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Os morcegos hematófagos se caracterizam por uma complexa estrutura social e características anatômicas e fisiológicas particulares. São apresentadas evidências do uso potencial do tatu-canastra (Priodontes maximus) no espectro alimentar do morcego-vampiro-comum Desmodus rotundus. As observações foram realizadas no Parque Sesc Serra Azul, município de Rosário Oeste, Mato Grosso, Brasil, usando armadilhas fotográficas. Embora os morcegos hematófagos predem espécies nativas na natureza, os registros dessa atividade alimentar são raros. O uso de armadilhas fotográficas tem se tornado uma ferramenta eficiente para obter dados ecológicos sobre diversos mamíferos e permite avaliar as interações e associações entre as espécies de forma não invasiva.

Some groups in Epidendrum have stable chromosome numbers, whereas the species of Epidendrum subgenus Amphiglottium exhibit high levels of chromosome number variability and other genomic alterations. Polyploidy and dysploidy have both been invoked to explain chromosome number variation in the subgenus, but little is known about what is driving the high frequency of chromosome modification within some species in this group. To test whether hybridization and introgression are involved, we use fluorochrome staining to evaluate the chromosome numbers and heterochromatin bands in E. subgenus Amphiglottium, including individual parental genotypes from introgressed and non-introgressed populations. Two main types of heterochromatin were observed forming CMA and DAPI bands in Epidendrum spp. B chromosomes were identified in some individuals. In non-introgressed populations, E. secundum has three cytotypes, 2n = 28, 56 and 84, found in different parts of its geographical range and a small number of DAPI bands. In introgressed populations of E. secundum, there was dysploid variation among individuals that were morphologically typical parental plants, and in one introgressed population a high number of DAPI bands was observed in what appeared on morphological grounds to be pure parental individuals. Our data corroborate the hypothesis that hybridization and introgression play a role in generating chromosome variation (number and form) and heterochromatin diversification in E. subgenus Amphiglottium.

In developing countries, outbreaks of zoonotic diseases (ZDs) result from intertwined ecological, socioeconomic, and demographic processes that shape conditions for (i) increased contact between vulnerable human population and wildlife in areas undergoing environmental degradation and (ii) the rapid geographic spread of infections across socially vulnerable regions. In Brazil, recent increases in environmental and social vulnerabilities, amplified by economic and political crises, are potential triggers for outbreaks. We discuss Brazilian features that favor outbreaks and show a novel quantitative method for zoonotic risk assessment. Using data on nine ZDs from 2001 to 2019, we found that the most significant causal variables were vegetation cover and city remoteness. Furthermore, 8 of 27 states presented low-level risk of ZD outbreaks. Given the ZD-bushmeat connection, we identified central hunted mammals that should be surveilled to prevent spillover events. The current challenge is to coordinate intersectoral collaboration for effective One Health management in megadiverse countries with high social vulnerability and growing environmental degradation like Brazil.

Objective. The scientific community has considered internal dosimetry by the Monte Carlo method the gold standard. However, there is a trade-off between simulation processing time and the statistical quality of the results that makes it a challenge to obtain accurate absorbed dose values in some situations, such as dose estimation in organs affected by cross-irradiation or limited computing power. Variance reduction techniques are used to reduce computational processing time without impairing the statistical quality of the results, such as tracking energy cutoff, secondary particle production threshold, and parallelism of different types of emissions from radionuclides. Approach. In this work, GATE Monte Carlo code and its variance reduction techniques were evaluated to calculate S values of organs from the international commission on radiological protection (ICRP) report 110 male phantom for the lutetium-177, iodine-131, yttrium-90, and radium-223 radionuclides. The results are compared with the data from the OpenDose collaboration. Main results. A cutoff of 5 MeV for local electron deposition and 2.0 mm of secondary particle production range resulted in a computational efficiency increase of 7.9 and 1.05 times, respectively. Simulation of ICRP 107 spectra-based source proved to be about 5 times more efficient when compared to a decay simulation using G4RadioactiveDecay (Geant4-based radioactive decay processes). Track length estimator (TLE) and split exponential track length estimator (seTLE) techniques were used to calculate the absorbed dose of photon emissions, resulting in computational efficiency up to 29.4 and 62.5 times higher when compared to traditional simulations, respectively. In particular, the seTLE technique accelerates the simulation time by up to 1426 times, achieving a statistical uncertainty of 10% in volumes affected by cross-irradiation. Significance. The variance reduction techniques used in this work drastically reduced the simulation time and maintained the statistical quality of the calculated absorbed dose values, proving the feasibility of the use of the Monte Carlo method in internal dosimetry under challenging situations and making it viable for clinical routine or web applications.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral pneumonia that can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Until the commercialization of a vaccine, pharmacological treatment still represents an important strategy to fight against the ongoing pandemic. Glucocorticoids (GC) were widely used in the past coronavirus pandemics and have been used against the coronavirus 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2). This article aimed to review the studies that described the treatment with GC in COVID-19 patients. Randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials and retrospective or prospective-controlled longitudinal studies were screened for this systematic review. Studies in English, Portuguese, and Spanish published since 2019, with participants of any clinical status, geographic location, age, and sex were included. The most significant interest was related to the length of stay, radiological profile changes, viremia, and mortality. The research was done electronically on the Pubmed database using the following terms: "corticosteroids", "glucocorticoids", "dexamethasone", "methylprednisolone", "COVID-19", "SARS- CoV-2", "ADRS". We identified 6332 publications, and at the end, 14 retrospective observational studies that met all the inclusion criteria were selected. These studies included only patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 confirmed by RT-PCR, involving 2,713 participants. The results showed great heterogeneity in their designs and results, which precludes a reliable conclusion on the use of GCs in the treatment of COVID-19.

Resumen El linfoma anaplasico de celulas grandes asociado a implantes mamarios (BIA-ALCL segun sus siglas en ingles) es un tipo raro de linfoma no Hodgkin que se ha descrito en el contexto de la cirugia reconstructiva y estetica de mama mediante implantes. Este segundo articulo presenta la parte del consenso de la Sociedad Espanola de Senologia y Patologia Mamaria (SESPM) sobre el tratamiento quirurgico, medico, radioterapico, pronostico y seguimiento.

Resumen El linfoma anaplasico de celulas grandes asociado a implantes mamarios (BIA-ALCL segun sus siglas en ingles) es un tipo raro de linfoma no Hodgkin que se ha descrito en el contexto de la cirugia reconstructiva y estetica de mama mediante implantes. Estos articulos presentan un consenso de la Sociedad Espanola de Senologia y Patologia Mamaria (SESPM) con la idea de unificar, en esta primera parte, los criterios de diagnostico de esta enfermedad describiendo asimismo la epidemiologia y la etiopatogenia.

Resumo: O artigo tem como objetivo apresentar o Grupo de Estudos e Pesquisas sobre a Formação e Atuação de Professores/Pedagogos (GEPFAPe) que foi criado em 2010 e se encontra vinculado à Faculdade de Educação da UnB e ao Departamento de Planejamento e Administração (PAD), tem sua origem na necessidade de investigar o campo da formação de professores. Para desenvolver tal tarefa conta com pesquisadores doutores e mestres da UnB, estudantes da graduação e pós-graduação stricto sensu do PPGE da Faculdade de Educação – UnB, professores/pesquisadores do Instituto Federal de Brasília e professores da rede pública de educação do Distrito Federal e Goiás que com os temas de pesquisa do seu interesse sistematizam o objetivo de aprofundar no objeto “formação de professores”. Tem sido um trabalho coletivo de muita produção de pesquisa e da vida.

The response of the scientific community to the global health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has produced an unprecedented number of manuscripts in a short period of time, the vast majority of which have been shared in the form of preprints posted on online preprint repositories before peer review This surge in preprint publications has in itself attracted considerable attention, although mostly in the bibliometrics literature In the present study we apply a mathematical growth model, known as the generalized Richards model, to describe the time evolution of the cumulative number of COVID-19 related preprints This mathematical approach allows us to infer several important aspects concerning the underlying growth dynamics, such as its current stage and its possible evolution in the near future We also analyze the rank-frequency distribution of preprints servers, ordered by the number of COVID-19 preprints they host, and find that it follows a power law in the low rank (high frequency) region, with the high rank (low frequency) tail being better described by a q-exponential function The Zipf-like law in the high frequency regime indicates the presence of a cumulative advantage effect, whereby servers that already have more preprints receive more submissions © Copyright © 2021 Vasconcelos, Cordeiro, Duarte-Filho and Brum

Spirulina is a filamentous microalga which is considered a promising alternative source of essential nutrients and active biomolecules. High production cost and the space required to install a photobioreactor are two of the greatest challenges in the industrial application of microalga-based products. Thus, this study aimed to improve Spirulina sp. LEB 18 biomass and phycocyanin content by combining the application of mixotrophic culture and magnetic fields (MF). Zarrouk medium was modified with 1 and 3 g/L liquid molasses and the application of 30 mT for 1·h/d was investigated. Mixotrophic culture with 1 g/L molasses showed the highest biomass concentration (1.62 g/L), carbohydrate content (25.6%), and lipid contents (8.7%) after 15 days. Although the combination of 30 mT and 1 g/L liquid molasses decreased biomass production (1.44 g/L), there was increase in protein yield (76.9%) and protein productivity (73.8 mg/L·d). The proposed method increased phycocyanin production by 145% and its purity from 0.584 in the control culture to 0.627. Data described by this study show that the combination of mixotrophic culture and MF application is a promising alternative to increase microalga protein and phycocyanin production.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an on-going pandemic, this viral pneumonia can lead to a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Until the commercialization of a vaccine, pharmacological treatment still represents a great strategy to fight the disease. Glucocorticoids (GC) were widely used in the past coronavirus pandemics and it’s been also used against the SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this study was to review the articles available about the use of GC in patients with COVID-19. In this systematic review randomized or nonrandomized clinical trials and retrospective or prospective controlled longitudinal studies were accepted. Participants could be of any clinical status, geographic location, age and sex. Studies in English, Portuguese and Spanish published since 2019 were included. The focuses of greatest interest were related to length of stay, changes in the radiological profile, viremia and mortality. The research was done electronically on the Pubmed database with the following terms: “corticosteroids”, “glucocorticoids”, “dexamethasone”, “methylprednisolone”, “COVID-19”, “Sars- CoV-2”, “ADRS”. We identified 6,332 publications and at the end 14 were used since they met all inclusion criteria. All of them are retrospective observational studies. These studies included only patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 confirmed by RT-PCR, involving 2,713 participants. The results showed great heterogeneity in their designs and results, which precludes a reliable conclusion on the use of GCs in the treatment of COVID-19.

The response of the scientific community to the global health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has produced an unprecedented number of manuscripts in a short period of time, the vast majority of which have been shared in the form of preprints posted on online preprint repositories before peer review. This surge in preprint publications has in itself attracted considerable attention, although mostly in the bibliometrics literature. In the present study we apply a mathematical growth model, known as the generalized Richards model, to describe the time evolution of the cumulative number of COVID-19 related preprints. This mathematical approach allows us to infer several important aspects concerning the underlying growth dynamics, such as its current stage and its possible evolution in the near future. We also analyze the rank-frequency distribution of preprints servers, ordered by the number of COVID-19 preprints they host, and find that it follows a power law in the low rank (high frequency) region, with the high rank (low frequency) tail being better described by a q-exponential function. The Zipf-like law in the high frequency regime indicates the presence of a cumulative advantage effect, whereby servers that already have more preprints receive more submissions.

The purpose of this work was to implement selected Lean tools—5S, Visual Management and One Point Lesson (OPL) considering the problems identified in the contract under the study, to promote the change of workers’ behaviours, improve the work environment and consequently Safety and Health Conditions at Work (SHCW). Another objective was to analyse the impact of Lean tools on SHCW, taking into account the real perception of workers. To this end, a questionnaire on safety culture was made available to workers before and after the implementation of some Lean tools, as referred above. It was found that Lean Thinking and its tools are an added value for improving work conditions. Benefits such as the best warehouse organization and physic location (e.g., reduction in about 80% of the route and time in travel to search for materials and tools are highlighted); better organization of infrastructure workshops I and II (e.g., elimination of unnecessary items, tools’ organization, layout changes); 41 and 38% increase in the results of 5S audits to infrastructure workshops I and II, respectively; improvement of working practices with the creation of OPL’s for the wagons transport and purge of the oxiperm system pump. Concerning employees’ perception of the Lean tools implementation and their impact on the work conditions, it was found that 83.4% of workers agree that the work environment has been improved.

Funding Acknowledgements None Introduction Atrial function has recently emerged as a valuable parameter, particularly for evaluation of ventricular diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. There is a strong need for reliable echocardiographic predictors of exercise capacity in univentricular hearts, but their particular anatomy makes it challenging. In this work we aimed to characterize the relationship between atrial strain and exercise parameters in the Fontan population. Methods Fontan patients followed in our outpatient clinic were prospectively evaluated with cardiopulmonary exercise test and transthoracic echocardiogram. The dominant atrium, i.e. the atrium connected to the dominant atrioventricular valve, was assessed with speckle-tracking echocardiography for active (εact), conduit (εcon), and reservoir (εres) strain; and εact/εres ratio. A single cardiac loop from the 4 chamber view was selected for this analysis and the ‘zero’ strain reference for atrial deformation analysis was set at the onset of the electrocardiogram P wave. Exercise capacity defined as the percentage of peak oxygen uptake (VO2), comparing with predicted values, was chosen as the dependent variable. Independent variables were selected among clinical and echocardiographic data. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23. T-student test was used for binomial and continuous variable correlation; single and multivariable linear regression was used for continuous variable correlation. Statistical significance was defined as p-value < 0.05. Results Fifty-two Fontan patients were assessed. Nineteen (37%) were excluded due to inadequate deformation tracking of the atrial wall. Mean age was 18.0 years (SD 6.9, min. 10.0 - max. 36.0), mean age at Fontan surgery was 7.0 years (SD 2.9, min. 3.0 – max. 18.0). Peak VO2 as a percentage of the predicted value was 66.5% (SD 18.8, min. 36.4 – max. 118.6). εact was -11.1% (SD 3.7, min. -21.1 – max. -4.8), εcon was 10.6% (SD 6.5, min. -0.5 – max. 6.5), εres was 21.7% (SD 5.2, min. 13.2 – max. 34.4) and εact/εres ratio was 0.54 (SD 0.23, min. 0.22 – max. 1.04). On univariate analysis, all atrial strain variables correlated with peak VO2. After adjusting for collinearity, multivariable regression defined age (estimate -1.6, 95% CI: -2.5 to -0.9, p-value < 0.001) and εact strain (estimate 1.8, 95% CI: 0.5 to 3.2, p-value = 0.011) as the strongest predictors of peak VO2 (r2= 0.479). Conclusion Peak VO2 defines exercise capacity and is a strong marker of prognosis in Fontan patients. There are very few echocardiographic variables capable of predicting it, in part due to a variable cardiac anatomy. We showed that atrial strain rate is a novel echocardiographic parameter that predicts peak VO2. In the Fontan circulation, a higher reliance on active atrial contraction for ventricular filling predicts lower exercise capacity. Therefore, atrial strain rate, whenever measurable, may provide a new method of risk stratification in this population. Abstract 1167 Figure. Example of atrial strain curve.

Background In Spain, we do not have real-time information about cancer survivors follow-up by their family doctor. The main objective of this study is to describe the characteristics and quality of life of cancer survivors followed at a primary care center in Northwest of Spain. Methods An individual interview was conducted with 100 survivors of breast or colon or lung cancer, all of them free of disease five or more years after their initial diagnosis. Socio-demographic variables, care plan and global quality of life assessment (using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire), were collected. Results We analyzed socio-demographic data of 72 women and 28 men. At the time of the interview, their median age was 66-years-old (37-99), most were married (61%), had primary studies (58%) and do not work (77 %). We analyzed aspects related to their global quality of life by using the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A third (36%), acknowledged that their cancer diagnosis had influenced their employment status. More than 50% of survivors recognized asthenia and/or pain at the time of the interview, and at least a 15% and 20% of these cases respectively, related these symptoms to their previous diagnosis of cancer. More than a half (56%) acknowledged their previous cancer diagnosis had changed their lifes, and to a lesser extent the life of their family (28%) and economy. A 64% of the interviewed survivors considered that their enjoyed a good or a very good quality of life. Most ot the cancer survivors (75%) described themselves as cured people. Conclusions Most survivors recognized that their cancer diagnosis changed their lives, and up to a third of the cases also their work situation. However, the majority of survivors report a globally good quality of life and describe themselves as cured people. Legal entity responsible for the study Begona Grana. Funding SEOM - "Oncovida" scholarship. Disclosure B. Grana Suarez: Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Amgen; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Celgene; Research grant / Funding (institution): Roche; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Servier. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Background Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a standard-of-care in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Corticosteroids are often used in symptomatic patients, but their immunosuppressive effect may reduce the efficacy of ICIs. We report our experience in NSCLC and the potential impact of on-treatment use of corticosteroids and antibiotics. Methods Medical records of 267 patients with advanced NSCLC receiving ICIs from March 2013 to August 2018 were reviewed. Corticosteroid usage at the time of initiation or during ICIs treatment and administration of antibiotics from 3 months before the initiation of ICIs to 3 months after treatment end were collected. Kaplan Meier and log-rank tests were used to evaluate progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). A multivariable analysis was performed to study the influence of clinical characteristics on treatment efficacy. Results 146 patients (55%) received corticosteroids: 43% for the treatment of irAEs and 57% for the management of baseline conditions. Prednisone (40%) and dexamethasone (35%) were the most commonly used. Median dose of prednisone equivalent was 50mg daily, 92% received ≥10mg prednisone equivalent daily. Median duration of corticosteroids was 59 days. OS was longer in the group that did not receive corticosteroids or received Conclusions The use of ≥ 10mg of prednisone equivalent daily was associated with poorer outcomes, especially when given for baseline condition. No correlation was found between antibiotics and survival. Corticosteroids usage may identify a population with higher volume and aggressive tumors. Prudent use of corticosteroids needs to be warranted. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE In this mini-review, we have compiled the most recent and comparable information to shed light on the action of PEGylation in the biodistribution of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in the central nervous system (CNS). It is well known that due to the complexity of the CNS and the severity of the outcome following changes in this system, this is one of the areas where there are more investments in research to develop new technologies and approaches for more effective and less invasive treatments. The CNS is highly protected against toxic and invasive microorganisms thanks to the blood brain barrier (BBB), but this protection also prevents the passage of potentially beneficial molecules for the treatment of neurological disorders. Nanotechnology attempts to develop nanocompounds that are biocompatible and non-immunogenic, and that are able to cross the BBB in therapeutic amounts without causing damage and to diffuse through nerve tissue. These compounds should also be cleared and biodistributed properly, being capable of performing drug delivery exclusively for CNS pathologies, such as neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson's and Alzheimer's) and brain tumors. CONCLUSION In this way, this review focuses on CNT PEGylation, aiming to help in the development of viable and effective nanomedicines for neuroscience applications.

ResumenObjetivosEn el Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela desde 1993 se realiza la prostatectomía radical retropúbica y desde 2006 la prostatectomía radical laparoscópica. En este estudio analizamos nuestros resultados y comparamos ambas técnicas.Material y métodosHemos realizado un estudio observacional retrospectivo que incluye todas las prostatectomías laparoscópicas desde enero de 2011 hasta septiembre de 2013 (62 casos), y todas las prostatectomías abiertas realizadas en 2012 (100 intervenciones).ResultadosNo hemos hallado diferencias estadísticamente significativas en resultados funcionales (p=0.15) ni oncológicos (p=0.07), aunque sí en complicaciones (p=0.04). En la actualidad el abordaje laparoscópico es ya la opción quirúrgica más frecuente en nuestro centro para el abordaje radical del cáncer de próstata.ConclusionesLa prostatectomía radical laparoscópica es una técnica con una curva de aprendizaje larga; pese a ello, consideramos que su aprendizaje aporta beneficios al paciente con cáncer de próstata, especialmente en cuanto al dolor, las complicaciones, así como los resultados funcionales y oncológicos.AbstractAimsAt the Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago de Compostela (Spain), retropubic radical prostatectomy has been performed since 1993 and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy since 2006. We decided to analyze our results and compare the two techniques.Material and methodsA retrospective observational study was conducted that included all laparoscopic prostatectomies performed within the time frame of January 2011 and September 2013 (62 cases) and all the open prostatectomies performed in 2012 (100 procedures).ResultsWe found no statistically significant differences in either the functional (p=0.15) or oncologic (p=0.07) results, but there was a statistically significant difference in relation to complications (p=0.04). The laparoscopic approach is currently the most frequently performed surgical option in our center for the radical approach to prostate cancer.ConclusionsLaparoscopic radical prostatectomy is a technique with a long learning curve. Nevertheless, we consider that this procedure provides benefits to the patient presenting with prostate cancer, especially with respect to pain, complications, and functional and oncologic results.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress that leads to the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER initiates the unfolded protein response (UPR). This homeostatic response activates signaling pathways that seek to reinstate a proper ER protein folding balance or induce apoptosis if ER stress persists. Recently, we and others identified human FICD (Filamentation induced by cyclic AMP domain-containing protein), an enzyme with adenylyltransferase (aka AMPylation) activity, as a new UPR target. Here, we demonstrate that FICD is functionally linked to the UPR, as evidenced by the finding that the adenylyltransferase activity of the protein induces ER stress, while FICD silencing increases sensitivity to ER stress. We identify BiP, an abundant ER chaperone and key regulator of the UPR, as the main substrate of FICD AMPylation in ER-derived microsomes, further emphasizing close functional connection of FICD to the UPR and in line with recent reports that AMPylation inactivates BiP. Notably, BiP overexpression increased the levels of BiP AMPylation as well as FICD auto-AMPylation, suggesting a homeostatic response that balances the pool of active BiP to modulate its functions in protein folding as well as UPR signaling. Finally, we show that overexpressed FICD forms a disulfide-bonded homo-dimer through Cys51 and Cys75 and demonstrate that mutation of these two cysteines in the context of a hyperactive FICD mutant leads to increased BiP AMPylation. This latter finding opens up the possibility that FICD activity is redox regulated and closely connected with ER redox homeostasis.

This study aimed to determine the mechanisms responsible for long-term tissue damage following radiation injury. We irradiated p21-knockout (p21(-/-)) and wild-type (WT) mice and determined the long-term deleterious effects of this intervention on mesenchyme-derived tissues. In addition, we explored the mechanisms of radiation-induced mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) dysfunction in isolated bone marrow-derived cells. p21 expression was chronically elevated200-fold in irradiated tissues. Loss of p21 function resulted in a4-fold increase in the number of skin MSCs remaining after radiation. p21(-/-) mice had significantly less radiation damage, including 6-fold less scarring, 40% increased growth potential, and 4-fold more hypertrophic chondrocytes in the epiphyseal plate (P0.01). Irradiated p21(-/-) MSCs had 4-fold increased potential for bone or fat differentiation, 4-fold greater proliferation rate, and nearly 7-fold lower senescence as compared to WT MSCs (P0.01). Ectopic expression of p21 in knockout cells decreased proliferation and differentiation potential and recapitulated the WT phenotype. Loss of p21 function markedly decreases the deleterious effects of radiation injury in mesenchyme-derived tissues and preserves tissue-derived MSCs. In addition, p21 is a critical regulator of MSC proliferation, differentiation, and senescence both at baseline and in response to radiation.

Although radiation therapy is a major risk factor for the development of lymphedema following lymphadenectomy, the mechanisms responsible for this effect remain unknown. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the effects of radiation on lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) and lymphatic function. The tails of wild-type or acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)-deficient mice were treated with 0, 15, or 30 Gy of radiation and then analyzed for LEC apoptosis and lymphatic function at various time points. To analyze the effects of radiation fibrosis on lymphatic function, we determined the effects of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 blockade after radiation in vivo. Finally, we determined the effects of radiation and exogenous TGF-β1 on LECs in vitro. Radiation caused mild edema that resolved after 12–24 wk. Interestingly, despite resolution of tail edema, irradiated animals displayed persistent lymphatic dysfunction. Radiation caused loss of capillary lymphatics and was associated with a dose-dependent increase in LEC apoptosis. ASM−/− mice had significantly less LEC apoptosis; however, this finding did not translate to improved lymphatic function at later time points. Short-term blockade of TGF-β1 function after radiation markedly decreased tissue fibrosis and significantly improved lymphatic function but did not alter LEC apoptosis. Radiation therapy decreases lymphatic reserve by causing depletion of lymphatic vessels and LECs as well as promoting soft tissue fibrosis. Short-term inhibition of TGF-β1 activity following radiation improves lymphatic function and is associated with decreased soft tissue fibrosis. ASM deficiency confers LEC protection from radiation-induced apoptosis but does not prevent lymphatic dysfunction.

The combustion of a flat plate in a boundary layer under microgravity conditions, which was first described by Emmons, is studied using a gas burner. Magnitude of injection and blowing velocities are chosen to be characteristic of pyrolyzing velocity of solid fuels, and of ventilation systems in space stations. These velocities are about 0.1 m/s for oxidiser flow and 0.004m/s for fuel flow. In this configuration, flame layout results from a coupled interaction between oxidiser flow, fuel flow and thermal expansion. Influences of these parameters are studied experimentally by means of flame length and standoff distance measurements using CH* chemiluminescence’s and visible emission of the flame. Flow was also studied with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Inert flows, with and without injection, and reacting flow in a microgravity environment were considered to distinguish aerodynamic from thermal effect. Thermal expansion effects have been shown by means of the acceleration of oxidiser flow. Three-dimensional effects, which are strongly marked for high injection velocities were studied. Three-dimensional tools adaptability to parabolic flights particular conditions were of concern. Flame sensitivity to g-jitters was investigated according to g-jitters frequency and range involved by parabolic flights. It appears that flame location (standoff distance), flame characteristics (length, thickness, brightness) and the aerodynamic field of the low velocity reacting flow are very much affected by the fluctuation of the gravity level or g-jitter. The lower the g-jitter frequency is, the higher the perturbation. Consequently it is difficult to perform relevant experiments for a main flow velocity lower than 0.05m/s. DNS calculations confirm the present observations, but most of the results are presented elsewhere.

Une etude numerique est effectuee sur des bruleurs poreux qui simulent la combustion d'un combustible solide ou liquide. L'air et un melange contenant 30 % d'O 2 et 70 % N 2 sont utilises comme oxydant a des vitesses d'injection de 2,7 a 4 cm.s -1 correspondant aux systemes de conditionnement d'air des vaisseaux spatiaux. Le systeme des equations de Navier-Stokes et des equations de conservation des especes est resolu par la simulation numerique directe. L'approche numerique est centree sur l'influence du champ gravitationnel sur la geometrie de la flamme, les limites d'extinction et le transfert de chaleur de la flamme vers la surface du bruleur. Les resultats du modele indiquent que l'etat stationnaire en phase gazeuse soit atteint au bout de 2,5 s, correspondant a l'observation experimentale.

The Case Study describes how a retail jewelry store adapted to a new e-commerce market place. Until the mid-1990s, their marketing strategy included (1) a large dramatic sign visible from ...

Improvement in the understanding of the structure of flames in micro-gravity is a critical issue for spacecraft fire safety. A numerical study of the influence of a gas diffusion flame on a flow of air over a flat plate in micro-gravity environment is presented in this paper. 3D DNS simulations with a mixture fraction model for combustion have been performed with an adaptation of the Fire Dynamics Simulator code (FDS) developed at NIST. A particular flow speed representative of ventilation in spacecrafts and a fuel injection speed comparable to those induced by pyrolysis is used to illustrate the effect of the sample geometry, the fuel injection and thermal expansion of the flow characteristics. This work is benchmarked with experiments conducted on board of the CNES Airbus-300 and with the numerous observations available in the literature. It was observed that a leading edge can cause velocity overshoots and that fuel injection can have a significant effect in propagating the pressure perturbations downstream. Nevertheless, the calculations show that thermal expansion affects the flow in a much more dramatic way, thus becomes the most important parameter to be considered when evaluating the precision of analytical models.

This paper defines business ethics as a seriesof behaviors that adhere to values held by theindividual manager, the manager's supervisorsand subordinates, general society and, mostimportantly, the manager's customers andclients. The concept of business ethics isexplored through several levels of businessorganizations and operating environments.

This paper builds on a debate between Velasquez and Fleming: Do multinational enterprises (MNEs) have ethical obligations to their host countries? Velasquez applies Thomas Hobbes' realism approach in arguing that MNEs have no special moral obligations to host countries: (a) obligations do not exist independently in a "state of nature," (b) MNEs exist in a "state of nature" independent of any sovereign authority or power, (c) therefore, MNEs cannot be compelled toward moral or ethical behavior.

Numerical simulations of a diffusion flame established over a flat plate with a flow of oxidizer parallelto its surface are presented. All simulations are intended to describe experiments conducted in microgravity and using gaseous fuel injection. The numerical tool uses direct numerical simulation and a combustion model based on infinite chemistry and a mixture fraction approach. The purpose of this study is to better understand the effect of the flame on the flow and to validate the use of boundary-layer approximations in the analytical modeling of the stand off distance. This study does not attempt description of the leading edge of the flame, but concentrates on the description of the flame geometry downstream of this region. Special attention is given to velocity overshoots previously reported in experimental studies. The study of the different contributions to the local acceleration provides insight on the origins and mechanisms leading to these overshoots. It was observed that the acceleration is mainly due to an injection-induced pressure gradient at the leading edge of the porous burner that is significantly amplified by the flame due to the local decrease in density. The fuel injection velocity defines two different flame regimes. For low injection velocity, the flow conforms to the boundary-layer assumptions. The streamlines show that for this regime, soot will be formed far from the flame, and therefore soot oxidation is small. Experiments have shown that blue flames, negligible radiative feedback, and unstable flames characterize this regime. Separation of the flow follows an increase in injection velocity leading to flow conditions that cannot be described by a boundary-layer approach. The streamlines demonstrate that soot will be convected toward the flame leading to high oxidation rates. Experiments have shown that yellow flames, significant radiative feedback, and a stable flame characterize this regime.

In October, 1995, the concept of the START Mission (START stands for Solar Thermal Analysis, Review and Training) was developed. The goal of these Missions is to help nations in the above mentioned regions develop a rational approach to the deployment of solar thermal electric systems within their country. Each Mission means the concentrated joint effort of an international team of SolarPACES experts and representatives from their respective country, and may include ○ analyses of appropriate solar thermal power technologies ○ review of specific sites for solar thermal power projects ○ review of the terms of reference for detailed feasibility and implementation studies ○ development of a concept of financial engineering based on the applicable law ○ identification of potential funding sources and options for specific projects ○ comparison of power generation costs in the country, The START Missions are one way in which SolarPACES member countries are presently undertaking to fulfill their strategic objective of reducing the financial, political, commercial and institutional hurdles to market development of solar thermal technologies. These efforts arc jointly sponsored by members designated by the governments of Australia, Brazil, Egypt, France, Germany, Israel, Mexico, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the European Commission, with membership in SolarPACES presently under discussion in several other countries.

The development of technology raises an array of ethical issues related to work. Many of these ethical issues are old issues surfacing under new guises. Technology has not changed the issues, but technology makes the issues' analysis and application more complex. This paper identifies several new ethical issues raised by technological change: computer crime, an over-reliance on computer controlled systems, bio-technical developments, degradation of quality-of-life at work and new categories of work-related injuries. These issues are discussed in the context of management responsibilities and responses. The paper offers a five-step process for the effective management of these ethical issues: Be aware of the issues, develop an ethical framework, be consistent, communicate clearly, stay alert for future developments.

The key TQM implementation lesson is that TQM is only a philosophy and approach. It is not a replacement for effective management. If managers are short-sighted, closed to environmental changes, and closed to new ideas, nothing, including TQM, will solve their business problem (Fuchsberg [Fuchsberg, Gilbert. 1992. Total quality is termed only partial success. Wall Street Journal (October 1) Sec. B, 1.]).

Triatoma brasiliensis (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) is an important vector of Chagas' disease in both sylvatic and peridomestic ecotopes. Discriminating between these populations of Triatominae has been proposed as a means of investigating re-infestation rates of human dwellings. Geometric morphometrics have been widely applied in the study of Triatominae polymorphisms at species and population levels. This study characterizes morphometric differences between sylvatic and peridomestic populations, as well as between sexes in T. brasiliensis specimens from Jaguaruana, Ceara, in northeastern Brazil. No differences in either the shape or size of the cephalic capsule were apparent between sexes or ecotopes. However, the wings showed differentiation in shape and size. Sexual dimorphism was detected, with females presenting significantly higher values and conformations. Size differentiation was also evident, with sylvatic specimens being generally larger than peridomestic examples. These results indicate that differences in the wings of T. brasiliensis may be related to the existence of phenotypic plasticity, and variations in size and shape may be associated with different ecotopes, possibly as a result of conditions in each micro-habitat, such as temperature, relative humidity, food supply and density.