Battle of the γδ T cell subsets in the gut

© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).In a study in Science, Reis et al. describe a temporal segregation of γδ T cell activities in colorectal cancer (CRC). Initially tumor surveillance is orchestrated by interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-producing and cytotoxic γδ T cell subsets, but once the tumor thrives, it becomes infiltrated by interleukin (IL)-17+ γδ T cell subsets that promote its growth.The authors acknowledge funding from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior, Portugal): PTDC/MED- ONC/6829/2020 (to B.S-S.) and 2021.01953. CEECIND contract (to S.M.).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Small bowel neuroendocrine tumors: from pathophysiology to clinical approach

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), defined as epithelial tumors with predominant neuroendocrine differentiation, are among the most frequent types of small bowel neoplasm. They represent a rare, slow-growing neoplasm with some characteristics common to all forms and others attributable to the organ of origin. The diagnosis of this subgroup of neoplasia is not usually straight-forward for several reasons. Being a rare form of neoplasm they are frequently not readily considered in the differential diagnosis. Also, clinical manifestations are nonspecific lending the clinician no clue that points directly to this entity. However, the annual incidence of NETs has risen in the last years to 40 to 50 cases per million probably not due to a real increase in incidence but rather due to better diagnostic tools that have become progressively available. Being a rare malignancy, investigation regarding its pathophysiology and efforts toward better understanding and classification of these tumors has been limited until recently. Clinical societies dedicated to this matter are emerging (NANETS, ENETS and UKINETS) and several guidelines were published in an effort to standardize the nomenclature, grading and staging systems as well as diagnosis and management of NETs. Also, some investigation on the genetic behavior of small bowel NETs has been recently released, shedding some light on the pathophysiology of these tumors, and pointing some new directions on the possible treating options. In this review we focus on the current status of the overall knowledge about small bowel NETs, focusing on recent breakthroughs and its potential application on clinical practice.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Effect of wood aging on wine mineral composition and 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio

The evolution of mineral composition and wine strontium isotopic ratio 87Sr/86Sr (Sr IR) during wood aging were investigated. A red wine was aged in stainless steel tanks with French oak staves (Quercus sessiliflora Salisb.), with three industrial scale replicates. Sampling was carried out after 30, 60, and 90 days of aging, and the wines were evaluated in terms of general analysis, phenolic composition, total polysaccharides, multielement composition, and Sr IR. Li, Be, Mg, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Dy, Ho, Er, Yb, Lu, Tl, and Pb elements and 87Sr/86Sr were determined by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Q-ICP-MS) and Na, K, Ca, and Fe by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). Two-way ANOVA was applied to assess wood aging and time effect on Sr IR and mineral composition. Wood aging resulted in significantly higher concentrations of Mg, V, Co, Ni, and Sr. At the end of the aging period, wine exhibited statistically identical Sr IR compared to control. Study suggests that wood aging does not affect 87Sr/86Sr, not precluding the use of this parameter for wine traceability purposesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Spatial dynamics of team sports exposed by Voronoi diagrams

Team sports represent complex systems: players interact continuously during a game, and exhibit intricate patterns of interaction, which can be identified and investigated at both individual and collective levels. We used Voronoi diagrams to identify and investigate the spatial dynamics of players' behavior in Futsal. Using this tool, we examined 19 plays of a sub-phase of a Futsal game played in a reduced area (20 m(2)) from which we extracted the trajectories of all players. Results obtained from a comparative analysis of player's Voronoi area (dominant region) and nearest teammate distance revealed different patterns of interaction between attackers and defenders, both at the level of individual players and teams. We found that, compared to defenders, larger dominant regions were associated with attackers. Furthermore, these regions were more variable in size among players from the same team but, at the player level, the attackers' dominant regions were more regular than those associated with each of the defenders. These findings support a formal description of the dynamic spatial interaction of the players, at least during the particular sub-phase of Futsal investigated. The adopted approach may be extended to other team behaviors where the actions taken at any instant in time by each of the involved agents are associated with the space they occupy at that particular time

Therapeutic avenues for γδ T cells in cancer

© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.γδ T cells are regarded as promising effector lymphocytes for next-generation cancer immunotherapies. In spite of being relatively rare in human peripheral blood, γδ T cells are more abundant in epithelial tissues where many tumors develop, and have been shown to actively participate in anticancer immunity as cytotoxic cells or as "type 1" immune orchestrators. A major asset of γδ T cells for tackling advanced cancers is their independence from antigen presentation via the major histocompatibility complex, which clearly sets them apart from conventional αβ T cells. Here we discuss the main therapeutic strategies based on human γδ T cells. These include antibody-based bispecific engagers and adoptive cell therapies, either focused on the Vδ1+ or Vδ2+ γδ T-cell subsets, which can be expanded selectively and differentiated or engineered to maximize their antitumor functions. We review the preclinical data that supports each of the therapeutic strategies under development; and summarize the clinical trials being pursued towards establishing γδ T cell-based treatments for solid and hematological malignancies.This study was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia of the Portuguese Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Ensino Superior (PTDC/MED-ONC/6829/2020 to BS-S and 2021.01953.CEECIND to SM).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Measuring spatial interaction behavior in team sports using superimposed Voronoi diagrams

In team sports, the spatial distribution of players on the field is determined by the interaction behavior established at both player and team levels. The distribution patterns observed during a game emerge from specific technical and tactical methods adopted by the teams, and from individual, environmental and task constraints that influence players' behaviour. By understanding how specific patterns of spatial interaction are formed, one can characterize the behavior of the respective teams and players. Thus, in the present work we suggest a novel spatial method for describing teams' spatial interaction behaviour, which results from superimposing the Voronoi diagrams of two competing teams. We considered theoretical patterns of spatial distribution in a well-defined scenario (5 vs 4+ GK played in a field of 20x20m) in order to generate reference values of the variables derived from the superimposed Voronoi diagrams (SVD). These variables were tested in a formal application to empirical data collected from 19 Futsal trials with identical playing settings. Results suggest that it is possible to identify a number of characteristics that can be used to describe players' spatial behavior at different levels, namely the defensive methods adopted by the players

Projecto “Conservação, estudo, valorização e divulgação do complexo mineiro antigo do vale superior do rio Terva, Boticas" : trabalhos arqueológicos PAVT 2011 : levantamentos topográficos, prospecção e sondagens arqueológicas : relatório final

As ações desenvolvidas contaram com a participação de uma equipa permanente, composta por Luís Fontes, Mafalda Alves e Carla Martins, aos quais se juntaram, em colaborações pontuais, os arqueólogos do município de Boticas, Bruno Delfim e Helena Gonçalves. A assessoria científica para os estudos paleoambientais e geomorfológicos foi dada por José Luíz Meireles. Daremos conta, neste relatório, dos resultados obtidos nas várias ações empreendidas no âmbito desta fase de trabalhos

O projeto PAVT (Boticas, Portugal): estudo, valorização e divulgação de uma paisagem cultural

O Parque Arqueológico do Vale do Terva/PAVT é um projeto conjunto do Município de Boticas e da Universidade do Minho, iniciado em 2006 com o programa de “Conservação, Estudo, Valorização e Divulgação do Complexo Mineiro Antigo do Vale Superior do Rio Terva, Boticas”. Pretende‑se que o PAVT seja um parque arqueológico com carácter geográfico contínuo, integrando um conjunto de valores culturais e naturais que se constituem como recursos relevantes e representativos das diversas paisagens que se conformaram no território. O PAVT desenha‑se como uma unidade de gestão da paisagem cultural, incorporando infraestruturas de visitação, como o Centro de Interpretação e o núcleo etnológico da Casa das Memórias, em Bobadela, circuitos interpretados e plataformas de observação dos recursos patrimoniais.The Archaeological Park of Terva Valley/PAVT is a joint project of the Municipality of Boticas and the University of Minho, started in 2006 with the program “Conservation, Study, Valuation and Disclosure of Old Mining Complex of the Terva River Valley, Boticas”. The PAVT is intended to be an archaeological park with a continuous geographical character, with a set of cultural values and natural resources that are relevant and representative elements of the diverse landscapes that existed throughout the long human occupation of the territory. The PAVT draws itself as a unit of management of the cultural landscape, incorporating infrastructure of visitation, as the Interpretation Centre in Bobadela village and interpreted itineraries. The main objective will always be the promotion of this territory, supported by the promotion of its potential for historical, ethnographic and natural tourism.Fundação Millennium BC