Sequence Selectivity in the Binding of Melatonin to PhiX174RF DNA

Melatonin is an endogenous neurotransmitter that controls the circadian rhythm. When consumed through medication, it has been proven to serve as a treatment for sleep disorders and alleviate sleep quality. Stable levels of melatonin in the human organism are shown to be beneficial as it provides a protective layer to DNA strands ensuring their longevity; however, its excessive consumption may have damaging consequences on the long run. Here we present a study on the sequence selectivity in the binding of melatonin to DNA, intending to show that melatonin targets specific DNA sites. Binding tophiX174RF DNA was assayed using restriction enzyme activity assays employing nine restriction enzymes with differing target sequences and melatonin/DNA base pair ratios ranging 05 – 20. Products of restriction enzyme digests were separated using agarose gel electrophoresis and the relative amounts of digestion product analyzed optically. The results indicated that melatonin selectively bind to DNA, and that upon binding, melatonin nicks DNA strands leading to a potential indication of strand damage in the long run

Avaliação da associação do diclofenaco de sódio com sildenafil no edema de pata induzido por carragenina

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia, Florianópolis, 2011O sildenafil é um inibidor seletivo e potente da fosfodiesterase seletiva de guanosina monofosfato cíclico (GMPc), que catalisa a hidrólise do GMPc. Recentemente, o sildenafil demonstrou efeito antinociceptivo em modelos animais após administração local, periférica e sistêmica, além de potenciar a antinocicepção do diclofenaco. O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito anti-edematogênico do diclofenaco com sildenafil no edema de pata induzido por carragenina em ratos. Foram administradas doses crescentes de sildenafil (0,01; 0,1 e 1,0 mg/Kg) e diclofenaco (0,25; 0,5; 2,5 e 5,0 mg/Kg) separadamente a grupos de seis animais. Posteriormente, foi administrado sildenafil e diclofenaco associados nas doses de 0,01 mg/Kg e 0,25 mg/Kg respectivamente. Cada grupo com seis animais recebeu uma hora antes do estímulo inflamatório (carragenina) a dose referente a cada dose testada. No presente estudo, o diclofenaco teve ação anti-edematogênica sozinho em todas as doses testadas, porém, a resposta observada não foi sempre diretamente proporcional à dose aplicada. Já o sildenafil mostrou-se pró-edematogênico quando utilizado sozinho e, quando utilizado em dose subefetiva associado ao diclofenaco, inibiu a ação anti-edematogênica do diclofenaco. Os resultados sugerem que o sildenafil pode interferir negativamente com terapias anti-inflamatórias

How do you spell “freedom”? Narratives about the 25 April 1974 Revolution in the Brazilian press

This paper proposes a recomposition of the intrigue of journalistic narratives on the Revolution of April 25, 1974 in Portugal based on the coverage of two Brazilian newspapers: O Estado de S. Paulo and Jornal do Brasil. The journalistic narrative is understood as a time orderer in the contemporaneity, expressing a “generalized circulation of historical perception” (Nora, 1979, p. 180), mobilized by the emergence of a new phenomenon: the event. The unusual coup d’état in Portugal stirred the world’s political imagination, reviving confrontations between left and right. At that moment, in Brazil, the military dictatorship completed 10 years and the fourth president of the Armed Forces was beginning its mandate. Narratives are analyzed from different points of view: the organization of facts in time, the construction of characters, projections for the future, or the re-signification of the past

Da campanha ao gabinete de prefeito

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Comunicação e Expressão. Jornalismo.Este Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso é uma grande reportagem em texto sobre as campanhas das eleições municipais, ocorridas durante o segundo semestre de 2012, em Florianópolis, SC. A reportagem tem como objetivo trazer perfis e matérias correlatas sobre os bastidores das campanhas: desde o cotidiano de um candidato e os conflitos entre eles até pesquisas de intenção de votos e prestação de contas

Synthesis of Radioactive Nanostructures in a Research Nuclear Reactor

In this work, the synthesis of radioactive nanostructures by water radiolysis was studied. The irradiation processes were done in the Missouri University of Science and Technology research nuclear reactor (MSTR). Radioactive gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized from aqueous solutions containing the metal salt precursors by radiolysis of water. Seven different samples were irradiated at 200kW of thermal power for 0.5, 1, 3, 5, 10, 30, and 60 minutes. The average sizes of the obtained nanoparticles ranged from 3 nm to 400 nm, it was found that the particle size decreased with the irradiation time. Some agglomerations of particles were found in each solution after the irradiation process. With this research, it was possible to synthesize, in a single step, radioactive AuNPs with the appropriate characteristics to be used in imaging diagnosis and cancer radiation therapy. Radioactive bimetallic nanoparticles of silver and gold (Au/Ag BMNPs) were synthesized from aqueous solutions containing the metal salt precursors by radiolysis of water. Four samples with different Au/Ag concentration (30/70, 50/50, 70/30, and 0/100 by volume percentage) were irradiated at 10kW of thermal power for 3 minutes. The obtained nanoparticles showed (Au)core-shell(Ag) structure as well as alloyed metal structure depending on the solution concentration. It was found that the alloyed metal nanoparticles presented a faced centered cubic crystal structure with lattice parameter of 4.082 ± 0.001 Å and a chemical composition of 70.21 ± 0.01 wt% Au and 28.59 ± 0.01 wt% Ag

Potencialidades de un entorno virtual de aprendizaje para argumentar en clases de ciencias en la escuela secundaria

Los propósitos de este estudio fueron evaluar proyectos incluidos en la plataforma Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE) y analizar la implementación didáctica de uno de esos proyectos con un grupo de estudiantes de escuela secundaria de la ciudad de Córdoba (Argentina). Para alcanzar estos objetivos se evaluó la potencialidad de los proyectos a través del método de análisis de contenido y se caracterizaron las producciones argumentativas escritas por los alumnos de acuerdo al modelo de Toulmin. El análisis de contenido permitió determinar la idoneidad de la plataforma virtual para la indagación científica y, en función de esto, seleccionar un proyecto específico para trabajar en el aula. Los estudiantes participaron activamente de las tareas propuestas y sus producciones argumentativas tuvieron un grado de complejidad alto.The purposes of this study were to assess projects included in the Web-based Inquiry Science Environment (WISE)and analyze the implementation of a teaching proposal based on one of these projects in a secondary school inthe city of Córdoba (Argentina). In order to achieve this objectives, two activities were carried out, thepotentiality of the projects was assesed through a content analysis method and the argumentative productionswritten by the students were characterized using Toulmin Model. The content analysis method allowed us todetermine the suitability of the virtual platform for scientific inquiry and, then, choose a specific project to workin the classroom. The students actively took part in the proposed activities and their argumentative productionshad a high degree of complexity.Fil: Mermoud, Sebastián Ricardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Ordoñez, Camila. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Leticia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Cs.exactas Físicas y Naturales. Departamento de Enseñanza de la Ciencia y la Tecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; Argentin

Companies’ Response to Consumerization and their Motivation Factors for Implementation

The use of private-owned technological devices for professional activities is an even frequent and inevitable phenomenon. The variety of gadgets, the lack of control about their getting into the enterprise’s network and accessing information stands a growing challenge for Information Technology management and for the entire organization. By using a qualitative approach (content analysis) to examine cases of success in the acceptance of consumerization, this work aims to identify some motivation factors based in real experiences. Based on these factors, an organizational motivation profile classification emerges. Finally, a diagram based on Information System success is proposed intending to call for further research concerning consumerization

Acculturation, Religious Fatalism, & Psychological Healthcare Utilization Among Latinxs

As Latinxs acculturate to the U.S. (i.e., changes and transfer of customs from the host culture1 ), they may have more positive attitudes towards psychological healthcare utilization .2 Religious fatalism, the belief that an individual’s health is predetermined by a higher power, has also been shown to be associated with healthcare utilization, such that individuals who endorse higher religious fatalism have more negative attitudes and less health care utilization.3 Thus, acculturations’ association on healthcare utilization may be heavily influenced through religious fatalism; however, little is known about Latinxs specifically. Using a community sample of 102 (63 females and 39 males, Mage= 33.3, SD =10.67) participants, this study examines acculturation and religious fatalism as a contribution to the discussion of utilization of health services among Latinxs. We therefore used the Bidimensional Acculturation Scale,4 the Religious Health Fatalism Questionnaire (RHFQ),5 and the Attitudes Towards Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale (ATSPPH).6 Results revealed that higher levels of acculturation are significantly and negatively correlated with religious fatalism (r= -.216, p \u3c .05). Additionally, lower levels of religious fatalism are significantly and positively correlated with attitudes towards healthcare utilization (r = -.308, p \u3c .01). Finally, there was no significant correlation between acculturation and attitudes towards psychological healthcare utilization (r= .039, p \u3e .05). Therefore, as Latinx’s acculturate to the U.S, they are more likely to have positive attitudes towards seeking psychological care through the indirect relationships of religious fatalism. Our findings promote awareness among counseling psychologists ultimately advocating for culturally sensitive constructs like acculturation and religious fatalism, providing services that are more culturally sensitive. Moreno, O., Nelson T., & Cardemil, C. (2017) Religiosity and attitudes towards professional mental health services: analysing religious coping as a mediator among Mexican origin Latinas/os in the southwest United States, Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 20:7, 626-637, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2017.1372735 Wallace, P. M., Pomery, E. A., Latimer, A. E., Martinez, J. L., & Salovey, P. (2010). A Review of Acculturation Measures and Their Utility in Studies Promoting Latino Health. Hispanic journal of behavioral sciences, 32(1), 37–54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0739986309352341 Moreno, O., & Cardemil, E. (2018). Religiosity and well-being among Mexican-born and U.S.-born Mexicans: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Latina/o Psychology, 6(3), 235–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/lat0000099 Anastasia, E. A., & Bridges, A. J. (2015). Understanding Service Utilization Disparities and Depression in Latinos: The Role of Fatalismo. Journal of immigrant and minority health, 17(6), 1758–1764. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0196-