Estudos para construção e propriedades psicométricas da escala contextual de depressão em idosos

 Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo construir uma escala contextual de depressão em idosos baseando-se na importância das intervenções primárias em saúde. Concebeu-se uma versão do instrumento com vinte e sete fatores de risco para depressão geriátrica, que foram preenchidos pelo público idoso. A amostra foi constituída por 95 idosos, com idade entre 60 e 83 anos, sendo 22 homens e 73 mulheres. O instrumento construído foi aplicado junto à Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage e a Overall Life Satisfaction. Após análises estatísticas, quinze itens foram considerados satisfatórios a partir da correlação com o construto de depressão geriátrica e validade discriminante, aferida entre a população com e sem sintomas depressivos. Esses itens passaram pela análise fatorial exploratória, encontrando-se uma solução com quatro fatores e 54% de variância explicada. O instrumento final apresentou Alpha de Cronbach no valor de 0,77. Devido a algumas limitações técnicas, sugere-se a continuação do estudo

Probing Teichoic Acid Genetics with Bioactive Molecules Reveals New Interactions among Diverse Processes in Bacterial Cell Wall Biogenesis

SummaryThe bacterial cell wall has been a celebrated target for antibiotics and holds real promise for the discovery of new antibacterial chemical matter. In addition to peptidoglycan, the walls of Gram-positive bacteria contain large amounts of the polymer teichoic acid, covalently attached to peptidoglycan. Recently, wall teichoic acid was shown to be essential to the proper morphology of Bacillus subtilis and an important virulence factor for Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, recent studies have shown that the dispensability of genes encoding teichoic acid biosynthetic enzymes is paradoxical and complex. Here, we report on the discovery of a promoter (PywaC), which is sensitive to lesions in teichoic acid synthesis. Exploiting this promoter through a chemical-genetic approach, we revealed surprising interactions among undecaprenol, peptidoglycan, and teichoic acid biosynthesis that help explain the complexity of teichoic acid gene dispensability. Furthermore, the new reporter assay represents an exciting avenue for the discovery of antibacterial molecules

Novel Regulatory Mechanisms for Generation of the Soluble Leptin Receptor: Implications for Leptin Action

The adipokine leptin realizes signal transduction via four different membrane-anchored leptin receptor (Ob-R) isoforms in humans. However, the amount of functionally active Ob-R is affected by constitutive shedding of the extracellular domain via a so far unknown mechanism. The product of the cleavage process the so-called soluble leptin receptor (sOb-R) is the main binding protein for leptin in human blood and modulates its bioavailability. sOb-R levels are differentially regulated in metabolic disorders like type 1 diabetes mellitus or obesity and can, therefore, enhance or reduce leptin sensitivity.To describe mechanisms of Ob-R cleavage and to investigate the functional significance of differential sOb-R levels we established a model of HEK293 cells transiently transfected with different human Ob-R isoforms. Using siRNA knockdown experiments we identified ADAM10 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 10) as a major protease for constitutive and activated Ob-R cleavage. Additionally, the induction of lipotoxicity and apoptosis led to enhanced shedding shown by increased levels of the soluble leptin receptor (sOb-R) in cell supernatants. Conversely, high leptin concentrations and ER stress reduced sOb-R levels. Decreased amounts of sOb-R due to ER stress were accompanied by impaired leptin signaling and reduced leptin binding.Lipotoxicity and apoptosis increased Ob-R cleavage via ADAM10-dependent mechanisms. In contrast high leptin levels and ER stress led to reduced sOb-R levels. While increased sOb-R concentrations seem to directly block leptin action, reduced amounts of sOb-R may reflect decreased membrane expression of Ob-R. These findings could explain changes of leptin sensitivity which are associated with variations of serum sOb-R levels in metabolic diseases

Statistical Approach to Outcomes Assessment

March 29, 2007This paper offers an evaluation tool that is easy to use and provides manageable, quantitative feedback that can be used to help shape curricula, pedagogy and our assessment tools. The literature is replete with numerous ways of assessing students??? progress toward established goals (Data for program outcomes; Step by step guide; WVU chemical engineering). These include exams, quizzes, homework assignments, portfolios, laboratory notebooks, laboratory reports, student surveys, and faculty surveys to name a few. It is important to note that these methods of assessing outcomes must provide accurate, complete, and unbiased information if they are to be statistically sound. Equally important, the people involved in the evaluation process must be able to analyze the information in a manner that is operationally practical. Faculty workloads cannot be overly burdened by timely evaluation methods. Thus, our institutions must incorporate these analyses when determining workloads or these analyses must be less time intensive. Sometimes the goal that is being assessed necessitates a lengthy and intensive effort. ???Processes that rely on qualitative information, such as journals portfolios, and focus group interviews, can provide meaningful insight onto difficult-to-measure outcomes such as ethical responsibility, and effective communication skills???..But collecting, reading and analyzing qualitative information is time intensive, especially when the effort is ongoing as required for continuous improvement??? (Walcerz, 1999; paragraph 4) While these goals need to be addressed, this paper describes a method that can only be used to measure outcomes that can be articulated and assessed in a quantitative format.Maine Maritime Academ

Manganese-doped (1−x)BiScO_{3}–xPbTiO_{3} high-temperature ferroelectrics: Defect structure and mechanism of enhanced electric resistivity

The effect of multivalency manganese doping on the defect structure and enhanced electrical resistivity is studied for the high-temperature piezoelectric (1−x)BiScO3–xPbTiO3 (BSPT) solid-solution system by means of multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy combined with conductivity measurements. The results show that manganese is rather incorporated on a scandium than a titanium site as an isovalent substitute (MnSc×) instead of acceptor-type centers, such as MnTi′, MnTi′′, or MnSc′. The enhanced electric resistivity is found being on the one hand due to the trapping of conduction electrons at the manganese functional center sites (MnSc×+e′MnSc′). On the other hand, through the formation of (MnSc′−VO••)• defect complexes the ionic conductivity is reduced. Concerning the overall mechanism of charge compensation in that material, both kinds of defects mutually compensate