Polyethylene glycol 8000+ citrate salts aqueous two-phase systems: Relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases

The Gibbs free energy of transfer of a methylene group, G*(CH2), is reported as a measure of the relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases. Furthermore, G*(CH2) is a characteristic parameter of each tie-line, and for that reason can be used for comparing different tie-lines of a given aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) or even to establish comparisons among different ATPSs. In this work, the partition coefficients of a series of four dinitrophenylated-amino acids were experimentally determined, at 23 °C, in five different tie-lines of PEG8000(sodium or potassium) citrate ATPSs. G*(CH2) values were calculated from the partition coefficients and used to evaluate the relative hydrophobicity of the equilibrium phases. PEG8000potassium citrate ATPSs presented larger relative hydrophobicity than PEG8000sodium citrate ATPSs. Furthermore, the results obtained indicated that the PEG-rich phase (top phase) has higher affinity to participate in hydrophobic hydration interactions than the salt-rich phase (bottom phase).

Gender norms in Portuguese college sudents' judgments in familial homicides: bad men and mad women

The gender of the offender has been proved to be an important factor in judicial sentencing. In this study, we analyze the judgments of College students regarding perpetrators of familial homicides to evaluate the presence of these gender norms and biases in the larger society. The sample included 303 college students (54.8% female) enrolled in several social sciences and engineering courses. Participants were asked to read 12 vignettes based on real crimes taken from Portuguese newspapers. Half were related to infanticide, and half were related to intimate partner homicide. The sex of the offender was orthogonally manipulated to the type of crime. The results show that gender had an important impact on sentences, with males being more harshly penalized by reasons of perversity and women less penalized by reason of mental disorders. In addition, filicide was more heavily penalized than was intimate partner homicide. The results also revealed a tendency toward a retributive conception of punishment. We discuss how gender norms in justice seem to be embedded in society as well as the need for intervention against the punitive tendency of this population.

Development of elastin-like recombinamer films with antimicrobial activity

In the present work we explored the ABP-CM4 peptide properties from Bombyx mori for the creation of biopolymers with broad antimicrobial activity. An antimicrobial recombinant protein-based polymer (rPBP) was designed by cloning the DNA sequence coding for ABP-CM4 in frame with the N-terminus of the elastin-like recombinamer consisting of 200 repetitions of the pentamer VPAVG, here named A200. The new rPBP, named CM4-A200, was purified via a simplified nonchromatographic method, making use of the thermoresponsive behavior of the A200 polymer. ABP-CM4 peptide was also purified through the incorporation of a formic acid cleavage site between the peptide and the A200 sequence. In soluble state the antimicrobial activity of both CM4-A200 polymer and ABP-CM4 peptide was poorly effective. However, when the CM4-A200 polymer was processed into free-standing films high antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi was observed. The antimicrobial activity of CM4-A200 was dependent on the physical contact of cells with the film surface. Furthermore, CM4-A200 films did not reveal a cytotoxic effect against both normal human skin fibroblasts and human keratinocytes. Finally, we have developed an optimized ex vivo assay with pig skin demonstrating the antimicrobial properties of the CM4-A200 cast films for skin applications.

Os media em Portugal nos primeiros cinco anos do século XXI

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

Da pós-neotelevisão: a reconfiguração do prime-time nos canais generalistas portugueses

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

lntrodução. A actualidade dos media: memória e metadiscurso

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

Oferta televisiva para o público infantil: o possível longe do desejável

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

Os media regionais e locais: políticas e paradoxos

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

Notícia da publicidade: um quinquénio em análise - 2000/2004

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

Do apogeu ao declínio: a convergência e a concentração dos media

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

O Google [2000-2004]: a emergência de um fenómeno global

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

Sensibilidade, mas com bom senso. Tratamento informativo da dor

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

A cidadania e os media em Portugal: notas sobre um quinquénio de sinais contraditórios

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 12"

A TV das elites: estudo dos programas de informação semanal dos canais generalistas (1993-2005)

"Colecção: Comunicação e sociedade - 10"

Prefácio: A televisão como objecto pensável

Prefácio a "A TV das elites: estudo dos programas de informação semanal dos canais generalistas (1993-2005)"