3,216 research outputs found

    Uncovering the host galaxy of the γ\gamma-ray-emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy FBQS J1644+2619

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    The discovery of γ\gamma-ray emission from radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLSy1) galaxies has questioned the need for large black hole masses (> 108^8 M_{\odot}) to launch relativistic jets. We present near-infrared data of the γ\gamma-ray-emitting NLSy1 FBQS J1644+2619 that were collected using the camera CIRCE (Canarias InfraRed Camera Experiment) at the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias to investigate the structural properties of its host galaxy and to infer the black hole mass. The 2D surface brightness profile is modelled by the combination of a nuclear and a bulge component with a S\'ersic profile with index nn = 3.7, indicative of an elliptical galaxy. The structural parameters of the host are consistent with the correlations of effective radius and surface brightness against absolute magnitude measured for elliptical galaxies. From the bulge luminosity, we estimated a black hole mass of (2.1±\pm0.2) ×\times108^8 M_{\odot}, consistent with the values characterizing radio-loud active galactic nuclei.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letter, Vol. 469, L11-L1

    Improvement of Remote Sensing-Based Assessment of Defoliation of Pinus spp. Caused by Thaumetopoea pityocampa Denis and Schiffermüller and Related Environmental Drivers in Southeastern Spain

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    This study used Landsat temporal series to describe defoliation levels due to the Pine Processionary Moth (PPM) in Pinus forests of southeastern Andalusia (Spain), utilizing Google Earth Engine. A combination of remotely sensed data and field survey data was used to detect the defoliation levels of different Pinus spp. and the main environmental drivers of the defoliation due to the PPM. Four vegetation indexes were also calculated for remote sensing defoliation assessment, both inside the stand and in a 60-m buffer area. In the area of study, all Pinus species are affected by defoliation due to the PPM, with a cyclic behavior that has been increasing in frequency in recent years. Defoliation levels were practically equal for all species, with a high increase in defoliation levels 2 and 3 since 2014. The Moisture Stress Index (MSI) and Normalized Difference Infrared Index (NDII) exhibited similar overall (p < 0.001) accuracy in the assessment of defoliation due to the PPM. The synchronization of NDII-defoliation data had a similar pattern for all together and individual Pinus species, showing the ability of this index to adjust the model parameters based on the characteristics of specific defoliation levels. Using Landsat-based NDII-defoliation maps and interpolated environmental data, we have shown that the PPM defoliation in southeastern Spain is driven by the minimum temperature in February and the precipitation in June, March, September, and October. Therefore, the NDII-defoliation assessment seems to be a general index that can be applied to forests in other areas. The trends of NDII-defoliation related to environmental variables showed the importance of summer drought stress in the expansion of the PPM on Mediterranean Pinus species. Our results confirm the potential of Landsat time-series data in the assessment of PPM defoliation and the spatiotemporal patterns of the PPM; hence, these data are a powerful tool that can be used to develop a fully operational system for the monitoring of insect damage

    The host galaxy of the gamma-ray-emitting narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy PKS 1502+036

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    The detection of gamma-ray emission from narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLSy1) has challenged the idea that large black hole (BH) masses (\ge108^8 M_{\odot}) are needed to launch relativistic jets. We present near-infrared imaging data of the gamma-ray-emitting NLSy1 PKS 1502+036 obtained with the Very Large Telescope. Its surface brightness profile, extending to \sim 20 kpc, is well described by the combination of a nuclear component and a bulge with a Sersic index nn = 3.5, which is indicative of an elliptical galaxy. A circumnuclear structure observed near PKS 1502+036 may be the result of galaxy interactions. A BH mass of about 7×108\sim 7 \times 10^{8} M_{\odot} has been estimated by the bulge luminosity. The presence of an additional faint disc component cannot be ruled out with the present data, but this would reduce the BH mass estimate by only \sim 30%. These results, together with analogous findings obtained for FBQS J1644+2619, indicate that the relativistic jets in gamma-ray-emitting NLSy1 are likely produced by massive black holes at the center of elliptical galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, and 2 supplementary figures. Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters, Volume 478, Issue 1, L66-L7

    Genetic diversity patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with the mycoheterotroph Arachnitis uniflora Phil. (Corsiaceae)

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    Background and AimsArachnitis uniflora is a mycoheterotrophic plant that exploits arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi of neighbouring plants. We tested A. uniflora's specificity towards fungi across its large latitudinal range, as well as the role of historical events and current environmental, geographical and altitudinal variables on fungal genetic diversity. MethodsArachnitis uniflora mycorrhizas were sampled at 25 sites. Fungal phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed, genetic diversity was calculated and the main divergent lineages were dated. Phylogeographical analysis was performed with the main fungal clade. Fungal diversity correlations with environmental factors were investigated. Key Results Glomeraceae fungi dominated, with a main clade that likely originated in the Upper Cretaceous and diversified in the Miocene. Two other arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal families not previously known to be targeted by A. uniflora were detected rarely and appear to be facultative associations. High genetic diversity, found in Bolivia and both northern and southern Patagonia, was correlated with temperature, rainfall and soil features. Conclusions Fungal genetic diversity and its distribution can be explained by the ancient evolutionary history of the target fungi and by micro-scale environmental conditions with a geographical mosaic pattern

    Inhibitory Receptor Expression on T Cells as a Marker of Disease Activity and Target to Regulate Effector Cellular Responses in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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    Objective: Inhibitory receptors are essential for the regulation of effector immune responses and may play critical roles in autoimmune diseases. We evaluated whether inhibitory receptor expression on T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were correlated with immune activation, disease activity, and response to treatment, as well as whether inhibitory receptor–mediated pathways were functional. Methods: Using flow cytometry, we performed extensive phenotypic and functional evaluation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from the blood and synovial fluid (SF) of RA patients ex vivo and after culture. The relationship of each parameter with the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) and response to treatment was examined. Results: In RA patients with low levels of T cell activation, inhibitory receptor expression showed an inverse relationship with the DAS28-ESR. The frequency of T cells expressing multiple inhibitory receptors was reduced in untreated RA patients but returned to normal levels in treated patients. RA patients who responded to treatment showed an augmented frequency of inhibitory receptor–expressing T cells that correlated with reduced inflammatory cytokine production in comparison to nonresponders. Higher frequencies of effector and memory T cells that expressed multiple inhibitory receptors were seen in SF than in peripheral blood. Notably, inhibitory pathways were operative in blood and synovial T cells from all RA patients, although cells from nonresponder patients were less sensitive to inhibition. Conclusion: Inhibitory receptor expression on T cells from RA patients is inversely correlated with effector T cell function and disease activity and may predict response to treatment. Furthermore, different inhibitory pathways are functional and cooperatively suppress synovial T cells, providing a rationale for new treatment strategies to regulate acute local inflammation.Fil: Onofrio, Luisina Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Zacca, Estefanía. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Ferrero, Paola Virginia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Acosta, Cristina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Mussano, Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Onetti, Laura. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Cadile, Isaac. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Gazzoni, M. Victoria. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Jurado, Raúl. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital Nacional de Clínicas; ArgentinaFil: Tosello Boari, Jimena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Ramello, María Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Montes, Carolina Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Gruppi, Adriana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Acosta Rodriguez, Eva Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; Argentin

    Test de figura humana en pacientes en edad pediátrica con antecedentes de abuso sexual. Estudio de casos

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    Se planteó evaluar presencia de indicadores de abuso sexual en la infancia (ASI) con indicadores de Boscato en los test de figura humana de niñas con y sin antecedentes de ASI en la Cátedra de Psiquiatría del Hospital de Clínicas. Estudio exploratorio, de corte transversal. Se realizó un análisis de test gráficos de figura humana en 16 pacientes: 8 con antecedentes de ASI y 8 sin ASI. Intensidad de la agresión: Descarga motora: en 6 del total de 8 pacientes con ASI, contra sin hallazgo en pacientes sin ASI. Concepción de sí mismo: percepción de estar traumatizado, en 2 de los 8 pacientes con ASI y en ninguna sin ASI. Micrografía: no presente en las pacientes con ASI en cambio sí en 1 de las pacientes sin ASI. Negación: en 2 del total de pacientes con ASI y en ningún paciente sin ASI. Vulnerabilidad (necesidad de defensa): en 6 del total de pacientes con ASI y en ningún paciente sin ASI. Percepciones sensoriales: un signo presente en 1 paciente sin ASI y ausente en pacientes con ASI. Registro somático, Heridas o marcas en el cuerpo: en 6 (75%) del total de pacientes con ASI y en 2 de pacientes sin ASI. Se hallaron indicadores específicos para detección del abuso sexual Infantil que se corresponden con Intensidad de la agresión, concepción de sí mismo y en menor grado: registro somático y relación social

    Clues from Spitzer/IRS spectra on the Compton thickness and the existence of the dusty torus

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    [Context]: Most of the optically classified low-ionisation, narrow emission-line regions (LINERs) nuclei host an active galactic nucleus (AGN). However, how they fit into the unified model (UM) of AGN is still an open question. [Aims]: The aims of this work are to study at mid-infrared (mid-IR) (1) the Compton-thick nature of LINERs (i.e. hydrogen column densities of NH> 1.5 × 1024 cm-2) and (2) the disappearance of the dusty torus in LINERs predicted from theoretical arguments. [Methods]: We have compiled all the available low spectral-resolution, mid-IR spectra of LINERs from the InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) onboard Spitzer. The sample contains 40 LINERs. We have complemented the LINER sample with Spitzer/IRS spectra of PGQSOs, Type-1 Seyferts (S1s), Type-2 Seyferts (S2s), and StarBurst (SB) nuclei. We studied the AGN compared to the starburst content in our sample using different indicators: the equivalent width of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon at 6.2 μm, the strength of the silicate feature at 9.7 μm, and the steepness of the mid-IR spectra. We classified the spectra as SB-dominated and AGN-dominated, according to these diagnostics and compared the average mid-IR spectra of the various classes. Moreover, we studied the correlation between the 12 μm luminosity, νLν(12 μm), and the 2−10 keV energy band X-ray luminosity, LX(2−10 keV). [Results]: In 25 out of the 40 LINERs (i.e. 62.5%), the mid-IR spectra are not SB-dominated, similar to the comparison S2 sample (67.7%). The average spectra of both SB-dominated LINERs and S2s are very similar to the average spectrum of the SB class. The average spectrum of AGN-dominated LINERs is different from the average spectra of the other optical classes, showing a rather flat spectrum at 6-28 μm. We find that the average spectrum of AGN-dominated LINERs with X-ray luminosities LX(2−10 keV) > 1041 erg/s is similar to the average mid-IR spectrum of AGN-dominated S2s. However, faint LINERs (i.e. LX(2−10 keV) < 1041 erg/s) show flat spectra different from any of the other optical classes. The correlation between νLν(12 μm) and LX(2−10 keV) for AGN nicely extends towards low luminosities only if SB-dominated LINERs are excluded and if the 2−10 keV band X-ray luminosity is corrected in Compton-thick LINER candidates. [Conclusions]: We find that LINERs proposed as Compton-thick candidates at X-ray wavelengths may be confirmed according to the X-ray to mid-IR luminosity relation. We show evidence that the dusty-torus disappear when their bolometric luminosity is below Lbol ≃ 1042 erg/s. We suggest that the dominant emission at mid-IR of faint LINERs might be a combination of an elliptical galaxy host (characterised by the lack of gas), a starburst, a jet, and/or ADAF emission. Alternatively, the mid-IR emission of some of these faint LINERs could be a combination of elliptical galaxy plus carbon-rich planetary nebulae. To reconcile the Compton-thick nature of a large number of LINERs without dusty-torus signatures, we suggest that the material producing the Compton-thick X-ray obscuration is free of dust.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO) under the grant (project refs. AYA2013-42227-P, AYA 2012-39168-C03-01, and AYA 2010-15169) and by La Junta de Andalucia (TIC 114). AAH acknowledges support from grant AYA2012-31447. D.D. acknowledges support from grant 107313 from PAPIIT, UNAM. C.R.A. is supported by a Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship within the 7th European Community Framework Programme (PIEF-GA-2012-327934).Peer Reviewe

    Lista de los peces de la provincia de San Juan

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    Esta serie tiene como finalidad dar a conocer las especies presentes en los diferentes estados provinciales. Tomando como base los trabajos de López et al., (2003); Reis et al., (2003); Liotta (2006) y Ferraris (2007) hemos actualizado el elenco ictiofaunístico en cada territorio provincial, siguiendo la macrosistemática de Nelson (2006). No se realizan, con excepción del nombre vulgar y localidad tipo, comentarios ni observaciones sobre las especies señaladas ya que estos se encuentran en la bibliografía adjunta. Se incluyen dos tablas que contienen información sobre especies introducidas y de aquellas de presencia dudosa o que requieren confirmación en el territorio provincial. En este último caso se cita el trabajo que las menciona por primera vez. Consideramos que este modesto aporte contribuirá a precisar el conocimiento ictiofaunístico regional ya que además de la lista de especies, presentamos el marco biogeográfico e hídrico correspondiente. Por otra parte, entendemos que la participación de autores involucrados en la región considerada, le da un verdadero sentido federal a esta contribución, además de reforzar vínculos entre los protagonistas de nuestra especialidad. En este nuevo número, presentamos la provincia de San Juan que se encuentra enclavada en el centro-oeste de nuestro territorio, limitada por las provincias de La Rioja, Mendoza y San Luis. Se presenta por primera vez una lista exhaustiva de la ictiofauna de la provincia de San Juan basada en la revisión bibliográfica y de material de referencia de las colecciones Ictiológicas de la Universidad Nacional de San Juan y del Museo de La Plata. Se citan 21 especies, de las cuales 15 no habían sido mencionadas con anterioridad (Arratia et al., 1983; Murúa y Acosta, 1997; Liotta, 2006). Ocho especies han sido introducidas principalmente con fines deportivos. Se menciona la presencia de Percichthys chilensis, lo que constituiría el primer registro formal de esta especie ya que López-Arbarello (2004) la menciona para el Río Tunuyán (Mendoza), sin material de referencia

    Circulating concentrations of free triiodothyronine are associated with central adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors in young euthyroid adults

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    Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Granada/CBUA. This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness via the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI13/01393), by the Retos de la Sociedad program (DEP2016-79512-R), European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU13/04365), the Fundacion Iberoamericana de Nutricion (FINUT), the Redes Tematicas de Investigacion Cooperativa RETIC (Red SAMID RD16/0022), the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation, the University of Granada Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016-Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)-and Plan Propio de Investigacion 2018-the Programa Contratos-Puente and Contratos Perfeccionamiento de Doctores, the Junta de Andalucia, Consejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y Universidades (ERDF; ref. SOMM17/6107/UGR), and the Fundacion Alfonso Martin Escudero (grant awarded to GSD).Thyroid dysfunction is associated with classic cardiometabolic risk factors in humans. However, this relationship remains unclear in young euthyroid adults. The present work examines the associations of circulating thyroid hormones (THs) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations with body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors in young euthyroid adults. A total of 106 sedentary, euthyroid adults (72 women; 22 ± 2 years old) participated in this cross-sectional study. THs and TSH serum concentrations were determined in fasting conditions (6 h). Body composition (fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and visceral adipose tissue (VAT)) was determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, anthropometric parameters (weight, height, and waist circumference) were measured, and neck adipose tissue mass was quantified through computed tomography (CT) scanning. Cardiometabolic risk factors including fasting glucose and lipid metabolism markers, hepatic phosphatase and transaminases, and blood pressure were also assessed. Free triiodothyronine (FT3) concentration was positively associated with body mass index, LM, VAT, and waist circumference (all P ≤ 0.038). FT3 was also associated with glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, fatty liver index, and blood pressure (all P < 0.024). All the associations were attenuated when adjusting for sex. In contrast, we found no associations of TSH or free thyroxine with any body composition parameter or cardiometabolic risk factors. In conclusion, FT3 is associated with central adiposity and cardiometabolic risk factors including insulin resistance, fatty liver index, and mean, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in young euthyroid adults. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02365129.Universidad de Granada/CBUASpanish Government PI13/01393Retos de la Sociedad program DEP2016-79512-REuropean CommissionSpanish Government FPU13/04365Fundacion Iberoamericana de Nutricion (FINUT)Redes Tematicas de Investigacion Cooperativa RETIC Red SAMID RD16/0022AstraZenecaUniversity of Granada Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016-Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES)Plan Propio de Investigacion 2018-the Programa Contratos-PuenteContratos Perfeccionamiento de DoctoresJunta de AndaluciaConsejeria de Conocimiento, Investigacion y Universidades (ERDF) SOMM17/6107/UGRFundacion Alfonso Martin Escuder
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