Isolation and Characterization of Adult Progenitor Cells From Healthy and Laminitic Hoof Tissue

Laminitis is an often fatal condition in horses with few available and only moderately effective treatment options. Separation of laminar dermis and epidermis lead to rotation or ventral deviation of the third phalanx inside the hoof capsule. Despite being a modified skin, equine laminar tissue does not completely return to normal after laminitis. The hypothesis tested was that adult progenitor cells in the equine laminar tissue are irreversibly damaged by laminitis. A method to harvest and culture cells in vitro from the equine lamina was established; and progenitor cells from unaffected and laminitic hooves were characterized and compared. Laminar tissue was harvested from horses with and without evidence of laminitis. Cells were isolated from each tissue type, unaffected (UC) and laminitic (LC). Cell doublings (CD) and doubling times (DT) were quantified for passage (P) 0-5 cells. For P0, 2, and 5, fibroblastic colony forming units (CFU-F), progenitor (OCT4, SOX-2, CD29, CD44, and CD105) and keratin (K14, K15, and K19) target gene mRNA levels (qRT-PCR) and protein expression (flow cytometry) as well as multipotentiality were assessed. Keratins were localized with immunohistochemistry. Overall LC CD was significantly higher than UC. Progenitor gene mRNA levels were significantly higher in P0 LC versus UC. K14 and K15 mRNA levels in P0 were lower in LC when compared to UC. Keratins were localized to secondary epidermal lamina. Osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation was confirmed in both cell types Increases in progenitor mRNA in UC over passages is consistent with selection of progenitor cells by plastic affinity and confirms maintenance of progenitor cell characteristics through multiple passages. Results of this study highlight specific progenitor cell changes in laminitic hooves that result in a constant state of hyperproliferation without cell maturation. These changes may explain the abnormal tissue organization and function that result from laminitic episodes. The procedures developed in this study provide a unique and consistent model to study the intricacies of equine laminitis in the horse. Future studies using the model designed here will be used for in vitro investigations aimed at identifying specific mechanisms to reverse or prevent the cellular changes from laminitis

Adversity, depressive symptoms and suicide attempts: study of women in community and comparison between women in prison and women in the community

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Psicologia (área de especialização em Psicologia da Justiça)A relação entre adversidade na infância, depressão e tentativas de suicídio tem sido estudada, mas nunca o foi em amostras exclusivamente femininas da comunidade. Por outro lado a literatura sugere que existe uma elevada prevalência de adversidade, depressão e tentativas de suicídio em reclusas. Este estudo teve como objetivos analisar estas variáveis em mulheres da comunidade e compará-las com um grupo de reclusas, analisando o contributo da adversidade para a depressão e tentativas de suicídio. Um total de 394 mulheres (211 reclusas e 183 da comunidade) completou o Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Questionnaire e a sub-escala da depressão do Psychopathological Symptom Inventory. As mulheres na comunidade relatam muitas experiências adversas e estas são preditoras da sintomatologia depressiva e das tentativas de suicídio. As reclusas relataram mais abuso sexual, abuso de substâncias na família, familiares em reclusão e divórcio dos pais, enquanto as da comunidade relataram mais violência doméstica. Não há diferenças entre os dois grupos quanto ao total de experiências adversas. A depressão e as tentativas de suicídio são superiores nas reclusas. Nos dois grupos a adversidade é preditora tentativas de suicídio. Programas de prevenção comunitários e projetos prisionais que considerem a história de vida e problemas específicos são necessários em contexto prisional.The relationship between childhood adversity, depression and suicide attempts has been studied, but never in exclusively female community samples. On the other hand the literature suggests that there is a high prevalence of adversity, depression and suicide attempts in female inmates. This study aimed to analyze these variables in women from the community and compare them with a group of inmates, analyzing the contribution of adversity to depression and suicide attempts. A total of 394 women (211 inmates and 183 from community) completed the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Questionnaire and the depression subscale of the Psychopathological Symptom Inventory. Women in the community reported many adverse experiences and these are predictors of depressive symptoms and suicide attempts. Female inmates reported more sexual abuse, substance abuse in the family, family members in prison and divorced parents, while the community reported more domestic violence. There are no differences between the two groups in the total number of adverse experiences. Depression and suicide attempts are higher among inmates. In both groups the adversity predicts suicide attempts. Prevention community programs and projects that consider life history and specific problems are needed in the prison context

Crowdfunding and religiosity : an understanding of the dynamics of religiosity on social lending in Kiva

This dissertation aims to study the discrepancy between academic research and laboratory studies regarding the relationship between the religiosity level of an individual and its engagement with pro-social activities. This study examined the hypothesis that religiosity, spirituality and/or altruistic values would display a pro-social behaviour on on-line micro-lending. A survey of 3928 individuals from the Crowdfunding platform Kiva.org contributed to the understanding of the relationship between religiosity and pro-social behaviour on on-line platforms. Findings in this setting indicate that non-religious individuals display a higher engagement level with online pro-social activities on Kiva than do religious or spiritual individuals. Discussion focused on the discrepancy between in-group and out-group affiliation within religious individuals (different values), as well as feminine and non-feminine targets. This has clear implications for micro-lending platform owners, consumer behaviour, marketing segmentation and targeting of online users

Age and sex estimation based on pulp cavity volume using cone beam computed tomography : development and validation of formulas in a Brazilian sample

Orientador: Eduardo Daruge JuniorDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de PiracicabaResumo: A análise da deposição de dentina secundária e conseqüente diminuição do tamanho da cavidade pulpar constitui um indicador útil para a estimativa da idade, fundamental nas investigações forenses para a criação do perfil biológico do indivíduo. Porém, dentro da literatura consultada, não há estudo que tenha realizado estimativa do sexo com base nesta análise. Com este objetivo, foi mensurado volumetricamente a cavidade pulpar de 232 dentes, incisivos centrais e caninos superiores, a partir de 116 exames de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) de indivíduos brasileiros, de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 13 a 70 anos, pertencentes ao Arquivo da Clínica de Radiologia Odontológica da Faculdade de Odontologia da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. A análise foi realizada por dois examinadores utilizando o software de livre acesso ITK-SNAP versão 3.4.0. Os resultados permitiram desenvolver fórmulas de regressão linear simples e múltiplas para estimativa da idade e do sexo na população brasileira, sendo validadas por medição de outra amostra composta de 72 dentes. O coeficiente de correlação de Pearson entre idade e volume pulpar foi negativo e significativo para os dois tipos de dentes, obtendo o incisivo central coeficientes maiores (r = -0.8782; R² = 0.7713) do que o canino (r = -0.8738; R² = 0.7635). Das fórmulas desenvolvidas, os melhores resultados foram de estimativa etária para o sexo feminino na presença do volume pulpar apenas dos caninos (R² = 0,8367) e quando se utiliza o volume pulpar dos dois tipos de dentes (R² = 0,8341). Os piores coeficientes foram encontrados para as equações de estimativa do sexo quando se tem o volume de apenas um dente e a idade é desconhecida (R² = 0,0268 para incisivos centrais; R² = 0,075 para caninos). Já a validação observou menor valor de erro médio absoluto para a estimativa etária da parte da amostra feminina, além de alta precisão da estimativa da idade, de modo geral, nos indivíduos com mais de 35 anos. Foi constatada precisão de 94% para estimativa do sexo quando disponível a informação etária na amostra feminina. As fórmulas desenvolvidas e validadas retrataram bons resultados para aplicação na população brasileiraAbstract: Secondary dentin deposition assessment and its consequent decrease in pulp cavity size represent an useful indicator for age estimation, fundamental in forensic investigations for creation of individual¿s biological profile. However, in consulted literature, there is no study that has carried a sex estimation based on this analysis. With this purpose, was volumetrically measured the pulp cavity of 232 teeth, upper central incisors and canines, from 116 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of Brazilian individuals, of both sexes, aged between 13 to 70 years, belonging to the Dental Radiology Clinic¿s archive from Dental School at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. This analyses was carried out, independently, by two examiners using ITK-SNAP software version 3.4.0. Based on data obtained, it was possible to develop simple and multiple linear regression formulas for age and sex estimation in Brazilian population, beign validated from analysis of another sample composed of 72 teeth. Pearson¿s correlation coefficients between age and pulp volume was negative and statistically significant for both teeth types, obtaining the central incisor higher coefficients (r = -0.8782; R² = 0.7713) than canine (r = -0.8738; R² = 0.7635). From developed formulas, the best results were of the age estimation for female sex in presence only of canines pulp volume (R² = 0,8367) and when using the pulp volume of both teeth types (R² = 0,8341). Worst results were observed for the sex estimation equations when there was volume of only one tooth and the age was unknown (R² = 0,0268 for central incisors; R² = 0,075 for canines). Validation has found the lowest value of mean absolute error for age estimation in female part of the sample, as well as high accuracy in age estimation, in general, in individuals older than 35 years. Was ascertained 94% of accuracy for sex estimation when the age information was available in the female sample. Developed and validated formulas showed good results for application in Brazilian populationMestradoOdontologia Legal e DeontologiaMestra em Biologia Buco-Denta

Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi action of a new benzofuran derivative based on amiodarone structure

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical affection caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. There is no current effective treatment since the only two available drugs have a limited efficacy and produce side effects. Thus, investigation efforts have been directed to the identification of new drug leads. In this context, Ca2+ regulating mechanisms have been postulated as targets for antiparasitic compounds, since they present paramount differences when compared to host cells. Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic with demonstrated trypanocidal activity acting through the disruption of the parasite intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis. We now report the effect of a benzofuran derivative based on the structure of amiodarone on T. cruzi. This derivative was able to inhibit the growth of epimastigotes in culture and of amastigotes inside infected cells, the clinically relevant phase. We also show that this compound, similarly to amiodarone, disrupts Ca2+ homeostasis in T. cruzi epimastigotes, via two organelles involved in the intracellular Ca2+ regulation and the bioenergetics of the parasite. We demonstrate that the benzofuran derivative was able to totally collapse the membrane potential of the unique giant mitochondrion of the parasite and simultaneously produced the alkalinization of the acidocalcisomes. Both effects are evidenced by a large increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration of T. cruzi.Fil: Pinto Martinez, Andrea. instituto de Estudios Avanzados; VenezuelaFil: Hernández Rodríguez, Vanessa. instituto de Estudios Avanzados; VenezuelaFil: Rodríguez Durán, Jessica Jenireth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor N. Torres"; Argentina. instituto de Estudios Avanzados; VenezuelaFil: Hejchman, Elżbieta. Medical University of Warsaw; PoloniaFil: Benaim, Gustavo. Universidad Central de Venezuela; Venezuel

Philippe Brégeon, Parcours précaires. Enquête sur la jeunesse déqualifiée

L’ouvrage de Philippe Brégeon porte sur les parcours de jeunes « à bas niveau de qualification », c’est-à-dire ayant quitté sans diplôme le système scolaire depuis plusieurs années. Dans un contexte de multiplication des emplois précaires, l’insertion professionnelle des jeunes ne peut être décrite comme une progression linéaire vers l’accès à un emploi stable. Selon l’auteur, la notion de parcours permet de saisir à la fois la succession des statuts occupés par ces jeunes et les passages ent..

Estudio de factibilidad para la apertura del Restaurante El Muelle, San Cristóbal Galápagos

This document is a feasibility analysis that details all the necessary information for the opening of the restaurant EL MUELLE in the island San Cristóbal of the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. The aim of this restaurant is to contribute with a sustainable tourism for the Galápagos Islands in many different innovative ways and that at the same time; protect the environment and the community. EL MUELLE tells histories during guest’s experience of the service and the gastronomy of the restaurant...Este documento es un análisis de factibilidad que detalla todo lo necesario para la apertura del restaurante EL MUELLE en la isla San Cristóbal de las Islas Galápagos, Ecuador. El objetivo de este restaurante es aportar con un turismo sustentable a las Islas Galápagos de maneras innovativas y que al mismo tiempo se proteja al medio ambiente y la comunidad. EL MUELLE es un restaurante que cuenta historias durante la experiencia del servicio y la gastronomía..