Estimating the mass of CMEs from the analysis of EUV dimmings

Context. Reliable estimates of the mass of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are required to quantify their energy and predict how they affect space weather. When a CME propagates near the observer's line of sight, these tasks involve considerable errors, which motivated us to develop alternative means for estimating the CME mass. Aims. We aim at further developing and testing a method that allows estimating the mass of CMEs that propagate approximately along the observer's line of sight. Methods. We analyzed the temporal evolution of the mass of 32 white-light CMEs propagating across heliocentric heights of 2.5-15 R, in combination with that of the mass evacuated from the associated low coronal dimming regions. The mass of the white-light CMEs was determined through existing methods, while the mass evacuated by each CME in the low corona was estimated using a recently developed technique that analyzes the dimming in extreme-UV (EUV) images. The combined white-light and EUV analyses allow the quantification of an empirical function that describes the evolution of CME mass with height. Results. The analysis of 32 events yielded reliable estimates of the masses of front-side CMEs. We quantified the success of the method by calculating the relative error with respect to the mass of CMEs determined from white-light STEREO data, where the CMEs propagate close to the plane of sky. The median for the relative error in absolute values is ≈30%; 75% of the events in our sample have an absolute relative error smaller than 51%. The sources of uncertainty include the lack of knowledge of piled-up material, subsequent additional mass supply from the dimming region, and limitations in the mass-loss estimation from EUV data. The proposed method does not rely on assumptions of CME size or distance to the observer's plane of sky and is solely based on the determination of the mass that is evacuated in the low corona. It therefore represents a valuable tool for estimating the mass of Earth-directed events.Fil: López, F. M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Cremades Fernandez, Maria Hebe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Tecnológica Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Balmaceda, Laura Antonia. George Mason University; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio. Universidad Nacional de San Juan. Instituto de Ciencias Astronómicas, de la Tierra y del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Nuevo, Federico Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; ArgentinaFil: Vásquez, A. M.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero; Argentin

Add-on Effect of Postural Instructions to Abdominopelvic Exercise on Urinary Symptoms and Quality of Life in Climacteric Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence : A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to investigate the add-on effect of postural instructions to an abdominopelvic exercise program on incontinence urinary symptoms (UI symptoms) and quality of life (QoL) in climacteric women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). A randomized controlled trial was performed with a total of 40 climacteric women with SUI aged between 46 and 75 years old. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: a group performing an abdominopelvic exercise program (AEP) (n = 20) and a group performing abdominopelvic exercise with the addition of postural instructions (AEPPI) (n = 20). Primary outcome measures were UI symptoms, UI impact and QoL related to UI (UI-QoL), measured by 48 h Pad Test and International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF), which were assessed at baseline, post-intervention and 3 months follow-up. Secondary outcome was patient's satisfaction measured by the 100-point Visual Analogic Scale (VAS) only after the intervention. Between-groups differences were observed in terms of UI-QoL immediately after intervention. Within-groups differences were observed between baseline to 3 months follow-up and between post-intervention to 3 months follow-up in AEPPI group (p < 0.05) for UI-QoL and UI impact. UI symptoms were improved in both groups between baseline to 3-months follow-up (p < 0.05). Patient's satisfaction was higher in the AEPPI group (p < 0.05). The addition of postural instructions to an abdominopelvic exercise programimproves UI impact to QoL and patients' satisfaction in women with SUI

Q Methodology: A Method for Understanding Complex Viewpoints in Communities Served by Extension

This article introduces Q methodology, an idea-sorting activity that can help Extension improve outreach and education on new and contentious issues. Q methodology is a helpful tool when Extension professionals are confronted with controversial or complex resource management challenges. Through the analysis of a simple card-sorting exercise, researchers can determine quantitatively and qualitatively how different issues combine to result in (a) an individual\u27s viewpoint on an issue and (b) groupings of different viewpoints within a community. We describe the basic approach to implementing Q methodology and suggest circumstances in which it can help facilitate Extension outreach and education

Importancia del equilibrio del índice omega-6/omega-3 en el mantenimiento de un buen estado de salud: recomendaciones nutricionales

The modification of dietary patterns has led to a change in fatty acid consumption, with an increase in the consumption of -6 fatty acids and a markerd reduction in the consumption of -3 fatty acids. This in turn has given rise to an imbalance in the -6/ -3 ratio, which is now very different from the original 1:1 ratio of humans in the past. Given the involvement of -6 and -3 essential fatty acids in disease processes, the present article examines changes in dietary patterns that have led to the present reduction in the consumption of -3 essential fatty acids, and to study the importance of the -6/ -3 balance in maintaining good health. In addition, an assesement is made of the established recommendations for preventing a poor intake of -3 essential fatty acids, and the possible options for compensating the lack of these fatty acids in the dietLa modificación de los hábitos alimentarios ha llevado a un cambio en el consumo de ácidos grasos, con una aumento de los ácidos grasos -6 y una marcada reducción en el consumo de los ácidos grasos -3. Esto a su vez ha dado lugar a un desequilibrio en la relación -6/ -3, muy diferente de la proporción original 1:1 que tenían los seres humanos en el pasado. Dada la importancia de la relación entre los ácidos grasos esenciales -6 y -3 en el desarrollo de diferentes enfermedades, en el presente artículo se examinan los cambios en los hábitos alimentarios que han llevado a la reducción en el consumo de ácidos grasos esenciales -3, y se estudia la importancia de este equilibrio en el mantenimiento de la salud. Además, se realiza una evaluación de las recomendaciones establecidas para prevenir una deficiencia en la ingesta de ácidos grasos esenciales -3, y las posibles opciones para compensar la falta de esos ácidos grasos en la diet

An hypothesis on crustacean pigmentation metabolism:L-carnitine and nuclear hormone receptors as limiting factors

Astaxanthin (Axn) is the primary pigment molecule in crustaceans associated with quality, health and growth traits, leading to increased marketing value. Axn can be contained within the protein complex crustacyanin (CRCN) to produce an array of different shell colours, or esterified with fatty acids (FA) for storage but also contributing additional red colouration. l-Carnitine (LC) has a major role in FA oxidation and mitochondrial function optimization, which could influence the proportion of Axn complexed with FA or CRCN. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs) have important roles in FA and Axn uptake, and stored lipid oxidation affecting Axn homeostasis and storage in lipid bodies. Whether Axn could increase PPAR signalling and carnitine palmitoyl transferase activity, leading to induction of lipid metabolism, is not known in crustaceans. Several FA have been shown to preferentially form FA Axn-esters, including saturated fatty acids (SFA) such as C16:0 and C18:0, mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) such as C16:1 and C18:1, and poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as C20:4, C20:5, and C20:6. We hypothesize that manipulating the dietary ratios and inclusion of LC, Axn, and specific FA may be able to further improve pigment utilization, lipid metabolism, health, and growth in crustaceans.</p

Hormonal an inflammatory biomarkers in a group of overweight and obese women

Introducción y Objetivos: Recientemente se ha descubierto que la obesidad es una patología caracterizada por un estado crónico de inflamación leve. El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la situación hormonal e inflamatoria de un colectivo de mujeres con sobrepeso/obesidad. Pacientes y métodos: se incluyeron mujeres > 18 años, con IMC ≥ 25 < 40 kg/m2. Se recogieron datos socio-sanitarios, presión arterial, parámetros antropométricos, de actividad física, estudio bioquímico, hormonal e inflamatorio para determinar la situación hormonal e inflamatoria de un colectivo de mujeres antes del inicio de un tratamiento para el control de peso corporal. Resultados: participaron 104 mujeres con edad media de 48,4 ± 9 años y un IMC de 29,8 ± 3,5 kg/m2. Un 48% de las mujeres estudiadas se encontraba en etapa de menopausia. Un 8,9% presentó hiperinsulinemia. El valor medio obtenido de grhelina fue 38,8 ± 33,6 pg/ml, no se encontró correlación entre sus concentraciones y las variables antropométricas y bioquímicas estudiadas. Los valores medios de PCR, leptina, adiponectina, resistina, IL 6, IL 10 y PAI 1 fueron 3,0 ± 2,7 mg/dl, 36,3 ± 19,5 ng/ml, 8,3 ± 4,5 μg/ml, 24,3 ± 23,2 ng/ml, 51,6 ± 93,6 pg/ml, 10,0 ± 34,2 pg/ml y 22,3 ± 30,6 ng/ml, respectivamente. Estas concentraciones correlacionaron significativamente con diferentes variables antropométricas y bioquímicas, sin embargo, estas correlaciones fueron débiles. Variables como la edad y presencia o no de menopausia o la práctica de actividad física de forma regular no influyeron en los valores medios obtenidos. Las pacientes con obesidad tuvieron valores medios significativamente más elevados que aquellas con sobrepeso, aunque sólo en el caso de la resistina y PAI 1. Conclusión: El grupo de mujeres estudiadas presentó cifras de adipoquinas alteradas en relación a otros estudios realizados en población con situación nutricional normal. Esto pone en evidencia la situación inflamatoria presente en estos pacientes y los valores obtenidos pueden contribuir a establecer unos rangos normalizados de estos marcadores para el colectivo de personas con sobrepeso y obesidadBackground and objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the hormonal and inflammatory status of a group of overweight/obese women. Patients and methods: The sample studied was a crosssectional cohort of women > 18 years of age, BMI ≥ 25 < 40 kg/m2, prior to starting a weight control program. Data collected were: demographic characteristics, blood pressure, anthropometric parameters, physical activity data, and biochemical, hormonal and inflammatory biomarkers. Results: The study involved 104 women with a mean age of 48.4 ± 9 years and a BMI of 29.8 ± 3.5 kg/m2. Some 48% of the women studied were in menopause. Some 8.9% had hyperinsulinemia. The mean ghrelin value was 38.8 ± 33.6 pg/ml; there was no correlation between ghrelin levels and anthropometric and biochemical variables. CRP, leptin, adiponectin, resistin, IL6, IL10, and PAI1 were 3.0 ± 2.7 mg/dl, 36.3 ± 19.5 ng/ml, 8.3 ± 4.5 mg/ml, 24.3 ± 23.2 ng/ml, 51.6 ± 93.6 pg/ml, 10.0 ± 34.2 pg/ml and 22.3 ± 30.6 ng/ml, respectively. Obese patients had significantly higher mean values of resistin and PAI 1 than those who were overweight. These levels correlated significantly with anthropometric and biochemical variables; however, the correlations were weak. Age, menopause or the regular practice of physical activity had no effect on mean values. Conclusions: The group of women studied had altered inflammatory biomarkers in relation to people of normal weight. The study shows the inflammatory status of overweight/ obese individuals, and the values obtained may help to establish standard ranges for these markersEste trabajo ha sido posible gracias a un proyecto de investigación obtenido por concurso y subvencionado por la campaña “Pan cada día” promovida por el Comité Científico del Pan y el Incerhpan (Interprofesional Agroalimentaria de la cadena Cereales-Harina- Pan

Xenobiotics that affect oxidative phosphorylation alter differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells at concentrations that are found in human blood

Adipogenesis is accompanied by differentiation of adipose tissuederived stem cells to adipocytes. As part of this differentiation, biogenesis of the oxidative phosphorylation system occurs. Many chemical compounds used in medicine, agriculture or other human activities affect oxidative phosphorylation function. Therefore, these xenobiotics could alter adipogenesis. We have analyzed the effects on adipocyte differentiation of some xenobiotics that act on the oxidative phosphorylation system. The tested concentrations have been previously reported in human blood. Our results show that pharmaceutical drugs that decrease mitochondrial DNA replication, such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, or inhibitors of mitochondrial protein synthesis, such as ribosomal antibiotics, diminish adipocyte differentiation and leptin secretion. By contrast, the environmental chemical pollutant tributyltin chloride, which inhibits the ATP synthase of the oxidative phosphorylation system, can promote adipocyte differentiation and leptin secretion, leading to obesity and metabolic syndrome as postulated by the obesogen hypothesis

Time course of early metabolic changes following diffuse traumatic brain injury in rats as detected by 1H NMR spectroscopy

Experimental models of traumatic brain injury (TBI) provide a useful tool for understanding the cerebral metabolic changes induced by this pathological condition. Here, we report on the time course of changes in cerebral metabolites after TBI and its correlation with early brain morphological changes using a combination of high-resolution proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1H MRS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to closed head impact and examined by MRI at 1, 9, 24, 48, and and 72 h after the injury. Extracts from funnel frozen rat brains were then obtained and analyzed quantitatively by high-resolution 1H MRS. Finally, statistical multivariate analysis was carried out to identify the combination of cerebral metabolites that best described the time evolution of diffuse TBI. The temporal changes observed in the concentration of cerebral metabolites followed three different patterns. The first pattern included taurine, threonine, and glycine, with concentrations peaking 24 h after the injury. The second pattern included glutamate, GABA, and alanine, with concentrations remaining elevated between 24 and 48 h post-injury. The third one involved creatine-phosphocreatine, N-acetylaspartate, and myo-inositol, with concentrations peaking 48 h after the injury. A multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis revealed that the combination of the organic osmolytes taurine and myo-inositol allowed optimal discrimination among the different time groups. Our findings suggest that the profile of some specific brain molecules that play a role as organic osmolytes can be used to follow-up the progression of the early diffuse brain edema response induced by TBI. © Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.This work was partly supported by Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (grants SAF 2001-224 and SAF 2004-03197 to J.M.R. and S.C.) and by Spanish Ministry of Health (grants FISss C03/08, C03/10, and G03/155 to J.M.R. and S.C.).Peer Reviewe