Desafios da In(ex)clusão no Espaço da Educação Superior à Distância no Brasil

This article aims to discuss the topic of inclusion in Brazilian higher education, especially under the context of distance education. Considering the social function of higher education institutions, it was identified how undergraduate students with disabilities were treated in Brazil, entering the field of accessibility in virtual learning environments used in higher education courses in Brazil distance mode. The study pointed out that the inclusion in the academic space of higher education is a challenge, aggravated when submitted to the context of distance education. Timid legislation on inclusion and actions, especially technological, aimed at providing accessibility on higher education are still far from guarantying the right to education for all. Keywords: Inclusion. Students with disabilities. Distance education. Higher education.O presente artigo se propõe a discutir o tema inclusão no ensino superior brasileiro, em especial, sob o contexto da educação à distância (EAD). Considerando a função social das instituições de ensino superior (IES), identificou-se como se deu o tratamento dos alunos com deficiência em nível de graduação no Brasil, adentrando ao campo da acessibilidade nos ambientes virtuais de aprendizagem (AVA) utilizados em cursos superiores na modalidade à distância. O estudo apontou que a inclusão no espaço acadêmico de nível superior é um desafio, agravado quando submetido ao contexto da formação à distância. A legislação tímida acerca da inclusão e as ações, sobretudo tecnológicas, voltadas à provisão de acessibilidade no ensino superior à distância ainda estão longe da garantia do direito à educação para todos. Palavras chave: Inclusão. Alunos com deficiência. Educação à distância. Educação superior

Newer optics efficiently mix, dim, and color-tune LED light

Low-cost, plastic-injected optics mix light from different color LED dies without a significant decrease in average brightness, simplifying luminaire design both optically and electronically. In solid-state lighting, high-flux and high-color rendering index (CRI) light engines may be achieved by arraying and mixing the light from different color dies or phosphors, or a combination of the two, in the LED package. However, these nonhomogeneous sources, when combined with luminaire optics, tend to produce patterns with undesirable artifacts such as spatial and angular nonuniformities and color separation

Autocatalytic maturation of the Tat-dependent halophilic subtilase Nep produced by the archaeon Natrialba magadii

Halolysins are subtilisin-like extracellular proteases produced by haloarchaea that possess unique protein domains and are salt dependent for structural integrity and functionality. In contrast to bacterial subtilases, thematurationmechanismof halolysins has not been addressed. The halolysin Nep is secreted by the alkaliphilic haloarchaeon Natrialba magadii, and the recombinant active enzyme has been synthesized in Haloferax volcanii. Nep contains an N-terminal signal peptide with the typical Tat consensus motif (GRRSVL), an N-terminal propeptide, the protease domain, and a C-terminal domain. In this study, we used Nep as amodel protease to examine the secretion andmaturation of halolysins by using genetic and biochemical approaches.Mutant variants of Nep were constructed by site-directedmutagenesis and expressed in H. volcanii, which were then analyzed by protease activity andWestern blotting. The Tat dependence of Nep secretion was demonstrated in Nep RR/KK variants containing double lysine (KK) in place of the twin arginines (RR), in which Nep remained cell associated and the extracellular activity was undetectable. High-molecular-mass Nep polypeptides without protease activity were detected as cell associated and extracellularly in the Nep S/A variant, in which the catalytic serine 352 had been changed by alanine, indicating that Nep protease activity was needed for precursor processing and activation. Nep NSN 1-2 containing amodification in two potential cleavage sites for signal peptidase I (ASA) was not efficiently processed and activated. This study examined for the first time the secretion and maturation of a Tat-dependent halophilic subtilase.Fil: Ruiz, Diego M,. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Paggi, Roberto Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: de Castro, Rosana Esther. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Una herramienta práctica para la evaluación de la huella de agua en los sistemas de producción de leche

En un contexto global que exige producir bienes de consumo agropecuarios con el menor impacto ambiental posible, los sistemas como el tambo, que usan intensivamente los factores de producción, deben buscar la máxima eficiencia con reducción de las emisiones de gases con efecto invernadero y optimizar el uso del agua, un recurso altamente demandado para la producción de leche. La huella de agua, basada en métodos como los desarrollados por Water Footprint Network (WFN) e ISO, es un indicador temporal y espacial que cuantifica de manera integral el consumo de agua dulce de un producto a lo largo de su cadena de producción. El objetivo del trabajo se centró en desarrollar una herramienta de aplicación práctica en el campo, basada en aquellas metodologías, que permitiera recolectar información básica a nivel predial en sistemas de producción primaria de leche; y con ella calcular la Huella de Agua del proceso productivo. El soporte informático de la herramienta se basó en planillas de Microsoft Excel ®, con vínculos hacia softwares desarrollados por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO, por su sigla en inglés), como Climwat ® y Cropwat ®, que permitieron contar con información de clima (temperaturas, humedad, evaporación y precipitaciones), así como de suelos, cultivos y el requerimiento de agua de estos últimos.Publicado originalmente en: Gimenez, G. D. y Marini, P. R. Libro de Resúmenes de II Reunión Transdisciplinaria en Ciencias Agropecuarias. XVIII Jornadas de divulgación técnico-científicas de la FCV y V Jornadas Latinoamericanas (2017) 275-276. ISBN 978-987-46406-2-8Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Una herramienta práctica para la evaluación de la huella de agua en los sistemas de producción de leche

En un contexto global que exige producir bienes de consumo agropecuarios con el menor impacto ambiental posible, los sistemas como el tambo, que usan intensivamente los factores de producción, deben buscar la máxima eficiencia con reducción de las emisiones de gases con efecto invernadero y optimizar el uso del agua, un recurso altamente demandado para la producción de leche. La huella de agua, basada en métodos como los desarrollados por Water Footprint Network (WFN) e ISO, es un indicador temporal y espacial que cuantifica de manera integral el consumo de agua dulce de un producto a lo largo de su cadena de producción. El objetivo del trabajo se centró en desarrollar una herramienta de aplicación práctica en el campo, basada en aquellas metodologías, que permitiera recolectar información básica a nivel predial en sistemas de producción primaria de leche; y con ella calcular la Huella de Agua del proceso productivo. El soporte informático de la herramienta se basó en planillas de Microsoft Excel ®, con vínculos hacia softwares desarrollados por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO, por su sigla en inglés), como Climwat ® y Cropwat ®, que permitieron contar con información de clima (temperaturas, humedad, evaporación y precipitaciones), así como de suelos, cultivos y el requerimiento de agua de estos últimos.Publicado originalmente en: Gimenez, G. D. y Marini, P. R. Libro de Resúmenes de II Reunión Transdisciplinaria en Ciencias Agropecuarias. XVIII Jornadas de divulgación técnico-científicas de la FCV y V Jornadas Latinoamericanas (2017) 275-276. ISBN 978-987-46406-2-8Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Nominalização e classe de palavras em línguas indígenas do Brasil: uma perspectiva tipológica

Este trabalho examina a relação entre a modificação sintática mediante o uso de orações relativas e de adjetivos e a organização morfossintática no que se refere às classes de palavras em busca de generalizações tipológicas. A hipótese que se investiga é a da possível correlação entre ausência de adjetivo como classe de palavras e ausência de oração relativa como construção a serviço da modificação nominal. A principal consequência dessa correspondência é a de o nome assumir a função modificadora do adjetivo, e a construção nominalizada, a função modificadora da oração relativa. A amostra é composta por 30 línguas indígenas brasileiras, previamente descritas em gramáticas, teses ou em outros materiais descritivos. Os dados coletados confirmam a hipótese de que as línguas que carecem de adjetivos como classe lexical se valem de nominalização como estratégia de relativização, ao passo que as línguas que dispõem de adjetivos em seu léxico tendem a construir orações relativas por meio de outras estratégias de relativização

Una herramienta práctica para la evaluación de la huella de agua en los sistemas de producción de leche

En un contexto global que exige producir bienes de consumo agropecuarios con el menor impacto ambiental posible, los sistemas como el tambo, que usan intensivamente los factores de producción, deben buscar la máxima eficiencia con reducción de las emisiones de gases con efecto invernadero y optimizar el uso del agua, un recurso altamente demandado para la producción de leche. La huella de agua, basada en métodos como los desarrollados por Water Footprint Network (WFN) e ISO, es un indicador temporal y espacial que cuantifica de manera integral el consumo de agua dulce de un producto a lo largo de su cadena de producción. El objetivo del trabajo se centró en desarrollar una herramienta de aplicación práctica en el campo, basada en aquellas metodologías, que permitiera recolectar información básica a nivel predial en sistemas de producción primaria de leche; y con ella calcular la Huella de Agua del proceso productivo. El soporte informático de la herramienta se basó en planillas de Microsoft Excel ®, con vínculos hacia softwares desarrollados por la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO, por su sigla en inglés), como Climwat ® y Cropwat ®, que permitieron contar con información de clima (temperaturas, humedad, evaporación y precipitaciones), así como de suelos, cultivos y el requerimiento de agua de estos últimos.Publicado originalmente en: Gimenez, G. D. y Marini, P. R. Libro de Resúmenes de II Reunión Transdisciplinaria en Ciencias Agropecuarias. XVIII Jornadas de divulgación técnico-científicas de la FCV y V Jornadas Latinoamericanas (2017) 275-276. ISBN 978-987-46406-2-8Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ

Marchantia polymorpha model reveals conserved infection mechanisms in the vascular wilt fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum

How co-evolution has shaped the interaction between plants andtheir associated microbes remains a central question in organis-mic interactions (Bonfante & Genre, 2010; Delaux & Schor-nack, 2021). Plants have evolved a sophisticated and multilayeredimmune system to ward off potential microbial invaders (Jones& Dangl, 2006; Boller & Felix, 2009). In addition, pathogenshave developed mechanisms allowing them to enter living plants,colonise their tissues and overcome their defence responses.Pathogenicity factors can be either broadly conserved or speciesspecific and include regulators of cell signalling, gene expressionor development, as well as secreted effector molecules that modu-late the host environment (Jongeet al., 2011; Turr aet al., 2014;Weiberget al., 2014; Prestiet al., 2015; Ryder & Talbot, 2015;van der Does & Rep, 2017).A particularly destructive group of plant pathogens are thosecausing vascular wilt diseases, which infect the roots and colonisethe highly protected and nutrient poor niche of the xylem(Yadeta & Thomma, 2013). The ascomycete fungusFusariumoxysporum(Fo) represents a species complex with worldwidedistribution that provokes devastating losses in more than 150different crops (Deanet al., 2012). Fo exhibits a hemibiotrophlifestyle with an initial biotrophic phase characterised by intercel-lular growth in the root cortex, followed by invasion of the vascu-lature and transition to the necrotrophic phase resulting inmaceration and death of the colonised host (Redkaret al., 2021).In the soil, Fo is able to locate roots by sensing secreted plant per-oxidases via its sex pheromone receptors and the cell wallintegrity mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway(Turr aet al., 2015). Once inside the root, the fungus secretes asmall regulatory peptide that mimics plant Rapid ALkalinisationFactor (RALF) to induce host alkalisation, which in turn activatesa conserved MAPK cascade that promotes plant invasive growth(Masachiset al., 2016). Additional pathogenicity determinantsinclude transcriptional regulators, fungus/plant cell wall remod-elling components or secondary metabolites, among others(Michielse & Rep, 2009).Individual Fo isolates exhibit host-specific pathogenicity,which is determined by lineage-specific (LS) chromosomes thatencode distinct repertoires of effectors known as Secreted inXylem (Six) (Maet al., 2010; van Damet al., 2016). Some Six proteins appear to primarily target plant defence responses, butcan also be recognised as avirulence factors by specific host recep-tors (Houtermanet al., 2009; Tintoret al., 2020). In addition tothe pathogenic forms, the Fo species complex (FOSC) alsoincludes endophytic isolates such as Fo47, which was isolatedfrom a natural disease suppressive soil (Alabouvette, 1986; Wanget al., 2020). Fo47 colonises plant roots without causing wiltsymptoms and functions as a biological control agent againstpathogenic Fo strains. How vascular wilt fungi such as Fo gainedthe ability to associate with plant hosts and evolved endophyticand pathogenic lifestyles remains poorly understood.The bryophyteMarchantia polymorpha(Mp) belongs to theancient lineage of liverworts and has emerged as the primenonvascular plant model for studying the evolution of molecularplant–microbe interactions (Evo-MPMI), due to its low geneticredundancy, the simplicity of its gene families and an accessiblemolecular genetic toolbox (Ishizakiet al., 2008; Lockhart, 2015;Bowmanet al., 2017; Upsonet al., 2018; Gimenez-Ibanezet al.,2019). Importantly, Mp possesses receptor-like kinases (RLKs),nucleotide binding, leucine-rich repeat receptors (NLRs) and sal-icylic acid (SA) pathway genes similar to those mediatingimmune signalling in angiosperms (Xueet al., 2012; Bowmanet al., 2017), therefore allowing the study of plant–microbe inter-actions across evolutionarily distant land plant lineages such asliverworts and eudicots, which diverged>450 million years ago(Ma) (Carellaet al., 2018). A current shortcoming of Mp is thatonly few pathogen infection models have been developed forin vitropathogenicity assays. These include the fungiXylariacubensisandColletotrichum sp1, the oomycetePhytophthorapalmivoraand the Gram-negative bacteriumPseudomonassyringae(Nelsonet al., 2018; Carellaet al., 2019; Gimenez-Ibanezet al., 2019). A survey of the Mp microbiome identified anumber of fungal endophytes, some of which can also act aspathogens (Matsuiet al., 2019; Nelson & Shaw, 2019). Whetherroot-infecting vascular wilt fungi can colonise this land plant lin-eage, which is evolutionarily distant to eudicots and lacks bothtrue roots and xylem, is currently unknown.Here we established a new pathosystem between Fo and Mp.We find that Fo isolates that are either endophytic or pathogenicon different crops (tomato, banana, cotton) are all able tocolonise and macerate the thallus of this nonvascular plant. Infec-tion of Mp by Fo requires fungal core pathogenicity factors,whereas LS effectors are dispensable suggesting that this vascularwilt fungus employs conserved mechanisms during infection ofevolutionarily distant plant lineages. We further show that thefungal transition from biotrophic intercellular growth tonecrotrophic maceration and sporulation, which on angiospermsrelies on host-specific factors promoting xylem invasion, occursdirectly on the nonvascular plant Mp

Downregulation of Nrf2 and HO-1 expression contributes to oxidative stress in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A study in Juana Koslay City, San Luis, Argentina

Oxidative stress is associated with diabetes me- llitus, a condition characterized by increased prevalence and progression rate of cardiovas-cular disease. NFE2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a master regulator of cellular detoxification re-sponses and redox status. The aim of this study was to examine associations between type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), oxidative stress and the expression of NFE2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in a population of diabetic patients living in Juana Koslay City, San Luis, Argentina. In addition, we evaluated the functional relevance of Nrf2 by measuring the HO-1 expression among persons with type 2 diabetes. We measured clinical and biochemical parameters related to lipid metabo-lism and oxidative stress in a population of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients (T2DM, n = 40) and controls (Co, n = 30). Compared to Co, T2DM patients had higher fasting serum glucose, gly- cated hemoglobin, triglycerides, total choles- terol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. T2DM individuals had also higher atherogenic index and body mass index than controls. We also founded that HO-1 mRNA in whole blood was lower in T2DM than controls, suggesting that T2DM may have an altered antioxidant response to oxidative stress. Interestingly, we found re-duced Nrf2 mRNA in whole blood from T2DM compared to Co. The results from this study provide novel evidence that genes associated to antioxidant defense mechanisms are markedly reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes, and that the reduction in the expression of these genes could be associated to hyperglycemia and increased levels of MDA. Linear regression analysis revealed that there was a strong and positive correlation between the changes of Nrf2 and HO-1 expression levels.Fil: Siewert, Susana. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Departamento de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Laboratorio de Diabetes; ArgentinaFil: Gonzalez, Irma. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Departamento de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Laboratorio de Diabetes; ArgentinaFil: Santillán, Lucas Damián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Lucero, Roberto. Provincia de San Luis. Ministerio de Salud. Centro Regional Juana Koslay; ArgentinaFil: Ojeda, Marta Susana. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Departamento de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas. Laboratorio de Diabetes; ArgentinaFil: Gimenez, Maria Sofia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; Argentin

The bacterial effector HopX1 targets JAZ transcriptional repressors to activate jasmonate signaling and promote infection in Arabidopsis

Pathogenicity of Pseudomonas syringae is dependent on a type III secretion system, which secretes a suite of virulence effector proteins into the host cytoplasm, and the production of a number of toxins such as coronatine (COR), which is a mimic of the plant hormone jasmonate-isoleuce (JA-Ile). Inside the plant cell, effectors target host molecules to subvert the host cell physiology and disrupt defenses. However, despite the fact that elucidating effector action is essential to understanding bacterial pathogenesis, the molecular function and host targets of the vast majority of effectors remain largely unknown. Here, we found that effector HopX1 from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci (Pta) 11528, a strain that does not produce COR, interacts with and promotes the degradation of JAZ proteins, a key family of JA-repressors. We show that hopX1 encodes a cysteine protease, activity that is required for degradation of JAZs by HopX1. HopX1 associates with JAZ proteins through its central ZIM domain and degradation occurs in a COI1-independent manner. Moreover, ectopic expression of HopX1 in Arabidopsis induces the expression of JA-dependent genes, represses salicylic acid (SA)-induced markers, and complements the growth of a COR-deficient P. syringae pv. tomato (Pto) DC3000 strain during natural bacterial infections. Furthermore, HopX1 promoted susceptibility when delivered by the natural type III secretion system, to a similar extent as the addition of COR, and this effect was dependent on its catalytic activity. Altogether, our results indicate that JAZ proteins are direct targets of bacterial effectors to promote activation of JA-induced defenses and susceptibility in Arabidopsis. HopX1 illustrates a paradigm of an alternative evolutionary solution to COR with similar physiological outcome.S.G-I was supported by a ‘‘Juan de la Cierva’’ fellowship from the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation. This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation grants BIO2010-21739, CSD2007-00057 and EUI2008- 03666 to R.S. J.P.R is an Australian Research Council Future Fellow (FT0992129)