Anomalous Nernst Effect in flexible co-based amorphous ribbons

Fe3Co67Cr3Si15B12 ribbons with a high degree of flexibility and excellent corrosion stability were produced by rapid quenching technique. Their structural, magnetic, and thermomagnetic (Anomalous Nernst Effect) properties were studied both in an as-quenched (NR) state and after stress annealing during 1 h at the temperature of 350 °C and a specific load of 230 MPa (AR). X-ray diffraction was used to verify the structural characteristics of our ribbons. Static magnetic properties were explored by inductive technique and vibrating sample magnetometry. The thermomagnetic curves investigated through the Anomalous Nernst Effect are consistent with the obtained magnetization results, presenting a linear response in the thermomagnetic signal, an interesting feature for sensor applications. Additionally, Anomalous Nernst Effect coefficient SANE values of 2.66μV/K and 1.93μV/K were estimated for the as-quenched and annealed ribbons, respectively. The interplay of the low magnetostrictive properties, soft magnetic behavior, linearity of the thermomagnetic response, and flexibility of these ribbons place them as promising systems to probe curved surfaces and propose multifunctional devices, including magnetic field-specialized sensors.M.A.C. thanks CAPES (8887.573100/2020-00) and CNPq. A.F. thanks the FCT (CTTI-31/18- C.F. (2) junior researcher contract). G.V.K was supported in the frame of the Priority-2030 Program of Ural Federal University

Fatores associados a desfechos desfavoráveis após trauma craniano leve pediátrico em um centro de referência da região norte de Minas Gerais

Study Design: Prospective cohort. Objective: To describe clinical and demographic characteristics of a sample of children with HI referred for acute care in a referral center of the north region of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and assess clinical and radiological markers associated with unfavorable outcomes. Methodology: All children between the ages 0 to 14 years referred with head injury from February to September 2011 were included in this study. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected at the moment of the initial assessment under informed consent. The patients were also reassessed via telephone calls after 7 and 91 days. Results: A total of 77 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 3.9 years with a standard deviation of 3.76 years. Falls and bicycle collisions were the main mechanisms of trauma. The most relevant clinical marker associated with unfavorable outcomes at 7 days was the parental perception of unusual behavior (Odds Ratio = 11.33; 95% confidence interval: 1.38-93.13; p = 0.02). Computer tomography scan abnormalities were associated with both unfavorable outcomes at 7 days (p=0.03) and at 91 days (p=0.02). Conclusions: The peculiar aspects of head injuries in a Brazilian population were described in this study. It was also found that unusual behavior and abnormalities on CT scan are factors that predict unfavorable outcomes in children with mild HI in this population.Modelo do Estudo: Coorte prospectivo. Objetivo do Estudo: Descrever características clínicas e demográficas de uma amostra de crianças encaminhadas por traumatismo craniano em um centro de referência na região norte de Minas Gerais e avaliar marcadores clínicos e radiológicos associados a desfechos desfavoráveis. Metodologia: Foram incluídas neste estudo todas as crianças entre 0 e 14 anos atendidas com traumatismo craniano de fevereiro a setembro de 2011. Dados sócio demográficos e clínicos foram coletados no momento da avaliação inicial sob consentimento informado. Os pacientes também foram reavaliados por telefone após 7 e 91 dias. Resultados: Um total de 77 pacientes foi incluído neste estudo. A idade média foi de 3,9 anos, com desvio padrão de 3,76 anos. Quedas e colisões de bicicleta foram os principais mecanismos de trauma. O marcador clínico mais relevante associado a desfechos desfavoráveis com 7 dias foi a percepção pelos pais de comportamento anormal (Odds Ratio = 11,3; intervalo de confiança de 95%: 1,38-93,13; p = 0,02). Alterações na Tomografia Computadorizada foram associadas tanto a desfechos desfavoráveis após 7 dias (p=0,03) como após 91 dias (p=0,02). Conclusões: Os aspectos peculiares do traumatismo craniano em uma população brasileira são descritos neste estudo. Encontrou-se, ainda, que um comportamento anormal e alterações na TC são fatores que predizem desfechos desfavoráveis em crianças com traumatismo craniano leve nessa população

Chagas Cardiomiopathy: The Potential of Diastolic Dysfunction and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in the Early Identification of Cardiac Damage

Chagas disease remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in several countries of Latin America and has become a potential public health problem in countries where the disease is not endemic as a result of migration flows. Cardiac involvement represents the main cause of mortality, but its diagnosis is still based on nonspecific criteria with poor sensitivity. Early identification of patients with cardiac damage is desirable, since early treatment may improve prognosis. Diastolic dysfunction and elevated brain natriuretic peptide levels are present in different cardiomyopathies and in advanced phases of Chagas disease. However, there are scarce data about the role of these parameters in earlier forms of the disease. We conducted a study to assess the diastolic function, regional systolic abnormalities and brain natriuretic peptide levels in the different forms of Chagas disease. The main finding of our investigation is that diastolic dysfunction occurs before any cardiac dilatation or motion abnormality. In addition, BNP levels identify patients with diastolic dysfunction and Chagas disease with high specificity. The results reported in this study could help to early diagnose myocardial involvement and better stratify patients with Chagas disease

Genome of the Avirulent Human-Infective Trypanosome—Trypanosoma rangeli

Background: Trypanosoma rangeli is a hemoflagellate protozoan parasite infecting humans and other wild and domestic mammals across Central and South America. It does not cause human disease, but it can be mistaken for the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi. We have sequenced the T. rangeli genome to provide new tools for elucidating the distinct and intriguing biology of this species and the key pathways related to interaction with its arthropod and mammalian hosts.  Methodology/Principal Findings: The T. rangeli haploid genome is ,24 Mb in length, and is the smallest and least repetitive trypanosomatid genome sequenced thus far. This parasite genome has shorter subtelomeric sequences compared to those of T. cruzi and T. brucei; displays intraspecific karyotype variability and lacks minichromosomes. Of the predicted 7,613 protein coding sequences, functional annotations could be determined for 2,415, while 5,043 are hypothetical proteins, some with evidence of protein expression. 7,101 genes (93%) are shared with other trypanosomatids that infect humans. An ortholog of the dcl2 gene involved in the T. brucei RNAi pathway was found in T. rangeli, but the RNAi machinery is non-functional since the other genes in this pathway are pseudogenized. T. rangeli is highly susceptible to oxidative stress, a phenotype that may be explained by a smaller number of anti-oxidant defense enzymes and heatshock proteins.  Conclusions/Significance: Phylogenetic comparison of nuclear and mitochondrial genes indicates that T. rangeli and T. cruzi are equidistant from T. brucei. In addition to revealing new aspects of trypanosome co-evolution within the vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, comparative genomic analysis with pathogenic trypanosomatids provides valuable new information that can be further explored with the aim of developing better diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic targets