Phosphorylation of mineralocorticoid receptor ligand binding domain impairs receptor activation and has a dominant negative effect over non-phosphorylated receptors

Post-translational modification of steroid receptors allows fine-tuning different properties of this family of proteins, including stability, activation, or interaction with co-regulators. Recently, a novel effect of phosphorylation on steroid receptor biology was described. Phosphorylation of human mineralocor ticoid receptor (MR) on Ser-843, a residue placed on the ligand binding domain, lowers affinity for agonists, producing inhibi tion of gene transactivation. We now show that MR inhibition by phosphorylation occurs even at high agonist concentration, suggesting that phosphorylation may also impair coupling between ligand binding and receptor activation. Our results demonstrate that agonists are able to induce partial nuclear translocation of MR but fail to produce transactivation due at least in part to impaired co-activator recruitment. The inhibi tory effect of phosphorylation on MR acts in a dominant-nega tive manner, effectively amplifying its functional effect on gene transactivation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Magnesium and aluminum sulfates in salt efflorescences from acid mine drainage in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain)

Proceedings IMWA 2016, Freiberg/Germany | Drebenstedt, Carsten, Paul, Michael (eds.) | Mining Meets Water – Conflicts and Solutions.The current study is focused on AMD-precipitates that compose the typical magnesium and aluminum sulfate assemblages in the Spanish sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (SW Spain). The main objectives are identify and describe the composition, morphology and paragenetic relationships of these sulfate phases. From the methodological pint of view, sampling procedure covered the entire metallogenetic province, including five selected representative mines and eight river basins, which are the main receptors of the acid mine drainage discharges. The mineralogical analyses were performed by X-Ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The obtained results showed the extraordinary abundance of aluminum sulfates with acicular habit, from the series pickeringite-apjhonite-halotrichite. They form typical assemblages with other aluminum sulfates, such as alunogen and tamarugite, and with the Mg sulfates: epsomite and hexahydrite. Moreover, the paragenetic relationships indicate the late occurrence of acicular Alsulfates from the halotrichite group.Financial support for this research was provided by the Andalusian Autonomous Government Excellence Project, code P06-RNM-02167. This work was also co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da Competitividade e Internacionalização), project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690 and national funds provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Interactive use of communication by verbal and non-verbal autistic children

TEMA: comunicação de crianças autistas. OBJETIVO: avaliar a funcionalidade da comunicação de crianças incluídas no espectro autístico divididas em dois grupos (verbais e não verbais) e identificar as possíveis relações entre os grupos estudados. MÉTODO: foram sujeitos 20 crianças autistas, 10 verbais e 10 não verbais, com idade variando entre 2a e 10 m e 10a e 6m de vida. Todos os sujeitos foram gravados durante 30 minutos, em situação de interação espontânea com a mãe. O corpus das gravações dos dois grupos foi analisado quanto ao desempenho do perfil funcional de comunicação de cada sujeito, de cada grupo e as possíveis relações existentes entre os dois grupos. RESULTADOS: os dados referentes à ocupação do espaço comunicativo sugerem equilíbrio entre a comunicação da criança autista e sua mãe. Quanto ao número de atos comunicativos produzidos por minuto, nota-se que há uma visível divisão entre as crianças, que coincide com a divisão de grupos proposta: crianças autistas verbais e crianças autistas não verbais. Com relação à utilização dos meios comunicativos pelas crianças autistas observa-se que tanto as crianças autistas não verbais como as verbais fazem grande uso do meio gestual para se comunicarem. Os dados correspondentes à utilização das funções comunicativas mais inter-pessoais apontam a dificuldade da criança autista em interagir com o outro CONCLUSÃO: a caracterização do perfil funcional da comunicação realizada neste estudo confirmou a dificuldade destas crianças no estabelecimento de interações comunicativas e como essas dificuldades independem do meio comunicativo utilizado.BACKGROUND: communication of autistic children. AIM: to assess the communication functionality of verbal and non-verbal children of the autistic spectrum and to identify possible associations amongst the groups. METHOD: subjects were 20 children of the autistic spectrum divided into two groups: V with 10 verbal children and NV with 10 non-verbal children with ages varying between 2y10m and 10y6m. All subjects were video recorded during 30 minutes of spontaneous interaction with their mothers. The samples were analyzed according to the functional communicative profile and comparisons within and between groups were conducted. RESULTS: data referring to the occupation of communicative space suggest that there is an even balance between each child and his mother. The number of communicative acts per minute shows a clear difference between verbal and non-verbal children. Both verbal and non-verbal children use mostly the gestual communicative mean in their interactions. Data about the use of interpersonal communicative functions point out to the autistic children's great interactive impairment. CONCLUSION: the characterization of the functional communicative profile proposed in this study confirmed the autistic children's difficulties with interpersonal communication and that these difficulties do not depend on the preferred communicative mean

Psychological and socio-demographic variables associated with sexual risk behavior for sexually transmitted infections/HIV

New diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV are rising in the adult population. The main objective of this study was to analyze whether knowledge of STIs/HIV, worry about STIs/HIV and pregnancy, and self-efficacy to refuse sex are predictors of sexual risk behaviors among Spanish young and adults. The study sample was composed of 1,106 young and adults of both sexes aged between 17 and 55 years. Results showed that being single, homosexual, having been tested for HIV, having previously contracted an STI, having a college education and earning a monthly income of €900 or more were the characteristics associated with higher scores in knowledge of STIs/HIV. Self-efficacy to refuse sex predicted most vaginal and anal sexual behaviors (i.e., age at vaginal and anal sex initiation and the number of couples that have remained vaginal sex). We also found that participants with greater knowledge of STIs/HIV reported older age at vaginal sex initiation and higher condom use in the first vaginal sexual contact. We consider that these findings can be useful for the development of STI/HIV prevention programs.La población adulta es un grupo ascendente en los nuevos diagnósticos de las infec de transmisión sexual (ITS) y el VIH. El objetivo principal es analizar si el conocimiento sobre el ITS/VIH, la preocupación por las ITS/VIH y el embarazo y la autoeficacia para rechazar relaciones sexuales son predictoras de las conductas sexuales de riesgo en jóvenes y adultos españoles. Participaron 1.106 jóvenes y adultos de ambos sexos, entre los 17 y los 55 años. Los resultados mostraron que ser soltero, homosexual, haberse hecho la prueba del VIH, haber tenido una ITS, tener estudios universitarios e ingresos económicos mensuales de 900 a más de 1.200 euros tenían las puntuaciones más altas en el conocimiento sobre el ITS/VIH. La autoeficacia predijo gran parte de las conductas sexuales vaginales y anales (la edad de inicio del sexo vaginal y anal y el número de parejas con las que se ha mantenido sexo vaginal). Además, se halló que a mayor conocimiento sobre ITS/VIH, mayor edad de inicio del sexo vaginal y mayor uso del preservativo en la primera relación sexual vaginal. Se espera que estos resultados sean útiles para el desarrollo de programas de prevención de ITS/VIH

Functional aspects of communication: a longitudinal study of the first three years of life

O objetivo deste estudo de casos múltiplos é apresentar elementos para a discussão e a análise do desenvolvimento da comunicação desde o período pré-verbal. A apresentação dos casos inicia-se com a descrição do corpus de análise, seguida pela síntese dos dados referentes aos aspectos pragmáticos da comunicação de seis sujeitos, entre o primeiro e o 36º mês de vida. Foram incluídos os dados referentes ao número de atos comunicativos expressos por minuto, a ocupação do espaço comunicativo, a proporção de utilização dos meios comunicativos e a proporção de interatividade da comunicação. A análise individualizada do número de atos comunicativos produzidos em cada uma das amostras evidencia uma tendência crescente quase constante. No entanto, variações individuais também ocorreram. A ocupação do espaço comunicativo mostrou variações maiores e mais constantes que, não obstante, continuam a evidenciar evolução. O acompanhamento longitudinal possibilita a observação da proporção do uso do meio verbal e seu papel fundamental na comunicação de crianças a partir dos 21 meses. A partir dos 30 meses, esse meio é mais usado que o meio gestual, embora os gestos continuem a ser responsáveis por uma parte importante da comunicação iniciada pela criança. No que diz respeito à interatividade de comunicação, os dados evidenciam que os bebês buscam interação desde o nascimento e que, com o avanço da idade, ampliam suas habilidades comunicativas em qualidade e quantidade.The aim of this multiple case-study is to present issues to the analysis and discussion of communicative development since the pre-verbal period. The case presentation starts with the description of the analyzed sample followed by the synthesis of data regarding the pragmatic aspects of six subjects, from the 1st to the 36th month of life. Data regarding the number of communicative acts expressed per minute, occupation of the communicative space, proportion of use of the communicative means and the communication's interaction proportion are included. The individualized analysis of the number of communicative acts produced per minute in each sample shows an increasing tendency that is almost constant, but also frequent individual variations. The occupation of the communicative space has shown larger and more constant variations that, nevertheless, continue to evidence evolution. The longitudinal follow-up allowed the observation of the proportion of the use of the verbal communicative mean and its essential role in the child's communication from the 21st month on. Since the 30th month the verbal mean is the more frequent but the gestural mean is still responsible for an important part of the communication initiated by the child. In what refer to the communication's interactivity, data show that the infant seek the interactivity since birth and that with age improve the quality and quantity of his/her communication's abilities

Salt efflorescences in the iberian pyrite belt: occurrence and distribution

The evolution of sulfide wastes promotes acid mine drainage and phenomena of supergenic neoformation. These contribute to a secondary paragenesis, often dominated by salt efflorescences. These can be used as mineralogical indicators of reactivity conditions and of AMD potential. The present study shows the salt efflorescences that develop in the Spanish sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, as a result of the strong acid mine drainage observed in this region. The obtained results showed dominance of metallic sulfates. Depending on the proximity to the sulfide sources, there are different types of assemblages. Iron and cooper minerals dominate inside the mining areas, whereas magnesium sulfates occur more abundantly in the receiving river networkFinancial support was provided by the Andalusian Autonomous Government Excellence Project, code P06-RNM-02167. This work was also co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020 (Programa Operacional da Competitividade e Internacionalização), project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/2013) with reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER- 007690 and national funds provided by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adaptation in Pronoun Resolution: Evidence from Brazilian and European Portuguese

Previous research accounting for pronoun resolution as a problem of probabilistic inference has not explored the phenomenon of adaptation, whereby the processor constantly tracks and adapts, rationally, to changes in a statistical environment. We investigate whether Brazilian (BP) and European Portuguese (EP) speakers adapt to variations in the probability of occurrence of ambiguous overt and null pronouns, in two experiments assessing resolution towards subject and object referents. For each variety (BP, EP), participants were faced with either the same number of null and overt pronouns (equal distribution), or with an environment with fewer overt (than null) pronouns (unequal distribution). We find that the preference for interpreting overt pronouns as referring back to an object referent (objectbiased interpretation) is higher when there are fewer overt pronouns (i.e., in the unequal, relative to the equal distribution condition). This is especially the case for BP, a variety with higher prior frequency and smaller object-biased interpretation of overt pronouns, suggesting that participants adapted incrementally and integrated prior statistical knowledge with the knowledge obtained in the experiment. We hypothesize that comprehenders adapted rationally, with the goal of maintaining, across variations in pronoun probability, the likelihood of subject and object referents. Our findings unify insights from research in pronoun resolution and in adaptation, and add to previous studies in both topics: They provide evidence for the influence of pronoun probability in pronoun resolution, and for an adaptation process whereby the language processor not only tracks statistical information, but uses it to make interpretational inferences.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Herbicide Resistance in Brazil: Status, Impacts, and Future Challenges

Brazil is a large producer and exporter of crops in global terms. Weeds may be responsible for ~14% of crop losses, depending on the crop system. Herbicides occupy 58% of the Brazilian pesticide market; however, the continuous use of these products and the high selection pressure have led to the emergence of weeds resistant to herbicides. Today, there are 51 weed species reported as being resistant to herbicides in Brazil, of which 17 involves cross and multiple-resistance. Acetolactate synthase (ALS), acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) and 5-enolpiruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPs) inhibitors are the herbicidal groups with the most resistance cases. Soybean, corn, rice, wheat and cotton present 30, 12, 10, 9 and 8 cases, respectively, occurring mainly in herbicide-resistant crop fields from the Southern and Central West regions of the country. To better understand the dimensions of herbicide resistance, in this chapter, we will explore the size of agricultural activity in Brazil, the pesticide market and the use of herbicides in the main crops. In addition, the agronomic, scientific-technical and economic aspects that have contributed, directly or indirectly, to the selection of resistant weeds will be discussed in order to have an overview of the economic impact of herbicide resistance management

Harmonização fiscal da tributação directa na União Europeia e os preços de transferência

Mestrado em Economia e Estudos EuropeusA Problemática dos “ Preços de Transferência “, numa perspectiva fiscal tem sido objecto de diversos estudos levados a cabo pela Comissão Europeia. Tendo em conta as caracterís-ticas extremamente diversas dos regimes fiscais dos Estados – Membros, bem como as diferentes preferências nacionais, levantamos duas questões que são analisadas na presente dissertação, através de um Case Study de uma empresa multinacional do sector alimentar e que constituem os dois eixos da dissertação: 1º - Será a Harmonização Fiscal da Tributação Directa necessária ou desejável; 2º - Os “Preços de Transferência” nos Bens Intangíveis e o seu impacto nos resultados apurados para efeitos de tributação; Assim, a presente disserta-ção é dedicada à análise da definição e quantificação de “Preço “ nos bens intangíveis – Royalties numa empresa multinacional cuja empresa mãe se situa num outro Estado Mem-bro com uma diferente taxa de tributação sobre o imposto das sociedades. A análise empí-rica realizada numa empresa multinacional, permitiu verificar a complexidade na quantifi-cação do “Preço de Transferência “ no pagamento de Royalties, a aplicação do “Princípio de Plena Concorrência “ e a morosidade do processo na resolução de conflitos quando sur-ge a Dupla Tributação. Assim: Harmonização, Preço de Transferência, Princípio de Plena Concorrência, Royalties e a forma como estes conceitos interagem, constituem para o case study os grandes temas de análise.The process of “Transfer Pricing”, from the fiscal perspective has been subject of many studies by the European Commission. According to the different caracteristics of the fiscal regimes of member states, and with regards to the different national preferences, we need to pose two questions which will be analysed in this dissertation. We will be using a case study by a multinacional firm in the food industry sector which constitues two major sec-tions of the dissertation. 1º Will Fiscal Harmonization make direct taxation necessary or desirable? 2º The “Transfer Pricing” in the intangibles property and its impact on the results of the effects on taxation. It is the objective of this dissertation to analyse the definition and quantification of the term “ price” in the Intangibles such as Royalties , within a multinational companies whose headquarters are located in another member state with a different form of taxation or corporate income tax. The empirical analysis realised in a multinacional company, permitted us to check the complexity in quantification of the “transfer pricing”, royalty payments and the application of the “arm´s of length principle”, the long process in the resolution of conflicts when there double taxation occurs. Harmoni-zation, Transfer Pricing, the arm´s of length principle, royalties, and the ways that these concepts interact, contribute for the analysis of this case stud

Mineralogical controls on mobility of rare earth elements in acid mine drainage environments

Supplementary data related to this article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.04.095.Rare earth elements (REE) were analyzed in river waters, acid mine waters, and extracts of secondary precipitates collected in the Iberian Pyrite Belt. The obtained concentrations of the REE in river water and mine waters (acid mine drainage - AMD) were in the range of 0.57 μg/L (Lu) and 2579 μg/L (Ce), which is higher than previously reported in surface waters from the Iberian Pyrite Belt, but are comparable with previous findings from AMD worldwide. Total REE concentrations in river waters were ranged between 297 μg/L (Cobica River) and 7032 μg/L (Trimpancho River) with an average of 2468 μg/L. NASC (North American Shale Composite) normalized REE patterns for river and acid mine waters show clear convex curvatures in middle-REE (MREE) with respect to light- and heavy-REE. During the dissolution experiments of AMD-precipitates, heavy-REE and middle-REE generate the most enriched patterns in the solution. A small number of precipitates did not display MREE enrichment (an index Gdn/Lun < 1.0) in NASC normalized pattern and produced relatively lower REE concentrations in extracts. Additionally, very few samples, which mainly contained aluminum sulfates, e.g., pickeringite and alunogen, displayed light-REE enrichment relative to heavy-REE (HREE). In general, the highest retention of REE occurs in samples enriched in magnesium (epsomite or hexahydrite) and aluminum sulfates, mainly pickeringite.Financial support was provided by the Andalusian Autonomous Government Excellence Project, code P06-RNM-02167. This work was also co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund, based on COMPETE 2020, project ICT (UID/GEO/04683/2013), reference POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007690, national funds provided by FCT. Post-Doctoral Fellowship through Erasmus Mundus SAT program and Young Scientist Research Grant (SEAS-2015−14) of the National University of Mongolia were supported for T.-O. Soyol-Erdene. The authors also appreciate the valuable comments and suggestions made by the anonymous reviewers