Urban air quality estimation study, phase 1

Possibilities are explored for applying estimation theory to the analysis, interpretation, and use of air quality measurements in conjunction with simulation models to provide a cost effective method of obtaining reliable air quality estimates for wide urban areas. The physical phenomenology of real atmospheric plumes from elevated localized sources is discussed. A fluctuating plume dispersion model is derived. Individual plume parameter formulations are developed along with associated a priori information. Individual measurement models are developed

Utilización de la metodología de superficie de respuesta para comparar la fritura por inmersión a presión atmosférica y al vacío de hojuelas de papaya impregnadas con jugo de mora

Vacuum and atmospheric deep-frying were employed to obtain blackberry-based snacks using unripe papaya as matrix. Papaya slices were osmotically impregnated with blackberry juice and fried between 126°C and 154°C at atmospheric pressure and between 110°C and 127°C under vacuum conditions. A response surface methodology (RSM) was used to define which responses (water activity, moisture and oil content, L*, C*, H*, hardness and degree of liking (DOL)) were significantly related to frying parameters (time and temperature). Then a principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to choose which ones related to DOL. PCA demonstrated that hardness and hue were the main drivers of liking for atmospheric frying, while for vacuum frying they were color and oil content. A second RSM was calculated to choose optimal processing conditions. Optimum conditions were 6 min at 117°C in vacuum frying and 6 min at 130°C and 3 min at 150°C in atmospheric pressure.Se obtuvo una hojuela de papaya verde, como matriz, aplicando una fritura por inmersión al vacío y otra a presión atmosférica. La papaya verde rebanada se impregnó osmóticamente con jugo de mora y se frió entre 126-154 °C a presión atmosférica y entre 110-127 °C a condiciones de vacío (24 kPa). Una metodología de superficie de respuesta se usó para definir cuál de las variables respuesta del producto (actividad de agua (Aw), contenido de humedad, contenido de aceite, color L*, C*, H*, dureza and agrado) se relacionaban significativamente con las variables estudiadas de fritura (tiempo y temperatura). Posteriormente un análisis de componentes principales se aplicó a los parámetros significativos para escoger los que se relacionaban con el agrado. La dureza y la tonalidad se relacionaron con agrado de la hojuela frita a presión atmosférica y el color y contenido de aceite para la fritura al vacío. Tomando en cuenta agrado, color, dureza y contenidos de humedad y grasa, una segunda superficie de respuesta se aplicó para escoger las condiciones óptimas de cada proceso, que fueron freír por 6 min a 117 °C al vacío y freír por 6 min a 130 °C y freír 3 min a 150 °C en fritura atmosférica.European Commission/[contract 015279]//EuropaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[Nº 735-A5-521]/UCR/Costa RicaMinistry of Science and Technology of Costa Rica/[grant 146-02-FI]/MICITT/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología de Alimentos (CITA)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Facultad de Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Escuela de Tecnología de Alimento

Relationship of Instant Messaging to the Face-to-Face Communication and Social Relationship of College Students

Instant messaging has become a very popular and common application in everyday life. It is perceived to be useful for interpersonal communication. However, thisapplication may affect the social aspects of individuals. Thus, this studydetermined the relationship of instant messaging to college students’ face-to-facecommunication, particularly in the aspects of kinesics, and their social relationshipwith their peers, classmates, family, relatives and teachers. Sixty seven collegestudents participated in the study through a researcher-made questionnaire. Thedata was analyzed using Pearson’s r, ANOVA, and Mann Whitney U-test. Thefindings of the study are as follows: 1) the respondents use smartphones more thattheir other devices, and that Facebook Messenger is the application they used mostfor communication; 2) the respondents use instant messaging more frequently tocommunicate with their classmates and peers than with their family, relatives, andteachers; and 3) that respondents’ face-to-face communication happens morefrequently with their peers and classmates than with their family, relatives, andteachers. This study also revealed that the more the respondents use instantmessaging, the more their face-to-face communication improved. In the same way,their social relationship also develops as they use instant messaging. Make use ofinstant messaging as a tool to improve the quality of students life is one of the manyimplications of the study

Produção de capim-elefante em vertissolo sob diferentes doses de efluentes de fossa séptica biodigestora.

Objetivou-se com a execução deste trabalho avaliar a produção de capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach cv. Botucatu) em Vertissolo sob diferentes doses de efluentes produzidos em fossa séptica biodigestora instalada em região de águas salobras. O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação na Embrapa Pantanal, situada em Corumbá, Mato Grosso do Sul, entre agosto de 2009 e março de 2010. Foi avaliado o efeito de quatro doses de efluentes e duas épocas de corte sobre as produções de matéria seca de folhas (F), de hastes (H) e total (F+H), a participação dessas frações na massa seca total (F% e H%) e a relação F/H. A fertirrigação realizada com o efluente líquido da fossa séptica biodigestora resultou em maior produção de matéria seca do capim-elefante nas duas épocas avaliadas. Todavia, os resultados indicam que o uso contínuo das duas maiores doses de efluentes resultam em menor desenvolvimento de folhas em relação às hastes, o que é indesejável, pois pode reduzir o valor nutritivo da planta para uso como forrageira.Disponível também em: Cadernos de Agroecologia, V. 5, n.1, 2010

Outpatient minor oral surgery in patients with hemophilia : a case series of 23 patients

Hemophilia is an inherited coagulation disorder characterized by deficiency of the coagulation factor VIII or IX. When the management of hemostasis is inadequate, these patients are at high risk of experiencing intra and postoperative bleedings after tooth extractions. Coagulation factor replacement therapy allows performing most surgical procedures safely, although the factor levels and length of treatment have not been clearly determined. In this study, we present our experience in a retrospective series of 112 ambulatory tooth extractions under local anesthesia in 23 patients with hemophilia using a coagulation factor replacement therapy in combination with tranexamic acid. The results obtained with this protocol were satisfactory and only one episode of mild postoperative bleeding occurred after seven days in a patient who did not have good treatment compliance

The effects of cyclosporin a and heteropterys tomentosa on the rat liver

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a widely employed immunosuppressive drug that is associated with several side effects, among then hepatotoxicity. Heteropterys tomentosa is a Brazilian plant efficient in reducing damage caused by CsA on the rat testis and prostate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CsA and H. tomentosa (administered isolated or simultaneously) on the liver of Wistar rats. The animals were treated daily with water (control), CsA (15mg/kg/day), H. tomentosa infusion or CsA+H. tomentosa, for 21 or 56 days. The treatments did not alter liver morphology or cause fibrosis. H. tomentosa administered for 21 days increased the number of hepatocyte nuclei and Kupffer cell volumetric proportion. After 56 days of treatment, H. tomentosa administration did not alter the parameters analyzed. Biochemical plasma dosages and liver stereology showed impairment caused by CsA-treatment after 21 days; these results were not observed after 56 days of treatment. The simultaneous treatment with CsA and H. tomentosa for 21 or 56 days did not alleviate nor accentuate CsA hepatic effects. The present study showed that the 21 days treatment with CsA caused more alteration to the liver than the 56 days treatment; this could be related to hepatic recovery after the long term treatment871369379FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP2011/01160-

The Effects Of Cyclosporin A And Heteropterys Tomentosa On The Rat Liver.

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a widely employed immunosuppressive drug that is associated with several side effects, among then hepatotoxicity. Heteropterys tomentosa is a Brazilian plant efficient in reducing damage caused by CsA on the rat testis and prostate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of CsA and H. tomentosa (administered isolated or simultaneously) on the liver of Wistar rats. The animals were treated daily with water (control), CsA (15mg/kg/day), H. tomentosa infusion or CsA+H. tomentosa, for 21 or 56 days. The treatments did not alter liver morphology or cause fibrosis. H. tomentosa administered for 21 days increased the number of hepatocyte nuclei and Kupffer cell volumetric proportion. After 56 days of treatment, H. tomentosa administration did not alter the parameters analyzed. Biochemical plasma dosages and liver stereology showed impairment caused by CsA-treatment after 21 days; these results were not observed after 56 days of treatment. The simultaneous treatment with CsA and H. tomentosa for 21 or 56 days did not alleviate nor accentuate CsA hepatic effects. The present study showed that the 21 days treatment with CsA caused more alteration to the liver than the 56 days treatment; this could be related to hepatic recovery after the long term treatment.87369-7

Isolated colostomy site recurrence in rectal cancer-two cases with review of literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colostomy site carcinomas are rare with only eight cases reported in the world literature. Various etiological factors like adenoma-cancer sequence, bile acids, recurrent and persistent physical damage at the colostomy site by faecal matter due to associated stomal stenosis have been considered responsible. Two such cases are being reported and in both cases there was no evidence of any local recurrence in the pelvis or liver and distant metastasis. Both patients had received adjuvant chemotherapy following surgery.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>First case was a 30-year-old male that had reported with large bowel obstruction due to an obstructing ulcero-proliferative growth (poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma) at the colostomy site after abdomino-perineal resection, performed for low rectal cancer six years previously. Wide local excision with microscopically free margins was performed with a satisfactory outcome. Four years later he presented with massive malignant ascites, cachexia and multiple liver metastasis and succumbed to his disease.</p> <p>Second case was a 47-year-old male that presented with acute large bowel obstruction due to an annular growth (well differentiated adenocarcinoma) in the upper rectum. He was managed by Hartmann's operation and the sigmoid colostomy was closed six months later. Five years following closure of colostomy, he presented with two parietal masses at the previous colostomy site scar, which, on fine needle aspiration cytology were found to be well-differentiated adenocarcinomas of colorectal type. Surgery in the form of wide local resection with free margins was performed. He presented again after five years with recurrence along the previous surgery scar and an incisional hernia and was managed by wide local excision along with hernioplasty. Follow-up of nine years following first surgery is satisfactory.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Colostomy site/scar recurrence of rectal carcinoma is rare and could be due to various etiological factors, although the exact causative mechanism is not known. Surgery with microscopically free margins is recommended in the absence of metastatic disease. Stenosis of the stoma is considered as one of the most important contributory factors and should be followed carefully.</p

IDOL regulates systemic energy balance through control of neuronal VLDLR expression.

Liver X receptors limit cellular lipid uptake by stimulating the transcription of Inducible Degrader of the LDL Receptor (IDOL), an E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets lipoprotein receptors for degradation. The function of IDOL in systemic metabolism is incompletely understood. Here we show that loss of IDOL in mice protects against the development of diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction by altering food intake and thermogenesis. Unexpectedly, analysis of tissue-specific knockout mice revealed that IDOL affects energy balance, not through its actions in peripheral metabolic tissues (liver, adipose, endothelium, intestine, skeletal muscle), but by controlling lipoprotein receptor abundance in neurons. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the hypothalamus demonstrated that IDOL deletion altered gene expression linked to control of metabolism. Finally, we identify VLDLR rather than LDLR as the primary mediator of IDOL effects on energy balance. These studies identify a role for the neuronal IDOL-VLDLR pathway in metabolic homeostasis and diet-induced obesity

Modeling islet enhancers using deep learning identifies candidate causal variants at loci associated with T2D and glycemic traits.

Genetic association studies have identified hundreds of independent signals associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and related traits. Despite these successes, the identification of specific causal variants underlying a genetic association signal remains challenging. In this study, we describe a deep learning (DL) method to analyze the impact of sequence variants on enhancers. Focusing on pancreatic islets, a T2D relevant tissue, we show that our model learns islet-specific transcription factor (TF) regulatory patterns and can be used to prioritize candidate causal variants. At 101 genetic signals associated with T2D and related glycemic traits where multiple variants occur in linkage disequilibrium, our method nominates a single causal variant for each association signal, including three variants previously shown to alter reporter activity in islet-relevant cell types. For another signal associated with blood glucose levels, we biochemically test all candidate causal variants from statistical fine-mapping using a pancreatic islet beta cell line and show biochemical evidence of allelic effects on TF binding for the model-prioritized variant. To aid in future research, we publicly distribute our model and islet enhancer perturbation scores across ~67 million genetic variants. We anticipate that DL methods like the one presented in this study will enhance the prioritization of candidate causal variants for functional studies