Flow Field Evolution of a Decaying Sunspot

We study the evolution of the flows and horizontal proper motions in and around a decaying follower sunspot based on time sequences of two-dimensional spectroscopic observations in the visible and white light imaging data obtained over six days from June~7 to~12, 2005. During this time period the sunspot decayed gradually to a pore. The spectroscopic observations were obtained with the Fabry-P\'{e}rot based Visible-Light Imaging Magnetograph (VIM) in conjunction with the high-order adaptive optics (AO) system operated at the 65 cm vacuum reflector of the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO). We apply local correlation tracking (LCT) to the speckle reconstructed time sequences of white-light images around 600 nm to infer horizontal proper motions while the Doppler shifts of the scanned \FeI line at 630.15 nm are used to calculate line-of-sight (LOS) velocities with sub-arcsecond resolution. We find that the dividing line between radial inward and outward proper motions in the inner and outer penumbra, respectively, survives the decay phase. In particular the moat flow is still detectable after the penumbra disappeared. Based on our observations three major processes removed flux from the sunspot: (a) fragmentation of the umbra, (b) flux cancelation of moving magnetic features (MMFs; of the same polarity as the sunspot) that encounter the leading opposite polarity network and plages areas, and (c) flux transport by MMFs (of the same polarity as the sunspot) to the surrounding network and plage regions that have the same polarity as the sunspot.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, The Astrophysical Journal, accepted September, 200

Prevalence and trends of thinness, overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 3-18 years across Europe: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Increasing prevalence of both thinness and excess weight during childhood and adolescence is a significant public health issue because of short-term health consequences and long-term tracking of weight status. Monitoring weight status in Europe may serve to identify countries and regions where rates of these disorders are either slowing down or increasing to evaluate recent policies aimed at appropriate body weight, and to direct future interventions. This study protocol provides a standardised and transparent methodology to improve estimating trends of thinness, overweight and obesity in children aged 3-18 years and adolescents across the European region between 2000 and 2017. Methods and analysis This protocol is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) and the Cochrane Collaboration Handbook. To identify relevant studies, a search will be conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Web of Science databases. From the selected studies, relevant references will be screened as supplemental sources. Finally, open search in websites from health institutions will be conducted to identify weight status data not published in scientific journals. Cross-sectional, follow-up studies and panel surveys reporting weight status (objectively measured height and weight) according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria, and written in English or Spanish will be included. Subgroup analyses will be carried out by gender, age, study year and country or European region. Discussion This study will provide a comprehensive description of weight status of children and adolescents across Europe from 2000 to 2017. The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal. This study will use data exclusively from published research or institutional literature, so institutional ethical approval is not required

Microparticle subpopulations are potential markers of disease progression and vascular dysfunction across a spectrum of connective tissue disease

OBJECTIVE: Microparticles (MPs) are membrane-bound vesicles derived from vascular and intravascular cells such as endothelial cells (EMPs) and platelets (PMPs). We investigated EMP and PMP numbers across a spectrum of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) with the aim of comparing the levels of, and relationship between, EMPs and PMPs.METHODS: Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) (n = 24), Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) (n = 24), Primary Raynauds Phenomenon (RP) (n = 17) and "other CTD" (n = 15) (Primary Sjogrens Syndrome, UCTD or MCTD) as well as 15 healthy controls were recruited. EMPs and PMPs were quantified using flow cytometry. Associations between MP levels and objective functional vascular assessments were evaluated.RESULTS: SLE patients had significantly higher EMPs compared with healthy controls and SSc patients. Higher PMP levels were noted in SSc and primary RP when compared to healthy controls and 'other CTD' patients. A modest correlation was noted between EMP and PMP levels in healthy controls (Spearman r = 0.6, p = 0.017). This relationship appeared stronger in SLE (r = 0.72, p &lt; 0.0001) and other CTD patients (r = 0.75, p &lt; 0.0001). The association between EMPs and PMPs was notably less strong in SSc (r = 0.45, p = 0.014) and RP (r = 0.37, p = 0.15). A significantly lower EMP/PMP ratio was detected in SSc/RP patients in comparison to both healthy controls and SLE/other CTD patients. Higher EMP and PMP levels were associated with higher digital perfusion following cold challenge in SSc. In contrast, higher PMP (but not EMP) levels were associated with lower digital perfusion at both baseline and following cold challenge in primary RP. Higher PMP levels were associated with greater endothelial-independent dilation in patients with SLE.CONCLUSION: MP populations differ across the spectrum of AIRDS, possibly reflecting differences in vascular cell injury and activation. MP levels are associated with functional assessments of vascular function and might have a role as novel vascular biomarkers in AIRDs.SIGNIFICANCE AND INNOVATIONS: Levels of circulating endothelial and platelet microparticles differ between SSc/primary RP compared with SLE and other CTDs (UCTD, MCTD and Primary Sjogrens). MP release may occur within different vascular sites across these disease groups (macrovascular and microvascular). The association between circulating MP levels and objective assessment of macro- and microvascular dysfunction within these disease areas suggests that MPs might have a useful role as novel circulating biomarkers of vascular disease within the CTDs.</p

Densification of WC-Fe-Ni-Co-Cr cemented carbides processed by HIP after sintering: effect of WC powder particle size

Shrinkage, liquid formation and mass losses of WC-19 vol% FeNiCoCr alloys during sintering have been inves- tigated in compositions either with coarse or submicron WC powders. Mass losses detected by thermogravimetry are compatible with carbothermal reduction of the different oxides present in the powder mixtures. Hardness and fracture toughness of materials based on submicron WC powders are within tolerances of those reported for WC- Co materials with similar microstructures. However, fracture strength is approx. 25% lower

Correction to: Dimensions of leisure-time physical activity and risk of depression in the “Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra” (SUN) prospective cohort

After publication of our article [1] we have been notified that Table 2 was incorrectly formatte

Removal of nutrients and pesticides from agricultural runoff using microalgae and cyanobacteria

The use of pesticides in agriculture has ensured the production of different crops. However, pesticides have become an emerging public health problem for Latin American countries due to their excessive use, inadequate application, toxic characteristics, and minimal residue control. The current project evaluates the ability of two strains of algae (Chlorella and Scenedesmus sp.) and one cyanobacteria (Hapalosyphon sp.) to remove excess pesticides and other nutrients present in runoff water from rice production. Different concentrations of wastewater and carbon sources (Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 ) were evaluated. According to the results, all three strains can be grown in wastewater without dilution (100%), with a biomass concentration comparable to a synthetic medium. All three strains significantly reduced the concentration of NO3 and PO4 (95 and 85%, respectively), with no difference between Na2CO3 or NaHCO3 . Finally, Chlorella sp. obtained the highest removal efficiency of the pesticide (Chlorpyrifos), followed by Scenedesmus and Hapalosyphon sp. (100, 75, and 50%, respectively). This work shows that it is possible to use this type of waste as an alternative source of nutrients to obtain biomass and metabolites of interest, such as lipids and carbohydrates, to produce biofuels

2-Mercaptomethyl-thiazolidines use conserved aromatic-S interactions to achieve broad-range inhibition of metallo-β-lactamases

Infections caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria are a major public health threat. Carbapenems are among the most potent antimicrobial agents that are commercially available to treat MDR bacteria. Bacterial production of carbapenem-hydrolysing metallo-b-lactamases (MBLs) challenges their safety and efficacy, with subclass B1 MBLs hydrolysing almost all b-lactam antibiotics. MBL inhibitors would fulfil an urgent clinical need by prolonging the lifetime of these life-saving drugs. Here we report the synthesis and activity of a series of 2-mercaptomethyl-thiazolidines (MMTZs), designed to replicate MBL interactions with reaction intermediates or hydrolysis products. MMTZs are potent competitive inhibitors of B1 MBLs in vitro (e.g., Ki ¼ 0.44 mM vs. NDM-1). Crystal structures of MMTZ complexes reveal similar binding patterns to the most clinically important B1 MBLs (NDM-1, VIM-2 and IMP-1), contrasting with previously studied thiol-based MBL inhibitors, such as bisthiazolidines (BTZs) or captopril stereoisomers, which exhibit lower, more variable potencies and multiple binding modes. MMTZ binding involves thiol coordination to the Zn(II) site and extensive hydrophobic interactions, burying the inhibitor more deeply within the active site than D/L-captopril. Unexpectedly, MMTZ binding features a thioether–p interaction with a conserved active-site aromatic residue, consistent with their equipotent inhibition and similar binding to multiple MBLs. MMTZs penetrate multiple Enterobacterales, inhibit NDM-1 in situ, and restore carbapenem potency against clinical isolates expressing B1 MBLs. Based on their inhibitory profile and lack of eukaryotic cell toxicity, MMTZs represent a promising scaffold for MBL inhibitor development. These results also suggest sulphur–p interactions can be exploited for general ligand design in medicinal chemistry

Microparticles induce pulmonary artery contraction through activation of acid sphingomyelinase and inhibition of Kv currents

National audienc

Body Composition Indices and Single and Clustered Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Adolescents: Providing Clinical-Based Cut-Points

ArticleThe aims of the present study in adolescents were 1) to examine how various body composition-screening tests relate to single and clustered cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, 2) to examine how lean mass and body fatness (independently of each other) relate to clustered CVD risk factors and, 3) to calculate specific thresholds for body composition indices associated with an unhealthier clustered CVD risk. We measured 1089 European adolescents (46.7% boys, 12.5-17.49yr) in 2006-2007. CVD risk factors included: systolic blood pressure, maximum oxygen uptake, homeostasis model assessment, C-reactive protein (n=748), total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides. Body composition indices included: height, body mass index (BMI), lean mass, the sum of four skinfolds, central/peripheral skinfolds, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Most body composition indices are associated with single CVD risk factors. The sum of four skinfolds, WHtR, BMI, WC and lean mass are strong and positively associated with clustered CVD risk. Interestingly, lean mass is positively associated with clustered CVD risk independently of body fatness in girls. Moderate and highly accurate thresholds for the sum of four skinfolds, WHtR, BMI, WC and lean mass are associated with an unhealthier clustered CVD risk (all AUC > 0.773). In conclusion, our results support an association between most of the assessed body composition indices and single and clustered CVD risk factors. In addition, lean mass (independent of body fatness) is positively associated with clustered CVD risk in girls, which is a novel finding that helps to understand why an index such as BMI is a good index of CVD risk but a bad index of adiposity. Moderate to highly accurate thresholds for body composition indices associated with a healthier clustered CVD risk were found. Further studies with a longitudinal design are needed to confirm these findings