Is three the magic number? The role of ergonomic principles in cross country comprehension of road traffic signs

Road sign comprehension plays an important part in road safety management, particularly for those drivers who are travelling in an unfamiliar country. Previous research has established that comprehension can be improved if signs are designed to adhere to ergonomic principles. However, it may be difficult for sign designers to incorporate all the principles into a single sign and may thus have to make a judgement as to the most effective ones. This study surveyed drivers in three countries to ascertain their understanding of a range of road signs, each of which conformed in varying degrees and combinations to the ergonomic principles. We found that using three of the principles was the most effective and that the most important one was that relating to standardisation; the colours and shapes used were key to comprehension. Other concepts which related to physical and spatial characteristics were less important, whilst conceptual compatibility did not aid comprehension at all. Practitioner Summary: This study explores how road sign comprehension can be improved using ergonomic principles, with particular reference to cross-border drivers. It was found that comprehension can be improved significantly if standardisation is adhered to and if at least three principles are used

Two cold inducible genes encoding lipid transfer protein LTP4 from barley show differential responses to bacterial pathogens

The barley genesHvLtp4.2 andHvLtp4.3 both encode the lipid transfer protein LTP4 and are less than 1 kb apart in tail-to-tail orientation. They differ in their non-coding regions from each other and from the gene corresponding to a previously reportedLtp4 cDNA (nowLtp4.1). Southern blot analysis indicated the existence of three or moreLtp4 genes per haploid genome and showed considerable polymorphism among barley cultivars. We have investigated the transient expression of genesHvLtp4.2 andHvLtp4.3 following transformation by particle bombardment, using promoter fusions to the-glucuronidase reporter sequence. In leaves, activities of the two promoters were of the same order as those of the sucrose synthase (Ss1) and cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoters used as controls. Their expression patterns were similar, except thatLtp4.2 was more active thanLtp4.3 in endosperm, andLtp4.3 was active in roots, whileLtp4.2 was not. The promoters of both genes were induced by low temperature, both in winter and spring barley cultivars. Northern blot analysis, using theLtp4-specific probe, indicated thatXanthomonas campestris pv.translucens induced an increase over basal levels ofLtp4 mRNA, whilePseudomonas syringae pv.japonica caused a decrease. TheLtp4.3-Gus promoter fusion also responded in opposite ways to these two compatible bacterial pathogens, whereas theLtp4.2-Gus construction did not respond to infectio

NECESSIDADES DE QUALIFICAÇÃO DOS ENFERMEIROS DA ESTRATÉGIA SAÚDE DA FAMÍLIA NO CEARÁ, BRASIL

 The study aims to identify the qualification needs and the nurse profiles in the Family Health Strategy (FHS). An exploratory-descriptive research was carried out with 36 male nurses in the municipal districts of Acaraú, Coreaú, Chaval, Granja, Marco, and Santana of the Acaraú, that work in the HSF, and students of the specialization course in residence in family health supplied by the Graduate School in Family Health, Visconde of Sabóia, Brazil. The municipal districts are part of the project Basic Actions of Health in Ceará, Brazil - Program of Qualification of the Secretary of Health of the State of Ceará in partnership with the German agency Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufdau-KfW and the Instituto Brasileiro de Qualidade Nuclear (IBQN). For the collection of data six workshops were carried out during July, 2004, in the municipal districts, at which time a questionnaire was completed. The qualification needs are centered in program actions, relative to the different phases of life –childhood, adolescence, adult and senior -, as well as common legislation, methods and procedures of nursing duties. We catered to the necessities of nurse training in regards to the concepts of promoting health, organizing services and family care in the concept of location.. El estudio tiene el objetivo de identificar las necesidades de cualificación y el perfil de los enfermeros de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia-ESF. La investigación es del tipo exploratorio-descriptivo, realizada con 36 enfermeros de las provincias de Acaraú, Coreaú, Chaval, Granja, Marco e Santana do Acaraú, que actúan en la ESF y alumnos del Curso de Especialización en la modalidad de Residencia en Salud de la Familia administrado por la Escuela de Formación en Salud de la Familia Visconde de Sabóia. Las provincias son las que forman parte del Proyecto Acciones Básicas de Salud del Ceará,– Programa de Cualificación de la Secretaria de Salud del Estado del Ceará, Brasil, en sociedad con la agencia alemana Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufdau-KfW y el Instituto Brasilero de Qualidade Nuclear-IBQN. Para la colecta de datos fueron realizados seis talleres durante el mes de julio de 2004, en las propias provincias, momento en que fue aplicado un cuestionario. Las necesidades de cualificación están centradas en acciones programáticas, relativas a las diferentes fases de la vida – infancia, adolescencia, edad adulta y vejez – como también la legislación, métodos y procedimientos comunes al quehacer del enfermero/a. Atendimos a las necesidades de una formación de los enfermeros con referencia a las concepciones de la promoción de la salud, organización del servicio, cuidado familiar en la perspectiva del concepto de territorio.O estudo objetiva identificar as necessidades de qualificação e o perfil dos enfermeiros da Estratégia Saúde da Família-ESF. A pesquisa do tipo exploratório-descritivo, realizado com 36 enfermeiros dos municípios de Acaraú, Coreaú, Chaval, Granja, Marco e Santana do Acaraú, que atuam na ESF e alunos do Curso de Especialização na modalidade de Residência em Saúde da Família ministrado pela Escola de Formação em Saúde da Família Visconde de Sabóia. Os municípios fazem parte do Projeto Ações Básicas de Saúde do Ceará - Programa de Qualificação da Secretaria da Saúde do Estado do Ceará,Brasil,  em parceria com a agência alemã Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufdau-KfW e o Instituto Brasileiro de Qualidade Nuclear-IBQN. Para a coleta de dados foram realizadas seis oficinas durante o mês de julho de 2004, nos próprios municípios, momento em que foi aplicado um questionário. As necessidades de qualificação estão centradas em ações programáticas, relativas as diferentes fases da vida – infância, adolescência, adulta e idosa-, como também a legislação e métodos e procedimentos comuns ao fazer do/a enfermeiro/a. Atentamos a necessidades de uma formação dos enfermeiros com referência as concepções de promoção da saúde, organização do serviço, cuidado familiar na perspectiva do conceito de território

Trabalho educativo do enfermeiro na Estratégia Saúde da Família: dificuldades e perspectivas de mudanças

Este estudo objetivou conhecer as dificuldades e perspectivas de mudanças que os enfermeiros identificam no desenvolvimento das ações educativas na Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF). Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa descritivo-exploratória. Os dados foram coletados junto a 20 enfermeiros que atuam na ESF, no âmbito da 10ª Regional de Saúde do Paraná, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, no mês de abril de 2010, as quais foram submetidas à análise de conteúdo. Os resultados demonstraram que os enfermeiros enfrentam dificuldades no desenvolvimento da educação em saúde junto aos usuários, à equipe, aos gestores e quanto à falta de recursos físicos, materiais e financeiros. Mas, a partir das dificuldades sentidas, buscam alternativas diversificadas para superá-las e sugerem modificações visando à melhoria na atenção primária à saúde da população, principalmente, no que tange ao trabalho educativo

Introgression of the Rl adg allele of resistance to potato leafroll virus in Solanum tuberosum L.

Genetic resistance to Potato Leafroll Virus (PLRV) is polygenic, which hinders the obtainment of resistant cultivars. However, works carried out at the International Potato Center have identified an andigena accession, LOP-868, with high resistance level and low accumulation of PLRV due to the gene of major effect Rladg. We verify the transfer of the Rladg allele to clones of the cross between LOP-868 and UFLA clones, by using the SCAR RGASC850 molecular marker; to evaluate the reaction of these clones to PLRV by inoculating the virus using aphids; and to analyze their agronomic performance of clones. Among the clones inoculated with viruliferous aphids, 49.3% were negative to the serological test, indicating possible resistance. Clones containing the Rladg allele were identified by the RGASC850 molecular marker, which demonstrates the possibility of transferring the Rladg allele of resistance to PLRV from LOP-868 to Solanum tuberosum. Some clones that presented the Rladg allele are also promising for agronomic performance