1,714 research outputs found

    25-state calculation for e(-)-Na-2 scattering

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    We use the Schwinger multichannel method with pseudopotentials to study low energy e(-)-Na-2 scattering. Our cross sections, for impact energies from 0 to 10 eV, include polarization effects and up to 25 open channels related to all electronic states lying below 3.5 eV. Our results predict prominent threshold effects due to a very intense coupling between the B(1)Pi(u) state and the elastic channel in an energy region where there is no experimental data. Our total 25-state cross sections are in very good agreement with available experimental data for energies below about 4 eV. [S0031-9007(98)07561-9].81183832383

    Hematological Changes in Dogs with Visceral Leishmaniasis Are Associated with Increased IFN-γ and TNF Gene Expression Levels in the Bone Marrow

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    Visceral leishmaniasis is associated with a variety of hematological abnormalities. In this study, we correlated the hematological changes in the peripheral blood of dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum (L. infantum) with the distribution of cell lineages and cytokine gene expression patterns in the bone marrow. Samples from 63 naturally semidomiciled dogs living in an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis were analyzed. L. infantum infection was detected in 50 dogs (79.3%). Among those, 18 (32%) had positive splenic cultures and showed more clinical signs. They also had lower red blood cell counts and leukocytosis with an increased number of neutrophils and monocytes in peripheral blood compared to dogs negative to this test. L. infantum DNA was detected in the bone marrow of 8/14 dogs with positive splenic culture. Dogs with L. infantum infection in the bone marrow presented with histiocytosis (p = 0.0046), fewer erythroid cell clusters (p = 0.0127) and increased gene expression levels of IFN-γ (p = 0.0015) and TNF (p = 0.0091). The data shown herein suggest that inflammatory and cytokine gene expression changes in bone marrow may contribute to the peripheral blood hematological changes observed in visceral leishmaniasis.V.A. was supported by a scholarship from CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FIOCRUZ and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISC-III).S

    Developing a spatiotemporal model to integrate landslide susceptibility and critical rainfall conditions. A practical model applied to Rio de Janeiro municipality

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    Despite being a landscape evolution element, landslides pose a significant threat to infrastructure, property, and human life around the globe. In Brazil, this has been a major source of concern for many years. Over the last decades, especially in the humid areas of Brazil, landslide occurrences have become more frequent and catastrophic (Pelech et al., 2019). Especially in large and medium-sized cities, poorly-regulated living conditions and a progressing global warming scenario will likely increase the frequency, magnitude, and possibly damagecaused by landslides (Marengo et al., 2021). On the other hand, despite the efforts of local authorities to forecast and mitigate the phenomena, not enough is currently being done in terms of preparedness for future events, especially concerning research (Dias et al., 2021).Due to the geomorphological and climatic settings, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro (~1,200 km²) is often affected by landslides (Coelho Netto et al., 2007; 2009). According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE, 2021), the municipality has 6.7 million inhabitants, of which circa 20-25% lives in the favelas. These communities, usually located on hill slopes, face diverse challenges such as poor basic infrastructure, lack of sanitation systems, and high criminality, which tend to diminish the inhabitants’ awareness of potential landslide hazards. On the other hand, the municipality of Rio de Janeiro has systematically tracked rainfall data for the last decades. Such data comprises 33 stations, recording measurements every 15 minutes. Rainfall data is availablefor a few decades and comprise 33 stations recording measurements every 15 minutes. Also, the availability of high-resolution DTM and DEM (obtained through LiDAR with a 15 cm resolution), orthoimagery updated quasiyearly, and a suitable landslide inventory, turns Rio de Janeiro into a promising real-life laboratory for suggesting and enhancing modeling solutions that may provide valuable tools for landslide emergency preparedness, management, and response.Building upon the findings of Steger et al, 2022, the present research represents a joint effort to suggest a methodological framework to develop a dynamic landslide model that integrates static predisposing factors with dynamic rainfall conditions. Data-driven methods (e.g., Generalized Additive Models) will be used to establish statistical relationships between the static factors, the dynamic rainfall conditions prior to a potential landslide, and the landslide occurrence in space and time. The outcomes may be used by stakeholders to strategically prepare for potential rainfall events leading to landslides and possibly to improve early warning systems. Data collection and preparation are currently happening, and the analysis will follow. Partial results will be presented at the 6th World Landslide Forum

    Gastrointestinal helminths in calves and cows in an organic milk production system

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    The main aim of this study was to determine the distribution of populations of gastrointestinal helminths in lactating crossbred cows and calves during the grazing season in an organic milk production system. In addition, the potential importance of the peripartum in relation to the parasite load was examined. Between January 2007 and December 2008, parasitological fecal examinations were performed on cattle belonging to the Integrated Animal Production Program of Embrapa Agrobiology. The cows' parasite load remained low during the study period, and there were no statistical differences (p > 0.05) in comparisons between the seasons. The average egg count showed a positive correlation (0.80) with the peripartum, such that egg elimination per gram (p < 0.05) was higher during the week of labor than during the pre and postpartum periods. Calves showed low parasite loads, with significantly higher egg elimination (p < 0.05) during the winter. The study indicated that infection with gastrointestinal helminths was not a limiting factor for milk production in the organic system. Specifically, it was concluded that the nematode load can be maintained at moderate levels throughout the production system, even in the absence of anthelmintic treatment

    Timeliness of Clinic Attendance is a good predictor of Virological Response and Resistance to Antiretroviral drugs in HIV-infected patients

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    Ensuring long-term adherence to therapy is essential for the success of HIV treatment. As access to viral load monitoring and genotyping is poor in resource-limited settings, a simple tool to monitor adherence is needed. We assessed the relationship between an indicator based on timeliness of clinic attendance and virological response and HIV drug resistance

    Recommendations in Post-exercise Hypotension: Concerns, Best Practices and Interpretation

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    Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is a clinically relevant phenomenon that has been widely investigated. However, the characteristics of study designs, such as familiarization to blood pressure measurements, duration of PEH assessments or strategies to analyze PEH present discrepancies across studies. Thus identifying key points to standardize across PEH studies is necessary to help researchers to build stronger study designs, to facilitate comparisons across studies, and to avoid misinterpretations of results. The goal of this narrative review of methods used in PEH studies was therefore to gather and find possible influencers in the characteristics of study design and strategies to analyze blood pressure. Data found in this review suggest that PEH studies should have at least two familiarization screening visits, and should assess blood pressure for at least 20 min, but preferably for 120 min, during recovery from exercise. Another important aspect is the strategy to analyze PEH, which may lead to different interpretations. This information should guide a priori study design decisions
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