Dadas as idiossincrasias do trabalho do call center, seu impacto na vida dos funcionários e suas possíveis reações, analisamos quais formas de retaliação podem ocorrer em um ambiente desse tipo, considerando gênero. Realizamos pesquisa descritiva qualitativa. Entrevistamos 20 agentes do call center (9 homens e 11 mulheres) em Belo Horizonte, capital do estado de Minas Gerais, no Brasil. Todas as entrevistas foram transcritas na íntegra e os dados foram submetidos à análise do discurso (abordagem francesa). Os resultados mostraram que, neste caso, não houve diferença de gênero em relação às injustiças percebidas. Assim, os trabalhadores de ambos os sexos muitas vezes retaliam e consideram suas ações razoáveis.

Given the idiosyncrasies of call center work, its impact on the lives of employees and their possible reactions, we analyzed what forms of retaliation can occur in such an environment by considering gender. We performed qualitative descriptive research. We have interviewed 20 call center agents (9 men and 11 women) in Belo Horizonte, the capital city of Minas Gerais state, in Brazil. We fully transcribed all interviews and subjected the data to discourse analysis (the French approach). The results showed that in this case, there was no gender difference regarding perceived unfairness. Thus, workers of both genders often retaliate and consider their actions to be reasonable.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Before 2004, the occurrence of acute Chagas disease (ACD) by oral transmission associated with food was scarcely known or investigated. Originally sporadic and circumstantial, ACD occurrences have now become frequent in the Amazon region, with recently related outbreaks spreading to several Brazilian states. These cases are associated with the consumption of açai juice by waste reservoir animals or insect vectors infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in endemic areas. Although guidelines for processing the fruit to minimize contamination through microorganisms and parasites exist, açai-based products must be assessed for quality, for which the demand for appropriate methodologies must be met. METHODS: Dilutions ranging from 5 to 1,000 T. cruzi CL Brener cells were mixed with 2mL of acai juice. Four Extraction of T. cruzi DNA methods were used on the fruit, and the cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) method was selected according to JRC, 2005. RESULTS: DNA extraction by the CTAB method yielded satisfactory results with regard to purity and concentration for use in PCR. Overall, the methods employed proved that not only extraction efficiency but also high sensitivity in amplification was important. CONCLUSIONS: The method for T. cruzi detection in food is a powerful tool in the epidemiological investigation of outbreaks as it turns epidemiological evidence into supporting data that serve to confirm T. cruzi infection in the foods. It also facilitates food quality control and assessment of good manufacturing practices involving acai-based products.

The Brazilian government has approved many transgenic maize lines for commercialization and has established a threshold of 1% for food labeling, which underscores need for monitoring programs. Thirty four samples including flours and different types of nacho chips were analyzed by conventional and real-time PCR in 2011 and 2012. The events MON810, Bt11, and TC1507 were detected in most of the samples, and NK603 was present only in the samples analyzed in 2012. The authorized lines GA21, T25, and the unauthorized Bt176 were not detected. All positive samples in the qualitative tests collected in 2011 showed a transgenic content higher than 1%, and none of them was correctly labeled. Regarding the samples collected in 2012, all positive samples were quantified higher than the threshold, and 47.0% were not correctly labeled. The overall results indicated that the major genetically modified organisms detected were MON810, TC1507, Bt11, and NK603 events. Some industries that had failed to label their products in 2011 started labeling them in 2012, demonstrating compliance with the current legislation observing the consumer rights. Although these results are encouraging, it has been clearly demonstrated the need for continuous monitoring programs to ensure consumers that food products are labeled properly.

A extração de DNA é uma etapa crítica na análise de organismos geneticamente modificados em alimentos por PCR em tempo real. Neste trabalho, os métodos CTAB e DNeasy forneceram preparações de DNA em quantidade e com qualidade a partir de amostras de proteína texturizada de soja, fórmula infantil e extrato de soja. Em relação ao Material de Referência Certificado contendo 5% de soja RoundupReady® , nenhum dos métodos forneceu DNA de boa qualidade. Entretanto, o teste de diluição realizado nos extratos de CTAB não demonstrou interferência de substâncias inibidoras. As eficiências das amplificações do alvo lectin não foram estatisticamente diferentes e os coeficientes de correlação (R²) demonstraram alto grau de correlação entre o número de cópias e os valores de Ct. A ANOVA demonstrou ajuste das curvas de regressão e ausência de desvios significativos. As eficiências das amplificações do alvo p35S, utilizando extratos DNeasy, não foram estatisticamente diferentes e os valores de R² ficaram acima de 0,98, sem desvios de linearidade. Dois valores de R², utilizando extratos CTAB, foram menores que 0,98, correspondendo a menor grau de correlação edesvio de linearidade em uma corrida. A análise comparativa dos Cts dos alvos p35S e lectin não demonstrou diferenças significativas entre as curvas analíticas da amplificação de cada alvo.

The DNA extraction is a critical step in Genetically Modified Organisms analysis based on real-time PCR. In this study, the CTAB and DNeasy methods provided good quality and quantity of DNA from the texturized soy protein, infant formula, and soy milk samples. Concerning the Certified Reference Material consisting of 5% Roundup Ready® soybean, neither method yielded DNA of good quality. However, the dilution test applied in the CTAB extracts showed no interference of inhibitory substances. The PCR efficiencies of lectin target amplification were not statistically different, and the coefficients of correlation (R²) demonstrated high degree of correlation between the copy numbers and the threshold cycle (Ct) values. ANOVA showed suitable adjustment of the regression and absence of significant linear deviations. The efficiencies of the p35S amplification were not statistically different, and all R² values using DNeasy extracts were above 0.98 with no significant linear deviations. Two out of three R² values using CTAB extracts were lower than 0.98, corresponding to lower degree of correlation, and the lack-of-fit test showed significant linear deviation in one run. The comparative analysis of the Ct values for the p35S and lectin targets demonstrated no statistical significant differences between the analytical curves of each target.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo estimar a prevalência da infecção pelo HTLV-1 em remanescentes de comunidades de população negra, os quilombos no Brasil Central. 1.837 indivíduos foram avaliados, sendo nove soropositivos para HTLV-1/2 por ELISA. Todos esses foram positivos para HTLV-1 por Western blot e/ou PCR, resultando em uma prevalência de 0,5% (IC 95%: 0,2-1,0). A idade dos indivíduos infectados variou de 11 a 82 anos, sendo a maioria do sexo feminino. Quanto às características de risco, história de aleitamento materno, transfusão de sangue, múltiplos parceiros sexuais e doenças sexualmente transmissíveis foram relatadas por esses indivíduos. Os achados deste estudo evidenciam a importância da identificação dos indivíduos infectados pelo HTLV-1 na estratégia de controle e prevenção dessa infecção em remanescentes de quilombos.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of HTLV-1 infection among remnant black quilombo communities in Central Brazil. A total of 1,837 individuals were evaluated, among whom nine were HTLV-1/2 seropositive according to ELISA. All of them were positive for HTLV-1 by means of Western blot and/or PCR, thus resulting in a prevalence of 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2-1.0). The HTLV-1 infected individuals ranged in age from 11 to 82 years. The majority of them were females. Regarding risk characteristics, histories of breastfeeding, blood transfusion, multiple sexual partners and sexually transmitted diseases were reported by these individuals. The findings from this study indicate the importance of identifying HTLV-1 infected individuals, as a strategy for infection control and prevention in these remnant quilombos.

A comparative morphometric study was performed to identify host-induced morphological alterations in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. A wild parasite population was obtained from a naturally infected rodent (Nectomys squamipes)and then recovered from laboratory infected C3H/He mice. Furthermore, allopatric worm populations maintained for long-term under laboratory conditions in Swiss Webster mice were passed on to N. squamipes. Suckers and genital system (testicular lobes, uterine egg, and egg spine) were analyzed by a digital system for image analysis. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) showed details of the genital system (testicular lobes, vitelline glands, and ovary) and the tegument just below the ventral sucker. Significant morphological changes (p < 0.05) were detected in male worms in all experimental conditions, with no significant variability as assessed by CLSM. Significant changes (p < 0.05) were evident in females from the wild population related to their ovaries and vitelline glands, whereas allopatric females presented differences only in this last character. We conclude that S. mansoni worms present the phenotypic plasticity induced by modifications in the parasite's microenvironment, mainly during the first passage under laboratory conditions.