An Investigation of Some Electrophysiological Concomitants of Hallucinations

The present research was designed to determine if a single LSD experience produces a detectable change in the electrical potential of the brain, and if so, how long that change lasts, and to examine the changes in the electrical potential of the brain associated with chemogenic and hypnogenic hallucinations. Four studies were conducted measuring the electrical potential between the front and back of the head in monkeys and humans. The frontal potential was shown to shift negatively with the use of LSD-type psychedelics but not with marijuana compounds. LSD caused the potential in humans to shift into the range commonly exhibited by hallucinating schizophrenics. LSD-25 in a monkey caused an extreme negative shift, while brom-LSD caused a small negative shift, and THC caused no shift. There were no consistent shifts associated with hypnosis or hypnotic phenomena such as hypnogenic hallucinations or hypnoanalgesia. The results indicated: that LSD, unlike marijuana compounds, caused a long-lasting but limited neurochemical change in the user; that these neurochemical changes were not due to hallucinations per se but may or may not have accompanied them; and that chemogenic hallucinations and hypnotic hallucinations were not based on a common physiological mechanism

Bovine leukemia virus can be classified into seven genotypes: evidence for the existence of two novel clades.

Previous studies have classified the env sequences of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) provirus from different locations worldwide into between two and four genetic groupings. These different studies gave unique names to the identified groups and no study has yet integrated all the available sequences. Thus, we hypothesized that many of the different groups previously identified actually correspond to a limited group of genotypes that are unevenly distributed worldwide. To examine this hypothesis, we sequenced the env gene from 28 BLV field strains and compared these sequences to 46 env sequences that represent all the genetic groupings already identified. By using phylogenetic analyses, we recovered six clades, or genotypes, that we have called genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Genotypes 1-5 have counterparts among the sequence groupings identified previously. One env sequence did not cluster with any of the others and was highly divergent when compared with the six genotypes identified here. Thus, an extra genotype, which we named 7, may exist. Similarity comparisons were highly congruent with phylogenetic analyses. Furthermore, our analyses confirmed the existence of geographical clusters

Realizacja Modelu Specjalistycznego Centrum Wspierającego Edukację Włączającą w Łodzi (SCWEW) – doświadczenia, dobre praktyki

Projekt dofinansowany ze środków UE, w ramach Programu Operacyjnego Wiedza Edukacja Rozwój 2014-2020. Oś Priorytetowa II Efektywne Polityki Publiczne dla Rynku Pracy, Gospodarki i Edukacji, Działania 2.10 Wysoka jakość systemu oświat

Hepatitis C Virus Diversification in Argentina: Comparative Analysis between the Large City of Buenos Aires and the Small Rural Town of O’Brien

The estimated prevalence of HCV infection in Argentina is around 2%. However, higher rates of infection have been described in population studies of small urban and rural communities. The aim of this work was to compare the origin and diversification of HCV-1b in samples from two different epidemiological scenarios: Buenos Aires, a large cosmopolitan city, and O´Brien, a small rural town with a high prevalence of HCV infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The E1/E2 and NS5B regions of the viral genome from 83 patients infected with HCV-1b were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis and Bayesian Coalescent methods were used to study the origin and diversification of HCV-1b in both patient populations. RESULTS: Samples from Buenos Aires showed a polyphyletic behavior with a tMRCA around 1887-1900 and a time of spread of infection approximately 60 years ago. In contrast, samples from ÓBrien showed a monophyletic behavior with a tMRCA around 1950-1960 and a time of spread of infection more recent than in Buenos Aires, around 20-30 years ago. CONCLUSION: Phylogenetic and coalescence analysis revealed a different behavior in the epidemiological histories of Buenos Aires and ÓBrien. HCV infection in Buenos Aires shows a polyphyletic behavior and an exponential growth in two phases, whereas that in O´Brien shows a monophyletic cluster and an exponential growth in one single step with a more recent tMRCA. The polyphyletic origin and the probability of encountering susceptible individuals in a large cosmopolitan city like Buenos Aires are in agreement with a longer period of expansion. In contrast, in less populated areas such as O´Brien, the chances of HCV transmission are strongly restricted. Furthermore, the monophyletic character and the most recent time of emergence suggest that different HCV-1b ancestors (variants) that were in expansion in Buenos Aires had the opportunity to colonize and expand in O´Brien.Fil: Golemba, Marcelo Darío. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Departamento de Microbiologia,inmunologia y Biotecnolog.;Fil: Culasso, Andrés Carlos Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Departamento de Microbiologia,inmunologia y Biotecnolog.. Cat. de Virologia;Fil: Villamil, Federico. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Alta Complejidad En Red El Cruce Dr. Nestor Carlos Kirchner Samic;Fil: Baré, Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Invest.cientif.y Tecnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental;Fil: Gadano, Adrián Carlos. Htal.italiano;Fil: Ridruejo, Ezequiel. Centro de Educaciones Medicas E Investig.clinica "norberto Quirno";Fil: Martínez, Alfredo. Centro de Educaciones Medicas E Investig.clinica "norberto Quirno";Fil: Di Lello, Federico Alejandro. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Departamento de Microbiologia,inmunologia y Biotecnolog.. Cat. de Virologia;Fil: Campos, Rodolfo Hector. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquimica. Departamento de Microbiologia,inmunologia y Biotecnolog.

High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1b Infection in a Small Town of Argentina. Phylogenetic and Bayesian Coalescent Analysis

Previous studies in Argentina have documented a general prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection close to 2%. In addition, a high prevalence of HCV has been recently reported in different Argentinean small rural communities. In this work, we performed a study aimed at analyzing the origins and diversification patterns of an HCV outbreak in Wheelwright, a small rural town located in Santa Fe province (Argentina)

Identification, molecular and phylogenetic analysis of poxvirus in skin lesions of southern right whale

Poxvirus skin disease has been reported in several species of cetaceans, principally in odontocetes, and a single report in mysticetes. Southern right whales Eubalaena australis in Peninsula Valdes, Argentina, show a variety of skin lesions of unknown etiology, and the number of these lesions has increased in recent years. Samples from dead whales were taken in order to establish the etiology of these lesions. One calf and one adult presented ring-type lesions, characterized by a circumscribed and slightly raised area of skin. Lesions were histologically characterized by the presence of microvesicles and vacuolated cells in the stratum spinosum, along with hyperplasia of the stratum corneum and eosinophilic inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed aggregations of virions with typical poxvirus morphology. PCR of cetacean poxvirus (CPV) DNA polymerase, DNA topoisomerase I and parapoxvirus DNA polymerase gene fragments was done, and confirmed the presence of poxvirus in one sample. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the detected poxvirus belongs to the CPV-2 group. This is the first confirmed report of poxvirus in southern right whales in Argentina.Fil: Fiorito, Carla Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Palacios, Carlos Adolfo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología ; ArgentinaFil: Golemba, Marcelo Darío. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría ; ArgentinaFil: Bratanich, Ana Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica. Laboratorio de Virología; ArgentinaFil: Argüelles, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Fazio, Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Bertellotti, Néstor Marcelo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; ArgentinaFil: Lombardo, Daniel Marcelo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentin

O USO DA NANOTECNOLOGIA NA INDÚSTRIA TÊXTIL PARA INOVAR NA MODA GESTANTE | THE USE OF NANOTECHNOLOGY IN THE TEXTILE INDUSTRY TO INNOVATE IN MATERNITY FASHION

A indústria têxtil tem procurado oferecer produtos cada vez mais diferenciados para atender seus clientes. Este estudo teve por objetivo entender a forma como o uso da nanotecnologia associada à moda ajudou uma empresa do setor têxtil a inovar e atender uma demanda dos consumidores. Para tanto foram realizadas análise documental, bem como entrevistas semi-estruturadas com o diretor da Megadose, e também responsável pelo marketing da empresa, além de entrevistas com lojistas proprietárias e revendedoras de produtos da Megadose. Os dados obtidos mostraram que o uso da inovação incremental, por meio da nanotecnologia aplicada aos fios, possibilitou o desenvolvimento de um tecido que contém citronela na sua composição, o que ajuda os consumidores das roupas feitas com este tecido a se protegerem da contaminação por picada de mosquitos que provocam Zika vírus, Febre Amarela e Dengue. Esta pesquisa contribui com o avanço da teoria de inovação incremental por: 1) expor a importância das relações entre empresa-fornecedores e empresa-clientes na aplicabilidade de uma inovação; 2) por demonstrar que mesmo no segmento de moda, no qual o design é um dos principais responsáveis pela inovação dos produtos, o uso da nanotecnologia pode resultar em inovação dos produtos. Como contribuição gerencial pode-se destacar que o uso da nanotecnologia na indústria têxtil pode: 1) ampliar a funcionalidade dos seus produtos, no presente caso além da roupa servir para agasalhar o corpo ela passou a protegê-lo de doenças; 2) criar um diferencial competitivo para empresas deste setor; 3) aumentar vendas de produtos de moda

Cambios en las actividades agropecuarias y forestales de la provincia del Chaco (Argentina) y sus efectos sobre la población rural

La primera actividad económica del Territorio del Chaco fue la explotación forestal. Al iniciarse el siglo XX se instalaron fábricas para explotar el quebracho colorado y obtener extracto de tanino. Con el paso del tiempo se fueron agregando, en forma incipiente, la agricultura y la cría de animales. A este tramo, comprendido entre fines del siglo XIX y 1930 se lo reconoce como el “Ciclo Foresto-industrial”. Entre 1930 y 1960 se desarrolló el “Ciclo Algodonero”, que representó el primer avance de la frontera agrícola, impulsó el poblamiento de las áreas rurales y dio origen a numerosas cooperativas diseminadas en los pueblos del interior del Chaco, en tanto, la explotación forestal seguía siendo importante, aunque ya se iniciaba la declinación en la producción del tanino. Luego de la crisis del cultivo textil se ingresó al “Ciclo de la Diversificación económica”, entre 1960 y 1985, con la introducción de otras especies tradicionalmente arraigadas en la región pampeana (girasol, sorgo, maíz y trigo) y, asimismo, se impulsó la actividad ganadera, con lo cual se inició un proceso de intensa emigración rural. Desde mediados de la década de 1980 hasta nuestros días, se han producido cambios significativos en los patrones de producción, con fuertes implicancias a nivel económico, demográfico y socioambiental. A este último período, se lo identifica como el “Ciclo Tecno-productivo”, caracterizado por la creciente tecnificación de la agricultura, de la ganadería y de la industria forestal, una gran expansión de la soja, al tiempo que las áreas rurales continúan perdiendo población.

O ato de presentear como processo de sacralização: o escapulário como símbolo de amor e proteção

Com objetivo de compreender como acontece a sacralização do objeto de consumo escapulário para católicos realizou-se uma investigação qualitativa. Foram realizadas entrevistas com católicos que usam escapulário regularmente. Os discursos coletados passaram pela análise de conteúdo que revelou como resultado de pesquisa que o local do “sagrado” em relação ao escapulário, está vinculado à sua capacidade de proteger seu usuário. Ainda essa capacidade de proteção não está vinculada apenas ao objeto em si, mas no fato deste ter sido recebido como presente de uma pessoa amada. O que sacraliza então não é apenas a religião, mas a relação de afeto entre quem recebeu o escapulário de presente e a pessoa que o presenteou

Label Free Inhibitor Screening of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS5B Viral Protein Using RNA Oligonucleotide

Globally, over 170 million people (ca. 3% of the World’s population) are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which can cause serious liver diseases such as chronic hepatitis, evolving into subsequent health problems. Driven by the need to detect the presence of HCV, as an essential factor in diagnostic medicine, the monitoring of viral protein has been of great interest in developing simple and reliable HCV detection methods. Despite considerable advances in viral protein detection as an HCV disease marker, the current enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) based detection methods using antibody treatment have several drawbacks. To overcome this bottleneck, an RNA aptamer become to be emerged as an antibody substitute in the application of biosensor for detection of viral protein. In this study, we demonstrated a streptavidin-biotin conjugation method, namely, the RNA aptamer sensor system that can quantify viral protein with detection level of 700 pg mL−1 using a biotinylated RNA oligonucleotide on an Octet optical biosensor. Also, we showed this method can be used to screen inhibitors of viral protein rapidly and simply on a biotinylated RNA oligonucleotide biosensor. Among the inhibitors screened, (−)-Epigallocatechin gallate showed high binding inhibition effect on HCV NS5B viral protein. The proposed method can be considered a real-time monitoring method for inhibitor screening of HCV viral protein and is expected to be applicable to other types of diseases