The Offline Software Framework of the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Pierre Auger Observatory is designed to unveil the nature and the origins of the highest energy cosmic rays. The large and geographically dispersed collaboration of physicists and the wide-ranging collection of simulation and reconstruction tasks pose some special challenges for the offline analysis software. We have designed and implemented a general purpose framework which allows collaborators to contribute algorithms and sequencing instructions to build up the variety of applications they require. The framework includes machinery to manage these user codes, to organize the abundance of user-contributed configuration files, to facilitate multi-format file handling, and to provide access to event and time-dependent detector information which can reside in various data sources. A number of utilities are also provided, including a novel geometry package which allows manipulation of abstract geometrical objects independent of coordinate system choice. The framework is implemented in C++, and takes advantage of object oriented design and common open source tools, while keeping the user side simple enough for C++ novices to learn in a reasonable time. The distribution system incorporates unit and acceptance testing in order to support rapid development of both the core framework and contributed user code.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, presented at IEEE NSS/MIC, 23-29 October 2005, Puerto Ric

First report of Raoiella indica (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) in southeastern Brazil.

Scientific Notes

Fertility Control Options for Management of Free-roaming Horse Populations

The management of free-roaming horses (Equus ferus) and burros (E. asinus) in the United States has been referred to as a “wicked problem” because, although there are population control options, societal values will ultimately determine what is acceptable and what is not. In the United States, free-roaming equids are managed by different types of organizations and agencies, and the landscapes that these animals inhabit vary widely in terms of access, size, topography, climate, natural resources, flora, and fauna. This landscape diversity, coupled with contemporary socioeconomic and political environments, means that adaptive management practices are needed to regulate these free-roaming populations. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) currently manages free-roaming equids on 177 herd management areas in the United States by applying fertility control measures in situ and/or removing horses, which are either adopted by private individuals or sent to long-term holding facilities. The BLM off-range population currently includes \u3e50,000 animals and costs approximately $50 million USD per year to maintain; on-range equid numbers were estimated in March 2022 to be approximately 82,384. On-range populations can grow at 15–20% annually, and current estimates far exceed the designated appropriate management level of 26,715. To reduce population recruitment, managers need better information about effective, long-lasting or permanent fertility control measures. Because mares breed only once a year, fertility control studies take years to complete. Some contraceptive approaches have been studied for decades, and results from various trials can collectively inform future research directions and actions. Employing 1 or more fertility control tools in concert with removals offers the best potential for success. Active, iterative, cooperative, and thoughtful management practices can protect free-roaming horses while simultaneously protecting the habitat. Herein, we review contraceptive vaccines, intrauterine devices, and surgical sterilization options for controlling fertility of free-roaming horses. This review provides managers with a “fertility control toolbox” and guides future research

Clinical safety of dichlorvos (45%), cypermethrin (5%) and piperonyl butoxide (25%) administered by spray on the skin of cattle

ABSTRACT Objective. Due to the importance of controlling ectoparasites, associated with the necessity of technical knowledge on the safety of topical treatment with organophosphates, pyrethroids and piperonyl butoxide to the animal organism, this bioassay was carried out to evaluate the clinical safety of the association of dichlorvos (45%) + cypermethrin (5%) + piperonyl butoxide (25%) administered by spray on the skin of cattle, through the study of clinical parameters, biochemical, haematological and behavioral changes. Materials and methods. Sixteen crossbred animals with a mean age of 18 months, males and females grouped into two treatments with eight animals each: T1 (1:800 v/v) and T2 (1:200 v/v). Were collected blood samples at six different times: before treatment (BT), 24, 48, 72, 96 and 192 hours post treatment (HPT). Results. The antiparasitic association administered by spray on the skin did not result in changes in the enzymatic activity of ALT, AST, GGT and ALP, as well as in serum albumin, triglycerides, cholesterol, urea and creatinine, demonstrating the safety of this antiparasitic compound for maintaining hepatic and renal functionality. The erythrocyte, leukocyte and platelet studies showed no changes caused by treatments, and no clinical signs and behavioral changes were observed after treatment. Conclusions. These findings demonstrated good safety margin for spray treatment on the skin with this antiparasitic compound, even when administered at a dilution of 1:200 v/v, which is four times the dose recommended for ectoparasite control

Reduced Expression of the Vesicular Acetylcholine Transporter and Neurotransmitter Content Affects Synaptic Vesicle Distribution and Shape in Mouse Neuromuscular Junction

In vertebrates, nerve muscle communication is mediated by the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine packed inside synaptic vesicles by a specific vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT). Here we used a mouse model (VAChT KDHOM) with 70% reduction in the expression of VAChT to investigate the morphological and functional consequences of a decreased acetylcholine uptake and release in neuromuscular synapses. Upon hypertonic stimulation, VAChT KDHOM mice presented a reduction in the amplitude and frequency of miniature endplate potentials, FM 1-43 staining intensity, total number of synaptic vesicles and altered distribution of vesicles within the synaptic terminal. In contrast, under electrical stimulation or no stimulation, VAChT KDHOM neuromuscular junctions did not differ from WT on total number of vesicles but showed altered distribution. Additionally, motor nerve terminals in VAChT KDHOM exhibited small and flattened synaptic vesicles similar to that observed in WT mice treated with vesamicol that blocks acetylcholine uptake. Based on these results, we propose that decreased VAChT levels affect synaptic vesicle biogenesis and distribution whereas a lower ACh content affects vesicles shape

Chagas Cardiomyopathy in the Context of the Chronic Disease Transition

Latin America is undergoing a transition from disease patterns characteristic of developing countries with high rates of infectious disease and premature deaths to a pattern more like industrialized countries, in which chronic conditions such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes are more common. Many rural residents with Chagas disease have now migrated to cities, taken on new habits and may suffer from both types of disease. We studied heart disease among 394 adults seen by cardiologists in a public hospital in the city of Santa Cruz, Bolivia; 64% were infected with T. cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Both T. cruzi infected and uninfected patients had a high rate of hypertension (64%) and overweight (67%), with no difference by infection status. Nearly 60% of symptomatic congestive heart failure was due to Chagas disease; mortality was also higher for infected than uninfected patients. Males and older patients had more severe Chagas heart disease. Chagas heart disease remains an important cause of congestive heart failure in this hospital population, but often occurs in patients who also have obesity, hypertension and/or other cardiac risk factors

Análisis de los servicios de test del VIH de cinco centros comunitarios españoles para la mejora de nuevas estrategias de promoción del diagnóstico precoz

Background: In recent years, the number of people tested for HIV has experienced a significant increase. The purpose of this study is to analyze data obtained in Spain in the HIV testing services of five Community Centres members of Agrupación Prueba de VIHda throughout 2014 and 2015,to determine its effectiveness and to characterize the subpopulation with a HIV reactive result. Study design and methods: agrupación Prueba de VIHda performed free, anonymous and confidential HIV tests according to the Consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services of WHO (2015). Data were collected using the questionnaire of the COBATEST network, developed by the COBATEST Project, and its significance was determined statistically. Results: 3061 HIV tests were performed during 2014 and 2015, with a prevalence of reactive results of 2.5%. Heterosexual and bisexual men got tested at older ages than homosexual men and women. Non-Spanish origin seems to be a risk factor for HIV infection within the sample. Bisexual men showed as high prevalence of reactive test as homosexual men, as well as they reported less previous HIV tests. Finally, index testing performed by HIV positive peer educators to the sexual partners of newly diagnosed patients showed higher prevalence than that of the classical Voluntary Counselling and Testing approach outreach most at risk populations. Conclusion:The analysis of the data shows higher prevalence of reactive results in people of non-Spanish origin compared to that of the Spanish subgroup, the former still facing barriers to access the public health system in Spain. It also demonstrates the need of new and adapted approaches for promoting early diagnosis specifically in bisexual men. Index testing by peer HIV positive educators is a highly effective method for testing people at high risk of acquiring HIV infection.Antecedentes: En los últimos años, el número de personas sometidas a pruebas frente al VIH ha experimentado un aumento significativo. El propósito de este estudio es analizar los datos de prevalencia de la infección por VIH obtenidos por cinco centros comunitarios en España pertenecientes a la Agrupación Prueba de VIHda entre 2014 y 2015, determinar su efectividad y caracterizar la subpoblación con un resultado preliminar reactivo. Diseño experimental y métodos: La Agrupación Prueba de VIHda realizó pruebas de VIH gratuitas, anónimas y confidenciales de acuerdo con las directrices consolidadas por la OMS (2015). Los datos fueron recogidos mediante el cuestionario desarrollado por el Proyecto COBATEST y su significación se determinó estadísticamente. Resultados: Durante 2014 y 2015 se realizaron un total de 3061 pruebas frente al VIH, obteniendo una prevalencia de resultados preliminares positivos del 2,5%. Los hombres heterosexuales y bisexuales se realizaron la prueba a edades más avanzadas que los hombres homosexuales y las mujeres. Las personas de origen no español parecieron mostrar un mayor riesgo de infección frente al VIH. Hombres bisexuales mostraron una prevalencia elevada similar a la de hombres homosexuales, así como declararon menos pruebas anteriores frente al VIH. Finalmente, las pruebas realizadas a través de indextesting por los educadores pares de VIH a parejas sexuales de pacientes recién diagnosticados mostraron una prevalencia superior a la obtenida por el modelo tradicional de counselling y testado voluntario ofrecido desde los centros comunitarios a poblaciones de mayor riesgo. Conclusión: El análisis de los datos muestra mayores prevalencias de resultados preliminares reactivos en personas de origen no español comparadas con aquellas del subgrupo de personas españolas, el primero de ellos todavía enfrentando barreras de acceso al sistema sanitario público en España, El análisis también demuestra la necesidad de nuevos enfoques adaptados para promover el diagnóstico precoz especialmente entre hombres bisexuales. Las pruebas realizadas a través de indextesting por educadores pares VIH positivos es un método muy eficaz para el testado de las personas con alto riesgo de contraer la infección por VIH

Tumor-derived exosomes confer antigen-specific immunosuppression in a murine delayed-type hypersensitivity model

Exosomes are endosome-derived small membrane vesicles that are secreted by most cell types including tumor cells. Tumor-derived exosomes usually contain tumor antigens and have been used as a source of tumor antigens to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses. However, many reports also suggest that tumor-derived exosomes can facilitate tumor immune evasion through different mechanisms, most of which are antigen-independent. In the present study we used a mouse model of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and demonstrated that local administration of tumor-derived exosomes carrying the model antigen chicken ovalbumin (OVA) resulted in the suppression of DTH response in an antigen-specific manner. Analysis of exosome trafficking demonstrated that following local injection, tumor-derived exosomes were internalized by CD11c+ cells and transported to the draining LN. Exosome-mediated DTH suppression is associated with increased mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and IL-4 in the draining LN. The tumor-derived exosomes examined were also found to inhibit DC maturation. Taken together, our results suggest a role for tumor-derived exosomes in inducing tumor antigen-specific immunosuppression, possibly by modulating the function of APCs. © 2011 Yang et al

“Emotional Exhaustion and Perceived Corporate Social Responsibility: A Case Study of a Port Logistics Organization”

In an era of economic crisis, and at the shadow of major ethical scandals in organizations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy has emerged as a crucial element to reestablish the bond between corporations and all other stakeholders such as the local community, society and labor force. Crisis makes employees more stressful, since they work on unwarranted jobs causing them emotional exhaustion. This study aims to examine the association between employee emotional exhaustion and perceived corporate social responsibility (CSR). For this purpose, this study conducted a survey which examines if CSR (ethical, social, environmental dimensions) is negatively related to emotional exhaustion of employees on a sample of 93 employees of a port logistics management services organization. A structured questionnaire was developed in order to measure emotional exhaustion and employee perceptions about CSR activities. Building on the claim that employee perceptions of CSR activities may significantly related to emotional state, this paper examines three CSR dimensions (social, ethical and environmental) and emotional exhaustion. The results of this study indicate that environmental CSR exerts a negative significant effect on Emotional exhaustion. These finding will be of great value as they can contribute on understanding the impact of environmental CSR on emotional exhaustion with detrimental effects on employees’ productivity, job performance, and creativity. The importance of CSR environmental aspects and the relative strategies guiding CSR impact on emotional exhaustion affecting job-related outcomes are also discussed