Relativistic proton production at the sun in the October 28th, 2003 solar event

Abstract In order to infer about the origin of solar relativistic particles (SRP) from the particle event of October 28th, 2003, we proceed to do a confrontation of the experimental energy spectra with the theoretical spectra derived from a transport equation for stochastic acceleration. On basis to a two-source model of particle generation, one of which is associated with an expanding magnetic loop, we solve the transport equation including adiabatic losses simultaneously with the stochastic acceleration process. The confrontation shows that there are two different populations during this event, one of which, the so-called ''delayed component'' may be correctly described by stochastic acceleration, but not the so-called ''prompt component''. We found that the required acceleration efficiencies turn to be very high, so that for this particular event, adiabatic cooling is practically negligible as far as the energy spectrum is concerned. Qualitative inferences point toward a dominated Alfven accelerating turbulence. Our results provide a new support to the existence of two relativistic particle populations in some solar relativistic particle events

P-P Total Cross Sections at VHE from Accelerator Data

Comparison of P-P total cross-sections estimations at very high energies - from accelerators and cosmic rays - shows a disagreement amounting to more than 10 %, a discrepancy which is beyond statistical errors. Here we use a phenomenological model based on the Multiple-Diffraction approach to successfully describe data at accelerator energies. The predictions of the model are compared with data On the basis of regression analysis we determine confident error bands, analyzing the sensitivity of our predictions to the employed data for extrapolation. : using data at 546 and 1.8 TeV, our extrapolations for p-p total cross-sections are only compatible with the Akeno cosmic ray data, predicting a slower rise with energy than other cosmic ray results and other extrapolation methods. We discuss our results within the context of constraints in the light of future accelerator and cosmic ray experimental results.Comment: 26 pages aqnd 11 figure

Evaluación de las calcificaciones vasculares y trastorno mineral óseo de la ERC en hemodiálisis: Evaluation of the vascular calcifications and bone mineral disorder of the erc in hemodialysis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Vascular calcifications are part of the systemic disorders of bone mineral metabolism in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and represent one of the main causes of mortality.  Objective: To determine the clinical characteristics, prevalence of vascular calcifications and biochemical alterations of the bone mineral disorder in patients with CKD in hemodialysis therapy. Methods: Analytical, cross-sectional and non-experimental study. The prevalence of vascular calcifications (abdominal aorta) was determined according to the validated score (Kaupilla). The association of qualitative variables was used the Pearson Chi-Square. Results: The population included (n: 49), 65% of the patients were incidents in hemodialysis (> 6 months) with a mean hemodialysis time of 2.8 years. The not incident or new patients on hemodialysis (<6 months) was 35%. The average age was 62.1 years, 53% female and 47% male. 67% reached some degree of vascular calcification (Kaupilla score greater than 1) and 45% presented a score higher than 3 (score associated with cardiovascular risk) and that was predominant in the incident population on hemodialysis. 55% had at least one of the biochemical alterations of bone mineral disease (hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia or hyperparathyroidism). The association between the biochemical alterations of the bone mineral disorder and the vascular calcification index was not found in this study. Conclusion: Most patients on hemodialysis present some degree of vascular calcification, so it is important to recognize and prevent vascular calcifications because of the cardiovascular risk that it has. Key words: Vascular calcifications; Kaupilla score; Chronic kidney disease. (source: MeSH NLM) DOI:  10.25176/RFMH.v18.n3.1590RESUMEN Introducción: Las calcificaciones vasculares forman parte de los trastornos sistémicos del metabolismo mineral óseo de la enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) y constituye una de las principales causas de mortalidad. Objetivos: Determinar las características clínicas, prevalencia de calcificaciones vasculares y alteraciones bioquímicas del trastorno mineral óseo en los pacientes con ERC en terapia de hemodiálisis. Métodos: Estudio analítico, transversal y no experimental. La prevalencia de calcificaciones vasculares (aorta abdominal) se determinó según score validado (Kaupilla) y para la asociación de las variables cualitativas se utilizó el test Chi-Cuadrado de Pearson. Resultados: De la población incluida (n:49), el 65% de los pacientes eran incidentes o continuadores en hemodiálisis (>6 meses) con un tiempo en hemodiálisis promedio de 2.8 años. El 35% fue no incidente o nuevo en hemodiálisis (<6 meses). La edad promedio fue de 62.1 años, el 53% femenino y el 47% masculino. El 67% presentó algún grado de calcificación vascular (score de Kaupilla mayor de 1) y el 45% presentó un score mayor de 3 (score asociado a riesgo cardiovascular) y que fue predominante en la población incidente en hemodiálisis. El 55% presentó al menos alguna de las alteraciones bioquímicas de la enfermedad mineral ósea (hipercalcemia, hiperfosfatemia o hiperparatiroidismo) y no se encontró, en esta muestra, asociación estadística significativa entre las alteraciones bioquímicas del trastorno mineral óseo con el índice de calcificación vascular. Conclusión: La mayoría de los pacientes en hemodiálisis presenta algún grado de calcificación vascular, por lo que es importante reconocerlas y prevenirlas por el riesgo cardiovascular que poseen. Palabras clave: Calcificaciones vasculares; Score de kaupilla; Enfermedad renal crónica. (fuente: DeCS BIREME) DOI:  10.25176/RFMH.v18.n3.159

Can bovine embryos be successfully transferred after 40 years of cryopreservation?

ABSTRACT Global advances in reproductive biotechnology have allowed for the transfer of embryos from donor females with high genetic merit to recipients using the cryopreservation technique, which preserves an embryo of excellent quality and viability, thereby achieving a feasible pregnancy rate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality and viability of Holstein embryos that have been cryopreserved for more than 40 years under glycerol freezing. The embryos were transferred to the recipient heifers using a non-surgical method. Two 17-month-old Holstein heifers (360 kg live weights) which were clinically healthy and reproductively active were used as the recipients. Two bovine embryos of Grade 1 quality were thawed and evaluated for their morphology. Of the two embryo transfers, one pregnancy was achieved, resulting in the birth of a calf. Therefore, embryos frozen in liquid nitrogen and glycerol as a cryopreservative for more than 40 years maintained their quality and viability to produce a live calf

Sustainable Ethanol Production From Sugarcane Molasses by Saccharomyces cerevisiae Immobilized on Chitosan-Coated Manganese Ferrite

The interaction between nanostructures and yeast cells, as well as the description of the effect of nanoparticles in ethanol production are open questions in the development of this nanobiotechnological process. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the ethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the free and immobilized state on chitosan-coated manganese ferrite, using cane molasses as a carbon source. To obtain the chitosan-coated manganese ferrite, the one-step coprecipitation method was used. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction obtaining the typical diffraction pattern. The crystal size was calculated by the Scherrer equation as 15.2 nm. The kinetics of sugar consumption and ethanol production were evaluated by HPLC. With the immobilized system, it was possible to obtain an ethanol concentration of 56.15 g/L, as well as the total sugar consumption at 24 h of fermentation. Productivity and yield in this case were 2.3 ± 0.2 g/(L * h) and 0.28 ± 0.03, respectively. However, at the same time in the fermentation with free yeast, 39.1 g/L were obtained. The total consumption of fermentable sugar was observed only after 42 h, reaching an ethanol titer of 50.7 ± 3.1, productivity and yield of 1.4 ± 0.3 g/(L * h) and 0.25 ± 0.4, respectively. Therefore, a reduction in fermentation time, higher ethanol titer and productivity were demonstrated in the presence of nanoparticles. The application of manganese ferrite nanoparticles shows a beneficial effect on ethanol production. Research focused on the task of defining the mechanism of their action and evaluation of the reuse of biomass immobilized on manganese ferrite in the ethanol production process should be carried out in the future

Early Secreted Antigen ESAT-6 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Promotes Protective T Helper 17 Cell Responses in a Toll-Like Receptor-2-dependent Manner

Despite its relatively poor efficacy, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been used as a tuberculosis (TB) vaccine since its development in 1921. BCG induces robust T helper 1 (Th1) immune responses but, for many individuals, this is not sufficient for host resistance against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) infection. Here we provide evidence that early secreted antigenic target protein 6 (ESAT-6), expressed by the virulent M. tb strain H37Rv but not by BCG, promotes vaccine-enhancing Th17 cell responses. These activities of ESAT-6 were dependent on TLR-2/MyD88 signalling and involved IL-6 and TGF-β production by dendritic cells. Thus, animals that were previously infected with H37Rv or recombinant BCG containing the RD1 region (BCG::RD1) exhibited improved protection upon re-challenge with virulent H37Rv compared with mice previously infected with BCG or RD1-deficient H37Rv (H37RvΔRD1). However, TLR-2 knockout (TLR-2-/-) animals neither showed Th17 responses nor exhibited improved protection in response to immunization with H37Rv. Furthermore, H37Rv and BCG::RD1 infection had little effect on the expression of the anti-inflammatory microRNA-146a (miR146a) in dendritic cells (DCs), whereas BCG and H37RvΔRD1 profoundly induced its expression in DCs. Consistent with these findings, ESAT-6 had no effect on miR146a expression in uninfected DCs, but dramatically inhibited its upregulation in BCG-infected or LPS-treated DCs. Collectively, our findings indicate that, in addition to Th1 immunity induced by BCG, RD1/ESAT-6-induced Th17 immune responses are essential for optimal vaccine efficacy

KM3NeT broadcast optical data transport system

The optical data transport system of the KM3NeT neutrino telescope at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea will provide more than 6000 optical modules in the detector arrays with a point-to-point optical connection to the control stations onshore. The ARCA and ORCA detectors of KM3NeT are being installed at a depth of about 3500 m and 2500 m, respectively and their distance to the control stations is about 100 kilometers and 40 kilometers. In particular, the two detectors are optimised for the detection of cosmic neutrinos with energies above about 1 TeV (ARCA) and for the detection of atmospheric neutrinos with energies in the range 1 GeV-1 TeV (ORCA). The expected maximum data rate is 200 Mbps per optical module. The implemented optical data transport system matches the layouts of the networks of electro-optical cables and junction boxes in the deep sea. For efficient use of the fibres in the system the technology of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing is applied. The performance of the optical system in terms of measured bit error rates, optical budget are presented. The next steps in the implementation of the system are also discussed