Studies on cambial activity: advances and challenges in the knowledge of growth dynamics of Brazilian woody species

The lack of specific research on the sequence of events that determine plant growth from meristem until wood formation represents a gap in the knowledge of growth dynamics in woody species. In this work, we surveyed published studies concerning cambial activity of Brazilian native species aiming at allowing the comparison of applied methods and obtained results. The annual cambial seasonality was observed in all the investigated species. Nevertheless, we found high heterogeneity in the used methodologies. As a result from this analysis, our opinion points to the need for standardizing sampling protocols and for discussing the suitability of experimental designs. This will help to define with greater precision the factors that determine the radial growth in the different tropical ecosystems.Fil: Callado, Catia H.. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Laboratório de Anatomia Vegetal. Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcantara Gomes; Brasil. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal; BrasilFil: Vasconcellos, Thaís J.. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal; BrasilFil: Costa, Monique S.. Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Vegetal; BrasilFil: Barros, Claudia F..Fil: Roig Junent, Fidel Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Científico Tecnológico Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Tomazello-Filho, Mário. Universidade de São Paulo. Escola Superior de Agricultura Luis de Queiroz. Departamento de Ciências Florestais ; Brasi

Involving research participants in a pan-European research initiative: the EPAD participant panel experience

Abstract: Background: Including participants in patient and public involvement activities is increasingly acknowledged as a key pillar of successful research activity. Such activities can influence recruitment and retention, as well as researcher experience and contribute to decision making in research studies. However, there are few established methodologies of how to set up and manage participant involvement activities. Further, there is little discussion of how to do so when dealing with collaborative projects that run across countries and operate in multiple linguistic and regulatory contexts. Methods: In this paper we describe the set-up, running and experiences of the EPAD participant panel. The EPAD study was a pan-European cohort study with the aim to understand risks for developing Alzheimer’s disease and build a readiness cohort for Phase 2 clinical trials. Due to the longitudinal nature of this study, combined with the enrolment of healthy volunteers and those with mild cognitive impairments, the EPAD team highlighted participant involvement as crucial to the success of this project. The EPAD project employed a nested model, with local panels meeting in England, France, Scotland, Spain and The Netherlands, and feeding into a central study panel. The local panels were governed by terms of reference which were adaptable to local needs. Results: The impact of the panels has been widespread, and varies from feedback on documentation, to supporting with design of media materials and representation of the project at national and international meetings. Conclusions: The EPAD panels have contributed to the success of the project and the model established is easily transferable to other disease areas investigating healthy or at-risk populations

Enhancing Network Security: Host Trustworthiness Estimation

Network connected devices has become inherent part of our lives. These devices have come to be more and more mobile and are target of various malware attacks. An inability to guarantee or check proper security settings of such devices poses a serious risk to network security. In this paper we propose a novel concept of flow based host trustworthiness estimation. The estimated trustworthiness determines a level of the risk to the network security the host posses. This concept enables network operators to identify a potential dangerous host in their network and take an appropriate precautions. Models used for trustworthiness estimation are based on scoring either single events or host characteristics. In order to be able to estimate trustworthiness of a host even in large scale networks, the data used for estimation are reduced only to extended network flows. The research is in its initial phase and will conclude with Ph.D. thesis in three years.Zařízení připojené do sítě se stala neodmyslitelnou součástí našeho života. Tyto zařízení jsou stále mobilnější a stávají se cílem různých druhů škodlivého softwaru. Neschopnost zaručit či prověřit správné nastavení bezpečnostního zajištění těchto zařízení představuje nezanedbatelné riziko pro bezpečnost počítačové sítě. V tomto článku je představen koncept pro odhadování míry důvěryhodnosti daného zařízení. Míra důvěryhodnosti reprezentuje míru rizika, kterou zařízení představuje pro síťovou bezpečnost. Tento koncept umožní správcům sítě identifikovat potenciálně nebezpečné zařízení. Modely pro odhadování důvěryhodnosti jsou založeny na scoringu buď jednotlivých událostí nebo charakteristik zařízení. Aby bylo možné odhadovat důvěryhodnost zařízené dokonce i v rozsáhlých sítích, pro odhad důvěryhodnosti jsou využívána pouze data ze síťových toků. Výzkum je v jeho počáteční fázi a bude v horizontu tří let završen disertační prací

Involving research participants in a pan-European research initiative: the EPAD participant panel experience.

BACKGROUND: Including participants in patient and public involvement activities is increasingly acknowledged as a key pillar of successful research activity. Such activities can influence recruitment and retention, as well as researcher experience and contribute to decision making in research studies. However, there are few established methodologies of how to set up and manage participant involvement activities. Further, there is little discussion of how to do so when dealing with collaborative projects that run across countries and operate in multiple linguistic and regulatory contexts. METHODS: In this paper we describe the set-up, running and experiences of the EPAD participant panel. The EPAD study was a pan-European cohort study with the aim to understand risks for developing Alzheimer's disease and build a readiness cohort for Phase 2 clinical trials. Due to the longitudinal nature of this study, combined with the enrolment of healthy volunteers and those with mild cognitive impairments, the EPAD team highlighted participant involvement as crucial to the success of this project. The EPAD project employed a nested model, with local panels meeting in England, France, Scotland, Spain and The Netherlands, and feeding into a central study panel. The local panels were governed by terms of reference which were adaptable to local needs. RESULTS: The impact of the panels has been widespread, and varies from feedback on documentation, to supporting with design of media materials and representation of the project at national and international meetings. CONCLUSIONS: The EPAD panels have contributed to the success of the project and the model established is easily transferable to other disease areas investigating healthy or at-risk populations

Evidence of activation of the Toll-like receptor-4 proinflammatory pathway in patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Alterations in the innate immune/inflammatory system may underlie the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, but we do not understand the mechanisms involved. The main agents of innate immunity are the Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which detect molecular patterns associated with damage and pathogens. The TLR first reported was TLR4, and it is still the most studied one. METHODS: We aimed to describe putative modifications to the TLR4 proinflammatory pathway using 2 different strategies in 2 cohorts of patients with schizophrenia and matched controls: 1) quantification of protein and mRNA expression in postmortem prefrontal cortex samples from 30 patients with schizophrenia and 30 controls, and 2) identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the risk of schizophrenia using whole blood samples from 214 patients with schizophrenia and 216 controls. RESULTS: We found evidence of alterations in the expression of the initial elements of the TLR4 signalling pathway (TLR4, Myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 [MyD88] and nuclear factor-κ B [NF-κB]) in the PFC of patients with schizophrenia. These alterations seem to depend on the presence/absence of antipsychotic treatment at death. Moreover, a polymorphism within the MyD88 gene was significantly associated with schizophrenia risk. LIMITATIONS: The use of 2 different approaches in 2 different cohorts, the lack of a complementary neuropsychiatric group, the possible confounding effects of antipsychotic treatment and suicide are the main limitations of our study. CONCLUSION: The evidence from this dual approach suggests there is an altered innate immune response in patients with chronic schizophrenia in which the TLR4 proinflammatory pathway could be affected. Improved understanding of the stimuli and mechanisms responsible for this response could lead to improved schizophrenia treatment and better control of the side effects of current antipsychotics