A Bayesian analysis of inflationary primordial spectrum models using Planck data

The current available CMB data show an anomalously low value of the CMB temperature fluctuations at large angular scales (l < 40). This lack of power is not explained by the minimal LCDM model, and one of the possible mechanisms explored in the literature to address this problem is the presence of features in the primordial power spectrum (PPS) motivated by the early universe physics. In this paper, we analyse a set of cutoff inflationary PPS models using a Bayesian model comparison approach in light of the latest Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) data from the Planck Collaboration. Our results show that the standard power-law parameterisation is preferred over all models considered in the analysis, which motivates the search for alternative explanations for the observed lack of power in the CMB anisotropy spectrum.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figure

Dynamical analysis on f(R,G)f(R,\mathcal{G}) cosmology

We use a dynamical system approach to study the cosmological viability of $f(R,\mathcal{G})$ gravity theories. The method consists of formulating the evolution equations as an autonomous system of ODEs, using suitable variables. The formalism is applied to a class of models in which $f(R,\mathcal{G})\propto R^{n}\mathcal{G}^{1-n}$ and its solutions and corresponding stability are analysed in detail. New accelerating solutions that can be attractors in the phase space are found. We also find that this class of models does not exhibit a matter-dominated epoch, a solution which is inconsistent with current cosmological observations.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Classical and Quantum Gravit

Forage production and morphological components of coastcross pasture mixed with peanut forage

Objetivou-se avaliar a produção de forragem e a composição morfológica de uma pastagem de coastcross (Cynodon dactylon, cv. Coastcross) consorciada com amendoim forrageiro (Arachis pintoi, cv. Amarillo) com e sem adubação nitrogenada e submetida a pastejo com lotação continua. Utilizou-se um delineamento experimental em blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas no tempo, com duas repetições, para avaliação das seguintes combinações: coastcross + amendoim forrageiro + 200 kg/ha de N; coastcross + amendoim forrageiro + 100 kg/ha de N; coastcross + 200 kg/ha de N e coastcross + amendoim forrageiro. Para estimar a disponibilidade de massa de forragem e a produção de forragem, foram usadas as técnicas da dupla amostragem e do triplo emparelhamento, respectivamente, a cada 28 dias. Foram avaliadas as proporções de gramínea, leguminosas, invasoras, solo descoberto e liteira. O material da dupla amostragem foi separado em lâmina foliar, bainha+colmo e material morto. A massa de forragem foi menor na pastagem sem adubação com nitrogênio e maior na pastagem adubada com nitrogênio (200 kg/ha) sem amendoim forrageiro. A pastagem sem adubação foi a que apresentou a maior massa de amendoim forrageiro. A produção de forragem foi maior nas pastagens adubadas com nitrogênio na dose de 200 kg/ha, seguidas da pastagem adubada com 100 kg de N/ha. A taxa de acúmulo de forragem seguiu a mesma tendência da produção de forragem. Não foram observadas diferenças para solo descoberto, liteira e área descoberta entre as combinações avaliadas, porém na pastagem adubada com nitrogênio na dose de 200 kg/ha sem leguminosa, houve menor incidência de plantas invasoras. A razão folha/colmo, massa de folhas e massa de material morto não diferiu entre as pastagens, porém aquela adubada com 200 kg de N/ha sem leguminosa apresentou maior massa de colmos.This experiment was carried out from July 2006 to June 2007. It was used an experimental design of random blocks with split plot in time, with two replications using the following treatments: Coastcross + peanut forage + 200 kg/ha of N; Coastcross + Peanut Forage + 100 kg/ha of N; Coastcross + 200 kg/ha of N and Coastcross + Peanut Forage in the following seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn. To estimate the forage mass production availability, the double sampling and triple pairing technique, respectively, every 28 days was used. The proportions of grass, legumes, weeds, uncovered soil and litter were evaluated. The material from the double sampling technique was separated into leaf blade, stem + sheath and dead material fractions. Regarding of forage availability, the pasture submitted to treatment without nitrogen had the lower mass, while that submitted to 200 kg/ha of nutrient without the presence of legume had the highest forage mass. For the peanut forage mass, the pasture without fertilization presented the best result. The forage production was higher in pastures submitted to treatment with 200 kg of N/ha followed by that fertilized with 100 kg of N/ha. The grass accumulation rate followed the same trend of forage production. No difference were observed for uncovered soil, litter and uncovered area between treatments; however, the pasture submitted to the dose of 200 kg of N/ha without legume presented lower incidence of invasive plants. No differences were observed for the leaf/stem ratio, leaves mass and dead material mass between treatments; however, the grass submitted to 200 kg of N/ha without legume presented the greatest stems mass

Hyperprolactinemia-induced ovarian acyclicity is reversed by kisspeptin administration

Hyperprolactinemia is the most common cause of hypogonadotropic anovulation and is one of the leading causes of infertility in women aged 25-34. Hyperprolactinemia has been proposed to block ovulation through inhibition of GnRH release. Kisspeptin neurons, which express prolactin receptors, were recently identified as major regulators of GnRH neurons. To mimic the human pathology of anovulation, we continuously infused female mice with prolactin. Our studies demonstrated that hyperprolactinemia in mice induced anovulation, reduced GnRH and gonadotropin secretion, and diminished kisspeptin expression. Kisspeptin administration restored gonadotropin secretion and ovarian cyclicity, suggesting that kisspeptin neurons play a major role in hyperprolactinemic anovulation. Our studies indicate that administration of kisspeptin may serve as an alternative therapeutic approach to restore the fertility of hyperprolactinemic women who are resistant or intolerant to dopamine agonists

CELSR2 is a candidate susceptibility gene in idiopathic scoliosis

A Swedish pedigree with an autosomal dominant inheritance of idiopathic scoliosis was initially studied by genetic linkage analysis, prioritising genomic regions for further analysis. This revealed a locus on chromosome 1 with a putative risk haplotype shared by all affected individuals. Two affected individuals were subsequently exome-sequenced, identifying a rare, non-synonymous variant in the CELSR2 gene. This variant is rs141489111, a c. G6859A change in exon 21 (NM_001408), leading to a predicted p. V2287I (NP_001399.1) change. This variant was found in all affected members of the pedigree, but showed reduced penetrance. Analysis of tagging variants in CELSR1-3 in a set of 1739 Swedish-Danish scoliosis cases and 1812 controls revealed significant association (p = 0.0001) to rs2281894, a common synonymous variant in CELSR2. This association was not replicated in case-control cohorts from Japan and the US. No association was found to variants in CELSR1 or CELSR3. Our findings suggest a rare variant in CELSR2 as causative for idiopathic scoliosis in a family with dominant segregation and further highlight common variation in CELSR2 in general susceptibility to idiopathic scoliosis in the Swedish-Danish population. Both variants are located in the highly conserved GAIN protein domain, which is necessary for the auto-proteolysis of CELSR2, suggesting its functional importance.Peer reviewe

Older Patients' experiences of Shared Decision-making when choosing treatment for their distal radius fracture:A Qualitative Study

Objective: This study aims to understand how older patients experience shared decision-making (SDM) when making decisions about the treatment of their distal radius fracture (DRF). Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was designed using individual in-person and telephone interviews. Twelve DRF patients were recruited during their first follow-up visit to a Danish outpatient clinic, with ten of them participating in interviews. Data was analysed using content analysis. Results: Three themes emerged: 1) An acute situation, 2) Considerations influencing the treatment choice and 3) The treatment decision. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study represents a pioneering effort in reporting the use of Shared Decision Making in fracture management. The sudden onset of DRF proved to be highly distressing for the patients. Providing SDM material to patients in the Emergency department (ED) aimed to empower them and prepare them for their subsequent outpatient clinic visit. However, its effectiveness varied. The demeanour of doctors played a crucial role in shaping patient experiences.</p

Impact of GLUT1 and Ki-67 expression on early-stage lung adenocarcinoma diagnosed according to a new international multidisciplinary classification

High expression levels of glucose transporter isoform 1 (GLUT1) and Ki-67 are reportedly associated with malignancy-related clinicopathological factors in malignant tumors. Recently, a new histological IASLC/ATS/ERS classification for lung adenocarcinoma was proposed. In this study, we investigated the clinicopathological impact of GLUT1 and Ki-67 expression on early-stage lung adenocarcinoma classified according to the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification. One hundred and five patients with completely resected stage IA lung adenocarcinoma were retrospectively classified into two groups, a 'non-invasive type' (n=31) or an 'invasive type' (n=74), based on the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification. GLUT1 and Ki-67 expression status was evaluated using immunohistochemistry. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and KRAS mutation status was determined using PCR-based assays. Positive GLUT1 and Ki-67 expression and EGFR and KRAS mutations were detected in 28 (27%), 33 (31%), 51 (49%) and 5 (8%) cases, respectively. Positive GLUT1 expression was significantly associated with a wild-type EGFR and mutant KRAS status. A multivariate analysis revealed that positive GLUT1 expression was independently associated with the 'invasive type'. In multivariate analyses for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS), positive Ki-67 and GLUT1 expression was the only independent factor for a poor OS (P=0.012) and DFS (P=0.040), respectively. In addition, when stratified according to the GLUT1 and Ki-67 status, double-positive cases had the poorest DFS and OS times, compared with the other categories. Positive GLUT1 expression is associated with the invasive character of early-stage lung adenocarcinoma and with early disease relapse. Our results strongly suggest that GLUT1 and Ki-67 play important roles in acquiring biological malignant potential in early-stage lung adenocarcinoma