Discrete Formulation for the dynamics of rods deforming in space

We describe the main ingredients needed to create, from the smooth lagrangian density, a variational principle for discrete motions of a discrete rod, with corresponding conserved Noether currents. We describe all geometrical objects in terms of elements on the linear Atiyah bundle, using a reduced forward difference operator. We show how this introduces a discrete lagrangian density that models the discrete dynamics of a discrete rod. The presented tools are general enough to represent a discretization of any variational theory in principal bundles, and its simplicity allows to perform an iterative integration algorithm to compute the discrete rod evolution in time, starting from any predefined configurations of all discrete rod elements at initial times

Strategies for Prevention of Pertussis

Introdução: Nos últimos 30 anos, em vários países, tem sido relatado um aumento da incidência de tosse convulsa, sobretudo em adolescentes e adultos, apesar das altas taxas de cobertura de imunização primária. Objectivos: Rever aspectos da epidemiologia da tosse convulsa, descrever algumas estratégias de controlo, com ênfase nas que incluem a utilização de vacinas com menores quantidades do toxóide diftérico e de alguns componentes pertussis (dTpa), e a avaliação da eficácia e efectividade destas vacinas. Métodos: Selecção de artigos relevantes, através da base de dados PubMed e sítios de acesso livre da internet, publicados entre 1991 e 2011. Resultados: As alterações do padrão epidemiológico são atribuídas, principalmente, à diminuição da imunidade ao longo dos anos, após a vacinação ou infecção natural. Os adolescentes e adultos foram identificados como importantes fontes de transmissão da doença para lactentes muito jovens que, uma vez não imunizados ou parcialmente imunizados, são mais vulneráveis às complicações relacionadas com a doença e apresentam maior mortalidade. A vacina (dTpa), formulada para o uso em adolescentes e adultos é segura e eficaz. A sua utilização também reduz a transmissão da tosse convulsa para os grupos etários com alto risco de complicações. Conclusão: A disponibilidade da dTpa oferece novas oportunidades para reduzir o impacto da tosse convulsa. A modificação das estratégias preventivas pode levar a um melhor controlo global da doença

Time-dependent prediction degradation assessment of neural-networks-based TEC forecasting models

An estimation of the difference in TEC prediction accuracy achieved when the prediction varies from 1 h to 7 days in advance is described using classical neural networks. Hourly-daily Faraday-rotation derived TEC measurements from Florence are used. It is shown that the prediction accuracy for the examined dataset, though degrading when time span increases, is always high. In fact, when a relative prediction error margin of +/-10% is considered, the population percentage included therein is almost always well above the 55%. It is found that the results are highly dependent on season and the dataset wealth, whereas they highly depend on the f(0)F2 - TEC variability difference and on hysteresis-like effect between these two ionospheric characteristics.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Splenomegaly impacts prognosis in essential thrombocythemia and polycythemia vera: A single center study

Splenomegaly is one of the major clinical manifestations of primary myelofibrosis and is common also in other chronic Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms, causing symptoms and signs and affecting quality of life of patients diagnosed with these diseases. We aimed to study the impact that such alteration has on thrombotic risk and on the survival of patients with essential thrombocythemia and patients with Polycythemia Vera (PV). We studied the relationship between splenomegaly (and its grade), thrombosis and survival in 238 patients with et and 165 patients with PV followed at our center between January 1997 and May 2019

Cyclin D1 integrates G9a-mediated histone methylation.

Lysine methylation of histones and non-histone substrates by the SET domain containing protein lysine methyltransferase (KMT) G9a/EHMT2 governs transcription contributing to apoptosis, aberrant cell growth, and pluripotency. The positioning of chromosomes within the nuclear three-dimensional space involves interactions between nuclear lamina (NL) and the lamina-associated domains (LAD). Contact of individual LADs with the NL are dependent upon H3K9me2 introduced by G9a. The mechanisms governing the recruitment of G9a to distinct subcellular sites, into chromatin or to LAD, is not known. The cyclin D1 gene product encodes the regulatory subunit of the holoenzyme that phosphorylates pRB and NRF1 thereby governing cell-cycle progression and mitochondrial metabolism. Herein, we show that cyclin D1 enhanced H3K9 dimethylation though direct association with G9a. Endogenous cyclin D1 was required for the recruitment of G9a to target genes in chromatin, for G9a-induced H3K9me2 of histones, and for NL-LAD interaction. The finding that cyclin D1 is required for recruitment of G9a to target genes in chromatin and for H3K9 dimethylation, identifies a novel mechanism coordinating protein methylation

Parallel factor analysis of 4.2K excitation-emission matrices for the direct determination of dibenzopyrene isomers in coal-tar samples with a cryogenic fiber optic probe coupled to a commercial spectrofluorimeter

Several studies have shown high concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in living spaces and soil adjacent to parking lots sealed with coal-tar-based products. Recent attention has been paid to the presence of seven PAHs in coal-tar samples ? namely, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[k]-fluoranthene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, chrysene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene, and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene ? and their association to significant increases in estimated excess lifetime cancer risk for nearby residents. Herein, we present an analytical approach to screen the presence of five highly toxic, high-molecular weight PAHs (HMW-PAHs) in coal-tar samples. These include dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, dibenzo[a,i]pyrene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, dibnezo[a,h]pyrene and naphtho[2,3-a]pyrene. Their direct analysis ? no without chromatographic separation ? - in a reference coal-tar sample is made possible with the combination of excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) and parallel-factor analysis (PARAFAC). EEMs are recorded at 4.2 K with the aid of a cryogenic fiber optic probe and a commercial spectrofluorimeter. The simplicity of the experimental procedure and the excellent analytical figures of merit demonstrate the screening potential of this environmentally friendly approach for the routine analysis of numerous coal-tar samples.Fil: Moore, Anthony F. T.. University of Central Florida; Estados UnidosFil: Goicoechea, Hector Casimiro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Barbosa, Fernando Jr.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Campiglia, Andres D.. University of Central Florida; Estados Unido

Escapes of non-native fish from flooded aquaculture facilities: the case of Paranapanema River, southern Brazil

Non-native species are a major driver of biodiversity loss. Aquaculture activities play a key role in introductions, including the escape of fishes from fish farm facilities. Here, the impact of flooding due to El Niño rains in 2015/2016 in the Lower and Middle Paranapanema River basin, southern Brazil, was investigated by evaluating fish escapes from 12 fish farms. The flooding resulted in the escape of approximately 1.14 million fishes into the river, encompassing 21 species and three hybrids. Non-native species were the most abundant escapees, especially Oreochormis niloticus and Coptodon rendalli (96% of all fish). Only seven native fishes were in the escapee fauna, comprising 1% of all fish. Large floods, coupled with inadequate biosecurity, thus resulted in considerable inputs of non-native fish into this already invaded system

A system to evaluate the performance of hydraulic nozzles used in stored grain preotection trials

A tecnologia de aplicação na proteção de grãos armazenados é de fundamental importância para melhorar a uniformidade de distribuição dos agrotóxicos na massa de grãos. Foi desenvolvido um sistema para avaliar o desempenho de bico hidráulico utilizado em experimentos de proteção de grãos de milho e trigo armazenados. Para determinar a distribuição volumétrica transversal e o espectro de gotas do bico hidráulico modelo TJ-60 8002EVS, utilizou-se calda inseticida como líquido teste. Um sistema móvel de aplicação foi construído para aplicar uma taxa equivalente a 5 L t-1 e obter uma concentração teórica de 10 e 0,5 mg kg-1 de fenitrotion e esfenvalerato, respectivamente. Os grãos foram espalhados em fina camada para o tratamento. Lâminas de vidro foram colocadas sobre a massa de grãos para certificar a aplicação da dose pretendida. Os depósitos em ambas matrizes foram analisados por técnica de cromatografia gasosa. O depósito de fenitrotion foi superior ao do esfenvalerato e o depósito nos grãos de trigo foi superior a do milho. Nas lâminas de vidro os depósitos atingiram valores de 100 e 93% da concentração teórica pretendida de fenitrotion e esfenvalerato, respectivamente. Nos grãos os depósitos foram inferiores aos das lâminas de vidro, com valores de 64 e 52% da concentração teórica pretendida de fenitrotion e esfenvalerato, respectivamente. Foi comprovada a eficiência do método de avaliação no desempenho de bicos quando utilizada a calda inseticida como líquido teste. Os fatores que influenciaram o depósito dos inseticidas nas lâminas de vidro e nos grãos são discutidos no trabalho.We developed a system to evaluate the performance of hydraulic nozzles used in stored corn and wheat grain protection experiments. An insecticidal mix was used as test fluid to determine the transversal volumetric distribution and droplets spectrum of a model TJ-60 8002EVS hydraulic nozzle. A mobile application system was built to apply a rate equivalent to 5 L t-1 and obtain theoretical concentrations of 10 and 0.5 mg kg-1 of fenitrothion and esfenvalerate, respectively. The corn and wheat grains were spread out as a fine layer. Three glass slides (0.1 &times; 0.05 m) were placed on the top surface of the grains to ensure that the intended application rate was achieved. After treatment, the deposits on both matrices were analyzed by gas chromatography. The fenitrothion deposit was higher than esfenvalerate, and the deposit on wheat was higher than on corn grains (P < 0.05). The deposits on the glass slides reached values of 100 and 93% of the intended theoretical fenitrothion and esfenvalerate concentrations, respectively. Deposits on the grains were lower than on the glass slides, with values of 64 and 52% of the intended theoretical fenitrothion and esfenvalerate concentrations, respectively. The results obtained demonstrate a high effectiveness of the method for evaluation of the performance of hydraulic nozzles when an insecticidal mix is used as test fluid. The factors that influenced insecticide deposition on glass slides and on grains are discussed in the present work

Review of Piezoelectrical Materials Potentially Useful for Peripheral Nerve Repair

It has increasingly been recognized that electrical currents play a pivotal role in cell migration and tissue repair, in a process named "galvanotaxis". In this review, we summarize the current evidence supporting the potential benefits of electric stimulation (ES) in the physiology of peripheral nerve repair (PNR). Moreover, we discuss the potential of piezoelectric materials in this context. The use of these materials has deserved great attention, as the movement of the body or of the external environment can be used to power internally the electrical properties of devices used for providing ES or acting as sensory receptors in artificial skin (e-skin). The fact that organic materials sustain spontaneous degradation inside the body means their piezoelectric effect is limited in duration. In the case of PNR, this is not necessarily problematic, as ES is only required during the regeneration period. Arguably, piezoelectric materials have the potential to revolutionize PNR with new biomedical devices that range from scaffolds and nerve-guiding conduits to sensory or efferent components of e-skin. However, much remains to be learned regarding piezoelectric materials, their use in manufacturing of biomedical devices, and their sterilization process, to fine-tune their safe, effective, and predictable in vivo application.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio