Observations of high-latitude geomagnetic field fluctuations during St. Patrick's Day storm: Swarm and SuperDARN measurements

The aim of this work is to study the properties of the magnetic field's fluctuations produced by ionospheric and magnetospheric electric currents during the St. Patrick's Day geomagnetic storm (17 March 2015). We analyse the scaling features of the external contribution to the horizontal geomagnetic field recorded simultaneously by the three satellites of the Swarm constellation during a period of 13 days (13–25 March 2015). We examine the different latitudinal structure of the geomagnetic field fluctuations and analyse the dynamical changes in the magnetic field scaling features during the development of the geomagnetic storm. Analysis reveals consistent patterns in the scaling properties of magnetic fluctuations and striking changes between the situation before the storm, during the main phase and recovery phase. We discuss these dynamical changes in relation to those of the overall ionospheric polar convection and potential structures as reconstructed using SuperDARN data. Our findings suggest that distinct turbulent regimes characterised the mesoscale magnetic field's fluctuations and that some factors, which are known to influence large-scale fluctuations, have also an influence on mesoscale fluctuations. The obtained results are an example of the capability of geomagnetic field fluctuations data to provide new insights about ionospheric dynamics and ionosphere–magnetosphere coupling. At the same time, these results could open doors for development of new applications where the dynamical changes in the scaling features of the magnetic fluctuations are used as local indicators of magnetospheric conditions

Mantle cell lymphoma: involvement of nodal and extranodal sites in the head and neck, with multifocal oral lesions

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a malignant B-cell neoplasm, which comprises monomorphic and small- to medium-sized mantle zone-derived lymphoid cells. It is characterized by chromosomal translocation t(11;14)(q13;q32) and CCND1 truncation, resulting in cell cycle deregulation. It is an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with a propensity to present with extranodal involvement. This study shows the case of an 80-year-old Caucasian male who complained of a 2-month progressive swelling on the right side of his face. The magnetic resonance imaging exam showed multifocal involvement of the head and neck, including oral manifestations, bilateral parotid glands, palate, tongue, and floor of the mouth. An incisional biopsy of the tumor mass was performed. The morphological and immunophenotypic findings were consistent with the diagnosis of MCL. The patient died 4 months later, without any chance of undergoing a therapeutic approach. Although MCL is a rare condition, it should be subjected to a differential diagnosis when affecting the maxillofacial area. Imaging exams and both immunohistochemical and morphological analyses are needed to reach the correct diagnosis. Here, we present an unusual MCL with multifocal involvement of the head and nec

Idosos e mulheres imigrantes à margem: o caso das badanti na Itália

During the last years a new trade appeared in Italy as an adaptive answer to the problems arising from the ageing process of population: that of “badanti”. This popular term designates the immigrated women working at old persons homes. This social phenomenon concerns four million people, including workers and assisted. These persons are marginalized and discredited. Discredit is implicit in the denomination itself. “Badanti” comes from the verb “badare” that means “to strictly survey”, “to control”: the empathy inscribed in the words “care” or “help” is not present. This contribution will analyze this homemade welfare, that, even if it is allowing to face the lack of public services, is disclosing several contradictions. Newspapers are reporting crimes, abandons, arguments for successions, and even contradictions inside mediation organizations. Trade unions have to manage, for example, wars between poor people: “badanti” and old-age pensioners. Anyways, the most sensible contradiction is at the core of the activity. The trade presents several faces and, besides the identification of the “badante” with the assisted person, we find the humiliation and resentment, which result from the conditions of domestic labour and servitude.Na Itália, há alguns anos, uma nova profissão nasceu como resposta adaptativa ao envelhecimento da população: a das badanti. Esse termo popular designa as mulheres imigrantes trabalhadoras no domicílio de pessoas idosas. Esse fenômeno de sociedade diz respeito a quatro milhões de pessoas, contando os assistidos e as trabalhadoras. Essas pessoas se encontram à margem da sociedade e são desconsideradas. A desqualificação é implícita, inscrita na própria denominação. Badanti vem do verbo “badare”, que significa “vigiar de perto”, “guardar”: a empatia inscrita no termo “care” ou “ajuda” não está presente. Esse welfare feito em casa, que se revelou um recurso diante da carência de serviços públicos, fez explodir as numerosas contradições que constituirão o objeto de nossa análise. A crônica dos jornais diários sobre incidentes fez vir à tona delitos, abandonos e litígios no momento de heranças, e também contradições nos grupos intermediários. O sindicato, por exemplo, é levado a gerir as guerras entre pobres: as badanti e os idosos aposentados. Todavia, a contradição mais saliente se encontra no cerne da atividade. A profissão apresenta várias facetas e, ao lado da identificação da badante com o assistido, encontramos a humilhação e o ressentimento que resultam das condições de exercício da atividade: a “domesticidade” e a “servidão”

Neurofibrosarcoma of the mandible derived from neurofibromatosis

Neurofibrosarcoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the head and neck region and accounts for 8% to 16% of all cases. Its origin is varied and may stem from cells of the peripheral nerves, develop de novo, or result from malignant transformation of preexisting neurofibromas. Because the features of neurofibrosarcomas are heterogeneous, the data retrieved during clinical examinations are of great aid for diagnosis. In this case, owing to clinical features and the fact that the patient had neurofibromatosis type 1, the hypothesis of neurofibrosarcoma was promptly established. The final diagnosis was confirmed by associating clinical, imaging, and pathological data. After the treatment, the patient has been followed up for 10 years, with no evidence of recurrence

Immunology and Biosynthesis of the Mammalian Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex

The mammalian pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, located in the inner membrane-matrix compartment of mitochondria, is a large multi-molecular aggregate, Mr 8.5 x 10e6, containing multiple copies of its three constituent enzymes, pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1), dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2) and lipoamide dehydrogenase (E3). High-titre, monospecific, polyclonal antibodies against the native complex and its individual components are characterised and employed to study the events involved in the biosynthesis and import of the components of this complex into mitochondria. Antisera are examined with respect to their ability to inhibit the overall activity of the complex and of the intrinsic protein kinase. Monospecificity of all antisera is demonstrated when challenged with crude cell extracts and subsequent immunoblotting analysis. The antiserum to native PDC exhibits high reactivity against all components of the complex, except E3, which cannot be explained by a low content of E3 in the purified antigen or by its inaccessibility to the immune system. The significance of the low immunogenicity of E3 is probably related to the conservation of its primary sequence and tertiary structure during evolution. A major observation from this study is that ox heart PDC contains an additional polypeptide, M 51,000+/-1,000 of unknown function. This protein is called component X and constitutes approx. 6% of the total complex. Detailed immunological studies suggest that component X is a normal cellular component, located in the mitochondrial compartment and does not represent a fragment of subunit E2 or the intrinsic protein kinase of the complex. Additional studies on the subcellular localisation of PDC suggest that this enzyme is associated with the inner membrane of rat liver and ox heart mitochondria. These and other studies also indicate that component X is an integral component of the complex and not a membrane protein, which becomes associated with the PDC during its isolation. The individuality of protein X is also demonstrated by comparison of the peptide maps of the 125 I and 14C-labelled subunits E2 and X obtained with several proteases. Protein X seems to be tightly-associated with the E2 core of the complex and is at least partially exposed on the surface of the native assembly, as it is accessible to proteases and to antibodies directed against it. Further studies reveal that, after incubation of the complex in the presence of [2-14C] pyruvate, 14C-label, probably in the form of acetyl groups is incorporated rapidly into both E2 and component X. Phosphorylation of the complex causes a parallel decrease in the acetylation of both proteins, indicating the involvement of the E1 component in the acetylation of these groups. Similarly, the transfer of acetyl groups from E2 and X onto CoA is observed to occur in a parallel fashion from both proteins. Studies on the effects of NEM on the incorporation of 14C-labelled acetyl groups also reveal interesting features of the acetylation reaction, which suggest the existence of secondary NEM-sensitive acetylation sites on the complex. Additional studies on the nature of the 'acetylatable' group in protein X and the physiological acceptor of acetyl groups are required to clarify the function of this component in the acetylation reactions of the complex. Studies on cultured bovine kidney, rat liver and pig kidney cells, 35 incubated with [35S] methionine in the presence of uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, demonstrate the accumulation of larger M precursor polypeptides to the subunits E2, E3, E1 alpha and E1 beta of the complex. Precursor forms for the individual subunits of the PDC are identified by immunoprecipitation techniques using antisera against the native complex and its SDS-denatured subunits followed by fluorographic analysis. These precursors, possessing M values 2,000-8,000 larger than their mature counterparts in the mitochondria, are relatively stable in the cytoplasm of the cells when monolayers are incubated in the presence of uncouplers for several hours. Removal of the uncoupler and subsequent chase shows that these precursors are processed into their mature forms with a similar lag time. Complete processing is observed within 30 min