Aprendendo com o insucesso: um estudo de caso de aplicação da resolução criativa de problemas ao projeto educativo

O Projeto Educativo, como instrumento fundamental para a autonomia das escolas, em Portugal, deve aglutinar as principais expectativas da comunidade escolar, implicando rigor na metodologia de investigação, utilizada para sua elaboração, e na implementação da mudança requerida. O presente artigo relata a forma como foi possível obter esses aspectos, numa escola secundária, ao longo de mais de um ano, por meio do uso do método de Resolução Criativa de Problemas, que envolveu toda a comunidade escolar. Conforme o planeamento definido, a elaboração do Projeto Educativo seguiu os passos de um trabalho de investigação e resultou num documento estratégico e operacional, sujeito, posteriormente, a várias tentativas de implementação que, no entanto, tiveram apenas sucesso relativo. A discussão das condições necessárias para que o documento final possa servir de base à implementação das políticas e ações definidas, o que simplificaria todo o esquema de funcionamento escolar, sob um prisma de gestão efetiva das organizações, é aqui iniciada e sugerida para futuras investigações

Neuronal non-CG methylation is an essential target for MeCP2 function

DNA methylation is implicated in neuronal biology via the protein MeCP2, the mutation of which causes Rett syndrome. MeCP2 recruits the NCOR1/2 co-repressor complexes to methylated cytosine in the CG dinucleotide, but also to sites of non-CG methylation, which are abundant in neurons. To test the biological significance of the dual-binding specificity of MeCP2, we replaced its DNA binding domain with an orthologous domain from MBD2, which can only bind mCG motifs. Knockin mice expressing the domain-swap protein displayed severe Rett-syndrome-like phenotypes, indicating that normal brain function requires the interaction of MeCP2 with sites of non-CG methylation, specifically mCAC. The results support the notion that the delayed onset of Rett syndrome is due to the simultaneous post-natal accumulation of mCAC and its reader MeCP2. Intriguingly, genes dysregulated in both Mecp2 null and domain-swap mice are implicated in other neurological disorders, potentially highlighting targets of relevance to the Rett syndrome phenotype

Suppression of LPS-induced inflammatory responses in macrophages infected with Leishmania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chronic inflammation activated by macrophage innate pathogen recognition receptors such as TLR4 can lead to a range of inflammatory diseases, including atherosclerosis, Crohn's disease, arthritis and cancer. Unlike many microbes, the kinetoplastid protozoan pathogen <it>Leishmania </it>has been shown to avoid and even actively suppress host inflammatory cytokine responses, such as LPS-induced IL-12 production. The nature and scope of <it>Leishmania</it>-mediated inflammatory cytokine suppression, however, is not well characterized. Advancing our knowledge of such microbe-mediated cytokine suppression may provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention in inflammatory disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We explored the kinetics of a range of cytokine and chemokine responses in primary murine macrophages stimulated with LPS in the presence versus absence of two clinically distinct species of <it>Leishmania </it>using sensitive multiplex cytokine analyses. To confirm that these effects were parasite-specific, we compared the effects of <it>Leishmania </it>uptake on LPS-induced cytokine expression with uptake of inert latex beads.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whilst <it>Leishmania </it>uptake alone did not induce significant levels of any cytokine analysed in this study, <it>Leishmania </it>uptake in the presence of LPS caused parasite-specific suppression of certain LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-12, IL-17 and IL-6. Interestingly, <it>L. amazonensis </it>was generally more suppressive than <it>L. major</it>. We also found that other LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1α, TNF-α and the chemokines MIP-1α and MCP-1 and also the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, were augmented during <it>Leishmania </it>uptake, in a parasite-specific manner.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>During uptake by macrophages, <it>Leishmania </it>evades the activation of a broad range of cytokines and chemokines. Further, in the presence of a strong inflammatory stimulus, <it>Leishmania </it>suppresses certain proinflammatory cytokine responses in a parasite-specific manner, however it augments the production of other proinflammatory cytokines. Our findings highlight the complexity of inflammatory cytokine signalling regulation in the context of the macrophage and <it>Leishmania </it>interaction and confirm the utility of the <it>Leishmania</it>/macrophage infection model as an experimental system for further studies of inflammatory regulation. Such studies may advance the development of therapies against inflammatory disease.</p

Spintronics: Fundamentals and applications

Spintronics, or spin electronics, involves the study of active control and manipulation of spin degrees of freedom in solid-state systems. This article reviews the current status of this subject, including both recent advances and well-established results. The primary focus is on the basic physical principles underlying the generation of carrier spin polarization, spin dynamics, and spin-polarized transport in semiconductors and metals. Spin transport differs from charge transport in that spin is a nonconserved quantity in solids due to spin-orbit and hyperfine coupling. The authors discuss in detail spin decoherence mechanisms in metals and semiconductors. Various theories of spin injection and spin-polarized transport are applied to hybrid structures relevant to spin-based devices and fundamental studies of materials properties. Experimental work is reviewed with the emphasis on projected applications, in which external electric and magnetic fields and illumination by light will be used to control spin and charge dynamics to create new functionalities not feasible or ineffective with conventional electronics.Comment: invited review, 36 figures, 900+ references; minor stylistic changes from the published versio

Contributos da biomecânica para o estudo do rendimento desportivo em natação

Na actualidade, o progresso do rendimento desportivo ao mais alto nível só é susceptível de ser conseguido através de uma combinação (que diríamos necessariamente feliz) de um vasto conjunto de factores: é necessário desde logo um pouco de sorte (como em tudo na vida – mesmo que seja para cozinhar a sopa de pedra requerida), mas sobretudo um praticante talentoso e motivado, condições de treino adequadas, um envolvimento global propício, uma equipa directiva competente e motivada e uma equipa técnica pluridisciplinar devidamente habilitada e coordenada. No quadro das habilitações desta deve-se destacar a sua sensibilidade e vocação para a contínua avaliação do seu próprio desempenho e do desempenho do seu nadador, para a consideração, ponderação e experimentação de novas opções, para a inovação tecnológica e científica. Apesar de no universo desportivo a inércia científica (e tecnológica) ser ainda superior à verificada noutros domínios da sociedade contemporânea (às vezes por estrito exercício de um carácter “bota de elástico”), são já muitos (e de há muito) os exemplos frutuosos da sua incorporação no quotidiano, seja como background cultural apenas, seja como prática efectiva. No futuro serão cada vez mais; e serão cada vez menos os espaços para o “por acaso”, para o “surpreendente”, para a geração espontânea do campeão apesar de quem o treina. No futuro – e num futuro que se já vem fazendo presente – não haverá nadadores ou treinadores de sucesso que não apelem, mais ou menos exuberantemente, a auxiliares científicos e tecnológicos para o treino

Performance of the CMS Cathode Strip Chambers with Cosmic Rays

The Cathode Strip Chambers (CSCs) constitute the primary muon tracking device in the CMS endcaps. Their performance has been evaluated using data taken during a cosmic ray run in fall 2008. Measured noise levels are low, with the number of noisy channels well below 1%. Coordinate resolution was measured for all types of chambers, and fall in the range 47 microns to 243 microns. The efficiencies for local charged track triggers, for hit and for segments reconstruction were measured, and are above 99%. The timing resolution per layer is approximately 5 ns

The present and future status of heavy neutral leptons

The existence of nonzero neutrino masses points to the likely existence of multiple Standard Model neutral fermions. When such states are heavy enough that they cannot be produced in oscillations, they are referred to as heavy neutral leptons (HNLs). In this white paper, we discuss the present experimental status of HNLs including colliders, beta decay, accelerators, as well as astrophysical and cosmological impacts. We discuss the importance of continuing to search for HNLs, and its potential impact on our understanding of key fundamental questions, and additionally we outline the future prospects for next-generation future experiments or upcoming accelerator run scenarios

Performance and Operation of the CMS Electromagnetic Calorimeter

The operation and general performance of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter using cosmic-ray muons are described. These muons were recorded after the closure of the CMS detector in late 2008. The calorimeter is made of lead tungstate crystals and the overall status of the 75848 channels corresponding to the barrel and endcap detectors is reported. The stability of crucial operational parameters, such as high voltage, temperature and electronic noise, is summarised and the performance of the light monitoring system is presented

From Feminist Anarchy to Decolonization: Understanding abortion health activism before and after the Repeal of the 8th Amendment

This article analyses abortion health activism (AHA) in the Irish context. AHA is a form of activism focused on enabling abortion access where it is restricted. Historically, AHA has involved facilitating the movement of abortion seekers along ‘abortion trails’ (Rossiter, 2009). Organisations operate transnationally, enabling access to abortion care across borders. Such AHA is a form of feminist anarchism, resisting prohibitions on abortion through direct action. However, AHA work has changed over time. Existing scholarship relates this to advancements in medical technology, particularly the emergence of telemedicine and the increased use of early medical abortion. This article goes beyond those explanations to explore how else AHA has changed by comparing the work of AHA before and after the Republic of Ireland’s referendum on abortion in May 2018. Based on this, I argue that there is a visible shift in the politics of AHA. Drawing on qualitative data from research on AHA organisations along the Liverpool–Ireland Abortion Corridor, specifically those based outside Ireland, the article argues that in the aftermath of the referendum, Irish AHA has increasingly moved towards decolonising feminist activism, thus drawing attention to the relationship between abortion health activists (AHAs) and broader political discourses entangled with abortion law reform