Effects of Acculturation and Generational Status on Ethnocultural and Psychosocial Adaptation of Mexican-American Adolescents

The extent to which acculturation and generational status affect the ethnocultural and psychosocial adaptation of Mexican-American adolescents was investigated. Participants were classified into acculturation and generational status levels from scores on the Acculturation Rating Scale for Mexican-Americans-Revised (ARSMA-II) and the dependent variable was measured using the Psychosocial Adaptation for Cultural and Contextual Correspondence-Research Version (PACCC-RV). Mexican-American adolescents with lower acculturation levels and more recent residence in the United States perceived they were ethnoculturally different from others in their environment especially in regards to communication difficulties. Similar to previous studies, acculturation and generational status appear to be measuring similar dimensions

Microfluidics for adaptation of microorganisms to stress: design and application

Microfluidic systems have fundamentally transformed the realm of adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) for microorganisms by offering unparalleled control over environmental conditions, thereby optimizing mutant generation and desired trait selection. This review summarizes the substantial influence of microfluidic technologies and their design paradigms on microbial adaptation, with a primary focus on leveraging spatial stressor concentration gradients to enhance microbial growth in challenging environments. Specifically, microfluidic platforms tailored for scaled-down ALE processes not only enable highly autonomous and precise setups but also incorporate novel functionalities. These capabilities encompass fostering the growth of biofilms alongside planktonic cells, refining selection gradient profiles, and simulating adaptation dynamics akin to natural habitats. The integration of these aspects enables shaping phenotypes under pressure, presenting an unprecedented avenue for developing robust, stress-resistant strains, a feat not easily attainable using conventional ALE setups. The versatility of these microfluidic systems is not limited to fundamental research but also offers promising applications in various areas of stress resistance. As microfluidic technologies continue to evolve and merge with cutting-edge methodologies, they possess the potential not only to redefine the landscape of microbial adaptation studies but also to expedite advancements in various biotechnological areas

Simulação do impacto das atividades florestais na fragilidade potencial em plantios de pinus.

Este trabalho, realizado em uma área com povoamento de Pinus taeda, teve por objetivo simular e mapear a influência do valor de impacto das atividades florestais na fragilidade potencial. Variáveis do solo, de declividade do terreno, valor de impacto e de cobertura vegetal foram utilizadas para gerar os mapas. Os resultados expressos pelo modelo adotado mostraram que as áreas mais frágeis apresentam em sua maioria declividades superiores a 75 % e textura que variam de arenosa a média, e as áreas menos frágeis apresentam predominantemente relevo plano (até 3 %) e textura argilosa. Quando simulado o impacto das atividades florestais sobre esse ambiente, verificou-se que na maior parte da área (78 %) todas as atividades florestais podem ser realizadas sem influência na degradação do meio ambiente e para algumas áreas (11 %) o ambiente foi considerado menos frágil, em razão da presença de cobertura vegetal

Reflectance anisotropy spectroscopy assessment of the MOVPE nucleation of GaInP on Germanium (100)

This work summarizes the observations made on the variation and time evolution of the reflectanceanisotropy signal during the MOVPE growth of GaInPnucleation layers on Germanium substrates. This in situ monitoring tool is used to assess the impact of different nucleation routines and reactor conditions on the quality of the layers grown. This comparison is carried out by establishing a correlation between reflectanceanisotropy signature at 2.1 eV and the morphology of the epilayers evaluated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). This paper outlines the potential of reflectanceanisotropy to predict, explore, and therefore optimize, the best growth conditions that lead to a high quality III–V epilayer on a Ge substrat

Complications 15 years after breast augmentation with polyacrylamide

AbstractPolyacrylamide hydrogel (PAAG) has been used as an injectable, permanent filler for soft-tissue augmentation for more than two decades. Several complications have been reported worldwide. In this case report, we present a woman with long-term complications 15 years after bilateral breast augmentation with PAAG injections

A MÍDIA E A POLÍTICA EXTERNA NO BRASIL DE LULA

This article looks at this new relationship, in the light of two concurrent trends: the pluralization of actors with stakes in foreign policy; and an active presidential diplomacy (CASON AND POWER 2009). We argue that, more than just a battlefield of ideas, Brazil’s most prominent media vehicles have played an active role against Lula’s foreign policy, although they had but a limited agenda-setting capacity. To this end, the text will be divided in four sections. The first one deals with the recent developments of foreign policymaking in Brazil, and seeks to understand how the introduction of new actors and institutions has affected the political balance behind the country’s external relations. The second provides an overview of Lula’s foreign policy strategies and their relationship with presidential diplomacy. The third offers some data on the behavior of two selected newspapers, Folha de São Paulo (FSP) and O Estado de São Paulo (OESP), on foreign policy issues. The third and final section compares media reactions to Brazil’s relations with the United States, most specifically regarding negotiations on the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA), and to some aspects of Brazilian South-South cooperation, and discusses the most relevant results.Este artigo analisa esta nova relação, à luz de duas tendências concomitantes: a pluralização dos atores com interesses na política externa; e uma diplomacia presidencial ativa. Argumentamos que, mais do que apenas um campo de batalha de ideias, os veículos de mídia mais proeminentes do Brasil têm desempenhado um papel ativo contra a política externa de Lula, embora eles tivessem uma capacidade limitada de definição de agenda. Para este fim, o texto será dividido em quatro seções. A primeira trata dos recentes desenvolvimentos na elaboração da política externa brasileira, e procura entender como a introdução de novos atores e instituições afetou o equilíbrio político por trás das relações exteriores do país. A segunda fornece uma visão geral das estratégias da política externa do governo Lula e sua relação com a diplomacia presidencial. A terceira apresenta alguns dados sobre o comportamento de dois jornais selecionados, Folha de São Paulo (FSP) e O Estado de São Paulo (OESP), sobre temas de política externa. A quarta e última seção compara as reações da mídia com as relações do Brasil com os Estados Unidos, mais especificamente no que diz respeito às negociações acerca da Área de Livre Comércio das Américas (ALCA), e alguns aspectos da cooperação Sul-Sul brasileira, e discute os resultados mais relevantes

A Política Externa interina e os riscos à integração regional

This article provides a historical reconstruction of Foreign Minister José Serra’s three first months in office, a period that corresponds to the interim presidency of Michel Temer. It draws upon some public declarations made by the minister or by Itamaraty, as well as on analyses published in the press. We argue that the shift in Brazilian foreign policy has two major characteristics: (1) its strong rhetorical turn, aimed at deconstructing the “diplomatic legacy” of the Workers’ Party and at confronting regional critics of the impeachment process; (2) a structural change, both in the Foreign Ministry’s institutional design and in the axis of Brazilian foreign policy orientation, so as to strengthen the minister’s public visibility in the context of the 2018 presidential race. In the medium term, the sum of all such elements may put the regional integration process in jeopardy, inasmuch as intra-Mercosur relations are redefined and as the government adopts a strategy of confrontation towards countries facing institutional crises, such as Venezuela.Este artigo oferece uma reconstrução histórica dos três primeiros meses da gestão de José Serra à frente do Ministério das Relações Exteriores, período de interinidade do governo de Michel Temer, valendo-se das declarações públicas do ministro e do Itamaraty, bem como de análises dos grandes meios de imprensa. Sustenta-se que guinada observada na política externa brasileira apresenta duas características: (1) a forte carga retórica, direcionada à desconstrução do “legado diplomático” petista e à confrontação com críticos regionais ao impeachment; (2) uma mudança estrutural, tanto no desenho institucional do MRE quanto no eixo de orientação da inserção brasileira, destinada a assegurar a visibilidade do chanceler no contexto da sucessão presidencial. No médio prazo, a soma desses elementos pode trazer riscos ao processo de integração regional, na medida em que se redefinem as relações intra-Mercosul e opta-se por uma estratégia de embate com países em crise institucional, como a Venezuela