327 research outputs found
Nickel phytoextraction by a native population of Alyssum serpyllifolium subsp. lusitanicum on ultramafic soils (Portugal): prospects for phytomining
RESUMO: Este estudo teve os seguintes objetivos: (1) investigar a relação
entre as concentrações de níquel (Ni) nos solos e na planta Alyssum
serpyllifolium ssp. lusitanicum em regiões ultramáficas de Portugal; (2)
avaliar o potencial da espécie como bio-minério, para fitomineração de Ni.
Esta espécie é endémica dos solos serpentiníticos dos maciços de Bragança
e Morais, sendo hiperacumuladora de Ni. Em condições de campo, os
resultados mostram que, considerando as partes aéreas da planta, a biomassa
varia entre 4,08 e 9,37 t ha–1, contendo entre 0,25% e 1,23% de Ni, permitindo
uma extração entre 12,2 e 98,1 kg de Ni por hectare por cultura. A quantidade
de Ni extraído pela planta é semelhante em ambas as regiões ultramáficas,
correspondendo ao valor médio de 580 USD por hectare (preços de janeiro
2018). Os resultados indicam que alguns terrenos destas áreas ultramáficas
são potenciais produtores de Ni a partir desta espécie endémica.ABSTRACT: The present study had the following objectives: (1) to investigate
the relationship between nickel (Ni) concentration in the soil and the
concentration in the plant (Alyssum serpyllifolium ssp. lusitanicum) in ultra mafic areas of Portugal; and (2) to assess the potential of this species for
Ni phytomining as bio-ore. This species is endemic to serpentine soils of
the Bragança and Morais massifs and is a Ni hyperaccumulator that can
accumulate more than 12000 mg kg–1 (dry weight). Under natural condi tions, the results show that considering only the aerial parts of the plant,
the biomass varies between 4.08-9.37 t ha–1, containing a range of
0.25-1.23% Ni, allowing a withdrawal of between 12.2-98.1 kg Ni ha–1 per
crop under natural conditions. The amount of Ni extracted by the plant is
similar in both ultramafic areas, having a mean value of approximately $US
580 per ha considering the January 2018 Ni prices. The results of this study
indicate that some of the land in these ultramafic areas are potential
producers of Ni from this endemic species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Pacientes hipertensos muestran una mayor respuesta de la frecuencia cardíaca durante el ejercicio progre-sivo en relación con pares adultos normotensos: Proyecto Vascu-Health
Existe información limitada respecto a la respuesta de la frecuencia cardiaca (FC) a partir de fórmulas predictivas y prueba
de ejercicio real entre adultos con hipertensión arterial (HTA) y normotensos, así como sobre las similitudes o diferencias vasculares
entre muestras de diferente control de la presión arterial. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir y comparar la frecuencia cardiaca
durante el ejercicio entre adultos con HTN y normotensos, así como describir parámetros de función endotelial y vasculares. Se realizó
un estudio clínico descriptivo con 64 adultos (hombres y mujeres) que fueron divididos en tres grupos: hipertensión arterial (HTN
n=26), presión arterial elevada (Ele n=16), o normotensos control (CG n=22). Los participantes se sometieron a una prueba de
ejercicio, en la que se midió la FC (variable principal) y parámetros vasculares secundarios (clasificación percentil de la velocidad de la
onda del pulso (%ILEPWVba), grosor máximo de la íntima-media carotídea (cIMTmax) y edad arterial entre otras. En la etapa 2 del test
(50-100 vatios), el grupo HTN mostró una FC significativamente mayor vs. el grupo GC (+14 latidos/min), y vs. el grupo Ele (+15
latidos/min), ambos p<0,05; y en la etapa 5 (125-250 vatios) vs. el grupo GC (+22 latidos/min; p<0,05). El grupo HTN mostró una
clasificación mayor de rigidez arterial %ILEPWVba, y de edad arterial que el grupo NT. En conclusión, los sujetos con HTA presentan
una mayor respuesta de la FC durante el ejercicio que los normotensos. Sin embargo, todos los grupos mostraron una mayor HRpredicted
en relación con la HRpeak real. Estos resultados se muestran con una clasificación en percentiles superiores de rigidez arterial y una
mayor estimación de la edad arterial con relación a adultos normotensos.There is limited information regarding heart rate (HR) response from predictive formulae and actual exercise tests between arterial hypertension (HTN) and normotensive adults, as well as about vascular similarities or differences between samples of different blood pressure control. This study aimed 1) to describe and compare the HR during exercise between HTN and normotensive adults and 2) to describe the endothelial function and related vascular parameters in both groups. A descriptive clinical study was conducted with 64 adults (men and women) who were divided into three groups: arterial hypertension (HTN n=26), elevated blood pressure (Ele n=16), or normotensive control (CG n=22). The participants underwent a incremental cycling exercise test of 5 stages, where HR (primary outcome) was measured, and secondary vascular outcomes (percentile classification of the pulse wave velocity (%ILEPWVba), maximum carotid intima-media thickness (cIMTmax), and arterial age among others were measured. In stage 2 of the test (50-100 watts), the HTN group showed significantly higher HR vs. CG (+14 beats/min; p<0.05) and vs. Ele group (+15 beats/min; p<0.05), and in stage 5 (125-250 watts), HTN group showed vs. CG (+22 beats/min; p<0.05). HTN group showed a higher arterial stiffness by %ILEPWVba classification and arterial age estimation than the CG group. In conclusion, HTN patients reported a higher HR response only in two out of five stages of the Astrand cycling exercise test than normotensive peers. Moreover, all groups showed a higher HRpredicted than real HRpeak obtained from the exercise test. These results are displayed with more altered vascular parameters in the HTN group.This research was funded by Direccion General de In-vestigación, Vicerrectoria de Investigación y Doctorado, Concurso de Ciencias Biomédicas y Clínicas, Universidad Andres Bello 2022 Código N° DI-01-CBC/22”. Also, the main author (C.A.) was funded by the Exercise and Reha-bilitation Sciences Institute, School of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, 7591538, Chile
Ibrutinib Unmasks Critical Role of Bruton Tyrosine Kinase in Primary CNS Lymphoma.
Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) links the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR) and Toll-like receptors with NF-κB. The role of BTK in primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma (PCNSL) is unknown. We performed a phase I clinical trial with ibrutinib, the first-in-class BTK inhibitor, for patients with relapsed or refractory CNS lymphoma. Clinical responses to ibrutinib occurred in 10 of 13 (77%) patients with PCNSL, including five complete responses. The only PCNSL with complete ibrutinib resistance harbored a mutation within the coiled-coil domain of CARD11, a known ibrutinib resistance mechanism. Incomplete tumor responses were associated with mutations in the B-cell antigen receptor-associated protein CD79B
The BLue Amazon Brain (BLAB): A Modular Architecture of Services about the Brazilian Maritime Territory
We describe the first steps in the development of an artificial agent focused
on the Brazilian maritime territory, a large region within the South Atlantic
also known as the Blue Amazon. The "BLue Amazon Brain" (BLAB) integrates a
number of services aimed at disseminating information about this region and its
importance, functioning as a tool for environmental awareness. The main service
provided by BLAB is a conversational facility that deals with complex questions
about the Blue Amazon, called BLAB-Chat; its central component is a controller
that manages several task-oriented natural language processing modules (e.g.,
question answering and summarizer systems). These modules have access to an
internal data lake as well as to third-party databases. A news reporter
(BLAB-Reporter) and a purposely-developed wiki (BLAB-Wiki) are also part of the
BLAB service architecture. In this paper, we describe our current version of
BLAB's architecture (interface, backend, web services, NLP modules, and
resources) and comment on the challenges we have faced so far, such as the lack
of training data and the scattered state of domain information. Solving these
issues presents a considerable challenge in the development of artificial
intelligence for technical domains
Research priorities to address the global burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the next decade
Background The global prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has increased markedly in recent decades. Given the scarcity of resources available to address global health challenges and respiratory medicine being relatively under-invested in, it is important to define research priorities for COPD globally. In this paper, we aim to identify a ranked set of COPD research priorities that need to be addressed in the next 10 years to substantially reduce the global impact of COPD. Methods We adapted the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) methodology to identify global COPD research priorities. Results 62 experts contributed 230 research ideas, which were scored by 34 researchers according to six pre-defined criteria: answerability, effectiveness, feasibility, deliverability, burden reduction, and equity. The top-ranked research priority was the need for new effective strategies to support smoking cessation. Of the top 20 overall research priorities, six were focused on feasible and cost-effective pulmonary rehabilitation delivery and access, particularly in primary/community care and low-resource settings. Three of the top 10 overall priorities called for research on improved screening and accurate diagnostic methods for COPD in low-resource primary care settings. Further ideas that drew support involved a better understanding of risk factors for COPD, development of effective training programmes for health workers and physicians in low resource settings, and evaluation of novel interventions to encourage physical activity. Conclusions The experts agreed that the most pressing feasible research questions to address in the next decade for COPD reduction were on prevention, diagnosis and rehabilitation of COPD, especially in low resource settings. The largest gains should be expected in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) settings, as the large majority of COPD deaths occur in those settings. Research priorities identified by this systematic international process should inform and motivate policymakers, funders, and researchers to support and conduct research to reduce the global burden of COPD
Imaginal Discs – A New Source of Chromosomes for Genome Mapping of the Yellow Fever Mosquito Aedes aegypti
Dengue fever is an emerging health threat to as much as half of the human population around the world. No vaccines or drug treatments are currently available. Thus, disease prevention is largely based on efforts to control its major mosquito vector Ae. aegypti. Novel vector control strategies, such as population replacement with pathogen-incompetent transgenic mosquitoes, rely on detailed knowledge of the genome organization for the mosquito. However, the current genome assembly of Ae. aegypti is highly fragmented and requires additional physical mapping onto chromosomes. The absence of readable polytene chromosomes makes genome mapping for this mosquito extremely challenging. In this study, we discovered and investigated a new source of chromosomes useful for the cytogenetic analysis in Ae. aegypti – mitotic chromosomes from imaginal discs of 4th instar larvae. Using natural banding patterns of these chromosomes, we developed a new band-based approach for physical mapping of DNA probes to the precise chromosomal positions. Further application of this approach for genome mapping will greatly enhance the utility of the existing draft genome sequence assembly for Ae. aegypti and thereby facilitate application of advanced genome technologies for investigating and developing novel genetic control strategies for dengue transmission
Salud de los trabajadores
Actividad física y su relación con los factores de riesgo cardiovascular de carteros chilenosAnálisis de resultados: riesgos psicosociales en el trabajo Suceso-Istas 21 en Cesfam QuellónAusentismo laboral por enfermedades oftalmológicas, Chile 2009Brote de diarreas por norovirus, posterremoto-tsunami, Constitución, Región del MauleCalidad de vida en profesionales de la salud pública chilenaCaracterización del reposo laboral en personal del SSMN durante el primer semestre de 2010Concentración de nicotina en pelo en trabajadores no fumadores expuestos a humo de tabaco ambientalCondiciones de trabajo y bienestar/malestar docente en profesores de enseñanza media de SantiagoDisfunción auditiva inducida por exposición a xilenoErgonomía aplicada al estudio del síndrome de dolor lumbar en el trabajoEstimación de la frecuencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores de una empresa mineraExposición a plaguicidas inhibidores de la acetilcolinesterasa en Colombia, 2006-2009Factores de riesgo y daños de salud en conductores de una empresa peruana de transporte terrestre, 2009Las consecuencias de la cultura en salud y seguridad ocupacional en una empresa mineraPercepción de cambios en la práctica médica y estrategias de afrontamientoPercepción de la calidad de vida en la Universidad del BiobíoPesos máximos aceptables para tareas de levantamiento manual de carga en población laboral femeninaRiesgo coronario en trabajadores mineros según la función de Framingham adaptada para la población chilenaTrastornos emocionales y riesgo cardiovascular en trabajadores de la salu
From Data to Software to Science with the Rubin Observatory LSST
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) dataset
will dramatically alter our understanding of the Universe, from the origins of
the Solar System to the nature of dark matter and dark energy. Much of this
research will depend on the existence of robust, tested, and scalable
algorithms, software, and services. Identifying and developing such tools ahead
of time has the potential to significantly accelerate the delivery of early
science from LSST. Developing these collaboratively, and making them broadly
available, can enable more inclusive and equitable collaboration on LSST
science.
To facilitate such opportunities, a community workshop entitled "From Data to
Software to Science with the Rubin Observatory LSST" was organized by the LSST
Interdisciplinary Network for Collaboration and Computing (LINCC) and partners,
and held at the Flatiron Institute in New York, March 28-30th 2022. The
workshop included over 50 in-person attendees invited from over 300
applications. It identified seven key software areas of need: (i) scalable
cross-matching and distributed joining of catalogs, (ii) robust photometric
redshift determination, (iii) software for determination of selection
functions, (iv) frameworks for scalable time-series analyses, (v) services for
image access and reprocessing at scale, (vi) object image access (cutouts) and
analysis at scale, and (vii) scalable job execution systems.
This white paper summarizes the discussions of this workshop. It considers
the motivating science use cases, identified cross-cutting algorithms,
software, and services, their high-level technical specifications, and the
principles of inclusive collaborations needed to develop them. We provide it as
a useful roadmap of needs, as well as to spur action and collaboration between
groups and individuals looking to develop reusable software for early LSST
science.Comment: White paper from "From Data to Software to Science with the Rubin
Observatory LSST" worksho
EUNIS Habitat Classification: Expert system, characteristic species combinations and distribution maps of European habitats
Aim: The EUNIS Habitat Classification is a widely used reference framework for European habitat types (habitats), but it lacks formal definitions of individual habitats that would enable their unequivocal identification. Our goal was to develop a tool for assigning vegetation‐plot records to the habitats of the EUNIS system, use it to classify a European vegetation‐plot database, and compile statistically‐derived characteristic species combinations and distribution maps for these habitats. Location: Europe. Methods: We developed the classification expert system EUNIS‐ESy, which contains definitions of individual EUNIS habitats based on their species composition and geographic location. Each habitat was formally defined as a formula in a computer language combining algebraic and set‐theoretic concepts with formal logical operators. We applied this expert system to classify 1,261,373 vegetation plots from the European Vegetation Archive (EVA) and other databases. Then we determined diagnostic, constant and dominant species for each habitat by calculating species‐to‐habitat fidelity and constancy (occurrence frequency) in the classified data set. Finally, we mapped the plot locations for each habitat. Results: Formal definitions were developed for 199 habitats at Level 3 of the EUNIS hierarchy, including 25 coastal, 18 wetland, 55 grassland, 43 shrubland, 46 forest and 12 man‐made habitats. The expert system classified 1,125,121 vegetation plots to these habitat groups and 73,188 to other habitats, while 63,064 plots remained unclassified or were classified to more than one habitat. Data on each habitat were summarized in factsheets containing habitat description, distribution map, corresponding syntaxa and characteristic species combination. Conclusions: EUNIS habitats were characterized for the first time in terms of their species composition and distribution, based on a classification of a European database of vegetation plots using the newly developed electronic expert system EUNIS‐ESy. The data provided and the expert system have considerable potential for future use in European nature conservation planning, monitoring and assessment
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