Cervical Remodeling/ripening At Term And Preterm Delivery: The Same Mechanism Initiated By Different Mediators And Different Effector Cells

Premature cervical remodeling/ripening is believed to contribute to preterm delivery (PTD), the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Despite considerable research, the causes of term and PTD remain unclear, and there is no effective treatment for PTD. We tested the hypothesis that complement activation plays a role in cervical remodeling and PTD. We studied cervical remodeling at term. We studied two mouse models of inflammation-induced PTD. The first model was induced by vaginal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)and the second one by administration of progesterone antagonist RU486. Increased cervical C3 deposition and macrophage infiltration and increased serum C3adesArg and C5adesArg levels were observed in both models when compared to gestational age matched controls. A significant increase in collagen degradation, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) activity and tissue distensibility was observed in the cervix in both models. Mice deficient in complement receptor C5a did not show increased MMP-9 activity and cervical remodeling and did not deliver preterm in response to LPS or RU486, suggesting a role for C5aR in the cervical changes that precede PTD. In vitro studies show that macrophages release MMP-9 in response to C5a. Progesterone diminished the amount of C5aR on the macrophages surface, inhibited the release of MMP-9 and prevented PTD. In addition, macrophage depletion also prevented cervical remodeling and PTD in LPS-treated mice. We found that complement activation is not required for the physiological process that leads to term delivery in mice. Neither increased C3 cervical deposition nor increased C3a and C5a serum levels were observed at term. In addition, macrophages infiltration was found in PTD in contrast to term delivery were no leukocytes were found. Despite the different role of complement and different cellular effector cells, PTD and term delivery share a common dowsntream pathway characterized by increased metalloproteinases (MMPs) release and increased collagen degradation. However, different sources of MMPs were identified. Macrophages are the source of MMPs in PTD while cervical fibroblasts and columnar epithelial cells synthesize MMPs at term delivery. A dramatic diminution in serum progesterone levels precedes parturition at term but not in PTD, suggesting that progesterone withdrawal initiates cervical remodeling at term. On the other hand, MMPs release in PTD is triggered by C5a. Complement inhibition and supplementation with progesterone may be good therapeutic options to prevent this serious pregnancy complication. Preterm and term cervical remodeling occur through the same mechanism but they are initiated by different mediators and effector cells. That complement activation is required for PTD but not for the physiological process that leads to term delivery, suggests that complement is a potential specific biomarker and selective target to prevent PTD and thus avert neonatal mortality and morbidity

Homophily, Cultural Drift and the Co-Evolution of Cultural Groups

In studies of cultural differentiation, the joint mechanisms of homophily and influence have been able to explain how distinct cultural groups can form. While these mechanisms normally lead to cultural convergence, increased levels of heterogeneity can allow them to produce global diversity. However, this emergent cultural diversity has proven to be unstable in the face of "cultural drift"- small errors or innovations that allow cultures to change from within. We develop a model of cultural differentiation that combines the traditional mechanisms of homophily and influence with a third mechanism of 2network homophily", in which network structure co-evolves with cultural interaction. We show that if social ties are allowed to change with cultural influence, a complex relationship between heterogeneity and cultural diversity is revealed, in which increased heterogeneity can reduce cultural group formation while simultaneously increasing social connectedness. Our results show that in certain regions of the parameter space these co-evolutionary dynamics can lead to patterns of cultural diversity that are stable in the presence of cultural drift.Comment: (8 pages, 8 figures

Desing of an automated vertical storage system in a regional airline

En la actualidad y en la evolución de los procesos de cualquier industria, conlleva a la necesidad de inclusión de tecnología en cada una de sus actividades para disminuir tiempos y riesgos adyacentes a la operación propia de cada empresa, es de allí donde surge la importancia de realizar propuestas de inclusión tecnológica en los procesos logísticos, como la transformación del sistema tradicional en un almacén aeronáutico e implementar un sistema de almacenamiento vertical automatizado para el alistamiento de material y herramientas necesarias en el cumplimiento de tareas programadas e imprevistas de mantenimiento de las aeronaves; reducir espacios, tiempos de alistamiento, movimientos en tiempo real que permiten una buena administración de inventario y de recursos adquiridos por la empresa, así mismo cumplir con los trabajos requeridos por los fabricantes y las tareas correctivas propias de la operación de cada aeronave para asegurar su aeronavegabilidad segura bajo los parámetros establecidos por la autoridad aeronáutica, adicionalmente asegurar el cumplimiento de la planeación y programación de itinerarios realizados por la aerolínea.At present and in the evolution of the processes of any industry, it leads to the need to include technology in each of its activities to reduce times and risks adjacent to the operation of each company, This is where the importance of making proposals for technological inclusion in logistics processes arises, such as the transformation of the traditional system into an aeronautical warehouse and implementing an automated vertical storage system for the preparation of material and tools necessary to fulfill scheduled tasks. and unforeseen aircraft maintenance; reduce spaces, set-up times, movements in real time that allow a good administration of inventory and resources acquired by the company, as well as comply with the work required by the manufacturers and the corrective tasks specific to the operation of each aircraft to ensure its safe airworthiness under the parameters established by the aeronautical authority, additionally ensuring compliance with the planning and programming of itineraries carried out by the airline.Especializació

Studies on chabazite zeolites for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx

ABSTRACT: Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) over Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst is one of the most promising methods to withdraw NOx emissions from diesel engines. The process consists in reducing NOx, at the highly oxidative ambient presented in diesel exhaust gases, to produce harmless N2 and H2O. This occurs in the presence of a reducing gas, usually ammonia, and the catalyst. Even though the use of Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts for SCR is a well-studied process, being identified its active sites ([CuOH]1+ and Cu2+) and having a widely accepted reaction mechanism for both sites; several aspects might be studied to improve SCR performance. In this work, we studied if the continuous exposure of Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst to sulfur species, presented as impurities in diesel fuels, may have a poisoning effect on its active sites, therefore decreasing its activity for SCR reaction. Cu-SSZ-13 samples with isolated [CuOH]1+ and Cu2+ sites were saturated with SO2, then used to perform a kinetic study, in-situ UV-vis characterizations and operando XAS characterizations. It was observed by kinetics experiments that sulfur caused a reduction in NO consumption rate in both Cu sites, evidencing a poisoning effect. Only [CuOH]1+ site presented changes in the activation energy, therefore in this site, a change in reaction mechanism was presented. in-situ UV-Vis-NIR characterizations and operando X-ray absorption characterizations were used to analyze how Cu sites where affected by sulfur at reaction conditions, information that was used to propose a reaction mechanism for each site. In addition, we studied how high temperatures may affect the activity of [CuOH]1+ and Cu2+ sites for SCR, and if the presence of iron in the catalyst may improve the catalyst performance at such conditions. SCR catalysts can be exposed to periods of high temperatures during the regeneration of particulate matter filters, located prior to SCR unit in diesel exhaust gas treatment systems, therefore it is important to know if Cu-SSZ-13 sites can withstand such temperature increases. SCR, NH3 oxidation and NO oxidation reactions were tested over Cu-SSZ-13 and Fe-Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts at 200 to 600°C. It was observed that when the temperature was higher than 350°C during SCR experiments, NO consumption rates decreased in Cu-SSZ-13 catalysts with higher intensity in a sample with mostly [CuOH]1+ sites. In opposite, Fe-Cu-SSZ-13 samples maintained higher NO consumption rates. However NH3 oxidation and NO oxidation reactions demonstrated that higher NO rates in Fe-Cu-SSZ-13 samples were not caused by NO reduction to N2 but the result of its oxidation to other nitrogen oxides. Finally, it was studied the synthesis of SAPO-34, a silicoaluminophosphate with the same chabazite structure of SSZ-13 but potentially with a lower production cost. The main challenge during the synthesis of SAPO-34 consists in obtaining the highest availability of Brönsted acid sites to be exchanged by the active species (usually Cu). This can be affected, among several factors, by the selection of the structure directing agent and by changing the composition of Si, Al, or P during the synthesis. Several silicon composition in the initial synthesis gel along with the use of several structure-directing agents were evaluated. The effect of these changes on the Brönsted acidity of the final SAPO-34 materials was tested by NH3-TPD characterizations, and textural properties were studied by SEM and XRD characterizations. Comparing the materials synthesized in this work, silicon : morpholine molar ratio of 0.6 mol allowed to obtain SAPO-34 without other structures and higher Br¨onsted acidity

Melhoria da Atenção à Pessoa com HAS e/ou DM na UBS Baixa do Carpino, Luis Correia/PI

O objetivo deste trabalho foi melhorar a atenção aos usuários com Hipertensão Arterial Sistêmica (HAS) e/ou Diabetes Mellitus (DM) na Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS) Baixa do Carpino, Luis Correia/ Piauí (PI). Com o propósito de dar cobertura à população com hipertensão e/ou diabetes proporcionando o acompanhamento e a avaliação integral. A população alvo foi composta por todos os usuários com HAS e/ou DM maiores de 20 anos de idade, cadastrados na UBS e pertencentes à área de abrangência. A intervenção ocorreu durante 12 semanas, no período de 23 de fevereiro ao 14 de maio do ano 2015. Para o acompanhamento mensal da intervenção foram utilizados os dados coletados na ficha-espelho e planilha eletrônica, a intervenção contemplou ações nos quatro eixos pedagógicos: organização e gestão do serviço, monitoramento e avaliação, qualificação da prática clínica e engajamento público. Houve implementação e aperfeiçoamento de ações como: treinamento da equipe de profissionais utilizando o protocolo de HAS e DM do Ministério de Saúde (MS), 2013. Melhorou o planejamento das ações em saúde e a organização do processo de trabalho, aumentou a parceria com os líderes comunitários e a comunidade participou de forma ativa nas atividades de educação em saúde e conscientização do programa. Os resultados mostraram um aumento de ingresso dos usuários ao programa de atenção aos usuários hipertensos e/ou diabéticos. Foi possível aumentar a cobertura dos usuários hipertensos com 159 (49,5%) e para usuários diabéticos com 45 (57,0%). A intervenção está fazendo parte da rotina do serviço obtendo qualificação da ação programática que melhorou e qualificou a assistência e a saúde da população

Association between chloroplast DNA and mitochondrial DNA haplotypes in Prunus spinosa L. (Rosaceae) populations across Europe

Chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were studied in 24 populations of Prunus spinosa sampled across Europe. The cpDNA and mtDNA fragments were amplified using universal primers and subsequently digested with restriction enzymes to obtain the polymorphisms. Combinations of all the polymorphisms resulted in 33 cpDNA haplotypes and two mtDNA haplotypes. Strict association between the cpDNA haplotypes and the mtDNA haplotypes was detected in most cases, indicating conjoint inheritance of the two genomes. The most frequent and abundant cpDNA haplotype (C20; frequency, 51 %) is always associated with the more frequent and abundant mtDNA haplotype (M1; frequency, 84 %). All but two of the cpDNA haplotypes associated with the less frequent mtDNA haplotype (M2) are private haplotypes. These private haplotypes are phylogenetically related but geographically unrelated. They form a separate cluster on the minimum-length spanning tree.We thank Dr Remy J. Petit for providing significant support as a coordinator during this project, and for helpful suggestions and valuable comments on the manuscript. The research was supported by the European Community research programme FAIR5‐CT97‐3795

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases

The term autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) encompasses a heterogeneous group of conditions characterized by joint involvement along with a wide spectrum of systemic manifestations. The most common ARDs are rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nevertheless, all these conditions share similar pathophysiological mechanisms [1, 2] and a common risk of developing a process of accelerated atherosclerosis [3]. In this regard, in this special issue J. Amaya-Amaya and colleagues discussed the mechanisms associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with autoimmune diseases. These authors emphasize the relevance of the CVD in rheumatic conditions and its connection with inflammation and autoimmunity. They also highlight the need of a more aggressive management of these conditions, both of disease activity and classic cardiovascular risk factors. A good example of accelerated atherosclerosis in the setting of an ARD is SLE, in which endothelial dysfunction, an early step in the atherogenesis process, is observed before cardiovascular events can occur. With respect to this, A. Mak and N. Y. Kow performed a comprehensive review of the mechanisms that are involved in endothelial damage.These authors focused on the factors involved in endothelial damage and repair and, therefore, in the development of CVD in patients with SLE. They discussed the relevant role of factors such as type 1 interferon, proinflammatory cytokines, inflammatory cells, immune complexes, costimulatory molecules, neutrophils extracellular traps, lupus-related autoantibodies, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia that along with the aberrant function of the endothelial progenitor cells lead to endothelial dysfunction and increased susceptibility to develop CVD in patients with SLE. Based on these lines of evidence, the authors’ claim is in favor of early intervention at the preclinical stage of atherogenesis in these patients

Responses to Comments on Assessment of Polarization Dependence of Body Shadow Effect on Dosimetry Measurements in the 2.4 GHz Band

When the personal exposimeter (PEM) is worn by the user, in non-line of sight conditions, the electric field (E-field) measured has three contributions: (1) propagation through the human body; (2) contribution travelling around the human body; (3) and reflexions from the environment. Second, another component of the E-field measured by the PEM is the trapped surface wave signals around the body. Third, in indoor environments, electromagnetic waves are composed of specular and diffuse components.Sub-Directorate-General for Research Assessment and Promotion (Carlos III Health Institute) for the project “Electromagnetic Characterization in Smart Environments of Healthcare, and their involvement in Personal, Occupational, and Environmental Health”; grant number: DGPY-1285/15 (PI14CIII/ 00056); Human resources of the project “Assessment of Exposure to NonIonizing Radiation from Wireless Communication Technologies and its Relation to the Health of Humans”; grant number: DGPY-1064/13 (CA12/00038)S