Noninvasive assessment of an engineered bioactive graft in myocardial infarction: impact on cardiac function and scar healing

Cardiac tissue engineering, which combines cells and biomaterials, is promising for limiting the sequelae of myocardial infarction (MI). We assessed myocardial function and scar evolution after implanting an engineered bioactive impedance graft (EBIG) in a swine MI model. The EBIG comprises a scaffold of decellularized human pericardium, green fluorescent protein-labeled porcine adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells (pATPCs), and a customized-design electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) monitoring system. Cardiac function was evaluated noninvasively by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Scar healing was evaluated by using the EIS system within the implanted graft. Additionally, infarct size, fibrosis, and inflammation were explored by histopathology. Upon sacrifice 1 month after the intervention, MRI detected a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (7.5%64.9% vs. 1.4%63.7%; p = .038) and stroke volume (11.565.9 ml vs. 364.5 ml; p = .019) in EBIG-treated animals. Noninvasive EIS data analysis showed differences in both impedance magnitude ratio (20.02 6 0.04 per day vs. 20.48 6 0.07 per day; p = .002) and phase angle slope (20.18°60.24° per day vs.23.52°60.84° per day; p = .004) in EBIG compared with control animals. Moreover, in EBIG-treated animals, the infarct size was 48% smaller (3.4%60.6% vs. 6.5%61%; p = .015), less inflammation was found by means of CD25+ lymphocytes (0.65 6 0.12 vs. 1.26 6 0.2; p = .006), and a lower collagen I/III ratio was detected (0.4960.06 vs. 1.6660.5; p = .019). An EBIG composed of acellular pericardium refilled with pATPCs significantly reduced infarct size and improved cardiac function in a preclinical model of MI. Noninvasive EIS monitoring was useful for tracking differential scar healing in EBIG-treated animals, which was confirmed by less inflammation and altered collagen deposit.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Predicción del cambio a través de la historia del sistema

El mantenimiento de aplicaciones es una de las tareas mas costosas dentro del desarrollo software. Por esta razón es importante la realización de mantenimiento preventivo que permita incorporar con menos esfuerzo futuros requerimientos disminuyendo el costo del desarrollo. En esta línea, este trabajo propone un enfoque que permita predecir las clases de un sistema que tienen mayor probabilidad de cambiar en el futuro. De esta forma, podría dirigirse el esfuerzo de mantenimiento a un subconjunto reducido de las clases de un sistema.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativa (SADIO

Complicanze infettive locali precoci e tardive nella chirurgia otologica

La via retroauricolare rappresenta l’approccio di scelta nel trattamento dell’otite media cronica. Nelle procedure “sporche” l’incidenza della complicanza infettiva locale è del 10%. Il presente studio analizza le infezioni del sito chirurgico dopo la chirurgia dell’otite media cronica e ne investiga i potenziali fattori predittivi. Il presente studio, dal design osservazionale prospettico, ha incluso pazienti affetti da otite media cronica e candidati alla chirurgia mediante approccio retroauricolare. Sono state definite precoci le complicanze postoperatorie insorte entro i 30 giorni e tardive quelle insorte oltre i 30 giorni. Sono stati analizzati i dati di 102 pazienti. Sono stati registrati 4 casi (3,9%) di infezione precoce, per la quale è stata evidenziata un’associazione significativa con l’antibioticoterapia preoperatoria, l’orecchio in fase secernente all’esame otoscopico preoperatorio, una classe III (contaminato) nella classificazione delle ferite chirurgiche, indice NNIS (National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance) >1 e assunzione di antibiotici per OS nel postoperatorio. Sono state inoltre registrate 7 complicanze tardive (7,1%), occorse fra i 90 e i 160 giorni dall’intervento, significativamente correlate alla presenza di otorrea nei sei mesi precedenti la chirurgia, una durata del tempo chirurgico inferiore o uguale a 60 minuti, una tecnica aperta e all’uso della colla di fibrina. L’infezione del sito chirurgico sembra essere associata ai fattori correlati allo stato infiammatorio dell’orecchio medio al momento della chirurgia nelle infezioni precoci e all’infiammazione cronica nelle infezioni tardive

Associations Between Methylation of Paternally Expressed Gene 3 (PEG3), Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia and Invasive Cervical Cancer.

Cytology-based screening for invasive cervical cancer (ICC) lacks sensitivity and specificity to discriminate between cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) likely to persist or progress from cases likely to resolve. Genome-wide approaches have been used to identify DNA methylation marks associated with CIN persistence or progression. However, associations between DNA methylation marks and CIN or ICC remain weak and inconsistent. Between 2008-2009, we conducted a hospital-based, case-control study among 213 Tanzania women with CIN 1/2/3 or ICC. We collected questionnaire data, biopsies, peripheral blood, cervical scrapes, Human papillomavirus (HPV) and HIV-1 infection status. We assessed PEG3 methylation status by bisulfite pyrosequencing. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI 95%) for associations between PEG3 methylation status and CIN or ICC. After adjusting for age, gravidity, hormonal contraceptive use and HPV infection, a 5% increase in PEG3 DNA methylation was associated with increased risk for ICC (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.2-2.1). HPV infection was associated with a higher risk of CIN1-3 (OR = 15.7; 95% CI 5.7-48.6) and ICC (OR = 29.5, 95% CI 6.3-38.4). Infection with high risk HPV was correlated with mean PEG3 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) methylation (r = 0.34 p<0.0001), while the correlation with low risk HPV infection was weaker (r = 0.16 p = 0.047). Although small sample size limits inference, these data support that PEG3 methylation status has potential as a molecular target for inclusion in CIN screening to improve prediction of progression. Impact statement: We present the first evidence that aberrant methylation of the PEG3 DMR is an important co-factor in the development of Invasive cervical carcinoma (ICC), especially among women infected with high risk HPV. Our results show that a five percent increase in DNA methylation of PEG3 is associated with a 1.6-fold increase ICC risk. Suggesting PEG3 methylation status may be useful as a molecular marker for CIN screening to improve prediction of cases likely to progress

Empirical evaluation of microtremor H/V spectral ratio

The objective of this work is to perform a purely empirical assessment of the actual capabilities of the horizontal-to-vertical (H/V) spectral ratio technique to provide reliable and relevant information concerning site conditions and/or site amplification. This objective has been tackled through the homogeneous (re)processing of a large volume of earthquakes and ambient noise data recorded by different research teams in more than 200 sites located mainly in Europe, but also in the Caribbean and in Tehran. The original recordings were first gathered in a specific database with information on both the sites and recorded events. Then, for all sites close to an instrumented reference, average site-to-reference spectral ratios (“spectral ratio method” (SSR)) were derived in a homogeneous way (window selection, smoothing, signal-to-noise ratio threshold, averaging), as well as H/V ratios (“HVSRE–RF”) on earthquake recordings. H/V ratios were also obtained from noise recordings at each site (either specific measurements, or extracted from pre- or post-event noise windows). The spectral curves resulting from these three techniques were estimated reliable for a subset of 104 sites, and were thus compared in terms of fundamental frequency, amplitude and amplification bandwidth, exhibiting agreements and disagreements, for which interpretations are looked for in relation with characteristics of site conditions. The first important result consists in the very good agreement between fundamental frequencies obtained with either technique, observed for 81% of the analyzed sites. A significant part of the disagreements correspond to thick, low frequency, continental sites where natural noise level is often very low and H/V noise ratios do not exhibit any clear peak. The second important result is the absence of correlation between H/V peak amplitude and the actual site amplification measured on site-to-reference spectral ratios. There are, however, two statistically significant results about the amplitude of the H/V curve: the peak amplitude may be considered as a lower bound estimate of the actual amplification indicated by SSR (it is smaller for 79% of the 104 investigated sites), and, from another point of view, the difference in amplitude exhibits a questioning correlation with the geometrical characteristics of the sediment/basement interface: large SSR/HV differences might thus help to detect the existence of significant 2D or 3D effects.Published75-1084.1. Metodologie sismologiche per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journalreserve

Cocreation, validation and feedback: innovation in the e-book Women in coffee in Brazil.

This chapter presents actions of Embrapa that contribute especially to two targets: "5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere [...] 5.B) Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women" (United Nations, 2020).bitstream/item/212819/1/Cocreation-validation-and-feedback-innovation-in-the-e-book-Women-in-coffee-in-Brazil-2020.pd

Inventarios de fauna y flora en relictos de bosque en el enclave seco del río Amaime, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

The dry enclave of Amaime River is one of the few places that remain as Tropical Dry Forest in the Valle del Cauca department, which is considered one of the most threatened ecosystems in the Neotropics. The site has been heavily transformed and threatened by anthropic means like continued burning for the suitability of land for agriculture and livestock, small short rotation crops among others. The aim of the study was to develop detailed inventories of avifauna, herpetofauna, mammalian fauna, and flora in relict sub-xerophytic forests of the enclave, therefore revealing the biodiversity of these remnants, their conservation status and potential threats in order to propose recommendations for conservation. Four sampling areas were selected with cover vegetation as thorny scrub vegetation, riparian forests and forest fragments. For registration and data collection mist nets, transects, direct observations and Sherman traps were used, additionally informal interviews with the community were performed. Despite the reduction of vegetation cover in the dry enclave of Amaime River, the forest fragments serve as shelter and feeding site for both transient species and typical dry and very dry forest wildlife.El enclave seco del río Amaime es uno de los pocos lugares con remanentes de bosques seco tropical en el departamento del Valle del Cauca (Colombia), considerado uno de los ecosistemas más amenazados en el Neotrópico. El enclave se halla fuertemente transformado y amenazado por continuas quemas para la adecuación de tierras para actividades agrícolas y ganaderas, pequeí±os cultivos de rotación rápida entre otras amenazas. El objetivo del estudio fue elaborar inventarios detallados de avifauna, herpetofauna, mastofauna y flora en relictos de bosques subxerofítico en el enclave, que permitan conocer la biodiversidad de estos relictos, su estado de conservación y posibles amenazas con el fin de plantear recomendaciones para su conservación. Se seleccionaron cuatro zonas de muestreo con cobertura vegetal como matorrales espinosos, bosques ribereí±os y fragmentos de bosque. Para el registro y toma de datos se usaron redes de niebla, transectos, observaciones directas, trampas tipo "Sherman" y entrevistas informales con la comunidad. A pesar de la reducción de la cobertura vegetal en el enclave seco del río Amaime, los fragmentos boscosos y matorrales no solo albergan fauna y flora propia de bosques secos y muy secos, sino que también sirven como refugio y sitios de alimentación para especies transitorias

Inventarios de fauna y flora en relictos de bosque en el enclave seco del río Amaime, Valle del Cauca, Colombia

The dry enclave of Amaime River is one of the few places that remain as Tropical Dry Forest in the Valle del Cauca department, which is considered one of the most threatened ecosystems in the Neotropics. The site has been heavily transformed and threatened by anthropic means like continued burning for the suitability of land for agriculture and livestock, small short rotation crops among others. The aim of the study was to develop detailed inventories of avifauna, herpetofauna, mammalian fauna, and flora in relict sub-xerophytic forests of the enclave, therefore revealing the biodiversity of these remnants, their conservation status and potential threats in order to propose recommendations for conservation. Four sampling areas were selected with cover vegetation as thorny scrub vegetation, riparian forests and forest fragments. For registration and data collection mist nets, transects, direct observations and Sherman traps were used, additionally informal interviews with the community were performed. Despite the reduction of vegetation cover in the dry enclave of Amaime River, the forest fragments serve as shelter and feeding site for both transient species and typical dry and very dry forest wildlife

Quantum Interference in Superconducting Wire Networks and Josephson Junction Arrays: Analytical Approach based on Multiple-Loop Aharonov-Bohm Feynman Path-Integrals

We investigate analytically and numerically the mean-field superconducting-normal phase boundaries of two-dimensional superconducting wire networks and Josephson junction arrays immersed in a transverse magnetic field. The geometries we consider include square, honeycomb, triangular, and kagome' lattices. Our approach is based on an analytical study of multiple-loop Aharonov-Bohm effects: the quantum interference between different electron closed paths where each one of them encloses a net magnetic flux. Specifically, we compute exactly the sums of magnetic phase factors, i.e., the lattice path integrals, on all closed lattice paths of different lengths. A very large number, e.g., up to $10^{81}$ for the square lattice, exact lattice path integrals are obtained. Analytic results of these lattice path integrals then enable us to obtain the resistive transition temperature as a continuous function of the field. In particular, we can analyze measurable effects on the superconducting transition temperature, $T_c(B)$, as a function of the magnetic filed $B$, originating from electron trajectories over loops of various lengths. In addition to systematically deriving previously observed features, and understanding the physical origin of the dips in $T_c(B)$ as a result of multiple-loop quantum interference effects, we also find novel results. In particular, we explicitly derive the self-similarity in the phase diagram of square networks. Our approach allows us to analyze the complex structure present in the phase boundaries from the viewpoint of quantum interference effects due to the electron motion on the underlying lattices.Comment: 18 PRB-type pages, plus 8 large figure

Expanding the knowledge on lignocellulolytic and redox enzymes of worker and soldier castes from the lower termite coptotermes gestroi

Termites are considered one of the most efficient decomposers of lignocelluloses on Earth due to their ability to produce, along with its microbial symbionts, a repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes). Recently, a set of Pro-oxidant, Antioxidant, and Detoxification enzymes (PAD) were also correlated with the metabolism of carbohydrates and lignin in termites. The lower termite Coptotermes gestroi is considered the main urban pest in Brazil, causing damage to wood constructions. Recently, analysis of the enzymatic repertoire of C. gestroi unveiled the presence of different CAZymes. Because the gene profile of CAZy/PAD enzymes endogenously synthesized by C. gestroi and also by their symbiotic protists remains unclear, the aim of this study was to explore the eukaryotic repertoire of these enzymes in worker and soldier castes of C. gestroi. Our findings showed that worker and soldier castes present similar repertoires of CAZy/PAD enzymes, and also confirmed that endo-glucanases (GH9) and beta-glucosidases (GH1) were the most important glycoside hydrolase families related to lignocellulose degradation in both castes. Classical cellulases such as exo-glucanases (GH7) and endo-glucanases (GH5 and GH45), as well as classical xylanases (GH10 and GH11), were found in both castes only taxonomically related to protists, highlighting the importance of symbiosis in C. gestroi. Moreover, our analysis revealed the presence of Auxiliary Activity enzyme families (AAs), which could be related to lignin modifications in termite digestomes. In conclusion, this report expanded the knowledge on genes and proteins related to CAZy/PAD enzymes from worker and soldier castes of lower termites, revealing new potential enzyme candidates for second-generation biofuel processes7CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP140796/2013-4; 310186/2014-5; 442333/2014-511/20977-3; 15/06971-3; 12/19040-0; 14/10351-8; 06/59086-8; 14/20576- 7; 13/03061-0; 10/11469-1; 08/58037-9; 14/50371-8; 08/50114-