Analog Modeling of Human Cognitive Functions with Tripartite Synapses

Searching for an understanding of how the brain supports conscious processes, cognitive scientists have proposed two main classes of theory: Global Workspace and Information Integration theories. These theories seem to be complementary, but both still lack grounding in terms of brain mechanisms responsible for the production of coherent and unitary conscious states. Here we propose following James Robertson's "Astrocentric Hypothesis" - that conscious processing is based on analog computing in astrocytes. The "hardware" for these computations is calcium waves mediated by adenosine triphosphate signaling. Besides presenting our version of this hypothesis, we also review recent findings on astrocyte morphology that lend support to their functioning as Local Hubs (composed of protoplasmic astrocytes) that integrate synaptic activity, and as a Master Hub (composed, in the human brain, by a combination of interlaminar, fibrous, polarized and varicose projection astrocytes) that integrates whole-brain activity.

Astrocytes and human cognition: Modeling information integration and modulation of neuronal activity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Education and knowledge: basic pillars of changing production patterns with social equity

Includes bibliography

Information society and public ICT policies in the Caribbean: a review of advances and challenges, policy instruments and country experiences

Includes bibliography

Bilateralism and regionalism: re-establishing the primacy of multilateralism a Latin American and Caribbean perspective

Includes bibliography

Dilema del suministro de gas natural en México

Incluye Bibliografía

Maritime sector and ports in the Caribbean: the case of CARICOM countries

Includes bibliography

Predicción de ecuaciones para el porcentaje de grasa a partir de circunferencias corporales en niños pre-púberes

Introduction: The analysis of body composition through direct and indirect methods allows the study of the various components of the human body, becoming the central hub for assessing nutritional status. Objective: The objective of the study was to develop equations for predicting body fat% from circumferential body arm, waist and calf and propose percentiles to diagnose the nutritional status of school children of both sexes aged 4-10 years. Methods: We selected intentionally (non-probabilistic) 515 children, 261 children and 254 being girls belonging to Program interaction and development of children and adolescents from the State University of Campinas (Sao Paulo, Brazil). Anthropometric variables were evaluated for weight, height, triceps and subscapular skinfolds and body circumferences of arm, waist and calf, and the% fat determined by the equation proposed by Boileau, Lohman and Slaughter (1985). Through regression method 2 were generated equations to predict the percentage of fat from the body circumferences, the equations 1 and 2 were validated by cross validation method. Results: The equations showed high predictive values ranging with a R2 = 64-69%. In cross validation between the criterion and the regression equation proposed no significant difference (p > 0.05) and there was a high level of agreement to a 95% CI. Conclusion: It is concluded that the proposals are validated and shown as an alternative to assess the percentage of fat in school children of both sexes aged 4-10 years in the region of Campinas, SP (Brazil).

Análise da influência dos fatores posicionais na flexibilidade de uma rede do setor de calçados infantis

Pós-graduação em Engenharia de Produção - FEB

Projeto estrutural do cubo do rotor de uma turbina hidraúlica tipo Kaplan

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEG

Projeto de uma roda para comporta vagão usando elementos finitos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Análise da expressão dos genes da subfamília DREB em resposta à seca em plantas de Coffea canephora Conilon

Coffea canephora is one of the most economically important coffee species and in Brazil, Conilon is the most widely cultivated plant of this species. Abiotic stresses such as temperature variations and drought periods are factors that significantly affect their production and tend to worsen with globally recognized climate changes. In an attempt to understand the molecular responses of coffee plants in water deficit conditions, recent studies have identified candidate genes (CGs) as CcDREB1D. This gene showed increased expression in response to drought in the leaves of clone 14 (drought tolerant) in relation to the clone 22 (sensitive to drought) of C. canephora Conilon. Based on these results, the identification of DREB genes and their subgroups (SGs) of C. canephora, the objective is to analyze in silico and also in vivo these genes expression in leaf and root of tolerant (14, 73 and 120) and sensitive clones (22) of C. canephora Conilon submitted or not to a water deficit. In silico expressions of all DREB genes were analyzed from the Coffee Genome Hub Database and in vivo expression was performed by the technique "reverse transcription-quantitative PCR" (RT-qPCR). In silico gene expression analysis was possible to identify DREB genes with potential responses to abiotic stresses, corroborating some validated in vivo results. In this analysis, several genes showed differential expression in response to drought among the SGs (IIV), the tolerant and sensitive clones and the leaf and root. These differentially expressed genes were identified as potential CGs and among them, it was found that most tolerant clones showed increased expression in relation to sensitive in response to drought, with higher expression levels for clones 14 and 73. These highest levels were observed in leaves compared to the roots and SG-I stood at greater number of genes expressed in response to drought. These results suggest that DREB CGs, as Cc05_g06840, Cc02_g03420 e Cc08_g13960, play an important role in the regulatory mechanisms of response to drought in C. canephora Conilon.

Analisando a determinação sexual de vertebrados com base em redes de interação entre proteínas

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Genética) - IBB

Estimativa espaço-temporal da superfície potenciométrica do sistema aqüífero guarani na cidade de Ribeirão Preto (SP), Brasil

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE

Uso do 210 Pb na cronologia da contaminação de cromo em sedimentos do Ribeirão dos Bagres, região de Franca (SP)

Pós-graduação em Geociências e Meio Ambiente - IGCE