Automatic classification of reforested Pinus SPP and Eucalyptus SPP in Mogi-Guacu, SP, Brazil, using LANDSAT data

The author has identified the following significant results. Single date LANDSAT CCTs were processed, by Image-100 to classify Pinus and Eucalyptus species and their age groups. The study area Mogi-Guagu was located in the humid subtropical climate zone of Sao Paulo. The study was divided into ten preliminary classes and featured selection algorithms were used to calculate Bhattacharyya distance between all possible pairs of these classes in the four available channels. Classes having B-distance values less than 1.30 were grouped in four classes: (1) class PE - P. elliottii, (2) class P0 - Pinus species other than P. elliotii, (3) class EY - Eucalyptus spp. under two years, and (4) class E0 - Eucalyptus spp. more than two years old. The percentages of correct classification ranged from 70.9% to 94.12%. Comparisons of acreage estimated from the Image-100 with ground truth data showed agreement. The Image-100 percent recognition values for the above four classes were 91.62%, 87.80%, 89.89%, and 103.30%, respectively

Collection of relevant results obtained with the Skylab images by the Institute for Space Research, INPE

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Análise de áreas com diferentes classes de declividade através de imagens TM/LANDSAT

The analysis of areas with different slope classes (A = 0-3%, B = 3-8%, C = 8-16% and D = 16-30%) is made with the purpose of verifying the TM/LANDSAT images potentiality in agricultural planning. Due to the absence of tridimensional viewing, the work is based on quantitative relations between drainage indices (river frequency and drainage density) determined on the images, and the relief expression (average slope) extracted from planialtimetric topographic charts (1: 50,000 scale). Aerial photographs on a 1:35,000 escale are utilized for comparisons. The main conclusion is that the utilization of TM/LANDSAT images in mapping slope classes through drainage network is feasible, though the characteristics of the analysed region caused an easier differentiation between areas of the A and B classes and those of the C and D classes.É feita a análise de áreas com diferentes classes de declividade (A = 0-3%, B = 3-8%, C = 8-16% e D = 16-30%) sscom a fina1idade de se verificar a potencialidade de imagens TM/LANDSAT, na escala 1:100.000, para planejamento agrícola. Devido à ausência de visão tridimensional, o trabalho baseia-se nas relações quantitativas entre índices dedrenagem (freqüência de rios e densidade de drenagem) determinados a partir das imagens, e expressão do relevo (declividade média) extraída de cartas planialtimétricas, na escala 1:50.000. Fotografias aéreas na escala 1:35.000 são utilizadas para fins comparativos. Conclui-se que o uso dessas imagens para mapear classes de declividade através do padrão de drenagem é viável, embora as características regionais o tenham limitado para diferenciar mais facilmente áreas com declividades A e B de áreas com declividades C e D

Electroconductive PEDOT nanoparticle integrated scaffolds for spinal cord tissue repair

Background: Hostile environment around the lesion site following spinal cord injury (SCI) prevents the re-establishment of neuronal tracks, thus significantly limiting the regenerative capability. Electroconductive scaffolds are emerging as a promising option for SCI repair, though currently available conductive polymers such as polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) present poor biofunctionality and biocompatibility, thus limiting their effective use in SCI tissue engineering (TE) treatment strategies. Methods: PEDOT NPs were synthesized via chemical oxidation polymerization in miniemulsion. The conductive PEDOT NPs were incorporated with gelatin and hyaluronic acid (HA) to create gel:HA:PEDOT-NPs scaffolds. Morphological analysis of both PEDOT NPs and scaffolds was conducted via SEM. Further characterisation included dielectric constant and permittivity variances mapped against morphological changes after crosslinking, Young’s modulus, FTIR, DLS, swelling studies, rheology, in-vitro, and in-vivo biocompatibility studies were also conducted. Results: Incorporation of PEDOT NPs increased the conductivity of scaffolds to 8.3 × 10–4 ± 8.1 × 10–5 S/cm. The compressive modulus of the scaffold was tailored to match the native spinal cord at 1.2 ± 0.2 MPa, along with controlled porosity. Rheological studies of the hydrogel showed excellent 3D shear-thinning printing capabilities and shape fidelity post-printing. In-vitro studies showed the scaffolds are cytocompatible and an in-vivo assessment in a rat SCI lesion model shows glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) upregulation not directly in contact with the lesion/implantation site, with diminished astrocyte reactivity. Decreased levels of macrophage and microglia reactivity at the implant site is also observed. This positively influences the re-establishment of signals and initiation of healing mechanisms. Observation of axon migration towards the scaffold can be attributed to immunomodulatory properties of HA in the scaffold caused by a controlled inflammatory response. HA limits astrocyte activation through its CD44 receptors and therefore limits scar formation. This allows for a superior axonal migration and growth towards the targeted implantation site through the provision of a stimulating microenvironment for regeneration. Conclusions: Based on these results, the incorporation of PEDOT NPs into Gel:HA biomaterial scaffolds enhances not only the conductive capabilities of the material, but also the provision of a healing environment around lesions in SCI. Hence, gel:HA:PEDOT-NPs scaffolds are a promising TE option for stimulating regeneration for SCI.The authors would like to thank the funding provided by the Irish Research Council through the Irish Research Council Enterprise Partnership Scheme with Johnson and Johnson (EPSPG/2020/78), as well as the Irish Fulbright Commission

Interleukin 6 Dependence of Anti-DNA Antibody Production: Evidence for Two Pathways of Autoantibody Formation in Pristane-induced Lupus

Pristane induces a lupus-like syndrome in nonautoimmune mice characterized by the development of glomerulonephritis and lupus-associated autoantibodies. This is accompanied by overproduction of interleukin (IL)-6, a cytokine linked with autoimmune phenomena. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of IL-6 in autoantibody production in pristane-induced lupus. BALB/cAn IL-6–deficient (−/−) and –intact (+/+) mice were treated with pristane or phosphate-buffered saline, and autoantibody production was evaluated. Pristane induced high levels of immunoglobulin (Ig)G anti-single-stranded DNA, –double-stranded (ds)DNA, and -chromatin antibodies in IL-6+/+, but not IL-6−/− mice by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. High titer IgG anti-dsDNA antibodies also were detected in sera from +/+, but not −/−, mice by Crithidia luciliae kinetoplast staining. The onset of IgG anti-dsDNA antibody production in +/+ mice occurred >5 mo after pristane treatment, well after the onset of nephritis, suggesting that these antibodies are not directly responsible for inducing renal disease. In contrast to anti-DNA, the frequencies of anti-nRNP/Sm and anti-Su antibodies were similar in pristane-treated IL-6−/− and IL-6+/+ mice. However, levels were higher in the +/+ group. These results suggest that IgG anti-DNA and chromatin antibodies in pristane-treated mice are strictly IL-6 dependent, whereas induction of anti-nRNP/Sm and Su autoantibodies is IL-6 independent. The IL-6 dependence of anti-DNA, but not anti-nRNP/Sm, may have implications for understanding the patterns of autoantibody production in lupus. Anti-DNA antibodies are produced transiently, mainly during periods of disease activity, whereas anti-nRNP/Sm antibody levels are relatively insensitive to disease activity. This may reflect the differential IL-6 dependence of the two responses

FIT Count Brasil: monitoramento de visitantes florais por contagem.

A Série de livros "Ciência Cidadã" tem como objetivo apresentar ao público diferentes questões científicas que podem ser trabalhadas com o auxílio de cientistas cidadãos e motivar diferentes pessoas (como você, por exemplo) a atuarem como cientistas cidadãos. No presente livro, apresentamos o protocolo intitulado "FIT COUNT: contagem cronometrada de visitantes florais"

HNF1α inhibition triggers epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human liver cancer cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1α (HNF1α) is an atypical homeodomain-containing transcription factor that transactivates liver-specific genes including albumin, α-1-antitrypsin and α- and β-fibrinogen. Biallelic inactivating mutations of <it>HNF1A </it>have been frequently identified in hepatocellular adenomas (HCA), rare benign liver tumors usually developed in women under oral contraceptives, and in rare cases of hepatocellular carcinomas developed in non-cirrhotic liver. HNF1α-mutated HCA (H-HCA) are characterized by a marked steatosis and show activation of glycolysis, lipogenesis, translational machinery and mTOR pathway. We studied the consequences of HNF1α silencing in hepatic cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B and we reproduced most of the deregulations identified in H-HCA.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We transfected hepatoma cell lines HepG2 and Hep3B with siRNA targeting HNF1α and obtained a strong inhibition of HNF1α expression. We then looked at the phenotypic changes by microscopy and studied changes in gene expression using qRT-PCR and Western Blot.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Hepatocytes transfected with HNF1α siRNA underwent severe phenotypic changes with loss of cell-cell contacts and development of migration structures. In HNF1α-inhibited cells, hepatocyte and epithelial markers were diminished and mesenchymal markers were over-expressed. This epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was related to the up regulation of several EMT transcription factors, in particular <it>SNAIL </it>and <it>SLUG</it>. We also found an overexpression of TGFβ1, an EMT initiator, in both cells transfected with HNF1α siRNA and H-HCA. Moreover, TGFβ1 expression is strongly correlated to HNF1α expression in cell models, suggesting regulation of TGFβ1 expression by HNF1α.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that HNF1α is not only important for hepatocyte differentiation, but has also a role in the maintenance of epithelial phenotype in hepatocytes.</p

Scientific, sustainability and regulatory challenges of cultured meat

Producing meat without the drawbacks of conventional animal agriculture would greatly contribute to future food and nutrition security. This Review Article covers biological, technological, regulatory and consumer acceptance challenges in this developing field of biotechnology. Cellular agriculture is an emerging branch of biotechnology that aims to address issues associated with the environmental impact, animal welfare and sustainability challenges of conventional animal farming for meat production. Cultured meat can be produced by applying current cell culture practices and biomanufacturing methods and utilizing mammalian cell lines and cell and gene therapy products to generate tissue or nutritional proteins for human consumption. However, significant improvements and modifications are needed for the process to be cost efficient and robust enough to be brought to production at scale for food supply. Here, we review the scientific and social challenges in transforming cultured meat into a viable commercial option, covering aspects from cell selection and medium optimization to biomaterials, tissue engineering, regulation and consumer acceptance