Fluids in cosmology

We review the role of fluids in cosmology by first introducing them in General Relativity and then by applying them to a FRW Universe's model. We describe how relativistic and non-relativistic components evolve in the background dynamics. We also introduce scalar fields to show that they are able to yield an inflationary dynamics at very early times (inflation) and late times (quintessence). Then, we proceed to study the thermodynamical properties of the fluids and, lastly, its perturbed kinematics. We make emphasis in the constrictions of parameters by recent cosmological probes.Comment: 34 pages, 4 figures, version accepted as invited review to the book "Computational and Experimental Fluid Mechanics with Applications to Physics, Engineering and the Environment". Version 2: typos corrected and references expande

Adipose tissue dysfunction as a central mechanism leading to dysmetabolic obesity triggered by chronic exposure to p,p'-DDE

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as p,p'-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE), are bioaccumulated in the adipose tissue (AT) and have been implicated in the obesity and diabetes epidemic. Thus, it is hypothesized that p,p'-DDE exposure could aggravate the harm of an obesogenic context. We explored the effects of 12 weeks exposure in male Wistar rats' metabolism and AT biology, assessing a range of metabolic, biochemical and histological parameters. p,p'-DDE -treatment exacerbated several of the metabolic syndrome-accompanying features induced by high-fat diet (HF), such as dyslipidaemia, glucose intolerance and hypertension. A transcriptome analysis comparing mesenteric visceral AT (vAT) of HF and HF/DDE groups revealed a decrease in expression of nervous system and tissue development-related genes, with special relevance for the neuropeptide galanin that also revealed DNA methylation changes at its promoter region. Additionally, we observed an increase in transcription of dipeptidylpeptidase 4, as well as a plasmatic increase of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Our results suggest that p,p'-DDE impairs vAT normal function and effectively decreases the dynamic response to energy surplus. We conclude that p,p'-DDE does not merely accumulate in fat, but may contribute significantly to the development of metabolic dysfunction and inflammation. Our findings reinforce their recognition as metabolism disrupting chemicals, even in non-obesogenic contexts.This article was supported by ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) through the operation POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007746 funded by the Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalização – COMPETE2020 and by National Funds through FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UID/IC/4255/2013); PEst-OE/SAU/UI0038/2011; SFRH/BPD/109158/2015; SFRH/BD/46640/2008, SFRH/BD/64691/2009, SFRH/BD/78367/2011, SFRH/BD/93073/2013, SFRH/BPD/109153/2015, SFRH/BD/47200/2008, SFRH/BPD/75294/2010; and SFRH/BPD/40110/2007

Compreendendo a vivência do paciente portador de doença de Crohn Comprendiendo la vivencia del paciente portador de enfermedad de Crohn Understanding the experience of patients who have Crohn's disease

OBJETIVO: Compreender o significado de ser portador da doença de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Estudo qualitativo, com abordagem Hermenêutica. Foram realizadas oito entrevistas com pacientes com diagnóstico confirmado da doença, tendo como questão norteadora "como é ser portador de doença de Crohn?" RESULTADOS: Foi identificada a seguinte categoria: Alteração no projeto de vida, a qual teve como principais fatores modificadores: ser doença crônica, alimentação, medo, falta de liberdade, prevenção de complicações e esperança. Os pacientes utilizam para isso algumas estratégias para superar as dificuldades e desenvolver habilidades próprias para seguir em frente. CONCLUSÃO: Tentar compreender a natureza humana e conhecer o ser e sentir da pessoa é uma construção que precisa ser melhorada nos cursos da área de saúde para que os profissionais possam dar o suporte necessário aos pacientes e oferecer uma assistência de enfermagem adequada.<br>OBJETIVO: Comprender el significado de ser portador de la enfermedad de Crohn. MÉTODOS: Estudio cualitativo, con abordaje Hermenéutico. Fueron realizadas ocho entrevistas a pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de la enfermedad, teniendo como pregunta norteadora "¿cómo es ser portador de la enfermedad de Crohn?" RESULTADOS: Fue identificada la siguiente categoría: Alteración en el proyecto de vida, la cual tuvo como principales factores modificadores: ser enfermedad crónica, alimentación, miedo, falta de libertad, prevención de complicaciones y esperanza. Los pacientes utilizan para eso algunas estrategias para superar las dificultades y desarrollar habilidades propias para seguir adelante. CONCLUSIÓN: Intentar comprender la naturaleza humana y conocer el ser y sentir de la persona es una construcción que precisa ser mejorada en los cursos del área de la salud para que los profesionales puedan dar el soporte necesario a los pacientes y ofrecer una asistencia de enfermería adecuada.<br>OBJECTIVE: To understand the meaning of having Crohn's Disease. METHODS: Qualitative study, with a hermeneutic approach. Eight interviews were held, with patients who have a confirmed diagnosis of the disease. The main question of the study was: "what is it like to have Crohn's Disease?". RESULTS: The analysis was performed according to a category identified as: changes in the life perspective. The main changing factors of the category were: having a chronic disease, food, fear, lack of freedom, prevention of complications and hope. For doing so, they use a few strategies to overcome the difficulties, developing their own skills to move forward. CONCLUSION: Trying to understand the human nature, knowing how a person is and their feelings are a construction that needs to be improved in the healthcare courses, so that the professionals can provide the necessary support to the patients and offer adequate nursing care