Gap probabilities for the cardinal sine

We study the zero set of random analytic functions generated by a sum of the cardinal sine functions which form an orthogonal basis for the Paley-Wiener space. As a model case, we consider real-valued Gaussian coefficients. It is shown that the asymptotic probability that there is no zero in a bounded interval decays exponentially as a function of the length.

A nuclear ribosomal DNA pseudogene in triatomines opens a new research field of fundamental and applied implications in Chagas disease

A pseudogene, designated as "ps(5.8S+ITS-2)", paralogous to the 5.8S gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-2 of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA), has been recently found in many triatomine species distributed throughout North America, Central America and northern South America. Among characteristics used as criteria for pseudogene verification, secondary structures and free energy are highlighted, showing a lower fit between minimum free energy, partition function and centroid structures, although in given cases the fit only appeared to be slightly lower. The unique characteristics of "ps(5.8S+ITS-2)" as a processed or retrotransposed pseudogenic unit of the ghost type are reviewed, with emphasis on its potential functionality compared to the functionality of genes and spacers of the normal rDNA operon. Besides the technical problem of the risk for erroneous sequence results, the usefulness of "ps(5.8S+ITS-2)" for specimen classification, phylogenetic analyses and systematic/taxonomic studies should be highlighted, based on consistence and retention index values, which in pseudogenic sequence trees were higher than in functional sequence trees. Additionally, intraindividual, interpopulational and interspecific differences in pseudogene amount and the fact that it is a pseudogene in the nuclear rDNA suggests a potential relationships with fitness, behaviour and adaptability of triatomine vectors and consequently its potential utility in Chagas disease epidemiology and control.

Hypertension differentially affects the expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 in cardiac myocytes and aortic smooth muscle cells.

Electrical and mechanical coupling of myocytes in heart and of smooth muscle cells in the aortic wall is thought to be mediated by intercellular channels aggregated at gap junctions. Connexin43 (Cx43) is one of the predominant membrane proteins forming junctional channels in the cardiovascular system. This study was undertaken to assess its expression during experimental hypertension. Rats were made hypertensive by clipping one renal artery (two-kidney, one-clip renal hypertension) or by administering deoxycorticosterone and salt (DOCA-salt hypertension). After four weeks, rats from both models showed a similar increase in intra-arterial mean blood pressure, as well as in the thickness of both aorta and heart walls. Northern blot analysis showed that, compared to controls, hypertensive rats expressed twice more Cx43 in aorta, but not in heart. These results suggest that localized mechanical forces induced by hypertension are major tissue-specific regulators of Cx43 expression.

An alternative approach to fundamental general physics concepts

An alternative approach to the fundamental general physics concepts has been proposed. We demonstrate that the electrostatic potential energy of a discrete or a continuous system of charges should be stored by the charges and not the field. It is found that there is a possibility that any electric field has no energy density, as well as magnetic field. It is found that there is no direct relation between the electric or magnetic energy and photons. An alternative derivation of the blackbody radiation formula is proposed. It is also found that the zero-point of energy of electromagnetic radiation may not exist.

The Swiss Willensnation at Risk: Teachers in the Cultural Gap during the First World War

As a neutral and multilingual country, Switzerland struggled with major domestic political conflicts during the First World War due to the two cultures of the French-speaking and German-speaking parts of the country. The divided cultural loyalties ('fossé moral', 'Röstigraben'), consisting of Swiss-Germans supporting Germany and Swiss-French supporting France, were discussed intensively in both of the main teachers' journals in Switzerland. Teachers felt the need to react and to promote unity from the beginning of the war. Despite the fact that the cantons are responsible for public education and, therefore, for the education of their students, teachers considered themselves called to educate their students to be national citizens rather than to be members of a language group. This threefold citizenship - communal, cantonal and national - was not scrutinised, but national unity became crucial due to the critical political circumstances. How did teachers promote and constitute citizenship for themselves and for their students in a nation united by free will during the First World War, a time of severe internal political conflicts?

Administração de insulina: uma abordagem fundamental na educação em diabetes

O estudo tem como objetivo realizar uma revisão na literatura sobre administração de insulina, com ênfase nos seguinte temas: ações de insulinas, complicações locais cutâneas, uso de instrumentais para a aplicação de insulina, a seringa descartável e sua reutilização e a técnica de aplicação de insulina, temas estes fundamentais para serem abordados em programas educativos em diabetes.

Determination of the direct band-gap energy of InAlAs matched to InP by photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy

A series of InxAl1-xAs samples (0.51≪x≪0.55)coherently grown on InP was studied in order to measure the band-gap energy of the lattice matched composition. As the substrate is opaque to the relevant photon energies, a method is developed to calculate the optical absorption coefficient from the photoluminescence excitation spectra. The effect of strain on the band-gap energy has been taken into account. For x=0.532, at 14 K we have obtained Eg0=1549±6 meV

Bridging the Gap: establishing the necessary infrastructure and knowledge for teaching and research in neuroscience in Africa.

Advances in neuroscience research over the last few decades have increased our understanding of how individual neurons acquire their specific properties and assemble into complex circuits, and how these circuits are affected in disease. One of the important motives driving neuroscience research is the development of new scientific techniques and interdisciplinary cooperation. Compared to developed countries, many countries on the African continent are confronted with poor facilities, lack of funding or career development programs for neuroscientists, all of which deter young scientists from taking up neuroscience as a career choice. This article highlights some steps that are being taken to promote neuroscience education and research in Africa.

Compreensão sobre sexualidade e sexo nas escolas segundo professores do ensino fundamental

Com o objetivo de identificarmos a forma pela qual professores de Ensino Fundamental compreendem a sexualidade/sexo na escola, procuramos levantar dados relativos a estas questões no cotidiano escolar, verificando a posição da escola e como lidam com isto. Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa, humanista, por meio de pesquisa-ação. A coleta dos dados foi realizada por meio da observação participante e entrevista individual, usando um questionário com questões norteadoras. Os dados levantados foram organizados em categorias. A análise possibilitou apreender que a maioria dos professores valoriza o diálogo como meio de orientação aos alunos. Destacam a necessidade de obterem apoio de profissionais qualificados sobre a temática, e dão relevância à participação da família no processo de orientação. Neste processo, a Escola pode ser o recurso para ajudar familiares, professores e escolares a compreenderem melhor os pressupostos da educação sexual e profissionais da saúde são grandes aliados, no sentido de conscientizá-los e orientá-los. Baseando-se nos achados, desenvolveram-se ações/intervenções educativas junto aos professores, visando prepará-los para atuarem como agentes multiplicadores no cotidiano escolar. Os professores sugerem a busca de parcerias e a elaboração de estratégias de orientação sexual.

Adolescência na percepção de professores do ensino fundamental

Pesquisa qualitativa realizada com 11 professores de um colégio estadual de Curitiba, para apreender como os professores do ensino fundamental percebem a adolescência. As informações foram coletadas por meio da estratégia Discussão de Grupo e organizadas em quatro categorias temáticas. Identificou-se nos relatos dos professores a pluralidade de significações atribuídas ao processo de adolescer, com ênfase na singularidade da adolescência. A adolescência se constitui em fenômeno singular, apresenta variações de acordo com a cultura, classe social, raça, gênero e idade, configurando distintas formas de vivenciá-la. Mesmo com essa diversidade, é possível desenvolver relações com adolescente que incluam a atenção, dedicação, conforto, paciência e sensibilidade, além da transmissão dos conteúdos curriculares.

Can GAP-43 interact with brain spectrin?

The growth-associated and presynaptic protein GAP-43 is important for axonal growth during brain development, for synaptic plasticity and in axonal regeneration [Benowitz, Routtenberg, TINS 12 (1987) 527]. It has been speculated that such growth may be mediated by cytoskeletal proteins. However, the interaction of GAP-43 with proteins of the presynaptic terminals is poorly characterized. Here, we analyze GAP-43 binding to cytoskeletal proteins by two different biochemical assays, by blot overlay and sedimentation. We find that immobilized brain spectrin (BS) is able to bind GAP-43. In contrast, little binding was observed to microtubule proteins and other elements of the cytoskeleton. Since GAP-43 is located presynaptically, it may bind to the presynaptic form of BS (SpIISigma1). It is attractive to think that such an interaction would participate in the structural plasticity observed in growth cones and adult synapses.

Abordagem da amamentação nos primeiros anos do ensino fundamental

Para analisar os currículos e os livros escolares adotados nos primeiros cinco anos do Ensino Fundamental na disciplina de Ciências quanto à presença ou não de termos relacionados à prática da amamentação, realizamos um estudo descritivo analisando o currículo e 16 manuais de 25 escolas públicas de três municípios do interior paulista, de setembro/2010 a fevereiro/2011. Definimos previamente alguns conceitos considerados imprescindíveis para ensinar e explicar à criança noções de amamentação. Verificamos que nenhum bloco temático do currículo aborda explicitamente a temática amamentação. Nove dos 16 conteúdos definidos estavam presentes em oito dos 16 livros. Da análise emergiu a categoria apoio e ajuda da família. Três obras utilizavam ilustrações associadas à alimentação artificial. No programa e nos manuais escolares existem diversas oportunidades de incluir este tema. Aconselha-se a integração dos conteúdos em todos os manuais de Ciências dos primeiros anos do ensino fundamental.

Social use of alcohol among adolescent offenders: a fundamental approach toward human needs

This study examined some basic health care approaches toward human needs, with a particular focus on nursing. We aimed to incorporate these approaches into the discussion of the mental health of adolescent offenders who consume alcohol. We discuss specific needs of the delinquent group, critique policies that prioritize coercion of adolescent offenders, and the role that nurses could play in the sphere of juvenile delinquency.

The Tea4-PP1 landmark promotes local growth by dual Cdc42 GEF recruitment and GAP exclusion.

Cell polarization relies on small GTPases, such as Cdc42, which can break symmetry through self-organizing principles, and landmarks that define the axis of polarity. In fission yeast, microtubules deliver the Tea1-Tea4 complex to mark cell poles for growth, but how this complex activates Cdc42 is unknown. Here, we show that ectopic targeting of Tea4 to cell sides promotes the local activation of Cdc42 and cell growth. This activity requires that Tea4 binds the type I phosphatase (PP1) catalytic subunit Dis2 or Sds21, and ectopic targeting of either catalytic subunit is similarly instructive for growth. The Cdc42 guanine-nucleotide-exchange factor Gef1 and the GTPase-activating protein Rga4 are required for Tea4-PP1-dependent ectopic growth. Gef1 is recruited to ectopic Tea4 and Dis2 locations to promote Cdc42 activation. By contrast, Rga4 is locally excluded by Tea4, and its forced colocalization with Tea4 blocks ectopic growth, indicating that Rga4 must be present, but at sites distinct from Tea4. Thus, a Tea4-PP1 landmark promotes local Cdc42 activation and growth both through Cdc42 GEF recruitment and by creating a local trough in a Cdc42 GAP.