Objective: To perform a construct validation of the List of Threatening Events Questionnaire (LTE-Q), as well as convergence validation by identifying its association with drug use in a sample of the Brazilian population. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of the Second Brazilian National Alcohol and Drugs Survey (II BNADS), which used a cross-cultural adaptation of the LTE-Q in a probabilistic sample of 4,607 participants aged 14 years and older. Latent class analysis was used to validate the latent trait adversity (which considered the number of events from the list of 12 item in the LTE experienced by the respondent in the previous year) and logistic regression was performed to find its association with binge drinking and cocaine use. Results: The confirmatory factor analysis returned a chi-square of 108.341, weighted root mean square residual (WRMR) of 1.240, confirmatory fit indices (CFI) of 0.970, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) of 0.962, and root mean square error approximation (RMSEA) score of 1.000. LTE-Q convergence validation showed that the adversity latent trait increased the chances of binge drinking by 1.31 time and doubled the chances of previous year cocaine use (adjusted by sociodemographic variables). Conclusion: The use of the LTE-Q in Brazil should be encouraged in different research fields, including large epidemiological surveys, as it is also appropriate when time and budget are limited. The LTE-Q can be a useful tool in the development of targeted and more efficient prevention strategies.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo quantificar os danos causados pela ferrugem-asiática em três cultivares de soja, semeadas em diferentes épocas, na região Oeste da Bahia. Os experimentos foram instalados no município de São Desidério, BA, nas safras 2007/2008 e 2008/2009. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados com quatro repetições, no esquema de parcelas subdivididas no espaço. A parcela foi representada pelos tratamentos de controle da ferrugem (com ou sem aplicação de fungicida) e as subparcelas foram representadas pelas cultivares (Monsoy 8411, BRS Corisco e BRS Barreiras). Avaliou-se a severidade da ferrugem para o cálculo da área abaixo da curva de progresso da doença padronizada (AACPDp), o número de folhas ao longo do ciclo e a produtividade de grãos. O modelo logístico foi o que melhor se ajustou aos dados da severidade. A variação temporal do número de folhas foi ajustada pela função polinomial exponencial Ln (y) = a + bx1,5 + cx0,5. As médias da AACPDp e a da produtividade foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Os danos causados pela ferrugem-asiática da soja na região foram potencializados na época de semeadura tardia, ocorrendo desfolha antecipada e redução na produtividade de grãos.

The objective of this work was to quantify the yield loss caused by Asian soybean rust in three cultivars sown in different periods in the western region of Bahia. The experiments were installed in São Desidério, BA, in the growing seasons 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. The experimental design was carried out in random blocks with four replicates and subdivided plot scheme in time. The plot was represented by the rust control treatments (with and without chemical control) and the subplots represented by cultivars (Monsoy 8411, BRS Corisco and BRS Barreiras). The severity, number of leaves throughout the cycle and yield were evaluated. The logistic model was the one that better fitted the severity data whereas the polynominal exponential function Ln (y) = a + bx1, 5 + cx0,5 fitted the temporal variation of number of leaves better. The means of the area under the disease progress curve and yield were compared by Tukey test. Yield loss increased during later sowing periods due to greater inoculum pressure hindering disease control and decreasing grain yield.

The essential oil from the leaves of Myrcia ovata Cambess., commonly used in Brazil for the treatment of gastric illnesses, was screened for antimicrobial activity and action in the formation of microbial biofilms by Enterococcus faecalis. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation using a clevenger-type system. Its chemical composition was analyzed using GC and GC-MS. Both MIC and MBC of the essential oil were determined by broth microdilution techniques and agar dilution method. The essential oil showed antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Candida parapsilosis. The results showed that the essential oil of M. ovata Cambess. was effective against the formation of biofilm by E. faecalis when compared with the control. Four volatile compounds, representing 92.1 % of the oil, were identified and geranial was the major component (50.4 %). At the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from leaves of M. ovata.

O vírus da meleira, transmitido por Bemisia tabaci, é um dos maiores problemas da cultura do mamoeiro (Carica papaya), sendo responsável por perdas de até 100% na produção. Com o objetivo de compreender melhor sua epidemiologia e gerar subsídios para estudos da influência de fatores culturais e bioecológicos na dinâmica da doença, avaliou-se a distribuição espacial de plantas afetadas pela meleira em zonas de Trópico Úmido e Trópico Semi-árido, em 15 plantios comerciais em Eunápolis-BA e Petrolina-PE, entre jan. 2000 e mar. 2001. As áreas foram mapeadas anotando-se a posição de cada planta e a presença ou ausência de sintomas. Foram consideradas doentes aquelas que apresentavam frutos com exsudação espontânea do látex, látex muito fluido, frutos borrados e/ou folhas do ápice com o bordo necrosado. Pelas análises de seqüências ordinárias, índice de dispersão, áreas isópatas e ajuste dos logaritmos das variâncias binomial e de acordo com a lei de Taylor, observaram-se maior agregação nas linhas de plantio que entre linhas e uma agregação de mediana a forte em sub-áreas (1,4 < ID < 3,1). Na maioria dos lotes, as áreas de maior incidência concentraram-se nas bordas dos talhões, o que indica que a migração de vetores assume um papel importante na disseminação da doença. Em alguns casos foi possível detectar a presença de focos isolados no interior dos lotes, o que sugere a formação de colônias dos vetores e transmissão planta a planta a partir de inóculo secundário. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na distribuição espacial de plantas doentes entre as áreas das duas regiões.

Papaya Sticky Disease (PSD) is caused by a whitefly-borne virus and is one of the most important problems of the papaya (Carica papaya) industry in Brazil, causing yield losses of up to 100%. In order to better understand its epidemiology and generate data for studies on influence of cultural practices and bioecological features on disease dynamics, 15 papaya orchards were evaluated in Eunápolis, Bahia (Rain Forest Region) and Petrolina, Pernambuco (Semi Arid Tropics) between January 2000 and March 2001. The areas were mapped taking into consideration the row or column position of each plant and its disease status. A given plant was considered diseased when it's fruits showed latex exudation, fluid latex and latex spots. The maps were analised by ordinary runs, dispersion index, Taylor law fitting and isopath areas. Results showed greater aggregation within rows than across rows which can be the consequence of a vector limited movement, with a trend to colonizing nearest plants; The dispersion index indicated a medium to strong aggregation within sub areas and this result was confirmed by Taylor law fitting. In most of the areas, higher disease incidence was detected at orchard edges. This may indicate that vector migration can assume important role in PSD virus dissemination. In some cases it was possible to detect the presence of isolated foci inside orchards, an indication of vector colony formation and plant to plant transmission from secondary inoculum. Significant differences were not observed between rain forest and semi-arid regions.