University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro

About: University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro is a education organization based out in Vila Real, Portugal. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 2858 authors who have published 7146 publications receiving 138394 citations. The organization is also known as: University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro & UTAD.

Effects of the fungicide mancozeb on liver structure of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus: assessment and quantification of induced cytological changes using qualitative histopathology and the stereological point-sampled intercept method.

Abstract: 1 UTAD–University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Apartado 1013, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal 2 CETAV–Center of Technological, Environmenal, and Life Studies, Apartado 1013, 5000-911 Vila Real, Portugal 3 ICBAS–Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal 4 CIIMAR–Interdisciplinary Center for Marine and Environmental Research, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal

Fibrin Deposits and Organ Failure in Newborn Foals with Severe Septicemia

Abstract: Background: Septicemia in human neonates frequently is complicated by activation of the coagulation system, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and multiple organ failure syndrome, which may contribute to high mortality. In adult horses with DIC, the lung has been the organ most frequently affected by fibrin deposits. In addition, in vivo studies suggest that hemostatic mechanisms may be immature in foals <1-day old. Hypothesis: Newborn foals with severe septicemia have fibrin deposits in their tissues independently of their age, and these fibrin deposits are associated with organ failure. Animals: Thirty-two septic and 4 nonseptic newborn foals euthanized for poor prognosis. Methods: Tissue samples (kidney, lung, and liver) collected on postmortem examination were stained with phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin (PTAH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for blind histologic examination. A fibrin score (grades 0–4) was established for each tissue sample and for each foal. Medical records were reviewed for assessing clinical evidence of organ failure during hospitalization. Results: Fibrin deposits were found in most septic foals (28/32 when using IHC and 21/32 when using PTAH), independently of the age of the foal. The lung was the most affected tissue (97% of the septic foals). Additionally, organ failure was diagnosed in 18/32 septic foals (8 with respiratory failure, 14 with renal failure), although a statistical association with severe fibrin deposition was not identified. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Nonsurviving septic foals have fibrin deposits in their tissues, a finding consistent with capillary microthrombosis and DIC.

Land cover fire proneness in Europe

Abstract: Aim of study: The characterization of the fuels is an important aspect of the fire regime in each specific ecosystem while fire is an important disturbance for global vegetation dynamics. This study aims to identify and characterize the spatial and temporal evolution of the fire incidence and of the vegetation types that are most affected by forest fires in Europe, with emphasis on the mixed forests. Area of study: Europe. Material and methods: Corine Land Cover maps for 2000 and 2006 (CLC2000, CLC2006) and burned area (BA) perimeters, from 2000 to 2013 in Europe are combined to access the spatial and temporal evolution of the types of vegetation that are most affected by fires using geostatistics and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques. Main results: The spatial and temporal distribution of BA perimeters, vegetation and burnt vegetation by fires was performed and different statistics were obtained for Mediterranean and northern Europe, confirming the usefulness of the used land cover classification. A fire proneness index (FPI) is proposed to assess the fire selectivity of land cover classes, to quantify and compare the propensity of vegetation classes and countries to fire. Research highlights: Mixed forests area is 5% of total European area but has increased 2.1% from 2000 to 2006, while other forest types followed an opposite trend. FPI for scrubs is twice (quadruple) of the value for the forests (agricultural areas) except during the occurrence of mega fire events, when the LCC of forest present higher FPI than the LCC of scrub.

Lower isoflurane concentration affects spatial learning and neurodegeneration in adult mice compared with higher concentrations.

Abstract: Background: Volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane are widely used in clinical and research contexts. Concerns have been raised that the effects of these drugs on the central nervous system may result in long-term impairment after surgery or general anesthesia. Hence, this study aimed to detect how different isoflurane concentrations influence spatial learning and cell death in adult mice. Methods: Fifty-two C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided in four groups. Mice in three groups were exposed to different concentrations of isoflurane (1, 1.5, and 2%) for 1 h; the control group was not exposed to anesthesia. Five mice per group were killed 3 h after anesthesia to perform histopathologic and immunohistochemical analyses (hematoxylin-eosinstaining;caspase-3activation).Eightmicepergroupwere used for behavioral tests (open field, T-maze spontaneous alternation, and water maze) on subsequent days. Results: There were no differences between groups in the T-maze spontaneous alternation test or in the open field (no confounding effects of stress or locomotion). The group anesthetized with 1% isoflurane performed worse in the water maze task on day 1 (550.4 162.78 cm) compared with the control group (400.1 112.88 cm), 1.5% isoflurane (351.9 150.67 cm), and 2% isoflurane (364.5 113.70 cm; P 0.05) and on day 3 (305.0 81.75 cm) compared with control group (175.13 77.00 cm) and 2% isoflurane (204.1185.75 cm;P0.038). In the pyramidal cell layer of the region cornu ammonis 1 of the hippocampus, 1% isoflurane showed a tendency to cause more neurodegenera

Local structure and near-infrared emission features of neodymium-based amine functionalized organic/inorganic hybrids.

Abstract: Nd3+-based organic/inorganic hybrids have potential application in the field of integrated optics. Attractive sol-gel derived di-urea and di-urethane cross-linked poly (oxyethylene) (POE)/siloxane hybrids (di-ureasils and di-urethanesils, respectively) doped with neodymium triflate (Nd(CF3SO3)(3)) were examined by Fourier transform mid-infrared (FT-IR), Raman (FT-Raman), Si-29 magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and photoluminescence spectroscopies, and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The goals of this work were to determine which cation coordinating site of the host matrix (ether oxygen atoms or carbonyl oxygen atoms) is active in each of the materials analyzed, its influence on the nanostructure of the samples and its relation with the photoluminescence properties. The main conclusion derived from this study is that the hydrogen-bonded associations formed throughout the materials play a major role in the hybrids nanostructure and photoluminescence properties.