Pensamento na fronteira e Teologia Prática: um diálogo com o suma kawsay / suma qamaña ou buen vivir

This text aims to contribute to the discussions about Practical Theology in relation to society from a perspective of the so-called epistemology of the South, understanding the South in a metaphorical form, representing alternatives to the hegemonic vision of the world. We understand that Practical Theology has an important challenge in helping churches and those exposed to the Christian faith to recognize its social-historical context and thereby promote the call of life in abundance. The argument in this text is that Practical Theology can learn from different worldviews and social practices that emerge from the ancient Latin American cultural traditions, thus contributing to an opening of traditional theology based on Eurocentric epistemology, however sophisticated it appears. The first part of this text presents a brief refl ection on the epistemological discussion in Latin America and in other parts of the world from the perspective of the metaphor of the South. It follows a presentation of buen vivir, which in recent decades has been incorporated into the repertoire of alternatives. Finally, there is a reflection on the contribution of buen vivir to practical theology.Este texto tem como objetivo contribuir com as discussões sobre a Teologia Prática em relação à sociedade a partir de uma perspectiva da assim chamada epistemologia do sul, entendendo o sul em uma forma metafórica, representando alternativas à visão hegemônica do mundo. Entendemos que a Teologia Prática tem um desafio importante de ajudar as igrejas e aqueles expostos à fé cristã em reconhecer o seu contexto social-histórico e com isso promover o chamado de vida em abundância. O argumento neste texto é que a Teologia Prática pode aprender de diferentes cosmovisões e de práticas sociais que emergem das antigas tradições culturais latino-americanas, contribuindo dessa forma para uma abertura da teologia tradicional baseada na epistemologia eurocêntrica, por mais sofisticada que essa se apresenta. A primeira parte deste texto apresenta uma breve reflexão sobre a discussão epistemológica na América Latina e em outras partes do mundo na perspectiva da metáfora do sul. Segue uma apresentação do buen vivir, que nas últimas décadas tem sido incorporado no repertório de alternativas. Por último, há uma reflexão da contribuição do buen vivir com a Teologia Prática

Ritos e práticas pastorais em tempos de mudança: uma reflexão a partir da liturgia e do aconselhamento pastoral

The purpose of this text is to reflect on the function of liturgical rites in the life cycle of the individual, his/her family as well as the social network. Some of the liturgical rites that are common and basic in the Church such as the Sunday service, the sacrament of Baptism, and common rites such as matrimony and funeral. On the other side, the focus is on new rituals that can be developed by the Church looking in special way to its therapeutic function. This paper encourages new investigations in the area of Practical Theology as well as from a practical theological perspective – either in liturgy or pastoral counseling – having special consideration for cultural changes in current society.Este artigo reflete sobre a função dos ritos litúrgicos nos ciclos da vida pessoal, familiar e social. Toma-se como base alguns dos ritos litúrgicos já existentes na igreja cristã, como o culto comunitário, o sacramento do Batismo e os ofícios casuais, como o matrimônio e o funeral. Por outro lado, a partir do ciclo vital, reflete-se sobre possíveis novos ritos a serem desenvolvidos na igreja e sua função terapêutica. A reflexão quer impulsionar novas investigações na e a partir da teologia prática – liturgia e aconselhamento pastoral – na atualidade

Teologia Prática na Escola Superior de Teologia: um legado a ser explorado

A partir do século XIX, igrejas oriundas da Reforma ganham espaço no contexto latino-americano. A reflexão e o desenvolvimento da pastoral e, posteriormente, de uma Teologia Prática contextualizada tornam-se uma realidade. O objetivo deste texto é estudar como se configura do ponto de vista prático e teórico a Teologia Prática num dos centros acadêmicos teológicos desse contexto, a Faculdade de Teologia, da Faculdades EST, no sul do Brasil. Num primeiro momento, mostramos como a Teologia Prática passou, no início da escola, de numa ênfase na formação de pastores para a construção de comunidades luteranas, numa igreja marcada pela imigração alemã. Mais tarde, esse enfoque, motivado pela teologia da libertação da América Latina, numa igreja em busca de sua identidade latino-americana, muda para uma práxis teológica pela paz e pela justiça social. Com a implantação da pós-graduação em Teologia, a Teologia Prática, com suas subdisciplinas, procura se afirmar como disciplina com uma identidade própria, em diálogo crítico com as demandas do contexto sociocultural e político, a diversidade religiosa, as questões de gênero e corporeidade e a pesquisa em parceria com outras áreas de conhecimento. A publicação de um manual de Teologia Prática, no final da década de 1990, marca esse novo estágio. Quais os novos rumos e desafios da Teologia Prática no contexto atual e qual o papel da Teologia Prática diante das mudanças e dos desafios globais são questões em aberto para a reflexão

Ion-Abrasion Scanning Electron Microscopy Reveals Surface-Connected Tubular Conduits in HIV-Infected Macrophages

HIV-1-containing internal compartments are readily detected in images of thin sections from infected cells using conventional transmission electron microscopy, but the origin, connectivity, and 3D distribution of these compartments has remained controversial. Here, we report the 3D distribution of viruses in HIV-1-infected primary human macrophages using cryo-electron tomography and ion-abrasion scanning electron microscopy (IA-SEM), a recently developed approach for nanoscale 3D imaging of whole cells. Using IA-SEM, we show the presence of an extensive network of HIV-1-containing tubular compartments in infected macrophages, with diameters of ∼150–200 nm, and lengths of up to ∼5 µm that extend to the cell surface from vesicular compartments that contain assembling HIV-1 virions. These types of surface-connected tubular compartments are not observed in T cells infected with the 29/31 KE Gag-matrix mutant where the virus is targeted to multi-vesicular bodies and released into the extracellular medium. IA-SEM imaging also allows visualization of large sheet-like structures that extend outward from the surfaces of macrophages, which may bend and fold back to allow continual creation of viral compartments and virion-lined channels. This potential mechanism for efficient virus trafficking between the cell surface and interior may represent a subversion of pre-existing vesicular machinery for antigen capture, processing, sequestration, and presentation

Fractionation of Li, Be, Ga, Nb, Ta, In, Sn, Sb, W and Bi in the peraluminous Early Permian Variscan granites of the Cornubian Batholith: precursor processes to magmatic-hydrothermal mineralisation

The Early Permian Variscan Cornubian Batholith is a peraluminous, composite pluton intruded into Devonian and Carboniferous metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Within the batholith there are: G1 (two-mica), G2 (muscovite), G3 (biotite), G4 (tourmaline) and G5 (topaz) granites. G1-G2 and G3-G4 are derived from greywacke sources and linked through fractionation of assemblages dominated by feldspars and biotite, with minor mantle involvement in G3. G5 formed though flux-induced biotite-dominate melting in the lower crust during granulite facies metamorphism. Fractionation enriched G2 granites in Li (average 315 ppm), Be (12 ppm), Ta (4.4 ppm), In (74 ppb), Sn (18 ppm) and W (12 ppm) relative to crustal abundances and G1 granites. Gallium (24 ppm), Nb (16 ppm) and Bi (0.46 ppm) are not significantly enriched during fractionation, implying they are more compatible in the fractionating assemblage. Sb (0.16 ppm) is depleted in G1-G2 relative to the average upper and lower continental crust. Muscovite, a late-stage magmatic/subsolidus mineral, is the major host of Li, Nb, In, Sn and W in G2 granites. G2 granites are spatially associated with W-Sn greisen mineralisation. Fractionation within the younger G3-G4 granite system enriched Li (average 364 ppm), Ga (28 ppm), In (80 ppb), Sn (14 ppm), Nb (27 ppm), Ta (4.6 ppm), W (6.3 ppm) and Bi (0.61 ppm) in the G4 granites with retention of Be in G3 granites due to partitioning of Be into cordierite during fractionation. The distribution of Nb and Ta is controlled by accessory phases such as rutile within the G4 granites, facilitated by high F and lowering the melt temperature, leading to disseminated Nb and Ta mineralisation. Lithium, In, Sn and W are hosted in biotite micas which may prove favourable for breakdown on ingress of hydrothermal fluids. Higher degrees of scattering on trace element plots may be attributable to fluid–rock interactions or variability within the magma chamber. The G3-G4 system is more boron-rich, evidenced by a higher modal abundance of tourmaline. In this system, there is a stronger increase of Sn compared to G1-G2 granites, implying Sn in tourmaline-dominated mineral lodes may represent exsolution from G4 granites. G1-G4 granite abundances can be accounted for by 20–30% partial melting and 10–40% fractionation of a greywacke source. G5 granites are analogues of Rare Metal Granites described in France and Germany. These granites are enriched in Li (average 1363 ppm), Ga (38 ppm), Sn (21 ppm), W (24 ppm), Nb (52 ppm) and Ta (15 ppm). Within G5 granites, the metals partition into accessory minerals such as rutile, columbite-tantalite and cassiterite, forming disseminated magmatic mineralisation. High observed concentrations of Li, In, Sn, W, Nb and Ta in G4 and G5 granites are likely facilitated by high F, Li and P, which lower melt temperature and promote retention of these elements in the melt, prior to crystallisation of disseminated magmatic mineralisation

Inferring causal molecular networks: empirical assessment through a community-based effort

Inferring molecular networks is a central challenge in computational biology. However, it has remained unclear whether causal, rather than merely correlational, relationships can be effectively inferred in complex biological settings. Here we describe the HPN-DREAM network inference challenge that focused on learning causal influences in signaling networks. We used phosphoprotein data from cancer cell lines as well as in silico data from a nonlinear dynamical model. Using the phosphoprotein data, we scored more than 2,000 networks submitted by challenge participants. The networks spanned 32 biological contexts and were scored in terms of causal validity with respect to unseen interventional data. A number of approaches were effective and incorporating known biology was generally advantageous. Additional sub-challenges considered time-course prediction and visualization. Our results constitute the most comprehensive assessment of causal network inference in a mammalian setting carried out to date and suggest that learning causal relationships may be feasible in complex settings such as disease states. Furthermore, our scoring approach provides a practical way to empirically assess the causal validity of inferred molecular networks

Inferring causal molecular networks: empirical assessment through a community-based effort

It remains unclear whether causal, rather than merely correlational, relationships in molecular networks can be inferred in complex biological settings. Here we describe the HPN-DREAM network inference challenge, which focused on learning causal influences in signaling networks. We used phosphoprotein data from cancer cell lines as well as in silico data from a nonlinear dynamical model. Using the phosphoprotein data, we scored more than 2,000 networks submitted by challenge participants. The networks spanned 32 biological contexts and were scored in terms of causal validity with respect to unseen interventional data. A number of approaches were effective, and incorporating known biology was generally advantageous. Additional sub-challenges considered time-course prediction and visualization. Our results suggest that learning causal relationships may be feasible in complex settings such as disease states. Furthermore, our scoring approach provides a practical way to empirically assess inferred molecular networks in a causal sense