Long-term efficacy of a tele-health intervention for acute coronary syndrome patients with depression: 12-month results of the MoodCare randomized controlled trial

Depression is common after a cardiac event; however it often remains untreated. Previously, we reported the efficacy and feasibility of a 6-month tele-health programme (MoodCare), which integrates depression management into a cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduction programme for Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) patients with low mood. Here, we evaluate the long-term efficacy of the programme at 12-month follow-up.

Oral treatment with Cu(II)(atsm) increases mutant SOD1 in vivo but protects motor neurons and improves the phenotype of a transgenic mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Mutations in the metallo-protein Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) cause amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in humans and an expression level-dependent phenotype in transgenic rodents. We show that oral treatment with the therapeutic agent diacetyl-bis(4-methylthiosemicarbazonato)copper(II) [Cu(II)(atsm)] increased the concentration of mutant SOD1 (SOD1G37R) in ALS model mice, but paradoxically improved locomotor function and survival of the mice. To determine why the mice with increased levels of mutant SOD1 had an improved phenotype, we analyzed tissues by mass spectrometry. These analyses revealed most SOD1 in the spinal cord tissue of the SOD1G37R mice was Cu deficient. Treating with Cu(II)(atsm) decreased the pool of Cu-deficient SOD1 and increased the pool of fully metallated (holo) SOD1. Tracking isotopically enriched (65)Cu(II)(atsm) confirmed the increase in holo-SOD1 involved transfer of Cu from Cu(II)(atsm) to SOD1, suggesting the improved locomotor function and survival of the Cu(II)(atsm)-treated SOD1G37R mice involved, at least in part, the ability of the compound to improve the Cu content of the mutant SOD1. This was supported by improved survival of SOD1G37R mice that expressed the human gene for the Cu uptake protein CTR1. Improving the metal content of mutant SOD1 in vivo with Cu(II)(atsm) did not decrease levels of misfolded SOD1. These outcomes indicate the metal content of SOD1 may be a greater determinant of the toxicity of the protein in mutant SOD1-associated forms of ALS than the mutations themselves. Improving the metal content of SOD1 therefore represents a valid therapeutic strategy for treating ALS caused by SOD1.

Patient self-management in chronic heart failure – establishing concordance between guidelines and practice

 Chronic heart failure (CHF) is a progressive and debilitating disease with a broad symptom profile, intermittently marked by periods of acute decompensation. CHF patients are encouraged to self-manage their illness, such as adhering to medical regimens and monitoring symptoms, to optimise health outcomes and quality of life. In so doing, patients are asked to collaborate with their health service providers with regard to their care. However, patients generally do not self-manage well, even with specialist support. Moreover, self- management interventions are yet to demonstrate morbidity or mortality benefits. Social network approaches to self-management consider the availability and mobilisation of all resources, beyond those of only the patient and healthcare providers. Used in conjunction with e-health platforms, social network approaches may offer a means by which to optimise self-management programmes of the future.

Elemental imaging of leaves from the metal hyperaccumulating plant Noccaea caerulescens shows different spatial distribution of Ni, Zn and Cd

Elemental imaging using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was performed on whole leaves of the hyperaccumulating plant Noccaea caerulescens after treatments with either Ni, Zn or Cd. These detailed elemental images reveal differences in the spatial distribution of these three elements across the leaf and provide new insights in the metal ion homeostasis within hyperaccumulating plants. In the Zn treated plants, Zn accumulated in the leaf tip while Mn was co-localised with Zn suggesting similar storage mechanisms for these two metals. These data show a Zn concentration difference of up to 13-fold higher in the distal part of the leaf. Also, there was no correlation between the S and Zn concentrations providing further evidence against S-binding ligands. In contrast, Ni was more evenly distributed while a more heterogeneous distribution of Cd was present with some high levels on leaf edges, suggesting that different storage and transport mechanisms are used for the hyperaccumulation of these two metals. These results show the importance of correct sampling when carrying out subcellular localisation studies as the hyperaccumulated elements are not necessarily homogenously distributed over the entire leaf area. The results also have great implications for biotechnological applications of N. caerulescens showing that it may be possible to use the mechanisms employed by N. caerulescens to increase the Zn concentration in nutrient poor crops without increasing the risk of accumulating other toxic elements such as Ni and Cd.

O Leviatã e os Jesuítas: uma análise das regras disciplinares do Colégio Santo Inácio no quadro institucional do Estado Novo (1937-1945)

Esta diss.ertação apresenta urna anãlise das nonnas dis.ciplin~ res que regul am a conduta das cri anças e adolescentes, e que se consti tuem como tecnicas de adestramento e~ercidas sobre a referida população, por duas instâncias de poder: o Estado e a Escola. As regras. de conduta que fundam o regime escolar sao analis~ das no âmbito das prescrições dis.ciplinares vigentes noColegio Santo In! cio do Rio de Janeiro - dirigido pelos jesultas -, no perlodo de 1937-45 e contidas em alguns documentos dessa instituição, como Regulamento, Es tatutos e Anuãrios. Antes elaboramos. entretanto, uma genealogia da pr~ pria disciplina escolar jesultica. atraves da anãlise de discurso de três documentos bãsicos da Companhia de Jesus, redigidos durante o seco XVI: As COY/J.).:tU.u.iÇÕe6, o Ra..ti.o StucLi.olUlm e os Exe.lLc1cio~ E~p.úútwú.6, onde se destaca uma nltida dimensão pedagógica e normativa. Circunscrevemos a anãlise das regras disciplinares do Colegio Santo Inãcio aos anos de 1937-45, visto tal perlodo marcar a vigência do Estado-Novo no Brasil, quando são instituldos uma serie de dispositivos visando enquadrar e nonnatizar a população infanto-juvenil, e que se en contram consubstanciados em textos como: a Constituição de 37, nos capl tulos onde dispõe Da Famllia, Da Educação e Da Cultura (art. 122-134); a Exposição de Motivos da Lei Orgânica do Ensino Secundãrio, de l/4J42; e artigos publicados na Revista Cu.f;twr.a Po.e1:üca - que funcionou como uma especie de tribuna do governo central -, que tratam de temas como nigi! ne, disciplina, sanidade e moralização das crianças e adolescentes. Na anãlise das relações existentes entre Escola e Estado,not~ damente no que se refere a imposição de um padrão de conduta, concl ulmos que o aparelho escolar possui uma autonomia relativa com relaçao ao ap~ re 1 ho de E s ta do .

Multivariate analysis of fresh-cut carambola slices stored under different temperatures

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Representações sociais do comportamento agressivo do homem sob a ótica da mulher em situação de violência

We aim to understand the social representations of man's aggressive behavior from the perspective of women in situations of domestic violence. This is a descriptive, exploratory and representational study, whose methodological approach falls into the qualitative category. We chose as a scenario for research, by the Reference Center for Citizen Women (CRMC), Natal / RN. The criteria for selection of participants were women who lived/live in situations of domestic violence, with affective or relationship bonding with the assailant, in psychological and emotional positions appropriated to the reality; that are being protected or assisted by the service listed above; whose aggressor is male. We adopted as data collection instruments: questionnaire, Drawing-Story (DE) and a field diary. For analysis of textual data, we decided to use the ALCESTE software conjugated to editing analyze and initial reading. Were investigated 20 women victims of domestic violence, whose author of the attacks was the husband/partner. We identified, from the respondents, that 70% (n = 14) of men with aggressive behavior also had a family history of violence and fragile family relationships. About the physical and emotional condition of the assailant at the time of violence, 50% (n = 10) of these men, regardless the use of alcohol, had often quarrelsome and/or nervous behavior, impatient and unpredictable humor facing a setback, worry or annoyance. Regarding the nature of violence, we observed that women were victims of all types of violence, however, the psychological prevailed in 100% of cases. The corpus "Men" has three classes, whose focuses are, respectively: resignation, denounce and violence/aggression, being possible categorizing them as well: Category 1: The imprisonment of women; Category 2: Violence and its meanings; Category 3: Breaking the violent cycle. We show that the social representations of man s aggressive behavior, from the women in situations of violence, are anchored in the social roles of men in family and society, becoming a dominant model of masculinity. It is aimed, on one hand, from the reproduction of what is already known and/or experienced by male aggressors in the family, as repetitions of behavior. And on the other, present themselves as a state of illness, addiction or psychopathy

Use of modified atmosphere to extend shelf life of fresh-cut carambola (Averrhoa carambola L. cv. Fwang Tung)

Fresh-cut fruit products, including carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.), have limited marketability due to cut surface browning attributed to phenolic compound oxidation by enzymes, such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO). The objective of this study was to evaluate postharvest changes in carambola slices in three different packages. Carambola fruit (cv. Fwang Tung) were picked from the Estacao Experimental de Citricultura de Bebedouro orchard at the mature-green stage. The fruit were washed, dipped in NaOCl solution (200 mg L-1 for 5 min), stored overnight at 10 degrees C, then manually sliced into pieces of approximately 1 cm. The slices were rinsed with NaOCl solution at 20 mg L-1, drained for 3 min, and packaged in polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays (Neoform (R) N94); polystyrene trays covered with PVC 0.017 turn (Vitafilm (R), Goodyear); and vacuum seated polyolefin bags (PLO, Cryovac (R) PD900). The packages were stored at 6.8 degrees C and 90% RH for 12 d, with samples taken every 4 d. PET trays and PVC film did not significantly modify the internal atmosphere and the high water permeability of PVC led to more rapid slice desiccation. PPO activity was lower when the slices were packaged in PLO vacuum sealed bags, which reduced degreening and led to better appearance maintenance for up to 12 d. (R) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impact of atmosphere, organic acids, and calcium on quality of fresh-cut 'Kensington' mango

Fresh-cut slices from ripe 'Kensington' mango (Mangifera indica L.) were prepared aseptically and stored under various treatments at 3 degrees C. Treatments included reduced oxygen (2.5%), enhanced carbon dioxide (5-40%), organic acid application, calcium chloride application, and combinations of the above. Symptoms limiting shelf-life were characterised by tissue darkening, development of a 'glassy' appearance, surface desiccation, and loss of firmness. Reduced oxygen (2.5%) was effective at controlling tissue darkening and the development of a 'glassy' appearance, while calcium application (3%) was partly effective at controlling darkening. Calcium chloride however significantly slowed (but did not stop) loss of tissue firmness. Carbon dioxide (5-40%) and citric acid had little positive effect on shelf-life, with both treatments appearing to promote tissue softening. A combination of low oxygen and calcium allowed 'Kensington' slices to be held for at least 15 days at 3 degrees C. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Response of minimally processed carambola to chemical treatments and low-oxygen atmospheres

Fresh-cut carambola (Averrhoa carambola L.) has limited marketability due to cut-surface browning. The effect of chemical treatments (ascorbic acid, citric acid and Ca-EDTA), controlled atmosphere (0.4-20.3% O-2) and the association of these processes was investigated. Post-cutting dip and low-oxygen atmospheres did not prevent discoloration or improve sensory and physicochemical parameters. However, ascorbic acid (0.5% and 1%) dips reduced polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity during storage at 4.5 degrees C, with 1% ascorbic acid inducing the lowest activity. Although cut-surface browning of 'Maha' slices was not relevant, carambola slices treated with 1% ascorbic acid in association with 0.4% oxygen did not present significant browning or loss of visual quality for up to 12 days, 3 days longer than low oxygen alone (0.4% O-2), thus, their quality can be significantly improved by combining both treatments. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fundamentos da filosofia moral de Peter Singer

This research aims to reconstruct and explain the argument proposed by Peter Singer to justify the principle of equal consideration of interests (PECI). The PECI is the basic normative principle according to people should consider the interests of all sentient beings affected when somebody taking a moral decision. It is the join that Singer proposes between universalizability and the principle of equal consideration of interests that constitutes a compelling reason to justify it. The universalizability requires to disregard the numerical differences, putting yourself in other people s shoes, and to consider preferences, interests, desires and ideals of those affected. Singer joins universalizability to normative principle and molds the form and content of his theory. The first chapter introduces the discussion will be developed in this essay. The second chapter deals the historical and philosophical viewpoint from which Singer starts his studies. The third chapter is about the Singer s critiques of naturalism, intuitionism, relativism, simple subjectivism and emotivism. The fourth chapter exposes the design of universal prescriptivism proposed by R. M. Hare. The universal prescriptivism indicates, in the Singer s viewpoint, a consistent way to create the join between the universalizability and PECI. It highlights also the criticism designed by J. L. Mackie and Singer himself to universal prescriptivism. The second part of this chapter shows briefly some of the main points of the classical conception of utilitarianism and its possible relationship with the theory of Singer. The fifth chapter introduces the Singer s thesis about the origin of ethics and the universalizability as a feature necessary to the point of view of ethic, and the way which this argument is developed to form the PECI. The sixth chapter exposes the main distinctions that characterize the PECI. Finally the seventh chapter provides a discussion about the reasons highlighted by Singer for one who wants orient his life according to the standpoint of ethics. This structure allows explaining the main ideas of the author concerning the theoretical foundations of his moral philosophy

First measurement of hadronic event shapes in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Combination of Tevatron Searches for the Standard Model Higgs Boson in the W+W- Decay Mode

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Combined Tevatron upper limit on gg -> H -> W+W- and constraints on the Higgs boson mass in fourth-generation fermion models

We combine results from searches by the CDF and D0 collaborations for a standard model Higgs boson (H) in the process gg -> H -> W+W- in p (p) over bar collisions at the Fermilab Tevatron Collider at root s = 1.96 TeV. With 4.8 fb(-1) of integrated luminosity analyzed at CDF and 5.4 fb(-1) at D0, the 95% confidence level upper limit on sigma(gg -> H) x B(H -> W+W-) is 1.75 pb at m(H) = 120 GeV, 0.38 pb at m(H) = 165 GeV, and 0.83 pb at m(H) = 200 GeV. Assuming the presence of a fourth sequential generation of fermions with large masses, we exclude at the 95% confidence level a standard-model-like Higgs boson with a mass between 131 and 204 GeV.

Cultivar affects browning susceptibility of freshly cut star fruit slices

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)