Ra y el oro en los Textos de las Pirámides: Algunas notas

Las relaciones entre Ra, el dios del sol, y el oro parecen ser un tema bien conocido de la religión egipcia antigua dadas las asociaciones solares de dicho metal precioso. Sin embargo, no existen estudios que se hayan ocupado de conocer en detalle dichas relaciones. En este trabajo se propone un análisis de los encantamientos de los Textos de las Pirámides donde existen vínculos entre dicha deidad y el oro, teniendo en cuenta tanto los precedentes de dichas asociaciones de significado como los componentes literarios e intertextuales de los pasajes relevantes. A resultas de este análisis se ha constatado que la riqueza de imágenes, contextos y expresiones que asocian a Ra con el oro es notablemente mayor de la más evidente de las metáforas que los ligan en relación con la luz y el brillo de ambos. Aparecen así ligados en contextos de protección contra ofidios, en relación con la alegría jubilosa, en descripciones del cielo previo al amanecer como cuajado de luces de varios minerales, en la imagen de Ra como un ternero de oro cuando nace por el este o como de una punta de flecha o de lanza de oro que atraviesa la bóveda celeste, o en la caracterización como áureas de una roseta como forma primigenia de Ra o de una barca de ese mismo diosThe relations between Re, the Sun-god, and the gold seem to be a well-known topic of the Egyptian religion given the solar associations of that precious metal. Nevertheless, there are not detailed studies on those associations. This paper aims to analyse the spells of the Pyramid Texts where that deity and the gold are related, taking into account its precedents and the literary and intertextual elements of the concerned passages. As a result of this analysis it has been established that the richness of images, contexts and expressions that associate the god Re and the gold is significantly higher than the most evident metaphor that link them by means of the light and bright of both of them. They are thus related in contexts of protection against snakes, rising with an exalted joy, in descriptions of the sky before the sunrise as a space full of light as made in several minerals, in the image of Re as a calf of gold when he rises from the east, or the description of a rosette –a primeval form of Re– and of a boat of this god as made in gol

Danzas natales en las tumbas del Reino Antiguo

En algunas tumbas de particulares del Reino Antiguo figuran escenas de baile por parejas cuya interpretación, pese a que varios autores se hayan ocupado de estudiarlas, todavía ofrece notables dificultades por lo escueto de su desarrollo y la oscuridad de sus textos asociados. A través del análisis de sus contextos icónicos, los tipos de danzas reproducidos, las características de los oficiantes y el contenido iconográfico y textual de los pasos de baile, se puede determinar que tales escenas reproducen danzas rituales efectuadas durante los partos, las cuales, como favorecedoras del nacimiento, fueron trasladadas y adaptadas a contextos funerarios para ayudar al dueño del sepulcro en su (re)nacimiento. Los movimientos, piruetas y torsiones de los dos bailarines en estas danzas, que presentan un buen número de conexiones con la diosa Hathor, imitarían los esfuerzos de la madre durante el parto destinados a separarse felizmente del neonato, y muy posiblemente habrían formado parte de los ritos destinados a propiciar un buen alumbramientoEven though several scholars have studied the scenes of pair dances of some private tombs of the Old Kingdom, their interpretation still offers a number of difficulties because of their succinct visual display and the unclarity of their associated texts. Through the analysis of their iconic contexts, the style of the dance, the features of the performers and the iconic and textual contents of the steps, it has been found that these scenes show ritual dances which were performed on the occasion of births and for this reason were transferred and adapted to funerary contexts in order to help the owner of the tomb in his/her (re)birth. The steps, pirouettes and twistings of both dancers, which have many connections with the goddess Hathor, would imitate the efforts made by the mother during the delivery to separate successfully from the neonate, and very probably they would have been part of the rites for a good birth

Cancer stem cells in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: Biology and therapeutic ramifications [abstract]

Neuroscience - Vision and Functional Brain Imaging Poster SessionAlthough monoclonal in origin, most tumors appear to contain heterogeneous populations of cancer cells. One possible explanation of this tumor heterogeneity is that human tumors are not merely monoclonal expansions of a single transformed cell, but rather caricatures of normal tissues, and their growth is sustained by cancer stem cells (CSCs). This conceptual shift has important implications, not only for understanding tumor biology but also for developing and evaluating effective anticancer therapies. These CSCs are thought to be more resistant to apoptosis, to survive therapy and to eventually give rise to second-line tumors, which are harder to eliminate by the first-line therapy. In this proposal, we are introducing our data in detection of CSCs in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) for the first time, and explain our plans for studying the biology of these cells in order to develop a therapeutic strategy for targeting them. We have identified a sub-population of cells in primary human MPNST cells which are positive for CD133 (a well-known marker for CSCs) and other stem cell markers. We have also studied the characteristics of Ras signaling pathway in these cells showing enhanced activation of Ras, Ral, PI3K and ERK. Now, we plan to not only study the biological characteristics of these cells further but also intend to “custom design” a new protocol for targeting them on the basis of specific characteristics of Ras pathway in these cells. If MPNST CSCs could be targeted, it can result in an efficient regression of tumors and enhancement of therapeutic success in MPNST patients

usefulness of testing with PEG 1500 extract

Background. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is being used for first time as an excipient for mRNA anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines containing-PEG2000, highlighting it as a potential cause of anaphylaxis. Objective. To assess the usefulness of skin tests using PEG1500 extract in patients with suspected allergy to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Methods. We evaluated 126 patients with moderate-high risk of allergy to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines referred to our department from March-December 2021. Skin tests were performed with PEG1500 extract (Roxall), using a stepwise approach, with readings at 30 minutes: prick tests with 0.1%, 1% and 10% concentrations; if negative, intradermal tests with 0.0001%, 0.001% and 0.01% concentrations. The same protocol was applied to 5 healthy controls. Results. Six patients had positive immediate intradermal tests with PEG1500, all with severe PEG allergy: one with a near-fatal anaphylaxis after glucocorticoid injection containing-PEG3350 and five with systemic allergic reactions after mRNA vaccines containing-PEG2000 (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna). One patient developed anaphylaxis during intradermal test. These six patients were negative to polysorbate 80. The remaining 120 patients had negative tests to PEG1500; seven had positive tests to polysorbate 80. All controls had negative tests. Conclusions. To our knowledge this is the first study describing the allergy work-up testing with PEG1500 commercial extract in the scope of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The algorithm designed for skin tests revealed to be a useful tool. Severe PEG allergy was diagnosed in 5% of patients, contraindicating PEG-containing vaccines. PEG allergy was excluded in one hundred patients that afterwards took SARS-CoV-2 vaccines containing-PEG2000. Investigation should be conducted in specialized drug allergy centres.authorsversionpublishe

Partial crack closure under block loading

Fatigue crack propagation tests under high-low and low-high block loading sequences have been performed in aluminium alloy specimens. The tests were carried out at constant [Delta]K conditions. Two stress ratios were analysed: R = 0.05 and R = 0.4. Crack closure was monitored in all tests by the compliance technique using a pin microgauge. The observed transient post load step behaviour is discussed in terms of the load change magnitude, [Delta]K baseline levels and stress ratio. The crack closure level was obtained and compared with the crack growth transients. A good agreement between experimental and predicted crack growth rates is obtained when the partial crack closure effect is properly taken into account. Therefore, plasticity-induced crack closure plays an important role on the load interaction effects observed in aluminium alloys.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V35-4S01WM6-1/1/55ac18d861098dc98cd7150c4c5fa4d

Analysis of low cycle fatigue in AlMgSi aluminium alloys

In this study low-cycle fatigue tests were performed in two AlMgSi aluminium alloys with different chemical composition, namely 6082-T6 and 6060-T6 alloys, using standard round specimens and tube specimens, respectively. The tests were undertaken in strain control with a strain ratio R[var epsilon]=-1. The cyclic stress-strain curves were determined using one specimen for each imposed strain level. The low-cycle fatigue results are used for the characterisation of the cyclic plastic response and the fatigue live of the alloys. Moreover, the geometry of the hysteresis loops and the occurrence of Masing behaviour are also analysed. The observed behaviour is discussed in terms of the chemical composition of the alloys (Mg2Si hardening particles and Mn dispersoid content) and fracture mechanisms. Alloy 6060-T6 exhibits nearly ideal Masing behaviour, while alloy 6082-T6 presents significant deviations from the Masing model. The type of cyclic deformation behaviour in AlMgSi alloys seems to be influenced by the dispersoid phase.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V2X-4BP9HP4-5/1/cf9a3c11deb6a8ecab2506fa8797db0

not so rare after all

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