Analysis of Climatic Factors Impact on RSV Infection Distribution in Children Attending Childcare at Northwest Region of São Paulo, Brazil

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was detected in samples collected from children from 0 to 6 years of age with acute respiratory infection, attending public childcare on Northwest region of São Paulo, Brazil. RSV distribution was associated to seasonal climatic variables as temperature, rainfall and relative air humidity. We utilized samples of nasopharyngeal aspirate collected during the period of July 2003 to September 2005. RT-PCR was the chosen method for viral identification. Results showed that from the 817 samples (collected from 179 children), 7.7% (63/817) were RSV positive. In 2003, RSV was detected from July until October. In 2004, RSV infections occurred in March, May, June, July, October, November, and December. In 2005, RSV was detected in March, April, May, August, and September. RSV circulation patterns in childcare children showed seasonal distribution associated to decreases in temperature and relative air humidity. RSV was detected in childcare children as an important viral agent causing respiratory infections, with varying patterns of circulation into the cohort during the study period. Moreover, RSV distribution showed to be associated with the dry season on Northwest region of São Paulo, Brazil.

Variação espacial do grau de trofia e da biomassa fitoplanctônica no reservatório de Itupararanga (São Paulo, Brasil)

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

Estabilização de enzimas: uma abordagem

Enzyme stabilization is one critic point in basic and applied enzymology. The increasing interest in applying enzymes in industrial processes has fostered the search for biocatalysts with new properties or extreme stability. Enzyme stabilization can be achieved by different methods: isolating enzyme variants from organisms living in appropriate extreme environments (extremozymes), by protein engineering, chemical modification, use of additives, immobilization. This brief review aims to give a better understanding of those methods employed for enzyme stabilization.

Determination of anticonvulsants in human plasma using SPME in a heated interface coupled online to liquid chromatography (SPME-LC)

A simple and sensitive method using solid phase microextraction (SPME) and liquid chromatography (LC) with heated online desorption (SPME-LC) was developed and validated to analyze anticonvulsants (AEDs) in human plasma samples. A heated lab-made interface chamber was used in the desorption procedure, which allowed the transference of the whole extracted sample. The SPME conditions were optimized by applying an experimental design. Important factors are discussed such as fiber coating types, pH, extraction time and desorption conditions. The drugs were analyzed by LC, using a C18 column (150 mm 4.6 mm 5 mm); and 50 mmol L1 , pH ¼ 5.50 ammonium acetate buffer : acetonitrile : methanol (55 : 22 : 23 v/v) as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 0.8 mL min1 . The suggested method presented precision (intra-assay and inter-assay), linearity and limit of quantification (LOQ) all adequate for the therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of AEDs in plasma.

Bioconversion of Cellulose to Hydrogen by dark fermentation

Hydrogen is known as a clean energy resource. The biological production of hydrogen has been attracting attention as an environmentally friendly processs that does not consume fossil fuels. Cellulosic plant and waste materials are potential resources for fermentative hydrogen production. Cellulose is a linear biopolymer of glucose molecules, connected by β-1,4-glycosidic bonds. Enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose requires the presence of cellulase. The present study aimed to investigate the efficiency of acid pretreatment on ruminal fluid in order to enrich H2 producing bacteria consortia to enhance biohydrogen rate and substrate removal efficiency. In this study, fermentative hydrogen producers were enriched on cellulose (2g/L) in a modificated Del Nery medium (DNM) at 37ºC and initial pH 7.0 using rumen fluid (10% v/v) as inoculum. To increase the hydrogen production it was added cellulose (10mL) to the medium. The gas products (mainly H2 and CO2) was analyzed by gas chromatography (Shimadzu GC 2010) using a thermal conductivity detector. The volatile fatty acids and ethanol were also detected by GC using a flame ionization detector. Cellulose degradation was quantified by using the phenolsulfuric acid method. Analysis showed that the biogas produced from the anaerobic fermentation contained only hydrogen and carbon dioxide, without detectable methane after acid pretreatment test. On DNM the hydrogen production started with 4 h (5,3 x 105 mmol H2/L) of incubation, and the maximum H2 concentration was observed with 34 h (7,1 x 106 mmol H2/L) of incubation. During the process, it was observed a predominance of acetic acid and butyric acid as well as a low production of acetone, ethanol and nbutanol in all experimental phases. Butyrate accounted for more than 77% of total. As a result of the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), the pH value in anaerobic digestion system was reduced to 4,0. On microscopy analyses there were observed rods with endospores. The batch anaerobic fermentation assays performed on anaerobic mixed inoculum from rumen fluid demonstrated the feasibility of H2 generation utilizing cellulose as substrate. Based on the results, it can be concluded that the acid treatment was efficient to inhibit the methanogenic archaea cells present in rumen fluid. The rumen fluid cells present a potential route in converting renewable biomass such as cellulose into hydrogen energy.

Biological Hydrogen production from environmental sample in tropical countries

The hydrogen gas is regarded as clean and renewable energy source, since it generates only water during combustion when used as fuel. It shows 2.75 times more energy content than any hydrocarbon and it can be converted into electrical, mechanical energy or heat. Inoculum sources have been successfully tested for hydrogen biological production in temperate climate countries as sludge treatment plants sewage, sludge treatment plant wastewater, landfill sample, among others. However, hydrogen biologic production with inoculum from environmental samples such as sediment reservoirs, especially in tropical countries like Brazil, is rarely investigated. Reservoirs and fresh water lake sediment may contain conditions for the survival of a wide variety of microorganisms which use different carbon sources mainly glucose and xylose, in the fermentation. Glucose is an easily biodegradable, present in most of the industrial effluents and can be obtained abundantly from agricultural wastes. A wide variety of wastewater resulting from agriculture, industry and pulp and paper processed from wood may contain xylose in its constitution. Such effluent contains glucose and xylose concentrations of about 2 g/L. In this sense, this work verified hydrogen biological production in anaerobic batch reactor (1L), at 37 ° C, initial pH 5.5, headspace with N2 (100%), Del Nery medium, vitamins and peptone (1 g/L), fed separately with glucose (2g/L) and xylose (2 g/L). The inoculum was taken from environmental sample (sediment reservoir Itupararanga - Ibiúna - SP-Brazil). It was previously purified in serial dilutions at H2 generation (10-5, 10-7, 10-10), and heat treated (90º C - 10 min) later to inhibited the H2 consumers. The maximum H2 generations obtained in both tests were observed at 552 h, as described below. At the reactors fed with glucose and xylose were observed, respectively, 9.1 and 8.6 mmol H2/L, biomass growth (0.2 and 0.2 nm); consumption of sugar concentrations 53.6% (1.1 glucose g/L) and 90.5% (1.8 xylose g/L); acetic acid generation (124.7 mg/L and 82.7 mg/L), butyric acid (134.0 mg/L and 230.4 mg/L) and there wasn’t methane generation in the reactors. Microscopic analysis of biomass in anaerobic reactors showed the predominance of Gram positive rods and rods with endospores, whose morphology is characteristic of H2-generating bacteria, in both tests. These species were selected from the natural environment. In DGGE analysis performed difference were observed between populations from inoculum and in tests. This analysis confirmed that some species of bacteria were selected which remained under the conditions imposed on the experiment. The efficiency of the pre-treatment of inoculum and the imposition of pH 5.5 inhibited methane-producing microorganisms and the consumers of H2. Therefore, the experimental conditions imposed allowed the attainment of bacterial consortium of producer H2 taken from an environmental sample with concentration of xylose and glucose similar to the ones of the industrial effluents.

Aspectos da regulação sobre o ensino a distância no Brasil

This article presents a reflection on the historical aspects and legislation on Distance Learning (DL). For this, a bibliographic and documentary research was performed with the goal of raising the necessary notes for discussion. The text begins with the characterization of the current society, the Information Society, which supports the modern distance education, which uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) to establish the process of learning teaching. Five stages of the EAD are identified. Later, the Brazilian legislation concerning the DL is punctuated, starting with the passage by Article 80 of the Guidelines and Bases Law-LBD (Law 9394/96) along with the critical analysis of Decree 5,622/05. Finally, in the final considerations is discussed the negative image that the DL carries by the Brazilian population and obstacles in the existing rules that hinder the democratization of access to education that aims DL.

Corporalidade brasileira na fabricação da identidade nacional

This paper discusses how, through the creation of Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Company) in 1966, an idealized Brazilian female body was constructed and used to help manufacture a national identity, reinforcing the stereotype of the sexualized Brazilian woman. As it was often associated with sex tourism, this stereotype received much criticism and led to a negative image of Brazil abroad. However, in the 1990s the official tourism lobby softened the “sexy tone” of its discourse, and in 1999 Embratur received an award from the World Tourism Organization for its campaign to help fight the exploitation of children and youth by sexual tourism. In order to better understand how this change in the idealized Brazilian female body unfolded, it is important to deconstruct beauty standards – focusing on those that apply to Brazilian women as seen from abroad – and their relationship to modern consumer culture. Assuming that the cultural analysis of the female body emerges as an important issue in the field of Social Science, the focus on body image can be viewed as a key element in discussions about the construction of national identity.

Impactos da progressão continuada na educação do estado de São Paulo

The presented article discuss theoretical context and the practical impact reported in the bibliography about Continued Progression at São Paulo State schools. Such proceeding, oriented through Law of Basic Guidelines, LBG, from 1996, previses a restructuring in the Basic Education at the schools, primarily with respect to evaluations. Grades are replaced for cycles and reprobation only can happen if the student exceeds the limit of stated absences or for lowered acting at final of each cycle. The impact of educational public policy drafted through Continued Progression provoke transformations that need more attention, indicating a path of reflection turned to structural conditions in order that school offers the required reinforcement to students and assure quality education. It’s primordial understand, therefore, the endogenous and exogenous factors that leaded to adoption of such proceeding in the São Paulo State.

Avaliação, gestão e novas possibilidades para emancipação na perspectiva de transformação social

Este texto discorre sobre diferentes concepções de avaliação, que, uma vez materializadas nos instrumentos, devem possibilitar reflexões sobre o estado do objeto avaliado e sobre as práticas educativas que promovem mudanças ou se perpetuam pela reprodução. Destaca a questão do uso de indicadores de forma crítica e busca, nos argumentos que fundamentam essa criticidade, o respaldo para reorientar a gestão educativa. Nesse sentido, discute a intencionalidade da avaliação institucional e dos programas de avaliação de resultados dos sistemas de ensino. Oferece ainda algumas pistas para que, na perspectiva da gestão, as ações avaliativas, pelo seu potencial regulador, tenham participação efetiva na qualificação dos processos educativos. A avaliação, enquanto instrumento de regulação do processo de gestão, o reconstrói.

Sexualidade e infância: contribuições da educação sexual em face da erotização da criança em veículos midiáticos

This article proposes to show the contributions of the sex education in the school as a way to mitigate the effects of the media, which sometimes leads to early sexualisation of children. Bibliographical in nature, it points out some aspects of sexuality in childhood, and reveals the issues brought by the media, particularly for the formation of the child, when addressing sexual issues, highlighting the role of sex education for a more reflective thinking about this theme.

A interdependência da prática docente e a construção da héxis corporal de professores de Educação Física e suas consequências na unidade escolar

This article aims to show the interdependence between teaching practice and the construction of body hexis of Physical Education teachers and its consequences at schools. It can be observed by the social workers that teach it in a elementary school in the city of Araraquara- -SP. It was established, as basic assumption of this issue, that the social construction of body hexis of Physical Education teachers is a process in constant evolution, because it is the result of the life story with interventions from the social context in which the learner lives. The hexis is the dimension that allows the internalization of the consequences of social practices, and also its body exteriorization, through the way of speaking, gesturing, looking, walking, head posture, faces, ways of sitting, to handle instruments, more and more associated with the voice sound of social workers. Children are particularly attentive, in all societies, to these gestures and postures in which they express themselves in their eyes, anything that features an adult. Finally, it understands the importance of the body hexis in the learning process specifically in school physical education. This practice will incite important behavioral changes in their residence within the school and possibly in a higher education.

A lousa digital interativa no ensino fundamental: um estudo de caso de uma escola municipal brasileira

The main objective of this paper is to realize a review of literature about use of Interactive Digital Whiteboard, as a tool for improving the quality of education. We intend to show some results already reported in several studies in this area, and thus contribute to the systematization of knowledge about this resource. We found that the positive impacts of digital interactive whiteboards are specific and depend on the model followed in its implementation. Although the literature on this technology still emerging, there is evidences of good practice and positive results in all areas of the curriculum. The outcome of this research shows that to get potential benefits of digital whiteboard will be necessary, at first, to understand the process implementation and appropriation. If hardware and software of Interactive Digital Whiteboard not available and adequately used all their potential benefits not will take effect.

Professores de educação física e suas consequências na unidade escolar

This article aims to show the interdependence between teaching practice and the construction of body hexis of Physical Education teachers and its consequences at schools. It can be observed by the social workers that teach it in a elementary school in the city of Araraquara- -SP. It was established, as basic assumption of this issue, that the social construction of body hexis of Physical Education teachers is a process in constant evolution, because it is the result of the life story with interventions from the social context in which the learner lives. The hexis is the dimension that allows the internalization of the consequences of social practices, and also its body exteriorization, through the way of speaking, gesturing, looking, walking, head posture, faces, ways of sitting, to handle instruments, more and more associated with the voice sound of social workers. Children are particularly attentive, in all societies, to these gestures and postures in which they express themselves in their eyes, anything that features an adult. Finally, it understands the importance of the body hexis in the learning process specifically in school physical education. This practice will incite important behavioral changes in their residence within the school and possibly in a higher education.