Presencia de proteína amiloide en la almeja amarilla Amarilladesma mactroides (Reeve, 1854), una especie emergente para la acuicultura

Amyloid proteins are proteic groups that comprise a superfamily of apolipoproteins, highly conserved in vertebrates, being involved in the modulation of numerous immune responses during infections, injuries or stress. In this study, the yellow clam Amarilladesma mactroides was used as an invertebrate model in the search for amyloid protein deposits in their tissues. Adult specimens of this bivalve were collected from the beach and transported to the Laboratory of Immunology and Pathology of Aquatic Organisms - LIPOA at the Federal University of Rio Grande – FURG. Their tissues were sectioned and stained either with Hematoxylin and Eosin, and examined using light microscopy, or with Congo Red and analyzed under polarized light microscopy. Congo Red stain revealed the presence of amyloid proteins in the foot and digestive glands of the yellow clam. The techniques used proved to be appropriate for this species and evidenced a complementary role of amyloid proteins in the immune response, indicating that they are useful as a marker for the innate immune system and health of invertebrates. The ability to assess the immunological condition can provide information related to the cultivation of emerging species for aquaculture.Las proteínas amiloides son grupos proteicos que comprenden una superfamilia de apolipoproteínas altamente conservadas en vertebrados, estando implicadas en la modulación de numerosas respuestas inmunes durante infecciones, lesiones o estrés. En este estudio, la almeja amarilla Amarilladesma mactroides se utilizó como modelo para invertebrados y demostrar depósitos de proteína amiloide en sus tejidos. Se recolectaron de la playa ejemplares adultos de este bivalvo y se transportaron al Laboratorio de Inmunología y Patología de Organismos Acuáticos (LIPOA) de la Universidad Federal de Rio Grande (FURG). Sus tejidos se procesaron para su estudio histológico y se tiñeron con hematoxilina y eosina, y Rojo Congo. Las secciones histológicas teñidas con hematoxilina y eosina se examinaron con microscopía óptica clásica. Además, las secciones fueron teñidas con Rojo Congo y se analizaron con microscopía de luz polarizada. La tinción con Rojo Congo reveló la presencia de proteínas amiloides en el pie muscular y en las glándulas digestivas de la almeja amarilla. Las técnicas utilizadas demostraron ser adecuadas para la determinación de proteína amiloide en esta especie y evidenciaron un papel complementario de las proteínas amiloides en la respuesta inmune, indicando que pueden servir como marcador del sistema inmunológico innato y la salud de los invertebrados. La capacidad de evaluar la condición inmunológica puede proporcionar información relacionada con el cultivo de especies emergentes para la acuicultura

The European project SUREBridge – A case study in Tuscany

The European project SUREBridge (Sustainable Refurbishment of Existing Bridges) is develop-ing a new concept for the refurbishment of road bridges. The proposed technique takes ad-vantage of the peculiarities of fibre-reinforced materials to perform upgrading, repair, and strengthening in an effective and efficient way in terms of resource consumption, waste produc-tion, construction time, and traffic disruption. The technique applies to bridges with reinforced concrete slab and longitudinal girders made of either reinforced concrete or steel. Longitudinal girders are strengthened by bonding carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) laminates to their bottom surfaces. Higher structural perfor-mances are achieved by pre-stressing the CFRP laminates. The existing concrete slab is not demolished, with savings in both construction time and waste production. Instead, tailor-made glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) panels are connected to the deck to increase its overall bending strength. Furthermore, GFRP panels enable the widening of the road section, if neces-sary to upgrade the bridge to increased traffic demand. This paper presents the application of the SUREBridge technique to a real bridge located in San Miniato, Tuscany, Italy. The designed intervention includes both the widening of the road section and the structural strengthening of the deck to comply with current traffic loads

An innovative tool for intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy simulation and planning: description and initial evaluation by radiation oncologists

The lack of specific treatment planning tools limits the spread of Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy. An innovative simulation and planning tool is presented. Applicator positioning, isodose curves, and doseevolume histograms can be estimated for previously segmented regions to treat/protect. Evaluation by three radiation oncologists on 15 patients showed high parameter agreement in nine cases, demonstrating the possibilities in cases involving different anatomical locations, and identifying the importance of specialized surgical input in the preplanning process.Supported by grants PI08/90473, IPT 300000 2010 3, ARTEMIS S2009/DPI 1802(CAM), TEC2010 21619 C04 01, PI09/90568, ERD Funds.Publicad

Feasibility assessment of the interactive use of a Monte Carlo algorithm in treatment planning for intraoperative electron radiation therapy

This work analysed the feasibility of using a fast, customized Monte Carlo (MC) method to perform accurate computation of dose distributions during pre- and intraplanning of intraoperative electron radiation therapy (IOERT) procedures. The MC method that was implemented, which has been integrated into a specific innovative simulation and planning tool, is able to simulate the fate of thousands of particles per second, and it was the aim of this work to determine the level of interactivity that could be achieved. The planning workflow enabled calibration of the imaging and treatment equipment, as well as manipulation of the surgical frame and insertion of the protection shields around the organs at risk and other beam modifiers. In this way, the multidisciplinary team involved in IOERT has all the tools necessary to perform complex MC dosage simulations adapted to their equipment in an efficient and transparent way. To assess the accuracy and reliability of this MC technique, dose distributions for a monoenergetic source were compared with those obtained using a general-purpose software package used widely in medical physics applications. Once accuracy of the underlying simulator was confirmed, a clinical accelerator was modelled and experimental measurements in water were conducted. A comparison was made with the output from the simulator to identify the conditions under which accurate dose estimations could be obtained in less than 3 min, which is the threshold imposed to allow for interactive use of the tool in treatment planning. Finally, a clinically relevant scenario, namely early-stage breast cancer treatment, was simulated with pre- and intraoperative volumes to verify that it was feasible to use the MC tool intraoperatively and to adjust dose delivery based on the simulation output, without compromising accuracy. The workflow provided a satisfactory model of the treatment head and the imaging system, enabling proper configuration of the treatment planning system and providing good accuracy in the dosage simulation

Effects of chronic food stress on morphometry and expression of nuclear organizing regions in the adult rats hippocampus Chronic food stress on morphometry and expression of agnor in the rats hippocampus / Efeitos do estresse alimentar crônico na morfometria e expressão das regiões de organização nuclear nos ratos adultos hipocampo Testemunho crônico de alimentação sobre morfometria e expressão do agnor no hippocampus das taxas

The aim of this study was to verify the immediate and late effects of chronic food stress on the expression of Nuclear Organizing Regions (NORs) in hippocampal neurons. Twenty Wistar rats were separated into two groups: test (n = 10) and control (n = 10). Food stress started from the 60th day of life and lasted for a month. After this time the animals were anesthetized, euthanized and had their hippocampus dissected. The obtained hippocampus were histologically processed, stained by the HE technique for morphological description and by the AgNOR technique for NOR analysis. From each image the total number of neurons, the number of neurons with NOR in Dispersion (NND), the total number of NORs (NNOR), and then performed a ratio of NNOR by the total number of neurons to obtain the number Of NOR by neuron (NNN). Of the analyzed variants, the number of neurons was higher (p <0.001) in the stressed group (41.98 ± 17), when compared with the control group (33.57 ± 14). In addition, NND was also higher in the stressed group (4.523 ± 4.04) than the control group (1.4 ± 2.20) with p <0.001. Thus, we have that chronic food stress increases the number of granular neurons in the hippocampus in rats as well as increases the number of NOR in dispersion. 

IAA : Información y actualidad astronómica (20)

Sumario : ¿Cómo se forma un Sol?.-- El observatorio virtual.-DECONSTRUCCIÓN Y otros ENSAYOS Estrellas peculiares.-- ACTUALIDAD.-- ENTRE BASTIDORES.-- CIENCIA: PILARES E INCERTIDUMBRES.-- HISTORIAS DE ASTRONOMÍA. Pero, ¿quién inventó el telescopio?.-- ACTIVIDADES IAA.Esta revista se publica con la ayuda de la Accion Complementaria CCT003-05-00325 del Programa Nacional de Fomento de la Cultura Cientifica y Tecnologica.N

Physical Properties of Cucurbita Ficifolia Seed and Functional Properties of Whole and Defatted Meal

The aim of this research was to describe some physical properties of Cucurbita ficifolia seeds and evaluate the effect of defatting on C. ficifolia seed meal functional properties. Geometric diameter was 8.05 mm, arithmetic diameter was 10.61 mm, sphericity was 45.36%, aspect ratio was 64.29%, surface area was 204.08 mm2, volume was 187.44 mm3, true density was 0.51 Kg/m3, porosity was 31.81% and hardness was 6.23 N. Defatted C. ficifolia seed meal presented a content of protein (70.36 g/100 g) and carbohydrates (13.18 g/100 g). The defatted meal had higher water absorption capacity (2.94 g H2O/g sample), water solubility capacity (34.08 %), oil absorption capacity (2.97 g oil /g sample), emulsifying capacity (24.93%), foaming capacity (30.33%) and better foam stability (from 20 to 60 min) than the whole meal. The high protein content of defatted seed meal, suggests its use as a natural alternative ingredient in numerous food industry applications