Academic Achievement in Physics-Chemistry: The Predictive Effect of Attitudes and Reasoning Abilities

Science education plays a critical role as political priority due to its fundamental importance in engaging students to pursue technological careers considered essential in modern societies, in order to face scientific development challenges. High-level achievement on science education and positive attitudes toward science constitutes a crucial challenge for formal education. Several studies indicate close relationships between students’ attitudes, cognitive abilities, and academic achievement. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of student’s attitudes toward the school discipline of Physics and Chemistry and their reasoning abilities on academic achievement on that school subject, among Portuguese 9th grade students using the data collected during the Project Academic Performance and Development: a longitudinal study on the effects of school transitions in Portuguese students (PTDC/CPE-CED/104884/2008). The participants were 470 students (267 girls – 56.8% and 203 boys – 43.2%), aged 14–16 years old (m D 14.3 0.58). The attitude data were collected using the Attitude toward Physics-Chemistry Questionnaire (ATPCQ) and, the Reasoning Test Battery (RTB) was used to assess the students reasoning abilities. Achievement was measured using the students’ quarterly (9-week) grades in the physics and chemistry subject. The relationships between the attitude dimensions toward Physics-chemistry and the reasoning dimensions and achievement in each of the three school terms were assessed by multiple regression stepwise analyses and standardized regression coefficients (b), calculated with IBM SPSS Statistics 21 software. Both variables studied proved to be significant predictor variables of school achievement. The models obtained from the use of both variables were always stronger accounting for higher proportions of student’s grade variations. The results show that ATPCQ and RTB had a significantly positive relationship with student’s achievement in Physics-chemistry, indicating that both attitudinal and cognitive variables should be taken into account on science education as well as in educative intervention

Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains

Ruiz JC, D'Afonseca V, Silva A, et al. Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(4): e18551.Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings: We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions: These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications

Contradições surgidas no Conselho Gestor da Unidade Básica de Saúde da Família de Vargem Grande, Município de Teresópolis-RJ Contradictions of the Manager Council of the Family Health Unit of Vargem Grande, in Teresópolis City, state of Rio de Janeiro

Este artigo apresenta o estudo das contradições surgidas no Conselho Gestor da Unidade Básica de Saúde da Família de Vargem Grande, Município de Teresópolis-RJ, na resolução das demandas da comunidade. O estudo justifica-se pela necessidade de se entender a micropolítica do controle público de um conselho gestor de uma unidade de Saúde da Família, cuja estratégia é a mudança do modelo de assistência a partir da Rede Básica de Saúde. Objetiva analisar a atuação desse Conselho na resolução dos impasses e problemas daquela comunidade e discutir as contradições surgidas no processo de tomada de decisões. Optou-se por um estudo de caso com abordagem qualitativa. Os sujeitos da pesquisa foram os conselheiros do CG. A coleta de dados foi realizada através da análise das atas do CG e das entrevistas realizadas com conselheiros. Utilizou-se da análise temática para identificar os impasses, problemas e contradições do CG. As análises dos dados apontam que os impasses e problemas são de ordem política, econômica, social e cultural que transcendem a resolução pelo CG. Percebe-se que as atribuições previstas para o CG revelam uma prática de controle restrita à racionalização do serviço através do gerenciamento administrativo da unidade. O CG não conseguiu interferir na política de saúde e na destinação da verba pública. Portanto, os conselheiros exercem atribuições que estão desprovidas de sentido político em garantir o pleno exercício de cidadania e a conquista dos direitos sociais. Conclui-se que o Conselho Gestor de Vargem Grande não representa ainda uma possibilidade efetiva de participação popular no controle público de um Estado ampliado no sentido gramsciano.<br>This paper presents a study on the contradictions of the Manager Council of Vargem Grande Family Health Unit, in Teresópolis City, state of Rio de Janeiro, concerning community health needs. The study helps understand public control policies of a Family Health Unit Manager Council, strategically based on changes of the health care model starting from the Primary Care Network. The aim was to analyze how the Council solves community deadlocks and problems, and to discuss contradictions of the decision process. It is a case study with qualitative approach. Counselors were interviewed and the Council's minutes were analyzed. Thematic analysis was used to identify problems and contradictions of the Manager Council. Data showed that deadlocks and problems are of political, economical, social and cultural nature and that they overcome the scope of the Council. The Council's attributions reveal a control practice restricted to service rationalization of the unit administration matters. The Council was not able to interfere on health politics neither on public budget destinations. So the counselors' attributions are deprived of political sense to guarantee citizenship and the conquest of social rights. The conclusion was that Vargem Grande' Manager Council is not an effective possibility of popular participation in an enlarged State public control in the Gramscian sense

"Eu não preciso falar que eu sou branca, cara, eu sou Latina!" Ou a complexidade da identificação racial na ideologia de ativistas jovens (não)brancas "I do not have to say that I am white, man, I am Latina!" Or the complexity of racial identification in the ideology of (non)white, young, female activists

Neste artigo procuro explorar a complexidade do processo de formação da identidade racial de mulheres, jovens ativistas (não)brancas em São Paulo. Levando em conta a interação do indivíduo com o mundo social, distingue-se a identidade racial apropriada da atribuída e a identidade racial individual da coletiva. Isso requer atenção para o papel da posição social racial, com as subsequentes vantagens raciais, para os sentimentos da ativista neste processo e para a influência mútua da heterogeneidade de identidade racial, do deslocamento da identidade racial e, por conseguinte, do papel da formação de identidade como estratégia de ideologia e práxis ativista.<br>In this article, I explore the complexity of racial identity formation of (non)white, young, female activists in São Paulo. Taking into account the interaction of the individual with the social world, one must distinguish between appropriated and attributed racial identities, as well as individual and collective identities. This requires attention to the role of racial social position and its subsequent racial advantages, to the feelings of activists about this process, and to the mutual influence of the heterogeneity of racial identity, the displacement of racial identity and, consequently, the role of identity formation as a strategy of activist ideology and praxis

Avaliação do efeito de sopas desidratadas ricas em fibras na redução do colesteroal sangüíneo em ratos Evaluation of the cholesterol-lowering efect of high-fiber dehydrated soup in rats

Neste estudo foi avaliado o efeito de quatro formulações dietéticas ricas em fibra solúvel na redução de colesterol sangüíneo em ratos. As formulações foram preparadas com farinha de soja desengordurada, farelo de aveia, cebola desidratada, fibra de soja, condimentos e aromas. Duas das formulações continham feijão preto FP(+) e FP(-), nos níveis de 40 e 30%, respectivamente. As outras duas continham feijão vermelho FV(+) e FV(-), nesses mesmos teores. Foram utilizados seis grupos de oito ratos machos, com peso médio inicial de 200g. O grupo Padrão recebeu dieta basal. O grupo Controle recebeu dieta de composição semelhante à Padrão, porém, acrescida de 1% de colesterol cristalino e 0,1% de ácido cólico. As demais dietas foram semelhantes ao grupo Controle, substituídas pelas formulações FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) e FP(-), de modo a fornecerem 7,4% de fibra total da dieta. Ratos alimentados com dieta do grupo Controle apresentaram aumento significativo dos níveis de colesterol sérico, peso dos fígados, colesterol e lipídio total das fezes e dos fígados, em relação ao grupo recebendo dieta Padrão. As dietas FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) e FP(-), não diferiram entre si quanto ao efeito nos níveis de lipídios séricos e glicose, no peso e lipídio total dos fígados e no peso, umidade e nitrogênio das fezes. No entanto, reduziram significativamente os níveis sangüíneos de colesterol total em 29,0%, os níveis de HDL - colesterol em 34,0%, o peso dos fígados em 11,7% e o colesterol do fígado em 9,0% em relação à dieta Controle. As dietas de feijão vermelho proporcionaram maior redução de colesterol no fígado e maior excreção de lipídio e colesterol nas fezes comparadas com as de feijão preto.<br>The effect of 4 high fiber dietary formulas on reducing blood cholesterol levels in rats was evaluated in the present study. The products were formulated with defatted soy flour, oat bran, dehydrated onion, soy fiber and spices. Two of them contained black beans, FP(+) or FP(-), at 40 or 30%, respectively. The other two contained red beans, FV(+) or FV(-), at the same levels. Six groups of 8 male rats, with initial body weight of about 200g, were used. The Standard group received a basal diet. The Control group received a similar diet, but it was added 1% of cholesterol and 0.1% of cholic acid. The other diets were similar to the Control one, substituted for the formulas FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) and FP(-) to provide 7.4% of total dietary fiber. Rats fed on Control diet showed a significant increase in their blood cholesterol levels, liver weight and fecal and liver cholesterol and total lipid, in relation to the Standard group. There was no significant difference among the diets FV(+), FP(+), FV(-) and FP(-) in terms of blood levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose, liver weight, liver total lipids, fecal weight and moisture and the output of nitrogen. All the formulas reduced blood cholesterol levels by 29%, HDL-cholesterol by 34%, liver weigth by 11.7% and liver cholesterol by 9%, in comparison with the Control diet. The diets containing red beans showed higher reductions of cholesterol in the rat liver and higheroutput of total lipids and cholesterol than the black bean diets