Fresh Activity in Old Systems: Radio AGN in Fossil Groups of Galaxies

We present the first systematic 1.4 GHz Very Large Array radio continuum survey of fossil galaxy group candidates. These are virialized systems believed to have assembled over a gigayear in the past through the merging of galaxy group members into a single, isolated, massive elliptical galaxy and featuring an extended hot X-ray halo. We use new photometric and spectroscopic data from SDSS Data Release 7 to determine that three of the candidates are clearly not fossil groups. Of the remaining 30 candidates, 67% contain a radio-loud (L_1.4GHz > 10^23 W Hz^-1) active galactic nucleus (AGN) at the center of their dominant elliptical galaxy. We find a weak correlation between the radio luminosity of the AGN and the X-ray luminosity of the halo suggesting that the AGN contributes to energy deposition into the intragroup medium. We only find a correlation between the radio and optical luminosity of the central elliptical galaxy when we include X-ray selected, elliptically dominated non-fossil groups, indicating a weak relationship between AGN strength and the mass assembly history of the groups. The dominant elliptical galaxy of fossil groups is on average roughly an order of magnitude more luminous than normal group elliptical galaxies in optical, X-ray, and radio luminosities and our findings are consistent with previous results that the radio-loud fraction in elliptical galaxies is linked to the stellar mass of a population. The current level of activity in fossil groups suggests that AGN fueling continues long after the last major merger. We discuss several possibilities for fueling the AGN at the present epoch.Comment: Accepted for publication in A

Left Ventricular Flow Analysis: Novel Imaging Biomarkers and Predictors of Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure.

Background: Cardiac remodeling, after a myocardial insult, often causes progression to heart failure. The relationship between alterations in left ventricular blood flow, including kinetic energy (KE), and remodeling is uncertain. We hypothesized that increasing derangements in left ventricular blood flow would relate to (1) conventional cardiac remodeling markers, (2) increased levels of biochemical remodeling markers, (3) altered cardiac energetics, and (4) worsening patient symptoms and functional capacity. Methods: Thirty-four dilated cardiomyopathy patients, 30 ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, and 36 controls underwent magnetic resonance including 4-dimensional flow, BNP (brain-type natriuretic peptide) measurement, functional capacity assessment (6-minute walk test), and symptom quantification. A subgroup of dilated cardiomyopathy and control subjects underwent cardiac energetic assessment. Left ventricular flow was separated into 4 components: direct flow, retained inflow, delayed ejection flow, and residual volume. Average KE throughout the cardiac cycle was calculated. Results: Patients had reduced direct flow proportion and direct-flow average KE compared with controls (P<0.0001). The residual volume proportion and residual volume average KE were increased in patients (P<0.0001). Importantly, in a multiple linear regression model to predict the patient’s 6-minute walk test, the independent predictors were age (β=−0.3015; P=0.019) and direct-flow average KE (β=0.280, P=0.035; R2 model, 0.466, P=0.002). In contrast, neither ejection fraction nor left ventricular volumes were independently predictive. Conclusions: This study demonstrates an independent predictive relationship between the direct-flow average KE and a prognostic measure of functional capacity. Intracardiac 4-dimensional flow parameters are novel biomarkers in heart failure and may provide additive value in monitoring new therapies and predicting prognosis.This study was supported by the British Heart Foundation [grant number FS/12/14/29354 to VMS]; Medical Research Council (ATH); Oxford British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence (ATH and SN); Sir Henry Dale Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (098436/Z/12/B to CTR); National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre Programme (SN and SGM); Swedish Research Council (PD and TE); the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation [grant number 20140398 to CJC]. The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement 310612 to TE

Una mirada longitudinal : ¿Es el ?Docentia? útil para la evaluación del profesorado universitario?

El Docentia es el modelo propuesto por ANECA, y asumido por las universidades españolas para la evaluación de la calidad docente. Uno de los problemas del modelo que se viene detectando es su escasa capacidad para diferenciar al profesorado entre las distintas categorías posibles, con un sesgo muy acentuado hacia la calificación de ?Excelente?. Esto afecta al prestigio del modelo: primero, si la gran mayoría del profesorado es ?Excelente?, no se verá reflejado el profesorado que realmente destaca sobre el conjunto y, segundo, afecta a su capacidad para orientar al profesorado hacia la mejora de su docencia. En el presente estudio examinamos la capacidad discriminativa del modelo en base a la experiencia de su implementación en la Universidad de La Laguna (Docentia-ULL). Hemos simulado el resultado de la evaluación cambiando el modelo en dos sentidos. Por un lado, los pesos de las dimensiones y sub-dimensiones, así como de los topes de cada criterio, para primar la valoración del compromiso del profesorado con la formación y la innovación educativa, frente al mero cumplimiento de las obligaciones docentes. Por otro lado, los resultados de satisfacción del alumnado y de los responsables académicos pasan a actuar como requisito independiente de los méritos del docente en la evaluación. Además, se ha elevado el mínimo necesario de estas dimensiones para obtener una valoración ?Favorable?, ?Muy Favorable? o ?Excelente?. Los resultados mostraron que la disminución del peso en la evaluación de las obligaciones docentes frente a la formación e innovación produjo una distribución de la calificación del profesorado más centrada hacia las categorías intermedias. Además se compara con resultados reales obtenidos después de la implantación del modelo alternativo elegido a raíz de las simulaciones. Se discuten las implicaciones de este tipo de mejoras en la evaluación de la calidad docente y del desempeño del profesorado en la universidad española

Interrogating marine virus-host interactions and elemental transfer with BONCAT and nanoSIMS-based methods

While the collective impact of marine viruses has become more apparent over the last decade, a deeper understanding of virus-host dynamics and the role of viruses in nutrient cycling would benefit from direct observations at the single-virus level. We describe two new complementary approaches - stable isotope probing coupled with nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry (nanoSIMS) and fluorescence-based biorthogonal non-canonical amino acid tagging (BONCAT) - for studying the activity and biogeochemical influence of marine viruses. These tools were developed and tested using several ecologically relevant model systems (Emiliania huxleyi/EhV207, Synechococcus sp. WH8101/Syn1, and Escherichia coli/T7). By resolving carbon and nitrogen enrichment in viral particles, we demonstrate the power of nanoSIMS tracer experiments in obtaining quantitative estimates for the total number of viruses produced directly from a particular production pathway (by isotopically labeling host substrates). Additionally, we show through laboratory experiments and a pilot field study that BONCAT can be used to directly quantify viral production (via epifluorescence microscopy) with minor sample manipulation and no dependency on conversion factors. This technique can also be used to detect newly synthesized viral proteins. Together these tools will help fill critical gaps in our understanding of the biogeochemical impact of viruses in the ocean

The Relationship between Zinc Intake and Serum/Plasma Zinc Concentration in Children: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

Recommendations for zinc intake during childhood vary widely across Europe. The EURRECA project attempts to consolidate the basis for the definition of micronutrient requirements, taking into account relationships among intake, status and health outcomes, in order to harmonise these recommendations. Data on zinc intake and biomarkers of zinc status reported in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) can provide estimates of dose-response relationships which may be used for underpinning zinc reference values. This systematic review included all RCTs of apparently healthy children aged 1–17 years published by February 2010 which provided data on zinc intake and biomarkers of zinc status. An intake-status regression coefficient was calculated for each individual study and calculated the overall pooled and SE using random effects meta-analysis on a double log scale. The pooled dose-response relationship between zinc intake and zinc status indicated that a doubling of the zinc intake increased the serum/plasma zinc status by 9%. This evidence can be utilised, together with currently used balance studies and repletion/depletion studies, when setting zinc recommendations as a basis for nutrition policies

Double beta decay in deformed nuclei

A brief review of theoretical results for the double-beta decay and the double-electron capture in heavy deformed nuclei is presented. The ββ half life of 160Gd is evaluated using an extended version of the pseudo SU(3) model. While the 2ν mode is forbidden when the most probable occupations are considered, states with different occupation numbers can be mixed through the pairing interaction. The amount of this mixing is calculated using perturbation theory. The possibility of observingthe ββ decay in 160Gd is discussed for both the 2ν and 0ν modes.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

La unificación normativa como oportunidad de proyectar la enseñanza unificada en la carrera de Abogacía

Partiendo de asumir con profesionalidad nuestro rol docente, surge el interés de sumarnos a esta comisión. En oportunidad de cursar la capacitación docente en nuestra Facultad, acordamos ciertos criterios respecto de la concepción del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Ahora, con motivo de la reciente unificación del Derecho Civil y Comercial, nos proponemos aplicarlos, a fin de repensar dichos procesos con foco en el alumno, futuro profesional, que se asoma al estudio de estas ramas que hoy tienen –desde el punto de vista legislativo- un tronco aún más unido.Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociale