929 research outputs found
Kraus decomposition for chaotic environments
We consider a system interacting with a chaotic thermodynamic bath. We derive
an explicit and exact Kraus operator sum representation (OSR) for the open
system reduced density. The OSR preserves the Hermiticity, complete positivity
and norm. We show that it is useful as a numerical tool by testing it against
exact results for a qubit interacting with an isolated flawed quantum computer.
We also discuss some interesting qualitative aspects of the OSR
Effective weight loss after treatment with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist in a morbidly obese and diabetic patient before bariatric surgery: a case report
Covalent functionalization of decellularized tissues accelerates endothelialization
[EN] In the field of tissue regeneration, the lack of a stable endothelial lining may affect the hemocompatibility of both synthetic and biological replacements. These drawbacks might be prevented by specific biomaterial functionalization to induce selective endothelial cell (EC) adhesion. Decellularized bovine pericardia and porcine aortas were selectively functionalized with a REDV tetrapeptide at 10(-5) M and 10(-6) M working concentrations. The scaffold-bound peptide was quantified and REDV potential EC adhesion enhancement was evaluated in vitro by static seeding of human umbilical vein ECs. The viable cells and MTS production were statistically higher in functionalized tissues than in control. Scaffold histoarchitecture, geometrical features, and mechanical properties were unaffected by peptide anchoring. The selective immobilization of REDV was effective in accelerating ECs adhesion while promoting proliferation in functionalized decellularized tissues intended for blood-contacting applications.JLGR acknowledges financial support from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) through the PID2019-106099RB-C41/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 project. CIBER-BBN is an initiative funded by the VI National R&D&I Plan 2008-2011, Iniciativa Ingenio 2010, Consolider Program. CIBER Actions are financed by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund.Dal Sasso, E.; Zamuner, A.; Filippi, A.; Romanato, F.; Palmosi, T.; Vedovelli, L.; Gregori, D.... (2021). Covalent functionalization of decellularized tissues accelerates endothelialization. Bioactive materials. 6(11):3851-3864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.04.003S3851386461
and Oxygen Stoichiometry: Structure, Resistivity, Fermi Surface Topology and Normal State Properties
(2212) single crystal samples
were studied using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), plane
() and axis () resistivity, and high resolution
angle-resolved ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (ARUPS). TEM reveals that
the modulation in the axis for doped 2212 is dominantly
of type that is not sensitive to the oxygen content of the system, and the
system clearly shows a structure of orthorhombic symmetry. Oxygen annealed
samples exhibit a much lower axis resistivity and a resistivity minimum at
K. He-annealed samples exhibit a much higher axis resistivity and
behavior below 300K. The Fermi surface (FS) of oxygen annealed
2212 mapped out by ARUPS has a pocket in the FS around the
point and exhibits orthorhombic symmetry. There are flat, parallel sections of
the FS, about 60\% of the maximum possible along , and about 30\%
along . The wavevectors connecting the flat sections are about
along , and about along , rather than . The symmetry of the near-Fermi-energy dispersing
states in the normal state changes between oxygen-annealed and He-annealed
samples.Comment: APS_REVTEX 3.0, 49 pages, including 11 figures, available upon
request. Submitted to Phys. Rev. B
Change in Blood Pressure and Pulse Pressure in Preterm Infants After Treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosus With Indomethacin
The impact of physical, psychological, and sexual intimate partner violence on women's mental health: depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder, state anxiety, and suicide
Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact of lifetime physical, psychological, and
sexual intimate male partner violence (IPV) on the mental health of women, after controlling
for the contribution of lifetime victimization. The comorbidity of depressive symptoms and
posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their relation to state anxiety and suicide were also
assessed.
Methods: Physically/psychologically (n 75) and psychologically abused women (n 55)
were compared with nonabused control women (n 52). Information about sociodemographic
characteristics, lifetime victimization, and mental health status (depressive and state anxiety
symptoms, PTSD, and suicide) was obtained through face-to-face structured interviews.
Results: Women exposed to physical/psychological and psychological IPV had a higher incidence
and severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms, PTSD, and thoughts of suicide than
control women, with no differences between the two abused groups. The concomitance of
sexual violence was associated with a higher severity of depressive symptoms in both abused
groups and a higher incidence of suicide attempts in the physically/psychologically abused
group. The incidence of PTSD alone was very rare, and depressive symptoms were either
alone or comorbid with PTSD. The severity of state anxiety was higher in abused women
with depressive symptoms or comorbidity, as was the incidence of suicidal thoughts in the
physically/psychologically abused group. Lifetime victimization was not a predictor of the
deterioration of mental health in this study.
Conclusions: These findings indicate that psychological IPV is as detrimental as physical
IPV, with the exception of effects on suicidality, which emphasizes that psychological IPV
should be considered a major type of violence by all professionals involved.Este es un artículo ampliamente citado internacionalmente respeto a violencia de pareja y consecuencias en la salud de las mujeres
Diet Quality and History of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Among Childbearing Women, United States, 2007–2010
Field Application of a Subunit Vaccine against an Enteric Protozoan Disease
Background: Coccidiosis is a major global veterinary health problem in intensively reared chickens. It is caused by apicomplexan parasites of the genus Eimeria. Principal Findings: A subunit vaccine composed of purified antigens from the gametocytes of Eimeria maxima was used to stimulate the production and transfer of maternal antibodies between breeding hens and their hatchlings. The vaccine was injected into hens twice before they began laying eggs. Immunization had no adverse affects on egg laying or health of the hens and resulted in high antibody levels throughout the life of the hens. Progeny of immunized hens excreted significantly less oocysts of various species of Eimeria in their faeces than chicks from unvaccinated hens. Furthermore, the offspring of vaccinated hens developed stronger natural immunity to Eimeria, so that they were resistant to challenge infection even at 8 weeks of age, well after all maternal antibodies had left their circulation. Field trials were conducted in South Africa, Brazil and Thailand, involving at least 1 million progeny of vaccinated hens and at least 1 million positive control birds (raised on feed containing anticoccidial drugs or immunized with a live vaccine) in each country. Additionally, trials were carried out in Israel involving 60 million progeny of vaccinated hens and 112 million positive control birds. There were no significant differences in growth rate, feed conversion ratios or mortality in the offspring of vaccinated hens compared with the positive control chickens in any of these countries regardless of different management practices, different breeds of chickens or climate. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that a vaccine composed of antigens purified from the gametocytes of Eimeria can be used safely and effectively to prevent the deleterious effects of coccidiosis. It is the first subunit vaccine against any protozoan parasite to be successfully applied on a commercial scale. © 2008 Wallach et al
Infection of Cultured Human Endothelial Cells by Legionella pneumophila
Legionella pneumophila is a gram-negative pathogen that causes a severe pneumonia known as Legionnaires' disease. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that L. pneumophila infects and grows within cultured human endothelial cells. Endothelial infection may contribute to lung damage observed during Legionnaires' disease and to systemic spread of this organism
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) and copolymers as porous membranes for tissue engineering applications
Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and its main copolymers - poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene), P(VDF-HFP), and poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene), P(VDF-TrFE) - were processed by solvent casting at room temperature in the form of porous membranes. Copolymer membranes showed higher degree of porosity than PVDF, the average pore size being larger for P(VDF-TrFE) than for P(VDF-HFP) and PVDF. All membranes show high hydrophobicity with water contact angles in the range 94° to 115°, and electroactive beta phase contents above 90%. The adhesion and proliferation of both C2C12 myoblast and MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblast cells on the membranes were investigated. It is demonstrated that PVDF membranes promote higher cell proliferation while P(VDF-HFP) membranes show the lowest proliferation for both kinds of cell. The proliferation on P(VDF-TrFE) membranes is cell dependent, higher for MC3T3-E1 cells but lower for C2C12 cells, related to the effect of the highly porous structure on the preferred morphology of each cell type, as the higher pore size and porosity of the P(VDF-TrFE) membrane induce cell elongation, which is preferred just by the C2C12 muscle cells.Funded by FEDER funds through the “Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade e
COMPETE” and by national funds arranged by FCT Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, project references PTDC/CTM-NAN/112574/2009 and PEST-C/FIS/UI607/2014.
Funding from “MateproOptimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000037”, co-funded by the “Programa Operacional Regional do Norte” (ON.2 e O Novo Norte), under the “Quadro de Referência Estrategico Nacional” (QREN), through the “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER). FCT for the SFRH/BPD/90870/2012 grant
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