Mycoplasma agalactiae in semen and milk of goat from Pernambuco state, Brazil

In goat and sheep flocks, mycoplasmosis is a disease that may cause severe economical losses associated with polyarthritis, mastitis, agalactia, conjunctivitis, pneumonia and reproductive failure. The latter may involve repeat breeding, granular vulvovaginitis, infertility and abortions. The aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of Mycoplasma agalactiae (Ma) in semen and milk samples from naturally infected goat in the semiarid region from Pernambuco State, Northeast from Brazil. Thirty-nine semen samples and 81 milk samples were submitted to DNA extraction using a commercially available kit and following the manufacturer's instructions. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then performed in accordance with protocols described in the literature. The results of the present study revealed the presence of Ma in the DNA of 17.9% (7/39) of the semen samples and 3.7% (3/81) of the milk samples. The results obtained in the present study confirm the elimination of the DNA of Ma in the semen and milk samples. The presence of this agent in goat flocks is considered very risky in terms of reproductive disorders and contagious agalactia outbreaks in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Regulation of epidermal tight junctions by calcium ATPases and p38

The epidermis is the upper layer of the skin and keratinocytes are its most abundant cells. Tight junctions are cell junctions located in the granular layer of the epidermis. They maintain the polarity of the cells and regulate the movement of water-soluble molecules. Epidermal tight junctions may lose their integrity when there are defects in intercellular calcium regulation. Hailey-Hailey and Darier´s disease are dominantly inherited, blistering skin diseases. Hailey-Hailey disease is caused by mutations in the ATP2C1 gene encoding a calcium/manganese ATPase SPCA1 of the Golgi apparatus. Darier´s disease is caused by mutations in the ATP2A2 gene encoding a calcium ATPase SERCA2 of the endoplasmic reticulum. p38 regulates the differentiation of keratinocytes. The overall regulation of epidermal tight junctions is not well understood. The present study examined the regulation of tight junctions in the human epidermis with a focus on calcium ATPases and p38. Skin from Hailey-Hailey and Darier´s disease patients was studied by using immunofluorescence labeling which targeted intercellular junction proteins. Transepidermal water loss was also measured. ATP2C1 gene expression was silenced in cultured keratinocytes, by siRNA, which modeled Hailey-Hailey disease. Expression of intercellular junction proteins was studied at the mRNA and protein levels. Squamous cell carcinoma and normal human keratinocytes were used as a model for impaired and normal keratinocyte differentiation, and the role of p38 isoforms alpha and delta in the regulation of intercellular junction proteins was studied. Both p38 isoforms were silenced by adenovirus cell transduction, chemical inhibitors or siRNA and keratinocyte differentiation was assessed. The results of this thesis revealed that: i.) intercellular junction proteins are expressed normally in acantholytic skin areas of patients with Hailey-Hailey or Darier´s disease but the localization of ZO-1 expanded to the stratum spinosum; ii.) tight junction proteins, claudin-1 and -4, are regulated by ATP2C1 in non-differentiating keratinocytes; and iii.) p38 delta regulates the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1 in proliferating keratinocytes and in squamous cell carcinoma derived cells. ZO-1 silencing, however, did not affect the expression of other tight junction proteins, suggesting that they are differently regulated. This thesis introduces new mechanisms involved in the regulation of tight junctions revealing new interactions. It provides novel evidence linking intracellular calcium regulation and tight junctions.

Fluid dynamic modelling and simulation of circulating fluidized bed reactors: importance of the interface turbulence transfer

The main objective of this work is to analyze the importance of the gas-solid interface transfer of the kinetic energy of the turbulent motion on the accuracy of prediction of the fluid dynamic of Circulating Fluidized Bed (CFB) reactors. CFB reactors are used in a variety of industrial applications related to combustion, incineration and catalytic cracking. In this work a two-dimensional fluid dynamic model for gas-particle flow has been used to compute the porosity, the pressure, and the velocity fields of both phases in 2-D axisymmetrical cylindrical co-ordinates. The fluid dynamic model is based on the two fluid model approach in which both phases are considered to be continuous and fully interpenetrating. CFB processes are essentially turbulent. The model of effective stress on each phase is that of a Newtonian fluid, where the effective gas viscosity was calculated from the standard k-epsilon turbulence model and the transport coefficients of the particulate phase were calculated from the kinetic theory of granular flow (KTGF). This work shows that the turbulence transfer between the phases is very important for a better representation of the fluid dynamics of CFB reactors, especially for systems with internal recirculation and high gradients of particle concentration. Two systems with different characteristics were analyzed. The results were compared with experimental data available in the literature. The results were obtained by using a computer code developed by the authors. The finite volume method with collocated grid, the hybrid interpolation scheme, the false time step strategy and SIMPLEC (Semi-Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations - Consistent) algorithm were used to obtain the numerical solution.

Käänteisosmoosin esikäsittelymenetelmät

Käänteisosmoosisuodatusta käytetään erityisesti teollisuuden jätevesien loppupuhdistuksessa. Suodatuksen ongelmana on kalvojen likaantuminen ja tukkiutuminen. Tässä työssä on aiempia tutkimuksia hyväksikäyttäen tutkittu käänteisosmoosiin tulevan veden esikäsittelemistä niin, että kalvojen likaantumiselta vältyttäisiin. Menetelmien vertailussa on käytetty erilaisia veden laadusta kertovia parametreja. Ongelmallisimmiksi aineksiksi huomattiin orgaaninen aines ja jotkin veteen liuenneet ionit. Kiintoaineen erottaminen ei ole ollut suuri ongelma, sillä sen saa poistettua tavallisesti käytetyillä rakeissuodatuksella, laskeutuksella, flotaatiolla ja kalvosuodatuksella. Orgaanista ainesta on saatu erotettua erityisesti hapettamalla, aktiivilieteprosessilla ja biologisella aktiivihiilisuodattimella. Mikro- ja ultrasuodatusta käytetään usein juuri ennen käänteisosmoosia poistamaan erityisesti kolloidista materiaalia ja joitain liuenneita ioneja. Flokkien muodostaminen koagulaatiossa ja flokkulaatiossa parantaa lähes kaikkien menetelmien toimivuutta selvästi. Veden puhdistuksessa käytetyt kemikaalit voivat myös liika-annosteltuina liata kalvoja. Vesien pitoisuuksissa eri ainesten osalta on huomattavia eroja, joten puhdistettava vesi on hyvä analysoida etukäteen parhaiden käsittelymenetelmien valitsemiseksi.

Does the Ingestion of Isoxaflutole Herbicide Affect the Midgut and Salivary Glands of Pentatomidae Predators?

Podisus nigrispinus is a generalist predator naturally occurring in agricultural and forestry systems that effectively contributes to the population balance of phytophagous insects, especially defoliating caterpillars. Histological changes were evaluated in the salivary glands and midgut of P. nigrispinus caused by ingestion of systemic herbicide isoxaflutole. These predator females were fed with leaves of eucalyptus plants, Tenebrio molitor pupae or water, contaminated or not by herbicide. Salivary glands and midguts were dissected, processed and analyzed under a light microscope. Activity level and cell morphology of the salivary glands and midgut showed differences among insects fed on plants, contaminated water or pupae. The epithelia of the salivary gland and midgut of individuals which had no contact with the herbicide showed homogeneous cytoplasm, nucleus with predominance of decondensed chromatin and evident nucleoli, intense cell activity features. As for the insects in contact with contaminated food, they presented undeveloped nucleus and condensed chromatin. The luminal contents of the salivary glands in the contaminated insects had become more acidophilus than in insects without poisoning, as well as having heterogeneous and granular secretion, being more evident in the bioassay in which the insects fed on contaminated water. There was a marked morphological change in the midgut cells in contaminated insects. High degree of apoptosis, disorganization and secretory vacuoles in the epithelial cytoplasm were observed. The apical portion of the midgut cells proved undeveloped, irregular and partially destroyed. It is concluded that isoxaflutole causes morphological changes in the digestive system of the predator P. nigrispinus.

A Distributed Microservices Framework Integrating Taverna

Presentation at Open Repositories 2014, Helsinki, Finland, June 9-13, 2014

Study of the embryofeto-toxicity of Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii) latex, a natural molluscicide

The crude latex of Crown-of-Thorns (Euphorbia milii var. hislopii) is a potent plant molluscicide and a promising alternative to the synthetic molluscicides used in schistosomiasis control. The present study was undertaken to investigate the embryofeto-toxic potential of E. milii latex. The study is part of a comprehensive safety evaluation of this plant molluscicide. Lyophilized latex (0, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight) in corn oil was given by gavage to Wistar rats (N = 100) from days 6 to 15 of pregnancy and cesarean sections were performed on day 21 of pregnancy. The numbers of implantation sites, living and dead fetuses, resorptions and corpora lutea were recorded. Fetuses were weighed, examined for external malformations, and fixed for visceral examination, or cleared and stained with Alizarin red S for skeleton evaluation. A reduction of body weight minus uterine weight at term indicated that E. milii latex was maternally toxic over the dose range tested. No latex-induced embryolethality was noted at the lowest dose (125 mg/kg) but the resorption rate was markedly increased at 250 mg/kg (62.5%) and 500 mg/kg (93.4%). A higher frequency of fetuses showing signs of delayed ossification (control: 17.4%; 125 mg/kg: 27.4% and 250 mg/kg: 62.8%; P<0.05 vs control) indicated that fetal growth was retarded at doses ³ 125 mg latex/kg body weight. No increase in the proportion of fetuses with skeletal anomalies was observed at the lowest dose but the incidence of minor skeletal malformations was higher at 250 mg/kg body weight (control: 13.7%; 125 mg/kg: 14.8%; 250 mg/kg: 45.7%; P<0.05 vs control). Since a higher frequency of minor malformations was noted only at very high doses of latex which are embryolethal and maternally toxic, it is reasonable to conclude that this plant molluscicide poses no teratogenic hazard or, at least, that this possibility is of a considerably low order of magnitude

Horizontal projections of area 17 in Cebus monkeys: metric features, and modular and laminar distribution

Metric features and modular and laminar distributions of intrinsic projections of area 17 were studied in Cebus apella. Anterogradely and retrogradely labeled cell appendages were obtained using both saturated pellets and iontophoretic injections of biocytin into the operculum. Laminar and modular distributions of the labeled processes were analyzed using Nissl counterstaining, and/or cytochrome oxidase and/or NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry. We distinguished three labeled cell types: pyramidal, star pyramidal and stellate cells located in supragranular cortical layers (principally in layers IIIa, IIIb a, IIIb ß and IIIc). Three distinct axon terminal morphologies were found, i.e., Ia, Ib and II located in granular and supragranular layers. Both complete and partial segregation of group I axon terminals relative to the limits of the blobs of V1 were found. The results are compatible with recent evidence of incomplete segregation of visual information flow in V1 of Old and New World primates

Studies on the intrinsic nervous system of the wild rodent Calomys callosus digestive tract. II: The submucous plexus

The submucous plexus of the normal small and large intestine of Calomys callosus was studied by NADH and AChE histochemical techniques and by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The plexus contains (mean ± SD) 7,488 ± 293 neurons/cm2 in the duodenum, 5,611 ± 836 in the jejunum, 2,741 ± 360 in the ileum, 3,067 ± 179 in the cecum, and 3,817 ± 256 in the proximal colon. No ganglia or nerve cell bodies were seen in the esophagus, stomach, distal colon or rectum. The neurons are pear-shaped with a round or oval nucleus and the neuronal cell profile areas were larger in the large intestine than in the small intestine. Most of the neurons display intense AChE activity in the cytoplasm. AChE-positive nerve fibers are present in a primary meshwork of large nerve bundles and in a secondary meshwork of finer nerve bundles. At the ultrastructural level, the ganglia are irregular in shape and covered with fibroblast-like cells. The nucleoplasm of the neurons is finely granular with a few condensations of chromatin attached to the nuclear envelope. In the neuropil numerous varicosities filled with vesicles of different size and electron densities are seen. The pre- and post-synaptic membrane thickenings are asymmetric. Characteristic glial cells with oval nuclei and few organelles are numerous. These data provide a detailed description of this submucosal meshwork.

Study of the effects of ß-myrcene on rat fertility and general reproductive performance

ß-Myrcene (MYR) is a monoterpene found in the oils of a variety of aromatic plants including lemongrass, verbena, hop, bay, and others. MYR and essential oils containing this terpenoid compound are used in cosmetics, household products, and as flavoring food additives. This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of MYR on fertility and general reproductive performance in the rat. MYR (0, 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg) in peanut oil was given by gavage to male Wistar rats (15 per dose group) for 91 days prior to mating and during the mating period, as well as to females (45 per dose group) continuously for 21 days before mating, during mating and pregnancy, and throughout the period of lactation up to postnatal day 21. On day 21 of pregnancy one-third of the females of each group were submitted to cesarean section. Resorption, implantation, as well as dead and live fetuses were counted. All fetuses were examined for external malformations, weighed, and cleared and stained with Alizarin Red S for skeleton evaluation. The remaining dams were allowed to give birth to their offspring. The progeny was examined at birth and subsequently up to postnatal day 21. Mortality, weight gain and physical signs of postnatal development were evaluated. Except for an increase in liver and kidney weights, no other sign of toxicity was noted in male and female rats exposed to MYR. MYR did not affect the mating index (proportion of females impregnated by males) or the pregnancy index (ratio of pregnant to sperm-positive females). No sign of maternal toxicity and no increase in externally visible malformations were observed at any dose level. Only at the highest dose tested (500 mg/kg) did MYR induce an increase in the resorption rate and a higher frequency of fetal skeleton anomalies. No adverse effect of MYR on postnatal weight gain was noted but days of appearance of primary coat, incisor eruption and eye opening were slightly delayed in the exposed offspring. On the basis of the data presented in this paper the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for toxic effects on fertility and general reproductive performance can be set at 300 mg of ß-myrcene/kg body weight by the oral route.

Teollinen öljyn erotus koalesenssisuodatuksella väliaineessa

Koalesenssi on ilmiö, jossa dispergoidun faasin pisarat pyrkivät muodostamaan suurempia pisaroita kunnes erotettava faasi muodostuu. Koalesenssi tapahtuu kolmessa päävaiheessa, jotka ovat lähestyminen, kiinnittyminen ja irrotus. Lähestymiseen vaikuttavat mekanismit ovat muuan muassa sieppaus, diffuusio, törmäysvaikutus, sedimentaatio, sähköiset repul-siovoimat ja van der Waalsin voimat. Kiinnittymisvaiheessa dispergoidun faasin pisarat syrjäyttävät väliaineen nestekalvon samalla kostuttaen väliaineen pinnan. Irrotusvaiheessa pisaran hydrodynaaminen voima voittaa pisaran ja väliaineen välisen adheesiovoiman. Koalesenssin tehokkuuteen vaikuttavat useat eri parametrit kuten virtausnopeus, pedin ominaisuudet, väliaineen ominaisuudet sekä emulsion ominaisuudet. Nämä kaikki asiat tulee ottaa huomioon koalesenssisuodatuksen suunnittelussa. Koalesenssisuodatus lukeutuu syväsuodatusmenetelmiin, jotka on ollut käytössä jo yli 100 vuotta. Koalesenssisuodatusmenetelmä on tehokas menetelmä pienten pisaroiden erottami-seen. Menetelmää käytetään esimerkiksi öljyisten jätevesien puhdistuksessa. Teollisen öljyn syväsuodatuksen etuihin kuuluu muun muassa sen kompakti koko, alhaisemmat käyt-tökustannukset, korkea erotusaste, kyky erotella pienetkin pisarat sekä helppo operointi, automatisointi ja huolto. Suurin haittapuoli on kuitenkin väliaineen tukkeutuminen, joten prosessi vaatii puhdistuksen tai väliaineen uusimisen. Tämän kandidaatintyön tarkoituksena oli koota kirjallisuustyö öljyn koalesenssisuodatuk-sesta. Työssä kartoitettiin koalesenssisuodatuksen lähtökohdat, teoria, tärkeimmät teolli-suuden sovellukset sekä väliaineet.

Tasoseulan parametrien kokeellinen optimointi ja simulointimallin verifiointi

Tämä kandidaatintyö tarkastelee rakeisen materiaalin seulontaan liittyviä käsitteitä ja laitteita, etsii optimaalisia parametreja seulonnan erotustehokkuudelle laboratorio-olosuhteissa sekä verifioi aikaisempien tutkimuksien simulointimallia. Mittauksessa seulottiin erikokoisia lasipalloja. Mittausten muuttuvia parametreja olivat seulatason värähtelyn taajuus, kaltevuus ja syöttömassa. Värähtely edistää partikkelien kerrostumista, kaltevuus lisää partikkelien vierintänopeutta ja syöttömassan lisääminen tarkoittaa suurempaa kapasiteettia. Mittausten perusteella värähtelyn ja kaltevuuden lisääminen parantaa erotustehokkuutta. Sen sijaan liiallinen kaltevuuden ja syöttömassan lisääminen heikentää erotustehokkuutta. Seulonnan erotustehokkuudet määritettiin alitteiden kokonaismassan perusteella. Tässä työssä kokeellisesti määritettyjä erotustehokkuuden arvoja verrattiin Rotich et al. [2013, 2014] kehittämän seulan simulointimallin tuloksiin. Malli simuloi seulan erotustehokkuutta eri seulan parametreilla ja mallin antamat simulointitulokset noudattivat hyvin tässä työssä saatuja kokeellisia mittaustuloksia.

Relationships between fetal body weight of Wistar rats at term and the extent of skeletal ossification

We investigated the relationship between fetal body weight at term (pregnancy day 21) and the extent of ossification of sternum, metacarpus, metatarsus, phalanges (proximal, medial and distal) of fore- and hindlimbs and cervical and coccygeal vertebrae in Wistar rats. The relationships between fetal body weight and sex, intrauterine position, uterine horn, horn size, and litter size were determined using historical control data (7594 fetuses; 769 litters) of untreated rats. Relationships between body weight and degree of ossification were examined in a subset of 1484 historical control fetuses (154 litters) which were subsequently cleared and stained with alizarin red S. Fetal weight was independent of horn size, uterine horn side (left or right) or intrauterine position. Males were heavier than females and fetal weight decreased with increasing litter size. Evaluation of the skeleton showed that ossification of sternum, metacarpus and metatarsus was extensively complete and independent of fetal weight on pregnancy day 21. In contrast, the extent of ossification of fore- and hindlimb phalanges and of cervical and sacrococcygeal vertebrae was dependent on fetal body weight. The strongest correlation between body weight and degree of ossification was found for hindlimb, medial and proximal phalanges. Our data therefore suggest that, in full-term rat fetuses (day 21), reduced ossification of sternum, metacarpus and metatarsus results from a localized impairment of bone calcification (i.e., a malformation or variation) rather than from general growth retardation and that ossification of hindlimb (medial and proximal) phalanges is a good indicator of treatment-induced fetal growth retardation.

Systematic head and neck physical examination as a predictor of obstructive sleep apnea in class III obese patients

Our aim was to determine if anatomical abnormalities of the upper airway (UA) and facial skeleton of class III severely obese patients are related to the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Forty-five patients (69% females, mean age 46.5 ± 10.8 years) with a body mass index (BMI) over 40 kg/m² underwent UA and facial skeletal examinations as well as polysomnography. Mean BMI was 49 ± 7 kg/m² and mean neck circumference was 43.4 ± 5.1 cm. Polysomnographic findings showed that 22% had a normal apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and 78% had an AHI over 5. The presence of OSAS was associated with younger age (P = 0.02), larger neck circumference (P = 0.004), presence of a voluminous lateral wall (P = 0.0002), posteriorized soft palate (P = 0.0053), thick soft palate (P = 0.0014), long uvula (P = 0.04), thick uvula (P = 0.0052), and inferior turbinate hypertrophy (P = 0.04). A larger neck circumference (P = 0.02), presence of a voluminous lateral wall (P = 0.04), posteriorized soft palate (P = 0.03), and thick soft palate (P = 0.04) were all associated with OSAS severity. The prevalence of OSAS in this group was high. A larger neck circumference and soft tissue abnormalities of the UA were markers for both the presence and severity of OSAS. Conversely, no abnormalities in the facial skeleton were associated with OSAS in patients with morbid obesity.

Ca2+ signaling in pancreatic acinar cells: physiology and pathophysiology

The pancreatic acinar cell is a classical model for studies of secretion and signal transduction mechanisms. Because of the extensive endoplasmic reticulum and the large granular compartment, it has been possible - by direct measurements - to obtain considerable insights into intracellular Ca2+ handling under both normal and pathological conditions. Recent studies have also revealed important characteristics of stimulus-secretion coupling mechanisms in isolated human pancreatic acinar cells. The acinar cells are potentially dangerous because of the high intra-granular concentration of proteases, which become inappropriately activated in the human disease acute pancreatitis. This disease is due to toxic Ca2+ signals generated by excessive liberation of Ca2+ from both the endoplasmic reticulum and the secretory granules.