Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Synthèse d'un Matériau Hybride Polyimide/Silice - Etude Structure-Proprietes

Ce travail a consiste a synthetiser un materiau hybride polyimide/silice par voie Sol-Gel. La preparation de ces materiaux pose un probleme de compatibilite entre les phases organique et inorganique. La silice et le polymere n'ont pas d'affinite particuliere et ont tendance a creer une forte segregation de phase. Pour eviter ce phenomene plusieurs solutions ont ete reportees dans la litterature, comme l'utilisation d'agent de couplage. Dans notre cas, nous avons reduit ce phenomene en creant des liens covalents entre le Celles-ci vont reagir avec la silice lors du procede Sol-Gel. Nous avons fait varier differents parametres tels que le taux de greffage entre les phases, ou le catalyseur utilise lors du procede Sol-Gel. La suite du travail a consiste a etudier les differentes morphologies obtenues en fonction de l'evolution des parametres de synthese. Pour cela, nous avons utilise differentes techniques tel que l'analyse thermogravimetrique, la determination de densite, la spectroscopie infrarouge, ou la microscopie. Ce travail nous a permis de determiner les taux de silice, la taille des particules au sein de la matrice et leur etat de dispersion. Nous avons egalement etudie la microstructure de nos materiaux par spectroscopie mecanique dynamique. En effet, les differentes morphologies conduisent a des effets sur le renforcement de la phase silice sur les proprietes mecaniques de nos materiaux. Nous avons ainsi pu identifier des phenomenes de percolation pour certains de nos materiaux. Dans un dernier temps, nous avons etudie les proprietes de permeation gazeuse de nos materiaux, afin de tirer les grandes evolutions des coefficients de permeabilite et de selectivite en fonction du taux de silice et du taux de greffage entre la phase organique et inorganique. Nous avons ainsi montre que l'introduction de la silice et le greffage de celle-ci avec le polymere conduisaient a des materiaux moins permeable, mais generalement plus selectif.
Genetic Inhibition of sFRP3 Prevents Glial Reactivity in a Mouse Model of Accelerated Aging

Purpose Aging is the most significant risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders that are typified by cognitive deficits. Our recent work utilizing BubR1 hypomorphic (BubR1H/H) mice, an accelerated aging model, has revealed that genetic inhibition of the endogenous Wnt pathway inhibitor secreted frizzled related protein 3 (sFRP3) plays a neuroprotective role. Neuroinflammation has been suggested as a pathological hallmark of age-related neurodegeneration mediating cognitive impairment. However, whether sFRP3 inhibition has a neuroprotective effect on neuroinflammatory gliosis in BubR1H/H mice is unknown. Methods To investigate neuroprotection from aging-related neuroinflammation by sFRP3 in vivo, we generated double BubR1H/H;sfrp3 knockout mice and performed immunohistological analysis with cell type-specific markers for astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein), and microglia (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1). Given that the hippocampus is a brain structure critical for learning and memory, and is uniquely affected in aging-related neurodegeneration, we evaluated morphological changes on astrocytes and microglia via confocal imaging. Results We demonstrate that BubR1H/H mice exhibit significantly increased levels of astrogliosis and an increased trend of microglial activation in the hilus and molecular layer of the young adult hippocampus, thus suggesting that BubR1 insufficiency accelerates glial reactivity. Importantly, our results further show that genetic inhibition of sFRP3 significantly recovers the astrogliosis and microglial activation observed in BubR1H/H mice, suggesting a critical neuroprotective role for sFRP3 in age-related neuroinflammation. Conclusions Our findings suggest that sFRP3 inhibition may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for neurodegeneration.
Filmes finos de ZnO como óxidos condutores transparentes aplicados à células solares

Climate changes are mainly due to the increasing CO2 atmospheric concentration caused by the burning of fossils fuels. In this context, research and development of alternative sources of renewable energy have been encouraged for energy production. One of most promising alternative for energy production is Solar Energy, especially in countries with high incidence of solar radiation. Zinc oxide thin films usually have high transmittance in the visible range and low resistivity. This material has been studied as a candidate to replace In2O3:Sn (ITO) in applications such as electrodes in solar cells due of the high cost of indium and its limited availability. Furthermore ZnO is chemically stable and non-toxic. In this work undoped zinc oxide thin films were deposited by the techniques of spin-coating, dip-coating and Electron beam evaporation (EBE). Resins of ZnO were synthesized by the polymeric precursor method using different zinc precursors (zinc acetate, oxide or nitrate) in order to study the structural and optical properties of thin films prepared by different techniques and using different precursors. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), UV-vis spectra, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). All samples prepared by different deposition techniques present transmission larger than 80% in the visible range and band gap of 3.28 eV. Also were obtained powder of ZnO synthesized using three different precursor in order to study the influence of precursor utilized in properties of material. The powder were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, field emission scanning microscopy (FE-SEM), thermogravimetry (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). Through these characterization techniques it was showed that the polymeric precursor method is efficient to obtained zinc oxide. SEM images showed that the mean particle size obtained of the powder depends on the choice of zinc precursor. Regarding the photoluminescente measurements, all sample exhibit PL emission. However the results points out relationship between the zinc precursor and the PL intensity.
Phytohormones in Fruit Development and Maturation.

Phytohormones are integral to the regulation of fruit development and maturation. This review expands upon current understanding of the relationship between hormone signaling and fruit development, emphasizing fleshy fruit and highlighting recent work in the model crop tomato and additional species. Fruit development comprises fruit set initiation, growth, and maturation and ripening. Fruit set transpires after fertilization and is associated with auxin and gibberellic acid (GA) signaling. Interaction between auxin and GAs, as well as other phytohormones, is mediated by auxin-responsive Aux/IAA and ARF proteins. Fruit growth consists of cell division and expansion, the former shown to be influenced by auxin signaling. While regulation of cell expansion is less thoroughly understood, evidence indicates synergistic regulation via both auxin and GAs, with input from additional hormones. Fruit maturation, a transitional phase that precipitates ripening, occurs when auxin and GA levels subside with a concurrent rise in abscisic acid (ABA) and ethylene. During fruit ripening, ethylene plays a clear role in climacteric fruits, whereas non-climacteric ripening is generally associated with ABA. Recent evidence indicates varying requirements for both hormones within both ripening physiologies, suggesting rebalancing and specification of roles for common regulators rather than reliance upon one. Numerous recent discoveries pertaining to the molecular basis of hormonal activity and cross-talk are discussed, while we also note that many questions remain such as the molecular basis of additional hormonal activities, the role of epigenome changes and how prior discoveries translate to the plethora of angiosperm species.
Status, rivalry and admiration-seeking in narcissism and depression: A behavioral study

Humans seek admiration to boost their social rank and engage in rivalry to protect it when fearing defeat. Traits such as narcissism and affective states such as depression are thought to influence perception of rank and motivation for dominance in opposite ways, but evidence of the underlying behavioral mechanisms is scant. We investigated the effects of dimensionally-assessed narcissism and depression on behavioral responses to social defeat in a rigged video game tournament designed to elicit rivalry (stealing points from opponents) and admiration-seeking (paying for rank). We tested an undergraduate sample (N = 70, mean age = 21.5 years) and a clinical sample of predominantly depressed elderly (N = 85, mean age = 62.6 years). Both rivalry and admiration-seeking increased with time on task and were particularly enhanced in individuals high in narcissism. Participants engaged in more rivalry when pitted against high-ranked opponents, but depression partially mitigated this tendency. Our findings provide behavioral evidence that narcissism manifests in increased rivalry and admiration-seeking during social contests. Depression does not suppress general competitiveness but selectively inhibits upward-focused rivalry.
BRAFV600E and KIT immunoexpression in early-stage melanoma*

Melanoma is widely known as the most lethal skin cancer. Specific tumor-related mortality can be significantly reduced if diagnosis and treatment are properly performed during initial phases of the disease. The current search for biomarkers in early-stage melanomas is a high-priority challenge for physicians and researchers. We aimed to assess the immunoexpression of BRAFV600E and KIT in a case series consisting of 44 early-stage melanomas. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples were systematically evaluated using a semi-quantitative method based on scores of percentage and intensity for immunostained tumor cells. We observed significant concordance between BRAFV600E and KIT immunoexpression in thin invasive melanomas. Our findings corroborate previous evidence showing abnormal expression of proteins associated with MAPK intracellular signaling pathway in early-stage melanomas.
Microbial controls on net production of nitrous oxide in a denitrifying woodchip bioreactor.

Denitrifying woodchip bioreactors (DWBs) are potential low-cost technologies for the removal of nitrate (NO3 - ) in water through denitrification. However, if environmental conditions do not support microbial communities performing complete denitrification, other N transformation processes will occur resulting in the export of nitrite (NO2 - ), nitrous oxide (N2 O), or ammonium (NH4 + ). In order to identify the factors controlling the relative accumulation of NO2 - , N2 O, and/or NH4 + in DWBs, porewater samples were collected over two operational years from a DWB designed for removing NO3 - from mine water. Woodchip samples were collected at the end of the operational period. Changes in the abundances of functional genes involved in denitrification, N2 O reduction, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium were correlated with pore water chemistry and temperature. Temporal changes in the abundance of the denitrification gene nirS were significantly correlated with increases in porewater N2 O concentrations, and indicated the preferential selection of incomplete denitrifying pathways ending with N2 O. Temperature and the TOC/NO3 - ratio were strongly correlated with NH4 + concentrations and inversely correlated with the ratio between denitrification genes and the genes indicative of ammonification (∑nir/nrfA), suggesting an environmental control on NO3 - transformations. Overall, our results for a DWB operated at hydraulic residence times of 1.0 - 2.6 days demonstrate the temporal development in the microbial community and indicate an increased potential for N2 O emissions with time from the DWB. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
In vitro comparison of performance including imposed work of breathing of CPAP systems used in low-resource settings

Respiratory distress due to preterm birth is a significant cause of death in low-resource settings. The introduction of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) systems to treat respiratory distress significantly reduced mortality in high-resource settings, but CPAP was only recently introduced in low-resource settings due to cost and infrastructure limitations. We evaluated pressure stability and imposed work of breathing (iWOB) of five CPAP systems used in low resource settings: the Fisher and Paykel bubble CPAP, the Diamedica baby CPAP, the Medijet nCPAP generator, and the first (2015) and second (2017) generation commercially available Pumani CPAPs. Pressure changes due to fresh gas flow were evaluated for each system by examining the relationship between flow and pressure at the patient interface for four pressures generated at the bottle (0, 3, 5, and 7 cm H2O); for the Medijet nCPAP generator, no bottle was used. The slope of the resulting relationship was used to calculate system resistance. Poiseuille’s law of resistance was used to investigate significant contributors to resistance. Resistance ranged from 0.05 to 1.40 cmH2OL/min; three CPAP devices had resistances < 0.4 cmH2OL/min: the Fisher and Paykel system, the Diamedica system, and the second generation Pumani bubble CPAP. The other two systems, the Medijet nCPAP generator and the first generation Pumani bCPAP, had resistances >1.0 cmH2OL/min. Imposed WOB was measured using an ASL5000 test lung to simulate the breath cycle for an infant (5.5 kg), a term neonate (4.0 kg), and a preterm neonate (2.5 kg). Imposed WOB ranged from 1.4 to 39.5 mJ/breath across all systems and simulated infant sizes. Changes in pressure generated by fresh gas flow, resistance, and iWOB differ between the five systems evaluated under ideal laboratory conditions. The available literature does not indicate that these differences affect clinical outcomes.
Two-year neurocognitive responses to first occupational lead exposure

Objectives: Lead exposure causes neurocognitive dysfunction in children, but its association with neurocognition in adults at current occupational exposure levels is uncertain mainly due to the lack of longitudinal studies. In the Study for Promotion of Health in Recycling Lead (NCT02243904), we assessed the two-year responses of neurocognitive function among workers without previous known occupational exposure newly hired at lead recycling plants. Methods: Workers completed the digit-symbol test (DST) and Stroop test (ST) at baseline and annual follow-up visits. Blood lead (BL) was measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (detection limit 0.5 µg/dL). Statistical methods included multivariable-adjusted mixed models with participants modelled as random effect. Results: DST was administered to 260 participants (11.9% women; 46.9%/45.0% whites/Hispanics; mean age 29.4 years) and ST to 168 participants. Geometric means were 3.97 and 4.13 µg/dL for baseline BL, and 3.30 and 3.44 for the last-follow-up-to-baseline BL ratio in DST and ST cohorts, respectively. In partially adjusted models, a doubling of the BL ratio was associated with a 0.66% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–1.30%; P=0.040] increase in latency time (DST) and a 0.35% (95% CI -1.63–1.63%; P=0.59) decrease in the inference effect (ST). In fully adjusted models, none of the associations of the changes in the DST and ST test results with the blood lead changes reached statistical significance (P≥0.12). Conclusions: An over 3-fold increase in blood lead over two years of occupational exposure was not associated with a relevant decline in cognitive performance.
Recurrent excitation and inhibition in the Renshaw cell-motoneuron circuit of the lumbar spinal cord

Motor output from spinal motoneurons is influenced by interneuron networks in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. This thesis presents electrophysiologi- cal investigations of two separate but complementary aspects of the neuronal networks that influence this motor output. The first investigation focuses on inhibition of lumbar motoneurons. The second characterises the excitatory synapse formed by motoneuron axon collaterals onto Renshaw cells, which are interneurons that mediate recurrent inhibition onto motoneurons. Previous studies on neonatal rats have shown that inhibition of motoneu- rons is mediated a mixed GABAergic and glycinergic response. Whole- cell voltage-clamp recordings of spinal motoneurons obtained from juvenile (P 8 − 14) mice demonstrated that motoneuron inhibition is mostly mediated by glycine. GABA currents were not co-detected with glycine during this age range in the mouse. Further experiments, in which the relative content of pre-synaptic GABA and glycine was manipulated, showed that GABA is not co-released with glycine by premotor interneurons. Quantal analysis of paired recordings of pre-synaptic motoneurons and post-synaptic Renshaw cells showed that this excitatory synapse exhibits a large number of release sites and a high probability of release. This is suggestive of highly reliable synaptic transmission between the two cell types. Comparison of the number of release sites estimated from paired recordings with those estimated from responses evoked by ventral root stimulation revealed that on average six motoneurons project onto every Renshaw cell. We conclude that: • In mature animals motoneuron inhibition is mainly glycinergic. • The Renshaw cell to motoneuron synapse has a high efficiency of transmission. • The degree of convergence of motoneurons to Renshaw cells is very high. The last two conclusions suggest that firing in motoneurons pools reliably induces firing in the population of connected Renshaw cells.
The testis-specifically expressed gene Trim69 is not essential for fertility in mice

Protein ubiquitination is essential for diverse cellular functions including spermatogenesis. The tripartite motif (TRIM) family proteins, most of which have E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, are highly conserved in mammals. They are involved in important cellular processes such as embryonic development, immunity, and fertility. Our previous studies indicated that Trim69, a testis-specific expressed TRIM family gene, potentially participates in the spermatogenesis by mediating testicular cells apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the biological functions of Trim69 in male mice by established Trim69 knockout mice with CRISPR/Cas9 genomic editing technology. Here, we reported that the male Trim69 knockout mice had normal fertility. The adult knockout mice have shown that the appearance of testes, testis/body weight ratios, testicular histomorphology, and the number and quality of sperm were consistent with wild-type mice. These results indicated that the E3 ubiquitin ligase protein Trim69 was not essential for male mouse fertility, and it might be compensated by other TRIM family members such as Trim58 in Trim69-deficiency testis. This study would help to elucidate the functions of tripartite motif protein family and the regulation of spermatogenesis.
Equilibrium of 17-electron and 19-electron organometallic radicals derived from carbonylmanganese anions and cations

Detection par voltammetrie cyclique du radical Mn(CO) 5 • produit de l'oxydation de Mn(CO) 5 − . Formation de radicaux substitues du type Mn(CO) 4 P • , P=phosphines, phosphites, nitriles ou isonitriles. Mise en evidence d'un echange reversible entre les radicaux Mn(CO) 2 (η 2 -dppe) 2 • et Mn(CO) 2 (η 2 -dppe)(η 2 -dppe) • par simulation numerique des voltagrammes
Electrochemical and Morphological Characterization of New Architectures Containing Self-Assembled Monolayers and Au-NPs

Pure 1,10-decanedithiol (C10-SH) and mixed (1-decanethiol:1,10-decanedithiol) self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) prepared from ethanolic solution on Au(111) surfaces have been used in order to investigate the effect of the SAM organization and the availability of free −SH groups at the SAM/solution interface on the development of layer-by-layer architectures containing SAMs and gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs). The SAM modified electrodes have been electrochemically characterized by cyclic voltammetry in alkaline medium (reductive desorption) and in the presence of an electroactive species, Fe(CN)63−, in KNO3 solution, enabling the evaluation of the stability and organization of the SAMs. Enhanced stability, organization, and hindrance to the electron transfer were found for the mixed SAMs with increasing thiol content, when compared with the pure dithiol SAM. The mixed SAM prepared from solution containing the thiol to dithiol proportion of (50:1) and pure C10-SH SAMs have been selected for further modification.
Quantitative characterization of wood microstructure

Stereological countings were applied to transverse sections of closely related and widely different species of hardwoods for quantitative characterization. Anatomical elements, such as the wall and lumen of vessels, fibres, and ray cells, were distinguished. Volume fraction, average size, average spacing, aspect ratios for oriented features, and size distribution parameters were then calculated. Sampling fields were strategically and systematically located within growth rings for characterization of the spatial distribution of the anatomical elements.
Estudio del comportamiento de materiales cerámicos expuestos a un campo de microondas

Este trabajo presenta los resultados acerca de la produccion de CaZrO3, empleando microondas como fuente de energia. Las muestras se obtuvieron mediante la mezcla de CaO y ZrO2, en una razon molar 1:1, variando los parametros de compactacion, nivel de energia y masa. Las muestras obtenidas se analizaron por medio de difraccion de rayos X, y se observaron por microscopia electronica de barrido. El CaZrO3 se encontro en todas las muestras. Los resultados de temperatura contra potencia reflejada y evolucion termica sugieren un incremento en la conductividad electrica de la muestra. Una fase que siempre se encontro en estas fue el (CaO)0.15 (ZrO2)0.85 responsable de este comportamiento. Debido a la naturaleza conductora de la muestra, se obtiene evidencia de un calentamiento volumetrico. This paper presents the results about the production of CaZrO3, using microwaves as an energy source. The samples were obtained by mixing CaO and ZrO2 powders in the molar ratio 1:1 and varying the pressing pressure, power level, and mass parameters. The samples obtained were analyzed by means of X-ray diffraction, and observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy. CaZrO3 was found in all the samples. The results of temperature versus reflected power and the thermal evolution suggest an increase in the electric conductivity of the sample. One phase that was always found in the samples was (CaO)0.15(ZrO2)0.85, responsible for this behavior. Despite the conductive nature of the sample, there is evidence of volumetric heating.
Modos de vida e escolaridade: aspectos do processo de urbanização da Ilha de Santa Catarina

Este artigo procura discutir alguns aspectos da vivencia de sujeitos originarios das localidades litorâneas da Ilha de Santa Catarina, que se urbanizam em funcao do turismo. Fundamenta-se em material obtido em diferentes etapas de pesquisa de campo, objetivando estudos etnograficos que pretendem contribuir para a compreensao da trajetoria dos sujeitos no processo de transformacao social da Ilha. 0 material analisado se refere As representacoes dos entrevistados sobre questaes ligadas A escolaridade. ABSTRACT