The sentiment analysis of tweets as a new tool to measure public perception of male erectile and ejaculatory dysfunctions

Twitter is a social network based on "tweets," short messages of up to 280 characters. Social media has been investigated in health care research to ascertain positive or negative feelings associated with several conditions but never in sexual medicin

Severidade da Sigatoka-Amarela da bananeira, em função da nutrição mineral em solução nutritiva.

A sigatoka-amarela, cujo agente etiológico é o fungo Mycosphaerella musicola Leach (Stat. Conid. Cercospora musae Zimm.), é uma das mais importantes doenças da ananicultura, pois sua ocorrência está generalizada por diversas regiões produtoras, ocasionando prejuízos advindos da morte precoce das folhas e a consequente redução no crescimento e no desenvolvimento da planta, com reflexos evidentes na produção

Avaliação de parâmetros monocíclicos e da densidade da ferrugem asiática (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) em diferentes genótipos de soja e posições de copa.

RESUMO: A ferrugem da soja destacou-se nas últimas safras devido à alta severidade que vem causando nas lavouras de soja. Diversos estudos estão em andamento, para buscar informações sobre a resistência genética dos cultivares atualmente plantados. O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar parâmetros monocíclicos e o progresso da ferrugem da soja em diferentes genótipos e posições da copa, em casa-de-vegetação. Foram utilizados 7 cultivares (Uirapuru e BRS 134 Pintado, BRS 134, BRS 154, BRS 215, FT 2, BRS 231) e uma PI 459025 com gene de resistência Rpp4, inoculados com suspensão de esporos de Phakopsora pachyrhizi. Foram estudados para cada genótipos os períodos de incubação e latente. A avaliação de incidência da ferrugem foi realizada na planta toda e da severidade a partir do aparecimento dos sintomas, a cada cinco dias, até o declínio das plantas em três posições na copa. Os valores foram transformados em área abaixo da curva de progresso da incidência (AACPI) e da severidade (AACPS) da doença. O período de incubação foi de seis dias para todos genótipos avaliados. Entretanto, o período latente variou de 6 a 12 dias. Houve diferença significativa entre os cultivares para AACPI. Os cultivares BRS 134, FT 2 e BRS 231 apresentaram maior valor de AACPI, diferenciando dos demais cultivares. Entre os cultivares com menor valor de AACPI destacou-se a PI 459025. Variação na intensidade da doença nos 8 genótipos avaliados, em relação à posição da copa, só pode ser observada para o terço média da planta. ABSTRACT: Soybean rust caused by the fungus Phakopsora pachyrhizi, has been known to drastically reduce yields. Diverse studies are now in progress, to search information on the genetic resistance of cultivar currently planted. The objective of this study was to evaluate the both incubation and latent period and the progress of soybean rust on several genotypes and three canopy position in greenhouse. The cultivars used were Uirapuru, BRS 134 Pintado, BRS 154, BRS 215, BRS 231, FT 2 and PI 459025 with a Ppp4 gene of resistance for soybean rust. Inoculations were performed by spraying inoculum suspension on the leaves. Disease incidence and severity were assessed every five days after the first disease symptoms were observed until plants were dead. The incubation period was six days for all genotypes evaluated. However, the latent period varied from six to twelve days. The incidence and severity values were transformed in proportion as the area under the disease incidence curve (AUDIC) and area under the disease severity curve (AUDSC). The cultivars BRS 134 Pintado, FT 2 and BRS 231 showed high values for AUDIC and were significant different from the others. PI 459025 showed the lowest value for AUDIC. AUDSC for PI 459025 cultivar was the lowest and FT 2 showed the highest value. Difference from disease intensity on eight genotypes, in function of the canopy position, only was observe to plant medium part

Dispersão sazonal de Mycosphaerella fijiensis sobre bananeiras no Brasil.

Segundo Nelson & Ting. (4), nenhuma parte do ciclo das doenças exerce maior influência no crescimento da epidemia do que a relação entre a esporulação e a produção de inóculo para subsequente infecção. A concentração de esporos dispersos no ar é altamente influenciada pelo clima, que afeta a dinâmica dos processos da aerobiologia do patógeno (liberação, transporte e deposição), constituindo importante componente para o progresso de epidemias de doenças de plantas em um período próximo ou subsequente (2)

A Recessive Mutation Resulting in a Disabling Amino Acid Substitution (T194R) in the LHX3 Homeodomain Causes Combined Pituitary Hormone Deficiency

Background/Aims: Recessive mutations in the LHX3 homeodomain transcription factor gene are associated with developmental disorders affecting the pituitary and nervous system. We describe pediatric patients with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) who harbor a novel mutation in LHX3. Methods: Two female siblings from related parents were examined. Both patients had neonatal complications. The index patient had CPHD featuring deficiencies of GH, LH, FSH, PRL, and TSH, with later onset of ACTH deficiency. She also had a hypoplastic anterior pituitary, respiratory distress, hearing impairment, and limited neck rotation. The LHX3 gene was sequenced and the biochemical properties of the predicted altered proteins were characterized. Results: A novel homozygous mutation predicted to change amino acid 194 from threonine to arginine (T194R) was detected in both patients. This amino acid is conserved in the DNA-binding homeodomain. Computer modeling predicted that the T194R change would alter the homeodomain structure. The T194R protein did not bind tested LHX3 DNA recognition sites and did not activate the a-glycoprotein and PRL target genes. Conclusion: The T194R mutation affects a critical residue in the LHX3 protein. This study extends our understanding of the phenotypic features, molecular mechanism, and developmental course associated with mutations in the LHX3 gene. copyright (C) 2012 S. Karger AG, Base

Cobalt oxide nanomaterials prepared by CVD as negative electrodes in lithium batteries

III Encuentro sobre Nanociencia y Nanotecnología de Investigadores y Tecnólogos Andaluce

Diagnostic value of qualitative and strain ratio elastography in the differential diagnosis of non-palpable testicular lesions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively the accuracy of qualitative and strain ratio elastography (SE) in the differential diagnosis of non-palpable testicular lesions. The local review board approved the protocol and all patients gave their consent. One hundred and six patients with non-palpable testicular lesions were consecutively enrolled. Baseline ultrasonography (US) and SE were correlated with clinical and histological features and ROC curves developed for diagnostic accuracy. The non-palpable lesions were all ≤1.5 cm; 37/106 (34.9%) were malignant, 38 (35.9%) were benign, and 31 (29.2%) were non-neoplastic. Independent risk factors for malignancy were as follows: size (OR 17.788; p = 0.002), microlithiasis (OR 17.673, p < 0.001), intralesional vascularization (OR 9.207, p = 0.006), and hypoechogenicity (OR, 11.509, p = 0.036). Baseline US had 89.2% sensitivity (95% CI 74.6-97.0) and 85.5% specificity (95% CI 75.0-92.8) in identifying malignancies, and 94.6% sensitivity (95% CI 86.9-98.5) and 87.1% specificity (95% CI 70.2-96.4) in discriminating neoplasms from non-neoplastic lesions. An elasticity score (ES) of 3 out of 3 (ES3, maximum hardness) was recorded in 30/37 (81.1%) malignant lesions (p < 0.001). An intermediate score of 2 (ES2) was recorded in 19/38 (36.8%) benign neoplastic lesions and in 22/31 (71%) non-neoplastic lesions (p = 0.005 and p = 0.001 vs. malignancies). None of the non-neoplastic lesions scored ES3. Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between ES3 and malignancy (χ2 = 42.212, p < 0.001). ES1 and ES2 were predictors of benignity (p < 0.01). Overall, SE was 81.8% sensitive (95% CI 64.8-92.0) and 79.1% specific (95% CI 68.3-88.4) in identifying malignancies, and 58.6% sensitive (95% CI 46.7-69.9) and 100% specific (95% CI 88.8-100) in discriminating non-neoplastic lesions. Strain ratio measurement did not improve the accuracy of qualitative elastography. Strain ratio measurement offers no improvement over elastographic qualitative assessment of testicular lesions; testicular SE may support conventional US in identifying non-neoplastic lesions when findings are controversial, but its added value in clinical practice remains to be proven