A structure-based proposal for a comprehensive myotoxic mechanism of phospholipase A(2)-like proteins from viperid snake venoms

Envenomation via snakebites is an important public health problem in many tropical and subtropical countries that, in addition to mortality, can result in permanent sequelae as a consequence of local tissue damage, which represents a major challenge to antivenom therapy. Venom phospholipases A(2) (PLA(2)s) and PLA(2)-like proteins play a leading role in the complex pathogenesis of skeletal muscle necrosis, nevertheless their precise mechanism of action is only partially understood. Recently, detailed structural information has been obtained for more than twenty different members of the PLA(2)-like myotoxin subfamily. In this review, we integrate the available structural, biochemical and functional data on these toxins and present a comprehensive hypothesis for their myotoxic mechanism. This process involves an allosteric transition and the participation of two independent interaction sites for docking and disruption of the target membrane, respectively, leading to a five-step mechanism of action. Furthermore, recent functional and structural studies of these toxins complexed with ligands reveal diverse neutralization mechanisms that can be classified into at least three different groups. Therefore, the data summarized here for the PLA(2)-like myotoxins could provide a useful molecular basis for the search for novel neutralizing strategies to improve the treatment of envenomation by viperid snakes. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chromosome evolution in fishes: a new challenging proposal from Neotropical species

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Contação de histórias e educação crítica: uma proposta didática

This proposal offers a possibility of approximation of mathematical knowledge at the prospect of Critical Education defended by researchers such as Ole Skovsmose and Paulo Freire. Using storytelling as a methodological resource is intended to develop an activity that allows students to think critically about real-life situations that have democratic questions as ground. The research is part of the branch of mathematics concerned with the education goals of teaching mathematics in basic education. We discuss the relevance of an educational process that enables the development of a democratic competence in the first years of primary education by showing students that their classroom can and should be seen as a community, where everyone has rights and duties. The interpretation and understanding of real situations can be something very complex and uninteresting for students of that age, looking for an attractive feature such as storytelling, which is based on the tendency of Reading and Writing in Mathematics, proposed by Nacarato and Lopes; Cardoso and Fonseca. Adopting a phenomenological attitude in the research seeks to understand if the storytelling can contribute to the formation of the critical student. Assuming this perspective has developed a didactic sequence from the story 'o que os olhos não vêem' from writer Ruth Rocha. The student's writing, favored by the proposed sequence, subsidizes the understanding of their thinking and acting on the democratic situations

The Didactic Transposition of the Photoelectric Effect in High School Brazilian Physics Textbooks

É notório que o livro didático desempenha um papel fundamental na prática pedagógica da maioria dos professores de Física constituindo importante fonte de referência para professores e estudantes. Ao mesmo tempo representa a memória impressa das demandas e paradigmas de ensino, e procura atender às exigências prescritas na legislação e diretrizes, de uma determinada localidade e período. Atualmente, a inserção de Física Moderna e Contemporânea no currículo do Ensino Médio brasileiro está entre as prioridades, preconizando, entre. outros, o ensino do efeito fotoelétrico, em função da relevância do fenômeno ao corroborar a interpretação corpuscular da natureza da luz, e o consequente laureio de Albert Einstein com o Prêmio Nobel. Estudos realizados apontam que muitos dos livros didáticos apresentam a história do efeito fotoelétrico de maneira superficial ou errônea, e expõem incorretamente a função trabalho e o conceito de fóton (Klassen, 2011). Tendo em vista o exposto, objetivamos analisar como ocorre a apresentação do efeito fotoelétrico especificamente em dez coleções didáticas brasileiras aprovadas pelo Programa Nacional do Livro Didático do Ensino Médio 2012 do governo federal, tendo como aporte teórico as considerações de Yves Chevallard (Brockington e Pietrocola, 2005). Procuramos resposta para a seguinte pergunta: Quais são as transposições ocorridas na apresentação do efeito fotoelétrico (saber sábio) para se tornar o saber a ensinar em materiais escolares? Nossa análise centrou-se no processo de descontextualização, entendido como o processo pelo qual o saber sábio passa para que seja ensinável, sendo necessário que seja arrancado de seu contexto original, ou seja, o seu processo histórico.

Contos de fadas e sequências didática: uma abordagem no ensino fundamental II

The proposal of this work is based on the elaboration of didactic sequences from fairy tales, for students of Elementary School, during reinforcement classes of Portuguese language. It is deemed appropriate to use this genre, because it gives to the child and to the adolescents a pleasurable reading, approaching them of playful situations. As a main goal of this work, this research aimed the preparation of didactic sequences using fairy tales in the classroom, as well as encouraging the reading for these students. The intention was also the internalization of the narratives and the messages conveyed by them, associating them to everyday situations. We used the deductive method, in which we initially organized the approach in the classroom and the teaching sequences from theoretical assumptions and materials already designed

Memórias das aritméticas da Emília: o ensino de aritmética entre 1920 e 1940

Pós-graduação em Educação Matemática - IGCE

Salas de recursos multifuncionais: contexto de Inclusão Escolar para os alunos público-alvo da Educação Especial ?

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Introdução à pesquisa com sequências didáticas na formação continuada online de professores de ciências

The integration of research in teaching practices assumes increasing importance and complexity in education. One aspect involved in this issue and poorly investigated is the training of teachers for the development of research linked with their practices. In this context, we present a training for research developed on a distance-learning course in the Science Teaching, which involves the design, implementation and analysis of didactic sequences: the Study Guide to the Initiation of the Term Paper (SGITP). Our research goal is to present a training proposal produced from the results collected from a survey of the literature of the area, and to investigate its application and its results in the teachers' continuing education program. Using data extracted from the production of students and tutors, we concluded that SGITP had a good acceptance among them and it was positively evaluated by teachers, in addition to promoting a greater understanding of research.

Metodologia de ensino jigsaw em disciplina de química medicinal

In this paper, we describe an educational experience involving the use of the jigsaw method on the Medicinal Chemistry course at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. The goal of this proposal was to investigate acceptance and contributions of the method to undergraduate chemistry teaching. Feedback on the jigsaw method collected from the focus groups and questionnaires showed that participants generally acknowledged the advantages of the jigsaw method in helping them learn the Medicinal Chemistry subject. Suggestions for improving the jigsaw method were also received from participants.

A perspective on the proposal for neurocognitive disorder criteria in DSM-5 as applied to HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders

HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders remain common in the current era of effective antiretroviral therapy. However, the severity at presentation of these disorders has been reduced, and the typical manifestations have changed. A revision of the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) criteria has been made on this basis, and a revision of the analogous criteria by the American Psychiatric Association will be forthcoming in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-5. This article compares the relevant sets of diagnostic criteria that will be employed. It is concluded that a greater degree of integration of the revised, HIV-specific AAN criteria for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders with the criteria proposed for the DSM-5 would prove advantageous for research, clinical, educational and administrative purposes.

Uma proposta de sequência didática para o ensino de Programação Linear no Ensino Médio

Pós-graduação em Matemática em Rede Nacional - IBILCE

Auditory evoked potential: a proposal for further evaluation in children with learning disabilities

The information presented in this paper demonstrates the author's experience in previews cross-sectional studies conducted in Brazil, in comparison with the current literature. Over the last 10 years, auditory evoked potential (AEP) has been used in children with learning disabilities. This method is critical to analyze the quality of the processing in time and indicates the specific neural demands and circuits of the sensorial and cognitive process in this clinical population. Some studies with children with dyslexia and learning disabilities were shown here to illustrate the use of AEP in this population.

A proposal for reservoir volume calculation in rainwater harvesting systems

This paper introduces a proposal for reservoir volume calculation in rainwater harvesting systems. The proposed method can be used for reservoir volume design in rainwater harvesting systems and is based on three important variables. These variables are water demand, system efficiency and repayment time. Several simulations were carried out in different scenarios considering typical values of both catchment area (for low-income and medium-income households) and water demand, with fixed water and tank costs. Results showed that the integrated analysis of demand, efficiency and repayment time may assist designers to determine a more adequate reservoir volume.