Fine Structure of the Dental Enamal in the Order Chiroptera from Colombia, South America

Reports by Grant-in-Aid for Overseas Scientific Survey1987 Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant-in-Aid for Overseas Scientific Survey) Reports of Research Project (Number of Project 1986: 61041045, 1987: 62043042)Phylogenetic Studies of South American MonkeysHead Investigator 1986, 1987: Kyoto University, Primate Research Institutc, Associate Professor, Yasuo NOGAM

Color heterogeneity of building surfaces: lean image processing approach for visible reflectance characterization performance

Daylighting availability and uniformity depend on the interior surface reflectance (). Currently, is obtained through suggested reference values (Illuminating Engineering Society 2012; CIBSE 2015; CIBSE/SLL 2011; CIBSE/SLL 2005), laboratory tests (ASTM E 903 (2012) describes a standardized procedure requiring a calibrated instrument and an as-built surface sample), or by on-site measures (based on luminance and illuminance differences). Novel methodologies compute it by integrating image processing and/or photometry, applied on false colour or HDR images. A simple procedure is needed for accurately assess, even in preliminary design phases, the reflectance of heterogeneous surface areas for new and historical buildings. In fact, heterogeneous surfaces (colour, texture, composition, ageing) difficult the accurate estimation of a representative reflectance value (̅) for building simulation, leading to daylighting performance deviation. This work presents a methodology, based on a per-pixel colour reflectivity () evaluation, to easily acquire an approximate value of the surface visible reflectance (̅). This approach gives a more global ̅ of all surface components, aiming to improve the accuracy of the modelled daylighting analysis. Additionally, the procedure is experimented over a sample reference test room

Physical–chemical parameters and validation of a colorimetric method for deoxycholic and ursodeoxycholic acids: kit reagent and optical sensor

AbstractThe simple and low cost β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)–phenolphthalein (PHP) inclusion complex was used for both the study of physical–chemical parameters and validation of analytical procedures for deoxycholic acid (DCA) and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) determinations in different formulations. The usefulness of this inclusion complex is proposed either in the form of kit reagent and as an original optical sensor for DCA and UDCA. The results showed that temperature had a negative effect on the equilibrium constant resulting in high negative values of enthalpy and positive values of entropy. The half-life values for DCA and UDCA measurements were 68.71 and 294.71 days, respectively. The method was validated showing limits of detection and quantification of 4.92×10−5molL−1 and 1.64×10−4molL−1 for DCA, 1.14×10−5molL−1 and 3.79×10−5molL−1 for UDCA, respectively. The developed optical sensor also showed response linearity, ease of implementation and potential application in fast screening tasks even out of the laboratory

Caracterización del EVA de módulos FV por comparación con filtros plásticos

En un trabajo anterior se presentó el estudio del daño sufrido en los módulos fotovoltaicos después de varios años de exposición a la intemperie, donde se relaciona la pérdida de potencia con la degradación del encapsulante. En este trabajo se muestran algunos resultados obtenidos de la caracterización del material transparente constituido por varias capas de material encapsulante a base de geles de siliconas (etileno vinilo acetileno, EVA), por comparación con la disminución de la trasmitancia provocada por el agregado de filtros plásticos. Se busca también la caracterización del polvo acumulado sobre la superficie del panel. Se concluye que la pérdida de potencia por la degradación de este material no es despreciable.In a previous paper we presented the study of the damage suffered by the PV modules after several years of outdoor exposure, relating the loss of power with EVA degradation. In this article we show some results obtained from the characterization of the transparent material constituted by several sheets of capping encapsulating material based on silicone gels in comparison with the decrease of the transmittance by the addition of plastic filters. The characterization of accumulated dust on the surface is also being searched. We can conclude that the loss of power by the degradation of this material is not negligible.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Annual and seasonal correlation between doses of eritemic and global irradiation, in the Puna region (Salta, Argentina)

Mediciones de irradiación solar eritémica (UVER) y Global (G) se realizaron durante los años 2014, 2015, 2016 y 2017 en la localidad de Tolar Grande (lat:-24.59, long:-67.40 y 3560 m.s.n.m), región de PUNA de la provincia de Salta (Argentina). Se analizó el índice UV al mediodía solar y las dosis eritémicas diarias de UVER y G; mensual, estacional y anual. Se obtuvieron correlaciones empíricas para cada estación y anual. Los valores de índice UV calificaron de riesgo muy alto o extremo en el 67 % de los casos al mediodía solar y solo en el 9 % el riesgo es moderado o bajo. Las relaciones UVER/G % diaria estacionales fueron 0.026 %, 0.019 %, 0.018 % y 0.023 % y las contribuciones porcentuales a la dosis UVER acumulada anual fueron 34.24 %, 17.12 %, 16.40 % y 32.24 %, para la estaciones de verano, otoño, invierno y primavera respectivamente.Measurements of erythemal irradiation (UVER) and Global (G) were performed during the years 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 in the town of Tolar Grande (lat: -24.59, long: -67.40 and 3560 msnm), PUNA region Of the province of Salta (Argentina). The UV index was analyzed at solar noon and daily erythremic doses of UVER and G; monthly, seasonal and anual. Empirical correlations were obtained for each season and yearly. UV index values rated very high or extreme risk in 67% of the cases at solar noon and only in 10% the risk is moderate or low. The seasonal UVER / G% ratios were 0.026 %, 0.019 %, 0.018 % and 0.023 % and the percentage contributions to the annual accumulated UVER dose were 34.24%, 17.12%, 16.40% and 32.24%, for the summer, autumn, winter and spring seasons respectively.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

People of "Tolar Grande" working together to protect themselves from UV rays

Se presentan las actividades realizadas en el marco del proyecto “Tolar Grande unido para protegerse de los rayos UV”. Este, fue elaborado por la Mesa de Trabajo Intersectorial tolareña luego de haber identificado problemáticas dermatológicas y oftalmológicas en la comunidad. Considerando la ubicación del pueblo y sus particularidades geográfico— territoriales, que lo hacen propenso a recibir elevadas dosis de radiación ultravioleta, el logro del objetivo del proyecto se ha planteado a través de tres líneas de trabajo: campañas de prevención, diagnóstico médico y articulación con organismos o universidades para incluir a Tolar Grande en los trabajos de investigación vinculados a los rayos UV. Esto último se formalizo a través de un acta acuerdo entre el Instituto de Investigación en Energía No Convencional (INENCO / CONICET) y dicho Municipio.Activities carried out in the context of the project "Tolar Grande working together to protect themselves from UV rays" are presented. This projects was prepared by the (Bureau of Intersectoral work of Tolar after dermatological and ophthalmological problems were identified in the community. Considering the location of the town and its local geographic specific features, which make people susceptible to receiving high doses of ultraviolet radiation, the project’s goal has been achieved through three lines of work: prevention campaigns, medical diagnosis and joint work with agencies and universities to include Tolar Grande in the research related to the UV rays. The latter was formalized through an agreement signed between the Research Institute of Non-Conventional Energy (INENCO / CONICET) and Tolar Grande Municipality.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Synaptic phosphorylated a-synuclein in dementia with Lewy bodies

Dementia with Lewy bodies is characterized by the accumulation of Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in the CNS, both of which are composed mainly of aggregated a-synuclein phosphorylated at Ser129. Although phosphorylated a-synuclein is believed to exert toxic effects at the synapse in dementia with Lewy bodies and other a-synucleinopathies, direct evidence for the precise synaptic localization has been difficult to achieve due to the lack of adequate optical microscopic resolution to study human synapses. In the present study we applied array tomography, a microscopy technique that combines ultrathin sectioning of tissue with immunofluorescence allowing precise identification of small structures, to quantitatively investigate the synaptic phosphorylated a-synuclein pathology in dementia with Lewy bodies. We performed array tomography on human brain samples from five patients with dementia with Lewy bodies, five patients with Alzheimer’s disease and five healthy control subjects to analyse the presence of phosphorylated a-synuclein immunoreactivity at the synapse and their relationship with synapse size. Main analyses were performed in blocks from cingulate cortex and confirmed in blocks from the striatum of cases with dementia with Lewy bodies. A total of 1 318 700 single pre- or post-synaptic terminals were analysed. We found that phosphorylated a-synuclein is present exclusively in dementia with Lewy bodies cases, where it can be identified in the form of Lewy bodies, Lewy neurites and small aggregates (50.16 mm3). Between 19% and 25% of phosphorylated a-synuclein deposits were found in presynaptic terminals mainly in the form of small aggregates. Synaptic terminals that co-localized with small aggregates of phosphorylated a-synuclein were significantly larger than those that did not. Finally, a gradient of phosphorylated a-synuclein aggregation in synapses (pre4pre + post4post-synaptic) was observed. These results indicate that phosphorylated a-synuclein is found at the presynaptic terminals of dementia with Lewy bodies cases mainly in the form of small phosphorylated a-synuclein aggregates that are associated with changes in synaptic morphology. Overall, our data support the notion that pathological phosphorylated a-synuclein may disrupt the structure and function of the synapse in dementia with Lewy bodies.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft

Contributions of mean and shape of blood pressure distribution to worldwide trends and variations in raised blood pressure: A pooled analysis of 1018 population-based measurement studies with 88.6 million participants

© The Author(s) 2018. Background: Change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure could be due to both shifts in the entire distribution of blood pressure (representing the combined effects of public health interventions and secular trends) and changes in its high-blood-pressure tail (representing successful clinical interventions to control blood pressure in the hypertensive population). Our aim was to quantify the contributions of these two phenomena to the worldwide trends in the prevalence of raised blood pressure. Methods: We pooled 1018 population-based studies with blood pressure measurements on 88.6 million participants from 1985 to 2016. We first calculated mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and prevalence of raised blood pressure by sex and 10-year age group from 20-29 years to 70-79 years in each study, taking into account complex survey design and survey sample weights, where relevant. We used a linear mixed effect model to quantify the association between (probittransformed) prevalence of raised blood pressure and age-group- and sex-specific mean blood pressure. We calculated the contributions of change in mean SBP and DBP, and of change in the prevalence-mean association, to the change in prevalence of raised blood pressure. Results: In 2005-16, at the same level of population mean SBP and DBP, men and women in South Asia and in Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa would have the highest prevalence of raised blood pressure, and men and women in the highincome Asia Pacific and high-income Western regions would have the lowest. In most region-sex-age groups where the prevalence of raised blood pressure declined, one half or more of the decline was due to the decline in mean blood pressure. Where prevalence of raised blood pressure has increased, the change was entirely driven by increasing mean blood pressure, offset partly by the change in the prevalence-mean association. Conclusions: Change in mean blood pressure is the main driver of the worldwide change in the prevalence of raised blood pressure, but change in the high-blood-pressure tail of the distribution has also contributed to the change in prevalence, especially in older age groups