine, as revealed by in vitro T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. Confirming the effectiveness of the liver immune response in blood parasite control during the chronic phase of infection, no live parasites were detected in this organ 7 days after challenge