Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate common bean lines for yield and commercial grain quality in multi-environments, and to maximize the efficiency of selection using complementary methods. Over three crop years, 79 trials using carioca common bean lines were carried out in the dry, winter, and rainy crop seasons, in the Southern, Southeastern, Midwestern, and Northeastern regions of Brazil. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with three replicates and 17 genotypes. The evaluated traits were: grain yield (GY), grain appearance (GA), sieve yield (SY), and 100-seed weight (100SW). Adaptability and stability analyses were carried out using models that consider the genotype effect as fixed or as random, in a mixed-model perspective. A significant interaction between genotypes and environments was observed for all traits evaluated. The CNFC 15086 line presented the highest GY and 100SW, besides a high adaptability and stability. The most prominent line for GA was CNFC 15038. The CNFC 15097 line is recommended as a cultivar (BRS FC406) because it shows, simultaneously, favorable performances for GY, GA, SY, and 100SW, as well as for adaptability and stability.

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar linhagens de feijão-comum quanto à produtividade e à qualidade comercial de grãos em multiambientes, e maximizar a eficiência da seleção por meio de métodos complementares. Ao longo de três anos agrícolas, 79 ensaios com linhagens de feijão-comum do tipo carioca foram conduzidos nas safras da seca, do inverno e do verão, nas regiões Sul, Sudeste, Centro-Oeste e Nordeste do Brasil. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com três repetições e 17 genótipos. Os caracteres avaliados foram: produtividade de grãos (GY), aparência de grãos (GA), rendimento de peneira (SY) e massa de 100 grãos (100SW). As análises de adaptabilidade e estabilidade foram realizadas por meio de modelos que consideram o efeito de genótipo como fixo ou aleatório, em uma perspectiva de modelo misto. Observou-se interação significativa entre genótipos e ambientes para todos os caracteres avaliados. A linhagem CNFC 15086 apresentou as maiores GY e 100SW, além de alta adaptabilidade e estabilidade. A linhagem de maior destaque quanto à GA foi a CNFC 15038. A linhagem CNFC 15097 é a recomendada como cultivar (BRS FC406), por apresentar, simultaneamente, desempenhos favoráveis para GY, GA, SY e 100SW, bem como para adaptabilidade e estabilidade.

Abstract We have estimated a 1-D permittivity model from a 100m long variable offset GPR in the West Antarctic ice sheet. That model inherits the inaccuracies in depth from the velocity model, which should be corrected before attempting to correlate it with the density log from a close-by borehole. We performed that correction by aligning a synthetic ice density derived from a Maxwell Garnett two-phase mixture model to the ice core density measurements through dynamic time warping. The shifts to bring the permittivity estimates to their proper depths suggest a direct correlation of radar-derived data to borehole depths may suffer from noise to an unknown degree. The present methodology is within reach of a standard GPR survey, having at least one variable offset gather.

ABSTRACT The iron concentration (FeC) and zinc concentration (ZnC) in common bean grain are quantitative traits, and appropriate breeding techniques are required to achieve genetic gain. The aim of this study was to obtain a recurrent selection population of black bean to increase the FeC and ZnC in the grain and to select the superior progenies for formation of the next cycle and obtain lines. The base population was formed by crosses among ten parents. A total of 351 progenies were obtained, and, after two generations of selection, the 27 best progenies were evaluated in two field trials for FeC, ZnC, 100 seed weight and yield. Analyses of variance were carried out and genetic parameters were estimated. The heritability estimates ranged from 59 to 94% for the four traits. The estimates of expected gain from direct selection for each trait (3 to 21%) and simultaneous selection (1 to 4%) indicate success from selection. The eight progenies, selected based on simultaneous selection, have superior mean values, including to those of ‘BRS Supremo’ (10% for FeC, 8% for ZnC, 5% for 100 seed weight and 3.8% for yield), the Brazilian black bean cultivar with the highest FeC and ZnC. The recurrent selection population shows high genetic variability and potential for obtaining lines superior to the cultivars currently on the market, allying high agronomic performance and high FeC and ZnC in the grain. Furthermore, this population shows potential for generating a new recurrent selection cycle, from recombination of the eight superior progenies.

ABSTRACT: The root system architecture (RSA) of plants and its functioning play a fundamental role in a number of plant growth mechanisms including water and nutrient uptake. Optimization of the RSA is important for stable and increased plant productivity under adverse conditions. Despite its great importance, studying the RSA is notoriously laborious because of the difficulty of accessing the rooting system of plants. We developed a root phenotyping platform, PhenoRoots, which allows for the non-invasive study of plant RSA. The system was built using inexpensive material and was designed to provide medium throughput. Substrate or soil-filled rhizotrons are used to grow plantlets, whose roots are directly visible through a glass plate. An experiment conducted on a panel of twenty Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) varieties demonstrated the usefulness of the platform in assessing RSA traits. A number of traits, destructive and non-destructive, related to the RSA were measured and statistically analyzed. The non-destructive traits based on image analysis of roots were more accurate and showed high correlation with the time-consuming destructive measurements. The platform allowed for capturing the phenotypic and genetic variability found in the panel of cotton varieties, and to define three contrasting RSA patterns. PhenoRoots provides an inexpensive alternative to the medium throughput analysis of RSA traits in plants.

Evidence-based strategies to improve the hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination coverage rates might help to reduce the burden caused by co-infection with HBV and human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV). In this study, the aim was to evaluate the vaccination coverage and immunity against HBV among HIV-infected individuals in South Brazil, and identify factors that are associated with compliance patterns and antibody reactivity. Three hundred HIV-infected men and women were included in this survey. The patients answered a standardized questionnaire, and vaccination cards were checked in order to assess hepatitis B vaccine status. A blood sample was collected for quantitative determination of antibody to hepatitis B virus surface antigen (anti-HBs). Participants were also evaluated for their CD4 cell count and HIV viral load. The overall vaccination coverage of HBV vaccination found in this study (57.4%) was lower than that was previously reported in South Brazil. Anti-HBs levels >10 IU/L were observed in 47.0% of the studied population. A significant inequality in the coverage rates and antibody reactivity was found in favor of patients with better economic status. In conclusion, the results indicate the need for improvement in the HBV vaccination coverage among HIV carriers, in particular focusing on low-income individuals.

Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento dos alunos de graduação do curso de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora em relação ao glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto. Métodos: Neste estudo transversal, aplicou-se aos alunos dos 5º e 6º ano um questionário contendo 11 questões referentes a epidemiologia, fatores de risco, sintomas, diagnóstico, tratamento, consequências do glaucoma e por último se consideram os conhecimentos adquiridos na universidade como suficientes. Características dos alunos (idade, sexo, especialidade pretendida) foram identificadas. Resultados: Entre os estudantes, 52,9% eram mulheres. A origem genética da doença foi identificada por 22,5%. Quase a metade (46,1%) não sabia que o glaucoma na maioria das vezes é assintomático. Aproximadamente 1 em cada 3 alunos não sabia que a cegueira do glaucoma era irreversível. A grande maioria (91,2%) identificou corretamente que a tonometria era um exame importante na avaliação do glaucoma e que o tratamento poderia ser clínico (70,6%) ou cirúrgico (71,6%). Porém, poucos alunos deram a real importância para os exames de fundoscopia (35,3%) e campimetria (28,7%). Quase a totalidade (95,1%) dos entrevistados considerou o próprio conhecimento como insuficiente. Conclusão: A maioria dos entrevistados acha que o conhecimento sobre glaucoma primário de ângulo aberto adquirido na graduação é insuficiente. Tal desconhecimento pode levar a oportunidades de diagnóstico perdidas e gerar consequências graves tanto do ponto de vista individual (cegueira) quanto do ponto de vista coletivo (impacto para o sistema de saúde e sociedade).

IntroductionHepatitis B virus (HBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are two of the world's most important infectious diseases. Our objective was to determine the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) prevalences among adult HIV-infected patients and identify the associations between socio-demographic variables and these HBV infection markers.MethodsThis study was performed from October 2012 to March 2013. Three hundred HIV-seropositive patients were monitored by the Clinical Analysis Laboratory of Professor Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago University Hospital, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The blood tests included HBsAg, anti-HBc immunoglobulin M (IgM) and total anti-HBc. Patients reported their HIV viral loads and CD4+ T-cell counts using a questionnaire designed to collect sociodemographic data.ResultsThe mean patient age was 44.6 years, the mean CD4 T-cell count was 525/mm3, the mean time since beginning antiretroviral therapy was 7.6 years, and the mean time since HIV diagnosis was 9.6 years. The overall prevalences of HBsAg and total anti-HBc were 2.3% and 29.3%, respectively. Among the individuals analyzed, 0.3% were positive for HBsAg, 27.3% were positive for total anti-HBc, and 2.0% were positive either for HBsAg or total anti-HBc and were classified as chronically HBV-infected. Furthermore, 70.3% of the patients were classified as never having been infected. Male gender, age >40 years and Caucasian ethnicity were associated with an anti-HBc positive test.ConclusionsThe results showed an intermediate prevalence of HBsAg among the studied patients. Moreover, the associations between the anti-HBc marker and socio-demographic factors suggest a need for HBV immunization among these HIV-positive individuals, who are likely to have HIV/HBV coinfection.