Retention of copper(II) metal ions in a silicon-glass microfluidic device

This work describes the construction of a silicon microchip for retention of copper(II) metal ions. Conventional photolithographic process was applied to transfer the generated pattern to silicon wafers. Using Reactive Ion Etching (RIE), SF6 based, channels 50 mu m wide and 10 mu m deep were produced. The channels were sealed with borosilicate glass using anodic bonding process. The surface of the channels were modified with N-(beta-aminoethyl)-gamma-aminopropyl-trimetoxysilane through a silanization reaction to promote the adsorption of copper(II) ions. An amperometric detector was placed at the microchip outlet and copper(II) ions were detected by a gold electrode at 0 V (against Ag/AgCl(KCl sat.) reference electrode). Copper(II) ions were retained and eluted with HCl 50 mu mol L-1 in a micro-flow system at a flow rate about 100 mu L min(-1). Reproducibility in the peak area and height were about 4.6 % and 10 %, respectively, for three consecutive injections of 600 mu L of 10 mu mol L-1 copper(II) sample.1881531153

Improving the Creation of Hot Spot Policing Patrol Routes: Comparing Cognitive Heuristic Performance to an Automated Spatial Computation Approach

Hot spot policing involves the deployment of police patrols to places where high levels of crime have previously concentrated. The creation of patrol routes in these hot spots is mainly a manual process that involves using the results from an analysis of spatial patterns of crime to identify the areas and draw the routes that police officers are required to patrol. In this article we introduce a computational approach for automating the creation of hot spot policing patrol routes. The computational techniques we introduce created patrol routes that covered areas of higher levels of crime than an equivalent manual approach for creating hot spot policing patrol routes, and were more efficient in how they covered crime hot spots. Although the evidence on hot spot policing interventions shows they are effective in decreasing crime, the findings from the current research suggest that the impact of these interventions can potentially be greater when using the computational approaches that we introduce for creating hot spot policing patrol routes

Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and calprotectin in equine laminar tissue after jejunal obstruction, treated or not with hidrocortisone

Laskoski L.M., Valadao C.A.A., Vasconcelos R.O., Faleiros R.R., Mendes H.M.F., Ferrucci D., Silva J.A.F. & Machado D.D.R.S. 2012. [Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and calprotectin in equine laminar tissue after jejunal obstruction, treated or not with hidrocortisone.] Lipocalina associada a gelatinase de neutrofilos (NGAL) e calprotectina no tecido laminar de equinos apos obstrucao jejunal, tratados ou nao com hidrocortisona. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 32(9):817-823. Departamento de Clinica e Cirurgia Veterinaria, Faculdade de Ciencias Agrarias e Veterinarias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane s/n, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] Laminitis is a severe hoof condition in horses that may cause intense suffering. In this study, leukocyte infiltration in hoof laminar tissue was investigated in horses subject to intestinal obstruction using immunohistochemistry to detect calprotectin, and zymography to detect neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL). There were four groups: the Control Group (Gc), with seven horses, without surgical procedures; the Sham-operated Group (Gi), with five horses that were subjected to surgical procedure without intestinal obstruction; the No Treat group (Gnt), with four horses subjected to intestinal obstruction (jejunal distention using an intraluminal balloon) without treatment; and Treated group (Gt), with four horses subjected to intestinal obstruction and treated with hydrocortisone. Positive calprotectin imunostaining was detected in all experimental groups, with increase cell counts in horses of the distended group compared with the control group. NGAL expression was increased in Gd compared with Gc e Gi. The Gt did not differ from the others. In conclusion, small intestine distension can promote leukocyte in filtration in equine hoof laminar tissue, and NGAL zymography was considered a useful method for leukocyte tissue detection in horses. New studies will be conducted to verify the possible beneficial anti-inflammatory effects of hydrocortisone in hoof of horses with intestinal obstruction.32981782

Effect of dietary omega-3 fatty acids on castrate-resistant prostate cancer and tumor-associated macrophages.

BackgroundM2-like macrophages are associated with the pathogenesis of castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We sought to determine if dietary omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FAs) delay the development and progression of CRPC and inhibit tumor-associated M2-like macrophages.MethodsMycCap cells were grown subcutaneously in immunocompetent FVB mice. Mice were castrated when tumors reached 300 mm2. To study effects of dietary ω-3 FAs on development of CRPC, ω-3 or ω-6 diets were started 2 days after castration and mice sacrificed after early regrowth of tumors. To study ω-3 FA effects on progression of CRPC, tumors were allowed to regrow after castration before starting the diets. M2 (CD206+) macrophages were isolated from allografts to examine ω-3 FA effects on macrophage function. Omega-3 fatty acid effects on androgen-deprived RAW264.7 M2 macrophages were studied by RT-qPCR and a migration/ invasion assay.ResultsThe ω-3 diet combined with castration lead to greater MycCap tumor regression (tumor volume reduction: 182.2 ± 33.6 mm3) than the ω-6 diet (tumor volume reduction: 148.3 ± 35.2; p = 0.003) and significantly delayed the time to CRPC (p = 0.006). Likewise, the ω-3 diet significantly delayed progression of established castrate-resistant MycCaP tumors (p = 0.003). The ω-3 diet (as compared to the ω-6 diet) significantly reduced tumor-associated M2-like macrophage expression of CSF-1R in the CRPC development model, and matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the CRPC progression model. Migration of androgen-depleted RAW264.7 M2 macrophages towards MycCaP cells was reversed by addition of docosahexaenoic acid (ω-3).ConclusionsDietary omega-3 FAs (as compared to omega-6 FAs) decreased the development and progression of CRPC in an immunocompetent mouse model, and had inhibitory effects on M2-like macrophage function. Clinical trials are warranted evaluating if a fish oil-based diet can delay the time to castration resistance in men on androgen deprivation therapy, whereas further preclinical studies are warranted evaluating fish oil for more advanced CRPC

Image analysis technique as a tool to identify morphological changes in Trametes versicolor pellets according to exopolysaccharide or laccase production

Image analysis technique was applied to identify morphological changes of pellets from white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor on agitated submerged cultures during the production of exopolysaccharide (EPS) or ligninolytic enzymes. Batch tests with four different experimental conditions were carried out. Two different culture media were used, namely yeast medium or Trametes defined medium and the addition of lignolytic inducers as xylidine or pulp and paper industrial effluent were evaluated. Laccase activity, EPS production, and final biomass contents were determined for batch assays and the pellets morphology was assessed by image analysis techniques. The obtained data allowed establishing the choice of the metabolic pathways according to the experimental conditions, either for laccase enzymatic production in the Trametes defined medium, or for EPS production in the rich Yeast Medium experiments. Furthermore, the image processing and analysis methodology allowed for a better comprehension of the physiological phenomena with respect to the corresponding pellets morphological stages.The authors acknowledge Portucel-Empresa de Celulose e Papel, Cacia, Portugal, SA for the pulp and paper Kraft effluent used in this work. This work was funded by FEDER Funds through the Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade-COMPETE, and national funds through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia under the projects PEst-C/CTM/LA/0011/2013 and PEst-C/EQB/LA0020/2013. A. P. M. Tavares acknowledge the financial support of (Programme Ciencia 2008) FCT, Portugal

The role of protected areas in the avoidance of anthropogenic conversion in a high pressure region : a matching method analysis in the core region of the brazilian cerrado

Global efforts to avoid anthropogenic conversion of natural habitat rely heavily on the establishment of protected areas. Studies that evaluate the effectiveness of these areas with a focus on preserving the natural habitat define effectiveness as a measure of the influence of protected areas on total avoided conversion. Changes in the estimated effectiveness are related to local and regional differences, evaluation methods, restriction categories that include the protected areas, and other characteristics. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of protected areas to prevent the advance of the conversion of natural areas in the core region of the Brazil’s Cerrado Biome, taking into account the influence of the restriction degree, governmental sphere, time since the establishment of the protected area units, and the size of the area on the performance of protected areas. The evaluation was conducted using matching methods and took into account the following two fundamental issues: control of statistical biases caused by the influence of covariates on the likelihood of anthropogenic conversion and the non-randomness of the allocation of protected areas throughout the territory (spatial correlation effect) and the control of statistical bias caused by the influence of auto-correlation and leakage effect. Using a sample design that is not based on ways to control these biases may result in outcomes that underestimate or overestimate the effectiveness of those units. The matching method accounted for a bias reduction in 94–99% of the estimation of the average effect of protected areas on anthropogenic conversion and allowed us to obtain results with a reduced influence of the auto-correlation and leakage effects. Most protected areas had a positive influence on the maintenance of natural habitats, although wide variation in this effectiveness was dependent on the type, restriction, governmental sphere, size and age group of the unit