Agrobiological evaluations of newly introduced grapes varieties under climatic conditions of the south of Kazakhstan / Avaliações agrobiológicas de variedades de uvas recém-introduzidas sob as condições climáticas do sul do Cazaquistão

Variety assortment enhancement is a normal task that involves enhancing the assortment's quality and upgrading varieties. The findings of a research of imported grape varieties in the southeast of Kazakhstan, namely in the Almaty region's bottom-mountain zone, are presented in this article. The onset and conclusion of the main phenological phases of a grape plant throughout the vegetative period were directly influenced by the climatic and meteorological conditions of this district. In comparison to the recognized variety Almaty early-maturing, it has been proven that types Priusadebny, Iyulsky, and Kuibyshevsk early-maturing have a high degree of eyes wintering buds and may provide a high-quality crop in this location.

O aprimoramento da variedade é uma tarefa normal que envolve o aprimoramento da qualidade da variedade e o aprimoramento das variedades. As descobertas de uma pesquisa de variedades de uvas importadas no sudeste do Cazaquistão, ou seja, na zona de base da montanha da região de Almaty, são apresentadas neste artigo. O início e a conclusão das principais fases fenológicas de uma videira ao longo do período vegetativo foram diretamente influenciados pelas condições climáticas e meteorológicas deste distrito. Em comparação com a variedade reconhecida Almaty de maturação precoce, foi comprovado que os tipos Priusadebny, Iyulsky e Kuibyshevsk de maturação precoce têm um alto grau de gomos de inverno de olhos e podem fornecer uma safra de alta qualidade neste local.

Assessing the reaction to and efficacy of the Screener drug discovery and development board game as a pedagogical tool in postgraduate courses

Screener, a board game supplemented with online resources, was introduced and distributed by the Brazilian Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics to postgraduate programs as an instructional tool for the process of drug discovery and development (DDD). In this study, we provided a comprehensive analysis of five critical aspects for evaluating the quality of educational games, namely: 1) description of the intervention; 2) underlying pedagogical theory; 3) identification of local educational gaps; 4) impact on diverse stakeholders; and 5) elucidation of iterative quality enhancement processes. We also present qualitative and quantitative assessments of the effectiveness of this game in 11 postgraduate courses. We employed the MEEGA+ online survey, comprising thirty-three close-ended unipolar items with 5-point Likert-type response scales, to assess student perceptions of the quality and utility of Screener. Based on 115 responses, the results indicated a highly positive outlook among students. In addition, we performed a preliminary evaluation of learning outcomes in two courses involving 28 students. Pre- and post-quizzes were applied, each consisting of 20 True/False questions directly aligned with the game's content. The analysis revealed significant improvement in students' performance following engagement with the game, with scores rising from 8.4 to 13.3 (P<0.0001, paired t-test) and 9.7 to 12.7 (P<0.0001, paired t-test). These findings underscore the utility of Screener as an enjoyable and effective tool for facilitating a positive learning experience in the DDD process. Notably, the game can also reduce the educational disparities across different regions of our continental country.

Agrobiological evaluations of newly introduced grapes varieties under climatic conditions of the south of Kazakhstan

Abstract Variety assortment enhancement is a normal task that involves enhancing the assortment's quality and upgrading varieties. The findings of a research of imported grape varieties in the southeast of Kazakhstan, namely in the Almaty region's bottom-mountain zone, are presented in this article. The onset and conclusion of the main phenological phases of a grape plant throughout the vegetative period were directly influenced by the climatic and meteorological conditions of this district. In comparison to the recognized variety Almaty early-maturing, it has been proven that types Priusadebny, Iyulsky, and Kuibyshevsk early-maturing have a high degree of eyes wintering buds and may provide a high-quality crop in this location.

Resumo O aprimoramento da variedade é uma tarefa normal que envolve o aprimoramento da qualidade da variedade e o aprimoramento das variedades. As descobertas de uma pesquisa de variedades de uvas importadas no sudeste do Cazaquistão, ou seja, na zona de base da montanha da região de Almaty, são apresentadas neste artigo. O início e a conclusão das principais fases fenológicas de uma videira ao longo do período vegetativo foram diretamente influenciados pelas condições climáticas e meteorológicas deste distrito. Em comparação com a variedade reconhecida Almaty de maturação precoce, foi comprovado que os tipos Priusadebny, Iyulsky e Kuibyshevsk de maturação precoce têm um alto grau de gomos de inverno de olhos e podem fornecer uma safra de alta qualidade neste local.

Advancements in Genetic Diversity and Genome Characteristics of Durians (Durio spp.)

Durian is one of the important fruit crops in Southeast Asia with its unique flavor and important economic benefits. Breeding programs have produced hundreds of different cultivars of durian. These cultivars are classified mainly by fruit and flower characteristics, which cannot be observed at the vegetative stage. Therefore, molecular biology is a powerful tool to approach and explore the genetic characteristics of durians. Many studies based on barcoded DNA and molecular markers have been conducted and valuable data have been exploited. Thanks to the advancement of sequencing technology, the plastid genome and the whole genome were sequenced in some durian cultivars. The data revealed reliable data on the structure and function of several genes. This review aims to update recent studies on the durian genome attributes and potential applications in the conservation of germplasm, authentication, and exploration of the gene structure and function of this specialty plant.

Study on pattern of drug utilization in the treatment of congestive cardiac failure in a tertiary care hospital

Background: Congestive cardiac failure/congestive heart failure (CCF/CHF) is one of the major public health problem seen in more than 23 million people worldwide. Drug utilization studies were stood as a powerful exploratory tool to ascertain the role of drugs in determining the therapeutic efficacy, cost effectiveness and also in minimizing the adverse effects due to it during the treatment of a disease. Aims and Objectives: The present study undertaken to describe the drug utilization pattern in patients of CHF in a tertiary care hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a Prospective, Observational, and Non-interventional study. The study was undertaken after obtaining the ethical committee approval in the in-patient department of Medicine. Case records of 100 patients were obtained and treatments were noted. Results: The present study had 60 male and 40 female patients admitted and undergoing treatment for CCF. Most of them were above 50 years of age and the most common comorbidity among them were hypertension (25%) followed by diabetes mellitus (19%). The most commonly used drugs were diuretics and antihypertensives. Conclusion: In our study, patients use of more than 2 ?3 drugs (Polytherapy) was found very common than use of one drug (Monotherapy).

Symptoms of depression (not anxiety) mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors in men

Objective: Childhood sexual abuse is associated with compulsive sexual behavior, depression, and anxiety in men. Furthermore, both depression and anxiety have been linked to compulsive sexual behaviors. However, whether anxiety and depression mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors has yet to be tested. We investigated whether symptoms of depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors in 222 men seeking treatment for such behaviors. Methods: Participants completed the Sexual Compulsivity Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and Beck Anxiety Inventory. A cross-sectional parallel mediation analysis was conducted. Results: The prevalence of childhood sexual abuse in our sample was 57%. Significant correlations were found between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors, depression, and anxiety. The results of the mediation analyses suggested that depression (B = 0.07, standard error [SE] = 0.03, 95%CI 0.02 to 0.15), but not anxiety (B = 0.02, SE = 0.02, 95%CI -0.2 to 0.07), mediated the link between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors. The pattern of our results remained the same when controlling for other types of childhood trauma. Conclusions: Depression, not anxiety, appears to mediate the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and compulsive sexual behaviors in men. Future research that tests our mediation analyses using a prospective longitudinal study would be highly informative.

Leptin and interleukin-1β levels associated with osteoarthritis in Vietnamese patients: a cross-sectional analysis

Leptin and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) are two extensively studied biomarkers associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and osteoarthritis (OA). Previous studies have mostly focused on either MetS or OA alone, with no available data on Vietnamese patients. This study aimed to investigate the levels of leptin and IL-1β in this patient population and explore their association with clinical parameters of MetS and OA. The study included 164 patients with primary knee OA, who were classified into two categories based on the presence of MetS, and 78 healthy controls. The plasma leptin and IL-1β levels were quantified by ELISA and correlated with clinical parameters. Leptin levels were higher in patients with OA (11.50±10.04 ng/mL) than in healthy controls (0.54±0.37 ng/mL) and increased in patients with MetS compared to those without MetS. IL-1β levels were also significantly higher in OA patients (14.63±15.87 pg/mL) than in controls (7.79±5.11 pg/mL), but were not significantly different between the MetS and non-MetS groups. Leptin levels were positively correlated with body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, visual analogue scale scores, HbA1c and insulin levels, and HOMA-IR index, whereas IL-1β levels were only correlated with insulin levels and HOMA-IR index. ROC curve analysis revealed that leptin and IL-1β levels could distinguish individuals with and without OA (AUC=0.96; 0.88, respectively), and individuals with and without MetS (AUC=0.82; 0.71, respectively). Our findings suggested that both leptin and IL-1β levels were associated with both MetS and OA and may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of MetS-related OA.

Aumento de Captação Cardíaca de 18F-FDG Induzida por Quimioterapia em Pacientes com Linfoma: Um Marcador Precoce de Cardiotoxicidade? / Chemotherapy-induced Cardiac18F-FDG Uptake in Patients with Lymphoma: An Early Metabolic Index of Cardiotoxicity?

Resumo Fundamento Ainda não está estabelecido se a captação de fluorodesoxiglicose no miocárdio ocorre exclusivamente por características fisiológicas ou se representa um desarranjo metabólico causado pela quimioterapia. Objetivo Investigar os efeitos da quimioterapia no coração dos pacientes com linfoma por tomografia por emissão de pósitrons associada a tomografia computadorizada (PET/CT) com 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-desoxi-D-glicose (18F-FDG PET/CT) antes, durante e/ou após a quimioterapia. Métodos Setenta pacientes com linfoma submetidos a 18F-FDG PET/CT foram retrospectivamente analisados. O nível de significância foi de 5%. A captação de 18F-FDG foi avaliada por três medidas: captação máxima no ventrículo esquerdo ( standardized uptake value , SUV max), razão SUV cardíaco / aorta e SUV cardíaco / SUV no fígado. Também foram comparados peso corporal, glicemia de jejum, tempo pós-injeção e dose administrada de 18F-FDG entre os exames. Resultados A idade média foi de 50,4 ± 20,1 anos e 50% dos pacientes eram mulheres. A análise foi realizada em dois grupos - PET/CT basal vs. intermediário e PET/CT basal vs pós-terapia. Não houve diferença significativa entre as variáveis clínicas e do protocolo dos exames entre os diferentes momentos avaliados. Nós observamos um aumento na SUV máxima no ventrículo esquerdo de 3,5±1,9 (basal) para 5,6±4,0 (intermediário), p=0,01, e de 4,0±2,2 (basal) para 6,1±4,2 (pós-terapia), p<0,001. Uma porcentagem de aumento ≥30% na SUV máxima no ventrículo esquerdo ocorreu em mais da metade da amostra. O aumento da SUV cardíaca foi acompanhado por um aumento na razão SUV máxima no ventrículo esquerdo / SUV máxima na aorta e SUV média no ventrículo esquerdo /SUV média no fígado. Conclusão O estudo mostrou um aumento evidente na captação cardíaca de 18F-FDG em pacientes com linfoma, durante e após quimioterapia. A literatura corrobora com esses achados e sugere que a 18F-FDG PET/CT pode ser um exame de imagem sensível e confiável para detectar sinais metabólicos precoces de cardiotoxicidade.

Abstract Background It is uncertain whether myocardial fluorodeoxyglucose uptake occurs solely due to physiological features or if it represents a metabolic disarrangement under chemotherapy. Objective To investigate the chemotherapy effects on the heart of patients with lymphoma by positron emission tomography associated with computed tomography scans (PET/CT) with 2-deoxy-2[18F] fluoro-D-glucose (18F-FDG PET/CT) before, during and/or after chemotherapy. Methods Seventy patients with lymphoma submitted to18F-FDG PET/CT were retrospectively analyzed. The level of significance was 5%.18F-FDG cardiac uptake was assessed by three measurements: left ventricular maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), heart to blood pool (aorta) ratio, and heart to liver ratio in all the exams. Body weight, fasting blood sugar, post-injection time, and the injected dose of18F-FDG between the scans were also compared. Results Mean age was 50.4 ± 20.1 years and 50% was female. The analysis was carried out in two groups: baseline vs. interim PET/CT, and baseline vs. post-therapy PET/CT. There was no significant difference in clinical variables or protocol scans variables. We observed an increase in left ventricular (LV) SUVmax from 3.5±1.9 (baseline) to 5.6±4.0 (interim), p=0.01, and from 4.0±2.2 (baseline) to 6.1±4.2 (post-therapy), p<0.001. A percentage increase ≥30% of LV SUVmax occurred in more than half of the sample. The rise of cardiac SUV was accompanied by an increase in LV SUVmax/Aorta SUVmax and LV SUVmean/Liver SUVmean ratios. Conclusion This study showed a clear increase in cardiac18F-FDG uptake in patients with lymphoma during and/or after chemotherapy. The literature corroborates with these findings and suggests that18F-FDG PET/CT is a sensitive and reliable imaging exam to detect early metabolic signs of cardiotoxicity.

Environmental Effect of KPO-Fire in Niger Delta and Future Health Implication

Crude oil discovery and exploration in the Niger Delta of Nigeria which includes Delta, Bayelsa, Abia, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa-Ibom, Imo, Edo and Ondo States of Nigeria, has led to significant economic growth of the nation especially in the creation of job opportunities also the generation of revenue. Unfortunately, Oil thefts have become the idea that replaced the most crisis and agitations in the Niger Delta communities against the perceived neglect of the areas. This had resulted to widespread operation of illegal oil bunkering activities called Kpofire. Kpofire, as described by the Niger deltans, is a process of burning crude oil by illegal oil operatives or thieves at isolated locations called bunkering sites or dumpsites in order to extract refined petroleum products. The design for the extraction of the petroleum products involves the sections of steaming and collection. These sections are connected by a very long pipe. Heat is applied to the steaming section using wood from the mangroves that is called ‘Ngala’ or ‘Agala’, thereafter, crude oil is used. The products extracted are fuel, kerosene and diesel. One of the major problems of Kpofire is the introduction of soot into the environment. Soot is a product is uncontrolled and incomplete combustion or pyrolisis of materials that contain carbon. The highest constituent of soot is the Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). The Niger Delta people are faced with daily environmental challenges such as inadequate housing facilities, contaminated drinking water sources, barren lands for agriculture, dead rivers for fishing activities and poor health conditions, soot, which has become a gradual but huge challenge in many Niger Delta communities, has been shown to play a huge role in respiratory, skin, and reproductive health conditions. However, vulnerability is seen more in babies and children (particularly because their respiratory organs are not matured enough), the elderly, and people with preexisting health conditions, also heart or lung diseases (such as asthma). High exposure to PAH at prenatal stages is linked to a low IQ and lead to increased behavioral problems in the early-age child and childhood asthma. A collective effort is needed to put a stop this menace called kpofire in order to avoid environmental pollution thereby endangering the health of the people of Niger Delta.

Efficacy and safety of praziquantel in the treatment of neurocysticercosis in Vietnam

@#Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic infection of the nervous system and is responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Praziquantel (PZQ) is one of the antiparasitics mostly used in managing NCC, however, there have been only a few studies on the treatment outcome of this drug. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of PZQ in patients with NCC. Sixty patients with typical characteristics of NCC received three 10-day cycles of PZQ and the interruption between these cycles was 10 days. Additional treatment included antiinflammation (steroids), antiepileptics and analgesics. Clinical and imaging studies were done at baseline and six months after therapy to assess the efficacy of treatment. Laboratory evaluation was done before and after each cycle to investigate laboratory safety profiles. By six months after finishing therapy, all patients had clinical improvement and 75% of them were free of symptoms. The rates of complete, partial or no resolution of cysts on brain magnetic resonance imaging were 61.7%, 28.3% and 10% respectively. The efficacy of therapy was not associated with the number of cysts. There was no difference between the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, urea and creatinine before and after treatment. Conclusion: Praziquantel is effective and safe in the treatment of patients with neurocysticercosis.

Preferences, Utilization and Factors affecting Use of Contraceptives amongWomen attending Primary Health Care Facilities in Delta State,Southern Nigeria

Contraceptive use has numerous benefits for thefamily and the nation that can be maximized with its consistent use.However, many women have preferences for certain contraceptiveswith implications for continued use.OBJECTIVE: To determine the contraceptive preferences of women,their utilization pattern and factors affecting utilization of the preferredcontraceptive choices.METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 426women of reproductive age selected from 32 primary health facilitiesusing multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Descriptive andinferential analysis of data collected was carried out using IBM SPSSversion 22 software. P-value was set at 0.05.RESULTS: Close to half of the respondents 211 (49.5%) preferredinjectable contraceptives, 79 (18.6%) selected implants and 27 (6.3%)chose condoms. The majority 212 (49.8%) of respondents usedinjectable contraceptives, followed by implants 66 (15.5%), condoms33 (7.7%), IUCD 54 (12.7%) and OCP 61 (14.3%). Age (p<0.001),number of children (p<0.001), clients' employment status (p<0.001),husband support (p<0.021) and desire for more children (p<0.001)were all statistically associated with the utilization of preferredcontraceptives.CONCLUSION: Even though respondents preferred the injectablecontraceptives, implants and IUCD in that order, their utilizationpattern followed the order of Injectable, implants and OCP. Severalfactors were identified to be statistically associated with the utilizationof preferred contraceptives. Health education on contraceptive useamong women, spousal support and health workers training tohighlight those factors influencing women's contraceptive preferencesand utilization are recommended

Comparative metavirome analysis in polytransfused patients

Due to the high transfusion volume, polytransfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) and beta-thalassemia are constantly exposed to parenterally transmitted infections. Currently, we have little information about the virome of such patients and how the virological composition might be influenced by the hemotherapy procedures that these patients receive. The objective of this study was to compare the viral diversity between these two groups with respect to the viral abundance and how it might be affected by the specific conditions of these groups. We sequenced by next-generation sequencing (NGS) and compared the virome of 30 patients with beta-thalassemia major, 45 with SCD, and 16 blood donors from the Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, Brazil. Predominantly, commensal viruses including Torque teno virus (TTV) genotypes and human pegiviris-1 (HPgV-1) were identified in each group. Strikingly, while HPgV-1 reads were dominant in the SCD group, thalassemic patients showed high TTV abundance, expressed both in viral reads and genotypes. We speculated that the commensal virome of polytransfused patients might be influenced by the transfusion frequency and disease characteristics and that commensal viruses might be used as important genetic biomarkers for these hematological disturbances. Nevertheless, more specific studies are necessary to confirm a relationship between blood virome and transfusion treatment.

Antibacterial activity of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. red flower against antibiotic-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori and identification of the flower constituents

Utilization of plant resources for treatment of Helicobacter pylori infections is one of the appealing approaches as rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains is occurring throughout the world. Ethanol extract and its fractions from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis red flower were assessed for antibacterial and urease inhibitory activities towards forty-three clinical strains and two reference strains of H. pylori. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the most potent bacteriostatic activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.2-0.25 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of 1.25-1.5 mg/mL against all test strains, including forty-three strains resistant to one to four antibiotics, azithromycin (MICs, 8-256 µg/mL), erythromycin (MICs, 8-128 µg/mL), levofloxacin (MICs, 8-256 µg/mL), and/or metronidazole (MICs, 8-256 µg/mL). The fraction had similar antibacterial activities toward these test strains suggesting the preparation and the antibiotics do not have a common mechanism of anti-H. pylori activity. The fraction also had stronger effects on biofilm formation, morphological conversion, and urease activity of H. pylori than the other fractions and the ethanol extract. These flower preparations were non-toxic to three human cell lines, and nine compounds were also isolated and identified from the ethyl acetate fraction. In vivo research needs to be conducted to confirm the potential usefulness of H. rosa-sinensis flower and its constituents for effective prevention and treatment of H. pylori disease.

The influence of tobacco and alcohol in oral cancer: literature review / A influência da associação de tabaco e álcool no câncer bucal: revisão de literatura

ABSTRACT In Brazil, smoking and drinking are more common in male patients, less frequently affecting female patients. The most diagnosed type of lesion is squamous cell carcinoma. This article aims to understand the literary references associated with the influence of tobacco and alcohol on the development of oral cavity cancer. In order to elaborate an analytical and thematic literature review, using the Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs), Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed) and Medline databases, articles from the English and Portuguese literatures published between 2007 and 2019 were searched with the help of the terms: prognostic factors and indicators, tobacco, alcohol and oral carcinoma. Proper knowledge of the disease and its etiological and prognostic factors should make professionals able to prevent, identify and control oral cancer.

RESUMEN En Brasil, el humo y la ingestión de bebidas alcohólicas son más comunes en hombres. El tipo de lesión más frecuente es el carcinoma. Tuvimos como objetivo hacer un inventario de referencias literarias publicadas acerca de la influencia del tabaco y del alcohol en el desarrollo del cáncer en la cavidad oral. Para la revisión de literatura, de tipo analítica y temática, la búsqueda de artículos en las lenguas inglesa y portuguesa publicados entre 2007 y 2019 se realizó en las bases de datos Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs), Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed) y Medline, con los siguientes términos: factores e indicadores pronósticos, tabaco, alcohol, y carcinoma oral. El conocimiento adecuado de la enfermedad y de sus factores etiológicos y pronósticos debe capacitar a los profesionales de salud para prevenir, identificar y controlar el cáncer oral.

RESUMO No Brasil, o fumo e a ingestão de bebidas alcoólicas são mais comuns em homens. O tipo de lesão mais diagnosticada é o carcinoma epidermoide. Este artigo tem como objetivo realizar um levantamento das referências literárias já publicadas associadas à influência do tabaco e do álcool no desenvolvimento do câncer na cavidade bucal. Para elaborar uma revisão de literatura, do tipo analítica e temática, utilizamos a Literatura Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs), o Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), o US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed) e o Medline. Nessas bases de dados, foram pesquisados artigos das literaturas inglesa e portuguesa publicados entre 2007 e 2019, com auxílio dos seguintes termos: fatores e indicadores prognósticos, tabaco, álcool e carcinoma bucal. O conhecimento adequado da doença e dos seus fatores etiológicos e prognósticos devem capacitar os profissionais para prevenir, identificar e controlar o câncer de boca.

Application of the "real options theory" method to the production systems used in dairy cattle farming / [Aplicação do método "Teoria das Opções Reais" nos sistemas de produção utilizados na bovinocultura leiteira]

The objective of this study was to analyze applications of real options theory for increasing the productivity of Mantiqueira ecotype dairy cows kept in guinea grass pastures with different sources of bulky supplementation (black oats, fodder cane, or sorghum silage), because the traditional methodologies do not consider the uncertainties related to this activity. Real options theory, an investment evaluation method, fills this gap as its most significant feature is its flexibility to act on uncertain events. Based on the results obtained for two economic indicators, the net present value and internal rate of return, and considering the production items identified in the sensitivity analysis, this study evaluated the expansion flexibility of each system using the real options theory methodology in discrete time as proposed by Copeland and Antikarov (2001). The analysis of the expansion options showed that the values of the production systems increased by 6.73%, 1.21%, and 19.49% for the systems supplemented with sorghum silage, black oats, and fodder cane, respectively. The expanded net present values were R$ 141,642.39, R$ 64,211.08, and R$ 58,013.07 for the systems that adopted bulky supplementation with black oats, fodder cane, and sorghum silage, respectively.(AU)

Objetivou-se analisar a aplicação da Teoria das Opções Reais para expansão da produtividade de vacas leiteiras do ecótipo Mantiqueira, mantidas em pastagem de capim-Mombaça com fornecimento de diferentes fontes de suplementação volumosa (aveia-preta, cana-forrageira ou silagem de sorgo), uma vez que as metodologias tradicionais não consideram as incertezas presentes na atividade. A Teoria de Opções Reais é um método de avaliação de investimento que possui como maior característica a valoração da flexibilidade de agir a eventos incertos, preenchendo, assim, a lacuna deixada pelo método tradicional. A partir dos resultados obtidos pelos indicadores econômicos valor presente líquido e taxa interna de retorno, em conjunto com os itens de produção identificados na análise de sensibilidade, foi possível avaliar o valor da flexibilidade de expansão que cada sistema apresentou. A flexibilidade de expansão foi avaliada utilizando-se a metodologia Teoria das Opções Reais, proposta por Copeland e Antikarov (2001), em tempo discreto. O resultado da análise da opção de expansão apresentou aumento nos valores dos sistemas de produção, na ordem de 6,73%, 1,21% e 19,49%, para os sistemas suplementados com silagem de sorgo, aveia-preta e cana-forrageira, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos para os valores presentes líquidos expandidos foram de R$ 141.642,39, R$ 64.211,08 e R$ 58.013,07, para os sistemas que adotaram a suplementação volumosa com aveia-preta, cana-forrageira e silagem de sorgo, respectivamente.(AU)

Leaf application of chitosan and physiological evaluation of maize hybrids contrasting for drought tolerance under water restriction / Aplicação foliar de quitosana e avaliação fisiológica de híbridos de milho contrastantes para tolerância à seca sob restrição hídrica

Abstract It is a fact that the regions that cultivate the most maize crop do not have fully adequate technologies to measure productivity losses caused by irregularities in water availability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological characteristics of maize hybrids tolerant (DKB 390) and sensitive (BRS 1030) to drought, at V5 growth stage and under water restriction, in order to understand the mechanisms involved in the induction of tolerance to drought by chitosan in contrasting maize genotypes. Plants were cultivated in pots at a greenhouse, and chitosan 100 ppm was applied by leaf spraying. The water restriction was imposed for 10 days and then leaf gaseous exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were evaluated. The tolerant hybrid (DKB 390) showed higher photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, carboxylation efficiency, electron transport rate, and non-photochemical quenching when chitosan was used. Plants from tolerant genotype treated with chitosan were more tolerant to water stress because there were more responsive to the biopolymer.

Resumo As regiões que cultivam milho como cultura principal ainda não possuem tecnologias adequadas para mensurar as perdas na produtividade decorrentes na disponibilidade irregular de água. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar as características fisiológicas de híbridos de milho tolerante (DKB 390) e sensível (BRS1030) à seca, no estádio de crescimento V5 e sob restrição hídrica, para compreender os mecanismos envolvidos na indução de tolerância à seca pela quitosana em genótipos contrastantes. As plantas foram cultivadas vasos na casa de vegetação e a quitosana 100 ppm foi aplicada por pulverização foliar. A restrição hídrica durou 10 dias e foram avaliadas as trocas gasosas e a fluorescência da clorofila. O híbrido tolerante (DKB 390) apresentou maior fotossíntese, condutância estomática, eficiência de carboxilação, taxa de transporte de elétrons e quenching não fotoquímico quando aplicada a quitosana. As plantas do genótipo tolerante tratadas com quitosana foram mais tolerantes ao déficit hídrico porque foram mais responsivas ao biopolímero.

Patterns of hepatitis B virus exposure and associated predictors in Vietnam: A crosssectional study

Objective: To examine the magnitude of isolated anti-HBc and other HBV serological patterns and associated predictors among adults seeking general health check-up at a large health center in Vietnam. Methods: All 564 outpatients seeking general health checkup between January 2016 and December 2016 were asked to undertake HBV surface antigen, surface antibody, IgG and IgM core antibody (anti-HBc total), platelet counts, and liver function testing. An administered questionnaire was used to collect information regarding demography, in-house sources of infection, lifestyle, health condition and treatment, and HBV vaccination. Results: Male gender (P=0.043), age (P=0.000), living in urban areas (P=0.040), HBV vaccination status (P=0.033), and ALT (P=0.040) were associated with isolated anti-HBc. HBV infection was associated with HBV vaccination status (P=0.001), ALT levels (P=0.010), AST levels (P=0.020), and platelet counts (P=0.007). Past/resolved HBV infection was associated with AST levels (P=0.005), ALT levels (P=0.014), and age (P=0.000). Conclusions: Isolated anti-HBc is quite prevalent. Predictors of isolated anti-HBc include male gender, living in rural areas, and HBV non-vaccination. The prevalence of isolated anti-HBc also increases with age. To timely detect occult HBV infection and prevent transmission, anti-HBc testing should be included in the health check-up for high risk individuals and screening program where HBV nucleic acid test is not available. To prevent transmission, clinicians need to pay more attention on those who are at risk of having isolated anti-HBc and closely follow-up patients with isolated anti-HBc and educate them about the prevention of HBV infection.

Fish-borne trematode metacercariae detected in fish commonly used for raw consumption in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam

@#Raw or undercooked fish dishes are the major sources of human infection of fishborne trematodes (FBT) and the situation of metacercarial infection in fish greatly affect the prevalence in humans, especially those fish that are commonly used for raw consumption. To investigate the situation of infection with metacercaria of FBT in fish often used to prepare raw fish dishes by local people to assess the risk of infection to humans in Ninh Binh province, Vietnam. 345 fish belonging to five species of freshwater and one species of brackish water fish were collected from fishermen or small-scale fish dealers in Kim Son and Yen Khanh districts, Ninh Binh province between May 2017 and May 2018. Metacercaria of FBT was discovered by pepsin and hydrochloric acid digestion techniques and identified by the morphological and molecular analysis. Among examined fish, 44.06% infected with FBT metacercaria and the highest prevalence was in Cyprinus carpio (86.54%), Ctenopharyngodon idellus (78.43%) and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (66.67%) while Konosirus punctatus – the brackish water fish – were free from infection. Three species of FBT were found; namely Haplorchis pumilio (accounting for 99.84% of collected metacercariae), Haplorchis taichui and Clonorchis sinensis. The average density was 1.06 metacercariae per gram of freshwater fish and the highest number was of C. idellus (6.38 cysts/gram) followed by Cirrhinus molitorella and C. carpio. Results of the study show the high prevalence of infection of FBT metacercariae among freshwater fish often used to prepare raw fish dishes in Ninh Binh province. These findings suggest the need for greater awareness of the risk from raw fish dishes among public health authorities and people.

Mesophotic ecosystems at Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil (South-western Atlantic), reveal unique ichthyofauna and need for conservation

Abstract Although several studies on the ichthyofauna of the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago have been carried out, its mesophotic fish diversity has never been surveyed before. Here we used SCUBA and technical rebreather diving, baited remote underwater videos and remotely operated vehicle to record shallow (≤ 30 m depth) and mesophotic (31 to 150 m depth) fishes. Nineteen fish species belonging to 14 families are reported here as new records, representing an increase of 8.2% in marine fish richness for the region, which now has a total of 250 species and 77 families. These new records include four potential new species and highlight the importance of surveying mesophotic ecosystems, even in well studied sites. Our results also emphasize the need for protection and attention to the unique ichthyofauna found at mesophotic depths.(AU)

Resumo Apesar de muitos estudos sobre a ictiofauna do Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha terem sido realizados, sua diversidade de peixes mesofóticos nunca foi estudada antes. Neste estudo utilizamos mergulho autônomo e mergulho técnico, vídeos subaquáticos remotos com isca e veículo operado remotamente para registrar peixes de ecossistemas rasos (≤ 30 m de profundidade) e mesofóticos (31 a 150 m de profundidade). Dezenove espécies de peixes pertencentes a 14 famílias são apresentadas aqui como novos registros, representando um aumento de 8,2% na riqueza de peixes marinhos da região, que agora possui um total de 250 espécies e 77 famílias. Esses novos registros incluem quatro prováveis novas espécies e reforçam a importância de estudos em ecossistemas mesofóticos. Nossos resultados também enfatizam a necessidade de proteção e atenção à essa ictiofauna única encontrada nesses ecossistemas profundos.(AU)