RECONHECENDO-SE SEM-RELIGIÃO NAS PERIFERIAS DA CIDADE: LIBERDADE COMPARTILHADA COMO RESISTÊNCIA

Reconhecendo, a partir da constatação empírica, a multiplicidade de escolhas de crenças no Mundo e em particular na periferia urbana paulistana, reconhecemos, também, a emergência criativa de novas possibilidades de crer e não crer. Tal amplitude não apenas aponta para o crer (segundo as ofertas de um sem número de religiões) e o não crer (ateu e agnóstico), mas para uma escolha que poderia vir a ser silenciada e esquecida, neste binômio arcaico e obsoleto, quando alguém se dá à liberdade crer sem ter religião. Reconhecer interessadamente os sem-religião nas periferias urbanas paulistanas é dar-se conta das violências a que estes indivíduos estão submetidos: violência econômica, violência da cidadania (vulnerabilidade) e proveniente da armas (grupos x Estado). Tanto quanto a violência do esquecimento e silenciamento. A concomitância espaço-temporal dos sem-religião nas periferias, levou-nos buscar referências em teorias de secularização e de laicidade, e, a partir destas, traçar uma história do poder violento, cuja pretensão é a inelutabilidade, enquanto suas fissuras são abertas em espaços de resistências. A história da legitimação do poder que se quer único, soberano, de caráter universal, enquanto fragmenta a sociedade em indivíduos atomizados, fragilizando vínculos horizontais, e a dos surgimentos de resistências não violentas questionadoras da totalidade trágica, ao reconhecer a liberdade de ser com autonomia, enquanto se volta para a produção de partilha de bens comuns. Propomos reconhecer a igual liberdade de ser (expressa na crença da filiação divina) e de partilhar o bem comum em reconhecimentos mútuos (expressa pela ação social), uma expressão de resistência não violenta ao poder que requer a igual abdicação da liberdade pela via da fragmentação individualizante e submissão inquestionável à ordem totalizante. Os sem-religião nas periferias urbanas, nossos contemporâneos, partilhariam uma tal resistência, ao longo da história, com as melissas gregas, os profetas messiânicos hebreus, os hereges cristãos e os ateus modernos, cuja pretensão não é o poder, mas a partilha igual da liberdade e dos bens comuns. Estes laicos, de fato, seriam agentes de resistências de reconhecimento mútuos, em espaços de multiplicidade crescente, ao poder violento real na história.

AS INOVAÇÕES TECNOLÓGICAS E OS INTERMEDIÁRIOS DA PRODUÇÃO E DO ACESSO À INFORMAÇÃO JORNALÍSTICA

O jornalismo é um dos principais meios de oferta de temas para a discussão e formação da opinião pública, porém depende de um sistema técnico para ser transmitido. Durante mais de cem anos as informações produzidas pela imprensa foram emitidas, armazenadas, transmitidas e recebidas pelos chamados veículos de comunicação de massa que utilizam a rede centralizada cujas características estão na escassez material, produção em série e massificação. Esse sistema separa no tempo e no espaço emissores e receptores criando uma relação desigual de força em que as grandes empresas controlaram o fluxo informativo, definindo quais fatos seriam veiculados como notícia. Em 1995, a internet cuja informação circula sob a tecnologia da rede distribuída, foi apropriada pela sociedade, alterando a forma de produção, armazenamento e transmissão de informação. A tecnologia despertou a esperança de que esta ferramenta poderia proporcionar uma comunicação mais dialógica e democrática. Mas aos poucos pode-se perceber novas empresas se apropriando da tecnologia da rede distribuída sob a qual circula a internet, gerando um novo controle do fluxo informativo. Realizou-se nessa pesquisa um levantamento bibliográfico para estabelecer uma reflexão crítica dos diferentes intermediários entre fato e a notícia tanto da rede centralizada como na rede distribuída, objetivando despertar uma discussão que possa oferecer novas ideias para políticas, bem como alternativas para uma comunicação mais democrática e mais libertária.

Potent, protective anti-HIV immune responses generated by bimodal HIV envelope DNA plus protein vaccination

It is generally thought that an effective vaccine to prevent HIV-1 infection should elicit both strong neutralizing antibody and cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses. We recently demonstrated that potent, boostable, long-lived HIV-1 envelope (Env)-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses can be elicited in rhesus monkeys using plasmid-encoded HIV-1 env DNA as the immunogen. In the present study, we show that the addition of HIV-1 Env protein to this regimen as a boosting immunogen generates a high titer neutralizing antibody response in this nonhuman primate species. Moreover, we demonstrate in a pilot study that immunization with HIV-1 env DNA (multiple doses) followed by a final immunization with HIV-1 env DNA plus HIV-1 Env protein (env gene from HXBc2 clone of HIV IIIB; Env protein from parental HIV IIIB) completely protects monkeys from infection after i.v. challenge with a chimeric virus expressing HIV-1 env (HXBc2) on a simian immmunodeficiency virusmac backbone (SHIV-HXBc2). The potent immunity and protection seen in these pilot experiments suggest that a DNA prime/DNA plus protein boost regimen warrants active investigation as a vaccine strategy to prevent HIV-1 infection.

Iron accumulation in Alzheimer disease is a source of redox-generated free radicals

Damage from free radicals has been demonstrated in susceptible neuronal populations in cases of Alzheimer disease. In this study, we investigated whether iron, a potent source of the highly reactive hydroxyl radical that is generated by the Fenton reaction with H2O2, might contribute to the source of radicals in Alzheimer disease. We found, using a modified histochemical technique that relies on the formation of mixed valence iron complexes, that redox-active iron is associated with the senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles—the pathological hallmark lesions of this disease. This lesion-associated iron is able to participate in in situ oxidation and readily catalyzes an H2O2-dependent oxidation. Furthermore, removal of iron was completely effected using deferoxamine, after which iron could be rebound to the lesions. Characterization of the iron-binding site suggests that binding is dependent on available histidine residues and on protein conformation. Taken together, these findings indicate that iron accumulation could be an important contributor toward the oxidative damage of Alzheimer disease.

Somatostatin agonist pasireotide promotes a physiological state resembling short-day acclimatization in the photoperiodic male Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Peer reviewed

A gene spans the pseudoautosomal boundary in mice

The X and Y chromosomes of the mouse, like those of other mammals, are heteromorphic over most of their length, but at the distal ends of the chromosomes is a region of sequence identity, the pseudoautosomal region (PAR), where the chromosomes pair and recombine during male meiosis. The point at which the PAR diverges into X- and Y-specific sequences is called the pseudoautosomal boundary. We have completed a genomic walk from the X-specific Amelogenin gene to the PAR. Analysis of this region revealed that the pseudoautosomal boundary of mice is located within an intron of a transcribed gene that encodes a novel RING finger protein. The first three of the exons of the gene are located on the X chromosome whereas the 3′ exons of the gene are located on both X and Y chromosomes. This unusual arrangement may indicate that the gene is in a state of transition from pseudoautosomal to X-unique and provides evidence for a process of attrition of the pseudoautosomal region on the Y chromosome.

EphA4 (Sek1) receptor tyrosine kinase is required for the development of the corticospinal tract

Members of the Eph family of tyrosine kinase receptors have been implicated in the regulation of developmental processes and, in particular, axon guidance in the developing nervous system. The function of the EphA4 (Sek1) receptor was explored through creation of a null mutant mouse. Mice with a null mutation in the EphA4 gene are viable and fertile but have a gross motor dysfunction, which is evidenced by a loss of coordination of limb movement and a resultant hopping, kangaroo-like gait. Consistent with the observed phenotype, anatomical studies and anterograde tracing experiments reveal major disruptions of the corticospinal tract within the medulla and spinal cord in the null mutant animals. These results demonstrate a critical role for EphA4 in establishing the corticospinal projection.

Potentially predictive and manipulable blood serum correlates of aging in the healthy human male: Progressive decreases in bioavailable testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, and the ratio of insulin-like growth factor 1 to growth hormone

A cross-sectional survey was made in 56 exceptionally healthy males, ranging in age from 20 to 84 years. Measurements were made of selected steroidal components and peptidic hormones in blood serum, and cognitive and physical tests were performed. Of those blood serum variables that gave highly significant negative correlations with age (r > −0.6), bioavailable testosterone (BT), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and the ratio of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) to growth hormone (GH) showed a stepwise pattern of age-related changes most closely resembling those of the age steps themselves. Of these, BT correlated best with significantly age-correlated cognitive and physical measures. Because DHEAS correlated well with BT and considerably less well than BT with the cognitive and physical measures, it seems likely that BT and/or substances to which BT gives rise in tissues play a more direct role in whatever processes are rate-limiting in the functions measured and that DHEAS relates more indirectly to these functions. The high correlation of IGF-1/GH with age, its relatively low correlation with BT, and the patterns of correlations of IGF-1/GH and BT with significantly age-correlated cognitive and physical measures suggest that the GH–IGF-1 axis and BT play independent roles in affecting these functions. Serial determinations made after oral ingestion of pregnenolone and data from the literature suggest there is interdependence of steroid metabolic systems with those operational in control of interrelations in the GH–IGF-1 axis. Longitudinal concurrent measurements of serum levels of BT, DHEAS, and IGF-1/GH together with detailed studies of their correlations with age-correlated functional measures may be useful in detecting early age-related dysregulations and may be helpful in devising ameliorative approaches.

Pinus banksiana has at least seven expressed alcohol dehydrogenase genes in two linked groups

The alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) gene family is much more complex in Pinus banksiana than in angiosperms, with at least seven expressed genes organized as two tightly linked clusters. Intron number and position are highly conserved between P. banksiana and angiosperms. Unlike angiosperm Adh genes, numerous duplications, as large as 217 bp, were observed within the noncoding regions of P. banksiana Adh genes and may be a common feature of conifer genes. A high frequency of duplication over a wide range of scales may contribute to the large genome size of conifers.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor promotes the development of adrenergic neurons in mouse neural crest cultures

Growth of mouse neural crest cultures in the presence of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) resulted in a dramatic dose-dependent increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive cells that developed when 5% chicken embryo extract was present in the medium. In contrast, growth in the presence of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, transforming growth factor (TGF) β1, TGF-β2, and TGF-β3 elicited no increase in the number of TH-positive cells. The TH-positive cells that developed in the presence of GDNF had neuronal morphology and contained the middle and low molecular weight neurofilament proteins. Numerous TH-negative cells with the morphology of neurons also were observed in GDNF-treated cultures. Analysis revealed that the period from 6 to 12 days in vitro was the critical time for exposure to GDNF to generate the increase in TH-positive cell number. The growth factors neurotrophin-3 and fibroblast growth factor-2 elicited increases in the number of TH-positive cells similar to that seen in response to GDNF. In contrast, nerve growth factor was unable to substitute for GDNF. These findings extend the previously reported biological activities of GDNF by showing that it can act on mouse neural crest cultures to promote the development of neurons.

Fractionation factors and activation energies for exchange of the low barrier hydrogen bonding proton in peptidyl trifluoromethyl ketone complexes of chymotrypsin

NMR investigations have been carried out of complexes between bovine chymotrypsin Aα and a series of four peptidyl trifluoromethyl ketones, listed here in order of increasing affinity for chymotrypsin: N-Acetyl-l-Phe-CF3, N-Acetyl-Gly-l-Phe-CF3, N-Acetyl-l-Val-l-Phe-CF3, and N-Acetyl-l-Leu-l-Phe-CF3. The D/H fractionation factors (φ) for the hydrogen in the H-bond between His 57 and Asp 102 (His 57-Hδ1) in these four complexes at 5°C were in the range φ = 0.32–0.43, expected for a low-barrier hydrogen bond. For this series of complexes, measurements also were made of the chemical shifts of His 57-Hɛ1 (δ2,2-dimethylsilapentane-5-sulfonic acid 8.97–9.18), the exchange rate of the His 57-Hδ1 proton with bulk water protons (284–12.4 s−1), and the activation enthalpies for this hydrogen exchange (14.7–19.4 kcal⋅mol−1). It was found that the previously noted correlations between the inhibition constants (Ki 170–1.2 μM) and the chemical shifts of His 57-Hδ1 (δ2,2-dimethylsilapentane-5-sulfonic acid 18.61–18.95) for this series of peptidyl trifluoromethyl ketones with chymotrypsin [Lin, J., Cassidy, C. S. & Frey, P. A. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 11940–11948] could be extended to include the fractionation factors, hydrogen exchange rates, and hydrogen exchange activation enthalpies. The results support the proposal of low barrier hydrogen bond-facilitated general base catalysis in the addition of Ser 195 to the peptidyl carbonyl group of substrates in the mechanism of chymotrypsin-catalyzed peptide hydrolysis. Trends in the enthalpies for hydrogen exchange and the fractionation factors are consistent with a strong, double-minimum or single-well potential hydrogen bond in the strongest complexes. The lifetimes of His 57-Hδ1, which is solvent shielded in these complexes, track the strength of the hydrogen bond. Because these lifetimes are orders of magnitude shorter than those of the complexes themselves, the enzyme must have a pathway for hydrogen exchange at this site that is independent of dissociation of the complexes.

Mice cloned from embryonic stem cells

Cloning allows the asexual reproduction of selected individuals such that the offspring have an essentially identical nuclear genome. Cloning by nuclear transfer thus far has been reported only with freshly isolated cells and cells from primary cultures. We previously reported a method of cloning mice from adult somatic cells after nuclear transfer by microinjection. Here, we apply this method to clone mice from widely available, established embryonic stem (ES) cell lines at late passage. With the ES cell line R1, 29% of reconstructed oocytes developed in vitro to the morula/blastocyst stage, and 8% of these embryos developed to live-born pups when transferred to surrogate mothers. We thus cloned 26 mice from R1 cells. Nuclei from the ES cell line E14 also were shown to direct development to term. We present evidence that the nuclei of ES cells at G1- or G2/M-phases are efficiently able to support full development. Our findings demonstrate that late-passage ES cells can be used to produce viable cloned mice and provide a link between the technologies of ES cells and animal cloning. It thus may be possible to clone from a single cell a large number of individuals over an extended period.

Peptide nucleic acid pre-gel hybridization: An alternative to Southern hybridization

We have found that it is possible to use labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-oligomers as probes in pre-gel hybridization experiments, as an alternative for Southern hybridization. In this technique, the PNA probe is hybridized to a denatured DNA sample at low ionic strength and the mixture is loaded directly on to an electrophoresis system for size separation. Ensuing gel electrophoresis separates the single-stranded DNA fragments by length. The neutral backbone of PNA allows for hybridization at low ionic strength and imparts very low mobility to excess PNA. Detection of the bound PNA is possible by direct fluorescence detection with capillary electrophoresis, or the DNA/PNA hybrids can be blotted onto a membrane and detected with standard chemiluminescent techniques. Efficient single bp discrimination was achieved routinely using both capillary and slab-gel electrophoresis.

Problemas com o governo dos juízes sobre a legitimidade democrática do judicial review

Inclui notas explicativas, bibliográficas e bibliografia