Reaction of the Halo Nucleus 11Be on Heavy Targets at Energies Around the Coulomb Barrier

New data for the reaction 11Be on 197Au at Elab=31.9 MeV are presented. The angular distributions of the inelastically scattered 11Be and the 10Be fragments coming from the 11Be dissociation have been extracted and compared with semiclassical and coupled-channels calculations in an angular range θlab=13∘–46∘ for the detected Be fragment.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación FPA2009-07387, FPA2009-07653, FPA2009-08848, FPA2012-32443 and CPAN CSD2007-00042Nuclear Astrophysics Virtual Institute (VH-VI-417

Scattering of the Halo Nucleus 11Be on 197Au at Energies around the Coulomb Barrier

Angular distributions of the elastic, inelastic, and breakup cross sections of the halo nucleus 11Be on197 Au were measured at energies below (Elab =31.9 MeV) and around (39.6 MeV) the Coulomb barrier. These three channels were unambiguously separated for the first time for reactions of 11Be on a high-Z target at low energies. The experiment was performed at TRIUMF (Vancouver, Canada). The differential cross sections were compared with three different calculations: semiclassical, inert-core continuum-coupled-channels and continuum-coupled-channels ones with including core deformation. These results show conclusively that the elastic and inelastic differential cross sections can only be accounted for if core-excited admixtures are taken into account. The cross sections for these channels strongly depend on the β (E1) distribution in 11Be, and the reaction mechanism is sensitive to the entanglement of core and halo degrees of freedom in 11Be.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad FPA2015-64969-P, FIS2014-53448-C2-1-P, FPA2013-47327-c02-01-R, FPA2012-32443, FIS2013-41994-PCentro Nacional de Física de Partículas, Astropartículas y Nuclear CSD2007- 00042European Collaborative Research EUI-2009-04162European Unions 654002Nuclear Astrophysics Virtual Institute VH-VI-417European Commission, Seventh Framework Program 60037

Urinary MicroRNA Profiling in the Nephropathy of Type 1 Diabetes

Background: Patients with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) are particularly vulnerable to development of Diabetic nephropathy (DN) leading to End Stage Renal Disease. Hence a better understanding of the factors affecting kidney disease progression in T1D is urgently needed. In recent years microRNAs have emerged as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in many different health conditions. We hypothesized that urinary microRNA profile of patients will differ in the different stages of diabetic renal disease. Methods and Findings: We studied urine microRNA profiles with qPCR in 40 T1D with >20 year follow up 10 who never developed renal disease (N) matched against 10 patients who went on to develop overt nephropathy (DN), 10 patients with intermittent microalbuminuria (IMA) matched against 10 patients with persistent (PMA) microalbuminuria. A Bayesian procedure was used to normalize and convert raw signals to expression ratios. We applied formal statistical techniques to translate fold changes to profiles of microRNA targets which were then used to make inferences about biological pathways in the Gene Ontology and REACTOME structured vocabularies. A total of 27 microRNAs were found to be present at significantly different levels in different stages of untreated nephropathy. These microRNAs mapped to overlapping pathways pertaining to growth factor signaling and renal fibrosis known to be targeted in diabetic kidney disease. Conclusions: Urinary microRNA profiles differ across the different stages of diabetic nephropathy. Previous work using experimental, clinical chemistry or biopsy samples has demonstrated differential expression of many of these microRNAs in a variety of chronic renal conditions and diabetes. Combining expression ratios of microRNAs with formal inferences about their predicted mRNA targets and associated biological pathways may yield useful markers for early diagnosis and risk stratification of DN in T1D by inferring the alteration of renal molecular processes. © 2013 Argyropoulos et al

Where less may be more: how the rare biosphere pulls ecosystems strings

Rare species are increasingly recognized as crucial, yet vulnerable components of Earth’s ecosystems. This is also true for microbial communities, which are typically composed of a high number of relatively rare species. Recent studies have demonstrated that rare species can have an over-proportional role in biogeochemical cycles and may be a hidden driver of microbiome function. In this review, we provide an ecological overview of the rare microbial biosphere, including causes of rarity and the impacts of rare species on ecosystem functioning. We discuss how rare species can have a preponderant role for local biodiversity and species turnover with rarity potentially bound to phylogenetically conserved features. Rare microbes may therefore be overlooked keystone species regulating the functioning of host-associated, terrestrial and aquatic environments. We conclude this review with recommendations to guide scientists interested in investigating this rapidly emerging research area

Experimental data and numerical predictions of a single-phase flow in a batch square stirred tank reactor with a rotating cylinder agitator

Abstract Single-phase flows in stirred tank reactors have useful characteristics for a wide number of industrial applications. Usually, reactors are cylindrical vessels and complex impeller designs, which are often highly energy consuming and produce complicated flow patterns. Therefore, a novel configuration consisting of a square stirred tank reactor is proposed in this study with potential advantages over conventional reactors. In the present work hydrodynamics and turbulence have been studied for a single-phase flow in steady state operating in batch condition. The flow was induced by drag from a rotating cylinder with two diameters. The effects of drag from the stirrer as well as geometrical parameters of the system on the hydrodynamic behavior were investigated using Computational Fluids Dynamics (CFD) and non-intrusive Laser Doppler Anemometry, (LDA). Data obtained from LDA measurements were used for the validation of the CFD simulations, and to detecting the macro-instabilities inside the tank, based on the time series analysis for three rotational speeds N = 180, 1000 and 2000 rpm. The numerical results revealed the formation of flow patterns and macrovortex structures in the upper part of the tank as consequence of the Reynolds number and the stream discharge emanated from the cylindrical stirrer. Moreover, increasing the cylinder diameter has an impact on the number of recirculation loops as well as the energy consumption of the entire system showing better performance in the presence of turbulent flows

Laparoscopic treatment of cholelithiasis in cirrhotic patients Experiencia en el tratamiento laparoscópico de la colelitiasis del cirrótico

Objective: to assess the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy in the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with Child&acute;s Class A and Class B cirrhosis. Study design: descriptive and retrospective study. Patients: we studied 14 patients (mean age 60 yrs) with Child&acute;s Class A and Class B hepatic cirrhosis who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. We analyzed the occurrence of intraoperative and postoperative complications. Results: eight patients were women (57.14%) and 6 were men (42.85%). Eight of the 14 patients presented with Child's Class B cirrhosis and 6 patients with Class A. Cholecystectomy was programmed for all patients. The average duration of surgery was 77 min. Intraoperative complications occurred in 2 patients (14.28%) in the form of liver bed bleeding. Postoperative complications were observed in 3 patients (21.42%), 2 presented with ascites which led to a worsening of Child's Class in one of them, and the third patient presented with angina-like symptoms (acute, sharp pain in the chest irradiating to the back). Mean length of hospital stay was 3 days. No postoperative morbidity or mortality occurred, and there were no conversions. Conclusions: LC (laparoscopic cholecystectomy) is a safe and effective alternative for the treatment of symptomatic cholelithiasis in patients with well-compensated Child's Class A and Class B cirrhosis. Postoperative morbi-mortality is low, bleeding is unimportant, and both duration of surgical procedure and hospital stay are short.<br>Objetivo: evaluar la seguridad y eficacia del uso de la laparoscopia en pacientes cirróticos en estadio A y B de Child-Pugh con colelitiasis sintomática. Diseño del estudio: estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo. Pacientes: catorce pacientes con una edad media de 60 años diagnosticados de cirrosis hepática en estadios A y B que se les practicó colecistectomía laparoscópica. Se estudia la aparición de complicaciones intraoperatorias y postoperatorias tras la intervención Resultados: ocho (57,14%) casos eran mujeres y 6 ( 42,85%) varones. De los 14 pacientes, 8 presentaban un estadio Child-Pugh B y 6 un Child-Pugh A. Todos los pacientes se intervienen de colelitiasis de forma programada. El tiempo operatorio medio fue de 77 min. Dos (14,28%) de los pacientes presentaron complicaciones intraoperatorias, sangrado del lecho quirúrgico. Tres (21,42%) pacientes presentaron complicaciones postoperatorias: dos (14,28%) presentaron ascitis con empeoramiento del Child-Pugh en uno de ellos y el otro presentó un cuadro anginoso. La estancia media de estos pacientes es de 3 días. No hubo ninguna muerte tras la intervención y no hubo ninguna reconversión. Conclusiones: la CL es una alternativa segura y efectiva en el tratamiento de colelitiasis sintomáticas en pacientes con cirrosis en estadio A y B compensada. Ofrece una baja morbimortalidad postoperatoria con una escasa pérdida de sangre, un tiempo operatorio corto y una reducida estancia hospitalaria