Geomorphological mapping of granite caves

[Abstract] The aim is to develop a mapping which represents the relief and the form (morphology) of granite caves and associated superficial structures

Why we must tie satellite positioning to tide gauge data

Accurate measurements of changes in sea and land levels with location and time require making precise, repeated geodetic ties between tide gauges and satellite positioning system equipment

The role of boundary conditions on the dynamics of green coffee beans in a rotated dryer

[EN] Coffee drying and roasting are usually performed in rotated dryers; therefore, the study of particle dynamics in this equipment is of great relevance to improve their efficiency and hence the quality of the final product. Thus, this work aimed to investigate experimentally and numerically the dynamics of coffee beans in a rotary dryer. The Euler-Euler model was employed to reproduce the particle velocity profile in the rolling regime under different boundary conditions. The results shown that the lower specularity coefficient (0.01), which characterizes the smooth wall and free slip condition, reproduced the bed behavior that most resembled the experimental one. On the other hand, the other coefficients (0.1 and 1.0) showed an increasing deformation in the bed surface, different from the observed experimental behavior. It was also verified that, as the filling degree increases, the bed surface deformation becomes more pronounced.The authors would like to thank FAPEMIG, CNPq and CAPES for the financial resources assigned to carry out this work.Machado, M.; Resende, I.; Lima, R.; Brandão, R.; Pivello, M.; Nascimento, S.; Duarte, C.... (2018). The role of boundary conditions on the dynamics of green coffee beans in a rotated dryer. En IDS 2018. 21st International Drying Symposium Proceedings. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 331-338. https://doi.org/10.4995/IDS2018.2018.7455OCS33133

Suspected Brazilian Purpuric Fever, Brazilian Amazon Region

Ministry of Health. Brasília. DF, Brazil.Ministry of Health. Brasília. DF, Brazil.Municipal Secretary of Health. Anajás, PA, Brazil.Secretary of Health of Pará State. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Secretary of Health of São Paulo State. Instituto Adolfo Lutz. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Secretary of Health of São Paulo State. Instituto Adolfo Lutz. São Paulo, SP, Brazil.Ministry of Health. Brasília, DF, Brazil.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Atlanta, GA, USA

Immediate effects of dasatinib on the migration and redistribution of naïve and memory lymphocytes associated with lymphocytosis in chronic myeloid leukemia patients

Introduction: Dasatinib is a dual SRC/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) that is known to have unique immunomodulatory effects. In particular, dasatinib intake typically causes lymphocytosis, which has been linked to better clinical response. Since the underlying mechanisms are unknown and SRC family kinases are involved in many cell motility processes, we hypothesized that the movement and migration of lymphocytes is modulated by dasatinib. Patients, Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood samples from CML patients treated with second-line dasatinib were collected before and 2 h after the first dasatinib intake, and follow-up samples from the same patients 3 and 6 months after the start of therapy. The migratory capacity and phenotype of lymphocytes and differential blood counts before and after drug intake were compared for all study time-points. Results: We report here for the first time that dasatinib intake is associated with inhibition of peripheral blood T-cell migration toward the homeostatic chemokines CCL19 and CCL21, which control the trafficking toward secondary lymphoid organs, mainly the lymph nodes. Accordingly, the proportion of lymphocytes in blood expressing CCR7, the chemokine receptor for both CCL19 and CCL21, decreased after the intake including both naïve CD45RA+ and central memory CD45RO+ T-cells. Similarly, naïve B-cells diminished with dasatinib. Finally, such changes in the migratory patterns did not occur in those patients whose lymphocyte counts remained unchanged after taking the drug. Discussion: We, therefore, conclude that lymphocytosis induced by dasatinib reflects a pronounced redistribution of naïve and memory populations of all lymphocyte subsets including CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells and B-cells

High prognostic value of measurable residual disease detection by flow cytometry in chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with front-line fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab, followed by three years of rituximab maintenance

It has been postulated that monitoring measurable residual disease (MRD) could be used as a surrogate marker of progression-free survival (PFS) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients after treatment with immunochemotherapy regimens. In this study, we analyzed the outcome of 84 patients at 3 years of follow-up after first-line treatment with fludarabine, cyclophosphamide and rituximab (FCR) induction followed by 36 months of rituximab maintenance thearpy. MRD was assessed by a quantitative four-color flow cytometry panel with a sensitivity level of 10-4. Eighty out of 84 evaluable patients (95.2%) achieved at least a partial response or better at the end of induction. After clinical evaluation, 74 patients went into rituximab maintenance and the primary endpoint was assessed in the final analysis at 3 years of follow-up. Bone marrow (BM) MRD analysis was performed after the last planned induction course and every 6 months in cases with detectable residual disease during the 36 months of maintenance therapy. Thirty-seven patients (44%) did not have detectable residual disease in the BM prior to maintenance therapy. Interestingly, 29 patients with detectable residual disease in the BM after induction no longer had detectable disease in the BM following maintenance therapy. After a median followup of 6.30 years, the median overall survival (OS) and PFS had not been reached in patients with either undetectable or detectable residual disease in the BM, who had achieved a complete response at the time of starting maintenance therapy. Interestingly, univariate analysis showed that after rituximab maintenance OS was not affected by IGHV status (mutated vs. unmutated OS: 85.7% alive at 7.2 years vs. 79.6% alive at 7.3 years, respectively). As per protocol, 15 patients (17.8%), who achieved a complete response and undetectable peripheral blood and BM residual disease after four courses of induction, were allowed to stop fludarabine and cyclophosphamide and complete two additional courses of rituximab and continue with maintenance therapy for 18 cycles. Surprisingly, the outcome in this population was similar to that observed in patients who received the full six cycles of the induction regimen. These data show that, compared to historic controls, patients treated with FCR followed by rituximab maintenance have high-quality responses with fewer relapses and improved OS. The tolerability of this regime is favorable. Furthermore, attaining an early undetectable residual disease status could shorten the duration of chemoimmunotherapy, reducing toxicities and preventing long-term side effects. The analysis of BM MRD after fludarabine-based induction could be a powerful predictor of post-maintenance outcomes in patients with CLL undergoing rituximab maintenance and could be a valuable tool to identify patients at high risk of relapse, influencing further treatment strategies