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1.
Int J Pharm ; 645: 123361, 2023 Oct 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37673280

RESUMO

Positron Emission Particle Tracking (PEPT) is a non-invasive measurement technique which offers the ability to track the motion of individual particles with high temporal and spatial resolution, and thus build up an understanding of the bulk behaviour of a system from its microscopic (particle level) dynamics. Using this measurement technique, we have developed a series of novel metrics to better understand the behaviours of powders during the steady-state operation of a continuous blender system. Results are presented concerning the response of particle motion to processing parameters (mixing blade configuration and RPM), quantifying the motion in terms of predicted mixing performance. It was found that both increasing rpm and increasing hold-up mass (by selecting fewer transport blades and more mixing blades) provided improved mixing conditions. Interestingly, under specific conditions, there is evidence of convection-like mixing occurring at the interface of the transport and mixing region. This suggests the existence of a potential 'folding region' whereby powder is transported up the barrel (and away from the powder bulk bed) before being reconstituted back into the bulk mass. The results also provide valuable experimental data for the development, calibration and validation of future Discrete Element Method (DEM) simulations.


Assuntos
Elétrons , Pós , Tamanho da Partícula
2.
J Hosp Infect ; 129: 8-16, 2022 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36049573

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Normal skin flora and suboptimal skin antisepsis are the primary drivers of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Antimicrobial persistence of preoperative skin preparation is necessary to limit microorganisms on the skin and help minimize their entry into an incision or device-insertion site after application. AIM: To assess the antimicrobial persistence of two preoperative skin preparation solutions. METHODS: A randomized, single-centre, partially blinded, clinical study was conducted in 103 healthy volunteers to evaluate the persistent antimicrobial properties of BD ChloraPrep™ (2% w/v chlorhexidine gluconate [CHG] + 70% v/v isopropyl alcohol [IPA]) and BD PurPrep™ (8.3% w/w povidone-iodine [PVPI] + 72.5% w/w IPA) skin preparations out to 7 days and 96 h, respectively, on abdomen and groin testing sites. An additional 32 healthy volunteers participated in a neutralization procedure to ensure that the study recovery solution was non-toxic to microorganisms, and a spore-recovery procedure to demonstrate that microorganisms could be successfully recovered from the PVP-I+IPA film-forming product. FINDINGS: Both CHG+IPA and PVP-I+IPA produced a mean bacterial log10 reduction >2 and >3 on the abdomen and groin, respectively, 10 min after application. CHG+IPA maintained antimicrobial persistence out to 7 days post application, whereas PVP-I+IPA maintained antimicrobial persistence out to 96 h post application, the longest time-point selected for this product. CONCLUSION: CHG+IPA and PVP-I+IPA were both found to be effective, persistent antiseptic skin preparations. Overall, skin irritation was uncommon, and only one adverse event occurred following product application, which was not considered product-related but was considered procedure-related.


Assuntos
2-Propanol , Anti-Infecciosos Locais , Humanos , 2-Propanol/farmacologia , Povidona-Iodo/farmacologia , Cuidados Pré-Operatórios/métodos , Clorexidina/farmacologia , Anti-Infecciosos Locais/farmacologia , Antibacterianos , Álcoois
3.
Neurochem Res ; 45(7): 1592-1601, 2020 Jul.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32274627

RESUMO

Ethanol consumption typically begins during adolescence and is associated with age-dependent responses and maladaptive neuronal consequences. Our previous work established the role of a putative signaling cascade involving cytoplasmic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), arachidonic acid (AA) and novel protein kinase C isoforms in adolescent hypnotic sensitivity. The current study aimed to further delineate this pathway by ascertaining the cellular specificity as well as the upstream activators of cPLA2 using an immature cultured cortical preparation. A threefold increase in cPLA2 was detected within 2 min of 100 mM ethanol exposure as measured by phosphorylation of serine 505 (Ser505). Increases in cPLA2 activity were further observed to be primarily confined to neuronal cells. Increases in the number of neurons co-expressing cPLA2 Ser505 phosphorylation were prevented by preincubation with an ERK1/2 inhibitor, but not P38 MAPK inhibition. Finally, conditioned media studies were used to determine whether glial cells were involved in the ethanol-induced neuronal cPLA2 activity. Rapid increases in neuronal cPLA2 activity appears to be initiated through ethanol stimulated microglial, but not astrocytic releasable factors. Taken together, these data extend the proposed signaling cascade involved in developmental ethanol responding.


Assuntos
Córtex Cerebral/metabolismo , Etanol/toxicidade , Fosfolipases A2 do Grupo IV/metabolismo , Sistema de Sinalização das MAP Quinases/fisiologia , Microglia/metabolismo , Neurônios/metabolismo , Animais , Animais Recém-Nascidos , Células Cultivadas , Córtex Cerebral/efeitos dos fármacos , Córtex Cerebral/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Feminino , Sistema de Sinalização das MAP Quinases/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Microglia/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley
4.
Phys Ther Sport ; 40: 169-176, 2019 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31574410

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: Establish between-day test-retest reliability metrics for 2-dimensional frontal plane projection angles (FPPAs) during the lateral step-down (LSD), single-limb squat (SLS), single-limb landing (SLL), and drop vertical jump (DVJ). DESIGN: Test-retest reliability study. SETTING: University laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: 20 healthy adults (12 female, age = 23.60 ±â€¯1.93 years old, body mass index = 24.26 ±â€¯2.54 kg/m2) were tested on 2 separate occasions 7-14 days apart. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), standard errors of the measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC) values across the LSD, SLS, SLL, and DVJ for the following body region variables: trunk, trunk on pelvis, pelvis, hip, thigh to vertical, knee, and shank to vertical. RESULTS: There was moderate-to-substantial between-day test-retest reliability for nearly all body regions across all tasks (ICC = 0.65-0.96). SEM values varied across body regions and tasks (0.9-3.5°). MDCs were variable (2.3-9.8°). Of the body regions, MDCs were largest for the knee and hip. By task, MDCs were lowest for the LSD. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified between-day test-retest reliability metrics for 2-dimensional FPPAs across a variety of body regions during commonly assessed clinical tasks. These data allow clinicians and researchers to more confidently assess true change between assessments or over time.


Assuntos
Teste de Esforço/normas , Movimento , Adulto , Fenômenos Biomecânicos , Feminino , Quadril , Humanos , Joelho , Articulação do Joelho , Masculino , Pelve , Postura , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Tronco , Gravação em Vídeo , Adulto Jovem
5.
Analyst ; 142(11): 2020-2028, 2017 May 30.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28487921

RESUMO

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are widely used in biomedical applications for drug targeting and bioimaging. This often neccesitates their functionalization with biomolecules carrying a defined biological function, yielding gold nanoparticle bioconjugates. The utilization of triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) as ligands gives access to nanoconjugates as tools for specific DNA-related nanotargeting via triplex hybridization. Since triplex hybridization with nanobioconjugates has to date not been shown on biologically relevant samples, sex-specific sperm marking may be an appropriate model system to demonstrate the opportunities of this targeting method in vitro. In this study, we focused on specific labeling of repetitive target sites enriched on the bovine Y-chromosome using triplex forming oligonucleotides. First, the functionality of a specific locked nucleic acid (LNA) sequence was confirmed on bovine free DNA and on demembranated sperm heads. Thereafter, the influence of AuNPs on triplex hybridization was spectrophotometrically analyzed employing synthetic dsDNA, genomic DNA and demembranated sperm heads. Results from the SPR-peak shift indicate that TFO-AuNP hybridize to bovine gDNA in a qualitative and significant manner. These results confirm successful triplex hybridization on biologically relevant target sites as well as the establishment of a method to use gold nanoparticles as a suitable tool for sex-selective hybridization.


Assuntos
Bovinos/genética , DNA/análise , Ouro , Nanopartículas Metálicas , Hibridização de Ácido Nucleico , Espermatozoides , Cromossomo Y/genética , Animais , Masculino
6.
Water Res ; 117: 9-17, 2017 06 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28364654

RESUMO

Online monitoring of groundwater quality in shallow wells to detect faecal or organic pollution could dramatically improve understanding of health risks in unplanned peri-urban settlements. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are devices able to generate electricity from the organic matter content in faecal pollution making them suitable as biosensors. In this work, we evaluate the suitability of four microbial fuel cell systems placed in different regions of a groundwater well for the low-cost monitoring of a faecal pollution event. Concepts created include the use of a sediment/bulk liquid MFC (SED/BL), a sediment/sediment MFC (SED/SED), a bulk liquid/air MFC (BL/Air), and a bulk liquid/bulk liquid MFC (BL/BL). MFC electrodes assembly aimed to use inexpensive, durable, materials, which would produce a signal after a contamination event without external energy or chemical inputs. All MFC configurations were responsive to a contamination event, however SED/SED and BL/Air MFC concepts failed to deliver a reproducible output within the tested period of time. BL/BL MFC and SED/BL MFCs presented an increase in the average current after contamination from -0.75 ± 0.35 µA to -0.66 ± 0.41 µA, and 0.07 ± 0.2 mA to 0.11 ± 0.03 mA, respectively. Currents produced by the SED/BL MFC (SMFC) were considerably higher than for the BL/BL MFCs, making them more responsive, readable and graphically visible. A factorial design of experiments (DOE) was applied to evaluate which environmental and design factors had the greatest effect on current response in a contamination event. Within the ranges of variables tested, salinity, temperature and external resistance, only temperature presented a statistically significant effect (p = 0.045). This showed that the biosensor response would be sensitive to fluctuations in temperature but not to changes in salinity, or external resistances produced from placing electrodes at different distances within a groundwater well.


Assuntos
Fontes de Energia Bioelétrica , Eletricidade , Técnicas Biossensoriais , Eletrodos , Água Subterrânea
7.
Neuropharmacology ; 117: 124-133, 2017 05 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28163104

RESUMO

Anxiety disorders are one of the most common and debilitating mental illnesses worldwide. Growing evidence indicates an age-dependent rise in the incidence of anxiety disorders from adolescence through adulthood, suggestive of underlying neurodevelopmental mechanisms. Kappa opioid receptors (KORs) are known to contribute to the development and expression of anxiety; however, the functional role of KORs in the basolateral amygdala (BLA), a brain structure critical in mediating anxiety, particularly across ontogeny, are unknown. Using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in acute brain slices from adolescent (postnatal day (P) 30-45) and adult (P60+) male Sprague-Dawley rats, we found that the KOR agonist, U69593, increased the frequency of GABAA-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in the adolescent BLA, without an effect in the adult BLA or on sIPSC amplitude at either age. The KOR effect was blocked by the KOR antagonist, nor-BNI, which alone did not alter GABA transmission at either age, and the effect of the KOR agonist was TTX-sensitive. Additionally, KOR activation did not alter glutamatergic transmission in the BLA at either age. In contrast, U69593 inhibited sIPSC frequency in the central amygdala (CeA) at both ages, without altering sIPSC amplitude. Western blot analysis of KOR expression indicated that KOR levels were not different between the two ages in either the BLA or CeA. This is the first study to provide compelling evidence for a novel and unique neuromodulatory switch in one of the primary brain regions involved in initiating and mediating anxiety that may contribute to the ontogenic rise in anxiety disorders.


Assuntos
Envelhecimento/fisiologia , Complexo Nuclear Basolateral da Amígdala/metabolismo , Receptores Opioides kappa/fisiologia , Ácido gama-Aminobutírico/fisiologia , Animais , Complexo Nuclear Basolateral da Amígdala/efeitos dos fármacos , Benzenoacetamidas/antagonistas & inibidores , Benzenoacetamidas/farmacologia , Ácido Glutâmico/fisiologia , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos Inibidores/efeitos dos fármacos , Masculino , Naltrexona/análogos & derivados , Naltrexona/farmacologia , Pirrolidinas/antagonistas & inibidores , Pirrolidinas/farmacologia , Ratos , Receptores Opioides kappa/agonistas , Receptores Opioides kappa/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores Opioides kappa/biossíntese , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacos
8.
Neuropharmacology ; 107: 181-188, 2016 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27016017

RESUMO

Mounting evidence indicates that ethanol (EtOH) exposure activates neuroimmune signaling. Alterations in pro-inflammatory cytokines after acute and chronic EtOH exposure have been heavily investigated. In contrast, little is known about the regulation of neurotransmission and/or modulation by anti-inflammatory cytokines in the brain after an acute EtOH exposure. Recent evidence suggests that interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory cytokine, is upregulated during withdrawal from chronic EtOH exposure. In the present study, we show that IL-10 is increased early (1 h) after a single intoxicating dose of EtOH (5 g/kg, intragastric) in Sprague Dawley rats. We also show that IL-10 rapidly regulates GABAergic transmission in dentate gyrus neurons. In brain slice recordings, IL-10 application dose-dependently decreases miniature inhibitory postsynaptic current (mIPSC) area and frequency, and decreases the magnitude of the picrotoxin sensitive tonic current (Itonic), indicating both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms. A PI3K inhibitor LY294002 (but not the negative control LY303511) ablated the inhibitory effects of IL-10 on mIPSC area and Itonic, but not on mIPSC frequency, indicating the involvement of PI3K in postsynaptic effects of IL-10 on GABAergic transmission. Lastly, we also identify a novel neurobehavioral regulation of EtOH sensitivity by IL-10, whereby IL-10 attenuates acute EtOH-induced hypnosis. These results suggest that EtOH causes an early release of IL-10 in the brain, which may contribute to neuronal hyperexcitability as well as disturbed sleep seen after binge exposure to EtOH. These results also identify IL-10 signaling as a potential therapeutic target in alcohol-use disorders and other CNS disorders where GABAergic transmission is altered.


Assuntos
Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Depressores do Sistema Nervoso Central/farmacologia , Etanol/farmacologia , Interleucina-10/metabolismo , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacos , Ácido gama-Aminobutírico/metabolismo , Animais , Consumo Excessivo de Bebidas Alcoólicas/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Hipnóticos e Sedativos/farmacologia , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos Inibidores/efeitos dos fármacos , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos Inibidores/fisiologia , Masculino , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos em Miniatura/efeitos dos fármacos , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos em Miniatura/fisiologia , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios/metabolismo , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases/metabolismo , Inibidores de Fosfoinositídeo-3 Quinase , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Receptores de GABA-A/metabolismo , Sono/efeitos dos fármacos , Sono/fisiologia , Transmissão Sináptica/fisiologia , Técnicas de Cultura de Tecidos
10.
Neurochem Res ; 40(5): 1023-31, 2015 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25791059

RESUMO

Ethanol consumption typically begins during adolescence, a developmental period which exhibits many age-dependent differences in ethanol behavioral sensitivity. Protein kinase C (PKC) activity is largely implicated in ethanol-behaviors, and our previous work indicates that regulation of novel PKC isoforms likely contributes to decreased high-dose ethanol sensitivity during adolescence. The cytoplasmic Phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) signaling cascade selectivity modulates novel and atypical PKC isoform activity, as well as adolescent ethanol hypnotic sensitivity. Therefore, the current study was designed to ascertain adolescent cPLA2 activity both basally and in response to ethanol, as well as it's involvement in ethanol-induced PKC isoform translocation patterns. cPLA2 expression was elevated during adolescence, and activity was increased only in adolescents following high-dose ethanol administration. Novel, but not atypical PKC isoforms translocate to cytosolic regions following high-dose ethanol administration. Inhibiting cPLA2 with AACOCF3 blocked ethanol-induced PKC cytosolic translocation. Finally, inhibition of novel, but not atypical, PKC isoforms when cPLA2 activity was elevated, modulated adolescent high-dose ethanol-sensitivity. These data suggest that the cPLA2/PKC pathway contributes to the acute behavioral effects of ethanol during adolescence.


Assuntos
Citoplasma/metabolismo , Etanol/administração & dosagem , Fosfolipases A2/metabolismo , Proteína Quinase C/metabolismo , Fatores Etários , Animais , Citoplasma/efeitos dos fármacos , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Injeções Intraventriculares , Isoenzimas/antagonistas & inibidores , Isoenzimas/metabolismo , Masculino , Proteína Quinase C/antagonistas & inibidores , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley
11.
Biomech Model Mechanobiol ; 14(3): 515-36, 2015 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25236798

RESUMO

This study focuses on a two-scale, continuum multicomponent model for the description of blood perfusion and cell metabolism in the liver. The model accounts for a spatial and time depending hydro-diffusion-advection-reaction description. We consider a solid-phase (tissue) containing glycogen and a fluid-phase (blood) containing glucose as well as lactate. The five-component model is enhanced by a two-scale approach including a macroscale (sinusoidal level) and a microscale (cell level). The perfusion on the macroscale within the lobules is described by a homogenized multiphasic approach based on the theory of porous media (mixture theory combined with the concept of volume fraction). On macro level, we recall the basic mixture model, the governing equations as well as the constitutive framework including the solid (tissue) stress, blood pressure and solutes chemical potential. In view of the transport phenomena, we discuss the blood flow including transverse isotropic permeability, as well as the transport of solute concentrations including diffusion and advection. The continuum multicomponent model on the macroscale finally leads to a coupled system of partial differential equations (PDE). In contrast, the hepatic metabolism on the microscale (cell level) was modeled via a coupled system of ordinary differential equations (ODE). Again, we recall the constitutive relations for cell metabolism level. A finite element implementation of this framework is used to provide an illustrative example, describing the spatial and time-depending perfusion-metabolism processes in liver lobules that integrates perfusion and metabolism of the liver.


Assuntos
Glucose/metabolismo , Glicogênio/metabolismo , Lactatos/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Modelos Biológicos , Humanos
12.
Neuroscience ; 280: 50-9, 2014 Nov 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25218807

RESUMO

AMPA receptor GluA2 subunits are strongly implicated in cognition, and prior work suggests that these subunits may be regulated by atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) isoforms. The present study assessed whether hippocampal and cortical AMPA receptor GluA2 subunit regulation may be an underlying factor in known age-related differences to cognitive-impairing doses of ethanol, and if aPKC isoforms modulate such responses. Hippocampal AMPA receptor GluA2 subunit, protein kinase Mζ (PKMζ), and PKCι/λ expression were elevated during adolescence compared to adults. 1 h following a low-dose (1.0-g/kg) ethanol exposure, hippocampal AMPA receptor GluA2 subunit serine 880 phosphorylation was decreased in adolescents, but was increased in adults. Age-dependent changes in GluA2 subunit phosphorylation were paralleled by alterations in aPKC isoforms, and zeta inhibitory peptide (ZIP) administration prevented ethanol-induced increases in both in adults. Ethanol-induced changes in GluA2 subunit phosphorylation were associated with delayed regulation in synaptosomal GluA2 subunit expression 24 h later. A higher ethanol dose (3.5-g/kg) failed to elicit changes in most measures in the hippocampus at either age. Similar to the hippocampus, analysis of cerebral cortical tissue also revealed age-related declines. However, no demonstrable effects were found following a low-dose ethanol exposure at either age. High-dose ethanol exposure reduced adolescent GluA2 subunit phosphorylation and aPKC isoform expression that were again accompanied by delayed reductions in synaptosomal GluA2 subunit expression. Together, these results suggest that GluA2-containing AMPA receptor modulation by aPKC isoforms is age-, region- and dose-dependently regulated, and may potentially be involved in developmentally regulated ethanol-induced cognitive impairment and other ethanol behaviors.


Assuntos
Depressores do Sistema Nervoso Central/farmacologia , Proteínas Quinases Associadas com Morte Celular/metabolismo , Etanol/farmacologia , Hipocampo/efeitos dos fármacos , Receptores de AMPA/metabolismo , Envelhecimento/metabolismo , Animais , Córtex Cerebral/efeitos dos fármacos , Córtex Cerebral/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Córtex Cerebral/metabolismo , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Hipocampo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Masculino , Fosforilação , Proteína Quinase C/metabolismo , Proteína Quinase C-delta/metabolismo , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Sinaptossomos/efeitos dos fármacos , Sinaptossomos/metabolismo
13.
Parasitol Res ; 113(8): 3057-61, 2014 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24906992

RESUMO

After the repeated demonstration of Dirofilaria repens infections in German dogs, D. repens and Dirofilaria immitis DNA was detected in mosquitoes trapped in 2011, 2012 and 2013 in northeastern and southwestern Germany within the framework of culicid monitoring projects. As temperature is the most important factor dictating the extrinsic development of dirofilarial larvae in the potential vector, data of the German Weather Service (DWD) were analysed for the regions where the positive mosquitoes had been collected. Based on the mean daily temperatures recorded by weather stations most closely to the collection sites of the mosquitoes, it can be concluded that the mosquitoes were trapped in time periods that allowed for the completion of the developmental cycle of the worms in the mosquitoes and a subsequent transmission to a vertebrate host. The results of this study confirm the principal climatic suitability of certain German regions for the establishment of natural dirofilarial transmission cycles. Moreover, the theoretical climatic considerations, together with findings of D. repens infections in German dogs and mosquitoes, strongly suggest that the continuing spread of at least D. repens from its traditional habitats in the Mediterranean has reached southwestern and northeastern Germany.


Assuntos
Culicidae/parasitologia , Dirofilaria immitis/isolamento & purificação , Dirofilaria repens/isolamento & purificação , Dirofilariose/epidemiologia , Temperatura , Animais , Clima , DNA de Helmintos/genética , Dirofilaria immitis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Dirofilaria repens/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Dirofilariose/transmissão , Doenças do Cão/epidemiologia , Doenças do Cão/transmissão , Cães , Alemanha/epidemiologia , Insetos Vetores/parasitologia , Fatores de Tempo
14.
Med Vet Entomol ; 28(3): 319-29, 2014 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24387691

RESUMO

In the past decade biting midges of the subgenus Avaritia (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) have been popular subjects of applied entomological studies in Europe owing to their implication as biological vectors in outbreaks of bluetongue and Schmallenberg viruses. This study uses a combination of cytochrome oxidase subunit I barcode sequencing and geometric morphometric analyses to investigate wing shape as a means to infer species identification within this subgenus. In addition the congruence of morphological data with different phylogenetic hypotheses is tested. Five different species of the subgenus Avaritia were considered in the study (C. obsoletus (Meigen); C. scoticus Kettle and Lawson; C. chiopterus (Meigen); C. dewulfi Goetghebuer and C. imicola (Kieffer)). The study demonstrated that over 90% of individuals could be separated correctly into species by their wing shape and that patterns of morphological differentiation derived from the geometric morphometric analyses were congruent with phylogenies generated from sequencing data. Morphological data produced are congruent with monophyly of the subgenus Avaritia and the exclusion of C. dewulfi from the group containing C. obsoletus, C. scoticus and C. chiopterus. The implications of these results and their importance in a wider context of integrating multiple data types to interpret both phylogeny and species characterization is discussed.


Assuntos
Ceratopogonidae , Filogenia , Animais , Ceratopogonidae/anatomia & histologia , Ceratopogonidae/classificação , Ceratopogonidae/genética , Código de Barras de DNA Taxonômico/veterinária , Complexo IV da Cadeia de Transporte de Elétrons/genética , Europa (Continente) , Proteínas de Insetos/genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Fenótipo , Análise de Sequência de DNA/veterinária , Asas de Animais/anatomia & histologia
15.
Opt Express ; 22(26): 32371-83, 2014 Dec 29.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25607201

RESUMO

In this work a new technique for synthesizing metamaterials using Bézier surfaces is introduced. First, the computational efficiency for the optimization of a reconfigurable Bézier quarter-wave plate metasurface is compared to the popular technique of optimizing pixelized surfaces via a binary Genetic Algorithm (GA). For the presented design methodology, a real valued optimization technique is employed which is based on the Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolutionary Strategy (CMA-ES). When compared to the GA, the optimizations of Bézier surfaces using CMA-ES are shown to consistently arrive at better solutions with an order of magnitude reduction in the required number of function evaluations. Additionally, more examples of Bézier metasurfaces are presented in the form of broadband quarter-wave and half-wave plate designs operating at optical wavelengths, subsequently exhibiting bandwidths which outperform metasurface designs found in the current literature.


Assuntos
Raios Infravermelhos , Dispositivos Ópticos , Refratometria/instrumentação , Ressonância de Plasmônio de Superfície/instrumentação , Anisotropia , Desenho Assistido por Computador , Desenho de Equipamento , Análise de Falha de Equipamento
16.
J Appl Microbiol ; 116(1): 134-44, 2014 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24016102

RESUMO

AIMS: To investigate cell determinants of resistance to gastric acidity in Lactobacillus plantarum using comparative proteomics. METHODS AND RESULTS: Among ten Lact. plantarum strains that were tested for their acid resistance in vitro, three strains with different phenotypes were selected for comparative proteomic analysis: LC 804 (resistant), CIP A159 (intermediate) and CECT 4185 (sensitive). Constitutive differences between whole-cell proteomes of the three strains were studied. Among the differentially expressed proteins between strains, 17 have previously been reported to be involved in acid resistance processes. The effect of a low-pH exposure on these proteomic patterns was investigated, which led to the identification of five putative determinants of acid resistance (heat-shock protein GrpE, methionine synthase and 30S ribosomal protein S2) or sensitivity (phosphotransacetylase and adenylosuccinate synthase). Analysis also revealed three additional proteins involved in cell envelope biogenesis (3-oxoacyl-synthase II, dTDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase and dTDP-4-dehydrorhamnose 3,5-epimerase) likely to be key factors of intrinsic acid tolerance in Lact. plantarum. CONCLUSIONS: The approach used in this study enabled the identification of potential markers of acid tolerance in Lact. plantarum, which may serve for phenotyping and screening purposes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present work represents a further step towards the identification of bacterial biomarkers for each particular probiotic feature.

17.
Opt Express ; 21(1): 1087-100, 2013 Jan 14.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23389002

RESUMO

This paper discusses a theoretical approach towards synthesizing broadband circularly polarizing reflectors. The broadband polarizing reflectors consist of birefringent metallo-dielectric metasurfaces which are described by the Jones matrices and verified via full-wave simulations. Specifically, full-wave simulations for candidate designs are presented that target operation in the near infrared band. In addition, reconfigurability is introduced and demonstrated for candidate designs at the long wave infrared band through the inclusion of a bistable phase change chalcogenide glass substrate.

18.
Br J Cancer ; 108(2): 265-70, 2013 Feb 05.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23329236

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to compare cisplatin/docetaxel with oxaliplatin/docetaxel in patients with advanced and metastatic non-small lung cancer as a first-line treatment. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either cisplatin 75 mg m(-2) and docetaxel 75 mg m(-2) every 3 weeks or oxaliplatin 85 mg m(-2) and docetaxel 50 mg m(-2) every 2 weeks. The primary end point was response rate, and secondary end points were toxicity, time to progression and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients (median age: 65 (39-86) years; stage IV: 93%) were randomly assigned. Response rate (complete and partial response) was 47% (95% CI: 33-61%) in the cisplatin/docetaxel arm and 28% (95% CI: 17-43%) in the oxaliplatin/docetaxel arm (P=0.118). There was no significant difference in time to progression (6.3 vs 4.9 months, P=0.111) and median overall survival (11.6 vs 7.0 months, P=0.102) with cisplatin/docetaxel vs oxaliplatin/docetaxel, although slight trends favouring cisplatin were seen. Oxaliplatin/docetaxel was associated with significantly less (any grade) renal toxicity (56% vs 11%), any grade fatigue (81% vs 59%), complete alopecia (76% vs 27%), any grade leukopenia (84% vs 61%) and grade 3/4 leukopenia (44% vs 14%) and neutropenia (56% vs 27%). CONCLUSION: Oxaliplatin/docetaxel has activity in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, but it seems to be inferior to cisplatin/docetaxel.


Assuntos
Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/tratamento farmacológico , Cisplatino/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Pulmonares/tratamento farmacológico , Compostos Organoplatínicos/administração & dosagem , Taxoides/administração & dosagem , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anticorpos Monoclonais Humanizados/uso terapêutico , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/efeitos adversos , Bevacizumab , Carcinoma Pulmonar de Células não Pequenas/mortalidade , Cisplatino/efeitos adversos , Docetaxel , Esquema de Medicação , Feminino , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares/mortalidade , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Compostos Organoplatínicos/efeitos adversos , Oxaliplatina , Taxoides/efeitos adversos , Resultado do Tratamento
19.
Clin Oral Investig ; 17(3): 877-86, 2013 Apr.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22733244

RESUMO

OBJECTIVES: The study was designed to provide clinical outcome data for two treatments of the shortened dental arch (SDA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial, patients with complete molar loss in one jaw were provided with either a partial removable dental prosthesis (PRDP) retained with precision attachments or treated according to the SDA concept preserving or restoring a premolar occlusion. No implants were placed. The primary outcome was tooth loss. RESULTS: Of 152 treated patients, 132 patients reached the 5-year examination. Over 5 years, 38 patients experienced tooth loss. For the primary outcome tooth loss, the Kaplan-Meier survival rates at 5 years were 0.74 (95% CI 0.64, 0.84) in the PRDP group and 0.74 (95% CI 0.63, 0.85) in the SDA group. For tooth loss in the study jaw, the survival rates at 5 years were 0.88 (95% CI 0.80, 0.95) in the PRDP group and 0.84 (95% CI 0.74, 0.93) in the SDA group. The differences were not significant. No Cox regression models of appropriate fit explaining tooth loss on the patient level could be found. CONCLUSIONS: The overall treatment goals of a sustainable oral rehabilitation and the avoidance of further tooth loss over longer periods were not reliably achievable. The influence of the type of prosthetic treatment on tooth loss might have been overestimated. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Regarding our results, the patient's view will gain even more importance in the clinical decision between removable and fixed restorations in SDAs.


Assuntos
Arco Dental/patologia , Prótese Parcial Removível , Perda de Dente/reabilitação , Idoso , Análise de Variância , Dente Pré-Molar/fisiologia , Índice CPO , Oclusão Dentária , Índice de Placa Dentária , Encaixe de Precisão de Dentadura , Feminino , Humanos , Estimativa de Kaplan-Meier , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos de Riscos Proporcionais , Extração Dentária/estatística & dados numéricos , Perda de Dente/fisiopatologia , Resultado do Tratamento
20.
Anaesthesist ; 61(7): 597-600, 2012 Jul.
Artigo em Alemão | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22699225

RESUMO

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease with a decreasing incidence in Germany. In particular, the occurrence of reinfections and possible complications associated with this disease, such as tuberculous meningitis/encephalitis and Landouzy sepsis are rare in industrial countries. In this article the intensive care treatment of a patient who initially underwent surgery for spinal stenosis is reported. Due to recurrent appearance of neurological symptoms with increasing severity and abscess formation in the spine, further surgery was performed. Additionally, the patient developed sepsis and meningitis. At this time an infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis could be detected in both cerebrospinal fluid and abscess material of the spine suggesting a Landouzy sepsis, tuberculous meningitis/encephalitis and the suspicion of an underlying Pott's disease.


Assuntos
Encefalite/terapia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/terapia , Sepse/terapia , Estenose Espinal/cirurgia , Tuberculose da Coluna Vertebral/complicações , Tuberculose da Coluna Vertebral/terapia , Antituberculosos/uso terapêutico , Cuidados Críticos , Encefalite/etiologia , Encefalite/fisiopatologia , Escala de Coma de Glasgow , Humanos , Pressão Intracraniana/fisiologia , Imageamento por Ressonância Magnética , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Paralisia/etiologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/fisiopatologia , Sepse/etiologia , Sepse/fisiopatologia , Tuberculose da Coluna Vertebral/etiologia , Tuberculose da Coluna Vertebral/microbiologia , Tuberculose da Coluna Vertebral/fisiopatologia
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