Phenolic and furanic compounds of Portuguese chestnut and French, American and Portuguese oak wood chips

Botanical species used on aging process must be wisely and judiciously chosen, and for this selection, a basic knowledge of the chemical composition of woods is warranted. Aiming to contribute to extend the knowledge of the chemical composition of several wood species useful for enological purposes, we have focused our studies on Portuguese chestnut and French, American and Portuguese oak chips. The profile of low molecular weight phenolic composition of these chips was achieved, using an optimized extraction method based on pressurized liquid extraction, followed by the quantification of phenolic acids, phenolic aldehydes and furanic derivatives by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD). The identification of those compounds was also confirmed by LC-DAD/ESI-MS. This study allowed the determination of the low molecular phenolic composition of Portuguese chestnut and French, American and Portuguese oak wood. According to our results, the influence of the botanical species seems to be more relevant than the geographic origin of the wood species

Simulations of events for the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) dark matter experiment

The LUX-ZEPLIN dark matter search aims to achieve a sensitivity to the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross-section down to (1–2)×10−12 pb at a WIMP mass of 40 GeV/c2. This paper describes the simulations framework that, along with radioactivity measurements, was used to support this projection, and also to provide mock data for validating reconstruction and analysis software. Of particular note are the event generators, which allow us to model the background radiation, and the detector response physics used in the production of raw signals, which can be converted into digitized waveforms similar to data from the operational detector. Inclusion of the detector response allows us to process simulated data using the same analysis routines as developed to process the experimental data

Projected sensitivity of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment to the 0νββ decay of Xe 136

The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) experiment will enable a neutrinoless double β decay search in parallel to the main science goal of discovering dark matter particle interactions. We report the expected LZ sensitivity to Xe136 neutrinoless double β decay, taking advantage of the significant (>600 kg) Xe136 mass contained within the active volume of LZ without isotopic enrichment. After 1000 live-days, the median exclusion sensitivity to the half-life of Xe136 is projected to be 1.06×1026 years (90% confidence level), similar to existing constraints. We also report the expected sensitivity of a possible subsequent dedicated exposure using 90% enrichment with Xe136 at 1.06×1027 years

Relationship Between Biogenic Amines and Free Amino Acid Contents of Winesand Musts from Alentejo (Portugal)

The concentration of biogenic amines and free amino acids was studied in 102 Portuguese wines and 18 musts from Alentejo demarcated (D.O.C.) regions. Most wines were commercial, except for 38 monovarietals obtained by micro vinification. Musts from the varieties used to produce the latter wines were also studied. Both biogenic amines and free amino acids were analyzed by HPLC using fluorescence detection for their o-phthalaldehyde/fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (OPA/FMOC) derivatives. The most significant amines (average 10.8 mg/L for histamine+tyramine in red, and 7.4 mg/L for white wines) were found to be present at low levels and, although no important relationship between each individual biogenic amine could be obtained, the total amine content depends significantly on the assimilable amino acid content in wine

Currículo de la pre secundaria en Timor Oriental y su articulación con la secundaria general

Problemas herdados nas últimas décadas conduziram Timor-Leste a reestruturar os currículos do ensino pré-secundário – EPS – e do secundário geral – ESG.1 Atendendo à importância de uma adequada articulação vertical ao longo dos ciclos de escolaridade e diante do cumprimento de uma primeira edição completa do EPS, importa estudar se tal currículo está alinhado com o do ESG, em particular no que respeita às Ciências e Tecnologia. Este artigo centra-se na análise do currículo do EPS e na avaliação da sua articulação com o do ESG. Não obstante existam décalages entre o currículo prescrito, o implementado e o apropriado, é relevante haver sintonia no nível dos currículos para uma educação e formação de boa qualidade, fundamentais à consecução dos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milénio.Problems inherited from the last decades have led Timor-Leste to restructure its pre-secondary – EPS – and general secondary – ESG – curricula. Considering the importance of an adequate vertical articulation throughout the schooling cycles and before the conclusion of the first complete edition of the EPS, it is necessary to study if such a curriculum is aligned with the one of the ESG, in particular with regard to Science and Technology. This article focuses on the analysis of the EPS curriculum and the evaluation of its articulation with the one of ESG. Notwithstanding the décalages among the prescribed, the implemented and the appropriate curricula, it is relevant to have a fine-tuning at this level to ensure good quality education and training, essential to achieve the millennium development goals.Des problèmes hérités des dernières décennies ont conduit le Timor-Oriental à restructurer ses programmes d’enseignement présecondaire – EPS –, ainsi que ceux de l’enseignement secondaire général – ESG. Compte tenu de l’importance d’une bonne articulation verticale tout au long des cycles scolaires etvu qu’une première édition complète de l’EPS a déjà été mise en place, il est important de vérifier si ce programme s’aligne bien à celui de l’ESG, particulièrement en ce qui concerne les Sciences et la Technologie. Cet article se concentre sur l’analyse du programme de l’EPS et sur l’évaluation de son articulation avec celui de l’ESG. Nonobstant certains décalages entre le programme prescrit, celui qui a été mis en œuvre et celui qui est approprié, il est nécessaire que les programmes soient en phase pour atteindre une éducation et une formation de qualité, fondamentales pour la réalisation des Objectifs du Millénaire pour le Développement.Problemas heredados en las últimas décadas hicieron que Timor Oriental reestructurase los currículos de la educación pre secundaria – EPS – y de la secundaria general – ESG. En función de la importancia de una adecuada articulación vertical a lo largo de los ciclos de escolaridad y frente al cumplimiento de una primera edición completa do EPS, importa estudiar si tal currículo está alineado con el del ESG, en particular en lo que concierne a las Ciencias y Tecnología. Este artículo se centra en el análisis del currículo del EPS y en la evaluación de su articulación con el del ESG. No obstante la existencia de décalages entre el currículo prescrito, el implementado y el apropiado, es relevante que haya sintonía a nivel de los currículos para una educación y formación de calidad, fundamentales para la consecución de los Objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio

Sprouty2 and Spred1-2 Proteins Inhibit the Activation of the ERK Pathway Elicited by Cyclopentenone Prostanoids

Sprouty and Spred proteins have been widely implicated in the negative regulation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor-extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. In considering the functional role of these proteins, we explored their effects on ERK activation induced by cyclopentenone prostanoids, which bind to and activate Ras proteins. We therefore found that ectopic overexpression in HeLa cells of human Sprouty2, or human Spred1 or 2, inhibits ERK1/2 and Elk-1 activation triggered by the cyclopentenone prostanoids PGA1 and 15d-PGJ2. Furthermore, we found that in HT cells that do not express Sprouty2 due to hypermethylation of its gene-promoter, PGA1-provoked ERK activation was more intense and sustained compared to other hematopoietic cell lines with unaltered Sprouty2 expression. Cyclopentenone prostanoids did not induce Sprouty2 tyrosine phosphorylation, in agreement with its incapability to activate tyrosine-kinase receptors. However, Sprouty2 Y55F, which acts as a defective mutant upon tyrosine-kinase receptor stimulation, did not inhibit cyclopentenone prostanoids-elicited ERK pathway activation. In addition, Sprouty2 did not affect the Ras-GTP levels promoted by cyclopentenone prostanoids. These results unveil both common and differential features in the activation of Ras-dependent pathways by cyclopentenone prostanoids and growth factors. Moreover, they provide the first evidence that Sprouty and Spred proteins are negative regulators of the ERK/Elk-1 pathway activation induced not only by growth-factors, but also by reactive lipidic mediators

Etiology of Diarrhea in Older Children, Adolescents and Adults: A Systematic Review

Diarrhea is an important cause of illness and death around the world and among people of all ages, but unfortunately we often do not know what specific bacterium or virus causes the illness. We conducted a review of the scientific literature with the goal of finding published studies that identified bacteria and viruses among patients with diarrhea in the community and in hospital settings. We initially found nearly 26,000 papers on this topic but narrowed the list to 22 studies that met all of our specific criteria for inclusion in our review. Among patients hospitalized for diarrhea, E coli and Vibrio cholerae were found in more than 49% of people living in middle income and poor countries. Among patients who sought care from their doctor on an outpatient basis, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., and E. histolytica were most often found. In our review we focused on the differences in the distribution of pathogens between patients in inpatient vs. outpatient settings because these estimates may best approximate what we would expect to see if the distribution were applied to global estimates of diarrhea deaths vs. uncomplicated illnesses