9,717 research outputs found
Understanding the reasons for behavioral failure: a process view of psychosocial barriers and constraints to pro-ecological behavior
WOS:000324049900008 (Nº de Acesso Web of Science)For many years now, behavior change projects and research on pro-ecological behavior seem to have encountered difficulties in answering the question: why do people fail to act? That is, what are the barriers and constraints that prevent people from acting in a pro-ecological way? In order to fill the gap, this paper aims to operationalize the concepts of barriers and constraints, based on an approach that considers the role of behavioral goals ("to achieve X"). In addition, it aims to present a preliminary approach focused on understanding the processes involved in the barriers and constraints emergence and their consequent effect on the implementation of behavioral goals into behaviors. This is done in order to allow for a better understanding of: (1) how the interaction between individual/dispositional characteristics and the characteristics of the situation in which individuals are in, may result in the inhibition/constraining of pro-ecological goals implementation into behaviors; and (2) the role of conscious and unconscious processes in this. Examples of barriers and constraints will be given, in order to make salient the need for future research to address these and for behavioral change projects to take them into consideration
Anticancer peptides : prospective innovation in cancer therapy
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016Current cancer treatments require improvements in selectivity and efficacy. Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy approaches result in patient’s suffering over time due to the development of severe side-effects that simultaneously condition adherence to therapy. Biologically active peptides, in particular antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), are versatile molecules in terms of biological activities. The cytotoxic activities of several AMPs turn this group of molecules into an amazing pool of new templates for anticancer drug development. However, several unmet challenges limit application of peptides in cancer therapy. The mechanism(s) of action of the peptides need better description and understanding, and innovative targets have to be discovered and explored, facilitating drug design and development. In this chapter, we explore the natural occurring AMPs as potential new anticancer peptides (ACPs) for cancer prevention and treatment. Their modes of action, selectivity to tumor compared to normal cells, preferential targets, and applications, but also their weaknesses, are described and discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Does a shell matter for defence? Chemical deterrence in two cephalaspidean gastropodes with calcified shells
Opisthobranch molluscs show an evolutionary trend to reduce, internalize and lose the shell. Many of them base their defensive strategies on natural deterrent products and current evolutionary theory suggests that the acquisition of chemical defences preceded shell reduction and loss, which has characterized the evolution of this group. Here we show that basal, shelled opisthobranch molluscs are defended against sympatric predators even if their protective shell is removed. The cephalaspideans Bulla striata and Haminoea orbignyana, both with distinct shell calcification, significantly deterred feeding by sympatric crab and fish predators, both in laboratory and field assays. However, our results argue against a progressive increment of chemical defences associated with shell reduction, because the cephalaspidean with the more fully calcified shell, Bulla striata, was also the more deterrent. These findings suggest that effective chemical defences might have evolved independently from shell loss, at least in basal opisthobranchs such as cephalaspideans
Antracologia, uma nova fonte de informaçoes para a arqueologia brasileira
Charcoal analysis is the taxonomic and quantitative study of charcoal remains found in soils or archaeological deposits, based on plant anatomy. This discipline may provide both ethnoarchaeological and palaeoecological evidences. In this paper, we present its methods and possible applications, as well as a few examples. We suggest that important results may be expected from charcoal analysis applied to brazilian archaeology. (Résumé d'auteur
Infrared tracking system for immersive virtual environments
In this paper, we describe the theoretical foundations and engineering approach of an infrared-optical tracking system specially design for large scale immersive virtual environments (VE) or augmented reality (AR) settings. The system described is capable of tracking independent retro-reflective markers arranged in a 3D structure (ar-tefact) in real time (25Hz), recovering all possible 6 Degrees of Freedom (DOF). These artefacts can be ad-justed to the user’s stereo glasses to track his/her pose while immersed in the VE or AR, or can be used as a 3D input device. The hardware configuration consists in 4 shutter-synchronized cameras attached with band-pass infrared filters and the artefacts are illuminated by infrared array-emitters. The system was specially designed to fit a room with sizes of 5.7m x 2.7m x 3.4 m, which match the dimensions of the CAVE-Hollowspace of Lousal where the system will be deployed. Pilot lab results have shown a latency of 40ms in tracking the pose of two ar-tefacts with 4 infrared markers, achieving a frame-rate of 24.80 fps and showing a mean accuracy of 0.93mm/0.52º and a mean precision of 0.08mm/0.04º, respectively, in overall translation/rotation DOFs, fulfill-ing the system requirements initially defined.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Lactobacillus crispatus as the etiological agent in cytolytic vaginosis
Introduction: Lactobacillus spp. dominate the vaginal niche but can also be involved in other vaginal dysbiosis, such as cytolytic vaginosis (CV), which remains poorly studied. It is characterized by a cryptic symptomatology, that often confounds the clinic.
Goals: The aim of this work was to search for the etiological agent of CV, by studying the vaginal microbiome and metabolomics of women afflicted with this disease and compare it with women with other clinical diagnostic.
Methods: Twenty-one vaginal washes have been collected from women attending a gynaecology consultation of a private clinic. The samples were categorized according with clinical diagnosis at the time of sampling (CV, 11; vulvovaginal candidosis, 8; Healthy, 2). The distribution of bacterial species, and their prevalence was assessed by next-generation sequencing of the 16S V4 region. In addition, total lactate D-lactic acid and L-lactic acid was quantified in all washes by a commercial kit, as well as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity.
Results: L. crispatus was dominant (>70%) in all CV samples. Lactate was increased in CV in comparison with other cases. The presence of D-lactic acid isomer was associated with presence of L. crispatus. LDH activity was increased in vaginal washes that tested positive for the presence of L. crispatus, however no direct association was found with CV cases.
Discussion/Conclusions: The microbiome of women afflicted with CV was dominated in all cases by L. crispatus, contrarily with the results obtained for women diagnosed with other clinical symptomatology. In addition, the finding that an increase in D-lactic acid is associated with CV patients can be related to the role of L. crispatus in CV. The determination of LDH activity did not correlate exclusively with CV cases. On the other hand, D-lactic acid and total lactate quantification could be used as a valuable biomarker to diagnose this cryptic vaginal infection.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Non-invasive hemodynamic evaluation by Doppler echocardiography
The approach for treating a hemodynamically unstable patient remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Stabilization of the patient should be rapid and effective, but there is not much room for error. This narrow window of intervention makes it necessary to use rapid and accurate hemodynamic evaluation methods. Echocardiography is the method of choice for the bedside evaluation of patients in circulatory shock. In fact, it was intensive care physicians who recognized the potential of Doppler echocardiography for the initial approach to patients in circulatory failure. An echocardiogram allows rapid anatomical and functional cardiac evaluation, which may include non-invasive hemodynamic evaluation using a Doppler study. Such an integrated study may provide data of extreme importance for understanding the mechanisms underlying the hemodynamic instability of the patient to allow the rapid institution of appropriate therapeutic measures. In the present article, we describe the most relevant echocardiographic findings using a practical approach for critical patients with hemodynamic instability.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Effects of Temperature on the Toxicity to the Aquatic Biota of Waste Discharges - A Compilation of the Literature
An extensive compiliation and general evaluation of the literature is presented which describes the temperature interaction with toxicity. Recent literature is summarized and made accessible along with a few generalized relationships such that researchers may design studies in a manner that will increase the utility of their results. A detailed indexing system is employed which makes the information contained in the report accessible by author, toxicant, and text organism. Summary tables of the most pertinent literature are also presented for easy subject retrieval. It was concluded that very little uniformity in experimental design is found between experiments on temperature-toxicity relationships, and a generalized summary of the results presented in th eliterature is essentially impossible because of the inconsistencies in experimental designs. The utilization of standard bioassay procedures is highly recommened, and these procedures should be applied to experimental designs which allow the estimation of parameters related to the theoretical effects of temperature
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