Exploiting vasopressin signalling in muscular atrophy and dystrophies

This study aims to evaluate the effects of the stimulation of the AVP-dependent pathways on muscular atrophy. Arg-vasopressin (AVP) has been demonstrated to have a potent effect as myogenic promoting factor both in vitro and in vivo. In skeletal muscle AVP signaling is mediated by the V1a receptor, whose stimulation results in the activation of PLC and PLD, increased cytosolic calcium concentration and stimulation of CaMK (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase) and calcineurin pathways, leading to the formation of multifactor complexes on the promoter of muscle specific genes, thus activating their transcription. In this study we induced muscular atrophy by local over-expression of TNF and we evaluated the effects of the stimulation of AVP signaling pathways in this condition by over-expressing V1a receptor. TNF is a pro-inflammatory cytokine and it is known to inhibit myogenic differentiation both in vitro and in vivo, and we have previously demonstrated that the negative effects of TNF in vitro is counteracted by AVP treatment. Moreover it has been demonstrated that TNF plays a key role in the activation of the inflammatory pathways mediated by NF-kB and in the stimulation of protein catabolism. For these reasons, we evaluated, in TNF-expressing muscle, the effects of V1aR over-expression in the regeneration process, in the inflammatory status and in protein degradation. Morphological and morphometric analysis demonstrated that the local over-expression of V1aR in the atrophic muscle enhances the cross-sectional area of the regenerating fibers. Since we noted the presence of infiltrating mono-nucleated cells in muscles over-expressing TNF, we investigated the nature of the infiltrate: it is positive for esterase activity, demonstrating the presence of macrophages. Esterase activity is reduced in muscles over-expressing both TNF and V1aR. We further demonstrated that the up-regulation of NF-kB expression by TNF is reduced by the contemporary over-expression of V1aR. We noted a prevalence of chemokines and cytokines specific of the pro-inflammatory phenotype of macrophages (M1) in the presence of TNF, but an increased levels of antigens and anti-inflammatory cytokines specific for M2 macrophage phenotype in muscle over-expressing both TNF and V1aR. In regards to the regenerative process, the expression levels of early regeneration markers, such as Pax7 and desmin, are up-regulated by TNF, whereas late differentiation markers, such as myogenin and MHC, are down-regulated. The simultaneous over-expression of V1aR up-regulates the expression of both early and late differentiation markers. These data demonstrate that the stimulation of AVP-dependent pathways enhances skeletal muscle regeneration. We also analyzed PI3K/Akt pathway because TNF is known to induce protein degradation. V1 over-expression maintains the phosphorylation levels of Akt and FoxO, at least inhibiting atrogin-1 transcription activated by TNF, thus counteracting protein degradation. According to these results we are extending our studies to the effects of AVP signaling in muscular dystrophies. Very preliminary data suggest a positive role of AVP even in dystrophic muscles in mdx and Scgβ-null mice, though technical issues have yet to be solved

Some elements of an analysis of the integration of environmental education in primary and secondary school curricula in Cape Verde

[Resumo] No ano de 2012, foi realizada uma Avaliação da Integração da Educação Ambiental nos novos currículos escolares em Cabo Verde (ensino básico e secundário). Foram visitadas seis instituições de ensino, sendo três de ensino básico (duas com currículo novo e uma com currículo antigo) e três de ensino secundário uma com currículo novo e duas com currículo antigo), todas na Ilha de Santiago. O novo currículo foi avaliado positivamente quanto à integração da EA e foram elaboradas orientações estratégicas, buscando contribuir com o aperfeiçoamento do processo.[Abstract] In the year 2012, an Environmental Education Integration Assessment was carried out in the new school curricula in Cape Verde (primary and secondary education). Six teaching institutions were visited, three of which were basic education (two with a new curriculum and one with an old curriculum) and three from secondary education, one with a new curriculum and two with a curriculum vitae), all on Santiago Island. The new curriculum was evaluated positively regarding the integration of the EE and strategic guidelines were elaborated, seeking to contribute with the improvement of the process

Brief presentation of the training of trainers in environmental education and Brazilian public policy: power of Action or Force of Existence stimulated by the Collective Environmental Educator of Campinas (COEDUCA)/Brazil

[Resumo] Esse texto apresenta uma análise da formação de formadores em educação ambiental (EA) desenvolvida pelo Coletivo Educador Ambiental de Campinas (COEDUCA), estimulada por uma política pública no Brasil. O objetivo foi formar educadoras/es ambientais numa perspectiva crítica, libertária e emancipatória, buscando conferir maior poder de regulação da sociedade sobre o Estado, ou seja, formar cidadãs e cidadãos atuantes na defesa e ampliação de seus direitos e que se autodeterminam a agir para, assim, contribuir com a construção de sociedades sustentáveis. O foco analítico é o aumento e/ou diminuição da potência de agir[Abstract] This text presents an analysis of the training of trainers in Environmental Education (EE) developed by the Campinas Environmental Educator Collective (COEDUCA), stimulated by a public policy in Brazil. The objective was to educate environmental educators in a critical, libertarian and emancipatory perspective, seeking to give greater power to regulate society over the State, that is, to educate citizens who are active in the defense and expansion of their rights and who are self-determined to act, thus contributing to the building of sustainable societies. The analytical focus is the increase and/or diminution of the action potenc

A Conceptual Study on the Role of Blockchain in Sustainable Development of Public–Private Partnership

Background: Studies have highlighted how public–private partnerships are characterized by a lack of transparency, low availability of data, low accountability, and, often, strong opportunism. All these factors do not allow potential interested parties to trust it. This undermines the possibility of good cooperation between the public and private sectors and has presented a great limit for the Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) diffusion. Several articles in the literature highlight, in general, the numerous advantages generated using the blockchain in different organizations. The adoption of blockchain in the operation of PPPs could be a solution to overcome the limitations encountered in public–private partnerships. The aim of this study is to propose a theoretical framework aimed at connecting two topics (PPPs and Blockchain)—analyzed separately by literature—to highlight how blockchain can correct the limitations inherent to the functioning of traditional PPPs. Methods: The authors applied a qualitative research method to examine the role of blockchain from a PPP perspective. The authors present a conceptual work in which they advance a theoretical framework by integrating and proposing new relationships between constructs and developing logical arguments for these associations. Through a problem-focused approach, besides presenting a solution to overcome the critical issues, the authors also put forward ideas to help fill a gap in the literature to date. Results: The study showed that blockchain can generate a major shift in the function of PPPs. On the one hand, it makes it possible to overcome many limitations that have hindered the development of partnerships, thus making it possible to spread them further, while on the other hand, it has a positive impact on the strategic role of PPPs in achieving sustainable development goals. Conclusions: Blockchain technology is considered very immature, probably because a single underlying standard does not exist and concepts are difficult to master. Based on state-of- the-art standards, blockchain has the potential to be considered a transformative or even disruptive innovation for PPPs

Lexicalização e deslexicalização : observações sobre a erosão da língua exemplificadas no alemão e no português do Brasil

The present paper deals with grammaticalization as a comprehensive model of erosive processes in the history of natural languages, exemplified in German and Brazilian Portuguese. Grammaticalization is conceived of as the reduction of pragmatic versatility, semantic concreteness, syntactic liberty and phonetic substance of linguistic elements. It is subdivided into the processes of lexicalization, which transforms polylexematic into monolexematic elements, and deslexicalization, which reduces lexematic to sublexematic elements. In the middle of these processes stands the lexicon, which is seen as the central stock of linguistic elements. Within the lexicon, the process of grammaticalization continues, from lexical word classes through intermediate classes to grammatical word classes. The lower boundary of the lexicon is critical threshold, down to which the process of grammaticalization is compensated for by linguistic recycling that leads lexematic elements back into the linguistic circuit, through the formation of new polylexematic units. Beyond this threshold, however, no recycling is possible any more, so that elements which have once lost their lexical character are condemned to disappear in the long run. The different stages of grammaticalization are introduced and illustrated by means of concrete examples, first from Brazilian Portuguese and afterwards from German.Der vorliegende Aufsatz behandelt am Beispiel des Deutschen und des brasilianischen Portugiesisch den Prozeß der Grammatikalisierung als ein umfassendes Modell für erosive Vorgänge in der Geschichte natürlicher Sprachen. Grammatikalisierung wird vorgestellt als Abbau der pragmatischen Vielseitigkeit, semantischen Konkretheit, syntaktischen Freiheit und phonetischen Substanz von Sprachelementen. Ihr Gesamtgebiet wird zerlegt in den Prozeß der Lexikalisierung, der polylexematische Elemente in monolexematische überführt, und den der Delexikalisierung, der lexematische Elemente zu sublexematischen reduziert. Im Mittelpunkt dieser Vorgänge steht das Lexikon, das als der zentrale Elementvorrat der Sprache gesehen wird. Auch innerhalb des Lexikons setzt sich der Prozeß der Grammatikalisierung fort, von den lexikalischen Wortklassen über die Übergangsklassen zu den grammatischen Klassen. Die untere Grenze des Lexikons stellt eine kritische Schwelle dar, bis zu der dem Prozeß der Grammatikalisierung das sprachliche Recycling gegenübersteht, durch das lexematische Elemente über die Bildung neuer polylexematischer Einheiten in den Kreislauf zurückfließen. Unterhalb dieser Schwelle jedoch ist kein Recycling mehr möglich, so daß Elemente, die einmal den lexematischen Charakter verloren haben, auf die Dauer zum Verschwinden verurteilt sind. Die verschiedenen Etappen der Grammatikalisierung werden anhand konkreter Beispiele, zunächst aus dem brasilianischen Portugiesisch, anschließend aus dem Deutschen, vorgestellt und illustriert

Aspectos Sociais e Previdenciários da Presença de Paraguaios em Foz Do Iguaçu/PR

Dissertação apresentada ao Programa de Pós-Graduação Interdisciplinar em Estudos Latino-Americanos da Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, como requisito parcial à obtenção do título de Mestra em Estudos Latino-Americanos.O presente estudo aborda a presença de pessoas de nacionalidade paraguaia no município de Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, tendo por objetivo principal analisar a efetividade da proteção previdenciária devida aos migrantes que exercem atividade remunerada nessa localidade. Foram analisados os aspectos jurídicos e teóricos inerentes ao processo migratório e observadas quais as principais instituições e normas nacionais e internacionais que versam sobre o tema. Foi utilizado como método a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, com o propósito de analisar o fluxo migratório de pessoas de nacionalidade paraguaia. Ademais, o estudo utilizou uma abordagem metodológica quali-quantitativa, com a análise de 30 entrevistas com migrantes que moram e/ou trabalham em Foz do Iguaçu, tendo como instrumento um questionário semiestruturado. As entrevistas tiveram como fim apurar o perfil das pessoas que realizam esse processo migratório e a existência ou não de filiação com o INSS. A partir da análise desses dados, foi possível perceber a importância de disponibilizar acesso à informação previdenciária brasileira aos trabalhadores migrantes, que na maioria das vezes se apresentam incapacitados para exercer seus direitos, em razão do desconhecimento, mesmo diante de vasta legislação protetiva sobre o tema. Dessa forma, foi possível constatar que os migrantes de nacionalidade paraguaia são trabalhadores hipossuficientes em comparação aos trabalhadores locais, sob o viés previdenciário, estando, em sua maioria, desprotegidos

Influence of particle size on the carbonation of stainless steel slag for CO2 storage

Abstract The main aims of this work were to assess the CO2 storage capacity of different particle size fractions of stainless steel slag subjected to accelerated carbonation under mild operating conditions, to study the influence on reaction kinetics of some of the main operating parameters (temperature, pressure and liquid to solid ratio) and to determine the effects of the process on slag mineralogy and leaching behavior. Maximum CO2 uptakes of 130 g CO2/kg residues were measured for the finest grain size and decreased with particle size owing to differences in reacting species availability and specific surface. Process kinetics proved relatively fast, achieving completion in around 2 hours with a CO2 pressure of 3 bar and an optimal liquid to solid ratio of 0.4; temperature was the parameter that most influenced CO2 uptake, due to its enhancement effect on silicates dissolution

Assessment of nutrient and food group intakes across sex, physical activity, and body mass index in an urban Brazilian population

The burden of preventable diet-related diseases is significant and becoming worse. Thus, accurately assessing food intake is crucial to guide public health policies and actions. Using food dietary recalls, we evaluated usual dietary intake according to physical activity and nutritional status in an adult urban population from Brasília, Brazil. The usual nutrient and energy intakes distributions were estimated using the Iowa State University (ISU) method. Energy and nutrient intakes were stratified by gender, age group, body mass index (BMI), and physical activity (PA). The prevalence of inadequate intake was highest for vitamins E and D. Both men and women had excessive sodium intake. The percentage of intakes below daily serving recommendations for food groups were 96% for cereals, 74% for vegetables, and 87% for dairy products, whereas percentage of intakes above daily serving recommendations were 97% for meat, 93% for pulses, and 99% for fat/oils. Energy and nutrient intakes were highest in overweight and physically active individuals within the categories of BMI and physical activity, respectively. Our study found that high-income urban Brazilians consume large quantities of meat, beans, fat/oils, and exhibit a low prevalence of nutrient inadequacies but have excessive sodium intake. Energy and nutrient intakes are highest among men, as well as overweight and physically active individuals

Mulheres que moem, mulheres que ensinam: um estudo sobre as pedagogias das casas de farinhas em um Mocambo do Baixo-Sul da Bahia

1º Congresso Internacional Epistemologias do Sul: perspectivas críticas - 7 a 9 de novembro de 2016, realizada pela Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana (UNILA).A proposta desta reflexão nasce de um recorte de uma pesquisa realizada entre 2013 e 2015 que consistiu na observação participante de práticas corporais no cotidiano de uma comunidade negra rural do interior da Bahia. Trata- se das comunidades negras do Tombador II do Jiquiriçá e de Bernardo de Lapa, ambas localizadas na zona rural do município de Valença-Ba. A pesquisa, que seguiu inspiração da etnografia, foi realizada ao longo de dois anos e culminou com a apresentação da dissertação de mestrado intitulada “CORPORALIDADES E MEMÓRIA LÚDICA: um estudo sobre educação e expressões culturais numa comunidade negra rural da Bahia”