The indefinite-interrogative affinity in sign languages: the case of Catalan Sign Language

Prior studies on spoken languages have shown that indefinite and interrogative pronouns may be formally very similar. Our research aims to understand if sign languages exhibit this type of affinity. This paper presents an overview of the phenomenon and reports on the results of two studies: a cross-linguistic survey based on a sample of 30 sign languages and an empirical investigation conducted with three deaf consultants of Catalan Sign Language (LSC). Our research shows that, in sign languages, certain signs have both existential and interrogative readings and it identifies the environments that make existential interpretations available in LSC

Severe intracranial haemorrhage in neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia

Neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia is a rare (1/1000-5000 births) life-threatening disorder, caused by fetomaternal incompatibility for a fetal human platelet alloantigen inherited from the father, with production of maternal alloantibodies against fetal platelets, leading to severe thrombocytopenia and potential bleeding. Intracranial haemorrhage is the most feared complication. This report presents the case of a term newborn infant, born from caesarean section after a normal pregnancy, presenting signs of skin bleeding with different ages. Obstetric history included a previous spontaneous abortion after amniocentesis. Severe thrombocytopenia (4×10(9)/l platelets) was found and brain ultrasound showed multiple intracranial haemorrhages. Human platelet antigen (HPA) phenotyping showed maternal negative HPA-1a and paternal positive HPA-1a platelets. Strongly positive anti-HPA-1a and weakly positive anti-human leukocyte antigen class I alloantibodies were found in the mother. Multiple platelet transfusions, intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroid were given but favourable response was accomplished only after a compatible platelet transfusion. Brain MRI showed multiple subacute and chronic haemorrhages

Influence of geological material and about content of heavy metals in superficial horizons of L:1 Coruñ:1 soils

[Resumen] Los contenidos totales de Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co y Mn en horizontes superficiales de suelos desarrollados sobre diferentes materiales geológicos de la provincia de La Coruña, ponen de manifiesto la importancia del factor litológico respecto a los aportes de origen antrópico. Los suelos sobre rocas ultramáficas y máficas muestran contenidos de Cr, Ni YCu que superan en muchas ocasiones los umbrales considerados de fitotoxicidad por diferentes autores. Le siguen los esquistos ricos en biotita, mientras que sobre granitos y pizarras se obtienen los valores medios más bajos. Los resultados obtenidos permiten realizar una primera aproximación acerca de la «aptitud» de los suelos de cultivo como receptores de lodos residuales..[Abstract] The total contents of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Co and Mn in superficial horizons of soils that are developed on different geological materials of La Coruña region (Spain), reveal the importance of the lithologic factor with respect to the contribution of anthropic. origino The soils on ultramafic and mafic rocks show contents of Cr, Ni and Cu that are many times higher than threshold considered phytotoxic by different authors. These are followed by the schists, rich in biotite, while the lowest average values are obtained on granites and slates. The obtained results allow a first approach about the «attitude» of the cultivable soils as receptore of waste sludge

Studies of mass transfer coefficients in denitrifying biofilms

Mass transfer coefficients within denitrifying biofilms were determined with an inert compound (LiCl) using two different flow conditions in a membrane flow cell and feeding an easily degradable substrate. The experiments were made until the biofilm reached steady state. The results obtained from the biofilm mass transfer experiments show that the biofilms grown under these two different conditions reach similar values in the steady state. However, the mass transport was higher during biofilm formation, for the biofilm developed under higher upflow velocity.Comissão Europeia, TMR program (project BioToBio); Spanish CICYT (project AMB 98-0288)

Use of a membrane flow cell to measure average mass transfer coefficients in denitrifying biofilms

Average mass transfer coefficients within denitrifying biofilms were determined during biofilm growth with an inert compound (LiCl) in a membrane flow cell at different flow conditions, until the biofilm reached (pseudo-) steady state. Similar values were obtained for the steady-state mass transfer coefficients of LiCl within the different biofilms. However, those coefficients were higher during the transient period of biofilm growth for the biofilm developed under the highest upflow velocity.Xunta de Galicia, project BioToBi

A technique using a membrane flow cell to determine average mass transfer coefficients and tortuosity factors in biofilms

Average mass transfer coefficients of an inert compound (LiCl) within denitrifying biofilms were monitored during biofilm growth in a membrane flow cell under different flow conditions, until the biofilm reached (pseudo-) steady state. Average effective diffusivities were found to increase with the decrease in tortuosity factors of the biofilm matrix. The lowest tortuosity factor corresponded to the biofilm formed under the highest liquid velocity.União Europeia - BioToBio - ERBFMRXCT97-0114. Centro de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CICYT) - AMB 98-0288, PR404E 2000/6-

Comparison of ELISA and HPLC-MS methods for the determination of exenatide in biological and biotechnology-based formulation matrices

The development of biotechnology-based active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as GLP-1 analogs, brought changes in type 2 diabetes treatment options. For better therapeutic efficiency, these active pharmaceutical ingredients require appropriate administration, without the development of adverse effects or toxicity. Therefore, it is required to develop several quantification methods for GLP-1 analogs products, in order to achieve the therapeutic goals, among which ELISA and HPLC arise. These methods are developed, optimized and validated in order to determine GLP-1 analogs, not only in final formulation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, but also during preclinical and clinical trials assessment. This review highlights the role of ELISA and HPLC methods that have been used during the assessment for GLP-1 analogs, especially for exenatide

Melanin nanoparticles as a promising tool for biomedical applications – a review

Melanin is a biopolymer of easy and cheap availability that can be found among the living organisms and excels for its biocompatibility and biodegradability properties, along with scavenging abilities, metal chelation and electronic conductance. This biomaterial can act as a nanocarrier or agent itself to be used in diverse biomedical applications, such as imaging, controlled drug release, bioengineering and bioelectronics, antioxidant applications and theranostics. In this review, the melanin source and structure, its physicochemical properties, melanin-like polymers as well as the differences among those will be elucidated. The focus will be the discussion of the current approaches that apply melanin nanoparticles (MNPs) and melanin-like nanoparticles (MLNPs) in the biomedical field, to which promising capabilities have been attributed, regarding optoelectronic, photoconductivity and photoacoustic. The use of these nanoparticles, in the last 10 years, in topics as drug delivery or theranostics will be detailed and the major achievements will be discussed. Overall, we anticipate that melanin can drive us toward a new paradigm in medical diagnostics and treatments, since applying melanin features possibly its use as a theranostics nanocarrier agent, not only for diagnostics, but also for photothermal therapy and controlled drug release through chemotherapy.VM Correlo would like to acknowledge FROnTHERA (NORTE-01–0145-FEDER-0000232) project. RRebelo would like to acknowledge BREAST-IT PTDC/BTM-ORG/28168/2017 project

Quantificação dos constituintes majoritários de extratos de timbó (Derris ssp e Lonchocarpus ssp).

Projeto 03.10.01.026.00.0