Validation of an empirical model for grapevine leaf area estimation with data from the varieties ‘Cannonau’ and ‘Vermentino’ grown in Sardinia

The performance of two mathematical models for non-destructive estimation of primary and lateral leaf area per shoot of Tempranillo grapevines was tested in Sardinia using independent datasets from two main traditional varieties. One collected on Cannonau grapevines from Nurra wine region, and another from Vermentino grapevines grown in Gallura wine region. The models presented good fit between observed and estimated values with high modeling efficiency. For primary leaf area estimation the mean absolute percent error for both varieties was lower than 10%. Both linear regressions between observed and estimated primary leaf area had high and significant R2 but while Vermentino fitted line presented a slope not significantly different from 1, Cannonau fitted line showed a slope significantly < 1, indicating that the model overestimated the primary leaf area per shoot. The validation of the model for lateral leaf area presented lower goodness of fit as that reported for primary leaf area. Linear regressions had a very high and significant R2 but the slopes were significantly <1 indicating that the model overestimated lateral leaf area per shoot. The positive validation shows that these models can accurately predict leaf area per shoot independently of ecological conditions, variety, year, growth stage and training system. Low goodness of fit for lateral leaf area model may be avoided building the model on each variety data. The generalized use of this type of model represents a powerful tool for grapevine research, for consultants and advanced growers, allowing the evaluate vine leaf area more frequently and with low costinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Membrane interactions of S100A12 (Calgranulin C)

S100A12 (Calgranulin C) is a small acidic calcium-binding peripheral membrane protein with two EF-hand structural motifs. It is expressed in macrophages and lymphocytes and highly up-regulated in several human inflammatory diseases. In pigs, S100A12 is abundant in the cytosol of granulocytes, where it is believed to be involved in signal modulation of inflammatory process. In this study, we investigated the interaction of the porcine S100A12 with phospholipid bilayers and the effect that ions (Ca2+, Zn2+ or both together) have in modifying protein-lipid interactions. More specifically, we intended to address issues such as: (1) is the protein-membrane interaction modulated by the presence of ions? (2) is the protein overall structure affected by the presence of the ions and membrane models simultaneously? (3) what are the specific conformational changes taking place when ions and membranes are both present? (4) does the protein have any kind of molecular preferences for a specific lipid component? To provide insight into membrane interactions and answer those questions, synchrotron radiation circular dichroism spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, and surface plasmon resonance were used. The use of these combined techniques demonstrated that this protein was capable of interacting both with lipids and with ions in solution, and enabled examination of changes that occur at different levels of structure organization. The presence of both Ca2+ and Zn2+ ions modify the binding, conformation and thermal stability of the protein in the presence of lipids. Hence, these studies examining molecular interactions of porcine S100A12 in solution complement the previously determined crystal structure information on this family of proteins, enhancing our understanding of its dynamics of interaction with membranes

Pessoas com dor e necessidades de intervenção: revisão sistemática da literatura

Objectivou-se determinar qual o impacto económico e social e as necessidades de intervenção por parte dos serviços de saúde, relativamente às pessoas com dor. Foi efectuada uma pesquisa na EBSCO (CINAHL, MEDLINE, British Nursing Index), utilizando-se o método de PI[C]O e seleccionados 19 artigos do total de 325 encontrados. A dor de tipo neuropática e a com localização músculo-esquelética foram identificadas como as maiores responsáveis pelos gastos em saúde. Como factores positivamente associados à relação custo-eficácia, encontrou-se: associação do regime terapêutico com estratégias não farmacológicas, intervenção de equipas multidisciplinares especializadas no controlo da dor, continuidade de cuidados na comunidade e uma linha telefónica de apoio permanente. Conclui-se que a dor causa significativa deterioração na qualidade de vida, com incalculável impacto no desempenho das actividades de vida diária

Estudo da Sensibilização aos Aeroalergenos Phl p 1, Phl p 5, Ole e 1 e Ole e 2 em Doentes com Patologia Alérgica Sazonal

Introdução: A sensibilização aos pólenes depende de vários factores nomeadamente do tipo de vegetação local e sabe-se que a sintomatologia não está apenas associada à exposição aos pólens mas também a partículas, algumas das quais resultantes da rotura dos grãos de pólen sendo posteriormente aerossolizadas. Objectivos: Relacionar a sensibilização de doentes com a concentração polínica atmosférica e a concentração de alguns dos respectivos aerolergenos. Métodos: Das consultas externas de Imunoalergologia dos hospitais de Évora e Elvas seleccionaram-se doentes que apresentavam queixas sazonais de rinite alérgica e asma brônquica, aos quais foram realizados testes cutâneos em Prick, standardizados, aos pólenes identificados na região. A 55 doentes foram realizados testes ao extracto de Phleum, aos seus alergénios Phl p 1 e Phl p 5, bem como aos extractos das restantes gramíneas e a 47 doentes foram realizados testes ao extracto de Olea, aos seus alergénios Ole e 1 e Ole e 2. Monitorizaram-se diariamente as partículas polínicas e os aeroalergenos mediante 2 colectores específicos para cada tipo. Resultados: A percentagem de doentes que é sensível aos 3 extractos de Phleum (Phleum total, Phl p 1 e Phl p 5) é de 51% , a dos que são sensíveis aos extractos de Phleum total e Phl p 1 é de 16 % e a dos que são sensíveis a Phleum total e Phl p5 é de 2%. A percentagem de doentes que é sensível a somente um dos extractos é de 20% e os que não têm qualquer sensibilidade são 11%. A percentagem de doentes que é sensível aos 3 extractos de Olea (Olea total, Ole e 1 e Ole e 2) é de 23%, a dos que são sensíveis à Olea total e Ole e 1 é de 21 % e a dos que são sensíveis à Olea total e Ole e 2 é de apenas 4%. A percentagem dos que são sensíveis a um dos extractos é de 19% e a dos que não apresentaram qualquer sensibilidade é de 32%. Conclusões: Podemos concluir que 89% dos doentes mostraram ser sensíveis aos alergénios da gramínea Phleum pratense pois mostraram positividade tanto ao extracto de Phleum e/ou aos seus alergénios Phl p 1 e Phl p 5. Em relação à oliveira, 44% dos doentes são alérgicos a este pólen pois são sensíveis ao seu alergénio major, Ole e 1. Em ambos os casos estão correlacionados com os aeroalergenos detectados nas amostras de ar, sendo a sensibilidade aos pólenes de gramíneas maior que a sensibilidade ao pólen de oliveira. Mais estudos devem ser realizados para despiste de reacções cruzadas nomeadamente quanto à Olea com outras plantas da região

Forests as promoters of water ecosystem services: insights from Portugal

Forests provide multiple ecosystem services, with relevance for the ones related to water. It is widely accepted that forests greatly influence the water cycle, promoting evapotranspiration, improving infiltration, reducing surface runoff and consequently soil erosion, although sometimes at expenses of a reduction in total water yield. In fact, forests are targeted for several measures to restore freshwater and land ecosystems, conserving biodiversity and at the same time improving the revenues of landowners, especially if Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are in place. However, the environmental effectiveness of these measures is not always acknowledged, especially due to the lack of local studies. Therefore, the objective of this presentation is to gather information based on modelling exercises applied to case-studies in Portugal, in which forests influence the provision of ecosystem services related to water in terms of quantity and quality. First, the results from an econometric model based on spatial variables applied to continental Portugal will be presented. Results suggested the existence of a positive and significant effect of local forest cover on water treatment cost savings of 0.056%. Secondly, scenarios of afforestation were simulated in SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) for two watersheds of northern Portugal. Results revealed that forests have a positive role on the regulation of water, in particular for the scenario of native deciduous type of trees, such as oak. Moreover, forests influence water quality, in terms of less nitrates in the river, and less soil erosion, when compared to a scenario of agricultural expansion. Lastly, a SWAT application in a small watershed in Central Portugal with scenarios of afforestation vs. fires, showed that soil erosion protection and water quality regulation provided by forests might be negatively affected by fire occurrence. Overall, further work should be done to consider fire risk over PES schemes applied to the Mediterranean forest.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Seminario Internacional sobre “El Estado Actual de la Investigación en Enseñanza de las Ciencias"

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Bone Flap Management In Neurosurgery

Bone flap removal procedure is growing in frequency in neurosurgical practice. Decompressive craniotomy has gained more scientifical evidences of its therapeutical value in post-traumatic brain swelling, in cerebrovascular diseases and in brain edema non - responding to clinical treatment after elective surgeries. Bone flap destination after craniotomy has many possible fates. We present a literature review of bone flap management in neurosurgical practice: technical preservation of bone flaps (under the scalp, in the abdominal wall, frozen), when to remove the bone flap and what to do when it is dropped during the craniotomy or is infected.172133137Movassaghi, K., Ver Halen, J., Ganchi, P., Amin-Hanjani, S., Mesa, J., Yaremchuk, M.J., Cranioplasty with subcutaneously preserved autologous bone grafts (2006) Plast Reconstr Surg, 117 (1), pp. 202-206Hauptli, J., Segantini, P., New tissue preservation method for bone flaps following decompressive craniotomy (1980) Helv Chir Acta, 47 (1-2), pp. 121-124Tybor, K., Fortuniak, J., Komunski, P., Papiez, T., Andrzejak, S., Jaskólski, D., Supplementation of cranial defects by an autologous bone flap stored in the abdominal wall (2005) Neurol Neurochir Pol, 39 (3), pp. 220-224Josan, V.A., Sgouros, S., Walsh, A.R., Dover, M.S., Nishikawa, H., Hockley, A.D., Cranioplasty in children (2005) Childs Nerv Syst, 21 (3), pp. 200-204Flannery, T., McConnell, R.S., Cranioplasty: Why throw the bone flap out? (2001) Br J Neurosurg, 15 (6), pp. 518-520Krishnan, P., Bhattacharyya, A.K., Sil, K., De, R., Bone flap preservation after decompressive craniectomy - experience with 55 cases (2006) Neurol India, 54 (3), pp. 291-292Korfali, E., Aksoy, K., Preservation of craniotomy bone flaps under the scalp (1988) Surg Neurol, 30 (4), pp. 269-272Goel, A., Deogaonkar, M., Subgaleal preservation of calvarial flaps (1995) Surg Neurol, 44 (2), pp. 181-182. , Aug;, discussion 182-3Pasaoglu, A., Kurtsoy, A., Koc, R.K., Kontas, O., Akdemir, H., Öktem, I.S., Cranioplasty with bone flaps preserved under the scalp (1996) Neurosurg Rev, 19 (3), pp. 153-156Iwama, T., Yamada, J., Imai, S., Shinoda, J., Funakoshi, T., Sakai, N., The use of frozen autogenous bone flaps in delayed cranioplasty revisited (2003) Neurosurgery, 52 (3), pp. 591-596Winkler, P.A., Stummer, W., Linke, R., Krishnan, K.G., Tatsch, K., The influence of cranioplasty on postural blood flow regulation, cerebrovascular reserve capacity, and cerebral glucose metabolism (2000) Neurosurg Focus, 8 (1), pp. e9Matsuno, A., Tanaka, H., Iwamuro, H., Takanashi, S., Miyawaki, S., Nakashima, M., Analyses of the factors influencing bone graft infection after delayed cranioplasty (2006) Acta Neurochir (Wien), 148 (5), pp. 535-540Yacubian-Fernandes, A., Laronga, P.R., Coelho, R.A., Ducati, L.G., Silva, M.V., Prototyping as an alternative to cranioplasty using methylmethacrylate: Technical, 62 (3 B), pp. 865-868. , note. Arq Neuropsiquiatr 2004;Chiarini, L., Figurelli, S., Pollastri, G., Torcia, E., Ferrari, F., Albanese, M., Cranioplasty using acrylic material: A new technical procedure (2004) J Craniomaxillofac Surg, 32 (1), pp. 5-9Korinek, A.M., Risk factors for neurosurgical site infections after craniotomy: A prospective multicenter study of 2944 patients. The French Study Group of Neurosurgical Infections, the SEHP, and the C-CLIN Paris-Nord. Service Epidemiologie Hygiene et Prevention (1997) Neurosurgery, 41 (5), pp. 1073-1079Bruce, J.N., Bruce, S.S., Preservation of bone flaps in patients with postcraniotomy infections (2003) J Neurosurg, 98 (6), pp. 1203-1207Auguste, K.I., McDermott, M.W., Salvage of infected craniotomy bone flaps with the wash-in, wash-out indwelling antibiotic irrigation system. Technical note and case series of 12 patients (2006) J Neurosurg, 105 (4), pp. 640-644Jankowitz, B.T., Kondziolka, D.S., When the bone flap hits the floor (2006) Neurosurgery, 59 (3), pp. 585-59