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Leiden International Medical Student Conference (LIMSC)

At the Leiden International Medical Student Conference (LIMSC) students from all over the world will convene for a three-day conference. LIMSC provides students with the opportunity to present the results of their (bio)medical-related research projects, either in oral or poster presentation sessions. The sessions will be interspersed with guest lectures and workshops by prominent international speakers, a range of social events and a Career and Internship Fair. On top of that LIMSC is a great opportunity to establish contacts with international colleagues in an informal atmosphere! We welcome you to LIMSC on 12, 13 and 14 March 2009

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT CONGRESS OF MEDICAL SCIENCE

16th ISCOMS will be the UMCG (University Medical Centre of Groningen).
2nd - 5th June 2009
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION OPENS ON THE 17^TH OF NOVEMBER 2009
Deadline of abstract submission: 15th February 2009

VI ENCONTRO DO FÓRUM INTERNACIONAL DE INVESTIGADORES PORTUGUESES - FIIP

Brain, Life, and Culture

CÉREBRO, VIDA E CULTURA

Lisboa, 18 a 20 de Dezembro de 2008

É com enorme prazer que vos convidamos a participar no VI Encontro do Fórum Internacional de Investigadores Portugueses, sob o tema "Cérebro, Vida e Cultura", que terá lugar no Instituto de Medicina Molecular (IMM), em Lisboa, Portugal, entre 18 e 20 de Dezembro de 2008.
O Encontro tem por objectivo principal oferecer um espaço de interacção entre os investigadores portugueses dentro e fora de Portugal, promovendo a excelência e a internacionalização da comunidade cientifica portuguesa.
Escolhemos um tema atractivo para investigadores das mais diversas áreas do conhecimento, desde as ciências sociais e humanas até às ciências naturais.
A exemplo do que aconteceu em anos anteriores, procurámos manter os custos de inscrição no mínimo possível, para que todos possam participar.
Para os que não conhecem, o IMM está localizado perto do centro de Lisboa, o que permite um contacto próximo com a cidade, mas sendo um local facilmente acessível de transportes públicos.
Esperamos assim que se possam juntar a nós neste encontro.
Cumprimentos a todos e até breve,


Irene Fonseca (Presidente) e Tiago Outeiro (Vice-Presidente)

site

Mechanosensitive Channels

We are remarkably resistant to changes in our surrounding environment. Our bulky bodies allow us to weather extremes of heat and cold, and our skin protects us if we go for a swim in fresh water or salty water. If things get too uncomfortable, we can always get up and walk away, finding a warmer or cooler or drier place. Bacteria don't have as many options. They are tiny and they are immersed in water, so changes in the environment can pose life-threatening challenges. For instance, if it rains they may be suddenly surrounded by fresh water. This is dangerous because the water seeps into the cell through osmosis and increases the pressure inside. At other times, the bacterium may be shifted suddenly to salty conditions, which pulls water out and dehydrates the cell. Bacteria have methods for resisting these changes, so they can keep a steady, comfortable osmotic pressure inside.

Under Pressure

Bacteria control their internal pressure by changing the concentration of molecules inside. If they are placed in salty conditions, they resist dehydration by transporting ions into the cell and by synthesizing more small molecules. However, if they are placed in pure water, they must reduce their inner concentration of ions and small molecules. In that case, they use mechanosensitive channels that open and allow small molecules to leak out. For instance, in laboratory tests, cells that are placed in fresh water rapidly lose more than 95% of small molecules like amino acids, sugars, and potassium ions. However, they keep their proteins or ribosomes safely inside, so they recover quickly and can start up protein synthesis minutes after the conditions return to normal.

Pressure Valve

Mechanosensitive channels respond to pressure inside the cell, opening when it gets to dangerous levels. They sense this pressure by sensing changes in the properties of the membrane. When the membrane is stretched by high internal pressures, it triggers the conformational change that opens the channel. The cell has several different channels that open at different levels of pressure. The MscS channel shown here (PDB entry 2oau) opens at low and moderate pressures, and the one on the following page opens at higher pressures.

Small Channel

MscS, the mechanosensitive channel of small conductance, is composed of seven identical chains arranged to form a tube. A portion of it crosses the membrane and forms a pressure-sensitive pore about 13 Angstroms in diameter. This is just big enough to pass small molecules and ions. The cytoplasmic portion (shown at the bottom here) forms a cap over the pore, creating an antechamber that limits the size of molecules that can reach the pore when it opens.

pdb

Next: Large Channel

Física às Quartas: Arrefecer ao Sol

19/NOV às 15h00
Departamento de Física FCUP, sala: F-120

Filipe Mendes / Instituto Superior Técnico

Resumo:
A probabilidade de as emissões de CO2 derivadas da actividade humana estarem a provocar uma mudança climática rápida é tão grande que o facto é já tido como certo por grande parte da população mundial. Os olhos viram-se agora para as alternativas energéticas aos combustíveis fósseis, com o monstro nuclear escondido com o rabo de fora.

O Sol é uma entidade simpática e ancestralmente considerada uma forte aliada da humanidade. Que nos aquece, é mais que evidente. Que nos pode dar electricidade, já é sabido. Que está por detrás de outras energias renováveis – biomassa, vento, ondas – é fácil de compreender. Mas que nos arrefeça com o seu calor?...

Disso falaremos, começando por compreender os fenómenos físicos que desde há muito se utilizam para produzir o frio e explicando como se foram refinando esses processos, tornando-se complexos, até chegarmos às máquinas que hoje se utilizam para esse fim. E, é claro, como se arrefece ao Sol.


Local: Departamento de Física FCUP, sala: F-120

ciclo dedicado à Física e Energia, promovido pela Soc. Portuguesa de Física / Delegação Norte

www.fc.up.pt

How science is like democracy

Physicist Lee Smolin talks about how the scientific community works: as he puts it, "we fight and argue as hard as we can," but everyone accepts that the next generation of scientists will decide who's right. And, he says, that's how democracy works, too.

Turn Plant Cells Into Medical Factories

The methods based on plant biotechnology are an alternative to chemical synthesis. By controlling the cell metabolism of a 'green factory', i.e. a living plant cell, it is possible to affect the production of desired high-value compounds. This kind of metabolic engineering also stimulates the cells towards producing completely new compounds.

Plants generate valuable secondary metabolic compounds, which can be used as pharmaceuticals. Most of these compounds are so complex that their chemical synthesis is not economically feasible. This is why biotechnology opens up a whole new avenue of possibilities. The SmartCell project will focus on terpene compounds, which are valuable for the pharmaceutical industry. These compounds for example are used in the treatment of cancer and malaria. The expertise and technology created during the project can be applied to a considerable extent in developing the biotechnological production of other compound groups in plants and plant cells.

noticia

Human genes are multitaskers

"Although people often struggle to master more than one discipline, our genes are accomplished polymaths. Genome-wide surveys of gene expression in 15 different tissues and cell lines have revealed that up to 94% of human genes generate more than one product."

link naturenews

Investiga o Teu Futuro

Aparece quarta-feira à noite no Café Progresso e participa na discussão!

http://www.aeicbasup.pt/

"Milionarios" à portuguesa

"Há alguns anos emigraram para se doutorarem nas biociências. Agora muitos investigadores portugueses estão a regressar, mas para se tornarem empresários de sucesso" noticia expresso

Darhhhn those scientists!!!!