Avaliação dos efeitos da adição de sal e da densidade no transporte de tambaqui.

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram testar a eficiência do sal como redutor de estresse e verificar a melhor densidade de transporte de juvenis de tambaqui em caixas de plástico adaptadas

Comparing Mobile Laser Scanner and manual measurements for dendrometric variables estimation in a black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) plantation

The growing demand of ecosystem services provided by forests increased the need for fast and accurate field survey. The recent technological innovations fostered the application of geomatic tools and processes to different fields of the forestry sector. In this study we compared the efficiency and the accuracy of Mobile Laser Scanner (MLS), combined with Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) technology, and traditional field survey for the mensuration of main forest dendrometric variables like stem diameter at breast height (DBH), individual tree height (H), crown base height (CBH) and branch-free stem volume (VOL). With ground truth measurements taken from 50 felled trees, we tested the applicability of MLS technology for individual tree parameters esti-mation in a conifer plantation in central Italy. Our results showed no bias of DBH estimates and the corre-sponding RMSE was equal to 10.8% (2.7 cm). H and CBH measured with MLS were underestimated compared to the ground truth (bias of-8.6% for H and-13.3% for CBH). VOL values showed a bias and a RMSE of-4.1% (-0.01 m(3)) and 12.4% (0.04 m3) respectively. Tree height is not perfectly estimated due to laser obstruction by crowns layer, but the acquisition speed of this survey, joined with a suitable accuracy of parameters extraction, suggests sufficient suitability of the method for operational applications in simple forest structures (e.g. one-layered stands)

Cutting edge: extracellular high mobility group box-1 protein is a proangiogenic cytokine.

The chromosomal high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein acts as a proinflammatory cytokine when released in the extracellular environment by necrotic and inflammatory cells. In the present study, we show that HMGB1 exerts proangiogenic effects by inducing MAPK ERK1/2 activation, cell proliferation, and chemotaxis in endothelial cells of different origin. Accordingly, HMGB1 stimulates membrane ruffling and repair of a mechanically wounded endothelial cell monolayer and causes endothelial cell sprouting in a three-dimensional fibrin gel. In keeping with its in vitro properties, HMGB1 stimulates neovascularization when applied in vivo on the top of the chicken embryo chorioallantoic membrane whose blood vessels express the HMGB1 receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Accordingly, RAGE blockade by neutralizing Abs inhibits HMGB1-induced neovascularization in vivo and endothelial cell proliferation and membrane ruffling in vitro. Taken together, the data identify HMGB1/RAGE interaction as a potent proangiogenic stimulus

Universal photonic processors in a glass-based femtosecond laser writing platform

Femtosecond laser writing (FLW) can open new perspectives on universal photonic processors (UPPs). We propose here two building blocks for the realization of FLW-UPPs and we show the preliminary results obtained on a 6-mode device

Universal photonic processors fabricated by femtosecond laser writing

Universal photonic processors (UPPs) are reconfigurable photonic integrated circuits able to implement arbitrary unitary transformations on an input photonic state. Femtosecond laser writing (FLW) allows for rapid and cost-effective fabrication of circuits with low propagation losses. A FLW process featuring thermal isolation allows for a dramatic reduction in dissipated power and crosstalk in integrated thermally-reconfigurable Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs), especially when operated in vacuum, with 0.9 mW dissipation for full reconfiguration and 0.5% crosstalk at 785 nm wavelength. To demonstrate the potential of this technology we fabricated and characterized a 6-mode FLW-UPP in a rectangular MZI mesh with 30 thermal shifters

Virtual Drug Repositioning as a Tool to Identify Natural Small Molecules That Synergize with Lumacaftor in F508del-CFTR Binding and Rescuing

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease mainly caused by the deletion of the Phe 508 (F508del) of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein that is thus withheld in the endoplasmic reticulum and rapidly degraded by the ubiquitin/proteasome system. Cystic fibrosis remains a potentially fatal disease, but it has become treatable as a chronic condition due to some CFTR-rescuing drugs that, when used in combination, increase in their therapeutic effect due to a synergic action. Also, dietary supplementation of natural compounds in combination with approved drugs could represent a promising strategy to further alleviate cystic fibrosis symptoms. On these bases, we screened by in silico drug repositioning 846 small synthetic or natural compounds from the AIFA database to evaluate their capacity to interact with the highly druggable lumacaftor binding site of F508del-CFTR. Among the identified hits, nicotinamide (NAM) was predicted to accommodate into the lumacaftor binding region of F508del-CFTR without competing against the drug but rather stabilizing its binding. The effective capacity of NAM to bind F508del-CFTR in a lumacaftor-uncompetitive manner was then validated experimentally by surface plasmon resonance analysis. Finally, the capacity of NAM to synergize with lumacaftor increasing its CFTR-rescuing activity was demonstrated in cell-based assays. This study suggests the possible identification of natural small molecules devoid of side effects and endowed with the capacity to synergize with drugs currently employed for the treatment of cystic fibrosis, which hopefully will increase the therapeutic efficacy with lower doses

Antiangiogenic activity of semisynthetic biotechnological heparins: low-molecular-weight-sulfated Escherichia coli K5 polysaccharide derivatives as fibroblast growth factor antagonists.

OBJECTIVE: Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) exerts antitumor activity in clinical trials. The K5 polysaccharide from Escherichia coli has the same structure as the heparin precursor. Chemical and enzymatic modifications of K5 polysaccharide lead to the production of biotechnological heparin-like compounds. We investigated the fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2) antagonist and antiangiogenic activity of a series of LMW N,O-sulfated K5 derivatives. METHODS AND RESULTS: Surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that LMW-K5 derivatives bind FGF2, thus inhibiting its interaction with heparin immobilized to a BIAcore sensor chip. Interaction of FGF2 with tyrosine-kinase receptors (FGFRs), heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), and alpha(v)beta3 integrin is required for biological response in endothelial cells. Similar to LMWH, LMW-K5 derivatives abrogate the formation of HSPG/FGF2/FGFR ternary complexes by preventing FGF2-mediated attachment of FGFR1-overexpressing cells to HSPG-bearing cells and inhibit FGF2-mediated endothelial cell proliferation. However, LMW-K5 derivatives, but not LMWH, also inhibit FGF2/alpha(v)beta3 integrin interaction and consequent FGF2-mediated endothelial cell sprouting in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane. CONCLUSIONS: LMW N,O-sulfated K5 derivatives affect both HSPG/FGF2/FGFR and FGF2/alpha(v)beta3 interactions and are endowed with FGF2 antagonist and antiangiogenic activity. These compounds may provide the basis for the design of novel LMW heparin-like angiostatic compounds

Seroprevalence of five neglected parasitic diseases among immigrants accessing five infectious and tropical diseases units in Italy: a cross-sectional study.

: This multicentre cross-sectional study aims to estimate the prevalence of five neglected tropical diseases (Chagas disease, filariasis, schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, toxocariasis) among immigrants accessing health care facilities in five Italian cities (Bologna, Brescia, Florence, Rome, Verona). : Individuals underwent a different set of serological tests, according to country of origin and presence of eosinophilia. Seropositive patients were treated and further followed up. : A total of 930 adult immigrants were enrolled: 477 men (51.3%), 445 women (47.9%), 8 transgender (0.8%); median age was 37.81 years (range 18-80). Most of them were coming from the African continent (405/930, 43.5%), the rest from East Europe, South America and Asia. A portion of 9.6% (89/930) were diagnosed with at least one of the infections under study. Seroprevalence of each specific infection varied from 3.9% (7/180) for Chagas diseases to 9.7% (11/113) for toxocariasis. Seropositive people were more likely to be 35 to 40 years-old male and to come from South East Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa or South America. : The results of our study confirm that neglected tropical diseases represent a substantial health problem among immigrants and highlight the need for addressing this emerging public health issue.<br/