Anisotropic dark energy and ellipsoidal universe

A cosmological model with anisotropic dark energy is analyzed. The amount of deviation from isotropy of the equation of state of dark energy, the skewness \delta, generates an anisotropization of the large-scale geometry of the Universe, quantifiable by means of the actual shear \Sigma_0. Requiring that the level of cosmic anisotropization at the time of decoupling is such to solve the "quadrupole problem" of cosmic microwave background radiation, we find that |\delta| \sim 10^{-4} and |\Sigma_0| \sim 10^{-5}, compatible with existing limits derived from the magnitude-redshift data on type Ia supernovae.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures. Revised version to match published version. References adde

Role of Lipophilicity in the Activity of Hexameric Cyclic Peptoid Ion Carriers

Two families of hexameric cyclic peptoids decorated with linear N-alkyl and alternated N-alkyl/N-benzyl side chains (2 a\u2013d and 3 a\u2013c, respectively) were designed and synthesized in order to correlate their logP values (from 2.55 to 6.83) to their ionophoric activities. The present contribution confirms the general ability of hexameric cyclic peptoids to behave as efficient cation carriers, corroborates their preference for Na+ ion, among the tested alkali metals, and suggests a Na+/H+ antiport transport mechanism (rate limited by the transport of the proton) for these new ionophores. Our observations indicate that in order to attain an efficient ionophoric activity, a narrow range of liphophilicity is required (4<5). Moreover, to gain information on the solid state stucture of ionophoric cyclic peptoids with linear N-side chains, X-ray crystallographic studies were performed on exemplar compound 2 a. Crystal structure of compound 2 a confirms the tendency of ionophoric cyclopeptoids with linear N-side chains to form layered assemblies

The ABCD of usability testing

We introduce a methodology for tracking and auditing feedback, errors and suggestions for software packages. This short paper describes how we innovate on the evaluation mechanism, introducing an (Antecedent, Barrier, Consequence and Development) ABCD form, embedded within an eParticipation platform to enable end users to easily report on any usability issues. This methodology will be utilised to improve the STEP cloud eParticipation platform (part of the current STEP Horizon2020 project http://step4youth.eu. The platform is currently being piloted in real life contexts, with the participation of public authorities that are integrating the eParticipation platform into their regular decision-making practices. The project is involving young people, through engagement and motivation strategies and giving them a voice in Environmental decision making at the local level. The pilot evaluation aims to demonstrate how open engagement needs to be embedded within public sector processes and the usability methodology reported here will help to identify the key barriers for wide scale deployment of the platform

Efeito de extratos vegetais sobre Thaumastocoris peregrinus (Carpintero & Dellapé) (Hemíptera: Thaumastocoridae).

Resumo

Plasma exosome profile in st-elevation myocardial infarction patients with and without out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

The identification of new biomarkers allowing an early and more accurate characterization of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is still needed, and exosomes represent an attractive diagnostic tool in this context. However, the characterization of their protein cargo in relation to cardiovascular clinical manifestation is still lacking. To this end, 35 STEMI patients (17 experiencing resuscitated out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA-STEMI) and 18 uncomplicated) and 32 patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) were enrolled. Plasma exosomes were characterized by the nanoparticle tracking analysis and Western blotting. Exosomes from STEMI patients displayed a higher concentration and size and a greater expression of platelet (GPIIb) and vascular endothelial (VE-cadherin) markers, but a similar amount of cardiac troponin compared to CCS. In addition, a difference in exosome expression of acute-phase proteins (ceruloplasmin, transthyretin and fibronectin) between STEMI and CCS patients was found. GPIIb and brain-associated marker PLP1 accurately discriminated between OHCA and uncomplicated STEMI. In conclusion, the exosome profile of STEMI patients has peculiar features that differentiate it from that of CCS patients, reflecting the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in STEMI. Additionally, the exosome expression of brain-and platelet-specific markers might allow the identification of patients experiencing ischemic brain injury in STEMI