Estudi sociomorfològica a Manresa : el segment velar en algunes formes del PI i el PS dels verbs anar, fer, veure i haver

Des d’una perspectiva sociomorfològica, aquest estudi analitza la correlació que hi ha entre les variables socials de l’edat, el gènere i la classe social i un dels trets morfofonològics més característics del parlar dels joves de Manresa: la presència del segment velar /g/ en la primera persona del singular del present d’indicatiu, i en les persones primera, segona i tercera del singular i en la tercera del plural del present de subjuntiu dels verbs irregulars anar, fer, veure i haver (ex. vaic i vaigui).

Analysis of Satellite Data for Forest Segmentation

In this work we study the classification of forest types using mathematics based image analysis on satellite data. We are interested in improving classification of forest segments when a combination of information from two or more different satellites is used. The experimental part is based on real satellite data originating from Canada. This thesis gives summary of the mathematics basics of the image analysis and supervised learning , methods that are used in the classification algorithm. Three data sets and four feature sets were investigated in this thesis. The considered feature sets were 1) histograms (quantiles) 2) variance 3) skewness and 4) kurtosis. Good overall performances were achieved when a combination of ASTERBAND and RADARSAT2 data sets was used.

Prehospital ticagrelor in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

Background:The direct-acting platelet P2Y receptor antagonist ticagrelor can reduce the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events when administered at hospital admission to patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Whether prehospital administration of ticagrelor can improve coronary reperfusion and the clinical outcome is unknown. Methods: We conducted an international, multicenter, randomized, double-blind study involving 1862 patients with ongoing STEMI of less than 6 hours' duration, comparing prehospital (in the ambulance) versus in-hospital (in the catheterization laboratory) treatment with ticagrelor. The coprimary end points were the proportion of patients who did not have a 70% or greater resolution of ST-segment elevation before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and the proportion of patients who did not have Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction flow grade 3 in the infarct-related artery at initial angiography. Secondary end points included the rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and definite stent thrombosis at 30 days. Results: The median time from randomization to angiography was 48 minutes, and the median time difference between the two treatment strategies was 31 minutes. The two coprimary end points did not differ significantly between the prehospital and in-hospital groups. The absence of ST-segment elevation resolution of 70% or greater after PCI (a secondary end point) was reported for 42.5% and 47.5% of the patients, respectively. The rates of major adverse cardiovascular events did not differ significantly between the two study groups. The rates of definite stent thrombosis were lower in the prehospital group than in the in-hospital group (0% vs. 0.8% in the first 24 hours; 0.2% vs. 1.2% at 30 days). Rates of major bleeding events were low and virtually identical in the two groups, regardless of the bleeding definition used

Spatial and Spectral Separability of Grasslands in the inner Turku Archipelago using Landsat Thematic Mapper Satellite Imagery

The present study investigates the spatial and spectral discrimination potential for grassland patches in the inner Turku Archipelago using Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery. The spatial discrimination potential was computed through overlay analysis using official grassland parcel data and a hypothetical 30 m resolution satellite image capturing the site. It found that Landsat TM imagery’s ability to retrieve pure or near-pure pixels (90% purity or more) from grassland patches smaller than 1 hectare was limited to 13% success, compared to 52% success when upscaling the resolution to 10 x 10 m pixel size. Additionally, the perimeter/area patch metric is proposed as a predictor for the suitability of the spatial resolution of input imagery. Regression analysis showed that there is a strong negative correlation between a patch’s perimeter/area ratio and its pure pixel potential. The study goes on to characterise the spectral response and discrimination potential for the five main grassland types occurring in the study area: recreational grassland, traditional pasture, modern pasture, fodder production grassland and overgrown grassland. This was done through the construction of spectral response curves, a coincident spectral plot and a contingency matrix as well as by calculating the transformed divergence for the spectral signatures, all based on training samples from the TM imagery. Substantial differences in spectral discrimination potential between imagery from the beginning of the growing season and the middle of summer were found. This is because the spectral responses for these five grassland types converge as the peak of the growing season draws nearer. Recreational grassland shows a consistent discrimination advantage over other grassland types, whereas modern pasture is most easily confused. Traditional pasture land, perhaps the most biologically valuable grassland type, can be spectrally discriminated from other grassland types with satisfactory success rates provided early growing season imagery is used.

Cadastral maps of irrigated areas by center pivots in the State of Minas Gerais, using CBERS-2B/CCD satellite imaging

Medium-resolution satellite images have been widely used for the identification and quantification of irrigated areas by center pivot. These areas, which present predominantly circular forms, can be easily identified by visual analyses of these images. In addition to identifying and quantifying areas irrigated by center pivot, other information that is associated to these areas is fundamental for producing cadastral maps. The goal of this work was to generate cadastral mapping of areas irrigated by center pivots in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, with the purpose of supplying information on irrigated agriculture. Using the satellite CBERS2B/CCD, images were used to identify and quantify irrigated areas and then associate these areas with a database containing information about: irrigated area, perimeter, municipality, path row, basin in which the pivot is located, and the date of image acquisition.3,781 center pivots systems were identified. The smallest area irrigated was 4.6 hectares and the largest one was 192.6 hectares. The total estimated value of irrigated area was 254,875 hectares. The largest number of center pivots appeared in the municipalities of Unaí and Paracatu, with 495 and 459 systems, respectively. Cadastral mapping is a very useful tool to assist and enhance information on irrigated agriculture in the State of Minas Gerais.

A and B mode ultrasonography in preoperative evaluation of lens and posterior segment of dogs eyes with cataract

Ultrasonography of the lens and posterior segment is an indispensable step in the preoperative evaluation of dogs with cataracts, since ophthalmoscopy is not feasible when there is opacification of the lens. This study evaluated the echographic conditions of cataractous lens and fundus of the eye in dogs affected by cataracts. The study was conducted in 30 dogs (56 eyes), 10 males and 20 females, with different types of cataracts at different stages of development. Echography in A and B modes, simultaneously, was carried out for the examination of the lens and posterior segment. The examinations revealed anterior cortical, posterior cortical and nuclear cataract in 12 eyes (21.4%), anterior cortical, posterior cortical, nuclear and posterior capsular in 23 eyes (41%), anterior cortical, posterior cortical and posterior capsular cataract in one eye (1.7%), anterior cortical and nuclear cataract in one eye (1.7%), anterior cortical, nuclear and posterior capsular cataract in five eyes (8.9%), and anterior cortical cataract in seven eyes (12.5%). Abnormal ultrasonographic alterations were observed in the posterior segment in 26 eyes evaluated (46.4%). Vitreal degeneration was detected in 12 eyes (21.4%), images of vitreal exudate or hemorrhage in seven eyes (12.5%), persistence of hyaloid artery in four eyes (7.1%) and lens subluxation in three eyes (5.3%). The results obtained reiterate the importance of ultrasonography in canine patients presented for cataract surgery given that alterations of the posterior segment are difficult to identify in a clinical examination when the lens is opacified.

Optimized Fast-FISH with a-satellite probes: acceleration by microwave activation

It has been shown for several DNA probes that the recently introduced Fast-FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization) technique is well suited for quantitative microscopy. For highly repetitive DNA probes the hybridization (renaturation) time and the number of subsequent washing steps were reduced considerably by omitting denaturing chemical agents (e.g., formamide). The appropriate hybridization temperature and time allow a clear discrimination between major and minor binding sites by quantitative fluorescence microscopy. The well-defined physical conditions for hybridization permit automatization of the procedure, e.g., by a programmable thermal cycler. Here, we present optimized conditions for a commercially available X-specific a-satellite probe. Highly fluorescent major binding sites were obtained for 74oC hybridization temperature and 60 min hybridization time. They were clearly discriminated from some low fluorescent minor binding sites on metaphase chromosomes as well as in interphase cell nuclei. On average, a total of 3.43 ± 1.59 binding sites were measured in metaphase spreads, and 2.69 ± 1.00 in interphase nuclei. Microwave activation for denaturation and hybridization was tested to accelerate the procedure. The slides with the target material and the hybridization buffer were placed in a standard microwave oven. After denaturation for 20 s at 900 W, hybridization was performed for 4 min at 90 W. The suitability of a microwave oven for Fast-FISH was confirmed by the application to a chromosome 1-specific a-satellite probe. In this case, denaturation was performed at 630 W for 60 s and hybridization at 90 W for 5 min. In all cases, the results were analyzed quantitatively and compared to the results obtained by Fast-FISH. The major binding sites were clearly discriminated by their brightness

Apoptosis of sensory neurons and satellite cells after sciatic nerve transection in C57BL/6J mice

The rate of axonal regeneration, after sciatic nerve lesion in adult C57BL/6J mice, is reduced when compared to other isogenic strains. It was observed that such low regeneration was not due just to a delay, since neuronal death was observed. Two general mechanisms of cell death, apoptosis and necrosis, may be involved. By using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) technique, we demonstrated that a large number of sensory neurons, as well as satellite cells found in the dorsal root ganglia, were intensely labeled, thus indicating that apoptotic mechanisms were involved in the death process. Although almost no labeled neurons or satellite cells were observed one week after transection, a more than ten-fold increase in TUNEL labeling was detected after two weeks. The results obtained with the C57BL/6J strain were compared with those of the A/J strain, which has a much higher peripheral nerve regeneration potential. In A/J mice, almost no labeling of sensory neurons or satellite cells was observed after one or two weeks, indicating the absence of neuronal loss. Our data confirm previous observations that approximately 40% of C57BL/6J sensory neurons die after sciatic nerve transection, and indicate that apoptotic events are involved. Also, our observations reinforce the hypothesis that the low rate of axonal regeneration occurring in C57BL/6J mice may be the result of a mismatch in the timing of the neurons need for neurotrophic substances, and production of the latter by non-neuronal cells in the distal stump.

Ectopic development of skeletal muscle induced by subcutaneous transplant of rat satellite cells

The present study analyzes the ectopic development of the rat skeletal muscle originated from transplanted satellite cells. Satellite cells (10(6) cells) obtained from hindlimb muscles of newborn female 2BAW Wistar rats were injected subcutaneously into the dorsal area of adult male rats. After 3, 7, and 14 days, the transplanted tissues (N = 4-5) were processed for histochemical analysis of peripheral nerves, inactive X-chromosome and acetylcholinesterase. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) were also labeled with tetramethylrhodamine-labeled alpha-bungarotoxin. The development of ectopic muscles was successful in 86% of the implantation sites. By day 3, the transplanted cells were organized as multinucleated fibers containing multiple clusters of nAChRs (N = 2-4), resembling those from non-innervated cultured skeletal muscle fibers. After 7 days, the transplanted cells appeared as a highly vascularized tissue formed by bundles of fibers containing peripheral nuclei. The presence of X chromatin body indicated that subcutaneously developed fibers originated from female donor satellite cells. Differently from the extensor digitorum longus muscle of adult male rat (87.9 ± 1.0 µm; N = 213), the diameter of ectopic fibers (59.1 µm; N = 213) did not obey a Gaussian distribution and had a higher coefficient of variation. After 7 and 14 days, the organization of the nAChR clusters was similar to that of clusters from adult innervated extensor digitorum longus muscle. These findings indicate the histocompatibility of rats from 2BAW colony and that satellite cells transplanted into the subcutaneous space of adult animals are able to develop and fuse to form differentiated skeletal muscle fibers.

Diversity among satellite glial cells in dorsal root ganglia of the rat

Peripheral glial cells consist of satellite, enteric glial, and Schwann cells. In dorsal root ganglia, besides pseudo-unipolar neurons, myelinated and nonmyelinated fibers, macrophages, and fibroblasts, satellite cells also constitute the resident components. Information on satellite cells is not abundant; however, they appear to provide mechanical and metabolic support for neurons by forming an envelope surrounding their cell bodies. Although there is a heterogeneous population of neurons in the dorsal root ganglia, satellite cells have been described to be a homogeneous group of perineuronal cells. Our objective was to characterize the ultrastructure, immunohistochemistry, and histochemistry of the satellite cells of the dorsal root ganglia of 17 adult 3-4-month-old Wistar rats of both genders. Ultrastructurally, the nuclei of some satellite cells are heterochromatic, whereas others are euchromatic, which may result from different amounts of nuclear activity. We observed positive immunoreactivity for S-100 and vimentin in the cytoplasm of satellite cells. The intensity of S-100 protein varied according to the size of the enveloped neuron. We also noted that vimentin expression assumed a ring-like pattern and was preferentially located in the cytoplasm around the areas stained for S-100. In addition, we observed nitric oxide synthase-positive small-sized neurons and negative large-sized neurons equal to that described in the literature. Satellite cells were also positive for NADPH-diaphorase, particularly those associated with small-sized neurons. We conclude that all satellite cells are not identical as previously thought because they have different patterns of glial marker expression and these differences may be correlated with the size and function of the neuron they envelope.

Noninvasive assessment of endothelial function and ST segment changes during exercise testing in coronary artery disease

Endothelial function (EF) plays an important role in the onset and clinical course of atherosclerosis, although its relationship with the presence and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been well defined. We evaluated EF and the ST segment response to an exercise test in patients with a broad spectrum of CAD defined by coronary angiography. Sixty-two patients submitted to diagnostic catheterization for the evaluation of chest pain or ischemia in a provocative test were divided into three groups according to the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions (AL): group 1: normal coronaries (N = 19); group 2: CAD with AL <70% (N = 17); group 3: CAD with AL ≥70% (N = 26). EF was evaluated by the percentage of flow-mediated dilatation (%FMD) in the brachial artery during reactive hyperemia induced by occlusion of the forearm with a pneumatic cuff for 5 min. Fifty-four patients were subjected to an exercise test. Gender and age were not significantly correlated with %FMD. EF was markedly reduced in both groups with CAD (76.5 and 73.1% vs 31.6% in group 1) and a higher frequency of ischemic alterations in the ST segment (70.8%) was observed in the group with obstructive CAD with AL ≥70% during the exercise test. Endothelial dysfunction was observed in patients with CAD, irrespective of the severity of injury. A significantly higher frequency of ischemic alterations in the ST segment was observed in the group with obstructive CAD. EF and exercise ECG differed among the three groups and may provide complementary information for the assessment of CAD.

Implantation of muscle satellite cells overexpressing myogenin improves denervated muscle atrophy in rats

This study evaluated the effect of muscle satellite cells (MSCs) overexpressing myogenin (MyoG) on denervated muscle atrophy. Rat MSCs were isolated and transfected with the MyoG-EGFP plasmid vector GV143. MyoG-transfected MSCs (MTMs) were transplanted into rat gastrocnemius muscles at 1 week after surgical denervation. Controls included injections of untransfected MSCs or the vehicle only. Muscles were harvested and analyzed at 2, 4, and 24 weeks post-transplantation. Immunofluorescence confirmed MyoG overexpression in MTMs. The muscle wet weight ratio was significantly reduced at 2 weeks after MTM injection (67.17±6.79) compared with muscles injected with MSCs (58.83±5.31) or the vehicle (53.00±7.67; t=2.37, P=0.04 and t=3.39, P=0.007, respectively). The muscle fiber cross-sectional area was also larger at 2 weeks after MTM injection (2.63×103±0.39×103) compared with MSC injection (1.99×103±0.58×103) or the vehicle only (1.57×103±0.47×103; t=2.24, P=0.049 and t=4.22, P=0.002, respectively). At 4 and 24 weeks post-injection, the muscle mass and fiber cross-sectional area were similar across all three experimental groups. Immunohistochemistry showed that the MTM group had larger MyoG-positive fibers. The MTM group (3.18±1.13) also had higher expression of MyoG mRNA than other groups (1.41±0.65 and 1.03±0.19) at 2 weeks after injection (t=2.72, P=0.04). Transplanted MTMs delayed short-term atrophy of denervated muscles. This approach can be optimized as a novel stand-alone therapy or as a bridge to surgical re-innervation of damaged muscles.