Cysteine String Protein- Prevents Activity-Dependent Degeneration in GABAergic Synapses

The continuous release of neurotransmitter could be seen to place a persistent burden on presynaptic proteins, one that could compromise nerve terminal function. This supposition and the molecular mechanisms that might protect highly active synapses merit investigation. In hippocampal cultures from knock-out mice lacking the presynaptic cochaperone cysteine string protein-_ (CSP-_),weobserve progressive degeneration of highly active synaptotagmin 2 (Syt2)-expressing GABAergic synapses, but surprisingly not of glutamatergic terminals. In CSP-_ knock-out mice, synaptic degeneration of basket cell terminals occurs in vivo in the presence of normal glutamatergic synapses onto dentate gyrus granule cells. Consistent with this, in hippocampal cultures from these mice, the frequency of miniature IPSCs, caused by spontaneous GABA release, progressively declines, whereas the frequency of miniature excitatory AMPA receptormediated currents (mEPSCs), caused by spontaneous release of glutamate, is normal. However, the mEPSC amplitude progressively decreases. Remarkably, long-term block of glutamatergic transmission in cultures lacking CSP-_ substantially rescues Syt2-expressing GABAergic synapses from neurodegeneration. These findings demonstrate that elevated neural activity increases synapse vulnerability and that CSP-_ is essential to maintain presynaptic function under a physiologically high-activity regimen

Bioinformatics as a Tool for Assessing the Quality of Sub-Cellular Proteomic Strategies and Inferring Functions of Proteins: Plant Cell Wall Proteomics as a Test Case

Bioinformatics is used at three different steps of proteomic studies of sub-cellular compartments. First one is protein identification from mass spectrometry data. Second one is prediction of sub-cellular localization, and third one is the search of functional domains to predict the function of identified proteins in order to answer biological questions. The aim of the work was to get a new tool for improving the quality of proteomics of sub-cellular compartments. Starting from the analysis of problems found in databases, we designed a new Arabidopsis database named ProtAnnDB (http://www.polebio.scsv.ups-tlse.fr/ProtAnnDB/). It collects in one page predictions of sub-cellular localization and of functional domains made by available software. Using this database allows not only improvement of interpretation of proteomic data (top-down analysis), but also of procedures to isolate sub-cellular compartments (bottom-up quality control)

História Política e a “Nova História”: um breve acerto de contas.

O estudo aqui exposto traz uma reflexão sobre a história política mais detalhadamente sobre seu processo de renovação, juntamente com a renovada historiografia proposta melo movimento dos Annales, durante o século XIX na França. A história política hoje se faz um campo aberto, é difícil – e este nem é nosso interesse – de delimitar seu campo de atuação, sua área fronteiriça. Porém, o que se mostra no presente, como uma característica dos métodos e objetos da história política não era nem de longe um traço em seu modo de discutir e demonstrar o conhecimento histórico. Cabe, então, várias perguntas, mas uma delas torna-se mais pertinente: como entender essa nova história política? O presente artigo pretende contribuir para o debate historiográfico em torno da história política

Food aroma mass transport properties in renewable hydrophilic polymers

[EN] The sorption and transport properties of gliadin and chitosan films with respect to four representative food aroma components (ethyl caproate, 1-hexanol, 2-nonanone and α-pinene) have been studied under dry and wet environmental conditions. The partition coefficients (K) of the selected volatiles were also obtained using isooctane and soybean oil as fatty food simulants. The results showed that gliadin and chitosan films have very low capacities for the sorption of volatile compounds, and these capacities are influenced by the nature of the sorbate, the environmental relative humidity and the presence of glycerol as a plasticizer in the polymeric matrix. The volatile compounds also present a low partitioning in the biopolymer film/food stimulant system. Given the low levels of interaction observed with the volatiles, gliadin and chitosan films are of potential interest for the packaging of foods in which aroma is one of the most important quality attributes Highlights ► Sorption kinetics and equilibrium partitioning of food aroma compounds in bioplastics. ► Gliadin and chitosan films show low sorption and partitioning capacities of food aroma compounds. ► Sorption and diffusion depend on volatile chemical structure, film composition and moisture. ► Great potential in packaging of foods in which aroma is an important quality attribute.This research has been supported from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the Projects AGL2006-02176, AGL2009-08776 and FUN-C-FOOD Consolider Ingenio. The authors would like to thank A.P. Mac Cabe for critical reading of the manuscript.Balaguer, MP.; Gavara Clemente, R.; Hernández Muñoz, P. (2012). Food aroma mass transport properties in renewable hydrophilic polymers. Food Chemistry. 130(4):814-820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.07.052S814820130

Análise económica e financeira de um projeto de turismo e prestação de serviços geológicos em Viseu : estudo de caso

Mestrado Bolonha em Contabilidade, Fiscalidade e Finanças EmpresariaisNos dias de hoje, um dos temas mais atuais e relevantes para as empresas prende-se com o desenvolvimento sustentável, sendo, nesse âmbito, um dos principais fatores a ter em conta quando estas definem os seus objetivos estratégicos. No passado, foram analisados variadíssimos projetos, desenvolvidos por grandes, médias ou pequenas empresas que já se encontram estabelecidas no mercado e veem-se afirmando ao longo dos anos. No entanto, neste caso concreto, irá ser analisado um projeto desenvolvido por um tipo de empresas peculiar, mas cada vez mais comum no mercado, as startups. Assim, este estudo pretende explorar a vertente económica e financeira relativa a um projeto de turismo geológico e de prestação de serviços desenvolvido por uma empresa de Viseu, de forma a analisar a sua sustentabilidade, fazer um plano de negócios para potenciar o projeto de forma a que tenha um crescimento sustentado nos próximos anos, bem como estudar o impacto causado na sociedade. Antes da elaboração do plano de negócios, foram realizadas diversas entrevistas com um dos fundadores da startup, que por motivos de confidencialidade e concorrência me pediu para não divulgar o nome da empresa, de forma a poder conhecer o projeto e a realidade do meio em que está inserida. Os resultados obtidos após a elaboração das principais demonstrações financeiras, ainda que sejam previsionais, revelaram que este projeto tem bastante potencial. Para além disso, o VAL foi positivo, a TIR foi relativamente superior à taxa de atualização dos cash-flows e o PRI está dentro dos próximos cinco anos, período para o qual foi feita a análise, quer se verifique um cenário realista, pessimista ou otimista, ou seja, este projeto tem tudo para dar certo se for explorado de forma inteligente.Nowadays, one of the most current and relevant topics for companies is sustainable development, which is, in this context, one of the main factors to be considered when they define their strategic objectives. In the past, a wide range of projects were analyzed, developed by large, medium or small companies that are already established in the market and have been asserting themselves over the years. However, in this specific case, will be analyzed a project developed by a peculiar type of company, which is increasingly common in the market, the companies called start-ups. Thus, this study intends to explore the economic and financial aspect of a geological tourism and services provisional project developed by a company from Viseu, in order to analyze its sustainability, make a business plan for enhance the project so that it has a sustained growth in the coming years, as well as study their impact on society Before preparing the business plan, several interviews were made out with the main members and founders of the start-up, who, for reasons of confidentiality and competition, asked me to not disclose the name of the company, in order to know the project and the reality of the environment in which it is inserted. The results obtained after analyzing the main financial statements, even if they are provisional, revealed that this project has a lot of potential. In addition, the NPV was positive, the IRR was much higher than the cash flow update rate and the investment payback period is within the next five years, the period for which the analysis was carried out, whether there is a realistic, pessimistic or optimistic scenario, so, that means this project has everything to succeed, if exploited intelligently.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Uso de carburo de tungsteno en la confección y/o reparación de trépanos para operaciones especiales de workover en pozos petroleros

El documento digital no refiere asesorEl Carburo de wolframio o Carburo de tungsteno es un material cerámico compuesto por Wolframio y Carbono. Pertenece al grupo de los carburos cuya composición química es W3C hasta W6C dependiendo del tipo de aleación, se está empleando, sobre todo, en la elaboración de herramientas de corte con aplicación en aleaciones ferrosas y no ferrosas. Aprovechando estas bondades se esta empleando este material en muchas actividades industriales hoy en día, una de estas es la exploración y perforación de reservas petrolíferas, para dar mayor resistencia a brocas, tuberías de perforación, con el fin de dar mayor tiempo de vida y durabilidad ante el desgaste prematuro que generan los materiales abrasivos que estas herramientas encuentran durante la perforación de un pozo petrolero, trabajos de completación y reparación de pozos, al rellenar herramientas con insertos de este metal duro que es una aleación compuesta por una matriz de Cu-Ni-Zn, al que se agrega Carburo de tungsteno de diferente granulometría mediante el proceso de soldadura. Utilizando una soldadura metálica de Cu-Zn-Ni (a 10% Ni como aglutinante), se usa un equipo de soldadura autógena para aplicar el relleno. Esta técnica de aplicar relleno de Carburo de tungsteno ha sufrido variaciones, ya que en la actualidad gracias al avance en las investigaciones por la búsqueda de nuevos materiales aparecen nuevos tipos de aceros para confeccionar las matrices. Cada factoría mantiene su propia técnica para preparar una herramienta, pero cumpliendo los estándares de trabajo que se le solicita. El uso de las herramientas que se confeccionan con Carburo de tungsteno es de conocimiento de las empresas petroleras (sin embargo el tipo de soldadura que se está utilizando aún no ha sido patentado) para poder mejorar el desempeño de sus herramientas durante las etapas de perforación o reparación de un pozo. Estas herramientas son Pilot Mill, Encono Mill, Taper Mill, String Taper Mill, Junk Mill (puede ser Trépano plano o un Concave Mill), cabe mencionar que cada herramienta desempeña una función de acuerdo al tipo de reparación o daño que se genera en un pozo.Trabajo de suficiencia profesiona

Deriving Predictive Relationships of Carotenoid Content at the Canopy Level in a Conifer Forest Using Hyperspectral Imagery and Model Simulation

Recent studies have demonstrated that the R570/R515 index is highly sensitive to carotenoid (Cx + c) content in conifer forest canopies and is scarcely influenced by structural effects. However, validated methods for the prediction of leaf carotenoid content relationships in forest canopies are still needed to date. This paper focuses on the simultaneous retrieval of chlorophyll (Ca + b) and (Cx + c) pigments, which are critical bioindicators of plant physiological status. Radiative transfer theory and modeling assumptions were applied at both laboratory and field scales to develop methods for their concurrent estimation using high-resolution hyperspectral imagery. The proposed methodology was validated based on the biochemical pigment quantification. Canopy modeling methods based on infinite reflectance formulations and the discrete anisotropic radiative transfer (DART) model were evaluated in relation to the PROSPECT-5 leaf model for the scaling-up procedure. Simpler modeling methods yielded comparable results to more complex 3-D approximations due to the high spatial resolution images acquired, which enabled targeting pure crowns and reducing the effects of canopy architecture. The scaling-up methods based on the PROSPECT-5+DART model yielded a root-mean-square error (RMSE) and a relative RMSE of 1.48 μg/cm2 (17.45%) and 5.03 μg/cm2 (13.25%) for Cx+c and Ca+ b, respectively, while the simpler approach based on the PROSPECT-5+Hapke infinite reflectance model yielded 1.37 & mug/cm2 (17.46%) and 4.71 μg/cm2 (14.07%) for Cx + c and Ca+b, respectively. These predictive algorithms proved to be useful to estimate Ca + b and Cx + c from high-resolution hyperspectral imagery, providing a methodology for the monitoring of these photosynthetic pigments in conifer forest canopies. © 2013 IEEE.Peer Reviewe

Reversible Covalent Immobilization of Cinnamaldehyde on Chitosan Films via Schiff Base Formation and Their Application in Active Food Packaging

[EN] In this work, cinnamaldehyde was reversibly anchored to chitosan films via imino-covalent bonding. The Schiff base was synthesized in solid phase employing neutralized chitosan films immersed in acidified 95 % (v/v) ethanolic solution in which the aldehyde was dissolved. The substitution degree (%) of cinnamaldehyde to the amine group was close to 70 %. Attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis revealed the formation of the chitosan-cinnamaldehyde Schiff base. The hydrolysis of the imino bond and subsequent release of cinnamaldehyde were studied after the films had been subjected to different combinations of temperature/time treatments simulating food preservation methods. The amount of aldehyde that remained covalently attached to the films was monitored by ATR-FTIR, and the substitution degree was determined by elemental analysis. Surface contact angle and colour parameters of cinnamaldehyde-imine-chitosan films and these films subjected to different treatments were also evaluated. The antimicrobial properties of chitosan-Schiff base films were tested in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and in milk inoculated with Listeria monocytogenes. The antimicrobial activity varied depending on the treatment applied and consequently the degree of imino bond hydrolysis achieved and cinnamaldehyde released. Films of Schiff base-chitosan derivative subjected to different time/temperature treatments inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes for 12 days under refrigeration conditions, which may extend the microbiological shelf life of such products. Sensory analysis of milk in contact with the films showed that a cinnamon smell does not cause any rejection among potential consumers. These novel films could be used in the design of antimicrobial food packaging and in various other technological areas where sustained-release systems are requiredThe authors wish to thank the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project AGL2012-39920-C03-01) and Spanish Research Council (CSIC, JAE-Predoc L.H. fellowship).Higueras-Contreras, L.; Lopez-Carballo, G.; Gavara Clemente, R.; Hernández-Muñoz, P. (2015). Reversible Covalent Immobilization of Cinnamaldehyde on Chitosan Films via Schiff Base Formation and Their Application in Active Food Packaging. Food and Bioprocess Technology. 8(3):526-538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11947-014-1421-8S52653883Abreu, F. O., Oliveira, E. F., Paula, H. C., & de Paula, R. (2012). Chitosan/cashew gum nanogels for essential oil encapsulation. Carbohydrate Polymers, 89(4), 1277–1282.Balaguer, M. P., Gómez-Estaca, J., Gavara, R., & Hernández-Muñoz, P. (2011a). 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Impact of ocean-atmosphere coupling on present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification in Europe

The effect of air-sea coupling in the simulation of the European climate is assessed through a climate type classification that uses surface temperature and precipitation from a regional atmosphere-ocean coupled model and from its atmospheric component. The atmospheric setup in both models is the same, differing only in the representation of the oceanic fields. The simulations cover the present and future-time climate under the RCP8.5 CMIP5 scenario. Climate type distributions obtained from both coupled and uncoupled simulations are similar to those obtained from ERA5 for the 1976–2005 period. Both models simulate colder climate types for present-time in southern and northeastern regions compared to ERA5, possibly due to a weaker influence of the Atlantic circulation, and drier climate types in some western Mediterranean areas. Also, for present-time coupling leads to more humid winters (relatively drier summers) in some zones of north Spain and south France, and drier climates in some western Mediterranean spots. Based on simulations with these models under the RCP8.5 scenario, we find that by the end of the 21st century (2070–2099) the climate type distribution changes in more than 50% of the domain. While both models project the reduction of regions with cold climate types and the expansion of those with hot summers and hot arid climate types, these changes affect a larger area in the coupled simulation. These differences may be related to a drier signal in the coupled simulation, especially during summer, due to the influence of colder surface water in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Using a climate classification to evaluate the annual cycles of the simulated temperature and precipitation data provides a novel insight into the impact of air-ocean coupling on the representation of the climate, and consequently into the simulated impact on ecosystems and human activities in Europe