In vitro study on the mechanisms of action of a novel phytotherapeutic compound against human hepatoma cells.

HepG2 human hepatoma cells were incubated for 24 or 48 h with various concentrations of YHK solution. After 24 h incubation, cell proliferation and cytotoxicity were determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl)-5-(3carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2Htetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cytotoxicity or necrosis was expressed as lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. After exponential growth phase HepG2 cells were treated with different doses of YHK and apoptosis was assessed by using an Annexin V-FITC kit. Further, oxidative stress was measured by dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. As compared to control, YHK-treated cultures showed a significant time-course decrease of the proliferation rate of HepG2 cell growth (p < 0.01). This is likely to be due to an enhanced cytotoxicity (MTT and LDH tests) (p < 0.001). On the other hand, YHK showed in vitro to significantly enhance the oxidative stress of HepG2 cell (p < 0.01) while also markedly increasing apoptosis at 72 h with cells G2/M phase arrest (p < 0.01). These data suggest that YHK seem to modulate the extrinsic and intrinsic regulators of apoptosis and sensitize tumour cells to apoptosis. These preliminary data are worth interest when considering that this nutraceutical has been shown in vitro and in vivo to exert protective anti-tumour effect by redox statusmodulating and immuno-regulatory actions. Given its lack of toxicity so far reported, such natural product might represent an effective nutritional supplement i

Sticking choices in timpani sight-reading performance

When sight-reading a score, a timpanist needs to decide in real-time which stick to use to play a specific note while interpreting the musical material. Our main point of inquiry seeks to understand which sticking patterns performers employ and how they are affected by rhythmic stability. This paper analyzes the bi-manual sequencing (i.e., sticking) patterns of 31 timpanists in a sight-reading task. We analyze their results compared to model sticking patterns common in percussion pedagogical literature. Results show that while hand dominance plays an essential role in an individual's sticking pattern, the stability of a rhythmic pattern may also dramatically influence the observed particular sticking strategies. In areas of rhythmic stability, performers largely adhered to one of two conventional sticking patterns in the literature (dominant hand lead &amp; alternating). Where rhythmic patterns became more unstable, the performers separated into diverse sticking groups. Moreover, several performers demonstrated sticking patterns which were hybrids or an inverse of the model sticking patterns, without any impact on the success of their sight-reading abilities. Overall, no two individual performers demonstrated the same sticking pattern. In terms of percussion pedagogy, our findings suggest that performers may benefit from an awareness of the adaptability of model sticking strategies. Lastly, we make the case for further study of rhythmic stability and bi-manual sequencing by locating the difference between notational and aural complexity

Quantitative Evaluation of Percussive Gestures by Ranking Trainees versus Teacher

International audienceIn this paper we characterize timpani gestures by temporal kinematic features, containing most information responsible for the sound-producing actions. In order to evaluate the feature sets, a classification approach is conducted under three main attack categories (legato, accent and vertical accent) and sub-categories (dynamics, striking position). Two studies are carried out: intra-subject and inter-subjects classification. Results are presented in terms of a quantitative ranking of students, using professional gestures as training set, and their gestures as test set

BLOG LITERÁRIO: : O uso da tecnologia digital como instrumento de interação entre os alunos do IFC e a comunidade

O Blog é uma ferramenta de comunicação digital cuja adesão tem sido cada vez maior entre os jovens. Além de abrigar textos de gêneros diversos, nele, o blogueiro constrói-se e constrói uma relação com o leitor por meio de publicações ou posts. Levando-se em consideração o acesso, cada vez mais irrestrito, dos jovens à internet e a afinidade deles com o gênero blog, o presente projeto objetiva criar um blog literário no qual os alunos do IFC e a comunidade externa publiquem textos de tipologias diversas. Espera-se, com isto, ampliar o espaço de diálogo entre os envolvidos, bem como estimular a produção escrita em Língua portuguesa

Progetto e costruzione 1918-29

Gli interventi, che anticipano i risultati di una ricerca in corso sulla Basilica di Cristo Re (1918-34), dell’architetto Marcello Piacentini (1881-1960) sono il risultato di un lavoro originale che analizza documentazione inedita e rilettura del contesto storico