Gestão de inventários numa empresa de produção de linhas de costura

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia e Gestão Industrial

Anaerobic oxidation of methane associated with sulfate reduction in a natural freshwater gas source

The occurrence of anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) and trace methane oxidation (TMO) was investigated in a freshwater natural gas source. Sediment samples were taken and analyzed for potential electron acceptors coupled to AOM. Long-term incubations with 13C-labeled CH4 (13CH4) and different electron acceptors showed that both AOM and TMO occurred. In most conditions, 13C-labeled CO2 (13CO2) simultaneously increased with methane formation, which is typical for TMO. In the presence of nitrate, neither methane formation nor methane oxidation occurred. Net AOM was measured only with sulfate as electron acceptor. Here, sulfide production occurred simultaneously with 13CO2 production and no methanogenesis occurred, excluding TMO as a possible source for 13CO2 production from 13CH4. Archaeal 16S rRNA gene analysis showed the highest presence of ANME-2a/b (ANaerobic MEthane oxidizing archaea) and AAA (AOM Associated Archaea) sequences in the incubations with methane and sulfate as compared with only methane addition. Higher abundance of ANME-2a/b in incubations with methane and sulfate as compared with only sulfate addition was shown by qPCR analysis. Bacterial 16S rRNA gene analysis showed the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria belonging to SEEP-SRB1. This is the first report that explicitly shows that AOM is associated with sulfate reduction in an enrichment culture of ANME-2a/b and AAA methanotrophs and SEEP-SRB1 sulfate reducers from a low-saline environment.

Behavior of triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae) vectors of Chagas' disease. II. Influence of feeding, lighting and time of day on the number of mating, mating speed and duration of copulation of Panstrongylus megistus (Burm, 1835) under laboratory conditions

To determine in influence of feeding, lighting and time of day on the copulating behavior of Panstrongylus megistus, 480 insect pairs were divided into four groups of 120 each and tested in the following respective situations: without food deprivation (F.D.), with five days of F.D., with ten days of F.D., and with 20 days of F. D. The tests were performed between 9:00 a.m. to 12:00a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with light (700-1400 lux) and in the dark (1.4-2.8 lux) and behavior was recorded by the time sampling technique. Mating spped (MS) and duration of copulation (DC) were also calculated for each situation. The maximum frequency of copulation was observed after five days of F.D., at night, in the dark (n = 16), and the minimum was observed for recently-fed pairs, at night, with light (n = 4). Males approached females more often than females approached males. MS was lowest in pairs with twenty days of F.D., at night, with light (X = 23.0 ± 16.0 minutes), and highest in recently-fed pairs, during the day, with light (X = 2.9 ± 2.5 minutes). DC was shortest in recently-fed insects, during the day, in the dark (X = 23.5 ± 6.7 minutes), and longest in recently-fed animals, at night, in the dark (X = 38.3 ± 6.9 minutes).

Synergistic epistasis and alternative hypotheses.

Inbreeding generally results in deleterious shifts in mean fitness. If the fitness response to increasing inbreeding coefficient is non-linear, this suggests a contribution of epistasis to inbreeding depression. In a cross-breeding experiment, Salathe & Ebert (2003. J. Evol. Biol. 16: 976-985) tested and found the presence of this non-linearity in Daphnia magna. They argue that epistatic interactions cause this non-linearity. We argue here that their experimental protocol does not allow disentangling the effect of synergistic epistasis from two alternative hypotheses, namely hybrid vigour and statistical non-independence of data.

Pharmacological and toxicological evaluation of Alpinia speciosa

Alpinia speciosa Schum or A. nutans is a plant of the Zingiberanceae family, Known popularly as "colony" (colônia) and used as a diuretic and to control hypertensión. We have determinated the concentration of Na+ and K+ found in the alcoholic extract and in the tea concoction. They contained 51.0mEq Na+, and 132 mEq K+ in the extract, and 0,0 mEq of Na+ and 26 mEq K+ in the tea. Phytochemical analysis of the leaves demonstrated the presence of catecquic tanins, phenols and alkaloids, and also some essential oils. When injected intra-peritoneally the hydroalcoholic extract, in range of 100 a 1400 mg/Kg, (or 2500-18000 mg/Kg orally) produced in mice: writhing, psychomorot excitation, hypokinesis and pruritus. The LD50 by ip was 0.760 + or - 0.126 g/Kg and 10.0 + or - 2.5 g/Kg by oral administration for the hydroalcoholic extract. Subacute toxicity made injecting daily for 30 days the LD10 in rats caused an increase in transaminases and lactate dehydrogenase, whereas other parameters such as nlood glucose, urea and creatinine were normal. A histopathological analysis of liver, spleen, gut, lung and heart showed no alterations. The drug also produced a prolongation of the sleeping time. The hydroalcoholic extract induced int he rat and in the dog a dose-dependent fall in blood pressure in doses of 10 to 30 mg/Kg. In isolated atria the extract induced a reduction of the frequnecy and in the inotropic responses. Neither the extract nor the tea had an effect on the diuresis of the rat.

GABA receptor subunits in human auditory cortex in normal and stroke cases.

GABA receptors are ubiquitous in the cerebral cortex and play a major role in shaping responses of cortical neurons. GABAA and GABAB receptor subunit expression was visualized by immunohistochemistry in human auditory areas from both hemispheres in 9 normal subjects (aged 43-85 years; time between death and fixation 6-24 hours) and in 4 stroke patients (aged 59-87 years; time between death and fixation 7-24 hours) and analyzed qualitatively for GABAA and semiquantitatively for GABAB receptor subunits. In normal brains, the primary auditory area (TC) and the surrounding areas TB and TA displayed distinct GABAA receptor subunit labeling with differences among cortical layers and areas. In postacute and chronic stroke we found a layer-selective downregulation of the alpha-2 subunit in the anatomically intact cerebral cortex of the intact and of the lesioned hemisphere, whereas the alpha-1, alpha-3 and beta-2/3 subunits maintained normal levels of expression. The GABAB receptors had a distinct laminar pattern in auditory areas and minor differences among areas. Unlike in other pathologies, there is no modulation of the GABAB receptor expression in subacute or chronic stroke.

Bone mineral density (BMD), micro-architecture estimation (TBS) and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) extracted from a single DXA device in combination with clinical risk factors improve significantly the identification of women at high risk of fracture

Introduction: Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by a low bone mineral density (BMD) and a micro-architectural (MA) deterioration. Clinical risk factors (CRF) are often used as a MA approximation. MA is yet evaluable in daily practice by the Trabecular Bone Score (TBS) measure. TBS is a novel grey-level texture measurement reflecting bone micro-architecture based on the use of experimental variograms of 2D projection images. TBS is very simple to obtain, by reanalyzing a lumbar DXA-scan. TBS has proven to have diagnosis and prognosis value, partially independent of CRF and BMD. The aim of the OsteoLaus cohort is to combine in daily practice the CRF and the information given by DXA (BMD, TBS and vertebral fracture assessment (VFA)) to better identify women at high fracture risk. Method: The OsteoLaus cohort (1400 women 50 to 80 years living in Lausanne, Switzerland) started in 2010. This study is derived from the cohort COLAUS who started in Lausanne in 2003. The main goals of COLAUS is to obtain information on the epidemiology and genetic determinants of cardiovascular risk in 6700 men and women. CRF for OP, bone ultrasound of the heel, lumbar spine and hip BMD, VFA by DXA and MA evaluation by TBS are recorded in OsteoLaus. Preliminary results are reported. Results: We included 631 women: mean age 67.4±6.7 y, BMI 26.1±4.6, mean lumbar spine BMD 0.943±0.168 (T-score -1.4 SD), TBS 1.271±0.103. As expected, correlation between BMD and site matched TBS is low (r2=0.16). Prevalence of VFx grade 2/3, major OP Fx and all OP Fx is 8.4%, 17.0% and 26.0% respectively. Age- and BMI-adjusted ORs (per SD decrease) are 1.8 (1.2- 2.5), 1.6 (1.2-2.1), 1.3 (1.1-1.6) for BMD for the different categories of fractures and 2.0 (1.4-3.0), 1.9 (1.4-2.5), 1.4 (1.1-1.7) for TBS respectively. Only 32 to 37% of women with OP Fx have a BMD < -2.5 SD or a TBS < 1.200. If we combine a BMD < -2.5 SD or a TBS < 1.200, 54 to 60% of women with an osteoporotic Fx are identified. Conclusion: As in the already published studies, these preliminary results confirm the partial independence between BMD and TBS. More importantly, a combination of TBS subsequent to BMD increases significantly the identification of women with prevalent OP Fx which would have been miss-classified by BMD alone. For the first time we are able to have complementary information about fracture (VFA), density (BMD), micro- and macro architecture (TBS & HAS) from a simple, low ionizing radiation and cheap device: DXA. Such complementary information is very useful for the patient in the daily practice and moreover will likely have an impact on cost effectiveness analysis.

Emissió ràdio a baixa freqüència en fenòmens eruptius i en fonts esteses de raigs gamma d'alta i molt alta energia

La tasca investigadora presentada en aquesta memòria s'ha centrat en les fonts galàctiques de raigs gamma de molt alta energia LS I +61 303, HESS J1708-410 i HESS J1858+020. La primera és una binària de raigs gamma molt estudiada, formada per una estrella massiva i un objecte compacte. S'ha proposat un escenari on l'objecte compacte seria un púlsar jove, i la interacció del seu vent amb el vent de l'estrella generaria els raigs gamma. De totes formes, no s'ha detectat polsos procedents d'aquest putatiu púlsar. L'investigador va realitzar observacions en fase a 1280 MHz amb el radiotelescopi GMRT, sense trobar-hi polsos, cosa que implica un estricte límit superior de 0,38 mJy a la densitat mitjana de flux polsat en un putatiu púlsar amb un període major que 2 mil•lisegons en el sistema binari LS I +61 303. Per altra banda, HESS J1708-410 i HESS J1858+020 són dues fonts esteses de raigs gamma de molt alta energia de les quals no es coneix cap contrapart a d'altres longituds d'ona. L'investigador les va observar amb el GMRT, quatre vegades HESS J1708-410 (dues a 610 MHz i dues a 1400 MHz) i dues vegades HESS J1858+020 (una a cada freqüència). En les imatges realitzades amb aquestes dades no hi ha emissió estesa coincident amb les regions d'emissió de raigs gamma. HESS J1858+020 se solapa parcialment amb una font estesa que podria ser un SNR. De confirmar-se la falta de contrapartida ràdio de HESS J1708-410, estaríem parlant d'un accelerador hadrònic extraordinàriament eficient, d'una classe desconeguda fins ara.

MAMOT: hidden Markov modeling tool.

Hidden Markov models (HMMs) are probabilistic models that are well adapted to many tasks in bioinformatics, for example, for predicting the occurrence of specific motifs in biological sequences. MAMOT is a command-line program for Unix-like operating systems, including MacOS X, that we developed to allow scientists to apply HMMs more easily in their research. One can define the architecture and initial parameters of the model in a text file and then use MAMOT for parameter optimization on example data, decoding (like predicting motif occurrence in sequences) and the production of stochastic sequences generated according to the probabilistic model. Two examples for which models are provided are coiled-coil domains in protein sequences and protein binding sites in DNA. A wealth of useful features include the use of pseudocounts, state tying and fixing of selected parameters in learning, and the inclusion of prior probabilities in decoding. AVAILABILITY: MAMOT is implemented in C++, and is distributed under the GNU General Public Licence (GPL). The software, documentation, and example model files can be found at http://bcf.isb-sib.ch/mamot

Water-filtered infrared-A radiation (wIRA) is not implicated in cellular degeneration of human skin

Rapport de synthèse : Introduction : le vieillissement cutané est un processus biologique complexe auquel participe une exposition excessive au rayonnement ultraviolet du soleil. En particulier, les longueurs d'onde des rayons ultraviolets A et B (UV-A et UV-B) peuvent induire une augmentation de la synthèse de protéases, comme la métalloprotéinase matricielle 1 (MMP-1), qui est impliquée dans le processus de vieillissement. La thermothérapie par infrarouges, dont les longueurs d'onde sont plus longues que celles des UV, est largement utilisée à des fins thérapeutiques ou cosmétiques. Or, il a été démontré que les infrarouges en filtration aqueuse (IRFA) pouvaient induire une augmentation de la production de MMP-1 et par conséquent être nocifs. Il serait donc intéressant d'évaluer les effets des IRFA au niveau cellulaire et moléculaire. But Expérimental : étudier les effets des lampes à infrarouges en filtration aqueuse utilisées en clinique sur des fibroblastes cutanés humains en culture, afin d'analyser l'expression du gène codant pour la protéine MMP-1. Méthode : des fibroblastes cutanés humain ont été irradiés d'une part avec approximativement 88% d'IRFA (780-1400 nm) et 12% de lumière rouge (LR, 665-780 nm) avec 380 mW/cm2 IRFA(+LR) (333 mW/cm2 IRFA) et d'autre part avec des UV-A comme contrôle. Des courbes de survie cellulaire ont été établies après une exposition allant de 15 minutes à 8 heures au IRFA(+LR) (340-10880 J/cm2 wIRA(+RL), 300-9600 J/cm2 wIRA) ou de 15 à 45 minutes aux UV-A(+BL) (25-75 J/cm2 UV-A(+BL). L'induction de l'ARNm du gène de la MMP-1 a été analysé dans les fibroblastes cutanés humain à deux températures physiologiques (30°C et 37°C) lors d'expositions uniques de 15 à 60 minutes aux IRFA(+LR) (340-1360 J/cm2 IRFA(+LR), 300-1200 J/cm2 IRFA) ou de 30 minutes aux UV-A(+BL) (50 J/cm2 UVA(+BL)). De plus, nous avons effectué des irradiations répétées, une a chaque passage cellulaire jusqu'au passage. 10 de 15 minutes d'IRFA(+LR) 340 J/cm2 IRFA(+LR), 300 J/cm2 IRFA) . Résultats : une exposition unique aux UV-A (+BL) entraîne chez des fibroblastes cutanés humains une augmentation de la mort cellulaire, ainsi qu'une forte augmentation de l'expression du gène codant pour la MMP-1. L'augmentation mise en évidence pour cet ARNm varie en fonction de la technique utilisée : elle est de 11 ± 1 fois par RT-PCR classique, de 76 ± 2 fois par RT-PCR quantitative à 30°C, et de 75 ± 1 fois par RT-PCR quantitative à 37°C. Par contre, une exposition unique ou répétée aux IRFA (+LR) n'induit aucune augmentation de la mort cellulaire, ni de l'expression de l'ARNm de la MMP-1 chez ces fibroblastes. Conclusions : les résultats de cette étude montrent que, contrairement aux rayons ultraviolets, les IRFA (+LR) ne semblent impliqués ni dans le vieillissement, ni dans la mort cellulaire, même utilisés à des doses très élevées. Ces résultats sont en accord avec certaines investigations in vivo montrant une induction de MMP-1 par des UV et non des infrarouges. Ces dernières études suggèrent d'ailleurs plutôt un rôle protecteur des IRFA (+LR).

Overbeck Franz Camille (1837-1905)

(Résumé de l'ouvrage) Cette publication s'inscrit dans une perspective sociale et culturelle : articuler des données historiques par rapport à leurs significations, leurs résonances imaginaires, leurs effets sociaux, leur statut de références symboliques. Elle offre ainsi au lecteur un panorama du protestantisme d'aujourd'hui, avec ses forces et ses faiblesses. Cette nouvelle édition (coédition avec Labor et Fides) est entièrement revue, corrigée et augmentée. Elle est constituée de 48 "grands dossiers" et d'environ 1400 "petites rubriques" consacrés soit à des personnalités soit à des notions significatives du "fait protestant". Cette encyclopédie s'inscrit dans les débats contemporains où le rapport au religieux s'impose comme objet de réflexion au coeur d'une Europe construite dans une matrice chrétienne.

Role of amoxicillin serum levels for successful prophylaxis of experimental endocarditis due to tolerant streptococci.

The importance of amoxicillin serum profiles for successful prophylaxis of experimental endocarditis in rats was assessed. Animals with catheter-induced vegetations were challenged intravenously with large inocula of Streptococcus sanguis and received one of the following amoxicillin dosages: single or multiple bolus injection of 40 mg/kg; 40 mg/kg administered as a continuous infusion over 12 h; or either 9 or 18 mg/kg administered over 12 or 24 h, respectively. The regimen producing a single transient high peak serum level failed to prevent experimental endocarditis; in contrast, a second injection 6 h after the first resulted in successful prophylaxis. Likewise, the three regimens of continuous, relatively low-dose regimens prevented infections. Thus, the most important parameter for successful prophylaxis was the duration of inhibitory concentration of the drug in the serum. The total dose of antibiotic, the peak serum levels, or the area-under-the-curve values were not predictive of successful prophylaxis.