Making distance learning E.R.O.T.I.C.: Applying interpretation principles to distance learning

Distance learners are self-directed learners traditionally taught via study books, collections of readings, and exercises to test understanding of learning packages. Despite advances in e-Learning environments and computer-based teaching interfaces, distance learners still lack opportunities to participate in exercises and debates available to classroom learners, particularly through non-text based learning techniques. Effective distance teaching requires flexible learning opportunities. Using arguments developed in interpretation literature, we argue that effective distance learning must also be Entertaining, Relevant, Organised, Thematic, Involving and Creative—E.R.O.T.I.C. (after Ham, 1992). We discuss an experiment undertaken with distance learners at The University of Queensland Gatton Campus, where we initiated an E.R.O.T.I.C. external teaching package aimed at engaging distance learners but using multimedia, including but not limited to text-based learning tools. Student responses to non-text media were positive.

Early pregnancy factor treatment suppresses the inflammatory response and adhesion molecule expression in the spinal cord of SJL/J mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and the delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to trinitrochlorobenzene in normal BALB/c mice

Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is a secreted protein, present in serum during early pregnancy and essential for maintaining viability of the embryo. It is a homologue of chaperonin 10 (Cpn10) but, unlike Cpn10, it has an extracellular role. EPF has immunosuppressive and growth regulatory properties. Previously we have reported the preparation of recombinant EPF (rEPF) and shown that treatment with rEPF will suppress clinical signs of MBP-EAE in Lewis rats and PLP-EAE in SJL/J mice. In the present study, these findings have been extended to investigate possible mechanisms involved in the action of EPF. Following treatment of mice with rEPF from the day of inoculation, there were fewer infiltrating CD3+ and CD4+ cells in the parenchyma of the spinal cord during the onset of disease and after the initial episode, compared with mice treated with vehicle. Expression of the integrins LFA-1, VLA-4 and Mac-1 and of members of the immunoglobulin superfamily of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was suppressed in the central nervous system (CNS) following rEPF treatment. The expression of PECAM-1 was not affected. To determine if rEPF suppressed T cell activation in the periphery, the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reaction of normal BALB/c mice to trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) following treatment with rEPF was studied. The results showed that treatment with rEPF suppressed the DTH reaction, demonstrating the ability of EPF to downregulate the cell-mediated immune response. These results indicate that suppression of immunological mechanisms by rEPF plays a major role in the reduction of clinical signs of disease in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterisation of grafted supports used for solid-phase synthesis

A series of 'pellicular' type supports were fabricated by direct gamma-radiation-mediated graft polymerisation of styrene onto polypropylene, followed by aminomethylation. Raman spectroscopy was used for measuring the level of penetration of polystyrene graft into polypropylene, and other structural features such as density of graft and depth of functionalisation. The kinetics of the coupling of fluorenylmethylcarbamate (Fmoc)-labelled amino acids, to the aminomethylated polystyrene grafts have been measured by UV absorption followed cleavage of the Fmoc chromophore. The Raman spectroscopy results showed that for this series of experiments the calculated rate coefficient for coupling of Fmoc-labelled amino acids was primarily dependent on graft thickness, but was also influenced by the proportion of polystyrene graft to polypropylene. In general, it was also shown that with increasing loading capacity of support the calculated rate coefficient for amino-acid coupling decreased correspondingly. In addition, a support that had both a high rate coefficient and a high loading capacity was prepared from polypropylene base material with a co-continuous porous structure (high surface area). (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.

In overweight patients with chronic hepatitis C, circulating insulin is associated with hepatic fibrosis: implications for therapy

Background/Aims: Host factors such as increased body mass index (BMI) and genotype-specific viral factors contribute to the development of steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). We hypothesized that host metabolic factors associated with increased BMI may play a role in disease progression. Methods: Fasting serum was collected from 160 patients with chronic HCV at the time of liver biopsy and 45 age, gender and BMI matched controls, and assessed for levels of insulin, c-peptide and leptin. Results: Patients with viral genotype 3 had more severe steatosis (P = 0.0001) and developed stages 1 and 2 fibrosis at a younger age (P < 0.05) than patients with genotype 1. For both genotypes, overweight patients had significantly more steatosis and increased insulin and leptin levels. In contrast to lean patients, there was a statistically significant increase in circulating insulin levels with increasing fibrosis in overweight patients with chronic HCV (P = 0.03). Following multivariate analysis, insulin was independently associated with fibrosis (P = 0.046) but not inflammation (P = 0.83). There was no association between serum leptin levels and stage of fibrosis. Conclusions: Increasing circulating insulin levels may be a factor responsible for the association between BMI and fibrosis in patients with HCV, irrespective of viral genotype. (C) 2003 European Association for the Study of the Liver. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Impacts of structural characteristics on activated sludge floc stability

Activated sludge samples from seven full-scale plants were investigated in order to determine the relationship between floc structure and floc stability. Floc stability was determined by shear sensitivity and floc strength. Floc structure was considered in terms of two size scales, the micro- and macrostructure. The microstructure refers to the organization of the floc components, such as the individual microorganisms. The macrostructure refers to the overall floc. The floc macrostructure was characterized by filament index, sludge volume index, size, and fractal dimension. It had a significant impact on floc stability. Large and open floes with low fractal dimensions containing large number of filaments were more shear sensitive and had lower floc strength compared to small and dense floes. Fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis indicated that the organization of the bacterial cells might also have an effect on the floc stability. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structure of the HERG K+ channel S5P extracellular linker - Role of an amphipathic alpha-helix in C-type inactivation

The HERG K+ channel has very unusual kinetic behavior that includes slow activation but rapid inactivation. These features are critical for normal cardiac repolarization as well as in preventing lethal ventricular arrhythmias. Mutagenesis studies have shown that the extracellular peptide linker joining the fifth transmembrane domain to the pore helix is critical for rapid inactivation of the HERG K+ channel. This peptide linker is also considerably longer in HERG K+ channels, 40 amino acids, than in most other voltage-gated K+ channels. In this study we show that a synthetic 42-residue peptide corresponding to this linker region of the HERG K+ channel does not have defined structural elements in aqueous solution; however, it displays two well defined helical regions when in the presence of SDS micelles. The helices correspond to Trp(585)-Ile(593) and Gly(604)-Tyr(611) of the channel. The Trp(585)-Ile(593) helix has distinct hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. The Gly(604)-Tyr(611) helix corresponds to an N-terminal extension of the pore helix. Electrophysiological studies of HERG currents following application of exogenous S5P peptides show that the amphipathic helix in the S5P linker interacts with the pore region of the channel in a voltage-dependent manner.

Vitamin C: Effects of exercise and requirements with training

Ascorbic acid or vitamin C is involved in a number of biochemical pathways that are important to exercise metabolism and the health of exercising individuals. This review reports the results of studies investigating the requirement for vitamin C with exercise on the basis of dietary vitamin C intakes, the response to supplementation and alterations in plasma, serum, and leukocyte ascorbic acid concentration following both acute exercise and regular training. The possible physiological significance of changes in ascorbic acid with exercise is also addressed. Exercise generally causes a transient increase in circulating ascorbic acid in the hours following exercise, but a decline below pre-exercise levels occurs in the days after prolonged exercise. These changes could be associated with increased exercise-induced oxidative stress. On the basis of alterations in the concentration of ascorbic acid within the blood, it remains unclear if regular exercise increases the metabolism of vitamin C. However, the similar dietary intakes and responses to supplementation between athletes and nonathletes suggest that regular exercise does not increase the requirement for vitamin C in athletes. Two novel hypotheses are put forward to explain recent findings of attenuated levels of cortisol postexercise following supplementation with high doses of vitamin C.

Comparative study of the radiation-induced grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoropropylvinyl ether) and polypropylene substrates. I: Kinetics and structural investigation

A comparative study has been made of the radiation grafting of styrene onto poly(tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoropropyl vinyl ether) (PFA) and polypropylene (PP) substrates, using the simultaneous irradiation method. Effects of grafting conditions such as monomer concentrations, type of solvent, dose rate and irradiation dose on the grafting yield were investigated. Under the same grafting conditions it was found that a higher degree of grafting of styrene was obtained using a mixture of dichloromethane/methanol solvents for PFA and methanol for PP and the degree of grafting was higher in PP than in PFA at all doses. However, the micro-Raman spectroscopy analysis of the graft revealed that, for the same degree of grafting, the penetration depth of the grafted polystyrene into the substrate was higher in PFA than in PP substrates. In both polymers the crystallinity was hardly affected by the grafting process and the degree of crystallinity decreased slightly with grafting dose. The dependence of the initial rate of grafting on the dose rate and the monomer concentration was found to be 0.6 and 1.4 order for PFA and 0.15 and 2.2 for PP, respectively. The degree of grafting increased with increasing radiation dose in both polymers. However, the grafting yield decreased with an increase in the dose rate. The increase in the overall grafting yield for PFA and PP was accompanied by a proportional increase in the penetration depth of the graft into the substrates. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.

Bridgehead arylation: A direct route to advanced intermediates for the synthesis of C-20 diterpene alkaloids

[GRAPHICS] Rapid access to the ABCE ring system of the C-20 diterpene alkaloids was achieved by silver(I)-promoted intramolecular Friedel-Crafts arylation of a functional group-specific 5-bromo-3-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivative.

An??lise da implementa????o do Programa Sistema Brasiliero de Tecnologia Sibratec Modalidade Extens??o Tecnol??gica

Este trabalho apresenta uma an??lise do processo de implementa????o do Programa Sistema Brasileiro de Tecnologia ??? SIBRATEC, programa do MCTI cujo objetivo geral ?? promover extens??o tecnol??gica para solucionar pequenos gargalos na gest??o tecnol??gica, adapta????o de produtos e processos e a melhoria da gest??o da produ????o das micro, pequenas e m??dias empresas, bem como desenvolver o fomento ?? expans??o do conhecimento cient??fico nas empresas.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o formato e a adequa????o dessa modalidade do programa a partir da contextualiza????o da implementa????o de pol??ticas que visam ao desenvolvimento da Ci??ncia Tecnologia e Inova????o ??? C T&I no Brasil, da caracteriza????o da pol??tica p??blica lan??adas e da coleta de dados, por meio de question??rio, sobre a percep????o dos coordenadores das redes apoiados pelo programa. A pesquisa permitiu concluir que o programa est?? alinhado ??s caracter??sticas da pol??tica atual de C T&I e que sua implementa????o ?? centrada na avalia????o ex-post. O programa foi considerado bastante adequado pelos coordenadores dos projetos de pesquisa apoiados. Em contrapartida, a continua????o do programa necessita de ajustes para que os objetivos previstos sejam alcan??ados em sua totalidade e a sistematiza????o da avalia????o do programa poder?? se constituir em uma ferramenta bastante ??til na gera????o dos subs??dios necess??rios para a tomada de decis??o sobre os novos rumos do Programa Sibratec

Programa de financiamento ??s exporta????es: PROEX: an??lise da implementa????o

O presente trabalho traz uma an??lise acerca do Programa de Financiamento ??s Exporta????es (PROEX), programa do governo brasileiro de cr??dito ??s exporta????es, que tem por objetivo dotar os exportadores brasileiros de condi????es de cr??dito similares ??s encontradas no cen??rio internacional, de forma a dar mais competitividade ??s exporta????es brasileiras, principalmente das micro, pequenas e m??dias empresas. O estudo parte de conceitos e referencial anal??tico, referentes ao processo de implementa????o de pol??ticas p??blicas. Tamb??m como aporte te??rico, ?? feita uma explana????o a respeito do papel atribu??do ??s exporta????es no ??mbito das teorias econ??micas e das caracter??sticas do cr??dito internacional, que trazem a essa modalidade seus aspectos ??nicos. A partir de dados or??ament??rios, do desempenho do Programa e da legisla????o pertinente, s??o feitas algumas reflex??es acerca do comportamento do PROEX entre os anos de 2003 e 2012. S??o tamb??m apresentados alguns gargalos observados no processo de implementa????o do Programa.Assim, como principal desafio foi identificada a necessidade de facilita????o na obten????o de garantias para a efetiva????o das opera????es. Uma maior divulga????o tamb??m tornaria o programa mais abrangente, al??m de outros fatores. O Programa parece atingir parcialmente seu objetivo, pois apesar de efetivamente apoiar as exporta????es de micro, pequenas e m??dias empresas e oferecer condi????es mais competitivas para as exporta????es nacionais, ainda carece de uma maior abrang??ncia, principalmente no que diz respeito ao n??mero de empresas atendidas. A cria????o do Fundo de Financiamento ?? Exporta????o(FFEX)dever?? trazer novidades ?? forma de implementa????o e atua????o do PROEX

Sistema de c??lculo de acr??scimos legais: SICALC

Efetuar o c??lculo dos acr??scimos legais para uma determinada data, mediante o fornecimento dos dados do cr??dito tribut??rio e/ou apurar o valor devedor ou credor, saldo, resultante da associa????o de pagamentos e cr??ditos tribut??rios. A aplica????o visa facilitar e agilizar o atendimento ao p??blico em geral e subsidiar os c??lculos no acompanhamento de processos fiscais nas reparti????es da SRF. Minimizar o fluxo de pessoas a SRF, permitindo que qualquer usu??rio que tenha tributos j?? vencidos ou a vencer (quotas), possa utilizar o sistema, bastando para isso, efetuar uma baixa dos programas da Internet e realizar os seus pr??prios c??lculos, gerando automaticamente o Documento de Arrecada????o Federal - DARF para ser recolhido na rede arrecadora sem a necessidade de se dirigir ?? SRF