300 research outputs found
Density and expansion effects on pion spectra in relativistic heavy-ion collisions
We compute the pion inclusive momentum distribution in heavy-ion collisions
at AGS energies, assuming thermal equilibrium and accounting for density and
expansion effects at the time of decoupling. We compare to data on mid rapidity
charged pions produced in central Au + Au collisions and find a very good
agreement. The shape of the distribution at low is explained in part as
an effect arising from the high mean pion density achieved in these reactions.
The difference between the positive and negative pion distributions in the same
region is attributed in part to the different average yields of each kind of
charged pions.Comment: Minor changes, typo in Fig. 2b corrected, version to appear in Phys.
Rev.
A Relationship between Carotenoid Accumulation and the Distribution of Species of the Fungus Neurospora in Spain
The ascomycete fungus Neurospora is present in many parts of the world, in particular in tropical and subtropical areas, where it is found growing on recently burned vegetation. We have sampled the Neurospora population across Spain. The sampling sites were located in the region of Galicia (northwestern corner of the Iberian peninsula), the province of Cáceres, the city of Seville, and the two major islands of the Canary Islands archipelago (Tenerife and Gran Canaria, west coast of Africa). The sites covered a latitude interval between 27.88° and 42.74°. We have identified wild-type strains of N. discreta, N. tetrasperma, N. crassa, and N. sitophila and the frequency of each species varied from site to site. It has been shown that after exposure to light Neurospora accumulates the orange carotenoid neurosporaxanthin, presumably for protection from UV radiation. We have found that each Neurospora species accumulates a different amount of carotenoids after exposure to light, but these differences did not correlate with the expression of the carotenogenic genes al-1 or al-2. The accumulation of carotenoids in Neurospora shows a correlation with latitude, as Neurospora strains isolated from lower latitudes accumulate more carotenoids than strains isolated from higher latitudes. Since regions of low latitude receive high UV irradiation we propose that the increased carotenoid accumulation may protect Neurospora from high UV exposure. In support of this hypothesis, we have found that N. crassa, the species that accumulates more carotenoids, is more resistant to UV radiation than N. discreta or N. tetrasperma. The photoprotection provided by carotenoids and the capability to accumulate different amounts of carotenoids may be responsible, at least in part, for the distribution of Neurospora species that we have observed across a range of latitudes
El cultivo de garbanzo (Cicer arietinum L.) en Argentina
El Programa Transferencia de Resultados de Investigación y
Comunicación Pública de la Ciencia (PROTRI), de la Secretaría de
Ciencia y Tecnología del Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba,
financió la realización del libro El cultivo de garbanzo en Argentina
con el objeto de promover la transferencia de resultados,
experiencias o saberes entre las áreas del sector social y productivo
para una mejor calidad de vida.
Para la ejecución de esta obra han sido convocados técnicos e
investigadores de las Ciencias Agropecuarias, Biológicas y
Económicas, quienes en una forma clara y sencilla, aunque no menos
consistente, ponen a disposición del lector sus experiencias
adquiridas a lo largo de varios años de trabajo.
El desarrollo de los diferentes temas se realiza a través de
dieciséis Capítulos que abarcan desde la domesticación de Cicer y su
llegada a la Argentina (Capítulo 1), pasando por el estudio
morfológico de las diferentes partes de la planta en relación a los
cultivares locales (Capítulo 2), además del manejo del suelo y sus
nutrientes, en cuanto a requerimientos edáficos en los sistemas
productivos (Capítulo 3). También se contempla el análisis de la
influencia de los diversos factores ambientales para la determinación
de zonas productivas (Capítulo 4). En el Capítulo 5 se hace referencia
a la ecofisiología del cultivo, sus requerimientos en las diferentes
etapas fenológicas, y cuándo y cómo se expresan en los cultivares.
Un tema de indudable importancia para las leguminosas en general, y
para el garbanzo en particular, es la simbiosis con las bacterias
fijadoras de nitrógeno y su influencia en la productividad, el cual se
desarrolla en el Capítulo 6.
La mejora genética en el país es abordada en el Capítulo 7,
donde se exponen sus inicios, desarrollo, disponibilidad de recursos,
bondades y potencial del germoplasma disponible.
A lo largo del ciclo biológico de la planta, el cultivo es visitado
por insectos e infectado por hongos. Identificarlos y conocer sus
ciclos biológicos y comportamientos es un aspecto importante para
seleccionar las medidas de manejo y control más adecuadas
(Capítulos 8 y 9).
Quizás pocos sepan que el volumen de semilla genética de un
cultivar, alcanza sólo unos pocos gramos (alrededor de 20). Para
llevar este pequeño volumen a toneladas, se requiere del trabajo y
tesón de investigadores, fitomejoradores y productores. Resultado de
ese esfuerzo es la difusión de los seis cultivares obtenidos en el país,
y se sigue trabajando para lograr nuevos materiales que se adapten a
las diversas áreas y sistemas de producción (Capítulo 10).
El desarrollo de los diferentes cultivares, que dan lugar a
diversas arquitecturas de plantas, sumado a la adopción de diversos
sistemas de producción, hace que el tema de la mecanización ocupe
un lugar importante. Maquinas pequeñas y grandes intervienen en las
etapas de siembra y de cosecha tratando de lograr la mayor
eficiencia posible y un producto de calidad (Capítulo 11).
Un cuello de botella para la expansión del cultivo es su
comercialización, tanto para consumo interno como externo. En el
Capítulo 12 se analizan los diferentes mercados y la necesidad de
lograr un producto rentable de alta calidad, para mercados muy
diversos.
En el Capítulo 13 se hace un recorrido por las diferentes
Provincias que actualmente producen garbanzo. Sus autores
comentan como se incorporó el cultivo a los sistemas productivos de
la región, sobre posibilidades y limitaciones, manejos y potencial de
rendimiento, entre otros aportes.
Los Capítulos 14 y 15 presentan dos temas de relevancia actual:
la composición química del grano y las posibilidades de brindar valor
agregado a éste, aspectos reforzados en la última década por el auge
de las tendencias que promueven un nuevo estilo de vida y una
alimentación sana, con alimentos naturales, bajos en grasa y con un
buen balance nutricional.
En el último Capítulo (16) se presentan experiencias de
investigación en las que se utilizó al garbanzo como materia prima o
como sustrato para diversas experimentaciones. La interacción
docente-investigador-alumno permitió que vieran la luz diversos
trabajos que, además de la formación de recursos humanos, brindan
una información útil y novedosa al incursionar en temas tales como
manejo de fechas de siembra, riego, alimento para pollos, cerdos y
abejas.
Estimado lector, tiene en sus manos un libro que es una
invitación a un viaje con dieciséis estaciones. En cada una de ellas
encontrará información sobre el cultivo del garbanzo en la Argentina.
Estos datos fueron obtenidos por docentes, investigadores,
productores, estudiantes que trabajaron y siguen trabajando para
aportar al conocimiento del cultivo en nuestro país, bajo la realidad
local y el contexto regional, ya que la mayoría de los trabajos y
publicaciones son de origen extranjero y la aplicación de muchas de
las tecnologías de manejo requieren una correcta adaptación y
validación. Esperamos que este libro, además de serle útil, pueda ser
disfrutado, sintiendo la pasión y el entusiasmo de cada uno de los
autores por brindar y compartir sus conocimientos y logros
Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study
Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat
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Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study
Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat
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Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study
The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake
Analysis of morpho-agronomic and climatic variables in successive agricultural years provides novel information regarding the phenological cycle of Jatropha in conditions of the Brazilian cerrado
Phenological studies can provide information that enables the understanding of the dynamics of plants and how these dynamics are related to the biotic and abiotic environment. In order to study the phenological phases of Jatropha during two agricultural years, agronomic and climatic variables, such as temperature and rainfall, were evaluated. Data for each variable in each year and each genotype were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the differences were tested at 5% probability by F test. In addition, the correlation of growth behavior and reproductive development of two Jatropha accessions (CNPAE-102 and CNPAE-169) as a function of time elapsed after the start of the phenological cycle with climatic variables were analyzed through Pearson's correlation. It was found that: (i) the resuming of plant growth by producing new branches and flowers of both genotypes coincides with the start of the rainy season, (ii) the flowering may be related to the increase in temperature and rainfall; (iii) the number of inflorescences per plant and number of female flowers determine the number of green fruits, (iv) the environmental changes are responsible for the delimitation of phenophases; and finally that (v) the responses to phenological changes are genotype-dependent
Inhibition of hypoxia‐associated response and kynurenine production in response to hyperbaric oxygen as mechanisms involved in protection against experimental cerebral malaria
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a multifactorial syndrome involving an exacerbated proinflammatory status, endothelial cell activation, coagulopathy, hypoxia, and accumulation of leukocytes and parasites in the brain microvasculature. Despite significant improvements in malaria control, 15% of mortality is still observed in CM cases, and 25% of survivors develop neurologic sequelae for life—even after appropriate antimalarial therapy. A treatment that ameliorates CM clinical signs, resulting in complete healing, is urgently needed. Previously, we showed a hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)-protective effect against experimental CM. Here, we provide molecular evidence that HBO targets brain endothelial cells by decreasing their activation and inhibits parasite and leukocyte accumulation, thus improving cerebral microcirculatory blood flow. HBO treatment increased the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor over hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α), an oxygen-sensitive cytosolic receptor, along with decreased indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 expression and kynurenine levels. Moreover, ablation of HIF-1α expression in endothelial cells in mice conferred protection against CM and improved survival. We propose that HBO should be pursued as an adjunctive therapy in CM patients to prolong survival and diminish deleterious proinflammatory reaction. Furthermore, our data support the use of HBO in therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes of non-CM disorders affecting the brain.—Bastos, M.F., Kayano, A. C. A. V., Silva-Filho, J. L., Dos-Santos, J. C. K., Judice, C., Blanco, Y. C., Shryock, N., Sercundes, M. K., Ortolan, L.S., Francelin, C., Leite, J.A., Oliveira, R., Elias, R. M., Camara, N. O. S., Lopes, S.C.P., Albrecht, L., Farias, A. S., Vicente, C. P., Werneck, C. C., Giorgio, S., Verinaud, L., Epiphanio, S., Marinho, C. R. F., Lalwani, P., Amino, R., Aliberti, J., Costa, F. T. M. Inhibition of hypoxia-associated response and kynurenine production in response to hyperbaric oxygen as mechanisms involved in protection against experimental cerebral malaria
Inhibition of hypoxia‐associated response and kynurenine production in response to hyperbaric oxygen as mechanisms involved in protection against experimental cerebral malaria
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a multifactorial syndrome involving an exacerbated proinflammatory status, endothelial cell activation, coagulopathy, hypoxia, and accumulation of leukocytes and parasites in the brain microvasculature. Despite significant improvements in malaria control, 15% of mortality is still observed in CM cases, and 25% of survivors develop neurologic sequelae for life—even after appropriate antimalarial therapy. A treatment that ameliorates CM clinical signs, resulting in complete healing, is urgently needed. Previously, we showed a hyperbaric oxygen (HBO)-protective effect against experimental CM. Here, we provide molecular evidence that HBO targets brain endothelial cells by decreasing their activation and inhibits parasite and leukocyte accumulation, thus improving cerebral microcirculatory blood flow. HBO treatment increased the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor over hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α), an oxygen-sensitive cytosolic receptor, along with decreased indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 expression and kynurenine levels. Moreover, ablation of HIF-1α expression in endothelial cells in mice conferred protection against CM and improved survival. We propose that HBO should be pursued as an adjunctive therapy in CM patients to prolong survival and diminish deleterious proinflammatory reaction. Furthermore, our data support the use of HBO in therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes of non-CM disorders affecting the brain.—Bastos, M.F., Kayano, A. C. A. V., Silva-Filho, J. L., Dos-Santos, J. C. K., Judice, C., Blanco, Y. C., Shryock, N., Sercundes, M. K., Ortolan, L.S., Francelin, C., Leite, J.A., Oliveira, R., Elias, R. M., Camara, N. O. S., Lopes, S.C.P., Albrecht, L., Farias, A. S., Vicente, C. P., Werneck, C. C., Giorgio, S., Verinaud, L., Epiphanio, S., Marinho, C. R. F., Lalwani, P., Amino, R., Aliberti, J., Costa, F. T. M. Inhibition of hypoxia-associated response and kynurenine production in response to hyperbaric oxygen as mechanisms involved in protection against experimental cerebral malaria
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