Low-resolution structural studies of human Stanniocalcin-1

Background: Stanniocalcins (STCs) represent small glycoprotein hormones, found in all vertebrates, which have been functionally implicated in Calcium homeostasis. However, recent data from mammalian systems indicated that they may be also involved in embryogenesis, tumorigenesis and in the context of the latter especially in angiogenesis. Human STCI is a 247 amino acids protein with a predicted molecular mass of 27 kDa, but preliminary data suggested its di- or multimerization. The latter in conjunction with alternative splicing and/or post-translational modification gives rise to forms described as STC(50) and "big STC", which molecular weights range from 56 to 135 kDa. Results: In this study we performed a biochemical and structural analysis of STCI with the aim of obtaining low resolution structural information about the human STCI, since structural information in this protein family is scarce. We expressed STCI in both E. coli and insect cells using the baculo virus system with a C-terminal 6 x His fusion tag. From the latter we obtained reasonable amounts of soluble protein. Circular dichroism analysis showed STCI as a well structured protein with 52% of alpha-helical content. Mass spectroscopy analysis of the recombinant protein allowed to assign the five intramolecular disulfide bridges as well as the dimerization Cys202, thereby confirming the conservation of the disulfide pattern previously described for fish STCI. SAXS data also clearly demonstrated that STCI adopts a dimeric, slightly elongated structure in solution. Conclusion: Our data reveal the first low resolution, structural information for human STCI. Theoretical predictions and circular dichroism spectroscopy both suggested that STCI has a high content of alpha-helices and SAXS experiments revealed that STCI is a dimer of slightly elongated shape in solution. The dimerization was confirmed by mass spectrometry as was the highly conserved disulfide pattern, which is identical to that found in fish STCI

Geochemical constraints on the Hadean environment from mineral fingerprints of prokaryotes

The environmental conditions on the Earth before 4 billion years ago are highly uncertain, largely because of the lack of a substantial rock record from this period. During this time interval, known as the Hadean, the young planet transformed from an uninhabited world to the one capable of supporting, and inhabited by the first living cells. These cells formed in a fluid environment they could not at first control, with homeostatic mechanisms developing only later. It is therefore possible that present-day organisms retain some record of the primordial fluid in which the first cells formed. Here we present new data on the elemental compositions and mineral fingerprints of both Bacteria and Archaea, using these data to constrain the environment in which life formed. The cradle solution that produced this elemental signature was saturated in barite, sphene, chalcedony, apatite, and clay minerals. The presence of these minerals, as well as other chemical features, suggests that the cradle environment of life may have been a weathering fluid interacting with dry-land silicate rocks. The specific mineral assemblage provides evidence for a moderate Hadean climate with dry and wet seasons and a lower atmospheric abundance of CO2 than is present today.Fil: Novoselov, Alexey A.. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Silva, Dailto. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Schneider, Jerusa. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Abrevaya, Ximena Celeste. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Chaffin, Michael S.. State University Of Colorado Boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Serrano, Paloma. Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre For Polar And Marine Research,; AlemaniaFil: Navarro, Margareth Sugano. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; BrasilFil: Conti, Maria Josiane. André Tosello Institute; BrasilFil: Souza Filho, Carlos Roberto de. Universidade Estadual de Campinas; Brasi

The Determination of Total Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur in Silicates, Silicate Rocks, Soils and Sediments

Determinations of the volatile elements carbon, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen in many geological RM, performed with the LECO CHN and SC analysers, are presented. The method allowed the determination of S in concentrations from a few % m/m to 0.001% m/m or less, of C from % m/m to 0.01% m/m and of H from % m/m to 0.004% m/m. Accuracy was usually better than the XRF method (for S). All obtained values passed the Sutarno-Steger test, which establishes that vertical bar(mean(analysed) - mean(certified))vertical bar/ S(certified) < 2, for the cases with an appropriate number of determinations (n > 10 for each element). It was possible to perform routine determination of C, H and S with the instrumentation, coupled with the determination of major and minor elements in geological materials. Determination of nitrogen could also be performed on an exploratory basis, with improvements in the method dependent on the future availability of more reference materials with reliable composition of this element.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Sao Paulo Science Foundation (FAPESP

The direct determination of rare earth elements in basaltic and related rocks using ICP-MS: Testing the efficiency of microwave oven sample decomposition procedures

Tests are described showing the results obtained for the determination of REE and the trace elements Rb, Y, Zr, Nb, Cs, Ba, Hf, Ta, Pb, Th and U with ICP-MS methodology for nine basaltic reference materials, and thirteen basalts and amphibolites from the mafic-ultramafic Niquelandia Complex, central Brazil. Sample decomposition for the reference materials was performed by microwave oven digestion (HF and HNO(3), 100 mg of sample), and that for the Niquelandia samples also by Parr bomb treatment (5 days at 200 degrees C, 40 mg of sample). Results for the reference materials were similar to published values, thus showing that the microwave technique can be used with confidence for basaltic rocks. No fluoride precipitates were observed in the microwave-digested solutions. Total recovery of elements, including Zr and Hf, was obtained for the Niquelandia samples, with the exception of an amphibolite. For this latter sample, the Parr method achieved a total digestion, but not so the microwave decomposition; losses, however, were observed only for Zr and Hf, indicating difficulty in dissolving Zr-bearing minerals by microwave acid attack

Mesoarchaean (2820 Ma) high-pressure mafic granulite at Uauá, São Francisco Craton, Brazil, and its potential significance for the assembly of Archaean supercratons

High pressure (HP) granulites of regional scale form as a result of tectonic events that lead to crustal thickening or subduction of the crust into the mantle. Most HP granulites are Phanerozoic, a few are Proterozoic, and Archaean HP granulites are even scarcer. Here we present field relationships, mineral chemistry and zircon U-Pb ages, Hf isotope data and trace elements data for the mafic granulite and associated rocks of the Uauá terrane, São Francisco Craton, Brazil, as evidence for the likely existence of a thick continental crust in the Mesoarchaean/Neoarchaean transition. The HP mafic granulite occurs as lensoid bodies within shallow dipping diorite to leucodiorite gneisses. Small scale layering between mafic granulite and diorite gneiss indicate these rocks are cogenetic. Garnet-clinopyroxene pairs with quartz, zircon, ilmenite, plagioclase, and clinopyroxene inclusions in garnet characterize the HP assemblage. Garnet porphyroblasts also show opx-cpx-plag symplectite coronas, which coupled with hornblende and plagioclase define PT conditions to lower grade granulite and amphibolite facies. Microprobe data combined with phase equilibria modelling (pseudosections) indicate 16–18 kbar and 930–960 °C for the peak HP assemblage, and 6.2–7.0 kbar and 660–760 °C for lower pressure granulite to amphibolite facies symplectite coronas. Metamorphic zircon rims in equilibrium with garnet have SHRIMP ages of 2819 ± 14, and igneous zircon cores of 3127 ± 14 Ma. The cores of zircon in associated gneiss samples have U-Pb ages between 3090 ± 13 Ma (LA-ICP-MS) and 3125 ± 15 Ma (SHRIMP) with age cluster at 3120 ± 6 Ma. εHf(t) values on igneous zircon of the HP mafic granulite are slightly positive whereas metamorphic zircon rims are negative. The associated diorite gneiss invariably yielded negative zircon εHf(t) values. Trondhjemite sheets intrusive in the mafic granulite are ca. 20 m.y. younger (2794 ± 13 Ma) than the host granulite. We interpret the igneous protoliths of the mafic granulite and leucodiorite gneiss as a single igneous complex emplaced in the continental crust, later deformed and metamorphosed by contraction and crustal thickening during collision of blocks/cratons to form Earth's first supercratons by the end of the Mesoarchaean

Corpos elétricos: do assujeitamento à estética da existência Electric bodies: from subjection to the aesthetics of existence

A busca da adequação aos padrões de identidade socialmente impostos tem justificado e instituído as mais variadas formas de controle corporal. Há cerca de dois séculos vivemos um processo de contínuo disciplinamento e normalização dos corpos que também tem conseqüências subjetivas, pois a subjetividade está diretamente associada à materialidade do corpo. Assim, a história da criação de corpos e identidades sociais é também uma história dos modos de produção da subjetividade. O texto parte dessa constatação para discutir uma forma de resistência ao assujeitamento: a proposta foucaultiana de uma estética da existência.<br>The search to comply with socially imposed standards of identity has justified and instituted a number of ways of body control. During the last two centuries we have lived under an ongoing process of discipline and normalization of our bodies. This process has subjective consequences because subjectivity is directly connected to the materiality of the body. Therefore, a history of creation of bodies and social identities is also a history of ways of producing subjectivity. This paper starts with this history to discuss a form of resistance: Michel Foucault's proposal of an aesthetics of existence

Avaliação da rugosidade superficial de três resinas compostas submetidas a diferentes técnicas de polimento Evaluation of the superficial roughness of three composite resins submitted to different polishing techniques

Neste estudo, avaliou-se a rugosidade superficial de resinas classificadas como compactáveis e uma híbrida tradicional comparando-se diferentes técnicas de polimento. Confeccionaram-se corpos-de-prova, que foram armazenados em água destilada por 24 horas e posteriormente submetidos a duas técnicas de tratamento superficial, em que foram empregados dois sistemas de discos de acabamento e polimento e pontas siliconizadas. Os resultados revelaram maior rugosidade superficial da resina AlertTM em relação a Solitaire® e Degufill Mineral®, não havendo diferenças estatisticamente significantes entre as últimas citadas. A rugosidade superficial das restaurações cujo polimento foi executado com as pontas Enhance® foi maior que o polimento obtido com os sistemas de discos, não havendo diferenças estatisticamente significante entre esses.<br>In this study, the superficial roughness of two composite resins classified as condensable and of a traditional hybrid composite resin was analyzed after different polishing techniques. Test specimens were confected, immersed in distilled water for 24 hours and submitted to two different techniques of superficial treatment, in which disc systems (Sof-LexTM and Super Snap®) and silicon tips (Enhance®) were utilized. The results revealed the greater superficial roughness of AlertTM, when compared with Solitaire® and Degufill Mineral® - no statistically significant differences were observed between the last two materials. The superficial roughness of the specimens polished with Enhance® tips was greater than that of the specimens polished with discs and there were no statistically significant differences between both disc systems

Traduzindo o debate: o uso da categoria gênero na pesquisa histórica Translating the debate: the usage of gender category in the historical research

Neste artigo, estão sendo historicizadas categorias de análise como: "mulher", "mulheres", "gênero" e "sexo", através de um diálogo com a história dos movimentos sociais de mulheres, de feministas, de gays e de lésbicas. Embora sejam categorias usadas de forma interdisciplinar, neste artigo focaliza-se principalmente o uso destas por historiadoras e historiadores, fazendo uma revisão do que se tem publicado no Brasil sobre o assunto. Dialoga-se com as teorias e busca-se, de forma didática, apresentar para estudantes e pesquisadoras/es um panorama de como estas categorias de análise têm sido constituídas e questionadas.<br>In the present article categories of analysis such as "woman", "women", "gender" and "sex" are historicized through a dialogue with the history of the women, feminists, gays and lesbians social movements. Although they are categories used in an interdisciplinary mode, we chiefly focus on their employment by historians through a review of what has been published on the matter. The theories are discussed and an overview on how such categories of analysis have been constituted and questioned is presented, in an instructive way, to students and researchers