Tethered DNA scaffolds on optical sensor platforms for detection of hipO gene from Campylobacter jejuni

DNA biosensors have gained increased attention over traditional diagnostic methods due to their fast and responsive operation and cost-effective design. The specificity of DNA biosensors relies on single-stranded oligonucleotide probes immobilized to a transduction platform. Here, we report the development of biosensors to detect the hippuricase gene (hipO) from Campylobacter jejuni using direct covalent coupling of thiol- and biotin-labeled single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) on both surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and diffraction optics technology (DOT, dotLab) transduction platforms. This is the first known report of the dotLab to detect targeted DNA. Application of 6-mercapto-1-hexanol as a spacer thiol for SPR gold surface created a self-assembled monolayer that removed unbound ssDNA and minimized non-specific detection. The detection limit of SPR sensors was shown to be 2.5 nM DNA while dotLab sensors demonstrated a slightly decreased detection limit of 5.0 nM (0.005 μM). It was possible to reuse the SPR sensor due to the negligible changes in sensor sensitivity (∼9.7 × 10 -7 ΔRU) and minimal damage to immobilized probes following use, whereas dotLab sensors could not be reused. Results indicated feasibility of optical biosensors for rapid and sensitive detection of the hipO gene of Campylobacter jejuni using specific ssDNA as a probe. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.

On-line collaborative learning for in-service teacher education

This article brings some of the results of a study that analyzes a hybrid course for in-service teachers in the Project Teletandem Brazil: foreign languages for all. In this project, Brazilian teachers of Spanish as a foreign language took part in a blended tandem learning course, communicating via videoconferencing with Uruguayan teachers of Portuguese as a foreign language. The aim of the study was to verify Brazilian teachers' concepts and beliefs concerning language and culture and how the teletandem interactions affected them. After the interactions, teachers' views of culture seemed to also incorporate aspects of culture as an interpersonal process, instead of the factual and static view which was previously predominant. Therefore teacher education programs must consider the possibility of conjugating theory and reflective practice through the use of videoconference tools in order to allow teachers to experience culture rather learn facts about it. © 2011 ACADEMY PUBLISHER.

Telejornalismo e interatividade na TV digital: uma construção colaborativa e participativa no espaço digital

Pós-graduação em Televisão Digital: Informação e Conhecimento - FAAC

EGHEP-ISFG collaborative exercise on mixture profiles of autosomal STRs (GHEP-MIX01, GHEP-MIX02 and GHEP-MIX03): Results and evaluation

One of the main objectives of the Spanish and Portuguese-Speaking Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG) is to promote and contribute to the development and dissemination of scientific knowledge in the area of forensic genetics. Due to this fact, GHEP-ISFG holds different working commissions that are set up to develop activities in scientific aspects of general interest. One of them, the Mixture Commission of GHEP-ISFG, has organized annually, since 2009, a collaborative exercise on analysis and interpretation of autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) mixture profiles. Until now, three exercises have been organized (GHEP-MIX01, GHEP-MIX02 and GHEP-MIX03), with 32, 24 and 17 participant laboratories respectively. The exercise aims to give a general vision by addressing, through the proposal of mock cases, aspects related to the edition of mixture profiles and the statistical treatment. The main conclusions obtained from these exercises may be summarized as follows. Firstly, the data show an increased tendency of the laboratories toward validation of DNA mixture profiles analysis following international recommendations (ISO/IEC 17025: 2005). Secondly, the majority of discrepancies are mainly encountered in stutters positions (53.4%, 96.0% and 74.9%, respectively for the three editions). On the other hand, the results submitted reveal the importance of performing duplicate analysis by using different kits in order to reduce errors as much as possible. Regarding the statistical aspect (GHEP-MIX02 and 03), all participants employed the likelihood ratio (LR) parameter to evaluate the statistical compatibility and the formulas employed were quite similar. When the hypotheses to evaluate the LR value were locked by the coordinators (GHEP-MIX02) the results revealed a minor number of discrepancies that were mainly due to clerical reasons. However, the GHEP-MIX03 exercise allowed the participants to freely come up with their own hypotheses to calculate the LR value. In this situation the laboratories reported several options to explain the mock cases proposed and therefore significant differences between the final LR values were obtained. Complete information concerning the background of the criminal case is a critical aspect in order to select the adequate hypotheses to calculate the LR value. Although this should be a task for the judicial court to decide, it is important for the expert to account for the different possibilities and scenarios, and also offer this expertise to the judge. In addition, continuing education in the analysis and interpretation of mixture DNA profiles may also be a priority for the vast majority of forensic laboratories. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stromal myofibroblasts in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in young patients - a multicenter collaborative study

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the presence of myofibroblasts, frequently associated with a more aggressive neoplastic behavior, in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC) of young patients and to compare with the distribution observed in older patients.Study Design. Tumor samples from 29 patients younger than 40 years old affected by TSCC were retrieved and investigated for the presence of stromal myofibroblasts by immunohistochemical reactions against a smooth muscle actin, and the results obtained were compared to TSCC cases affecting older patients.Results. No positive reaction could be found in the stromal areas devoid of neoplastic tissue, whereas myofibroblasts were present in 58.6% of the lesions in young patients and in 75.9% of the older ones. No significant difference was found when comparing the invasive front and the overall stroma of both groups, and no correlation could be obtained with stromal a smooth muscle actin expression, higher tumor grades or clinical stage (P > .05).Conclusion. There was no significant difference between the presence of stromal myofibroblasts of TSCC affecting young and old individuals.

Relações Públicas: o articulador dos relacionamentos na cultura da convergência

The purpose of this research project is to analyze the Convergence Culture, a term coined by Henry Jenkins, to refer to the cultural transformation we are experiencing - people want to produce their own content, share their stories, expand their experiences and make connections to different platforms media. That is, individuals have changed their position once considered passive and accommodating to sustain an environment of intense involvement, construction and collective pursuit of new experiences. So that we could reach that culture converged, there was a paradigm shift from an asymmetric communication for communication increasingly bilateral. In this new scenario, communication to different audiences is based on a participatory and collaborative model in which organizations do not have absolute control over the media message. Therefore, this study tried to demonstrate what steps to be followed by public relations in convergence culture

Collaborative language learning in Teletandem: a resource for pre-service teacher education

This article presents some of the results of a qualitative research project about the influences of the pedagogic strategies used by a mediator (graduate student in applied linguistics) in the supervision process of a Teletandem partner (undergraduate student in languages) on her pedagogical practice. It was done within the project Teletandem Brazil: foreign language for all. Based on the reflective teaching paradigm and collaborative language learning, with special emphasis on tandem learning, we analyzed the contributions of the collaborative relationship established between the graduate student and the student-teacher in her first teaching experience. The results bring about implications for the field of language teacher education in a perspective of education within practice, evidencing the experience of collaborative learning in teletandem as an opportunity for reflective teacher education of pre-service teachers.