Radio detection of the young binary HD 160934

Precise determination of dynamical masses of pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars is essential to calibrate stellar evolution models that are widely used to derive theoretical masses of young low-mass objects. Binary stars in young, nearby loose associations are particularly good candidates for this calibration since all members share a common age. Interestingly, some of these young binaries present a persistent and compact radio emission, which makes them excellent targets for astrometric VLBI studies. We aim to monitor the orbital motion of the binary system HD 160934, a member of the AB Doradus moving group. We observed HD 160934 with the Very Large Array and the European VLBI Network at 8.4 and 5 GHz, respectively. The orbital information derived from these observations was analyzed along with previously reported orbital measurements. We show that the two components of the binary, HD 160934 A and HD 160934 c, display compact radio emission at VLBI scales, providing precise information on the relative orbit. Revised orbital elements were estimated. Future VLBI monitoring of this pair should determine precise model-independent mass estimates for the A and c components, which will serve as calibration tests for PMS evolutionary models.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Relationships between algal food and gut and gonad conditions in the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lam.)

A study was conducted on the population of Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) in a Mediterranean infralittoral bottomof southern of Spain to characterize the relationships between the macroalgal food ingested and the gut and gonad conditions of individuals. Over a full annual cycle (November 2008 to October 2009) composition of the gut content was analyzed monthly and seasonally, the gastrointestinal (GII), repletion (RI) and gonadosomatic (gonad) (GI) indices were calculated, and the stage of gonad maturity of the population was assessed. The GII and RI were found to be strongly correlated, so only the RI was considered in the subsequent analysis. The prevalence of Phaeophyceae and local species of this macroalgal group in the gut content of the sea urchins throughout the year suggests that in conditions of abundant resources, with high levels of algal diversity and no effective limits on supply, brown algae are the main component of the natural diet of P. lividus. Comparison of the physiologicalindices and the algal fractions of gut content identified relationships throughout the year between RI, the stage of gonad maturity and GI. Specifically, these indices were found to be associated with the abundance of Rhodophyta ingested, although in different ways: GI was related to the consumption of fleshy (non-calcified) red algae and the RI, though less statistically significantly, to the consumption of calcified (articulate and encrusting)

Searching for low mass objects around nearby dMe radio stars

Nearby M-dwarfs are best suited for searches of low mass companions. VLBI phase-referencing observations with sensitive telescopes are able to detect radio star flux-densities of tenths of mJy as well as to position the star on the sky with submilliarcsecond precision. We have initiated a long-term observational program, using EVN telescopes in combination with NASA DSN dishes, to revisit the kinematics of nearby, single M dwarfs. The precision of the astrometry allows us to search for possible companions with masses down to 1 Jupiter mass. In this contribution we report preliminary results of the first observation epochs, in which we could detect some of the radio stars included in our program.Comment: Proceedings of the 6th European VLBI Network Symposium, Ros E., Porcas R.W., Lobanov A.P., & Zensus J.A. (eds.), MPIfR, Bonn, Germany, p. 255-258 (2002). 4 pages, 3 figures, needs evn2002.cl

Assessment of the Accuracy of a Multi-Beam LED Scanner Sensor for Measuring Olive Canopies

MDPI. CC BYCanopy characterization has become important when trying to optimize any kind of agricultural operation in high-growing crops, such as olive. Many sensors and techniques have reported satisfactory results in these approaches and in this work a 2D laser scanner was explored for measuring canopy trees in real-time conditions. The sensor was tested in both laboratory and field conditions to check its accuracy, its cone width, and its ability to characterize olive canopies in situ. The sensor was mounted on a mast and tested in laboratory conditions to check: (i) its accuracy at different measurement distances; (ii) its measurement cone width with different reflectivity targets; and (iii) the influence of the target’s density on its accuracy. The field tests involved both isolated and hedgerow orchards, in which the measurements were taken manually and with the sensor. The canopy volume was estimated with a methodology consisting of revolving or extruding the canopy contour. The sensor showed high accuracy in the laboratory test, except for the measurements performed at 1.0 m distance, with 60 mm error (6%). Otherwise, error remained below 20 mm (1% relative error). The cone width depended on the target reflectivity. The accuracy decreased with the target density

Genetical stability and osteogenic ability of mesenchimal stem cells on demineralized bone matrices

Journal of Osseointegration Volume 7, Issue 1, 1 March 2015, Pages 2-7 Open Access Genetical stability and osteogenic ability of mesenchimal stem cells on demineralized bone matrices (Article) Pozzuoli, A.a, Gardin, C.b, Aldegheri, R.a, Bressan, E.c, Isola, M.d, Calvo-Guirado, J.L.e, Biz, C.a, Arrigoni, P.a, Feroni, L.b, Zavan, B.b a Department of Surgical,Oncological and Gastroenterological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy b Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy c Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy d Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), Italy e Department of General Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain Hide additional affiliations View references (44) Abstract Aim: Tissue engineering is a rapidly expanding field with regard to the use of biomaterials and stem cells in the orthopedic surgery. Many experimental studies have been done to understand the best characteristics of cells, materials and laboratory methods for safe clinical applications. The aim of this study was to compare the ability of 2 different human demineralized bone matrices (DBMs), the one enriched and the other not enriched with hyaluronic acid, to stimulate in vitro the proliferation and the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) seeded onto an osteoconductive scaffold. Materials and Methods: ADSCs were isolated, by enzymatic digestion, from abdominal adipose tissue of 5 patients undergoing cosmetic lipoaspiration surgery. ADSCs were then seeded onto a 3D scaffold in the presence of the two different osteoinductive matrices of human demineralized bone and evaluated for proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. The safety of the methods was verified using array-Comparative Genomic Hybridization (array-CGH). Results: ADSCs were able to differentiate in osteogenic sense. Both DBMs showed the ability to induce osteogenic differentiation of the cells. Conclusion: array-CGH showed no changes at genome level, thus confirming the safety of materials and method

Relación entre calidad y coste de la prescripción farmacológica en atención primaria

ObjetivoAnalizar la prescripcion farmaceutica de los medicos generales (MG) segun un sistema de indicadores cualitativos y evaluar la relacion de estos con el gasto global de prescripcion farmaceutica por habitante.DisenoEstudio descriptivo, retrospectivo.EmplazamientoAtencion primaria.Mediciones y resultados principalesSe evalua la prescripcion farmaceutica de 285 MG de 32 equipos de atencion primaria, siendo la prescripcion individual de cada medico la unidad de analisis. La prescripcion se clasifico en 3 categorias segun su valor intrinseco (%VIF): bajo (. 75%), medio (76–79%) y alto (. 80%). Como trazadores de hiperprescripcion fueron seleccionados: DHD antibioticos (AB), DHD antiinflamatorios no esteroides (AINE) y DHD antiulcerosos (ULC), y como trazadores de seleccion: %DHD cefalosporinas tercera generacion/DHD cefalosporinas totales (CEF3.aG), %DHD quinolonas amplio espectro/DHD quinolonas totales (QAP), %DHD AINE/DHD (AINE + analgesicos) (ANAL). Los indicadores cuantitativos estudiados fueron: gasto total/poblacion asignada (GPA), coste/receta farmacos de eficacia dudosa y coste/DDD de AB, AINE y ULC. Se aplico el analisis de variancia, incluyendo la prueba de Scheffe para comparaciones multiples y la correlacion lineal de Pearson. Un 26% de las prescripciones tenia un %VIF < 75%, mientras que el 34% lo tenia > 80%. Las medias de DHD AB entre las categorias de VIF eran diferentes (p < 0,0001), al igual que las de DHD de AINE (p < 0,0001) y ULC (p = 0,007), observandose un menor consumo de AB, AINE y ULC en las prescripciones con VIF mas alto. Las CEF3aG, asi como ANAL presentan diferencias significativas con las 3 categorias de VIF (p < 0,0001 y p = 0,041) a diferencia del QAP (p = 0,18). El GPA es menor entre los MG cuyas prescripciones tenian el %VIF mas alto; en cambio, el coste/receta y el coste DDD no presentaron diferencias significativas segun categorias de %VIF.ConclusionesLos medicos con mejor perfil cualitativo segun estos indicadores presentan un menor gasto por habitante. En cambio, no se observan diferencias en el coste por receta ni en el coste/tratamiento entre los distintos medicos. Por tanto, las intervenciones deben priorizar la mejora de la calidad de la prescripcion farmaceutica antes que promover unicamente el cambio al farmaco de menor coste.ObjectivesWith a system of qualitative indicators, to analyse the pharmaceutical prescription of general practitioners (GPs), and to evaluate the relationship of these indicators to the overall pharmaceutical prescription expenditure per inhabitant.DesignRetrospective descriptive study.SettingPrimary care.Measurements and main resultsThe drugs prescription of 285 GPs from 32 primary care teams was evaluated, with the individual prescription of each doctor as the unit of analysis. The prescription was classified in 3 categories according to its intrinsic value (IV): low (. 75%), medium (76–79%) and high (. 80%). Selected as tracers of over-prescription were: daily dose per inhabitant (DDI) of antibiotics (AB), DDI of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), and DDI of ulcer drugs (ULC). Selected as tracers of selection were: % DDI third-generation cephalosporins/DDI total cephalosporins; % DDI broad-spectre quinolones/DDI total quinolones; and % DDI NSAID/DDI NSAID plus analgesics. Quantitative indicators studied were: total expenditure per allocated population, cost per drugs prescription of doubtful efficacy, and cost per daily dose of AB, NSAID and ULC. Variance analysis, including the Scheffe test for multiple comparisons and Pearson's linear correlation, was applied. 26% of the prescriptions had an IV below 75%, and 34% had an IV above 80%. The means of DDI of AB among the categories of IV were different (p < 0.0001), as were those of DDI of NSAID (p < 0.0001) and of ULC (p = 0.007). Lower consumption of AB, NSAID and ULC was found in prescriptions with the highest IV %. The third-generation cephalosporins and the NSAID + analgesics showed significant differences in the three IV categories (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.041), unlike broad-spectrum quinolones (p = 0.18). The total expenditure per allocated population was less for GPs whose prescriptions had the highest IV %; whereas the cost per prescription and cost per daily dose showed no significant differences for IV categories.ConclusionsThe doctors with the best qualitative profile on these indicators had less expenditure per inhabitant. However, no differences were found in the cost per prescription or cost per treatment between doctors. Therefore, interventions must prioritise improving drug prescription quality rather than just promoting changes to lower-cost drugs

Hydrogen sensors on the basis of SnO2-TiO2 systems

AbstractIn this study we compare sensor responses to H2 in air using two types of sensing materials: SnO2 bulk doped with TiO2 and mechanical mixtures of SnO2 and TiO2. The materials were analyzed in the broad range of working temperatures and H2 concentrations. Thermal stability of SnO2 bulk doped with TiO2 was studied by in-situ XRD at 700°C

82: Severe Hemorrhagic Cystitis (HC) After Allogeneic Hematopoeitic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT): Incidence and Risk Factors

With the purpose to investigate the radio emission of new ultracool objects, we carried out a targeted search in the recently discovered system VHS J125601.92$-$125723.9 (hereafter VHS 1256$-$1257); this system is composed by an equal-mass M7.5 binary and a L7 low-mass substellar object located at only 15.8\,pc. We observed in phase-reference mode the system VHS 1256$-$1257 with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array at $X$- and $L$- band and with the European VLBI Network at $L$-band in several epochs during 2015 and 2016. We discovered radio emission at $X$-band spatially coincident with the equal-mass M7.5 binary with a flux density of 60 $\mu$Jy. We determined a spectral index $\alpha = -1.1 \pm 0.3$ between 8 and 12 GHz, suggesting that non-thermal, optically-thin, synchrotron or gyrosynchrotron radiation is responsible for the observed radio emission. Interestingly, no signal is seen at $L$-band where we set a 3-$\sigma$ upper limit of 20 $\mu$Jy. This might be explained by strong variability of the binary or self-absorption at this frequency. By adopting the latter scenario and gyrosynchrotron radiation, we constrain the turnover frequency to be in the interval 5--8.5 GHz, from which we infer the presence of kG-intense magnetic fields in the M7.5 binary. Our data impose a 3-$\sigma$ upper bound to the radio flux density of the L7 object of 9 $\mu$Jy at 10\,GHz.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in A&