Challenges Of Intersectionality In Gender, Science And Technology

This article reflects challenges regarding the interrelations between gender, science and technology (GST). The context of the commemorative event of 20 years of the Gender Studies Center - PAGU, was a great opportunity to conduct such a debate, allowing us to do a collective analysis of the trajectory of this field in Brazil and abroad, especially about the contributions of PAGU in the last decades. © 2016, Universidade Estadual de Campinas UNICAMP. All rights reserved.20164

Standard Unretrofitted Buildings and Net Zero-Energy Concept

There are many different possible combinations of building envelope, utility equipments and onsite energy generation equipments that can lead to net zero-energy performance. For instance, a building with standard design can offset its energy demand by adding a large amount of photovoltaic cells or by improving its energy efficiency rating first and then adding a smaller amount of photovoltaic cells. Despite the second strategy being considered the roadmap to net zeroenergy status, the first scenario is also possible in the actual Portuguese context where laws favor conditions for the installation of PV´s and solar thermal systems. This paper intends to discuss the implications of this fact from a national perspective coupled with the IEA SHC Task 40 - ECBCS Annex 52 vision where authors are active participants

Long time behaviour and self-similarity in an addition model with slow Input of monomers

We consider a coagulation equation with constant coefficients and a time dependent power law input of monomers. We discuss the asymptotic behaviour of solutions as $t \to \infty$, and we prove solutions converge to a similarity profile along the non-characteristic direction

Alterações músculo-esqueléticas relacionadas com o envelhecimento: causas e consequências

O aumento da população idosa e a crescente procura de tratamentos mais adequados para aliviar a dor causada pelos fatores que caracterizam o envelhecimento, particularmente a instalação da sarcopenia, condição associada ao sedentarismo e em alguns casos a enfermidades como artrites e artrose, são responsáveis pelo desenvolvimento de dores articulares que impossibilitam a prática de exercício físico, despoletando outros riscos como a osteoporose e perda da estabilidade postural que em conjunto aumentam o risco de quedas, lesões e fraturas associadas (Powers & Howley, 1997). Porém, a sua origem deverá ser igualmente interpretada muitas vezes como consequência das crescentes limitações do foro ortopédico. A inatividade conduz a um desuso do sistema músculo-esquelético e naturalmente a uma hipo-estimulação do tecido muscular conduzindo à atrofia do mesmo com diminuição da sua função (Tavares, C. 2003). Um exemplo categórico é o caso da osteoartrose do joelho, uma patologia articular crónica degenerativa, frequente em adultos e idosos que interfere na mobilidade e autonomia. A osteoartrose é caracterizada pela presença de dor e limitação funcional, consequência da formação de osteófitos e/ou alteração na integridade da cartilagem articular, que conduzem a uma perda gradual da força, diminuição da mobilidade e instabilidade articular. Frequentemente assistimos nos indivíduos com esta patologia a uma diminuição gradual nos seus níveis de atividade física, já que a imobilização da articulação contribui para diminuir o processo inflamatório na mesma, diminuindo também a dor. No entanto, a imobilização da articulação com artrose vai potenciar: a atrofia, o encurtamento de músculos e tendões, o surgimento de contracturas, a perda de massa óssea, o aumento do risco de fratura, a redução da mobilidade articular e a degeneração da cartilagem (Gordon, N., 1992). Assim, a inatividade física torna-se contraproducente, sendo a prescrição de exercício físico adequado uma forma de combater o avanço progressivo da doença. O fortalecimento da musculatura peri articular é fundamental para a obtenção do equilíbrio da articulação, controlando o impacto do pé sobre o solo durante a marcha, lubrificando a articulação e reduzindo os movimentos anormais entre as superfícies articulares o que ajuda a diminuir a degeneração da articulação (Roddy, E., W. Zhang, and M. Doherty, 2005). A manutenção do equilíbrio é um aspeto determinante na funcionalidade e autonomia estando relacionado como o sistema visual, somatosensorial e vestibular, com a força dos membros inferiores, nomeadamente os grupos musculares flexores e extensores das articulações do joelho e tibiotársica, que tendem a diminuir com a idade. Além disso, as alterações degenerativas dos discos intervertebrais, somados à diminuição da flexibilidade e da força das estruturas musculares e das posturas incorretas frequentes, conduzem a desalinhamentos nas curvaturas da coluna que por sua vez contribuem para a deterioração do equilíbrio, não só estático, como também dinâmico, e consequentemente do padrão de marcha. Neste contexto, a realização de atividade física é fundamental na prevenção de quedas e de fraturas associadas, tendo sido demonstrado por vários estudos que a participação em programas de exercício e o treino de tarefas especificamente orientadas para o sistema sensorial e a manutenção da estabilidade postural reduzem significativamente o número de quedas quando comparado a grupos de controlo, tanto em homens como em mulheres (Izquierdo et al., 2005; 2004). Em suma, o treino da força com intensidade moderada a elevada pode ser efetuado com elevada tolerância por parte de adultos e idosos, com resultados bastante satisfatórios em termos de adaptação morfológica e funcional, assim como também em termos de propriedades elétricas e contrácteis.

The effect of pre-treatment parameters on the quality of glass-ceramic wasteforms for plutonium immobilisation, consolidated by hot isostatic pressing

Glass-ceramics with high glass fractions (70 wt%) were fabricated in stainless steel canisters by hot isostatic pressing (HIP), at laboratory scale. High (600 C) and low (300 C) temperature pre-treatments were investigated to reduce the canister evacuation time and to understand the effect on the phase assemblage and microstructure of the hot isostatically pressed product. Characterisation of the HIPed materials was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), coupled with energy dispersive Xray analysis (EDX) and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). This analysis showed the microstructure and phase assemblage was independent of the variation in pre-treatment parameters. It was demonstrated that a high temperature pre-treatment of batch reagents, prior to the HIP cycle, is beneficial when using oxide precursors, in order to remove volatiles and achieve high quality dense materials. Sample throughput can be increased significantly by utilising a high temperature ex-situ calcination prior to the HIP cycle. Investigation of glass-ceramic wasteform processing utilising a glass frit precursor, produced a phase assemblage and microstructure comparable to that obtained using oxide precursors. The use of a glass frit precursor should allow optimised throughput of waste packages in a production facility, avoiding the need for a calcination pre-treatment required to remove volatiles from oxide precursors

Production and Characterization of Energy Materials with Adsorbent Properties by Hydrothermal Processing of Corn Stover with Subcritical H2O

This work aims to investigate the effect of temperature on the process performance of hydrothermal processing (HTC) of corn Stover with subcritical H2O and on the morphology of solid products. The experiments were carried out at 200, 225 and 250 ºC, reaction time of 240 minutes, heating rate of 2.0 ºC/min, and biomass to water ratio of 1:10, using a pilot scale stirred tank reactor (STR) of 5 gallon, operating in batch mode. The process performance analyzed by computing the yields of solid and liquid reaction products (RLP). The aqueous phase (H2O + RLP) was physicochemical analyzed for pH and total carboxylic acids, expressed as total acetic acid content. The chemical compositions of carboxylic acids, furfural, and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the aqueous phase determined by GC-MS and HPLC. The results showed solid yields ranging from 57.39 to 35.82% (wt.), and liquid reaction products (RLP) yields ranging from 39.53 to 54.59% (wt.). The solid phase products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The chemically activated (2.0 M NaOH) solid phase energy material obtained by HTC at 250 °C, applied as adsorbent to investigate the capacity and/or efficiency to adsorb acetic acid from 1.0 to 4.0 g/L model solutions at 25 °C. The solid phase yield decreases along with the temperature, showing an inflection region between 200 and 225 °C, whereas a drastic change takes place, while that of liquid phase increases, showing also a drastic change between 200 and 225 °C. The total acetic acid content of aqueous phase varied from 4064 to 5387 mg/L, while the pH from 3.77 to 3.91. The GC analysis identified the presence of volatile carboxylic acids, particularly acetic acid, in concentrations between 4020 and 5040 mg/L. HPLC identified the presence of furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural, whose concentrations decrease exponentially and linearly along with the temperature between 686.7 and 0.0, and 443.9 and 0.0 mg/L, respectively, being both compounds not detectable at 250 °C. The elemental/ultimate analysis of solid products shows that carbon content increases, while the oxygen and hydrogen contents decrease, along with the temperature. The H/C and O/C ratios decrease linearly as process temperature increases, and the high heating value (HHV) of solid reaction products, an energy densified material, changes sharply between 200 and 225 °C, showing an increase with temperature. The SEM, EDX, and XDR indicates a change on the morphology and mineralogical phases present in solid reaction products with temperature, particularly at 250 °C. The activated solid phase has proven to be very selective to adsorb acetic acid, showing that recovery of acetic acid from hydrothermal carbonization/liquefaction aqueous solutions is feasible by using a multistage-stage adsorption process in series

Infection with carcinogenic helminth parasites and its production of metabolites induces the formation of DNA-adducts

Background: Infections classified as group 1 biological carcinogens include the helminthiases caused by Schistosoma haematobium and Opisthorchis viverrini. The molecular mediators underlying the infection with these parasites and cancer remain unclear. Although carcinogenesis is a multistep process, we have postulated that these parasites release metabolites including oxysterols and estrogen-like metabolites that interact with host cell DNA. How and why the parasite produce/excrete these metabolites remain unclear. A gene encoding a CYP enzyme was identified in schistosomes and opisthorchiids. Therefore, it is reasonable hypothesized that CYP 450 might play a role in generation of pro-inflammatory and potentially carcinogenic compounds produced by helminth parasites such as oxysterols and catechol estrogens. Here, we performed enzymatic assays using several isoforms of CYP 450 as CYP1A1, 2E1 and 3A4 which are involved in the metabolism of chemical carcinogens that have been associated with several cancer. The main aim was the analysis of the role of these enzymes in production of helminth-associated metabolites and DNA-adducts. Method: The effect of cytochrome P450 enzymes CYP 1A1, 2E1 and 3A4 during the interaction between DNA, glycocholic acid and taurochenodeoxycholate sodium on the formation of DNA-adducts and metabolites associated with urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) and opisthorchiasis was investigated in vitro. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to detect and identify metabolites. Main findings: Through the enzymatic assays we provide a deeper understanding of how metabolites derived from helminths are formed and the influence of CYP 450. The assays using compounds similar to those previously observed in helminths as glycocholic acid and taurochenodeoxycholate sodium, allowed the detection of metabolites in their oxidized form and their with DNA. Remarkably, these metabolites were previously associated with schistosomiaisis and opisthorchiasis. Thus, in the future, it may be possible to synthesize this type of metabolites through this methodology and use them in cell lines to clarify the carcinogenesis process associated with these diseases. Principal conclusions: Metabolites similar to those detected in helminths are able to interact with DNA in vitro leading to the formation of DNA adducts. These evidences supported the previous postulate that imply helminth-like metabolites as initiators of helminthiases-associated carcinogenesis. Nonetheless, studies including these kinds of metabolites and cell lines in order to evaluate its potential carcinogenic are required.This work was financed by FEDER - Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional funds through the COMPETE 2020 - Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, in the framework of the project, Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274). The FCT and FEDER (European Union) also supported these studies through project number IF/00092/2014/CP1255/CT0004info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prognostic value of Dna and Mrna E6/e7 of human papillomavirus in the evolution of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2

Objective: This study aimed at evaluating whether human papillomavirus (HPV) groups and E6/E7 mRNA of HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, and 45 are prognostic of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 outcome in women with a cervical smear showing a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL).Methods: This cohort study included women with biopsy-confirmed CIN 2 who were followed up for 12 months, with cervical smear and colposcopy performed every three months.Results: Women with a negative or low-risk HPV status showed 100% CIN 2 regression. The CIN 2 regression rates at the 12-month follow-up were 69.4% for women with alpha-9 HPV versus 91.7% for other HPV species or HPV-negative status (P < 0.05). For women with HPV 16, the CIN 2 regression rate at the 12-month follow-up was 61.4% versus 89.5% for other HPV types or HPV-negative status (P < 0.05). The CIN 2 regression rate was 68.3% for women who tested positive for HPV E6/E7 mRNA versus 82.0% for the negative results, but this difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions: The expectant management for women with biopsy-confirmed CIN 2 and previous cytological tests showing LSIL exhibited a very high rate of spontaneous regression. HPV 16 is associated with a higher CIN 2 progression rate than other HPV infections. HPV E6/E7 mRNA is not a prognostic marker of the CIN 2 clinical outcome, although this analysis cannot be considered conclusive. Given the small sample size, this study could be considered a pilot for future larger studies on the role of predictive markers of CIN 2 evolution. © the authors.This study aimed at evaluating whether human papillomavirus (HPV) groups and E6/E7 mRNA of HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, and 45 are prognostic of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 outcome in women with a cervical smear showing a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL).Methods: This cohort study included women with biopsy-confirmed CIN 2 who were followed up for 12 months, with cervical smear and colposcopy performed every three months.Results: Women with a negative or low-risk HPV status showed 100% CIN 2 regression. The CIN 2 regression rates at the 12-month follow-up were 69.4% for women with alpha-9 HPV versus 91.7% for other HPV species or HPV-negative status (P < 0.05). For women with HPV 16, the CIN 2 regression rate at the 12-month follow-up was 61.4% versus 89.5% for other HPV types or HPV-negative status (P < 0.05). The CIN 2 regression rate was 68.3% for women who tested positive for HPV E6/E7 mRNA versus 82.0% for the negative results, but this difference was not statistically significant.Conclusions: The expectant management for women with biopsy-confirmed CIN 2 and previous cytological tests showing LSIL exhibited a very high rate of spontaneous regression. HPV 16 is associated with a higher CIN 2 progression rate than other HPV infections. HPV E6/E7 mRNA is not a prognostic marker of the CIN 2 clinical outcome, although this analysis cannot be considered conclusive. Given the small sample size, this study could be considered a pilot for future larger studies on the role of predictive markers of CIN 2 evolution9152

Schistosome and liver fluke derived catechol-estrogens and helminth associated cancers

Infection with helminth parasites remains a persistent public health problem in developing countries. Three of these pathogens, the liver flukes Clonorchis sinensis, Opisthorchis viverrini and the blood fluke Schistosoma haematobium, are of particular concern due to their classification as Group 1 carcinogens: infection with these worms is carcinogenic. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approaches, we identified steroid hormone like (e.g., oxysterol-like, catechol estrogen quinone-like, etc.) metabolites and related DNA-adducts, apparently of parasite origin, in developmental stages including eggs of S. haematobium, in urine of people with urogenital schistosomiasis, and in the adult stage of O. viverrini. Since these kinds of sterol derivatives are metabolized to active quinones that can modify DNA, which in other contexts can lead to breast and other cancers, helminth parasite associated sterols might induce tumor-like phenotypes in the target cells susceptible to helminth parasite associated cancers, i.e., urothelial cells of the bladder in the case of urogenital schistosomiasis and the bile duct epithelia or cholangiocytes, in the case of O. viverrini and C. sinensis. Indeed we postulate that helminth induced cancers originate from parasite estrogen-host epithelial/urothelial cell chromosomal DNA adducts, and here we review recent findings that support this conjecture.José M. Correia da Costa, Maria J. Gouveia, Mónica C. Botelho, Lúcio L. Santos, and Júlio H. Santos thank FCT for Pest- OE/AGR/UI0211/2011 and Strategic Project UI211-2011- 2013, Clínica Sagrada Esperança and Hospital Américo Boavida, Luanda, Angola. Nuno Vale thanks to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER (European Union) for funding through project grants CONCREEQ/275/QUI and PEstC/QUI/UI0081/2011. Nuno Vale also thanks FCT for Post-Doc grant SFRH/BPD/48345/2008. The research findings reviewed here were supported by award R01CA155297 (Paul J. Brindley, Gabriel Rinaldi, Banchob Sripa) from the National Cancer Institute, NIH and P50 P50AI098639 (Banchob Sripa, Paul J. Brindley) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH