Oral rapamycin attenuates atherosclerosis without affecting the arterial responsiveness of resistance vessels in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

The objective of the present study was to assess the effects of the immunosuppressant rapamycin (Rapamune®, Sirolimus) on both resistance vessel responsiveness and atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient 8-week-old male mice fed a normal rodent diet. Norepinephrine (NE)-induced vasoconstriction, acetylcholine (ACh)- and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)-induced vasorelaxation of isolated mesenteric bed, and atherosclerotic lesions were evaluated. After 12 weeks of orally administered rapamycin (5 mg·kg-1·day-1, N = 9) and compared with untreated (control, N = 9) animals, rapamycin treatment did not modify either NE-induced vasoconstriction (maximal response: 114 ± 4 vs 124 ± 10 mmHg, respectively) or ACh- (maximal response: 51 ± 8 vs 53 ± 5%, respectively) and SNP-induced vasorelaxation (maximal response: 73 ± 6 vs 74 ± 6%, respectively) of the isolated vascular mesenteric bed. Despite increased total cholesterol in treated mice (982 ± 59 vs 722 ± 49 mg/dL, P < 0.01), lipid deposition on the aorta wall vessel was significantly less in rapamycin-treated animals (37 ± 12 vs 68 ± 8 µm2 x 103). These results indicate that orally administered rapamycin is effective in attenuating the progression of atherosclerotic plaque without affecting the responsiveness of resistance vessels, supporting the idea that this immunosuppressant agent might be of potential benefit against atherosclerosis in patients undergoing therapy

Estudo e construção de cenários para a telefonia móvel celular no contexto brasileiro

A telefonia móvel celular no Brasil vem passando por uma série mudanças, as quais exigem das empresas deste setor um comportamento de antecipação e adaptação. As empresas precisam estar preparadas para entender os sinais das mudanças e ensaiar possíveis futuros, transformando os obstáculos em uma fonte de oportunidades e sucesso. Esta dissertação investiga a construção e formação de cenários para o setor de telefonia móvel celular no contexto brasileiro. Para isso utiliza-se o método estudo de caso, por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória com uma etapa desk research e uma etapa de entrevistas em profundidade. Na fase desk research utiliza-se conceitos de vários autores, tais como Peter Schwartz (2000), Gill Ringland (2002), Michel E. Porter (1992) entre outros. As entrevistas foram pessoais e não estruturadas, realizadas com especialistas e profissionais da área. Como resultados são apresentadas duas construções de cenários, uma descrição dos componentes que desencadearam estes cenários e uma análise do desenvolvimento e situação atual do setor

Estudo e construção de cenários para a telefonia móvel celular no contexto brasileiro

A telefonia móvel celular no Brasil vem passando por uma série mudanças, as quais exigem das empresas deste setor um comportamento de antecipação e adaptação. As empresas precisam estar preparadas para entender os sinais das mudanças e ensaiar possíveis futuros, transformando os obstáculos em uma fonte de oportunidades e sucesso. Esta dissertação investiga a construção e formação de cenários para o setor de telefonia móvel celular no contexto brasileiro. Para isso utiliza-se o método estudo de caso, por meio de uma pesquisa exploratória com uma etapa desk research e uma etapa de entrevistas em profundidade. Na fase desk research utiliza-se conceitos de vários autores, tais como Peter Schwartz (2000), Gill Ringland (2002), Michel E. Porter (1992) entre outros. As entrevistas foram pessoais e não estruturadas, realizadas com especialistas e profissionais da área. Como resultados são apresentadas duas construções de cenários, uma descrição dos componentes que desencadearam estes cenários e uma análise do desenvolvimento e situação atual do setor

WHERE DOES THE ART LIVE / A look at architecture, art and urban space: Circle of Plastic Arts of Coimbra | The Mermaid Garden and São Paulo Museum of Modern Art | Ibirapuera Park.

Relatório de Estágio do Mestrado em Estudos Curatoriais apresentado ao Colégio das ArtesRESUMO LÁRIOS, Karen Emmerich D’Arc Bruder. ONDE MORA A ARTE. Um olhar sobre a arquitetura, a arte e o espaço urbano: Círculo de Artes Plásticas de Coimbra | Jardim da Sereia e Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo | Parque Ibirapuera. 2017. Dissertação de Mestrado em Estudos Curatoriais, Colégio das Artes da Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra. A abordagem central deste trabalho é a arquitetura com um olhar pela arte. A dissertação promove uma reflexão sobre o edifício expositivo contemporâneo e as tipologias museológicas herdadas; e analisa as relações interdisciplinares do complexo «arte-arquitetura-cidade», assinalando a valoração dos parques verdes envolventes nessa convivência. Através de dois casos-de-estudo, o Círculo de Artes Plásticas de Coimbra no Jardim da Sereia e o Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo no Parque Ibirapuera, a dissertação expõe os contextos históricos-culturais; analisa a ocupação da arquitetura concebida para função diversa e a adaptação espacial ao novo uso como centro de arte contemporânea; e reflete sobre as relações interdisciplinares entre a arquitetura, a arte contemporânea e os espaços verdes envolventes, sinalizando as articulações entre o interno e o externo e entre o público e o privado. Nessa demonstração, a dissertação manifesta-se sobre a arte, a arquitetura e a cultura a partir de uma análise das instalações, histórias e coleções, reafirmando a identidade e a vocação cultural do CAPC Sereia em Portugal e do MAM Ibirapuera no Brasil.Em síntese, o presente trabalho impulsiona uma reflexão sobre o fomento e a valorização do intercâmbio cultural entre a arquitetura, a arte e o contexto urbano.ABSTRACT LÁRIOS, Karen Emmerich D’Arc Bruder. WHERE DOES THE ART LIVE / A look at architecture, art and urban space: Circle of Plastic Arts of Coimbra | The Mermaid Garden and São Paulo Museum of Modern Art | Ibirapuera Park. 2017. Master’s thesis in Curatorial Studies, College of Arts at Coimbra University, Coimbra.The central approach of this study is architecture with an eye for art. The thesis promotes a reflection on the contemporary expository building and the inherited museological typologies; and analyzes the interdisciplinary relations of the complex «art-architecture-city», indicating the valuation of the surrounding green parks in this coexistence.Through two case studies, the Circle of Plastic Arts of Coimbra at The Mermaid Garden and São Paulo Museum of Modern Art at Ibirapuera Park, the thesis exposes the historical-cultural context; analyzes the occupation of the architecture designed for a diverse function and its spatial adaptation to its new use as a center of contemporary art; and reflects on the interdisciplinary relations between architecture, contemporary art and the green areas surrounding it, evidencing the links between internal and external and between public and private.In this demonstration, the thesis reveals art, architecture and culture from an analysis of the installations, stories and collections, reaffirming the identity and the cultural vocation of Circle of Plastic Arts of Coimbra at The Mermaid Garden, Portugal and São Paulo Museum of Modern Art at Ibirapuera Park, Brazil.In short, the present study promotes a reflection on the encouragement and appreciation of the cultural exchange between architecture, art and the urban context

Evidence of cross-taxon congruence in Neotropical wetlands: Importance of environmental and spatial factors

Surrogate groups have been used as a useful tool for biodiversity conservation. The occurrence and distribution of a taxon can be predicted based on the occurrence of other biological species or groups. Consequently, the current study sought to determine the presence of one or more surrogate groups in a seasonally flooded region in the South American Pantanal wetlands. Data on the occurrence and distribution of species were collected at Pantanal Long-Term Sampling Sites (PLTSS). We assayed for congruence between woody plants, herbaceous plants, spiders, anurans, birds and small mammals using Mantel tests. We also evaluated the effect of selected environmental and spatial factors on each biological group, using variance partitioning. Based on the average correlation between groups, the group with the highest congruence was woody plants, and it was therefore considered the best surrogate group for the PLTSS area. The soil texture (percentage of silt, sand and clay) are not important in defining plant group distributions. However, plants were distributed as a function of flood intensity and hydroperiod. The effect of flooding and vegetation structure differed between the analyzed zoological taxa. Additionally, spatial factors, here represented by Moran Eigenvector Maps, were important for all evaluated biological groups

Exploring cross-taxon congruence between carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and vascular plants in sites invaded by Ailanthus altissima versus non-invaded sites: the explicative power of biotic and abiotic factors

Ailanthus altissima is one of the most global widespread invasive alien species and its effect as habitat transformer requires detailed investigations. In particular, its invasion in natural ecosystems and its effect on local fauna should be evaluated and described. With this purpose, the identification of surrogate taxa would be an important tool in order to define the impact of this invader on different habitats. Here, we evaluated cross-taxon congruence to quantify the strength of plant species composition in predicting multivariate patterns in carabid beetle assemblages, based on data from 20 sites divided in invaded and non-invaded habitats located in the Karst area, North-east Italy. We considered the habitat type (representing vegetation stages from grassland to forests) in order to evaluate the impact of A. altissima on carabid beetles along the vegetation succession. We found 28 carabid beetles and 173 plant species. Our analyses showed that plant species composition had a valuable predictive accuracy, based on the interplay among environmental variables, soil parameters and vegetation structure. Native vegetation and habitat type were the most important factors influencing carabid beetles and plant species composition. Furthermore, 33% of the total explained variation of carabid beetles assemblages (variance partition based on RDA analysis) was due to the independent effect of environment. We proved cross-taxon congruence between carabid beetles and plants along the successional gradient of vegetation (habitat type). In particular, we attested that both communities present more species differentiation among non-invaded vegetation and, in the meantime, in plots were A. altissima was present, anthropic and disturbed plants and carabid beetles species were prevalent. As a conclusion, plants can be effectively used as a surrogate taxon in the evaluation of the effect of A. altissima invasion in the Karst area