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The fifty-year period since UNESCO announced its 'Decades' devoted to the oceans has witnessed some deep changes in ocean geopolitics: a new international community made up of a greater number of nation-states that have transformed their territorial bases through the inclusion of large maritime jurisdictions. This, and the decline in the international regulatory ideal, have led to marine governance being addressed very differently from the way it was in the 1970s and presenting a challenge for the future governance of the oceans. This article explores the political change that has occurred during this time and focuses on the State, its maritime territory and the effects of jurisdictional expansion. Methodologically, the geopolitical focus is framed in geographical premises supported with data prepared by the author and premises formulated in the fields of law and political science. The conclusions include some of the effects of unilateral action in marine governance and show that differences and inequalities are the most visible aspects of this new marine territoriality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate how the properties of spiral arms relate to other fundamental galaxy properties, including bars and disc breaks.We use previously published measurements of those properties, and our own measurements of arm and bar contrasts for a large sample of galaxies, using 3.6 µm images from the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies. Flocculent galaxies are clearly distinguished from other spiral arm classes, especially by their lower stellar mass and surface density. Multi-armed and grand-design galaxies are similar in most of their fundamental parameters, excluding some bar properties and the bulge-to-total ratio. Based on these results, we revisit the sequence of spiral arm classes, and discuss classical bulges as a necessary condition for standing spiralwave modes in grand-design galaxies. We find a strong correlation between bulge-to-total ratio and bar contrast, and a weaker correlation between arm and bar contrasts. Barred and unbarred galaxies exhibit similar arm contrasts, but the highest arm contrasts are found exclusively in barred galaxies. Interestingly, the bar contrast, and its increase from flocculent to grand-design galaxies, is systematically more significant than that of the arm contrast. We corroborate previous findings concerning a connection between bars and disc breaks. In particular, in grand-design galaxies, the bar contrast correlates with the normalized disc break radius. This does not hold for other spiral arm classes or the arm contrast. Our measurements of arm and bar contrast and radial contrast profiles are publicly available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the frame of the QA program of RENEB, an inter-laboratory comparison (ILC) of calibration sources used in biological dosimetry was achieved to investigate the influence of calibration practices and protocols on the results of the dose estimation performance as a first step to harmonization and standardization of dosimetry and irradiation practices in the European biological dosimetry network. Materials and methods: Delivered doses by irradiation facilities used by RENEB partners were determined with EPR/alanine dosimetry system. Dosimeters were irradiated in the same conditions as blood samples. A short survey was also performed to collect the information needed for the data analysis and evaluate the diversity of practices. Results: For most of partners the deviation of delivered dose from the targeted dose remains below 10%. Deviations larger than 10% were observed for five facilities out of 21. Origins of the largest discrepancies were identified. Correction actions were evaluated as satisfactory. The re-evaluation of some ILC results for the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and premature chromosome condensation (PCC) assays has been performed leading to an improvement of the overall performances. Conclusions: This work has shown the importance of dosimetry in radiobiology studies and the needs of harmonization, standardization in irradiation and dosimetry practices and educational training for biologists using ionizing radiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed study of the shape of the innermost part of the rotation curves of a sample of 29 nearby spiral galaxies, based on high angular and spectral resolution kinematic Hα Fabry-Perot observations. In particular, we quantify the steepness of the rotation curve by measuring its slope dRvc(0). We explore the relationship between the inner slope and several galaxy parameters, such as stellar mass, maximum rotational velocity, central surface brightness (μ0), bar strength and bulge-to-total ratio. Even with our limited dynamical range, we find a trend for low-mass galaxies to exhibit shallower rotation curve inner slopes than high-mass galaxies, whereas steep inner slopes are found exclusively in high-mass galaxies. This trend may arise from the relationship between the total stellar mass and the mass of the bulge, which are correlated among them. We find a correlation between the inner slope of the rotation curve and the morphological T-type, complementary to the scaling relation between dRvc(0) and μ0 previously reported in the literature. Although we find that the inner slope increases with the Fourier amplitude A2 and decreases with the bar torque Qb, this may arise from the presence of the bulge implicit in both A2 and Qb. As previously noted in the literature, the more compact the mass in the central parts of a galaxy (more concretely, the presence of a bulge), the steeper the inner slopes. We conclude that the baryonic matter dominates the dynamics in the central parts of our sample galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of the role of inland mid-size towns and cities in the regional development of Andalusia, Spain as of 2016. Topics discussed include the advantages of greater balance, sustainability, and individual attachment of mid-sized towns, and the Andalusian Spatial Plan which defines the three types of town categories as per their population size and geographical location. Also noted is the unbridled development of cities and coastal areas that affect spatial balance.

We present a kinematical study of 29 spiral galaxies included in the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies, using Hα Fabry-Perot (FP) data obtained with the Galaxy Hα Fabry- Perot System instrument at the William Herschel Telescope in La Palma, complemented with images in the R band and in Hα. The primary goal is to study the evolution and properties of the main structural components of galaxies through the kinematical analysis of the FP data, complemented with studies of morphology, star formation and mass distribution. In this paper we describe how the FP data have been obtained, processed and analysed. We present the resulting moment maps, rotation curves, velocity model maps and residual maps. Images are available in FITS format through the NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database and the Centre de DonnÂ'ees Stellaires. With these data products we study the non-circular motions, in particular those found along the bars and spiral arms. The data indicate that the amplitude of the non-circular motions created by the bar does not correlate with the bar strength indicators. The amplitude of those non-circular motions in the spiral arms does not correlate with either arm class or star formation rate along the spiral arms. This implies that the presence and the magnitude of the streaming motions in the arms is a local phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipases and esterases are biocatalysts used at the laboratory and industrial level. To obtain the maximum yield in a bioprocess, it is important to measure key variables, such as enzymatic activity. The conventional method for monitoring hydrolytic activity is to take out a sample from the bioreactor to be analyzed off-line at the laboratory. The disadvantage of this approach is the long time required to recover the information from the process, hindering the possibility to develop control systems. New strategies to monitor lipase/esterase activity are necessary. In this context and in the first approach, we proposed a lab-made sequential injection analysis system to analyze off-line samples from shake flasks. Lipase/esterase activity was determined using p-nitrophenyl butyrate as the substrate. The sequential injection analysis allowed us to measure the hydrolytic activity from a sample without dilution in a linear range from 0.05-1.60 U/mL, with the capability to reach sample dilutions up to 1000 times, a sampling frequency of five samples/h, with a kinetic reaction of 5 min and a relative standard deviation of 8.75%. The results are promising to monitor lipase/esterase activity in real time, in which optimization and control strategies can be designed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a catalogue and images of visually detected features, such as asymmetries, extensions, warps, shells, tidal tails, polar rings, and obvious signs of mergers or interactions, in the faint outer regions (at and outside of R25) of nearby galaxies. This catalogue can be used in future quantitative studies that examine galaxy evolution due to internal and external factors. We are able to reliably detect outer region features down to a brightness level of 0.03 MJy sr−1 pixel−1 at 3.6 μm in the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies (S4G). We also tabulate companion galaxies. We find asymmetries in the outer isophotes in 22 ± 1 per cent of the sample. The asymmetry fraction does not correlate with galaxy classification as an interacting galaxy or merger remnant, or with the presence of companions. We also compare the detected features to similar features in galaxies taken from cosmological zoom re-simulations. The simulated images have a higher fraction (33 per cent) of outer disc asymmetries, which may be due to selection effects and an uncertain star formation threshold in the models. The asymmetries may have either an internal (e.g. lopsidedness due to dark halo asymmetry) or external origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Besides the well-known papain, lipolytic activity is another interesting enzymatic activity present in latex from Carica papaya. This lipolytic activity is strongly attached to the latex solid phase, resulting in a naturally immobilized biocatalyst. In this work we describe the kinetic resolution of (R,S)-2-bromophenylacetic acid octyl ester by Carica papaya crude latex and two partially purified latex fractions. Several parameters, such as substrate concentration and solvent effects were studied. The best results were obtained using decane as solvent with 50mM of substrate and 50mg/mL enzyme/reaction medium; under these conditions, a high enantioselectivity (E >200) was obtained with crude latex. A twofold increase of the initial rate maintaining E >200 was obtained using purified fractions without protease and without esterase. Lipase from Carica papaya latex is the most enantioselective wild-type enzyme ever described for the studied reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

ABSTRACT We present a study of the kinematics of the isolated spiral galaxy NGC 864, using Hα Fabry-Perot data obtained with the Galaxy Hα Fabry-Perot System (GHαFaS) instrument at the William Herschel Telescope in La Palma, complemented with images at 3.6 μm, in the R band and in Hα filter, and integral-field spectroscopic data. The resulting data cubes and velocity maps allow the study of the kinematics of the galaxy, including in-depth investigations of the rotation curve, velocity moment maps, velocity residual maps, gradient maps and position-velocity diagrams. We find asymmetries in the velocity field in the bar zone, caused by non-circular motions, probably in response to the potential of the bar. We also find a flat-profile bar, in agreement with the strong bar, with the grand design spiral pattern, and with the gap between the ends of the bar and the start of the spiral arms. We quantify the rate of massive star formation, which is concentrated in the two spiral arms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The mechanism causing breaks in the radial surface-brightness distribution of spiral galaxies is not yet well known. Despite theoretical efforts, there is not a unique explanation for these features and the observational results are not conclusive. In an attempt to address this problem, we have selected a sample of 34 highly inclined spiral galaxies present in both the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) and the Spitzer Survey of Stellar Structure in Galaxies (S4G). We have measured the surface-brightness profiles in the five Sloan optical bands and in the 3.6-μm Spitzer band. We have also calculated the colour and stellar surface mass density profiles using the available photometric information, finding two differentiated features: an innermost break radius at distances of ∼8 ± 1 kpc [0.77 ± 0.06 R25] and a second characteristic radius, or truncation radius, close to the outermost optical extent (∼14 ± 2 kpc [1.09 ± 0.05 R25]) of the galaxy. We propose in this work that breaks might be phenomena related to a threshold in the star formation, while truncations are more likely a real drop in the stellar mass density of the disc associated with the maximum angular momentum of the stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery is the property of Sociedade Brasileira de Cirurgia Cardiovascular and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: The coming into effect of the Directive 2008/56/EC (Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD)) will induce European Union member States to create mechanisms for managing maritime space in order to comply with the goals set out in this binding legislation. This leads one to think that marine spatial planning in various countries in the EU will be directed at complying with the Directive''s environmental goals, as is the case in Spain, rather than undertaking proactive planning for developing the maritime sectors. To put the case of Spain into perspective, a review is conducted of the initiatives taken, especially in Europe and the European Union, exploring the correlations between the main focuses of the maritime sectors and the planning systems. The analysis of the Spanish initiative demonstrates how the maritime economy model and geopolitical factors explain the planning options for the marine environment. In other respects, with the coming into effect of the MSFD, a dual institutional course for marine spatial planning seems to be opening up in the EU: Integrated Maritime Policy vs. the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The aim of the study: was to investigate the in vivo and in vitro cardiovascular activity of a procyanidin fraction (PCF) obtained from acetone extract of Guazuma ulmifolia bark which has traditionally been used as an antihypertensive agent. Results: 10mg/kg PCF doses orally administered to sugar-fed hypertensive rats decreased both the systolic arterial pressure and the heart rate, whereas the same doses intravenously administered induced arterial hypotension which was attenuated by NG-nitro-l-arginine methylester (L-NAME 31mg/kg) pretreatment. In these experiments we employed carbachol as a positive control test. The PCF reduced the contraction induced by norepinephrine (1×10−7 M) in isolated aortic rings of normotensive (IC50 =35.3±12.4ng/mL) and sugar-fed hypertensive (IC50 =101.3±57.2ng/mL) rats. This relaxant activity was inhibited by either vascular endothelium removal or L-NAME (30μM) pretreatment, while indomethacin (10μM) or atropine (10μM) had no effect. Preliminary analysis of the PCF by HPLC–DAD–MS and FAB+ mass spectrometry allowed the detection of the main components such as the complex of procyanidin oligomers consisting mainly of tetramers and trimers. Conclusions: Guazuma ulmifolia bark possesses long-lasting antihypertensive and vasorelaxing properties linked to the endothelium related factors, where nitric oxide is involved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The 2004 enlargement of the European Union (EU), as well as the further enlargements planned from 2007 onwards (Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Turkey), entail changes of a geo-political nature that not only imply an increase in size (a rise in the number of States, new boundaries), but, more especially, also involve a shift in the EU''s maritime status, with its projection towards the Atlantic now being checked by a swing towards continental Europe and its inland seas. In view of the new political map being drawn up, two questions beg to be asked: to what extent is Europe''s maritime condition being strengthened; and, does the new maritime Europe constitute an opportunity, or does it aggravate the already-existing problems and threats? [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The sinking of the Prestige oil-tanker and the implementation of the Ulysses plan to control new flows of migrants by sea give new significance to the establishment of sea boundaries, with the emphasis changing from the original economic factors to others more security linked. At the same time, the crisis of multilateralist agreements as a global model is running the risk of affecting ocean governance. This would lead to the adoption of unilateral (restrictions on sailing through EEZs) in a quest for greater security understood as a counter to environmental, migratory and military threats. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

AbstractPurposeMaterials and methodsResultsConclusionA substantial proportion of children with high risk Neuroblastoma die within the first 5 years post-diagnosis despite the complex treatment applied. In the recent years, tumor environment has been revealed as key factor for cancer treatment efficacy. In this sense, non-tumorigenic Neural Crest progenitor cells from high risk patients, have been described as part of Neuroblastoma stroma, promoting tumor growth and contributing to mesenchyme formation. In this paper we wanted to study the radiobiological behavior of these cells (NB14t) and how they influence the growth of tumorigenic neuroblasts after radiotherapy.To achieve our aim, we employed a wide list of methods either using NB14t cells as well as commercial NB cells. We have analyzed viability, survival, cell cyle profiles and differentiation. In addition, cocultured experiments were performed to monitor the influence of stroma cells to tumorigenic neuroblasts.We found that stromal progenitor cells showed an extraordinary radio-resistance either cultured in attached or suspension conditions. In good agreement, we found an enhanced repair of irradiation-induced DNA lesions as compared with commercial cell lines. In addition, according to our data these cells differentiate into a Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs)-like phenotype, hence contributing to the formation of mesenchymal stroma enhancing the growth of tumor cells after irradiation.Our data show that neural progenitor cells from high risk NB stroma are radio-resistant and promote cancer growth after irradiation. This paper can help to understand the complex cell relationships within a tumor that will determine patient prognosis after radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Carotid sinus syndrome (CSS) is a condition caused by sudden autonomic nervous system imbalance with vagal overactivity. It may lead to sinus bradycardia, sinus arrest, and AV block with severe symptoms and syncope, which may be treated with a pacemaker (PM). Cardioneuroablation (CNA) is an atrial endocardial catheter radiofrequency (RF) ablation aiming vagal denervation that could be used to remove the cardioinhibitory response in the CSS as suggested in the original study. Objective: To study the outcome of CNA controlled by extracardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS) in patients with CSS without significant cardiopathy. Methods: Prospective, controlled study of eight patients with symptomatic CSS, positive carotid sinus massage (CSM), and normal atropine response. Bi-atrial RF-ablation of the neuro endo-myocardial interface was guided by filtered endocardial electrograms, fractionation, and 3D anatomical mapping, identifying AF-Nests (AFN) related to the four main ganglionic plexuses (GP) with bi-atrial RF ablation (irrigated catheter 30W/42°C/20-60s). ECVS (5s) at the left jugular foramen and CSM was performed before, during, and at the end of the ablation to guide the level of denervation, defining the higher CNA effect and end of the procedure, analyzing pauses and AVB, induced by ECVS and CSM. Results: The mean age of patients was 58.6 (± 11.8). Pre-CNA, CSM, and ECVS responses were asystole and transient AVB in all patients. Post-CNA, ECVS, and Atropine responses were completely abolished in seven out of eight patients. In a 31 ± 16.1 months follow up, one case with incomplete CNA experienced syncope recurrence due to AVB and was submitted to a new CNA for AVB becoming asymptomatic. Another case had a positive CSM six months after CNA and had a pacemaker (PM) implanted even though asymptomatic, as per his physician's discretion. There was immediate sustained HR (58.9 ± 12,7/81,8 ± 4.9 bpm) and Wenckebach's point increase (133.5 ± 39.2 / 164.7 ± 10.8ppm), p: < 0,01. Conclusion: Complete bi-atrial CNA vagal denervation, based on AFN/GP ablation guided by vagal effect abolishment confirmed by ECVS and CSM responses, was effective in eliminating syncope recurrence in all patients with CSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]