Baseline characteristics of patients in the reduction of events with darbepoetin alfa in heart failure trial (RED-HF)

<p>Aims: This report describes the baseline characteristics of patients in the Reduction of Events with Darbepoetin alfa in Heart Failure trial (RED-HF) which is testing the hypothesis that anaemia correction with darbepoetin alfa will reduce the composite endpoint of death from any cause or hospital admission for worsening heart failure, and improve other outcomes.</p> <p>Methods and results: Key demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings, along with baseline treatment, are reported and compared with those of patients in other recent clinical trials in heart failure. Compared with other recent trials, RED-HF enrolled more elderly [mean age 70 (SD 11.4) years], female (41%), and black (9%) patients. RED-HF patients more often had diabetes (46%) and renal impairment (72% had an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Patients in RED-HF had heart failure of longer duration [5.3 (5.4) years], worse NYHA class (35% II, 63% III, and 2% IV), and more signs of congestion. Mean EF was 30% (6.8%). RED-HF patients were well treated at randomization, and pharmacological therapy at baseline was broadly similar to that of other recent trials, taking account of study-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) haemoglobin at baseline was 112 (106–117) g/L.</p> <p>Conclusion: The anaemic patients enrolled in RED-HF were older, moderately to markedly symptomatic, and had extensive co-morbidity.</p&gt

All-sky search for long-duration gravitational wave transients with initial LIGO

We present the results of a search for long-duration gravitational wave transients in two sets of data collected by the LIGO Hanford and LIGO Livingston detectors between November 5, 2005 and September 30, 2007, and July 7, 2009 and October 20, 2010, with a total observational time of 283.0 days and 132.9 days, respectively. The search targets gravitational wave transients of duration 10-500 s in a frequency band of 40-1000 Hz, with minimal assumptions about the signal waveform, polarization, source direction, or time of occurrence. All candidate triggers were consistent with the expected background; as a result we set 90% confidence upper limits on the rate of long-duration gravitational wave transients for different types of gravitational wave signals. For signals from black hole accretion disk instabilities, we set upper limits on the source rate density between 3.4×10-5 and 9.4×10-4 Mpc-3 yr-1 at 90% confidence. These are the first results from an all-sky search for unmodeled long-duration transient gravitational waves. © 2016 American Physical Society

All-sky search for long-duration gravitational wave transients with initial LIGO

We present the results of a search for long-duration gravitational wave transients in two sets of data collected by the LIGO Hanford and LIGO Livingston detectors between November 5, 2005 and September 30, 2007, and July 7, 2009 and October 20, 2010, with a total observational time of 283.0 days and 132.9 days, respectively. The search targets gravitational wave transients of duration 10-500 s in a frequency band of 40-1000 Hz, with minimal assumptions about the signal waveform, polarization, source direction, or time of occurrence. All candidate triggers were consistent with the expected background; as a result we set 90% confidence upper limits on the rate of long-duration gravitational wave transients for different types of gravitational wave signals. For signals from black hole accretion disk instabilities, we set upper limits on the source rate density between 3.4×10-5 and 9.4×10-4 Mpc-3 yr-1 at 90% confidence. These are the first results from an all-sky search for unmodeled long-duration transient gravitational waves. © 2016 American Physical Society

Behavioral changes and acute toxicity to the freshwater shrimp Atyaephyra desmaresti millet (Decapoda : Natantia) from exposure to acid mine drainage

Short-term 48 h laboratory bioassays with water from an acid mine drainage (AMD: pH 3.3, 4.4, 5.0, 5.5, 6.4, control) and water from an arsenic containing reservoir were performed with the freshwater shrimp Atyaephyra desmaresti Millet, validated in situ and compared to acidified control water (ACID). Behaviour, mortality and time to death were monitored with the Multispecies Freshwater Biomonitor (MFB). The shrimps had equal 24 h-LC(50)s at pH 4 in AMD and ACID. However, after 48 h AMD proved more toxic (48 h-LC50 at pH 5.2) than ACID (48 h-LC50 at pH 4.5). Stress behaviour in AMD consisted at pH <= 6.4 of a pH-dependent decrease in activity, with disappearance of circadian rhythmicity, and at pH 4.4 a clear increase of ventilation. At pH 5.5 bioaccumulation of metals was higher and locomotion lower than at pH 5.0. In ACID, only at pH <= 4.4 locomotion became abated and arythmic. Locomotion in the field was equal or higher compared to the laboratory, whereas the ventilation was higher in the laboratory. A. desmaresti is a valuable species to be used in short term behavioural bioassays of AMD in Europe.CETERAIAV/82/00PRAXIS/C/MGS/10200/1998FCT - SFRH/BPD/8891/2002FCT - SFRH/BPD/8345/200

Viabilidade do cultivo do camarão-rosa Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Crustácea, Decapoda) em gaiolas sob diferentes densidades durante o outono no sul do Brasil Viability of culturing the shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Crustacea, Decapoda) in cages under different stocking densities during autumn in southern Brazil

Neste trabalho, foi estudada a possibilidade de cultivar o camarão-rosa Farfantepenaeus paulensis em gaiolas com diferentes densidades de estocagem durante o outono (abril a junho) no estuário da Lagoa dos Patos, RS. Juvenis com peso médio de 4,95g (&plusmn; 1,69 dp foram estocados em gaiolas nas densidades de 20, 40, 80, 100 e 120 ind/m². Os camarões foram alimentados diariamente ad libitum com pedaços de Corvina (Micropogonias furnieri). As sobrevivências e os pesos foram observados nos tempos 20, 40 e 60 dias de experimento. Durante o período de cultivo a temperatura da água decresceu de 24 para 11&deg;C (média = 17,1&deg;C) e a salinidade oscilou entre 3 e 26 (média = 17,5). As taxas de sobrevivência nas densidades de 20, 40, 80, 100 e 120 ind/m² foram 65%, 68%, 46%, 52% e 43,3% respectivamente, sendo significativamente maiores nas densidades de 20 e 40 ind/m². Após 60 dias, os camarões estocados em 20 e 40 ind/m² atingiram peso superior a 8,0g, sendo significativamente maiores (P<0,05) que nos demais tratamentos. A maior biomassa (356g) foi obtida na densidade de 120 ind/m². Foram produzidos de 250 a 350g de camarões com peso médio de 6,5 a 8,0g por m², mesmo em altas densidades de estocagem (40 a 120 ind/m²). As taxas de sobrevivência dos camarões mantidos em 20 e 40 ind/m² podem ser consideradas satisfatórias, contudo, após a temperatura ficar abaixo de 18&deg;C, as taxas de crescimento foram reduzidas. Os resultados confirmam o efeito negativo da densidade de estocagem sobre o crescimento dos camarões, sendo recomendada a estocagem de 40 a 120 juvenis/m². Foi, contudo, comprovada a possibilidade de cultivar F. paulensis durante o outono no sul do Brasil.<br>In this study, we assessed the feasibility of culturing Farfantepenaeus paulensis in cages at different stocking densities during autumn (from April to June) in the Patos Lagoon estuary. Juveniles with mean weight of 4.95g (&plusmn; 1.69 SD) were stocked in cages at densities of 20, 40, 80, 100 and 120 ind/m² of bottom. Shrimp were fed daily by-catch items (Micropogonias furnieri) ad libitum. Survival and wet weight were estimated at 20, 40 and 60 days after the beginning of the trial. Water temperature varied from 11 to 24&deg;C (mean = 17.1&deg;C), whiles salinity ranged from 3 to 26 (mean = 17.5). Survival rates at densities of 20, 40, 80, 100 and 120 ind/m² were 65%, 68%, 46%, 52% and 43,3%, respectively, being significantly higher at 20 and 40 ind/m². After 60 days, shrimp stocked at 20 and 40 ind/m² reached over 8.0g, which were significantly higher than those reared at 80, 100 and 120ind/m². The highest biomass (356g/m²) was obtained at 120 shrimp per m². Up to 250 to 350 g of shrimp with mean weight of 6.5 to 8.0g were produced per m² even at the highest stocking densities (40 to 120 ind/m²). Survival rates of shrimp reared at 20 and 40 ind/m² may be considered satisfactory, whereas growth rates where negligible after temperature dropped below 18&deg;C. The present results confirmed the negative effect of stocking density on shrimp growth, being recommended the stocking of at the most 40 to 120 ind/m². Although the feasibility of culturing F. paulensis in cages during autumn in southern Brazil was demonstrated