Digitalización de imágenes del microscopio electrónico de barrido HITACHI HHS-2R

El Laboratorio de Microscopia Aplicada a Estudios Moleculares y Celulares (LAMAE) de la FIUNER, posee un Microscopio Electrónico de Barrido (M.E.B) marca Hitachi, Modelo HHS-2R. Este equipo es del año 1978, y se encuentra en muy buenas condiciones de funcionamiento, pero posee un sistema de registro de imágenes obsoleto que limita drásticamente su utilización. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo principal actualizar el sistema de video analógico  y reemplazar el sistema  original de  fotografía tipo polaroid, por un sistema de digitalización, captura y almacenamiento digital de imágenes. Además como objetivo secundario y no menos importante se propone diseñar e implementar un sistema que simule las señales de video no convencional presentes en el M.E.B para luego ser usado en lugar de éste durante la fase experimental y de validación del sistema de digitalización de imágenes. Por lo expresado anteriormente, el  trabajo realizado se divide en dos tareas principales: el desarrollo del sistema de digitalización de imágenes del microscopio y el desarrollo del sistema que permita realizar las pruebas sobre la placa digitalizadora

Fisiologia

Il volume di Linda Costanzo si rivolge principalmente alle lauree triennali. L'impostazione non è di fisiologia medica ma di fisiologia di base. Il testo descrive i principali concetti di fisiologia sia a livello cellulare (capp. 1 e 2) sia a livello di organo (capp. da 3 a 10). L'autrice ha voluto sempre enfatizzare le relazioni tra i diversi sistemi per sottolineare i meccanismi integrativi per l'omeostasi. Infatti anche le poche correlazioni cliniche relegate all'interno di box sono presentate sempre enfatizzando l’aspetto fisiologico di correlazione tra i diversi sistemi. Ad esempio il diabete mellito di Tipo I ha implicazioni non solo sul sistema endocrino, ma anche cardiovascolare, respiratorio, renale e dell’equilibrio acido-base. Il testo è sintetico e schematico e prevede una relazione molto stretta con l'iconografia. Al termine di ogni capitolo sono riassunti i punti chiave e sono presenti domande di autovalutazione. In realtà la fisiologia è anche una materia “di calcolo” e il vero modo di verificare di aver realmente compreso i principi che la regolano è affrontare problemi/esercizi pratici. Per questo all'interno del testo, viene data una definizione di tutti gli elementi delle equazioni presentate e, più volte all'interno del singolo capitolo, vengono presentati esercizi svolti

Anisotropic ordered Planar Growth of alpha- Sexithienyl Thin Films

We show how the anisotropy of the (1 × 2) reconstructed Au(110) surface can be effectively used to achieve spontaneous ordered planar growth of rodlike conjugated oligomers uniaxially oriented on the substrate. The growth of the first few monolayers of α-sexithienyl (T6) films on the (1 × 2) reconstructed Au(110) surface in ultrahigh vacuum has been investigated by He atom scattering (HAS), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), and low-energy electron diffraction (LEED). T6 molecules lie flat on the substrate forming long chains along the [110] direction of the Au rows. The interchain spacing is coverage dependent and uniaxially commensurate with the substrate along [001]. Three ordered structures with 12, 16, and 20 A periods are formed during the deposition of the first two T6 monolayers. This T6 overlayer acts as a template for the growth of at least five monolayers which are still planar and orientationally ordered

Caspase-1 is involved in the genesis of inflammatory hypernociception by contributing to peripheral IL-1β maturation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Caspase-1 is a cysteine protease responsible for the processing and secretion of IL-1β and IL-18, which are closely related to the induction of inflammation. However, limited evidence addresses the participation of caspase-1 in inflammatory pain. Here, we investigated the role of caspase-1 in inflammatory hypernociception (a decrease in the nociceptive threshold) using caspase-1 deficient mice (casp1-/-).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mechanical inflammatory hypernociception was evaluated using an electronic version of the von Frey test. The production of cytokines, PGE₂and neutrophil migration were evaluated by ELISA, radioimmunoassay and myeloperoxidase activity, respectively. The interleukin (IL)-1β and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression were evaluated by western blotting. The mechanical hypernociception induced by intraplantar injection of carrageenin, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α and CXCL1/KC was reduced in casp1-/- mice compared with WT mice. However, the hypernociception induced by IL-1β and PGE₂did not differ in WT and casp1-/- mice. Carrageenin-induced TNF-α and CXCL1/KC production and neutrophil recruitment in the paws of WT mice were not different from casp1-/- mice, while the maturation of IL-1β was reduced in casp1-/- mice. Furthermore, carrageenin induced an increase in the expression of COX-2 and PGE₂production in the paw of WT mice, but was reduced in casp1-/- mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that caspase-1 plays a critical role in the cascade of events involved in the genesis of inflammatory hypernociception by promoting IL-1β maturation. Because caspase-1 is involved in the induction of COX-2 expression and PGE₂production, our data support the assertion that caspase-1 is a key target to control inflammatory pain.</p

Joint NOD2/RIPK2 Signaling Regulates IL-17 Axis and Contributes to the Development of Experimental Arthritis

Intracellular pattern recognition receptors such as the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors family members are key for innate immune recognition of microbial infection and may play important roles in the development of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatic diseases. In this study, we evaluated the role of NOD1 and NOD2 on development of experimental arthritis. Ag-induced arthritis was generated in wild-type, NOD1(-/-)!, NOD2(-/-), or receptor-interacting serine-threonine kinase 2(-/-) (RIPK2(-/-)) immunized mice challenged intra-articularly with methylated BSA. Nociception was determined by electronic Von Frey test. Neutrophil recruitment and histopathological analysis of proteoglycan lost was evaluated in inflamed joints. Joint levels of inflammatory cytokine/chemokine were measured by ELISA. Cytokine (IL-6 and IL-23) and NOD2 expressions were determined in mice synovial tissue by RT-PCR. The NOD2(-/-) and RIPK2(-/-), but not NOD1(-/-), mice are protected from Ag-induced arthritis, which was characterized by a reduction in neutrophil recruitment, nociception, and cartilage degradation. NOD2/RIPK2 signaling impairment was associated with a reduction in proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines (TNF, IL-1 beta, and CXCL1/KC). IL-17 and IL-17 triggering cytokines (IL-6 and IL-23) were also reduced in the joint, but there is no difference in the percentage of CD4(+) IL-17(+) cells in the lymph node between arthritic wild-type and NOD2(-/-) mice. Altogether, these findings point to a pivotal role of the NOD2/RIPK2 signaling in the onset of experimental arthritis by triggering an IL-17-dependent joint immune response. Therefore, we could propose that NOD2 signaling is a target for the development of new therapies for the control of rheumatoid arthritis. The Journal of Immunology, 2012, 188: 5116-5122.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (Brazil)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (Brazil)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (Brazil)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (Brazil)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (Brazil)Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Brazil)Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Brazil)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do AmazonasFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazona

A contabilidade e o hipertexto: um estudo sobre o uso de websites como meio de disseminação científica contábil por instituições de ensino superior brasileiras Accounting and hypertext: a study on the websites use as a means of disseminating scientific accounting by Brazilian Postsecondary Education Institutions

Este estudo buscou investigar como as Instituições de Ensino Superior (IES) brasileiras utilizam os Websites institucionais para disseminar a produção acadêmico-científica da área contábil. Foi realizado um estudo com IES que oferecem o curso de graduação em Ciências Contábeis e que se submeteram ao Exame Nacional de Cursos (ENC) 2003. O universo de pesquisa compreendeu 461 cursos que se submeteram ao ENC. A amostra foi composta pelos cursos que obtiveram conceitos A, B ou C (médios ou superiores à média) no referido exame, totalizando 303 cursos. A metodologia utilizada foi o estudo empírico-exploratório. Foram efetuados 5.711 registros referentes à produção científica. Concluiu-se que a maneira como as IES pesquisadas utilizam os Websites pode ser considerada tímida, uma vez que um elevado número de Instituições não utiliza os sites como meio de disseminação do conhecimento e as evidências apresentaram forte concentração sob os diversos parâmetros analisados: região geográfica, unidade federativa e conceito no ENC 2003.<br>The present study investigated how the institutional Websites are being used by the Brazilian schools (heretofore "IES") for disseminating accounting academic-scientific knowledge. A research was carried out with those IESs, which offer the undergraduate program in Accounting and were submitted to the National Exam of Educational Programs (ENC) 2003, coordinated by the Ministry of Education. The total research - includes 461 programs in Accounting offered in Brazil that were submitted to the ENC. The sample was composed of the 303 programs graded A, B or C (medium or superior to the average) in the above mentioned Exam. The methodology used was an empiric-exploratory study. - There were 5.711 entries referring to scientific knowledge. The use of Websites by the analyzed IESs can be considered incipient given the high number of institutions that - do not have sites as a way of disseminating - knowledge and the evidences showed strong concentration - according to a few parameters, such as geographical area, States of the Brazilian federation and grades obtained at ENC 2003