Mapping transitional urban forms The form of the in-formal in Sub-Saharan Africa

L'abstract è presente nell'allegato / the abstract is in the attachmen

Molecular and Functional Identification of Two Mucin Secretory Pathways

In airways, secreted mucins absorb large volumes of water to form viscoelastic mucus, which is then propelled proximally by ciliary beating and swallowed. Mucins are secreted both at a low baseline rate and a high agonist-stimulated rate; baseline secretion is primarily responsible for clearance of inhaled particles and pathogens, while stimulated secretion can induce airway obstruction protectively to trap helminths traversing the lungs or pathologically in asthma. Exocytosis requires a SNARE complex acting in concert with a Munc18 scaffolding protein. We previously found that Munc18b has the major scaffolding role in stimulated mucin secretion using heterozygous knockout mice. Here, we sought to identify the Munc18 protein mediating baseline secretion, and to test the hypothesis that selective impairment of stimulated secretion can protect against airway mucus obstruction. Using conditional airway epithelial deletant mice, we found that Munc18a has the major role in baseline mucin secretion, Munc18b has the major role in stimulated mucin secretion, and Munc18c does not function in mucin secretion. In an allergic asthma model, Munc18b deletion reduced airway mucus occlusion and airflow resistance. In a cystic fibrosis model, Munc18b deletion reduced airway mucus occlusion and emphysema. Munc18b deficiency in the airway epithelium did not result in any abnormalities of lung structure, particle clearance, inflammation, or bacterial infection. Our results show that regulated secretion in a polarized epithelial cell may involve more than one exocytic machine at the apical plasma membrane, and that the protective roles of mucin secretion can be preserved while therapeutically targeting its pathologic roles

Rheological study of the aggregation state of alumina nanofluids

Se adjunta una comunicación, aunque se han publicado tres comunicaciones más.The presence of alumina solid particles in aqueous phase induces a change in the viscosity of the suspension from Newtonian to non- Newtonian flow. Besides, the presence of solid particles is adequate for the use as a heat exchanger fluid. The effect of nanoparticle size on thermal properties of nanofluids is still today a question, which is far from being answered. In this respect, the results reported in the literature are contradictory [1], probably due to the formation of aggregates when particles are dispersed in the liquid phase. Regarding to the nanoparticle shape influence in thermal conductivity, cylinders and spheres have been considered as the more effective in heat transfer. Spherical nanoparticles of alumina, which is one of the most investigated nanofluid, dispersed in water were used in this study. TEM images showed a mean average diameter of 50 nm. However, DLS measurements showed monodispersed particles of 260 nm. Very recently [2], the relationship between shear rheology and aggregation state of suspensions has been reviewed. Mechanical and physical properties of the resultant materials depend on shape, size and size distribution, which are considered determining parameters in the formation of particle aggregates. The steady shear flow (figure 1) has shown that these clusters, when they are at rest, are formed by highly branched aggregates that erode when shear rate increases, until a suspension of individual particles is achieved. These results are in good agreement with the intrinsic viscosity obtained by Money and Krieger-Dougherty models. In both cases, these values are far from the 2.5 corresponding to spherical particles. The temperature effects were also taken into account.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Calmodulin antagonizes amyloid-β peptides-mediated inhibition of brain plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase

AbstractThe synaptosomal plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase (PMCA) plays an essential role in regulating intracellular Ca2+ concentration in brain. We have recently found that PMCA is the only Ca2+ pump in brain which is inhibited by amyloid-β peptide (Aβ), a neurotoxic peptide implicated in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) [1], but the mechanism of inhibition is lacking. In the present study we have characterized the inhibition of PMCA by Aβ. Results from kinetic assays indicate that Aβ aggregates are more potent inhibitors of PMCA activity than monomers. The inhibitory effect of Aβ could be blocked by pretreating the purified protein with Ca2+-calmodulin, the main endogenous activator of PMCA, and the activity of truncated PMCA lacking the calmodulin binding domain was not affected by Aβ. Dot-overlay experiments indicated a physical association of Aβ with PMCA and also with calmodulin. Thus, calmodulin could protect PMCA from inhibition by Aβ by burying exposed sites on PMCA, making them inaccessible to Aβ, and also by direct binding to the peptide. These results suggest a protective role of calmodulin against neuronal Ca2+ dysregulation by PMCA inhibition induced by Aβ

Situación y perspectivas de la truficultura en España

En este trabajo se presenta un panorama de la situación de la truficultura en España, desde sus comienzos en los años 50 a la actualidad, y sus perspectivas de futuro. Se destacan la actividad científica y técnica, desarrolladas en Centros de Investigación y Universidades españolas, en aspectos diversos: micorrización en vivero, certificación de planta micorrizada, ecología de la trufa, recuperación de truferas naturales, cultivo y seguimiento de plantaciones truferas, taxonomía química, control de las especies de trufa, reforestación y selvicultura trufera. Se aprecia un aumento en el apoyo que se le da al sector desde las Administraciones Públicas, tanto desde la perspectiva forestal, la agraria o la, ya indicada, de la investigación. Se aportan datos de produccion, precios, áreas de recogida, mercados, investigación, plantaciones truferas. Se da un breve resumen de las perspectivas del sector trufero en España. SUMMARY The objective of this work is to provide a overview of truffle cultivation in Spain from its beginnings in the 1950s to the present, and its prospects for the future. At the moment, truffle cultivation in Spain is a reality. There is a great deal of activity on the part of farmers as well as on the part of scientific researchers in universities and specialised centres who are investigating a wide range of aspects on the subject: mycorrhization in nurseries, mycorrhized plant certification, ecology, recuperation of wild truffle stands, monitoring of truffle plantations, chemical taxonomy, control of truffle species, and reforestation and truffle cultivation. A growing support for the truffle sector from the Public Administration can be observed, as much from the agrarian and forestry perspective as from the mentioned research perspective. Data on production, prices, collection areas, markets, publications, truffle plantations and research are given. Finally, we give a brief summary of future prospects for the truffle sector in Spain

Molecular and Functional Identification of Two Mucin Secretory Pathways

In airways, secreted mucins absorb large volumes of water to form viscoelastic mucus, which is then propelled proximally by ciliary beating and swallowed. Mucins are secreted both at a low baseline rate and a high agonist-stimulated rate; baseline secretion is primarily responsible for clearance of inhaled particles and pathogens, while stimulated secretion can induce airway obstruction protectively to trap helminths traversing the lungs or pathologically in asthma. Exocytosis requires a SNARE complex acting in concert with a Munc18 scaffolding protein. We previously found that Munc18b has the major scaffolding role in stimulated mucin secretion using heterozygous knockout mice. Here, we sought to identify the Munc18 protein mediating baseline secretion, and to test the hypothesis that selective impairment of stimulated secretion can protect against airway mucus obstruction. Using conditional airway epithelial deletant mice, we found that Munc18a has the major role in baseline mucin secretion, Munc18b has the major role in stimulated mucin secretion, and Munc18c does not function in mucin secretion. In an allergic asthma model, Munc18b deletion reduced airway mucus occlusion and airflow resistance. In a cystic fibrosis model, Munc18b deletion reduced airway mucus occlusion and emphysema. Munc18b deficiency in the airway epithelium did not result in any abnormalities of lung structure, particle clearance, inflammation, or bacterial infection. Our results show that regulated secretion in a polarized epithelial cell may involve more than one exocytic machine at the apical plasma membrane, and that the protective roles of mucin secretion can be preserved while therapeutically targeting its pathologic roles

Requisito De Calidad (TEa) Según Estado del Arte Para Recuento Automatizado De Reticulocitos Laboratorio De Hematología INEN 2016

Es posible obtener un requisito de la calidad que garantice un mínimo margen de error posible, calculado estadísticamente en base a los datos del propio equipo, y los datos proporcionados por el Programa Interlaboratorio INSIGHT, siguiendo un ajuste dinámico de dicho requisito. Esto contribuirá, a una segura evaluación de la actividad eritropoyética, especialmente para el tipo de pacientes oncológicos que se atiende en nuestra institución, siendo de gran ayuda para el médico, que tiene a su cargo el tratamiento. El presente estudio es tipo Descriptivo, Retrospectivo, Observacional y Transversal para la determinación del requisito de calidad por el \"Estado del Arte\". Para el recuento automatizado de reticulocitos se emplearon los instrumentos Sysmex XN2000 series (21382) y (21379), laboratorio Hematología INEN 2016. Se analizaron los informes de los resultados del Programa Interlaboratorio INSIGHT, en sus 3 niveles de decisión médica (bajo, normal y alto), calculándose el estadístico CV ponderado (CVp), que al ser multiplicado por 3 se obtiene el requisito de calidad (TEa%), que permite controlar el 99.97% de los resultados. Los valores de TEa%, para el recuento automatizado de reticulocitos Sysmex XN2000 en el grupo de comparación INSIGHT de Sysmex, fueron, nivel alto 12.24%; nivel normal de 12.35%; nivel bajo 18.26%. No todos los valores obtenidos resultaron ser mayores a 16.8% (requisito de la calidad deseable, según variabilidad biológica en los tres niveles). Por lo tanto, concluimos que el requisito de calidad obtenido por el \"Estado del Arte\", a utilizar para evaluar el desempeño del recuento automatizado de reticulocitos será: TEa 18.26%.Tesi

Primary extracranial meningioma of the mandible

Meningiomas are benign tumors of mesodermal origin that arise from arachnoid cell clusters that penetrate the dura to form arachnoid villi. These neoplasms represent one of the most common neoplasms developing within the central nervous system and are usually located at points of entry of vessels and nerves through the dura. Extracranial meningiomas (EM) comprise only 2% of all meningiomas, and only six cases of primary EM of the jawbones have been described to date. They may arise as an extension of intracranial meningiomas or as primary tumors and may be clinically indistinguishable from other benign tumours of the jaws, as they usually present as a welldelineated unencapsulated tumors. In this article a case of primary intramandibular primary EM that appeared as a well-defined osteolytic radiolucent lesion of the jaw is reported. The salient clinico-pathological features of this case is compared to those previously reported in the literature and differential diagnosis and therapeutic considerations are discussed