Effect of Zusanli (ST.36) Electroacupuncture at Two Frequencies on the Bioavailability of 99mTc-Sodium Pertechnetate and on Labeling of Blood Constituents in Rats

Vasco Senna-Fernandes,Daisy L França,Kelly CM Santos,Rafael S Sousa,Dilson Silva,Célia M Cortez,Mario Bernardo-Filho,Marco AM Guimarães 사단법인약침학회 2009 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.2 No.2

Objectives: A study was performed on the effects of stimulation at Zusanlipoint (ST.36) by electroacupuncture (EA) at two frequencies on the bioavailability of 99mTc-sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats. Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untreated control, treated by manual acupuncture at ST.36 bilaterally, treated by EA at 2 Hz at ST.36 bilaterally, and the same site at 100 Hz bilaterally. Na99mTcO4 (7.4 MBq) was administrated via the ocular-plexus and, 20 minutes before sacrifice, blood was withdrawn for radiolabeling assay (BRL). In the bioavailability analysis, organs and tissues were isolated, their radioactivity determined, and the percentage of injected dose per gram of organ or tissue (%ID/g) and the %ID were calculated for each organ or tissue (%ID/ot). For BRL, the plasma and blood cells isolated, and the fractions also precipitated with 5% trichloroacetic acid to separate the soluble and insoluble fractions; these were assessed as percentage of injected dose (%ID) in blood (%ID/b). Results: The results showed significant differences in the %ID/g in some organs and tissues in comparison with controls; lung (p = 0.0013), spleen (p = 0.0085), pancreas (p = 0.0167), liver (p = 0.0003), stomach (p < 0.0001), small-intestine (p = 0.0181), large-intestine (p = 0.04099), urinary-bladder (p = 0.0271), thyroid (p < 0.0001), muscle (p = 0.0187); %ID/ot in spleen (p = 0.0349); and %ID/b in blood sample (p = 0.0235). In the blood labeling analyses, EA in either frequency significantly increased insoluble fraction/blood cells (p < 0.0001). Objectives: A study was performed on the effects of stimulation at Zusanlipoint (ST.36) by electroacupuncture (EA) at two frequencies on the bioavailability of 99mTc-sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats. Methods: Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untreated control, treated by manual acupuncture at ST.36 bilaterally, treated by EA at 2 Hz at ST.36 bilaterally, and the same site at 100 Hz bilaterally. Na99mTcO4 (7.4 MBq) was administrated via the ocular-plexus and, 20 minutes before sacrifice, blood was withdrawn for radiolabeling assay (BRL). In the bioavailability analysis, organs and tissues were isolated, their radioactivity determined, and the percentage of injected dose per gram of organ or tissue (%ID/g) and the %ID were calculated for each organ or tissue (%ID/ot). For BRL, the plasma and blood cells isolated, and the fractions also precipitated with 5% trichloroacetic acid to separate the soluble and insoluble fractions; these were assessed as percentage of injected dose (%ID) in blood (%ID/b). Results: The results showed significant differences in the %ID/g in some organs and tissues in comparison with controls; lung (p = 0.0013), spleen (p = 0.0085), pancreas (p = 0.0167), liver (p = 0.0003), stomach (p < 0.0001), small-intestine (p = 0.0181), large-intestine (p = 0.04099), urinary-bladder (p = 0.0271), thyroid (p < 0.0001), muscle (p = 0.0187); %ID/ot in spleen (p = 0.0349); and %ID/b in blood sample (p = 0.0235). In the blood labeling analyses, EA in either frequency significantly increased insoluble fraction/blood cells (p < 0.0001).

An Approach for Physical Model Adaptation based on transient Measurements

Vasco Schirrmacher,Philipp Schmiechen,Mirko Knaak,Akira Ohata,Satoshi Kaneko 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

In order to cope with the ever increasing complexity of the control of internal combustion engines, modelbased calibration processes have become well established in recent years. Physical engine models are often used in early development stages, when no measurement data is available. At that stage, physical models can give a good, even though rough, overview over the overall engine behavior. Later on in the development process, however, an adaptation to a particular engine is usually required in order to match that particular engine’ output as good as possible. In contrast to data-driven statistical models, physical models have the disadvantage that one has to decide how to calibrate them, since they have many parameters, which are in addition often difficult to measure. One way of adaptation to measurement data, is by using statistical correction models. These can accommodate modeling shortcomings such as unknown or non-representable physical effects. However, recording of steady state measurement data typically requires a long measurement time. A model adaptation based on transient measurements would not only provide much more data points within shorter measurements periods but also information about the dynamic engine behavior during transient operation. This paper presents an approach of how to include transient measurements in a fitting process for a physical model. In order to demonstrate the flexibility of the method even on unmeasured quantities, we created a compensation model based on this structure for an air charge model and investigated its influence on the prediction performance.

The Effect of Service Quality and Value of Five-Star Hotel Services on Behavioral Intentions with the Role of Consumer Satisfaction as Mediator

Vasco Adato H. GOELTOM,Yustisia KRISTIANA,J. JULIANA,Innocentius BERNATO,Rudy PRAMONO 한국유통과학회 2020 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.7 No.11

This study aims to improve knowledge of consumers’ decision-making by testing a conceptual model that considers the hotel’s service quality and service value toward customers’ behavioral intentions using a mediator, which is the role of consumers’ satisfaction. The object of this research is five-star hotels, which has become a significant segment of the general hotel industry and is undergoing rapid expansion. This research is a quantitative research using questionnaire as the sampling method answered by people who have stayed at five-star hotels before. The total of 150 valid respondents were used in this study. The collected data was processed by a statistical tool software, Partial Least Square (PLS). The major findings of this research showed that the relations between service quality and service value of five-star hotels do not have significant positive impact on consumers’ behavioral intention, nonetheless the mediation analysis shows that customers’ satisfaction partially mediates service quality and service value with consumers’ behavioral intentions to stay. It means that in this case, consumers’ satisfaction has an important role to mediate service value quality and service value. As a result, the study shows that four out of six hypotheses are supported. A couple of recommendations are suggested for further research.

Predicting the Accuracy of Breeding Values Using High Density Genome Scans

Lee, Deuk-Hwan,Vasco, Daniel A. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.2

In this paper, simulation was used to determine accuracies of genomic breeding values for polygenic traits associated with many thousands of markers obtained from high density genome scans. The statistical approach was based upon stochastically simulating a pedigree with a specified base population and a specified set of population parameters including the effective and noneffective marker distances and generation time. For this population, marker and quantitative trait locus (QTL) genotypes were generated using either a single linkage group or multiple linkage group model. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was simulated for an entire bovine genome (except for the sex chromosome, n = 29) including linkage and recombination. Individuals drawn from the simulated population with specified marker and QTL genotypes were randomly mated to establish appropriate levels of linkage disequilibrium for ten generations. Phenotype and genomic SNP data sets were obtained from individuals starting after two generations. Genetic prediction was accomplished by statistically modeling the genomic relationship matrix and standard BLUP methods. The effect of the number of linkage groups was also investigated to determine its influence on the accuracy of breeding values for genomic selection. When using high density scan data (0.08 cM marker distance), accuracies of breeding values on juveniles were obtained of 0.60 and 0.82, for a low heritable trait (0.10) and high heritable trait (0.50), respectively, in the single linkage group model. Estimates of 0.38 and 0.60 were obtained for the same cases in the multiple linkage group models. Unexpectedly, use of BLUP regression methods across many chromosomes was found to give rise to reduced accuracy in breeding value determination. The reasons for this remain a target for further research, but the role of Mendelian sampling may play a fundamental role in producing this effect.

Radiological Alert Network of Extremadura (RAREx) at 2021:30 years of development and current performance of real-time monitoring

María Angeles Ontalba,Jos e Angel Corbacho,Antonio Baeza,Jose Vasco,Jose Manuel Caballero,David Valencia,Juan Antonio Baeza 한국원자력학회 2022 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.54 No.2

In 1993 the University of Extremadura initiated the design, construction and management of theRadiological Alert Network of Extremadura (RAREx). The goal was to acquire reliable near-real-timeinformation on the environmental radiological status in the surroundings of the Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant by measuring, mainly, the ambient dose equivalent. However, the phased development of thisnetwork has been carried out from two points of view. Firstly, there has been an increase in the numberof stations comprising the network. Secondly, there has been an increase in the number of monitoredparameters. As a consequence of the growth of RAREx network, large data volumes are daily generated. To face this big data paradigm, software applications have been developed and implemented in order tomaintain the indispensable real-time and efficient performance of the alert network. In this paper, the description of the current status of RAREx network after 30 years of design andperformance is showed. Also, the performance of the graphing software for daily assessment of theregistered parameters and the automatic on real time warning notification system, which aid with thedecision making process and analysis of values of possible radiological and non-radiological alterations,is briefly described in this paper.

Metagenome-Assembled Genomes of Komagataeibacter from Kombucha Exposed to Mars-Like Conditions Reveal the Secrets in Tolerating Extraterrestrial Stresses

Lee Imchang,Podolich Olga,Brenig Bertram,Tiwari Sandeep,Azevedo Vasco,Carvalho Daniel Santana de,Uetanabaro Ana Paula Trovatti,Góes-Neto Aristóteles,Alzahrani Khalid J.,Reva Oleg,Kozyrovska Natalia,Ve 한국미생물·생명공학회 2022 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.32 No.8

Kombucha mutualistic community (KMC) is composed by acetic acid bacteria and yeasts, producing fermented tea with health benefits. As part of the BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment (BIOMEX) project, the effect of Mars-like conditions on the KMC was analyzed. Here, we analyzed metagenomeassembled genomes (MAGs) of the Komagataeibacter, which is a predominant genus in KMC, to understand their roles in the KMC after exposure to Mars-like conditions (outside the International Space Station) based on functional genetic elements. We constructed three MAGs: K. hansenii, K. rhaeticus, and K. oboediens. Our results showed that (i) K. oboediens MAG functionally more complex than K. hansenii, (ii) K. hansenii is a keystone in KMCs with specific functional features to tolerate extreme stress, and (iii) genes related to the PPDK, betaine biosynthesis, polyamines biosynthesis, sulfate-sulfur assimilation pathway as well as type II toxin-antitoxin (TA) system, quorum sensing (QS) system, and cellulose production could play important roles in the resilience of KMC after exposure to Mars-like stress. Our findings show the potential mechanisms through which Komagataeibacter tolerates the extraterrestrial stress and will help to understand minimal microbial composition of KMC for space travelers.

The expression of plasmid mediated afimbrial adhesin genes in an avian septicemic Escherichia coli strain

Eliana Guedes Stehling,Tatiana Amabile Campos,Marcelo Brocchi,Vasco Ariston de Carvalho Azevedo,Wanderley Dias da Silveira 대한수의학회 2008 Journal of Veterinary Science Vol.9 No.1

An Escherichia coli strain (SEPT13) isolated from the liver of a hen presenting clinical signs of septicaemia had a LD50 of 4.0 × 105 CFU/ml in one-day-old chickens, expressed Ia, Ib, E1, E3, K and B colicins and aerobactin. The strain was ampicillin and streptomycin resistant, and found to have fimA, csgA and tsh DNA related sequences; it could adhere to and invade HEp-2 and tracheal epithelial cells, expressed fimbriae (observed by electron microscopy), and had five plasmids of 2.7, 4.7, 43, 56, and 88 MDa. Transposon mutagenesis of strain SEPT13, with transposon TnphoA, resulted in a mutant strain named ST16 that had a LD50 of 1.2 × 1012 CFU/ml. All other biological characteristics of strain ST16 were the same as those detected for strain SEPT13 except for the migration of an 88 MDa plasmid to the 93 MDa position indicating the insertion of the transposon into the 88 MDa plasmid. The 93 MDa plasmid of strain ST16 was transferred, by electroporation assay, to non-pathogenic receptor strains (E. coli strains K12 MS101 and HB101), resulting in transformant strains A and B, respectively. These strains exhibited adhesion properties to in vitro cultivated HEp-2 cells but did not have the capacity for invasion. The adherence occurred despite the absence of fimbriae; this finding suggests that the 88 MDa plasmid has afimbrial adhesin genes. An Escherichia coli strain (SEPT13) isolated from the liver of a hen presenting clinical signs of septicaemia had a LD50 of 4.0 × 105 CFU/ml in one-day-old chickens, expressed Ia, Ib, E1, E3, K and B colicins and aerobactin. The strain was ampicillin and streptomycin resistant, and found to have fimA, csgA and tsh DNA related sequences; it could adhere to and invade HEp-2 and tracheal epithelial cells, expressed fimbriae (observed by electron microscopy), and had five plasmids of 2.7, 4.7, 43, 56, and 88 MDa. Transposon mutagenesis of strain SEPT13, with transposon TnphoA, resulted in a mutant strain named ST16 that had a LD50 of 1.2 × 1012 CFU/ml. All other biological characteristics of strain ST16 were the same as those detected for strain SEPT13 except for the migration of an 88 MDa plasmid to the 93 MDa position indicating the insertion of the transposon into the 88 MDa plasmid. The 93 MDa plasmid of strain ST16 was transferred, by electroporation assay, to non-pathogenic receptor strains (E. coli strains K12 MS101 and HB101), resulting in transformant strains A and B, respectively. These strains exhibited adhesion properties to in vitro cultivated HEp-2 cells but did not have the capacity for invasion. The adherence occurred despite the absence of fimbriae; this finding suggests that the 88 MDa plasmid has afimbrial adhesin genes.

Design, setup and routine operation of a water treatment system for the monitoring of low activities of tritium in water

C.D.R. Azevedo,A. Baeza,E. Chauveau,J.A. Corbacho,J. Diaz,J. Domange,C. Marquet,M. Martinez-Roig,F. Piquemal,C. Roldan,J. Vasco,J.F.C.A. Veloso,N. Yahlali Korean Nuclear Society 2023 Nuclear Engineering and Technology Vol.55 No.7

In the TRITIUM project, an on-site monitoring system is being developed to measure tritium (³H) levels in water near nuclear power plants. The quite low-energy betas emitted by ³H have a very short average path in water (5 ㎛ as shown by simulations for 18 keV electrons). This path would be further reduced by impurities present in the water, resulting in a significant reduction of the detection efficiency. Therefore, one of the essential requirements of the project is the elimination of these impurities through a filtration process and the removal of salts in solution. This paper describes a water treatment system developed for the project that meets the following requirements: the water produced should be of near-pure water quality according to ISO 3696 grade 3 standard (conductivity < 10 µS/cm); the system should operate autonomously and be remotely monitored.