Optimization of insect cell based protein production processes - online monitoring, expression systems, scale-up

Due to the increasing use of insect cell based expression systems in research and industrial recombinant protein production, the development of efficient and reproducible production processes remains a challenging task. In this context, the application of online monitoring techniques is intended to ensure high and reproducible product qualities already during the early phases of process development. In the following chapter, the most common transient and stable insect cell based expression systems are briefly introduced. Novel applications of insect cell based expression systems for the production of insect derived antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs) are discussed using the example of G. mellonella derived gloverin. Suitable in situ sensor techniques for insect cell culture monitoring in disposable and common bioreactor systems are outlined with respect to optical and capacitive sensor concepts. Since scale-up of production processes is one of the most critical steps in process development, a conclusive overview is given about scale up aspects for industrial insect cell culture processes

Avaliação neurológica de pacientes adultos com linfoma não-Hodgkin: estudo prospectivo Neurologic evaluation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in adult patients: a prospective study

Estudo prospectivo incluindo 67 pacientes adultos com linfoma não-Hodgkin, considerados segundo o "Working Formulation". A população foi estudada como um todo, quer apresentasse ou não anticorpos anti-HIV no soro. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a avaliação neurológica e o exame do líquido cefalorraqueano (LCR) foi realizado em 63 deles. Os achados neurológicos e do exame do LCR foram correlacionados. Mostraram-se significativas as associações: dor tóraco-lombar localizada e alterações do LCR (presença de células neoplásicas, aumento da concentração proteica e/ou aumento do teor de globulinas gama); anormalidade da força muscular nos membros inferiores e alterações do LCR nos pacientes HIV soro-negativos. Houve correlação entre o aparecimento de sinais de comprometimento dos nervos cranianos III, IV e VI e a detecção de células neoplásicas no LCR.<br>This prospective study included 67 adult patients with low, intermediate or high malignancy degrees of non-Hodgkin' s lymphomas according to the Working Formulation. Patients with or without anti-HIV antibodies in the serum were considered. All patients were submitted to neurologic evaluation, and 63 of them to examination of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Patients presenting neurologic signs and symptoms were 42 (62.7%). Neurologic findings and CSF changes were correlated. The association of localized thoraco-lumbar pain and CSF changes (presence of neoplastic cells, increased protein concentration and/or increased gamma globulin content) was statistically significant, as the association of abnormal muscle strength in the lower limbs and CSF changes in patients without HIV antibodies in the serum. Cranial nerve dysfunction (III, IV and VI cranial nerves) correlated with the finding of neoplastic cells in the cerebrospinal fluid

The cosmopolitan moss Bryum argenteum in Antarctica: Recent colonisation or in situ survival?

Since the onset of glaciation following the Oligocene (30–28 Ma), the prevalence of increasingly cold conditions has shaped the evolution of the Antarctic biota. Two hypotheses, postglacial recruitment from extra-regional locations and in situ persistence, have been proposed to explain the biogeography of the contemporary species-poor terrestrial Antarctic biota. Bryophytes, which form a major group of the Antarctic flora, exhibit a strong, inherent ability to survive cold conditions but also have high long-distance dispersal capacities, which are compatible with both hypotheses. Here, we test these hypotheses by means of population genetic and phylogeographic analyses of the cosmopolitan moss Bryum argenteum. We find evidence for at least three independent colonisation events of the species in Antarctica. Ancestral area reconstruction coupled with molecular dating suggests colonisation times of the different Antarctic clades ranging from four million years for the oldest lineage to half a million years for the youngest lineage. This suggests multiple colonisation events of Antarctica by this species during several glacial cycles within the Pleistocene, Pliocene and possibly late Miocene. This is the first study to demonstrate in situ persistence of bryophytes in Antarctica throughout previous glaciations

Comparação entre indivíduos hemiparéticos com e sem histórico de quedas com base nos componentes da Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde Comparison between post-stroke hemiparetic subjects with and without history of falls on the basis of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar hemiparéticos com e sem histórico de quedas nos últimos seis meses (caidores e não-caidores) segundo os componentes da Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde. Dezesseis hemiparéticos não-caidores (62,3±16,6 anos), com tempo de acidente vascular encefálico (AVE) de 38,0±48,3 meses, e 16 caidores (61,0±17,0 anos), tempo de AVE de 48,0±50,7 meses, de ambos os sexos, comunitários e deambuladores, foram avaliados quanto a funções e estruturas do corpo (torque do músculo quadríceps do lado parético e escala de depressão geriátrica), atividade - velocidade de marcha (VM) natural e máxima, teste de levantar e caminhar cronometrado (timed up & go) e escala de equilíbrio de Berg - e participação (pelo perfil de saúde de Nottingham e escala de qualidade de vida específica para AVE). Os dados foram tratados estatisticamente, com nível de significância &#945;<0,05. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos quanto à idade, sexo e tempo de AVE (0,56<p<0,82), nem quanto às demais caracteristicas medidas (torque, depressão, VM, equilíbrio e qualidade de vida (0,12<p<0,60). Portanto, hemiparéticos caidores apresentaram-se semelhantes aos não-caidores nos domínios funções e estruturas do corpo, atividades e participação. Fatores contextuais ambientais, não analisados, podem estar mais relacionados a episódio(s) de queda nesses indivíduos.<br>The aim of this study was to compare post-stroke hemiparetic subjects with and without history of falls over the last six months by using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) components. Sixteen community-dwelling hemiparetic subjects without history of falls (62.3±16.6 years, time since stroke 38±48.3 months), and 16 with history of fall(s) (60.9±17 years, time since stroke 47.9±50.8 months) of both sexes and able to walk, with or without assistive devices, were assessed as to ICF components body functions and structures (torque of the paretic limb quadriceps muscle and depression, by the geriatric depression scale), activities (natural and maximal gait speed, timed up-and-go test and Berg balance scale), and participation (by the Nottingham health profile and the stroke-specific quality of life scale). Groups were statistically compared at significance level &#945;<0.05. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups as to age, gender or time since stroke (0.56<p<0.82), neither as to all measured features (torque, depression, gait speed, balance, health-related quality of life (0.12<p<0.60). Therefore, stroke subjects with history of falls were similar to those without history of falls in all measures related to the ICF, suggesting that non-analysed environmental factors might be more related to falls of hemiparetic post-stroke subjects

Hegel, the Trinity, and the ‘I’

The main goal of this paper is to argue the relevance of Hegel’s notion of the Trinity with respect to two aspects of Hegel’s idealism: the overcoming of subjectivism and his conception of the ‘I’. I contend that these two aspects are interconnected and that the Trinity is important to Hegel’s strategy for addressing these questions. I first address the problem of subjectivism by considering Hegel’s thought against the background of modern philosophy. I argue that the recognitive structure of Hegel’s idealism led him to give the Trinity a decisive role in his philosophical account. Next, I discuss the Trinity by analysing the three divine persons. This analysis paves the way for the conclusion, where I argue that the Trinity represents a model for re-thinking the ‘I’ in a way that overcomes a ‘naïve realist’ and a ‘subjective’ account of the self. I suggest that Hegel’s absolute idealism can be conceived as an approach to the ‘I’ that considers the role of acts of mutual recognition for the genesis of self-conscious thought, and that the Trinity is the Darstellung of the relational and recognitive structure of the ‘I’