Abstract In this work, a new constructive and conceptual model for rectenna, using glass as dielectric substrate, was proposed. This research aims to produce a window for building facades that can harvest the electromagnetic energy available in the environment. For this proposal, a slotted patch antenna was designed with two main objectives: to have a low value of S11 parameter and to allow the maximum visibility through the glass. In order to accomplish an efficient radio frequency to direct current conversion, a voltage doubler rectifier was designed and built in the same glass substrate, directly connected to the antenna. The final system is a window composed of eight individual rectennas associated in parallel. For improving the window energy harvesting ability, a metamaterial structure was added to each rectenna element, which acts in order increases the patch antenna gain. Each rectenna was designed by using both Advanced Design System and Computer Simulation Technology softwares and optimized to operate at 2.45 GHz. The measured results show that the proposed rectenna model is an efficient solution to improve the total amount of harvested energy, which is enough to power a low consumption load.

Abstract A F-shapedprinted dipole antenna, designed to operate simultaneously at 1.8 GHz, 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz is proposed in this work. The main challenge of the project is to find the antenna optimal geometry so that its gain has a higher value in the three operating frequencies in order to be efficiently applied it in the energy harvesting and wireless communication systems. To achieve the proposed operating condition, reduce the antenna return loss and enhance its bandwidth and gain a metamaterial surface was incorporated into its structure. All simulations and optimizations were performed using the Computer Simulation Technology software by employing the Finite Difference Time Domain technique for the electromagnetic equations evaluation. The antenna and metamaterial geometrical dimensions were optimized by using the Genetic Algorithm technique. Numerical and experimental evaluations were performed for the antenna with and without the metamaterial structure incorporated. The results obtained demonstrate the appropriately designed metamaterial ability to improve the antennas performance, increasing their bandwidth and gain and decreasing the return loss value.

The present experiment was designed to determine the efficacy of a commercial source of chitosan (CS) to enhance performance, anti-oxidative function, and immune response in weaned pigs. A total of 60 crossbreed piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire), with average live bodyweight of 8.85 ± 1.52 kg, were weaned at 28 ± 2 days and randomly assigned to five treatment groups, which were fed maize-soybean meal diets containing 0 (basal diet, control) and 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg CS. The experiment lasted for two weeks. Body weight was recorded and daily feed intake was calculated. Faecal consistency was monitored for the overall period. After two weeks, blood samples were collected and anti-oxidative and immune parameters were determined. The results showed that CS improved average daily gain and daily gain: daily feed intake during the experiment. Mean faecal score values for the second week were improved by CS, which showed decreased values compared with the control diet. The CS increased the total antioxidant capacity and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and the content of reduced glutathione in serum, and decreased the malondialdehyde and cortisol contents of serum. Furthermore, CS increased the levels of serum IL-1β，IL-2 and IgG. These findings suggested that the use of CS improved performance and anti-oxidative function, and regulated the immune response of weaned pigs.

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine physical activity levels of community dwelling persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) who received inpatient rehabilitation at the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre (SJGRC). This study also explored the perceived barriers to exercise and the development of secondary health complications. Methods: A non-experimental cross-sectional analysis of relationships was done. Participants were recruited from the SJGRC discharge files. Three questionnaires (The Physical Activity and Disability Scale, Spinal Cord Injury Secondary Conditions Scale and the Barriers to Exercise and Disability Scale) were administered via a telephone interview. Results: Only 58.3% of patients were engaged in some form of exercise and of that amount only 6% engaged in vigorous exercise. The main secondary conditions affecting both persons with paraplegia and quadriplegia were spasticity, chronic, muscle and joint pain. There were no significant differences between persons having paraplegia and quadriplegia in relation to physical activity levels, development of secondary conditions or barriers to exercise. Most persons were interested in an exercise programme but the most common barriers to exercise were cost and not knowing where they could go to exercise. Conclusion: Regardless of injury level, persons with spinal cord injury living in their communities in Jamaica are not engaged in adequate levels of exercise to confer health benefits and aid with healthy ageing. Barriers like cost, availability and accessibility of facilities must be addressed if this situation is to improve.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Determinar los niveles de actividad física de las personas con lesión de la médula espinal (LME) que viven en sus comunidades –es decir, en sus casas en vez de asilos o instituciones asistenciales–y que recibieron rehabilitación hospitalaria en el Centro de Rehabilitación Sir John Golding (SJGRC, en inglés). Este estudio también exploró las barreras percibidas para hacer ejercicios, y el desarrollo de complicaciones secundarias de salud. Métodos: Se realizó un análisis transversal no experimental de las relaciones. Los participantes fueron reclutados a partir de los archivos de altas del Centro SJGRC. Se aplicaron tres cuestionarios mediante entrevista telefónica (Escala de Actividad Física y Discapacidad, Escala de Condiciones Secundarias de la Lesión Medular, y Escala de Discapacidad y Barreras al Ejercicio). Resultados: Sólo el 58.3% de los pacientes se hallaban participando en alguna forma de ejercicio, y de este número sólo el 6% practicaba ejercicios fuertes. Las condiciones secundarias principales que afectaban a ambas personas con paraplejia y cuadriplejia eran la espasticidad, y el dolor muscular y articular crónico. No había diferencias significativas entre las personas que tenían paraplejia y cuadriplejia en lo referente a los niveles de actividad física, el desarrollo de condiciones secundarias o las barreras al ejercicio. La mayoría de las personas estaban interesadas en un programa de ejercicios, pero las barreras más comunes eran el costo y el no saber dónde ir a hacerlos. Conclusión: Independientemente del nivel de la lesión, las personas con lesión medular que viven en sus comunidades en Jamaica no participan en niveles adecuados de ejercicio que brinden beneficios de salud y ayuden a un envejecimiento saludable. Las barreras como el costo, la disponibilidad y la accesibilidad de las instalaciones deben ser abordadas, si se quiere mejorar esta situación.

TGF-ß1 regulates both cellular growth and phenotypic plasticity important for maintaining a growth advantage and increased invasiveness in progressively malignant cells. Recent studies indicate that TGF-ß-1 stimulates the conversion of epitheliod to fibroblastoid phenotype which presumably leads to the inactivation of growth-inhibitory effects by TGF-ß1 (Portella et al. (1998) Cell Growth and Differentiation, 9: 393-404). Therefore, the investigation of TGF-ß1 signaling that leads to altered growth and migration may provide novel targets for the prevention of increased cell growth and invasion. Although much attention has been paid to TGF-ß1 responses in epithelial cells, the above studies suggest that examination of signal transduction pathways in fibroblasts are important as well. Data from our laboratory are consistent with the concept that TGF-ß1 can act as a regulatory switch in density-dependent C3H 10T1/2 fibroblasts capable of either promoting or delaying G1 traverse. The regulation of this switch is proposed to occur prior to pRb phosphorylation, namely prior to activation of cyclin-dependent kinases. The current study is concerned with the evaluation of a key cyclin (cyclin D1) which activates cdk4 and p27KIP1 which in turn inhibit cdk2 in the proliferative responses of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and their modulation by TGF-ß1. Although the molecular events that lead to elevation of cyclin D1 are not completely understood, it appears likely that activation of p42/p44MAPK kinases is involved in its transcriptional regulation. TGF-ß1 delayed EGF- or PDGF-induced cyclin D1 expression and blocked the induction of active p42/p44MAPK. The mechanism by which TGF-ß1 induces a block in p42/p44MAPK activation is being examined and the possibility that TGF-ß1 regulates phosphatase activity is being tested.