A Mensagem Fotográfica do Jornalismo de Viagens: metodologia qualitativa para avaliação de Alternativas Textuais

A produção e disponibilização de recursos de acessibilidade, como textos alternativos (Alt), são aspectos necessários para tornar o jornalismo mais acessível. O objetivo deste artigo é comparar a composição de fotografias jornalísticas de viagem com seus respectivos Alt para verificar se a função e/ou conteúdo fotográficos podem ser transmitidos às pessoas com deficiência visual. Para isso, fez-se uma pesquisa exploratória em cadernos de viagem de sites de jornais brasileiros, na qual apenas o conteúdo da Folha de S. Paulo apresentou o recurso em todas as fotos. Fez-se um levantamento das características de composição de três fotos e, com base no Paradoxo Fotográfico de Barthes, comparouse a mensagem imagética com o Alt. Observa-se que os Alt usados não substituem adequadamente as fotos, comprometendo a compreensão total por parte das pessoas com deficiência visual.The photographic Message of Travel Journalism: qualitative methodology for Alternative Texts evaluationAbstractThe production and availability of accessibility resources, such as alternative texts (Alt), are necessary aspects to make journalism more accessible. This article compares the composition of travel news photographs with their respective Alt to verify whether the photographic function or content is accessible to visually impaired people. Exploratory research was carried out in travel sections of Brazilian news websites, in which only the Folha de S. Paulo presented the resource. Hence, the composition characteristics of three photographs have been assessed and based on the Barthes Photographic Paradox, there was an examination between the photos message and their Alt. As a result, the Alt used does not adequately replace the images. Such inadequacy compromises the understanding on the part of visually impaired people.Keywords: Travel Journalism; accessibility; alternative text; visual impairment.

Language, Physicality, and Mantra

Chapter 2 examines the nature of mantra. It first explores ideas of mantras as magic utterances and examines ritual language. This leads to a theoretical discussion that argues against Staal’s assertion that mantras are not speech acts. While Staal’s work is useful for understanding mantras, the chapter claims that the Netra and Svacchanda Tantras anticipate his argument and offer a counterexplanation. The perspective they offer is unique to these two texts, and the Netra Tantra’s twenty-first chapter provides a philosophically rigorous examination into the composition, characteristics, power, and productiveness of mantras. The Netra Tantra offers a tripartite explanation of mantras as formless, disembodied, and embodied or unmanifest potential, potential, and limited potential. This discussion presents the most important feature of mantras: that no matter their form (or lack thereof), the mantra and the deity are inseparable. This too helps explain the importance of encoding the mantra within the text. The chapter ends with a brief section on the practicalities of mantric recitation, namely, in the eleven types of sequences that protect the mantra from impurities such as mispronunciation or incorrect usage. Further, it presents a type of semantic analysis called nirvacana that uses the roots of words to demonstrate the eternal nature of the text itself.

Growth and Biochemical Composition Characteristics of Arthrospira platensis Induced by Simultaneous Nitrogen Deficiency and Seawater-Supplemented Medium in an Outdoor Raceway Pond in Winter

Arthrospira platensis, a well-known cyanobacterium, is widely applied not only in human and animal nutrition but also in cosmetics for its high amounts of active products. The biochemical composition plays a key role in the application performance of the Arthrospira biomass. The present study aimed to evaluate the growth and biochemical composition characteristics of A. platensis, cultured with a nitrogen-free and seawater-supplemented medium in an outdoor raceway pond in winter. The results showed that the biomass yield could achieve 222.42 g m−2, and the carbohydrate content increased by 247% at the end of the culture period (26 d), compared with that of the starter culture. The daily and annual areal productivities were 3.96 g m−2 d−1 and 14.44 ton ha−1 yr−1 for biomass and 2.88 g m−2 d−1 and 10.53 ton ha−1 yr−1 for carbohydrates, respectively. On the contrary, a profound reduction was observed in protein, lipid, and pigment contents. Glucose, the main monosaccharide in the A. platensis biomass, increased from 77.81% to 93.75% of total monosaccharides. Based on these results, large-scale production of carbohydrate-rich A. platensis biomass was achieved via a low-cost culture, involving simultaneous nitrogen deficiency and supplementary seawater in winter.

Nutritional, Lipid Metabolic and Body Composition Features of Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Background Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neuromuscular disease affecting multiple organs and systems, including nutritional and metabolic status. There is still a lack of relevant large sample size research. We aimed to investigate the nutritional status, serum lipid profile, and body composition characteristics in children with SMA. Methods A hospital-based, case-control study was conducted on 91 children with SMA (17.6% of type I, 48.4% of type II, 34.1% of type III) and 91 age- and gender-matched healthy children in a single hospitalized center in China. Anthropometric information, serum lipids parameters and body composition (in subgroup of patients older than 3 years) were collected. According to the anthropometric Z scores, nutritional status was categorized into normal and malnutrition (including under- and over-nutrition) groups. Results The prevalence of malnutrition and dyslipidemia in children with SMA was higher than that of controls (49.45% vs. 23.08% and 56.04% vs. 34.07%, respectively and p<0.01). Particularly, the prevalence of lower-than-normal levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) and apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) were significantly higher than that in healthy controls in children with SMA (26.37% vs. 7.69% and 41.76% vs. 6.59%, respectively and p<0.01). In terms of the body composition characteristics in children with SMA II & III, on average, the total body fat mass percentage (FM%) was 43.38% (36.99%, 48.20%), the fat mass index (FMI) was 7.30 (5.07, 8.72), the lean body mass index (LBMI) was 7.70 (6.96, 9.02) and the bone mineral density-z score (BMD-z) was -1.40 (-2.80, -0.60), generally different from the reference profiles in published literature. Conclusion Children with SMA in China have obvious nutritional imbalances, abnormal levels of serum lipid and unbalanced body composition. Further research is warranted to explore the potential mechanisms and health management strategies on nutritional and metabolic disorders of SMA.

Plasma Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Their Derivatives in Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) represents a heterogeneous group of hyperglycemic metabolic disorders that are associated with health outcomes for mothers and offspring. Currently, diagnosis of GDM is based on repetitive measurement of increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) or upon results showing increased postprandial plasma glucose (PPG). Recently, it was discovered that the changes in the gut microbiome during pregnancy are associated with insulin resistance and obesity. Therefore, in this study, relevant products of gut bacteria, short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and their derivatives were evaluated together with baseline body composition characteristics and common biochemical parameters in women with three different phenotypes of GDM, healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women. Plasma SCFA and their derivatives were derivatized, separated on reversed-phase liquid chromatography and detected by a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OH-BA), 4-methylvalerate (4-MVA) and isovalerate (IVA), together with selected parameters associated with baseline body composition characteristics and biochemistry, were evaluated as statistically significant. 3-OH-BA, which was increased in all three groups of women with different phenotypes of GDM, reflects a ketogenic state of GDM. In all groups of pregnant women, elevated/suppressed concentrations of 4-MVA/IVA were found. These findings show the importance of monitoring SCFA and other parameters besides glucose in women with GDM.

Analysis of Chemical Composition Characteristics and Source of PM2.5 under Different Pollution Degrees in Autumn and Winter of Liaocheng, China

Analysis of chemical composition characteristics of PM2.5 under different pollution degrees can reveal the changes of pollution sources. In order to make clear the evolution process of PM2.5 compositions in autumn and winter, PM2.5 samples were continuously collected and analyzed at Liaocheng city, China. The collected samples were classified as clean days (CLD), mild-moderate pollution days (MMD) and severe-serious pollution days (SSD). It was concluded that with the increase of pollution degrees, the concentrations of water-soluble ions and carbon components increased significantly, while elements only increased slightly. In addition, as the pollution degrees increased, the percentage of NO3−, SO42− and NH4+ increased significantly, from 23.0% in CLD to 49.0% in SSD, while the percentage of other components decreased, especially crust material. The PMF analyzed results showed that secondary transformation (36.7%), combustion sources (20.4%), secondary organic aerosols (SOA) (11.7%), vehicle sources (11%), dust (10.5%) and industrial processes (9.7%) were the main sources of PM2.5 during autumn and winter in Liaocheng. The contribution of secondary transformation reached 57% at the SSD level, which indicated that it was the main reason for the increase of PM2.5 concentrations. The air mass mainly came from five paths to Liaocheng. The secondary transformation contribution of the air mass with short transmission distance was higher, while the contribution of the dust was higher from the long distance.