NGC2180: a disrupting open cluster

The spatial dependence of luminosity and mass functions of evolved open clusters is discussed in this work using J and H 2MASS photometry. The target objects are the overlooked open cluster NGC2180 and the intermediate-age open cluster NGC3680. We conclude that, although in an advanced dynamical state (mass segregated), NGC3680 does not present strong signs of dissolution. On the other hand, NGC2180 presents flat, eroded LFs throughout its structure, indicating that in addition to mass segregation, Galactic tidal stripping has been effective in depleting this cluster of stars. Accordingly, NGC2180 may be the missing link between evolved open clusters and remnants. We study both clusters in the context of dynamical states estimated from diagnostic-diagrams involving photometric and structural parameters. Both clusters are dynamically evolved systems. In particular, NGC2180 is closer to open cluster remnants than NGC3680.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure

Co-exposure of the organic nanomaterial fullerene C60 with benzo[a]pyrene in Danio rerio (zebrafish) hepatocytes: Evidence of toxicological interactions

Compounds from the nanotechnology industry, such as carbon-based nanomaterials, are strong candidates to contaminate aquatic environments because their production and disposal have exponentially grown in a few years. Previous evidence shows that fullerene C60, a carbon nanomaterial, can facilitate the intake of metals or PAHs both in vivo and in vitro, potentially amplifying the deleterious effects of these toxicants in organisms. The present work aimed to investigate the effects of fullerene C60 in a Danio rerio (zebrafish) hepatocyte cell lineage exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in terms of cell viability, oxidative stress parameters and BaP intracellular accumulation. Additionally, a computational docking was performed to investigate the interaction of the fullerene C60 molecule with the detoxificatory and antioxidant enzyme πGST. Fullerene C60 provoked a significant (p 0.05) alter the enzyme activity when added to GST purified extracts from the zebrafish hepatocyte cells. These results show that fullerene C60 can increase the intake of BaP into the cells, decreasing cell viability and impairing the detoxificatory response by phase II enzymes, such as GST, and this latter effect should be occurring at the transcriptional level.Fil: Ribas Ferreira, Josencler L.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Lonné, María Noelia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: França, Thiago A.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Maximilla, Naiana R.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Lugokenski, Thiago H.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Química; BrasilFil: Costa, Patrícia G.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Fillmann, Gilberto. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Soares, Félix A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Química; BrasilFil: de la Torre, Fernando Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Monserrat, José María. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Nanomateriais de Carbono; Brasi

Role of sex hormones in the innate immunity against prostate cancer cells

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant, poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm. SCC is the common form of bladder cancer in rural Africa where S. haematobium is prevalent. In contrast, the majority of bladder cancer in developing countries and regions not endemic for urogenital schistosomiasis is transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) that arises from the transitional epithelium lining of the bladder. The parasite eggs trapped in the bladder wall release antigens and other metabolites (presumably evolved to expedite egress to the urine, and hence to the external environment). However, the phenomenon leads to haematuria and to chronic inflammation, in turn increasing risk of SCC of the bladder. In addition to the hormone- -like effects of the parasite estradiol-related molecules on the endocrine and immune system of the host, in relation to cancer initiation metabolites of estrogens can be also considered as carcinogenic chemicals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Asymmetric quantum codes on non-orientable surfaces

In this paper, we construct new families of asymmetric quantum surface codes (AQSCs) over non-orientable surfaces of genus $g\geq 2$ by applying tools of hyperbolic geometry. More precisely, we prove that if the genus $g$ of a non-orientable surface is even $(g=2h)$, then the parameters of the corresponding AQSC are equal to the parameters of a surface code obtained from an orientable surface of genus $h$. Additionally, if $S$ is a non-orientable surface of genus $g$, we show that the new surface code constructed on a $\{p, q\}$ tessellation over $S$ has the ratio $k/n$ better than the ratio of an AQSC constructed on the same $\{p, q\}$ tessellation over an orientable surface of the same genus $g$

2DPHOT: A Multi-purpose Environment for the Two-dimensional Analysis of Wide-field Images

We describe 2DPHOT, a general purpose analysis environment for source detection and analysis in deep wide-field images. 2DPHOT is an automated tool to obtain both integrated and surface photometry of galaxies in an image, to perform reliable star-galaxy separation with accurate estimates of contamination at faint flux levels, and to estimate completeness of the image catalog. We describe the analysis strategy on which 2DPHOT is based, and provide a detailed description of the different algorithms implemented in the package. This new environment is intended as a dedicated tool to process the wealth of data from wide-field imaging surveys. To this end, the package is complemented by 2DGUI, an environment that allows multiple processing of data using a range of computing architectures.Comment: Accepted to PAS

A pessoa com oxigenoterapia de longa duração : estudo sobre o modelo de cuidados de enfermagem em contexto domiciliário

A doença respiratória crónica confronta a pessoa e a família com alterações das dinâmicas instituídas, onde o projeto de vida de cada um tem que ser reequacionado, levando à procura de adaptação a nível físico, social, emocional e espiritual. Os processos de transição nem sempre são facilmente ultrapassados, pelo que acompanhar estas pessoas no seu processo de cronicidade, realça a importância de um cuidar humano, onde o enfermeiro de reabilitação constitui um profissional de saúde que ajuda a pessoa a conseguir uma melhor qualidade de vida. Constituiu-se como objetivo principal deste estudo compreender o processo de cuidados de enfermagem de reabilitação respiratória que influenciam a qualidade de vida das pessoas com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica (DPOC) em tratamento com oxigenoterapia de longa duração (OLD), tendo como finalidade contribuir através de cuidados de enfermagem de reabilitação para a maximização da qualidade de vida das pessoas com DPOC em tratamento com OLD. Estudo sustentado num percurso de investigação-ação, com recurso ao paradigma quantitativo e qualitativo, decorreu em contexto domiciliário e participaram pessoas com DPOC e OLD, a investigadora e enfermeiras da prática clínica. Recorreu-se a dois grupos de participantes com OLD sendo que um dos grupos foi submetido a uma intervenção com base em cuidados de enfermagem de reabilitação respiratória e o outro grupo se constituiu como grupo controlo. Os dados foram analisados através do processo de triangulação entre o recurso a diferentes testes estatísticos e o recurso à análise de conteúdo baseada em Bardin. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que a reabilitação respiratória dá um forte contributo para a melhoria da qualidade de vida das pessoas com DPOC e OLD, com grande impacto no controlo dos sintomas, com destaque para a dispneia, mas também, a nível do desempenho das atividades de vida diárias e a nível psicossocial. Verificaram-se ganhos em saúde visíveis através da suspensão e diminuição de consumos de OLD, não se verificando nenhum internamento nem recurso ao serviço de urgência, no grupo de experiência, sendo que a intervenção decorreu de janeiro a julho, período em que o clima é particularmente agressivo para as pessoas com esta patologia. As técnicas de reeducação respiratória e as técnicas de conservação de energia são cuidados de reabilitação essenciais no cuidar destas pessoas, com vista à manutenção/recuperação da autonomia e à manutenção da dignidade da pessoa, tornando-a independente pelo período mais longo possível, na vida destas pessoas. O contexto domiciliário revelou-se como fundamental, no processo de cuidar, sendo facilitador das adaptações que se operaram face às reais necessidades das pessoas.The chronic respiratory disease confronts the person and the family with alterations of the dynamics instituted, where each one’s life project has to be reworked, thus seeking physical, social, emotional and spiritual adaptation. The transition processes are not always easily overcome so accompanying these people in the chronicity process highlights the importance of human care, where the rehabilitation nurse constitutes a health professional who helps the person to achieve a better quality of life. The main objective of this study constitutes of the understanding of the process of nursing care in respiratory rehabilitation which influences the quality of life of those who suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) treated with long-term oxygenotherapy (OLD), with the purpose of contributing towards the maximization of quality of life of those who suffer from (COPD) in treatment with (OLD) through rehabilitation nurse care. This study was sustained by an action-investigation process, using the quantitative and qualitative paradigm, held on a domiciliary level, where COPD and OLD patients, the researcher and clinical practice nurses participated. We resorted to two groups of participants with OLD, one of the groups being submitted to an intervention based on nurse care in respiratory rehabilitation and the other constituting of a control group. The data was analyzed through the triangular process between the resources of different statistical tests and the content analysis based on Bardin. The obtained results suggest that respiratory rehabilitation contributes strongly to the improvement of the quality of life of COPD and OLD patients, with a great impact in the control of symptoms, especially dyspnea, and also, on a daily activity performance and psychosocial level. Visible health gains were noticed through the suspension and reduction in OLD consumption, not verifying any internment or the use of the urgency services, in the test group, the intervention being held from January to July, period in which the climate is particularly aggressive for people with this pathology. The respiratory reeducation and energy conservation techniques are rehabilitative care which is essential in the care of these patients, with the view to maintenance/autonomy recovery and the maintenance of the patient’s dignity, making them independent for the longest period possible in their lives. The domiciliary context revealed itself as being fundamental, in the caring process, facilitating the adaptations that were operated owing to the people’s true necessities. KEYWORDS

Optimisation Techniques for Managing the Project Sustainability Objective: Application to a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

[Abstract] In addition to traditional project management objectives (cost, time, scope and quality, among others), it is now necessary to include a global sustainability objective in all projects, regardless of their nature and scale. The processes for managing this objective may include sub-processes for optimising the sustainability of some or all of the project’s deliverables. In this paper an integrated optimisation technique was applied to optimise the design of a shell and tube heat exchanger (STHE) by taking into account economic, social and environmental indicators. A case study previously analysed in the literature, although with different objectives and scope, was considered for such a purpose. Diverse sets of weights were defined for the environmental impacts, as well as two additional cases. In the first one, all the indicators where assessed in a linear way. Non-linearities were studied in the second one. Both non-nature-inspired (exhaustive search and Monte Carlo simulation) and nature-inspired (Particle Swarm Optimisation, Crow Search Algorithm and Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm-II) optimisation techniques were used to solve the problem. The results were presented and discussed in depth. The findings show the necessity of applying these kinds of methodologies in the design of energy systems and, in particular, STHE

Impacto da insulinoterapia prévia no prognóstico dos pacientes diabéticos com síndromes coronárias agudas

Impact of previous insulin therapy on the prognosis of diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome

The potential role of polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles based on cashew gum, tripolyphosphate and chitosan for the loading of insulin

Polyelectrolytic complexation has stood out due to its application in the development of drug delivery systems using biopolymers as raw materials. The formation of complexes between cashew gum and chitosan can be intermediated by cross-links, mediated by the action of the sodium tripolyphosphate crosslinking agent. These polymers have been used in the nanotechnological development of formulations to protect peptide drugs, such as insulin, allowing their oral administration. In this work, we describe the development of polyelectrolytic complexes from cashew gum and chitosan as biopolymers for oral administration of insulin. The obtained complexes showed a mean particle size of 234 nm and polydispersity index of 0.2. The complexes were 234 nm in size, PDI 0.2, zeta potential 4.5 mV and 22% trapping. The obtained complexes demonstrated considerable and promising characteristics for use as oral insulin delivery systems.e Fundação de Amparo à Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE), Banco do Nordeste (grant FUNDECI/2016.0015), Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT/MCT) and from European Funds (PRODER/COMPETE) through the project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund), co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio