Toll-like Receptor 2 Knockout Mice Showed Increased Periapical Lesion Size and Osteoclast Number

Introduction: The aim of this study was to characterize the formation and progression of experimentally induced periapical lesions in TLR2 knockout (TLR2 KO) mice. Methods: Periapical lesions were induced in molars of 28 wild type (WT) and 27 TLR2 KO mice. After 7, 21, and 42 days, the animals were euthanized, and the mandibles were subjected to histotechnical processing. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections were examined under conventional light microscopy for the description of pulpal, apical, and periapical features and under fluorescence microscopy for the determination of the periapical lesion size. The subsequent sections were evaluated by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase histoenzymology (osteoclasts), Brown and Brenn staining (bacteria), and immunohistochemistry (RANK, RANKL, and OPG). Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis tests (alpha = 0.05), Results: The WT group showed significant differences (P < .05) in the periapical lesion size and the osteoclast number between 7 and 42 days and between 21 and 42 days. In the TLR2 KO group, significant differences (P < .05) in the periapical lesion size and the osteoclast number were found between 7 days and the other periods. There was a significant difference (P < .05) between the 2 types of animal regarding the periapical lesion size, which was larger in the TLR2 KO animals. No significant differences (P > .05) were found between WT and TLR2 KO mice related to the pulpal, apical, and periapical features; bacteria localization; and immunohistochemical results (except for RANK expression). Conclusions: TLR2 KO animals developed larger periapical lesions with a greater number of osteoclasts, indicating the important role of this receptor in the host's immune and inflammatory response to root canal and periradicular infection. (J Endod 2012;38:803-813)

Spatial-temporal variations in phytoplankton size and colored detrital matter absorption at global and regional scales, as derived from twelve years of SeaWiFS data (1998-2009)

A procedure has been proposed by Ciotti and Bricaud (2006) to retrieve spectral absorption coefficients of phytoplankton and colored detrital matter (CDM) from satellite radiance measurements. This was also the first procedure to estimate a size factor for phytoplankton, based on the shape of the retrieved algal absorption spectrum, and the spectral slope of CDM absorption. Applying this method to the global ocean color data set acquired by SeaWiFS over twelve years (1998-2009), allowed for a comparison of the spatial variations of chlorophyll concentration ([Chl]), algal size factor (S-f), CDM absorption coefficient (a(cdm)) at 443 nm, and spectral slope of CDM absorption (S-cdm). As expected, correlations between the derived parameters were characterized by a large scatter at the global scale. We compared temporal variability of the spatially averaged parameters over the twelve-year period for three oceanic areas of biogeochemical importance: the Eastern Equatorial Pacific, the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea. In all areas, both S-f and a(cdm)(443) showed large seasonal and interannual variations, generally correlated to those of algal biomass. The CDM maxima appeared in some occasions to last longer than those of [Chl]. The spectral slope of CDM absorption showed very large seasonal cycles consistent with photobleaching, challenging the assumption of a constant slope commonly used in bio-optical models. In the Equatorial Pacific, the seasonal cycles of [Chl], S-f, a(cdm)(443) and S-cdm, as well as the relationships between these parameters, were strongly affected by the 1997-98 El Ni o/La Ni a event.

Behavioral driving through on line monitoring and activity-dependent stimulation in weakly electric fish

This work has been supported by Brazilian agencies FAPESP, CNPq, CAPES and grants MICINN BFU200908473 and TIN 201019607, SpanishBrazilian Cooperation PHB20070008 and 7ª Convocatoria De PROYECTOS de COOPERACION INTERUNIVERSITARIAUAMSANTANDER con America Latina

Cationic nanoparticles for delivery of amphotericin B: preparation, characterization and activity in vitro

Abstract Background Particulate systems are well known to be able to deliver drugs with high efficiency and fewer adverse side effects, possibly by endocytosis of the drug carriers. On the other hand, cationic compounds and assemblies exhibit a general antimicrobial action. In this work, cationic nanoparticles built from drug, cationic lipid and polyelectrolytes are shown to be excellent and active carriers of amphotericin B against C. albicans. Results Assemblies of amphotericin B and cationic lipid at extreme drug to lipid molar ratios were wrapped by polyelectrolytes forming cationic nanoparticles of high colloid stability and fungicidal activity against Candida albicans. Experimental strategy involved dynamic light scattering for particle sizing, zeta-potential analysis, colloid stability, determination of AmB aggregation state by optical spectra and determination of activity against Candida albicans in vitro from cfu countings. Conclusion Novel and effective cationic particles delivered amphotericin B to C. albicans in vitro with optimal efficiency seldom achieved from drug, cationic lipid or cationic polyelectrolyte in separate. The multiple assembly of antibiotic, cationic lipid and cationic polyelctrolyte, consecutively nanostructured in each particle produced a strategical and effective attack against the fungus cells.

E-packet for ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS

L'utilizzo del materiale è concesso ai soli studenti iscritti al corso nell'anno accademico in corso, in quanto esso è coperto da copyright internazionale; la Facoltà di Economia di Forlì ha già provveduto a sostenere i relativi costi per gli studenti iscritti. Qualora altri studenti non appartenenti al corso fossero interessati a partecipare, dovranno mettersi in contatto con il prof. Emanuele Padovani per regolarizzare il pagamento dei diritti d'autore. Per ogni altra informazione sull'utilizzo del materiale e sul copyright, si rinvia alla prima pagina dell'E-packet. ENGLISH VERSION: You can use the E-packet only if you are enrolled in this course for the current academic year, because it is copyrighted under international copyright laws and the Faculty of Economics of Forlì has paid just the amount for this year's students. If you are interested in this material, you can ask information to Professor Emanuele Padovani. For any further information on the use of this material, please read the disclaimer contained in the first page of it.

Syllabus ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NONPROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANIZATIONS

Questo è il syllabus completo del corso: stampatelo e portatelo sempre a lezione! Al fine di evitare duplicazioni, evitate di stampare le pagine della Guida dello Studente. ENGLISH VERSION: This is the complete syllabus: print it and keept it always with you when you have classes! Do not print out the pages contained in the Student's guide to avoid redundancies.

Reputation, VC funding, and innovation: Evidence from the UK Micro and Nanotechnology sector

Startups’ contributions on economic growth have been widely realized. However, the funding gap is often a problem limiting startups’ development. To some extent, VC can be a means to solve this problem. VC is one of the optimal financial intermediaries for startups. Two streams of VC studies are focused in this dissertation: the criteria used by venture capitalists to evaluate startups and the effect of VC on innovation. First, although many criteria have been analyzed, the empirical assessment of the effect of startup reputation on VC funding has not been investigated. However, reputation is usually positively related with firm performance, which may affect VC funding. By analyzing reputation from the generalized visibility dimension and the generalized favorability dimension using a sample of 200 startups founded from 1995 operating in the UK MNT sector, we show that both the two dimensions of reputation have positive influence on the likelihood of receiving VC funding. We also find that management team heterogeneity positively influence the likelihood of receiving VC funding. Second, studies investigating the effect of venture capital on innovation have frequently resorted to patent data. However, innovation is a process leading from invention to successful commercialization, and while patents capture the upstream side of innovative performance, they poorly describe its downstream one. By reflecting the introduction of new products or services trademarks can complete the picture, but empirical studies on trademarking in startups are rare. Analyzing a sample of 192 startups founded from 1996 operating in the UK MNT sector, we find that VC funding has positive effect on the propensity to register trademarks, as well as on the number and breadth of trademarks.

Export Supply Chain Organization and Food Safety and Quality Standards: a case study of the Moroccan Fruit and Vegetable Sector

Agri-food supply chains extend beyond national boundaries, partially facilitated by a policy environment that encourages more liberal international trade. Rising concentration within the downstream sector has driven a shift towards “buyer-driven” global value chains (GVCs) extending internationally with global sourcing and the emergence of multinational key economic players that compete with increase emphasis on product quality attributes. Agri-food systems are thus increasingly governed by a range of inter-related public and private standards, both of which are becoming a priori mandatory, especially in supply chains for high-value and quality-differentiated agri-food products and tend to strongly affect upstream agricultural practices, firms’ internal organization and strategic behaviour and to shape the food chain organization. Notably, increasing attention has been given to the impact of SPS measures on agri-food trade and notably on developing countries’ export performance. Food and agricultural trade is the vital link in the mutual dependency of the global trade system and developing countries. Hence, developing countries derive a substantial portion of their income from food and agricultural trade. In Morocco, fruit and vegetable (especially fresh) are the primary agricultural export. Because of the labor intensity, this sector (especially citrus and tomato) is particularly important in terms of income and employment generation, especially for the female laborers hired in the farms and packing houses. Hence, the emergence of agricultural and agrifood product safety issues and the subsequent tightening of market requirements have challenged mutual gains due to the lack of technical and financial capacities of most developing countries.

Hepatic-portal vein infusions of glucagon-like peptide-1 reduce meal size and increase c-Fos expression in the nucleus tractus solitarii, area postrema and central nucleus of the amygdala in rats

We recently reported that brief, remotely controlled intrameal hepatic-portal vein infusions of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) reduced spontaneous meal size in rats. To investigate the neurobehavioural correlates of this effect, we equipped male Sprague-Dawley rats with hepatic-portal vein catheters and assessed (i) the effect on eating of remotely triggered infusions of GLP-1 (1 nmol/kg, 5 min) or vehicle during the first nocturnal meal after 3 h of food deprivation and (ii) the effect of identical infusions performed at dark onset on c-Fos expression in several brain areas involved in the control of eating. GLP-1 reduced (P < 0.05) the size of the first nocturnal meal and increased its satiety ratio. Also, GLP-1 increased (P < 0.05) the number of c-Fos-expressing cells in the nucleus tractus solitarii, the area postrema and the central nucleus of the amygdala, but not in the arcuate or paraventricular hypothalamic nuclei. These data suggest that the nucleus tractus solitarii, the area postrema and the central nucleus of the amygdala play a role in the eating-inhibitory actions of GLP-1 infused into the hepatic-portal vein; it remains to be established whether activation of these brain nuclei reflect satiation, aversion, or both.

Heterogeneity in vaccination coverage explains the size and occurrence of measles epidemics in German surveillance data

The objective of this study was to characterize empirically the association between vaccination coverage and the size and occurrence of measles epidemics in Germany. In order to achieve this we analysed data routinely collected by the Robert Koch Institute, which comprise the weekly number of reported measles cases at all ages as well as estimates of vaccination coverage at the average age of entry into the school system. Coverage levels within each federal state of Germany are incorporated into a multivariate time-series model for infectious disease counts, which captures occasional outbreaks by means of an autoregressive component. The observed incidence pattern of measles for all ages is best described by using the log proportion of unvaccinated school starters in the autoregressive component of the model.