Galaxy cluster mergers as triggers for the formation of jellyfish galaxies: case study of the A901/2 system

The A901/2 system is a rare case of galaxy cluster interaction, in which two galaxy clusters and two smaller groups are seen in route of collision with each other simultaneously. Within each of the four substructures, several galaxies with features indicative of jellyfish morphologies have been observed. In this paper, we propose a hydrodynamic model for the merger as a whole, compatible with its diffuse X-ray emission, and correlate the gas properties in this model with the locations of the jellyfish galaxy candidates in the real system. We find that jellyfish galaxies seem to be preferentially located near a boundary inside each subcluster where diffuse gas moving along with the subcluster and diffuse gas from the remainder of the system meet. The velocity change in those boundaries is such that a factor of up to $\sim$1000 increase in the ram pressure takes place within a few hundred kpc, which could trigger the high rate of gas loss necessary for a jellyfish morphology to emerge. A theoretical treatment of ram pressure stripping in the environment of galaxy cluster mergers has not been presented in the literature so far; we propose that this could be a common scenario for the formation of jellyfish morphologies in such systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 10 pages, 9 figure

Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 regulates proliferation and biosynthetic processes in procyclic forms of Trypanosoma brucei

The pathogenic protozoan T. brucei alternates into distinct developmental stages in the mammalian and insect hosts. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways transduce extracellular stimuli into a range of cellular responses, which ultimately lead to the adaptation to the external environment. Here, we combined a loss of function approach with stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture (SILAC)-based mass spectrometry (MS) to investigate the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 5 (MKK5) in T. brucei. The silencing of MKK5 significantly decreased the proliferation of procyclic forms of T. brucei. To shed light on the molecular alterations associated with this phenotype, we measured the total proteome and phosphoproteome of cells silenced for MKK5. In the total proteome, we observed a general decrease in proteins related to ribosome and translation as well as down-regulation of several components of the fatty acids biosynthesis pathway. In addition, we observed alterations in the protein levels and phosphorylation of key metabolic enzymes, which point toward a suppression of the oxidative metabolism. Taken together, our findings show that the silencing of MKK5 alters cell growth, energy metabolism, protein and fatty acids biosynthesis in procyclic T. brucei

Climate change and impact on renewable energies in the Azores strategic visions for sustainability

The energy sector is the largest contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, but could also be seriously affected by climate change, calling into question society’s current consumption patterns. In this communication, climate projections based on a set of numerical models of global circulation are used to simulate the climate until the end of the century and keep in mind the alternative scenarios of pollutant emissions. Apart from solar energy, the results for the Azores region show a negative impact on the production and consumption of renewable energies. In the regional context, this issue assumes special relevance, given the geographical constraints, such as territorial discontinuity and insularity. Based on these assumptions, measures and recommendations are pointed out for the sectors that most penalize greenhouse gas emissions, considering the energy sustainability in the Azores and the commitments and goals assumed under international agreements.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Adicionando a entrevista motivacional e o mapeamento cognitivo à terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo: resultados de um ensaio clínico randomizado

OBJECTIVE: Recent factor-analytic studies of obsessive-compulsive disorder identified consistent symptom dimensions. This study was designed in order to observe which obsessive compulsive symptom dimensions could be changed by adding two individual sessions of motivational interviewing and thought mapping of cognitive-behavioral group therapy using a randomized clinical trial. METHOD: Forty outpatients with a primary diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder were randomly assigned to receive cognitive-behavioral group therapy (control group) or motivational interviewing+thought mapping plus cognitive-behavioral group therapy. To evaluate changes in symptomdimensions, the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale was administered at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS: At post-treatment, there were statistically significant differences between cognitive-behavioral group therapy and motivational interviewing+thought mapping+cognitivebehavioral group therapy groups in the mean total Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale score, and in the contamination and aggression dimension score. Hoarding showed a statistical trend towards improvement. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that adding motivational interviewing+thought mapping to cognitive-behavioral group therapy can facilitate changes and bring about a decrease in the scores in different obsessive-compulsive disorder symptom dimensions, as measured by the Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale. Nonetheless, additional trials are needed to confirm these results.OBJETIVO: Recentes estudos utilizando análise fatorial no transtorno obsessivocompulsivo identificaram dimensões consistentes dos sintomas. Este estudo foi delineado para observar quais dimensões dos sintomas obsessivo-compulsivos podem ser modificadas adicionando duas sessões individuais de entrevista motivacional e mapeamento cognitivo à terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo usando um ensaio clínico randomizado. MÉTODO: Quarenta pacientes ambulatoriais com diagnóstico primário de transtorno obsessivo-compulsivo foram alocados aleatoriamente para receber terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo (grupo controle) ou entrevista motivacional+mapeamento cognitivo+terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo. Para avaliar mudanças nas dimensões dos sintomas, foi administrada a Escala Dimensional para Sintomas Obsessivo-Compulsivos de Yale-Brown antes do início e após o tratamento. RESULTADOS: Ao final do tratamento houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre a terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo e entrevista motivacional+mapeamento cognitivo+terapia cognitivocomportamental em grupo na média do escore total da Escala Dimensional para Sintomas Obsessivo-Compulsivos de Yale-Brown e no escore da dimensão de contaminação e agressão. Colecionismo apresentou melhora com tendência estatística. CONCLUSÃO: Esses achados sugerem que acrescentar entrevista motivacional+mapeamento cognitivo à terapia cognitivo-comportamental em grupo pode facilitar mudanças na redução dos escores nas diferentes dimensões dos sintomas, como indicado pela Escala Dimensional para Sintomas Obsessivo-Compulsivos de Yale-Brown. No entanto, são necessários estudos adicionais para confirmar estes resultados.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPQ)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Effect of an extract of Centella asiatica on the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate (Na^99mTcO₄) and on the fixation of radioactivity on blood constituents

This study evaluates the effects of an acute treatment with a Centella asiatica (CA) extract on the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical Na99mTcO4 and on the fixation of technetium-99m on blood constituents. Wistar rats were treated with CA extract and, 1 hour after, Na99mTcO4 was administered; organs/tissues were withdrawn and weighted. The radioactivity was counted to calculate the percentage of activity per gram (%ATI/g). Also, blood samples were withdrawn, plasma (P), blood cells (BC), insoluble fraction (IF) and soluble fractions of P and BC were isolated and the radioactivity was counted to calculate the percentage of activity (%ATI). Data indicated that the acute treatment with CA extract changed significantly (p99mTcO4 and the fixation of the technetium-99m on blood constituents in an acute treatment

On metaheuristics for solving the parameter estimation problem in dynamic systems: A comparative study

This paper presents an experimental study that aims to compare the practical performance of well-known metaheuristics for solving the parameter estimation problem in a dynamic systems context. The metaheuristics produce good quality approximations to the global solution of a finite small-dimensional nonlinear programming problem that emerges from the application of the sequential numerical direct method to the parameter estimation problem. Using statistical hypotheses testing, significant differences in the performance of the metaheuristics, in terms of the average objective function values and average CPU time, are determined. Furthermore, the best obtained solutions are graphically compared in relative terms by means of the performance profiles. The numerical comparisons with other results in the literature show that the tested metaheuristics are effective in achieving good quality solutions with a reduced computational effort.The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of CIDEM, R&D Unit, funded by the Portuguese Foundation for the Development of Science and Technology (FCT), Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, under the Project UID/EMS/0615/2016, and of COMPETE: POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007043 and FCT within the Projects UID/CEC/00319/2013 and UID/MAT/00013/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Therapeutic phlebotomy

A sangria terapêutica é método paliativo de controle de sintomas, simples e antigo, que se mostra eficaz também a longo prazo, melhorando a expectativa e a qualidade de vida. Suas indicações ampliaram-se atualmente e pode ser combinada com outras modalidades terapêuticas. Pode ser utilizada no controle da hiperviscosidade sangüínea nas eritrocitoses, e para a remoção de produto metabólico ou de depósito, tóxicos ao organismo. No Hemocentro, em Ribeirão Preto, as retiradas por eritrocitose representam a grande maioria, sendo 42% póstransplante renal, 30% por doenças cardíacas e pulmonares e 15% por Policitemia Vera. As retiradas por produtos metabólicos e/ou tóxicos acumulados foram 9% na hemocromatose e 4% nas porfirias. Não foram notados efeitos colaterais e os valores alvo do hematócrito foram considerados adequados nas eritrocitoses. As retiradas periódicas levaram a bom controle sintomático dos pacientes. São feitas sugestões de estratégias de condutas, consideradas adequadas.Therapeutic phlebotomy is an old and simple way to relieve sintoms but can raize life spectancy and bring better quality of life. It is incrisingly indicated nowadays, alone or in combination with others therapeutic tools. It can be used to control high blood viscosity in polycythemias or washout of toxic metabolic products or iron in parenquimal cells. At Hemocentro, in Ribeirão Preto, polycythemias were the most common indication for bloodletting, 42% after kidney transplants, 30% by lung and heart diseases, and 15% by polycythemia vera. Toxic metabolic products motivated bloodletting in 9% by iron overload and 4% by porphyria. No adverse efects were noted, target hematocrits were considered adequate in polycythemias and periodic bloodletting exerced an effective control of symptoms. Sugestions were made for better medical practices

Are language production problems apparent in adults who no longer meet diagnostic criteria for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder?

In this study, we examined sentence production in a sample of adults (N = 21) who had had attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as children, but as adults no longer met DSM-IV diagnostic criteria (APA, 2000). This “remitted” group was assessed on a sentence production task. On each trial, participants saw two objects and a verb. Their task was to construct a sentence using the objects as arguments of the verb. Results showed more ungrammatical and disfluent utterances with one particular type of verb (i.e., participle). In a second set of analyses, we compared the remitted group to both control participants and a “persistent” group, who had ADHD as children and as adults. Results showed that remitters were more likely to produce ungrammatical utterances and to make repair disfluencies compared to controls, and they patterned more similarly to ADHD participants. Conclusions focus on language output in remitted ADHD, and the role of executive functions in language production