Evaluation of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) behaviour in agricultural soil through laboratory continuous studies.

The behaviour of Linear Alkylbenzene Sulfonate (LAS) in agricultural soil is investigated in the laboratory using continuous-flow soil column studies in order to simultaneously analyze the three main underlying phenomena (adsorption/desorption, degradation and transport). The continuous-flow soil column experiments generated the breakthrough curves for each LAS homologue, C10, C11, C12 and C13, and by adding them up, for total LAS, from which the relevant retention, degradation and transport parameters could be estimated, after proposing adequate models. Several transport equations were considered, including the degradation of the sorbate in solution and its retention by soil, under equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions between the sorbent and the sorbate.

A Semi-Infinite Programming based algorithm for determining T-optimum designs for model discrimination.

T-optimum designs for model discrimination are notoriously difficult to find because of the computational difficulty involved in solving an optimization problem that involves two layers of optimization. Only a handful of analytical T-optimal designs are available for the simplest problems; the rest in the literature are found using specialized numerical procedures for a specific problem. We propose a potentially more systematic and general way for finding T-optimal designs using a Semi-Infinite Programming (SIP) approach.

Biophysical and biochemical constraints imposed by salt stress: learning from halophytes.

Soil salinization is one of the most important factors impacting plant productivity. About 3.6 billion of the world's 5.

Light-dark O2 dynamics in submerged leaves of C3 and C4 halophytes under increased dissolved CO2: clues for saltmarsh response to climate change.

Waterlogging and submergence are the major constraints to which wetland plants are subjected, with inevitable impacts on their physiology and productivity. Global warming and climate change, as driving forces of sea level rise, tend to increase such submersion periods and also modify the carbonate chemistry of the water column due to the increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. In the present work, the underwater O2 fluxes in the leaves of two abundant Mediterranean halophytes were evaluated at different levels of dissolved CO2.

Unveiling Zn hyperaccumulation in Juncus acutus: implications on the electronic energy fluxes and on oxidative stress with emphasis on non-functional Zn-chlorophylls.

Juncus acutus arises as possible hyperaccumulator specie, tolerating exogenous Zn concentrations as high as 60 mM. Zinc concentrations here detected in seedlings germinated in the presence high Zn concentrations, were above the described upper toxic levels for higher plants. Even at the highest Zn concentration, growth inhibition only accounted to approximately 30% of control seedlings biomass, presenting an EC₅₀ value in the range of 10-20 mM of metal.

Risk and protective factors for non communicable diseases in the Belo Horizonte population: Vigitel 2008.

Introduction: The Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) are the main causes of death in, having known, avoidable the Risk Factor (RF) and susceptible to intervention.

Objective: Identify the prevalence of RF and protection for NCD in the Belo Horizonte, 2008.

Methodology: Data were analyzed from Vigitel, in Belo Horizonte, 2008.

Photochemical and biophysical feedbacks of C₃ and C₄ Mediterranean halophytes to atmospheric CO₂ enrichment confirmed by their stable isotope signatures.

According the latest predictions, an increase of about two times in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, is expected to occur by the end of this century. In order to understand the effects of this atmospheric composition changes on two abundant Mediterranean halophytes (Halimione portulacoides and Spartina maritima), mesocosmos trials were performed simulating two atmospheric CO2 environments (380 ppm and 760 ppm of CO2 respectively). The two chosen halophyte species present different metabolic characteristics: H.

Biophysical probing of Spartina maritima photo-system II changes during prolonged tidal submersion periods.

Submergence is one of the major constrains affecting wetland plants, with inevitable impacts on their physiology and productivity. Global warming as a driving force of sea level rise, tend to increase the submersion periods duration. Photosynthesis biophysical probing arise as an important tool to understand the energetics underlying plant feedback to these constrains.

Effect of genetic subtypes and growth hormone treatment on bone mineral density in Prader-Willi syndrome.

Unlabelled: Abstract Background: Currently, there is limited information on the effects of growth hormone and of the different genetic subtypes on bone mineral density (BMD) in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS).

Methods: We evaluated BMD in 79 individuals with the common subtypes of PWS (48 with deletion and 27 with UPD) and the effect of growth hormone treatment (n=46) vs. no growth hormone treatment.

Topical enzyme-replacement therapy restores transglutaminase 1 activity and corrects architecture of transglutaminase-1-deficient skin grafts.

Transglutaminase-1 (TG1)-deficient autosomal-recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI) is a rare and severe genetic skin disease caused by mutations in TGM1. It is characterized by collodion babies at birth, dramatically increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and lifelong pronounced scaling. The disease has a tremendous burden, including the problem of stigmatization.

Does the Relationship between Retained Mandibular Third Molar and Mandibular Angle Fracture Exist? An Assessment of Three Possible Causes.

The objective of this study is to discuss problems associated with dental retention through three clinical cases of mandible fractures related to the presence of retained lower third molars, emphasizing the possibility of mandible fractures resulting from this or from the extraction procedure. The three evaluated patients had a fracture in the mandible angle. The third molars were present in all the cases, as was the relationship of the fracture with the teeth.

Keratinocyte cell lines derived from severe generalized recessive epidermolysis bullosa patients carrying a highly recurrent COL7A1 homozygous mutation: models to assess cell and gene therapies in vitro and in vivo.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is caused by deficiency of type VII collagen due to COL7A1 mutations such as c.6527insC, recurrently found in the Spanish RDEB population. Assessment of clonal correction-based therapeutic approaches for RDEB requires large expansions of cells, exceeding the replication capacity of human primary keratinocytes.

[Prevention of HIV among youth from Central American border communities].

Objective: To examine factors associated to prevention, STI/HIV medical attention and respect for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) among youth in Central American border communities.

Materials And Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of a non-probabilistic sample (n=716) in border communities with and without preventive and medical care STI/ HIV interventions. Variables associated with having access to information, respect to PLWHA; HIV/STD tests, condom use and medical care were identified.

Halophytes as sources of metals in estuarine systems with low levels of contamination.

Heavy metal concentrations present in the above- and beowground tissues of Scirpus maritimus L., Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald and Zostera noltii Hornem were analysed seasonally in the Mondego Estuary, Portugal. The sediments of the estuary were confirmed to contain only low concentrations of heavy metals.

Halophyte anti-oxidant feedback seasonality in two salt marshes with different degrees of metal contamination: search for an efficient biomarker.

Salt marshes can be affected by metal contamination when near a polluted area, and this excessive concentration of metals is a source of stress in plants. Production of proteins, flavonoids, phenolic compounds and anti-oxidant feedback can be used as biomarkers, as well to assess the suitability of halophytes to function as a biomonitors. Through monitoring the anti-oxidative feedback in Halimione portulacoides (L.

Ecophysiological adaptations of two halophytes to salt stress: photosynthesis, PS II photochemistry and anti-oxidant feedback--implications for resilience in climate change.

Halimione portulacoides and Sarcocornia fruticosa commonly exhibit a reddish coloration especially in high evaporation periods, due to betacyanin production in response to stress. Although sharing the same area in salt marshes, they present different strategies to overcome salinity stress. While S.

The regenerative potential of fibroblasts in a new diabetes-induced delayed humanised wound healing model.

Cutaneous diabetic wounds greatly affect the quality of life of patients, causing a substantial economic impact on the healthcare system. The limited clinical success of conventional treatments is mainly attributed to the lack of knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms related to chronic ulceration. Therefore, management of diabetic ulcers remains a challenging clinical issue.

Intraoral schwannoma: a case report.

Schwannoma (neurilemmona) is a benign nerve sheath composed of Schwann cells. This tumor represents 1% of all benign tumor, usually observed in the head and neck region, and in, rare cases, this lesion may be observed in oral cavity. They are usually asymptomatic, do not recur, and malignant transformation is rare.

A humanized mouse model of HPV-associated pathology driven by E7 expression.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of human cervical cancer and has been associated with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma development. Although prophylactic vaccines have been developed, there is a need to develop new targeted therapies for individuals affected with malignant infected lesions in these locations, which must be tested in appropriate models. Cutaneous beta HPV types appear to be involved in skin carcinogenesis.

Particulate metal distribution in Tagus estuary (Portugal) during a flood episode.

Particulate metal concentrations were assessed before, during and after a flood episode in the Tagus estuary. Particulate metal concentrations showed a decrease during the flood period and very similar values in the months before and after the flood event. Before this period, sampling station characteristics were verified to be homogenous during the peak of the flooding event, as all of the sampling stations assumed very specific characteristics.

Hexavalent chromium reduction, uptake and oxidative biomarkers in Halimione portulacoides.

The in situ reduction of Cr (VI) to its less toxic form Cr (III) may be a useful detoxification mechanism for phytoremediation. Using a hydroponics mesocosmos approach, we evaluated the ability of Halimione portulacoides to reduce and uptake Cr (VI) and its anti-oxidative feedback and biomarkers. It was found that this specie can, not only reduce large amounts of Cr (VI) in the external medium, but also withdrawn and accumulate this element in its roots and aboveground organs.