Dynamical reentrance and geometry imposed quantization effects in Nb-AlOx-Nb Josephson junction arrays

In this paper, we report on different phenomena related to the magnetic properties of artificially prepared highly ordered (periodic) two-dimensional Josephson junction arrays (2D-JJA) of both shunted and unshunted Nb-AlOx-Nb tunnel junctions. By employing mutual-inductance measurements and using a high-sensitive bridge, we have thoroughly investigated (both experimentally and theoretically) the temperature and magnetic field dependence of complex AC susceptibility of 2D-JJA. We also demonstrate the use of the scanning SQUID microscope for imaging the local flux distribution within our unshunted arrays

Criação de espaços inteligentes para a disponibilização de informação e serviços em Turismo Religioso

A partir do século XVI desenrolaram-se, por toda a Europa, uma série de acontecimentos únicos que desembocaram, cada qual a seu tempo, nos horizontes nossos contemporâneos na relação da igreja com a sociedade. Entre os vários acontecimentos destaca-se a política de encomendas, construção e/ou reconstrução dos monumentos mensagem (Igrejas, Mosteiros, Conventos, Capelas e Santuários), fomentados pelo Concílio de Trento (1545- 1563), dando origem a obras de incontornável interesse com apetência para deslocações religiosas e/ou de carácter cultural (Guimont 1997; Vukoni ´c 1996), representando, no caso português, cerca de 75% de todo o património cultural inventariado. Na presença de tanto espólio, as dioceses têm feito, nos últimos anos, grandes investimentos no levantamento e classificação deste património, atribuindo-lhe o respetivo valor intrínseco, patrimonial e artístico, despertando a curiosidade da indústria do turismo; a título de exemplo, o Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Fátima recebe anualmente cerca de quatro milhões de visitantes (Mendes 2012), corroborando as tendências das estatísticas oficiais da Organização Mundial de Turismo que indicam que cerca de 300 a 330 milhões de peregrinos visitam anualmente os locais religiosos mais importantes do mundo. Estes números revestem-se de grande significado, constituindo uma sólida base de trabalho, designadamente no que toca à introdução de novos formatos de inovação tecnológica no âmbito da informação turística não obstante da resistência continuada à sua absorção. Independentemente do instrumento em si, a sua finalidade, descritiva e explicativa, deverá estar em conformidade com as dimensões mais relevantes deste património que é “sacro por natureza, pela origem e pela finalidade” (Azevedo 1999: 5), visando informar os públicos.DLAC/CE

P-cadherin expression in glandular lesions of the uterine cervix detected by liquid-based cytology

Objective: To study P-cadherin aberrant expression as a possible marker for cervical adenocarcinomas in cytological samples. Methods: We studied P-cadherin immunoexpression in liquid-based cervical cytology samples of biopsy-proven cervical lesions. Results: We found a statistically significant correlation between P-cadherin expression and a cytological diagnosis of malignancy, either glandular or squamous (P < 0.0001). Twenty-two of 33 malignant cases showed P-cadherin membrane staining. None of the 30 benign cases tested showed membrane staining, but three of them displayed an aberrant nuclear P-cadherin expression. Conclusions: We concluded that P-cadherin can be used to discriminate between malignant and benign cervical cytological specimens, but not to discriminate glandular from squamous lesions

Investigation of human papillomavirus by hybrid capture II in cervical carcinomas including 113 adenocarcinomas and related lesions

Hybrid capture is an easy and highly sensitive technique for screening population due to its capacity to detect malignant and premalignant lesions of the cervix. To evaluate its ensitivity, we investigated the frequency of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its correlation with glandular malignant lesions, analyzing a total of 113 cases of adenocarcinomas and related lesions. High-risk HPV was investigated using a hybrid capture II (HC2) assay. Samples were collected in two different ways: either brushed directly from surgical specimens before fixation or collected from the patients. We also investigated the frequency of HPV in squamous malignant lesions, 65 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and 66 in situ squamous cell carcinomas (ISSCC), to compare the occurrence of HPV for these lesions. The 113 glandular lesions comprised 62 invasive adenocarcinomas (IAC), 8 in situ adenocarcinomas (ISAC), 26 IAC plus SCC, and 17 adenosquamous cells carcinomas (ASCC). The HPV-positive reactions were as follows: 51 (82.2%) in IAC, 8 (100%) in ISAC, 25 (96.1%) in IAC plus SCC, and 14 (82.3%) in ASCC. HC2-positive results in the squamous malignant lesions were as follows: 58 of 63 (89.0%) for SCC and 94 of 103 (91.2%) for ISSCC. High-risk HPV infection was quite similar for glandular and pure squamous invasive malignant lesions, 82.2% and 89.0%, respectively, indicating that high-risk HPV is also highly prevalent in glandular lesions. Although hybrid capture proved to be an excellent adjunctive technique, we do not believe its results merit replacing the Pap smear as a screening tool

Low intensity laser therapy accelerates muscle regeneration in aged rats

Background: Elderly people suffer from skeletal muscle disorders that undermine their daily activity and quality of life; some of these problems can be listed as but not limited to: sarcopenia, changes in central and peripheral nervous system, blood hypoperfusion, regenerative changes contributing to atrophy, and muscle weakness. Determination, proliferation and differentiation of satellite cells in the regenerative process are regulated by specific transcription factors, known as myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). In the elderly, the activation of MRFs is inefficient which hampers the regenerative process. Recent studies found that low intensity laser therapy (LILT) has a stimulatory effect in the muscle regeneration process. However, the effects of this therapy when associated with aging are still unknown. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LILT (λ=830 nm) on the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle of aged rats. Subjects and methods: The total of 56 male Wistar rats formed two population sets: old and young, with 28 animals in each set. Each of these sets were randomly divided into four groups of young rats (3 months of age) with n=7 per group and four groups of aged rats (10 months of age) with n=7 per group. These groups were submitted to cryoinjury + laser irradiation, cryoinjury only, laser irradiation only and the control group (no cryoinjury/no laser irradiation). The laser treatment was performed for 5 consecutive days. The first laser application was done 24 h after the injury (on day 2) and on the seventh day, the TA muscle was dissected and removed under anesthesia. After this the animals were euthanized. Histological analyses with toluidine blue as well as hematoxylin-eosin staining (for counting the blood capillaries) were performed for the lesion areas. In addition, MyoD and VEGF mRNA was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The results showed significant elevation (p<0.05) in MyoD and VEGF genes expression levels. Moreover, capillary blood count was more prominent in elderly rats in laser irradiated groups when compared to young animals. Conclusion: In conclusion, LILT increased the maturation of satellite cells into myoblasts and myotubes, enhancing the regenerative process of aged rats irradiated with laser.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (grant RO1AI050875