The expansion of 300 CTG repeats in myotonic dystrophy transgenic mice does not induce sensory or motor neuropathy.

Although many studies have been carried out to verify the involvement of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in dystrophia myotonica (DM1) patients, the results remain controversial. The generation of DM1 transgenic mice displaying the human DM1 phenotype provides a useful tool to investigate the type and incidence of structural abnormalities in the PNS. In the present study, the morphological and morphometric analysis of semi-thin sections of sciatic and sural nerves, lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and lumbar spinal cords revealed that in DM1 transgenic mice carrying 300 CTG repeats, there is no change in the number and diameter of myelinated axons compared to wild type. Only a non-significant reduction in the percentage of thin myelinated axons was detected in electron micrographs of ultra-thin sciatic nerve sections. Analysis of the number of neurons did not reveal a loss in number of either sensory neurons in the lumbar DRG or motor neurons in the lumbar spinal cord in these DM1 mice. Furthermore, in hind limb muscle sections, stained with a neurofilament antibody and alpha-bungarotoxin, the intramuscular axon arborization appeared normal in DM1 mice and undistinguishable from that in wild-type mice. Moreover, in DM1 mice, there was no irregularity in the structure or an increase in the endplate area. Also statistical analysis did not show an increase in endplate density or in the concentration of acetylcholine receptors. Altogether, these results suggest that 300 CTG repeats are not sufficient to induce axonopathy, demyelination or neuronopathies in this transgenic mouse model.

Watching Corn Grow: A Hedonic Study of the Iowa Landscape, april 2007

Landscape amenities can be scarce in places with large areas of open space. Intensely farmed areas with high levels of monocropping and livestock production are akin to developed open space areas and do not provide many services in terms of landscape amenities. Open space in the form of farmland is plentiful, but parks and their services are in short supply. This issue is of particular importance for public policy because it is closely linked to the impact of externalities caused by agricultural activities and to the indirect effects of land use dynamics. This study looks at the impact of landscape amenities on rural residential property values in five counties in North Central Iowa using a hedonic pricing model based on geographic information systems. The effect of cropland, pasture, forest, and developed land as land uses surrounding the property is considered, as well as the impact of proximity to recreational areas. The study also includes the effect of other disamenities, such as livestock facilities and quarries, which can be considered part of the developed open space and are a common feature of the Iowa landscape.

Are there vascular density gradients along myocardial laser channels?

BACKGROUND: Clinical studies suggest that transmyocardial laser revascularization may improve regional blood flow of the subendocardial layer. The vascular growth pattern of laser channels was analyzed. METHODS: Twenty pigs were randomized to undergo ligation of left marginal arteries (n = 5), to undergo transmyocardial laser revascularization of the left lateral wall (n = 5), to undergo both procedures (n = 5) or to a control group (n = 5). All the animals were sacrificed after 1 month. Computed morphometric analysis of vascular density of the involved area was expressed as number of vascular structures per square millimeter (+/-1 standard deviation). RESULTS: The vascular density of the scar tissue of the laser channel was significantly increased in comparison with myocardial infarction alone: 49.6+/-12.8/mm2 versus 25.5+/-8.6/mm2 (p < 0.0001). The vascular densities of subendocardial and subepicardial channel areas were similar: 52.9+/-16.8/mm2 versus 46.3+/-13.6/mm2 (p = 0.41). The area immediately adjacent to the channels showed a vascular density similar to that of normal tissue: 6.02+/-1.7/mm2 versus 5.2+/-1.9/mm2 (p = 0.08). In the infarction + transmyocardial laser revascularization group, the channels were indistinguishable from infarction scar. CONCLUSIONS: Scars of transmyocardial laser revascularization channels exhibit an increased vascular density in comparison with scar tissue of myocardial infarction, which does not extend into their immediate vicinity. There was no vascular density gradient along the longitudinal axis of the channels.

Percep����es das Comunidades Rurais sobre os Diques de Conten����o de Sedimentos e ��gua na Bacia Hidrogr��fica de ��guas Belas

Na sequ��ncia do projecto ���Ordenamento e Valoriza����o da Bacia Hidrogr��fica de ��guas Belas���, da ilha de Santiago, que visou a constru����o de estruturas de conserva����o do solo e ��gua para combater a eros��o h��drica e a desertifica����o, disponibilizar recursos h��dricos para consumo dom��stico e agricultura e proteger o ambiente, estudou-se o modo como as comunidades rurais percepcionam as fun����es, gest��o e conserva����o dessas estruturas, bem como o aproveitamento de recursos a elas associados. No estudo utilizou-se a informa����o contida no original do projecto referido, realizou-se o levantamento de dados de campo, aplicou-se um inqu��rito ��s popula����es beneficiadas pelas infra-estruturas constru��das e utilizaram-se programas relativos a sistemas de informa����o geogr��fica. Constatou-se que as comunidades beneficiadas percepcionam os diques como infra-estruturas que disponibilizam mais meios de produ����o, como ��gua para rega e abastecimento dom��stico, solo e ��rea de cultivo e a reten����o de solo e ��gua, ou seja, meios que t��m uma estreita liga����o com a actividade agr��cola e as necessidades de sobreviv��ncia. Observou-se igualmente que os mais jovens e as mulheres valorizam mais a seguran��a e, estas ��ltimas, a maior disponibilidade de ��gua para rega e uso dom��stico. Para ajustar os usos que as comunidades fazem destas estruturas s��o necess��rias ac����es de sensibiliza����o e informa����o junto das comunidades sobre as fun����es e requisitos de manuten����o das estruturas de conserva����o do solo e ��gua.

Percep����es das Comunidades Rurais sobre os Diques de Conten����o de Sedimentos e ��gua na Bacia Hidrogr��fica de ��guas Belas

Na sequ��ncia do projecto ���Ordenamento e Valoriza����o da Bacia Hidrogr��fica de ��guas Belas���, da ilha de Santiago, que visou a constru����o de estruturas de conserva����o do solo e ��gua para combater a eros��o h��drica e a desertifica����o, disponibilizar recursos h��dricos para consumo dom��stico e agricultura e proteger o ambiente, estudou-se o modo como as comunidades rurais percepcionam as fun����es, gest��o e conserva����o dessas estruturas, bem como o aproveitamento de recursos a elas associados. No estudo utilizou-se a informa����o contida no original do projecto referido, realizou-se o levantamento de dados de campo, aplicou-se um inqu��rito ��s popula����es beneficiadas pelas infra-estruturas constru��das e utilizaram-se programas relativos a sistemas de informa����o geogr��fica. Constatou-se que as comunidades beneficiadas percepcionam os diques como infra-estruturas que disponibilizam mais meios de produ����o, como ��gua para rega e abastecimento dom��stico, solo e ��rea de cultivo e a reten����o de solo e ��gua, ou seja, meios que t��m uma estreita liga����o com a actividade agr��cola e as necessidades de sobreviv��ncia. Observou-se igualmente que os mais jovens e as mulheres valorizam mais a seguran��a e, estas ��ltimas, a maior disponibilidade de ��gua para rega e uso dom��stico. Para ajustar os usos que as comunidades fazem destas estruturas s��o necess��rias ac����es de sensibiliza����o e informa����o junto das comunidades sobre as fun����es e requisitos de manuten����o das estruturas de conserva����o do solo e ��gua.

Caste polymorphism of apterous line of the Neotropical termite Nasutitermes corniger (Motschulsky) (Isoptera, Termitidae)

Termite societies are structured by individuals that can be grouped into castes and instars. The development of these instars in most species occurs in irregular patterns and sometimes is distinguished subcastes in physical systems that originate polymorphic soldiers and workers. In this study, we characterized the morphological diversity of castes of apterous in Nasutitermes corniger. We collected four colonies of N. corniger, one every three months between May 2011 and February 2012. Individuals of the nest were separated into groups: larval stages, workers and presoldiers and soldiers. A morphometric analysis was performed on individuals from each group based on head width, metatibia, antenna, and thorax length. The data were submitted to discriminant analysis to confirm different morphological types inside these groups. The apterous line of N. corniger is composed of one first larval instar and two second larval instar. The workers caste has two lines of development with four instars in a larger line and three instars in a lower line. Two morphological types were identified in presoldiers and soldiers. The pattern of castes was similar to other species of the genus, in which bifurcation into two lines of workers, one smaller and one larger occurs after the first molt.

Ecolog��a del paisaje y sistemas de informaci��n geogr��fica ante el cambio socioambiental en las ��reas de la monta��a mediterr��nea. Una aproximaci��n metodol��gica al caso de los valles d'Hortmoier y Sant Aniol

Este art��culo es una aproximaci��n a los m��todos utilizados para analizar, cuantificar y valorar los cambios en los usos y cubiertas del suelo en estos dos valles que forman parte del espacio natural protegido de la Alta Garrotxa. La din��mica vivida en este territorio es un claro ejemplo de los procesos acaecidos a lo largo del siglo XX en buena parte de las ��reas de monta��a mediterr��nea. Una din��mica caracterizada fundamentalmentepor un incremento de la superficie forestal en detrimento del espacio agrario. As�� mismo se proponen pautas metodol��gicas para su adecuada cartograf��a, as�� como para determinar las ��reas potencialmente recuperables de espacio agrario con el objetivo de mantener la diversidad paisaj��stica, biol��gica y el patrimonio cultural con la ayuda de los SIG y la Ecolog��a del Paisaje

SIGCAT : Sistema d'Informaci�� Geogr��fica de Catalunya

Aplicaci�� WPF desenvolupada en Framework .NET 4.5 que fa ��s de serveis de domini de WCF amb Entity Framework i el client SIG de ArcGIS.

Monitoritzaci�� TrailWalker iOS

Para realizar el seguimiento online de la carrera de resistencia TrailWalker que organiza anualmente Intermon OX, se ha desarrollado un sistema GIS formado por una aplicaci��n cliente iOS para el tel��fono iPhone, que mediante el sistema de localizaci��n de Apple transmite peri��dicamente la posici��n de los participantes a un servidor con el software ArcGIS for Server, que permitir�� explotar la informaci��n espacial mediante un visor web.

Aplicaci�� de calculadora solar

El present treball fi de carrera consisteix en la realitzaci�� de l'estudi, disseny i implementaci�� d'una aplicaci�� inform��tica dins de la tem��tica dels sistemes d'informaci�� geogr��fica (SIG) per realitzar el c��lcul de la quantitat de llum solar rebuda pels diferents edificis d'una ciutat. L'aplicaci�� s'ha desenvolupat sota l'entorn de GeoMedia, una plataforma comercial per tractar dades SIG, i ha estat programada en Visual Basic fent servir l'entorn Visual Studio 2012.

Monitoritzaci�� Trailwalker

Aplicaci�� per a iPhone per fer lectures de les geoposicions i enviaments al servidor en base a les condicions de la cursa Trailwalker organitzada per Interm��n Oxfam.

Aplicaci�� de calculadora solar

Implantaci�� d'una calculadora de radiaci�� solar sobre els edificis d'una zona d'estudi.

Monitorizaci��n Trailwalker

En este trabajo se da soluci��n a la necesidad de monitorizar la carrera Trailwalker, organizada por Intermon Oxfam, y, espec��ficamente, se configura el servidor SIG y se desarrolla el visor web de la carrera; todo ello utilizando la tecnolog��a ArcGIS.

The Annual Condition of Education Report, 2007

The Annual Condition of Education Report includes an expanded Background Demographics section. This section contains information on population, economic, and social data, providing a comparison between Iowa, other states, and the Nation. Geographic Information System (GIS) maps are presented to allow the reader to easily compare between two or more geographies. In some instances, trends are also reported. Information displayed in this section was obtained from a variety of sources and is noted on each table or figure. In all areas, the most recent data available were used.