The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and its use for the identification of fireball fragmentation

We propose an application of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test for rapidity distributions of individual events in ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions. The test is particularly suitable to recognise non-statistical differences between the events. Thus when applied to a narrow centrality class it could indicate differences between events which would not be expected if all events evolve according to the same scenario. In particular, as an example we assume here a possible fragmentation of the fireball into smaller pieces at the quark/hadron phase transition. Quantitative studies are performed with a Monte Carlo model capable of simulating such a distribution of hadrons. We conclude that the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is a very powerful tool for the identification of the fragmentation process.Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure

Not so pseudo: the evolutionary history of protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 2 and related pseudogenes

Background: Pseudogenes are traditionally considered “dead” genes, therefore lacking biological functions. This view has however been challenged during the last decade. This is the case of the Protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 2 (PPP1R2) or inhibitor-2 gene family, for which several incomplete copies exist scattered throughout the genome. Results: In this study, the pseudogenization process of PPP1R2 was analyzed. Ten PPP1R2-related pseudogenes (PPP1R2P1-P10), highly similar to PPP1R2, were retrieved from the human genome assembly present in the databases. The phylogenetic analysis of mammalian PPP1R2 and related pseudogenes suggested that PPP1R2P7 and PPP1R2P9 retroposons appeared before the great mammalian radiation, while the remaining pseudogenes are primate-specific and retroposed at different times during Primate evolution. Although considered inactive, four of these pseudogenes seem to be transcribed and possibly possess biological functions. Given the role of PPP1R2 in sperm motility, the presence of these proteins was assessed in human sperm, and two PPP1R2-related proteins were detected, PPP1R2P3 and PPP1R2P9. Signatures of negative and positive selection were also detected in PPP1R2P9, further suggesting a role as a functional protein. Conclusions: The results show that contrary to initial observations PPP1R2-related pseudogenes are not simple bystanders of the evolutionary process but may rather be at the origin of genes with novel functions.publishe

Alternative transmission routes in the malaria elimination era: an overview of transfusion-transmitted malaria in the Americas

Submitted by Janaína Nascimento ([email protected]) on 2019-02-21T11:59:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Alho_Regina_etal_INI_2017.pdf: 1190158 bytes, checksum: 8937322faefa31c89eb1bbd2f7d134a3 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Janaína Nascimento ([email protected]) on 2019-02-25T11:34:33Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Alho_Regina_etal_INI_2017.pdf: 1190158 bytes, checksum: 8937322faefa31c89eb1bbd2f7d134a3 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-02-25T11:34:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ve_Alho_Regina_etal_INI_2017.pdf: 1190158 bytes, checksum: 8937322faefa31c89eb1bbd2f7d134a3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil / Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil / Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil / Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Sem afiliação.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil / Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Universidade do Estado do Amazonas. Manaus, AM, Brasil / Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado. Manaus, AM, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas e Maria Deane. Manaus, AM, Brasil.Background: Transfusion-transmitted (TT) malaria is an alternative infection route that has gained little attention from authorities, despite representing a life-threatening condition. There has been no systematic review of this health problem in American countries. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of TT malaria in the Americas and identify factors associated with lethality based on the studies published in the literature. Methods: Potentially relevant papers in all languages were retrieved from MEDLINE and LILACS. Additional articles were obtained from reviews and original papers. Publications on screening of candidate blood donors and on surveillance of TT malaria cases were included. Odds ratios with respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. Epidemiological characteristics of blood donors of TT malaria cases, including a pooled positivity of different tests for malaria diagnosis, were retrieved. Results: A total of 63 publications regarding TT malaria from seven countries were included, from 1971 to 2016. A total of 422 cases of TT malaria were recorded. Most TT malaria cases were in females (62.0%) and 39.5% were in the ≥61 years-old age group. About half of all cases were from Mexico (50.7%), 40.3% from the United States of America (USA) and 6.6% from Brazil. Gyneco-obstetrical conditions (67.3%), surgical procedures (20.6%) and complications from neoplasias (6.1%) were the most common indications of transfusion. Packed red blood cells (RBCs) (50.7%) and whole blood (43.3%) were the blood products mostly associated with TT malaria. Cases were mostly caused by Plasmodium malariae (58.4%), followed by Plasmodium vivax (20.7%) and Plasmodium falciparum (17.9%). A total of 66.6% of cases were diagnosed by microscopy. Incubation period of 2–3 weeks was the most commonly observed (28.6%). Lethality was seen in 5.3% of cases and was associated with living in non-endemic countries, P. falciparum infection and concomitant neoplastic diseases. Conclusion: There is an important research and knowledge gap regarding the TT malaria burden in Latin American countries where malaria remains endemic. No screening method that is practical, affordable and suitably sensitive is available at blood banks in Latin American countries, where infections with low parasitaemia contribute greatly to transmission. Lethality from TT malaria was not negligible. TT malaria needs to be acknowledged and addressed in areas moving toward elimination

Circulation and Oxygen Distribution in the Tropical Atlantic Cruise No. 80, Leg 1; October 26 to November 23, 2009 Mindelo (Cape Verde) to Mindelo (Cape Verde)

METEOR cruise 80/1 was a contribution to the SFB 754 “Climate-Biogeochemistry Interactions in the Tropical Ocean”. Shipboard, glider and moored observations are used to study the temporal and spatial variability of physical and biogeochemical parameters within the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) of the tropical North Atlantic. As part of the BMBF “Nordatlantik” project, it further focuses on the equatorial current system including the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) and intermediate currents below. During the cruise, hydrographic station observations were performed using a CTD/O2 rosette, including water sampling for salinity, oxygen, nutrients and other biogeochemical tracers. Underway current measurements were successfully carried out with the 75 kHz ADCP borrowed from R/V POSEIDON during the first part of the cruise, and R/V METEOR’s 38 kHz ADCP during the second part. During M80/1, an intensive mooring program was carried out with 8 mooring recoveries and 8 mooring deployments. Right at the beginning of the cruise, a multidisciplinary mooring near the Cape Verde Islands was recovered and redeployed. Within the framework of SFB 754, two moorings with CTD/O2 profilers were recovered and redeployed with other instrumentation in the center and at the southern rim of the OMZ of the tropical North Atlantic. The equatorial mooring array as part of BMBF “North Atlantic” project consists of 5 current meter moorings along 23°W between 2°S and 2°N. It is aimed at quantifying the variability of the thermocline water supply toward the equatorial cold tongue which develops east of 10°W during boreal summer. Several glider missions were performed during the cruise. One glider was recovered that was deployed two months earlier. Another glider was deployed for two short term missions, near the equator for about 8 days and near 8°N for one day. This glider was equipped with a new microstructure probe in addition to standard sensors, i.e. CTD/O2, chlorophyll and turbidity

Radio Emission in the Cosmic Web

We explore the possibility of detecting radio emission in the \emph{cosmic web} by analyzing shock waves in the MareNostrum cosmological simulation. This requires a careful calibration of shock finding algorithms in Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics simulations, which we present here. Moreover, we identify the elements of the cosmic web, namely voids, walls, filaments and clusters with the use of the SpineWeb technique, a procedure that classifies the structure in terms of its topology. Thus, we are able to study the Mach number distribution as a function of its environment. We find that the median Mach number, for clusters is $\mathcal{M}_{\mathrm{clusters}}\approx1.8$, for filaments is $\mathcal{M}_{\mathrm{filaments}}\approx 6.2$, for walls is $\mathcal{M}_{\mathrm{walls}}\approx 7.5$, and for voids is $\mathcal{M}_{\mathrm{voids}}\approx 18$. We then estimate the radio emission in the cosmic web using the formalism derived in Hoeft & Br\"{u}ggen (2007). We also find that in order to match our simulations with observational data (e.g., NVSS radio relic luminosity function), a fraction of energy dissipated at the shock of $\xi_{\mathrm{e}}=0.0005$ is needed, in contrast with the $\xi_{\mathrm{e}}=0.005$ proposed by Hoeft et al. (2008). We find that 41% of clusters with $M \ge 10^{14} M_{\odot}$ host diffuse radio emission in the form of radio relics. Moreover, we predict that the radio flux from filaments should be $S_{150 MHz}\sim 0.12$ $\mu$Jy at a frequency of 150 MHz.Comment: 19 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. Minor changes to tex fil

Declining malaria transmission in rural Amazon: changing epidemiology and challenges to achieve elimination

BACKGROUND: In recent years, considerable success in reducing its incidence has been achieved in Brazil, leading to a relative increase in the proportion of cases caused by Plasmodium vivax, considered a harder-to-eliminate parasite. This study aim is to describe the transmission dynamics and associated risk factors in a rural settlement area in the Western Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: A prospective cohort was established in a rural settlement area for 3 years. Follow-up included continuous passive case detection and monthly active case detection for a period of 6 months. Demographic, clinical and transmission control practices data were collected. Malaria diagnosis was performed through thick blood smear. Univariable and multivariable analyses of factors associated with malaria incidence were performed using negative binomial regression models. Factors associated with recurrence of P. vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria within 90 days of a previous episode were analysed using univariable and multivariable Cox-Proportional Hazard models. RESULTS: Malaria prevalence decreased from 7 % at the study beginning to 0.6 % at month 24, with P. vivax predominating and P. falciparum disappearing after 1 year of follow-up. Malaria incidence was significantly higher in the dry season [IRR (95 % CI) 1.4 (1.1-1.6); p < 0.001)]. Use of ITN was associated to malaria protection in the localities [IRR (95 % CI) 0.7 (0.6-0.8); p = 0.001)]. A recurrent P. vivax episode within 90 days was observed in 29.4 % of individuals after an initial diagnosis. A previous P. vivax [IRR (95 % CI) 2.3 (1.3-4.0); p = 0.006)] or mixed P. vivax + P. falciparum [IRR (95 % CI) 2.9 (1.5-5.7); p = 0.002)] infections were significantly associated to a vivax malaria episode within 90 days of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In an area of P. falciparum and P. vivax co-endemicity, a virtual disappearance of P. falciparum was observed with P. vivax increasing its relative contribution, with a large proportion of recurring episodes. This finding reinforces the perception of P. falciparum being more responsive to early diagnosis and treatment and ITN use and the contribution of relapsing P. vivax to maintain this species' transmission. In areas of P. vivax endemicity, antihypnozoite treatment effectiveness assessment in different transmission intensity may be a fundamental activity for malaria control and elimination

Modelling 5-km running performance on level and hilly terrains in recreational runners

Incline and level running on treadmills have been extensively studied due to their different cardiorespiratory and biomechanical acute responses. However, there are no studies examining the performance determinants of outdoor running on hilly terrains. We aimed to investigate the influence of anthropometrics, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory and gait spatiotemporal parameters during level (0%) and inclined (+7%) running on performance in level and hilly 5-km races. Twenty male recreational runners completed two 5-km outdoor running tests (0% vs. +7% and −7%), and two submaximal (10 km·h −1 ) and incremental treadmill tests at 0 and 7% slopes, after complete laboratory evaluations. The velocity at maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) evaluated at 7% incline and level treadmill running were the best performance predictors under both hilly (R2 = 0.72; p < 0.05) and level (R2 = 0.85; p < 0.01) conditions, respectively. Inclusion of ventilatory and submaximal heart rate data improved the predictive models up to 100%. Conversely, none of the parameters evaluated in one condition contributed to the other condition. The spatiotemporal parameters and the runners’ strength levels were not associated to outdoor performances. These results indicate that the vVO2max evaluated at similar slopes in the lab can be used to predict 5-km running performances on both level and hilly terrains

Spleen rupture in a case of untreated Plasmodium vivax infection

We report the unique case of a 19-yearold nonimmune patient with Plasmodium vivax monoinfection, confirmed by PCR in the peripheral blood and in the spleen section, who was splenectomized due to spleen rupture two days prior to the diagnosis and treatment of the malarial infection. Microscopic analyses evidenced white pulp expansion and a diffuse hypercellularity in the splenic red pulp, with intense proliferating plasmablasts in the subcapsular and perivascular compartments as well as large numbers of intact P. vivax-infected reticulocytes in the cords, in the absence of other concomitant infectious diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first full detailed immunohistopathological characterization of a nontreated P. vivax-infected spleen

Hippocampal Astrocytes in Migrating and Wintering Semipalmated Sandpiper

Seasonal migratory birds return to the same breeding and wintering grounds year after year, and migratory long-distance shorebirds are good examples of this. These tasks require learning and long-term spatial memory abilities that are integrated into a navigational system for repeatedly locating breeding, wintering, and stopover sites. Previous investigations focused on the neurobiological basis of hippocampal plasticity and numerical estimates of hippocampal neurogenesis in birds but only a few studies investigated potential contributions of glial cells to hippocampal-dependent tasks related to migration. Here we hypothesized that the astrocytes of migrating and wintering birds may exhibit significant morphological and numerical differences connected to the long-distance flight. We used as a model the semipalmated sandpipe