The Large Scale Structure in the Universe: From Power-Laws to Acoustic Peaks

The most popular tools for analysing the large scale distribution of galaxies are second-order spatial statistics such as the two-point correlation function or its Fourier transform, the power spectrum. In this review, we explain how our knowledge of cosmic structures, encapsulated by these statistical descriptors, has evolved since their first use when applied on the early galaxy catalogues to the present generation of wide and deep redshift surveys, incorporating the most challenging discovery in the study of the galaxy distribution: the detection of Baryon Acoustic Oscillations.Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, to appear in "Data Analysis in Cosmology", Lecture Notes in Physics, 2008, eds. V. J. Martinez, E. Saar, E. Martinez-Gonzalez, and M.J. Pons-Borderia, Springer-Verla

Para-infectious brain injury in COVID-19 persists at follow-up despite attenuated cytokine and autoantibody responses

To understand neurological complications of COVID-19 better both acutely and for recovery, we measured markers of brain injury, inflammatory mediators, and autoantibodies in 203 hospitalised participants; 111 with acute sera (1–11 days post-admission) and 92 convalescent sera (56 with COVID-19-associated neurological diagnoses). Here we show that compared to 60 uninfected controls, tTau, GFAP, NfL, and UCH-L1 are increased with COVID-19 infection at acute timepoints and NfL and GFAP are significantly higher in participants with neurological complications. Inflammatory mediators (IL-6, IL-12p40, HGF, M-CSF, CCL2, and IL-1RA) are associated with both altered consciousness and markers of brain injury. Autoantibodies are more common in COVID-19 than controls and some (including against MYL7, UCH-L1, and GRIN3B) are more frequent with altered consciousness. Additionally, convalescent participants with neurological complications show elevated GFAP and NfL, unrelated to attenuated systemic inflammatory mediators and to autoantibody responses. Overall, neurological complications of COVID-19 are associated with evidence of neuroglial injury in both acute and late disease and these correlate with dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses acutely

The influence of a cooked-meat meal on estimated glomerular filtration rate

<b>Background:</b> Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important but under-recognized condition. Recent national guidelines have recommended that biochemistry laboratories report estimated GFR (eGFR) to improve diagnosis of CKD and facilitate disease staging and management. Previous reports have suggested that intake of large amounts of cooked meat can lead to a significant increase in serum creatinine concentration.<p></p> <b>Methods:</b> Participants (n = 32), consisting of 17 healthy volunteers and 15 outpatients, were recruited. Measurement of serum creatinine (kinetic Jaffe method, enzymatic, isotope-dilution mass spectrometry [IDMS]) and cystatin C, and calculation of eGFR were carried out before (i) and after a meal containing cooked meat (ii) and a meat-free meal (iii).<p></p> <b>Results:</b> Following intake of cooked meat, median serum creatinine concentration (kinetic Jaffe) increased from 80.5 µmol/L preprandially to 101.0 µmol/L 1-2 h postprandially (P<0.0001), and 99.0 µmol/L 3-4 h postprandially (P<0.0001). Median eGFR decreased from 84.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 preprandially to 59.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 1-2 h postprandially (P<0.0001), and 64.0 mL/min/1.73m2 3-4 h postprandially (P<0.0001). Consumption of non-meat-containing meals had little impact on serum creatinine (kinetic Jaffe) and eGFR. Changes in serum creatinine were similar using all three methods, and cystatin C concentration was generally uninfluenced by food intake.<p></p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Intake of cooked meat has a significant effect on serum creatinine concentration and eGFR. Misclassification of CKD is possible if measurements are made after meals containing cooked meat. Clinicians should ensure that CKD classification is based on samples taken in the appropriate conditions: either fasting or after avoidance of cooked meat on the day of sampling. National guidelines which overlook this factor should be revisited

Níveis nutricionais de zinco para frangos de corte machos e fêmeas nas fases de crescimento e terminação Zinc nutritional levels for male and female broilers in the growing and finishing phases

Com o objetivo de determinar a exigência de zinco (Zn) para frangos de corte nas fases de crescimento (22 a 42 dias) e terminação (43 a 54 dias), dois experimentos foram conduzidos utilizando-se, respectivamente, 288 e 192 aves, metade machos e metade fêmeas. Elaboraram-se duas dietas basais atendendo às exigências nutricionais das aves nas fases estudadas, com exceção dos níveis de Zn, que foram mantidos com deficiência (13,00 e 12,00 ppm, respectivamente). Em ambos os experimentos, foram avaliados níveis de suplementação de Zn, provenientes do óxido de Zn comercial, resultando em um total de 13,0; 38,0; 63,0; 88,0; 113,0; e 138,0 ppm de Zn na dieta para fase de crescimento e 12,0; 37,0; 62,0; 87,0; 112,0; e 137,0 ppm de Zn para a fase de terminação. As variáveis avaliadas foram: ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e concentração de Zn no osso, no fígado e no soro. Não houve efeito significativo dos níveis de Zn sobre as características de desempenho. Os níveis desse mineral na dieta influenciaram a concentração de Zn no soro e no osso das aves na fase de crescimento. Observou-se também efeito de sexo e da interação sexo X níveis de Zn na dieta sobre a concentração de Zn no osso. Na fase de terminação, os níveis de Zn da dieta influenciaram as concentrações no fígado, que foram influenciadas pelo sexo, uma vez que os machos apresentaram maior deposição de Zn no osso e no fígado. A exigência de Zn para frangos de corte na fase de crescimento, considerando a concentração de Zn no osso, é de 82,20 ppm para machos e 85,70 ppm para fêmeas. Para a fase de terminação, os níveis de 25 a 30 ppm de Zn, normalmente presentes em dietas à base de milho e farelo de soja, são suficientes para o adequado desenvolvimento das aves.<br>Two experiments, with 288 and 192 birds, half males and half females, respectively, were carried out to determine the zinc (Zn) requirements for broilers in the growing (from 22 to 42 days) and finishing (from 43 to 54 days) phases. Two basal diets were formulated to meet the birds´ nutritional requirements, except for Zn, that was deficient at the levels of 13.0 and 12.0 ppm, respectively. In both experiments it was evaluated Zn supplementation levels, from a commercial Zn oxide, resulting in a total of 13.0, 38.0, 63.0, 88.0, 113.0 and 138.0 ppm Zn in the diet for the growing phase and 12.0, 37.0, 62.0, 87.0, 112.0 and 137.0 ppm Zn in the finishing phase. Weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain ratio and Zn concentration in the bone, liver and serum were the evaluated variables. There was no significant effect of the Zn levels on the performance traits. There was effect of the Zn levels on the Zn concentration in the serum and in the bone in the growth phase. Sex effect and interaction between sex and levels of Zn in the diet were observed on Zn concentration in the bone. In the finishing phase, there was effect of the Zn levels in the diet on the Zn concentration in the liver and there was sex effect with males presented greater Zn deposition in the bone and in the liver. The Zn requirements for broilers in the growth phase, considering the variable Zn in the bone, is 82.20 ppm for the males and 85.70 ppm for the females. In the finishing phase, levels from 25 to 30 ppm, considered normal for corn and soybean meal diets, were sufficient for adequate bird performance