X-ray and γ\gamma-ray Studies of the Millisecond Pulsar and Possible X-ray Binary/Radio Pulsar Transition Object PSR J1723-2837

We present X-ray observations of the "redback" eclipsing radio millisecond pulsar and candidate radio pulsar/X-ray binary transition object PSR J1723-2837. The X-ray emission from the system is predominantly non-thermal and exhibits pronounced variability as a function of orbital phase, with a factor of ~2 reduction in brightness around superior conjunction. Such temporal behavior appears to be a defining characteristic of this variety of peculiar millisecond pulsar binaries and is likely caused by a partial geometric occultation by the main-sequence-like companion of a shock within the binary. There is no indication of diffuse X-ray emission from a bow shock or pulsar wind nebula associated with the pulsar. We also report on a search for point source emission and $\gamma$-ray pulsations in Fermi Large Area Telescope data using a likelihood analysis and photon probability weighting. Although PSR J1723-2837 is consistent with being a $\gamma$-ray point source, due to the strong Galactic diffuse emission at its position a definitive association cannot be established. No statistically significant pulsations or modulation at the orbital period are detected. For a presumed source detection, the implied $\gamma$-ray luminosity is $\lesssim$5% of its spin-down power. This indicates that PSR J1723-2837 is either one of the least efficient $\gamma$-ray producing millisecond pulsars or, if the detection is spurious, the $\gamma$-ray emission pattern is not directed towards us.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures; accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Graduate competencies and employability: the impact of matching firms’ needs and personal attainments

[Abstract]:Professional competencies are a key factor in gauging how employable a graduate is. This paper demonstrates that individuals who have best developed the competencies which firms feel to be most important are more likely to be in a position to obtain a job. To this end, we have developed an indicator that measures the proximity between the relative levels of both importance and attainments. Results confirm the feeling among experts that the most relevant competencies in the labour market are predominantly of the systemic type, i.e. transferable personal competencies, to the detriment of more instrumental competencies related to capacities and graduate education. This paper clearly points to the fact that universities must change their traditional focus and make a special effort to help their students to develop those competencies that best foster employabilit

Phylogeography of Rift Valley Fever Virus in Africa Reveals Multiple Introductions in Senegal and Mauritania

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) virus (Family Bunyaviridae) is an arthropod-borne RNA virus that infects primarily domestic ruminants and occasionally humans. RVF epizootics are characterized by numerous abortions and mortality among young animals. In humans, the illness is usually characterized by a mild self-limited febrile illness, which could progress to more serious complications. RVF virus is widespread and endemic in many regions of Africa. In Western Africa, several outbreaks have been reported since 1987 when the first major one occurred at the frontier of Senegal and Mauritania. Aiming to evaluate the spreading and molecular epidemiology in these countries, RVFV isolates from 1944 to 2008 obtained from 18 localities in Senegal and Mauritania and 15 other countries were investigated. Our results suggest that a more intense viral activity possibly took place during the last century compared to the recent past and that at least 5 introductions of RVFV took place in Senegal and Mauritania from distant African regions. Moreover, Barkedji in Senegal was possibly a hub associated with the three distinct entries of RVFV in West Africa

Epoetin Alfa Improves Anemia and Anemia-Related, Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Myelotoxic Chemotherapy: Results of a European, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Trial

This study evaluated the effects of epoetin alfa on patient-reported outcomes in patients with breast cancer receiving myelotoxic chemotherapy. Early intervention with epoetin alfa was well tolerated and improved anemia-related patient-reported outcomes

Modularity and evolutionary constraints in a baculovirus gene regulatory network

Abstract\ud \ud \ud \ud Background\ud The structure of regulatory networks remains an open question in our understanding of complex biological systems. Interactions during complete viral life cycles present unique opportunities to understand how host-parasite network take shape and behave. The Anticarsia gemmatalis multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgMNPV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus, whose genome may encode for 152 open reading frames (ORFs). Here we present the analysis of the ordered cascade of the AgMNPV gene expression.\ud \ud \ud \ud Results\ud We observed an earlier onset of the expression than previously reported for other baculoviruses, especially for genes involved in DNA replication. Most ORFs were expressed at higher levels in a more permissive host cell line. Genes with more than one copy in the genome had distinct expression profiles, which could indicate the acquisition of new functionalities. The transcription gene regulatory network (GRN) for 149 ORFs had a modular topology comprising five communities of highly interconnected nodes that separated key genes that are functionally related on different communities, possibly maximizing redundancy and GRN robustness by compartmentalization of important functions. Core conserved functions showed expression synchronicity, distinct GRN features and significantly less genetic diversity, consistent with evolutionary constraints imposed in key elements of biological systems. This reduced genetic diversity also had a positive correlation with the importance of the gene in our estimated GRN, supporting a relationship between phylogenetic data of baculovirus genes and network features inferred from expression data. We also observed that gene arrangement in overlapping transcripts was conserved among related baculoviruses, suggesting a principle of genome organization.\ud \ud \ud \ud Conclusions\ud Albeit with a reduced number of nodes (149), the AgMNPV GRN had a topology and key characteristics similar to those observed in complex cellular organisms, which indicates that modularity may be a general feature of biological gene regulatory networks.JVCO, CTB and AI hold FAPESP scholarships (04/12456-0, 09/16740-8 and 12/04818-5), AFB and CCMF hold CAPES-MSc and PhD scholarships and PMAZ holds a CNPq-PQ scholarship. This work was supported financially by FAPESP (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, process: 2007/55282-0)

CAPACIDADE FUNCIONAL E QUALIDADE DE VIDA DE IDOSAS USUÁRIAS DAS ACADEMIAS DA TERCEIRA IDADE E NÃO PRATICANTES DE EXERCÍCIO FÍSICO

O objetivo desse presente estudo foi de analisar a capacidade funcional e qualidade de vida de mulheres idosas que praticavam exercícios nas Academias da terceira idade (ATI) e idosas não praticantes de nenhum tipo de exercício e analisar a correlação dos parâmetros da capacidade funcional e qualidade de vida desses sujeitos. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com 80 idosas. A amostra foi dividida em grupo não praticante de exercício físico (G1) e usurário da ATI (G2). Foi utilizado um questionário sociodemográfico e de saúde, o WHOQOL-BREF e o WHOQOL-OLD. A capacidade funcional foi avaliada por meio dos testes do Protocolo de Avaliação Funcional do Grupo de Desenvolvimento Latino-Americano para Maturidade (GDLAM). A análise dos dados foi feita por meio dos testes Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Qui-quadrado de Pearson (X2) e correlação de Spearman. Considerou-se um nível de significância de p<0,05. As idosas do G2 apresentaram maior escore na faceta de qualidade de vida de Participação Social (p = 0,004). As idosas do G2 realizaram o teste de Levantar da cadeira e mover-se pela casa em menor tempo (p=0,001), enquanto as idosas do G1 fizeram em menor tempo o teste de vestir e tirar a camiseta (p=0,001). Os melhores escores obtidos no item levantar-se da cadeira e mover-se pela casa, indicam importantes contribuições possíveis das ATI para a dimensão física das condições de saúde dos idosos, além do benefício na socialização verificada a percepção da qualidade de vida dessa população