History and philosophy of science in Biology teaching

Neste trabalho, buscamos evidenciar a concepção de História da Biologia que é veiculada nos livros didáticos. Para tanto, analisamos três coleções de livros de Biologia destinados ao Ensino Médio, e alguns livros universitários usados em cursos de formação de professores. Ao analisar este material curricular foi possível observar que a história apresentada é desvinculada do contexto cultural de cada período histórico, o que pode levar o aluno a construir uma falsa representação da ciência e do fazer científico.In this work, we search forto evidences the conception of the History of Biology being is propagated in textbooks. We analyze three Biology book collections designed estined forto middle schooledium education, and some university books used in teacher education courses. When analyzing this curricular material it was possible to observe that the history of biology presented is disengaged from entailedofthe cultural context of each historical period, and this what can lead the student to construct a false representation of science and of scientific meaning making

Relapsing polychondritis: state of the art on clinical practice guidelines

Due to the rarity of relapsing polychondritis (RP), many unmet needs remain in the management of RP. Here, we present a systematic review of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) published for RP, as well as a list of the most striking unmet needs for this rare disease. We carried out a systematic search in PubMed and Embase based on controlled terms (medical subject headings and Emtree) and keywords of the disease and publication type (CPGs). The systematic literature review identified 20 citations, among which no CPGs could be identified. We identified 11 main areas with unmet needs in the field of RP: the diagnosis strategy for RP; the therapeutic management of RP; the management of pregnancy in RP; the management of the disease in specific age groups (for instance in paediatric-onset RP); the evaluation of adherence to treatment; the follow-up of patients with RP, including the frequency of screening for the potential complications and the optimal imaging tools for each involved region; perioperative and anaesthetic management (due to tracheal involvement); risk of neoplasms in RP, including haematological malignancies; the prevention and management of infections; tools for assessment of disease activity and damage; and patient-reported outcomes and quality of life indicators. Patients and physicians should work together within the frame of the ReCONNET network to derive valuable evidence for obtaining literature-informed CPGs

The GALEX UV emission in shell galaxies: tracing galaxy "rejuvenation" episodes

We present the GALEX far FUV and near NUV ultraviolet imaging of three nearby shell galaxies, namely NGC 2865, NGC 5018 and NGC 7135. The system of shells and fine structures visible in the optical is detected in the NUV image of NGC 2865 and in both NUV and FUV images of NGC 7135. The NUV image of NGC 5018 does not present shell structures. We detect absorption features in the nuclear region of all three galaxies. NGC 2865 has a nearly flat colour profile with (FUV-NUV)~2 throughout the whole galaxy. NGC 7135 is blue in the center (FUV-NUV)~0 and as red as (FUV-NUV)~1.5 in the outskirts, including the faint shell-like feature. We investigate the ability of the nuclear GALEX (FUV-NUV) colour to provide information about rejuvenation phenomena in the stellar populations of the shell galaxies. To this aim, we derive from theory the relationship between the Mg2, Hbeta, HgammaA, HdeltaA Lick line-strength indices and the (FUV-NUV) colour. We extend the study to a sample of early-type galaxies with emission lines in their optical spectra (Annibali et al. 2007). In the index vs.(FUV-NUV) colour diagrams, most of the galaxies are well explained by passively evolving SSPs. On the average, ages and metallicities of the galaxies in our sample estimated from optical line-strength indices are consistent with those inferred from the (FUV-NUV) colour. In general, all the colours but for (FUV-NUV) and (FUV-V), become nearly age insensitive when 1-2 Gyr have elapsed from the last star forming event. Considering composite stellar population models with a recent burst of star formation, we suggest that the position of the NGC 7135 and NGC 2865 nuclei in the (FUV-NUV)-Hbeta plane could be explained in term of a recent rejuvenation episode. (Abridged)Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS Main Journal, 21 pages, 15 figure

Walk well:a randomised controlled trial of a walking intervention for adults with intellectual disabilities: study protocol

Background - Walking interventions have been shown to have a positive impact on physical activity (PA) levels, health and wellbeing for adult and older adult populations. There has been very little work carried out to explore the effectiveness of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities. This paper will provide details of the Walk Well intervention, designed for adults with intellectual disabilities, and a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to test its effectiveness. Methods/design - This study will adopt a RCT design, with participants allocated to the walking intervention group or a waiting list control group. The intervention consists of three PA consultations (baseline, six weeks and 12 weeks) and an individualised 12 week walking programme. A range of measures will be completed by participants at baseline, post intervention (three months from baseline) and at follow up (three months post intervention and six months from baseline). All outcome measures will be collected by a researcher who will be blinded to the study groups. The primary outcome will be steps walked per day, measured using accelerometers. Secondary outcome measures will include time spent in PA per day (across various intensity levels), time spent in sedentary behaviour per day, quality of life, self-efficacy and anthropometric measures to monitor weight change. Discussion - Since there are currently no published RCTs of walking interventions for adults with intellectual disabilities, this RCT will examine if a walking intervention can successfully increase PA, health and wellbeing of adults with intellectual disabilities

Space charge saturated sheath regime and electron temperature saturation in Hall thrusters

Secondary electron emission in Hall thrusters is predicted to lead to space charge saturated wall sheaths resulting in enhanced power losses in the thruster channel. Analysis of experimentally obtained electron-wall collision frequency suggests that the electron temperature saturation, which occurs at high discharge voltages, appears to be caused by a decrease of the Joule heating rather than by the enhancement of the electron energy loss at the walls due to a strong secondary electron emission

Effect of Carnitine and herbal mixture extract on obesity induced by high fat diet in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity-associated type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing throughout the world. It is generally recognized that natural products with a long history of safety can modulate obesity.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To investigate the development of obesity in response to a high fat diet (HFD) and to estimate the effect of L-carnitine and an Egyptian Herbal mixture formulation (HMF) (consisting of T. chebula, Senae, rhubarb, black cumin, aniseed, fennel and licorice) on bodyweight, food intake, lipid profiles, renal, hepatic, cardiac function markers, lipid Peroxidation, and the glucose and insulin levels in blood and liver tissue in rats.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>White male albino rats weighing 80-90 gm, 60 days old. 10 rats were fed a normal basal diet (Cr), 30 rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks during the entire study. Rats of the HFD group were equally divided into 3 subgroups each one include 10 rats. The first group received HFD with no supplement (HFD), the 2^ndgroup HFD+L-carnitine and the third group received HFD+HMF. Carnitine and HMF were administered at 10^thweek (start time for treatments) for 4 weeks.</p> <p>Body weight, lipid profile & renal function (urea, uric acid creatinine) ALT & AST activities, cardiac markers, (LDH, C.K-NAC and MB) the oxidative stress marker reduced glutathione (GSH), and Malondialdehyde (MDA) catalase activity, in addition to glucose, insulin, and insulin resistance in serum & tissues were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Data showed that feeding HFD diet significantly increased final body weight, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, & LDL concentration compared with controls, while significantly decreasing HDL; meanwhile treatment with L-carnitine, or HMF significantly normalized the lipid profile.</p> <p>Serum ALT, urea, uric acid, creatinine, LDH, CK-NAC, CK-MB were significantly higher in the high fat group compared with normal controls; and administration of L-carnitine or herbal extract significantly lessened the effect of the HFD. Hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and high insulin resistance (IR) significantly increased in HFD in comparison with the control group. The treatment with L-carnitine or HMF improved the condition. HFD elevated hepatic MDA and lipid peroxidation associated with reduction in hepatic GSH and catalase activity; whereas administration of L-carnitine or herbal extract significantly ameliorated these hepatic alterations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HFD induced obesity associated with a disturbed lipid profile, defective antioxidant stability, and high values of IR parameters; this may have implications for the progress of obesity related problems. Treatment with L-carnitine, or HMF extract improved obesity and its associated metabolic problems in different degrees. Also HMF has antioxidant, hypolipidaemic insulin sensitizing effects. Moreover HMF might be a safe combination on the organs whose functions were examined, as a way to surmount the obesity state; and it has a distinct anti-obesity effect.</p

Chlamydia Psittaci negative MALT Lymphomas of the Ocular Adnexa Are Characterized by Biased Use of the VH4 Family and Evidence for Antigen Selection

Abstract Abstract 2644 Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphomas are the most common lymphomas in the ocular adnexa. Similar to extranodular MALT lymphomas in other tissues, ocular adnexa MALT lymphomas (OAMALTL) are frequently characterized by an indolent clinical course and often remain localized for many years. While chronic infection (e. g. Helicobacter pylori) or autoimmune diseases (e.g. Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Sjogren's syndrome) frequently precede and predispose patients to develop MALT lymphomas in the stomach, thyroid and salivary glands, respectively, the etiology and pathogenesis of OAMALTL are still controversial. An Italian group and investigators from several other geographic regions demonstrated Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) DNA present in OAMALTL, suggesting that this pathogen may be implicated in the development of these lymphomas. However, similar studies performed by us and other investigators on US-based patients have failed to corroborate this finding. Furthermore, DNA from other bacteria was also not detected by us, thus not supporting a bacterial etiology in US-based patients. Since non-bacterial antigens may predispose patients to OAMALTL, we have examined immunoglubulin (Ig) heavy chain variable region (VH) usage and mutations in the largest to date cohort of C psittaci negative OAMALTL originating from a single institution. DNA was extracted by standard techniques from 68 fresh OAMALTL tissues and used for direct PCR or PCR followed by cloning and sequencing using family specific VH leader and JH primers. To control for potential PCR error, all patient samples were evaluated by 2 independent PCR reactions and sequencing and only cases with identical CDR3 regions in the independent PCR runs were defined as clonal. Using this definition, clonal rearranged VHDJH sequences were identified in 44 (64.7%) tumors originating from the orbit (19), conjunctivae (19) and lacrimal gland (6). Forty seven clonal VH gene sequences were detected (3 of the patients had 2 clonal sequences) with 46 potentially functional and 1 harboring an out-of-frame junction with a stop codon. In 14 (31.8%) cases the PCR product could be sequenced directly, whereas in 30 (68.2%) cases PCR amplicons had to be subcloned to identify the VH gene. The 46 potentially functional VH were derived from 4 of the 7 human VH gene families with the following distribution: VH1, 13.1%; VH2, 2.2%; VH3, 39.1%; VH4, 45.6%, demonstrating a biased overrepresentation of the VH4 gene family (p=0.001). The most frequently encountered genes were VH4-34 (n=8), VH3-30 (n=6), VH3-23 (n=5) and VH4-30 (n=4). VH4-34 represented 17% of all the potentially functional VH genes identified in this study in contrast to its usage in 4–7% in adult peripheral B lymphocytes. Only 3 VH gene sequences were unmutated. The average percent homology to the germ line sequence in the 43 functional mutated sequences was 93.2% (range 71.5–99.6). Multinomial algorithm for antigen selection revealed evidence for positive selection in the CDR in 15 sequences, negative selection in the FR in 17 sequences, and selection in both CDR and FR (in the same sequence) in 7 sequences. Selection analysis using the focused binomial test demonstrated evidence of selection in the FR in 12 sequences and in the CDR in only 4 sequences. Selection was detected in 5 of the 8 functional VH4-34 sequences. Analysis of the tumor-derived CDR3 sequences revealed low similarity and an absence of stereotyped sequences with no homology to antibacterial and other previously published antibodies. The average CDR3 isoelectric point was 5.91±1.89 (SD). The average CDR3 length was 15.73±13.62 (SD) amino acids, with 19 sequences harboring 15–19 amino acids and 7 CDR3 sequences longer than 19 amino acids. Intraclonal variation was assessed by extensive molecular cloning in 8 potentially functional VH gene isolates from 8 randomly selected tumor specimens. Confirmed ongoing mutations were detected in the 6 of the 8 analyzed sequences. Overall our findings demonstrate that C. psittaci negative OAMALTL exhibit biased usage of VH families and genes with evidence for intraclonal heterogeneity and antigen selection in multiple tumors, implicating immunological stimulation in the pathogenesis of these lymphomas. The nature of the antigens potentially playing role in these processes is currently unknown and requires further studies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare