O conto - Subvers��o e hibridismo na estrutura tradicional

The questioning of fictional identities is central in both texts. Their structure illustrates the Bakhtinian notions of heteroglossia and dialogism and one of their main themes is the structuring and restructuring of social and personal history. Together with the use of irony and humour, the parody of social context, the use of intertextuality and metafiction, the exploration of fragment and of discontinuity, the development of self reflection and the interrogation of the author before the condition of his work, the focusing on the presence of a reader lost in the interpretation of the text, this problematisation of fictional identities places these two novels between the acts of modernism and postmodernism.

Mutating Identities: Clarice Lispector's um sopro de vida - pulsa����es and Virginia Woolf's between the acts

The questioning of fictional identities is central in both texts. Their structure illustrates the Bakhtinian notions of heteroglossia and dialogism and one of their main themes is the structuring and restructuring of social and personal history. Together with the use of irony and humour, the parody of social context, the use of intertextuality and metafiction, the exploration of fragment and of discontinuity, the development of self reflection and the interrogation of the author before the condition of his work, the focusing on the presence of a reader lost in the interpretation of the text, this problematisation of fictional identities places these two novels between the acts of modernism and postmodernism.

Evidence for Nevirapine Bioactivation in Man: Searching for the First Step in the Mechanism of Nevirapine Toxicity

Despite its efficacy, including in the prevention of vertical transmission, the antiretroviral nevirapine is associated with severe idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity and skin rash. The mechanisms underlying nevirapine toxicity are not fully understood, but drug bioactivation to reactive metabolites capable of forming stable protein adducts is thought to be involved. This hypothesis is based on the paradigm that drug reactive metabolites have the potential to bind to self-proteins, which results in drug-modified proteins being perceived as foreign by the immune system. The aim of the present work was to identify hemoglobin adducts in HIV patients as biomarkers of nevirapine haptenation upon bioactivation. The ultimate goal is to develop diagnostic methods for predicting the onset of nevirapine-induced toxic reactions. All included subjects were adults on nevirapine-containing antiretroviral therapy for at least 1month. The protocol received prior approval from the Hospital Ethics Committees and patients gave their written informed consent. Nevirapine-derived adducts with the N-terminal valine of hemoglobin were analyzed by an established liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry method and characterized on the basis of retention time and mass spectrometric fragmentation pattern by comparison with adduct standards prepared synthetically. The nevirapine adducts were detected in 12/13 patient samples, and quantified in 11/12 samples (2.58��0.8 fmol/g of hemoglobin). This work represents the first evidence of nevirapine-protein adduct formation in man and confirms the ability of nevirapine to modify self-proteins, thus providing clues to the molecular mechanisms underlying nevirapine toxicity. Moreover, the possibility of assessing nevirapine-protein adduct levels has the potential to become useful for predicting the onset of nevirapine-induced adverse reactions.

Bowel X-ray alterations in acute human schistosomiasis

A radiological study of the small intestine of 17 untreated patients in the acute phase ofschistosomiasis was performed. Twelve patients (70% of total) had alterations: nine had clear-cut thickening of the duodenal and jejunal folds, one flocculation, one fragmentation and one thickening of mucosae, flocculation and fragmentation of the barium column. There was no correlation of the gastrointestinal symptomatology (vomiting, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatomegaly) neither with the parasitological load nor with the x-ray alterations.

Cell division and chromosome segregation in Staphylococcus aureus

Disserta����o para a obten����o do grau de doutor em Biologia pelo Instituto de Tecnologia Qu��mica e Biol��gica. Universidade Nova de Lisboa

The role of electron transfer in DNA building blocks: evaluation of strand breaks and their implications

Disserta����o para obten����o do Grau de Doutor em Engenharia F��sica

Cuando las ciudades se transforman en paisajes: representaci��n, fragmentaci��n e idealizaci��n del espacio urbano

El texto considera que el espacio de la ciudad es representado hoy a partir de los mecanismos de construcci��n cultural del paisaje. Se concluye que estos tienen por consecuencia una fragmentaci��n y una idealizaci��n/estilizaci��n del territorio. Al mismo tiempo que afirman el deleite est��tico y la idealizaci��n de la vida, los mecanismos referidos fomentan el abandono de una mirada cr��tica y global sobre la ciudad.

Undrestanding postoperative cognitive dysfunction: novel insights

ABSTRACT: Background: Sleep is integral to biological function and sleep disruption can result in both physiological and psychological dysfunction. The acute cognitive consequences of sleep loss has been an active field of recent investigation, evidence suggests that sleep disruption in critically ill older adults can result in acute decrements in cognitive functioning. Surgery activates the innate immune system, inducing neuroinflammatory changes that interfere with cognition. The fact that patients with sleep disorders have an increased likelihood of exhibiting postoperative delirium encourages us to investigate the contribution of perioperative SF to the neuroinflammatory and cognitive responses of surgery. Methods: The effects of 24h sleep fragmentation (SF) and surgery were explored on adult C57BL/6J male mice. SF procedure started at 7 am with the home-cages being placed on a large platform orbital shaker cycled every 120 seconds (30 sec on/90 sec off). This procedure lasted for 24h. Stabilized tibia fracture was performed either before or after the 24h SF procedure. Separate cohorts of mice were tested for systemic and hippocampal inflammation and cognition. Results: Twenty-four hours of SF induced non-hippocampal memory dysfunction and increase in systemic IL-6. SF and surgery caused hippocampal-dependent memory impairment, although memory impairment was not exacerbated by combining SF with surgery. One day after either SF or surgery there was a significant increase in IL6 mRNA and TNF-alpha mRNA. These increments were more pronounced when either pre or post operative SF was combined with surgery. Conclusions: We show that while SF and surgery can independently produce significant memory impairment, perioperative SF significantly increased hippocampal inflammation without further cognitive impairment. The dissociation between neuroinflammation and cognitive decline may relate to our use of a sole memory paradigm that does not capture other aspects of cognition, especially learning.

Electron driven reactions in sulphur containing biological prototypes

The interaction of ionising radiation with living tissues may direct or indirectly generate several secondary species with relevant genotoxic potential. Due to recent findings that electrons with energies below the ionisation threshold can effectively damage DNA, radiation-induced damage to biological systems has increasingly come under scrutiny. The exact physico-chemical processes that occur in the first stages of electron induced damage remain to be explained. However, it is also known that free electrons have a short lifetime in the physiological medium. Hence, electron transfer processes studies represent an alternative approach through which the role of "bound" electrons as a source of damage to biological tissues can be further explored. The thesis work consists of studying dissociative electron attachment (DEA) and electron transfer to taurine and thiaproline. DEA measurements were executed in Siedlce University with Prof. Janina Kopyra under COST action MP1002 (Nanoscale insights in ion beam cancer therapy). The electron transfer experiments were conducted in a crossed atom(potassium)-molecule beam arrangement. In these studies the anionic fragmentation patterns were obtained. The results of both mechanisms are shown to be significantly different, unveiling that the damaging potential of secondary electrons can be underestimated. In addition, sulphur atoms appear to strongly influence the dissociation process, demonstrating that certain reactions can be controlled by substitution of sulphur at specific molecular sites.

O Pensar no Cinema. Considera����es sobre a Imagem

A disserta����o tem como prop��sito o estudo da imagem em movimento como mobilizadora do pensamento e a averigua����o da possibilidade de um lugar de liberdade e transforma����o para uma comunidade de espectadores do cinema. Mediante o esclarecimento dos processos da actividade do pensar no mundo das apar��ncias, do ju��zo est��tico e cr��tico, e da investiga����o sobre o envolvimento pol��tico da imagem, analisa-se o caso concreto de duas obras do cineasta Robert Bresson: Un Condamn�� �� mort s���est ��chappe e Pickpocket.

Assessment of a novel Cu (II) complex as a potential anticancer agent

Widely used in cancer treatment, chemotherapy still faces hindering challenges, ranging from severe induced toxicity to drug resistance acquisition. As means to overcome these setbacks, newly synthetized compounds have recently come into play with the basis of improved pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties. With this mind-set, this project aimed towards the antiproliferative potential characterization of a group of metallic compounds. Additionally the incorporation of the compounds within a nanoformulation and within new combination strategies with commercial chemotherapeutic drugs was also envisaged. Cell viability assays presented copper (II) compound (K4) as the most promising, presenting an IC50 of 6.10 ��M and 19.09 ��M for HCT116 and A549 cell line respectively. Exposure in fibroblasts revealed a 9.18 ��M IC50. Hoechst staining assays further revealed the compound���s predisposition to induce chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation in HCT116 upon exposure to K4 which was later demonstrated by flow cytometry and annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide double staining analysis (under 50 % cell death induction). The compound further revealed the ability to interact with major macromolecules such as DNA (Kb = 2.17x105 M-1), inducing structural brakes and retardation, and further affecting cell cycle progression revealing delay in S-phase. Moreover BSA interactions were also visible however not conclusive. Proteome profiling revealed overexpression of proteins involved in metabolic activity and underexpression of proteins involved in apoptosis thus corroborating Hoechst and apoptosis flow cytometry data. K4 nanoformulation suffered from several hindrances and was ill succeeded in part due to K4���s poor solubility in aqueous buffers. Other approaches were considered in this regard. Combined chemotherapy assays revealed high cytotoxicity for afatinib and lapatinib strategies. Lapatinib and K4 proteome profiling further revealed high apoptosis rates, high metabolic activity and activation of redundant proteins as part of compensatory mechanisms.

Entre a plasticidade do corpo e da imagem : contributos para uma viagem interactiva pelos territ��rios incertos da arte contempor��nea

Este trabalho de investiga����o come��ou por ser estruturado em torno de quatro grandes cap��tulos (quatro grandes linhas de orienta����o tem��tica), todos eles amplamente desenvolvidos no sentido de podermos cartografar alguns dos principais territ��rios e sintomas da arte contempor��nea, sendo certo tamb��m, que cada um deles assenta precisamente nos princ��pios de uma estrutura male��vel que, para todos os efeitos, se encontra em processo de constru����o (work in progress), neste caso, gra��as �� plasticidade do corpo, do espa��o, da imagem e do uso criativo das tecnologias digitais, no ��mbito das quais, ali��s, tudo se parece produzir, transformar e disseminar hoje em dia �� nossa volta (quase como se de uma aut��ntica viagem interactiva se tratasse). Por isso, a partir daqui, todo o esfor��o que se segue procurar�� ensaiar uma hip��tese de trabalho (desenvolver uma investiga����o) que, porventura, nos permita desbravar alguns caminhos em direc����o aos intermin��veis t��neis do futuro, sempre na expectativa de podermos dar forma, fun����o e sentido a um desejo irreprim��vel de liberdade criativa, pois, a arte contempor��nea tem essa extraordin��ria capacidade de nos transportar para muitos outros lugares do mundo, t��o reais e imagin��rios como a nossa pr��pria vida. Assim sendo, h�� que sumariar algumas das principais etapas a desenvolver ao longo desta investiga����o. Ora, num primeiro momento, come��aremos por reflectir sobre o conceito alargado de ��crise�� (a crise da modernidade), para logo de seguida podermos abordar a quest��o da crise das antigas categorias est��ticas, questionando assim, para todos os efeitos, quer o conceito de ��belo�� (Plat��o) e de ��gosto�� (Kant), quer ainda o conceito de ��forma�� (Foccilon), n��o s�� no sentido de tentarmos compreender algumas das principais raz��es que ter��o estado na origem do chamado ��fim da arte�� (Hegel), mas tamb��m algumas daquelas que ter��o conduzido �� estetiza����o generalizada da experi��ncia contempor��nea e �� sua respectiva dissemina����o pelas mais variadas plataformas digitais. Num segundo momento, procuraremos reflectir sobre alguns dos principais problemas da inquietante hist��ria das imagens, nomeadamente para tentarmos perceber como �� que todas estas transforma����es t��cnicas (ligadas ao aparecimento da fotografia, do cinema, do v��deo, do computador e da internet) ter��o contribu��do para o processo de instaura����o e respectivo alargamento daquilo que todos n��s ficar��amos a conhecer como a nova ��era da imagem��, ou a imagem na ��era da sua pr��pria reprodutibilidade t��cnica�� (Benjamin), pois, s�� assim �� que conseguiremos interrogar este impar��vel processo de movimenta����o, fragmenta����o, dissemina����o, simula����o e interac����o das mais variadas ��formas de vida�� (Nietzsche, Agamben). Entretanto, chegados ao terceiro grande momento, interessa-nos percepcionar a arte contempor��nea como uma esp��cie de plataforma interactiva que, por sua vez, nos levar�� a interpelar alguns dos principais dispositivos metaf��ricos e experimentais da viagem, neste caso, da viagem enquanto linha facilitadora de acesso �� arte, �� cultura e �� vida contempor��nea em geral, ou seja, todo um processo de reflex��o que nos incitar�� a cartografar alguns dos mais atractivos sintomas provenientes da est��tica do fl��neur (na perspectiva de Rimbaud, Baudelaire, Long e Benjamin) e, consequentemente, a convocar algumas das principais sensa����es decorrentes da experi��ncia altamente sedutora daqueles que vivem mergulhados na ��rbita interactiva do ciberespa��o (na condi����o de ciberfl��neurs), quase como se o mundo inteiro, agora, fosse t��o somente um espa��o po��tico ��inteiramente naveg��vel�� (Manovich). Por fim, no quarto e ��ltimo momento, procuraremos fazer uma profunda reflex��o sobre a inquietante hist��ria do corpo, principalmente com o objectivo de refor��ar a ideia de que apesar das suas in��meras fragilidades biol��gicas (um ser que adoece e morre), o corpo continua a ser uma das ��categorias mais persistentes de toda a cultura ocidental�� (Ieda Tucherman), n��o s�� porque ele resistiu a todas as transforma����es que lhe foram impostas historicamente, mas tamb��m porque ele se soube reinventar e readaptar pacientemente face a todas essas transforma����es hist��ricas. Sinal evidente de que a sua plasticidade lhe iria conferir, principalmente a partir do s��culo XX (��o s��culo do corpo��) um estatuto te��rico e performativo verdadeiramente especial. T��o especial, ali��s, que basta termos uma no����o, mesmo que breve, da sua inquietante hist��ria para percebermos imediatamente a extraordin��ria import��ncia dalgumas das suas mais variadas transforma����es, atrac����es, liga����es e exibi����es ao longo das ��ltimas d��cadas, nomeadamente sob o efeito criativo das tecnologias digitais (no ��mbito das quais se processam algumas das mais interessantes opera����es de dinamiza����o cultural e art��stica do nosso tempo). Em suma, esperamos sinceramente que este trabalho de investiga����o possa vir a contribuir para o processo de alargamento das fronteiras cada vez mais incertas, din��micas e interactivas do conhecimento daquilo que parece constituir, hoje em dia, o jogo fundamental da nossa contemporaneidade.

Continuidade e mudan��a. O sistema internacional no post���Guerra Fria

O fim da Guerra Fria �� um caso in��dito de mudan��a pac��fica da estrutura internacional, em que os Estados Unidos e a Uni��o Sovi��tica transcendem a divis��o bipolar para decidir os termos da paz no quadro das institui����es que definem o modelo de ordenamento multilateral, consolidando a sua legitimidade. Nesse contexto, ao contr��rio dos casos precedentes de reconstru����o internacional no fim de uma guerra hegem��nica, o novo sistema do post-Guerra Fria, caracterizado pela unipolaridade, pela regionaliza����o e pela homogeneiza����o, forma-se num quadro de continuidade institucional. A ordem pol��tica do post-Guerra Fria �� um sistema misto em que as tens��es entre a hierarquia unipolar e a anarquia multipolar, a integra����o global e a fragmenta����o regional e a homogeneidade e a heterogeneidade pol��tica, ideol��gica e cultural condicionam as estrat��gias das pot��ncias. As crises internacionais v��o p��r �� prova a estabilidade da nova ordem e a sua capacidade para garantir mudan��as pac��ficas. A primeira d��cada do post-Guerra Fria mostra a preponder��ncia dos Estados Unidos e a sua confian��a crescente, patente nas Guerras do Golfo P��rsico e dos Balc��s, bem como na crise dos Estreitos da Formosa. A reac����o aos atentados do "11 de Setembro" revela uma tenta����o imperial da pot��ncia unipolar, nomeadamente com a invas��o do Iraque, que provoca uma crise profunda da comunidade de seguran��a ocidental. A vulnerabilidade do centro da ordem internacional �� confirmada pela crise constitucional europeia e pela crise financeira global. Essas crises n��o alteram a estrutura de poder mas aceleram a eros��o da ordem multilateral e criam um novo quadro de possibilidades para a evolu����o internacional, que inclui uma escalada dos conflitos num quadro de multipolaridade regional, uma nova polariza����o entre as pot��ncias democr��ticas conservadoras e uma coliga����o revisionista autorit��ria, bem como a restaura����o de um concerto entre as principais pot��ncias internacionais.

How to increase reach efficiency and effectiveness of MEO���s digital marketing campaigns?

Field lab: Business project

Changes in population and land use over time in the Ecuadorian Amazon

This paper draws upon a detailed longitudinal survey of households living on agricultural plots in the northern three provinces of the Ecuadorian Amazon, the principal region of colonization by migrants in Ecuador since the 1970s. Following the discovery of petroleum in 1967 near what has subsequently come to be the provincial capital and largest Amazonian city of Lago Agrio, oil companies built roads to lay pipelines to extract and pump oil across the Andes for export. As a result, for the past 30 years over half of both Ecuador's export earnings and government revenues have come from petroleum extracted from this region. But the roads also facilitated massive spontaneous in-migration of families from origin areas in the Ecuadorian Sierra, characterized by minifundia and rural poverty. This paper is about those migrants and their effects on the Amazonian landscape. We discuss the data collection methodology and summarize key results on settler characteristics and changes in population, land use, land ownership, technology, labor allocation, and living conditions, as well as the relationships between changes in population and changes in land use over time. The population in the study region has been growing rapidly due to both natural population growth (high fertility) and in-migration. This has led to a dramatic process of subdivision and fragmentation of plots in the 1990's, which contrasts with the consolidation of plots that has occurred in most of the mature frontier areas of the Brazilian Amazon. This fragmentation has led to important changes in land tenure and land use, deforestation, cattle raising, labor allocation, and settler welfare.