Design of CAN-based distributed control systems with optimized configuration

A current trend in distributed control systems is the application of communication networktechnologies such as CAN - Controller Area Network. A recent utilization approach ofthese technologies is the networked control systems (NCS). The fundamental challenges inthe development of NCS are the analysis of the network delay effects and the prediction of the timing behavior of the distributed control system. The common parameters that impact the performance of NCS include response time, network utilization and network delays induced by the communication of messages between the devices. In addition, the performance of a NCS is highly dependent on these messages sampling times. A significant emphasis has been put on development and application of methodologies to handle the network delay effect in these systems and improve their performances. This paper presents a detailed timing analysis and a mathematical model to calculate these network delays in CAN-based networks. With the results of this model, the application of a methodology is proposed to minimize the effects of these delays and to achieve the optimization (networkoperation and utilization) of a CAN-based network. A case study of a CAN-based distributed control system in a mobile robot is described to demonstrate the application of the optimization methodology and the utilization of the CAN mathematical model systemized

Ontogenetic variations in the venom proteome of the Amazonian snake Bothrops atrox

BACKGROUND: Bothrops atrox is responsible for the majority of snakebite accidents in the Brazilian Amazon region. Previous studies have demonstrated that the biological and pharmacological activities of B. atrox venom alter with the age of the animal. Here, we present a comparative proteome analysis of B. atrox venom collected from specimens of three different stages of maturation: juveniles, sub-adults and adults. RESULTS: Optimized conditions for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) of pooled venom samples were achieved using immobilized pH gradient (IPG) gels of non-linear 3–10 pH range during the isoelectric focusing step and 10–20% gradient polyacrylamide gels in the second dimension. Software-assisted analysis of the 2-DE gels images demonstrated differences in the number and intensity of spots in juvenile, sub-adult and adult venoms. Although peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) failed to identify even a minor fraction of spots, it allowed us to group spots that displayed similar peptide maps. The spots were subjected to a combination of tandem mass spectrometry and Mascot and MS BLAST database searches that identified several classes of proteins, including metalloproteinases, serine proteinases, lectins, phospholipases A(2), L-amino oxidases, nerve growth factors, vascular endothelial growth factors and cysteine-rich secretory proteins. CONCLUSION: The analysis of B. atrox samples from specimens of different ages by 2-DE and mass spectrometry suggested that venom proteome alters upon ontogenetic development. We identified stage specific and differentially expressed polypeptides that may be responsible for the activities of the venom in each developmental stage. The results provide insight into the molecular basis of the relation between symptomatology of snakebite accidents in humans and the venom composition. Our findings underscore the importance of the use of venoms from individual specimen at various stages of maturation for the production of antivenoms

Leaf morpho-anatomical characterization of Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeisch, Asteraceae

Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeisch (Asteraceae), commonly known as 'candeia-da-serra', is a plant used in folk medicine as wound healing and antimicrobial. The aim of this study was to compare the number of glandular trichomes between the young and the mature leaves, as well as to perform the morpho-anatomical characterization of E. erythropappus leaves. Transverse and paradermal sections of the leaves were prepared according to light and scanning microtechniques for the morpho-anatomical characterization. The quantification of glandular trichomes on the adaxial surface of the epidermis was evaluated in young and mature leaves with camera lucida. The leaves are alternate or fasciculate and the blade has uniseriate epidermis coated with thin and smooth cuticle and dorsiventral mesophyll. There are predominantly anomocytic stomata on both surfaces, as well as glandular trichomes located in epidermal depressions. Various non-glandular trichomes are encountered on the abaxial surface. The palisade parenchyma consists of a single layer of cells and the parenchyma which is faced to the abaxial surface comprehends three to five layers of cells in compact arrangement. The young and mature leaves showed, respectively, 21.78±5.83 e 17.80±6.69 glandular trichomes on the adaxial side. The morpho-anatomical analysis of E. erythropappus leaves has proved to be a practical and rapid method for the identification and quality control of the vegetal species used for medical purposes.Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) MacLeisch (Asteraceae), popularmente conhecida como "candeia-da-serra", é uma espécie utilizada na medicina tradicional como cicatrizante e antimicrobiano. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi comparar o número de tricomas glandulares nas folhas jovens e adultas de E. erythropappus, assim como realizar a caracterização morfoanatômica destas folhas. Secções transversais e paradérmicas das folhas foram submetidas às microtécnicas fotônicas e à microscopia eletrônica de varredura. A quantificação dos tricomas glandulares foi realizada em folhas jovens e adultas com auxílio de câmara clara. As folhas são alternas ou fasciculadas e a lâmina foliar possui epiderme uniestratificada, revestida por cutícula delgada e lisa e mesofilo dorsiventral. Em ambas as faces da epiderme, ocorrem estômatos predominantemente anomocíticos e tricomas glandulares inseridos em depressões. Na face abaxial observam-se numerosos tricomas tectores. O parênquima paliçádico é uniestratificado e o parênquima voltado para a face abaxial é formado por três a cinco camadas de células com disposição compacta. As folhas jovens e adultas apresentam respectivamente 21,78±5,83 e 17,80±6,69 tricomas glandulares na face adaxial. A análise morfoanatômica das folhas de E. erythropappus mostra-se um método rápido e prático para a identificação e controle de qualidade de espécies vegetais utilizadas na terapêutica

Trypanosoma cruzi alkaline 2-DE: Optimization and application to comparative proteome analysis of flagellate life stages

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Investigation of analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of Echinodorus grandiflorus rhizomes methanol extract

The present work investigated the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanol extract of the rhizomes of Echinodorus grandiflorus. For this purpose, acetic acid writhing, paw licking induced by formalin, carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and pleurisy tests were performed. The doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg inhibited the contortions 34.30%, 35.84% and 36.07%, respectively. The lick of the paw 1st phase was reduced at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, while the 2nd phase had reduction at 400 mg/kg. All doses inhibited the paw edema, while the volume of the exsudate was reduced 24.61% in the dose of 400 mg/kg. The doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg decreased the leukocytes migration. The results indicate that the methanol extract of E. grandiflorus can constitute target potential for use in therapies of the pain and inflammation.O presente trabalho investigou as atividades analgésica e antiinflamatória do extrato metanólico de rizomas de Echinodorus grandiflorus. Para isto, foram realizados os testes de contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético; tempo da lambida da pata induzida por formalina; edema de pata e pleurisia induzidas por carragenina. As doses de 100, 200 e 400 mg/kg inibiram as contorções em 34,30%, 35,84% e 36,07%, respectivamente. O tempo de lambida da primeira fase foi reduzido nas doses de 200 e 400 mg/kg, enquanto a segunda fase teve redução em 400 mg/kg. As doses testadas diminuíram o edema, enquanto o volume do exsudato foi reduzido em 24,61% na dose de 400 mg/kg. As doses de 200 e 400 mg/kg diminuíram a migração leucocitária. Os resultados indicam que o extrato de E. grandiflorus testado pode constituir alvo potencial para uso em terapias da dor e da inflamação

Knocking Down Low Molecular Weight Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (LMW-PTP) Reverts Chemoresistance through Inactivation of Src and Bcr-Abl Proteins

The development of multidrug resistance (MDR) limits the efficacy of continuous chemotherapeutic treatment in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Low molecular weight protein tyrosine phosphatase (LMW-PTP) is up-regulated in several cancers and has been associated to poor prognosis. This prompted us to investigate the involvement of LMW-PTP in MDR. In this study, we investigated the role of LMW-PTP in a chemoresistant CML cell line, Lucena-1. Our results showed that LMW-PTP is highly expressed and 7-fold more active in Lucena-1 cells compared to K562 cells, the non-resistant cell line. Knocking down LMW-PTP in Lucena-1 cells reverted chemoresistance to vincristine and imatinib mesylate, followed by a decrease of Src and Bcr-Abl phosphorylation at the activating sites, inactivating both kinases. On the other hand, overexpression of LMW-PTP in K562 cells led to chemoresistance to vincristine. Our findings describe, for the first time, that LMW-PTP cooperates with MDR phenotype, at least in part, through maintaining Src and Bcr-Abl kinases in more active statuses. These findings suggest that inhibition of LMW-PTP may be a useful strategy for the development of therapies for multidrug resistant CML

The potential impact of austerity on attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil

In the recent decades, Brazil has outperformed comparable countries in its progress toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals. Many of these improvements have been driven by investments in health and social policies. In this article, we aim to identify potential impacts of austerity policies in Brazil on the chances of achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and its consequences for population health. Austerity’s anticipated impacts are assessed by analysing the change in federal spending on different budget programmes from 2014 to 2017. We collected budget data made publicly available by the Senate. Among the selected 19 programmes, only 4 had their committed budgets increased, in real terms, between 2014 and 2017. The total amount of extra money committed to these four programmes in 2017, above that committed in 2014, was small (BR$9.7 billion). Of the 15 programmes that had budget cuts in the period from 2014 to 2017, the total decrease amounted to BR$60.2 billion (US$15.3 billion). In addition to the overall large budget reduction, it is noteworthy that the largest proportional reductions were in programmes targeted at more vulnerable populations. In conclusion, it seems clear that the current austerity policies in Brazil will probably damage the population’s health and increase inequities, and that the possibility of meeting SDG targets is lower in 2018 than it was in 2015

Estimating the health and economic burden of shipping related air pollution in the Iberian Peninsula

Air pollution is the leading cause of the global burden of disease from the environment, entailing substantial economic consequences. International shipping is a significant source of NOx, SO2, CO and PM, which can cause known negative health impacts. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the health impacts and the associated external costs of ship-related air pollution in the Iberian Peninsula for 2015. Moreover, the impact of CAP2020 regulations on 2015 emissions was studied. Log-linear functions based on WHO-HRAPIE relative risks for PM2.5 and NO2 all-cause mortality and morbidity health end-points, and integrated exposure-response functions for PM2.5 cause-specific mortality, were used to calculate the excess burden of disease. The number of deaths and years of life lost (YLL) due to NO2 ship-related emissions was similar to those of PM2.5 ship-related emissions. Estimated all-cause premature deaths attributable to PM2.5 ship-related emissions represented an average increase of 7.7% for the Iberian Peninsula when compared to the scenario without shipping contribution. Costs of around 9 100 million euro yr-1 (for value of statistical life approach - VSL) and 1 825 million euro yr(-1) (for value of life year approach - VOLY) were estimated for PM and NO2 all-cause burden of disease. For PM2.5 cause-specific mortality, a cost of around 3 475 million euro yr(-1) (for VSL approach) and 851 million euro yr(-1) (for VOLY approach) were estimated. Costs due to PM and NO2 all-cause burden represented around 0.72% and 0.15% of the Iberian Peninsula gross domestic product in 2015, respectively for VSL and VOLY approaches. For PM2.5 cause-specific mortality, costs represented around 0.28% and 0.06%, respectively, for VSL and VOLY approaches. If CAP2020 regulations had been applied in 2015, around 50% and 30% respectively of PM2.5 and NO2 ship-related mortality would been avoided. These results show that air pollution from ships has a considerable impact on health and associated costs affecting the Iberian Peninsula.This work was financially supported by: project UIDB/00511/2020 of the Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy - LEPABE-funded by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) and project EMISSHIP PTDC/CTAAMB/32201/2017, funded by FEDER funds through COMPETE2020 - Programa Oper-acional Competitividade e Internacionalizacao (POCI) and by national funds (PIDDAC) through FCT/MCTES. Rafael A.O. Nunes thanks the individual research grant SFRH/BD/146159/2019, funded by the Por-tuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) . Sofia I.V. Sousathanks the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the financial support of her work contract through the Scientific Employment Stimulus-Individual Call CEECIND/02477/2017. Dr Jalkanen would like to acknowledge the financial support from the European Union's Horizon2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement #874990 (EMERGE project) . This work reflects only the authors' view and INEA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains

Acupuncture at “Zusanli” (St.36) and “Sanyinjiao” (SP.6) Points on the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Study of the Bioavailability of 99mTc-Sodium Pertechnetate in Rats

The objective of this study is to investigate the differences of acupuncture effect between the Zusanli (St.36) and Sanyinjiao (SP.6) points on the gastrointestinal-tract (GIT) segment performed by the bioavailability of 99mTc-sodium-pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 21) were allocated into three groups of seven each. Group 1 was treated by acupuncture bilaterally at St.36; Group 2 at SP.6; and Group 3 was untreated (control). After 10 min of needle insertion in anesthetized rats, 0.3 mL of Na99mTcO4 (7.4 MBq) was injected via ocular-plexus. After 20 min, the exitus of animals was induced by cervical-dislocation and GIT organs isolated. However, immediately before the exitus procedure, blood was collected by cardiac-puncture for blood radio-labeling (BRL). The radioactivity uptake of the blood constituents was calculated together with the GIT organs by a well gamma counter. The percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) of Na99mTcO4 was calculated for each GIT organs, while BRL was calculated in %ID. According to the one-way ANOVA, the stomach, jejunum, ileum from the treated groups (Group 1 and Group 2) had significant differences compared to the controls (Group 3). However, between the treated groups (Group 1 and Group 2), there were significant differences (P < .05) in the stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, transverse and rectum. In BRL analysis, Group 2 showed significant increase and decrease of the insoluble and soluble fractions of the blood cells, respectively (P < .0001). The authors suggest that St.36 may have a tendency of up-regulation effect on GIT, whereas SP.6, down-regulation effect. However, further rigorous experimental studies to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in either acupuncture points need to be carried out