Melilotus albus is a naturalized legume in Argentina and is recognized as a species with great potential to be used as forage source. Coumarin derivates are found in significant amounts in this species. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of materials with different coumarin content on: a) morphological traits associated with plant vigour and b) leaf feeding of Colias lesbia. The results show that coumarin content would not be associated with morphological differences between materials. Materials with high levels of coumarin had a deterrent effect on leaf feeding. Furthemore, leaves of all materials of M. albus were rejected when they were offered together with leaves of alfalfa. The information generated in this study will be useful to design a breeding program to reduce the coumarin content without decreasing pest tolerance in M. albus.

Melilotus albus es una especie leguminosa naturalizada en la Argentina y valorada como recurso forrajero. Compuestos derivados de la cumarina se encuentran en cantidades significantes en esta especie generando, en algunos casos, problemas nutricionales. En la presente investigación se evaluó en materiales con diferente contenido de cumarina: a) parámetros morfológicos relacionados con el vigor de planta y b) el consumo foliar por parte de Colias lesbia. Los resultados obtenidos indican que el contenido de cumarina no estaría relacionado con las diferencias encontradas entre materiales para los parámetros morfológicos. Los materiales con mayores niveles de cumarina tuvieron un efecto disuasivo sobre el consumo foliar. Por otro lado, las hojas de los materiales de M. albus fueron menos consumidas que las de alfalfa cuando se ofrecieron de manera simultánea. La información generada en este trabajo será tenida en cuenta en el desarrollo de un programa de mejoramiento para reducción del contenido de cumarina sin comprometer la tolerancia a plagas en M. albus.

Este trabalho mostra os resultados de um estudo sobre a adequação dos materiais argilosos da região de Campos-RJ (Brasil) para aplicação em cerâmica estrutural. Os materiais argilosos, isto é, argilas vermelhas disponíveis nesta região foram selecionadas tal que suas características com respeito a composição química, análise racional, difração de raios X, análise de tamanho de partículas, comportamento térmico, plasticidade e as propriedades de secagem e queima pudessem ser estudadas. Os resultados revelaram que as amostras estudadas são tipicamente materiais à base de caulinita. Além do mais, foi determinado que quase todas as propriedades destes materiais são direcionadas para fabricação de cerâmica estrutural. Os dados de resistência mecânica resultaram em distribuição de Weibull.

This work presents the results of a study on the suitability of the clayey materials from Campos-RJ (Brazil) region for application in structural ceramic. The clayey materials, i.e. red clays available in this region, were selected so that their characteristics regarding chemical composition, rational analysis, X-ray diffraction, particle size analysis, thermal behavior, plasticity and as dried and fired properties could be studied. The results revealed that the studied samples are typically kaolinite based materials. In addition, it was found that almost all properties of these materials are led to the manufacture of structural ceramic. Mechanical strength test data resulted in Weibull distributions.

The polymerization of poly (2- furyl) methylenesulfide -- POLYTHIOFURFURAL -- was performed in an 0.36 mol/L aqueous solution of furfuraldehyde, saturated by bubbling hydrogen sulfide for 2 h at different temperatures. The reaction product was thoroughly washed and dried at 40 °C under vacuum. Poly (2-furyl) methylenesulfyde is a yellow powder with a rather unpleasant odor. The polythiofurfural obtained [ -CH(C4H3O)-S-] is a furan with thiols end groups. These are active adsorption centers for metal ions. The polythiofurfural was soluble in acetone and chloroform and its yields attained 80%. Morphological analysis by Scanning Eletronic Microscopy indicates a regular and dense surface in an interesting spacial arrangement. Preliminary isotherms adsorption studies indicate specific affinity forNi (II) and Co (II) and different capacity adsorption, 0.022 and 0.045 mmol per gram, respectively.

Acute Respiratory Disease (ARD) is an important cause of sickness leave during winter-time. This fact gets more importance as it affects health care personnel, who had to face an increased requirement of people asking for health care during this period of the year. These facts are the rationale for enforcing influenza vaccination in the health care personnel (HCP). This is a cohort-study developed during the year 2000, in HCP that works at Santiago's South East Health Service. It aims to show if there is any difference between ARD's incidence in people who were vaccinated and people who were not. 3.479 people received the influenza vaccination (G1) and 272 did not (G2). 644 ARD events were registered. These events were codified according to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-X). This include codes J00 to J22 (acute respiratory infections), J45 (asthma) and H67 (acute otitis). Results showed a lower influenza incidence in G1 than in G2 (RR 0.13; CI 95%: 0.086 - 0.203). Non influenza-ARD showed a lower incidence in G1 compared to G2 either. As it was expected, vaccination protects HCP from influenza. Besides, we observed a significant decrease in non-ARD incidence in HCP who received influenza vaccination

Durante el período invernal las infecciones respiratorias agudas (IRA) son causa de un alto número de licencias médicas, cuando este hecho se manifiesta en el personal de salud, que se encuentra más expuesto y que tiene como objetivo atender a la población en este período, no sólo se trata de ausentismo laboral sino un menoscabo importante en la oferta de atención médica. Estos dos hechos han sido los pilares fundamentales, en muchos países, que justifican la vacunación del personal de salud contra la influenza. Se presenta un estudio de cohorte del personal del Servicio de Salud Metropolitano Sur Oriente vacunado y no vacunado contra la influenza y, la incidencia de infecciones respiratorias durante el año 2000. El total del personal vacunado fue de 3.479 personas y los no vacunados alcanzaron a 272; los casos de infección respiratoria, ocurridos en el período mayo-octubre del mismo año alcanzaron a 644 eventos que se clasificaron en CIE-10 con los códigos: J-00 a J-22 (infecciones agudas del sistema respiratorio), J-45 (asma) y H-67 (otitis media aguda). Los resultados de este trabajo demuestran una menor incidencia de gripe, que generan licencia médica, en los funcionarios expuestos a vacuna antiinfluenza. La diferencia entre expuestos y no expuestos a la vacuna fue estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,0001; c²); la vacuna actuó como un mecanismo de protección efectivo, disminuyendo el riesgo de enfermar de influenza (RR = 0,13; IC 0,086 - 0,203). Si bien no es el objetivo de esta vacunación la protección contra otras IRA, se pudo constatar una disminución en la ocurrencia de otras patologías respiratorias entre los vacunados, que resultaron también significativas en el análisis estadístico

Postmetamorphic rays in Heliaster and Labidiaster originate in four `quadrants' between the five primary rays, and not normally in the madreporic interradius. The rays originate in one of two very definite sequences depending on the species. H. kubiniji and H. multiradiatus share one sequence, whereas H. canopus, H. helianthus and Labidiaster share the other sequence. Pycnopodia, Rathbunaster, Heliaster and Labidiaster add rays at far greater sizes and in a manner that is distinctive from other multiradiate starfish, possibly indicating a new taxonomic unit

Los rayos post-metamórficos en Heliaster y Labidiaster se originan en cuatro"cuadrantes" entre los cinco rayos primarios, y no como ocurre normalmente en el interradio del madreporito. Los rayos se originan en una de dos secuencias definidas, dependiendo de la especie. H. kubiniji y H. multiradiatus comparten una secuencia, mientras que H. canopus, H. helianthus y Labidiaster comparten otra secuancia. Pycnopodia, Rathbunaster, Heliaster y Labidiaster adicional rayos de tamaños mucho mayores y de una manera que es distintiva de aquel de otras estrellas de mar multiradiadas, posiblemente indicando su pertenencia a una nueva unidad taxonómica