Conceptions of teaching: contextualization from official curricular documents and from Science teachers

Apresentam-se diferentes concepções de contextualização do ensino encontradas em documentos curriculares oficiais e em professores de Ensino de Ciências e de Biologia, e discutem-se as implicações pedagógicas dessas concepções para as respectivas áreas, em especial para a organização do trabalho docente. Para identificar essas concepções, analisou-se o conteúdo desses documentos nos diferentes níveis jurisdicionais - federal, estadual (SP) e municipal (SP) -, bem como, da fala de professores de Ciências e de Biologia envolvidos em uma atividade de formação continuada. A análise do potencial pedagógico dessas concepções demonstrou que a diversidade de interpretações sobre este importante princípio curricular pode oferecer, ao professor, possibilidades múltiplas de mediações didáticas em sua difícil tarefa de planejar e organizar o ensino, desde que estas possam ser explicitadas e exploradas nos processos de transposição do ensino dos quais ele participa. Algumas destas possibilidades são aqui exploradas, finalizando o texto.This paper presents different teaching "contextualization" conceptions found in official curricular documents and with teachers from Science Education and Biology areas. We discuss the pedagogical implications of these conceptions to respective areas, especially to the organization of teaching. To indentify these conceptions, this research analyzed the content of these documents in different jurisdictional levels - federal (BR), state (SP) and Hall (SP) - as well as the speech of science and biology teachers involved in an activity of continuous teacher training. The analysis of the pedagogical potential of these conceptions showed that the diversity of interpretations about an important curricular principle can offer numerous possibilities for the teacher, instructional mediations in their difficult tasks of planning and organizing teaching, since these can be explained and explored through the process of transposition education in which the teacher participates. Some of these possibilities are explored in the final text

Coenzyme Q10 suppresses apoptosis of mouse pancreatic beta-cell line MIN6

Background: In mitochondrial diabetes, apoptosis of β-cells caused by mitochondrial stress plays an important role in impaired insulin secretion. Several studies have reported that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has therapeutic effects on mitochondrial diabetes, but no reports have examined the fundamental effectiveness or mechanism of CoQ10 in mitochondrial diabetes. We previously reported in a Japanese article that CoQ10 has protective effects on pancreatic β-cells against mitochondrial stress using mouse pancreatic β-cell line MIN6 and staurosporine (STS). Here, we report that CoQ10 protects MIN6 cells against apoptosis caused by STS and describe the more detailed apoptotic cascade. Methods: Apoptosis of MIN6 cells was induced by 0.5 μM STS treatment for specific periods with or without 30 μM CoQ10. The apoptosis cascade in MIN6 cells was then investigated using WST-8 assays, annexin-V staining, western blotting, and DNA degradation analysis. Results: Sixteen hours of 0.5 μM STS treatment led to 47% cell viability, but pretreatment with 30 μM CoQ10 resulted in significantly higher viability of 76% (P < 0.01). CoQ10 also prevented translocation of phosphatidylserine from the inner leaflet to the outer leaflet of the cell membrane. CoQ10 prevented cytochrome c release from mitochondria and activation of caspase-3. Conclusion: We concluded that CoQ10 protects pancreatic β-cells through anti-apoptotic effects against STS treatment

Bone Regeneration in Artificial Jaw Cleft by Use of Carbonated Hydroxyapatite Particles and Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Iliac Bone

Objectives of the Study. Cleft lip and palate (CLP) is a prevalent congenital anomaly in the orofacial region. Autogenous iliac bone grafting has been frequently employed for the closure of bone defects at the jaw cleft site. Since the related surgical procedures are quite invasive for patients, it is of great importance to develop a new less invasive technique. The aim of this study was to examine bone regeneration with mesenchyme stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of bone defect in artificially created jaw cleft in dogs. Materials and Methods. A bone defect was prepared bilaterally in the upper incisor regions of beagle dogs. MSCs derived from iliac bone marrow were cultured and transplanted with carbonated hydroxyapatite (CAP) particles into the bone defect area. The bone regeneration was evaluated by standardized occlusal X-ray examination and histological observation. Results. Six months after the transplantation, perfect closure of the jaw cleft was achieved on the experimental side. The X-ray and histological examination revealed that the regenerated bone on the experimental side was almost equivalent to the original bone adjoining the jaw cleft. Conclusion. It was suggested that the application of MSCs with CAP particles can become a new treatment modality for bone regeneration for CLP patients

Um curso de educação ambiental para professores da educação básica e a questão da contextualização do ensino como diretriz metodológica.

O presente trabalho identificou as concepções de contextualização do ensino (CE) presentes em um curso de educação ambiental voltado para professores da educação básica do município de Batatais (SP), a partir da avaliação do projeto pedagógico deste curso e das sequências didáticas produzidas pelos professores participantes. A questão da CE surgiu em função da organização da proposta a partir de temas de ciências em uma abordagem contextualizada e regionalizada. Esta pesquisa desenvolveu-se por meio de uma abordagem qualitativa da pesquisa educacional, analisando o conteúdo dos textos relacionados ao curso, a partir de uma categorização proposta por Kato e Kawasaki (2011). Os resultados demonstraram que, apesar do projeto pedagógico propor a CE em suas variadas perspectivas, o mesmo não acontece com as seqüências didáticas produzidas pelos professores participantes, que apresentaram concepções de CE voltadas em sua maioria para a perspectiva do cotidiano do aluno

Normal meal tolerance test is preferable to the glucagon stimulation test in patients with type 2 diabetes that are not in a hyperglycemic state: Comparison with the change of C-peptide immunoreactivity

Aims/Introduction: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the properties of the glucagon stimulation test (GST) and the normal meal tolerance test (NMTT) in patients with type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 142 patients with type 2 diabetes, and carried out a GST and a NMTT. We carried out the NMTT using a calorie-controlled meal based on an intake of 30 kcal/kg ideal bodyweight/day. We calculated the change in C-peptide immunoreactivity (ΔCPR) by subtracting fasting CPR from the CPR 6 min after the 1-mg glucagon injection (GST) or 120 min after the meal (NMTT). Results: Mean ΔCPR for the GST was 2.0 ng/mL, and for the NMTT was 3.1 ng/mL. A total of 104 patients had greater ΔCPR in the NMTT than the GST, and the mean ΔCPR was significantly greater in the NMTT than the GST (P < 0.05). To exclude any influence of antidiabetic drugs, we examined 42 individuals not taking antidiabetic agents, and found the mean ΔCPR was significantly greater in the NMTT than the GST (GST 2.4 ng/mL, NMTT 4.3 ng/mL; P < 0.05). To consider the influence of glucose toxicity, we carried out receiver operating characteristic analyses with fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin. The optimal cut-off levels predicting GST ΔCPR to be larger than NMTT ΔCPR were fasting plasma glucose 147 mg/dL and glycated hemoglobin 9.0% (fasting plasma glucose: sensitivity 0.64, specificity 0.76, area under the curve 0.73; glycated hemoglobin: sensitivity 0.56, specificity 0.71, area under the curve 0.66). Conclusions: The NMTT is a reliable insulin secretion test in patients with type 2 diabetes, except for those in a hyperglycemic state

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食用油脂の加熱による酸化を抑制するには,サラダオイル,てんぷら油,コーン油,ごま油をどのように使い分けすればその効果が得られるかを種々の配合油脂を調整し,180℃5分間および10分間加熱した時の油脂の過酸化物価(POV)の測定によって検討した。 1.コーン油に対しては40%のごま油添加で最も酸化安定性が高い油脂となった。 2.サラダオイルとコーン油の配合油脂においてコーン油のみはたいへん酸化されやすい油脂だった。サラダオイルをコーン油に配合することで酸化が抑制された。サラダオイル自身はコーン油,てんぷら油に比較すれば酸化されにくい油脂であった。また,加熱時間による大きな影響はなかった。この配合油脂は保存中の劣化が緩慢であった。 3.サラダオイルとてんぷら油の配合油脂において,サラダオイルの酸化抑制効果は僅かであるが長時間の加熱においてサラダオイルの酸化抑制効果は低くなった。 4.てんぷら油とコーン油の配合油脂において他の配合油脂と比較して酸化抑制効果は低かった。加熱時間の長さによる影響は余り見受けられなかった

Prevalence and cumulative incidence of autism spectrum disorders and the patterns of co-occurring neurodevelopmental disorders in a total population sample of 5-year-old children.

BackgroundsWhether there is a true increase in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequency or not remains unclear. Additionally, the rates of co-existing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) in a total population sample has not been fully examined before. Therefore, using a total population sample in Japan, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and cumulative incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) annually, to determine whether there is a true increase in ASD prevalence by estimating the cumulative incidence of ASD annually, and to examine the rates of co-existing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD).MethodIn this cross-sectional sequential design study, all 5-year-old children in the catchment area underwent the screening annually from the year 2013-2016. Screen-positive children were invited to participate in a comprehensive assessment, including child and parent interview, behavioral observation, and cognitive and motor function testing. All cases were reviewed by a multidisciplinary research team.ResultsCaregivers of 3954 children returned the screening, among which 559 children underwent the assessment with 87 children receiving an ASD diagnosis. Adjusted ASD prevalence was 3.22% (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.66-3.76%). The male to female ratio of the crude prevalence was 2.2:1. The cumulative incidence of ASD up to 5 years of age for the total study years was 1.31% (95% CI 1.00-1.62%). A generalized linear model revealed no significant linear trends in 5-year cumulative incidence over the study years. Only 11.5% of children had ASD alone; the remaining 88.5% were found to have at least one co-existing NDD.LimitationsModest sample size for a total population study.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrate the stability of the 5-year cumulative incidence of ASD, implying no true rise in ASD incident cases over the 4-year study period in the study catchment area. High rates of co-existing NDDs reflect the importance of investigating broad developmental challenges in children with ASD

Observation of the first gravitational microlensing event in a sparse stellar field : the Tago event

We report the observation of the first gravitational microlensing event in a sparse stellar field, involving the brightest (V=11.4 mag) andclosest (~ 1 kpc) source star to date. This event was discovered by an amateurastronomer, A. Tago, on 2006 October 31 as a transient brightening, by ~4.5 mag during a ~15 day period, of a normal A-type star (GSC 3656-1328) in the Cassiopeia constellation. Analysis of both spectroscopic observations and the light curve indicates that this event was caused by gravitational microlensing rather than an intrinsically variable star. Discovery of this single event over a 30 year period is roughly consistent with the expected microlensing rate for the whole sky down to V = 12 mag stars. However, the probability for finding events with such a high magnification (~ 50) is much smaller, by a factor ~1/50, which implies that the true event rate may be higher than expected. This discovery indicates the potential of all sky variability surveys, employing frequent sampling by telescopes with small apertures and wide fields of view, for finding such rare transient events, and using the observations to explore galactic disk structure and search for exo-planets.Comment: 13 pages, 2 tables, 3 figures, accepted by Ap

A frozen super-Earth orbiting a star at the bottom of the Main Sequence

We observed the microlensing event MOA-2007-BLG-192 at high angular resolution in JHKs with the NACO adaptive optics system on the VLT while the object was still amplified by a factor 1.23 and then at baseline 18 months later. We analyzed and calibrated the NACO photometry in the standard 2MASS system in order to accurately constrain the source and the lens star fluxes. We detect light from the host star of MOA-2007-BLG-192Lb, which significantly reduces the uncertainties in its char- acteristics as compared to earlier analyses. We find that MOA-2007-BLG-192L is most likely a very low mass late type M-dwarf (0.084 [+0.015] [-0.012] M\odot) at a distance of 660 [+100] [-70] pc orbited by a 3.2 [+5.2] [-1.8] M\oplus super-Earth at 0.66 [+0.51] [-0.22] AU. We then discuss the properties of this cold planetary system.Comment: published version A&A 540, A78 (2012) A&A, 10 pages, 7 Figure