Transformative influence of Afro-Brazilian syncopation on European compound melodies in Brazilian Choro music melorhythmical re-organization of interleaved melodic structures in progressive Afro-Brazilian music from the late-19th century

During the second half of the 19th century, Rio de Janeiro’s public life became the setting for spontaneous gatherings by a varied assortment of amateur musicians. After attracting professional musicians from Rio’s popular entertainment circuit, these meetings evolved into creative musical hubs during which songs of the day were instrumentally re-styled. Commonly known as ‘Choro’ or ‘Chorinho’ (Port. ‘cry’), these music practices were infused with melodic elements from classical chamber music as well as stylistic influence from popular dance music. One significant development was the introduction of compound melodies, single-note structures that elicit the impression of being multi-melodic. Influenced by Afro-Brazilian accompanists, compound melodies became infused with syncopated phrasing elements and evolved into one of Choro’s most emblematic traits. This thesis focuses on factors and processes that created Choro’s syncopated compound melodies, identifying and explaining their organizational transformation during Choro’s stylistic hybridization processes

Calanus oil and its constituents as a therapeutic approach to target obesity-induced metabolic distortions

Obesity is one of the leading causes for the development of metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in seafood and marine oils, are shown to reduce obesity, lower blood lipid levels, change the composition of the gut microbiota and reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases. The increased demand for seafood and marine oils has put pressure on sustainable fisheries, and the marine crustacean Calanus finmarchicus is an alternative and sustainable source of marine lipids. This oil is unique compared to other marine oils, in the sense that more than 85% of the lipids are wax esters, a lipid class where fatty acids are bound to fatty alcohols. The content of EPA and DHA is relatively low, while it is rich in stearidonic acid and monounsaturated fatty acids. In experimental studies, dietary supplementation with Calanus oil was shown to reduce obesity and obesity-related inflammation, improve glycaemic control, and protect the heart after an ischemic event. In this thesis we examined the effect of Calanus oil on obesity-induced alterations of the gut microbiota and, in addition, we wanted to find out whether the wax ester-derived fatty acids were able to protect cardiac H9c2 cells from lipotoxic stress (induced by exposure to palmitic acid). We found that Calanus oil had the tendency to change the microbial composition in the gut towards a healthier phenotype, although the changes were not statistically significant. The Calanus oil wax ester-derived fatty acids effectively, and in a dose-dependent manner, improved cell viability. This effect was associated with increased fatty acid oxidation, which will alleviate the lipotoxic stress in the cells. We conclude that Calanus oil and/or its wax ester-derived fatty acids can be used as a therapeutic approach to target obesity-induced metabolic disorders.Overvekt er en viktig årsak til utvikling av metabolske forstyrrelser som insulinresistens og type 2 diabetes, og man antar at mer enn 4 millioner mennesker dør hvert år som følge av disse tilstandene. Flere behandlingsregimer har blitt utviklet for å behandle overvekt og medfølgende sykdommer, men få har så langt vist seg å være effektive og/eller trygge. Omega-3 fettsyrer, som fins i sjømat og marine oljer, har vist seg å forbygge overvekt, senke nivået av fettstoffer i blodet, forbedre sammensetningen av bakteriefloraen i tarmen og redusere risikoen for hjerte- og karsykdommer. Det anbefales derfor å spise to porsjoner fisk/uke eller 250 mg/dag av EPA og DHA, to omega-3 fettsyrer som det fins mye av i sjømat. Imidlertid har økt etterspørsel etter omega-3 fettsyrer lagt press på bærekraftig fiskeri, og det er derfor behov for alternative kilder til disse marine fettsyrene. Den marine krepsdyrarten Calanus finmarchicus er en slik alternativ kilde, og Calanusoljen er unik sammenlignet med andre marine oljer ved at mer enn 85% av oljen består av voksestere hvor fettsyrene er bundet til fettalkoholer. Innholdet av EPA og DHA er forholdsvis lavt, men til gjengjeld er Calanusoljen rik på stearidonsyre (en annen omega-3 fettsyre) og langkjedede enumettede fettsyrer. Eksperimentelle studier på dyr har vist at kosttilskudd med Calanusolje reduser overvekt og tilhørende lavgrads-inflammasjon, bedrer glykemisk kontroll og beskytter hjertet etter kunstig påført infarkt. Målet med denne avhandlingen var å følge opp de tidligere resultatene for å videre undersøke det terapeutiske potensialet til Calanusoljen og dens bestanddeler (fettsyrer og fettalkoholer) i forbindelse med metabolske komplikasjoner som følge av overvekt. I artikkel 1 gjennomgikk vi tidligere publiserte vitenskapelige artikler (både eksperimentelle og kliniske) om virkningen av fettsyrer og fettalkoholer på overvekts-indusert lavgrads-inflammasjon. I artikkel 2 fant vi at Calanusoljen i bare liten grad endret den mikrobielle sammensetningen i tarmen (mot en sunnere fenotype) hos overvektige mus. Artikkel 3 beskriver en metode (semi-preparativ fastfase ekstraksjon) som vi utviklet for å isolere fettsyrene og fettalkoholene i voksesterne fra Calanusolje. I artikkel 4 fant vi at disse fettsyrene effektivt og på en dose-avhengig måte forbedret overlevelsen til H9c2 hjerteceller som ble eksponert for høye doser av palmitinsyre (mettet fettsyre). Den beskyttende effekten var assosiert med økt fettsyreoksydasjon, som vil redusere såkalt lipotoksisk stress i cellene. Vi konkluderer derfor at inntak av fettsyrene som fins i Calanusoljens voksestere kan brukes som et målrettet terapeutisk prinsipp for å forebygge metabolske forstyrrelser indusert av overvekt

Academic clinical trials run by the transplant committee of the Belgian Hematological Society

The Transplantation Committee of the Belgian Hematological Society (BHS) is supported by all university centers and nonuniversity centers with significant transplant activity. The committee is involved in the development of transplant guidelines and recommendations, the transplant peer review process, contacts with regulatory authorities, the introduction of expanded access and medical need programs and the initiation of academic studies addressing important questions in the transplant field. Since 2008, 8 clinical trials have been initiated after approval by the Ethics Committees and the National Competent Authority (AFMPS/FAGG). So far, one of them has been completed and is being prepared for publication. In this paper, we briefly describe the rationale, objectives, treatment arms, major inclusion criteria and current status of these different trials. In addition and for each trial a link is provided to the BHS website to obtain more details regarding inclusion criteria, participating centers and administrative/contact informatio

Melhoria da atenção ao pré-natal e puerpério na Unidade Básica de Saúde de Vista Verde no município de Natal/RN

Um bom acompanhamento no pré-natal e puerpério são cruciais para a prevenção e/ou detecção precoce de patologias tanto maternas como fetais. A Razão da Mortalidade Materna é utilizada como indicador de avaliação de pobreza, iniquidade social, da cobertura e qualidade da atenção médico-sanitária da população. Em 2013 a razão de mortalidade materna no Brasil foi de 65,6 mortes por 100.000 nascidos vivos, sendo considerada alta. O presente estudo utilizou como público-alvo as gestantes e puérperas atendidas na Unidade Básica de Saúde de Vista Verde no município de Natal-RN. Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo intervencionista e tendo como objetivo principal a obtenção da melhora no acompanhamento do público alvo, alcançando pelo menos 95%, tanto para o pré-natal quanto para o puerpério, associado a uma melhoria na qualidade do serviço prestado. Teve como base o caderno de atenção básica e 2012 – Atenção ao pré-natal de baixo risco do Ministério da Saúde. Nos resultados os índices de cobertura que eram em torno de 39 gestantes (57,9%) no primeiro mês passando para 97,4% do número de gestantes esperados. Um fator limitante na intervenção foi à falta de estrutura que causou um déficit na qualidade do atendimento na área da saúde bucal. A intervenção, na Unidade Básica de Saúde de Vista Verde, resultou na ampliação da cobertura da atenção as gestantes e puérperas, melhoria da qualidade, no registro e envolvimento da equipe com esse grupo alvo

A serological approach to the identification of potato cyst nematodes

The potato cyst nematode species G.rostochiensis and G.pallida are a threat to the cultivation of potatoes. Their presence in the soil embodies a potential financial loss to the farmer either because of harvest reduction, or because of rejection of seed potatoes, and other crops with adhering soil, for certification. Together with crop rotation and the use of nematicides, resistant potato varieties are essential for the control of these parasites. A reliable, simple and quick screening test to characterize and monitor field infestations of potato cyst nematodes according to species should improve possibilities for control, by means of cultivating resistant potato varieties. Both parasites are hard to distinguish, and considerable attention has been paid to the identification of these nematode species by methods other than those based on morphological characteristics. Such methods have mostly been based on biochemical entities, but have not proven suitable for routine applications. In this thesis, the outlines are presented of an immunoassay, which is based on species-differentiating monoclonal antibodies, and which can be used for routine purposes.To raise species-differentiating (monoclonal) antibodies, species-specific antigens must be available. In chapter II the purification of two major groups of heat-stable proteins from homogenates of eggs of G.rostochiensis and G.pallida is described. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed two bands specific for G.rostochiensis with apparent molecular weights of 20.7 kD and 18.0 kD, and three bands specific for G.pallida with apparent molecular weights of 21.0 kD, 20.5 kD and 17.0 kD. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis revealed that actually four thermostable proteins are present in either nematode species, of which two (present in the 17.0 kD and 18.0 kD band respectively) have the same apparent molecular weight but differ in iso-electric point. Conventional antisera made against proteins of either one of the Globodera species were shown to exhibit a strong cross-reactivity with these species-specific proteins.Monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) hold the promise of better differentiating reagents since they recognize a single epitope with a possible reduction in the extent of cross-reactivity. The development of such antibodies using thermostable proteins of either nematode species as an antigen source is described in chapter IV. The antibodies produced by three of the hybridomas (WGP 1, WGP 2 and WGP 3) bind preferentially to thermostable protein antigens of G.pallida while two other hybridomas (WGR 11 and WGR 12) produce antibodies which prefer binding to proteins of G.rostochiensis . Most of the hybridomas which were isolated, however, produce antibodies which bind to thermostable proteins from both potato cyst nematode species. To quantitate the differences in affinity, binding constants were determined (chapter IV) according to the method as described in chapter III. In immunoblotting experiments, it was demonstrated that all G.pallida specific, and some aspecific, McAbs bind to the same two proteins in a mixture of four thermostable proteins from either G.pallida alone, or G.rostochiensis and G.pallida . Besides their very similar physico-chemical characteristics this can be interpreted as another indication that these proteins are homologous. In addition, the reactivity with thermostable proteins from other commonly occurring cyst nematodes was also investigated. Three categories of McAbs could be distinguished: i) WGP 2 and WGP 3, which only bind to thermostable proteins from G.pallida , ii) WGP 1, which binds to proteins of both G.pallida and G.rostochiensis , and iii) all other McAbs, which bind to thermostable proteins of potato cyst, and other cyst nematodes. In chapter V, the topological relationship between the antigenic sites on the G.rostochiensis and G.pallida antigens as defined by six of these McAbs was determined with a competition ELISA.From the McAbs so far characterized, a deliberate choice was made with respect to the development of a routine test for the identification of the potato cyst nematodes G.rostochiensis and G.pallida . In chapter VI, the reactivity of these McAbs in a direct ELISA was predicted and verified with the use of the formerly established binding constants.Thus, the McAbs obtained and characterized in this study establish a basis for the serological identification of the potato cyst nematode species G.rostochiensis and G.pallida by an immunoassay. In chapter VII, the implications of such an assay for the reduction of nematicide applications, and the utilization of resistant potato varieties is discussed

Los retornos en entornos complejos: el caso de Sudán del Sur

Las organizaciones humanitarias deben ser extremadamente cautelosas a la hora de apoyar los retornos y las reubicaciones para asegurarse de que no causan daños ni permiten que la ayuda humanitaria sea instrumentalizada por los actores políticos

A Symbiont-Independent Endo-1,4-β-Xylanase from the Plant-Parasitic Nematode Meloidogyne incognita

Substituted xylan polymers constitute a major part of the hemicellulose fraction of plant cell walls, especially in monocotyledons. Endo-1,4-β-xylanases (EC 3.2.1.8) are capable of hydrolyzing substituted xylan polymers into fragments of random size. Many herbivorous animals have evolved inti- mate relationships with endosymbionts to exploit their enzyme complexes for the degradation of xylan. Here, we report the first finding of a functional endo-1,4-β-xylanase gene from an animal. The gene (Mi-xyl1) was found in the obligate plant-parasitic root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, and encodes a protein that is classified as a member of glycosyl hydrolase family 5. The expression of Mi-xyl1 is localized in the subventral esophageal gland cells of the nematode. Previous studies have shown that M. incognita has the ability to degrade cellulose and pectic polysaccha - rides in plant cell walls independent of endosymbionts. Including our current data on Mi-xyll, we show that the endogenous enzyme complex in root-knot nematode secretions targets essentially all major cell wall carbohydrates to facili-diffusible fragments cleaved from cell wall polysaccharides may act as elicitors of specific disease resistance responses to invading pathogens and parasites (Boudart et al. 1998)

Design of a confocal microfluidic particle sorter using fluorescent photon burst detection

An instrumental system is described for detecting and sorting single fluorescent particles such as microspheres, bacteria, viruses, or even smaller macromolecules in a flowing liquid. The system consists of microfluidic chips (biochips), computer controlled high voltage power supplies, and a fluorescence microscope with confocal optics. The confocal observation volume and detection electro-optics allow measurements of single flowing fluorescent particles. The output of the avalanche photodiode (single photon detector) is coupled to a real-time photon-burst detection device, which output can address the control of high voltage power supplies for sorting purposes. Liquid propulsion systems like electro-osmotic flow and plain electric fields to direct the particles through the observation volume have been tested and evaluated. The detection and real-time sorting of fluorescent microspheres are demonstrated. Applications of these biochips for screening of bacteriophages-type biolibraries are briefly discussed. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics