Producing Brazilianess for Global Audiences: The case of Sex and the City

This paper examines how the HBO series Sex and the City (SATC) portrayed “Brazilianess” during its six-season run. Although the program was recognized for its positive portrayal of female friendship and was usually praised for its association with female empowerment through story line, sexually explicit dialogue, and their successful careers we demonstrate how when it comes to Brazilianess and Brazilians, the program relied on stereotypical non-empowering and somewhat unrealistic portrayals. As Brazilian scholars and feminists we hope to question and explore the ways that Brazilianess, is portrayed in United States media more broadly and television specifically. We are focusing on Brazilianess in an attempt to move away from character specific analysis to question how Brazil as a nation and a culture, but also as a space where practices are performed, is produced in U.S. television shows such as SATC. Although research on the representation of Brazilians on Brazilian media is ample the same is not true when it comes to U.S. media. This essay seeks to begin to fill this gap

The protein environment restricts the intramolecular charge transfer character of the luciferine/luciferase complex

The electronic characterization of the luciferine/luciferase complex is fundamental to tune its photophysical properties and develop more efficient devices based on this luminiscent system. Here, we apply molecular dynamics simulations, hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations and transition density analysis to compute the absorption and emission spectra of luciferine/luciferase and analyze the nature of the relevant electronic state and its behaviour with the intramolecular and intermolecular degrees of freedom. It is found that the torsional motion of the chromophore is hampered by the presence of the enzyme, reducing the intramolecular charge transfer nature of the absorbing and emitting state. In addition, such a reduced charge transfer character does not correlate in a strong way neither with the intramolecular motion of the chromophore nor with the chromophore/amino-acid distances. However, the presence of a polar environment around the oxygen atom of the thiazole ring of the oxyluciferin, coming from both the protein and the solvent, enhances the charge transfer character of the emitting stateWe thank the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the project PID2020-117806GA-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, the Comunidad de Madrid through the Attraction of Talent Program (Grant ref 2018-T1/ BMD-10261) and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid through the Ayudas para el Fomento de la Investigación en Estudios de Master program and the predoctoral Contract Formación de Personal Investigador (FPI-UAM). The work has been performed under the Project HPC-EUROPA3 (INFRAIA2016-1-730897), with the support of the EC Research Innovation Action under the H2020 Programme and the CINECA computing center. D.A. and M.G thank funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the H2020-NMBP-TO-IND-2018-2020/DT-NMBP-09-2018 grant agreement No. 814492 (SIMDOME

The Relationship Between Childhood Physical and Sexual Abuse and Adolescent Cannabis Use: A Systematic Review

Background: Among adolescents, cannabis use is a health concern due to associations with drug addiction and mental health disorders across the life course. It has been shown that childhood maltreatment is associated with drug addiction in adulthood. However, a better understanding of the relationship between maltreatment and drug use may improve targeted prevention and interventions. The aim of this systematic review is to describe the association between exposure to childhood maltreatment, specifically physical and sexual abuse, with adolescent cannabis use. Methods: A systematic search strategy was applied to Embase, PsycINFO, and Ovid MEDLINE(R) databases. Methods followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Abstract and title screening was performed to identify papers which reported an estimate of the association between childhood physical or sexual abuse and adolescent cannabis use. Full text screening of each paper was performed, and data were extracted and study quality assessed. Weighted means meta-analysis was performed on studies reporting odds ratios as effect estimates. Results: Of 8,780 screened articles, 13 were identified for inclusion. Eight papers received a quality rating score indicating lower risk of bias. Eleven papers reported the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and adolescent cannabis use; effect estimates ranged from AOR 0.53-AOR 2.18 (weighted mean OR 1.29, 95% CI 1.08-1.49). The relationship between childhood physical abuse and adolescent cannabis use was reported in 7 papers; effect estimates ranged from AOR 1.25-AOR 1.87 (weighted mean OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.12-1.66). Differences in the strength of the evidence were observed by the method of exposure ascertainment, and there was some evidence of differences in association by gender, age of cannabis initiation, and the severity of the abuse. Conclusions: This systematic review indicates childhood physical or sexual abuse may increase risk of adolescent-onset cannabis use. Few studies considered variation in timing of onset, or by gender. Adolescent cannabis use precedes is strongly associated with increased risk of negative mental health outcomes; further exploration of adolescent cannabis use's place on the causal pathway between childhood abuse and adult mental health problems is warranted to improve intervention

Apparent diffusion coefficient in the analysis of prostate cancer

The multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MPMRI) approach, has allowed the diagnostic performance in the detection and characterization of prostate cancer (PCa). Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), is an important technique in the MPMRI, that provides qualitative and quantitative biological information regarding water diffusivity in a non-invasive manner. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measures water mobility and can be quantified from the signal intensity loss between two or more b-values. Different studies reported that ADC values are directly associated with microvessel density and cellularity. One of the main aspects that is in discussion is the b-values that must be used in the DWI sequence in order to compute ADC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Estabilidad de las sales de quitosana, obtenidas por secado de aspersión, derivadas de quitina de langosta

Aim. The objective of this work was to develop and validate a method for determining the degree of molar deacetylation of chitosan acetate and chitosan lactate, as well as to study the stability of both salts. Materials and Methods. A spectrophotometric method was validated according to internationally-established quantitative techniques. Three industrial batches of chitosan acetate and chitosan lactate, obtained by spray drying, were stored under shelf life conditions for twelve months. Organoleptic characteristics, the degree of molar deacetylation, pH, loss on drying and microbiological count were determined at the beginning and end of the study. Results and Discussion. The statistical data proved that the two methods complied with international standards for the validation of analytical techniques. It was shown that the procedures developed were linear, specific, precise and accurate, so they can be used for the purposes of quality control and stability study of the polymer salts. Salts remained in powder form, with a light-yellow to dark-yellow coloration. Values of loss on drying (2.5 - 5.2 %) of chitosan salt using acetic or lactic acid, as a solvent, indicated the good quality of spray-dried particles of chitosan. Similar behavior was obtained regarding pH. The two salts stayed within the parameters that determine their quality, both in the initial stage and after twelve months at room temperature. Conclusion: Spray drying chitosan acetate and chitosan lactate, stored at room temperature in a dry place, in double polyethylene bags and multilayer paper bags, kept their physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics for a period of twelve months.Objetivos. Desarrollar y validar un método para la determinación del grado de desacetilación molar del acetato de quitosana y lactato de quitosana, y realizar el estudio de estabilidad de ambas sales. Material y Métodos. Un método espectrofotométrico fue validado según lo establecido internacionalmente para técnicas cuantitativas. Tres lotes industriales de acetato de quitosana y lactato de quitosana, obtenidos mediante secado por aspersión, fueron almacenados bajo condiciones de vida de estante durante doce meses. Se determinaron las características organolépticas, grado de desacetilación molar, pH, pérdida por desecación y el conteo microbiológico al inicio y final del estudio. Resultados y Discusión. El análisis estadístico demostró que ambos métodos cumplieron con los parámetros internacionales establecidos. Se demostró que los procedimientos desarrollados fueron lineales, específicos, precisos y exactos, por lo que pueden ser empleados en el control de calidad y estudio de estabilidad. Las sales se mantuvieron en forma de polvo de coloración amarillo claro u oscura. Los valores de pérdidas por desecación (2,5 – 5,2 %), para el acetato y lactato de quitosana, demuestran la calidad de las partículas de quitosana obtenidas por secado por aspersión. Un comportamiento similar fue obtenido para el pH. Las dos sales mantuvieron los parámetros que determinan su calidad, transcurridos los doce meses a temperatura ambiente. Conclusión: El acetato y el lactato de quitosana, almacenados a temperatura ambiente y en lugares secos, en bolsas dobles de polietileno y sacos de papel multicapas, conservan durante doce meses sus características físicas, químicas y microbiológicas

Green and white teas as health-promoting foods

This work is part of the doctoral thesis of Daniel Hinojosa- Nogueira conducted within the context of the “Program of Nutrition and Food Sciences” at the University of Granada. This work was supported by the “Plan propio de Investigación y Transferencia” of the University of Granada under the program “Intensificación de la Investigación, modalidad B” granted to José A. Rufián-Henares.Tea is one of the most consumed beverages around the world and as such, it is constantly the object of novel research. This review focuses on the research performed during the last five years to provide an updated view of the current position of tea regarding human health. According to most authors, tea health benefits can be traced back to its bioactive components, mostly phenolic compounds. Among them, catechins are the most abundant. Tea has an important antioxidant capacity and anti-inflammatory properties, which make this beverage (or its extracts) a potential aid in the fight against several chronic diseases. On the other hand, some studies report the possibility of toxic effects and it is advisable to reduce tea consumption, such as in the last trimester of pregnancy. Additionally, new technologies are increasing researchers' possibilities to study the effect of tea on human gut microbiota and even against SARS CoV-2. This beverage favours some beneficial gut microbes, which could have important repercussions due to the influence of gut microbiota on human health."Plan propio de Investigacion y Transferencia" of the University of Granada under the program "Intensificacion de la Investigacion, modalidad B

Antibiosis in Ascia monuste orseis Godart (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) caused by kale genotypes

Ascia monuste orseis (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) is one of the main insect pests of kale. The study was done to  identify kale varieties resistant to A. monuste orseis by the antibiosis resistance mechanism. Kale genotypes (26) were evaluated in experiments performed at the Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology of Goiano Federal Institute - Campus Urutaí. A completely randomized experimental design with 50 replicates was used. The biological parameters evaluated were (a) larval stage: development time, instars, viability and larval weight 15 days after hatching; (b) pupal stage: development time, weight of 24-h-old pupae, viability; (c) larvae-adult stage: development time and viability. The genotypes Gigante I-915 and Pires 1 de Campinas have antibiosis resistance. Gigante I-915 caused high larval mortality and Pires 1 de Campinas resulted in low larval and pupal viability of A. monuste orseis.Key words: Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala, Brassicaceae, Great Southern White, host plant resistance, integrated pest management (IPM)

Influence of the minimum b-value on prostate cancer assessment using conventional DWI and DKI models

To investigate the influence of the minimum b-value in diffusion parameters estimated for prostate tissues using mono-exponential and kurtosis models.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio