Integral field spectroscopy of M1-67. A Wolf-Rayet nebula with LBVN appearance

This work aims to disentangle the morphological, kinematic, and chemical components of the nebula M1-67 to shed light on its process of formation around the central Wolf-Rayet (WR) star WR124. We have carried out integral field spectroscopy observations over two regions of M1-67, covering most of the nebula in the optical range. Maps of electron density, line ratios, and radial velocity were created to perform a detailed analysis of the two-dimensional structure. We studied the physical and chemical properties by means of integrated spectra selected over the whole nebula. Photoionization models were performed to confirm the empirical chemical results theoretically. In addition, we analysed infrared spectroscopic data and the MIPS 24micron image of M1-67 from Spitzer. We find that the ionized gas of M1-67 is condensed in knots aligned in a preferred axis along the NE-SW direction, like a bipolar structure. Both electron density and radial velocity decrease in this direction when moving away from the central star. From the derived electron temperature, Te~8200 K, we have estimated chemical abundances, obtaining that nitrogen appears strongly enriched and oxygen depleted. From the last two results, we infer that this bipolarity is the consequence of an ejection of an evolved stage of WR124 with material processed in the CNO cycle. The infrared study has revealed that the bipolar axis is composed of ionized gas with a low ionization degree that is well mixed with warm dust and of a spherical bubble surrounding the ejection at 24micron. Taking the evolution of a 60 Mo star and the temporal scale of the bipolar ejection into account, we propose that the observed gas was ejected during an eruption in the luminous blue variable. The star has entered the WR phase recently without apparent signs of interaction between WR-winds and interstellar material.Comment: Accepted for publication in section 6 of Astronomy and Astrophysics. The official date of acceptance is 15/03/2013. 17 pages, 14 figures and 8 table

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Influencia de la aplicación de ultrasonidos de potencia en las cinéticas de secado, el contenido polifenólico y la capacidad antioxidante de manzana (cv. Granny Smith)

[EN] The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of power ultrasound application on hot air drying kinetics of apple and polyphenol content and the antioxidant capacity of the dried product. For this purpose, apple (Malus domestica cv. Granny Smith) cubes (10 mm side) were dried in a convective drier, at constant air velocity (1 m/s), different temperatures (30, 50 and 70ºC), without (0 W) and with the application of power ultrasound (45 W and 75 W). Both high temperatures and power ultrasound application led to a significant (p<0.05) reduction of drying time and increased the effective moisture diffusivity. In overall terms, the antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content of apple samples was better preserved when the drying time was shortened. Therefore, ultrasonic application could be considered an adequate technology with which to intensify convective drying of apple preserving antioxidant capacity.[ES] El principal objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de ultrasonidos de potencia en las cinéticas de secado por aire caliente de manzana y en el contenido polifenólico y la capacidad antioxidante del producto seco. Para alcanzar este objetivo, se deshidrataron cubos (10 mm de arista) de manzana (Malus domestica cv. Granny Smith) en un secadero convectivo, a velocidad de aire constante (1 m/s), diferentes temperaturas (30, 50 y 70ºC), sin (0 W) y con la aplicación de ultrasonidos de potencia (45 W y 75 W). Tanto las altas temperaturas como la aplicación de ultrasonidos de potencia produjeron una significativa (p<0.05) reducción del tiempo de secado y aumentaron la difusividad efectiva. De manera general, se observó que la capacidad antioxidante y el contenido polifenólico de las muestras de manzana se conservaron mejor cuando se disminuyó el tiempo de secado. Por tanto, la aplicación de ultrasonidos se puede considerar una tecnología adecuada con la que se intensifica el secado convectivo de manzana y se conserva la capacidad antioxidante.Los autores agradecen al Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) su financiación para la realización de este trabajo a través de los proyectos DPI2009-14549-C04-01, DPI2009-14549-C04-02 y DPI2009-14549-C04-04, de igual manera a la Consellería de Innovación, Interior y Justicia de la CAIB por la beca predoctoral FPI y el Proyecto 57/2011.Santacatalina Bonet, JV.; Rodríguez, O.; Riera, E.; Simal, S.; García Pérez, JV. (2012). Influencia de la aplicación de ultrasonidos de potencia en las cinéticas de secado, el contenido polifenólico y la capacidad antioxidante de manzana (cv. Granny Smith). Revista de Acústica. 1-12. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/78949S11

Influence of the ultrasonic power applied on freeze drying kinetics

© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer-review under responsibility of the Scientific Committee of ICU 2015[EN] The atmospheric freeze drying (AFD) constitutes an interesting alternative to vacuum freeze drying providing products with similar quality at lowest cost. However, the long process time needed represent an important drawback. In this sense, the application of high intensity ultrasound can enhance heat and mass transfer and intensify the operation. In hot air drying operation, the ultrasonic effects are dependent on the process variables such as air velocity, internal sample structure or ultrasonic power applied. However, in AFD processes, the internal structure of material or the air velocity has not significant influence on the magnitude of ultrasonic effects. The aim of this work was to determine the influence on drying kinetics of the ultrasonic power applied during the AFD of apple. For that purpose, AFD experiments (-10ºC, 2 m/s and 15% relative humidity) of apple slabs (cv. Granny Smith, 30 x 30 x 10 mm) were carried out with ultrasound application (21 kHz) at different power levels (0, 10.3, 20.5 and 30.8 kW/m3). The drying kinetics was obtained from the initial moisture content and the weight evolution of samples during drying. Experimental results showed a significant (p<0.05) influence of the ultrasound application on drying. Thus, drying time was shorter as higher the ultrasonic power applied. From modeling, it was observed that the effective diffusion coefficient identified was 4.8 times higher when ultrasound was applied at the lowest power tested (10.3 kW/m3) that illustrated the high intensification potential of ultrasound application in the AFD.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from the project DPI2012-37466-CO3-03 and Generalitat Valenciana from the project PROMETEOII/2014/005.Brines, C.; Mulet Pons, A.; García Pérez, JV.; Riera, E.; Cárcel Carrión, JA. (2015). Influence of the ultrasonic power applied on freeze drying kinetics. Physics Procedia. 70:850-853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phpro.2015.08.174S8508537

Improvement of convective drying of carrot by applying power ultrasound. Influence of mass load density

[EN] Power ultrasound is considered to be a novel and promising technology with which to improve heat and mass transfer phenomena in drying processes. The aim of this work was to contribute to the knowledge of ultrasound application to air drying by addressing the influence of mass load density on the ultrasonically assisted air drying of carrot. Drying kinetics of carrot cubes were carried out (in triplicate) with or without power ultrasound application (75 W, 21.7 kHz) at 40 C, 1 m/s, and several mass load densities: 12, 24, 36, 42, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96, 108, and 120 kg/m3 . The experimental results showed a significant (p < 0.05) influence of both factors, mass load density and power ultrasound application, on drying kinetics. As expected, the increase of mass load density did not affect the effective moisture diffusivity (De, m2 /s) but produced a reduction of the mass transfer coefficient (k, kg water/m2 /s). This was explained by considering perturbations in the air flow through the drying chamber thus creating preferential pathways and, as a consequence, increasing external mass transfer resistance. On the other hand, it was found that the power ultrasound application increased the mass transfer coefficient and the effective moisture diffusivity regardless of the mass load density used. However, the influence of power ultrasound was not significant at the highest mass load densities tested (108 and 120 kg/m3 ), which may be explained from the high ratio (acoustic energy/sample mass) found under those experimental conditions. Therefore, the application of ultrasound was considered as a useful technology with which to improve the convective drying, although its effects may be reduced at high mass load densities.The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology (DPI2009-14549-C04-04) and the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (PAID-06-08-3180).Cárcel Carrión, JA.; García Pérez, JV.; Riera, E.; Mulet Pons, A. (2011). Improvement of convective drying of carrot by applying power ultrasound. Influence of mass load density. Drying Technology. 29(2):174-182. https://doi.org/10.1080/07373937.2010.483032S17418229

Anti-Hypertensive Drugs Have Different Effects on Ventricular Hypertrophy Regression

OBJECTIVES: There is a direct relationship between the regression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and a decreased risk of mortality. This investigation aimed to describe the effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on cardiac hypertrophy through a meta-analysis of the literature. METHODS: The Medline (via PubMed), Lilacs and Scielo databases were searched using the subject keywords cardiac hypertrophy, antihypertensive and mortality. We aimed to analyze the effect of anti-hypertensive drugs on ventricle hypertrophy. RESULTS: The main drugs we described were enalapril, verapamil, nifedipine, indapamina, losartan, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and atenolol. These drugs are usually used in follow up programs, however, the studies we investigated used different protocols. Enalapril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) and verapamil (Ca++ channel blocker) caused hypertrophy to regress in LVH rats. The effects of enalapril and nifedipine (Ca++ channel blocker) were similar. Indapamina (diuretic) had a stronger effect than enalapril, and losartan (angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist) produced better results than atenolol (selective &#946;1 receptor antagonist) with respect to LVH regression. CONCLUSION: The anti-hypertensive drugs induced various degrees of hypertrophic regression

Polyamidoamine Nanoparticles for the Oral Administration of Antimalarial Drugs

Current strategies for the mass administration of antimalarial drugs demand oral formulations to target the asexual Plasmodium stages in the peripheral bloodstream, whereas recommendations for future interventions stress the importance of also targeting the transmission stages of the parasite as it passes between humans and mosquitoes. Orally administered polyamidoamine (PAA) nanoparticles conjugated to chloroquine reached the blood circulation and cured Plasmodium yoelii-infected mice, slightly improving the activity of the free drug and inducing in the animals immunity against malaria. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry analysis of affinity chromatography-purified PAA ligands suggested a high adhesiveness of PAAs to Plasmodium falciparum proteins, which might be the mechanism responsible for the preferential binding of PAAs to Plasmodium-infected erythrocytes vs. non-infected red blood cells. The weak antimalarial activity of some PAAs was found to operate through inhibition of parasite invasion, whereas the observed polymer intake by macrophages indicated a potential of PAAs for the treatment of certain coinfections such as Plasmodium and Leishmania. When fluorescein-labeled PAAs were fed to females of the malaria mosquito vectors Anopheles atroparvus and Anopheles gambiae, persistent fluorescence was observed in the midgut and in other insect's tissues. These results present PAAs as a versatile platform for the encapsulation of orally administered antimalarial drugs and for direct administration of antimalarials to mosquitoes, targeting mosquito stages of Plasmodiu

Os efeitos do exercício aeróbico sobre os parâmetros bioquímicos em indivíduos com DRC em hemodiálise: Um estudo longitudinal

Background: Chronic kidney disease is directly related to cardiovascular disorders. Guided physical exercises significantly improve the adverse effects of dialytic treatment. Objective: To analyze changes in biochemical parameters of subjects with chronic kidney disease undergoing moderate exercise during hemodialysis. Methods: This is an experimental study composed of 54 subjects submitted to hemodialysis, split into a control group and a group with intervention. The experimental group underwent three weekly sessions of aerobic exercise, performed during hemodialysis sessions, with a duration of 30 minutes, for 12 weeks. The blood parameters of both groups were compared. Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between pre (p=0.001) and post-exercise protocol for urea (p=0.006), calcium (p=0.001), alanine aminotransferase (p=0.020) and sodium (p=&lt;0.001). In the control group, we observed significant differences for the calcium variable (p&lt;0.001), alanine aminotransferase (p=0.024), hematocrit (p=0.015), calcium vs phosphorus (p=0.018), and sodium (p=0.023), before and after the period. Conclusion: Aerobic training during hemodialysis was able to maintain blood level stability in patients with chronic kidney disease, both during and at the end of the protocol, even considering increased blood flow. This trial is registered in the Brazilian registry of clinical Trials - number RBR-7354r6. Registration date: July 5, 2018 at 12:59 PM. Last Update: July 24, 2018 at 10:24 AM. Identification of the test - UTN Number: U1111-1216-8272.Introdução: A doença renal crônica está diretamente relacionada a distúrbios cardiovasculares. Exercícios físicos guiados melhoram significativamente os efeitos adversos do tratamento dialítico. Objetivo: Analisar as alterações nos parâmetros bioquímicos de indivíduos com doença renal crônica submetidos a exercícios moderados durante a hemodiálise. Método:&nbsp;Este é um estudo experimental composto por 54 indivíduos submetidos à hemodiálise, divididos em um grupo controle e um grupo com intervenção. O grupo experimental passou por três sessões semanais de exercício aeróbico, realizadas durante as sessões de hemodiálise, com duração &nbsp;&nbsp;de 30 minutos, por 12 semanas. Os parâmetros sanguíneos de ambos os grupos foram comparados. Resultados: Diferenças estatisticamente significativas foram observadas entre o protocolo pré (p=0,001) e pós-exercício para urea (p=0,006), cálcio (p=0,001), alanina aminotransferase (p=0,020) e sódio (p=&amp;0.001). No grupo controle, observamos diferenças significativas para a variável cálcio (p&lt;0.001), alanina aminotransferase (p=0,024), hematócrito (p=0,015), cálcio vs fósforo (p=0,018) e sódio (p=0,023), antes e depois do período. Conclusão: O treinamento aeróbico durante a hemodiálise foi capaz de manter a estabilidade do nível sanguíneo em pacientes com doença renal crônica, tanto durante quanto no final do protocolo, considerando mesmo o aumento do fluxo sanguíneo. Este ensaio está registrado no registro brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos - número RBR-7354r6. Data de inscrição: 5 de julho de 2018 às 12h59. Última atualização: 24 de julho de 2018 às 10h24. Identificação do teste - UTN Número: U1111-1216-8272

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund