3,381 research outputs found
Improvement of a photoautotrophic chassis robustness for synthetic biology applications
Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic microorganisms with great potential for the biotechnological industry due to their low nutrient requirements, photosynthetic capacities and metabolic plasticity. In biotechnology, the energy sector is one of the main targets for their utilization, especially to produce the so called third generation biofuels, which are regarded as one of the best replacements for petroleum-based fuels. Although, several issues could be solved, others arise from the use of cyanobacteria, namely the need for high amounts of freshwater and contamination/predation by other microorganisms that affect cultivation efficiencies. The cultivation of cyanobacteria in seawater could solve this issue, since it has a very stable and rich chemical composition. Among cyanobacteria, the model microorganism Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is one of the most studied with its genome fully sequenced and genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic data available to better predict its phenotypic behaviors/characteristics. Despite suitable for genetic engineering and implementation as a microbial cell factory, Synechocystis’ growth rate is negatively affected by increasing salinity levels. Therefore, it is important to improve. To achieve this, several strategies involving the constitutive overexpression of the native genes encoding the proteins involved in the production of the compatible solute glucosylglycerol were implemented, following synthetic biology principles. A preliminary transcription analysis of selected mutants revealed that the assembled synthetic devices are functional at the transcriptional level. However, under different salinities, the mutants did not show improved robustness to salinity in terms of growth, compared with the wild-type. Nevertheless, some mutants carrying synthetic devices appear to have a better physiological response under seawater’s NaCl concentration than in 0% (w/v) NaCl
Analysis of the influence of the podalic support in face radiographies of the knees in load
Introdução – A articulação do joelho Ă© das mais complexas do corpo humano e das mais afetadas pela osteoartrose uma vez que sustenta a maior parte do peso corporal. As alterações do alinhamento dos seus componentes podem conduzir ao desequilĂbrio biomecânico e promover a redução do espaço articular. Apesar de outras modalidades de imagem serem utilizadas, neste contexto a radiologia convencional constitui, ainda, um instrumento indispensável na avaliação imagiolĂłgica do joelho. Contudo, nĂŁo Ă© consensual qual o protocolo mais adequado para a sua avaliação. Objetivos – O objetivo principal deste estudo centrou-se na análise da influĂŞncia do apoio podálico, bi ou mono, na imagem radiográfica resultante da incidĂŞncia de face do joelho em carga. Material e mĂ©todos – Realizou-se um estudo institucional, observacional, transversal e retrospetivo, incidindo sobre indivĂduos, adultos, submetidos a um exame radiográfico de face dos joelhos em carga, com apoio bipodálico e monopodálico no mesmo episĂłdio de exame. Foram aplicadas tĂ©cnicas de medição do espaço articular e do ângulo femorotibial em todas as imagens recolhidas e comparadas as medições entre as imagens com apoio monopodálico e bipodálico. Resultados – A amostra foi composta por 30 indivĂduos (63,3% do gĂ©nero feminino) com uma mĂ©dia de idades de 60,9 anos (±10,4 anos). A partir desta amostra foram constituĂdos dois grupos, um composto pelos joelhos direitos (n=21) e o outro pelos joelhos esquerdos (n=27). O espaço articular do compartimento medial apresentou-se como o mais diminuĂdo em ambos os grupos. Comparando as mĂ©dias das medições do espaço articular nas imagens adquiridas com apoio monopodálico e bipodálico observaram-se diferenças com significância estatĂstica quer no joelho direito (p<0,001) quer no esquerdo (p<0,001). Observaram-se ainda diferenças na amplitude do ângulo femorotibial entre as imagens com apoio mono e bipodálico. ConclusĂŁo – Os resultados obtidos apontam para que a incidĂŞncia de face em carga do joelho realizada com apoio monopodálico promove uma redução do espaço articular do compartimento afetado e, consequentemente, o aumento do espaço articular do compartimento contralateral.ABSTRACT: Introduction – The knee joint is one of the most complex of the human body and most affected by osteoarthritis since it sustains most of the body weight. The modifications of the alignment of its components can lead to biomechanical imbalance and promote the joint space reduction. Although other imaging modalities are used, in this context, conventional radiology is still an indispensable instrument in the knee imaging evaluation. However, it is not consensual which protocol is most appropriate for its evaluation. Aim – The main objective of this study was centered on the osteoarthrosis, bi or mono, on the radiographic image resultant of the incidence of the face of the knee in weight-bearing. Methods – An institutional, observational, transversal and retrospective study was conducted, focusing on individuals, adults, subjected to a radiographic exam of the face of the knee in weight-bearing, with bipodal and monopodal support in the same examination episode. Measurement techniques of the joint space and femorotibial angle were applied to all collected images and the measurements were compared between images with monopodal and bipodal support. Results – The sample consisted of 30 subjects (63.3% female) with a mean age of 60.9 years (±10.4 years). From this sample two groups were constituted, one consisting of right knees (n=21) and the other by left knees (n=27). The joint space of the medial compartment was presented as the most decreased in both groups. Comparing the average of the measurements of joint space on the images acquired with mono and bipodal support, statistically significant differences were observed both in the right knee (p<0.001) and the left (p<0.001). Differences in the range of femorotibial angle were also observed between images with mono and bipodal support. Conclusion – The results obtained indicate that the incidence of the face of the knee with monopodal weight-bearing, promotes a reduction in the articular space of the affected compartment consequently increasing the contralateral joint space compartment.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Records of the genus Micrambe Thomson, 1863 (Coleoptera, Cryptophagidae) from Madagascar and RĂ©union Island
A study on the genus Micrambe Thomson, 1863 (Coleoptera, Cryptophagidae) from Madagascar and RĂ©union is presented. Six species are hitherto known from these countries: M. apicalis Grouvelle, M. brevitarsis Bruce, M. consors Grouvelle, M. madagascariensis Grouvelle, M. modesta (Grouvelle), and M. reuninensis Lyubarsky. A new species, M. leonardoi sp. n., is formally described from Boorg-Murat, RĂ©union Island. A key is presented to enable their identification. Micrambe consors Grouvelle previously known only from Congo is reported here for the first time from MadagascarS
Contributo para a adaptação e validação do instrumento de medida, Foot And Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), para a realidade Portuguesa
Introdução: Sendo as lesões do complexo articular pĂ© e tĂbio-társica das mais comuns na sociedade, torna-se necessária a existĂŞncia de um instrumento de medida adaptado e validado que permita avaliar a funcionalidade do pĂ© e tĂbio-társica. Objectivo: Contribuir para a validação e adaptação cultural e linguĂstica de um instrumento de medida, a escala de avaliação da funcionalidade da articulação tĂbio-társica e pĂ© “Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS)” desenvolvida por Roos EM, Brandsson S, Karlsson J. (2001). Relevância:Permitir a utilização deste instrumento de medida validado e adaptado Ă população/realidade Portuguesa. Metodologia: Numa primeira fase procedeu-se Ă tradução por intermĂ©dio de 2 tradutores bilingues, seguido da retroversĂŁo por intermĂ©dio de 2 tradutores bilingues e posterior aprovação da autora original Ewa Roos da versĂŁo consenso Inglesa obtida. Na 2ÂŞ fase realizou-se a adaptação cultural atravĂ©s da verificação das caracterĂsticas mĂ©tricas validade de conteĂşdo pelo painel de peritos, e da fiabilidade intra-observador porteste-reteste atravĂ©s do intraclass correlation (ICC) e da consistĂŞncia interna atravĂ©s do Alpha de Cronbach (á) numa amostra de 35 utentes. Resultados: Cada sub-escala (sintomas; dor; funcionalidade, vida diária; funcionalidade, desporto e actividades de lazer;qualidade de vida), obteve bons indicadores de fiabilidade intra-observador (ICC = 0,876, 0,828, 0,909, 0,894 e 0,936) e bons indicadores de consistĂŞncia interna (á = 0,821, 0,909, 0,956, 0,896 e 0,893). ConclusĂŁo: A versĂŁo final portuguesa da FAOS na amostra utilizada possui bons Ăndices de validade de conteĂşdo, de fiabilidade intra-observador e de consistĂŞncia interna
On a new species of Micrambe from Africa (Coleoptera, Cryptophagidae)
A new species of Micrambe Thomson, 1863 (Coleoptera, Cryptophagidae), Micrambe camerunensis sp. n.
from Cameroon is described and illustrated. No other record of any Cryptophagidae of Cameroon is known.
The differential diagnosis is established in relation to a group of other species of the genusS
A new species and a key to the species of Corticarina from Guatemala (Coleoptera, Latridiidae)
A new species of Corticarina Reitter, 1881 (Coleoptera: Latridiidae), Corticarina oscargloriorum sp. n.
from Guatemala is described and illustrated. The differential diagnosis is established in relation to a group
of other species of the genusS
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