The Magnetic Field of the Irregular Galaxy NGC 4214

We examine the magnetic field in NGC 4214, a nearby irregular galaxy, using multi-wavelength radio continuum polarization data from the Very Large Array. We find that the global radio continuum spectrum shows signs that free-free absorption and/or synchrotron losses may be important. The 3cm radio continuum morphology is similar to that of the Halpha, while the 20cm emission is more diffuse. We estimate that 50% of the radio continuum emission in the center of the galaxy is thermal. Our estimate of the magnetic field strength is $30\pm 9.5$ \uG\ in the center and $10\pm3$ \uG\ at the edges. We find that the hot gas, magnetic, and the gravitational pressures are all the same order of magnitude. Inside the central star forming regions, we find that the thermal and turbulent pressures of the HII regions dominate the pressure balance. We do not detect any significant polarization on size scales greater than 200 pc. We place an upper limit of 8 \uG\ on the uniform field strength in this galaxy. We suggest that the diffuse synchrotron region, seen to the north of the main body of emission at 20cm, is elongated due to a uniform magnetic field with a maximum field strength of 7.6 \uG. We find that, while the shear in NGC 4214 is comparable to that of the Milky Way, the supernova rate is half that of the Milky Way and suggest that the star formation episode in NGC 4214 needs additional time to build up enough turbulence to drive an $\alpha-\omega$ dynamo.Comment: Accepted by ApJ. Version with high resolution figures at http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~aak8t/data/n4214/ms.pd

The Role of the Magnetic Field in the Interstellar Medium of the Post-Starburst Dwarf Irregular Galaxy NGC 1569

(abridged) NGC 1569 is a nearby dwarf irregular galaxy which underwent an intense burst of star formation 10 to 40 Myr ago. We present observations that reach surface brightnesses two to eighty times fainter than previous radio continuum observations and the first radio continuum polarization observations. These observations allow us to probe the relationship of the magnetic field of NGC 1569 to the rest of its interstellar medium. We confirm the presence of an extended radio continuum halo at 20 cm and see for the first time the radio continuum feature associated with the western Halpha arm at wavelengths shorter than 20cm. The spectral index trends in this galaxy support the theory that there is a convective wind at work in this galaxy. We derive a total magnetic field strength of 38 microG in the central regions and 10-15 microG in the halo. The magnetic field is largely random in the center of the galaxy; the uniform field is ~3-9 microG and is strongest in the halo. We find that the magnetic pressure is the same order of magnitude but, in general, a factor of a few less than the other components of the interstellar medium in this galaxy. The uniform magnetic field in NGC 1569 is closely associated with the Halpha bubbles and filaments. We suggest that a supernova-driven dynamo may be operating in this galaxy. The outflow of hot gas from NGC 1569 is clearly shaping the magnetic field, but the magnetic field in turn may be aiding the outflow by channeling gas out of the disk of the galaxy. Dwarf galaxies with extended radio continuum halos like that of NGC 1569 may play an important role in magnetizing the intergalactic medium.Comment: ApJ accepted. 56 pages, 14 figures (low resolution), 8 tables. Version with high resolution figures at http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~aak8t/data/n1569/ms.pd

Uso de bentonita e zeólita sobre as características fecais de cães

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as características fecais de cães alimentados com dietas contendo bentonita ou zeólita. Foram utilizados 12 cães adultos da raça Beagle distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados. Os cães foram alimentados durante dois períodos de 7 dias (5 dias de adaptação e 2 dias de coleta de fezes), totalizando 8 repetições. Foram realizadas análises de amônia, pH, escore, odor, matéria seca e produção de fezes. Entre os testes realizados houve redução apenas no odor fecal (P=0,002) para cães que foram alimentados com as dietas contendo bentonita e zeólita. A inclusão de 0,5% destes aditivos reduz o odor fecal, entretanto não altera os outros parâmetros analisados

HIV Stigma Reduction for Health Facility Staff: Development of a Blended- Learning Intervention

Introduction: The effect of stigma on health and health inequity is increasingly recognized. While many medical conditions trigger stigmatization, the negative effects of HIV stigma are particularly well documented. HIV stigma undermines access, uptake, and adherence to both HIV prevention and treatment. People living with HIV face stigma in all aspects of their daily lives; however, stigma in the health system is particularly detrimental. A key component for health facility stigma-reduction interventions is participatory training of staff, often through several days of in-person training. Though this approach shows promise, it is time intensive and poses challenges for busy health facilities. In response, the DriSti study has developed a brief blended-learning approach to stigma reduction in Karnataka State, India. This paper describes the process and final content of the intervention development. The intervention is currently being tested. Final evaluation results will be published upon study completion.Methods: Grounded in behavior change strategies based on social cognitive theory principles that stress the importance of combining interpersonal interactions with specific strategies that promote behavior change, we used a three-phase approach to intervention development: (1) content planning—review of existing participatory stigma-reduction training activities; (2) story boarding—script development and tablet content production; and (3) pilot testing of tablet and in-person session materials.Results: The final intervention curriculum consists of three sessions. Two initial self-administered tablet sessions focus on stigma awareness, attitudes, fears of HIV transmission, and use of standard precautions. The third small group session covers the same material but includes skill building through role-play and testimony by a person living with HIV. A study team member administers the tablet sessions, explains the process, and is present throughout to answer questions.Conclusion: This paper describes the theoretical underpinning and process of developing the blended-learning curriculum content, and practical lessons learned.The approach covers three key drivers of HIV stigma—stigma awareness, fear of HIV transmission, and attitudes. Developing video content for the self-directed learning is complex, requires a diverse set of people and skills, and presents unexpected opportunities for stigma reduction. Co-facilitation of the in-person session by someone living with HIV is a critical component

Microstructural evaluation by confocal and electron microscopy in thrombi developed in central venous catheters

Abstract OBJECTIVE Evaluating thrombi microstructure developed in central venous catheters using confocal and electron microscopy. METHOD An experimental, descriptive study carrying out a microstructural evaluation of venous thrombi developed in central venous catheters using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. RESULTS A total of 78 venous catheters were collected over a period of three months. Different fibrin structures were distinguished: fibrin plates, fibrin network, and fibrin fibers. It was observed that the thrombus had thick fibrin plates adhered to the catheter wall openings in both a catheter with three days of permanence as well as in a catheter with 20 days of insertion in the patient. However, a greater amount of erythrocytes and fibrin fibers were found in the central region of the thrombus. CONCLUSION This study contributes to improving health care and can have a positive impact on clinical practice, as easy adherence of platelets and fibrins to the catheter wall demonstrated in this study makes it possible to adopt thrombus prevention strategies such as therapy discontinuation for an extended period, blood reflux by a catheter, slow infusion rate and hypercoagulo pathyclinical conditions

ANESTESIA DO EQUINO COM SINDROME DE CÓLICA: RELATO DE CASOS DE PROCEDIMENTOS ANESTÉSICOS EM CAVALOS COM CÓLICA NO HOSPITAL VETERINÁRIO DA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARANÁ ENTRE 2018 E 2020

A síndrome de cólica equina é caracterizada pela manifestação de dor abdominal, sendo uma das causas de óbito mais comuns na espécie. Diversas causas podem ocasionar esta síndrome, sendo que nos casos cirúrgicos a mortalidade chega a 31% (LARANJEIRA et al., 2008). Além das manifestações intensas de dor, os equinos podem apresentar distúrbios eletrolíticos, disfunção orgânica e comprometimento grave da função cardiopulmonar. A indução, manutenção e recuperação anestésica são momentos críticos da anestesia do equino com cólica, já que a mortalidade durante esses momentos é considerada alta (GUEDES e NATALI, 2002). A escolha do protocolo anestésico deve ser feita de forma cautelosa afim de produzir uma anestesia segura que minimize as alterações fisiológicas pré-existentes. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar 13 procedimentos anestésicos realizados no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal do Paraná entre 2018 e 2020 em equinos submetidos a laparotomia exploratória para correção de cólica e sua repercussão no requerimento anestésico. A medicação pré-anestésica foi realizada em todos os casos com Xilazina (0,2 a 0,5 mg/kg), a indução em 92% dos casos com Etér-gliceril-guaicacol (25 mg/kg), Midazolam (0,05 mg/kg) e Cetamina (2,2 mg/kg), em 8% dos casos com apenas Midazolam (0,05 mg/kg) e Cetamina (2,2 mg/kg), a manutenção foi realizada em 47% dos casos com anestesia intravenosa parcial e 53% com anestesia inalatória. Os analgésicos intravenosos utilizados durante o período transoperatório foram lidocaína, cetamina, dexmedetomina e detomidina com frequência de 38%, 30%, 61% e 7% dos casos respectivamente. Em 38% dos procedimentos foi realizada a infusão combinada de analgésicos pela via intravenosa enquanto em 62% foi realizada a infusão de um analgésico intravenoso de forma isolada.  Em todos os pacientes foi realizado o bloqueio do plano transverso do abdômen (TAP-block) por abordagem subcostal, bilateralmente, com bupivacaína a 5%, 30 mL/ponto, com dois pontos de injeção por hemiabdome. A complicação mais comumente identificada foi a hipotensão, ocorrendo em 77% dos procedimentos, sendo corrigida com a infusão de dobutamina. Tal fato pode ser consequência da utilização de anestésicos halogenados, especificamente o isoflurano, que possui capacidade vasodilatadora e pela complexidade do quadro do paciente. O requerimento anestésico variou de 0,8 ± 0,3 CAM. O baixo requerimento anestésico pode ser explicado pela utilização de um protocolo de anestesia multimodal. A anestesia multimodal pode diminuir o requerimento anestésico, ocasionar menor instabilidade hemodinâmica imposta por fármacos e promover uma analgesia adequada. O bloqueio locorregional parece ser uma alternativa analgésica promissora já que pode promover analgesia com mínimo comprometimento cardiorrespiratório e reduzir o requerimento anestésico. Além de um protocolo anestésico escolhido respeitando as necessidades fisiológicas do paciente a monitoração anestésica é essencial durante o procedimento para garantir uma boa analgesia e plano anestésico adequado

Common Sense Recommendations for the Application of Tax Law to Digital Assets

In response to the Joint Committee on Taxation’s July 2023 request for comments on application of various Internal Revenue Code sections on digital assets, we propose a consistent set of rules to apply current law to digital assets. We highlight that the underlying economics and characteristics of transactions should be the primary concern for the application of rules and the valuation of digital assets. We believe any digital asset rules should (1) treat classes of digital assets with unique characteristics differently based on their economics, (2) minimize incentives for users to engage in tax-motivated structuring of transactions, and (3) allow the Internal Revenue Service authority to react to and regulate new classes of digital assets as they are created. We do not believe that the unique features of digital assets are a challenge to applying current law or warrant special tax preferred treatment

Facing Aggression: Cues Differ for Female versus Male Faces

The facial width-to-height ratio (face ratio), is a sexually dimorphic metric associated with actual aggression in men and with observers' judgements of aggression in male faces. Here, we sought to determine if observers' judgements of aggression were associated with the face ratio in female faces. In three studies, participants rated photographs of female and male faces on aggression, femininity, masculinity, attractiveness, and nurturing. In Studies 1 and 2, for female and male faces, judgements of aggression were associated with the face ratio even when other cues in the face related to masculinity were controlled statistically. Nevertheless, correlations between the face ratio and judgements of aggression were smaller for female than for male faces (F1,36 = 7.43, p = 0.01). In Study 1, there was no significant relationship between judgements of femininity and of aggression in female faces. In Study 2, the association between judgements of masculinity and aggression was weaker in female faces than for male faces in Study 1. The weaker association in female faces may be because aggression and masculinity are stereotypically male traits. Thus, in Study 3, observers rated faces on nurturing (a stereotypically female trait) and on femininity. Judgements of nurturing were associated with femininity (positively) and masculinity (negatively) ratings in both female and male faces. In summary, the perception of aggression differs in female versus male faces. The sex difference was not simply because aggression is a gendered construct; the relationships between masculinity/femininity and nurturing were similar for male and female faces even though nurturing is also a gendered construct. Masculinity and femininity ratings are not associated with aggression ratings nor with the face ratio for female faces. In contrast, all four variables are highly inter-correlated in male faces, likely because these cues in male faces serve as “honest signals”

Respiratory syncytial virus infection among children younger than 2 years admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit with extended severe acute respiratory infection in ten Gavi-eligible countries: the RSV GOLD—ICU Network study

Background Patient-level data on life-threatening respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children in low-income and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) are scarce, and this scarcity might limit demand for RSV interventions in LMICs who rely on support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. We aimed to describe the characteristics of RSV-positive children younger than 2 years who were admitted to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) with extended severe acute respiratory infection (eSARI) in Gavi-eligible countries. Methods The RSV GOLD—ICU Network study is a 2-year prospective, multicountry, observational study of children younger than 2 years admitted to a PICU with eSARI. The study was conducted at 12 referral hospitals in Bolivia, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Haiti, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. For comparison with a high-income country, patients were also included from two referral hospitals in the Netherlands. Children were eligible for inclusion if they were aged between 4 days and 2 years, admitted to a PICU, and met the WHO eSARI definition. RSV infection was confirmed within 72 h of PICU admission via a molecular point-of-care test at LMIC study sites and via a PCR test at the Dutch study sites. Clinical data were extracted from admission charts of patients; underlying conditions that were identified at admission were classified as comorbidities. Socioeconomic and demographic data were collected via a written, structured, parental questionnaire. Findings Between April 28, 2021, and Sept 30, 2023, we included 2118 children who were admitted to a PICU with eSARI in the ten participating countries. 614 (29·0%; range 23·0–38·2) of 2118 children tested positive for RSV and 608 were included in descriptive analyses as six medical files were lost at one study site and data could not be retrieved. Among all 608 children infected with RSV, 379 (62%) were male and 229 (38%) were female. Median age at testing was 3·0 months (IQR 1·3–7·7). 30 (5%) of 608 children died from RSV infection. RSV fatality occurred at seven of ten participating LMIC study sites and was highest in Tanzania (seven [27%] of 26 children). Median age at testing of children who died with RSV infection was 1·8 months (IQR 1·1–4·2).Interpretation To our knowledge, this is the first prospective, multicountry study reporting data from children admitted to a PICU with life-threatening RSV infection in Gavi-eligible countries. As there is no access to intensive care for most children in LMICs, RSV prevention is urgently needed

Sex difference and intra-operative tidal volume: Insights from the LAS VEGAS study

BACKGROUND: One key element of lung-protective ventilation is the use of a low tidal volume (VT). A sex difference in use of low tidal volume ventilation (LTVV) has been described in critically ill ICU patients.OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether a sex difference in use of LTVV also exists in operating room patients, and if present what factors drive this difference.DESIGN, PATIENTS AND SETTING: This is a posthoc analysis of LAS VEGAS, a 1-week worldwide observational study in adults requiring intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery in 146 hospitals in 29 countries.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Women and men were compared with respect to use of LTVV, defined as VT of 8 ml kg-1 or less predicted bodyweight (PBW). A VT was deemed 'default' if the set VT was a round number. A mediation analysis assessed which factors may explain the sex difference in use of LTVV during intra-operative ventilation.RESULTS: This analysis includes 9864 patients, of whom 5425 (55%) were women. A default VT was often set, both in women and men; mode VT was 500 ml. Median [IQR] VT was higher in women than in men (8.6 [7.7 to 9.6] vs. 7.6 [6.8 to 8.4] ml kg-1 PBW, P < 0.001). Compared with men, women were twice as likely not to receive LTVV [68.8 vs. 36.0%; relative risk ratio 2.1 (95% CI 1.9 to 2.1), P < 0.001]. In the mediation analysis, patients' height and actual body weight (ABW) explained 81 and 18% of the sex difference in use of LTVV, respectively; it was not explained by the use of a default VT.CONCLUSION: In this worldwide cohort of patients receiving intra-operative ventilation during general anaesthesia for surgery, women received a higher VT than men during intra-operative ventilation. The risk for a female not to receive LTVV during surgery was double that of males. Height and ABW were the two mediators of the sex difference in use of LTVV.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01601223