The Materials Engineering Applying Exam Course at the Instituto Sabato: advantages of the usage of various learning strategies

El ingreso a Ingeniería en Materiales en el Instituto Sabato de la Universidad Nacional de General San Martín (UNSAM) y de la Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica (CNEA) se apoya desde 2007 en un aula virtual de acompañamiento a los y las aspirantes. Con el objetivo de brindar las condiciones necesarias para generar y mantener en la persona que aspira a ingresar un compromiso con el estudio, hemos analizado alternativas de modalidades para el curso de ingreso. Consideramos que las oportunidades de aproximación y adhesión a las propuestas didácticas son mucho mayores si se presenta una diversidad de enfoques, adaptables a un mayor número de personas atraídas por diferentes tipos de propuestas. Con esto en mente es que hemos ido ampliando y diversificando las propuestas didácticas. Éstas abarcan desde módulos interactivos, con diferentes tipos de interacciones, hasta encuentros presenciales, foros virtuales, visitas, etc. En el año 2017 sumamos un nuevo recurso, un curso semipresencial de una semana seguido de un curso virtual con duración desde marzo hasta el día del examen en la primera semana de junio, con su propia aula virtual. Las ventajas de este enfoque son múltiples. Se forma una comunidad virtual de intercambio en los foros del curso, se forma una comunidad física en el curso presencial realizado en el Centro Atómico Constituyentes (CAC) (que deriva en la formación espontánea de un grupo de mensajería instantánea entre estudiantes e independiente del Instituto), y se da lugar también a un número mucho mayor de participantes que pueden mantenerse en contacto, interactuar a distancia y descargar diversos contenidos (el material trabajado en forma presencial en formato interactivo, ejercitación propuesta de Matemática, Física y Química, discusiones de los foros, etc.). Tras dos años de experiencia de esta nueva modalidad, presentamos un análisis de la participación y sus correlaciones con los resultados del examen de admisión a la carrera.The Materials Engineering Applying Exam Course at Instituto Sabato (Universidad Nacional de General San Martín, UNSAM, and Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, CNEA) is supported since 2007 in a virtual classroom. We have analyzed different options for the admission course in the aim of providing the best conditions for generating and maintaining a commitment with study in the person about to undertake the exam. We consider that the opportunities of interaction and adhesion to the didactic proposals increase if a diversity of approaches is offered, since they can be adapted to a great number of persons with different characteristics and living conditions. Bearing this objective in mind we have increased the didactic offer, comprising now interactive modules with different modalities, meetings, virtual forums, visits, among others. In 2017 we added a new resource, a blended learning course with its own virtual classroom consisting in a one week classroom-based course and a virtual course that spans from March till the exam in the first week of June. The advantages are many: a virtual community is formed within the course forums, a physical community is formed at the real classroom during the first week course that takes place at the Constituyentes Atomic Center. This physical community immediately gives rise to a messaging group that keeps in contact independently from the teachers and the Instituto Sabato. The virtual community can be integrated by a greater number of participants that maintain contact, interact and access to the learning material offered as interactive modules studied simultaneously at the physical and virtual classrooms. Exercises covering the three areas mathematics, physics and chemistry are offered all along the course. After two years of experiencing this new modality, we present here the analysis of participation and its correlation with the results of the Applying Exam.Fil: Alonso, Paula Regina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto Sabato; ArgentinaFil: Bruyère, Vivianne I. E.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto Sabato; ArgentinaFil: Kappes, Mariano Alberto. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto Sabato; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Roberti, Liliana. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto Sabato; ArgentinaFil: Monti, Ana Maria. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Constituyentes; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto Sabato; Argentin

Use of Pharmacy Banafits Management (PBM) system to describe the profile of antibiotic prescription and purchase

No Brasil o PBM (Pharmacy Benefits Management) é de utilização relativamente nova, podendo-se classificá-lo como um sistema de gerenciamento de saúde que administra benefícios na compra e venda de medicamentos. Considerando que o surgimento de bactérias resistentes está relacionado à prescrição inapropriada de antibióticos ou ao uso de antibióticos de baixa atividade, este estudo avaliou se o sistema PBM pode fornecer informações úteis sobre os perfis de prescrição e aquisição de antibióticos de efeitos sistêmicos, a partir da base de dados de uma empresa de PBM brasileira, referente a um grupo formado por 6 525 metalúrgicos de uma empresa da região de Campinas, SP, e seus dependentes, cobrindo o período de janeiro a abril de 2005. Observou-se que 7,7% de todos os medicamentos adquiridos eram antibióticos sistêmicos, numa média 2,4 antibióticos e ao custo de R$51,80 por receita. A amoxicilina foi o fármaco mais prescrito e em 92,7$ 51.80 per prescription. Amoxicillin was the most prescribed drug. In 92.7% of cases, users purchased the prescribed drug within one day of the medical visit. Based on the lists of purchased pharmaceutical specialties (per retail package), manufacturers, antibiotics present in the composition of each product, prescription dates, and dispensation dates, the system was found capable of providing relevant information on the theme investigated

AVALIAÇÃO DO PROFESSOR EM CURSOS DE LICENCIATURA: O ALUNO COMO PARCEIRO

O objetivo do estudo foi o de identificar entre alunos de cursos de licenciatura a importância e finalidades atribuídas à avaliação do professor pelo aluno, bem como os critérios a serem considerados para essa avaliação, em uma perspectiva de responsabilidade compartilhada. O estudo foi desenvolvido através de um instrumento aplicado a 242 alunos dos cursos de Letras, Pedagogia e História, abrangendo questões sobre a visão do aluno em relação à avaliação do professor, as funções que essa avaliação deve cumprir e os aspectos a serem considerados. Os resultados mostraram que os critérios indicados entre os cursos foram homogêneos embora a hierarquia a eles atribuída tenha sido diferente em função de variáveis contextuais de cada curso. Indicaram, também, a complexidade da tarefa de avaliação do professor pelo aluno e a importância dessa avaliação ser feita de maneira contextualizada e compartilhada para ser relevante e servir a funções formativas de melhoria do ensino

Chemokine receptor patterns in lymphocytes mirror metastatic spreading in melanoma

30siopenMelanoma prognosis is dictated by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, the migratory and functional behavior of which is guided by chemokine or cytokine gradients. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the expression patterns of 9 homing receptors (CCR/CXCR) in naive and memory CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes in 57 patients with metastatic melanoma (MMel) with various sites of metastases to evaluate whether T cell CCR/CXCR expression correlates with intratumoral accumulation, metastatic progression, and/or overall survival (OS). Homing receptor expression on lymphocytes strongly correlated with MMel dissemination. Loss of CCR6 or CXCR3, but not cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA), on circulating T cell subsets was associated with skin or lymph node metastases, loss of CXCR4, CXCR5, and CCR9 corresponded with lung involvement, and a rise in CCR10 or CD103 was associated with widespread dissemination. High frequencies of CD8(+)CCR9(+) naive T cells correlated with prolonged OS, while neutralizing the CCR9/CCL25 axis in mice stimulated tumor progression. The expansion of CLA-expressing effector memory CD8(+) T cells in response to a single administration of CTLA4 blockade predicted disease control at 3 months in 47 patients with MMel. Thus, specific CCR/CXCR expression patterns on circulating T lymphocytes may guide potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.openJacquelot N.; Enot D.P.; Flament C.; Vimond N.; Blattner C.; Pitt J.M.; Yamazaki T.; Roberti M.P.; Daillere R.; Vetizou M.; Poirier-Colame V.; Semeraro M.; Caignard A.; Slingluff C.L.; Sallusto F.; Rusakiewicz S.; Weide B.; Marabelle A.; Kohrt H.; Dalle S.; Cavalcanti A.; Kroemer G.; DI Giacomo A.M.; Maio M.; Wong P.; Yuan J.; Wolchok J.; Umansky V.; Eggermont A.; Zitvogel L.Jacquelot, N.; Enot, D. P.; Flament, C.; Vimond, N.; Blattner, C.; Pitt, J. M.; Yamazaki, T.; Roberti, M. P.; Daillere, R.; Vetizou, M.; Poirier-Colame, V.; Semeraro, M.; Caignard, A.; Slingluff, C. L.; Sallusto, F.; Rusakiewicz, S.; Weide, B.; Marabelle, A.; Kohrt, H.; Dalle, S.; Cavalcanti, A.; Kroemer, G.; DI Giacomo, A. M.; Maio, M.; Wong, P.; Yuan, J.; Wolchok, J.; Umansky, V.; Eggermont, A.; Zitvogel, L

Beyond trees: Mapping total aboveground biomass density in the Brazilian savanna using high-density UAV-lidar data

Tropical savanna ecosystems play a major role in the seasonality of the global carbon cycle. However, their ability to store and sequester carbon is uncertain due to combined and intermingling effects of anthropogenic activities and climate change, which impact wildfire regimes and vegetation dynamics. Accurate measurements of tropical savanna vegetation aboveground biomass (AGB) over broad spatial scales are crucial to achieve effective carbon emission mitigation strategies. UAV-lidar is a new remote sensing technology that can enable rapid 3-D mapping of structure and related AGB in tropical savanna ecosystems. This study aimed to assess the capability of high-density UAV-lidar to estimate and map total (tree, shrubs, and surface layers) aboveground biomass density (AGBt) in the Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado). Five ordinary least square regression models esti-mating AGBt were adjusted using 50 field sample plots (30 m × 30 m). The best model was selected under Akaike Information Criterion, adjusted coefficient of determination (adj.R2), absolute and relative root mean square error (RMSE), and used to map AGBt from UAV-lidar data collected over 1,854 ha spanning the three major vegetation formations (forest, savanna, and grassland) in Cerrado. The model using vegetation height and cover was the most effective, with an overall model adj-R2 of 0.79 and a leave-one-out cross-validated RMSE of 19.11 Mg/ha (33.40%). The uncertainty and errors of our estimations were assessed for each vegetation formation separately, resulting in RMSEs of 27.08 Mg/ha (25.99%) for forests, 17.76 Mg/ha (43.96%) for savannas, and 7.72 Mg/ha (44.92%) for grasslands. These results prove the feasibility and potential of the UAV-lidar technology in Cerrado but also emphasize the need for further developing the estimation of biomass in grasslands, of high importance in the characterization of the global carbon balance and for supporting integrated fire management activities in tropical savanna ecosystems. Our results serve as a benchmark for future studies aiming to generate accurate biomass maps and provide baseline data for efficient management of fire and predicted climate change impacts on tropical savanna ecosystems

Chemokine receptor patterns in lymphocytes mirror metastatic spreading in melanoma

Melanoma prognosis is dictated by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, the migratory and functional behavior of which is guided by chemokine or cytokine gradients. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the expression patterns of 9 homing receptors (CCR/CXCR) in naive and memory CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in 57 patients with metastatic melanoma (MMel) with various sites of metastases to evaluate whether T cell CCR/CXCR expression correlates with intratumoral accumulation, metastatic progression, and/or overall survival (OS). Homing receptor expression on lymphocytes strongly correlated with MMel dissemination. Loss of CCR6 or CXCR3, but not cutaneous lymphocyte antigen (CLA), on circulating T cell subsets was associated with skin or lymph node metastases, loss of CXCR4, CXCR5, and CCR9 corresponded with lung involvement, and a rise in CCR10 or CD103 was associated with widespread dissemination. High frequencies of CD8+CCR9+ naive T cells correlated with prolonged OS, while neutralizing the CCR9/CCL25 axis in mice stimulated tumor progression. The expansion of CLA-expressing effector memory CD8+ T cells in response to a single administration of CTLA4 blockade predicted disease control at 3 months in 47 patients with MMel. Thus, specific CCR/CXCR expression patterns on circulating T lymphocytes may guide potential diagnostic and therapeutic approaches

Utilização de um sistema de gerenciamento de benefícios farmacêuticos (PBM) para a caracterização do perfil de prescrição e aquisição de antibióticos Use of Pharmacy Banafits Management (PBM) system to describe the profile of antibiotic prescription and purchase

No Brasil o PBM (Pharmacy Benefits Management) é de utilização relativamente nova, podendo-se classificá-lo como um sistema de gerenciamento de saúde que administra benefícios na compra e venda de medicamentos. Considerando que o surgimento de bactérias resistentes está relacionado à prescrição inapropriada de antibióticos ou ao uso de antibióticos de baixa atividade, este estudo avaliou se o sistema PBM pode fornecer informações úteis sobre os perfis de prescrição e aquisição de antibióticos de efeitos sistêmicos, a partir da base de dados de uma empresa de PBM brasileira, referente a um grupo formado por 6 525 metalúrgicos de uma empresa da região de Campinas, SP, e seus dependentes, cobrindo o período de janeiro a abril de 2005. Observou-se que 7,7% de todos os medicamentos adquiridos eram antibióticos sistêmicos, numa média 2,4 antibióticos e ao custo de R$51,80 por receita. A amoxicilina foi o fármaco mais prescrito e em 92,7$ 51.80 per prescription. Amoxicillin was the most prescribed drug. In 92.7% of cases, users purchased the prescribed drug within one day of the medical visit. Based on the lists of purchased pharmaceutical specialties (per retail package), manufacturers, antibiotics present in the composition of each product, prescription dates, and dispensation dates, the system was found capable of providing relevant information on the theme investigated

IL-15 and IL-2 increase Cetuximab-mediated cellular cytotoxicity against triple negative breast cancer cell lines expressing EGFR

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients are not likely to benefit from anti-estrogen or anti-HER2 therapy and this phenotype is associated with a more aggressive clinical course and worse clinical outcome. Taking into account the limited treatment possibilities in TNBC, the aim of the present work was to study a potential therapy based on Cetuximab-mediated immune activity by natural killer (NK) cells. We performed in vitro studies on human breast cancer (BC) cell lines, IIB-BR-G, and the in vivo metastatic variant IIB-BR-G MT. The immunohistochemical analysis showed a TNBC phenotype with high but different levels of EGFR expression on each cell line, measured by flow cytometry. DNA sequencing showed that both cell lines have a mutated K-RAS status, 38 G > A at codon 13. Consequently, Cetuximab did not inhibit cellular proliferation or induce apoptosis. We investigated if Cetuximab could trigger immune mechanisms, and we determined that both cell lines treated with 1 μg/ml Cetuximab were susceptible to antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), mediated by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). At 50:1 effector:target ratio, lytic activity was 34 ± 2% against IIB-BR-G and 27 ± 6% against IIB-BR-G MT cells. PBMC pretreatment with IL-2 allowed reaching 65 ± 3% of Cetuximab-mediated ADCC against IIB-BR-G and 63 ± 6.5% against IIB-BR-G MT. Furthermore, IL-15 pretreatment increased the ADCC up to 71 ± 3% in IIB-BR-G and 79 ± 3.5% in IIB-BR-G MT. We suggest that NK cells are the effectors present in PBMC since they were able to induce ADCC at lower effector:target ratios. Besides, IL-2- and mainly IL-15-induced upregulation of NK activating receptors CD16 and NKG2D and enhanced IFN-γ production. EGFR-expressing TNBC could be killed by Cetuximab-mediated ADCC at clinically achievable concentrations. IL-15 could advantageously replace IL-2 in most of its immunologic activities, stimulating the ability to produce IFN-γ, and paralleling the up-regulation of activating receptors.Fil: Roberti, Maria Paula. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Barrio, Maria Marcela. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Bravo, A. I.. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital Interzonal de Agudos "Eva Peron"; ArgentinaFil: Rocca, Yamila. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Arriaga, Juan Martín. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquimicas de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Fundación Instituto Leloir; ArgentinaFil: Bianchini, Michele. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Mordoh, Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquimicas de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Fundacion Cancer; Argentina. Fundación Instituto Leloir; ArgentinaFil: Levy, Estrella Mariel. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; Argentin

AVALIAÇÃO DO PROFESSOR EM CURSOS DE LICENCIATURA: O ALUNO COMO PARCEIRO

O objetivo do estudo foi o de identificar entre alunos de cursos de licenciatura a importância e finalidades atribuídas à avaliação do professor pelo aluno, bem como os critérios a serem considerados para essa avaliação, em uma perspectiva de responsabilidade compartilhada. O estudo foi desenvolvido através de um instrumento aplicado a 242 alunos dos cursos de Letras, Pedagogia e História, abrangendo questões sobre a visão do aluno em relação à avaliação do professor, as funções que essa avaliação deve cumprir e os aspectos a serem considerados. Os resultados mostraram que os critérios indicados entre os cursos foram homogêneos embora a hierarquia a eles atribuída tenha sido diferente em função de variáveis contextuais de cada curso. Indicaram, também, a complexidade da tarefa de avaliação do professor pelo aluno e a importância dessa avaliação ser feita de maneira contextualizada e compartilhada para ser relevante e servir a funções formativas de melhoria do ensino.</span

High lipid content of irradiated human melanoma cells does not affect cytokine-matured dendritic cell function

Gamma irradiation is one of the methods used to sterilize melanoma cells prior to coculturing them with monocyte-derived immature dendritic cells in order to develop antitumor vaccines. However, the changes taking place in tumor cells after irradiation and their interaction with dendritic cells have been scarcely analyzed. We demonstrate here for the first time that after irradiation a fraction of tumor cells present large lipid bodies, which mainly contain triglycerides that are several-fold increased as compared to viable cells as determined by staining with Oil Red O and BODIPY 493/503 and by biochemical analysis. Phosphatidyl-choline, phosphatidyl-ethanolamine and sphingomyelin are also increased in the lipid bodies of irradiated cells. Lipid bodies do not contain the melanoma-associated antigen MART-1. After coculturing immature dendritic cells with irradiated melanoma cells, tumor cells tend to form clumps to which dendritic cells adhere. Under such conditions, dendritic cells are unable to act as stimulating cells in a mixed leukocyte reaction. However, when a maturation cocktail composed of TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1beta and prostaglandin E2 is added to the coculture, the tumor cells clumps disaggregate, dendritic cells remain free in suspension and their ability to efficiently stimulate allogeneic lymphocytes is restored. These results help to understand the events following melanoma cell irradiation, shed light about interactions between irradiated cells and dendritic cells, and may help to develop optimized dendritic cell vaccines for cancer therapy.Fil: Pizzurro, Gabriela Andrea. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Madorsky Rowdo, Florencia Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquimicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Pujol Lereis, Luciana Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquimicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Quesada Allue, Luis Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquimicas de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Copati, Andrea M.. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Roberti, Maria Paula. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Teillaud, Jean Luc. Universite Pierre et Marie Curie; FranciaFil: Levy, Estrella Mariel. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Barrio, Maria Marcela. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; ArgentinaFil: Mordoh, Jose. Fundacion Cancer. Centro de Investigaciones Oncologicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquimicas de Buenos Aires; Argentin