State of the art of industrial wood protection in Portugal

This work intended to give a perspective of industrial wood protection in Portugal. A survey was made of the companies treating wood mainly for use classes 3 and 4 such as autoclave treatments with biocides and wood modification procedures. Currently there are 23 companies with 33 production plants with an autoclave installed for wood preservation by impregnation. There are also two companies producing modified wood by thermal treatment. Most of the plants are located in the central and northern regions of Portugal. The leading preservation chemicals used in Portugal are Tanalith E and Celcure brands. The main wood species used in all companies is Pinus pinaster from local producers. The products commercialized by the treating companies are diverse: pre-fabricated houses, garden furniture and playgrounds, decks, poles, stakes, and sawn wood. Modified wood producers sell mostly decks and cladding. Considerable changes are expected in the next few years due to the requirements of European Directives and the typical constraints of the Portuguese market.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Variants of Hepcidin Gene Promoter Modulate Iron Status in H63d Individuals

Background: HFE is a major histocompatibility complex class I-like protein that is mutated in Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH). Despite C282Y being the most common HH-associated HFE mutation, there are other reported mutations, such as H63D, with an uncertain role in the pathogenesis of the disease. Hepcidin is a crucial regulator of systemic iron homeostasis, controlling the absorption of iron by enterocytes and its release by macrophages. Mutations in this gene (HAMP) result in the development of a juvenile type of HH. Also, it has been shown that a polymorphism in HAMP promoter (c.-582A>G) is associated with an increase of serum ferritin levels in beta-thalassemia major patients but not in normal individuals. Objectives/Methods: We screened for the presence of polymorphisms in the HAMP promoter in 266 individuals with ferritin levels higher than 400ng/mL, being: i) 191 individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the H63D mutation (group 1) and ii) 75 individuals carrying one or more C282Y alleles (HH/CY, HH/YY or HD/CY), (group 2). To assess whether HAMP promoter polymorphisms are changing the hepcidin expression in response to an external stimulus we performed luminescence assays in Huh-7 cell line. Results: Our data show that, in our sample, the c.-582A>G polymorphism is in linkage with another one, the c.-1010C>T. These polymorphisms were found in a significant higher frequency in group 1 (31.2% of allele G and T, respectively) than in the general population (16.4%; p<0.001). On the contrary, they were found at a slight higher, but not significant, frequency at group 2 (21.3%), comparing with general population (p=0.186). Functional in vitro studies, using stimulus as holo-transferrin, ferric citrate, IL-6 or GDF15, revealed no differences in the activity of the HAMP promoter in the presence or absence of the polymorphisms. However, further analysis with some other stimuli, such as hypoxia or BMPs must be performed. Conclusions: c.-582A>G/c.-1010C>T polymorphisms seem to be modulators of iron overload development in individuals carrying the H63D mutation. However, the mechanism subjacent to this observation remains elusive.Parcialmente financiado por FCT: Programa de Financiamento Plurianual do CIGMH e Bolsa de Doutoramento SFRH/BD/60718/2009

Comparison between heat treated sapwood and heartwood from Pinus pinaster

Sapwood and heartwood samples of Pinus pinaster were treated in an oven at 190ºC and 200ºC for 2-6h. Dimensional stability, measured as Anti Shrinking Efficiency (ASE) between 0% and 65% relative humidity, durability against fungi, mechanical resistance (MOE and MOR), hardness and chemical composition were determined for treated and untreated sapwood and heartwood. Radial ASE reached 52% for sapwood and 50% for heartwood while tangential ASE reached 50% and 40% respectively. MOE increased slightly at the beginning of the treatment decreasing afterwards. No significant differences were found between sapwood and heartwood. MOR decreased by 50% and 30% for sapwood and heartwood respectively. A significant increase in durability against Rhodonia placenta was found for both heartwood and sapwood at the higher temperature and for heartwood only at 190º for 4h.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Variantes genéticas da hormona hepcidina contribuem para aumentar os níveis da ferritina sérica em indivíduos suscetíveis de desenvolverem sobrecarga em ferro

Este estudo foi parcialmente financiado pela FCT: PEst-OE/SAU/UI0009/2011

Improvement of termite resistance, dimensional stability and mechanical properties of pine wood by paraffin impregnation

Paraffin has been used as surface protection of wood throughout the ages but its use for impregnation to improve wood resistance to biodegradation is recent. This study determined the main improvements on wood properties with paraffin impregnation. Healthy Pinus pinaster Ait. wood was impregnated with paraffin at different levels using a hot–cold process. Weight gain, equilibrium moisture content and dimensional stability (ASE) at 35 and 65 % relative humidity, termite durability against Reticulitermes grassei (Clément), bending strength, bending stiffness (MOE) and Janka hardness were determined. Density increased from 0.57 to 0.99, ASE ranged between 38–96 % and 16–71 % for 35 and 65 % relative humidity, respectively. Equilibrium moisture content decreased from 9.9 and 12.0 % to 0.8 and 3.6 % for 35 and 65 % relative humidity. Termite durability improved from level 4 to level 3 of attack, and higher termite mortality was found in treated wood (52 % against 17 %). Bending strength (MOR) increased with paraffin weight gain, reaching a 39 % increase. MOE also increased by about 13 % for wood with a weight gain around 80 %. Janka hardness increased significantly reaching about 40 % for wood with 80 % weight gain. Paraffin impregnated wood has improved properties with regard to equilibrium moisture content, dimensional stability and density, bending strength and Janka hardness, and resistance against termites

Measurement of the thermal expansion coefficient of an Al-Mg alloy at ultra-low temperatures

We describe a result coming from an experiment based on an Al-Mg alloy (~ 5% Mg) suspended bar hit by an electron beam and operated above and below the termperature of transition from superconducting to normal state of the material. The amplitude of the bar first longitudinal mode of oscillation, excited by the beam interacting with the bulk, and the energy deposited by the beam in the bar are the quantities measured by the experiment. These quantities, inserted in the equations describing the mechanism of the mode excitation and complemented by an independent measurement of the specific heat, allow us to determine the linear expansion coefficient of the material.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure

Hepcidin Gene Promoter c.-1010T and c.-582G Variants are Modulators of Iron Overload Development in Individuals Carrying the H63D Mutation in the HFE Gene

Mutated HFE gene/protein is usually associated with Hereditary Hemochromatosis (HH). Despite C282Y being the most common HH-associated HFE mutation, others, such as H63D, also have an uncertain role in the pathogenesis of HH. Hepcidin is a crucial regulator of systemic iron homeostasis, controlling both iron absorption by enterocytes and its release by macrophages. Mutations in Hepcidin gene (HAMP) result in the development of a juvenile type of HH. Also, it has been hypothesized that, in certain conditions, some HAMP polymorphisms can modulate iron status. As example, c.-582A>G polymorphism in HAMP promoter can increase serum ferritin levels in beta-thalassemia major patients, but not in normal individuals. HAMP promoter polymorphisms were analysed by DNA sequencing in 266 individuals with ferritin levels higher than 400ng/mL: i) 191 individuals homozygous or heterozygous for the H63D mutation (group 1) and ii) 75 individuals carrying one or more C282Y alleles (HH/CY, HH/YY or HD/CY) (group 2). Also, luminescence assays were performed in Huh-7 cells in order to assess whether the HAMP promoter polymorphisms are changing the hepcidin expression in response to external stimulus. The results revealed that c.-582A>G is in linkage with c.-1010C>T polymorphism. These polymorphisms were found in a significant higher frequency in group 1 (31.2% of allele G and T, respectively) than in the general population (16.4%; p<0.001). Furthermore, they were found at a slight higher, but not significant frequency at group 2 (21.3%), comparing with general population (p=0.186). Functional in vitro studies, using stimulus as holo-transferrin, ferric citrate, IL-6, hypoxia or GDF15, revealed no differences in the activity of the HAMP promoter in the presence or absence of these polymorphisms. We conclude that c.-1010C>T and c.-582A>G polymorphisms seem to modulate iron overload development in individuals carrying the H63D mutation. However, the mechanism subjacent to this observation remains elusive.Partially funded by FCT: Programa de Financiamento Plurianual do CIGMH and SFRH/BD/60718/200

Impact of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic wave on the pattern of hibernal respiratory virus epidemics, France, 2009.

International audienceThis short report based on clinical surveillance and laboratory data describes the circulation of rhinoviruses, influenza viruses and respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV) in France during the 2009-10 season compared with the previous winter season. The delayed circulation of RSV observed in 2009-10 compared with 2008-09 suggests that the early circulation of the 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) viruses had an impact on the RSV epidemic

An in vitro network of intermolecular interactions between viral RNA segments of an avian H5N2 influenza A virus: comparison with a human H3N2 virus.

International audienceThe genome of influenza A viruses (IAV) is split into eight viral RNAs (vRNAs) that are encapsidated as viral ribonucleoproteins. The existence of a segment-specific packaging mechanism is well established, but the molecular basis of this mechanism remains to be deciphered. Selective packaging could be mediated by direct interaction between the vRNA packaging regions, but such interactions have never been demonstrated in virions. Recently, we showed that the eight vRNAs of a human H3N2 IAV form a single interaction network in vitro that involves regions of the vRNAs known to contain packaging signals in the case of H1N1 IAV strains. Here, we show that the eight vRNAs of an avian H5N2 IAV also form a single network of interactions in vitro, but, interestingly, the interactions and the regions of the vRNAs they involve differ from those described for the human H3N2 virus. We identified the vRNA sequences involved in five of these interactions at the nucleotide level, and in two cases, we validated the existence of the interaction using compensatory mutations in the interacting sequences. Electron tomography also revealed significant differences in the interactions taking place between viral ribonucleoproteins in H5N2 and H3N2 virions, despite their canonical '7 + 1' arrangement

The nonstructural NS1 protein of influenza viruses modulates TP53 splicing through host factor CPSF4

International audienceInfluenza A viruses (IAV) are known to modulate and "hijack" several cellular host mechanisms, including gene splicing and RNA maturation machineries. These modulations alter host cellular responses and enable an optimal expression of viral products throughout infection. The interplay between the host protein p53 and IAV, in particular through the viral nonstructural protein NS1, has been shown to be supportive for IAV replication. However, it remains unknown whether alternatively spliced isoforms of p53, known to modulate p53 transcriptional activity, are affected by IAV infection and contribute to IAV replication. Using a TP53 minigene, which mimics intron 9 alternative splicing, we have shown here that the NS1 protein of IAV changes the expression pattern of p53 isoforms. Our results demonstrate that CPSF4 (cellular protein cleavage and polyadenylation specificity factor 4) independently and the interaction between NS1 and CPSF4 modulate the alternative splicing of TP53 transcripts, which may result in the differential activation of p53-responsive genes. Finally, we report that CPSF4 and most likely beta and gamma spliced p53 isoforms affect both viral replication and IAV-associated type I interferon secretion. All together, our data show that cellular p53 and CPSF4 factors, both interacting with viral NS1, have a crucial role during IAV replication that allows IAV to interact with and alter the expression of alternatively spliced p53 isoforms in order to regulate the cellular innate response, especially via type I interferon secretion, and perform efficient viral replication