Asymptotically (anti) de Sitter Black Holes and Wormholes with a Self Interacting Scalar Field in Four Dimensions

The aim of this paper is to report on the existence of a wide variety of exact solutions, ranging from black holes to wormholes, when a conformally coupled scalar field with a self interacting potential containing a linear, a cubic and a quartic self interaction is taken as a source of the energy-momentum tensor, in the Einstein theory with a cosmological constant. Among all the solutions there are two particularly interesting. On the one hand, the spherically symmetric black holes when the cosmological constant is positive; they are shown to be everywhere regular, namely there is no singularity neither inside nor outside the event horizon. On the other hand, there are spherically symmetric and topological wormholes that connect two asymptotically (anti) de Sitter regions with a different value for the cosmological constant. The regular black holes and the wormholes are supported by everywhere regular scalar field configurations.Comment: Final versio

Serological diagnosis of brucellosis in goats: comparison of techniques

Goat production is an important item in the agricultural system of Argentina and brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis is considered the main cause reproductive problems in this species. Although definitive diagnosis for this disease is made by isolation of the etiologic agent, but in practice the health status of a herd was evaluated by serological techniques indirect testing. To evaluate and compare the performance of different serological tests for diagnosis of brucellosis in goats, serum samples were analyzed. The following tests were performed: buffered plate antigen (BPA), rose bengal (RB RB 3% and 8%), fluorescence polarization (FPA) and the test tube and 2-mercaptoethanol (SAT/2ME). The validity of each test was determined in a relative manner by combination of indirect ELISA (IELISA) and complement fixation (CF). BPA was the most sensitive test, followed by SAT/2ME, 3% RB, FPA and, finally, RB 8%. FPA test, when used in series with BPA, significantly improved overall specificity. Based on these results it was proposed for brucellosis diagnosis in goats, BPA as a screening test, FPA as complementary test, and FC and IELISA as confirmatory tests. SAT/2ME is recommended only when it is not possible to perform other tests, due to the toxic effects of SAT/2ME reagents.Fil: Cisterna, C. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas (CIC). Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Conde, S. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Hollender, D. CONICET. ArgentinaFil: Martino, P.E. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas (CIC). Buenos Aires, ArgentinaFil: Samartino L. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Patobiología. Buenos Aires, ArgentinaLa producción caprina representa un rubro importante dentro del sistema agropecuario de la República Argentina y la brucelosis causada por Brucella melitensis es considerada el motivo principal de los problemas reproductivos en esta especie. El diagnóstico de certeza se realiza aislando el agente etiológico, aunque en la práctica se evalúa el estado sanitario de un hato mediante pruebas serológicas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar y comparar el desempeño de las distintas pruebas serológicas tamíz y complementarias para el diagnóstico de la brucelosis caprina. Para ello, se analizaron muestras de suero de animales sin vacunación, realizando antígeno buferado en placa (BPA), rosa de bengala (RB 3 % y RB 8 %), polarización fluorescente (FPA) y pruebas de tubo y 2 mercaptoetanol (SAT/2ME). La validez de cada prueba se determinó por combinación de ELISA Indirecto (IELISA) y Fijación de Complemento (FC). BPA resultó ser más sensible, seguido de SAT/2ME, RB 3%, FPA y por último RB 8%. Al realizar FPA en serie con BPA mejoró significativamente la especificidad global. Se propone BPA como prueba tamíz, FPA como complementaria y FC e IELISA como confirmatorias. Se recomienda SAT/2ME sólo en los casos en que no sea posible la realización de las otras pruebas debido a los efectos tóxicos de los reactivos empleados para su realización

Diagnóstico serológico de brucelosis en caprinos: comparación de técnicas

La producción caprina representa un rubro importante dentro del sistema agropecuario de la República Argentina y la brucelosis causada por Brucella melitensis es considerada el motivo principal de los problemas reproductivos en esta especie. El diagnóstico de certeza se realiza aislando el agente etiológico, aunque en la práctica se evalúa el estado sanitario de un hato mediante pruebas serológicas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar y comparar el desempeño de las distintas pruebas serológicas tamíz y complementarias para el diagnóstico de la brucelosis caprina. Para ello, se analizaron muestras de suero de animales sin vacunación, realizando antígeno buferado en placa (BPA), rosa de bengala (RB 3 % y RB 8 %), polarización fluorescente (FPA) y pruebas de tubo y 2 mercaptoetanol (SAT/2ME). La validez de cada prueba se determinó por combinación de ELISA Indirecto (IELISA) y Fijación de Complemento (FC). BPA resultó ser más sensible, seguido de SAT/2ME, RB 3%, FPA y por último RB 8%. Al realizar FPA en serie con BPA mejoró significativamente la especificidad global. Se propone BPA como prueba tamíz, FPA como complementaria y FC e IELISA como confirmatorias. Se recomienda SAT/2ME sólo en los casos en que no sea posible la realización de las otras pruebas debido a los efectos tóxicos de los reactivos empleados para su realización.Goat production is an important item in the agricultural system of Argentina and brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis is considered the main cause reproductive problems in this species. Although definitive diagnosis for this disease is made by isolation of the etiologic agent, but in practice the health status of a herd was evaluated by serological techniques indirect testing. To evaluate and compare the performance of different serological tests for diagnosis of brucellosis in goats, serum samples were analyzed. The following tests were performed: buffered plate antigen (BPA), rose bengal (RB RB 3% and 8%), fluorescence polarization (FPA) and the test tube and 2-mercaptoethanol (SAT/2ME). The validity of each test was determined in a relative manner by combination of indirect ELISA (IELISA) and complement fixation (CF). BPA was the most sensitive test, followed by SAT/2ME, 3% RB, FPA and, finally, RB 8%. FPA test, when used in series with BPA, significantly improved overall specificity. Based on these results it was proposed for brucellosis diagnosis in goats, BPA as a screening test, FPA as complementary test, and FC and IELISA as confirmatory tests. SAT/2ME is recommended only when it is not possible to perform other tests, due to the toxic effects of SAT/2ME reagents

Phylodynamics of vampire bat-transmitted rabies in Argentina

Common vampire bat populations distributed from Mexico to Argentina are important rabies reservoir hosts in Latin America. The aim of this work was to analyse the population structure of the rabies virus (RABV) variants associated with vampire bats in the Americas and to study their phylodynamic pattern within Argentina. The phylogenetic analysis based on all available vampire bat-related N gene sequences showed both a geographical and a temporal structure. The two largest groups of RABV variants from Argentina were isolated from northwestern Argentina and from the central western zone of northeastern Argentina, corresponding to livestock areas with different climatic, topographic and biogeographical conditions, which determined their dissemination and evolutionary patterns. In addition, multiple introductions of the infection into Argentina, possibly from Brazil, were detected. The phylodynamic analysis suggests that RABV transmission dynamics is characterized by initial epizootic waves followed by local enzootic cycles with variable persistence. Anthropogenic interventions in the ecosystem should be assessed taking into account not only the environmental impact but also the potential risk of disease spreading through dissemination of current RABV lineages or the emergence of novel ones associated with vampire bats.Fil: Torres, Carolina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lema, C.. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Gury Dohmen, F.. Instituto de Zoonosis “Dr. Luis Pasteur”; ArgentinaFil: Beltran, F.. Instituto de Zoonosis “Dr. Luis Pasteur”; ArgentinaFil: Novaro, L.. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; ArgentinaFil: Russo, S.. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; ArgentinaFil: Freire, M. C.. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud; ArgentinaFil: Velasco Villa, A.. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Estados UnidosFil: Mbayed, Viviana Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología. Cátedra de Virología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cisterna , D. M.. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentin

Aged gastrocnemius muscle of mice positively responds to a late onset adapted physical training

Introduction: A regular physical training is known to contribute to preserve muscle mass and strength, maintaining structure and function of neural and vascular compartments and preventing muscle insulin resistance and inflammation. However, physical activity is progressively reduced during aging causing mobility limitations and poor quality of life. Although physical exercise for rehabilitation purposes (e.g., after fractures or cardiovascular events) or simply aiming to counteract the development of sarcopenia is frequently advised by physicians, nevertheless few data are available on the targets and the global effects on the muscle organ of adapted exercise especially if started at old age.Methods: To contribute answering this question for medical translational purposes, the proteomic profile of the gastrocnemius muscle was analyzed in 24-month-old mice undergoing adapted physical training on a treadmill for 12 weeks or kept under a sedentary lifestyle condition. Proteomic data were implemented by morphological and morphometrical ultrastructural evaluations.Results and Discussion: Data demonstrate that muscles can respond to adapted physical training started at old age, positively modulating their morphology and the proteomic profile fostering protective and saving mechanisms either involving the extracellular compartment as well as muscle cell components and pathways (i.e., mitochondrial processes, cytoplasmic translation pathways, chaperone-dependent protein refolding, regulation of skeletal muscle contraction). Therefore, this study provides important insights on the targets of adapted physical training, which can be regarded as suitable benchmarks for future in vivo studies further exploring the effects of this type of physical activity by functional/metabolic approaches

Etest® versus broth microdilution for ceftaroline MIC determination with Staphylococcus aureus: results from PREMIUM, a European multicentre study

Objectives: To compare the concordance of ceftaroline MIC values 24 by reference broth microdilution (BMD) and Etest (BioMérieux, France) for MSSA and MRSA isolates, respectively, in isolates from PREMIUM (D372SL00001), a European multi-centre study.  Methods: Ceftaroline MICs were determined by reference BMD and by Etest for 1,242 MSSA and MRSA from adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia or complicated skin and soft tissue infections collected between February and May 2012; tests were performed across six European laboratories. Selected isolates with ceftaroline resistance in broth (MIC >1 mg/L) were retested in three central laboratories to confirm their behaviour.  Results: Overall concordance between BMD and Etest was good, with >97% essential agreement and >95% categorical agreement. Nevertheless, 12 of the 26 MRSA isolates found resistant by BMD scored as susceptible by Etest, with MICs ≤1 mg/L, thus counting as very major errors, whereas only five of 380 MRSA found ceftaroline susceptible in BMD were mis-categorised as resistant by Etest. Twenty-one of the 26 isolates with MICs of 2 mg/L by BMD were then re-tested twice by each of three central laboratories: BMD MICs of 2 mg/L were consistently found for 19 of the 21 isolates. Among 147 Etest results for these 21 isolates (original plus six repeats per isolate) 112 were >1 mg/L.  Conclusions: BMD and Etest have good overall agreement for ceftaroline against Staphylococcus aureus; nevertheless, reliable Etest-based discrimination of the minority of ceftaroline-resistant (MIC 2 mg/L) MRSA is extremely challenging, requiring careful reading of strips, ideally with duplicate testing

Insights into Candida tropicalis nosocomial infections and virulence factors

Candida tropicalis is considered the first or the second non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species most frequently isolated from candidosis, mainly in patients admitted in intensive care units (ICUs), especially with cancer, requiring prolonged catheterization, or receiving broad-spectrum antibiotics. The proportion of candiduria and candidemia caused by C. tropicalis varies widely with geographical area and patient group. Actually, in certain countries, C. tropicalis is more prevalent, even compared with C. albicans or other NCAC species. Although prophylactic treatments with fluconazole cause a decrease in the frequency of candidosis caused by C. tropicalis, it is increasingly showing a moderate level of fluconazole resistance. The propensity of C. tropicalis for dissemination and the high mortality associated with its infections might be strongly related to the potential of virulence factors exhibited by this species, such as adhesion to different host surfaces, biofilm formation, infection and dissemination, and enzymes secretion. Therefore, the aim of this review is to outline the present knowledge on all the above-mentioned C. tropicalis virulence traits.The authors acknowledge Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), Brazil, for supporting Melyssa Negri (BEX 4642/06-6) and Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal, for supporting Sonia Silva (SFRH/BPD/71076/2010), and European Community fund FEDER, trough Program COMPETE under the Project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007025 (PTDC/AMB/68393/2006) is gratefully acknowledged

Structure, dynamics and predicted functional role of the gut microbiota of the blue (Haliotis fulgens) and yellow (H. corrugata) abalone from Baja California Sur, Mexico

The GI microbiota of abalone contains a highly complex bacterial assemblage playing an essential role in the overall health of these gastropods. The gut bacterial communities of abalone species characterized so far reveal considerable interspecific variability, likely resulting from bacterial interactions and constrained by the ecology of their abalone host species; however, they remain poorly investigated. Additionally, the extent to which structural changes in the microbiota entail functional shifts in metabolic pathways of bacterial communities remains unexplored. In order to address these questions, we characterized the gut microbiota of the northeast Pacific blue (Haliotis fulgens or HF) and yellow (Haliotis corrugata or HC) abalone by 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing to shed light on: (i) their gut microbiota structure; (ii) how bacteria may interact among them; and (iii) predicted shifts in bacterial metabolic functions associated with the observed structural changes. Our findings revealed that Mycoplasma dominated the GI microbiome in both species. However, the structure of the bacterial communities differed significantly in spite of considerable intraspecific variation. This resulted from changes in predominant species composition in each GI microbiota, suggesting host-specific adaptation of bacterial lineages to these sympatric abalone. We hypothesize that the presence of exclusive OTUs in each microbiota may relate to host-specific differences in competitive pressure. Significant differences in bacterial diversity were found between species for the explored metabolic pathways despite their functional overlap. A more diverse array of bacteria contributed to each function in HC, whereas a single or much fewer OTUs were generally observed in HF. The structural and functional analyses allowed us to describe a significant taxonomic split and functional overlap between the microbiota of HF and HC abalone

Ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1) mutations in two patients with tubular aggregate myopathy

Two likely causative mutations in the RYR1 gene were identified in two patients with myopathy with tubular aggregates, but no evidence of cores or core-like pathology on muscle biopsy. These patients were clinically evaluated and underwent routine laboratory investigations, electrophysiologic tests, muscle biopsy and muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They reported stiffness of the muscles following sustained activity or cold exposure and had serum creatine kinase elevation. The identified RYR1 mutations (p.Thr2206Met or p.Gly2434Arg, in patient 1 and patient 2, respectively) were previously identified in individuals with malignant hyperthermia susceptibility and are reported as causative according to the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group rules. To our knowledge, these data represent the first identification of causative mutations in the RYR1 gene in patients with tubular aggregate myopathy and extend the spectrum of histological alterations caused by mutation in the RYR1 gene

Model-based identification of solar coronal mass ejections using deep neural networks

Las eyecciones coronales de masa (ECM) son un factor determinante del clima espacial y, por lo tanto, pueden tener impactos tecnológicos y sociales negativos importantes. Para poder predecir su geoefectividad, es crucial su identificación en imágenes de coronógrafos. En la última década, las redes neuronales profundas (RNP) han experimentado enormes mejoras para resolver diversas tareas relacionadas con la visualization por computadora. Un problema al intentar utilizar RNP para la segmentación de una ECM, es que no existe un conjunto de datos grande y curado en la literatura que pueda utilizarse para el entrenamiento supervisado. Hemos creado un conjunto de datos sintético de imágenes de coronógrafos de ECM que incorpora las características principales de interés, combinando imágenes reales de coronógrafos, con ECM sintéticas obtenidas mediante el modelo geométrico Graduated Cylindrical Shell (CCS). Presentamos el entrenamiento y rendimiento preliminar de una RNP que permite identificar y segmentar la envoltura exterior de una ECM en imágenes de coronógrafos. La RNP se basa en un ajuste fino del modelo MaskR.-CNN, y produce una máscara de segmentación similar a la del GCS de la ECM presenté «n una única imagen diferencial del coronágrafo. Comparamos nuestros resultados con los de otros dos algoritmos clásicos usados para segmentar ECM.Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are a major driver of space weather and thus can have important negative technological and social impacts. To assess their geoefiectiveness once they are ejected, it is crucial their prompt identification in coronagraph images. In the last decade, deep neural networks (DNN) have experienced enormous improvements in solving various machine-vision related tasks. One issue when trying to use DNN for CME segmentation, using coronagraph images, is that no large curated dataset exists in the literature that can be used for supervised training. We have produced a synthetic dataset of CME coronagraph images that incorporates the main features of interest, by combining actual quiet (no CME) coronagraph images with synthetic CMEs simulated using the Graduated Cylindrical Shell (GCS) geometric model. In this work, we present preliminary results of a DNN trained to identify and segment the outer envelope of CMEs. This is done by fine-tuning a pretrained MaskR.-CNN model, to produce a GCS-like mask of the CME, present in a single differential coronagraphic image. We compare our results with two other classic CME segmentation algorithms.Asociación Argentina de Astronomí