Chronic hypoxia induced down-regulation of angiotensinogen expression in rat epididymis

The presence of an intrinsic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the rat epididymis has been previously established by showing the expression of several key RAS components, and in particular angiotensinogen, the indispensable element for the intracellular generation of angiotensin II. In this study, the possible involvement of this local epididymal RAS in the testicular effects of chronic hypoxia was investigated. Semi-quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting and by in situ hybridization histochemistry of the rat epididymis were used to show changes in localization and expression of angiotensinogen. Results from RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that chronic hypoxia caused a marked decrease (60%) in the expression of angiotensinogen mRNA, when compared with that in the normoxic epididymis. Western blot analysis demonstrated a less decrease (35%) in the expression of angiotensinogen protein. In situ hybridization histochemistry showed that the reduced angiotensinogen mRNA in chronic hypoxia was specifically localized to the epididymal epithelium from the cauda, corpus and caput regions of the epididymis; a distribution similar to that of normoxic rats. It was concluded that chronic hypoxia decreases the transcriptional and translational expression of angiotensinogen, and thus local formation of angiotensin II, in the rat epididymis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Role of PGF(2 alpha) and oxytocin in parturition in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)

Maturation of the fetal pituitary and adrenal glands allows the secretion of cortisol, which in turn leads to an increase in prostaglandin and mesotocin production. The production of prostaglandin and mesotocin results in an increase in uterine contractions and initiates birth in marsupials. The major metabolite of PGF(2alpha), 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F-2alpha (PGFM), has been found in the plasma of the possum at the time of birth and administration of PGF(2alpha) to female possums induced the adoption of the birth position. Evidence that mesotocin is an integral hormone of birth in the tammar wallaby indicates that both PGF(2alpha) and mesotocin or oxytocin are required for marsupial birth. The presence of PGF(2alpha) receptors in the uterus and corpus luteum of the possum, and the in vitro uterine responsiveness to PGF(2alpha) or oxytocin, were examined. PGF(2alpha) receptors were not observed in possum uteri and the inability of PGF(2alpha) to cause contractions indicates that PGF(2alpha) is not involved directly in contraction of the uterus at parturition. The presence of oxytocin and mesotocin receptors in the uterus of possoms and the ability of oxytocin to induce uterine contraction in vitro supports the view that mesotocin is required for expulsion of the young from the uterus. Low numbers of PGF(2alpha) receptors were found in the possum corpus luteum at birth, indicating an involvement of PGF(2alpha) in regression of the corpus luteum.

A Reescrita do riso: uma abordagem crítica de duas traduções portuguesas da obra The Importance of Being Earnest

Orientadora: Mestre Maria Helena Guimarães

Lingüística de corpus e estudos da tradução

O objectivo principal deste ensaio é discutir o interesse crescente que os Estudos da Tradução tem expressado acerca da Lingüística de Corpus e seu importante papel para a investigação do fenómeno tradutório. O ensaio apresenta os primeiros trabalhos na interface entre corpora e tradução e como a disciplina dos Estudos da Tradução de base em corpus evoluiu na última década. Uma atenção mais pontual é dada à noção de estudos em corpus de pequena dimensão e sua influência no campo das pesquisas em tradução no Brasil. Além disso, o ensaio explora como o conceito de representatividade tem recebido definições diferentes nos estudos dos fenómenos tradutórios de base em corpus.

Estratégias de tradução em sites das regiões de turismo de Portugal: estudo baseado em corpus

Em Portugal, o turismo é uma actividade económica que gera ganhos significativos e a promoção turística do país no mercado externo assenta cada vez mais na criação de sites multilingues. Este artigo examina um corpus constituído por textos provenientes de sites de Regiões de Turismo de Portugal, em português, e as respectivas traduções para inglês, com o objectivo de demonstrar o modo como os tradutores adicionam informação inexistente no texto original. Através da análise desta característica específica dos sites oficiais traduzidos para promover o destino ―Portugal‖ no mercado externo pretende salientar-se a importância que as estratégias de tradução assumem no marketing do destino turístico, uma vez que a informação adicionada cria uma determinada imagem de uma região. Em termos teóricos e metodológicos, este artigo enquadra-se no âmbito da Linguística de Corpus.

Towards the detection of deception in interactive multimedia environments

A classical application of biosignal analysis has been the psychophysiological detection of deception, also known as the polygraph test, which is currently a part of standard practices of law enforcement agencies and several other institutions worldwide. Although its validity is far from gathering consensus, the underlying psychophysiological principles are still an interesting add-on for more informal applications. In this paper we present an experimental off-the-person hardware setup, propose a set of feature extraction criteria and provide a comparison of two classification approaches, targeting the detection of deception in the context of a role-playing interactive multimedia environment. Our work is primarily targeted at recreational use in the context of a science exhibition, where the main goal is to present basic concepts related with knowledge discovery, biosignal analysis and psychophysiology in an educational way, using techniques that are simple enough to be understood by children of different ages. Nonetheless, this setting will also allow us to build a significant data corpus, annotated with ground-truth information, and collected with non-intrusive sensors, enabling more advanced research on the topic. Experimental results have shown interesting findings and provided useful guidelines for future work. Pattern Recognition

Estratégias de tradução em sites das regiões de turismo de Portugal: estudo baseado em corpus

Em Portugal, o turismo é uma actividade económica que gera ganhos significativos e a promoção turística do país no mercado externo assenta cada vez mais na criação de sites multilingues. Este artigo examina um corpus constituído por textos provenientes de sites de Regiões de Turismo de Portugal, em português, e as respectivas traduções para inglês, com o objectivo de demonstrar o modo como os tradutores adicionam informação inexistente no texto original. Através da análise desta característica específica dos sites oficiais traduzidos para promover o destino ―Portugal‖ no mercado externo pretende salientar-se a importância que as estratégias de tradução assumem no marketing do destino turístico, uma vez que a informação adicionada cria uma determinada imagem de uma região. Em termos teóricos e metodológicos, este artigo enquadra-se no âmbito da Linguística de Corpus.

Role of oxidative stress-induced systemic and cavernosal molecular alterations in the progression of diabetic erectile dysfunction

Background Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent complication of diabetes, and oxidative stress is an important feature of diabetic ED. Oxidative stress-induced damage plays a pivotal role in the development of tissue alterations. However, the deleterious effects of oxidative stress in the corpus cavernosum with the progression of diabetes remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate systemic and penile oxidative stress status in the early and late stages of diabetes. Methods Male Wistar streptozotocin-diabetic rats (and age-matched controls) were examined 2 (early) and 8 weeks (late) after the induction of diabetes. Systemic oxidative stress was evaluated by urinary H2O2 and the ratio of circulating reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG). Penile oxidative status was assessed by H2O2 production and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) formation. Cavernosal endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was analyzed by quantitative immunohistochemistry. Dual immunofluorescence was also performed for 3-NT and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and eNOS–α-SMA. Results There was a significant increase in urinary H2O2 levels in both diabetic groups. The plasma GSH/GSSG ratio was significantly augmented in late diabetes. In cavernosal tissue, H2O2 production was significantly increased in late diabetes. Reactivity for 3-NT was located predominantly in cavernosal smooth muscle (SM) and was significantly reduced in late diabetes. Quantitative immunohistochemistry revealed a significant decrease in eNOS levels in cavernosal SM and endothelium in late diabetes. Conclusions The findings indicate that the noxious effects of oxidative stress are more prominent in late diabetes. Increased penile protein oxidative modifications and decreased eNOS expression may be responsible for structural and/or functional deregulation, contributing to the progression of diabetes-associated ED.

A Rare Obstetric Outcome in Uterus Didelphys with Obstructed Hemivagina and Ipsilateral Renal Agenesis

Background: The unique clinical syndrome of uterus didelphys, obstructed hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal anomaly is very rare and can be quite difficult to recognize because of the enormous heterogeneity in its clinical presentation. There are few long-term reports of the reproductive performance of women with this syndrome following treatment, or about the location of subsequent pregnancies. Case: A case in which two spontaneous pregnancies occurred alternatively in both hemiuteri: one despite a previous ipsilateral large hematometra and hematocolpos and the other, 8 years after, simultaneously with contralateral hematometra and hematocolpos(because of vaginal restenosis), is reported. Drainage of hematocolpos was performed at 14 weeks of pregnancy with immediate pain relief. Results: Pregnancy proceeded without complications. Eight month after delivery, a vaginoplasty was performed by excising the longitudinal vaginal septum, and marsupializing the vaginal cuff. Conclusions: This case highlights the importance of a correct and early diagnosis of developmental anomalies of the urogenital tract, as well as how a conservative approach in a Mullerian anomaly with unilateral obstruction led to two successful pregnancies occurring alternatively in the unaffected and in the previously blocked side. This is additional information supporting that every effort should be made to preserve the obstructed uterus.

Intention recognition, commitment and their roles in the evolution of cooperation

Dissertação para obtenção do Grau de Doutor em Informática

Staging the Scientist: The Representation of Science and its Processes in American and British Drama

Dissertação apresentada para cumprimento dos requisitos necessários à obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estudos Ingleses e Norte Americanos

Antimicrobial resistance of Helicobacter pylori strains to five antibiotics, including levofloxacin, in Northwestern Turkey

INTRODUCTION: Antibiotic resistance is the main factor that affects the efficacy of current therapeutic regimens against Helicobacter pylori. This study aimed to determine the rates of resistance to efficacy clarithromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, levofloxacin and metronidazole among H. pylori strains isolated from Turkish patients with dyspepsia. METHODS: H. pylori was cultured from corpus and antrum biopsies that were collected from patients with dyspeptic symptoms, and the antimicrobial susceptibility of H. pylori was determined using the E-test (clarithromycin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, metronidazole and levofloxacin) according to the EUCAST breakpoints. Point mutations in the 23S rRNA gene of clarithromycin-resistant strains were investigated using real-time PCR. RESULTS: A total of 98 H. pylori strains were isolated, all of which were susceptible to amoxicillin and tetracycline. Of these strains, 36.7% (36/98) were resistant to clarithromycin, 35.5% (34/98) were resistant to metronidazole, and 29.5% (29/98) were resistant to levofloxacin. Multiple resistance was detected in 19.3% of the isolates. The A2143G and A2144G point mutations in the 23S rRNA-encoding gene were found in all 36 (100%) of the clarithromycin-resistant strains. Additionally, the levofloxacin MIC values increased to 32 mg/L in our H. pylori strains. Finally, among the clarithromycin-resistant strains, 27.2% were resistant to levofloxacin, and 45.4% were resistant to metronidazole. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that treatment failure after clarithromycin- or levofloxacin-based triple therapy is not surprising and that metronidazole is not a reliable agent for the eradication of H. pylori infection in Turkey.

Língua escrita e língua real: o que um corpus oral permite descobrir

Esta comunicação, baseando-se num extenso corpus oral que está a ser recolhido, procurará refletir de que modo a língua realizada oralmente nos permite perceber o que realmente são e como funcionam as línguas para além da dimensão formalizada da escrita. Pretende-se demonstrar que é a linguagem em uso que melhor evidencia muitos aspetos impossíveis de perceber por uma designada do sistema. Assim, procurar-se-á verificar até que ponto a verdadeira realização linguística da oralidade respeita a noção de frase e de norma, bem assim como especificamente realiza várias dimensões lexicais e pragmáticas.

Corpus e metodologia para o estudo das relações culturais ibéricas: o caso galego-português n’O Commercio do Porto (1927-1936)

O objetivo deste trabalho é contribuir metodologicamente para a pesquisa no estudo das relações culturais na península ibérica, a partir do recurso a corpus elaborados com base na imprensa diária, o que denominamos corpus mediático. Ao longo das páginas seguintes, exporemos (i) em que medida entendemos o estudo primário da imprensa periódica da maior relevância investigadora para a análise das relações entre dois ou mais sistemas culturais e, do mesmo modo, (ii) como a elaboração de corpus deste género pode ser útil e fiável para a análise da(s) natureza(s) das relações objeto de estudo, principalmente através de técnicas de cômputo quantitativo.

Poéticas y políticas de los cuerpos juveniles. Tres estudios en caso en Córdoba. The poetics and politics of youths' bodies.Three cases studies.

¿Qué formas adquieren los cuerpos de los jóvenes bajo las actuales condiciones de producción? ¿Cuáles son sus poéticas? ¿Qué relaciones de fuerza se realizan en estas formas? ¿Cómo se inscriben en los cuerpos las relaciones de dominación, el "ethos" y la cosmovisión de un grupo social? Estas son algunas de las cuestiones que orientan el presente proyecto, interesado en explorar y describir sistemáticamente los procesos sociales del devenir "joven" en Córdoba. La investigación aborda algunas de las problemáticas propias de los jóvenes en tanto grupo social heterogéneo y diferenciado a partir del análisis de las prácticas de producción, consumo, interpretación y circulación de bienes culturales asociados con la diversión y el tiempo libre. Los tres objetos empíricos, localizados en la ciudad de Córdoba, son:o las salidas nocturnas de jóvenes estudiantes universitarios o la formación y el entrenamiento de los bailarines clásicos en el Teatro del Libertador Gral. San Martín. o las prácticas de entretenimiento y socialización lúdica entre los jóvenes de la comunidad de sordos de Córdoba.La hipótesis central de la investigación sostiene que la música y el baile tienen la capacidad de producir las identidades que nombran. Esta producción de cuerpos y subjetividades se realizaría en las performances sociales ("las salidas nocturnas" y "fiestas de la comunidad sorda") y las performances artísticas (clases, ensayos y funciones de ballet) donde se da la interacción entre las identidades actuadas por los sujetos y las ofrecidas por las diferentes músicas, bailes y movimientos corporales. En este sentido, proponemos que las performances articulan una particular identidad cuando quienes la protagonizan experimentan que la música y el baile se "ajusta" a la trama argumental que organiza sus narrativas identitarias.ObjetivosGENERAL:o Describir, de modo denso, las prácticas y representaciones implicadas en el proceso de materialización de los cuerpos y relacionarlas con los procesos de subjetivación y formación de identidades juveniles. ESPECÍFICOS.o Explorar la relación entre las diversas formas de consumo cultural en la formación de un estilo de vida y en la formación de identidades colectivas. o Describir los procesos de entrenamiento de los bailarines de música clásica.o Analizar los procesos de comunicación no verbal entre jóvenes de la comunidad sorda.Materiales y métodos.Para realizar esta investigación se construirá por medio de técnicas cuali y cuantitativas un corpus heterogéneo de materiales textuales, gráficos y audiovisuales, así como de entrevistas en profundidad, de experiencias etnográficas de observación participante y de investigación cuantitativa. Dicho corpus recibirá un tratamiento diferencial según el soporte y género, pero en todos los casos trabajando desde una matriz de análisis que considere los procesos de construcción de sentido y las relaciones entre cuerpo, subjetividad e identidad. En el análisis de los datos se pondrán en juego herramientas conceptuales tomadas de la Antropología Simbólica, la Antropología de la Danza, el Análisis del Discurso, la Sociología del Arte y los Estudios de la Performance. Resultados esperados.Se espera elaborar indicadores para medir la producción, circulación y consumo de bienes simbólicos. El desenvolvimiento del proyecto permitirá también la formación de recursos humanos en investigación y se contempla presentaciones a reuniones científicas, publicación en revistas nacionales e internacionales y la elaboración de dos libros. Por último se implementarán actividades de capacitación y asesoramiento para instituciones relacionados con los jóvenes. Importancia del ProyectoLos resultados de la investigación permitirán una interpretación más comprehensiva de los sentidos que poseen para jóvenes cordobeses problemáticas sociales como las adicciones, el alcoholismo, la salud sexual y reproductiva, las prácticas discriminatorias o los usos de las nuevas tecnologías.