The Empirical Content of Marital Surplus in Matching Models. ESRI DISCUSSION PAPER SERIES IZA DP No. 11823, September 2018

This note investigates the extent to which structural estimates of marital surplus are informative about subjective well-being and separation. We first estimate the marital surplus using a simple matching model of the marriage market with perfectly transferable utility and heterogeneity in tastes applied to a rich German panel dataset. We then show that these estimates of the marital surplus are negatively correlated with separation and the difference in spouses’ subjective satisfaction

A Memória Visual do Curso de Bacharelado em Design do IFSUL

Propõe-se explorar e valorizar o que chamamos de Memória Visual do Curso de Bacharelado em Design, do IFSUL Câmpus Pelotas. Os alunos produzem, nas disciplinas, alguns projetos práticos, formando objetos de Design. Diante disso, surgiu a necessidade de criar a memória visual do curso, onde sejam visíveis resultados alcançados e abordagens das disciplinas, bem como divulgar o campo de atuação dos designers à comunidade externa ao curso. O objetivo é, a partir do resgate dos trabalhos dos alunos, criar um portfólio digital em Wordpress para servir, futuramente, de reflexão e compreensão dos caminhos percorridos pelo curso. A proposta está sendo desenvolvida enquanto Projeto de Ensino

Guia de design para inovação social em sistemas alimentares: uma solução habilitante de apoio a agentes de mudança

Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Comunicação e Expressão, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Design, Florianópolis, 2023.Os sistemas alimentares comunitários surgem como um movimento de base em resposta a um modelo que tem posto em risco a segurança alimentar e nutricional, principalmente, de pessoas em situações de vulnerabilidade social, além de estar homogeneizando consideravelmente as culturas alimentares. Para reverter esse cenário, algumas ações políticas estão sendo tomadas, além de organizações locais e parcerias entre diferentes agentes para viabilizar os sistemas alimentares comunitários, visando mudanças sistêmicas orientadas à sustentabilidade. Ações de organizações da sociedade civil, realizadas por agentes de mudança, como os agentes do movimento Slow Food, têm sido mencionadas como estratégicas para apoiar os movimentos de base no resgate da segurança alimentar e nutricional, da soberania alimentar, e empoderamento das comunidades pela geração de conhecimentos alimentares e de produção. As ações sociais são chave para a sustentabilidade destes sistemas, nesse sentido, as relações entre os agentes envolvidos são o caminho para tal. No entanto, o estabelecimento dessas relações é um dos principais desafios enfrentados, e impactam diretamente os resultados alcançados pelas comunidades, principalmente no que diz respeito à resiliência, governança e sustentabilidade. Visando contribuir neste contexto, para facilitar o estabelecimento de infraestruturas relacionais e apoiar as ações dos agentes de mudança, esta pesquisa objetivou criar uma solução habilitante para instrumentalizar os agentes de mudança visando a inovação social, por meio da gestão de design com abordagem sistêmica. Para isso, realizou-se uma pesquisa de natureza aplicada, abordagem qualitativa e explicativa quanto aos seus objetivos, adotando a pesquisa-ação como método, o processo projetual do NASDESIGN e o Codesign como abordagem da ação, aplicando ferramentas da gestão de design e sistêmicas para envolver os agentes do Slow Food Brasil como participantes. A pesquisa resultou no desenvolvimento da solução habilitante, composta de uma abordagem prática para orientar os agentes na condução dos projetos por meio de um processo dividido em quatro estágios, cada qual com seus objetivos, ferramentas e procedimentos para auxiliar a ação. A solução demonstrou ser capaz de potencializar o alcance dos objetivos estratégicos, tanto dos agentes do Slow Food, quanto dos agentes das comunidades, num processo participativo e colaborativo, do início ao fim, que vai de uma visão abstrata à concreta, efetivando a realização de projetos integrando os valores, culturas, necessidades e objetivos das organizações. Facilitando, deste modo, o acoplamento estrutural social entre agentes do Slow food e agentes comunitários. Esse acoplamento é facilitado pela abordagem sistêmica trazida à gestão de design para apoiar a geração de contextos humanos ideias para os processos de aprendizagem propostos por projetos. O guia foi avaliado como uma ferramenta que possibilita estruturar melhor as ações e iniciativas, e visualizar as possibilidades do desenvolvimento dos projetos como um todo, tornando-se relevante tanto para os agentes do Slow Food, quanto para as comunidades, por apresentar um conjunto de procedimentos e ferramentas que apoiam o desenvolvimento e resiliência das organizações, contribuindo para a autonomia das comunidades para dar continuidade aos projetos desenvolvidos coletivamente.Abstract: Community food systems emerge as a grassroots movement in response to a model that has jeopardized food and nutrition security, especially for people in situations of social vulnerability, in addition to being considerably homogenizing food cultures. To reverse this scenario, some political actions are being taken, in addition to local organizations and partnerships between different agents to make community food systems viable, aiming at systemic changes oriented to sustainability. Actions by civil society organizations, carried out by agents of change, such as agents of the Slow Food movement, have been mentioned as strategic to support grassroots movements in the rescue of food and nutrition security, food sovereignty, and empowerment of communities for generations food and production knowledge. Social actions are key to the sustainability of these systems, in this sense, the relationships between the agents involved are the way to do so. However, establishing these relationships is one of the main challenges faced, and they directly impact the results achieved by the communities, especially with regard to resilience, governance and sustainability. Aiming to contribute in this context, to facilitate the establishment of relational infrastructures to support the actions of change agents, this research aimed to create an enabling solution to equip change agents with a view to social innovation, through design management with a systemic approach. For this, an applied research was carried out, with a qualitative and explanatory approach regarding its objectives, adopting action research as a method, the NASDESIGN design process and Codesign as an action approach, applying design and systemic management tools to involve Slow Food Brazil agents as participants. The research resulted in the development of the enabling solution, consisting of a practical approach to guide agents in conducting projects through a process divided into four stages, each with its objectives, tools and procedures to assist the action. The solution proved capable of enhancing the achievement of strategic objectives, both for Slow Food agents and community agents, in a participatory and collaborative process, from start to finish, which goes from an abstract vision to a concrete one, bringing about the realization of projects integrating the values, cultures, needs and objectives of organizations. Facilitating, in this way, the social structural coupling between Slow food agents and community agents. This coupling is facilitated by the systemic approach brought to design management to support the generation of ideal human contexts for the learning processes proposed by projects. The guide was evaluated as a tool that makes it possible to better structure actions and initiatives, and visualize the possibilities for developing projects as a whole, making it relevant both for Slow Food agents and for communities, as it presents a set of procedures and tools that support the development and resilience of organizations, contributing to the autonomy of communities to continue the projects developed collectively

Detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Metabolite Pyocyanin in Water and Saliva by Employing the SERS Technique

Pyocyanin (PYO) is a metabolite specific for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In the case of immunocompromised patients, it is currently considered a biomarker for life-threating Pseudomonas infections. In the frame of this study it is shown, that PYO can be detected in aqueous solution by employing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) combined with a microfluidic platform. The achieved limit of detection is 0.5 μM. This is ~2 orders of magnitude below the concentration of PYO found in clinical samples. Furthermore, as proof of principle, the SERS detection of PYO in the saliva of three volunteers was also investigated. This body fluid can be collected in a non-invasive manner and is highly chemically complex, making the detection of the target molecule challenging. Nevertheless, PYO was successfully detected in two saliva samples down to 10 μM and in one sample at a concentration of 25 μM. This indicates that the molecules present in saliva do not inhibit the efficient adsorption of PYO on the surface of the employed SERS active substrates

Label-free detection of Phytophthora ramorum using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy

In this study, we report on a novel approach for the label-free and species-specific detection of the plant pathogen Phytophthora ramorum from real samples using surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). In this context, we consider the entire analysis chain including sample preparation, DNA isolation, amplification and hybridization on SERS substrate-immobilized adenine-free capture probes. Thus, the SERS-based detection of target DNA is verified by the strong spectral feature of adenine which indicates the presence of hybridized target DNA. This property was realized by replacing adenine moieties in the species-specific capture probes with 2-aminopurine. In the case of the matching capture and target sequence, the characteristic adenine peak serves as an indicator for specific DNA hybridization. Altogether, this is the first assay demonstrating the detection of a plant pathogen from an infected plant material by label-free SERS employing DNA hybridization on planar SERS substrates consisting of silver nanoparticles

Toward food analytics: fast estimation of lycopene and β-carotene content in tomatoes based on surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS)

Carotenoids are molecules that play important roles in both plant development and in the well-being of mammalian organisms. Therefore, various studies have been performed to characterize carotenoids’ properties, distribution in nature and their health benefits upon ingestion. Nevertheless, there is a gap regarding a fast detection of them at the plant phase. Within this contribution we report the results obtained regarding the application of surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) toward the differentiation of two carotenoid molecules (namely, lycopene and β-carotene) in tomato samples. To this end, an e-beam lithography (EBL) SERS-active substrate and a 488 nm excitation source were employed, and a relevant simulated matrix was prepared (by mixing the two carotenoids in defined percentages) and measured. Next, carotenoids were extracted from tomato plants and measured as well. Finally, a combination of principal component analysis and partial least squares regression (PCA-PLSR) was applied to process the data, and the obtained results were compared with HPLC measurements of the same extracts. A good agreement was obtained between the HPLC and the SERS results for most of the tomato samples

In Vitro Selection of Specific DNA Aptamers Against the Anti-Coagulant Dabigatran Etexilate

Dabigatran Etexilate (PRADAXA) is a new oral anticoagulant increasingly used for a number of blood thrombosis conditions, prevention of strokes and systemic emboli among patients with atrial fibrillation. It provides safe and adequate anticoagulation for prevention and treatment of thrombus in several clinical settings. However, anticoagulation therapy can be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. There is a lack of specific laboratory tests to determine the level of this drug in blood. This is considered the most important obstacles of using this medication, particularly for patients with trauma, drug toxicity, in urgent need for surgical interventions or uncontrolled bleeding. In this work, we performed Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) to select specific DNA aptamers against dabigatran etexilate. Following multiple rounds of selection and enrichment with a randomized 60-mer DNA library, specific DNA aptamers for dabigatran were selected. We investigated the affinity and specificity of generated aptamers to the drug showing dissociation constants (Kd) ranging from 46.8–208 nM. The most sensitive aptamer sequence was selected and applied in an electrochemical biosensor to successfully achieve 0. 01 ng/ml level of detection of the target drug. With further improvement of the assay and optimization, these aptamers would replace conventional antibodies for developing detection assays in the near future.Dabigatran Etexilate (PRADAXA) is a new oral anticoagulant increasingly used for a number of blood thrombosis conditions, prevention of strokes and systemic emboli among patients with atrial fibrillation. It provides safe and adequate anticoagulation for prevention and treatment of thrombus in several clinical settings. However, anticoagulation therapy can be associated with an increased risk of bleeding. There is a lack of specific laboratory tests to determine the level of this drug in blood. This is considered the most important obstacles of using this medication, particularly for patients with trauma, drug toxicity, in urgent need for surgical interventions or uncontrolled bleeding. In this work, we performed Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) to select specific DNA aptamers against dabigatran etexilate. Following multiple rounds of selection and enrichment with a randomized 60-mer DNA library, specific DNA aptamers for dabigatran were selected. We investigated the affinity and specificity of generated aptamers to the drug showing dissociation constants (Kd) ranging from 46.8–208 nM. The most sensitive aptamer sequence was selected and applied in an electrochemical biosensor to successfully achieve 0. 01 ng/ml level of detection of the target drug. With further improvement of the assay and optimization, these aptamers would replace conventional antibodies for developing detection assays in the near future

O cotidiano fantástico na propaganda de havaianas: O comercial televisivo como tecnologia do imaginário

From this study, we seek to think the role of the television commercial as a contemporary technology of the imaginary, in its stimulation of the knowledge of new references, potentiating new representations. Thus, we selected for the analysis two advertisements of a brand recognized by its Brazilianess, the Havaianas sandals. The perspective adopted is the comprehensive sociology, and authors as Durand, Maffesoli, Lipovetsky and Silva constitute this research referential.A partir de este estudio logramos pensar el papel del comercial televisivo como una tecnología de lo imaginario contemporáneo, en su estimulación para el conocimiento de nuevas referencias, potencializando nuevas representaciones. De este modo, selecionamos para nuestra analise dos propagandas de una marca reconocida por su brasilidad, las sandalias Havaianas. La perspectiva adotada es la de la Sociología Comprensiva y los autores como Durand, Maffesoli, Lipovetsky y Silva constituyen el referencial de esta investigación.A partir desse estudo buscamos pensar o papel do comercial televisivo como uma tecnologia do imaginário contemporâneo, em sua estimulação para o conhecimento de novas referências, potencializando novas representações. Assim, selecionamos para análise duas propagandas de uma marca reconhecida por sua brasilidade, as sandálias Havaianas. A perspectiva adotada é a da sociologia compreensiva e autores como Durand, Maffesoli, Lipovetsky e Silva constituem o referencial dessa pesquisa

SOLDADINHO-DO-ARARIPE, SÍMBOLO DA CONSERVAÇÃO DAS ÁGUAS E FLORESTAS ÚMIDAS DO CARIRI CEARENSE

Em 1996 foi revelado à ciência o soldadinho-do-araripe (Antilophia bokermanni), pássaro endêmico da vegetação das encostas da Chapada do Araripe, no Ceará. Por sua distribuição restrita em remanescentes florestais sob pressão antrópica foi considerada Criticamente em Perigo de extinção global em 2000. Para modificar esta perspectiva, em 2003, foi iniciado um esforço contínuo de pesquisas, desenvolvimento de políticas públicas, educação ambiental e restauração florestal, visando promover a sua conservação. O foco principal deste empenho tem sido buscar a manutenção dos serviços ambientais provenientes de seu hábitat, sobretudo relacionados às águas, pois principalmente ao longo dos cursos d’água são construídos seus ninhos e concentram-se os frutos que lhe servem de alimento. Durante a execução destas ações, o Projeto Soldadinho-do-araripe, estimula a participação da sociedade, beneficiária direta da conservação hídrica e florestal. Neste artigo estão os principais resultados obtidos em dez anos de atividades, tendo como objetivo inspirar outras iniciativas de conservação.(http://dx.doi.org/10.14295/cad.cult.cienc.v13i2.849

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy-based evaluation of the membrane protein composition of the organohalide-respiring Sulfurospirillum multivorans

Bacteria often employ different respiratory chains that comprise membrane proteins equipped with various cofactors. Monitoring the protein inventory that is present in the cells under a given cultivation condition is often difficult and time-consuming. One example of a metabolically versatile bacterium is the microaerophilic organohalide-respiring Sulfurospirillum multivorans. Here, we used surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to quickly identify the cofactors involved in the respiration of S. multivorans. We cultured the organism with either tetrachloroethene (perchloroethylene, PCE), fumarate, nitrate, or oxygen as electron acceptors. Because the corresponding terminal reductases of the four different respiratory chains harbor different cofactors, specific fingerprint signals in SERS were expected. Silver nanostructures fabricated by means of electron beam lithography were coated with the membrane fractions extracted from the four S. multivorans cultivations, and SERS spectra were recorded. In the case of S. multivorans cultivated with PCE, the recorded SERS spectra were dominated by Raman peaks specific for Vitamin B12. This is attributed to the high abundance of the PCE reductive dehalogenase (PceA), the key enzyme in PCE respiration. After cultivation with oxygen, fumarate, or nitrate, no Raman spectral features of B12 were found. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy published by John Wiley & Sons Lt