Spacecraft thermal control design data

This paper shows the actual state of a compilation work on Thermal Control Design Data being done at Madrid (Lamf-ETSIA) under several ESTEC contracts, introducing a Handbook already issued, its additions and updatings

Satisfiability Modulo Transcendental Functions via Incremental Linearization

In this paper we present an abstraction-refinement approach to Satisfiability Modulo the theory of transcendental functions, such as exponentiation and trigonometric functions. The transcendental functions are represented as uninterpreted in the abstract space, which is described in terms of the combined theory of linear arithmetic on the rationals with uninterpreted functions, and are incrementally axiomatized by means of upper- and lower-bounding piecewise-linear functions. Suitable numerical techniques are used to ensure that the abstractions of the transcendental functions are sound even in presence of irrationals. Our experimental evaluation on benchmarks from verification and mathematics demonstrates the potential of our approach, showing that it compares favorably with delta-satisfiability /interval propagation and methods based on theorem proving

Leguminous lectins as tools for studying the role of sugar residues in leukocyte recruitment.

The natural physiological ligands for selectins are oligosaccharides found in glycoprotein or glycolipid molecules in cell membranes. In order to study the role of sugar residues in the in vivo lectin anti-inflammatory effect, we tested three leguminous lectins with different carbohydrate binding affinities in the peritonitis and paw oedema models induced by carrageenin in rats. L. sericeus lectin was more anti-inflammatory than D. virgata lectin, the effects being reversed by their specific binding sugars (N-acetylglucosamine and alpha-methylmannoside, respectively). However, V. macrocarpa, a galactose-specific lectin, was not anti-inflammatory. The proposed anti-inflammatory activity of lectins could be due to a blockage of neutrophil-selectin carbohydrate ligands. Thus, according to the present data, we suggest an important role for N-acetylglucosamine residue as the major ligand for selectins on rat neutrophil membranes

Dopamine Innervation in the Thalamus: Monkey versus Rat

We recently identified the thalamic dopaminergic system in the human and macaque monkey brains, and, based on earlier reports on the paucity of dopamine in the rat thalamus, hypothesized that this dopaminergic system was particularly developed in primates. Here we test this hypothesis using immunohistochemistry against the dopamine transporter (DAT) in adult macaque and rat brains. The extent and density of DAT-immunoreactive (-ir) axons were remarkably greater in the macaque dorsal thalamus, where the mediodorsal association nucleus and the ventral motor nuclei held the densest immunolabeling. In contrast, sparse DAT immunolabeling was present in the rat dorsal thalamus; it was mainly located in the mediodorsal, paraventricular, ventral medial, and ventral lateral nuclei. The reticular nucleus, zona incerta, and lateral habenular nucleus held numerous DAT-ir axons in both species. Ultrastructural analysis in the macaque mediodorsal nucleus revealed that thalamic interneurons are a main postsynaptic target of DAT-ir axons; this suggests that the marked expansion of the dopamine innervation in the primate in comparison to the rodent thalamus may be related to the presence of a sizable interneuron population in primates. We remark that it is important to be aware of brain species differences when using animal models of human brain disease

SAT-based Explicit LTL Reasoning

We present here a new explicit reasoning framework for linear temporal logic (LTL), which is built on top of propositional satisfiability (SAT) solving. As a proof-of-concept of this framework, we describe a new LTL satisfiability tool, Aalta\_v2.0, which is built on top of the MiniSAT SAT solver. We test the effectiveness of this approach by demonnstrating that Aalta\_v2.0 significantly outperforms all existing LTL satisfiability solvers. Furthermore, we show that the framework can be extended from propositional LTL to assertional LTL (where we allow theory atoms), by replacing MiniSAT with the Z3 SMT solver, and demonstrating that this can yield an exponential improvement in performance

Efeito alelopático do extrato bruto de Brachiaria decumbens na germinação e no vigor de sementes e de plântulas de Brachiaria brizantha.

Objetivou-se identificar os possíveis efeitos alelopáticos produzidos pelo extrato bruto de um acesso da coleção de Brachiaria spp da Embrapa Gado de Corte, denominado Brachiaria decumbens BRA001996 na germinação, no vigor de sementes e no vigor de plântulas de três cultivares de B. brizantha (cvs. Marandu, BRS Piatã e Xaraés). As sementes das cultivares foram semeadas em papel germitest, colocadas em gerbox e incubadas em câmara climática com fotoperíodo controlado. Utilizaram-se quatro repetições de 100 sementes para os testes de germinação e vigor e 25 sementes para o teste de vigor de plântulas. O extrato bruto foi obtido das folhas da gramínea, por meio de técnica laboratorial utilizada para detecção e quantificação de avaliação de saponinas esteroidais. Foram avaliadas duas testemunhas: uma somente com água destilada e outra com água destilada e acrescida de 1% de DMSO e quatro concentrações: 1,85g/mL (10%); 3,7g/mL (20%); 5,55g/mL (30%) e 9,25 mg/mL (50%), totalizando seis tratamentos. Observou-se efeito ?dose-resposta? inibitório significativo (P<0,05) em todos as variáveis avaliadas, nas sementes das três cultivares estudadas. Sabendo-se que os compostos hormonais agem estimulando ou inibindo o metabolismo celular, sugere-se que os efeitos alelopáticos observados no presente trabalho possam estar relacionados ao efeito direto das saponinas esteroidais nas células das sementes e das plântulas das B. brizantha avaliadas. Conclui-se que o extrato bruto de Brachiaria decumbens BRA001996 reduz o vigor e a germinação das sementes, bem como o vigor das plântulas de Brachiaria brizantha, cultivares Xaraés, Piatã e Marandu.bitstream/item/68749/1/DOC188.pd

Effect of algae and plant lectins on planktonic growth and biofilm formation in clinically relevant bacteria and yeasts

This study aimed to evaluate the abilities of plant and algae lectins to inhibit planktonic growth and biofilm formation in bacteria and yeasts. Initially, ten lectins were tested on Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and C. tropicalis at concentrations of 31.25 to 250 μg/mL. The lectins from Cratylia floribunda (CFL), Vatairea macrocarpa (VML), Bauhinia bauhinioides (BBL), Bryothamnion seaforthii (BSL), and Hypnea musciformis (HML) showed activities against at least one microorganism. Biofilm formation in the presence of the lectins was also evaluated; after 24 h of incubation with the lectins, the biofilms were analyzed by quantifying the biomass (by crystal violet staining) and by enumerating the viable cells (colony-forming units). The lectins reduced the biofilm biomass and/or the number of viable cells to differing degrees depending on the microorganism tested, demonstrating the different characteristics of the lectins. These findings indicate that the lectins tested in this study may be natural alternative antimicrobial agents; however, further studies are required to better elucidate the functional use of these proteins.This study was supported by the CAPES (Brazil) under the BEX NT 2052/11NT3 Project, by the IBB-CEB and FCT (Portugal), by the European Community Fund FEDER, and by the COMPETE Program under the auspices of the PTDC/SAU-ESA/646091/2006/FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007480 Project. Kyria Santiago Nascimento, Alexandre Holanda Sampaio, Benildo Sousa Cavada, and Edson Holanda Teixeira are Senior Fellows of CNPq. Mr. David Martin helped with the English editing of the paper that was also revised by AJE (American Journal Experts)