An Analysis of the Evolution Equations for a Generalized Bioconvective Flow

We prove results on existence and uniqueness of solutions of a system of equations modeling the evolution of a generalized bioconvective flow. The mathematical model considered in the present work describes the convective motion generated by the upward swimming of a culture of microorganisms under the influence of vertical gravitational forces, in an incompressible viscous fluid whose viscosity may depend on the concentration of microorganisms

Diagnostic imaging techniques of the respiratory tract of sheep

Diagnostic imaging techniques are very useful non-invasive methods to obtain medical images for the diagnosis of respiratory diseases in sheep. The use of ultrasound and thermographic cameras must be enhanced at farm level with the objective of assisting in the diagnosis of major respiratory diseases present in sheep farms. X-ray and, particularly, computed tomography are very interesting tools to facilitate the understanding of the main pathological processes in sheep, especially at the respiratory level. This article shows more than 40 images of thermograms, X-ray, ultrasonography and computed tomography of the most significant respiratory diseases in sheep

Chronic proliferative rhinitis in sheep: An update

Chronic proliferative rhinitis (CPR) is a slow and progressive upper respiratory tract disease of sheep with a poor prognosis for affected animals. It causes a proliferative inflammation of the ventral nasal turbinates with uni or bilateral affection that may totally obstruct the nasal cavity. Salmonella enterica subspecies diarizonae serovar 61:k:1, 5, (7) has been associated with the disease. This microorganism, host-adapted of tonsils and nasal cavity of sheep, has been isolated in pure culture from the nasal cavity in all reported cases of CPR. However, its etiopathogenesis, mechanism of transmission and its involvement with the disease are still unknown. The present article focuses on describing the current knowledge about this disease gathering the published information and offering some new data on the latest research carried out on chronic proliferative rhinitis in sheep

Reliability of the resonance frequency analysis values in new prototype transepithelial abutments: A prospective clinical study

Resonance frequency analysis (RFA) requires abutment disconnection to monitor implant stability. To overcome this limitation, an experimental transepithelial abutment was designed to allow a SmartPeg to be screwed onto it, in order to determine the prototype abutments repeatability and reproducibility using Osstell ISQ and to assess whether implant length and diameter have an influence on the reliability of these measurements. RFA was conducted with a SmartPeg screwed directly into the implant and onto experimental abutments of different heights of 2, 3.5 and 5 mm. A total of 32 patients (116 implants) were tested. RFA measurements were taken twice for each group from mesial, distal, buccal and palatal/lingual surfaces. Mean values and SD were calculated and Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) (p < 0.05, IC 95%). The implant stability quotient (ISQ) mean values were 72.581 measured directly to implant and 72.899 (2 mm), 72.391 (3.5 mm) and 71.458 (5 mm) measured from the prototypes. ICC between measurements made directly to implant and through 2-, 3.5-and 5-mm abutments were 0.908, 0.919 and 0.939, respectively. RFA values registered through the experimental transepithelial abutments achieved a high reliability. Neither the implant length nor the diameter had any influence on the measurements’ reliability

Interstitial Ti for intermediate band formation in Ti-supersaturated silicon

We have analyzed by means of Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) the Ti lattice location and the degree of crystalline lattice recovery in heavily Ti implanted silicon layers subsequently pulsed laser melted (PLM). Theoretical studies have predicted that Ti should occupy interstitial sites in silicon for a metallic-intermediate band (IB) formation. The analysis of Ti lattice location after PLM processes is a crucial point to evaluate the IB formation that can be clarifyied by means of RBS measurements. After PLM, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements show that the Ti concentration in the layers is well above the theoretical limit for IB formation. RBS measurements have shown a significant improvement of the lattice quality at the highest PLM energy density studied. The RBS channeling spectra reveals clearly that after PLM processes Ti impurities are mostly occupying interstitial lattice sites

The milliarcsecond-scale radio structure of AB Dor A

Context: The fast rotator, pre-main sequence star AB Dor A is a strong and persistent radio emitter. The extraordinary coronal flaring activity is thought to be the origin of compact radio emission and other associated phenomena as large slingshot prominences. Aim: We aim to investigate the radio emission mechanism and the milliarcsecond radio structure around AB Dor A. Methods: We performed phase-referenced VLBI observations at 22.3 GHz, 8.4 GHz, and 1.4 GHz over more than one decade using the Australian VLBI array. Results: Our 8.4 GHz images show a double core-halo morphology, similar at all epochs, with emission extending at heights between 5 and 18 stellar radii. Furthermore, the sequence of the 8.4 GHz maps shows a clear variation of the source structure within the observing time. However, images at 1.4 GHz and 22.3 GHz are compatible with a compact source. The phase-reference position at 8.4 GHz and 1.4 GHz are coincident with those expected from the well-known milliarcsecond-precise astrometry of this star, meanwhile the 22.3 GHz position is 4$\sigma$ off the prediction in the north-west direction. The origin of this offset is still unclear. Conclusions: We have considered several models to explain the morphology and evolution of the inner radio structure detected in AB Dor A which include emission from the stellar polar caps, a flaring, magnetically-driven loop structure, and the presence of helmet streamers. A possible close companion to AB Dor A has been also investigated. Our results confirm the extraordinary coronal magnetic activity of this star, able to produce compact radio structures at very large heights, so far only seen in binary interacting systems.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Low carrier concentration crystals of the topological insulator Bi2_2Te2_2Se

We report the characterization of Bi$_2$Te$_2$Se crystals obtained by the modified Bridgman and Bridgman-Stockbarger crystal growth techniques. X-ray diffraction study confirms an ordered Se-Te distribution in the inner and outer chalcogen layers, respectively, with a small amount of mixing. The crystals displaying high resistivity ($> 1 \mathrm{\Omega cm}$) and low carrier concentration ($\sim 5\times 10^{16}$/cm$^3$) at 4 K were found in the central region of the long Bridgman-Stockbarger crystal, which we attribute to very small differences in defect density along the length of the crystal rod. Analysis of the temperature dependent resistivities and Hall coefficients reveals the possible underlying origins of the donors and acceptors in this phase.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, accepted by PR

Highly Efficient Autologous HIV-1 Isolation by Coculturing Macrophage With Enriched CD4+ T Cells From HIV-1 Patients

We described a novel HIV autologous isolation method based in coculturing macrophages and CD4+T-cell-enriched fractions from peripheral blood collected from antiretroviral-treated (ART) HIV patients. This method allows the isolation of high viral titers of autologous viruses, over 1010HIV RNA copies/ml, and reduces the time required to produce necessary amounts for virus for use as antigens presented by monocyte-derived myeloid cells in HIV therapeutic vaccine approaches. By applying these high titer and autologous virus produced in the patient-derived cells, we intended to elicit a boost of the immunological system response in HIV therapeutic vaccines in clinical trials.This study was partially supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy (MINECO) (grants: SAF2015-66193-R, SAF-2017-88089-R, RTI2018-096309-B-I00); the Fondo Europeo para el Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); the SPANISH AIDS Research Network RD16/0025/0002 and RD16/0025/0014-ISCIII-FEDER (RIS); the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) PI12/01247 and PI20/00676; and HIVACAT program and the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya SGR 615 and SGR 653. The project leading to these results has received funding from “la Caixa” Foundation under agreement. This study was also supported in part with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, under contract Nos. HHSN261200800001E and 75N91019D00024.S

Characterization of 8p21.3 chromosomal deletions in B-cell lymphoma: TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 as candidate dosage-dependent tumor suppressor genes

Deletions of chromosome 8p are a recurrent event in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene. We have characterized these deletions using comparative genomic hybridization to microarrays, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping, DNA sequencing, and functional studies. A minimal deleted region (MDR) of 600 kb was defined in chromosome 8p21.3, with one mantle cell lymphoma cell line (Z138) exhibiting monoallelic deletion of 650 kb. The MDR extended from bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones RP11-382J24 and RP11-109B10 and included the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptor gene loci. Sequence analysis of the individual expressed genes within the MDR and DNA sequencing of the entire MDR in Z138 did not reveal any mutation. Gene expression analysis and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) showed down-regulation of TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 receptor genes as a consistent event in B-NHL with 8p21.3 loss. Epigenetic inactivation was excluded via promoter methylation analysis. In vitro studies showed that TRAIL-induced apoptosis was dependent on TRAIL-R1 and/or -R2 dosage in most tumors. Resistance to apoptosis of cell lines with 8p21.3 deletion was reversed by restoration of TRAIL-R1 or TRAIL-R2 expression by gene transfection. Our data suggest that TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 act as dosage-dependent tumor suppressor genes whose monoallelic deletion can impair TRAIL-induced apoptosis in B-cell lymphoma