Vidas secas e a perspectiva de emancipação social

Between the narrator and the characters of Barren Lives there is a tense space of communication, a space that exposes unequal worlds, but which share the necessity and possibility of human progress, to some, conceded, denied to others; these worlds are found in the literary figuration of Barren Lives, to give expression to those who, in the midst of drought, desire life, abundance, love, progress. Among the characters themselves are uneven, subtle, but they constitute the wealth or "cunning" of the real (Lenin); from it, the historical overcoming is operated, dialectically.Entre o narrador e os personagens de Vidas secas ocorre um espaço tenso de comunicação, espaço que expõe mundos desiguais, mas que compartilham a necessidade e a possibilidade do progresso humano, a uns, concedido, negado a outros; esses mundos se encontram na figuração literária de Vidas secas, para dar expressão àqueles que, em meio à seca, desejam vida, fartura, amor, progresso. Entre os próprios personagens ocorrem desníveis, sutis, mas que constituem a riqueza ou “astúcia” do real (Lenin); a partir dela, opera-se, dialeticamente, a superação histórica

Optimal branching asymmetry of hydrodynamic pulsatile trees

Most of the studies on optimal transport are done for steady state regime conditions. Yet, there exists numerous examples in living systems where supply tree networks have to deliver products in a limited time due to the pulsatile character of the flow. This is the case for mammals respiration for which air has to reach the gas exchange units before the start of expiration. We report here that introducing a systematic branching asymmetry allows to reduce the average delivery time of the products. It simultaneously increases its robustness against the unevitable variability of sizes related to morphogenesis. We then apply this approach to the human tracheobronchial tree. We show that in this case all extremities are supplied with fresh air, provided that the asymmetry is smaller than a critical threshold which happens to fit with the asymmetry measured in the human lung. This could indicate that the structure is adjusted at the maximum asymmetry level that allows to feed all terminal units with fresh air.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Rapid divergence of genome architectures following the origin of an ectomycorrhizal symbiosis in the genus <i>Amanita</i>

Fungi are evolutionary shape shifters and adapt quickly to new environments. Ectomycorrhizal (EM) symbioses are mutualistic associations between fungi and plants and have evolved repeatedly and independently across the fungal tree of life, suggesting lineages frequently reconfigure genome content to take advantage of open ecological niches. To date analyses of genomic mechanisms facilitating EM symbioses have involved comparisons of distantly related species, but here, we use the genomes of three EM and two asymbiotic (AS) fungi from the genus Amanita as well as an AS outgroup to study genome evolution following a single origin of symbiosis. Our aim was to identify the defining features of EM genomes, but our analyses suggest no clear differentiation of genome size, gene repertoire size, or transposable element content between EM and AS species. Phylogenetic inference of gene gains and losses suggests the transition to symbiosis was dominated by the loss of plant cell wall decomposition genes, a confirmation of previous findings. However, the same dynamic defines the AS species A. inopinata, suggesting loss is not strictly associated with origin of symbiosis. Gene expansions in the common ancestor of EM Amanita were modest, but lineage specific and large gene family expansions are found in two of the three EM extant species. Even closely related EM genomes appear to share few common features. The genetic toolkit required for symbiosis appears already encoded in the genomes of saprotrophic species, and this dynamic may explain the pervasive, recurrent evolution of ectomycorrhizal associations

Niche differentiation and evolution of the wood decay machinery in the invasive fungus Serpula lacrymans

Abstract Ecological niche breadth and the mechanisms facilitating its evolution are fundamental to understanding adaptation to changing environments, persistence of generalist and specialist lineages and the formation of new species. Woody substrates are structurally complex resources utilized by organisms with specialized decay machinery. Wood-decaying fungi represent ideal model systems to study evolution of niche breadth, as they vary greatly in their host range and preferred decay stage of the substrate. In order to dissect the genetic basis for niche specialization in the invasive brown rot fungus Serpula lacrymans , we used phenotyping and integrative analysis of phylogenomic and transcriptomic data to compare this species to wild relatives in the Serpulaceae with a range of specialist to generalist decay strategies. Our results indicate specialist species have rewired regulatory networks active during wood decay towards decreased reliance on enzymatic machinery, and therefore nitrogen-intensive decay components. This shift was likely accompanied with adaptation to a narrow tree line habitat and switch to a pioneer decomposer strategy, both requiring rapid colonization of a nitrogen-limited substrate. Among substrate specialists with narrow niches, we also found evidence for pathways facilitating reversal to generalism, highlighting how evolution may move along different axes of niche space

Keratins and lipids in ethnic hair

Human hair has an important and undeniable relevance in society due to its important role in visual appearance and social communication. Hair is mainly composed of structural proteins, mainly keratin and keratin associated proteins, and lipids. Herein, we report a comprehensive study of the content and distribution of the lipids among ethnic hair, African, Asian and Caucasian hair. More interestingly, we also report the study of the interaction between those two main components of hair, specifically the influence of the hair internal lipids in the structure of the hair keratin. This was achieved by the use of a complete set of analytical tools such as thin layer chromatography-flame ionization detector, X-ray analysis, molecular dynamics simulation and confocal microscopy. The experimental results indicated different amounts of lipids on ethnic hair compositions and higher percentage of hair internal lipids in African hair. In this type of hair, the axial diffraction of keratin was not observed in X-ray analysis, but after hair lipids removal, the keratin returned to its typical packing arrangement. In molecular dynamic simulation lipids were shown to intercalate dimers of keratin, changing its structure. From those results we assume that keratin structure may be influenced by higher concentration of lipids in African hair.Margarida Fernandes held a PhD scholarship from Fundacaopara a Ciencia e Tecnologia (SFRH/BD/38 363/2007). The authors thank Vadim Volkov for the contribution with the confocal images

Postoperative Pain Management in DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction: Identification of Patients With Poor Pain Control

Objective: Adequate control of postoperative pain directly improves patient satisfaction and outcomes, and timely identification of patients with poorly controlled pain is essential. Pain management protocols are best studied in patients recovering from the same operation. In our institution, the postoperative pain regimen for patients undergoing deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction is standardized using patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) followed by conversion to oral narcotics. From this uniform population, we were able to identify a subgroup of patients with poor pain control. Methods: Over a 44-month period, 179 consecutive patients underwent DIEP flap breast reconstruction with 242 flaps performed. A retrospective chart review recorded PCA usage, visual analog scale pain scores, and length of stay. Results: Pain management with PCA after DIEP flap breast reconstruction was uniformly controlled. Most patients (74.9%) required PCA usage in the first 2 days with conversion to oral analgesics. A subgroup of patients (25.1%) continued to require PCA usage on the third postoperative day. These “nonresponder” patients had a higher visual analog scale score on the first postoperative day, higher total intravenous morphine use, and a longer length of stay (all, P < .05). A multivariate analysis revealed more nonresponders among patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction (P < .05); however, all other factors analyzed had no correlation. Conclusion: We report a subgroup of patients with poor pain control after DIEP flap breast reconstruction. This group of patients required a longer course of pain management and subsequently a longer hospital stay. Pain management protocols that identify these patients promptly can allow for appropriate modifications

Community IntraVenous Antibiotic Study (CIVAS): protocol for an evaluation of patient preferences for and cost-effectiveness of community intravenous antibiotic services

Introduction: Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is used to treat a wide range of infections, and is common practice in countries such as the USA and Australia. In the UK, national guidelines (standards of care) for OPAT services have been developed to act as a benchmark for clinical monitoring and quality. However, the availability of OPAT services in the UK is still patchy and until quite recently was available only in specialist centres. Over time, National Health Service (NHS) Trusts have developed OPAT services in response to local needs, which has resulted in different service configurations and models of care. However, there has been no robust examination comparing the cost-effectiveness of each service type, or any systematic examination of patient preferences for services on which to base any business case decision. Methods and analysis: The study will use a mixed methods approach, to evaluate patient preferences for and the cost-effectiveness of OPAT service models. The study includes seven NHS Trusts located in four counties. There are five inter-related work packages: a systematic review of the published research on the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of intravenous antibiotic delivery services; a qualitative study to explore existing OPAT services and perceived barriers to future development; an economic model to estimate the comparative value of four different community intravenous antibiotic services; a discrete choice experiment to assess patient preferences for services, and an expert panel to agree which service models may constitute the optimal service model(s) of community intravenous antibiotics delivery. Ethics and dissemination: The study has been approved by the NRES Committee, South West—Frenchay using the Proportionate Review Service (ref 13/SW/0060). The results of the study will be disseminated at national and international conferences, and in international journals