CULTURA E DIVULGAÇÃO CIENTÍFICA: AS POSSIBILIDADES DE DIÁLOGO A PARTIR DO CINEMA DE FICÇÃO CIENTÍFICA

O crescente consumo de produtos midiáticos tem tornado a mídia um importante agente socializador e educativo, assim como a escola e a família. A pedagogia da mídia é hoje uma realidade e os diversos produtos culturais midiáticos como filmes, que tendem a ser altamente consumidos pelo público jovem, muitas vezes contribuem para a formação de um senso de classe, raça e sexualidade, bem como das relações de poder na sociedade. Uma vez que os mitos e símbolos disseminados pela mídia contribuem para a construção das identidades, mostra-se fundamental aliar a mídia à educação, sobretudo no que diz respeito à formação de crianças e adolescentes. Assim, este trabalho busca investigar o papel dos produtos culturais midiáticos, sobretudo do cinema na formação das identidades e visões de mundo. Sob a perspectiva da cultura da mídia e das pedagogias culturais, entende-se o cinema enquanto um instrumento que, além de entreter, oferece recursos para a contestação do discurso dominante. Nesse sentido, apresenta-se um projeto de divulgação científica desenvolvido na Universidade de São Paulo em um centro de educação não formal para jovens na zona leste de São Paulo, em que se é utilizado do cinema para a discussão de temas como igualdade de gênero e alteridade. Para tanto, utiliza-se da ficção científica, que se mostra um instrumento com potencial para pensar o mundo, uma vez que retrata histórias que, embora contrafactuais, representam os dilemas reais da sociedade. Assim, diversos filmes do gênero que abordam temas relacionados às ciências permitem refletir sobre relações de gênero, raça, classe, e em uma ciência contra hegemônica, apresentando potencial para a discussão sobre temas fundamentais na sociedade hoje

Molecular Data Reveal Complex Hybridization and a Cryptic Species of Neotropical Wild Cat

SummaryHybridization among animal species has recently become more recognized as an important phenomenon, especially in the context of recent radiations [1–9]. Here we show that complex hybridization has led to contrasting patterns of genomic composition among closely related species of the Neotropical cat genus Leopardus. We show strong evidence of ancient hybridization and introgression between the pampas cat (L. colocolo) and northeastern populations of tigrina (L. tigrinus), leading to remarkable cytonuclear discordance in the latter. In contrast, southern tigrina populations show recent and continuing hybridization with Geoffroy’s cat (L. geoffroyi), leading to extreme levels of interspecific admixture at their contact zone. Finally, we demonstrate that two seemingly continuous Brazilian tigrina populations show no evidence of ongoing gene flow between them, leading us to support their formal recognition as distinct species, namely L. tigrinus in the northeast and L. guttulus in the south

A necessidade de inserção do processo de seleção sexual nos livros didáticos do ensino médio

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar o conceito de seleção sexual de Darwin e discutir a importância de sua inserção nos livros didáticos do Ensino Médio. Foram analisados os livros que fazem parte da lista sugerida pelo Programa Nacional do Livro Didático para o Ensino Médio. Os resultados indicam que esse conceito é apresentado em menos de 50% das obras sugeridas pelo PNLEM e que é caracterizado como um tipo de seleção natural. Sugerimos que é necessária a diferenciação de tais conceitos com o objetivo de promover um ensino mais eficaz dos mesmos, o que poderá facilitar a compreensão da Teoria Evolutiva de forma mais ampla e do conceito de seleção natural de forma mais específica

Malformações fetais associadas ao uso de antagonista dos receptores de angiotensina II: Relato de Caso

Introduction: The potential risks related to drug exposure during pregnancy represent a vast chapter in modern obstetrics and data regarding the safety of antihypertensive drugs during pregnancy are relatively scarce. Case report: A 37-year-old patient discovered her fifth pregnancy at our hospital after 26 weeks and 4 days of gestation. She reported a history of hypertension and was currently being treated with Losartan. Hospitalization was recommended for the patient and further evaluation of fetal vitality was performed. On the fourth day an ultrasound was performed, resulting in a severe oligohydramnios, fetal centralization and abnormal ductus venosus. After 36 hours, the newborn died. Pathologic evaluation: At autopsy, the skullcap had large fontanels and deficient ossification. The kidneys were slightly enlarged. A microscopic examination detected underdevelopment of the tubules and the presence of some dilated lumens. Immunohistochemical detection of epithelial membrane antigen was positive. Immunoreactivity of CD 15 was also assayed to characterize the proximal tubules, and lumen collapse was observed in some regions. Discussion: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor antagonists (ARAs) are among the most widely prescribed drugs for hypertension. They are often used by hypertensive women who are considering become pregnant. While their fetal toxicity in the second or third trimesters has been documented, their teratogenic effect during the first trimester has only recently been demonstrated. Conclusion: Constant awareness by physicians and patients should be encouraged, particularly in regard to the prescription of antihypertensive drugs in women of childbearing age who are or intend to become pregnant.Introdução: Os riscos relacionados à exposição de drogas durante a gestação representam um vasto capítulo na obstetrícia moderna e dados sobre a segurança de drogas anti-hipertensivas são relativamente escassos. Relato do caso: Paciente de 37 anos, hipertensa crônica, descobriu a gravidez com 26 semanas e 4 dias de gestação. Estava em uso regular de Losartana. Durante avaliação fetal ultrassonográfica, foi relatada a presença de grave oligoâmnio associado ao quadro de centralização fetal com alteração de ducto venoso, e, após 36 horas, verificou-se óbito neonatal. Necrópsia: Observou-se calota craniana com fontanelas amplas e ossificação deficiente. Rins levemente aumentados de volume e, à microscopia, hipodesenvolvimento de túbulos com presença de lúmen dilatado. Imunohistoquímica com expressão em túbulos distais de antígeno epitelial de membrana. Imunoperoxidade com expressão em túbulos proximais de CD 15 em células epiteliais e colapso de alguns lúmens fora observado. Discussão: Inibidores da conversão de angiotensina e antagonistas de receptor de angiotensina estão entre as drogas mais prescritas para hipertensão. Estas drogas são frequentemente prescritas para mulheres em idade fértil e que pretendem engravidar. Enquanto a toxicidade fetal destas, nos segundo e terceiro trimestres, já é conhecida, seus efeitos durante o primeiro trimestre foi apenas recentemente demostrado. Conclusão: A conscientização por parte de médicos e pacientes deve ser realizada de rotina, principalmente no que diz respeito à prescrição e utilização de drogas potencialmente teratogênicas ou fetotóxicas. Este cuidado deve ser redobrado para pacientes que estão em idade reprodutiva e que podem se tornar gestantes em uso rotineiro destas medicações.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Maternidade Escola de Vila Nova CachoeirinhaHospital Servidor Publico Estadual de São PauloUniversidade de São PauloUNIFESPSciEL

Is surgical debridement necessary in the diabetic foot treated with photodynamic therapy?

Background: Diabetic patients are susceptible to developing foot ulcerswith serious complications such as osteomyelitis and amputations. Treatment approaches are still empirical and the benefit of usual procedures such as surgical debridement has not been properly evaluated. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a non-invasive and highly efficient method for the treatment of the diabetic foot, being able to eradicate the infection and to stimulate healing, decreasing considerably the amputation risk. In the day-to-day practice of our service, we have been faced with the question whether debridement is necessary before PDT. In here, we designed a study to answer that question. Methods: Patients were divided in two groups: In one of the groups (n = 17), debridement was performed before PDT and in the other (n = 40) only PDT treatment was performed. PDT sessions were performed once a week in all patients until healing was achieved, as indicated by visual inspection as well as by radiographic and laboratory exams. At the start of the study, the two groups had no statistical differences concerning their clinical features: average age, gender, insulin use, diabetes mellitus onset time and previous amputations. Results: PDT was effective in the treatment of 100% of the patients showing no relapses after one year of follow up. The group submitted to PDT without previous debridement had a statistically significant (p = 0.036, Mann-Whitney) shorter cure time (29 days, similar to 27%). Conclusion: Our data indicates that debridement is not necessary in the treatment of diabetic foot in patients that have enough peripheral arterial perfusion. In addition, we reproduced previous studies confirming that PDT is an efficient, safe, simple and affordable treatment method for the diabetic foot.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao PauloCNPqHosp Anchieta, Fac Med ABC, Sao Bernardo Do Campo, BrazilFac Med ABC, Dept Bioquim, Santo Andre, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Dept Bioquim, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Med, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Med, Sao Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 12/50680-5FAPESP: 13/07937-8Web of Scienc

Unraveling The Genetic Basis Of Xylose Consumption In Engineered Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Strains

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The development of biocatalysts capable of fermenting xylose, a five-carbon sugar abundant in lignocellulosic biomass, is a key step to achieve a viable production of second-generation ethanol. In this work, a robust industrial strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was modified by the addition of essential genes for pentose metabolism. Subsequently, taken through cycles of adaptive evolution with selection for optimal xylose utilization, strains could efficiently convert xylose to ethanol with a yield of about 0.46 g ethanol/g xylose. Though evolved independently, two strains carried shared mutations: amplification of the xylose isomerase gene and inactivation of ISU1, a gene encoding a scaffold protein involved in the assembly of iron-sulfur clusters. In addition, one of evolved strains carried a mutation in SSK2, a member of MAPKKK signaling pathway. In validation experiments, mutating ISU1 or SSK2 improved the ability to metabolize xylose of yeast cells without adaptive evolution, suggesting that these genes are key players in a regulatory network for xylose fermentation. Furthermore, addition of iron ion to the growth media improved xylose fermentation even by non-evolved cells. Our results provide promising new targets for metabolic engineering of C5-yeasts and point to iron as a potential new additive for improvement of second-generation ethanol production.6BNDESFINEPBrazil's CAPESNational Institute of General Medical Sciences of the USA National Institutes of Health (NIGMS-NIH) [R35GM119788]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Heart failure and treatment with Sodium-glucose Co-transporter Inhibitor (SGLT2): dapagliflozin and its effects on the cardiac system

This article thoroughly examines the effectiveness of treatment with dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose co-transporter inhibitor, in the context of heart failure. The primary focus of this analysis lies in evaluating patients' clinical condition, the diagnostic procedures employed, and the various medications used as part of the treatment regimen. The objective of this investigation is based on a meticulous analysis of relevant scientific articles. Classified as documentary research within the field of Applied Linguistics, this study draws upon research covering classification, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, pharmacological treatment, and the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in heart failure as its primary theoretical framework. The findings indicate dapagliflozin's efficacy in reducing the heart's ejection fraction, regardless of the presence of diabetes. However, it emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive medical assessment before initiating the use of this medication, highlighting the need for caution and appropriate professional supervision

Parameters and genetic divergence to identify resistance to anthracnose and bacteriosis in cassava accessions

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar os parâmetros genéticos de genótipos de mandioca (Manihot esculenta) cultivados em campo, bem como a divergência genética entre eles, para identificar quais apresentam maior resistência à antracnose e à bacteriose. Foram realizados três experimentos independentes, tendo-se avaliado 133 acessos e nove cultivares comerciais de mandioca distribuídos em cinco blocos, com cinco plantas por parcela, em cada experimento. No primeiro experimento, as plantas foram submetidas à inoculação de Xanthomonas phaseolis pv. manihotis (bacteriose). No segundo, as plantas foram submetidas à inoculação de Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. manihotis (antracnose). No terceiro, realizado em delineamento de blocos aumentados e sob ocorrência natural das doenças, foram feitas avaliações visuais das plantas por escala de notas. A herdabilidade foi utilizada como parâmetro genético, e o método de grupos de pares não ponderados com média aritmética foi aplicado para determinação de divergência genética e agrupamento. No terceiro experimento, detectaram-se diferenças genéticas entre os acessos, que foram avaliados quanto à área abaixo da curva de progressão da doença (AUDPC) para antracnose e bacteriose. No primeiro e no terceiro experimentos de bacteriose, as chances de sucesso na seleção de acessos resistentes são maiores, em razão dos altos valores de herdabilidade obtidos. Os acessos BGM-1170 e BGM-1134 mostram as menores médias de AUDPC e são considerados resistentes à antracnose e à bacteriose.The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic parameters of cassava (Manihot esculenta) genotypes cultivated in the field, as well as the genetic divergence between them, in order to identify which ones show a greater resistance to anthracnose and bacteriosis. Three independent experiments were carried out, evaluating 133 accessions and nine commercial cultivars of cassava distributed in five blocks, with five plants per plot in each experiment. In the first experiment, the plants were subjected to inoculation with Xanthomonas phaseoli pv. manihotis (bacteriosis). In the second, the plants were subjected to inoculation with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. manihotis (anthracnose). In the third, carried out in an augmented block design and under naturally occurring diseases, visual evaluations of the plants were performed using a rating scale. Heritability was used as a genetic parameter, and the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean was applied to determine genetic divergence and clustering. In the third experiment, genetic variability was detected among accessions, which were evaluated for the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) for anthracnose and bacteriosis. In the first and third experiments of bacteriosis, the chances of success in the selection of resistant accessions are higher due to the high heritability values obtained. The BGM-1170 and BGM-1134 accessions show the lowest mean for AUDPC and are considered resistant to anthracnose and bacteriosis

Perioperative Care of Patients Undergoing Surgery During Coronavirus Pandemic

While the coronavirus-19 has already infected over 2.2 million patients and killed over 150 thousand people worldwide, in Brazil, there are now 374 thousand confirmed cases and 23 thousand casualties. Apparently, the country has not yet reached the expected peak of infections, based on the experience of previously affected countries. Many considerations have been made concerning surgical cases during the COVID pandemic. Some recommendations include delaying all electives cases to save beds, equipment, and medical staff for COVID-19 infected patients. At the same time, it is known that not all elective cases are optional. Surgery cancellation may, eventually, be deleterious to the patient. Urgent and emergency procedures will still have to be undertaken and are of great concern since noninfected subjects can be infected by the coronavirus-19 during hospitalization and, likewise, asymptomatic COVID-19 infected patients may be operated and spread the virus to the environment, contaminating the medical team and other patients. The purpose of this article was to discuss whether elective surgeries should be performed and, if performed, what precautions should be taken in order to protect both the patients and the hospital staff. Also, the conduction of urgent cases will be addressed