439 resultados para antagonism


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The C terminus is responsible for all of the agonist activity of C5a at human C5a receptors (C5aRs). In this report we have mapped the ligand binding site on the C5aR using a series of agonist and antagonist peptide mimics of the C terminus of C5a as well as receptors mutated at putative interaction sites ( Ile(116), Arg(175), Arg(206), Glu(199), Asp(282), and Val(286)). Agonist peptide 1 (Phe-Lys-Pro-D-cyclohexylalanine-cyclohexylalanine-D-Arg) can be converted to an antagonist by substituting the bulkier Trp for cyclohexylalanine at position 5 ( peptide 2). Conversely, mutation of C5aR transmembrane residue Ile(116) to the smaller Ala (I116A) makes the receptor respond to peptide 2 as an agonist (Gerber, B. O., Meng, E. C., Dotsch, V., Baranski, T. J., and Bourne, H. R. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 3394 - 3400). However, a potent cyclic hexapeptide antagonist, Phe-cyclo-[Orn-Pro-D-cyclohexylalanine-Trp-Arg] ( peptide 3), derived from peptide 2 and which binds to the same receptor site, remains a full antagonist at I116AC5aR. This suggests that although the residue at position 5 might bind near to Ile(116), the latter is not essential for either activation or antagonism. Arg(206) and Arg(175) both appear to interact with the C-terminal carboxylate of C5a agonist peptides, suggesting a dynamic binding mechanism that may be a part of a receptor activation switch. Asp(282) has been previously shown to interact with the side chain of the C-terminal Arg residue, and Glu(199) may also interact with this side chain in both C5a and peptide mimics. Using these interactions to orient NMR-derived ligand structures in the binding site of C5aR, a new model of the interaction between peptide antagonists and the C5aR is presented.

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O trabalho que tem por título: O Direito é torcido à Porta porque a Justiça se encontra deitada por terra é um exercício exegético que tem por objeto a perícope Am 5,10-13. Na análise semântica dos seus principais vocábulos evidenciou-se uma realidade social, política e econômica paradoxal em Israel, sob o comando de Jeroboão II (787-747 a.C.), como resultado de uma expansão territorial e comercial, de vitórias militares e da organização de um Estado tributarista. Esse modelo de sociedade gerou um antagonismo social entre uma elite abastada que esbanjava luxo e ostentação, à custa do suor e da fome de uma população empobrecida, especialmente a classe camponesa, que trabalhava para sustentar as benesses do mundo urbano. É de dentro dessa realidade que ecoa o grito de Amós como denúncia a esse estado de coisas, como palavra de desgraça e condenação a toda sorte de desmandos praticados em Israel. Entre esses a falência do sistema judiciário, pela prática da exploração e corrupção por parte dos magistrados, de ricos comerciantes e latifundiários, desviando o pobre do seu direito de recorrer em sua defesa perante o tribunal. Em razão disso, Amós anuncia a ruína de Israel, com o Dia de Javé, que será um anti-Êxodo, e aponta uma exigência ético-religiosa como forma de reverter esse não futuro para Israel, que se traduz no compromisso de estabelecer à Porta o Direito e a Justiça.

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Background Adjuvants enhance or modify an immune response that is made to an antigen. An antagonist of the chemokine CCR4 receptor can display adjuvant-like properties by diminishing the ability of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) to down-regulate immune responses. Methodology Here, we have used protein modelling to create a plausible chemokine receptor model with the aim of using virtual screening to identify potential small molecule chemokine antagonists. A combination of homology modelling and molecular docking was used to create a model of the CCR4 receptor in order to investigate potential lead compounds that display antagonistic properties. Three-dimensional structure-based virtual screening of the CCR4 receptor identified 116 small molecules that were calculated to have a high affinity for the receptor; these were tested experimentally for CCR4 antagonism. Fifteen of these small molecules were shown to inhibit specifically CCR4-mediated cell migration, including that of CCR4+ Tregs. Significance Our CCR4 antagonists act as adjuvants augmenting human T cell proliferation in an in vitro immune response model and compound SP50 increases T cell and antibody responses in vivo when combined with vaccine antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium yoelii in mice.

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Many important natural products contain the furan-2(5H)-one structure. The structure of this molecule lends itself to manipulation using combinatorial techniques due to the presence of more than one site for the attachment of different suhstituents. By developing different reaction schemes at the three sites available for attachment on the furan-2(5H)-one scaffold, combinatorial chemistry techniques can be employed to assemble libraries of novel furan 2(5H)-ones. These libraries can then be entered into various biological screening programmes. This approach will enable a vast diversity or compounds to be examined, in the hope or finding new biologically active Iead structures. The work in this thesis has investigated the potential that combinatorial chemistry has in the quest for new biologically active lead structures based on the furan-2(5H)-one structure. Different reactions were investigated with respect to their suitability for inclusion in a library. Once sets of reactions at the various sites had been established, the viability of these reactions in the assembly of combinatorial libraries was investigated. Purification methods were developed, and the purified products entered into suitable biological screening tests. Results from some of these tests were optimised using structure activity relationships, and the resulting products re-screened. The screening tests performed were for anticancer and antimicrobial activity, cholecystokinin (CCK-B) antagonism and anti-inflammatory activity (in the quest for novel cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2) selective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). It has been shown that many reactions undergone by the furan-2(5H)-one structure are suitable for the assembly of a combinatorial library. Investigation into the assembly of different libraries has been carried out with initial screening results included. From this work, further investigation into combinatorial library assembly and structure activity relationships of screened reaction products can be undertaken.

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A study has been made of drugs acting at 5-HT receptors on animal models of anxiety. An elevated X-maze was used as a model of anxiety for rats and the actions of various ligands for the 5-HT receptor, and its subtypes, were examined in this model. 5-HT agonists, with varying affinities for the 5-HT receptor subtypes, were demonstrated to have anxiogenic-like activity. The 5-HT2 receptor antagonists ritanserin and ketanserin exhibited an anxiolytic-like profile. The new putatuve anxiolytics ipsapirone and buspirone, which are believed to be selective for 5-HT1 receptors, were also examined. The former had an anxiolytic profile whilst the latter was without effect. Antagonism studies showed the anxiogenic response to 8-hydroxy-2-(Di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) to be antagonised by ipsapirone, pindolol, alprenolol and para-chlorophenylalanine, but not by diazepam, ritanserin, metoprolol, ICI118,551 or buspirone. To confirm some of the results obtained in the elevated X-maze the Social Interaction Test of anxiety was used. Results in this test mirrored the effects seen with the 5-HT agonists, ipsapirone and pindolol, whilst the 5-HT2 receptor antagonists were without effect. Studies using operant conflict models of anxiety produced marginal and varying results which appear to be in agreement with recent criticisms of such models. Finally, lesions of the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) were performed in order to investigate the mechanisms involved in the production of the anxiogenic response to 8-OH-DPAT. Overall the results lend support to the involvement of 5-HT, and more precisely 5-HT1, receptors in the manifestation of anxiety in such animal models.

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An investigation of rat jejunal and distal colonic electrolyte transport in-vitro was undertaken using an Ussing chamber prepartion. Selective α2-adrenoceptor stimualtion in the jejunum was found to depress theo-phylline elevated anion secretion, as evidenced by decreases in short- circuit current (SCC). or α1 -Adrenoceptor stimulation, after α2 -adrenoceptor antagonism in the jejunum, evoked transient increases in basal anion secretion, as reflected by transient increases in basal SCC. The use of the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin indicated that this was a direct epithelial secretory effect. 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on the jejunum elicited transient increases in basal anion secretion, as demonstrated by transient increases in basal SCC. The use of tetrodotoxin, reserpine and α1 -adrenoceptor antagonists, indicated that a major component of this epithelial secretory effect by 5-HT, was associated with activation of intramural nervous pathways of the sympathetic nervous system, ultimately stimulating α1-adrenoceptors. This might represent an important secretory mechanism by 5-HT in the jejunum. β2-Adrenoceptor stimulation in the distal colon was found to decrease basal SCC, as evidenced by the metoprolol resistant effect of the selective β2- adrenoceptor agonist salbutamol, and lack of effect of the selective β1-adrenoceptor agonist prenalterol. An investigation of rat distal colonic fluid and electrolyte transport in-vivo was undertaken using an colonic loop technique. Although a basal colonic absorption of Na+ and Cl-, and a secretion of K+ were observed, these processes were not under tonic α-adrenergic regulation, as evidenced by the lack of effect of selective α-adrenoceptor antagonism. The secretory effects of prostaglandin-E2 were inhibited by α-adrenoceptor activation, whereas such stimulation did not evoke pro-absorptive responses upon basal transport, unlike noradrenaline.

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In France, the tradition of contracting out local public services has been predominantly one of partnership and co-operation rather than competition and antagonism. However, in recent years the traditional approach has come under intense criticism, something which has far-reaching implications for public-private governance. Adopting the socio-legal approach to the study of contract governance set out by Peter Vincent-Jones, this paper explores the discrepancy between descriptions of a traditional French approach to local public services governance, in which the bilateral values of trust and co-operation are emphasized, and a new discourse of local public services governance, which argues for detailed contract planning and close contract monitoring. It is argued that this discrepancy reveals the beginning of a shift in the governance of public service exchange relationships from relatively noncontractual and bilateral to relatively contractual and trilateral. The French case highlights the importance of regulatory and accountability frameworks to the manner in which contracting parties perceive exchange governance. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2005.

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A new class of 5-arylated 5-hydroxypyrrolones was derived from mucochloric acid in 2 synthetic steps and the chemical structure was confirmed additionally by X-ray analysis. Using a radiolabelled binding assay, potent CCK1 selective ligands were identified (CCK1: 12 nM) and the antagonism was confirmed by using isolated tissue preparations. A series of isobutyl derivatives displayed unsurmountable CCK antagonistic properties and in vitro excellent inhibition of proliferation was obtained in cholecystokinin related cancer cell lines in the nanomolar range. Finally, using xenograft studies in nude mice, two selected pyrrolone derivatives, X = H and X = F a fluorinated analogue (PNB-028), showed a strong inhibition of tumour growth in a chemo-resistant colon cancer-(MAC 16) and a human pancreatic cell line (MIAPACA) at 50 mg kg-1 by oral administration.

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Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the two peptide NOP partial agonists (UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2) and the non peptide NOP partial agonist (AT-090) in the mouse emotional behavior as well as in the intracellular transduction pathways following the receptor binding. Methods: Male Swiss or CD-1 mice were used in this study together with NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice. The elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on anxiety-like behaviors. Diazepam and the NOP agonists, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570, were used as positive controls in the EPM. NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice were used to evaluate the selectivity of those compounds that induced anxiolytic-like behaviors. The forced swim test (FST) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on depressive-like behaviors. Nortriptyline and the NOP antagonists, UFP-101 and SB-612111, were used as positive controls in the FST. The effects of N/OFQ, UFP-101, SB-612111, UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090 were assessed in the methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion (MIH) test; in this assay valproate was used as positive control. The G protein and β-arrestin 2 transduction pathways of NOP receptor agonists (N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570), antagonist (UFP-101), and partial agonists (UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090) were also evaluated using an innovative assay that measures a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer process. For this, cell lines permanently co-expressing the NOP receptor coupled to luciferase (energy donor), and green fluorescent protein (energy acceptor) coupled to one of the effector proteins (G protein or β-arrestin 2) were used. Results: Diazepam (1 mg/kg), N/OFQ (1 nmol), Ro 65-6570 (0.1 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.01 mg/kg) induced anxiolytic-like effect in mice in the EPM. The effects of Ro 65-6570 and AT-090 were selective to NOP receptor. UFP-113 (0.01-1 nmol) and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.1-3 nmol) were inactive in the EPM. In the FST, nortriptyline (30 mg/kg), UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), UFP-113 (0.01 and 0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.3 and 1 nmol) induced antidepressant-like effects, while AT-090 (0.001-0.1 mg/kg) was inactive in this assay. The effects of UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 were selective to NOP receptor. Valproate (400 mg/kg) counteracted methylphenidate (MPH, 10 mg/kg)-induced hyperlocomotion in mice in the open field. N/OFQ (1 nmol), UFP-113 (0.01-0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (1 nmol) were also able to reduce the MPH-induced hyperlocomotion, without changing the locomotor activity per se. The effect of UFP-113 was selective to NOP receptor. The UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.001-0.03 mg/kg) did not change the hyperlocomotor effect of methylphenidate. In vitro, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570 behaved as NOP full agonists for G-protein and β-arrestin 2 pathways. AT-090 behaved as NOP receptor partial agonist for both transduction pathways, while UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 behaved as partial agonists and antagonists of NOP receptor for NOP/G protein and NOP/β-arrestin 2, respectively. UFP-101 behaved as NOP receptor antagonist for both transduction pathways. Conclusion: NOP ligands producing same effects on NOP/G protein interaction (partial agonism), but with opposite effects on β-arrestin 2 recruitment (partial agonism vs antagonism), can promote different in vivo effects on anxiety and mood as it was observed in the behavioral tests. This work corroborates the potential of NOP receptor as an innovative pharmacological target for the treatment of emotional disorders.

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Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the two peptide NOP partial agonists (UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2) and the non peptide NOP partial agonist (AT-090) in the mouse emotional behavior as well as in the intracellular transduction pathways following the receptor binding. Methods: Male Swiss or CD-1 mice were used in this study together with NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice. The elevated plus maze (EPM) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on anxiety-like behaviors. Diazepam and the NOP agonists, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570, were used as positive controls in the EPM. NOP(+/+) and NOP(-/-) mice were used to evaluate the selectivity of those compounds that induced anxiolytic-like behaviors. The forced swim test (FST) was used to evaluate the effects of compounds on depressive-like behaviors. Nortriptyline and the NOP antagonists, UFP-101 and SB-612111, were used as positive controls in the FST. The effects of N/OFQ, UFP-101, SB-612111, UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090 were assessed in the methylphenidate-induced hyperlocomotion (MIH) test; in this assay valproate was used as positive control. The G protein and β-arrestin 2 transduction pathways of NOP receptor agonists (N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570), antagonist (UFP-101), and partial agonists (UFP-113, [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2, and AT-090) were also evaluated using an innovative assay that measures a bioluminescence resonance energy transfer process. For this, cell lines permanently co-expressing the NOP receptor coupled to luciferase (energy donor), and green fluorescent protein (energy acceptor) coupled to one of the effector proteins (G protein or β-arrestin 2) were used. Results: Diazepam (1 mg/kg), N/OFQ (1 nmol), Ro 65-6570 (0.1 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.01 mg/kg) induced anxiolytic-like effect in mice in the EPM. The effects of Ro 65-6570 and AT-090 were selective to NOP receptor. UFP-113 (0.01-1 nmol) and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.1-3 nmol) were inactive in the EPM. In the FST, nortriptyline (30 mg/kg), UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), UFP-113 (0.01 and 0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (0.3 and 1 nmol) induced antidepressant-like effects, while AT-090 (0.001-0.1 mg/kg) was inactive in this assay. The effects of UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 were selective to NOP receptor. Valproate (400 mg/kg) counteracted methylphenidate (MPH, 10 mg/kg)-induced hyperlocomotion in mice in the open field. N/OFQ (1 nmol), UFP-113 (0.01-0.1 nmol), and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 (1 nmol) were also able to reduce the MPH-induced hyperlocomotion, without changing the locomotor activity per se. The effect of UFP-113 was selective to NOP receptor. The UFP-101 (10 nmol), SB-612111 (10 mg/kg), and AT-090 (0.001-0.03 mg/kg) did not change the hyperlocomotor effect of methylphenidate. In vitro, N/OFQ and Ro 65-6570 behaved as NOP full agonists for G-protein and β-arrestin 2 pathways. AT-090 behaved as NOP receptor partial agonist for both transduction pathways, while UFP-113 and [F/G]N/OFQ(1-13)NH2 behaved as partial agonists and antagonists of NOP receptor for NOP/G protein and NOP/β-arrestin 2, respectively. UFP-101 behaved as NOP receptor antagonist for both transduction pathways. Conclusion: NOP ligands producing same effects on NOP/G protein interaction (partial agonism), but with opposite effects on β-arrestin 2 recruitment (partial agonism vs antagonism), can promote different in vivo effects on anxiety and mood as it was observed in the behavioral tests. This work corroborates the potential of NOP receptor as an innovative pharmacological target for the treatment of emotional disorders.

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Depuis 2000, les études concernant l’efficacité de la prière sur l’amélioration de la santé physique et psychologique des gens pour lesquels on prie se sont multipliées. La consultation de trois banques de données (PsycINFO, Medline, Current Content) a permis de répertorier 189 publications de 1979 à 2007. Outre la méta-analyse de Master, Spielmans et Goodson (2006), nous avons retenu les études qui répondaient aux deux critères suivants: a) la prière pour autrui est utilisée pour traiter un problème de santé physique ou psychologique et b) la présence d’un groupe « de prière » et d’un groupe contrôle. L’analyse des résultats soulève plusieurs questions sur des critères méthodologiques et épistémologiques ainsi que quelques considérations éthiques. Nous discutons en outre de l’éternel antagonisme entre la démarche scientifique et la démarche théologique.

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This paper considers the desire for unity, reconciliation and consensus underpinning three models of talking – namely, 'the meeting', 'the dyadic love relationship', and 'the psychoanalytic session'. We highlight the three domains’ shared intellectual and historical heritage wherein talk is seen as a mode of achieving unity (of the group, of the dyad, or of the self) and conversely 'silence' is seen as pathology. Through looking at the role of silence in the works of Lacan, Joyce, and Beckett, we then examine how conversations with a collective, an Other, the self, etc. can all be enriched by ambivalence, antagonism and, in particular, silence. In contrast to the conventional understanding, silence is not the 'end' of understanding, but rather a new beginning. From this perspective, silence can be the basis upon which we can begin to imagine a principled relationship with the Other.

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Background: Organophosphate (OP) pesticides are well-known developmental neurotoxicants that have been linked to abnormal cognitive and behavioral endpoints through both epidemiological studies and animal models of behavioral teratology, and are implicated in the dysfunction of multiple neurotransmitters, including dopamine. Chemical similarities between OP pesticides and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), a class of compounds growing in use and environmental relevance, have produced concern regarding whether developmental exposures to OPFRs and OP pesticides may share behavioral outcomes, impacts on dopaminergic systems, or both. Methods: Using the zebrafish animal model, we exposed developing fish to two OPFRs, TDCIPP and TPHP, as well as the OP pesticide chlorpyrifos, during the first 5 days following fertilization. From there, the exposed fish were assayed for behavioral abnormalities and effects on monoamine neurochemistry as both larvae and adults. An experiment conducted in parallel examined how antagonism of the dopamine system during an identical window of development could alter later life behavior in the same assays. Finally, we investigated the interaction between developmental exposure to an OPFR and acute dopamine antagonism in larval behavior. Results: Developmental exposure to all three OP compounds altered zebrafish behavior, with effects persisting into adulthood. Additionally, exposure to an OPFR decreased the behavioral response to acute D2 receptor antagonism in larvae. However, the pattern of behavioral effects diverged substantially from those seen following developmental dopamine antagonism, and the investigations into dopamine neurochemistry were too variable to be conclusive. Thus, although the results support the hypothesis that OPFRs, as with OP pesticides such as chlorpyrifos, may present a risk to normal behavioral development, we were unable to directly link these effects to any dopaminergic dysfunction.

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Depuis 2000, les études concernant l’efficacité de la prière sur l’amélioration de la santé physique et psychologique des gens pour lesquels on prie se sont multipliées. La consultation de trois banques de données (PsycINFO, Medline, Current Content) a permis de répertorier 189 publications de 1979 à 2007. Outre la méta-analyse de Master, Spielmans et Goodson (2006), nous avons retenu les études qui répondaient aux deux critères suivants: a) la prière pour autrui est utilisée pour traiter un problème de santé physique ou psychologique et b) la présence d’un groupe « de prière » et d’un groupe contrôle. L’analyse des résultats soulève plusieurs questions sur des critères méthodologiques et épistémologiques ainsi que quelques considérations éthiques. Nous discutons en outre de l’éternel antagonisme entre la démarche scientifique et la démarche théologique.

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El presente artículo se propone estudiar, retomando diversos aspectos del Análisis Materialista del Discurso, una serie de discusiones de la inmediata posguerra que colocaron la cuestión racial y al racismo en el centro de la agenda de las ciencias (naturales y sociales) así como de los organismos internacionales. Antes que reponer y reproducir una imagen de coherencia u homogeneidad en estos debates, propondremos una lectura a contrapelo capaz de mostrar la articulación contingente de elementos de diversa procedencia, las contradicciones, las tensiones y, sobre todo, las luchas involucradas en ellos.En un primer apartado presentaremos algunos aspectos generales de las discusiones en torno de la cuestión racial en la Segunda Posguerra y el papel que en ello tendrían UNESCO y las ciencias sociales. Luego, nos referiremos sintéticamente a los debates fascistas en torno de la cuestión racial para, en el siguiente apartado, desarrollar la primera de nuestras tesis: la existencia de una relación de diálogo/antagonismo entre la declaración de 1949 de UNESCO y los debates fascistas en torno de las leyes raciales entre 1935 y 1938. A partir de ello, en la sección siguiente, desplegaremos nuestra segunda hipótesis, derivada de la primera: las discusiones de UNESCO además de dirigirse a un público general resultan de una disputa al interior de diversos campos científicos. En este tramo, analizaremos los vínculos entre ciencia y política que recorren los diversos documentos que conforman nuestro estudio. Finalmente, propondremos algunas reflexiones a modo de cierre.