Student's attitutes toward learning and school - Study of exploratory models about the effects of socio-demographics and personal attributes

We study student's attitutes toward learning and school. This is an exploratory study about the effects of socio-demographics and personal attributes

Sustained gene expression in the retina by improved episomal vectors

Gene and cellular therapies are nowadays part of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of diverse pathologies. The drawbacks associated with gene therapy-low levels of transgene expression, vector loss during mitosis, and gene silencing-need to be addressed. The pEPI-1 and pEPito family of vectors was developed to overcome these limitations. It contains a scaffold/matrix attachment region, which anchors its replication to cell division in eukaryotic cells while in an extrachromosomal state and is less prone to silencing, due to a lower number of CpG motifs. Recent success showed that ocular gene therapy is an important tool for the treatment of several diseases, pending the overcome of the aforementioned limitations. To achieve sustained gene delivery in the retina, we evaluated several vectors based on pEPito and pEPI-1 for their ability to sustain transgene expression in retinal cells. These vectors stably transfected and replicated in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Expression levels were promoter dependent with constitutive promoters cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (CMV) and human CMV enhancer/human elongation factor 1 alpha promoter yielding the highest levels of transgene expression compared with the retina-specific RPE65 promoter. When injected in C57Bl6 mice, transgene expression was sustained for at least 32 days. Furthermore, the retina-specific RPE65 promoter showed higher efficiency in vivo compared to in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that by combining tissue-specific promoters with a mitotic stable system, less susceptible to epigenetic silencing such as pEPito-based plasmids, we can achieve prolonged gene expression and a sustained therapeutic effect.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal [PEst/OE/EQB-LA 0023/2013, SFRH/BD/76873/2011, SFRH/BD/70318/2010, PTDC/SAU/BEB/098475/2008]; European Union [PIRG-GA-2009-249314

Efeito inibitório na germinação, induzido pelo extrato de couve (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.)

With the purpose of studying the possible allelopathy characteristics of the common kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC.), an experiment was conducted in laboratory conditions, at E.S.A. "Luiz de Queiroz", in Piracicaba, São Paulo State. Tomato seeds (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Santa Cruz) were put to germinate in solutions with different concentrations (0; 25; 50 and 100%) of the extract obtained from the air part (leaves) of the common kale. Effects pronouncedly inhibitories of the germination of the tomato seeds were found in the largest concentrations of the common kale extract. The seedlings which germinated in the parcels treated with the extract presented reduced growth morpfo-physiologically abnormal and with larger time for the beginning of the germination. All these characteristics were more pronounced in the parcels with larger concentrations of the extract.Com a finalidade de se estudar as possíveis propriedades alelopáticas da couve (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala DC), foi conduzido um bioensaio, em condições de laboratório, na E.S.A."Luiz de Queiroz", em Piracicaba, SP. Foram utilizadas sementes de tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv.Santa Cruz) colocadas para germinar em soluções com diferentes concentrações (0; 25; 50 e 100%) do extrato obtido da parte aérea (folhas) da couve. Constataram-se efeitos pronunciadamente inibitórios de germinação das sementes de tomate nas maiores concentrações do extrato de couve. As plântulas que germinaram, nas parcelas tratadas com o extrato, mostraram-se com o crescimento reduzido, morfo-fisiologicamente anormais, e com maior tempo para o início da germinação. Todas essas características foram mais pronunciadas nas parcelas com maiores concentrações do extrato

Assessing an ontology for the representation of clinical protocols in decision support systems

In order to assess the expressiveness of the CompGuide ontology for Clinical Practice Guidelines, a study was conducted with fourteen students of the Integrated Masters in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Minho in Portugal to whom it was proposed the representation of multiple guidelines according to the ontology. They were then asked to evaluate the ontology through a questionnaire and written reports. Although the results seem promising, there is the need for significant improvements mainly in: the representation of medication prescriptions, the tasks used to retrieve information from the patient, the diversity of actions offered by the ontology, the expressiveness of conditions regarding the state of a patient, and temporal constraints.FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologiainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Associação da prática de atividade física e do estado de saúde sobre a qualidade de vida de mulheres com fibromialgia

This study analyzed the association between physical activity, health status and life quality among women with fibromyalgia. Cross-sectional study based on the clinical information of 177 women (42.1 ± 8.6 years old) diagnosed with fibromyalgia and assisted in rheumatology clinics of the private sector of the Unified Health System (UHS) in the city of Maringá-PR, Brazil. The instruments were the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and the WHOQOL-Bref. Data analysis was conducted through Mann-Whitney test, Spearman correlation and Structural Equation Analysis (p<0.05). Results showed positive correlations between physical activity and life quality domain. Health status showed negative correlation life quality domains. Structural Equation Analysis revealed days of walking per week showed positive association with life quality domains. Model 3 showed that the impact of fibromyalgia on the health status showed a moderate negative association with life quality domains. Based on the results obtained, the conclusion is that light physical activity, characterized as walking, represents a positive factor in the domains of quality of life in women with fibromyalgia and also, the impact of this disease on the health status of the patients is associated negatively areas of quality of life.301Este estudo analisou a associação entre atividade física, estado de saúde e qualidade de vida de mulheres com fibromialgia. Estudo transversal baseado na informação clínica de 177 mulheres (42,1 ± 8,6 anos) diagnosticadas com fibromialgia e auxiliadas em clínicas de reumatologia do setor privado do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) na cidade de Maringá-PR, Brasil. Os instrumentos utilizados foram o Questionário Internacional de Atividade Física (IPAQ), o Questionário de Impacto da Fibromialgia (FIQ) e o WHOQOL-Bref. A análise dos dados foi realizada através do teste de Mann-Whitney, correlação de Spearman e Análise de Equações Estruturais (p <0,05). Os resultados mostraram correlações positivas entre a atividade física e o domínio da qualidade de vida. O estado de saúde apresentou correlações negativas com a qualidade de vida. A Análise de Equação Estrutural revelou que os dias de caminhada por semana se associou positivamente com domínios de qualidade de vida. O modelo 3 mostrou que o impacto da fibromialgia no estado de saúde apresentou associação negativa e moderada com os domínios de qualidade de vida. Com base nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que a atividade física leve, caracterizada pela caminhada, representa um fator positivo nos domínios da qualidade de vida em mulheres com fibromialgia e também, o impacto desta doença sobre o estado de saúde dos pacientes está associado negativamente domínios da qualidade de vida

Compared to mycophenolate mofetil, rapamycin induces significant changes on growth factors and growth factor receptors in the early days post‐kidney transplantation

We found 1 article: Transplantation. 2002 Mar 27;73(6):915-20. Compared to mycophenolate mofetil, rapamycin induces significant changes on growth factors and growth factor receptors in the early days post-kidney transplantation. Oliveira JG, Xavier P, Sampaio SM, Henriques C, Tavares I, Mendes AA, Pestana M. Renal Department, Hospital S. João, Porto, Portugal. Abstract BACKGROUND: The new immunosuppressive drug Rapamycin (Rapa) is endowed with a mechanism of action that is distinct from that of calcineurin inhibitors. It has been claimed that Rapa does not significantly modulate either the cytokine expression or the transcription of several growth factors in mitogen-activated T cells. Previously, we reported that fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) sample cultures synthesize a large array of cytokines, and some of them may be powerful predictors of acute rejection in renal transplants. We hypothesized that Rapa may induce significant changes on cytokine production by FNAB sample cultures and on serum cytokine receptors when compared to other immunosuppressive drugs. METHODS: Kidney transplants treated with CsA-Rapa-Pred (Rapa group) were compared with transplants treated with CsA-mycophenolate mofetil-Pred (MMF group). They were studied on day 7 posttransplantation, and they remained rejection free for at least the first 6 months. FNAB samples were cultured and the supernatants were collected at 48 hr of incubation and analyzed by ELISA for interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), soluble tumor necrosis factor I, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1). The soluble receptors for IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha, together with IL-2 and IL-18 were also measured in serum. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed when comparing Rapa with the MMF group. IL-18 and TGF-beta(1) synthesis were up-regulated, whereas IL-6 and MCP-1 were down-regulated in FNAB sample cultures. The Rapa group showed a significant down-regulation of each cytokine receptor and of IL-2 in serum. CONCLUSIONS: Rapa was associated with a decreased synthesis of primarily monocyte-derived cytokines and enhanced production of TGF-beta(1), which in an appropriate cytokine milieu may promote allograft tolerance. The down-regulation of cytokine receptors and IL-2 may be associated with a depressed immune response towards the kidney allograft. PMID: 11923692 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE

A small universe after all?

The cosmic microwave background radiation allows us to measure both the geometry and topology of the universe. It has been argued that the COBE-DMR data already rule out models that are multiply connected on scales smaller than the particle horizon. Here we show the opposite is true: compact (small) hyperbolic universes are favoured over their infinite counterparts. For a density parameter of Omega_o=0.3, the compact models are a better fit to COBE-DMR (relative likelihood ~20) and the large-scale structure data (sigma_8 increases by ~25%).Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 7 Figure

Calculation Of The Giant Magnetocaloric Effect In The Mnfep 0.45as0.55 Compound

We report the theoretical investigations on the giant magnetocaloric compound MnFeP0.45As0.55. The magnetic state equation used takes into account the magnetoelastic effect that leads the magnetic system to order under first order paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition. The model parameters were determined from the magnetization data adjustment and used to calculate the magnetocaloric thermodynamic quantities. The theoretical calculations are compared with the available experimental data.709944101-094410-5Yu, B.F., Gao, Q., Zhang, B., Mang, X.Z., Chen, Z., (2003) Int. J. Refrig., 26, p. 622Gschneidner Jr., K.A., Pecharsky, V.K., (1997) Rare Earths: Science, Technology and Application III, , edited by R. C. Bautista, C. O. Bounds, T. W. Ellis, and B. T. Kilbourn The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, WarendaleBrown, G.V., (1976) J. Appl. Phys., 47, p. 3673Pecharsky, V.K., Gschneidner Jr., K.A., (1997) Phys. Rev. Lett., 78, p. 4494Tegus, O., Brück, E., Buschow, K.H.J., De Boer, F.R., (2002) Nature, 415, p. 150. , LondonMorellon, L., Algarabel, P.A., Ibarra, M.R., Blasco, J., García-Landa, B., Arnold, Z., Albertini, F., (1998) Phys. Rev. B, 58, pp. R14721Rodbell, D.S., (1961) Phys. Rev. Lett., 7, p. 1Bean, C.P., Rodbell, D.S., (1961) Phys. Rev., 126, p. 104Bacmann, M., Soubeyroux, J.-L., Barrett, R., Fruchart, D., Zach, R., Niziol, S., Fruchart, R., (1983) J. Magn. Magn. Mater., 134, p. 59Brück, E., Tegus, O., Li, X.W., Deboer, F.R., Buschow, K.H.J., (2003) Physica B, 327, p. 431Tegus, O., Brück, E., Zhang, L., Dagula, Buschow, K.H.J., De Boer, F.R., (2002) Physica B, 319, p. 174Zach, R., Guillot, M., Tobola, J., (1998) J. Appl. Phys., 83, p. 7237Tegus, O., (2003) Novel Materials for Magnetic Refrigeration, , PhD thesis, Van der Waals-Zeeman Instituut, Universiteit van Amsterdam, Printer Partners Ipskamp B. V., ISBN: 9057761076, OctoberVon Ranke, P.J., Grangeia, D.F., Caldas, A., De Oliveira, N.A., (2003) J. Appl. Phys., 93, p. 4055Wada, H., Tanabe, Y., (2001) Appl. Phys. Lett., 79, p. 3302Wada, H., Morikawa, T., Taniguchi, K., Shibata, T., Yamada, Y., Akishige, Y., (2003) Physica B, 328, p. 11