Detection of vitellogenin in a subpopulation of sea urchin coelomocytes

Sea urchin vitellogenin is a high molecular weight glycoprotein, which is the precursor of the major yolk protein present in the unfertilized egg. Vitellogenin processing into the major yolk protein and its further enzymatic cleavage during sea urchin embryonic development, has been extensively described, and the adhesive properties of the processed molecule have been studied. The function of vitellogenin in the adult, where it has been found in the coelomic fluid of both male and female individuals, is still unknown, although its role on promoting the adhesion of embryonic cells has been shown. In this report we describe the detection of vitellogenin in lysates of whole circulating coelomocytes of both male and female sea urchins of the species Paracentrotus lividus. By metrizoic acid gradients we purified total coelomocytes into six subpopulations that were tested for the occurrence of the molecule using vitellogenin-specific polyclonal antibodies. We detected vitellogenin only in the coelomocyte subpopulation called colorless spherule cells, packed in kidney-shaped granules located around the nucleus. We also showed that coelomocytes respond to stress conditions by discharging vitellogenin into the medium. This result together with previous observations on the adhesive properties of the molecule suggest a role for vitellogenin in the clotting phenomenon occurring after host invasion

Multiplicity dependence of jet-like two-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 5.02 TeV

Two-particle angular correlations between unidentified charged trigger and associated particles are measured by the ALICE detector in p-Pb collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of 5.02 TeV. The transverse-momentum range 0.7 $< p_{\rm{T}, assoc} < p_{\rm{T}, trig} <$ 5.0 GeV/$c$ is examined, to include correlations induced by jets originating from low momen\-tum-transfer scatterings (minijets). The correlations expressed as associated yield per trigger particle are obtained in the pseudorapidity range $|\eta|<0.9$. The near-side long-range pseudorapidity correlations observed in high-multiplicity p-Pb collisions are subtracted from both near-side short-range and away-side correlations in order to remove the non-jet-like components. The yields in the jet-like peaks are found to be invariant with event multiplicity with the exception of events with low multiplicity. This invariance is consistent with the particles being produced via the incoherent fragmentation of multiple parton--parton scatterings, while the yield related to the previously observed ridge structures is not jet-related. The number of uncorrelated sources of particle production is found to increase linearly with multiplicity, suggesting no saturation of the number of multi-parton interactions even in the highest multiplicity p-Pb collisions. Further, the number scales in the intermediate multiplicity region with the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions estimated with a Glauber Monte-Carlo simulation.Comment: 23 pages, 6 captioned figures, 1 table, authors from page 17, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/161

Bracket base remnants after orthodontic debonding

Objective: To evaluate whether the debonding procedure leads to restitutio ad integrum of the enamel surface by investigating the presence of enamel within the bracket base remnants after debonding. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients who completed orthodontic treatment with fixed appliances were included. A total of 1068 brackets were microphotographed; the brackets presenting some remnants on the base (n \u200a=\u200a 818) were selected and analyzed with ImageJ software to measure the remnant area. From this population a statistically significant sample (n \u200a=\u200a 100) was observed under a scanning electron microscope to check for the presence of enamel within the remnants. Energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry was also performed to obtain quantitative data. Results: Statistically significant differences in the remnant percentage between arches were observed for incisor and canine brackets (P &lt; .0001 and P \u200a=\u200a .022, respectively). From a morphologic analysis of the scanning electron micrographs the bracket bases were categorized in 3 groups: group A, bases presenting a thin enamel coat (83%); group B, bases showing sizable enamel fragments (7%); group C, bases with no morphologic evidence of enamel presence (10%). Calcium presence was noted on all evaluated brackets under energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry. No significant difference was observed in the Ca/Si ratio between group A (16.21%) and group B (18.77%), whereas the Ca/Si ratio in group C (5.40%) was significantly lower than that of the other groups (P &lt; .323 and P \u200a=\u200a .0001, respectively). Conclusion: The objective of an atraumatic debonding is not achieved yet; in some cases the damage could be clinically relevant

Multi-particle azimuthal correlations in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at the CERN Large Hadron Collider

Measurements of multi-particle azimuthal correlations (cumulants) for charged particles in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions are presented. They help address the question of whether there is evidence for global, flow-like, azimuthal correlations in the p-Pb system. Comparisons are made to measurements from the larger Pb-Pb system, where such evidence is established. In particular, the second harmonic two-particle cumulants are found to decrease with multiplicity, characteristic of a dominance of few-particle correlations in p-Pb collisions. However, when a $|\Delta \eta|$ gap is placed to suppress such correlations, the two-particle cumulants begin to rise at high-multiplicity, indicating the presence of global azimuthal correlations. The Pb-Pb values are higher than the p-Pb values at similar multiplicities. In both systems, the second harmonic four-particle cumulants exhibit a transition from positive to negative values when the multiplicity increases. The negative values allow for a measurement of $v_{2}\{4\}$ to be made, which is found to be higher in Pb-Pb collisions at similar multiplicities. The second harmonic six-particle cumulants are also found to be higher in Pb-Pb collisions. In Pb-Pb collisions, we generally find $v_{2}\{4\} \simeq v_{2}\{6\}\neq 0$ which is indicative of a Bessel-Gaussian function for the $v_{2}$ distribution. For very high-multiplicity Pb-Pb collisions, we observe that the four- and six-particle cumulants become consistent with 0. Finally, third harmonic two-particle cumulants in p-Pb and Pb-Pb are measured. These are found to be similar for overlapping multiplicities, when a $|\Delta\eta| > 1.4$ gap is placed.Comment: 25 pages, 11 captioned figures, 3 tables, authors from page 20, published version, figures at http://aliceinfo.cern.ch/ArtSubmission/node/87

Geo-visual analytics for urban design in the context of future Internet

The internet, where much of the information has reference to location, together with the latest generation of geographical web services, represent a very large information space that can be used for planning and design. The wealth of information accessible, which requires new forms of interaction and management of the data available, has brought in recent year to the growth of the domain of visual analytics. In addition, the availability of 3D geobrowsers provides the technological means for interactive 3D environments which can be used to access large-scale geographical information. This technological scenario is paving the way to 3D webbased, geo-visual analytics tools for land planning and urban design tools. This paper illustrates the results of a research effort which has brought to the development of an interactive geo-visual analytics platform for land planning and urban design which makes use of procedural modelling algorithms

Agricultura orgânica em áreas urbanas e periurbanas com base na agroecologia.

A agricultura orgânica com base na agroecologia é o mote tecnológico adequado à realidade dos agroecossistemas urbanos. Este artigo ressalta a necessidade de se desenvolver tecnologias e insumos específicos. A partir de experiências com agricultura urbana em diferentes países em desenvolvimento, evidencia-se a necessidade de se buscar capacidades locais e apoio do poder público, especialmente nas iniciativas da sociedade organizada e mobilizada para a produção agrícola urbana

SUBCLINICAL RENAL DAMAGE IS ASSOCIATED WITH A REDUCED CHOROIDAL THICKNESS IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY HYPERTENSION

Objective: The retina is considered the easiest accessible window to study the state of the systemic microcirculation, even if the choroid is the most important vascular layer of the eye. Our understanding of the choroid has been greatly increased in last years since the introduction of advanced techniques of optical coherence tomography (OCT). Our study was aimed to assess choroidal thickness by using Swept-Source OCT (SS-OCT) in essential hypertensive patients (EHs) with and without subclinical renal damage (SRD). Design and method: We enrolled 100 EHs of which 65 without kidney damage and 35 with SRD. In all the participants SS-OCT and a routine biochemical work-up were performed. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated by the CKD-EPI equation (eGFR). SRD was defined, by the presence of microalbuminuria or eGFR between 30 and 60\u200amL/min/1.73 m2. OCT measurements were performed according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) protocol, that divides the macula into 9 subfields. The circular grid consists of 3 concentric rings. The inner and outer rings are further divided into quadrants: temporal, nasal, superior, and inferior. Design and method: Furthermore, we calculated the average of the individuals values of the four quadrants separately for the inner and the outer ring. The average of all the 9 regions of the ETRDS grid (including the inner, the outer and the central rings) was also calculated. Results: EHs with SRD showed thinner choroidal thicknesses than those without kidney damage (all p\u200a<\u200a0.05), even after adjustment for age (figure). Overall choroidal thickness correlated significantly and directly with eGFR (r\u200a=\u200a0.36) and negatively with urinary albumin excretion (r\u200a=\u200a- 0.39). The association of choroidal thickness with SRD was confirmed in multiple logistic regression analyses once the effect of age, anti-hypertensive therapy and triglycerides was accounted for. The odds ratio of having SRD associated with a standard deviation increase of overall choroidal thickness was 0.43 (0.24\u20130.75, 95% confidence interval; p\u200a=\u200a0.007). Conclusions: Our study confirms the close relationships between changes in ocular microcirculation and renal dysfunction

K0S and Λ production in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−−√=2.76 TeV

The ALICE measurement of K0S and Λ production at midrapidity in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN−−−√=2.76  TeV is presented. The transverse momentum (pT) spectra are shown for several collision centrality intervals and in the pT range from 0.4  GeV/c (0.6  GeV/c for Λ) to 12  GeV/c. The pT dependence of the Λ/K0S ratios exhibits maxima in the vicinity of 3  GeV/c, and the positions of the maxima shift towards higher pT with increasing collision centrality. The magnitude of these maxima increases by almost a factor of three between most peripheral and most central Pb-Pb collisions. This baryon excess at intermediate pT is not observed in pp interactions at s√=0.9  TeV and at s√=7  TeV. Qualitatively, the baryon enhancement in heavy-ion collisions is expected from radial flow. However, the measured pT spectra above 2  GeV/c progressively decouple from hydrodynamical-model calculations. For higher values of pT, models that incorporate the influence of the medium on the fragmentation and hadronization processes describe qualitatively the pT dependence of the Λ/K0S ratio

Enhanced production of multi-strange hadrons in high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions

At sufficiently high temperature and energy density, nuclear matter undergoes a transition to a phase in which quarks and gluons are not confined: the quark-gluon plasma (QGP)(1). Such an exotic state of strongly interacting quantum chromodynamics matter is produced in the laboratory in heavy nuclei high-energy collisions, where an enhanced production of strange hadrons is observed(2-6). Strangeness enhancement, originally proposed as a signature of QGP formation in nuclear collisions(7), is more pronounced for multi-strange baryons. Several effects typical of heavy-ion phenomenology have been observed in high-multiplicity proton-proton (pp) collisions(8,9), but the enhanced production of multi-strange particles has not been reported so far. Here we present the first observation of strangeness enhancement in high-multiplicity proton-proton collisions. We find that the integrated yields of strange and multi-strange particles, relative to pions, increases significantly with the event charged-particle multiplicity. The measurements are in remarkable agreement with the p-Pb collision results(10,11), indicating that the phenomenon is related to the final system created in the collision. In high-multiplicity events strangeness production reaches values similar to those observed in Pb-Pb collisions, where a QGP is formed.Peer reviewe

Restrictive vs Liberal Blood Transfusions for Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Anemia by Heart Failure Status: An RCT Subgroup Analysis

Background: Red blood cell transfusion can cause fluid overload. We evaluated the interaction between heart failure (HF) at baseline and transfusion strategy on outcomes in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods: We used data from the randomized REALITY trial. HF was defined as history of HF or Killip class > 1 at randomization. Primary outcome was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE): composite of all-cause death, nonrecurrent AMI, stroke, or emergency revascularization prompted by ischemia at 30 days. Results: Among 658 randomized patients, 311 (47.3%) had HF. Patients with HF had higher rates of MACE at 30 days and 1 year and higher rates of nonfatal new-onset HF. There was no interaction between HF and effect of randomized assignment on the primary outcome or nonfatal new-onset HF. A liberal transfusion strategy was associated with increased all-cause death at 30 days and at 1 year in patients with HF (P-interaction = 0.009 and P = 0.049, respectively). The main numerical difference in cause of death between restrictive and liberal strategies was death by HF at 30 days (4 vs 11). Conclusions: HF is frequent in patients with AMI and anemia and is associated with higher risk of MACE (including all-cause death) and nonfatal new-onset HF. Although there was no interaction of HF with effect of transfusion strategy on MACE, a liberal transfusion strategy was associated with higher all-cause death that appears driven by a higher risk of early death caused by HF