Soliton structures in a molecular chain model with saturation

In the present work, we study, by means of a one-dimensional lattice model, the collective excitations corresponding to intra molecular ones of a chain like proteins. It is shown that such excitations are described by the Nonlinear Schrodinger equation with saturation. The solutions obtained here are the bell solitons, bubbles, kinks and crowdons. Since they belong to different sectors on the parametric space, the bubble condensation could give place to some important changes of face in this kind of nonlinear system. Additionally, it is shown that the limiting velocity of the solitons is the velocity of sound waves corresponding to longitudinal vibrations of molecules.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Electron temperature in the plasma of a spark-recombination laser, The

Includes bibliographical references (page 4451).The electron temperature in an expanding spark plasma used as active medium in a cadmium recombination laser was measured using the relative intensities of helium lines originated from levels in local thermodynamic equilibrium. Measurements resolved in space and time show that the electron temperature at the conditions of maximum gain are 1000 and 600 K at 5 and 10 mm of the sparks, respectively. Rapid cooling occurs after the termination of the discharge-current pulse, and the electron temperature reaches values below 1000 K. Subsequently, the electron temperature decrease is slow. The optical gain calculated for the 1.43-μm Cd (I)-recombination-laser transition using the measured electron temperature and particle density values is 3 × 10-3 cm-1, in good agreement with measurements

Computer modelling of RF ablation in cortical osteoid osteoma: Assessment of the insulating effect of the reactive zone

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in International Journal of Hyperthermia on 10 Feb 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.3109/02656736.2015.1135998Purpose: The aim was to study by computer simulations the insulating role of the reactive zone surrounding a cortical osteoid osteoma (OO) in terms of electrical and thermal performance during radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Material and methods: We modelled a cortical OO consisting of a nidus (10 mm diameter) enclosed by a reactive zone. The OO was near a layer of cortical bone 1.5 mm thick. Trabecular bone partially surrounds the OO and there was muscle around the cortical bone layer. We modelled RF ablations with a noncooled-tip 17-gauge needle electrode (300 s duration and 90 C target temperature). Sensitivity analyses were conducted assuming a reactive zone electrical conductivity value (rz) within the limits of the cortical and trabecular bone, i.e. 0.02 S/m and 0.087 S/m, respectively. In this way we were really modelling the different degrees of osteosclerosis associated with the reactive zone. Results: The presence of the reactive zone drastically reduced the maximum temperature reached outside it. The temperature drop was proportional to the thickness of the reactive zone: from 68 C when it was absent to 44 C when it is 7.5 mm thick. Higher nidus conductivity values (n) implied higher temperatures, while lower temperatures meant higher rz values. Changing rz from 0.02 S/m to 0.087 S/m reduced lesion diameters from 2.4 cm to 1.8 cm. Conclusions: The computer results suggest that the reactive zone plays the role of insulator in terms of reducing the temperature in the surrounding area. KeyworThis work was supported by a grant from the Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica de Argentina (Ref. PICT-2012-1201), and by the Spanish Programa Estatal de Investigacion, Desarrollo e Innovacion Orientada a los Retos de la Sociedad under grant number TEC2014-52383-C3-R (TEC2014-52383-C3-1-R). The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.Irastorza, RM.; Trujillo Guillen, M.; Martel Villagran, J.; Berjano, E. (2016). Computer modelling of RF ablation in cortical osteoid osteoma: Assessment of the insulating effect of the reactive zone. International Journal of Hyperthermia. 32(3):221-230. https://doi.org/10.3109/02656736.2015.1135998S22123032

Contribution to the sustainability of agricultural production in greenhouses built on slope soils: a numerical study of the microclimatic behavior of a typical Colombian structure

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record. The use of covered structures is an alternative increasingly used by farmers to increase crop yields per unit area compared to open field production. In Latin American countries such as Colombia, productive areas are located in with predominantly hillside soil conditions. In the last two decades, farmers have introduced cover structures adapted to these soil conditions, structures for which the behavior of factors that directly affect plant growth and development, such as microclimate, are still unknown. Therefore, in this research work, a CFD-3D model successfully validated with experimental data of temperature and air velocity was implemented. The numerical model was used to determine the behavior of air flow patterns and temperature distribution inside a Colombian passive greenhouse during daytime hours. The results showed that the slope of the terrain affects the behavior of the air flow patterns, generating thermal gradients inside the greenhouse with values between 1.26 and 16.93 ◦C for the hours evaluated. It was also found that the highest indoor temperature values at the same time were located in the highest region of the terrain. Based on the results of this study, future researches on how to optimize the microclimatic conditions of this type of sustainable productive system can be carried out

Características y distribución de la maleza Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson (Amaranthaceae) en cultivos de soja y maíz de la provincia de Tucumán y del NOA

Amaranthus palmeri (“ataco”, “yuyo colorado”, “bledo”) es una maleza introducida desde el hemisferio norte y que fue detectada en Argentina en las campañas de 2011 – 2012 debido a su resistencia a glifosato y a inhibidores de ALS (Tuesca et.al., 2012). Morichetti et al. (2013) mencionan que en nuestro país, ya en 1966, fue coleccionada por J. H. Hunziker y G. Covas, no volviendo a ser citada ni incluida en la flora adventicia quizás por no haber logrado establecerse exitosamente. Pero, colecciones realizadas en 2012 en diferentes lotes cultivados con soja, maní, sorgo y maíz en el Sur de Córdoba y San Luis, permiten ahora incluirla como una maleza establecida y problemática de nuestra flora adventicia. El grave problema que también plantea esta maleza es que puede hibridarse con otras especies de Amaranthus, con lo cual puede transferir genes de resistencia hacia otras especies del Género (Morichetti et. al., 2013).Fil: Villagran, Liliana Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cabrera, Debora Carina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: de la Vega, M.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Figueroa, O.. Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Castro, E.. Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola; ArgentinaFil: Rossi, D.. Asociación Argentina de Consorcios Regionales de Experimentación Agrícola; Argentin

Paraneoplastic encephalitis: clinically based approach on diagnosis and management

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNSs) comprise a subset of immune-mediated nervous system diseases triggered by an underlying malignancy. Each syndrome usually shows a distinct clinical presentation and outcome according to the associated neural antibodies. PNSs generally have a subacute onset with rapid progression and severe neurological disability. However, some patients may have hyperacute onset or even show chronic progression mimicking neurodegenerative diseases. Updated diagnostic criteria for PNS have been recently established in order to increase diagnostic specificity and to encourage standardisation of research initiatives related to PNS. Treatment for PNS includes oncological therapy and immunomodulation to halt neurological deterioration although current treatment options are seldom effective in reversing disability. Nevertheless, growing knowledge and better understanding of PNS pathogenesis promise better recognition, earlier diagnosis and novel treatment strategies. Considering that PNSs provide a model of effective anticancer immunity, the impact of these studies will extend far beyond the field of neurology

Phytochemicals as Potential Epidrugs in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) prevalence has significantly increased worldwide in recent years due to population age, obesity, and modern sedentary lifestyles. The projections estimate that 439 million people will be diabetic in 2030. T2DM is characterized by an impaired ß-pancreatic cell function and insulin secretion, hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, and recently the epigenetic regulation of ß-pancreatic cells differentiation has been underlined as being involved. It is currently known that several bioactive molecules, widely abundant in plants used as food or infusions, have a key role in histone modification and DNA methylation, and constituted potential epidrugs candidates against T2DM. In this sense, in this review the epigenetic mechanisms involved in T2DM and protein targets are reviewed, with special focus in studies addressing the potential use of phytochemicals as epidrugs that prevent and/or control T2DM in vivo and in vitro. As main findings, and although some controversial results have been found, bioactive molecules with epigenetic regulatory function, appear to be a potential replacement/complementary therapy of pharmacological hypoglycemic drugs, with minimal side effects. Indeed, natural epidrugs have shown to prevent or delay the T2DM development and the morbidity associated to dysfunction of blood vessels, eyes and kidneys due to sustained hyperglycemia in T2DM patients.This work was supported by CONICYT PIA/APOYO CCTE AFB170007. NC-M acknowledges the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the Horizon 2020 Program (PTDC/PSI-GER/ 28076/2017)

Laser-processing-induced phase transformation in Zn- Al-based alloy

Version of RecordPublishe

Effect of a health education intervention on intestinal parasitic infections in Bolivian children

Abstract Backgrounds Intestinal parasitic infections (IPI) are a major health issue for children of low- and middle-income countries. Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices are crucial for preventing IPI. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a school-based health education intervention on handwashing behavior and IPI prevalence in children Methods This is a randomized intervention trial in 8 primary schools in rural communities over the course of 3 school years; preliminary results from the first two years of the trial are here presented. Schools were randomly selected and assigned in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or control (no intervention) groups. For each school year, the intervention included 14 school-based educational sessions and 2 skit events, involving children aged 8-12 years. Knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire and handwashing at key events was assessed at the beginning and end of each school year. IPI prevalence was assessed with repeated cross-sectional parasitology surveys 12 months apart, involving a minimum of 50 children for each school Results At baseline, no significant differences between intervention and control schools were present in the proportion of children who washed their hands at key events (7.2% vs 9.3%, p = 0.28), in IPI (79.4% vs 75.3%, p = 0.3) and multiple parasitic infections (MPI) prevalences (47.6 vs. 38.6; p = 0.051). At the end of the second year, the percentage of children who washed their hands at key events was significantly higher in the intervention schools (75.4% vs 12.1%, p < 0.001), and the prevalence of IPI and MPI in the intervention schools were respectively about 25% and 15% lower than in the control schools (respectively, 42.9% vs 67.8%, p < 0.001; 16.1% vs 31.6%, p < 0.001) Conclusions A school-based health education intervention could achieve significant changes in hand-washing behaviors and reduction in the prevalence of IPI in children. The third year survey results are needed to confirm these findings Key messages An health education intervention on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices can reduce the risk of IPI infection in children. An health education intervention on water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) practices could be configured as a sustainable long-term approach to intestinal parasitic infections control in children