On the occurrence of the tropical caprellid Paracaprella pusilla Mayer, 1890 (Crustacea: Amphipoda) in Europe

Paracaprella pusilla MAYER, 1980 is a tropical caprellid amphipod species first described from Brasil and very common along the Atlantic coast of Central America. Since its original description, P. pusilla has been found at numerous widespread locations in tropical and subtropical seas around the world, primarily associated with fouling communities in harbours. An established population of P. pusilla was recently found in Cádiz, southern Spain, which is both the northernmost collection and first record of this species in European coastal waters. Ship fouling is the most probable vector for its introduction. The species was always found associated with the native hydroid Eudendrium racemosum (CAVOLINI, 1785) and appeared to display a mutualistic relationship with this host

A computational model of open-irrigated electrode for endocardial RF catheter ablation

Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an important curative treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. However, during RFCA thrombus formation can occur when the electrode-tissue interface temperature exceeds 80°C. Open-irrigated electrodes reduce the risk of such side-effect. No computational model of an open-irrigated electrode in endocardial RFCA accounting for both the saline irrigation flow and the blood motion in the cardiac chamber has been proposed yet. Our aim was to introduce the first computer model including both effects. The model has been validated against existing experimental results. Computational results showed that the surface lesion width and blood temperature are affected by the irrigation flow rate. Smaller surface lesion widths and blood temperatures are obtained with higher irrigation flow rate, while the lesion depth is not affected by changing the irrigation flow rate. Larger lesions are obtained when electrode is placed horizontally. Overall, the computational findings are in close agreement with previous experimental results

Structural changes in employment in the economy: 1996 and 2002 compared

With the implementation, in 1994, of the Real plan in the Brazilian economy, and the consequent price stabilization, the analysis of structural aspects of the economy has gained importance. Among these aspects, considering the needs for labor absorption in the economy, one of the main concerns relates to the question of employment. This paper deals with it by making an analysis of the changes in the employ distribution relating to modifications of productive structure in the Brazilian economy, between 1996 and 2002. The analytical method used input-output matrices and its correspondent theory. The efforts concentrated on input-output matrix construction for the year 2002 and comparative analysis, applying several techniques and parameters. A series of indicators were estimated, this allowed to make an analysis about the structural aspects of the Brazilian economy and to relate it with the employment changes occurred in the period being considered.Productive Structure, Employment, Input-Output

Simulation of the Dynamics of Pulsed Pumped Lasers Based on Cellular Automata

Laser dynamics is traditionally modeled using differential equations. Recently, a new approach has been introduced in which laser dynamics is modeled using two-dimensional Cellular Automata (CA). In this work, we study a modified version of this model in order to simulate the dynamics of pulsed pumped lasers. The results of the CA approach are in qualitative agreement with the outcome of the numerical integration of the laser rate equations

Relativistic description of 3He(e,e'p)2H

The Relativistic Distorted-Wave Impulse Approximation is used to describe the $^3$He($e,e^\prime p$)$^2$H process. We describe the $^3$He nucleus within the adiabatic hyperspherical expansion method with realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions. The overlap between the $^3$He and the deuteron wave functions can be accurately computed from a three-body calculation. The nucleons are described by solutions of the Dirac equation with scalar and vector (S-V) potentials. The wave function of the outgoing proton is obtained by solving the Dirac equation with a S-V optical potential fitted to elastic proton scattering data on the residual nucleus. Within this theoretical framework, we compute the cross section of the reaction and other observables like the transverse-longitudinal asymmetry, and compare them with the available experimental data measured at JLab.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Proceedings of the 21st European Few Body Conference held in Salamanca (Spain) in August-September 201

How does radiofrequency ablation efficacy depend on the stiffness of the cardiac tissue? Insights from a computational model

Objective. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an effective treatment for the elimination of cardiac arrhythmias, however it is not exempt from complications that can risk the patients’ life. The efficacy of the RFCA depends on several factors and uncertainties during the treatment process. In this paper, we explore the effect of the cardiac tissue stiffness in RFCA. Methods. We use our previously developed RFCA computational model that accounts for the tissue elasticity. The tissue stiffness is described by the Young’s modulus of elasticity. Results. Our numerical simulations provide insights on the efficacy of the RFCA, by measuring the lesion dimensions over a wide range of values of the modulus of elasticity that appear during the cardiac cycle and for different cardiac conditions, using a fixed ablation protocol, commonly used in clinical practice. Conclusion. The stiffness of the cardiac wall affects the power dissipated in the tissue and, as a consequence, has a marked effect on the dimensions of the generated lesion. The heart wall elasticity changes due the cardiac cycle can affect the resulting lesion and can lead to potentially dangerous complications. Pathological conditions can stiffen the cardiac wall, thus reducing the size of the resulting lesion and potentially leading to insufficient treatment. Significance. A relation of the lesion size dimensions for different tissue stiffness and contact force is presented and correlated to different pathological conditions of the heart, showing the direct relation of the tissue stiffness with the efficacy of the RFCA treatment

Computational Model for Prediction of the Occurrence of Steam Pops during Irrigated Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is a curative treatment for cardiac arrhythmias. Although globally a pretty safe procedure, it may present some risk. Steam pop is a serious complication that can occur during RFCA with irrigated electrodes. Pops are caused by tissue overheating above 89oC, and may cause explosive rupture of myocardial wall. Today, it is still very complicated to predict the occurrence and location of steam pops into the tissue during RFCA. Our aim was to use a computational model to address these issues considering two irrigated catheter tip designs and different power settings. The model has been validated against existing experimental results. Computational results show no evidence of significant differences in the incidence of steam pops between the two catheter designs. Steam pops appears at powers higher than 30W at approximately 2 mm depth under the electrode tip. Overall, the computational findings were in close agreement with previous experimental results, which suggests that the proposed model could be useful to predict the occurrence of steam pops in different clinical situations.MINECO TEC2014–52383-C3-R to E.B. and Generalitat Valenciana APOSTD/2016/045 to A.G.S

Effect of Tissue Elasticity in Cardiac Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Models

Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an effective treatment for different types of cardiac arrhythmias. However, major complications can occur, including thrombus formation and steam pops. We present a full 3D mathematical model for the radiofrequency ablation process that uses an open-irrigated catheter and accounts for the tissue deformation, an aspect overlooked by the existing literature. An axisymmetric Boussinesq solution for spherical punch is used to model the deformation of the tissue due to the pressure of the catheter tip at the tissue-catheter contact point. We compare the effect of the tissue deformation in the RFCA model against the use of a standard sharp insertion of the catheter in the tissue that other state-of- the-art RFCA computational models use.La Caixa 2016 PhD grant to M.L

Caracterização bioquímica e molecular de doentes com diagnóstico clínico de Dislipidemia Familiar Combinada

A Dislipidemia Familiar Combinada (FCHL) é uma doença poligénica caracterizada por hiperlipidemia simples ou combinada, variabilidade intra-individual e intra-familiar do perfil lipídico, ApoB elevada (> 120 mg/dL) e risco elevado de doença cardiovascular (DCV). A sua causa é desconhecida mas alterações nos genes LPL, APOAIV, APOAV, APOCIII e USF1 parecem contribuir para o seu fenótipo. O objectivo deste estudo é caracterizar bioquímica e molecularmente doentes com diagnóstico clínico de FCHL. Todos os exões e promotor dos genes LPL, APOAIV, APOAV, APOCIII e regiões do gene USF1 (s1,s2) de 41 doentes foram amplificados por PCR e sequenciados. O colesterol total (CT), c-LDL, c-HDL, sdLDL, trigliceridos (TG), apoB e apoCIII foram determinados num aparelho automatizado. Em alguns doentes as sdLDL foram também analisadas por electroforese de lipoproteínas. A ApoAIV e ApoAV foram quantificadas por ELISA. Foram encontradas alterações genéticas em 37 doentes, 3 não descritas (APOAIV Q359_E362, APOAV D332fsX336 e APOCIII 3269C>A). O índex com a alteração Q359_E362del apresentou valores normais de apo AIV (15.5 mg/dL) e o índex com a alteração D332fsX336 apresentou valores baixos de apo AV (74.5 ng/mL). Os doentes estudados apresentam valores elevados de CT (285 ± 83 mg/dL), c-LDL (189 ± 85 mg/dL), TG (310 ± 253 mg/dL), e apo CIII (15 ± 4 mg/dL) e valores reduzidos de c-HDL (45 ± 11 mg/dL), sem medicação. Os valores de apoAIV (17,5 ± 10,4 mg/dL) e apoAV (150 ± 135 ng/mL) encontram-se, na maioria dos casos, no intervalo normal assim como os valores de sdLDL (35 ± 18 mg/dL), no entanto alguns casos apresentam valores acima do cut-off para DCV (35 mg/dL). A análise de sdLDL por electroforese foi realizada em 11 doentes, 9 dos quais apresentaram um perfil aterogénico. O valor médio de ApoB destes doentes era de 94 ± 43 mg/dL, mas aproximadamente 70% dos doentes estavam medicados com terapêutica hipolimiante (estatinas e/ou fibratos). Cerca de 30% dos doentes apresentavam DCV prematura. Os resultados obtidos parecem indicar que alterações nos genes estudados influenciam o fenótipo da FCHL. Os níveis séricos de apo CIII encontram-se alterados nesta dislipidemia. Doentes com FCHL, apesar de estarem medicados, apresentam valores elevados de sdLDL, evidenciando o seu elevado risco cardiovascular. A caracterização bioquímica complementa a identificação genética e permite uma melhor avaliação do risco cardiovascular do doente bem como a escolha de uma terapêutica adequada