Searching for VHE gamma-ray emission associated with IceCube neutrino alerts using FACT, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS

The realtime follow-up of neutrino events is a promising approach to searchfor astrophysical neutrino sources. It has so far provided compelling evidencefor a neutrino point source: the flaring gamma-ray blazar TXS 0506+056 observedin coincidence with the high-energy neutrino IceCube-170922A detected byIceCube. The detection of very-high-energy gamma rays (VHE, $\mathrm{E} >100\,\mathrm{GeV}$) from this source helped establish the coincidence andconstrained the modeling of the blazar emission at the time of the IceCubeevent. The four major imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope arrays (IACTs) -FACT, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS - operate an active follow-up program oftarget-of-opportunity observations of neutrino alerts sent by IceCube. Thisprogram has two main components. One are the observations of known gamma-raysources around which a cluster of candidate neutrino events has been identifiedby IceCube (Gamma-ray Follow-Up, GFU). Second one is the follow-up of singlehigh-energy neutrino candidate events of potential astrophysical origin such asIceCube-170922A. GFU has been recently upgraded by IceCube in collaborationwith the IACT groups. We present here recent results from the IACT follow-upprograms of IceCube neutrino alerts and a description of the upgraded IceCubeGFU system.<br

Volumetric lipoinjection of the fronto-orbital and temporal complex with adipose stem cells for the aesthetic restoration of sequelae of craniosynostosis

Background Non-syndromic craniosynostosis causes craniofacial asymmetry and may persist after cranioplasty. These postoperative asymmetries are primarily depressions. In some cases, patients may be subjected to pranks and harassment by their peers, affecting their psychosocial development. We propose lipoinjection enriched with adipose stem cells (ASCs) to treat the sequelae of craniosynostosis in the fronto-orbital and temporal complex in cranioplasty patients, with the goal of improving the appearance of the upper third of the face. Methods Twelve children (four boys and eight girls) between 4 and 8 years of age (mean age, 6 years) in the postoperative period after treatment for plagiocephaly, brachycephaly, and trigonocephaly were included, with a follow-up period of 1 to 18 months. Fat tissue was obtained from the lower abdomen, and ASCs were isolated using the Yoshimura technique. Lipoinjection was performed using several mini-approaches to ensure adequate distribution. Results Two different scales were used to evaluate the aesthetic outcomes. At 6 months, three plastic surgeons independent of the study classified the results using a Likert scale. The patients’ parents categorized the results using a visual analog scale at 6, 9, and 18 months. R esults were favorable on both scales, as the patients’ facial appearance improved and they reported increased happiness and self-esteem due to their remodeled facial appearance. Conclusions We suggest that lipoinjection enriched with ASCs is a good alternative for correcting asymmetry of the fronto-orbital and temporal contour in patients with sequelae of craniosynostosis. This treatment will help boost patients’ self-esteem starting at an early age

Extracellular matrix and fibroblast injection produces pterygium-like lesion in rabbits

Abstract Background Translational research to develop pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for pterygium requires a reliable and easy to produce animal model. Extracellular matrix and fibroblast are important components of pterygium. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of the subconjunctival injection of fibroblast cells (NIH3T3 cell line) and exogenous extracellular matrix in rabbits in producing a pterygium-like lesion. Methods Six 3-month-old white New Zealand rabbits were injected with 20,000 NIH3T3 cells and 5 µL of Matrigel in the right conjunctiva, and with only 5 µL of Matrigel in the left conjunctiva. The eyes were photographed under a magnification of 16× using a 12-megapixel digital camera attached to the microscope on day 1, 3 and 7. Conjunctival vascularization was measured by analyzing images to measure red pixel saturation. Area of corneal and conjunctival fibrovascular tissue formation on the site of injection was assessed by analyzing the images on day 3 and 7 using area measurement software. Histopathologic characteristics were determined in the rabbit tissues and compared with a human primary pterygium. Results The two treatments promoted growth of conjunctival fibrovascular tissue at day 7. The red pixel saturation and area of fibrovascular tissue developed was significantly higher in right eyes (p < 0.05). Tissues from both treatments showed neovascularization in lesser extent to that observed in human pterygium. Acanthosis, stromal inflammation, and edema were found in tissues of both treatments. No elastosis was found in either treatment. Conclusions Matrigel alone or in combination with NIH3T3 cells injected into the rabbits’ conjunctiva can promote tissue growth with characteristics of human pterygium, including neovascularization, acanthosis, stromal inflammation, and edema. The combination of Matrigel with NIH3T3 cells seems to have an additive effect on the size and redness of the pterygium-like tissue developed

Co-evolution of the Finnish National and Local Innovation and Science Arenas: Towards a Dynamic Understanding of Multi-level Governance

Sotarauta M. and Kautonen M. (2007) Co-evolution of the Finnish national and local innovation and science arenas: towards a dynamic understanding of multi-level governance, Regional Studies 41, 1085-1098. In Finland, science policy is in the hands of central government and regions/localities do not directly have any say in the formulation of science policies. However, Finnish city-regions have influenced national science policies indirectly and the interaction of national and local policies has unfolded in time in innovation and science arenas. This paper aims to provide answers to the following questions: (1) how has the institutional basis for science and innovation evolved in Finland over the past 50 years, especially in three Finnish city-regions; (2) which have been the main actors in the evolution of institutional capacity and what have their main strategies been; (3) how have national and local policies and developments co-evolved over time? The article focuses particularly on how different policies, local and national, have co-evolved in the context of multi-level governance. Sotarauta M. et Kautonen M. (2007) L'evolution simultanee dans les domaines de l'innovation nationale et locale et de la science finlandaises: vers une comprehension dynamique de la gouvernance a plusieurs niveaux, Regional Studies 41, 1085-1098. En Finlande, la politique scientifique est entre les mains du gouvernement central, et les regions n'ont pas directement leur mot a dire dans la mise au point des politiques scientifiques. Cependant, les cites-regions finlandaises ont indirectement eu une incidence sur les politiques scientifiques nationales, et l'interaction des politiques nationales et locales se sont devoilees sur le temps dans les domaines de l'innovation et de la science. Cet article cherche a fournir une reponse aux questions suivantes: (1) comment la base institutionnelle en faveur de la science et de l'innovation evolue-t-elle en Finlande depuis les 50 dernieres annees, surtout en trois cites-regions finlandaises; (2) qui ont-ete les principaux agents dans l'evolution de la capacite institutionnelle et quelles ont-ete leurs principales strategies; (3) comment les politiques et developpements nationaux et locaux ont-elles evolue simultanement sur le temps? L'article porte notamment sur comment les differentes politiques, a la fois locales et nationales, ont evolue simultanement dans le cadre de la gouvernance a plusieurs niveaux. Politique scientifique Gouvernance Systeme d'innovation Evolution simultanee Amenagement du territoire Politique d'innovation Finlande Sotarauta M. und Kautonen M. (2007) Koevolution der nationalen und lokalen Innovations- und Wissenschaftsarenen in Finnland: Versuch eines dynamischen Verstandnisses der mehrschichtigen Regierungsfuhrung, Regional Studies 41, 1085-1098. In Finnland liegt die Wissenschaftspolitik in den Handen der Zentralregierung; die Regionen und Gemeinden haben keinen direkten Einfluss auf die Ausarbeitung der Wissenschaftspolitiken. Allerdings haben die finnischen Stadtregionen einen indirekten Einfluss auf die nationalen Wissenschaftspolitiken ausgeubt, und die Wechselwirkungen zwischen den nationalen und lokalen Politiken haben sich in den Arenen der Innovation und Wissenschaft entfaltet. In diesem Beitrag werden Antworten zu den folgenden Fragen gesucht: (1) wie hat sich die institutionelle Basis fur Wissenschaft und Innovation in den letzten 50 Jahren in Finnland weiterentwickelt, insbesondere in den drei untersuchten finnischen Stadtregionen, (2) welche Hauptakteure waren an der Evolution der institutionellen Kapazitat beteiligt und welche Hauptstrategien verfolgten sie, und (3) wie haben sich die nationalen und lokalen Politiken und Veranderungen im Laufe der Zeit gemeinsam weiterentwickelt? Ein besonderer Schwerpunkt des Artikels liegt in der Frage, wie sich verschiedene lokale und nationale Politiken im Kontext der mehrschichtigen Regierungsfuhrung gemeinsam weiterentwickelt haben. Wissenschaftspolitik Regierungsfuhrung Innovationssystem Koevolution Regionalentwicklung Innovationspolitik Finnland Sotarauta M. y Kautonen M. (2007) Coevolucion en los campos cientificos y de innovacion nacional y local en Finlandia: Hacia una comprension dinamica de un gobierno multinivel, Regional Studies 41, 1085-1098. En Finlandia la politica cientifica esta en manos del Gobierno central y las regiones o comunidades no tienen ninguna influencia directa en la formulacion de las politicas cientificas. Sin embargo, las ciudades region finlandesas han influido indirectamente en las politicas cientificas nacionales, y con el tiempo la interaccion de las politicas nacionales y locales se ha desarrollado en campos de innovacion y ciencia. La finalidad de este articulo es responder a las siguientes preguntas: (1) como han progresado las bases institucionales para la ciencia y la innovacion en Finlandia en los ultimos 50 anos, especialmente en los ejemplos de las tres ciudades region finlandesas en este estudio; (2) quienes han sido los principales protagonistas en la evolucion de la capacidad institucional y cuales han sido sus estrategias mas importantes; (3) como han progresado las politicas nacionales y locales y los desarrollos con el paso del tiempo? En este articulo prestamos especial atencion a como han avanzado las diferentes politicas locales y nacionales en el contexto de un gobierno multinivel. Politica cientifica Gobernanza Sistema de innovacion Coevolucion Desarrollo regional Politica de innovacion FinlandiaMulti-level governance, Co-evolution, Local innovation policy, National, Innovation system, Finland,