Facing Resignation and Silence: A Transforming Action-Research Experience in Brazil

"This article aims to discuss how the action research process can allow socially and historically constructed silences to be overcome. These kinds of silences prevent the emergence of dialogues necessary to the investigation mode. The necessary dialogues are built through the creation of a common participatory universe, and the construction of a consensual space between researchers and subjects of the practice, between those who are different and those who are the same. The article analyzes an action research project with women embroiderers in the suburbs of a large Brazilian city, directed at the formation of a working collective. Focusing on this experience, the authors discuss the strategies used to break the silence between the researcher and the group, considering the differences between researcher and group that could reinforce silences that already existed for participants. In a joint conclusion, the authors point out that action research can work as a critical instrument for breaking silence, allowing subjects to produce communicative processes that make it possible to overcome “resigned states” in order to transform their reality." (author's abstract

Effects of environmental enrichment upon ethanol-induced conditioned place preference and pre-frontal BDNF levels in adolescent and adult mice

Environmental enrichment (EE) provides a non-pharmacological tool to alter drug-induced reward, yet its effects on ethanol-induced reward remain controversial. We analyzed adolescent vs. adult (mice) differences in the influence of EE on ethanol-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). The effects of these treatments on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the prefrontal cortex were examined in a separate group of animals. Ethanol-induced CPP was found in adults, and it was similar in EE and in animals reared under standard housing conditions (SC). Adolescents kept under EE, but not those in SC, exhibited CPP. Among SC, but not among EE, adolescents, BDNF levels were significantly lower in those treated with ethanol than in those given vehicle. These results indicate that, compared to adults, adolescent exhibited reduced sensitivity to ethanol's rewarding effects, yet the youth but not the adults exhibited sensitivity to the promoting effect of EE upon CPP by ethanol. Ethanol significantly reduced BDNF levels in adolescents reared under standard housing conditions, but not in adult mice nor in adolescents given EE housing conditions. The present results add to the plethora of adolescent-specific responses to ethanol or to environmental stimuli that may put the youth at risk for escalation of ethanol intake.Fil: Pautassi, Ricardo Marcos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Suarez, Andrea Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Hoffmann, Lucas Barbosa. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Rueda, André Veloso. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Rae, Mariana. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Marianno, Priscila. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Camarini, Rosana. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Differential Attraction Of Drosophilids To Banana Baits Inoculated With Saccharomyces Cerevisiae And Hanseniaspora Uvarum Within A Neotropical Forest Remnant

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Yeasts are a necessary requisite in the diet of most Drosophila species that, in turn, may vector their dispersal in natural environments. Differential attractiveness experiments and the isolation of yeasts consumed by Drosophila may be informative for characterizing this association. Hanseniaspora uvarum is among the most common yeast species isolated from Drosophila crops, with high attractiveness to drosophilids. Saccharorrtyces cerevisiae has been widely used to collect flies, and it allows broad sampling of almost. all local Drosophila species. Pronounced differences in the field concerning Drosophila attractivity to baits seeded with these yeast species have been previously reported. However, few explicit generalizations have. been. set. Since late fifties, no field experiments of. Drosophila attractivity were carried out. in.the Neotropical region, which is facing shifts in abiotic and biotic factors.. Our objective is to characterize preference behavior that mediates the interaction in the wild among Neotropical Drosophila species and yeasts associated with them. We want to set a broad generalization about drosophilids attracted to the se yeasts. Here we present the results of a differential attractiveness experiment we carried out in a natural Atlantic Rainforest fragment to assess the preferences of Drosophila species groups to baits inoculated with H. uvarum and S. cerevisiae. Methods. Both yeast species were cultured in GYMP broth and separately poured in autoclaved mashed banana that was left fermenting. In the field, we collected drosophilids over five arrays of three different baits: non-inoculated autoclaved banana and banana inoculated with each yeast. In the laboratory the drosophilids were sorted to five sets according to their external morphology and/or genitalia: tripunctata; guarani; exotic; and the remaining flies pooled in others. Results and Conclusions. Uninoculated banana baits attracted virtually no flies. We found significant departures from random distribution over the other two baits (1:1 proportion) for all sets, except the pooled others. Flies of the sets willistoni and exotic preferred H. uvarum over S. cerevisiae, while the remaining sets were more attracted to S. cerevisiae. Previously various authors reported similar patterns in attraction experiments with S. cerevisiae and H. uvarum. It is also noteworthy that both yeast species have been isolated from natural substrates and crops of Drosophila species. Taken together, these results suggest that the preferences among Drosophila species groups may be reflecting deep and stable relations with yeast species in natural environments. They can be summarized as: forest dwelling species from subgenus Drosophila (such as tripunctata and guarani groups) are attracted to banana baits seeded with S. cerevisiae; while exotic (as D. melanogaster) and subgenus Sophophora species are preferentially attracted to baits seeded with H. uvarum.5Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal do Ensino Superior (CAPES) [PRODOC 2709/2010]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico [308285/2014-0, 457499/2014-1, 312066/2014-7]Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino, a Pesquisa e Extensao da Unicamp (FAEPEX-PEC2012) [1578/12]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP) [2012/03144-0, 2014/03791-1]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) [APQ-01525-14]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Representaciones y prácticas en torno a la implementación de la educación sexual integral en una institución educativa de nivel primario de la ciudad de Río Cuarto (Córdoba, Argentina)

Law 26,150 -Comprehensive Sexuality Education- (2006) establishes sexuality education as a public political intervention in Argentina. However, its implementation is partial. The main obstacles are resistance from social sectors and traditional institutions and the lack of teacher training. This university project in the community was carried out at the request of a elementary school from Río Cuarto (Córdoba). During the project the teachers reflected and deepened their knowledge about C.S.E. The project has a qualitative, cross-sectional and exploratory design. Sampling is non-probabilistic and the sample is of typical cases. Twenty teachers from an elementary school from Río Cuarto (Córdoba, Argentina) participated in the project. The research techniques were ad hoc exploratory questionnaires, group dynamics and opinion polls. As a result, a distortion was observed between the teacher's perception of the knowledge of C.S.E. and real knowledge. Likewise, teachers positively value the C.S.ELa Ley 26.150 de Educación Sexual Integral (2006) instituye la educación sexual como política pública desde una perspectiva de derechos, haciendo de la escuela el espacio de ejecución, y erigiendo al Estado como garante de su transversal implementación.  La concreción de sus objetivos es un desafío que encuentra como principales obstáculos las resistencias de diversos sectores sociales e instituciones tradicionales, los obstáculos subjetivos y la formación incipiente de quienes deben transversalizar sus contenidos.  Desde un proyecto de extensión elaborado en base al pedido de una comunidad educativa de Río Cuarto (Córdoba), se realizó un abordaje reflexivo y formativo sobre las representaciones, prácticas, posibilidades y dificultades en la implementación de la E.S.I.   El proyecto se enmarca en un diseño cualitativo, de tipo transversal y exploratorio, con un muestreo no probabilístico conformando una muestra de casos-tipo, integrada por veinte docentes de nivel inicial de una institución educativa de gestión pública de la ciudad de Río Cuarto (Córdoba, Argentina).  Se aplicaron técnicas de recolección de información tales como, cuestionarios exploratorios ad hoc sobre representaciones y creencias en torno a la sexualidad, dinámicas grupales y sondeos de opinión a partir de materiales audiovisuales digitalizados y técnicas de escritura autobiográfica.   Los datos obtenidos permitieron identificar inconsistencias entre la percepción docente que se tiene sobre el conocimiento de la E.S.I. y el conocimiento manifiesto que se pone en juego en su tarea docente.  Así mismo se observaron propuestas incipientes, aisladas y no sistematizadas referidas a la implementación de la E.S.I. que requieren mayor consistencia teórico-metodológica y sostén a lo largo del tiempo.  Más allá de las pocas iniciativas el conjunto de las/os docentes manifestó su acuerdo respecto a la importancia de la ley y a los aportes de la E.S.I. en la formación de sus estudiantes

Tratamiento Foto-catalítico heterogéneo para residuos líquidos con mezcla de sustancias indicadoras generados en laboratorios de la Universidad del Magdalena

El presente estudio buscó comprobar la eficiencia de la técnica de Foto-catálisis Heterogénea mediada con TiO2 como agente catalizador y H202 como agente oxidante en presencia de luz ultravioleta artificial (2.=360 mm) como método para el tratamiento de una matriz compleja de residuos líquidos procedentes de los laboratorios de análisis químico al interior de la Universidad del Magdalena, como los desechos de: tinciones biológicas (Azul de metileno, Sudan III y IV, entre otros), pruebas de calidad del agua (Negro de Eriocromo, Fenolftaleína, Ortofenantrolina, entre otros) y análisis micro biológicos (Violeta de Genciana, Safranina, Lugol), colectados entre los meses de Octubre y Diciembre del año 2009 en 3 unidades de laboratorio en la institución. Se evaluaron los parámetros de degradación y mineralización de los compuestos orgánicos presentes en el desecho recolectado mediante barridos de espectrofotometría entre 200 y 800 mm y pruebas de demanda química de oxígeno (DQ0) validadas a través de pruebas de carbono orgánico total (COT) respectivamente, siguiendo un diseño de experimentos Box-Behnken y utilizando la metodología estadística de superficie de respuesta se encontraron condiciones óptimas de tratamiento para las variables tiempo, pH, concentración de catalizador y concentración de agente oxidante ( t=6h, pH=3.0, Cat=550ppm y Ox= 2mI/L respectivamente), logrando una degradación del 84.07% y una mineralización total del 58.02% de los compuestos presentes inicialmente en la muestra. El proceso mostró una cinética ajustada a la ecuación de Langmuir - Hinshenlwood demostrando que la velocidad de absorción del contaminante en el catalizador es el mecanismo más importante para el tratamiento. Se ajustó un modelo matemático por respuesta, para la degradación se incluyen efectos lineales e interacciones entre las variables tiempo, pH y oxidante mientras que para la mineralización solo es significante el comportamiento del oxidante. La foto catálisis heterogénea demostró ser una técnica muy efectiva para el tratamiento de la mezcla de residuos orgánicos procedentes de los laboratorios estudiados de la Universidad del Magdalena, con un poco más de investigación se podría implementar la técnica como tecnología de tratamiento de residuos líquidos con sustancias químicas al interior de la institución

Food Quality And Authenticity Screening Via Easy Ambient Sonic-spray Ionization Mass Spectrometry.

This review is the first to summarize a decade of studies testing the use of easy ambient sonic-spray ionization mass spectrometry (EASI-MS) and its several sister techniques, Venturi (V-EASI), thermal imprinting (TI-EASI) and Spartan (S-EASI) mass spectrometry in food quality control and authentication. Since minimal or no sample preparation is required, such ambient desorption/ionization techniques have been shown to provide direct, fast and selective fingerprinting characterization at the molecular level based on the pools of the most typical components. They have also been found to be applicable on intact, undisturbed samples or on simple solvent extracts. Fundamentals of EASI-MS and its sister techniques, including mechanisms, devices, parameters and strategies, as well as the many applications reported for food analysis, are summarized and discussed.1411172-118

Respuesta humoral y consecuencias reproductivas en ovejas desafiadas con Brucella ovis al final de la gestación

La brucelosis ovina por Brucella ovis es una enfermedad de prevalencia alta en Argentina. Para evaluar la patogenicidad de B. ovis y la respuesta serológica durante el último mes de gestación, 6 ovejas se distribuyeron en dos grupos: G1, ovejas preñadas, n = 4 y G2, ovejas no preñadas, n = 2. Tres ovejas del G1 (15 días preparto) y una del G2 fueron inoculadas con B. ovis. Se analizaron muestras de suero mediante diferentes pruebas serológicas. Se realizó aislamiento y PCR a partir de mucus cérvico-vaginal (mcv), placenta y leche. En las muestras de placenta se realizó histopatología. Las hembras del G1 parieron corderos vivos; se detectaron anticuerpos en las ovejas desafiadas del G1 a partir de los 5 días posinoculación. El mcv de las ovejas desafiadas resultó negativo al aislamiento en ambos grupos. Las muestras de leche del G1 fueron positivas por cultivo y PCR a B. ovis. La técnica de PCR resultó positiva en las placentas de las ovejas desafiadas del G1. La histopatología reveló una placentitis necrótica supurativa en una de las ovejas desafiadas. El desafío con B. ovis preparto resultó en la invasión de la placenta y de la glándula mamaria, con la consecuente excreción de la bacteria por leche. La infección con B. ovis indujo una respuesta humoral temprana en las ovejas. La colonización de la placenta por B. ovis y la excreción de la bacteria por la leche sugieren un potencial riesgo de infección activa para los corderos y la posibilidad de que estos se comporten como portadores latentes de la infección.Ovine brucellosis by Brucella ovis is a highly prevalent disease in Argentina. This study aimed to evaluate the pathogenicity of B. ovis and the serological response in ewes during late pregnancy and in their offspring. Six adult ewes were distributed in two groupsG1 (pregnant females, n = 4) and G2 (nonpregnant females, n = 2). Three pregnant ewes at 15 days prepartum and one nonpregnant eve were inoculated with B. ovis. Sera of sheep and their offspring were analyzed by different serological tests. Samples of cervicovaginal mucus, placenta and milk were studied by bacteriology. A Brucella genus-specific PCR assay was carried out in placenta and milk samples. Placenta samples were hystopathologically processed. G1 females gave birth to live lambs, but one died hours postpartum. Serological techniques employed detected antibodies in serum of inoculated pregnant animal 5 days postchallenge. Sera of female controls G1 and G2 remained negative throughout the study. Cervicovaginal mucus of infected ewes in G1 and G2 yielded negative results to bacteriology, but B. ovis was isolated from milk. The PCR assay was positive for the placenta and milk from inoculated pregnant ewes. Histopathology revealed necrotic suppurative placentitis in one placenta. However, although results demonstrated that B. ovis can invade the placenta and mammary gland, this bacterium did not cause abortion when it was inoculated intravenously at 15 days prepartum. B. ovis infection induced an early humoral response in pregnant ewes, but their lambs remained seronegative, indicating that there was no transfer of antibodies in infancy. Placenta colonization and milk excretion of B. ovis involves a potential source of infection for lambs, which could play a role as latent carriers of infection

Electrolytic removal of metals using a flow-through cell with a reticulated vitreous carbon cathode

The aim of the present study was to establish an electrolytic method for the removal of metals from wastewater using a three dimensional, reticulated vitreous carbon cathode. During the development of the experimental set up, particular attention was paid to the electrolyte flow rate and to the cathode porosity. The electrolytic cell employed potential values in such a way that the metals reduction reaction occurred under mass transport control. These potentials were determined by hydrodynamic voltammetry on a vitreous carbon rotating disc electrode. The cell proved to be efficient in removing copper, zinc and lead and it was able to reduce the levels of these metals from 50 mg/L to 0.1 mg/L.O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estabelecer um processo eletrolítico para remover metais de efluentes aquosos usando um catodo tridimensional de carbono vítreo reticulado. Durante o desenvolvimento do trabalho foi estudado a influência do fluxo do eletrólito e da porosidade do eletrodo. A célula eletrolítica utilizou potenciais tais que a reação de redução ocorreu sob controle de transporte de massa. A célula demonstrou eficiência na remoção de chumbo, zinco e cobre, reduzindo a concentração desses metais de 50 mg.L-1 a 0,1 mg.L-1 em 20 min de recirculação da solução.48749

Ensino de meio ambiente: Uma questão de contextualização?

A proposta principal do presente ensaio é discutir os resultados obtidos na utilização de imagens fotográficascujo cenário mostrado abordava as diversas faces de um contexto ambiental. Utilizando o sentido da visão comoum modelo exploratório para algumas considerações sobre a estética e a neuroquímica envolvida nos sentidosdo homem