Semliki forest virus vectors engineered to express higher IL-12 levels induce efficient elimination of murine colon adenocarcinomas

To evaluate the use of alphavirus vectors for tumor treatment we have constructed and compared two Semliki Forest virus (SFV) vectors expressing different levels of IL-12. SFV-IL-12 expresses both IL-12 subunits from a single subgenomic promoter, while in SFV-enhIL-12 each IL-12 subunit is expressed from an independent subgenomic promoter fused to the SFV capsid translation enhancer. This latter strategy provided an eightfold increase of IL-12 expression. We chose the poorly immunogenic MC38 colon adenocarcinoma model to evaluate the therapeutic potential of SFV vectors. A single intratumoral injection of 10(8) viral particles of SFV-IL-12 or SFV-enh-IL-12 induced>or=80% complete tumor regressions with long-term tumor-free survival. However, lower doses of SFV-enhIL-12 were more efficient than SFV-IL-12 in inducing antitumoral responses, indicating a positive correlation between the IL-12 expression level and the therapeutic effect. Moreover, repeated intratumoral injections of suboptimal doses of SFV-enhIL-12 increased the antitumoral response. In all cases SFV vectors were more efficient at eliminating tumors than a first-generation adenovirus vector expressing IL-12. In addition, the antitumoral effect of SFV vectors was only moderately affected by preimmunization of animals with high doses of SFV vectors. This antitumoral effect was produced, at least partially, by a potent CTL-mediated immune response

"judicialização Da Pol ítica ": Déficits Explica Tivos E Blo Queios Normativistas

[No abstract available]91520de Rodriguez, J.R., The Persistence of Formalism: Towards a Situated Critique beyond the Classic Separation of Powers (2010) The Law & Development Review, 3 (1)Arida, P., Bacha, E., Lara-Resende, A., High interest rates in Brazil: conjectures on the jurisdictional uncertainty (2005) Inflation Targeting and Debt: the Case of BrazilArida, P., A pesquisa em direito e em economia (2005) Revista Direito GV, 1, pp. 11-22Weber, M., Economia e sociedade (1999) Brasília: Editora da UnB, 2. , Para uma explicação mais completa do conceito de WeberTrubek, D., O direito e a ascensão do capitalismo (2007) Revista Direito GV 5, 3 (1)Neumann, F., (1986) The Rule of Law. Political Theory and The Legal System in Modern Society, p. 44. , Leamington: BergNoteJayasuriya, K., Franz Neumann on the Rule of Law and Capitalism: The East Asian Case (1997) Journal of Asia Pacific Economy. Abingdon: Routledge, 2 (3), p. 357. , O debate posterior mostrou como essa posição também possui caráter etnocêntrico. que aproveita a crítica de Neumann a Weber para explicar a racionalidade do direito no leste da ÁsiaRodriguez, J.R., Inverter o espelho: o direito ocidental em normatividades plurais (2010) Política de direitos humanos, , Reis, Rossana Rocha (org.). São Paulo: HucitecNoteNobre, M., Participação e deliberação na teoria democrática: uma introdução (2004) Participação e deliberação: teoria democrática e experiências institucionais no Brasil contemporâneo, p. 34. , Uma descrição em grandes linhas desse movimento pode ser encontrada, Coelho, Vera Schattan P. e Nobre, M. (orgs.). São Paulo: EditoraNoteNoteSentidos da judicialização da política: duas análises (2002) Lua Nova, (57)Vianna, L.W., (2002) A democracia e os três poderes no Brasil, , Belo Horizonte: Editora UFMGArantes, R.B., (2002) Ministério Público e política no Brasil, , São Paulo: SumaréNoteLavalle, A.G., Houtzager, P.P., Castello, G., Democracia, pluralização da representação e sociedade civil (2006) Lua Nova, (67). , Do ponto de vista da ligação entre bases teóricas e pesquisa empírica, muitas indicações interessantes da pluralização da representação podem ser encontradas(2000) Harvard Law Review, 113 (3). , jande Castro, M.F., Jurisdição, economia e mudança social Revista EMARF, Cadernos Temáticos, pp. 143-173. , Rio de JaneiroNeumann, F., Montesquieu (1957) Democratic and Authoritarian State, , Glencoe: The Free PressNoteNoteKelsen, H., (1979) Teoria pura do Direito, , Esse argumento também vale para as regras jurídicas e sua utilização para a solução de casos concretos como mostraram muito bem Hans Kelsen, Duncan Kennedy e Ronald Dworkin. Coimbra: Armênio Amado, (capítulo final)Kennedy, D., Legal Formality (1973) Journal of Legal Studies, 2, p. 351Dworkin, R., (1999) O império da lei, , São Paulo: Martins FontesNoteMachado, M., Püschel, F.P., Rodriguez, J.R., The Juridification of Social Demands and the Application of Statutes: an Analysis of the Legal Treatment of Antiracism Social Demands in Brazil (2009) Fordham Law Review, 77, pp. 1535-1558Rodriguez, J.R., Püschel, F.P., Inveja de Sísifo: a dogmática jurídica entre tradição e inovação (2010) Nas fronteiras do formalismo. A função social da dogmática jurídica hoje, pp. 299-310. , Rodriguez, J. R., Batalha, Carlos Eduardo e Barbosa, Samuel Rodrigues (orgs.). São Paulo: SaraivaBrown, W., Halley, J., (2002) Left Legalism/Left Critique, Durham, , nc: Duke University Pressde Vyshinsky, A.Y., (1949) The Law of Soviet State, , Em uma resenha crítica ao livro, publicada em, Franz Neumann mostra que as supostas inovações do direito soviético após a Revolução Russa não passavam da repetição ligeiramente modificada das categorias jurídicas burguesas, ou seja, que imaginação institucional e revolução não andam necessariamente juntas(1949) Ver Political Science Quartely, 64 (1), pp. 127-131. , marNoteLafer, C., A reconstrução dos direitos humanos: a contribuição de Hannah Arendt (1997) Estudos avançados, 11 (30)(2004), portal.mj.gov.br, Como exemplos do formato mais comum dos debates sobre a reforma do Poder Judiciário, pode-se citar o "i Pacto de Estado em favor de um Judiciário mais rápido e republicano", de, e o "ii Pacto republicano de Estado por um sistema de justiça mais acessível, ágil e efetivo", de 2009 (ambos no), acessado em 02/11/2011) celebrados pelos chefes dos três poderes da República brasileiraNoteNobre, M., Apontamentos sobre a pesquisa em direito no Brasil (2011) Impasses e aporias do direito contemporâneo: estudos em homenagem a José Eduardo Faria, , Fabiani, Emerson Ribeiro (org.). São Paulo: SaraivaNoteNoteNoteEngels, F., (2008) A situação da classe trabalhadora na Inglaterra, , São Paulo: BoitempoKahn-Freund, O., Das soziale Ideal des Reicharbeitsgerichts (1966) Arbeitsrecht und Politk, , Ramm, Thilo (org.). Neuwied: LuchterhandRodriguez, J.R., (2003) Dogmática da liberdade sindical, , Rio de Janeiro: Renovar, afirmase que a proteção social consagrada no direito é vista como uma espécie de "dano essencial" à racionalidade do livre mercado que nunca foi esquecida ou vista como normalidade institucional pelas forças conservadoras, que sempre contestaram e combateram os institutos do assim denominado Welfare State(1985) Verrechtlichung von Wirtschaft, Arbeit und sozialer Solidarität, , Kübler, Friedrich (org.). Frankfurt/Main: SuhrkampNobre, M., Indeterminação e estabilidade: os 20 anos da Constituição Federal e as tarefas da pesquisa em direito (2008) Novos Estudos Cebrap, (82). , no

Search for Tau Flavour Violation at the LHC

We explore the prospects for searches at the LHC for sparticle decays that violate $\tau$ lepton number, in the light of neutrino oscillation data and the seesaw model for neutrino masses and mixing. We analyse the theoretical and phenomenological conditions required for tau flavour violation to be observable in \chi_2 \to \chi + \tau^\pm \mu^\mp decays, for cosmologically interesting values of the relic neutralino LSP density. We study the relevant supersymmetric parameter space in the context of the Constrained Minimal Supersymmetric Extension of the Standard Model (CMSSM) and in SU(5) extensions of the theory. We pay particular attention to the possible signals from hadronic tau decays, that we analyse using PYTHIA event simulation. We find that a signal for \tau flavour-violating \chi_2 decays may be observable if the branching ratio exceeds about 10%. This may be compatible with the existing upper limit on \tau \to \mu \gamma decays if there is mixing between right-handed sleptons, as could be induced in non-minimal SU(5) GUTs.Comment: 24 pages, 10 fig

Long-term hurricane damage effects on tropical forest tree growth and mortality

Hurricane winds can have large impacts on forest structure and dynamics. To date, most evaluations of hurricane impacts have focused on short-term responses after a hurricane, often lacked pre-hurricane measurements, and missed responses occurring over longer time scales. Here, we use a long-term data set (1974-2009, 35 years) of tree stems ( >3 cm in diameter at 1.3 m aboveground) in four sites (0.35 ha in total) in montane rain forest (∼1600 m elevation) in Jamaica to investigate the patterns of crown damage in individual stems by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988, and how subsequent growth and mortality were affected by hurricane damage, sprouting, and the incidence of multiple stems. Topographical position on a mountain ridge was the best predictor of crown damage, followed by crown size and species identity. The average diameter growth rate of stems that survived the hurricane was greater than that pre-hurricane for the whole 21-yr post-hurricane period. Growth rates of stems with damaged crowns increased less than those with undamaged crowns; differences in growth rate between damaged and undamaged trees disappeared after 11 years. Hurricanedamaged stems had two to eight times higher mortality than undamaged stems for 19 years post hurricane. Many stems sprouted shortly after the hurricane, but few sprouts managed to establish (grow to >3 cm diameter at breast height). However, sprouting and multi-stemming were associated with reduced mortality rate, particularly in damaged trees. From an initial population of 1670 stems in 1974, 54% were still alive in 2009 (21 years after the hurricane). We conclude that despite the high frequency of hurricane damage to tree crowns and the subsequent increased mortality rate in this hurricane-prone tropical montane forest, many stems will be hit and recover from several hurricanes in their lifetimePeer reviewe

An assessment on the efficiency of clothing with UV protection among the Spanish Navy school students

[Abstract] Concern about the harmful effects that ultraviolet (UV) rays have on the skin of people who are routinely exposed to solar radiation has driven the industry of skin protection creams, sunglasses and clothing. Spanish Navy personnel are subject to different levels of exposure depending on their rank and function. The objective of this research is to analyze the behavioral variables associated to the effects on the skin caused by UV rays, denoted by the combined effects of perceived susceptibility and perceived severity, on their decision to purchase and wear uniforms with UV protection. A confirmatory analysis using a structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed on a sample of 100 respondents. The model results revealed a strong mediating characteristic of the intention to use, variable associated with the exogenous variables. Attitude towards the use of clothing and social influence, as well as the exogenous variable clothing action planning, on the sun protective clothing use during tactical maneuvers. These relationships were significant with p-values close to zero. However, exogenous variables related to perceived susceptibility and perceived severity in exposure to sunlight did not represent a significant influence when mediated by self-efficacy in use. The results revealed the consequence of awareness about the importance of protecting oneself and the influence that usage habits can have on the military with respect to the decision to purchase uniforms with UV protection.The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Spanish Ministry of Science & Innovation under the I+D+i state program “Challenges Research Projects” (RTI2018-098900-B-I00) and the Regional Government of Castilla y León (INVESTUN/19/BU/004 and INVESTUN/22/BU/0001).Junta de Castilla y León; INVESTUN/19/BU/004Junta de Castilla y León; INVESTUN/22/BU/000

Voltage dip generator for testing wind turbines connected to electrical networks

This paper describes a new voltage dip generator that allows the shape of the time profile of the voltage generated to be configured. The use of this device as a tool to test the fault ride-through capability of wind turbines connected to the electricity grid can provide some remarkable benefits: First, this system offers the possibility of adapting the main features of the time–voltage profile generated (dip depth, dip duration, the ramp slope during the recovery process after clearing fault, etc.) to the specific requirements set forth by the grid operation codes, in accordance with different network electrical systems standards. Second, another remarkable ability of this system is to provide sinusoidal voltage and current wave forms during the overall testing process without the presence of harmonic components. This is made possible by the absence of electronic converters. Finally, the paper includes results and a discussion on the experimental data obtained with the use of a reduced size laboratory prototype that was constructed to validate the operating features of this new device

Ultimate response dynamics achieved with gas sensors based on self-heated nanowires

Bias current applied to conductometric gas sensors consisting of individual metal oxide nanowires can be used to heat them up to the temperature necessary for sensing. This approach in combination with the good sensitivity and stability of metal-oxide nanowires, can be used to develop prototypes with low power requirements (few tens of microwatts). Here, we present new sensors devices based on this approach that display fast dynamic performance only limited by the gas-solid interaction kinetics,. © 2009

A methodology to study oil-coking problem in small turbochargers

[EN] In compliance with oncoming emission directives, turbocharging and increasing complexity in the turbocharger system demands a great effort from researchers on the development of effective procedures and tools to cope with the new technological exigencies. This article describes a methodology for studying oil-coking influence in turbocharger performance. A preliminary evaluation and calibration is done. The aim of this work focuses on the development of methodologies and tools that help to evaluate and understand the consequences that degraded oils can generate in the bearing system during enhanced oil-coking procedure. Several experimental tests have been carried out in an engine test bench and using an independent lubrication system that only feeds the turbocharger. The test campaign is done under a specific engine cycle and using oil artificially contaminated at two different levels. The work is divided into two parts. The first part provides a description and definition of test conditions for measuring of the maximum temperature in the bearing system and the second part tackles the measurement and post-processing of the main instantaneous parameters defining the engine and turbocharger behavior.The authors would like to acknowledge the Apoyo para la investigación y Desarrollo (PAID) grant for doctoral studies (FPI-2016-S2-1354). This work was partially supported by FEDER and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through Grant Number TRA2016-79185-R.Serrano, J.; Tiseira, A.; García-Cuevas González, LM.; Rodriguez-Usaquen, YT.; Guillaume, M. (2020). A methodology to study oil-coking problem in small turbochargers. International Journal of Engine Research. 21(7):1193-1204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1468087418803197S11931204217Giakoumis, E. G. (2016). Review of Some Methods for Improving Transient Response in Automotive Diesel Engines through Various Turbocharging Configurations. Frontiers in Mechanical Engineering, 2. doi:10.3389/fmech.2016.00004Nguyen-Schäfer, H. (2012). Rotordynamics of Automotive Turbochargers. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-27518-0Brouwer, M. D., Sadeghi, F., Lancaster, C., Archer, J., & Donaldson, J. (2013). Whirl and Friction Characteristics of High Speed Floating Ring and Ball Bearing Turbochargers. Journal of Tribology, 135(4). doi:10.1115/1.4024780Addison J, Needelman W. Diesel engine lubricant contamination and wear. New York: Pall Corporation, 1986, p.12.Serrano, J. R., Olmeda, P., Tiseira, A., García-Cuevas, L. M., & Lefebvre, A. (2013). Theoretical and experimental study of mechanical losses in automotive turbochargers. Energy, 55, 888-898. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2013.04.042Galindo, J., Lujan, J. M., Guardiola, C., & Lapuente, G. S. (2006). A method for data consistency checking in compressor and variable-geometry turbine maps. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, 220(10), 1465-1473. doi:10.1243/09544070jauto82Serrano, J. R., Arnau, F. J., Dolz, V., & Piqueras, P. (2009). Methodology for characterisation and simulation of turbocharged diesel engines combustion during transient operation. Part 1: Data acquisition and post-processing. Applied Thermal Engineering, 29(1), 142-149. doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2008.02.011Ghazikhani, M., Davarpanah, M., & Shaegh, S. A. M. (2008). An experimental study on the effects of different opening ranges of waste-gate on the exhaust soot emission of a turbo-charged DI diesel engine. Energy Conversion and Management, 49(10), 2563-2569. doi:10.1016/j.enconman.2008.05.012Jun, H.-B., Kiritsis, D., Gambera, M., & Xirouchakis, P. (2006). Predictive algorithm to determine the suitable time to change automotive engine oil. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 51(4), 671-683. doi:10.1016/j.cie.2006.06.017Owrang, F., Mattsson, H., Olsson, J., & Pedersen, J. (2004). Investigation of oxidation of a mineral and a synthetic engine oil. Thermochimica Acta, 413(1-2), 241-248. doi:10.1016/j.tca.2003.09.016Serrano, J. R., Olmeda, P., Arnau, F. J., Reyes-Belmonte, M. A., & Tartoussi, H. (2015). A study on the internal convection in small turbochargers. Proposal of heat transfer convective coefficients. Applied Thermal Engineering, 89, 587-599. doi:10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2015.06.053Serrano, J. R., Olmeda, P., Arnau, F. J., Dombrovsky, A., & Smith, L. (2014). Analysis and Methodology to Characterize Heat Transfer Phenomena in Automotive Turbochargers. Journal of Engineering for Gas Turbines and Power, 137(2). doi:10.1115/1.402826

FDG-PET: a new diagnostic approach in hip prosthesis infection

Infection following hip arthroplasties can present a diagnostic challenge. No test is 100 % sensitive and 100 % specific; this prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the utility of FDG-PET imaging for diagnosing infected joint replacements. 24 hip joint replacements were studied prospectively and we have complete diagnoses with clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory test, radiography, joint aspiration, radionuclide imaging including FDG-PET, and histopathologic examination. 11 of 24 prostheses were infected. The sensitivity and specificity of PET for detecting infection associated with prostheses were 64,3 % and 64,7 % respectively, in our hands. FDG imaging is not useful in patients with suspected prosthetic infection like a screening tes

The inflammatory potential of diet is related to incident frailty and slow walking in older adults

Background: Certain foods and dietary patterns have been associated with both inflammation and frailty. As chronic inflammation may play a role in frailty and disability, we examined the association of the inflammatory potential of diet with these outcomes. Methods: Data were taken from 1948 community-dwelling individuals =60 years old from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort, who were recruited in 2008–2010 and followed-up through 2012. Baseline diet data, obtained with a validated diet history, was used to calculate Shivappa's Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), an “a priori” pattern score which is based on known associations of foods and nutrients with inflammation, and Tabung's Empirical Dietary Inflammatory Index (EDII), an “a posteriori” pattern score which was statistically derived from an epidemiological study. At follow-up, incident frailty was assessed with Fried's criteria, and incident limitation in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) with the Lawton-Brody index. Statistical analyses were performed with logistic regression, and adjusted for the main confounders. Results: Compared with individuals in the lowest tertile of DII, those in the highest tertile showed higher risk of frailty (odds ratio [OR] 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42, 4.44, p-trend = 0.001) and IADL disability (OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.86, p-trend = 0.035). By contrast, EDII did not show an association with these outcomes. The DII score was associated with slow gait speed, both as a low score in the Short Physical Performance Battery test (OR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.27, 2.62, p-trend = 0.001) and as a positive Fried's criterion (OR: 1.64; 95% CI: 1.08, 2.51, p-trend = 0.021), which use different thresholds. Conclusions: DII predicted frailty and IADL while EDII did not. DII is able to measure diet healthiness in terms of physical decline in addition to avoidance of inflammation