The Mas protooncogene is a maternally imprinted gene encoding an orphan G protein-coupled receptor expressed mainly in forebrain and testis. Here, we provide evidence for a function of Mas in the central nervous system. Targeted disruption of the Mas protooncogene leads to an increased durability of long term potentiation in the dentate gyrus, without affecting hippocampal morphology, basal syn...

As lesões cardíacas penetrantes e não transfixantes são uma emergência médica que requer tratamento imediato adequado. A miocardiorrafia é técnica cirúrgica utilizada no dessas lesões, mas pode estar associada a complicações, como fibrilação atrial (FA) parada cardiorrespiratória (PCR). O presente artigo tem objetivo relatar um caso de bem-sucedido lesão cardíaca penetrante transfixante com man...

GEAMAS is a knowledge engineering environment for multi-agent simulation of complex systems. The basic architecture of GEAMAS is designed around three dimensions: MultiAgent Systems (MAS) software design, MAS knowledge abstraction and MAS services dimension. Each one of this third aspects, is implemented into several modular open software layers. First, the paper argues the benefits of a such a...

PURPOSE To investigate a technique for optimizing radiation dose and image quality for a computed radiography system. METHODS Entrance skin doses were measured for phantom models of the pelvis and lumbar spine imaged using the vendor's recommended exposure settings (ie, the reference doses) as well as doses above and below the vendor's recommended settings for both body parts. Images were ass...

This paper attempts to articulate the general role of infrastructure for multi-agent systems (MAS), and why infrastructure is a particularly critical issue if we are to increase the visibility and impact of multi-agent systems as a universal technology and solution. Second, it presents my current thinking on the socio-technical content of the needed infrastructure in four different corners of t...

Recently there has been growing evidence suggesting that beneficial effects of angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] in the heart are mediated by its receptor Mas. However, the signaling pathways involved in these effects in cardiomyocytes are unknown. Here, we investigated the involvement of the Ang-(1-7)/Mas axis in NO generation and Ca(2+) handling in adult ventricular myocytes using a combination o...

PURPOSE Microaneurysms (MAs) are considered a hallmark of retinal vascular disease, yet what little is known about them is mostly based upon histology, not clinical observation. Here, we use the recently developed adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) fluorescein angiography (FA) to image human MAs in vivo and to expand on previously described MA morphologic classification schem...

The angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R) and the receptor MAS are receptors of the protective arm of the renin-angiotensin system. They mediate strikingly similar actions. Moreover, in various studies, AT2R antagonists blocked the effects of MAS agonists and vice versa. Such cross-inhibition may indicate heterodimerization of these receptors. Therefore, this study investigated the molecular and f...

BACKGROUND Follicular fluid meiosis-activating sterol (FF-MAS) overcomes hypoxanthine (HX)-mediated meiotic arrest in mammalian oocytes. METHODS In order to determine whether chromosome segregation was normal in oocytes matured in FF-MAS, the development, chromosomal constitution and chromosome alignment was analysed in spontaneously matured as well as HX-arrested mouse oocytes cultured in th...

There is a growing demand for Multi-Agent Systems (MAS) in the software industry. The autonomous agent interaction in a dynamic software environment can potentially lead to runtime behavioral failures including deadlock. In order to bring MAS to the main stream of commercial software development, the behavior of MAS must be tested and monitored against the risk of unwanted emergent behaviors in...