Annotated record of the detailed examination of Mn deposits from DSDP Site 37, Leg 5 (Cores 5-37-1, 5-37-2)

The JOIDES Pacific Advisory Panel proposed Site 37 to meet two principal objectives: to determine the significance of the magnetic anomaly pattern, and the longitudinal profile of the sediment sequence in the eastern Pacific. Site 37 was to be located on the same magnetic anomaly as was Site 33 (#10, 32 million years age), for comparison across the intervening Mendocino Fracture Zone. As basement had not been reached at Site 33, this objective could not be met specifically. However, sediment comparison across the fracture zone was possible.

Prácticas de lectura en bibliotecas virtuales en contextos didácticos diversos

Este trabajo se propone examinar los procesos cognitivos de alumnos de escuelas primaria en las prácticas de lectura en bibliotecas virtuales en el contexto de dos situaciones didácticas contrastantes. La perspectiva teórica adoptada considera los aportes de la tradición socio-histórica vigotskiana y del constructivismo relacional piagetiano. El diseño metodológico se inscribe en un estudio cualitativo de casos en el que se realiza el seguimiento de las prácticas de lectura de los alumnos mediante observaciones de aula donde se registran minuciosamente las acciones de un grupo frente a la pantalla y los intercambios con sus compañeros y el docente. Estos datos se complementan con encuestas realizadas previamente y entrevistas clínicas individuales, administradas a posteriori de la observación. Los resultados evidencian que los estudiantes parten de ideas provenientes de una historia socio-cognitivo-cultural que guían sus representaciones acerca de las bibliotecas virtuales. Estas ideas entran en constante contradicción con las formas organizativas y los contenidos que las bibliotecas les presentan. Las condiciones e intervenciones didácticas tienen un papel constitutivo en el desarrollo de las prácticas y saberes altamente complejos que requieren las búsquedas. La comparación permite avanzar sobre las situaciones que generan una mayor autonomía de los alumnos.

Prácticas de lectura en bibliotecas virtuales en contextos didácticos diversos

Este trabajo se propone examinar los procesos cognitivos de alumnos de escuelas primaria en las prácticas de lectura en bibliotecas virtuales en el contexto de dos situaciones didácticas contrastantes. La perspectiva teórica adoptada considera los aportes de la tradición socio-histórica vigotskiana y del constructivismo relacional piagetiano. El diseño metodológico se inscribe en un estudio cualitativo de casos en el que se realiza el seguimiento de las prácticas de lectura de los alumnos mediante observaciones de aula donde se registran minuciosamente las acciones de un grupo frente a la pantalla y los intercambios con sus compañeros y el docente. Estos datos se complementan con encuestas realizadas previamente y entrevistas clínicas individuales, administradas a posteriori de la observación. Los resultados evidencian que los estudiantes parten de ideas provenientes de una historia socio-cognitivo-cultural que guían sus representaciones acerca de las bibliotecas virtuales. Estas ideas entran en constante contradicción con las formas organizativas y los contenidos que las bibliotecas les presentan. Las condiciones e intervenciones didácticas tienen un papel constitutivo en el desarrollo de las prácticas y saberes altamente complejos que requieren las búsquedas. La comparación permite avanzar sobre las situaciones que generan una mayor autonomía de los alumnos.

Prácticas de lectura en bibliotecas virtuales en contextos didácticos diversos

Este trabajo se propone examinar los procesos cognitivos de alumnos de escuelas primaria en las prácticas de lectura en bibliotecas virtuales en el contexto de dos situaciones didácticas contrastantes. La perspectiva teórica adoptada considera los aportes de la tradición socio-histórica vigotskiana y del constructivismo relacional piagetiano. El diseño metodológico se inscribe en un estudio cualitativo de casos en el que se realiza el seguimiento de las prácticas de lectura de los alumnos mediante observaciones de aula donde se registran minuciosamente las acciones de un grupo frente a la pantalla y los intercambios con sus compañeros y el docente. Estos datos se complementan con encuestas realizadas previamente y entrevistas clínicas individuales, administradas a posteriori de la observación. Los resultados evidencian que los estudiantes parten de ideas provenientes de una historia socio-cognitivo-cultural que guían sus representaciones acerca de las bibliotecas virtuales. Estas ideas entran en constante contradicción con las formas organizativas y los contenidos que las bibliotecas les presentan. Las condiciones e intervenciones didácticas tienen un papel constitutivo en el desarrollo de las prácticas y saberes altamente complejos que requieren las búsquedas. La comparación permite avanzar sobre las situaciones que generan una mayor autonomía de los alumnos.

细辛精油对5种黄瓜病害致病菌的离体抑菌活性

采用生长速率法和孢子萌发法测定了细辛精油对引起黄瓜病害的5种病原菌的菌丝生长和孢子萌发的影响。结果表明,对灰霉病菌菌丝生长和孢子萌发的抑制效果均较好,其次是对褐斑病菌、枯萎病菌和叶斑病菌;而对根腐病菌菌丝生长和孢子萌发的抑制效果均较差。对于同一种病原菌来说,细辛精油对其孢子萌发的抑制效果和对其菌丝生长的抑制效果存在差异,如灰霉病菌和根腐病菌,对其孢子萌发的抑制效果好于对其菌丝生长的抑制效果。

The role of LL-37 in periodontal wound healing

Introduction: As a result of chronic inflammation during periodontal disease the junctional epithelium becomes micro-ulcerated. The inflammatory process is mediated by both bacterial and host cell products. Host defence peptides such as defensins, secretory leucocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) and the sole human cathelicidin, LL-37, are secreted by both periodontal cells and neutrophils into gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). They have the ability to modulate the immune response in periodontitis and are thought to have a potential role in periodontal wound healing. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the role of LL-37 in the production of Interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and basic-fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) by gingival fibroblasts. The role of LL-37 in modulating total matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and -2 by gingival fibroblasts was also investigated. Methods: Primary gingival fibroblasts were co-cultured with concentrations of LL-37 (1, 5 and 10µg/ml) for 24 hours and their supernatants tested for levels of IL-8 and IL-6, HGF, bFGF, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 by ELISA. Rates of MMP turnover in the supernatants were tested by fluorogenic assay using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) peptide substrates. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT assay. Statistical significance was measured using the independent t-test and p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: LL-37 significantly upregulated levels of IL-8, IL-6, HGF, bFGF and TIMP-1 (p<0.05) in a dose-dependent fashion. LL-37 significantly decreased the total MMP activity (p<0.05). None of the LL-37 concentrations tested were cytotoxic to gingival fibroblasts. Conclusion: These results indicate that LL-37 is involved in periodontal wound healing. LL-37 increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and increased levels of growth factors involved in re-epithelialisation. LL-37 has the ability to regulate remodelling of the periodontium by controlling MMP overactivity both directly and by stimulating production of inhibitors by gingival fibroblasts.

Síntese e aplicação de catalisadores à base de óxidos de cério, tungstênio e HZSM-5 para a produção do biodiesel

This work presents a study on the production of biodiesel by esterification reaction of oleic acid with methanol using batch reactor and different catalysts based on CeO2 and WO3 and HZSM-5. Acid treatment was performed in order to increase the catalytic activity. Different characterization techniques were performed, among them X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis TGA/DTA, Spectroscopy in the Region in Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The effects of independent variables: temperature, molar ratio of oil: alcohol and the amount of catalyst and their interactions on the dependent variable (conversion of oleic acid to the corresponding ester). Overall, through the results obtained in the characterization was observed that the applied treatments were efficient, however the XRF technique, indicated that tungsten oxide leaching could occur during the preparation of the materials. The treatments performed on HZSM-5 caused no significant changes in the structure indicating that the zeolite was quite resistant to the treatments used. It was evaluated using complete 23 factorial design. For the catalysts investigated, the best reaction conditions were obtained when using higher levels of the independent variables temperature and amount of catalyst. However, for the variable molar ratio the lowest level showed significant yields for most of the synthesized catalyst, obtaining maximum conversion to the OC (67.97%), OW (74.37%), HZSM-5 (61.16%) OC-OW 1 (75.93%), OC-OW 2 (82.57%), OC-OW 3 (79.15%), S/OC-OW 1 (86.90%), S/OC-OW 2 (91.04%), S/OC-OW 3 (88.60%), S/OC-OW/H 1 (92.34%), S/OC-OW/H 2 (100%) and S/OC-OW/H 3 (98.16%). According to the experimental design, the temperature has the biggest influence on the reaction variable for all the synthesized catalysts. Among the catalysts investigated S/OC-OW/H 2 e S/OC-OW/H 3 were more effective. Reuse tests showed that the catalyst activity decreased after each cycle, indicating that the regeneration process was effective. The leaching test indicated that the catalysts are heterogeneous in the evaluated operating range. The catalysts investigated showed themselves promising for the production of biodiesel.

Cannabidiol injected into the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis reduces the expression of contextual fear conditioning via 5-HT1A receptors

Systemic administration of cannabidiol (CBD) attenuates cardiovascular and behavioral changes induced by re-exposure to a context that had been previously paired with footshocks. Previous results from our group using cFos immunohistochemistry suggested that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is involved in this effect. The mechanisms of CBD effects are still poorly understood, but could involve 5-HT1A receptor activation. Thus, the present work investigated if CBD administration into the BNST would attenuate the expression of contextual fear conditioning and if this effect would involve the activation of 5-HT1A receptors. Male Wistar rats with cannulae bilaterally implanted into the BNST were submitted to a 10 min conditioning session (six footshocks, 1.5 mA/3 s). Twenty-four hours later freezing and cardiovascular responses (mean arterial pressure and heart rate) to the conditioning box were measured for 10 min. CBD (15, 30 or 60 nmol) or vehicle was administered 10 min before the re-exposure to the aversive context. The second experiment was similar to the first one except that animals received microinjections of the 5-HT1A receptor antagonist WAY100635 (0.37 nmol) 5 min before CBD (30 nmol) treatment. The results showed that CBD (30 and 60 nmol) treatment significantly reduced the freezing and attenuated the cardiovascular responses induced by re-exposure to the aversive context. Moreover, WAY100635 by itself did not change the cardiovascular and behavioral response to context, but blocked the CBD effects. These results suggest that CBD can act in the BNST to attenuate aversive conditioning responses and this effect seems to involve 5-HT1A receptor-mediated neurotransmission.

Personal Access Tutor - helping students to learn MS Access

The paper describes Personal Access Tutor (PAT),an Intelligent Tutoring System which helps students to learn how to create forms and reports in MS Access. We present the architecture and components of PAT and also the services that PAT provides to the students. Results for an external (system) evaluation of PAT (both qualitative and quantitative data) are presented and discussed.

Nutrition care practices in hospital wards : results from the Nutrition Care Day Survey 2010.

Background & aim: This paper describes nutrition care practices in acute care hospitals across Australia and New Zealand. Methods: A survey on nutrition care practices in Australian and New Zealand hospitals was completed by Directors of dietetics departments of 56 hospitals that participated in the Australasian Nutrition Care Day Survey 2010. Results: Overall 370 wards representing various specialities participated in the study. Nutrition risk screening was conducted in 64% (n=234) of the wards. Seventy nine percent(n=185) of these wards reported using the Malnutrition Screening Tool, 16% using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (n=37), and 5% using local tools (n=12). Nutrition risk rescreening was conducted in 14% (n=53) of the wards. More than half the wards referred patients at nutrition risk to dietitians and commenced a nutrition intervention protocol. Feeding assistance was provided in 89% of the wards. “Protected” meal times were implemented in 5% of the wards. Conclusion: A large number of acute care hospital wards in Australia and New Zealand do not comply with evidence-based practice guidelines for nutritional management of malnourished patients. This study also provides recommendations for practice.

Depression in Working Adults: Comparing the Costs and Health Outcomes of Working When Ill

Objective Working through a depressive illness can improve mental health but also carries risks and costs from reduced concentration, fatigue, and poor on-the-job performance. However, evidence-based recommendations for managing work attendance decisions, which benefit individuals and employers, are lacking. Therefore, this study has compared the costs and health outcomes of short-term absenteeism versus working while ill (“presenteeism”) amongst employed Australians reporting lifetime major depression. Methods Cohort simulation using state-transition Markov models simulated movement of a hypothetical cohort of workers, reporting lifetime major depression, between health states over one- and five-years according to probabilities derived from a quality epidemiological data source and existing clinical literature. Model outcomes were health service and employment-related costs, and quality-adjusted-life-years (QALYs), captured for absenteeism relative to presenteeism, and stratified by occupation (blue versus white-collar). Results Per employee with depression, absenteeism produced higher mean costs than presenteeism over one- and five-years ($42,573/5-years for absenteeism, $37,791/5-years for presenteeism). However, overlapping confidence intervals rendered differences non-significant. Employment-related costs (lost productive time, job turnover), and antidepressant medication and service use costs of absenteeism and presenteeism were significantly higher for white-collar workers. Health outcomes differed for absenteeism versus presenteeism amongst white-collar workers only. Conclusions Costs and health outcomes for absenteeism and presenteeism were not significantly different; service use costs excepted. Significant variation by occupation type was identified. These findings provide the first occupation-specific cost evidence which can be used by clinicians, employees, and employers to review their management of depression-related work attendance, and may suggest encouraging employees to continue working is warranted.