A Telemetry Antenna Design for a Sounding Rocket Competition [Antenna Applications Corner]
In: IEEE antennas & propagation magazine, Band 59, Heft 3, S. 100-140
ISSN: 1558-4143
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In: IEEE antennas & propagation magazine, Band 59, Heft 3, S. 100-140
ISSN: 1558-4143
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) ; Selecting sites for ecological restoration is an imperative, although challenging task. We developed a spatially explicit model to support site design and prioritization towards ecological restoration. We considered seven distinct and flexible templates, two based on legislation requirements and five on landscape spatial parameters, such as corridor design, enhancements in patch size and shape, and proximity to larger sources areas, thus, with different resilience capacities. We tested the approach on two different scales of analysis: applying the legislation based templates in the Atlantic Plateau of Sao Paulo, which is part of the Atlantic Forest biome, and the landscape based templates in one of its sub-watersheds (similar to 150,000 ha), and then calculated landscape indexes to compare the current forest configuration to the resulted simulated restored ones. We showed that our protocol is flexible, transparent and repeatable, thus, could help in decision making towards conservation management.
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In: Ecology and society: E&S ; a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability, Band 25, Heft 3
ISSN: 1708-3087
In: Materials and design, Band 92, S. 674-681
ISSN: 1873-4197
Santa Margarida Military Camp (S.M.M.C.) is the only one Portuguese military training area, including firing ranges for tactical military manoeuvres of mechanised divisions. For this reason, various negative effects on the environment were expected due to the military activities, as the Military Camp's area is classified as a high vulnerability area to pollution of its multilayer porous aquifers. The aim of this study was to identify and characterise local/regional geochemical impacts caused by the continuing military training activities performed at S.M.M.C. in the course of 52 years. An overview of the geochemical research issues as a basis for risk assessment is presented. A special attention has been put on the quality of local and regional surface waters, shallow groundwaters and groundwaters. Local soils and sediments as well as fragments of shells and bullets were sampled and analysed. The results so far obtained, indicated that none pollution effects were a consequence of the military training activities. Till now, the geochemical signatures such as, high levels of K, Cl and NO3 in waters, detected in particular sites, should be faced as tracers of diffuse pollution ascribed to urban waste disposal and cattle breading.
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"Available online 11 May 2016" ; Biodegradable poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and PLLA/CoFe2O4 magnetic microspheres with average sizes ranging between 0.16 -3.9 m and 0.8-2.2 m, respectively, were obtained by an oil-in-water emulsion method using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) solution as the emulsifier agent. The separation of the microspheres in different size ranges was then performed by centrifugation and the colloidal stability assessed at different pH values. Neat PLLA spheres are more stable in alkaline environments when compared to magnetic microspheres, both types being stable for pHs higher than 4, resulting in a colloidal suspension. On the other hand, in acidic environments the microspheres tend to form aggregates. The neat PLLA microspheres show a degree of crystallinity of 40% whereas the composite ones are nearly amorphous (17%). Finally, the biocompatibility was assessed by cell viability studies with MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells. ; This work is funded by FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, grants SFRH/BD/82411/2011 (DMC), SFRH/ BPD/90870/2012 (CR), SFRH/BD/98616/2013 (PMM) and SFRH/ BPD/97739/2013 (PM), respectively. The authors thank support from the COST Action MP1206 ''Electrospun Nano-fibres for bio inspired composite materials and innovative industrial applications" and from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK Program. SLM thanks the Diputación Foral de Bizkaia for financial support under the Bizkaia Talent Programme; European Union's Seventh Framework Programme; Marie Curie Actions–People; Grant agreement no. ...
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In: Ethics in science and environmental politics: ESEP ; publication organ of the Eco-Ethics International Union, Band 18, S. 15-25
ISSN: 1611-8014
In: Human biology: the international journal of population genetics and anthropology ; the official publication of the American Association of Anthropological Genetics, Band 81, Heft 1, S. 71-88
ISSN: 1534-6617
[EN] The aim of this work was to determine the influence of the biomaterial environment on human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) fate when cultured in supports with varying topography. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) culture supports were prepared with structures ranging between 2D and 3D, based on PVDF films on which PVDF microspheres were deposited with varying surface density. Maintenance of multipotentiality when cultured in expansion medium was studied by flow cytometry monitoring the expression of characteristic hMSCs markers, and revealed that cells were losing their characteristic surface markers on these supports. Cell morphology was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Alkaline phosphatase activity was also assessed after seven days of culture on expansion medium. On the other hand, osteoblastic differentiation was monitored while culturing in osteogenic medium after cells reached confluence. Osteocalcin immunocytochemistry and alizarin red assays were performed. We show that flow cytometry is a suitable technique for the study of the differentiation of hMSC seeded onto biomaterials, giving a quantitative reliable analysis of hMSC-associated markers. We also show that electrosprayed piezoelectric poly(vinylidene fluoride) is a suitable support for tissue engineering purposes, as hMSCs can proliferate, be viable and undergo osteogenic differentiation when chemically stimulated. ; The authors thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support under project PTDC/EEI-SII/5582/2014, Strategic Funding UID/FIS/04650/2013 and grants SFRH/BPD/90870/2012 (C.R.) and SFRH/BPD/121526/2016 (D.M.C). The authors acknowledge funding by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) through the project MAT2016-76039-C4-3-R (AEI/FEDER, UE) and from the Basque Government Industry Department under the ELKARTEK program. JLGR, LC, RSS and AS acknowledge funding by the Conselleria de Educacion, Investigacion, Cultura y Deporte of the Generalitat Valenciana through ...
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In: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety: EES ; official journal of the International Society of Ecotoxicology and Environmental safety, Band 205, S. 111127
ISSN: 1090-2414
The bloodsucking hemipteran Rhodnius prolixus is a vector of Chagas' disease, which affects 7–8 million people today in Latin America. In contrast to other hematophagous insects, the triatomine gut is compartmentalized into three segments that perform different functions during blood digestion. Here we report analysis of transcriptomes for each of the segments using pyrosequencing technology. Comparison of transcript frequency in digestive libraries with a whole-body library was used to evaluate expression levels. All classes of digestive enzymes were highly expressed, with a predominance of cysteine and aspartic proteinases, the latter showing a significant expansion through gene duplication. Although no protein digestion is known to occur in the anterior midgut (AM), protease transcripts were found, suggesting secretion as proenzymes, being possibly activated in the posterior midgut (PM). As expected, genes related to cytoskeleton, protein synthesis apparatus, protein traffic, and secretion were abundantly transcribed. Despite the absence of a chitinous peritrophic membrane in hemipterans - which have instead a lipidic perimicrovillar membrane lining over midgut epithelia - several gut-specific peritrophin transcripts were found, suggesting that these proteins perform functions other than being a structural component of the peritrophic membrane. Among immunity-related transcripts, while lysozymes and lectins were the most highly expressed, several genes belonging to the Toll pathway - found at low levels in the gut of most insects - were identified, contrasting with a low abundance of transcripts from IMD and STAT pathways. Analysis of transcripts related to lipid metabolism indicates that lipids play multiple roles, being a major energy source, a substrate for perimicrovillar membrane formation, and a source for hydrocarbons possibly to produce the wax layer of the hindgut. Transcripts related to amino acid metabolism showed an unanticipated priority for degradation of tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan. Analysis of transcripts related to signaling pathways suggested a role for MAP kinases, GTPases, and LKBP1/ AMP kinases related to control of cell shape and polarity, possibly in connection with regulation of cell survival, response of pathogens and nutrients. Together, our findings present a new view of the triatomine digestive apparatus and will help us understand trypanosome interaction and allow insights into hemipteran metabolic adaptations to a blood-based diet. ; Fil: Ribeiro, José M. C. National Institutes of Health; Estados Unidos ; Fil: Genta, Fernando A. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Sorgine, Marcos H. F. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Mesquita, Rafael D. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Paiva Silva, Gabriela O. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Majerowicz, David. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Medeiros, Marcelo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Koerich, Leonardo. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Terra, Walter R. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Ferreira, Clelia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Pimentel, Andre C. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Bisch, Paulo M. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Leite, Daniel C. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Diniz, Michelle M. P. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Da Silva, Manuela L. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Araujo, Ricardo N. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Gandara, Ana Caroline P. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Brosson, Sebastien. Universite Libre de Bruxelles; Bélgica ; Fil: Salmon, Didier. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Bousbata, Sabrina. Universite Libre de Bruxelles; Bélgica ; Fil: Gonzalez Caballero, Natalia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Alves Bezerra, Michele. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Katia C. Gondim. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Silva Neto, Mario Alberto C. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Atella, Georgia C. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Araujo, Helena. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Dias, Felipe A. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Polycarpo, Carla. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Vionette Amaral, Raquel J. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Fampa, Patricia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Melo, Ana Claudia A. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Tanaka, Aparecida S. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Balczun, Carsten. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Oliveira, J. Henrique M. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Goncalves, Renata L. S. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Lazoski, Cristiano. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Rivera Pomar, Rolando. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de Buenos Aires. Centro de Bioinvestigaciones. Pergaminmo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina ; Fil: Diambra, Luis Anibal. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Centro Regional de Estudios Genómicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina ; Fil: Schaub, Gunter A. Ruhr-Universität Bochum; Alemania ; Fil: Garcia, Eloi S. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Azambuja, Patricia. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Braz, Gloria R. C. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil ; Fil: Oliveira, Pedro L. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro; Brasil
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Background: Surgery is the main modality of cure for solid cancers and was prioritised to continue during COVID-19 outbreaks. This study aimed to identify immediate areas for system strengthening by comparing the delivery of elective cancer surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic in periods of lockdown versus light restriction. Methods: This international, prospective, cohort study enrolled 20 006 adult (≥18 years) patients from 466 hospitals in 61 countries with 15 cancer types, who had a decision for curative surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic and were followed up until the point of surgery or cessation of follow-up (Aug 31, 2020). Average national Oxford COVID-19 Stringency Index scores were calculated to define the government response to COVID-19 for each patient for the period they awaited surgery, and classified into light restrictions (index 60). The primary outcome was the non-operation rate (defined as the proportion of patients who did not undergo planned surgery). Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to explore the associations between lockdowns and non-operation. Intervals from diagnosis to surgery were compared across COVID-19 government response index groups. This study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04384926. Findings: Of eligible patients awaiting surgery, 2003 (10·0%) of 20 006 did not receive surgery after a median follow-up of 23 weeks (IQR 16-30), all of whom had a COVID-19-related reason given for non-operation. Light restrictions were associated with a 0·6% non-operation rate (26 of 4521), moderate lockdowns with a 5·5% rate (201 of 3646; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·77-0·84; p<0·0001), and full lockdowns with a 15·0% rate (1775 of 11 827; HR 0·51, 0·50-0·53; p<0·0001). In sensitivity analyses, including adjustment for SARS-CoV-2 case notification rates, moderate lockdowns (HR 0·84, 95% CI 0·80-0·88; p<0·001), and full lockdowns (0·57, 0·54-0·60; p<0·001), remained independently associated with non-operation. Surgery beyond 12 weeks from diagnosis in patients without neoadjuvant therapy increased during lockdowns (374 [9·1%] of 4521 in light restrictions, 317 [10·4%] of 3646 in moderate lockdowns, 2001 [23·8%] of 11 827 in full lockdowns), although there were no differences in resectability rates observed with longer delays. Interpretation: Cancer surgery systems worldwide were fragile to lockdowns, with one in seven patients who were in regions with full lockdowns not undergoing planned surgery and experiencing longer preoperative delays. Although short-term oncological outcomes were not compromised in those selected for surgery, delays and non-operations might lead to long-term reductions in survival. During current and future periods of societal restriction, the resilience of elective surgery systems requires strengthening, which might include protected elective surgical pathways and long-term investment in surge capacity for acute care during public health emergencies to protect elective staff and services.
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