An ultra-sensitive impedimetric immunosensor for detection of the serum oncomarker CA-125 in ovarian cancer patients.

Effective treatment of ovarian cancer depends upon the early detection of the malignancy. Here, we report on the development of a new nanostructured immunosensor for early detection of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125). A gold electrode was modified with mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), and then consecutively conjugated with silica coated gold nanoparticles (AuNP@SiO2), CdSe quantum dots (QDs) and anti-CA-125 monoclonal antibody (mAb). The engineered MPA|AuNP@SiO2|QD|mAb immunosensor was characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Successive conjugation of AuNP@SiO2, CdSe QD and anti-CA-125 mAb onto the gold electrode resulted in sensitive detection of CA-125 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0016 U mL(-1) and a linear detection range (LDR) of 0-0.1 U mL(-1). Based on the high sensitivity and specificity of the immunosensor, we propose this highly stable and reproducible biosensor for the early detection of CA-125.

Effects of tillage systems on physical properties of a cohesive yellow argisol in the northern state of Espírito Santo, Brazil

Tillage systems are a key element of the technology of crop production, both with a view to crop yield and from the perspective of soil conservation and sustainability of the production system. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of five tillage systems on the physical properties of a cohesive Yellow Argisol. The experiment was installed in the field on January 21, 2011 and lasted 260 days, in an area previously used as pasture with Brachiaria grass without liming or fertilization, but irrigated by a low pressure spray system. The treatments, in five replications and in a randomized block design, consisted of: 1) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow + ridge-furrow tillage (raising a ridge along the planting row), 135 days after transplanting (DP + RID); 2) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow (DP no RID); 3) subsoiler (SB); 4) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow + scarification with three shanks along the plant row (DP + SPR); and 5) disk plow (twice) + disk harrow + scarification with three shanks in the total area (DP + STA). In all tillage systems, furrows were mechanically opened for the papaya plants. After the treatments, the mechanical resistance to penetration was determined, followed by soil moisture, mean weight diameter (MWD), geometric mean diameter (GMD), bulk density (BD), macroporosity (Ma), microporosity (Mi), and number of fruits per plant. There were differences in penetration resistance (PR) between treatments. The subsoiler was more effective to decrease RP to a distance of 0.35 m from the plants, perpendicular to the plant row. The scarifier resulted in a lower PR than DP or SB, even at the depth of 0.40 m, and it was more effective at greater distances perpendicular to the plant. All tillage systems induced a PR between 2.0 and 3.0 MPa at the depth with the highest concentration of papaya tree roots (0-0.25 m), improving the physical conditions to this depth. There was no statistical difference among the treatments for BD, Ma, Mi, MWD, and GMD at a depth of 0.20 m. The disk plow changed the physical properties of the soil most intensely to a depth of 0.20 m. The use of scarification, reduced tillage with a forest subsoiler, or ridge-furrow tillage did not improve the physical properties in the rhizosphere. Reduced tillage with a forest subsoiler resulted in a lower number of fruits per plant than all other treatments, which did not differ from each other.

Dry matter and macronutrient accumulation in fruits of Conilon coffee with different ripening cycles

The period between anthesis and fruit ripening varies according to the Conilon coffee (Coffea canephora) genotype. Therefore, the time of the nutritional requirements for fruit formation may differ, depending on the formation phase and the genotype, and may directly affect split application of fertilizer. The aim of this study was to quantify the accumulation of dry matter and N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S at several stages in the fruit of the Conilon coffee genotype with different ripening cycles, which may suggest the need for split application of fertilizer in coffee. The experiment was carried out in the municipality of Nova Venecia, Espírito Santo, Brazil, throughout the reproductive cycle. The treatments were composed of four coffee genotypes with different ripening cycles. A completely randomised experimental design was used. with five replicates. Plagiotropic branches were harvested from flowering to fruit ripening at 28-day intervals to determine the dry matter of the fruits and the concentration and accumulation of the nutrients they contained. The behavior of dry matter and macronutrient accumulation during the study period was similar and increasing, but it differed among genotypes sampled in the same season. Early genotypes exhibited a higher speed of dry matter and nutrient accumulation. Split application of fertilizer should differ among coffee genotypes with different ripening cycles (early, intermediate, late and very late).

Enhanced excitation-coupled Ca(2+) entry induces nuclear translocation of NFAT and contributes to IL-6 release from myotubes from patients with central core disease.

Prolonged depolarization of skeletal muscle cells induces entry of extracellular calcium into muscle cells, an event referred to as excitation-coupled calcium entry. Skeletal muscle excitation-coupled calcium entry relies on the interaction between the 1,4-dihydropyridine receptor on the sarcolemma and the ryanodine receptor on the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. In this study, we directly measured excitation-coupled calcium entry by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy in human skeletal muscle myotubes harbouring mutations in the RYR1 gene linked to malignant hyperthermia (MH) and central core disease (CCD). We found that excitation-coupled calcium entry is strongly enhanced in cells from patients with CCD compared with individuals with MH and controls. Furthermore, excitation-coupled calcium entry induces generation of reactive nitrogen species and enhances nuclear localization of NFATc1, which in turn may be responsible for the increased IL-6 released by myotubes from patients with CCD.

Astrocyte Ca²⁺ signalling: an unexpected complexity.

Astrocyte Ca(2+) signalling has been proposed to link neuronal information in different spatial-temporal dimensions to achieve a higher level of brain integration. However, some discrepancies in the results of recent studies challenge this view and highlight key insufficiencies in our current understanding. In parallel, new experimental approaches that enable the study of astrocyte physiology at higher spatial-temporal resolution in intact brain preparations are beginning to reveal an unexpected level of compartmentalization and sophistication in astrocytic Ca(2+) dynamics. This newly revealed complexity needs to be attentively considered in order to understand how astrocytes may contribute to brain information processing.

Iowa Department of Transportation Major Items - Preliminary Quantity Report, February 19, 2013; With Addendums

Weekly letting report.

Una nova societat civil: accions col·lectives de masses a l'Espanya postransicional (ca. 1982-2002)

INFORME DE RECERCA: Aquest treball ha consistit en una indagació sobre la protesta socialrecent al nostre país (Espanya, 1982-2002); específicament, sobre els principals episodis contemporànisd'acció col.lectiva que han esclatat a Espanya i a Catalunya, amb dos paràmetresdelimitadors bàsics:a) haver-se produït en el periode postransicional, és a dir, amb la fase de resolució dela transició política ja culminada (cosa que, com altres investigadors, hipotitzemque es produí pel 1982, amb el primer relleu democràtic i pacífic del Govern iamb el que anomenem transició institucional ja acabada); per tant, entre 1982 i2003 aproximadament.b) haver mobilitzat un seguiment massiu i adquirit, degut a aquest motiu, a vegadesreforçat per altres, una significació política excepcional, fora d'allò que esconsidera normal en l'activitat política quotidiana (itenint en conseqüència un impacte molt notable en el decurs mateix delperiode postransicional).

El fitoplà ncton dels aiguamolls de Ca l'Estany de Tordera (Barcelona)

Els aiguamolls de Ca l'Estany de Tordera (Maresme, Catalunya) són sistemes força fluctuants, lligats al règim del riu La Tordera. Han estat determinades un total de 71 espècies i varietats en el fìtoplàncton, de les que són descrites les seves variacions estacional i de comunitat segons les localitats.

Sistemas de colheita da cana-de-açúcar e alterações nas propriedades físicas de um solo podzólico amarelo no Estado do Espírito Santo

Foi instalado um experimento de longa duração (1989-1994) com cana-de-açúcar (variedade RB 739735) no município de Linhares, ES, com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito dos seguintes sistemas de colheita da cana-de-açúcar: a) Sistema Cana Crua - corte da cana sem queima, com posterior espalhamento do palhiço sobre o solo; e b) Sistema Cana Queimada - corte da cana com queima prévia do palhiço, sobre algumas propriedades físicas de solo Podzólico Amarelo em área de tabuleiro. O delineamento utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com seis repetições. Após seis anos de cultivo, constatou-se alteração do solo no sistema Cana Queimada, evidenciada pela diminuição do diâmetro médio ponderado dos agregados estáveis em água e pelo aumento da densidade do solo na profundidade de 0-5 cm. Foram também detectadas alterações significativas na porosidade total e distribuição de poros, na profundidade de 0-5 cm, devido às práticas de manejo do sistema de colheita. Verificou-se, ainda, que a velocidade de infiltração instantânea foi maior nas áreas sob tratamento sem queima. Os mesmos resultados não foram encontrados quando se avaliou o fluxo de água saturado através do método do permeâmetro.

Variations on the nutritional status of eucalypt as influenced by the genetic material and age of tree

The Diagnosis and Recommendation System (DRIS) was applied to eucalypt trees (hybrids of Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla) with different ages and growing under different environmental conditions for three different clones. The basic data were obtained from 1,986 trees of commercial stands cultivated in the states of Espírito Santo and south Bahia, Brazil. The DRIS indices were calculated using the Beaufils' Range formula and grouped according to the Nutrient Application Potential Response method. The objective of this paper was to evaluate the N, P and Ca status in eucalypt trees, regarding the tree ages and genetic materials. The DRIS indices discriminated differences in the nutritional status of the trees, both in relation to age and the genetic materials (clones). The results indicated that the deficiency of N and Ca tended to decrease with tree age, whereas the P deficiency tended to increase. Furthermore, of the three evaluated clones, those numbered 00014 and 00034 showed opposite trends regarding to N, P, and Ca nutrition, and the clone numbered 00021, in general, presented the highest degree of unbalanced nutrition of N, P and Ca.

Valores bioquímicos sanguíneos en hembras brahman bajo condiciones de pastoreo

Con el objeto de establecer un rango de referencia para diferentes metabolitos en hembras bovinas B. indicus, se tomaron 5-10 mL de suero sanguíneo a 21 hembras bovinas Brahman registradas en el departamento de Caldas, Colombia. Se determinó la concentración de los diferentes metabolitos que forman parte de un perfil metabólico estándar, como beta-hidroxibutirato, proteína total, albúmina, globulinas, urea, aspartato aminotransferasa (AST), calcio y magnesio. Los resultados fueron analizados mediante la obtención del rango, promedio y desviación estándar (DE). El intervalo de referencia se estableció en el 95% (x±2DE). El promedio y la DE obtenidos para cada metabolito fueron: beta-hidroxibutirato 0,34±0,15 mmol/L; proteína total 81±9 g/L; albúmina 41±3 g/L; globulinas 40±10 g/L; urea 3,31±1,43 mmol/L; AST 158±34 U/L; Ca 2,50±0,21 mmol/L y Mg 1,40±0,44 mmol/L. Se observó que las alteraciones más frecuentes fueron aumento en la concentración de butiratos y globulinas y aumento en la actividad de AST. Según los resultados obtenidos, se puede señalar que los valores encontrados para la concentración de diferentes metabolitos séricos en hembras Brahman mantenidas en pastoreo, son similares a los valores descritos para bovinos B. taurus.

Alguns aspectes formals de la traducció llatina de l'Alcorà de Robert de Ketton (ca. 1141-1143) i la seva relació amb el text original à rab

En el marc de la història de la transmissió escrita de l'Alcorà (al-Qur'an), l'article fa referència a l'evolució de la forma i l'estructura del text en relació amb l'oralitat del missatge original, a l'existència de diferents tradicions textuals en el si de la comunitat islàmica i al seu reflex en les traduccions. L'atenció se centra, sobretot, en la primera traducció sencera coneguda de l'Alcorà al llatí, realitzada per Robert de Ketton (ca. 1141-1143) a la Vall de l'Ebre, i se'n destaca el valor documental com a testimoni contemporani d'una tradició magribina i andalusina de tractament del text.

Mineralogia, química e micromorfologia de solos de uma microbacia nos tabuleiros costeiros do Espírito Santo

Solos dos tabuleiros costeiros do Estado do Espírito Santo foram estudados, com o objetivo de investigar e inter-relacionar suas características mineralógicas, químicas e micromorfológicas e fornecer subsídios para a reconstrução do ambiente pedogenético. Onze perfis de solos foram descritos, coletados e caracterizados analiticamente. Em amostras de perfis selecionados, determinou-se o Fe extraído pelo ditionito-citrato-bicarbonato de sódio. Determinou-se também o Fe menos cristalino pelo oxalato ácido de amônio e o Si amorfo pelo NaOH 0,5 mol L-1. Nas amostras de mosqueados e nódulos determinou-se a proporção de hematita e goethita e a substituição em Al na goethita. Análises mineralógicas foram realizadas por métodos óticos, difratometria de raios X e análise térmica diferencial. De amostras indeformadas dos horizontes subsuperficiais foram confeccionadas lâminas delgadas para análise micromorfológica. Constatou-se que o ambiente pedogenético atual está propiciando a estabilização da caulinita e formação de goethita, removendo a hematita e possivelmente sendo responsável pelo amarelecimento (xantização) dos horizontes superficiais. O processo de segregação de ferro é evidenciado pelo seu acúmulo nos nódulos e mosqueados em relação à matriz do solo, provavelmente por difusão, sendo a fonte a matriz. Os nódulos e mosqueados vermelhos estão em processo de destruição e não de formação. As gotículas de ferro, que com freqüência ocorrem no interior dos nódulos e concreções, constituem uma etapa do processo de formação ou destruição dessas estruturas.