Factors Affecting Cancer Behavior with Special Reference to Lymphatic Vessels, Macrophages, EGFR, and Pim-1 in Colorectal Cancer

Syövän käyttäytymiseen ja ennusteeseen vaikuttavat monet tekijät, muun muassa muutokset syöpäsoluissa sekä kasvainta ympäröivässä mikroympäristössä. Tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli tutkia uusia prediktiivisiä ja prognostisia ennustetekijöitä syöpäsoluissa (EGFR geenikopiomäärä, EGFR, onkogeeni pim-1) sekä syöpäkasvaimen mikroympäristöön kuuluvissa imuteissä (CLEVER-1, podoplaniini), makrofageissa (CD68, CLEVER-1) ja T lymfosyyteissä (CD3) kolorektaalisyövässä. Lisäksi tutkittiin imuteiden molekulaarisia ominaisuuksia tarkemmin (CD73, LYVE-1, podoplaniini) kuten myös lymfosyyttien ja dendriittisolujen liikennöintiä imuteissä. Tutkimustulokset osoittavat että korkea Pim-1 ekspressiotaso, suuri peritumoraalinen CD68+ makrofagimäärä sekä varhaisen vaiheen taudissa suuri CLEVER-1+ peritumoraalinen makrofagimäärä ovat hyvän ennusteen tekijöitä kolorektaalisyövässä. Metastaattisessa taudissa sen sijaan suuri määrä CLEVER-1+ makrofageja, sekä intra- että peritumoraalisesti, liittyy huonoon tautiennusteeseen. EGFR geenikopiomäärä, EGFR proteiinipitoisuuden ohjaaman hopea in situ hybridisaatiomenetelmän avulla määritettynä, ennusti vastetta anti-EGFR hoidolle metastaattisessa kolorektaalisyövässä tarkemmin kuin nykyisin rutiinisti käytössä oleva KRAS määritys. Lisäksi havaittiin että imutiet ovat monimuotoisia imutiemarkkeri ekspressionsa suhteen sekä normaali- että syöpäkudoksissa. CD73 molekyylin funktio imuteissä poikkesi selvästi molekyylin funktiosta verisuonissa. Yhteenvetona voidaan todeta että kolorektaalisyövän ennusteeseen vaikuttavien tekijöiden merkitys vaihtelee taudin levinneisyysasteen sekä imuteiden että makrofagien sijainnin perusteella. Korkea Pim-1 ilmentyminen on yhteydessä hyvään kolorektaalisyöpäennusteeseen. Lisäksi EGFR geenikopiomäärä osoittautui lupaavaksi uudeksi prediktiiviseksi ennustetekijäksi KRAS villintyypin metastaattista kolorektaalisyöpää sairastavilla potilailla.

Kinetic behavior of nitrification in the post-treatment of poultry wastewater in a sequential batch reactor

A sequential batch reactor with suspended biomass and useful volume of 5 L was used in the removal of nutrients and organic matter in workbench scale under optimal conditions obtained by central composite rotational design (CCRD), with cycle time (CT) of 16 h (10.15 h, aerobic phase, and 4.35 h, anoxic phase) and carbon: nitrogen ratio (COD/NO2--N+NO3--N) equal to 6. Complete cycles (20), nitrification followed by denitrification, were evaluated to investigate the kinetic behavior of degradation of organic (COD) and nitrogenated (NH4+-N, NO2--N and NO3--N) matter present in the effluent from a bird slaughterhouse and industrial processing facility, as well as to evaluate the stability of the reactor using Shewhart control charts of individual measures. The results indicate means total inorganic nitrogen (NH4+-N+NO2- -N+NO3--N) removal of 84.32±1.59% and organic matter (COD) of 53.65±8.48% in the complete process (nitrification-denitrification) with the process under statistical control. The nitrifying activity during the aerobic phase estimated from the determination of the kinetic parameters had mean K1 and K2 values of 0.00381±0.00043 min-1 and 0.00381±0.00043 min-1, respectively. The evaluation of the kinetic behavior of the conversion of nitrogen indicated a possible reduction of CT in the anoxic phase, since removals of NO2--N and NO3--N higher than 90% were obtained with only 1 h of denitrification.

Mechanical behavior of 'Niagara Rosada' grape berry detachment

The 'Niagara Rosada' grape is the main Brazilian table grape belonging to the Labrusca family. It develops medium, cylindrical and compact bunches with berries presenting a pinkish skin and a foxy flavor that is valued in the Brazilian market. These berries are tender and have a pedicel-berry connection provided by the vascular bundles and surrounding skin. This cultivar is very susceptible to berry drop mainly caused by vibration and senescence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal mechanical behavior of the pedicel-berry detachment, using resistance indexes extracted from traction force-deformation curves. Test results showed two different detachment types. In the first one, which exhibited higher average resistance, a considerable portion of the vascular bundle came out attached to the pedicel and in the second type; the vascular bundle was retained inside the berry. The proposed indexes based on maximum detachment force, force at 0.2; 0.5; 1.0 and 1.2 mm, and maximum force to corresponding deformation ratio did not discriminate the senescence of the berry.

Behavior, performance and physiological parameters of pigs reared in deep bedding

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the behavior, performance and physiological parameters of pigs in different production systems. Twenty four animals in the growth phase were distributed in a randomized block design in three treatments: T1 - concrete floor, T2 - deep bedding with wood shaving, and T3 - deep bedding with coffee husks. The behavioral study was carried out by observing the animal behavior for an uninterrupted period of eight hours throughout seven weeks. The proportions of time spent in each behavior were characterized using the frequency histogram composition. Environmental (IBGTH), physiological (rectal and skin temperature and respiratory rate) and performance (weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion) parameters were measured in animals during the period. The production systems of deep bedding showed higher values of IBGTH. There was no effect of production systems evaluated on the performance parameters. Rectal temperature was higher in animals reared on deep bedding with coffee husks in relation to the concrete floor. The use of deep bedding benefited the behavior of piglets in the growth phase and it reduced the agonistic behavior among individuals.

Rheological behavior of mixed drink of annona and milk

In this study the rheological behavior in different temperatures (0; 6; 18 e 24 ºC) and physicochemical parameters of integral annona (Annona squamosa) pulp and the annona pulp with milk in different percentages pulp/milk (75g of annona pulp/25g of milk, 50g of annona pulp/50g of milk, 25g of annona pulp/75g of milk) have been availed, in order to verify the effect of temperature and pulp concentration in the rheological behavior of these beverages. To obtain the rheological parameters a concentric cylinder rheometer has been used and the rheograms were analyzed using the Ostwald-de-Wael (power Law) and Herschel-Bulkley models. The physicochemical parameters (sugars, pH, ash, acidity and soluble solids) were determined in order to establish correlations with the rheological behavior. Finally, the best results had been obtained using the Herschel-Bulkley model; the low values for the behavior index (n <1) obtained confirm the pseudoplastic behavior of all samples.

Image analysis for assessing broiler breeder behavior response to thermal environment

The research proposes a methodology for assessing broiler breeder response to changes in rearing thermal environment. The continuous video recording of a flock analyzed may offer compelling evidences of thermal comfort, as well as other indications of welfare. An algorithm for classifying specific broiler breeder behavior was developed. Videos were recorded over three boxes where 30 breeders were reared. The boxes were mounted inside an environmental chamber were ambient temperature varied from cold to hot. Digital images were processed based on the number of pixels, according to their light intensity variation and binary contrast allowing a sequence of behaviors related to welfare. The system used the default of x, y coordinates, where x represents the horizontal distance from the top left of the work area to the point P, and y is the vertical distance. The video images were observed, and a grid was developed for identifying the area the birds stayed and the time they spent at that place. The sequence was analyzed frame by frame confronting the data with specific adopted thermal neutral rearing standards. The grid mask overlapped the real bird image. The resulting image allows the visualization of clusters, as birds in flock behave in certain patterns. An algorithm indicating the breeder response to thermal environment was developed.

Rheological behavior of Chlorella sp. e Scenedesmus sp. cultures in different biomass concentrations

Studies involving the use of microalgae are increasingly intensifying for the potential they present to produce biofuels, because they are a renewable energy source that does not compete directly with food production, and because they enable the obtaining of a fuel with less environmental impact when compared to fossil fuel. In this context, the use of microalgae is directly associated to its capacity to be produced on a large scale and to be extracted from the culture medium. Rheological studies are important for obtaining the information needed in the elaboration of projects and equipment that will be used in various operations existing in systems of production and extraction of algal biomass. In the evaluation of different levels of dry biomass concentration, studies have been conducted of the rheological behavior of cultures of Chlorella sp. BR001 and Scenedesmus sp. BR003. The Power Law model adjusted well to the data of shear stress as a function of strain rate. In all concentrations the cultures showed non-Newtonian behavior. It was observed to Scenedesmus sp. BR003 little effect of biomass concentration on the apparent viscosity and shear stress.

Behavior of chicks subjected to thermal challenge

In the first week of a chick life, broilers are very sensitive to different conditions outside their thermoneutral zone. Thus, the goal of this study was to evaluate the behaviors and productive responses of broilers subjected to conditions of thermal comfort or challenge at different intensities (27, 30, 33 and 36ºC) and durations (1, 2, 3 and 4 days starting on the second day of life). In the experiment, ten minutes of images from each hour of each treatment were analyzed to evaluate the key behaviors of the birds. Similar behavior at different dry-bulb air temperatures were identified by using Ward's method of cluster analysis. These behaviors were grouped by dendograms in which the similarity of these data was qualified. Feed intake, water intake and body mass of these animals were evaluated and used to support the observed behaviors. Thus, a similar huddling behavior was observed in the birds from the 2nd to the 5th day of life subjected to 27ºC and 30ºC, while at 30ºC and 33ºC the behavior of accessing feeders and drinkers was also similar. Chicks subjected to 33ºC presented the best performance, and at 30 and 36ºC showed intermediate development.

Interactions between genes and alcohol on aggressive behavior and anger related traits : the oxytocin receptor gene as a candidate

Alkoholberusning är en av de starkaste riskfaktorerna för aggressivt beteende. Alla individer blir dock inte aggressiva under alkoholberusning. I sin doktorsavhandling undersökte Johansson ifall individens genetiska uppsättning kan förklara skillnader i vem som reagerar på alkohol med ökat aggressivt beteende och ilska och vem som inte gör det. Resultaten visade att individer som är bärare av en viss variant av genen som kodar för oxytocinets receptorer är i högre grad benägna att uppvisa aggressivt beteende än andra när de är alkoholberusade. Sambandet mellan alkohol och ilska påverkades även av individens genetiska uppsättning av två oxytocinreceptorgenvarianter, vilket antyder att dessa genvarianter även påverkar benägenheten att känna ilska under alkoholberusning. Oxytocinet, som fungerar både som ett hormon och en neurotransmittor, har i tidigare studier visats ha breda effekter på sociala förmågor hos människan, såsom förmåga till igenkännande av andras känslouttryck. Resultaten är de första att hos människan experimentellt påvisa att vissa individer beter sig mer aggressivt än andra när de är berusade, beroende på individens genetiska uppsättning. ”Det är viktigt att komma ihåg att genens effekt i det här fallet inte är av en sådan natur att den direkt och ofrånkomligen orsakar aggressivt beteende. Med andra ord är det orimligt i detta fall att tänka att en individ skulle tillmätas ansvarsfrihet i exempelvis ett våldsbrottmål om hon bär på en viss variant av denna gen”, påpekar Johansson. Oxytocinreceptorgenens effekter analyserades i två olika urval. I ett experimentellt upplägg indelades 116 män slumpässigt i två grupper: en grupp som tilldelades alkoholhaltiga drycker, och en kontrollgrupp som tilldelades alkoholfria drycker. Aggressivt beteende mättes med ett laboratorietest där försökspersonerna fick bestraffa en fiktiv motspelare genom att spela upp motbjudande ljud för denne. Resultaten replikerades i ett populationsbaserat urval av män och kvinnor (n = 3755) vilka besvarat frågor om deras aggressiva beteenden, ilska, och alkoholanvändning.