Strong Carbon Features and a Red Early Color in the Underluminous Type Ia SN 2022xkq

We present optical, infrared, ultraviolet, and radio observations of SN 2022xkq, an underluminous fast-declining type Ia supernova (SN Ia) in NGC 1784 ($\mathrm{D}\approx31$ Mpc), from $<1$ to 180 days after explosion. The high-cadence observations of SN 2022xkq, a photometrically transitional and spectroscopically 91bg-like SN Ia, cover the first days and weeks following explosion which are critical to distinguishing between explosion scenarios. The early light curve of SN 2022xkq has a red early color and exhibits a flux excess which is more prominent in redder bands; this is the first time such a feature has been seen in a transitional/91bg-like SN Ia. We also present 92 optical and 19 near-infrared (NIR) spectra, beginning 0.4 days after explosion in the optical and 2.6 days after explosion in the NIR. SN 2022xkq exhibits a long-lived C I 1.0693 $\mu$m feature which persists until 5 days post-maximum. We also detect C II $\lambda$6580 in the pre-maximum optical spectra. These lines are evidence for unburnt carbon that is difficult to reconcile with the double detonation of a sub-Chandrasekhar mass white dwarf. No existing explosion model can fully explain the photometric and spectroscopic dataset of SN 2022xkq, but the considerable breadth of the observations is ideal for furthering our understanding of the processes which produce faint SNe Ia.Comment: 38 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, the figure 15 input models and synthetic spectra are now available at https://zenodo.org/record/837925

Dialogismo y síntoma en Abel de Alexis Moreno Dialogisim and symptom in Abel from Alexis Moreno

El presente artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el texto dramático Abel de Alexis Moreno, presentado en escena en octubre del año 2007. Nuestra lectura se sostiene en dos conceptos, el de «síntoma» marxiano, desarrollado desde las aseveraciones lacanianas y completadas por Slavoj Zizek, idea que sólo se desarrolla en el entramado dialógico de una sociedad; el segundo concepto, como consecuencia del anterior, es el de «dialogismo» en Bajtín. El análisis indaga en la dimensión política y social de la obra, intentando desentrañar los resortes ideológicos, textuales y semióticos que Moreno desarrolla para construir su propuesta estética y dramática.The current article aims to analyze Abel, a dramatic text written by Alexis Moreno, and first presented on stage in October 2007. Our view is based on two concepts: the Marxian «symptom», generated from Lacanian assertions, and completed by Slavoj Zizek, which is only developed in the dialogic framework of a society; the second concept, which is a consequence of the previous one, is the «dialogism» we find in Bajtin. The analysis investigates the political and social dimension of the play, trying to decipher the ideological, textual and semiotic assumptions that Moreno develops in order to build his own aesthetical and dramatic proposal

A Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Versatile PEGylated Platinum Nanoflowers and Their Application in Radiation Therapy

International audienceNanomedicine has stepped into the spotlight of radiation therapy over the last two decades. Nanoparticles (NPs), especially metallic NPs, can potentiate radiotherapy by specific accumulation into tumors, thus enhancing the efficacy while alleviating the toxicity of radiotherapy. Water radiolysis is a simple, fast and environmentally-friendly method to prepare highly controllable metallic nanoparticles in large scale. In this study, we used this method to prepare biocompatible PEGylated (with Poly(Ethylene Glycol) diamine) platinum nanoflowers (Pt NFs). These nanoagents provide unique surface chemistry, which allows functionalization with various molecules such as fluorescent markers, drugs or radionuclides. The Pt NFs were produced with a controlled aggregation of small Pt subunits through a combination of grafted polymers and radiation-induced polymer cross-linking. Confocal microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy revealed that Pt NFs were localized in the cytoplasm of cervical cancer cells (HeLa) but not in the nucleus. Clonogenic assays revealed that Pt NFs amplify the gamma rays induced killing of HeLa cells with a sensitizing enhancement ratio (SER) of 23%, thus making them promising candidates for future cancer radiation therapy. Furthermore, the efficiency of Pt NFs to induce nanoscopic biomolecular damage by interacting with gamma rays, was evaluated using plasmids as molecular probe. These findings show that the Pt NFs are efficient nano-radio-enhancers. Finally, these NFs could be used to improve not only the performances of radiation therapy treatments but also drug delivery and/or diagnosis when functionalized with various molecules

Randomized trial of total fundoplication and fundal mobilization with or without division of short gastric vessels: a short-term clinical evaluation Estudo prospectivo e randomizado da fundoplicatura total e mobilização do fundo gástrico com ou sem secção dos vasos gástricos curtos: resultados de avaliação clínica em curto prazo

PURPOSE: Evaluate short results after fundoplication procedure, concerning the division of short gastric vessels. METHODS: A prospective randomization of 90 patients with indication for hiatoplasty and total fundoplication with fundus mobilization was performed. They were divided into two groups: no SGV division (group A, n= 46) and with SGV division (Group B, n=44), although in both groups the gastric fundus was mobilized to perform a floppy valve. Early outcome with clinical follow up (1 year) was observed. RESULTS: Both groups were similar regarding preoperative parameters and severity of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). No difference in morbidity was observed during hospital stay. Nevertheless, the median operating time was 80,2 minutes in group A and 94,1 minutes (p=0,021) in Group B. Transitory dysphagia during the first year was significantly lower in group B (46,6% versus 23,2%, p=0,012). However, in 12 months clinical outcome was similar in both groups (clinical symptoms of GERD, persistent dysphagia and reoperations). CONCLUSION: There was no improvement in routine division of SGV in total fundoplication procedure when the gastric fundus was mobilized.<br>OBJETIVO: Comparar os resultados imediatos e curto prazo segundo a secção ou não dos vasos gástricos curtos. MÉTODOS: Estudo prospectivo randomizado com 90 pacientes selecionados em dois grupos: 46 (grupo A) sem secção e 44 (Grupo B) com secção dos vasos gástricos curtos, seguidos de hiatoplastia e fundoplicatura total por laparoscopia. Analisaram-se os resultados até um ano de pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: Os dois grupos eram homogêneos quanto aos critérios demográficos e aos relacionados á doença do refluxo gastroesofágico. Não houve diferença quanto á morbidade ou tempo de internação, porém o tempo cirúrgico foi maior no Grupo B (80,2 minutos contra 94,1 minutos, p=0,021). Disfagia transitória foi mais freqüente no Grupo A (46,6% versus 23,2%,p=0,012), porém na avaliação final de primeiro ano do pós-operatório não existindo diferença quanto á disfagia persistente, reoperação ou recidiva. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve melhora quando da secção rotineira para a mobilização do fundo gástrico para a realização da fundoplicatura total por laparoscopia