Intimidad: ser y estar en la relación

Considering all structural elements of a relationship, the concept of intimacy is, from our point of view, the widest, and also the most complex and controversial. This is due to its conceptual vulnerability (proximity and even overlapping of contents) and its long history of changes in its meaning. From our perspective, a definition of intimacy should involve its time and space dimensions where intimacy is being built in a multi-systemic, intra and interpersonal process. That is to say, intimacy is a capacity simultaneously individual and relational, developed throughout life, taking different forms, meanings and complexities according to the features and properties of relationships.Considerando todos los elementos estructurales en una relación, el concepto de intimidad parece, desde nuestra perspectiva, el más amplio, complejo y controvierto, por su vulnerabilidad conceptual (de proximidad e incluso sobreposición de conceptos) y su larga historia de cambios de significado. Desde nuestro punto de vista, la definición de intimidad debe implicar sus dimensiones espacial y temporal, en las cuales se construye la intimidad en proceso multi-sistémico, intra- e interpersonal. Es decir, la intimidad es una capacidad simultáneamente individual y relacional, desarrollada a lo largo de la vida, presentando diferentes formas, significados y complejidades de acuerdo con las características y propiedades de la relación

Nuevo sistema familiar en terapia de pareja: propuesta integrativa de las teorías sistémica y de apego

The process of forming a new family brings with it many intergenerational questions that might originate conflict in the couple. These questions turn around each member’s different attachment system representations, and involve negotiating specific rules and boundaries different from the ones brought from the family of origin systems. In this study we present a couple therapy process based on the systemic and attachment perspectives, integrating some Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy principles and techniques. We then discuss the utility of integrating these perspectives to the couple therapist, as well as some limitations.El proceso de formación de una nueva familia por parte de dos adultos aporta muchas cuestiones intergeneracionales que pueden originar conflictos en la pareja, sea por representaciones distintas de lo sistema de apego entre los padres de cada uno, sea porque hay que negociar reglas y límites específicos diferentes de los sistemas familiares de origen. Se presenta esta problemática en un caso de terapia de pareja basando las hipótesis y la intervención en las perspectivas sistémica y de apego, integrando algunos de los principios y técnicas de la Terapia de Pareja Focalizada en las Emociones. Se discute la utilidad de esta propuesta para el terapeuta de pareja, así como algunas limitaciones

Kinetic and energetic parameters of carob wastes fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: crabtree effect, ethanol toxicity, and invertase repression

Carob waste is a useful raw material for the second-generation ethanol because 50% of its dry weight is sucrose, glucose, and fructose. To optimize the process, we have studied the influence of the initial concentration of sugars on the fermentation performance of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. With initial sugar concentrations (S0) of 20 g/l, the yeasts were derepressed and the ethanol produced during the exponential phase was consumed in a diauxic phase. The rate of ethanol consumption decreased with increasing S0 and disappeared at 250 g/l when the Crabtree effect was complete and almost all the sugar consumed was transformed into ethanol with a yield factor of 0.42 g/g. Sucrose hydrolysis was delayed at high S0 because of glucose repression of invertase synthesis, which was triggered at concentrations above 40 g/l. At S0 higher than 250 g/l, even when glucose had been exhausted, sucrose was hydrolyzed very slowly, probably due to an inhibition at this low water activity. Although with lower metabolic rates and longer times of fermentation, 250 g/l is considered the optimal initial concentration because it avoids the diauxic consumption of ethanol and maintains enough invertase activity to consume all the sucrose, and also avoids the inhibitions due to lower water activities at higher S0.Project Alfaetilico, as part of the Portuguese National Program QREN-POAlgarve21info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cultura em substratos orgânicos de Gerberas

O cultivo sem solo de Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) tem-se revelado uma técnica adequada, permitindo ultrapassar alguns dos problemas surgidos na cultura tradicional, em solo. No âmbito do Projecto Agro no197 “Cultura sem solo com reutilização do efluente, em estufa com controle ambiental melhorado”, desenvolvido pela Direcçao Regional de Agricultura do Algarve, pelo Cento de Hidroponia e Utilidades Hortofrutícolas e pela Universidade do Algarve testou-se o cultivo de gerbera em substratos alternativos, no Centro de Experimentação Hortofrutícola do Patacão. Cultivaram-se quatro cultivares de gerbera: Monika, Junkfrau, Venice e Lady, em substratos preparados à base de resíduos orgânicos: casca de pinho e bagaço de uva, durante dois anos consecutivos. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os substratos testados apresentam características adequadas à cultura da gerbera, tendo-se obtido as produções mais elevadas com o bagaço de uva compostado e a casca de pinho não compostada. Das cv. em estudo, no 1o ano a Venice apresentou o maior número de flores comercializáveis, seguida da Lady com mais flores na classe Extra. No 2o ano, a produção foi mais equilibrada entre as cultivares, sendo de registar o aumento da produção em duas cv., Junkfrau e Monica

Qualidade de vida do idoso na comunidade: aplicação da Escala de Flanagan

The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction degree of the elderly people regarding their quality of life. Data were obtained by a questionnaire characterizing the sample with a scale of quality proposed by Flanagan, using the interview technique. Among 128 elderly people, authors verified a insufficient degree of satisfaction. The dimensions of the quality of life pointed out by the Flanagan's scale were: personal development and fulfillment; family relations; social participation; welfare and material support; learning and friendship. The authors concluded that the Flanagan's scale presents limitations as a result of the subjectivity of the concept of quality.Este estudio pretendió valorar la satisfacción de los ancianos en relación a su calidad de vida. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de un cuestionario que caracterizaba la muestra y la escala de calidad de vida de Flanagan, utilizando la técnica de entrevista. La muestra fue constituida por 128 ancianos. En los resultados, comprobamos que la satisfacción de estos ancianos fue regular. Las dimensiones de la calidad de vida apuntadas en escala de Flanagan fueron: desarrollo personal y realización, relaciones con familiares, participación social, bienestar físico y material, amistad y aprendizaje. Concluimos que esta escala presenta limitaciones en virtud del carácter subjetivo del concepto de calidad.Esse estudo objetivou avaliar a satisfação de idosos em relação à sua qualidade de vida. Os dados foram obtidos através de questionário que caracterizava a amostra e a Escala de Qualidade de Vida de Flanagan, utilizando-se a técnica de entrevista. A amostra foi constituída por 128 idosos. Nos resultados, verificamos que a satisfação desses idosos mostrou-se regular. As dimensões da qualidade de vida apontadas na escala de Flanagan foram: desenvolvimento pessoal e realização; relações com familiares; participação social; bem-estar físico e material; amizade e aprendizagem. Concluímos que essa Escala apresenta limitações em virtude do caráter subjetivo do conceito de qualidade

A distributed computation of Interpro Pfam, PROSITE and ProDom for protein annotation

Interpro is a widely used tool for protein annotation in genome sequencing projects, demanding a large amount of computation and representing a huge time-consuming step. We present a strategy to execute programs using databases Pfam, PROSITE and ProDom of Interpro in a distributed environment using a Java-based messaging system. We developed a two-layer scheduling architecture of the distributed infrastructure. Then, we made experiments and analyzed the results. Our distributed system gave much better results than Interpro Pfam, PROSITE and ProDom running in a centralized platform. This approach seems to be appropriate and promising for highly demanding computational tools used for biological applications

Insulin-like growth factor 1 gene (CA)n repeats and a variable number of tandem repeats of the insulin gene in Brazilian children born small for gestational age

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of (CA)n repeats in the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene and a variable number of tandem repeats of the insulin gene on birth size in children who are small or adequate-sized for gestational age and to correlate these polymorphisms with serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and insulin sensitivity in children who are small for gestational age, with and without catch-up growth. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 439 infants: 297 that were adequate-sized for gestational age and 142 that were small for gestational age (66 with and 76 without catch-up). The number of (CA)n repeat in the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene and a variable number of tandem repeats in the insulin gene were analyzed using GENESCAN software and polymerase chain reaction followed by enzymatic digestion, respectively. Clinical and laboratory data were obtained from all patients. RESULTS: The height, body mass index, paternal height, target height and insulin-like growth factor 1 serum levels were higher in children who were small for gestational age with catch-up. There was no difference in the allelic and genotypic distributions of both polymorphisms between the adequate-sized and small infants or among small infants with and without catch-up. Similarly, the polymorphisms were not associated with clinical or laboratory variables. CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms of the (CA)n repeats of the insulin-like growth factor 1 gene and a variable number of tandem repeats of the insulin gene, separately or in combination, did not influence pre- or postnatal growth, insulin-like growth factor 1 serum levels or insulin resistance