A linguagem do videogame como ferramenta auxiliar no processo de ensino e aprendizado

Thisarticlediscussesissuesrelatedtothedesignlang uagewith a focusonteachingandlearningthroughthe useofgamesas a tool touncoverthe world. The gamesare abletosystematizethelanguagesothatyoucanlearnbyplayingthi swayandmakingthe interfacemore playful, more accessibleandlike us. Playing as apusherelementof newpossibilitiesandgamesare emergingas aplayfulargumentfor teachingin theman-machine interface.

ANALYSIS OF MANGROVE FOREST SUCCESSION, USING SEDIMENT CORES: A CASE STUDY IN THE CANANEIA-IGUAPE COASTAL SYSTEM, SAO PAULO-BRAZIL

Sediment cores are an essential tool for the analysis of the dynamics of mangrove succession. Coring was used to correlate changes in depositional environments and lateral sedimentary facies with discrete stages of forest succession at the Cananeia-Iguape Coastal System in southeastern Brazil. A local level successional pattern was examined based on four core series T1) a sediment bank; T2) a smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora bank; T3) an active mangrove progradation fringe dominated by Laguncularia racemosa, and; T4) a mature mangrove forest dominated by Avicennia schaueriana. Cores were macroscopically described in terms of color, texture, sedimentary structure and organic components. The base of all cores exhibited a similar pattern suggesting common vertical progressive changes in depositional conditions and subsequent successional colonization pattern throughout the forest. The progradation zone is an exposed bank, colonized by S. alterniflora. L. racemosa, replaces S. alterniflora as progradation takes place. As the substrate consolidates A. schaueriana replaces L. racemosa and attains the greatest structural development in the mature forest. Cores collected within the A. schaueriana dominated stand contained S. alterniflora fragments near the base, confirming that a smooth cordgrass habitat characterized the establishment and early seral stages. Cores provide a reliable approach to describe local-level successional sequences in dynamic settings subject to drivers operating on multiple temporal and spatial scales where spatial heterogeneity can lead to multiple equilibria and where similar successional end-points may be reached through convergent paths.

Influence of the Substrate and Precursor on the Magnetic and Magneto-transport Properties in Magnetite Films

We have investigated the magnetic and transport properties of nanoscaled Fe3O4 films obtained from Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) technique using [(FeFe2III)-Fe-II(OBut)(8)] and [Fe-2(III)(OBut)(6)] precursors. Samples were deposited on different substrates (i.e., MgO (001), MgAl2O4 (001) and Al2O3 (0001)) with thicknesses varying from 50 to 350 nm. Atomic Force Microscopy analysis indicated a granular nature of the samples, irrespective of the synthesis conditions (precursor and deposition temperature, T-pre) and substrate. Despite the similar morphology of the films, magnetic and transport properties were found to depend on the precursor used for deposition. Using [(FeFe2III)-Fe-II(OBut)(8)] as precursor resulted in lower resistivity, higher M-S and a sharper magnetization decrease at the Verwey transition (T-V). The temperature dependence of resistivity was found to depend on the precursor and T-pre. We found that the transport is dominated by the density of antiferromagnetic antiphase boundaries (AF-APB's) when [(FeFe2III)-Fe-II(OBut)(8)] precursor and T-pre = 363 K are used. On the other hand, grain boundary-scattering seems to be the main mechanism when [Fe-2(III)(OBut)(6)] is used. The Magnetoresistance (MR(H)) displayed an approximate linear behavior in the high field regime (H > 796 kA/m), with a maximum value at room-temperature of similar to 2-3 % for H = 1592 kA/m, irrespective from the transport mechanism.

Java Cryptographic Library for Smartphones

A JME-compliant cryptographic library for mobile application development is introduced in this paper. The library allows cryptographic protocols implementation over elliptic curves with different security levels and offers symmetric and asymmetric bilinear pairings operations, as Tate, Weil, and Ate pairings.

Application of magnetically induced hyperthermia in the model protozoan Crithidia fasciculata as a potential therapy against parasitic infections

Background: Magnetic hyperthermia is currently a clinical therapy approved in the European Union for treatment of tumor cells, and uses magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) under time-varying magnetic fields (TVMFs). The same basic principle seems promising against trypanosomatids causing Chagas disease and sleeping sickness, given that the therapeutic drugs available have severe side effects and that there are drug-resistant strains. However, no applications of this strategy against protozoan-induced diseases have been reported so far. In the present study, Crithidia fasciculata, a widely used model for therapeutic strategies against pathogenic trypanosomatids, was targeted with Fe3O4 MNPs in order to provoke cell death remotely using TVMFs. Methods: Iron oxide MNPs with average diameters of approximately 30 nm were synthesized by precipitation of FeSO4 in basic medium. The MNPs were added to C. fasciculata choanomastigotes in the exponential phase and incubated overnight, removing excess MNPs using a DEAE-cellulose resin column. The amount of MNPs uploaded per cell was determined by magnetic measurement. The cells bearing MNPs were submitted to TVMFs using a homemade AC field applicator (f = 249 kHz, H = 13 kA/m), and the temperature variation during the experiments was measured. Scanning electron microscopy was used to assess morphological changes after the TVMF experiments. Cell viability was analyzed using an MTT colorimetric assay and flow cytometry. Results: MNPs were incorporated into the cells, with no noticeable cytotoxicity. When a TVMF was applied to cells bearing MNPs, massive cell death was induced via a nonapoptotic mechanism. No effects were observed by applying TVMF to control cells not loaded with MNPs. No macroscopic rise in temperature was observed in the extracellular medium during the experiments. Conclusion: As a proof of principle, these data indicate that intracellular hyperthermia is a suitable technology to induce death of protozoan parasites bearing MNPs. These findings expand the possibilities for new therapeutic strategies combating parasitic infection.

PTTG expression in different experimental and human prolactinomas in relation to dopaminergic control of lactotropes

Abstract Background Pituitary tumor transforming gene (pttg) is a novel oncogene that is expressed at higher level in most of the tumors analyzed to date compared to normal tissues. Nevertheless, its expression in prolactinomas and its relation with the pituitary dopamine receptor 2 (D2R) are not well defined. We sought to determine the pituitary level of pttg in three different experimental models of prolactinomas with altered dopaminergic control of the pituitary: the dopaminergic D2R knockout female mouse, the estrogen-treated rat, and the senescent female rat. These three models shared the characteristics of increased pituitary weight, hyperprolactinemia, lactotrope hyperplasia and reduced or absent dopaminergic action at the pituitary level. We also studied samples from human macroprolactinomas, which were characterized as responsive or resistant to dopamine agonist therapy. Results When compared to female wild-type mice, pituitaries from female D2R knockout mice had decreased PTTG concentration, while no difference in pttg mRNA level was found. In senescent rats no difference in pituitary PTTG protein expression was found when compared to young rats. But, in young female rats treated with a synthetic estrogen (Diethylstylbestrol, 20 mg) PTTG protein expression was enhanced (P = 0.029). Therefore, in the three experimental models of prolactinomas, pituitary size was increased and there was hyperprolactinemia, but PTTG levels followed different patterns. Patients with macroprolactinomas were divided in those in which dopaminergic therapy normalized or failed to normalize prolactin levels (responsive and resistant, respectively). When pituitary pttg mRNA level was analyzed in these macroprolactinomas, no differences were found. We next analyzed estrogen action at the pituitary by measuring pituitary estrogen receptor α levels. The D2R knockout female mice have low estrogen levels and in accordance, pituitary estrogen receptors were increased (P = 0.047). On the other hand, in senescent rats estrogen levels were slightly though not significantly higher, and estrogen receptors were similar between groups. The estrogen-treated rats had high pharmacological levels of the synthetic estrogen, and estrogen receptors were markedly lower than in controls (P < 0.0001). Finally, in patients with dopamine resistant or responsive prolactinomas no significant differences in estrogen receptor α levels were found. Therefore, pituitary PTTG was increased only if estrogen action was increased, which correlated with a decrease in pituitary estrogen receptor level. Conclusion We conclude that PTTG does not correlate with prolactin levels or tumor size in animal models of prolactinoma, and its pituitary content is not related to a decrease in dopaminergic control of the lactotrope, but may be influenced by estrogen action at the pituitary level. Therefore it is increased only in prolactinomas generated by estrogen treatment, and not in prolactinomas arising from deficient dopamine control, or in dopamine resistant compared with dopamine responsive human prolactinomas. These results are important in the search for reliable prognostic indicators for patients with pituitary adenomas which will make tumor-specific therapy possible, and help to elucidate the poorly understood phenomenon of pituitary tumorigenesis.

Sedimentation rates and microfaunal community changes in the Caravelas estuary during the last seven decades

The Brazilian eastern coast has one of the biggest coral reefs of the Atlantic Ocean, denominated Abrolhos Bank, situated in the southern region of the Bahia state. The Caravelas estuary, also located in the south of Bahia, is considered an important ecological balance zone, due to its proximity to Abrolhos Bank and occurrence of mangroves. Thus, any natural or anthropogenic impact may bring environmental transformation on this region, which is considered the most important marine biodiversity reserve in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (Travassos et al., 2004)

Levantamento dos níveis de metais e compostos orgânicos em sedimentos superficiais da plataforma continental adjacente à Baía de Santos (Brasil)

O estuário Santista (SP) é uma das áreas mais impactadas do litoral paulista. A industrialização e a urbanização ocorridas no litoral central do estado de São Paulo, ao longo dos últimos 70 anos, acarretou significativas mudanças na dinâmica sedimentar do estuário e da baía de Santos, sem que se conheça o real impacto destas modificações na sequência sedimentar depositada na plataforma continental interna adjacente.

Statins induce regulatory T cell recruitment via a CCL1 dependent pathway

The statins, a group of inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, are reported to influence a variety of immune system activities through 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. How statin treatment regulates immune system function in vivo nonetheless remains to be fully defined. We analyzed the immunomodulatory effects of lovastatin in a Candida albicans-induced delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in mice. In this model, lovastatin administration reduced the acute inflammatory response elicited by C. albicans challenge. This anti-inflammatory activity of lovastatin was associated with a shift from a Th1 to a Th2 immune response, as well as an increase in the percentage of regulatory T cells at the inflammation site and in the regional draining lymph node. The lovastatin-induced increase in regulatory T cells in the inflamed skin was dependent on expression of CCL1, a chemokine that is locally up-regulated by statin administration. The anti-inflammatory effect of lovastatin was abrogated in CCL1-deficient mice. These results suggest that local regulation of chemokine expression may be an important process in statin-induced modulation of the immune system.

Cine de animación y Literatura : "El protagonismo de Ximena en El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo"

Los debates en torno a las cuestiones del género es un fenómeno que está a la orden del día. La literatura, el cine y el resto de las artes son materia de análisis en lo que se refiere a este tema en dichos debates. En el texto épico medieval Poema de Mio Cid, el personaje masculino, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, tiene el rol protagónico y deja en un segundo plano a Ximena, su esposa. En la versión cinematográfica animada de José Pozo, El Cid, la leyenda (2003), la performance del papel femenino cobra otra dimensión, diametralmente opuesta al texto literario antes mencionado. Este trabajo se propone dilucidar cuáles son las razones estéticas y extra estéticas que motivan a que Ximena adquiera un rol protagónico tan notorio en este filme de animación, ganador del Premio Goya en el año 2004.

Las voces narrativas en el filme animado El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo

Al igual que en la Literatura, en un texto audiovisual se puede determinar la "voz narrativa" (llámese "el director", "la cámara" u otra denominación): el narrador de un filme audiovisual puede elegir "contar" desde los planos extra y/o intradiegético. Así, cuando analizamos un filme, podríamos preguntarnos desde dónde se instaura su narración, cuáles son sus motivos, cómo focaliza su relato y si se trata de una sola voz narrativa o de un texto polifónico. Estos interrogantes serán abordados en el análisis del largometraje español El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo (2003), merecedor en el año 2004 del premio Goya a la mejor animación nacional

Cine de animación y Literatura : "El protagonismo de Ximena en El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo"

Los debates en torno a las cuestiones del género es un fenómeno que está a la orden del día. La literatura, el cine y el resto de las artes son materia de análisis en lo que se refiere a este tema en dichos debates. En el texto épico medieval Poema de Mio Cid, el personaje masculino, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, tiene el rol protagónico y deja en un segundo plano a Ximena, su esposa. En la versión cinematográfica animada de José Pozo, El Cid, la leyenda (2003), la performance del papel femenino cobra otra dimensión, diametralmente opuesta al texto literario antes mencionado. Este trabajo se propone dilucidar cuáles son las razones estéticas y extra estéticas que motivan a que Ximena adquiera un rol protagónico tan notorio en este filme de animación, ganador del Premio Goya en el año 2004.

Las voces narrativas en el filme animado El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo

Al igual que en la Literatura, en un texto audiovisual se puede determinar la "voz narrativa" (llámese "el director", "la cámara" u otra denominación): el narrador de un filme audiovisual puede elegir "contar" desde los planos extra y/o intradiegético. Así, cuando analizamos un filme, podríamos preguntarnos desde dónde se instaura su narración, cuáles son sus motivos, cómo focaliza su relato y si se trata de una sola voz narrativa o de un texto polifónico. Estos interrogantes serán abordados en el análisis del largometraje español El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo (2003), merecedor en el año 2004 del premio Goya a la mejor animación nacional

Las voces narrativas en el filme animado El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo

Al igual que en la Literatura, en un texto audiovisual se puede determinar la "voz narrativa" (llámese "el director", "la cámara" u otra denominación): el narrador de un filme audiovisual puede elegir "contar" desde los planos extra y/o intradiegético. Así, cuando analizamos un filme, podríamos preguntarnos desde dónde se instaura su narración, cuáles son sus motivos, cómo focaliza su relato y si se trata de una sola voz narrativa o de un texto polifónico. Estos interrogantes serán abordados en el análisis del largometraje español El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo (2003), merecedor en el año 2004 del premio Goya a la mejor animación nacional

Cine de animación y Literatura : "El protagonismo de Ximena en El Cid, la leyenda de José Pozo"

Los debates en torno a las cuestiones del género es un fenómeno que está a la orden del día. La literatura, el cine y el resto de las artes son materia de análisis en lo que se refiere a este tema en dichos debates. En el texto épico medieval Poema de Mio Cid, el personaje masculino, Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, tiene el rol protagónico y deja en un segundo plano a Ximena, su esposa. En la versión cinematográfica animada de José Pozo, El Cid, la leyenda (2003), la performance del papel femenino cobra otra dimensión, diametralmente opuesta al texto literario antes mencionado. Este trabajo se propone dilucidar cuáles son las razones estéticas y extra estéticas que motivan a que Ximena adquiera un rol protagónico tan notorio en este filme de animación, ganador del Premio Goya en el año 2004.