Re-mapping class and caste consciousness: short narratives of South Asian diaspora in Australia

Thanks to Bollywood, a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) is predominantly imagined, back home in India, as super-rich, fully westernized in manners and doing India proud in foreign lands. One reason for this as explained by renowned Bollywood producer-director Late Yash Chopra, in his address at the first Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Expatriate Indians Day) in 2003, is that as a director he is also working as a ‘historian’ and carrying on his shoulders the ‘moral responsibility [ … ] to depict India [and the Indian Diaspora] at its best’. In this regard, Ghassan Hage also notes that the ‘last thing’ the migrants (particularly men) would like to share with their families back home is shocking stories about racism, discrimination or prejudices that they may have experienced in public or the workplace. Such a revelation would obviously be followed by ‘why did you make us suffer and move to the end of the world just to get demeaned and insulted?’ Hage further notes that therefore the migrants’ familial and class experiences, be it in films, literature or even some sociological studies, are often ‘portrayed as a positive experience’ and this is ‘how the whole migratory enterprise continues to legitimise itself’'. It could be argued that this is one of the reasons the alleged ‘racist’ attacks against Indian students received so much attention in the Indian media. It was not just discrimination but the notion of discrimination and second class treatment (based on skin colour and origin) against the revered and much envied diasporic Indian that created such a media furor in India.

A influência do tempo de diálise e do paratormônio sobre as condições clínico-radiográficas bucais de indivíduos com insuficiência renal crônica em diálise

Universidade Estadual do Rio Grande do Norte

Estrutura genética de populações de melhoramento de Pinus caribaea var. Hondurensis por meio de marcadores microssatélites

O Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis Barret & Golfari tem elevada importância como espécie comercialmente plantada; aproximadamente 1,8 milhões de hectares estão ocupados por plantios desta espécie no Brasil. O trabalho teve como objetivo verificar por meio de marcadores microssatélites a variabilidade genética em Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis, bem como sua manutenção durante o processo de melhoramento genético, dentro de uma população- base de melhoramento, uma população de matrizes selecionadas e uma população melhorada F1. Para a realização das análises foi necessária a transferência de primers desenvolvidos para locos microssatélites de outras espécies do gênero. Dos 20 pares de primers testados, 8 foram transferidos para a espécie (RPS 25b, RPS 150, PSM 2, PR 4.6, PtTX 2037, PtTX 3029, RPTest 01 e RPTest 09). Verificou-se a existência de endogamia entre e dentro das populações estudadas, e o maior valor observado entre as populações foi F ST = 0,0213 (população base e F1). A heterozigosidade média observada e a heterozigosidade esperada na população-base foram, respectivamente, H0 = 0,2469 e He = 0,2489. A maior distância genética (D = 0,0119) foi observada entre as populações-base e a população melhorada F1. Através da distância genética entre as matrizes, foram indicados 10 cruzamentos potenciais entre as matrizes mais contrastantes, almejando a obtenção de vigor de híbrido nas progênies obtidas a partir destes cruzamentos.

Influência do tratamento de superfície nas características e propriedades de zircônia e na resistência de união com a porcelana de cobertura

Pós-graduação em Ciências Odontológicas - FOAR

Validação dos parâmetros aeróbio e anaeróbio a partir de protocolo não invasivo aplicado ao exercício resistido - supino reto

The purpose of this study was to investigate the validity of critical force test from maximal lactate steady state (MLSS) during resistance test using straight bench press. Five healthy male volunteers aged (22.6 ± 2.88 years), weight (76.3 ± 11.49 kg) e height (182.6 ± 7.54cm), trained in resistance exercise, and performed four diferent test to determine: one maximal effort (1RM), critical force using the critical power model (force vs 1/time limit - 20, 25 and 30% 1RM). The CF was the linear coefficient and the anaerobic impulse capacity (CIA) was the angular. MLSS was determined using loads of 80, 90, 100 and 110% of critical force. Blood lactate samples were abtained at each 300sec between each stage of total 1200sec. Maximal 30s test (M30) was accomplished with load of 25% of body weight in SBP. The results showed that the 1 RM was 79.4 Kgf (± 16.98), CF 10.1N (± 2.25), CIA 1756.82 N.s (± 546.96) and the R² 0.984 (± 0,02). The MLSS occurs at 100% CF load. The lactate concentration at the MLSS was 2.2 mmol/L (± 0.77). Significant correlation was observed between MLSS and CF on SBP (r = 0.88 p = 0.05). In M30 the minimum, mean and peak power were (25.0 ± 4.9, 28.0 ± 4.9, and 30.0 ± 4.6 kgf.rps, respectively). The fatigue index was 18.0% (± 6,8). The M30 was significantly correlated with Ppeak and Pmean (r = 0.98 for both, p = 0.003). The CF means has been validated to predict the resistance training and the CIA show to be a representative anaerobic parameter in straight bench press.

Ações de relações públicas aplicadas a projetos de extenção: análise das exposições do laboratório de design solidário

Introdução: O Laboratório de Design Solidário (Labsol) é um projeto de extensão criado em 2007 que tem como objetivo aperfeiçoar e revitalizar objetos artesanais e arranjos produtivos locais, baseando suas atividades no tripé conceitual: ecodesign, sustentabilidade e economia solidária. O LabSol visita grupos de artesãos, analisa seus produtos, métodos de produção e matérias primas e a partir daí, cria-se projetos e protótipos. O Laboratório conta com a atuação de alunos de Relações Públicas desde 2009 e estes têm como função promover ações de/para aprimoramento da comunicação interna e externa, além da parte burocrática e análise de propostas e projetos. No ano de 2011, ocorreram quatro exposições de produtos feitos pelo LabSol. Em cada uma destas exposições, o papel do profissional de RP foi fundamental, pois avaliou os convites, verificou a abrangência de cada público, a relação entre o projeto e os eventos, e tornou possível a sua efetiva realização. Objetivos: O estudo tem como objetivo analisar a validade e o alcance das exposições do Labsol no primeiro semestre de 2011. As exposições ocorreram no evento “Ecorreto” em 07 e 08 de maio; no Festival da Rádio UNESP em 26 de maio; no projeto “Perspectiva” – projeto de extensão da UNESP – em 01 de junho; e na XII Semana do Meio Ambiente de Bauru no Horto Florestal da cidade em 05 de junho. Métodos: As exposições aconteceram por meio de convite dos organizadores dos eventos e se deram através da exibição dos produtos, criados para os grupos de artesões, em pedestais individuais ou em mesas com produtos e cartazes explicativos. A análise será baseada no número de expectadores de cada evento e no interesse do público em relação ao projeto e aos produtos. Resultados: O público de interação em cada evento variou em numero de expectadores. O Festival da Rádio UNESP, contou com uma média de mil e duzentos; a Semana Integrada do Meio Ambiente, cento e cinqüenta; o “Ecorreto”, quinhentos expectadores (durante a exposição e através do site, onde estão fotos e informações sobre o evento); e o Projeto Perspectiva, realizado na cantina da Faculdade de Engenharia da Unesp, não foi mensurado, porém, alcança principalmente os alunos de período vespertino e noturno dos quatro cursos desta faculdade por ser espaço de fluxo constante de alunos. Cada uma destas exposições foi acompanhada pelos RPs. Durante as exposições, diversas pessoas se interessaram pelo trabalho e, conseqüentemente, perguntaram sobre o Laboratório, demonstrando grande interesse. Acredita-se que por meio destes interessados, a informação sobre o trabalho é multiplicada e, portanto, o conhecimento sobre o projeto alcança maior amplitude. Divulgando não apenas o projeto, mas principalmente o tripé conceitual sobre o qual se apoia.

SAGE analysis highlights the putative role of underexpression of ribosomal proteins in GH-secreting pituitary adenomas

Background: Although the molecular pathogenesis of pituitary adenomas has been assessed by several different techniques, it still remains partially unclear. Ribosomal proteins (RPs) have been recently related to human tumorigenesis, but they have not yet been evaluated in pituitary tumorigenesis. Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), a high-throughput method, in pituitary research in order to compare differential gene expression. Methods: Two SAGE cDNA libraries were constructed, one using a pool of mRNA obtained from five GH-secreting pituitary tumors and another from three normal pituitaries. Genes differentially expressed between the libraries were further validated by real-time PCR in 22 GH-secreting pituitary tumors and in 15 normal pituitaries. Results: Computer-generated genomic analysis tools identified 13 722 and 14 993 exclusive genes in normal and adenoma libraries respectively. Both shared 6497 genes, 2188 were underexpressed and 4309 overexpressed in tumoral library. In adenoma library, 33 genes encoding RPs were underexpressed. Among these, RPSA, RPS3, RPS14, and RPS29 were validated by real-time PCR. Conclusion: We report the first SAGE library from normal pituitary tissue and GH-secreting pituitary tumor, which provide quantitative assessment of cellular transcriptome. We also validated some downregulated genes encoding RPs. Altogether, the present data suggest that the underexpression of the studied RP genes possibly collaborates directly or indirectly with other genes to modify cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptosis, leading to an environment that might have a putative role in the tumorigenesis, introducing new perspectives for further studies on molecular genesis of somatotrophinomas.

Comparative transcriptomics of extreme phenotypes of human HIV-1 infection and SIV infection in sooty mangabey and rhesus macaque

High levels of HIV-1 replication during the chronic phase of infection usually correlate with rapid progression to severe immunodeficiency. However, a minority of highly viremic individuals remains asymptomatic and maintains high CD4⁺ T cell counts. This tolerant profile is poorly understood and reminiscent of the widely studied nonprogressive disease model of SIV infection in natural hosts. Here, we identify transcriptome differences between rapid progressors (RPs) and viremic nonprogressors (VNPs) and highlight several genes relevant for the understanding of HIV-1-induced immunosuppression. RPs were characterized by a specific transcriptome profile of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells similar to that observed in pathogenic SIV-infected rhesus macaques. In contrast, VNPs exhibited lower expression of interferon-stimulated genes and shared a common gene regulation profile with nonpathogenic SIV-infected sooty mangabeys. A short list of genes associated with VNP, including CASP1, CD38, LAG3, TNFSF13B, SOCS1, and EEF1D, showed significant correlation with time to disease progression when evaluated in an independent set of CD4⁺ T cell expression data. This work characterizes 2 minimally studied clinical patterns of progression to AIDS, whose analysis may inform our understanding of HIV pathogenesis.

Parametric combustion modeling for ethanol-gasoline fuelled spark ignition engines

Ethanol-gasoline fuel blends are increasingly being used in spark ignition (SI) engines due to continued growth in renewable fuels as part of a growing renewable portfolio standard (RPS). This leads to the need for a simple and accurate ethanol-gasoline blends combustion model that is applicable to one-dimensional engine simulation. A parametric combustion model has been developed, integrated into an engine simulation tool, and validated using SI engine experimental data. The parametric combustion model was built inside a user compound in GT-Power. In this model, selected burn durations were computed using correlations as functions of physically based non-dimensional groups that have been developed using the experimental engine database over a wide range of ethanol-gasoline blends, engine geometries, and operating conditions. A coefficient of variance (COV) of gross indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) correlation was also added to the parametric combustion model. This correlation enables the cycle combustion variation modeling as a function of engine geometry and operating conditions. The computed burn durations were then used to fit single and double Wiebe functions. The single-Wiebe parametric combustion compound used the least squares method to compute the single-Wiebe parameters, while the double-Wiebe parametric combustion compound used an analytical solution to compute the double-Wiebe parameters. These compounds were then integrated into the engine model in GT-Power through the multi-Wiebe combustion template in which the values of Wiebe parameters (single-Wiebe or double-Wiebe) were sensed via RLT-dependence. The parametric combustion models were validated by overlaying the simulated pressure trace from GT-Power on to experimentally measured pressure traces. A thermodynamic engine model was also developed to study the effect of fuel blends, engine geometries and operating conditions on both the burn durations and COV of gross IMEP simulation results.

Pollen profile and age determination of sediment core Schwanengrabenrinne, Brandenburg, Germany

In der Döberitzer Heide nördlich von Potsdam wurden vegetationsgeschichtliche Untersuchungen durchgeführt. Das Untersuchungsgebiet befindet sich im östlichen Teil der Nauener Platte, die bisher vegetationsgeschichtlich weitgehend unerforscht war. In sechs verschiedenen Mooren wurden acht Bohrungen niedergebracht. Die Bohrkerne wurden stratigraphisch und pollenanalytisch untersucht und für die Radiocarbondatierung beprobt. Die Pollendiagramme ermöglichen die Rekonstruktion der Vegetationsentwicklung der terrestrischen Standorte und der Moore in der Döberitzer Heide in den letzten 14.000 Jahren. Neben einer Revision der Gliederungsprinzipien der spätglazialen Vegetationsentwicklung Brandenburgs und einer vergleichenden Betrachtung der Moorentwicklung in der Döberitzer Heide wurde besonderes Augenmerk auf die Geschichte des Döberitzer Lindenwaldes gerichtet, der einen Sonderfall in der brandenburgischen Vegetation darstellt. Die Untersuchungen boten die Möglichkeit, die Ursachen seiner Entstehung zu klären, Aussagen zu den Perspektiven seiner Entwicklung zu treffen und mögliche Entwicklungspotentiale von Lindenwäldern im Land Brandenburg aufzuzeigen.