Tax Evasion in the European Union

Tax evasion is a significant issue within the European Union (EU), impacting both individual member states and the EU. It involves individuals or businesses deliberately underreporting income, hiding assets, or engaging in other fraudulent activities to reduce their tax liability. This study aims to identify most common methods of tax evasion used by European companies. Consequently, we detail the various measures the EU has taken to address tax evasion and enhance cooperation among member states to combat this problem

Robotically Assisted Hysterectomy

Starting from the first robotic hysterectomy, currently, this method is widely accepted all over the world as an alternative to open or laparoscopic surgery due to the technical advantages it offers. We are currently using the DaVinci Xi platform, whose components, instruments, and accessories are described. This chapter aims to present all surgical steps of a robotically assisted hysterectomy, starting with patient positioning, uterine manipulator insertion, port insertion, pneumoperitoneum performing, and the operative technique of the total robotic hysterectomy: connective vascular disconnection, colpotomy, uterus retrieval, and colporrhaphy. A special mention belongs to radical robotic hysterectomy with sentinel node detection and pelvic lymphadenectomy. The chapter ends with a brief description of the perioperative complications

Structural variability of E. coli thioredoxin captured in the crystal structures of single-point mutants

Thioredoxin is a ubiquitous small protein that catalyzes redox reactions of protein thiols. Additionally, thioredoxin from E. coli (EcTRX) is a widely-used model for structure-function studies. In a previous paper, we characterized several single-point mutants of the C-terminal helix (CTH) that alter global stability of EcTRX. However, spectroscopic signatures and enzymatic activity for some of these mutants were found essentially unaffected. A comprehensive structural characterization at the atomic level of these near-invariant mutants can provide detailed information about structural variability of EcTRX. We address this point through the determination of the crystal structures of four point-mutants, whose mutations occurs within or near the CTH, namely L94A, E101G, N106A and L107A. These structures are mostly unaffected compared with the wild-type variant. Notably, the E101G mutant presents a large region with two alternative traces for the backbone of the same chain. It represents a significant shift in backbone positions. Enzymatic activity measurements and conformational dynamics studies monitored by NMR and molecular dynamic simulations show that E101G mutation results in a small effect in the structural features of the protein. We hypothesize that these alternative conformations represent samples of the native-state ensemble of EcTRX, specifically the magnitude and location of conformational heterogeneity.Fil: Noguera, Martín Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Vazquez, Diego Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Ferrer Sueta, Gerardo. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Agudelo Suarez, William Armando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Howard, Eduardo Ignacio. Université de Strasbourg; Francia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rasia, Rodolfo Maximiliano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Manta, Bruno. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Cousido Siah, Alexandra. Université de Strasbourg; FranciaFil: Mitschler, André. Université de Strasbourg; FranciaFil: Podjarny, Alberto Daniel. Université de Strasbourg; FranciaFil: Santos, Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; Argentin

UTILIZAÇÃO DE ANTIOXIDANTES ADICIONADOS AO DILUENTE DO SÊMEN OVINO NA MANUTENÇÃO DA INTEGRIDADE DA MEMBRANA ESPERMÁTICA

O objetivo principal da inseminação artificial é a obtenção da máxima capacidade reprodutiva, a qual é traduzida por meio da taxa de prenhez em ovinos. No entanto, para que isso ocorra, o espermatozoide deve estar apto à fecundação. As células espermáticas utilizam o oxigênio para seu metabolismo e, em razão da grande quantidade de mitocôndrias presentes em sua peça intermediária, o metabolismo oxidativo se torna a principal fonte de energia. No entanto, esse metabolismo gera biometabólicos ativos do oxigênio denominados espécies reativas ao oxigênio, entre eles, o ânion superóxido (O2), o peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) e o radical hidroxila (OH), os quais são tóxicos à célula espermática, levando à sua morte. Dessa forma, a utilização de um elemento com características antioxidante, adicionado ao diluente do sêmen, assume grande importância na manutenção da viabilidade espermática. Como doadores de sêmen foram utilizados três carneiros submetidos a um regime de uma coleta/semana (15 coletas). Os ejaculados foram processados em pool de sêmen, sendo este utilizado em Split Sample em seis tratamentos (T1 – Sêmen diluído em diluente TRIS-Gema sem a adição dos micro minerais e vitamina E; T2 – Sêmen diluído em diluente TRIS-Gema com adição de 0,01 mM de Selênio (Se); T3 – Sêmen diluído em diluente TRIS-Gema com adição de 0,01 mM de Zinco (Zn); T4 – Sêmen diluído em diluente TRIS-Gema com adição de 0,01 mM de Ferro (Fe); T5 – Sêmen diluído em diluente TRIS-Gema com adição de 0,01 mM de vitamina E; T6 – Sêmen diluído em diluente TRIS-Gema com adição de 0,01 mM de Se, Zn, Fe e vitamina E). As amostras de sêmen diluído foram armazenadas a 5 °C por até 72 horas. Nos períodos 24, 48 e 72 horas de armazenamento foram realizadas análises de motilidade e vigor espermático, integridade de membrana e morfologia espermática. A motilidade espermática nos tratamentos variou de 84,6±0,4% a 43,7±0,8%, enquanto o vigor da célula espermática variou de 3,5±0,5 a 2,3±0,2, e as alterações de morfologia, de 9,9±0,4 a 12,1±0,3 nos períodos de tempo 0 e 72 horas, respectivamente. Ao teste de integridade de membrana plasmática, 69,8 a 62,2% dos espermatozoides apresentaram a mesma integra. Foi observado efeito do tratamento para as variáveis motilidade e vigor espermáticos (P<0,05), respectivamente, visto que os tratamentos T1 (65,6 e 2,8), T2 (67,8 e 2,9), T3 (68,7 e 3,1) e T4 (68,1 e 3,1) diferiram dos tratamentos T5 (62,3 e 2,5) e T6 (63,6 e 2,6). Não foi observado efeito dos tratamentos sobre a morfologia espermática (P>0,05). A adição de elementos antioxidantes (Se, Zn e Fe) isoladamente não afetou a qualidade espermática. No entanto, quando houve adição de vitamina E (T5) ou de todos os elementos (Se, Zn, Fe e vitamina E) na mesma amostra, foi possível observar um efeito deletério na motilidade e vigor espermáticos.Palavras-chave: Antioxidantes. Sêmen ovino resfriado. Parâmetros espermáticos

Correction to: Eight years after an international workshop on myotonic dystrophy patient registries: Case study of a global collaboration for a rare disease (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases (2018) 13 (155) DOI: 10.1186/s13023-018-0889-0)

The original version of this article [1] unfortunately included an error to an author\u27s name. Author Jordi Díaz-Manera was erroneously presented as Jorge Alberto Diaz Manera. The correct author name has been included in the author list of this Correction article. For citation purposes the author\u27s given name is Jordi and family name Diaz-Manera. Therefore, the correct citation of the author\u27s details is: Diaz-Manera J

The importance of maternal insulin resistance throughout pregnancy on neonatal adiposity

Background: Although previous studies evaluated the association of maternal health parameters with neonatal adiposity, little is known regarding the complexity of the relationships among different maternal health parameters throughout pregnancy and its impact on neonatal adiposity. Objectives: To evaluate the direct and indirect associations between maternal insulin resistance during pregnancy, in women with obesity, and neonatal adiposity. In addition, associations between maternal fasting glucose, triglycerides (TG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and neonatal adiposity were also assessed. Methods: This is a longitudinal, secondary analysis of the DALI study, an international project conducted in nine European countries with pregnant women with obesity. Maternal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose, TG, and NEFA were measured three times during pregnancy (<20, 24-28, and 35-37 weeks of gestation). Offspring neonatal adiposity was estimated by the sum of four skinfolds. Structural equation modelling was conducted to evaluate the direct and indirect relationships among the variables of interest. Results: Data on 657 mother-infant pairs (50.7% boys) were analysed. Neonatal boys exhibited lower m

Guidelines for the use of flow cytometry and cell sorting in immunological studies (third edition)

The third edition of Flow Cytometry Guidelines provides the key aspects to consider when performing flow cytometry experiments and includes comprehensive sections describing phenotypes and functional assays of all major human and murine immune cell subsets. Notably, the Guidelines contain helpful tables highlighting phenotypes and key differences between human and murine cells. Another useful feature of this edition is the flow cytometry analysis of clinical samples with examples of flow cytometry applications in the context of autoimmune diseases, cancers as well as acute and chronic infectious diseases. Furthermore, there are sections detailing tips, tricks and pitfalls to avoid. All sections are written and peer‐reviewed by leading flow cytometry experts and immunologists, making this edition an essential and state‐of‐the‐art handbook for basic and clinical researchers.DFG, 389687267, Kompartimentalisierung, Aufrechterhaltung und Reaktivierung humaner Gedächtnis-T-Lymphozyten aus Knochenmark und peripherem BlutDFG, 80750187, SFB 841: Leberentzündungen: Infektion, Immunregulation und KonsequenzenEC/H2020/800924/EU/International Cancer Research Fellowships - 2/iCARE-2DFG, 252623821, Die Rolle von follikulären T-Helferzellen in T-Helferzell-Differenzierung, Funktion und PlastizitätDFG, 390873048, EXC 2151: ImmunoSensation2 - the immune sensory syste

O contrato de futuros no ordenamento jurídico português

Os contratos de futuros revestem uma especial importância no seio das operações sobre instrumentos financeiros derivados. Assim sendo, o presente trabalho tem como finalidade analisar este regime contratual, desde os seus aspetos gerais até à apreciação do seu regime jurídico, recorrendo para isso à doutrina e à legislação em vigor.Futures contracts are of particular importance within the operations on financial derivatives. Thereby, this study aims to analyse this contractual system, from its general features to the appreciation of its legal system, using for this purpose the doctrine and the current legislation

Unilateral cilioretinal artery occlusion following cannabis use

There is a growing trend towards the decriminalization of cannabis and this is associated with its increased use over the past decade. Although a variety of adverse effects are attributed to its use, complications involving the eye are rare. We present the case of cilioretinal artery occlusion in a young man with no previous medical history. We discuss the management offered to him and present a review of the literature on this topic. Given the cilioretinal artery occlusion, medical management achieved an excellent result, with his best-corrected visual acuity improving to 6/12. Cilioretinal artery occlusions in healthy young individuals are extremely rare. The only risk factor identified in this patient was the use of cannabis on one occasion prior to his symptoms. There are no other cases in the literature that associate this complication with cannabis use and therefore it serves to raise awareness among the ophthalmic community

The Carotid–Hyoid Topography Is Variable

Background and Objectives: The carotid bifurcation (CB) is presented in most anatomy textbooks as having a unique location at the upper margin of the thyroid cartilage. Although a number of case reports have provided evidence of the possibility of carotid artery location either lateral or medial to the greater hyoid horn, these reports have not established specific anatomic possibilities and prevalences. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analysed a batch of 147 CT angiograms for 12 types of carotid–hyoid relationships and classified the bilateral combination possibilities of these types. Results: In 168/294 sides there were no carotid–hyoid relationships. Type I, external carotid artery (ECA) medial to the greater horn of the hyoid bone (GHHB), was observed in 0.34%; type II, internal carotid artery (ICA) medial to GHHB, in 0.34%; type III, ICA and ECA medial to GHHB, in 1.02%; type IV, common carotid artery (CCA) medial to GHHB, in 1.02%; type V, CB medial to GHHB, in 0.34%; type VI, ECA lateral to GHHB, in 20.41%; type VII, ICA lateral to GHHB, was not recorded; type VIII, ECA and ICA lateral to GHHB, in 3.74%; type IX, CCA lateral to GHHB, in 8.5%; type X, CB lateral to GHHB, in 6.46%; type XI, ECA lateral and ICA medial to GHHB, in 0.34%; and type XII, ICA lateral and ECA medial to GHHB, in 0.34%. Bilateral symmetry was found in 70.74% of cases, including the null types without carotid–hyoid relationships as well as types IV, VI, VIII, IX, and X. There was a highly significant association between the left and right variants of the carotid–hyoid relationship. Conclusions: Mechanical compression of the hyoid bone on the carotid arteries has various undesirable effects on the ICA and cerebral circulation. Underlying these are several variational anatomical patterns of carotid–hyoid relationships, which can be accurately documented on CT angiograms. A case-by-case anatomical study is better than assuming the carotid anatomy learned from textbooks