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The only current treatment for neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) is therapeutic hypothermia (TH), which still shows some limitations. Specific effects of TH in the several processes involved in brain injury progression remain unclear. In this study, the effects of TH treatment on developmental parameters, behavioral outcomes, and peripheral leukocytes were evaluated in neonatal male and female rats. In P7, animals were submitted to right common carotid artery occlusion followed by hypoxia (8% oxygen). TH was performed by reducing the animal scalp temperature to 32°C for 5 h. Behavioral parameters and developmental landmarks were evaluated. Animals were euthanized at P9 or P21, and cerebral hemispheres, spleen, and thymus were weighed. White blood cells (WBCs) were counted in blood smears. There was a reduction in the weight of the brain hemisphere ipsilateral to the carotid occlusion in HI and TH groups, as well as a reduction in body weight gain and a delay in the opening of the ipsilateral eye. Latency in negative geotaxis was increased by HI at P12. TH did not prevent brain weight loss, developmental impairments, or WBC number changes but prevented negative geotaxis impairment and spleen weight reduction. These data reinforce that a better understanding of the events that occur after HI and TH in both males and females is necessary and would allow the development of more adequate and sex-specific therapeutic approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of 74 new pulsating DA white dwarf stars, or ZZ Cetis, from the data obtained by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite mission, from Sectors 1 to 39, corresponding to the first 3 cycles. This includes objects from the Southern hemisphere (Sectors 1–13 and 27–39) and the Northern hemisphere (Sectors 14–26), observed with 120 s- and 20 s-cadence. Our sample likely includes 13 low-mass and one extremely low-mass white dwarf candidate, considering the mass determinations from fitting Gaia magnitudes and parallax. In addition, we present follow-up time series photometry from ground-based telescopes for 11 objects, which allowed us to detect a larger number of periods. For each object, we analysed the period spectra and performed an asteroseismological analysis, and we estimate the structure parameters of the sample, i.e. stellar mass, effective temperature, and hydrogen envelope mass. We estimate a mean asteroseismological mass of 〈 M sis〉 = 0.635 ± 0.015 M⊙, excluding the candidate low or extremely low-mass objects. This value is in agreement with the mean mass using estimates from Gaia data, which is 〈 M phot〉 = 0.631 ± 0.040 M⊙, and with the mean mass of previously known ZZ Cetis of 〈 M *〉 = 0.644 ± 0.034 M⊙. Our sample of 74 new bright ZZ Cetis increases the number of known ZZ Cetis by ∼20 per cent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the first studies of the nervous system by the Nobel laureates Camillo Golgi and Santiago Ramon y Cajal using simple dyes and conventional light microscopes, microscopy has come a long way to the most recent techniques that make it possible to perform images in live cells and animals in health and disease. Many pathological conditions of the central nervous system have already been linked to inflammatory responses. In this scenario, several available markers and techniques can help imaging and unveil the neuroinflammatory process. Moreover, microscopy imaging techniques have become even more necessary to validate the large quantity of data generated in the era of 'omics'. This review aims to highlight how to assess neuroinflammation by using microscopy as a tool to provide specific details about the cell's architecture during neuroinflammatory conditions. First, we describe specific markers that have been used in light microscopy studies and that are widely applied to unravel and describe neuroinflammatory mechanisms in distinct conditions. Then, we discuss some important methodologies that facilitate the imaging of these markers, such as immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques. Emphasis will be given to studies using two‐photon microscopy, an approach that revolutionized the real‐time assessment of neuroinflammatory processes. Finally, some studies integrating omics with microscopy will be presented. The fusion of these techniques is developing, but the high amount of data generated from these applications will certainly improve comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in neuroinflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the serendipitous discovery of a late-type giant star that exhibited a smooth, eclipse-like drop in flux to a depth of 97 per cent. Minimum flux occurred in 2012 April and the total event duration was a few hundred days. Light curves in V, I , and Ks from the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment and VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea surveys show a remarkably achromatic event. During 17 yr of observational coverage of this source only one such event was detected. The physical properties of the giant star itself appear somewhat unusual, which may ultimately provide a clue towards the nature of the system. By modelling the event as an occultation by an object that is elliptical in projection with uniform transparency, we place limits on its physical size and velocity. We find that the occultation is unlikely to be due to a chance alignment with a foreground object. We consider a number of possible candidates for the occulter, which must be optically thick and possess a radius or thickness in excess of 0.25 au. None are completely satisfactory matches to all the data. The duration, depth, and relative achromaticity of the dip mark this out as an exceptionally unusual event, whose secret has still not been fully revealed. We find two further candidates in the VVV survey and we suggest that these systems, and two previously known examples, may point to a broad class of long-period eclipsing binaries wherein a giant star is occulted by a circumsecondary disc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We provide a homogeneous set of structural parameters of 83 star clusters located at the periphery of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The clusters' stellar density and surface brightness profiles were built from deep, AO assisted optical images, and uniform analysis techniques. The structural parameters were obtained from King and Elson et al. model fittings. Integrated magnitudes and masses (for a subsample) are also provided. The sample contains mostly low surface brightness clusters with distances between 4.5 and 6.5 kpc and between 1 and 6.5 kpc from the LMC and SMC centres, respectively. We analysed their spatial distribution and structural properties, comparing them with those of inner clusters. Half-light and Jacobi radii were estimated, allowing an evaluation of the Roche volume tidal filling. We found that: (i) for our sample of LMC clusters, the tidal radii are, on average, larger than those of inner clusters from previous studies; (ii) the core radii dispersion tends to be greater for LMC clusters located towards the southwest, with position angles of ∼200° and about ∼5° from the LMC centre, i.e. those LMC clusters nearer to the SMC; (iii) the core radius evolution for clusters with known age is similar to that of inner clusters; (iv) SMC clusters with galactocentric distances closer than 4 kpc are overfilling; (v) the recent Clouds collision did not leave marks on the LMC clusters' structure that our analysis could reveal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we continue the study of the central region of NGC 613 by da Silva, Menezes & Steiner (Paper I), by analysing the stellar and gas kinematics and the stellar archaeology in optical and near-infrared data cubes. The high spatial resolution of the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph (GMOS) data cube allowed the detection, using spectral synthesis methods, of an inner circumnuclear ring, with a radius of ∼1 arcsec, composed of ∼109-yr stellar populations. Such a ring is located between the nucleus and the circumnuclear ring composed by H  ii regions detected in previous works. Besides that, there is a stellar rotation around the nucleus and the rings follow the same direction of rotation with different velocities. The intensity-weighted average stellar velocity dispersion at the centre is 92 ± 3 km s−1. Three distinct gas outflow components were detected. The direction of the outflow observed with the H  α emission line is compatible with the direction of the previously observed radio jet. The direction of one of the outflows detected in the [O  iii ]λ5007 emission coincides with the axis of the ionization cone. There is no difference regarding the stellar populations and the stellar kinematics along the double stellar emission, probably separated by a dust lane as mentioned in Paper I, confirming that they are part of the same structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify and characterize compact dwarf starburst (CDS) galaxies in the REsolved Spectroscopy Of a Local VolumE (RESOLVE) survey, a volume-limited census of galaxies in the local Universe, to probe whether this population contains any residual 'blue nuggets,' a class of intensely star-forming compact galaxies first identified at high redshift z. Our 50 low- z CDS galaxies are defined by dwarf masses (stellar mass M * < 109.5 M⊙), compact bulged-disc or spheroid-dominated morphologies (using a quantitative criterion, |$\mu _\Delta \gt 8.6$|⁠), and specific star formation rates (SSFRs) above the defining threshold for high- z blue nuggets (log  SSFR [Gyr−1] > −0.5). Across redshifts, blue nuggets exhibit three defining properties: compactness relative to contemporaneous galaxies, abundant cold gas, and formation via compaction in mergers or colliding streams. Those with halo mass below M halo ∼ 1011.5 M⊙ may in theory evade permanent quenching and cyclically refuel until the present day. Selected only for compactness and starburst activity, our CDS galaxies generally have M halo ≲ 1011.5 M⊙ and gas-to-stellar mass ratio ≳1. Moreover, analysis of archival DECaLS photometry and new 3D spectroscopic observations for CDS galaxies reveals a high rate of photometric and kinematic disturbances suggestive of dwarf mergers. The SSFRs, surface mass densities, and number counts of CDS galaxies are compatible with theoretical and observational expectations for redshift evolution in blue nuggets. We argue that CDS galaxies represent a maximally starbursting subset of traditional compact dwarf classes such as blue compact dwarfs and blue E/S0s. We conclude that CDS galaxies represent a low- z tail of the blue nugget phenomenon formed via a moderated compaction channel that leaves open the possibility of disc regrowth and evolution into normal disc galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The objective of this study is to analyze the behavior of the public revenue of a small municipality due to its agricultural production. The research was developed through a case study in the municipality of Formigueiro/RS, which productive matrix is based on agricultural production (rice and soybean) and livestock (cattle). The results show that the most significant change in the municipality's productive matrix was the growth of soybean crop, while the public revenue grew steadily over the period. Finally, it can be concluded that the changes in the productive matrix of the municipality do not negatively influence the total value of the revenues, nor does the growth of the soybean crop show a low tax return. It can be stated that the behavior of public revenue has a strong correlation with the growth of rural production. Based on the findings of this study, it is expected to contribute with the public sector in the elaboration of policies in favor of local development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The VISCACHA (VIsible Soar photometry of star Clusters in tApii and Coxi HuguA†) Survey is an ongoing project based on deep and spatially resolved photometric observations of Magellanic Cloud star clusters, collected using the SOuthern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope together with the SOAR Adaptive Module Imager. So far we have used >300h of telescope time to observe ∼150 star clusters, mostly with low mass (M < 104 M ⊙) on the outskirts of the LMC and SMC. With this high-quality data set, we homogeneously determine physical properties using deep colour-magnitude diagrams (ages, metallicities, reddening, distances, mass, luminosity and mass functions) and structural parameters (radial density profiles, sizes) for these clusters which are used as a proxy to investigate the interplay between the Magellanic Clouds and their evolution. We present the VISCACHA survey and its initial results, based on our first two papers. The project's long term goals and expected legacy to the community are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The VISCACHA (VIsible Soar photometry of star Clusters in tApii and Coxi HuguA) Survey is an ongoing project based on deep photometric observations of Magellanic Cloud star clusters, collected using the SOuthern Astrophysical Research (SOAR) telescope together with the SOAR Adaptive Module Imager. Since 2015 more than 200 h of telescope time were used to observe about 130 stellar clusters, most of them with low mass (M < 104 M⊙) and/or located in the outermost regions of the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Small Magellanic Cloud. With this high-quality data set, we homogeneously determine physical properties from statistical analysis of colour–magnitude diagrams, radial density profiles, luminosity functions, and mass functions. Ages, metallicities, reddening, distances, present-day masses, mass function slopes, and structural parameters for these clusters are derived and used as a proxy to investigate the interplay between the environment in the Magellanic Clouds and the evolution of such systems. In this first paper we present the VISCACHA Survey and its initial results, concerning the SMC clusters AM3, K37, HW20, and NGC 796 and the LMC ones KMHK228, OHSC3, SL576, SL61, and SL897, chosen to compose a representative subset of our cluster sample. The project's long-term goals and legacy to the community are also addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare the effects of a palatable cafeteria diet on serum parameters and neuroinflammatory markers of young and aged female Wistar rats. Methods: Three-month-old (young) and 18-month-old (aged) female Wistar rats had access to a cafeteria diet (Caf-Young, Caf-Aged) or a standard chow diet (Std-Young, Std-Aged). Results: The Caf-Young group showed a higher food consumption, weight gain, visceral fat depot, serum insulin and leptin levels, and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) than the Std-Young group. The Caf-Aged group exhibited an increase in interleukin-1 levels in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The number of GFAP-positive cells did not differ between the groups, but there was a diet effect in the cerebral cortex and an age effect in the hippocampus. Phospho-tau expression did not differ between the groups. Discussion: The 3- and 18-month-old rats responded differently to a cafeteria diet. Insulin and leptin levels are elevated in young animals fed a cafeteria diet, whereas aged animals are prone to neuroinflammation (indicated by an increase in interleukin-1β levels). A combination of hypercaloric diet and senescence have detrimental effects on the inflammatory response in the brain, which may predispose to neurological diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuroinflammation is a consequence of overeating and may predispose to the development of cognitive decline and neurological disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of omega-3 supplementation on memory and neuroinflammatory markers in rats fed a high-fat diet. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: standard diet (SD); standard diet + omega-3 (SD + O); high fat diet (HFD); and high fat diet + omega-3 (HFD + O). Diet administration was performed for 20 weeks and omega-3 supplementation started at the 16th week. HFD significantly increased body weight, while omega-3 supplementation did not modify the total weight gain. However, animals from the HFD + O group showed a lower level of visceral fat along with an improvement in insulin sensitivity following HFD. Thus, our results demonstrate a beneficial metabolic role of omega-3 following HFD. On the other hand, HFD animals presented an impairment in object recognition memory, which was not recovered by omega-3. In addition, there was an increase in GFAP-positive cells in the cerebral cortex of the HFD group, showing that omega-3 supplementation can be effective to decrease astrogliosis. However, no differences in GFAP number of cells were found in the hippocampus. We also demonstrated a significant increase in gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α in cerebral cortex of the HFD group, reinforcing the anti-inflammatory role of this family of fatty acids. In summary, omega-3 supplementation was not sufficient to reverse the memory deficit caused by HFD, although it played an important role in reducing the neuroinflammatory profile. Therefore, omega-3 fatty acids may play an important role in the central nervous system, preventing the progression of neuroinflammation in obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The indiscriminate use of hair dyes has attracted great deal of attention due to its toxicological and mutagenic aspects demonstrated by some of these substances. Thus, the effluent from beauty salons and domestic sewages if not properly treated can reach water treatment plants and water sources, enhancing human health and environmental protection concern. This work explores the application of photoelectrocatalytic process on Basic Brown 16 and Basic Blue 99 degradation as model of basic hair dyes pollutants. W/WO3 electrode was used as photoanode under optimized conditions of 0.10 mol L-1 Na2SO4 as electrolytic solution, pH 2.0, under 1.25 mA cm-2 of controlled current density application and visible light irradiation. The process leads to complete color removal, and up to 59 % and 44 % mineralization of Basic Brown 16 and Basic Blue 99, respectively. The use of W/WO3 photoanodes under visible irradiation could assist on development of wastewater treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the discovery of pulsations in the spectroscopic PG 1159 type pre-white dwarf SDSS J075415.12 + 085232.18. Analysis of the spectrum by Werner et al. indicated Teff = 120 000 ± 10 000 K, log g = 7.0 ± 0.3, mass ${\cal {M}}=0.52 \pm 0.02\,{\rm M}_{\odot }$, C/He = 0.33 by number. We obtained time series images with the SOAR 4.1 m telescope and 2.1 m Otto Struve telescope at McDonald Observatory and show the star is also a variable PG 1159 type star, with dominant period of 525 s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prepared a W/WO3/TiO2 bicomposite photoanode by simple electrochemical anodization of W foil, followed by cathodic electrodeposition of TiO2 and annealing at 450°C for 30min. This photoanode shows good photoactivity under irradiation with UV and visible light. In optimized conditions, it promotes complete photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of 3.33×10−5 molL−1 basic red 51 solution (which is used in hair dye) at 0.1molL−1 Na2SO4, pH 2.0, under a current density of 1.25mAcm−2 and ultraviolet and visible radiation–total organic carbon removal is 94 and 88%, respectively. This effect paves the way for the sustainable solar-assisted remediation of water bodies contaminated with organic components of hair dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ciprofloxacin is second generation quinolones flour, which is very soluble in water. This drug can be found in Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and natural waters at concentrations of μg L-1 and ng L-1. Electrolysis was carried out using Ag/AgCl as reference electrode and as cathode and anode plates of Ti/TiO2 were used. To study the role of supporting electrolyte were used H2SO4, HCl, NaCl, NaNO3, KCl, and Na2SO4. Were applied current densities (DC) between 20 and 160 mA.cm-2. The electrodic process indicates be dependent on pH and ionic strength. Through electrolysis, the degradation /mineralization occurs more easily in the presence of Cl-. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines carbohydrate metabolism regulation in the central nervous system (CNS) of an anoxia-tolerant land snail during experimental anoxia exposure in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Adult specimens of the stylommatophora Megalobulimus (M.) abbreviatus were collected and exposed to anoxia procedure. Findings of the study revealed that anoxia triggers changes in the M. abbreviatus CNS metabolism, also suggesting the need of further studies to demonstrate possible metabolic differences between the glial and neuronal snail cells and clarify the mechanisms acting to maintain homeostasis in M. abbreviatus CNS during anoxia exposure.

The small group of λ Bootis stars comprises late B to early F-type stars, with moderate to extreme (up to a factor 100) surface under-abundances of most Fe-peak elements and solar abundances of lighter elements (C, N, O, and S). The main mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon are atmospheric diffusion, meridional mixing, and accretion of material from their surroundings. Especially spectroscopic binary (SB) systems with λ Bootis-type components are very important to investigate the evolutionary status and accretion process in more details. Because also δ Scuti type pulsation was found for several members, it gives the opportunity to use the tools of astroseismology for further investigations. We present the results of our long term efforts of detailed abundance analysis, orbital parameter estimation and photometric time series analysis for five well investigated SB systems. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This project consists in mapping a 4-square-degree region searching for exoplanets using the transit method. This “mini-survey” will be the first use of the 16″ robotic telescope developed by Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC-Brazil) and Laboratório Nacional de Astrofísica (LNA/MCT-Brazil). The chosen region is over the Columba constellation and our first observations have shown that we have enough signal-to-noise ratio to search for transits on about 20,000 stars with ~13 < I < 16 mag, a magnitude range between the OGLE and HAT projects. In this star sample we expect to find about a dozen planets with transits duration of 1-3 hours and magnitude depth from 0.001 to 0.010 mag. As for other projects, all information will became public as a VO service. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

INTRODUCTION: Evidences suggest that fat intake, visceral obesity and intracellular lipids are related to insulin impairment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present paper was correlate visceral obesity and metabolic alterations in control (CTR) and hyperlipidic cafeteria diet (CFT) fed animals. METHODS: After 6 months of diet treatment, liver and muscle of the male rats were utilized to determined glucose uptake and glycogen metabolism after administration of 0.4I U/kg insulin in vivo, and correlate the visceral adiposity to these two parameters. RESULTS: Ample range of physiologic answers to body composition in metabolic profile of the both diets was found. No differences were found in glycemia and triacylglycerol after insulin action in both groups, however CFT group accumulated higher adiposity, mostly visceral fat, and showed lower glycogen content in the liver. We also found an inverse correlation between visceral adiposity and glucose uptake and a decrease of the glycogen synthase active form in the liver. CTR animals demonstrated an inverse correlation between glucose uptake and visceral adiposity in the muscle. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: It was observed a variability of metabolic alterations in animals which can be related to degree of accumulation of abdominal adiposity and ingestion of diet fats. Further studies will be required to clarify the reasons for the observed liver alterations in CFT and muscle alterations in CTR animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Evidences suggest that fat intake, visceral obesity and intracellular lipids are related to insulin impairment. Objective: The objective of the present paper was correlate visceral obesity and metabolic alterations in control (CTR) and hyperlipidic cafeteria diet (CFT) fed animals. Methods: After 6 months of diet treatment, liver and muscle of the male rats were utilized to determined glucose uptake and glycogen metabolism after administration of 0.4I U/kg insulin in vivo, and correlate the visceral adiposity to these two parameters. Results: Ample range of physiologic answers to body composition in metabolic profile of the both diets was found. No differences were found in glycemia and triacylglycerol after insulin action in both groups, however CFT group accumulated higher adiposity, mostly visceral fat, and showed lower glycogen content in the liver. We also found an inverse correlation between visceral adiposity and glucose uptake and a decrease of the glycogen synthase active form in the liver. CTR animals demonstrated an inverse correlation between glucose uptake and visceral adiposity in the muscle. Discussion and conclusion: It was observed a variability of metabolic alterations in animals which can be related to degree of accumulation of abdominal adiposity and ingestion of diet fats. Further studies will be required to clarify the reasons for the observed liver alterations in CFT and muscle alterations in CTR animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]