Software Radio para antenas inteligentes en comunicaciones personales multistandard

Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The Earth as an extrasolar transiting planet - II: HARPS and UVES detection of water vapor, biogenic O2_2, and O3_3

The atmospheric composition of transiting exoplanets can be characterized during transit by spectroscopy. For the transit of an Earth twin, models predict that biogenic $O_2$ and $O_3$ should be detectable, as well as water vapour, a molecule linked to habitability as we know it on Earth. The aim is to measure the Earth radius versus wavelength $\lambda$ - or the atmosphere thickness $h(\lambda)$ - at the highest spectral resolution available to fully characterize the signature of Earth seen as a transiting exoplanet. We present observations of the Moon eclipse of 21-12-2010. Seen from the Moon, the Earth eclipses the Sun and opens access to the Earth atmosphere transmission spectrum. We used HARPS and UVES spectrographs to take penumbra and umbra high-resolution spectra from 3100 to 10400 Ang. A change of the quantity of water vapour above the telescope compromised the quality of the UVES data. We corrected for this effect in the data processing. We analyzed the data by 3 different methods. The 1st method is based on the analysis of pairs of penumbra spectra. The 2nd makes use of a single penumbra spectrum, and the 3rd of all penumbra and umbra spectra. Profiles $h(\lambda)$ are obtained with the three methods for both instruments. The 1st method gives the best result, in agreement with a model. The second method seems to be more sensitive to the Doppler shift of solar spectral lines with respect to the telluric lines. The 3rd method makes use of umbra spectra which bias the result, but it can be corrected for this a posteriori from results with the first method. The 3 methods clearly show the spectral signature of the Rayleigh scattering in the Earth atmosphere and the bands of H$_2$O, O$_2$, and O$_3$. Sodium is detected. Assuming no atmospheric perturbations, we show that the E-ELT is theoretically able to detect the $O_2$ A-band in 8~h of integration for an Earth twin at 10pc.Comment: Final version accepted for publication in A&A - 21 pages, 27 figures. Abstract above slightly shortened wrt the original. The ArXiv version has low resolution figures, but a version with full resolution figures is available here: http://www.obs-hp.fr/~larnold/publi_to_download/eclipse2010_AA_v5_final.pd

Localized thinning for strain concentration in suspended germanium membranes and optical method for precise thickness measurement

We deposited Ge layers on (001) Si substrates by molecular beam epitaxy and used them to fabricate suspended membranes with high uniaxial tensile strain. We demonstrate a CMOS-compatible fabrication strategy to increase strain concentration and to eliminate the Ge buffer layer near the Ge/Si hetero-interface deposited at low temperature. This is achieved by a two-steps patterning and selective etching process. First, a bridge and neck shape is patterned in the Ge membrane, then the neck is thinned from both top and bottom sides. Uniaxial tensile strain values higher than 3% were measured by Raman scattering in a Ge membrane of 76 nm thickness. For the challenging thickness measurement on micrometer-size membranes suspended far away from the substrate a characterization method based on pump-and-probe reflectivity measurements was applied, using an asynchronous optical sampling technique.EC/FP7/628197/EU/Heat Propagation and Thermal Conductivity in Nanomaterials for Nanoscale Energy Management/HEATPRONAN

Future challenges in cephalopod research

We thank Anto´nio M. de Frias Martins, past President of the Unitas Malacologica and Peter Marko, President of the American Malacological Society for organizing the 2013 World Congress of Malacology, and the Cephalopod International Advisory Committee for endorsing a symposium held in honour of Malcolm R. Clarke. In particular, we would like to thank the many professional staff from the University of the Azores for their hospitality, organization, troubleshooting and warm welcome to the Azores. We also thank Malcolm Clarke’s widow, Dorothy, his daughter Zoe¨, Jose´ N. Gomes-Pereira and numerous colleagues and friends of Malcolm’s from around the world for joining us at Ponta Delgada. We are grateful to Lyndsey Claro (Princeton University Press) for granting copyright permissions.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Differential Lipid Partitioning Between Adipocytes and Tissue Macrophages Modulates Macrophage Lipotoxicity and M2/M1 Polarization in Obese Mice

Objective: obesity-associated insulin resistance is characterized by a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation that is associated with the accumulation of M1 proinflammatory macrophages in adipose tissue. Although different evidence explains the mechanisms linking the expansion of adipose tissue and adipose tissue macrophage (ATM) polarization, in the current study we investigated the concept of lipid-induced toxicity as the pathogenic link that could explain the trigger of this response. Research design and methods: we addressed this question using isolated ATMs and adipocytes from genetic and diet-induced murine models of obesity. Through transcriptomic and lipidomic analysis, we created a model integrating transcript and lipid species networks simultaneously occurring in adipocytes and ATMs and their reversibility by thiazolidinedione treatment. Results: we show that polarization of ATMs is associated with lipid accumulation and the consequent formation of foam cell-like cells in adipose tissue. Our study reveals that early stages of adipose tissue expansion are characterized by M2-polarized ATMs and that progressive lipid accumulation within ATMs heralds the M1 polarization, a macrophage phenotype associated with severe obesity and insulin resistance. Furthermore, rosiglitazone treatment, which promotes redistribution of lipids toward adipocytes and extends the M2 ATM polarization state, prevents the lipid alterations associated with M1 ATM polarization. Conclusions:our data indicate that the M1 ATM polarization in obesity might be a macrophage-specific manifestation of a more general lipotoxic pathogenic mechanism. This indicates that strategies to optimize fat deposition and repartitioning toward adipocytes might improve insulin sensitivity by preventing ATM lipotoxicity and M1 polarization.</p

Cervical electrical neuromodulation effectively enhances hand motor output in healthy subjects by engaging a use-dependent intervention

Electrical enabling motor control (eEmc) through transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation is a non-invasive method that can modify the functional state of the sensory-motor system. We hypothesize that eEmc delivery, together with hand training, improves hand function in healthy subjects more than either intervention alone by inducing plastic changes at spinal and cortical levels. Ten voluntary participants were included in the following three interventions: (i) hand grip training, (ii) eEmc, and (iii) eEmc with hand training. Functional evaluation included the box and blocks test (BBT) and hand grip maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), spinal and cortical motor evoked potential (sMEP and cMEP), and resting motor thresholds (RMT), short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), and F wave in the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. eEmc combined with hand training retained MVC and increased F wave amplitude and persistency, reduced cortical RMT and facilitated cMEP amplitude. In contrast, eEmc alone only increased F wave amplitude, whereas hand training alone reduced MVC and increased cortical RMT and SICI. In conclusion, eEmc combined with hand grip training enhanced hand motor output and induced plastic changes at spinal and cortical level in healthy subjects when compared to either intervention alone. These data suggest that electrical neuromodulation changes spinal and, perhaps, supraspinal networks to a more malleable state, while a concomitant use-dependent mechanism drives these networks to a higher functional state

Transcutaneous Electrical Neuromodulation of the Cervical Spinal Cord Depends Both on the Stimulation Intensity and the Degree of Voluntary Activity for Training. A Pilot Study

Electrical enabling motor control (eEmc) through transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation offers promise in improving hand function. However, it is still unknown which stimulus intensity or which muscle force level could be better for this improvement. Nine healthy individuals received the following interventions: (i) eEmc intensities at 80%, 90% and 110% of abductor pollicis brevis motor threshold combined with hand training consisting in 100% handgrip strength; (ii) hand training consisting in 100% and 50% of maximal handgrip strength combined with 90% eEmc intensity. The evaluations included box and blocks test (BBT), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), F wave persistency, F/M ratio, spinal and cortical motor evoked potentials (MEP), recruitment curves of spinal MEP and cortical MEP and short-interval intracortical inhibition. The results showed that: (i) 90% eEmc intensity increased BBT, MVC, F wave persistency, F/M ratio and cortical MEP recruitment curve; 110% eEmc intensity increased BBT, F wave persistency and cortical MEP and recruitment curve of cortical MEP; (ii) 100% handgrip strength training significantly modulated MVC, F wave persistency, F/M wave and cortical MEP recruitment curve in comparison to 50% handgrip strength. In conclusion, eEmc intensity and muscle strength during training both influence the results for neuromodulation at the cervical level

Resistência ao glyphosate em biótipos de buva (Conyza spp.) das regiões oeste e sudoeste do Paraná.

A resistência ao glyphosate em biótipos de Conyza spp. em áreas de lavoura das regiões oeste e sudoeste do Paraná causa grandes dificuldades ao manejo e, consequentemente, problemas econômicos e ambientais. Este experimento objetivou determinar a existência de resistência ao herbicida glyphosate em biótipos de buva (Conyza spp.) suspeitos, coletados em lavouras das regiões oeste e sudoeste do Paraná, comparando-os com biótipos suscetíveis. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 12 x 8 x 3. Os fatores consistiram de 12 biótipos de buva, doses de glyphosate (0, 100, 180, 324, 583, 1.050, 1.888 e 3.345 g ha-1) e épocas de avaliação para a variável controle (7, 14 e 21 dias após a aplicação). Para as variáveis matéria verde e matéria seca, o esquema fatorial utilizado foi o 12 x 8. As variáveis avaliadas foram controle visual, matéria verde, matéria seca, C50, GR50 e fator de resistência. A dose de 3.345 g glyphosate ha-1 foi a que apresentou maior nível de controle dos biótipos, porém o controle dos biótipos suspeitos não foi efetivo, necessitando de doses mais altas. Todos os biótipos de buva suspeitos de resistência ao glyphosate tiveram essa característica confirmada. Entretanto, constatou-se grande amplitude de fatores de resistência, o que caracteriza a variabilidade entre os biótipos resistentes. Essas informações poderão ser utilizadas no planejamento de estratégias de manejo das populações resistentes e na prevenção da ocorrência de novas áreas com buva resistente ao glyphosate. Resistance to Glyphosate in Conyza spp. biotypes in Western and Southwestern, Brazil. Glyphosate-resistant biotypes of Conyza spp. (hairy fleabane, horseweed) in crop areas in the western and southwestern regions of the state of Paraná, Brazil, cause great management, economic, and environmental problems. This experiment aimed to determine the existence of horseweed biotypes resistant to glyphosate in the suspected populations collected from farms in western and southwestern Parana, comparing them with susceptible biotypes. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial 12 x 8 x 3. The factors consisted of twelve biotypes of horseweed, eight glyphosate doses (0, 100, 180, 324, 583, 1.050, 1.888, and 3.345 g ha-1) and three evaluation periods for the control (7, 14 and 21 days after application). For the fresh and dry matter variables, the factorial design used was 12 x 8. The variables evaluated were visual inspection, fresh and dry matter, C50, GR50 and resistance factor. The dose of 3.345 g glyphosate ha-1 presented the highest control levels of all biotypes, but the control of the suspected biotypes was not effective, requiring higher doses. All the horseweed biotypes suspected of resistance to glyphosate have confirmed this feature. However, a wide range of resistance factors was verified, characterizing the variability among the resistant biotypes. This information may be used for planning management strategies of resistant populations, as well as in preventing the occurrence of new areas infested with glyphosate-resistant horseweed

Chronic kidney disease has a graded association with death and cardiovascular outcomes in stable coronary artery disease: an analysis of 21,911 patients from the CLARIFY registry

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk in a broad spectrum of populations. However, the risk associated with a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with stable coronary artery disease receiving standard care in the modern era, independently of baseline cardiovascular disease, risk factors, and comorbidities, remains unclear. We analyzed data from 21,911 patients with stable coronary artery disease, enrolled in 45 countries between November 2009 and July 2010 in the CLARIFY registry. Patients with abnormal renal function were older, with more comorbidities, and received slightly lower—although overall high—rates of evidence-based secondary prevention therapies than patients with normal renal function. The event rate of patients with CKD stage 3b or more (eGFR &lt;45 mL/min/1.73 m2) was much higher than that associated with any comorbid condition. In a multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, lower eGFR was independently associated with a graded increased risk of cardiovascular mortality, with adjusted HRs (95% CI) of 0.98 (0.81–1.18), 1.31 (1.05–1.63), 1.77 (1.38–2.27), and 3.12 (2.25–4.33) for eGFR 60–89, 45–59, 30–44, and &lt;30 mL/min/1.73 m2, compared with eGFR ≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2. A strong graded independent relationship exists between the degree of CKD and cardiovascular mortality in this large cohort of patients with chronic coronary artery disease, despite high rates of secondary prevention therapies. Among clinical risk factors and comorbid conditions, CKD stage 3b or more is associated with the highest cardiovascular mortality