Effect of influenza-induced fever on human bioimpedance values

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a widely used technique to assess body composition and nutritional status. While bioelectrical values are affected by diverse variables, there has been little research on validation of BIA in acute illness, especially to understand prognostic significance. Here we report the use of BIA in acute febrile states induced by influenza. METHODS: Bioimpedance studies were conducted during an H1N1 influenza A outbreak in Venezuelan Amerindian villages from the Amazonas. Measurements were performed on 52 subjects between 1 and 40 years of age, and 7 children were re-examined after starting Oseltamivir treatment. Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis (BIVA) and permutation tests were applied. RESULTS: For the entire sample, febrile individuals showed a tendency toward greater reactance (p=0.058) and phase angle (p=0.037) than afebrile individuals, while resistance and impedance were similar in the two groups. Individuals with repeated measurements showed significant differences in bioimpedance values associated with fever, including increased reactance (p<0.001) and phase angle (p=0.007), and decreased resistance (p=0.007) and impedance (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There are bioelectrical variations induced by influenza that can be related to dehydration, with lower extracellular to intracellular water ratio in febrile individuals, or a direct thermal effect. Caution is recommended when interpreting bioimpedance results in febrile states

Pelatihan Membuat Infografis Bahan Ajar Yang Menarik Menggunakan Piktochart

Perkembangan teknologi menuntut SMK Nurul Iman Palembang untuk memberikan update kepada pendidiknya termasuk dalam mendesain media pembelajaran untuk presentasi dalam hal ini adalah infografis bahan ajar yang menarik. Mendesain presentasi yang baik membutuhkan pemahaman tentang dasar desain yaitu unsur dan prinsip desain, seperti bentuk visual yang disajikan berupa informasi kepada peserta didik agar dapat dipahami lebih mudah dan cepat. Metode pelaksanaan kegiatan pengabdian ini berupa pelatihan dan pendampingan yang dilakukan dengan memberikan pengetahuan dan pemahaman mengenai desain presentasi, tool-tool yang digunakan untuk membuat presentasi. Kemudian, pelatihan dan pendampingan dilakukan pada guru supaya mampu mendesain presentasi menggunakan Piktochart. Peserta terdiri dari Guru SMK Nurul Iman Palembang berjumlah 7 (Tujuh) Orang, guru merespon kegiatan ini dengan sangat baik dan penuh antusias pada saat mengikuti kegiatan pelatihan. Pelatihan ini sangat mengedukasi dan bermanfaat bagi peserta, dimana para guru dapat pemahaman tentang dasar mendesain menggunakan Piktochart dengan baik

A rapid malaria appraisal in the Venezuelan Amazon

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Characterizing SL2S galaxy groups using the Einstein radius

We analyzed the Einstein radius, $\theta_E$, in our sample of SL2S galaxy groups, and compared it with $R_A$ (the distance from the arcs to the center of the lens), using three different approaches: 1.- the velocity dispersion obtained from weak lensing assuming a Singular Isothermal Sphere profile ($\theta_{E,I}$), 2.- a strong lensing analytical method ($\theta_{E,II}$) combined with a velocity dispersion-concentration relation derived from numerical simulations designed to mimic our group sample, 3.- strong lensing modeling ($\theta_{E,III}$) of eleven groups (with four new models presented in this work) using HST and CFHT images. Finally, $R_A$ was analyzed as a function of redshift $z$ to investigate possible correlations with L, N, and the richness-to-luminosity ratio (N/L). We found a correlation between $\theta_{E}$ and $R_A$, but with large scatter. We estimate $\theta_{E,I}$ = (2.2 $\pm$ 0.9) + (0.7 $\pm$ 0.2)$R_A$, $\theta_{E,II}$ = (0.4 $\pm$ 1.5) + (1.1 $\pm$ 0.4)$R_A$, and $\theta_{E,III}$ = (0.4 $\pm$ 1.5) + (0.9 $\pm$ 0.3)$R_A$ for each method respectively. We found a weak evidence of anti-correlation between $R_A$ and $z$, with Log$R_A$ = (0.58$\pm$0.06) - (0.04$\pm$0.1)$z$, suggesting a possible evolution of the Einstein radius with $z$, as reported previously by other authors. Our results also show that $R_A$ is correlated with L and N (more luminous and richer groups have greater $R_A$), and a possible correlation between $R_A$ and the N/L ratio. Our analysis indicates that $R_A$ is correlated with $\theta_E$ in our sample, making $R_A$ useful to characterize properties like L and N (and possible N/L) in galaxy groups. Additionally, we present evidence suggesting that the Einstein radius evolves with $z$.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Typos correcte

In silico analysis of gene expression in V3a and the superior occipital gyrus. Relevance for migraine

Introduction: Visual manifestations are the most prominent non-painful features of migraine. During the last decades, visual area V3a has gathered attention of headache scientists because of its apparent implication on aura initiation, photophobia and cortical hyper-responsiveness related to visual motion perception. In this hypothesis-generating study, we performed an in silico analysis of gene expression in left V3a and the cerebral gyrus that harbours it (left superior occipital gyrus (lSOG)) searching for transcriptomic patterns that could be linked with migraine’s pathophysiology. Materials and methods: Neurotransmitter receptor gene expression levels in left V3a were extracted from validated brain mRNA expression models using a probabilistic volumetric mask of this region. The primary visual cortex and other sensory cortices (auditory, olfactory and somatosensory) were used as comparators. Genome-wide transcriptomic differences between the gyrus harbouring left V3a (lSOG) and the rest of the cerebral cortex were assessed using the Allen Brain Institute Human RNA micro array atlas/database. Results: Adrenergic receptor β1, dopaminergic receptor D3 and serotoninergic receptors 1B, 1F and 2A, which have been previously implicated in migraine’s pathophysiology and/or treatment, showed significantly higher expression levels on left V3a. Transcriptomic differences between the lSOG harbouring V3a and the rest of the cortex comprise genes whose products are involved in neuronal excitability (SLC17A6, KCNS1, KCNG1 and GABRQ), activation of multiple signal transduction pathways (MET) and cell metabolism (SPHKAP via its interaction with cAMP-dependent protein kinase). Conclusions: Focal gene expression analysis of V3a suggests some clues about its implication in migraine. Further studies are warranted

Galaxy properties from J-PAS narrow-band photometry

We study the consistency of the physical properties of galaxies retrieved from SED-fitting as a function of spectral resolution and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Using a selection of physically motivated star formation histories, we set up a control sample of mock galaxy spectra representing observations of the local universe in high-resolution spectroscopy, and in 56 narrow-band and 5 broad-band photometry. We fit the SEDs at these spectral resolutions and compute their corresponding the stellar mass, the mass- and luminosity-weighted age and metallicity, and the dust extinction. We study the biases, correlations, and degeneracies affecting the retrieved parameters and explore the r\^ole of the spectral resolution and the SNR in regulating these degeneracies. We find that narrow-band photometry and spectroscopy yield similar trends in the physical properties derived, the former being considerably more precise. Using a galaxy sample from the SDSS, we compare more realistically the results obtained from high-resolution and narrow-band SEDs (synthesized from the same SDSS spectra) following the same spectral fitting procedures. We use results from the literature as a benchmark to our spectroscopic estimates and show that the prior PDFs, commonly adopted in parametric methods, may introduce biases not accounted for in a Bayesian framework. We conclude that narrow-band photometry yields the same trend in the age-metallicity relation in the literature, provided it is affected by the same biases as spectroscopy; albeit the precision achieved with the latter is generally twice as large as with the narrow-band, at SNR values typical of the different kinds of data.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Discrepancies between the [O III] and [S III] temperatures in H II regions

Context. Analysis of published [O iii] and [S iii] temperatures measurements of emission line objects consisting of Hii galaxies, giant extragalactic Hii regions, Galactic Hii regions, and Hii regions from the Magellanic Clouds reveal that the [O iii] temperatures are higher than the corresponding values from [S iii] in most objects with gas metallicities in excess of 0.2 solar. For the coolest nebulae (the highest metallicities), the [O iii] temperature excess can reach ∼3000 K. Aims. We look for an explanation for these temperature differences and explore the parameter space of models with the aim of reproducing the observed trend of T O iii > T S iii in Hii regions with temperatures below 14 000 K. Methods. Using standard photoionization models, we varied the ionization parameter, the hardness of the ionizing continuum, and the gas metallicities in order to characterize how models behave with respect to the observations. We introduced temperature inhomogeneities and varied their mean squared amplitude t 2. We explored the possibility of inhomogeneities in abundances by combining two models of widely different metallicity. We calculated models that consider the possibility of a non-Maxwell-Boltzmann energy distribution (a κ-distribution) for the electron energies. We also considered shock heating within the photoionized nebula. Results. Simple photoionization calculations yield nearly equal [O iii] and [S iii] temperatures in the domain of interest. Hence these models fail to reproduce the [O iii] temperature excess. Models that consider temperature inhomogeneities, as measured by the mean squared amplitude t 2, also fail in the regime where T O iii < 14 000 K. Three options remain that can reproduce the observed excess in T O iii temperatures: (1) large metallicity inhomogeneities in the nebula; a (2) κ-distribution for the electron energies; and (3) shock waves that propagate in the photoionized plasma at velocities ∼60 km s -1. Conclusions. The observed nebular temperatures are not reproduced by varying the input parameters in the pure photoionization case nor by assuming local temperature inhomogeneities. We find that (1) metallicity inhomogeneities of the nebular gas; (2) shock waves of velocities 60 km s -1 propagating in a photoionized plasma; and (3) an electron energy distribution given by a κ-distribution are successful in reproducing the observed excess in the [O iii] temperatures. However, shock models require proper 3D hydrodynamical simulations to become a fully developed alternative while models with metallicity inhomogeneities appear to fail in metal-poor nebulae, since they result in T rec O++ T O iii T rec O++ ≳ TO iii.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

Shrimp ponds lead to massive loss of soil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions in northeastern Brazilian mangroves

Mangroves of the semiarid Caatinga region of northeastern Brazil are being rapidly converted to shrimp pond aquaculture. To determine ecosystem carbon stocks and potential greenhouse gas emissions from this widespread land use, we measured carbon stocks of eight mangrove forests and three shrimp ponds in the Acaraú and Jaguaribe watersheds in Ceará state, Brazil. The shrimp ponds were paired with adjacent intact mangroves to ascertain carbon losses and potential emissions from land conversion. The mean total ecosystem carbon stock of mangroves in this semiarid tropical landscape was 413 ± 94 Mg C/ha. There were highly significant differences in the ecosystem carbon stocks between the two sampled estuaries suggesting caution when extrapolating carbon stock across different estuaries even in the same landscape. Conversion of mangroves to shrimp ponds resulted in losses of 58%–82% of the ecosystem carbon stocks. The mean potential emissions arising from mangrove conversion to shrimp ponds was 1,390 Mg CO2e/ha. Carbon losses were largely from soils which accounted for 81% of the total emission. Losses from soils \u3e 100 cm in depth accounted for 33% of the total ecosystem carbon loss. Soil carbon losses from shrimp pond conversion are equivalent to about 182 years of soil carbon accumulation. Losses from mangrove conversion are about 10-fold greater than emissions from conversion of upland tropical dry forest in the Brazilian Caatinga underscoring the potential value for their inclusion in climate change mitigation activities

Two-omics data revealed commonalities and differences between Rpv12- and Rpv3-mediated resistance in grapevine

Plasmopara viticola is the causal agent of grapevine downy mildew (DM). DM resistant varieties deploy effector-triggered immunity (ETI) to inhibit pathogen growth, which is activated by major resistance loci, the most common of which are Rpv3 and Rpv12. We previously showed that a quick metabolome response lies behind the ETI conferred by Rpv3 TIR-NB-LRR genes. Here we used a grape variety operating Rpv12-mediated ETI, which is conferred by an independent locus containing CC-NB-LRR genes, to investigate the defence response using GC/MS, UPLC, UHPLC and RNA-Seq analyses. Eighty-eight metabolites showed significantly different concentration and 432 genes showed differential expression between inoculated resistant leaves and controls. Most metabolite changes in sugars, fatty acids and phenols were similar in timing and direction to those observed in Rpv3-mediated ETI but some of them were stronger or more persistent. Activators, elicitors and signal transducers for the formation of reactive oxygen species were early observed in samples undergoing Rpv12-mediated ETI and were paralleled and followed by the upregulation of genes belonging to ontology categories associated with salicylic acid signalling, signal transduction, WRKY transcription factors and synthesis of PR-1, PR-2, PR-5 pathogenesis-related proteins

Shocks and dust survival in nearby active galaxies: implications for the alignment effect

One of the most popular explanations for the so-called alignment effect in high redshift (z>0.7) radio galaxies is the scattering by dust of the hidden quasar light. As shown by De Young (1998) a problem with the dust scattering model is that the short destruction time-scale for dust grains means that they will not survive the passage of the radio jet. We investigate the survival of dust in the extended ionised gas of nearby active galaxies with jet/gas interactions. We discuss the implications on the alignment effect of high redshift (>0.7) radio galaxies. We conclude that although shocks are likely to destroy dust grains in regions of interaction, dust might survive in enough quantities to scatter light from the active nucleus and produce alignment between scattered light and the radio structures. We propose an observational test to investigate the existence of dust in shocked regions based on the sensitivity of calcium to depletion onto dust grains.Comment: 8 pages, 1 Figure, 3 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA