Transfer of cadmium and barium from soil to crops grown in tropical soils

Phytotoxicity and transfer of potentially toxic elements, such as cadmium (Cd) or barium (Ba), depend on the availability of these elements in soils and on the plant species exposed to them. With this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of Cd and Ba application rates on yields of pea (Pisum sativum L.), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.), soybean (Glycine max L.), and maize (Zea mays L.) grown under greenhouse conditions in an Oxisol and an Entisol with contrasting physical and chemical properties, and to correlate the amount taken up by plants with extractants commonly used in routine soil analysis, along with transfer coefficients (Bioconcentration Factor and Transfer Factor) in different parts of the plants. Plants were harvested at flowering stage and measured for yield and Cd or Ba concentrations in leaves, stems, and roots. The amount of Cd accumulated in the plants was satisfactorily evaluated by both DTPA and Mehlich-3 (M-3). Mehlich-3 did not relate to Ba accumulated in plants, suggesting it should not be used to predict Ba availability. The transfer coefficients were specific to soils and plants and are therefore not recommended for direct use in risk assessment models without taking soil properties and group of plants into account.

Escolaridade e inserção no mercado de trabalho

Este artigo pretende situar a relação entre escolaridade e inserção no mercado de trabalho num período marcado pelo impacto das transformações produtivas (1988 e 1995), a partir da análise de dados do mercado de trabalho e escolaridade da População Economicamente Ativa - PEA - referentes à Grande Santiago (Chile) e Grande São Paulo (Brasil). Considera-se que, nesse período, foi elaborado um discurso que ressaltava o valor econômico da educação, sem suficiente sustentação empírica que ajudasse a verificar como a população é afetada pela dinâmica do mercado de trabalho e pelo aumento da oferta do sistema educacional. A competitividade internacional como meta é tida como tendência que dificulta a identificação das condições estruturais em que está inserida a relação entre educação e trabalho não permitindo, assim, conhecer a dinâmica dos atores sociais que se confrontam numa sociedade que constrói consensos excludentes em relação a numerosos setores. Para estes um maior nível educacional não assegurará melhores condições de vida enquanto não se modificarem as desigualdades originadas na estrutura do mercado de trabalho, pois justamente nesse período de transformações estão sendo geradas novas segmentações que tendem a aprofundar a desigualdade.

Fatty acid amide hydrolase deficiency enhances intraplaque neutrophil recruitment in atherosclerotic mice.

OBJECTIVE: Endocannabinoid levels are elevated in human and mouse atherosclerosis, but their causal role is not well understood. Therefore, we studied the involvement of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) deficiency, the major enzyme responsible for endocannabinoid anandamide degradation, in atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE(-/-)) and ApoE(-/-)FAAH(-/-) mice. Before and after 5, 10, and 15 weeks on high-cholesterol diet, we analyzed weight, serum cholesterol, and endocannabinoid levels, and atherosclerotic lesions in thoracoabdominal aortas and aortic sinuses. Serum levels of FAAH substrates anandamide, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), and oleoylethanolamide (OEA) were 1.4- to 2-fold higher in case of FAAH deficiency. ApoE(-/-)FAAH(-/-) mice had smaller plaques with significantly lower content of smooth muscle cells, increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, and neutrophil content. Circulating and bone marrow neutrophil counts were comparable between both genotypes, whereas CXC ligand1 levels were locally elevated in aortas of FAAH-deficient mice. We observed enhanced recruitment of neutrophils, but not monocytes, to large arteries of ApoE(-/-) mice treated with FAAH inhibitor URB597. Spleens of ApoE(-/-)FAAH(-/-) mice had reduced CD4+FoxP3+regulatory T-cell content, and in vitro stimulation of splenocytes revealed significantly elevated interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α production in case of FAAH deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: Increased anandamide and related FAAH substrate levels are associated with the development of smaller atherosclerotic plaques with high neutrophil content, accompanied by an increased proinflammatory immune response.

Modelo de asesoría a escuelas centrado en el acompañamiento docente

El presente trabajo describe el proceso de construcción de un modelo de asesoría a escuelas en el marco de un proyecto piloto desarrollado por el Gobierno de Chile en conjunto con Universidades. Se da cuenta, por un lado, del contexto en el cual se desarrolló la asesoría, y por otro de los principales avances que han permitido la constitución de una propuesta de abordaje de la misma a establecimientos educacionales por parte de instituciones que propenden al mejoramiento educativo. Para finalizar se advierten algunas dificultades en la implementación del modelo y se establecen proyecciones del trabajo realizado, se identifican las limitantes que se tiene al abordar un proceso de asesoría de estas características, y se dejan abiertas algunas interrogantes que permitirán avanzar en un proceso más efectivo de construcción del modelo de asesoría a establecimientos educacionales.

Teoria econômica e problemas com remuneração de professores por resultados

Tem se disseminado no Brasil o atrelamento da remuneração de professores ao desempenho de alunos em testes padronizados, políticas que não encontram fundamento teórico no campo da educação, mas sim na literatura econômico-administrativa, especialmente no chamado "modelo principal-agente". Se por alguns são vistas como peça-chave da melhoria da educação, costumam sofrer forte oposição, sobretudo de não economistas. A avaliação de experiências concretas não resolve a questão, pois tem revelado efeitos positivos, nulos e negativos. A contribuição deste artigo consiste no escrutínio do marco teórico em que se assentam as políticas de responsabilização de professores, a fim de se testar a hipótese de que os resultados inconclusivos encontrariam explicação na própria literatura econômica. Complementarmente, investiga-se se a teoria lança luz sobre razões para a forte rejeição a tais programas em certos círculos. Responde-se afirmativamente a ambas as questões.

Um estudo do poder na sociedade da informação

Inicialmente são abordados alguns aspectos relativos ao conceito de poder e suas várias formas de manifestação, com destaque para seu exercício pelo Estado. A seguir, é construído um quadro sobre a anatomia do poder e destacada a importância da compreensão sobre os fenômenos que o cercam. Nesse contexto, a informação é apresentada como peça de apoio e, ao mesmo tempo, alavanca dos processos sociais, sendo registradas algumas observações sobre o "apartheid digital". Por fim, são apresentadas ponderações sobre a responsabilidade do Estado como agente capaz de evitar o agravamento dos desequilíbrios sociais e regionais, e de assegurar o pleno exercício da cidadania na sociedade da informação.

The thalamocortical projection systems in primate: an anatomical support for multisensory and sensorimotor interplay.

Multisensory and sensorimotor integrations are usually considered to occur in superior colliculus and cerebral cortex, but few studies proposed the thalamus as being involved in these integrative processes. We investigated whether the organization of the thalamocortical (TC) systems for different modalities partly overlap, representing an anatomical support for multisensory and sensorimotor interplay in thalamus. In 2 macaque monkeys, 6 neuroanatomical tracers were injected in the rostral and caudal auditory cortex, posterior parietal cortex (PE/PEa in area 5), and dorsal and ventral premotor cortical areas (PMd, PMv), demonstrating the existence of overlapping territories of thalamic projections to areas of different modalities (sensory and motor). TC projections, distinct from the ones arising from specific unimodal sensory nuclei, were observed from motor thalamus to PE/PEa or auditory cortex and from sensory thalamus to PMd/PMv. The central lateral nucleus and the mediodorsal nucleus project to all injected areas, but the most significant overlap across modalities was found in the medial pulvinar nucleus. The present results demonstrate the presence of thalamic territories integrating different sensory modalities with motor attributes. Based on the divergent/convergent pattern of TC and corticothalamic projections, 4 distinct mechanisms of multisensory and sensorimotor interplay are proposed.

Conservació concertada de flora i de monuments històrics - Comentari

Cerca de Jaca, en las paredes del monasterio de San Juan de la Peña vive un endemismo,Petrocoptis hispanica, que se vio amenazado con motivo de unas obras de restauración que sehicieron hace bastantes años. Entonces, la intervención del instituto Pirenaico de Ecología con el Dr.Montserrat a la cabeza permitieron conservar buena parte de la población, aunque si visitas elmonasterio todavía puede verse la parte de la fachada que fue limpiada.

Psychosocial analysis of ETA's violence legitimation discourse

This study analyses the fundamental components shaping the violence legitimation discourse of ETA (Euskadi Ta Askasuna). With this aim, a category system has been built, which organizes the psychosocial processes identified in previous studies related to violence legitimation. Based on the proposed category system, a content analysis was conducted on 21 statements of ETA, released between 1998 and 2011. An intraobserver and inter-observer reliability analysis reveals high level stability and replicability of the categorization. The results show, firstly, that outgroup components have a predominant presence over ingroup components. Secondly, in the components hierarchy, we observe that elements referring to identity come in first place, followed in similar frequencies by those related to violence representation and the definition of the situation.

Psychosocial analysis of ETA"s violence legitimation discourse

Este artículo analiza los componentes fundamentales que configuran el discurso legitimador de la violencia de ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna). Con este objetivo, se construye un sistema de categorías, el cual organiza los procesos psicosociales identificados en investigaciones previas relacionadas con la legitimación de la violencia. A partir del sistema de categorías propuesto, se realiza un análisis de contenido en 21 comunicados de ETA publicados entre 1998 y 2011. El análisis de fiabilidad intraobservador e interobservador muestra una alta estabilidad y replicabilidad de la categorización. Los resultados muestran, en primer lugar, que los componentes exogrupales son predominantes respecto a los endogrupales. Segundo, en la jerarquización, se observa la preminencia de los elementos referidos a la identidad, seguido por frecuencias similares los relacionados con la representación de la violencia y la definición de la situación.

Psychosocial analysis of ETA's violence legitimation discourse

This study analyses the fundamental components shaping the violence legitimation discourse of ETA (Euskadi Ta Askasuna). With this aim, a category system has been built, which organizes the psychosocial processes identified in previous studies related to violence legitimation. Based on the proposed category system, a content analysis was conducted on 21 statements of ETA, released between 1998 and 2011. An intraobserver and inter-observer reliability analysis reveals high level stability and replicability of the categorization. The results show, firstly, that outgroup components have a predominant presence over ingroup components. Secondly, in the components hierarchy, we observe that elements referring to identity come in first place, followed in similar frequencies by those related to violence representation and the definition of the situation.

A Spanish version of the short Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (sMARS)

The aim of this studywas to adapt and assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the sMARS in terms of evidence of validity and reliability of scores. The sMARS was administered to 342 students and, in order to assess convergent and discriminant validity, several subsamples completed a series of related tests. The factorial structure of the sMARSwas analyzed by means of a confirmatory factor analysis and results showed that the three-factor structure reported in the original test fits well with the data. Thus, three dimensions were established in the test: math test, numerical task and math course anxiety. The results of this study provide sound evidence that demonstrates the good psychometric properties of the scores of the Spanish version of the sMARS: strong internal consistency, high 7-week testretest reliability and good convergent/discriminant validity were evident. Overall, this study provides an instrument that allows us to obtain valid and reliable math anxiety measurements. This instrument may be a useful tool for educators and psychologists interested in identifying individuals that may have a low level of math mastery because of their anxiety.

Effects of math anxiety on student success in higher education

This study examines whether math anxiety and negative attitudes toward mathematics have an effect on university students" academic achievement in a methodological course forming part of their degree. A total of 193 students were presented with a math anxiety test and some questions about their enjoyment, self-confidence and motivation regarding mathematics, and their responses were assessed in relation to the grades they had obtained during continuous assessment on a course entitled"Research Design". Results showed that low performance on the course was related to math anxiety and negative attitudes toward mathematics. We suggest that these factors may affect students" performance and should therefore be taken into account in attempts to improve students" learning processes in methodological courses of this kind.