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In this study, we present Integral Field Unit observations of the galaxy SDSSJ0859 + 3923, utilizing the MEGARA (Multi Espectrógrafo en GTC de Alta Resolución para Astronomía) instrument on the GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias) 10.4m telescope. These observations were conducted in two distinct spectral ranges: 4332–5222 Å and 6097–7345 Å, with a high resolving power (R |$_\mathrm{FWHM}$| |$\sim 6\, 000$|⁠), and spatial resolution of 25 pc, considering the galaxy's distance of 8.5 Mpc. Our observations have identified five H  ii regions, whose precise positions were determined using data from the Wide Field Camera 3 (ultraviolet and visible) of the Hubble Space Telescope , WFC3-UVIS/ HST , archive images, where we also detected the associated blue underlying continuum linked to the ionized knots. A detailed kinematic analysis of these regions revealed low-velocity dispersion values (around 10 km s |$^{-1}$|⁠) in four H  ii regions, indicating a lack of significant turbulent events. In the fifth region, we observed a peak in velocity dispersion reaching 40 km s |$^{-1}$|⁠ , which we interpret as the result of hot star winds and/or a recent type-II supernova explosion. We have conducted a comprehensive spectral analysis of the H  ii regions, obtaining emission-line fluxes that enabled us to confirm the oxygen abundance (12  +  log(O/H)  =  7.41 |$\pm$|  0.15) and, using popstar models, to constrain the age and mass of the ionizing young clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yellow grub disease is a parasite infection, caused by Clinostomum spp. Metacercariae and affecting axial muscles and internal organs of freshwater fish. Killifishes live in seasonal ponds and are short-lived; in the Neotropical region they are among the most vulnerable vertebrates. The current study analyzes the possible injury and inflammatory reaction caused by parasitic infection with Clinostomum spp. metacercariae in testes, ovaries, liver, intestine and mesentery in the seasonal killifishes Trigonectes aplocheiloides and Titanolebias monstrosus. Apparently, this parasite could migrate through the circulatory system to different organs, since a cercaria was found in the lumen of a hepatic sinusoid. In all organs the inflammatory response showed dilated, congested vascular areas and infiltration of numerous inflammatory cells, mainly composed of lymphocytes, eosinophilic granular cells and macrophages. However, the most affected organs were the pancreas, ovaries and testes. In these organs, severe pancreatitis with degranulation of the pancreatic acini, scarce ovarian follicles and spermatocysts dilated with few or no seminiferous cells were observed. In seasonal killifish, yellow grub disease could cause low fertility rates or even sterility by reducing or impairing their reproductive capacity. Therefore, this type of parasitism has a considerable impact on the perpetuation of this species due to the short periods they have to breed before their habitats dry out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whey, a primary byproduct of cheese production, is rich in organic content, largely due to its lactose concentration (45–60 g/L). Cheese production yields three types of residues: sweet whey (SW), acid whey, and ricotta whey (RW). Each has unique physicochemical properties that present challenges for small to medium-sized enterprises because of the expensive treatment required. One solution to this problem is fermenting these substrates to produce value-added products. This study aimed to assess the fermentation of the three RW types using Kluyveromyces marxianus ITD00262 for isoamyl acetate production, a compound that gives a banana-like aroma. Several factors were analyzed: cell growth, pH changes, lactose content reduction, ethanol production, and isoamyl acetate formation. Cell growth was consistent across all whey types. As for pH, there was a drop during the initial 48 h to roughly 4.3, after which it rose to near 7. In acid whey, 50.95 g/L of ethanol was produced by the 120-h mark. The peak isoamyl acetate concentration was observed at 24 h, registering 160 mg/L in YPL medium, while SW peaked at 124 mg/L at 72 h. Lastly, the highest lactose consumption was seen in SW, approximately 76% at 24 h, surpassing that of acid and ricotta whey, which fluctuated between 56 and 58%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological value (EV) is a term used to characterize the biotic or abiotic elements of a landscape, excluding human influence. Significant criteria for EV estimation can be grouped into two categories: ecological properties (biodiversity and vulnerability) and functional/structural features (fragmentation, connectivity, and resilience). While various methodological frameworks exist for estimating these criteria, few studies integrate all five criteria, and even fewer compare their results with fieldwork data. The objective of this study was to devise a novel spatial modelling tool for EV estimation based on biodiversity, vulnerability, fragmentation, connectivity, and resilience, utilizing data from Neotropical montane forests in west-central Mexico. The model incorporated data on (i) biodiversity and vulnerability estimated through ecological niche models, (ii) fragmentation and connectivity using landscape spatial patterns, and (iii) resilience estimated through the inverse of the vegetation sensitivity index. The results were then compared with fieldwork data. Natural protected areas within the Neotropical montane forests of west-central Mexico exhibited high EVs; however, a substantial portion of these forests lack legal protection. In terms of vegetation types, cloud and semideciduous forests exhibited the highest EV, emphasizing the urgent need for legal protection of these vital ecosystems. The comparison process demonstrated a moderate to high correlation in some criteria between the spatial and fieldwork data, indicating that the spatial model robustly captured the landscape spatial patterns. The spatial modelling tool proposed in this study is not only practical but also reproducible and applicable globally. Its efficacy lies in combining ecological properties with the functional and structural features of the landscape, making it particularly suitable for delineating protected natural areas and contributing to landscape planning efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

User Engagement is a metric that represents a part of the user experience characterized by attributes of reactions, visibility and user interactivity with others. Statistical analysis methods and qualitative analysis were used to establish a new method for calculating User Engagement in Facebook fan pages focused in dissemination of scientific information. We focused on social media processes based on Spearman correlation coefficients and categorization of publications by format type and source of content. A multiple linear regression model was defined using the number of clicks and the reach of posts with an accuracy of up to 91% (R2). The User Engagement increases preferably when it is presented in photo format of an original content creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the first occurrence of Parastagonospora nodorum causing Septoria nodorum blotch on wheat in Paraguay. The disease was observed in wheat plants in Capitán Miranda, Itapúa, with symptoms including necrotic spots on the leaves surrounded by a chlorotic halo and discolouration of the glume with the presence of pycnidia. Samples were collected and analyzed, confirming the presence of Parastagonospora nodorum. The article emphasizes the importance of continuous monitoring and collaboration with agricultural authorities for effective disease management in wheat cultivation. [Extracted from the article]

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of increasing doses of protease on broilers from 1 to 42 days of age. A total of 1290 Ross AP broilers were used, distributed among five treatments: positive control diet, negative control diet (NC), NC + 50 ppm of protease, NC + 100 ppm of protease, and NC + 200 ppm of protease. Each treatment contained six replicates of 43 animals each. The inclusion of proteases in the diet had effects (P < 0.05) on body weight, feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion in the 12 to 21 day period; body weight, weight gain, and feed intake in the 29 to 42 day period; nutrient digestibility (energy metabolizability coefficient and crude protein at 28 days); and intestinal parameters (crypt and muscle width of jejunum and ileum at 28 days and villus length, crypt length, and jejunum thickness muscle layer at 42 days). These results indicate that the inclusion of protease in broiler feed can improve production parameters when the amount of crude protein in the diet is reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, air pollution is a critical public health problem, which means that the daily measurement of urban air quality can be enriched if measured in a personalized way. Personal environmental monitoring devices can guide the population to take action. They can track their daily activities, avoiding situations that could affect their health, allowing them to precisely know the air quality they breathe in real-time in various microenvironments. In this work, we present a review of cyclonic separation technology patents, such as pre-separators in monitoring devices. We focused on the state-of-the-art commercially available personal monitoring devices, the classification of kinds of patents, and a review of cyclone patents and gas–particle separation behaviors. The World Intellectual Property Organization IP's portal and Google Patents search engine were used, using international patent classification plus mesh terms involving a cyclone in an air particulate monitor after predefining inclusion and exclusion criteria such as gas–air cyclones, high efficiency, and fine particle separation. Twenty-nine patents were analyzed according to the main characteristics (e.g., cut point, flow rate, and cyclone improvement) available in the patent document. The wide range of cyclones indicates a maximum flow rate of between 0.5 and 4.5 Lpm and a lower cyclone cut point of 0.8 μm. This review includes a discussion of the most relevant features of the patent documents (flow rate, particle cut point, some cyclone improvements, and technology detection). This paper aims to give an overview of the use of cyclones as pre-separators for personal air monitoring devices and to acknowledge the patented improvements of new inventors or developers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MEGARA (Multi Espectrógrafo en Gran Telescopio Canarias de Alta Resolución para Astronomía) is the optical integral-field and multi-object spectrograph at the Gran Telescopio Canarias. We have created MEGASTAR , an empirical library of stellar spectra obtained using MEGARA at high resolution, |$R=20\, 000$| (full width at half-maximum), available in two wavelength ranges: one centred on Hα, from 6420 to 6790 Å; and the other centred on the Ca  ii triplet, from 8370 to 8885 Å (HR-R and HR-I volume phase holographic (VPH)-grating configurations). In this work, we use MEGASTAR spectra, a combination of these two short wavelength intervals, to estimate the stellar parameters, namely the effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity (and their associated errors), for a sample of 351 MEGASTAR members with spectral types earlier than B2. We applied a χ2-technique by comparing MEGASTAR data with theoretical stellar models. For those stars with stellar parameters derived in the literature, we obtained a good agreement between the published parameters and ours. In addition to the stellar parameters, we also provide several products, such as the rectified spectra, radial velocities, and stellar indices, for this sample of stars. In the near future, we will use MEGASTAR spectra and their derived stellar parameters to compute stellar population evolutionary synthesis models, which will contribute to a better interpretation of star cluster and galactic spectra obtained with MEGARA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a spatially resolved spectroscopic study for the metal poor H  ii galaxy J084220+115000 using MEGARA Integral Field Unit observations at the Gran Telescopio Canarias. We estimated the gas metallicity using the direct method for oxygen, nitrogen, and helium and found a mean value of 12 + log (O/H) = 8.03 ± 0.06, and integrated electron density and temperature of ∼161 cm−3 and ∼15400 K, respectively. The metallicity distribution shows a large range of Δ(O/H) = 0.72 dex between the minimum and maximum (7.69 ± 0.06 and 8.42 ± 0.05) values, unusual in a dwarf star-forming galaxy. We derived an integrated log (N/O) ratio of −1.51 ± 0.05 and found that both N/O and O/H correspond to a primary production of metals. Spatially resolved maps indicate that the gas appears to be photoionized by massive stars according to the diagnostic line ratios. Between the possible mechanisms to explain the starburst activity and the large variation of oxygen abundance in this galaxy, our data support a possible scenario where we are witnessing an ongoing interaction triggering multiple star-forming regions localized in two dominant clumps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Limited research exists about the knowledge that adult patients have about their congenital colorectal diagnosis. Methods: This was an IRB approved, prospective study of patients in the Adult Colorectal Research Registry who completed surveys between October 2019 and March 2022. Surveys were administered through REDCap after patients consented to being contacted for research purposes. Patients provided demographic data, which was linked to surgical records, and the diagnoses provided by patients were compared with diagnoses recorded by the original surgeons. Results: One hundred and thirty-one questionnaires were collected, 115 patients had anorectal malformations (ARM) and 16 had Hirschsprung disease (HD). Seven patients who had ARM were unaware that they had an ARM or HD. The type of ARM recorded by the surgeon was unavailable for comparison with the patient's reported diagnosis in four cases. Of the 111 remaining patients with ARM, only 32 of them (29%) knew what their own type of anomaly was. Female patients recalled their diagnosis more often than male patients (42.4% vs 13.5%). All 16 participants with HD correctly identified their diagnosis severity as HD with or without total colonic aganglionosis. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate patient's limited understanding of their type of ARM and highlight the urgent need to enhance communication and education strategies, such as issuing patients with medical diagnosis identification cards. It is critical for clinicians to better communicate with patients to ensure that they and their relatives truly understand their precise diagnosis. Adequately informed patients can better advocate for themselves, adhere to treatments and precautionary recommendations and navigate the complexities of transitional care. Consequently they can more effectively manage their lifelong complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Up to now, information on the levels of maternally-derived antibodies (MDA) against PCV-2 in suckling piglets born to sows vaccinated with different strategies is scarce in the literature. In the present observational study, the PCV-2-specific MDA titres from piglets from 109 farms (thirty 3-day-old and thirty 21-day-old piglets per farm) across four different European countries (France n = 30, Germany n = 27, Italy n = 22 and Spain n = 30) using different sow vaccination strategies (during gestation, as a gilt, as a piglet or never) were assessed. Results: In all four countries, mean log PCV-2 MDA titres were higher in 3-day-old piglets than in the 3-week-old ones, being significant in most of all the comparisons performed. Within each country, the highest PCV-2-specific MDA titres were observed in the 3-day-old piglets born to sows vaccinated during gestation. Indeed, in the four countries, more than 60% of this subpopulation (3-day-old piglets from sows vaccinated during pregnancy) had the highest log PCV-2 titres detectable with the ELISA technique used in this study. The lowest MDA titres were more variable. Whereas in France and Germany the lowest titres corresponded to 21-day-old piglets born from sows vaccinated as a piglet, in Italy, they corresponded to 21-day-old piglets derived from sows vaccinated as a gilt and in Spain to 21-day-old piglets born from non-vaccinated sows. In this study, PCV-2-specific MDA titres at 3 and 21 days of age were not affected by sow parity. Conclusions: Data obtained could be considered as a European global overview of PCV-2-specific MDA titres present in the pre-vaccinated piglet populations in different European countries, with titres tending to be higher in younger piglets, but with values variable among countries and sow vaccination strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Tobacco use has a negative impact on health due to its relationship with the development of high-mortality diseases, such as pulmonary cancer. However, the effect of cadmium (Cd), present in tobacco smoke, on the development of joint diseases has been scarcely studied. The objective of this review is to discuss the evidence regarding the mechanisms by which Cd exposure, through tobacco smoke, may lead to the development of osteoarthritis (OA), osteoporosis (OP), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There's evidence suggesting a string association between moderate to severe OA development and tobacco use, and that a higher blood concentration of Cd can trigger oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation, favoring cartilage loss. At the bone level, the Cd that is inhaled through tobacco smoke affects bone mineral density, resulting in OP mediated by a decrease in the antioxidant enzymes, which favors the bone resorption process. In RA, tobacco use promotes the citrullination process through Cd exposure and increases OS and inflammation. Understanding how tobacco use can increase the damage at the articular level mediated by a toxic metal, i.e., Cd, is important. Finally, we propose prevention, control, and treatment strategies for frequently disabling diseases, such as OA, OP, and RA to reduce its prevalence in the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2MASS J20395358+4222505  is an obscured early B supergiant near the massive OB star association Cygnus OB2. Despite its bright infrared magnitude (K s = 5.82) it has remained largely ignored because of its dim optical magnitude (B = 16.63, V  = 13.68). In a previous paper, we classified it as a highly reddened, potentially extremely luminous, early B-type supergiant. We obtained its spectrum in the U ,  B and R spectral bands during commissioning observations with the instrument MEGARA at the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS. It displays a particularly strong Hα emission for its spectral type, B1 Ia. The star seems to be in an intermediate phase between supergiant and hypergiant, a group that it will probably join in the near (astronomical) future. We observe a radial velocity difference between individual observations and determine the stellar parameters, obtaining T eff = 24 000 K and log  gc  = 2.88 ± 0.15. The rotational velocity found is large for a B supergiant, |$v$|  sin  i  = 110 ± 25 |$\rm km\, s^{-1}$|⁠. The abundance pattern is consistent with solar, with a mild C  underabundance (based on a single line). Assuming that J20395358+4222505  is at the distance of Cyg OB2, we derive the radius from infrared photometry, finding R  = 41.2 ± 4.0 R⊙, log(L /L⊙) = 5.71 ± 0.04 and a spectroscopic mass of 46.5 ± 15.0 M⊙. The clumped mass-loss rate (clumping factor 10) is very high for the spectral type, |$\dot{M}$|  = 2.4 × 10−6 M⊙ a−1. The high rotational velocity and mass-loss rate place the star at the hot side of the bi-stability jump. Together with the nearly solar CNO abundance pattern, they may also point to evolution in a binary system, J20395358+4222505  being the initial secondary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assembly of frames into the structure of aircraft fuselages requires adhesive shimming to fill occurring joint gaps above 0.3 mm. Gap measurement and gap filler application tasks are time-consuming manual processes. Up to now, the frame elements form the interface between frame and shell adjusting any form deviations. Stiffness elements are added to support the shape of the frame. To save process efforts, new frames under development are thermoplastic integrals with main body, feet, and stiffness elements made of one part. These parts are easier to form and re-shape during production but have to be adequately produced to fit to the shell, avoiding joining forces and deformations. In this paper, it is presented that the gaps can be measured with an automated method. Novel developments are the automated gap body measurement of rigid parts in a pre-assembly station, the measurement method by avoiding joining forces and the automated procedure of measuring gaps for applying the gap filler. The gaps between two joining parts are reconstructed virtually by measuring the joining surfaces of the produced parts with a laser tracker and a line scanner (T-Scan) before joining. These points are combined with the CAD model of each part. The parts are then virtually joined. The exact opposite points of each joining surface are either in contact or have a distance resulting in the gap value. Virtual joining gives insight into the results of the process and helps decide on the gap-filling strategy. The effects of contact during assembly can be avoidable using a design gap or a shape best-fit. The resulting point cloud is then processed and transmitted to a robot-guided 3D printer reproducing the surface structure with thermoplastic PEEK gap filler material directly onto the frame feet surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) is a general term for the forms of bacterial polysaccharides found outside the cell wall of bacteria. The industrial microbiologist has become interested in exploiting microbial exopolymer production due to an increasing interest and need for novel polysaccharides. The use of bacterial EPS in acid milk curd (AMC) production accounts for a quality improvement of the milk curd in terms of stability during the normal operations of storage and transportation. On the other hand, EPS have been used as prebiotic because of its health-promoting effects in human beings. The objective of this study was to evaluate the rheological properties (RP) and their statistical correlations in acid milk curd (AMC) samples added with bacterial EPS. Rheometric properties are suitable parameters to evaluate food quality such as AMC. Some of the RP normally used in this evaluation include elastic modulus (EM), hardness (HR), breaking energy (BE), viscosity (VIS) and stress. Correlation between pairs of these parameters are important to understand in order to predict statistically other parameters in case they cannot be easily determined. Acid milk curd samples were formulated using 10, 15, and 20 % of reconstituted skim milk (RSM), to which 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1 % level of EPS were added, respectively. Samples were pasteurized at 60 ° C for 30 min, and at 85 °C for 30s. Afterwards, AMC samples were tempered to 40 °C inoculated with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus B-5b, and incubated at 37 °C for 16 h. Results indicated that viscosity and hardness showed the strongest and highest correlation among all the parameters evaluated (r=0.9272) and it was comparable to that between viscosity and breaking energy (r=0.8349) and breaking energy and hardness (r=0.7694). However, elastic modulus and viscosity showed a rather low correlation (r=0.5394) and very low correlation (r=0.1830), respectively, suggesting that estimation of elastic modulus from viscosity values would be inaccurate. In general, rheometric properties of acid milk curd increased with higher EPS concentrations until 1 % level of EPS addition. Therefore, it is recommended to use BE and HR values, and BE and VIS values to predict accurate measurements of other RP values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we compared the ability of linear and cyclic peptides generated in silico to target different protein sites: internal pockets and solvent-exposed sites. We selected human lysozyme (HuL) as a model target protein combined with the computational evolution of linear and cyclic peptides. The sequence evolution of these peptides was based on the PARCE algorithm. The generated peptides were screened based on their aqueous solubility and HuL binding affinity. The latter was evaluated by means of scoring functions and atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) trajectories in water, which allowed prediction of the structural features of the protein–peptide complexes. The computational results demonstrated that cyclic peptides constitute the optimal choice for solvent exposed sites, while both linear and cyclic peptides are capable of targeting the HuL pocket effectively. The most promising binders found in silico were investigated experimentally by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) techniques. All tested peptides displayed dissociation constants in the micromolar range, as assessed by SPR; however, both NMR and ESI-MS suggested multiple binding modes, at least for the pocket binding peptides. A detailed NMR analysis confirmed that both linear and cyclic pocket peptides correctly target the binding site they were designed for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the HR-pyPopStar model, which provides a complete set (in ages) of high-resolution (HR) spectral energy distributions of Single Stellar Populations. The model uses the most recent high-wavelength-resolution theoretical atmosphere libraries for main-sequence, post-AGB/planetary nebulae and Wolf–Rayet stars. The spectral energy distributions are given for more than a hundred ages ranging from 0.1 Myr to 13.8 Gyr, at four different values of the metallicity (Z  = 0.004, 0.008, 0.019, and 0.05), considering four different IMFs. The wavelength range goes from 91 to |$24\, 000$|  Å in linear steps δλ = 0.1 Å, giving a theoretical resolving power |$R_{{\rm th},5000} \sim 50\, 000$| at 5000 Å. This is the main novelty of these spectra, unique for their age and wavelength ranges. The models include the ionizing stellar populations that are relevant at both young (massive hot stars) and old (planetary nebulae) ages. We have tested the results with some examples of HR spectra recently observed with MEGARA at GTC. We highlight the importance of wavelength resolution in reproducing and interpreting the observational data from the last and forthcoming generations of astronomical instruments operating at 8–10 m class telescopes, with higher spectral resolution than their predecessors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium (Ti) doped tungsten oxide (WO3) thin films were grown by co-sputter deposition of W and Ti metal targets. The sputtering powers to the W and Ti were kept constant at 100W and 50 W, respectively, while varying the growth temperature (Ts) in the range of 25-400 °C. The structural quality of Ti-doped WO3 films is dependent on Ts. Ti-doped WO3 films grown at Ts<400 °C were amorphous. A temperature of 400 °C is critical to promote the structural order and formation of monoclinic, nanocrystalline films. The optical constants and their dispersion profiles determined from spectroscopic ellipsometry indicate that there is no significant inter-diffusion at the film-substrate interface for W-Ti oxide film growth of ∼40 nm. The index refraction (n) at λ=550 nm varies in the range of 2.15-2.40 with a gradual increase in Ts. Lorentz-Lorenz analysis (n(λ)=550 nm) of the data indicates the gradual improvement in the packing density coupled with structural transformation accounts for the observed optical quality of the Ti-doped WO3 films as a function of Ts. A correlation between the growth conditions and optical constants is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MEGARA is an optical integral field and multi-object fibre-based spectrograph for the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS that offers medium-to-high spectral resolutions (FWHM) of R  ≃ 6000, 12 000, 20 000. Commissioned at the telescope in 2017, it started operation as a common-user instrument in 2018. We are creating an instrument-oriented empirical spectral library from MEGARA-GTC stars observations, MEGASTAR, crucial for the correct interpretation of MEGARA data. This piece of work describes the content of the first release of MEGASTAR, formed by the spectra of 414 stars observed with R  ≃ 20 000 in the spectral intervals 6420–6790 Å and 8370–8885 Å, and obtained with a continuum average signal-to-noise ratio around 260. We describe the release sample, the observations, the data reduction procedure and the MEGASTAR data base. Additionally, we include in Appendix A an atlas with the complete set of 838 spectra of this first release of the MEGASTAR catalogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the first spatially resolved spectroscopic study for the galaxy PHL 293B using the high-resolution GTC/MEGARA integral field unit (IFU). PHL 293B is a local, extremely metal-poor, high ionization galaxy. This makes PHL 293B an excellent analogue for galaxies in the early Universe. The MEGARA aperture (∼ 12.5 arcsec × 11.3 arcsec) covers the entire PHL 293B main body and its far-reaching ionized gas. We created and discussed maps of all relevant emission lines, line ratios, and physical–chemical properties of the ionized ISM. The narrow emission gas appears to be ionized mainly by massive stars according to the observed diagnostic line ratios, regardless of the position across the MEGARA aperture. We detected low intensity broad emission components and blueshifted absorptions in the Balmer lines (H α,H β) which are located in the brightest zone of the galaxy ISM. A chemically homogeneity, across hundreds of parsecs, is observed in O/H. We take the oxygen abundance 12+log (O/H) = 7.64 ± 0.06 derived from the PHL 293B integrated spectrum as the representative metallicity for the galaxy. Our IFU data reveal for the first time that the nebular He  ii λ4686 emission from PHL 293B is spatially extended and coincident with the ionizing stellar cluster, and allow us to compute its absolute He  ii ionizing photon flux. Wolf-Rayet bumps are not detected excluding therefore Wolf-Rayet stars as the main He  ii excitation source. The origin of the nebular He  ii λ4686 is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the capacity of Trametes polyzona in degrading three textile dyes (amaranth, denim blue, and orange G) to three different concentrations (100, 150, and 200 mg/L) was evaluated. Two growth conditions were tested; in the first condition, the fungus was grown in a defined minimal medium with an initial glucose concentration of 10 g/L and adding the different concentrations of each of the dyes, and in the second condition, the same minimum medium was used but with a concentration of 3 g/L of glucose, after 7 days of fungus growth, at which time the glucose in the medium was completely consumed; each of the dyes was added at the three different concentrations. T. polyzona was able to decolorize the three dyes at the concentrations tested and a 200% increase in the decolorization rate was observed when the medium lacks glucose. Enzymatic activities of laccase, lignin peroxidase, and manganese peroxidase were detected; the enzyme laccase was the one that presented the greatest enzymatic activities in all the media tested. A simultaneous process of adsorption by the mycelium and degradation of extracellular enzymes was observed. A decrease of more than 90% COD was observed and the effluent generated showed no algal growth toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resistin is a hormone of biological interest due to its connection with several diseases of worldwide concern. This work aims to design a series of cyclic peptides as "lead compounds" to identify potential ligands to resistin. To this end, we propose an approach based on a peptide design algorithm plus a two-stage selection which accounts for selectivity, one of the most forgotten steps in the design of ligands. Following this approach, we have been able to identify several peptides as strong candidates for the design of elements of bio-recognition. Those peptides present low scoring binding energy to albumin, good water solubility, stability in water at 300 K, and high scoring binding energy to resistin. Among those peptides, two were chosen, to perform a more rigorous calculation of binding free energy based on the Alchemical Absolute Binding Free Energy method. We were able to establish a methodological route for the development of strong candidates for the design of ligands to resistin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present our analysis of high-resolution (R  ∼ 20 000) GTC/MEGARA integral-field unit spectroscopic observations, obtained during the commissioning run, in the inner region (12.5 arcsec × 11.3 arcsec) of the active galaxy NGC 7469, at spatial scales of 0.62 arcsec. We explore the kinematics, dynamics, ionization mechanisms, and oxygen abundances of the ionized gas, by modelling the H α-[N  ii ] emission lines at high signal-to-noise (> 15) with multiple Gaussian components. MEGARA observations reveal, for the first time for NGC 7469, the presence of a very thin (20 pc) ionized gas disc supported by rotation (V/σ = 4.3), embedded in a thicker (222 pc), dynamically hotter (V/σ  =  1.3) one. These discs nearly corotate with similar peak-to-peak velocities (163  versus  137 km s−1), but with different average velocity dispersion (38 ± 1 versus 108 ± 4 km s−1). The kinematics of both discs could be possibly perturbed by star-forming regions. We interpret the morphology and the kinematics of a third (broader) component (σ > 250 km s−1) as suggestive of the presence of non-rotational turbulent motions possibly associated either to an outflow or to the lense. For the narrow component, the [N  ii ]/H α ratios point to the star-formation as the dominant mechanism of ionization, being consistent with ionization from shocks in the case of the intermediate component. All components have roughly solar metallicity. In the nuclear region of NGC 7469, at r  ≤ 1.85 arcsec, a very broad (FWHM  =  2590 km s−1) H α component is contributing (41 per cent) to the global H α-[N  ii ] profile, being originated in the (unresolved) broad line region of the Seyfert 1.5 nucleus of NGC 7469. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MEGARA (Multi Espectrógrafo en GTC de Alta Resolución para Astronomía) is an optical (3650–9750 Å), fibre-fed, medium-high spectral resolution (R = 6000, 12 000 and 20 000) instrument for the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) 10.4-m telescope, commissioned in the summer of 2017, and currently in operation. The scientific exploitation of MEGARA requires a stellar spectra library to interpret galaxy data and to estimate the contribution of the stellar populations. In this paper, we introduce the MEGARA-GTC spectral library, detailing the rationale behind the building of this catalogue. We present the spectra of 97 stars (21 individual stars and 56 members of the globular cluster M15, which are both subsamples taken during the commissioning runs, and 20 stars from our ongoing GTC Open-Time programme). The spectra have R  = 20 000 in the HR-R and HR-I set-ups, centred at 6563 and 8633 Å, respectively. We describe the procedures to reduce and analyse the data. Then, we determine the best-fitting theoretical models to each spectrum through a χ2 minimization technique, to derive the stellar physical parameters, and we discuss the results. We have also measured some absorption lines and indices. Finally, we introduce our project to complete the library and the data base in order to make the spectra available to the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although there is considerable evidence for the portion-size effect and its potential impact on health, much of this has not been successfully applied to help consumers reduce portion sizes. The objective of this review is to provide an update on the strength of evidence supporting strategies with potential to reduce portion sizes across individuals and eating contexts. Three levels of action are considered: food-level strategies (targeting commercial snack and meal portion sizes, packaging, food labels, tableware, and food sensory properties), individual-level strategies (targeting eating rate and bite size, portion norms, plate-cleaning tendencies, and cognitive processes), and population approaches (targeting the physical, social, and economic environment and health policy). Food- and individual-level strategies are associated with small to moderate effects; however, in isolation, none seem to have sufficient impact on food intake to reverse the portion-size effect and its consequences. Wider changes to the portion-size environment will be necessary to support individual- and food-level strategies leading to portion control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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A theoretical study of the hydration of arsenious acid is presented. This study included ab initio calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. The model potentials used for the simulations were ab initio derived and they include polarizability, nonadditivity, and molecular relaxation. It is shown that with these refined potentials it is possible to reproduce the available experimental evidence and therefore permit the study of clusters, as well as of the hydration process in solution. From the study of stepwise hydration and the Monte Carlo simulation of the condensed phase it is concluded that As(OH)3 presents a hydration scheme similar to an amphipathic molecule. This phenomenon is explained as due to the existence of both a positive electrostatic potential and a localized lone pair in the vicinity of As. These results are used to rationalize the known passage of As(OH)3 through aqua-glyceroporines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the attempts currently in progress in several groups for the rigorous inclusion of dispersion interactions in density functional theory (DFT) calculations mature and evolve into practical methodology, we contribute to the debate on the applicability of current functionals to the calculation of weak interaction with a systematic investigation of a few, typical, weakly bound systems. We have used both pure DFT and a hybrid approach in which the total interaction energy is partitioned into two parts: (a) the dispersion energy which, in a first approximation is the contribution due to intermonomer correlations and (b) all other interactions. The first component is accurately obtained at all distances of interest by means of a well-known damped multipolar expansion of the dispersion energy while for the second component different approximations will be evaluated. The need to avoid double counting a fraction of the correlation energy when using the hybrid approach and the choice of the appropriate functional are also discussed. We consider four systems of increasing binding strength, namely the Ar[sub 2] and Kr[sub 2] dimers, the benzene dimer, the water dimer, and a few metal carbonyls. For pure DFT calculations we confirm the conclusion reached by others concerning (a) the strong dependence of the results on the choice of the GGA functional for dispersion-dominated interaction (noble gases and benzene) with the overall tendency to yield underbinding and (b) the relatively accurate, functional-independent, description for that DFT gives of water, which we attribute to the fact that this system is dominated by electrostatic interactions. For the carbonyls we find that DFT yields results which area again strongly dependent on the choice of the functional and show a tendency to give overbinding. Our hybrid method shows instead shortcomings only for the noble gases. The problem in this case is traceable to the well-known difficulties that all current function... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thalami are bilateral ovoid grey matter cerebral structures bordering the third ventricle on both sides, which participate in functions such as relaying of sensory and motor signals, regulation of consciousness, and alertness. Pathologies affecting the thalami can be of neoplastic, infectious, vascular, toxic, metabolic, or congenital origin. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive approach to the thalamus focusing on its anatomy, the main pathologies affecting this structure and their radiological semiology on CT and MRI. We will also illustrate the importance of multimodal MR imaging (morphologic sequences, diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion, spectroscopy) for the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Litopenaeus vannamei juveniles were exposed to sublethal levels (2.33-18.03 µg/L) of inorganic mercury. Time of exposure (0, 24 and 168 h) was a source of DNA damage. Mean comet tail length not changed significantly with mercury concentrations and exposure time, and this parameter cannot be used to assess DNA damage in this shrimp. Total hemocyte count showed a trend to decrease according to the increase of mercury concentrations, although no significant difference between treatments with mercury was observed. The phenoloxidase (PO) activity was not influenced by the time of exposure. At the end of the experiment, the PO in organisms exposed to 18.03 µg/L was different from the control. The time of exposure has a more important influence in superoxide dismutase than the concentration of mercury. According to these results, a suitable criterion of water quality for long-term exposure of L. vannamei should be lower than 2 µg/L of mercury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thalami are bilateral ovoid grey matter cerebral structures bordering the third ventricle on both sides, which participate in functions such as relaying of sensory and motor signals, regulation of consciousness, and alertness. Pathologies affecting the thalami can be of neoplastic, infectious, vascular, toxic, metabolic, or congenital origin. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive approach to the thalamus focusing on its anatomy, the main pathologies affecting this structure and their radiological semiology on CT and MRI. We will also illustrate the importance of multimodal MR imaging (morphologic sequences, diffusion-weighted imaging, perfusion, spectroscopy) for the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents experimental results on electroreflectance, photoreflectance, and photoabsorption measurements on cadmium telluride polycrystalline thin films. Preparation of the thin films by gradient recrystallization and growth technique; Measurements of fundamental energy gap of the semiconductor at room temperature; Determination of photoabsorption signal.

Presents information on the photoacoustic technique determination of recombination parameters in CdTe/glass system. What the photoacoustic technique have proven; Defintion of CdTe; Results from the experiment.

Presents information regarding the photoacoustic determination of non-radiative carrier lifetimes. How phtothermal techniques have been used; Consistency of the open photoacoustic cell (OPC) configuration technique; Identification of the sample characteristics used in the experiments.

A new design for a droplet generator capable of producing single droplets is presented. The design relies on thermoelectric heating to vaporize water at the interface between a droplet and a blunt syringe tip. While other designs require careful tuning to produce drops of varying size, this technique enables the simple creation of droplets of any size within a range. The design is of simple construction and can be completed with off-the-shelf components, and relies on resistive heating to vaporize water at or near the droplet-nozzle interface and release the droplets. We demonstrated that the design can be used to produce droplets as small as 110 μm or as large as 2 mm. Drop size is limited by the geometry of the nozzle since water must wet the tip of the nozzle and hang under gravity. Our experiments showed that released droplets have relatively small disturbances introduced by the release mechanism when compared to competing techniques. These disturbances were intermittently observed as the voltage, pulse width, and drop size were changed, and optimal settings were determined for the smallest drop sizes produced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a major staple food crop grown worldwide on >220 million ha. Climate change is regarded to have severe effect on wheat yields, and unpredictable drought stress is one of the most important factors. Breeding can significantly contribute to the mitigation of climate change effects on production by developing drought-tolerant wheat germplasm. The objective of our study was to determine the annual genetic gain for grain yield (GY) of the internationally distributed Semi-Arid Wheat Yield Trials, grown during 2002-2003 to 2013-2014 and developed by the Bread Wheat Breeding program at the CIMMYT. We analyzed data from 740 locations across 66 countries, which were classified in low-yielding (LYE) and medium-yielding (MYE) environments according to a cluster analysis. The rate of GY increase (GYC) was estimated relative to four drought-tolerant wheat lines used as constant checks. Our results estimate that the rate of GYC in LYE was 1.8% (38.13 kg ha-1 yr-1), whereas in MYE, it was 1.41% (57.71 kg ha-1 yr-1). The increase in GYC across environments was 1.6% (48.06 kg ha-1 yr-1). The pedigrees of the highest yielding lines through the coefficient of parentage analysis indicated the utilization of three primary sources--'Pastor', 'Baviacora 92', and synthetic hexaploid derivatives--to develop drought-tolerant, high and stably performing wheat lines. We conclude that CIMMYT's wheat breeding program continues to deliver adapted germplasm for suboptimal conditions of diverse wheat growing regions worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of laser wakefield accelerators (LWFA) over the past several years has led to an interest in very compact sources of X-ray radiation – such as "table-top" free electron lasers. However, the use of conventional undulators using permanent magnets also implies system sizes which are large. In this work, we assess the possibilities for the use of novel mini-undulators in conjunction with a LWFA so that the dimensions of the undulator become comparable with the acceleration distances for LWFA experiments (i.e., centimeters). The use of a prototype undulator using laser machining of permanent magnets for this application is described and the emission characteristics and limitations of such a system are determined. Preliminary electron propagation and X-ray emission measurements are taken with a LWFA electron beam at the University of Michigan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]