The Asian project for collaborative derivation of reference intervals: (1) strategy and major results of standardized analytes

Background: A multicenter study conducted in Southeast Asia to derive reference intervals (RIs) for 72 commonly measured analytes (general chemistry, inflammatory markers, hormones, etc.) featured centralized measurement to clearly detect regionality in test results. The results of 31 standardized analytes are reported, with the remaining analytes presented in the next report.

Microwave assisted green synthesis of aryl methoxylated benzamides and 2-oxazolines from biomass

This paper presents a simple, rapid and efficient green synthesis of aryl methoxylated benzamides and 2-oxazolines from renewable Eucalyptus biomass – tar derivatives. One-pot synthesis was realized using microwave irradiation as an alternative energy source, through a direct condensation reaction of amino alcohol with carboxylic acids as starting materials. In comparison to classical organic synthesis, the protocol proposed in this work offers advantages, such as the use of common and low cost starting materials, simple work up, solvent-free reaction, shorter reaction time, good chemical conversion process and absence of catalyst.

Reproductive data of a threatened bat, Myotis ruber (É. Geoffroy, 1806) (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in a southern Brazilian deciduous seasonal forest

Myotis ruber is a widely distributed bat in South America, but it is considered rare and its natural history is virtually unknown. These factors contribute to the classification of the species as vulnerable regionally and nearthreatened globally. In this context, the aim of this note is to present new data about the reproductive biology of M. ruber , thus expanding the knowledge about its natural history and, consequently, contributing to the conservation of the species. After an extensive effort to capture bats in southern Brazil, we captured 40 individuals of M. ruber . Pregnant females (n=17) were observed mainly in October in different years. In addition, seven immature individuals were captured. Based on our results, it is expected that the species will fit the general pattern for bats determined by climate and food resources, but our data do not allow us to assign conclusive reproductive patterns. Although not conclusive, the information presented in this note represents the first opportunity to gather breeding information about this rare and threatened species.

High-Learners Present Larger Mid-Frontal Theta Power and Connectivity in Response to Incorrect Performance Feedback

A crucial aspect of cognitive control and learning is the ability to integrate feedback, that is, to evaluate action outcomes and their deviations from the intended goals and to adjust behavior accordingly. However, how high-learners differ from low-learners in relation to feedback processing has not been characterized. Further, little is known about the underlying brain connectivity patterns during feedback processing. This study aimed to fill these gaps by analyzing electrical brain responses from healthy adult human participants while they performed a time estimation task with correct and incorrect feedback. As compared with low-learners, high-learners presented larger mid-frontal theta (4-8 Hz) oscillations and lower sensorimotor beta (17-24 Hz) oscillations in response to incorrect feedback. Further, high-learners showed larger theta connectivity from left central, associated with motor activity, to mid-frontal, associated with performance monitoring, immediately after feedback (0-0.3 s), followed by (from 0.3 to 0.6 s after feedback) a flux from mid-frontal to prefrontal, associated with executive functioning. We suggest that these results reflect two cognitive processes related to successful feedback processing: first, the obtained feedback is compared with the expected one, and second, the feedback history is updated based on this information. Our results also indicate that high- and low-learners differ not only on how they react to incorrect feedback, but also in relation to how their distant brain areas interact while processing both correct and incorrect feedback. This study demonstrates the neural underpinnings of individual differences in goal-directed adaptive behavior.

Support groups for mothers of newborns hospitalized in a neonatal unit

Alendronate promotes bone formation by inhibiting protein prenylation in osteoblasts in rat tooth replantation model

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a major class of antiresorptive drug, and their molecular mechanisms of antiresorptive action have been extensively studied. Recent studies have suggested that BPs target bone-forming cells as well as bone-resorbing cells. We previously demonstrated that local application of a nitrogen-containing BP (N-BP), alendronate (ALN), for a short period of time increased bone tissue in a rat tooth replantation model. Here, we investigated cellular mechanisms of bone formation by ALN. Bone histomorphometry confirmed that bone formation was increased by local application of ALN. ALN increased proliferation of bone-forming cells residing on the bone surface, whereas it suppressed the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclasts in vivo. Moreover, ALN treatment induced more alkaline phosphatase-positive and osteocalcin-positive cells on the bone surface than PBS treatment. In vitro studies revealed that pulse treatment with ALN promoted osteocalcin expression. To track the target cells of N-BPs, we applied fluorescence-labeled ALN (F-ALN) in vivo and in vitro. F-ALN was taken into bone-forming cells both in vivo and in vitro. This intracellular uptake was inhibited by endocytosis inhibitors. Furthermore, the endocytosis inhibitor dansylcadaverine (DC) suppressed ALN-stimulated osteoblastic differentiation in vitro and it suppressed the increase in alkaline phosphatase-positive bone-forming cells and subsequent bone formation in vivo. DC also blocked the inhibition of Rap1A prenylation by ALN in the osteoblastic cells. These data suggest that local application of ALN promotes bone formation by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of bone-forming cells as well as inhibiting osteoclast function. These effects may occur through endocytic incorporation of ALN and subsequent inhibition of protein prenylation.

Derivation of sperm from xenografted testis cells and tissues of the peccary (Tayassu tajacu)

Because the collared peccary (Tayassu tajacu) has a peculiar Leydig cell cytoarchitecture, this species represents a unique mammalian model for investigating testis function. Taking advantage of the well-established and very useful testis xenograft technique, in the present study, testis tissue and testis cell suspensions from immature collared peccaries (n=4; 3 months old) were xenografted in SCID mice (n=48) and evaluated at 2, 4, 6, and 8 months after grafting. Complete spermatogenesis was observed at 6 and 8 months after testis tissue xenografting. However, probably due to de novo testis morphogenesis and low androgen secretion, functionally evaluated by the seminal vesicle weight, a delay in spermatogenesis progression was observed in the testis cell suspension xenografts, with the production of fertile sperm only at 8 months after grafting. Importantly, demonstrating that the peculiar testicular cytoarchitecture of the collared peccary is intrinsically programmed, the unique Leydig cell arrangement observed in this species was re-established after de novo testis morphogenesis. The sperm collected from the xenografts resulted in diploid embryos that expressed the paternally imprinted gene NNAT after ICSI. The present study is the first to demonstrate complete spermatogenesis with the production of fertile sperm from testis cell suspension xenografts in a wild mammalian species. Therefore, due to its unique testicular cytoarchitecture, xenograft techniques, particularly testis cell suspensions, may represent a new and very promising approach to evaluate testis morphogenesis and to investigate spermatogonial stem cell physiology and niche in the collared peccary.

Dimensiones de la emoción durante el proceso de abandono del consumo de tabaco: un apoyo a la visión motivacional del cambio

El objetivo de la investigacion fue identificar las diferencias en la valoracion de las dimensiones de la emocion, segun el grado de disposicion al cambio con respecto al abandono del consumo de tabaco. El estudio se desarrollo bajo el paradigma de visualizacion de imagenes afectivas con un diseno descriptivo comparativo. Participaron 90 personas y se utilizaron 51 imagenes validadas en Colombia del Sistema Internacional de Imagenes Afectivas, 9 imagenes validadas y asociadas al consumo de tabaco, la escala breve para evaluar los estadios de cambio y el SAM (Self Assessment Manikin). Los resultados muestran una valencia apetitiva, alto arousal y baja dominancia en las etapas iniciales del cambio; valencia aversiva, alto arousal y dominancia media en las etapas intermedias; y valencia neutral, bajo arousal y alta dominancia al finalizar el proceso de cambio. Los resultados se explican a partir de los modelos motivacionales del cambio. Palabras clave: Tabaco, emociones, motivacion, Colombia.

Factores de riesgo y protección en los agresores sexuales infantiles

Identidades estudiantiles y retos pedagógicos

Recibido 26 de setiembre de 2012 •  Corregido 04 de febrero de 2013 • Aceptado 13 de marzo de 2013El presente artículo, surge del proceso de inducción de estudiantes de primer ingreso, en el 2012, a cuatro carreras de Pedagogía en la División de Educación Básica del Centro de Investigación y Docencia en Educación (CIDE) en la Universidad Nacional. Recoge la información de 110 estudiantes. Busca la identificación de rasgos que permitan la conformación de identidades estudiantiles y los posibles retos pedagógicos que de ello se deriven. Retoma las acciones llevadas a cabo para el diseño y ejecución del proceso de inducción y los datos que aportan los instrumentos utilizados. Los hallazgos acerca de las identidades estudiantiles plantean áreas fuertes y áreas por desarrollar, que, en este caso particular, se convierten en los retos pedagógicos que han de ser atendidos desde la unidad académica. La División de Educación Básica, formadora de profesionales en diferentes disciplinas, tiene una gran responsabilidad en la transformación social y cultural del país, preparando profesionales en educación y brindando las herramientas necesarias para que los estudiantes y las estudiantes puedan lograr mayores habilidades artísticas, habilidades en redacción y ortografía, habilidades tecnológicas, habilidades deportivas, habilidades para hablar en público: estos son algunos de los retos que emergen del análisis del proceso de inducción realizado con estudiantes de nuevo ingreso.