Encoding of calcium signals in innate immunity and development

Calcium (Ca2+) is a widely used second messenger in eukaryotes. Spatially-restricted and temporary variations in the concentration of Ca2+ in the cytosol or the nucleus mediate various physiological responses. This is the case of the pathways that control innate immunity or symbiosis in plants. In the first case, a cytosolic Ca2+ burst occurs upon pathogen perception and is required for the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A plasma membrane-localised channel is predicted to mediate this signal, but so far has not been identified. In the second, the Ca2+ oscillations required for establishment of rhizobial and arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses occur in the nucleus. In Medicago truncatula, these are mediated by the potassium-permeable channel DOES NOT MAKE INFECTIONS 1 (DMI1) and the cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGC) 15a/b/c. These genes are conserved in non-symbiotic species, which suggests additional roles for nuclear Ca2+ signalling. In this work, I screened a collection of Ca2+ channel mutants for ROS production upon perception of flg22, the immunogenic peptide of bacterial flagellin and an activator of innate immunity. This led to the identification of a triple mutant in the glutamate receptor-like family, glr3.1glr3.3aglr3.6a, which had a decreased ROS production and reduced induction of the defence gene NHL10, upon treatment with flg22. Furthermore, using a Ca2+ sensor that allows distinction between nuclear and cytosolic Ca2+, I showed that nuclear Ca2+ oscillations, dependent on AtDMI1 and AtCNGC15, occur during normal root growth in Arabidopsis. dmi1 and cngc15 mutants had defects in root development, due to perturbations in endogenous auxin levels. For the first time, nuclear Ca2+ oscillations were linked to auxin-mediated signalling and a key developmental process in a non-symbiotic species. This thesis highlights the dynamic complexity of Ca2+ signalling and the impact that understanding the mechanisms of Ca2+ influx can have in defence and development. Keywords: Calcium, influx, CNGC, GLR, DMI1, defence, root development, auxin

Event-related brain potentials in the study of inhibition: cognitive control, source localization and age-related modulations

In the previous 15 years, a variety of experimental paradigms and methods have been employed to study inhibition. In the current review, we analyze studies that have used the high temporal resolution of the event-related potential (ERP) technique to identify the temporal course of inhibition to understand the various processes that contribute to inhibition. ERP studies with a focus on normal aging are specifically analyzed because they contribute to a deeper understanding of inhibition. Three time windows are proposed to organize the ERP data collected using inhibition paradigms: the 200 ms period following stimulus onset; the period between 200 and 400 ms after stimulus onset; and the period between 400 and 800 ms after stimulus onset. In the first 200 ms, ERP inhibition research has primarily focused on N1 and P1 as the ERP components associated with inhibition. The inhibitory processing in the second time window has been associated with the N2 and P3 ERP components. Finally, in the third time window, inhibition has primarily been associated with the N400 and N450 ERP components. Source localization studies are analyzed to examine the association between the inhibition processes that are indexed by the ERP components and their functional brain areas. Inhibition can be organized in a complex functional structure that is not constrained to a specific time point but, rather, extends its activity through different time windows. This review characterizes inhibition as a set of processes rather than a unitary process

Physical self-perceptions in wheelchair sport participants

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

RETRATO ATUAL DA AGRICULTURA FAMILIAR E PATRONAL NA CIDADE DE UNAÍ/MG

As agriculturas familiar e patronal se distinguem em algumas formas, tornando interessante seu entendimento em separado para melhor formulação de políticas públicas. Este estudo tomou como ponto de partida o trabalho feito por Guanziroli e sua equipe em 2001, demandado pela FAO/INCRA, quando fizeram uma distinção da agricultura familiar e patronal no Brasil. O presente trabalho foi realizado na cidade de Unaí/MG, junto a 1.067 produtores rurais, tendo como objetivo saber quais desses produtores estão inseridos na agricultura familiar e quais são da agricultura patronal, e a partir daí fazer comparações sobre o nível cultural e educacional; o nível gerencial; como se dá a administração familiar e o processo sucessório; a relação de trabalho com seus funcionários; suas formas de captação de recursos financeiros; e sua estrutura ambiental. Também foram feitas algumas comparações sobre o que foi encontrado nos estudos de Guanziroli com o presente trabalho, correlacionando o tamanho da propriedade, acesso a terra, uso de energia elétrica, assistência técnica, dentre outros. Através do resultado da pesquisa de campo, uma das questões que chamaram maior atenção foi saber que os produtores rurais, tanto patronais quanto familiares, desejam que seu trabalho continue na família, mas isso na realidade não está acontecendo, nem há perspectivas de melhoras no futuro.-------------------------------------------Familiar and paternal agriculture if separately distinguishes in some forms, becoming interesting its knowledge for better formularization of public politics. This study the work made for Guanziroli took as starting point and its team in 2001 demanded by the FAO/INCRA, when they had made a distinction of familiar and paternal agriculture in Brazil. The present work was carried through in the city of together Unaí/MG the 1,067 agricultural producers having had as objective to know which of these producers they are inserted in familiar agriculture and which are of paternal agriculture and from making comparisons of both there on the cultural and educational level; the managemental level; as one gives to the familiar administration and the successory process; the relation of work with its employees; its forms of capitation of financial resources; e its ambient structure. Also it was made some comparisons of that it was found in the studies of Guanziroli with the present work, correlating the size of the property, access the land, use of electric energy, assistance technique, amongst others. Through the result of the field research, one of the questions that had called greater attention was to know that the agricultural, in such a way paternal how much familiar producers they desire that its work continues in the family, but this in the reality is not happening, nor has perspectives of improvements in the future.retrato atual, agricultura familiar, agricultura patronal, current picture, familiar agriculture, paternal agriculture, Agricultural and Food Policy,

Three-dimensional oil spill transport and dispersion at sea by an event of blowout

The simulated droplet trajectories of the 3-D model at the Caribbean platform showed that droplets with a diameter of 50 µm formed a distinct subsurface plume, which was transported horizontally and could remain below the surface. This plume could have a very restricted area of impact because the dispersion is only controlled by the ocean currents which, at 1000 m depth, have a low intensity and are quite turbulent. In this case, the formed plume stayed trapped at 1000 m depth, not posing a risk to the Caribbean Coast. In contrast, droplets with diameters of 250 µm, 1 and 10 mm rose rapidly to the surface, even with different velocities (6, 10, 20 ms-1).

TRANSGÊNICO OU CONVENCIONAL: O DILEMA DA SOJA NO MATO GROSSO

O presente artigo procura mostrar quais são os fatores que levam os produtores rurais de Mato Grosso a plantar a soja transgênica em detrimento da convencional, uma vez que a adoção da soja RR traz mudanças na governança dos produtores dentro dessa cadeia. Apesar de haver indícios de que a soja transgênica vai dominar o mercado nacional, é importante saber se isso já está sendo consolidado em Mato Grosso, pois esse é um dos mais representativos no plantio de soja do Brasil, sendo a região de Sorriso a maior produtora mundial em área dessa commoditie. Como aporte teórico para dar sustentação ao trabalho, utilizou-se a Economia dos Custos de Transação (ECT). Diante dos resultados encontrados junto a alguns produtores de Mato Grosso, pode-se inferir que a área plantada com soja transgênica não aumentará muito na safra 2007/8 e que um dos fatores que levaram ao não aumento dessa área foi a baixa produtividade da soja transgênica frente à convencional.------------------------------------------------This paper shearch to show which is the factors that take the agricultural producers of the Mato Grosso to plant the transgenic soybean in detriment of the conventional, a time that the adoption of soybean RR change the form of governance of the producers inside of this chain. Although to have indications of that the transgenic soybean goes to dominate the market national, it is importante to know if this already is being consolidated in Mato Grosso, since this state is one of most representative in the plantation of soybean of Brazil, being the region of Sorriso world-wide the producing greater of this commoditie in area. As it arrives in port theoretical to give sustentation to the work, we use the Economy of the Costs of Transactions (ECT). Ahead of the joined results together to some producers of Mato Grosso, it can be inferred that the area planted with transgenic soybean will not increase very in harvest 2007/8 and that one of the factors that had led to not increase of this area was low the productivity of the transgenic soybean front to the conventional.soja – transgênicos – ECT - soybean – transgenics, Crop Production/Industries,

Retrospective study of the morbidity associated with Erythema Nodosum Leprosum in Brazilian leprosy patients

Introduction: Leprosy patients may develop immune-mediated inflammatory reactions, which are the main cause of nerve function impairment and disability. Among them, Erythema Nodosum Leprosum (ENL) is a potentially life-threatening systemic condition. There are few data on ENL-associated morbidity and mortality, and the need of hospitalisation due to its complications. Material and methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study including patients diagnosed at the Souza Araújo Outpatient Clinic, Rio de Janeiro. All patients had a first ENL episode at the clinic or were admitted to the Evandro Chagas Hospital, between 2005–2010. In 2014, we obtained the required data from the patients’ files to describe ENL morbidity and mortality, including treatment-related adverse events. Results: A total of 112 patients (72% male, median age at diagnosis 35 years, 83% had lepromatous leprosy) developed ENL, among the 676 patients diagnosed with leprosy during the study period. Most of the episodes were chronic and severe. Patients were treated with thalidomide and corticosteroids. Half of the patients receiving corticosteroids had adverse events. 14 patients were hospitalised, ten due to ENL complications. Six patients died, four during the ENL episode. None of these deaths could be considered directly caused by ENL or its treatment.Conclusion: In the group of patients studied, although a high morbidity due to the reaction itself and to the adverse effects of its prolonged treatment was observed, mortality due to ENL was not registered. Prospective studies are required in order to recognise leprosy complications, such as ENL, as consequential causes of death

Pre-exenterative chemotherapy, a novel therapeutic approach for patients with persistent or recurrent cervical cancer

BACKGROUND: Most cervical cancer patients with pelvic recurrent or persistent disease are not candidates for exenteration, therefore, they only receive palliative chemotherapy. Here we report the results of a novel treatment modality for these patients pre-exenterative chemotherapy- under the rational that the shrinking of the pelvic tumor would allow its resection. METHODS: Patients with recurrent or persistent disease and no evidence of systemic disease, considered not be candidates for pelvic exenteration because of the extent of pelvic tumor, received 3-courses of platinum-based chemotherapy. Response was evaluated by CT scan and bimanual pelvic examination; however the decision to perform exenteration relied on the physical findings. Toxicity to chemotherapy was evaluated with standard criteria. Survival was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Seventeen patients were studied. The median number of chemotherapy courses was 4. There were 9 patients who responded to chemotherapy, evaluated by bimanual examination and underwent pelvic exenteration. Four of them had pathological complete response. Eight patients did not respond and were not subjected to surgery. One patient died due to exenteration complications. At a median follow-up of 11 months, the median survival for the whole group was 11 months, 3 months in the non-operated and 32 months in those subjected to exenteration. CONCLUSION: Pre-exenterative chemotherapy is an alternative for cervical cancer patients that are no candidates for exenteration because of the extent of the pelvic disease. Its place in the management of recurrent disease needs to be investigated in randomized studies, however, its value for offering long-term survival in some of these patients with no other option than palliative care must be stressed

The ABC130 barrel module prototyping programme for the ATLAS strip tracker

For the Phase-II Upgrade of the ATLAS Detector, its Inner Detector, consisting of silicon pixel, silicon strip and transition radiation sub-detectors, will be replaced with an all new 100 % silicon tracker, composed of a pixel tracker at inner radii and a strip tracker at outer radii. The future ATLAS strip tracker will include 11,000 silicon sensor modules in the central region (barrel) and 7,000 modules in the forward region (end-caps), which are foreseen to be constructed over a period of 3.5 years. The construction of each module consists of a series of assembly and quality control steps, which were engineered to be identical for all production sites. In order to develop the tooling and procedures for assembly and testing of these modules, two series of major prototyping programs were conducted: an early program using readout chips designed using a 250 nm fabrication process (ABCN-25) and a subsequent program using a follow-up chip set made using 130 nm processing (ABC130 and HCC130 chips). This second generation of readout chips was used for an extensive prototyping program that produced around 100 barrel-type modules and contributed significantly to the development of the final module layout. This paper gives an overview of the components used in ABC130 barrel modules, their assembly procedure and findings resulting from their tests.Comment: 82 pages, 66 figure

Anticoagulant selection in relation to the SAMe-TT2R2 score in patients with atrial fibrillation. the GLORIA-AF registry

Aim: The SAMe-TT2R2 score helps identify patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) likely to have poor anticoagulation control during anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists (VKA) and those with scores >2 might be better managed with a target-specific oral anticoagulant (NOAC). We hypothesized that in clinical practice, VKAs may be prescribed less frequently to patients with AF and SAMe-TT2R2 scores >2 than to patients with lower scores. Methods and results: We analyzed the Phase III dataset of the Global Registry on Long-Term Oral Antithrombotic Treatment in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (GLORIA-AF), a large, global, prospective global registry of patients with newly diagnosed AF and ≥1 stroke risk factor. We compared baseline clinical characteristics and antithrombotic prescriptions to determine the probability of the VKA prescription among anticoagulated patients with the baseline SAMe-TT2R2 score >2 and ≤ 2. Among 17,465 anticoagulated patients with AF, 4,828 (27.6%) patients were prescribed VKA and 12,637 (72.4%) patients an NOAC: 11,884 (68.0%) patients had SAMe-TT2R2 scores 0-2 and 5,581 (32.0%) patients had scores >2. The proportion of patients prescribed VKA was 28.0% among patients with SAMe-TT2R2 scores >2 and 27.5% in those with scores ≤2. Conclusions: The lack of a clear association between the SAMe-TT2R2 score and anticoagulant selection may be attributed to the relative efficacy and safety profiles between NOACs and VKAs as well as to the absence of trial evidence that an SAMe-TT2R2-guided strategy for the selection of the type of anticoagulation in NVAF patients has an impact on clinical outcomes of efficacy and safety. The latter hypothesis is currently being tested in a randomized controlled trial. Clinical trial registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov//Unique identifier: NCT01937377, NCT01468701, and NCT01671007