Boltzmann-Gibbs thermal equilibrium distribution for classical systems and Newton law: A computational discussion

We implement a general numerical calculation that allows for a direct comparison between nonlinear Hamiltonian dynamics and the Boltzmann-Gibbs canonical distribution in Gibbs $\Gamma$-space. Using paradigmatic first-neighbor models, namely, the inertial XY ferromagnet and the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam $\beta$-model, we show that at intermediate energies the Boltzmann-Gibbs equilibrium distribution is a consequence of Newton second law (${\mathbf F}=m{\mathbf a}$). At higher energies we discuss partial agreement between time and ensemble averages.Comment: New title, revision of the text. EPJ latex, 4 figure

Flint’s Children: Narratives on Hope

Hope plays an important role in resiliency, well-being, and buffering against adversity. To explore children’s experiences with hope while developing in low-income communities, we conducted interviews with twenty-one children residing in Flint, Michigan, ages 9-12 years. Research questions focused on the specific hopes children have, the importance they ascribe to different hopes, and their experiences of feeling hopeful or less hopeful about desired outcomes. Children expressed interrelated hopes across multiple social-ecological domains, including hopes for themselves, hopes for their interpersonal relationships, and hopes for the community. Children placed particular importance on their hopes of helping others, which included providing for their families and aiding others in the community. Children, however, expressed uncertainty regarding their hopes related to career aspirations, academic achievement, financial stability, and obtaining basic needs. Our findings expand upon what is known about children’s internal dialogues with feeling hopeful or less hopeful about desired outcomes in low-income communities. These findings can enhance community and school-based programming so they further align with the specific hopes that children have, and attune to areas in which children in impoverished communities are most in need of hope-engendering strategies

Formação em Terapia Ocupacional na Interface das Artes e da Saúde: a experiência do PACTO

This paper presents the education work offered in the Occupational Therapy Program developed by the Laboratory of Studies and Research in Art, Body and Occupational Therapy of FMUSP. The Laboratory conducts teaching and research activities, in the didactic-assistancial field, with groups and individuals accompaniment for heterogeneous population through the Artistic Compositions and Occupational Therapy Permanent Program (PACTO) and through partnerships made with projects in the art/health interface. Students experiences are sheltered and elaborated in team discussion, weekly supervisions, study groups and theme-deepening seminars. The education qualifies students to: understand and build up practices in the art/health interface under an occupational therapy's perspective; questioning the approaches in the art/health interface in healthcare spaces and in cultural spaces; comprehend social and institutional relations and institutional transformation processes; understanding the occupational therapists' participation in cultural policies and health humanizing policies. We chose to report and scoring aspects of the work done in recent years (2003-2008) in which some teaching strategies were consolidated and showed its effects on students' education and professional exercise. In the Occupational Therapy field there is an increase in the possibilities for professional performance linked to the issues of cultural production, in trans-disciplinary projects dealing with constructing inclusive social networks, with collective participation and production of subjectivity.Este artigo apresenta o trabalho de formação oferecido na Graduação em Terapia Ocupacional desenvolvido pelo Laboratório de Estudos e Pesquisa Arte, Corpo e Terapia Ocupacional da FMUSP. O Laboratório realiza atividades de ensino e pesquisa, no campo didático-assistencial, nos atendimentos grupais e individuais para populações heterogêneas através do Programa Permanente Composições Artísticas e Terapia Ocupacional (PACTO) e em parcerias com projetos que se constituem na interface arte-saúde. As experiências dos estudantes são acolhidas e elaboradas em discussões de equipe, supervisões semanais, grupo de estudos e seminários de aprofundamento temático. A formação oferecida habilita os estudantes para: a compreensão e a construção de práticas na interface arte/saúde; a problematização das abordagens na interface arte/saúde nos espaços de assistência em saúde e nos espaços culturais; a compreensão das relações institucionais e sociais e dos processos de transformação das instituições; a reflexão sobre a participação do terapeuta ocupacional nas políticas culturais e nas políticas de humanização em saúde. Elegemos relatar e pontuar aspectos do trabalho efetuado nos últimos anos (2003-2008) no qual algumas estratégias de ensino foram consolidadas e evidenciaram seus efeitos na formação dos estudantes e no exercício profissional. No campo da Terapia Ocupacional verifica-se uma ampliação das possibilidades de atuação profissional vinculadas ao campo da produção cultural, em projetos transdisciplinares voltados para construção de redes sociais inclusivas, com a participação coletiva e a produção de subjetividade

Establishment of Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Erythroid Progenitor Cell Lines Able to Produce Functional Red Blood Cells

BACKGROUND: The supply of transfusable red blood cells (RBCs) is not sufficient in many countries. If erythroid cell lines able to produce transfusable RBCs in vitro were established, they would be valuable resources. However, such cell lines have not been established. To evaluate the feasibility of establishing useful erythroid cell lines, we attempted to establish such cell lines from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We developed a robust method to obtain differentiated cell lines following the induction of hematopoietic differentiation of mouse ES cells and established five independent hematopoietic cell lines using the method. Three of these lines exhibited characteristics of erythroid cells. Although their precise characteristics varied, each of these lines could differentiate in vitro into more mature erythroid cells, including enucleated RBCs. Following transplantation of these erythroid cells into mice suffering from acute anemia, the cells proliferated transiently, subsequently differentiated into functional RBCs, and significantly ameliorated the acute anemia. In addition, we did not observe formation of any tumors following transplantation of these cells. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to show the feasibility of establishing erythroid cell lines able to produce mature RBCs. Considering the number of human ES cell lines that have been established so far, the intensive testing of a number of these lines for erythroid potential may allow the establishment of human erythroid cell lines similar to the mouse erythroid cell lines described here. In addition, our results strongly suggest the possibility of establishing useful cell lines committed to specific lineages other than hematopoietic progenitors from human ES cells

Computational Models of the Notch Network Elucidate Mechanisms of Context-dependent Signaling

The Notch signaling pathway controls numerous cell fate decisions during development and adulthood through diverse mechanisms. Thus, whereas it functions as an oscillator during somitogenesis, it can mediate an all-or-none cell fate switch to influence pattern formation in various tissues during development. Furthermore, while in some contexts continuous Notch signaling is required, in others a transient Notch signal is sufficient to influence cell fate decisions. However, the signaling mechanisms that underlie these diverse behaviors in different cellular contexts have not been understood. Notch1 along with two downstream transcription factors hes1 and RBP-Jk forms an intricate network of positive and negative feedback loops, and we have implemented a systems biology approach to computationally study this gene regulation network. Our results indicate that the system exhibits bistability and is capable of switching states at a critical level of Notch signaling initiated by its ligand Delta in a particular range of parameter values. In this mode, transient activation of Delta is also capable of inducing prolonged high expression of Hes1, mimicking the “ON” state depending on the intensity and duration of the signal. Furthermore, this system is highly sensitive to certain model parameters and can transition from functioning as a bistable switch to an oscillator by tuning a single parameter value. This parameter, the transcriptional repression constant of hes1, can thus qualitatively govern the behavior of the signaling network. In addition, we find that the system is able to dampen and reduce the effects of biological noise that arise from stochastic effects in gene expression for systems that respond quickly to Notch signaling

Silencing and Nuclear Repositioning of the λ5 Gene Locus at the Pre-B Cell Stage Requires Aiolos and OBF-1

The chromatin regulator Aiolos and the transcriptional coactivator OBF-1 have been implicated in regulating aspects of B cell maturation and activation. Mice lacking either of these factors have a largely normal early B cell development. However, when both factors are eliminated simultaneously a block is uncovered at the transition between pre-B and immature B cells, indicating that these proteins exert a critical function in developing B lymphocytes. In mice deficient for Aiolos and OBF-1, the numbers of immature B cells are reduced, small pre-BII cells are increased and a significant impairment in immunoglobulin light chain DNA rearrangement is observed. We identified genes whose expression is deregulated in the pre-B cell compartment of these mice. In particular, we found that components of the pre-BCR, such as the surrogate light chain genes λ5 and VpreB, fail to be efficiently silenced in double-mutant mice. Strikingly, developmentally regulated nuclear repositioning of the λ5 gene is impaired in pre-B cells lacking OBF-1 and Aiolos. These studies uncover a novel role for OBF-1 and Aiolos in controlling the transcription and nuclear organization of genes involved in pre-BCR function

Patient safety in care circumstances: prevention of adverse events in the hospitalization of children

This case study with a qualitative approach presents an analysis of the perceptions of family caregivers/companions and health workers concerning adverse events in care contexts. A total of 15 companions and 23 health workers from pediatric hospitalization units of a university hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil participated in this study from August to December 2010. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed through thematic content analysis using QSR's Nvivo version 7.0. Seven thematic categories emerged from the analysis. The results highlight reviewing and checking workers' interventions and implementing effective communication among workers, caregivers and children. The main recommendations concern changing the organizational culture of health facilities, emphasizing safe care and a systemic view of the evaluation of adverse events.Se trata de una investigación estudio de caso cualitativo, cuyo objetivo fue analizar cómo las acompañantes/cuidadoras y profesionales de salud reconocen los eventos adversos en las circunstancias de cuidado. Fue realizada con 15 acompañantes/cuidadores y 23 profesionales de salud de las unidades de internación de pediatría de un hospital-escuela de Porto Alegre, Brasil entre agosto y diciembre de 2010. Entrevista semi-estructurada fue utilizada para la recolección de las informaciones, siendo sometidas a análisis temático con apoyo del software QSR Nvivo 7.0. El análisis de las informaciones dejó en evidencia siete categorías. Los resultados sugieren la revisión y control permanente en cualquier intervención del profesional y el proceso de comunicación efectivo profesional-acompañante-niño. El estudio trae como recomendaciones los cambios en la cultura organizacional de las instituciones de salud para una cultura de seguridad, con énfasis en el cuidado seguro y visión sintética en la evaluación de la ocurrencia de eventos adversos.Trata-se de pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa do tipo estudo de caso, cujo objetivo foi analisar como as acompanhantes/cuidadoras e profissionais da saúde reconhecem os eventos adversos nas circunstâncias de cuidado. Foi realizada com 15 acompanhantes/cuidadores e 23 profissionais da saúde das unidades de internação pediátrica de um hospital-escola de Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil, no período entre agosto e dezembro de 2010. A entrevista semiestruturada foi utilizada na coleta das informações, sendo submetida à técnica da análise temática com apoio do software QSR Nvivo, versão 7.0. A análise das informações evidenciou sete categorias temáticas. Nos resultados, destacam-se a revisão e conferência permanentes em qualquer intervenção do profissional e o processo de comunicação efetivo profissional/acompanhante/criança. O estudo traz como principais recomendações as mudanças na cultura organizacional das instituições de saúde para uma cultura de segurança, com ênfase no cuidado seguro em saúde e visão sistêmica na avaliação da ocorrência de eventos adversos

Permanent education in health: a review

OBJECTIVE : To undertake a meta-synthesis of the literature on the main concepts and practices related to permanent education in health. METHODS : A bibliographical search was conducted for original articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, LILACS, IBECS and SciELO databases, using the following search terms: “public health professional education”, “permanent education”, “continuing education”, “permanent education health”. Of the 590 articles identified, after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, 48 were selected for further analysis, grouped according to the criteria of key elements, and then underwent meta-synthesis. RESULTS : The 48 original publications were classified according to four thematic units of key elements: 1) concepts, 2) strategies and difficulties, 3) public policies and 4) educational institutions. Three main conceptions of permanent education in health were found: problem-focused and team work, directly related to continuing education and education that takes place throughout life. The main strategies for executing permanent education in health are discussion, maintaining an open space for permanent education, and permanent education clusters. The most limiting factor is mainly related to directly or indirect management. Another highlight is the requirement for implementation and maintenance of public policies, and the availability of financial and human resources. The educational institutions need to combine education and service aiming to form critical-reflexive graduates. CONCLUSIONS : The coordination between health and education is based as much on the actions of health services as on management and educational institutions. Thus, it becomes a challenge to implement the teaching-learning processes that are supported by critical-reflexive actions. It is necessary to carry out proposals for permanent education in health involving the participation of health professionals, teachers and educational institutions.OBJETIVO : Realizar metasíntesis de la literatura sobre los principales conceptos y prácticas relacionados con la educación permanente en salud. MÉTODOS : Se realizó búsqueda bibliográfica de artículos originales en las bases de datos PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs, IBECS y SciELO, utilizando los siguientes descriptores: “ public health professional education”, “permanent education”, “continuing education”, “permanent education health ”. De un total de 590 artículos identificados, posterior a los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, fueron seleccionados 48 para análisis, los cuales fueron sometidos al análisis individual, análisis comparativo, análisis con criterios de agrupamiento de elementos-clave y sometidos a metasíntesis. RESULTADOS : Los 48 artículos originales fueron clasificados como elementos-clave en cuatro unidades temáticas: 1) Concepciones; 2) Estrategias y dificultades; 3) Políticas públicas e 4) Instituciones formadoras. Se encontraron tres concepciones principales de educación permanente en salud: ubicación del problema y enfocarlo en el trabajo en equipo, directamente relacionado con la educación continua y educación que se da a lo largo de la vida. Las principales estrategias para efectivar la educación permanente fueron la ubicación del problema, mantenimiento de espacios para la educación permanente y polos de educación permanente. El mayor factor limitante estuvo relacionado con la gerencia directa o indirecta. Fueron mencionadas la necesidad de implementación y mantenimiento de políticas públicas, así como la disponibilidad de recursos financieros y humanos. Las instituciones formadoras tendrían la necesidad de articular educación y servicio para la formación de egresados críticos-reflexivos. CONCLUSIONES : La articulación educación y salud se encuentra pautada tanto en las acciones de los servicios de salud, cuanto en la gestión y de instituciones formadoras. Así, se torna un desafío implementar procesos de educación-aprendizaje que sean respaldados por acciones crítico-reflexivas. Es necesario realizar propuestas de educación permanente en salud con la participación de profesionales de los servicios, profesores y profesionales de las instituciones de educación.OBJETIVO : Realizar metassíntese da literatura sobre os principais conceitos e práticas relacionados à educação permanente em saúde. MÉTODOS : Foi realizada busca bibliográfica de artigos originais nas bases de dados PubMed, Web of Science, Lilacs, IBECS e SciELO, utilizando os seguintes descritores: “ public health professional education ”, “ permanent education”, “continuing education ”, “ permanent education health ”. De um total de 590 artigos identificados, após os critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foram selecionados 48 para análise, os quais foram submetidos à análise individual, análise comparativa, análise com critérios de agrupamentos de elementos-chave e submetidos à metassíntese. RESULTADOS : Os 48 artigos originais foram classificados como elementos-chave em quatro unidades temáticas: 1) Concepções; 2) Estratégias e dificuldades; 3) Políticas públicas; e 4) Instituições formadoras. Foram encontradas três concepções principais de educação permanente em saúde: problematizadora e focada no trabalho em equipe, diretamente relacionada à educação continuada e educação que se dá ao longo da vida. As principais estratégias para efetivação da educação permanente foram a problematização, manutenção de espaços para a educação permanente e polos de educação permanente. O maior fator limitante foi relacionado à gerência direta ou indireta. Foram indicadas a necessidade de implementação e manutenção de políticas públicas, além de disponibilidade de recursos financeiros e de recursos humanos. As instituições formadoras teriam necessidade de articular ensino e serviço para a formação de egressos críticos-reflexivos. CONCLUSÕES : A articulação educação e saúde encontra-se pautada tanto nas ações dos serviços de saúde, quanto de gestão e de instituições formadoras. Assim, torna-se um desafio implementar processos de ensino-aprendizagem que sejam respaldados por ações crítico-reflexivas. É necessário realizar propostas de educação permanente em saúde com a participação de profissionais dos serviços, professores e profissionais das instituições de ensino

The Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Modulates Development of CD8+ cDC in Mice

We have identified a novel role for Pin1 as a modulator of CD8+ cDC development. Consistent with reduced numbers of CD8+ cDC in Pin1-null mice, we find that the absence of Pin1 impairs CD8+ T cell proliferation in response to infection with Listeria monocytogenes. These data suggest that, via regulation of CD8+ cDC production, Pin1 may serve as an important modulator of adaptive immunity

Site-1 protease function is essential for the generation of antibody secreting cells and reprogramming for secretory activity

The unfolded protein response (UPR) and activation of XBP1 is necessary for high secretory efficiency and functional differentiation of antibody secreting cells (ASCs). The UPR additionally includes a branch in which membrane-bound transcription factors, exemplified by ATF6, undergo intramembrane-proteolysis by the sequential action of site-1 (MBTPS1/S1P) and site-2 proteases (MBTPS2/S2P) and release of the cytoplasmic domain as an active transcription factor. Such regulation is shared with a family of CREB3-related transcription factors and sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs). Of these, we identify that the CREB3 family member CREB3L2 is strongly induced and activated during the transition from B-cell to plasma cell state. Inhibition of site-1 protease leads to a profound reduction in plasmablast number linked to induction of autophagy. Plasmablasts generated in the presence of site-1 protease inhibitor segregated into CD38high and CD38low populations, the latter characterized by a marked reduction in the capacity to secrete IgG. Site-1 protease inhibition is accompanied by a distinctive change in gene expression associated with amino acid, steroid and fatty acid synthesis pathways. These results demonstrate that transcriptional control of metabolic programs necessary for secretory activity can be targeted via site-1 protease inhibition during ASC differentiation