Decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor plasma levels in psoriasis patients

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with neuroplasticity and synaptic strength, and is decreased in conditions associated with chronic stress. Nevertheless, BDNF has not yet been investigated in psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory systemic disease that is exacerbated by stress. Therefore, our aim was to determine BDNF plasma levels in psoriasis patients and healthy controls. Adult patients (n=94) presenting with psoriasis for at least 1 year were enrolled, and age- and gender-matched with healthy controls (n=307) from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Participants had neither a previous history of coronary artery disease nor current episode of major depression. BDNF plasma levels were determined using the Promega ELISA kit. A general linear model was used to compare BDNF levels in psoriasis patients and controls, with age, gender, systolic blood pressure, serum fasting glucose, blood lipid levels, triglycerides, smoking status, and body mass index examined. After adjusting for clinical and demographic variables, significantly decreased BNDF plasma levels were observed in psoriasis patients (P=0.01) (estimated marginal means of 3922 pg/mL; 95%CI=2660-5135) compared with controls (5788 pg/mL; 95%CI=5185-6442). Similar BDNF levels were found in both mild and severe cases of psoriasis. Our finding, that BDNF is decreased in psoriasis, supports the concept of a brain-skin connection in psoriasis. Further studies should determine if BDNF is increased after specific psoriasis treatments, and associated with different disease stages.

Quality assurance of refuse derived fuel with machine vision

This thesis studies the use of machine vision in RDF quality assurance and manufacturing. Currently machine vision is used in recycling and material detection and some commer- cial products are available in the market. In this thesis an on-line machine vision system is proposed for characterizing particle size. The proposed machine vision system is based on the mapping between image segmenta- tion and the ground truth of the particle size. The results shows that the implementation of such machine vision system is feasible.

Detection of genetically modified maize events in Brazilian maize-derived food products

The Brazilian government has approved many transgenic maize lines for commercialization and has established a threshold of 1% for food labeling, which underscores need for monitoring programs. Thirty four samples including flours and different types of nacho chips were analyzed by conventional and real-time PCR in 2011 and 2012. The events MON810, Bt11, and TC1507 were detected in most of the samples, and NK603 was present only in the samples analyzed in 2012. The authorized lines GA21, T25, and the unauthorized Bt176 were not detected. All positive samples in the qualitative tests collected in 2011 showed a transgenic content higher than 1%, and none of them was correctly labeled. Regarding the samples collected in 2012, all positive samples were quantified higher than the threshold, and 47.0% were not correctly labeled. The overall results indicated that the major genetically modified organisms detected were MON810, TC1507, Bt11, and NK603 events. Some industries that had failed to label their products in 2011 started labeling them in 2012, demonstrating compliance with the current legislation observing the consumer rights. Although these results are encouraging, it has been clearly demonstrated the need for continuous monitoring programs to ensure consumers that food products are labeled properly.

Characterization of blueberry fruits (Vaccinium spp.) and derived products

The objectives of this study were to physicochemically characterize and determine the antioxidant activities and anthocyanin contents of organic Rabbiteye blueberries grown in Southern Brazil and its derived products, in order to investigate the utility of food processing wastes as raw materials for developing products with beneficial health properties. The antioxidant capacity of the blueberries was superior to that of other fruits and juices. The pomace exhibited high activity, albeit lower than that of the fruit, while the flour and the dried blueberries lost 66% and 46% of the original antioxidant activity, respectively. The average anthocyanin contents of the fruits were moderate compared to other sources and species of blueberries. The pomace contains a large amount of anthocyanins while the flour and dried blueberries exhibited a 32% and 42% loss in anthocyanin content, respectively. The use of agro-industrial residues, in addition to adding value and minimizing the impact caused by the accumulation in the environment, can be directed toward the development of new products with bioactive properties.

Souvenirs et fragments pour servir aux Mémoires de ma vie et de mon temps. T. III, Mars 1806-novembre 1812 / par le Marquis de Bouillé (Louis-Joseph-Amour), 1769-1812 ; publiés, pour la Société d'histoire contemporaine, par P.-L. de Kermaingant

Collection : Publications de la Société d'histoire contemporaine ; 35, 41, 51

Souvenirs et fragments pour servir aux Mémoires de ma vie et de mon temps. T. II, Mai 1792-mars 1806 / par le Marquis de Bouillé (Louis-Joseph-Amour), 1769-1812 ; publiés, pour la Société d'histoire contemporaine, par P.-L. de Kermaingant

Collection : Publications de la Société d'histoire contemporaine ; 35, 41, 51

Souvenirs et fragments pour servir aux Mémoires de ma vie et de mon temps. T. I, 1769-mai 1792 / par le Marquis de Bouillé (Louis-Joseph-Amour), 1769-1812 ; publiés, pour la Société d'histoire contemporaine, par P.-L. de Kermaingant

Collection : Publications de la Société d'histoire contemporaine ; 35, 41, 51

Fragments d'un registre du XIIIe s., contenant le martyrologe, l'obituaire et les statuts de la cathédrale de Laon.

Acquis le 8 mars 1822 de M. Royez, libraire, pour le prix de 20 francs; cf. B.n.F., département des Manuscrits, Archives Modernes 492ter, registre des acquisitions du département des Manuscrits 1821-1830, f. 61 "Fragment du nécrologe de l'église de Laon, fol."; nouv. acq. fr. 5530

Fragments des livres saints.

De la Sagesse et de l'Ecclésiastique, IXe s.; — de s. Matthieu et de s. Marc, IXe s. (25); — de s. Matthieu, XIIe s.

Fragments de manuscrits recueillis par Oberlin.

Contient : Origines d'Isidore ; Priscien ; Alcuin ; Horace ; Lucain ; Offices de Cicéron ; Comput

Fragments des registres d'Alfonse, comte de Poitiers.

A fait partie du Cabinet des titres; cf. B.n.F., département des Manuscrits, nouv. acq. fr. 5530.