O Programa Patronato e suas práticas de justiça restaurativa no ambiente prisional no Município de Ponta Grossa

Anais do 35º Seminário de Extensão Universitária da Região Sul - Área temática: Direitos Humanos e JustiçaEste artigo tem por objetivo apresentar uma ação que foi realizada pelo Programa Patronato de Ponta Grossa em parceria com a Penitenciária Estadual de Ponta Grossa e com a Cadeia Pública de Ponta Grossa Hildebrando de Souza. O referido Programa é uma ação extensionista desenvolvida pela Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa (UEPG), em parceria com a Secretaria da Segurança Pública e Administração Penitenciária (SESP/PR), a Secretaria de Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (SETI) e a Instituição de Ensino Superior Sant’Ana (IESSA). Partindo da proposta de trabalho multidisciplinar, o Programa realiza projetos que buscam contribuir socialmente para o enfrentamento de situações de vulnerabilidade que seus assistidos apresentam. Nessa mesma perspectiva, esta comunicação relata uma experiência de trabalho realizado no regime fechado com os detentos que são alunos do Centro Estadual de Educação Básica para Jovens e Adultos Profo Pasqualini (CEEBJA). Para esta ação, utilizou-se como referência a aplicação da metodologia da Justiça Restaurativa, a qual proporciona aos sujeitos a autorreflexão e a sensibilização para a tomada de consciência enquanto agentes sociais com direitos e deveres. A longo prazo, o objetivo das ações desenvolvidas pelo Programa é o de contribuir para a diminuição da reincidência criminal e incentivar os sujeitos a desenvolver sua autonomi

Association between soil organic carbon and calcium in acidic grassland soils from Point Reyes National Seashore, CA

Organo-mineral and organo-metal associations play an important role in the retention and accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC). Recent studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between calcium (Ca) and SOC content in a range of soil types. However, most of these studies have focused on soils that contain calcium carbonate (pH > 6). To assess the importance of Ca-SOC associations in lower pH soils, we investigated their physical and chemical interaction in the grassland soils of Point Reyes National Seashore (CA, USA) at a range of spatial scales. Multivariate analyses of our bulk soil characterisation dataset showed a strong correlation between exchangeable Ca (Ca$_{Exch}$; 5–8.3 c.mol$_{c}$ kg$^{−1}$) and SOC (0.6–4%) content. Additionally, linear combination fitting (LCF) of bulk Ca K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra revealed that Ca was predominantly associated with organic carbon across all samples. Scanning transmission X-ray microscopy near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy (STXM C/Ca NEXAFS) showed that Ca had a strong spatial correlation with C at the microscale. The STXM C NEXAFS K-edge spectra indicated that SOC had a higher abundance of aromatic/olefinic and phenolic C functional groups when associated with Ca, relative to C associated with Fe. In regions of high Ca-C association, the STXM C NEXAFS spectra were similar to the spectrum from lignin, with moderate changes in peak intensities and positions that are consistent with oxidative C transformation. Through this association, Ca thus seems to be preferentially associated with plant-like organic matter that has undergone some oxidative transformation, at depth in acidic grassland soils of California. Our study highlights the importance of Ca-SOC complexation in acidic grassland soils and provides a conceptual model of its contribution to SOC preservation, a research area that has previously been unexplored

Ecotoxicity evaluation of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with ascorbic acid for fish nutrition in aquaculture.

Abstract: Background: Ascorbic acid (AA) is a micronutrient essential for the mechanisms of reproduction, growth, and defense in fish. However, the biosynthesis of this micronutrient does not occur in fish, so it must be supplied with food. A difficulty is that plain AA is unstable, due to the effects of light, high temperature, and oxygen, among others. The use of nanoencapsulation may provide protection and preserve the physicochemical characteristics of AA for extended periods of time, decreasing losses due to environmental factors. Method: This study evaluated the protective effect of nanoencapsulation in polymeric nanoparticles (chitosan and polycaprolactone) against AA degradation. Evaluation was made of the physicochemical stability of the nanoformulations over time, as well as the toxicological effects in zebrafish (Danio rerio), considering behavior, development, and enzymatic activity. For the statistical tests, ANOVA (two-way, significance of p < 0.05) was used. Results: Both nanoparticle formulations showed high encapsulation efficiency and good physicochemical stability during 90 days. Chitosan (CS) and polycaprolactone (PCL) nanoparticles loaded with AA had mean diameters of 314 and 303 nm and polydispersity indexes of 0.36 and 0.28, respectively. Both nanosystems provided protection against degradation of AA exposed to an oxidizing agent, compared to plain AA. Total degradation of AA was observed after 7, 20, and 480 min for plain AA, the CS nanoparticle formulation, and the PCL nanoparticle formulation, respectively. For zebrafish larvae, the LC50 values were 330.7, 57.4, and 179.6 mg/L for plain AA, the CS nanoparticle formulation, and the PCL nanoparticle formulation, respectively. In toxicity assays using AA at a concentration of 50 mg/L, both types of nanoparticles loaded with AA showed lower toxicity towards the development of the zebrafish, compared to plain AA at the same concentration. Although decreased activity of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) did not affect the swimming behavior of zebrafish larvae in the groups evaluated, it may have been associated with the observed morphometric changes, such as curvature of the tail. Conclusions: This study showed that the use of nanosystems is promising for fish nutritional supplementation in aquaculture. In particular, PCL nanoparticles loaded with AA seemed to be most promising, due to higher protection against AA degradation, as well as lower toxicity to zebrafish, compared to the chitosan nanoparticles. The use of nanotechnology opens new perspectives for aquaculture, enabling the reduction of feed nutrient losses, leading to faster fish growth and improved sustainability of this activity

Rugged Single Domain Antibody Detection Elements for Bacillus anthracis Spores and Vegetative Cells

Significant efforts to develop both laboratory and field-based detection assays for an array of potential biological threats started well before the anthrax attacks of 2001 and have continued with renewed urgency following. While numerous assays and methods have been explored that are suitable for laboratory utilization, detection in the field is often complicated by requirements for functionality in austere environments, where limited cold-chain facilities exist. In an effort to overcome these assay limitations for Bacillus anthracis, one of the most recognizable threats, a series of single domain antibodies (sdAbs) were isolated from a phage display library prepared from immunized llamas. Characterization of target specificity, affinity, and thermal stability was conducted for six sdAb families isolated from rounds of selection against the bacterial spore. The protein target for all six sdAb families was determined to be the S-layer protein EA1, which is present in both vegetative cells and bacterial spores. All of the sdAbs examined exhibited a high degree of specificity for the target bacterium and its spore, with affinities in the nanomolar range, and the ability to refold into functional antigen-binding molecules following several rounds of thermal denaturation and refolding. This research demonstrates the capabilities of these sdAbs and their potential for integration into current and developing assays and biosensors

Descrição dos casos hospitalizados pela COVID-19 em profissionais de saúde nas primeiras nove semanas da pandemia, Brasil, 2020

Objective. Describing the COVID-19 hospitalization in health professionals in Brazil. Methods. Serial cases descriptive study; we included the cases with illness between February 21st and April 15th, 2020; registered in Flu Surveillance Information System (SIVEP-Gripe, in Brazilian acronym). Results. From the 184 (1.76%) cases, 110 (59.8%) were female, with a median age of 44 years (min-max: 23-85). Of the 184, 89 (48.4%) are nursing professionals and 50 (27.2%) are doctors. Still, 92 (50.0%) presented comorbidity, with heart disease predominating (n = 37; 40.2%). Of the 112 professionals with a record of evolution, 85 (75.9%) were cured and 27 (24.1%) died, 18 (66.7%) of whom were male. Conclusion. The profile descripted is similar to the population’s in age and comorbidities, but different in relation to sex. The most affected areas were nursing and medicine.Objetivo. Descrever os casos hospitalizados pela COVID-19 em profissionais de saúde no Brasil. Métodos. Estudo descritivo de tipo Série de Casos; foram incluídos aqueles com adoecimento entre 21 de fevereiro e 15 de abril de 2020, registrados no Sistema de Informação de Vigilância da Gripe (SIVEP-Gripe). Resultados. Dos 184 casos, 110 (59,8%) eram do sexo feminino, com mediana de idade de 44 anos (mínima-máxima: 23-85), 89 (48,4%) eram profissionais da enfermagem e 50 (27,2%) médicos. Ainda, 92 (50,0%) apresentavam comorbidade, predominando cardiopatias (n=37; 40,2%). Dos 112 profissionais com registro de evolução, 85 (75,9%) alcançaram cura e 27 (24,1%) foram a óbito, 18 destes do sexo masculino. Conclusão. O perfil dos profissionais de saúde hospitalizados por COVID-19 é semelhante ao da população quanto à idade e comorbidades; porém, diferente quanto ao sexo. As áreas profissionais mais acometidas foram a Enfermagem e a Medicina