Identification of a novel protein kinase mediating Akt survival signaling to the ATM protein

We identified a novel human AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family member, designated ARK5, encoding 661 amino acids with an estimated molecular mass of 74 kDa. The putative amino acid sequence reveals 47, 45.8, 42.4, and 55% homology to AMPK-alpha1, AMPK-alpha2, MELK and SNARE respectively, suggesting that it is a new member of the AMPK family. It has a putative Akt phosphorylation motif at amino acids 595600, and Ser(600) was found to be phosphorylated by active Akt resulting in the activation of kinase activity toward the SAMS peptide, a consensus AMPK substrate. During nutrient starvation, ARK5 supported the survival of cells in an Akt-dependent manner. In addition, we also demonstrated that ARK5, when activated by Akt, phosphorylated the ATM protein that is mutated in the human genetic disorder ataxia-telangiectasia and also induced the phosphorylation of p53. On the basis of our current findings, we propose that a novel AMPK family member, ARK5, is the tumor cell survival factor activated by Akt and acts as an ATM kinase under the conditions of nutrient starvation.

A novel target-field method for magnetic resonance shim coils: III. Shielded zonal and tesseral coils

This paper continues the development of a new approach for the design of shim and gradient coils, used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) applications. A cylindrical primary coil of radius a and length 2L is placed inside a co-axial shield cylinder of radius b. An active shielding strategy is used to create a desired target field at an arbitrarily specified (cylindrical) location within the primary coil, and to annul the field at a certain radius outside the shield. The form of the interior target field may be chosen arbitrarily by the designer, although zonal and tesseral harmonics are typically used in MRI applications. The method presented here designs coil windings on both the primary and shielding cylinders, to produce fields that conform to the specified interior target field and the annulled field exterior to the shield. An additional feature of the method presented here is that the target field inside the primary coil is matched at two different radii, to improve overall accuracy. The method is illustrated by designing several shielded shim coils, for creating higher order tesseral fields located asymmetrically within the coil. The simpler case of pure zonal fields is discussed separately and applied to the design of some higher order shielded coils.

Synthesis and complexation properties of some novel lariat-crown ethers

Several new lariat-crown ethers bearing either bridged bisdioxine or tetraoxaadamantane units as chiral substituents are prepared by reacting the corresponding amino-crown ether derivatives with the dimeric alpha-oxoketene, the latter obtained by flash vacuum pyrolysis of a furan-2,3-dione precursor. Complexation properties towards differently charged metal ions are investigated by H-1 NMR titration to obtain complexation constants (K-c-values for potassium/ sodium rhodanides: 480-1100 mol dm(-3)), as well as extraction experiments to explore the metal ion transportation abilities of the new lariat crown derivatives. In particular, a significantly increased ability to transport metal ions from water into chloroform was found with spherical tetraoxaadamantyl derivatives when compared with the free amino-benzocrown ethers.

The preparation of zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes of the pentadentate N3S2 ligand formed from 2,6-diacetylpyridine and S-benzyldithiocarbazate (H2SNNNS) and the X-ray crystal structure of the novel dimeric [Zn2(SNNNS)2] complex

The pentadentate chelating agent, 2,6-diacetylpyridinebis(S-benzyldithiocarbazate) (H2SNNNS) reacts with zinc(II) and cadmium(II) ions forming stable complexes of empirical formula, [M(SNNNS)] (M=Zn2+, Cd2+; SNNNS2 =doubly deprotonated anionic form of the Schiff base). These complexes have been characterized by a variety of physico-chemical techniques. IR and H-1 NMR spectral evidence indicate that the Schiff base coordinates to the zinc(II) and cadmium(II) ions via the pyridine nitrogen atoms, the azomethine nitrogen atoms and the mercaptide sulfur atoms. The crystal and molecular structure of the zinc(II) complex has been determined by X-ray diffraction. The complex is a dimer in which the pyridine nitrogen atom,the azomethine nitrogen atom and the thiolate sulfur atom from one ligand coordinate to one of the zinc(II) ions whereas the azomethine and thiolate sulfur atoms from another ligand complete pentacoordination around the zinc(II) ion, the ligands being coordinated in their deprotonated forms. The coordination geometry about each zinc(II) can be considered as intermediate between a square-pyramid and trigonal-bipyramid. The cadmium(II) complex is also assigned with a dimeric structure. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Synthesis of novel 2-amino-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylates utilising ultrasonic and thermally mediated aminolysis

Novel 2-amino-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylates have been synthesised in high yield by unprecedented ultrasonic and thermally mediated nucleophilic displacement of bromide from ethyl 2-bromo-1,3-thiazole-5-carboxylate by primary, secondary and aryl amines.

Novel neutral iron(II) isocyanide maleonitrile dithiolate [Fe(S2C2(CN)2)(t-BuNC) 4] compound

FeBr2 reacts with the S2C2(CN)22- ion (1:1 ratio) in the presence of an excess of t-BuNC in THF to give the mixed ligand [Fe(S2C2(CN)2)(t-BuNC) 4] compound. This neutral product with a formal oxidation state of two for the iron atom was characterized by conductivity measurements, and, i.r., Mössbauer, 13C and 1H n.m.r. spectroscopy. There is a Fe-C p back-donation strengthened towards isocyanide ligands, according to the data of 13C, 1H n.m.r. and Mössbauer spectroscopy.

Contemporary issues in the government and administration of Latin American megacities

This paper is the first to systematically analyze and compare the structures of city governance and administration for seven major cities in Latin America, four of which are megacities (population of over 10 million), and three others are large national capitals. U.S. and U. K. models of city administration are reviewed as baseline models against which differences in Latin American may be explored. Structures of Government in Latin America show several important features and trends: 1) the lack of metropolitan (cross jurisdictional) authority; 2) the existence of strong mayors and weak councils"; 3) high levels of partisanship; 4) overlapping rather than interlocking bureaucracies; 5) pressures towards the privatization of city services, but continuing tension over the desirability of public versus private control; 6) greater fiscal responsibility and autonomy; and 7), a continuing marginalization of public participation in megacity governance.In spite of these features, many cities throughout the region (regardless of whether they are megacity size or national capitals), are actively intensifying their efforts to develop more effective, accountable and democratic governance structures.

Recensao de: I. K. Healy, Social Work Practices: Contemporary Perspectives on Change, London, Sage, 2000.

Revista Lusófona de Ciências Sociais

The process of implementing answerability in contemporary Brazil

Abstract: The aim of this study was to characterize the trajectory of answerability in Brazil. In the light of studies based on the historical neo-institutionalism approach, formal institutional changes adopted at federal level between 1985 and 2014, and which favor the typical requirements of answerability - information and justification - were identified and analyzed through the content analysis technique. The conclusion is that the trajectory of answerability in contemporary Brazil can be characterized as continuous, primarily occurring through the layering strategy, and whose leitmotif, since its origin, has consisted of matters of financial and budgetary nature. Nevertheless, a recent influence of deeper democratic subjects on it has been observed.

Qualified intervention/qualifying formation

An education promoting scientific literacy (SL) that prepares the citizens to a responsible citizenship has persisted as an argument across discussions on curricula design. The ubiquity of science and technology on contemporary societies and the ideological requirement of informed democratic participation led to the identification of relevant categories that drive curriculum reforms towards a humanistic approach of school science. The category ‘Science as culture’ acquires in the current work a major importance: it enlightens the meaning of scientific literacy. Looking closely to the French term, culture scientifique et tecnologique, turns science simultaneously into a cultural object and product that can be both received and worked at different levels and within several approaches by the individuals and the communities. On the other hand, nonformal and informal education spaces gain greater importance. Together with the formal school environment these spaces allow for an enrichment and diversification of learning experiences. Examples of nonformal spaces where animators can develop their work may be science museums or botanical gardens; television and internet can be regarded as informal education spaces. Due to the above mentioned impossibility of setting apart the individual or community-based experiences from Science and Technology (S&T), the work in nonformal and informal spaces sets an additional challenge to the preparation of socio-cultural animators. Socio-scientific issues take, at times, heavily relevance within the communities. Pollution, high tension lines, spreading of diseases, food contamination or natural resources conservation are among the socio-scientific issues that often call upon arguments and emotions. In the context of qualifying programmes on socio-cultural animation (social education and community development) within European Higher Education Area (EHEA) the present study describes the Portuguese framework. The comparison of programmes within Portugal aims to contribute to the discussion on the curriculum design for a socio-cultural animator degree (1st cycle of Bologna process). In particular, this study intends to assess how the formation given complies with enabling animators to work, within multiple scenarios, with communities in situations of socio-scientific relevance. A set of themes, issues and both current and potential fields of action, not described or insufficiently described in literature, is identified and analysed in the perspective of a qualified intervention of animators. One of these examples is thoroughly discussed. Finally, suggestions are made about curriculum reforms in order, if possible, to strongly link the desired qualified intervention with a qualifying formation.

Advances on the development of novel heterogeneous catalysts for transesterification of triglycerides in biodiesel

This paper describes experimental work done towards the search for more profitable and sustainable alternatives regarding biodiesel production, using heterogeneous catalysts instead of the conventional homogenous alkaline catalysts, such as NaOH, KOH or sodium methoxide, for the methanolysis reaction. This experimental work is a first stage on the development and optimization of new solid catalysts, able to produce biodiesel from vegetable oils. The heterogeneous catalytic process has many differences from the currently used in industry homogeneous process. The main advantage is that, it requires lower investment costs, since no need for separation steps of methanol/catalyst, biodiesel/catalyst and glycerine/catalyst. This work resulted in the selection of CaO and CaO modified with Li catalysts, which showed very good catalytic performances with high activity and stability. In fact FAME yields higher than 92% were observed in two consecutive reaction batches without expensive intermediate reactivation procedures. Therefore, those catalysts appear to be suitable for biodiesel production.

Novel Scorpionate and Pyrazole Dioxovanadium Complexes, Catalysts for Carboxylation and Peroxidative Oxidation of Alkanes

The dioxovanadium(V) complexes [VO2(3,5-Me(2)Hpz)(3)][BF4] (1) (pz = pyrazolyl), [VO2{SO3C(pz)(3)}] (2), [VO2{HB(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)}] (3) and [VO2{HC(pz)(3)}][BF4] (4), bearing pyrazole or scorpionate ligands, were obtained by reaction of triethyl vanadate [VO(OEt)(3)] with hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)methane [HC(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)] or 3,5-dimethylpyrazole (3,5-Me(2)Hpz; 1), lithium tris(1-pyrazolyl)methanesulfonate {Li[SO3C(pz)(3)], 2}, potassium hydrotris(3,5-dimethyl-1-pyrazolyl)borate {K[HB(3,5-Me(2)pz)(3)], 3} and hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)methane [HC(pz)(3), 4], respectively. Treatment of [VO(OEt)(3)] with potassium hydrotris(1-pyrazolyl)borate {K[HB(pz)(3)]} led to the mixed eta(3)-tris(pyrazolyl)borate and eta(2)-bis(pyrazolyl)borate oxovanadium(IV) complex [VO{HB(pz)(3)}{H2B(pz)(2)}, 5]. The compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, NMR and EPR spectroscopy, FAB and ESI mass spectrometry, cyclic voltammetry and, for 5, also by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All complexes exhibit catalytic activity in the single-pot carboxylation [in trifluoroacetic acid/potassium peroxodisulfate (CF3COOH/K2S2O8)] of gaseous alkanes (methane and ethane) to carboxylic acids (yields up to 40%. TONs up to 157) and in the peroxidative oxidation [in water/acetonitrile (H2O/NCMe)] of liquid alkanes (cyclohexane and cyclopentane) to the corresponding alcohols and ketones (yields up to 24%, TONs up to 117), under mild conditions.