Terutroban, A TP-receptor antagonist, reduces portal pressure in cirrhotic rats.

Increased production of vasoconstrictive prostanoids, such as thromboxane A2 (TXA2 ), contributes to endothelial dysfunction and increased hepatic vascular tone in cirrhosis. TXA2 induces vasoconstriction by way of activation of the thromboxane-A2 /prostaglandin-endoperoxide (TP) receptor. This study investigated whether terutroban, a specific TP receptor blocker, decreases hepatic vascular tone and portal pressure in rats with cirrhosis due to carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) or bile duct ligation (BDL). Hepatic and systemic hemodynamics, endothelial dysfunction, liver fibrosis, hepatic Rho-kinase activity (a marker of hepatic stellate cell contraction), and the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) signaling pathway were measured in CCl4 and BDL cirrhotic rats treated with terutroban (30 mg/kg/day) or its vehicle for 2 weeks. Terutroban reduced portal pressure in both models without producing significant changes in portal blood flow, suggesting a reduction in hepatic vascular resistance. Terutroban did not significantly change arterial pressure in CCl4 -cirrhotic rats but decreased it significantly in BDL-cirrhotic rats. In livers from CCl4 and BDL-cirrhotic terutroban-treated rats, endothelial dysfunction was improved and Rho-kinase activity was significantly reduced. In CCl4 -cirrhotic rats, terutroban reduced liver fibrosis and decreased alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen-I, and transforming growth factor beta messenger RNA (mRNA) expression without significant changes in the eNOS pathway. In contrast, no change in liver fibrosis was observed in BDL-cirrhotic rats but an increase in the eNOS pathway. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that TP-receptor blockade with terutroban decreases portal pressure in cirrhosis. This effect is due to decreased hepatic resistance, which in CCl4 -cirrhotic rats was linked to decreased hepatic fibrosis, but not in BDL rats, in which the main mediator appeared to be an enhanced eNOS-dependent vasodilatation, which was not liver-selective, as it was associated with decreased arterial pressure. The potential use of terutroban for portal hypertension requires further investigation.

Portal per a empreses de hosting

Memòria del projecte final de carrera en l'àrea de J2EE que explica la creació d'un portal d'automatització d'empreses de hosting.

Anàlisi, disseny i implementació del Portal web FutbolAlpicat.com

L’objectiu del treball és desenvolupar un portal web pel club Atlètic Alpicat i la Unió Esportiva Alpicat. A més aquest Portal que ha d’estar adaptat als requeriments de clubs i usuaris del Portal, ha de ser fàcil d’usar i de mantenir. Un cop finalitzat el Portal es guiarà els clubs per tal de que puguin gestionar-lo de forma autònoma.A la present memòria trobarem explicades les accions dutes a terme abans, durant i després del desenvolupament del Portal web dels Clubs de Futbol Alpicat.

Avaluació de la usabilitat del portal de compra electrònica de la cadena de supermercats Plus Fresc

Aquest treball de final de carrera té com a finalitat analitzar els problemes d’usabilitat d’una botiga online. Aplicant aquesta avaluació podrem obtenir les mancances i els punts forts i/o febles que pot tenir aquesta botiga. L’avaluació es realitzarà amb una aplicació anomenada MORAE. Aquesta aplicació ens proporcionarà les dades necessàries i ens permetrà establir paràmetres indicatius de possibles problemes d’usabilitat de la citada botiga. L’anàlisi estadística ens permet extreure un conjunt de dades que, en analitzar-les, ens permetran establir un conjunt divers d’informació que ens facilitarà, alhora, diferents formes d’anàlisi, tant comparativa com inductiva. L’objectiu d’aquest projecte és avaluar l’eficàcia de la botiga i establir si els usuaris tenen dificultats per treballar amb ella o no. A més a més, es proposaran idees de millora per facilitar el bon ús per als usuaris per tal de fer més gratificant la seva experiència.

Uma visão das tendências e perspectivas em eletrocromismo: a busca de novos materiais e desenhos mais simples

Some aspects of electrochromism phenomena are presented in this review paper. A deep literature revision about the subject dealing with materials and device configurations developed in the last years, is presented. Great efforts of the scientific community have been done in this field. On the other hand, new electrochomic devices based on reversible deposition of metals are specially emphasized here. These devices present many advantages such as simple operation and construction and they have also shown high cycling rates. These factors make them suitable for application in display industry. In this way, many concepts used in the developement of electrodeposition baths are very useful for the improvement of these new devices; specially, all knowledge about the use of additives for modifying films microstructure and morfology.

Portal Liferay : Intranet Ajuntament de Vinaròs

Construcció d'una intranet per a l'ajuntament de Vinaròs utilitzant el gestor de continguts Liferay, usant la tecnologia J2EE per desenvolupar els portlets.

Effect of meal ingestion on liver stiffness in patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Liver stiffness is increasingly used in the non-invasive evaluation of chronic liver diseases. Liver stiffness correlates with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) in patients with cirrhosis and holds prognostic value in this population. Hence, accuracy in its measurement is needed. Several factors independent of fibrosis influence liver stiffness, but there is insufficient information on whether meal ingestion modifies liver stiffness in cirrhosis. We investigated the changes in liver stiffness occurring after the ingestion of a liquid standard test meal in this population. METHODS: In 19 patients with cirrhosis and esophageal varices (9 alcoholic, 9 HCV-related, 1 NASH; Child score 6.9±1.8), liver stiffness (transient elastography), portal blood flow (PBF) and hepatic artery blood flow (HABF) (Doppler-Ultrasound) were measured before and 30 minutes after receiving a standard mixed liquid meal. In 10 the HVPG changes were also measured. RESULTS: Post-prandial hyperemia was accompanied by a marked increase in liver stiffness (+27±33%; p<0.0001). Changes in liver stiffness did not correlate with PBF changes, but directly correlated with HABF changes (r = 0.658; p = 0.002). After the meal, those patients showing a decrease in HABF (n = 13) had a less marked increase of liver stiffness as compared to patients in whom HABF increased (n = 6; +12±21% vs. +62±29%,p<0.0001). As expected, post-prandial hyperemia was associated with an increase in HVPG (n = 10; +26±13%, p = 0.003), but changes in liver stiffness did not correlate with HVPG changes. CONCLUSIONS: Liver stiffness increases markedly after a liquid test meal in patients with cirrhosis, suggesting that its measurement should be performed in standardized fasting conditions. The hepatic artery buffer response appears an important factor modulating postprandial changes of liver stiffness. The post-prandial increase in HVPG cannot be predicted by changes in liver stiffness.

Caracterização e classificação do resíduo sólido "pó do balão", gerado na indústria siderúrgica não integrada a carvão vegetal: estudo de um caso na região de Sete Lagoas/MG

This research was developed by considering that the solid waste produced in the process of pig iron production represents the loss of raw materials and the increase in environmental problem. The charcoal based mini blast-furnace off gases dust named CHARCOK was collected from SIDERPA ¾ Siderúrgica Paulino Ltda, located in Sete Lagoas, Minas Gerais. The Charcok was characterized and classified according to ABNT (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas) standard. The results showed that the Charcok should be classified as Class I Wastes ¾ "Hazard Wastes" because of its high concentration of phenols (54.5mg C6H5OH/kg). The Charcok had high concentration of iron and charcoal which can be used as energy source.

Implantació d'un Sistema de Gestió Integrada, qualitat i medi ambient, a una empresa constructora.

En aquest treball es defineix la documentació necessària per realitzar la implantació d’un sistema de gestió integrada, basat en la qualitat i en el medi ambient, a una empresa constructora, que permeti desenvolupar les seves activitats d’una forma simplificada i ordenada, i que faciliti la informació necessària per mantenir una millora continuada de les seves activitats.El Sistema de Gestió, integra les normes ISO 9001 i ISO 14001, que són normes de gestió de la Qualitat i el Medi Ambient, respectivament. Durant la implantació del Sistema de Gestió, s’han elaborat els procediments generals que les normes indiquen que s’han d’elaborar per complir amb totes les especificacions definides a elles. També, s’han elaborat els procediments específics, que són aquells propis de les activitats de l’empresa i que defineixen la seva forma de treballar. D’aquesta documentació es deriven els registres, que son els documents del Sistema de Gestió que ens permeten comprovar si s’adequa a la forma de treballar, i que son les evidencies de la posada en marxa del sistema.A la finalització d’aquest projecte, obtindrem un Sistema de Gestió Integrada, amb tots els procediments definits i implantats a l’empresa, que compliran amb les normes ISO 9001 i ISO 14001, dotant a l’organització d’un augment de la seva eficàcia i competitivitat, entrant al procés de millora continuada, i posicionar-se com una empresa socialment responsable, reforçant la seva imatge davant dels seus clients, optimitzant la gestió de residus i reduint els impactes ambientals negatius.

Guidelines for CERIF-XML Data Exchange with CSUC’s Catalan Research Portal (PRC) (Version 2.2)

The Catalan Research Portal (Portal de la Recerca de Catalunya or PRC) is an initiative carried out by the Consortium for University Services in Catalonia (CSUC) in coordination with nearly all universities in Catalonia. The Portal will provide an online CERIF-compliant collection of all research outputs produced by Catalan HEIs together with an appropriate contextual information describing the specific environment where the output was generated (such as researchers, research group, research project, etc). The initial emphasis of the Catalan Research Portal approach to research outputs will be made on publications, but other outputs such as patents and eventually research data will eventually be addressed as well. These guidelines provide information for PRC data providers to expose and exchange their research information metadata in CERIFXML compatible structure, thus allowing them not just to exchange validated CERIF XML data with the PRC platform, but to improve their general interoperability by being able to deliver CERIFcompatible outputs.

Programa de gerenciamento de resíduos dos laboratórios de graduação da Universidade Regional Integrada do Alto Uruguai e das Missões - Campus Erechim

This work presents a proposal for the management of residues from teaching laboratories. The main goals of the proposal are: scale reduction of experiments, reuse of residues as raw materials for new experiments and appropriate treatment and storage of residues. The methodology includes standardized labels for residue classification and registration of experimental classes and their residues in files. The management seemed to be efficient, resulting in a reduction of the amount of reagents utilized and residues generated, and an increase of reutilization of residues. A considerable decrease of needed storage space and suitable methods for correct residue disposal were achieved. We expect that all laboratories, including those exclusively for research activities, become involved, in a near future, in the Residue Management Project of URI - Campus Erechim.

Tratamento de chorume de aterro sanitário por fotocatálise heterogênea integrada a processo biológico convencional

The chemical and microbiological decomposition of the garbage deposited in landfills leads to the generation of a dark and malodorous liquid residue that shows a chemical composition of extreme variability and complexity. When matured, the leachates show low biodegradability, which makes it difficult to treat by conventional biological processes. In this work a new strategy for the treatment of landfill leachates is proposed, involving a preliminary treatment by heterogeneous photocatalysis followed by an activated sludge system. The results demonstrate that photochemical treatments of 60 and 90 min significantly enhance the leachates' biodegradability favoring subsequent biological treatment. The biodegradability rate (BOD/COD) was also greatly enhanced.

Identificação de substâncias em análise toxicológica sistemática utilizando um sistema informatizado para cálculo de parâmetros cromatográficos e busca em bases de dados

In spite of the availability of large databases of chromatographic data on several standardized systems, one major task in systematic toxicological analysis remains, namely how to handle the experimental data and retrieve data from the large available databases in a meaningful and productive way. To achieve this purpose, our group proposed an Internet-based tool using previously published STA databases, which interlaboratorial reproducibility tests have already evaluated. The developed software has the capability to calculate corrected chromatographic parameters, after the input of data obtained with standard mixtures of calibrators, and search the databases, currently incorporating TLC, color reactions, GC and HPLC data. At the end of the process, a list with candidate substances and their similarity indexes is presented.