Dynamical reentrance and geometry imposed quantization effects in Nb-AlOx-Nb Josephson junction arrays

In this paper, we report on different phenomena related to the magnetic properties of artificially prepared highly ordered (periodic) two-dimensional Josephson junction arrays (2D-JJA) of both shunted and unshunted Nb-AlOx-Nb tunnel junctions. By employing mutual-inductance measurements and using a high-sensitive bridge, we have thoroughly investigated (both experimentally and theoretically) the temperature and magnetic field dependence of complex AC susceptibility of 2D-JJA. We also demonstrate the use of the scanning SQUID microscope for imaging the local flux distribution within our unshunted arrays

Serum cortisol level and depression severity in a sample of Brazilian elders

Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (Capes)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (Fapesp)Capes FoundationMinistry of Education of Brazil, BrasiliaFapesp AgencyCapes Agency"National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development" (CNPq - Researcher Level 1C)Univ Sao Paulo, Med Sch FMUSP, Old Age Res Grp Proter, Inst Psychiat, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Med Sch FMUSP, Old Age Res Grp Proter, Dept Psychiat, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Melbourne, Dept Psychiat, Austin Hlth, Heidelberg, Vic, AustraliaFed Univ Sao Paulo Unifesp, Dept Prevent Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFed Univ Sao Paulo Unifesp, Dept Prevent Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 04/09586-9FAPESP: 2014/05467-7FAPESP: 2014/05467-7CAPES: BEX 0893/14-5Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasilia: DF 70040-20Web of Scienc

Safety analysis of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with heart failure in Vitória, Espírito Santo

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan has proven its efficacy to reduce cardiovascular mortality, all-cause mortality and sudden death in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Thus, it becomes important to evaluate the safety profile of the medication in clinical practice. Objectives: This study aimed to assess safety outcomes on the use of sacubitril/valsartan in patients with HFrEF attended in a Brazilian specialized service. Methods: Prospective observational study that included patients with HFrEF from a specialized ambulatory service, in functional class II-IV, initiated on sacubitril/valsartan as per clinical indication, with a four-month follow-up. Primary outcomes were the occurrence of symptomatic arterial hypotension, hyperkalemia and reduction of renal function. Serum potassium values, blood pressure and creatinine clearance were analyzed at inclusion and at the end of follow-up. A 5% significance level was considered for comparisons. Results: Twenty-six patients were analyzed, 57.7% male, mean age 57.8 ± 10 years, average left ventricle ejection fraction 29.9 ± 7.7%. Symptomatic hypotension occurred in 53.8%, hyperkalemia in 19.2% and reduction of renal function in 6.7%. There was significant difference from initial to final systolic (122 ± 24mmHg versus 109 ± 15mmHg; p=0.024) and diastolic (76 ± 18mmHg versus 66 ± 12mmHg; p=0.022) blood pressure, but no difference in serum potassium (4.8 ± 0.4mEq/L versus 5.0 ± 0.3mEq/L; p=0.07) and creatinine clearance (65 ± 23mL/min/1.73m² versus 66 ± 29mL/min/1.73m²; p=0.89). Conclusions: Symptomatic hypotension was the most frequent side-effect of sacubitril/valsartan. Reduction of blood pressure was observed at the end of follow-up, but no reduction of renal function or significant increase of serum potassium

Specific heat and magnetic measurements in Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3 samples

We studied the magnetization as a function of temperature and magnetic field in the compounds Nd0.5Sr0.5MnO3, Nd0.5Ca0.5MnO3 and Ho0.5Ca0.5MnO3. It allowed us to identify the ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic and charge ordering phases in each case. The intrinsic magnetic moments of Nd3+ and Ho3+ ions experienced a short range order at low temperatures. We also did specific heat measurements with applied magnetic fields between 0 and 9 T and temperatures between 2 and 300 K in all three samples. Close to the charge ordering and ferromagnetic transition temperatures the specific heat curves showed peaks superposed to the characteristic response of the lattice oscillations. Below 10 K the specific heat measurements evidenced a Schottky-like anomaly for all samples. However, we could not successfully fit the curves to either a two level nor a distribution of two-level Schottky anomaly. Our results indicated that the peak temperature of the Schottky anomaly was higher in the compounds with narrower conduction band.Comment: submitted to PR

Genetic comparison of sickle cell anaemia cohorts from Brazil and the United States reveals high levels of divergence

Genetic analysis of admixed populations raises special concerns with regard to study design and data processing, particularly to avoid population stratification biases. The point mutation responsible for sickle cell anaemia codes for a variant hemoglobin, sickle hemoglobin or HbS, whose presence drives the pathophysiology of disease. Here we propose to explore ancestry and population structure in a genome-wide study with particular emphasis on chromosome 11 in two SCA admixed cohorts obtained from urban populations of Brazil (Pernambuco and Sao Paulo) and the United States (Pennsylvania). Ancestry inference showed different proportions of European, African and American backgrounds in the composition of our samples. Brazilians were more admixed, had a lower African background (43% vs. 78% on the genomic level and 44% vs. 76% on chromosome 11) and presented a signature of positive selection and Iberian introgression in the HbS region, driving a high differentiation of this locus between the two cohorts. The genetic structures of the SCA cohorts from Brazil and US differ considerably on the genome-wide, chromosome 11 and HbS mutation locus levels9CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICO - CNPQCOORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL DE NÍVEL SUPERIOR - CAPESFUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO - FAPESP8367/2011-1; 150398/2013-1; 304455/2012-1; 310938/2014-7; 305218/2017-48367/2011-1; 150398/2013-1; 304455/2012-1; 310938/2014-7; 305218/2017-42008/57441-0; 2014/00984-3; 2012/06438-5; 2015/13152-9; 2008/10596-

Structure and peroxidase activity of ferric Streptomyces clavuligerus orf10-encoded protein P450CLA: UV-visible, CD, MCD and EPR spectroscopic characterization

The present study reports the spectroscopic characterization by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) of the recombinant orf10-encoded P450-camphor like protein (P450CLA)of Streptomyces clavuligerus expressed in Escherichia coli Rosetta in the native form and associated to external ligands containing the β-lactam, oxazole and alkylamine-derived (alcohol) moieties of the clavulamic acid. Considering the diversity of potential applications for the enzyme, the reactivity with tert-butylhydroperoxide (tert-BuOOH) was also characterized. P450CLA presents a covalently bound heme group and exhibited the UV-visible, CD and MCD spectral features of P450CAM including the fingerprint Soret band at 450 nm generated by the ferrous CO-complex. P450CLA was converted to high valence species by tert-BuOOH and promoted homolytic scission of the O-O bond. The radical profile of the reaction was tert-butyloxyl as primary and methyl and butylperoxyl as secondary radicals. The secondary methyl and butylperoxyl radicals resulted respectively from the β-scission of the alkoxyl radical and from the reaction of methyl radical with molecular oxygen