Plutarque Éditions Traductions Paratextes

Le panorama humaniste se définit par la réception de l’héritage de l’Antiquité Classique, fondé sur la méthode philologique de la multiplex imitatio et de l’æmulatio avec les auteurs gréco-latins. Cette contaminatio gnoséologique construit un tout nouveau scénario dans la réalité de la genèse et de la création littéraires aux XVème et XVIème siècles, aboutissant à la production de nombre de Collectaneas, Florilegia, Adagia comme sources encyclopédiques des sententiae, exempla et apophthegmes, qui favorisent le dialogue entre les trois domaines du savoir que sont Philosophie, Morale et Rhétorique. Ces oeuvres, disposées par loci communes, ont une teneur didactique et c’est ainsi que la rhétorique s’allie à la pédagogie, à la philosophie et à la morale, pour l’éducation et la formation intégrale de l’ethos de; l’individu. André Rodrigues de Évora - Andreas Eborensis - a été divulgateur de Plutarque. Dans les Loci communes sententiarum et exemplorum (1569), qu’il a rassemblés à partir des Moralia, on examinera trois questions : 1) Quels sont les traités moraux qu’il retient ? 2) Quel type de sentences trouve-t-on et quel type d’organisation a-t-il choisi ? 3) Quelles sont les (possibles) éditions de Plutarque qu’il a utilisées

Sustainable plant polyesters as substrates for optical gas sensors

UIDB/04378/2020 PTDC/BII-BIO/28878/2017 PTDC/SAU-SER/30388/2017 SFRH-BD-110467-2015The fast and non-invasive detection of odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by gas sensors and electronic noses is a growing field of interest, mostly due to a large scope of potential applications. Additional drivers for the expansion of the field include the development of alternative and sustainable sensing materials. The discovery that isolated cross-linked polymeric structures of suberin spontaneously self-assemble as a film inspired us to develop new sensing composite materials consisting of suberin and a liquid crystal (LC). Due to their stimuli-responsive and optically active nature, liquid crystals are interesting probes in gas sensing. Herein, we report the isolation and the chemical characterization of two suberin types (from cork and from potato peels) resorting to analyses of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The collected data highlighted their compositional and structural differences. Cork suberin showed a higher proportion of longer aliphatic constituents and is more esterified than potato suberin. Accordingly, when casted it formed films with larger surface irregularities and a higher C/O ratio. When either type of suberin was combined with the liquid crystal 5CB, the ensuing hybrid materials showed distinctive morphological and sensing properties towards a set of 12 VOCs (comprising heptane, hexane, chloroform, toluene, dichlormethane, diethylether, ethyl acetate, acetonitrile, acetone, ethanol, methanol, and acetic acid). The optical responses generated by the materials are reversible and reproducible, showing stability for 3 weeks. The individual VOC-sensing responses of the two hybrid materials are discussed taking as basis the chemistry of each suberin type. A support vector machines (SVM) algorithm based on the features of the optical responses was implemented to assess the VOC identification ability of the materials, revealing that the two distinct suberin-based sensors complement each other, since they selectively identify distinct VOCs or VOC groups. It is expected that such new environmentally-friendly gas sensing materials derived from natural diversity can be combined in arrays to enlarge selectivity and sensing capacity.publishersversionpublishe

Computationally-designed miniproteins showing neutralization activity against SARS-CoV-2

As the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated, the need for robust antiviral therapies against SARS-CoV-2 remains substantial. A promising strategy to meet this demand is through the development of proteins tailored for enhanced binding affinity to crucial viral targets, such as epitopes located on their fusion proteins. Among these targets is the Spike proteins receptor binding domain (RBD), which interacts with the human receptor ACE2 protein, initiating the viral entry process. Targeting the RBD epitope that binds to ACE2 is a promising strategy to fight COVID-19 and is used here as a model target to validate our approach. In this work, we implemented a computational pipeline leveraging artificial intelligence-based computational design methodologies, RFDiffusion and ProteinMPNN, to de novo design miniproteins targeting the RBD epitope that interacts with ACE2. The most promising designs were selected based on a combination of relevant criteria, including metrics derived from the protein structure prediction tool AlphaFold2 and properties like surface hydrophobicity and shape complementarity to the target. We expressed in vitro selected designs and evaluated their binding affinity to the RBD using Bio-layer Interferometry and Yeast Display assays. Proteins demonstrating favourable binding affinity to the RBD were subsequently subjected to neutralization assays, evaluating the proteins ability to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection. We observed that two of the selected designs can bind to the RBD and neutralize viral infection, thus successfully demonstrating that this computational framework is able to design proteins that are tailor-made to interact with specific epitopes. This paves the way for the next round of design, where the most promising candidates are being optimized using strategies that consider the oligomerization tendency observed in some of the designs tested.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Discordance between patient and physician global assessment of disease activity in Behçet's syndrome: a multicenter study cohort

Background: To compare the patients' and physician's global assessment of disease activity in Behçet's syndrome (BS) and investigate the frequency, magnitude, and determinants of potential discordance. Methods: A total of 226 adult BS patients with a median (IQR) age of 46.9 (35.6-55.2) years were enrolled across Italy, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. Demographic, clinical, and therapeutic variables, as well as the patient reported outcomes, were collected at the recruitment visit. The physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores of the Short Form Questionnaire 36 (SF-36) and the Behçet's syndrome Overall Damage Index (BODI) were calculated. Disease activity was assessed by the patients' (PtGA) and physician's global assessment (PGA) in a 10-cm visual analog scale, as well as the Behçet Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Discordance (∆) was calculated by subtracting the PGA from the PtGA and defined as positive (PtGA>PGA) and negative (PtGA 80%) of disagreements were due to patients rating higher their disease activity. Higher values of BDCAF were associated to increased rate of positive discordance. When BDCAF = 0, the median (IQR) values of PtGA and PGA were 0.2 (0-2) and 0 (0-1), respectively. PCS (adjusted odds ratio (adjOR) 0.96 per unit, 95% CI 0.93-0.98, p = 0.006) and MCS (adjOR 0.96 per unit, 95% CI 0.93-0.99, p = 0.003) were independently associated with positive discordance using both cutoffs. Active ocular involvement emerged as a potential determinant of negative discordance (adjOR 5.88, 95% CI 1.48-23.30, p = 0.012). Conclusions: PtGA and PGA should be considered as complementary measures in BS, as patients and physicians may be influenced by different factors when assessing active disease manifestations. Particularly, PtGA may be a useful tool in the assessment of BS disease activity, as it carries a low risk to misclassify an inactive disease, and may allow to capture aspects of the patient's health that negatively affect his well-being and the treatment

Learning difficulties : a portuguese perspective of a universal issue

In this article we present findings of a study that was conducted with the purpose of deepening the knowledge about the field of learning difficulties in Portugal. Therefore, within these findings we will discuss across several cultural boundaries, themes related with the existence of learning difficulties as a construct, the terminology, the political, social and scientific influences on the field, and the models of identification and of ongoing school support for students. While addressing the above-mentioned themes we will draw attention to the different, yet converging, international understandings of learning difficulties

Biocultural aspects of species extinctions

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-MPredicting whether a species is likely to go extinct (or not) is one of the fundamental objectives of conservation biology, and extinction risk classifications have become an essential tool for conservation policy, planning and research. This sort of prediction is feasible because the extinction processes follow a familiar pattern of population decline, range collapse and fragmentation, and, finally, extirpation of sub-populations through a combination of genetic, demographic and environmental stochasticity. Though less well understood and rarely quantified, the way in which science and society respond to population decline, extirpation and species extinction can also have a profound influence, either negative or positive, on whether a species goes extinct. For example, species that are highly sought after by collectors and hobbyists can become more desirable and valuable as they become rarer, leading to increased demand and greater incentives for illegal trade - known as the anthropogenic Allee effect. Conversely, species that are strongly linked to cultural identity are more likely to benefit from sustainable management, high public support for conservation actions and fund-raising, and, by extension, may be partially safeguarded from extinction. More generally, human responses to impending extinctions are extremely complex, are highly dependent on cultural and socioeconomic context, and have typically been far less studied than the ecological and genetic aspects of extinction. Here, we identify and discuss biocultural aspects of extinction and outline how recent advances in our ability to measure and monitor cultural trends with big data are, despite their intrinsic limitations and biases, providing new opportunities for incorporating biocultural factors into extinction risk assessment

2 nd Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease, 2015

Abstract Chagas disease is a neglected chronic condition with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It has considerable psychological, social, and economic impacts. The disease represents a significant public health issue in Brazil, with different regional patterns. This document presents the evidence that resulted in the Brazilian Consensus on Chagas Disease. The objective was to review and standardize strategies for diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and control of Chagas disease in the country, based on the available scientific evidence. The consensus is based on the articulation and strategic contribution of renowned Brazilian experts with knowledge and experience on various aspects of the disease. It is the result of a close collaboration between the Brazilian Society of Tropical Medicine and the Ministry of Health. It is hoped that this document will strengthen the development of integrated actions against Chagas disease in the country, focusing on epidemiology, management, comprehensive care (including families and communities), communication, information, education, and research