PAI-1 Expressa no Infiltrado Inflamatório Intratumoral em Pacientes com Carcinoma Epidermoide de Cavidade Oral

PAI-1 Expressa no Infiltrado Inflamatório Intratumoral em Pacientes com Carcinoma Epidermoide de Cavidade Ora

Microscopic mechanism for mechanical polishing of diamond (110) surfaces

Mechanically induced degradation of diamond, as occurs during polishing, is studied using total--energy pseudopotential calculations. The strong asymmetry in the rate of polishing between different directions on the diamond (110) surface is explained in terms of an atomistic mechanism for nano--groove formation. The post--polishing surface morphology and the nature of the polishing residue predicted by this mechanism are consistent with experimental evidence.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Introspection dynamics: a simple model of counterfactual learning in asymmetric games

Social behavior in human and animal populations can be studied as an evolutionary process.Individuals often make decisions between different strategies, and those strategies that yield afitness advantage tend to spread. Traditionally, much work in evolutionary game theory considerssymmetric games: individuals are assumed to have access to the same set of strategies, and theyexperience the same payoff consequences. As a result, they can learn more profitable strategies byimitation. However, interactions are oftentimes asymmetric. In that case, imitation may beinfeasible (because individuals differ in the strategies they are able to use), or it may be undesirable(because individuals differ in their incentives to use a strategy). Here, we consider an alternativelearning process which applies to arbitrary asymmetric games,introspection dynamics. Accordingto this dynamics, individuals regularly compare their present strategy to a randomly chosenalternative strategy. If the alternative strategy yields a payoff advantage, it is more likely adopted. Inthis work, we formalize introspection dynamics for pairwise games. We derive simple and explicitformulas for the abundance of each strategy over time and apply these results to severalwell-known social dilemmas. In particular, for the volunteer’s timing dilemma, we show that theplayer with the lowest cooperation cost learns to cooperate without delay

Advances in materials science and engineering assessment of gamma radiation hazards related to geologic materials: comparison of results by field gamma spectrometry and laboratory methods

Geologic materials are a potential source of external gamma radiation in buildings due to the presence of radioisotopes (K-40 and isotopes from U and Th decay families). The contents of these radioisotopes can be evaluated by laboratory analyses that require the extraction of samples, with associated financial and time constraints, and it is also difficult to perform on materials already applied in existing structures. In this work, portable gamma spectrometry results are compared with laboratory analyses in terms of radioisotopes estimations, and the activity concentration index is calculated from them (which assess the conjoint contribution of the different radioisotopes to the external gamma radiation). The studied objects are rocks and their "in situ" weathering products. The results obtained indicate that despite several problems posed by field measurements with portable gamma spectrometry, namely, in terms of the geometric characteristics of the objects measured, this technique has the potential to identify materials with different hazard levels related to external gamma radiation.The Lab2PT-Landscapes, Heritage and Territory laboratory-AUR/04509 is supported by the Portuguese "Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia" (Portuguese funds and where applicable the FEDER co-financing, in the aim of the new partnership agreement PT2020 and COMPETE2020-POCI 01 0145 FEDER 007528). The University Institute of Geology of the University of A Coruna (Spain) received support from Xunta de Galicia with funds from "Consolidacion y estructuracion de unidades de investigacion competitivas-Grupo de potencial de crecimiento" (GPC2015/024). The authors would like to thank A. Pinto, F. Dias, M. Cunha, and P. Pereira for help during the field work

Neurociência (s): a divulgação científica entre a utopia e a distopia

The text weaves considerations about the divulgation and the historical-social appropriation of the result of the research in neuroscience, considered plural by encompass different areas of knowledge. To discuss on its role as scientific practice, the utopian aspect of vision around the same is emphasized, while the dystopia shows up as counterpoint of utopia. The dystopian aspect presented is the "ghost" of eugenics, which to be avoided demand constant discussions about Neuroethics, as advocates Brazilian neuroscientist and scientific disseminator Roberto Lent, for whom science should be divulged and discussed, because the society is responsible for itO texto tece considerações sobre a divulgação e a apropriação histórico-social do resultado das pesquisas em Neurociência, que é plural por englobar distintas áreas do conhecimento. Ao discorrer sobre seu o papel, enquanto prática científica, o aspecto utópico da visão entorno da mesma é salientado, ao mesmo tempo em que a distopia mostra-se como contraponto da utopia. O aspecto distópico apresentado é o “fantasma” da Eugenia, que para ser evitado demanda constantes discussões sobre Neuroética, como defende o neurocientista e divulgador brasileiro Roberto Lent, para o qual a ciência deve ser divulgada e discutida, pois a sociedade é responsável por ela

Influência da temperatura e do teor de umidade na respiração dos grãos de café (Coffea arabica L.).

O armazenamento do café sob condições inadequadas é considerado um dos principais fatores determinantes de perdas qualitativas e quantitativas. A perda de matéria seca, associada à atividade respiratória dos grãos, pode estar intimamente relacionada à sua perda qualitativa. No presente estudo objetivou-se quantificar a produção de CO2 e a perda de matéria seca em função do teor de umidade dos grãos de café da espécie Coffea arabica L., em diferentes temperaturas. Foram utilizados grãos de café com pergaminho, da espécie Coffea arabica L., variedade Catuaí Vermelho, com teores de umidade de aproximadamente 0,11; 0,14; 0,16; 0,19 e 0,22 (b.s.) e temperaturas de 15, 25 e 35ºC. A análise quantitativa da produção de CO2 foi realizada por meio de um respirômetro, a perda de matéria seca foi calculada através de relações estequiométricas específicas e fórmulas. Com os resultados obtidos conclui-se que a produção de CO2 e a perda de matéria seca, foram influenciadas pelo teor de umidade e pela temperatura. A maior produção de CO2 e perda de matéria seca foram observadas para o teor de umidade de 21,95% (b.s.) e temperatura de 35°C e a menor foi observada para 11,11 e 13,64% (b.s.) e temperatura de 15°C

Health-related quality of life in portuguese SLE patients: an outcome measure independent of disease activity and cumulative damage

PURPOSE: To evaluate quality of life in Portuguese patients with Systemic Lupus Erithematosus (SLE) and its correlation with disease activity and cumulative damage. METHODS: We included consecutive SLE patients, fulfilling the 1997 ACR Classification Criteria for SLE and followed at the Rheumatology Department of the University Hospital of Coimbra, Portugal at time of visit to the outpatient clinic. Quality of life was evaluated using the patient self-assessment questionnaire Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36 (SF-36) (validated Portuguese version). The consulting rheumatologist fulfilled the SLE associated indexes for cumulative damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics- Damage Index: SLICC/ACR-DI) and disease activity (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index: SLEDAI 2000). Correlation between SLEDAI and SLICC and SF-36 was tested with the Spearman Coefficient. Significant level considered was 0.05. RESULTS: The study included 133 SLE patients (90.2% female, mean age - 40.7 years, mean disease duration - 8.7 years). Most patients presented low disease activity (mean SLEDAI = 4.23) and limited cumulative damage (mean SLICC = 0.76). Despite that, SF-36 mean scores were below 70% in all eight domains of the index. Physical function domains showed lower scores than mental function domains. The QoL in this group of patients is significantly impaired when compared with the reference Portuguese population (p<0.05 in all domains). There was no correlation between clinical activity or cumulative damage and quality of life. CONCLUSION: QoL is significantly compromised in this group of SLE patients, but not related with disease activity or damage. These findings suggest that disease activity, cumulative damage and QoL are independent outcome measures and should all be used to assess the full impact of disease in SLE patients