Background-Comprehension of the pathogenesis of Trypanosoma cruzi-elicited myocarditis is crucial to delineate strategies aimed at ameliorating the inflammation associated with heart dysfunction. The augmented expression of CC chemokines, especially CCL5/RANTES and CCL3/MIP-1␣, in the hearts of infected mice suggests a role for CC chemokines and their receptors in the pathogenesis of T cruzi-elicited myocarditis. Methods and Results-We report that during the early phase of infection in C3H/HeJ mice infected with 100 blood trypomastigotes of T cruzi, most of the inflammatory cells invading the heart tissue were CD8 ϩ cells and expressed CCR5, a CCL5/RANTES, and CCL3/MIP1-␣ receptor. Furthermore, peripheral blood CD8 ϩ T lymphocytes displayed increased expression of CCR5. These findings led us to use Met-RANTES, a selective CCR1 and CCR5 antagonist, to modulate the acute T cruzi-elicited myocarditis. Met-RANTES treatment did not interfere with parasitism but significantly decreased the numbers of CD4 ϩ and CD8 ϩ T cells, CCR5 ϩ , and interleukin-4 ϩ cells invading the heart, paralleling the diminished deposition of fibronectin. Moreover, Met-RANTES treatment resulted in increased survival of infected animals, compared with saline treatment. Conclusions-These results indicate that the massive influx of CCR5ϩ cells into cardiac tissue is not crucial for cell-mediated anti-T cruzi immunity but appears to be critical for pathogenesis of T cruzi-elicited myocarditis. Thus, CC chemokine receptors might become an attractive therapeutic target for further evaluation during T cruzi infection.

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The distribution of the glial cells in the pulmonate gastropod Megalobulimus oblongus was studied by means of an immunohistochemical procedure. These cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein in their cell bodies as well as in their processes. In all ganglia of the central nervous system, four types of glial cells were identified. The glial lacunar network and the perineuronal glial cells were found in the cortical region of the ganglia, and the perisynaptic and the fibrous glial cells in the neuropilar region. However, in the procerebrum of the cerebral ganglion the glial cells only had a reticular distribution throughout the cellular area. These observations provide morphological evidence of glial cell functions. These cells are probably involved in the support of neurones, the uptake and/or degradation of neurotransmitters, the transfer of metabolic substrates to neurones, as well as the regulation of ionic constituents of extracellular space. As occurs in vertebrates, there is a strong relationship between the different cellular components of the central nervous system of this invertebrate.

This paper presents a research about the harmful effects of partial shading on a photovoltaic panel. The analysis begins with the study of the electrical model of the solar cell and is extended to the module and the photovoltaic panel. The computational evaluations determine the relationship between the position of shade on the photovoltaic array and its electrical efficiency. An experimental photovoltaic panel is built and tested for various situations of shading. The experimental results were consistent with computational predictions.

This paper presents the development of an automatic reconfiguration system for photovoltaic panels operating under shaded conditions in order to maximize power output. The main goal of the proposed system is to minimize the negative effects of shading, through the reconfiguration of the electrical connections of the panel. The automatic reconfiguration system is built with the aid of Rough Set Theory and its results are evaluated with computer simulations.