Pathogenetical significance of porencephalic lesions associated with intracerebral inoculation of sheep with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) agent

Decreased rates of transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) to sheep have been attributed to some polymorphisms of the prion protein (PrP) and to a ‘species barrier’ on interspecies experiments. In addition, the blood–brain barrier may be a further impediment to TSE neuroinvasion. The intracerebral (I/C) route is generally considered the most efficient for TSE transmission, as it may help to bypass those factors. Therefore, susceptibility of particular species to specific TSE agents is conducted by this route. Aims: This study characterizes the traumatic brain lesions associated with the I/C injection of the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent in sheep, assesses the relevance of such lesions in the outcome of clinical disease and provides insight into the mechanisms of PrPd conversion and amplification following I/C challenge. Methods: A total of 27 hemibrains have been macroscopically and immunohistochemically examined to investigate the presence of lesions compatible with the needle track and the PrPd distribution, respectively. Results: No residual inoculum was found and the extension and severity of the traumatic brain lesions were unrelated to the clinical outcome. Sheep with PrPd accumulation in the brain also showed conspicuous focal aggregates in the porencephalic lesions and in the circumventricular organs. In contrast, sheep without PrPd deposits in the brain were also negative in the traumatic lesions. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that the efficiency of the I/C route is due to effective absorption and blood recirculation of infection, rather than to primary amplification at the site of injection

Las enfermedades populares en la cultura española actual

Cabe suponer que cuando se goza de acceso universal a la sanidad, como sucede en la España contemporánea, la creencia en enfermedades populares termina desapareciendo. Sin embargo, una investigación de campo, desarrollada en el Suroeste de Andalucía en la primavera de 2004, indica que aún resta en la generalidad de la población un considerable conocimiento de un cierto número de enfermedades populares, y en concreto de la denominada «Mal de ojo». A partir de los datos obtenidos mediante un grupo de discusión con mujeres que curan estas enfermedades, la realización de una serie de entrevistas a personas o bien muy familiarizadas con el Mal de ojo, o bien profanas en esta enfermedad pero que creen en ella, y finalmente una revisión de materiales de archivo. Este artículo describe un modelo actual explicativo del Mal de ojo y propone algunas hipótesis sobre la pervivencia de la creencia en esta y otras enfermedades populares.It might be assumed that in a situation of universal access to biomedical health care, as is the case in contemporary Spain, folk illness beliefs would have vanished. Field research conducted in the spring of 2004 in Andalusia showed considerable knowledge in the general population about a number of folk illnesses, including mal de ojo (evil eye). Based on a focus group conducted with traditional healers, as well as in-depth interviews with specialists in mal de ojo, in-depth interviews with lay people who believe in this illness, and review of archival materials, this paper describes the contemporary explanatory model of mal de ojo and offers some hypotheses as to why beliefs in this illness, and other folk illnesses, persist

Dietary Intake of Metals from Fresh Cage-Reared Hens’ Eggs in Tenerife, Canary Islands

The concentrations of 20 metals (Na, K, Ca, Mg, V, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Mo, Co, B, Ba, Sr, Ni, Si, Al, Pb, and Cd) in cage-reared hens’ eggs have been determined in this study using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). There were significant differences in the metal content depending on the edible part of the egg, with the yolk having the greater concentrations of metals. The daily consumption of eggs (24.3 g/person/day for children and 31.2 g/person/day for adults) contributes to the intake of trace metals, notably Fe (3.8% children, 3.2% women, and 6.5% men) and Zn (4.5% children, 6.6% women, and 4.9% men). In addition, the consumption of eggs does not imply a high contribution of toxic metals

Teor de metais pesados nas lamas de tratamento de águas residuais: estratégia de gestão para uma ilha oceânica

In recent years, the generation of sewage sludge has increased worldwide. Correct processing and management of this waste concerns all countries. This work presents a study of metal contents, i.e. of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni, in sewage sludge from a wastewater treatment plant in the northeastern region of the island of Tenerife. The study aimed at examining the sludge for potential suitability as a farmland fertilizer. Detected metal levels for Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni were extremely low (26.44, 544.01, 24.10, 37.05, and 8.04 mg/kg dw [dry weight], respectively). Cadmium levels were under quanti cation limit. Season-dependent, statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in metal concentrations in sewage sludge were observed for Cu, Ni, Cr, and Pb. Consequently, the application of sewage sludge to fertilize nutrient-deficient agricultural soils and soils degraded by human activity represents a fast and straightforward solution to the lack of such resources, particularly in an oceanic island.Durante los últimos años, la generación de lodos de depuradora ha aumentado en todo el mundo. El tratamiento y la gestión correctos de estos residuos son una cuestión que afecta a todos los países. Este trabajo presenta un estudio del contenido de metales, i.e. Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu y Ni, de los lodos de depuradora de una planta de tratamiento de aguas residuales situada en la zona noreste de la isla de Tenerife. El estudio tuvo por objeto estudiar los lodos para ver su posible idoneidad como fertilizante agrícola. Los niveles de metal detectados para Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu y Ni fueron extremadamente bajos (26,44, 544,01, 24,10, 37,05 y 8,04 mg/kg [peso seco], respectivamente). Los niveles de cadmio quedaron por debajo del límite de determinación. Se observaron diferencias dependientes de las estaciones que son estadísticamente significativas (p < 0,05) en las concentraciones de Cu, Ni, Cr y Pb. Por consiguiente, el uso de lodos de depuradora para fertilizar suelos agrícolas que son pobres en nutrientes o que han sido degradados por la actividad humana es una solución rápida y sencilla a la escasez de tales recursos, particularmente en islas oceánicas.Nos últimos anos, a produção de lamas de águas residuais aumentou em todo o mundo. O tratamento e a gestão corretos deste resíduo são uma preocupação de todos os países. Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre os teores de metais, ou seja, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu e Ni, em lamas duma estação de tratamento de águas residuais no nordeste da ilha de Tenerife. O estudo teve como objetivo analisar as lamas quanto à sua potencial adequação como fertilizante de terras agrícolas. Os níveis de metais detetados para Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu e Ni foram extremamente baixos (26,44, 544,01, 24,10, 37,05 e 8,04 mg/kg dw [peso seco], respetivamente). Os níveis de cádmio estavam abaixo do limite de quantificação. Foram observadas diferenças, estatisticamente significativas (p < 0,05), dependentes da estação do ano nas concentrações de Cu, Ni, Cr e Pb. Consequentemente, a aplicação de lamas para fertilizar agriculturas, solos deficientes em nutrientes e solos degradados pela atividade humana representa uma solução rápida e direta para a insuficiência de tais recursos, particularmente numa ilha oceânica

Dynamics of Dark-Bright Solitons in Cigar-Shaped Bose-Einstein Condensates

We explore the stability and dynamics of dark-bright solitons in two-component elongated Bose-Einstein condensates by developing effective 1D vector equations as well as solving the corresponding 3D Gross-Pitaevskii equations. A strong dependence of the oscillation frequency and of the stability of the dark-bright (DB) soliton on the atom number of its components is found. Spontaneous symmetry breaking leads to oscillatory dynamics in the transverse degrees of freedom for a large occupation of the component supporting the dark soliton. Moreover, the interactions of two DB solitons are investigated with special emphasis on the importance of their relative phases. Experimental results showcasing dark-bright soliton dynamics and collisions in a BEC consisting of two hyperfine states of $^{87}$Rb confined in an elongated optical dipole trap are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure

Performance Comparison of Marine Renewable Energy Converter Mooring Lines Subjected to Real Sea and Accelerated Loads

Accepted© EWTEC 2015One immediate challenge for the commercial development of floating Marine Renewable Energy Converters is reducing the weight and associated costs of mooring lines in deep water (>75m). Synthetic fibre ropes offer already a solution to the weight problems of using steel lines in deep-water offshore oil and gas installations as they have a very low weight in water. The present study focuses on the performance of fibre ropes in shallow waters, subjected to laboratory tests based on loads measured at sea in addition to (time) accelerated tests. Determining fatigue life is one of the most important aspects of long-term mooring analysis. At present, the fatigue analyses are usually based on S-N or T-N curves that are obtained with regular loads even when these loads are completely different to the ones measured at sea by a wave energy converter. The differences between the standard fatigue test and the real life of a mooring system are mainly the rate in which the loads are applied and the profile of the loads. Here, these two elements are analysed to get the fatigue damage, obtaining important differences in this measure

Collisional-inhomogeneity-induced generation of matter-wave dark solitons

We propose an experimentally relevant protocol for the controlled generation of matter-wave dark solitons in atomic Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs). In particular, using direct numerical simulations, we show that by switching-on a spatially inhomogeneous (step-like) change of the s-wave scattering length, it is possible to generate a controllable number of dark solitons in a quasi-one-dimensional BEC. A similar phenomenology is also found in the two-dimensional setting of "disk-shaped" BECs but, as the solitons are subject to the snaking instability, they decay into vortex structures. A detailed investigation of how the parameters involved affect the emergence and evolution of solitons and vortices is provided.Comment: 8 pages, 5 Figures, Physics Letters A (in press

Differences in macroelements, trace elements and toxic metals between wild and captive-reared greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) from the Mediterranean Sea

Despite its legislative regulation and control, the quality and safety of aquatic products is somewhat questioned due to the potential bioaccumulation of pollutants. The elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) were determined in the liver and muscle of wild and captive-reared Seriola dumerili with the aim of studying possible differences between origins, and sex-related variations. Additionally, the dietary intake of these elements derived from its consumption was also evaluated. Most of the elements and metals analyzed were accumulated to a higher extent in the liver of wild specimens whereas lower differences were observed in the muscle. Overall, the elements and metal composition of wild females strongly differed from that of captive-reared specimens probably related to the mobilization of nutrients for the spawning season in wild mature females, which were greater than their captive-reared counterparts

Pairing symmetry of superconducting graphene

The possibility of intrinsic superconductivity in alkali-coated graphene monolayers has been recently suggested theoretically. Here, we derive the possible pairing symmetries of a carbon honeycomb lattice and discuss their phase diagram. We also evaluate the superconducting local density of states (LDOS) around an isolated impurity. This is directly related to scanning tunneling microscopy experiments, and may evidence the occurrence of unconventional superconductivity in graphene.Comment: Eur. Phys. J. B, to appea

Policosanol Contents and Composition of Grain Sorghum Kernels and Dried Distillers Grains

Grain sorghum can be a major source of policosanols, long-chained alcohols, that have beneficial physiological activities. Sorghum dried distillers grains (DDG), a by-product of ethanol production from grain sorghum. contain a large amount of policosanols. Content and composition of policosanols in long-chained lipids extracted from grain sorghum kernels and DDG were determined. Long-chained lipids were extracted using hot hexane or hot ethanol. The major components of the long-chained lipids extracted from grain sorghum kernels. as determined using HPLC were policosanols (37-44%), aldehydes (44-55%), and acids (4-5%). Long-chained lipids from DDG contained 52% policosanols, 23% aldehydes. 6.4% acids. and l7% wax esters/steryl esters. Composition of policosanols in DDG matched the composition in grain sorghum kernels, as determined by gas chromatography. even though the content of policosanols in DDG was greater than the content in grain sorghum kernels. Policosonal composition ranges were 0-1% C22:0, 0-3% C24:0. 6-8% C26:0, l% C27:0. 43-47% C28:0. 1-2% C29:0. 40-43% C30:0. and 1-4% C32:0