Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Microcapsules PCL with Essential Oil Citronella

O glifosato é o herbicida mais utilizado no mundo, devido ao seu amplo espectro de ação. Porém existe a necessidade de medidas de redução na sua aplicação, devido aos riscos associados à contaminação da água e do meio ambiente. O desenvolvimento de sistemas de liberação controlada surge como uma alternativa para minimizar a aplicação deste herbicida. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a preparação de microesferas de Poli (ε-caprolactona) (PCL) contendo glifosato. Estas foram caracterizadas quanto a sua morfologia, estrutura, propriedades físicoquímicas, e ainda, realizou-se um bioensaio para a avaliação do seu uso na cultura do arroz, a fim de criar uma possível alternativa para o uso destes herbicidas em plantações. As microesferas de PCL/glifosato produzidas através da técnica de emulsão múltipla e evaporação do solvente apresentaram a forma de esferas sólidas com tamanhos médios de 3 m ± 0,6 m. Foi possível incorporar 9,3% de glifosato em relação à massa de polímero nas partículas formadas, revelando uma eficiência de incorporação (EI) de 30,9%. A partir das técnicas utilizadas para quantificação do glifosato incorporado (UVvis, TGA e CHN), pode-se afirmar que com o aumento da concentração de glifosato na formulação existe um aumento de sua EI. Por outro lado este aumento acarreta na diminuição no tamanho médio das microesferas. A liberação do herbicida das microesferas foi evidenciada através de bioensaios, e na avaliação do perfil de liberação do glifosato das microesferas, pode-se constatar que aproximadamente 17% do herbicida foi liberado para o meio, solução de CaCl2 0,01 M em temperatura ambiente, após transcorridos 360 minutos de ensaio. Este estudo permitiu afirmar que o modelo teórico descrito por Korsmeyer-Peppas é adequado para caracterizar o fenômeno de transporte de liberação do glifosato das microesferas, revelando um transporte anômalo não governado pela difusão de Fick.Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world, due to its broad spectrum of action. But there is a need for reduction measures in its application, due to the risks associated with contamination of water and the environment. The development of controlled release systems appears as an alternative to minimize the application of this herbicide. This work aimed at the preparation of glyphosate-containing Poly (ε-caprolactone) (PCL) microspheres. These were characterized as to their morphology, structure, physicochemical properties, and a bioassay was carried out to evaluate their use in rice cultivation, in order to create a possible alternative for the use of these herbicides in plantations. The PCL / glyphosate microspheres produced by the multiple emulsion technique and solvent evaporation were in the form of solid beads with mean sizes of 3 μm ± 0.6 μm. It was possible to incorporate 9.3% glyphosate in relation to the polymer mass in the formed particles, revealing an efficiency of incorporation IE of 30.9%. From the techniques used to quantify the incorporated glyphosate (UVvis, TGA and CHN), it can be stated that with the increase of glyphosate concentration in the formulation there is an increase in its IE. On the other hand, this increase leads to a decrease in the average size of the microspheres. The release of the herbicide from the microspheres was evidenced by bioassays, and in the assessment of the glyphosate release profile of the microspheres, it can be seen that approximately 17% of the herbicide was released into the medium, 0.01 M CaCl2 solution at room temperature, after 360 minutes of testing. This study allowed to affirm that the theoretical model described by Korsmeyer-Peppas is adequate to characterize the phenomenon of transport of glyphosate release from the microspheres, revealing an anomalous transport not governed by Fick diffusion

Glacial to Holocene swings of the Australian–Indonesian monsoon

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2011. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Nature Publishing Group for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Nature Geoscience 4 (2011): 540–544, doi:10.1038/ngeo1209.The Australian-Indonesian monsoon is an important component of the climate system in the tropical Indo-Pacific region. However, its past variability, relation with northern and southern high latitude climate and connection to the other Asian monsoon systems are poorly understood. Here we present high-resolution records of monsoon-controlled austral winter upwelling during the past 22,000 years, based on planktic foraminiferal oxygen isotope and faunal composition in a sedimentary archive collected offshore southern Java. We show that glacial-interglacial variations in the Australian-Indonesian winter monsoon were in phase with the Indian summer monsoon system, consistent with their modern linkage through cross-equatorial surface winds. Likewise, millennial-scale variability of upwelling shares similar sign and timing with upwelling variability in the Arabian Sea. On the basis of element composition and grain-size distribution as precipitation-sensitive proxies in the same archive, we infer that (austral) summer monsoon rainfall was highest during the Bølling-Allerød period and the past 2,500 years. Our results indicate drier conditions during Heinrich Stadial 1 due to a southward shift of summer rainfall and a relatively weak Hadley Cell south of the Equator. We suggest that the Australian-Indonesian summer and winter monsoon variability were closely linked to summer insolation and abrupt climate changes in the northern hemisphere.This study was funded by the German Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (PABESIA) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, HE 3412/15-1). DWO’s participation was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation

Comparison of eye tracking, electrooculography and an auditory brain-computer interface for binary communication: a case study with a participant in the locked-in state

Background In this study, we evaluated electrooculography (EOG), an eye tracker and an auditory brain-computer interface (BCI) as access methods to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The participant of the study has been in the locked-in state (LIS) for 6 years due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was able to communicate with slow residual eye movements, but had no means of partner independent communication. We discuss the usability of all tested access methods and the prospects of using BCIs as an assistive technology. Methods Within four days, we tested whether EOG, eye tracking and a BCI would allow the participant in LIS to make simple selections. We optimized the parameters in an iterative procedure for all systems. Results The participant was able to gain control over all three systems. Nonetheless, due to the level of proficiency previously achieved with his low-tech AAC method, he did not consider using any of the tested systems as an additional communication channel. However, he would consider using the BCI once control over his eye muscles would no longer be possible. He rated the ease of use of the BCI as the highest among the tested systems, because no precise eye movements were required; but also as the most tiring, due to the high level of attention needed to operate the BCI. Conclusions In this case study, the partner based communication was possible due to the good care provided and the proficiency achieved by the interlocutors. To ease the transition from a low-tech AAC method to a BCI once control over all muscles is lost, it must be simple to operate. For persons, who rely on AAC and are affected by a progressive neuromuscular disease, we argue that a complementary approach, combining BCIs and standard assistive technology, can prove valuable to achieve partner independent communication and ease the transition to a purely BCI based approach. Finally, we provide further evidence for the importance of a user-centered approach in the design of new assistive devices

Paleometry: A brand new area in Brazilian science

Paleometry is a promising research field that brings together different areas, such as physics and chemistry, applied to paleobiological issues. In spite of being recognized abroad, it is a new research field in Brazil. The most important characteristic is the application of mostly non-destructive techniques to the study of fossils. This work compiles some paleometrical applications to different geological contexts, such as the synthesis of hard skeleton in Corumbella werneri, geochemical aspects about fresh water bivalves from the Bauru Group and the exceptional preservation of arthropods from the Crato Member. Diffuse Reflectance Infrared (DRIFT) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) were complementary to elucidate the types of skeletogenesys in Corumbella. In the case of the bivalves, DRIFT revealed to be important to elucidate aspects about death and fossilization. Among arthropods, morphological analysis with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) associated with EDX was more profitable to understand fossilization process and paleoenvironmental implications.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Ctr Ciencias &Tecnol Sustentabilidade, BR-18052780 Sorocaba, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Carlos, Ctr Ciencias Humanas &Biol, BR-18052780 Sorocaba, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Inst Geociencias, BR-05508080 Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho UNESP, Fac Ciencias, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho UNESP, BR-18087180 Sorocaba, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho UNESP, Fac Ciencias, BR-17033360 Bauru, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Paulista Julio Mesquita Filho UNESP, BR-18087180 Sorocaba, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2009/02312-4FAPESP: 2013/16545-6FAPESP: 2013/06719-7FAPESP: 2013/06718-

Delayed Recovery of Skeletal Muscle Mass following Hindlimb Immobilization in mTOR Heterozygous Mice

The present study addressed the hypothesis that reducing mTOR, as seen in mTOR heterozygous (+/−) mice, would exaggerate the changes in protein synthesis and degradation observed during hindlimb immobilization as well as impair normal muscle regrowth during the recovery period. Atrophy was produced by unilateral hindlimb immobilization and data compared to the contralateral gastrocnemius. In wild-type (WT) mice, the gradual loss of muscle mass plateaued by day 7. This response was associated with a reduction in basal protein synthesis and development of leucine resistance. Proteasome activity was consistently elevated, but atrogin-1 and MuRF1 mRNAs were only transiently increased returning to basal values by day 7. When assessed 7 days after immobilization, the decreased muscle mass and protein synthesis and increased proteasome activity did not differ between WT and mTOR+/− mice. Moreover, the muscle inflammatory cytokine response did not differ between groups. After 10 days of recovery, WT mice showed no decrement in muscle mass, and this accretion resulted from a sustained increase in protein synthesis and a normalization of proteasome activity. In contrast, mTOR+/− mice failed to fully replete muscle mass at this time, a defect caused by the lack of a compensatory increase in protein synthesis. The delayed muscle regrowth of the previously immobilized muscle in the mTOR+/− mice was associated with a decreased raptor•4EBP1 and increased raptor•Deptor binding. Slowed regrowth was also associated with a sustained inflammatory response (e.g., increased TNFα and CD45 mRNA) during the recovery period and a failure of IGF-I to increase as in WT mice. These data suggest mTOR is relatively more important in regulating the accretion of muscle mass during recovery than the loss of muscle during the atrophy phase, and that protein synthesis is more sensitive than degradation to the reduction in mTOR during muscle regrowth

PKA and Epac cooperate to augment bradykinin-induced interleukin-8 release from human airway smooth muscle cells

Background: Airway smooth muscle contributes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases by secreting inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-8 (IL-8). IL-8 production is in part regulated via activation of G(q)-and G(s)-coupled receptors. Here we study the role of the cyclic AMP (cAMP) effectors protein kinase A (PKA) and exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP (Epac1 and Epac2) in the bradykinin-induced IL-8 release from a human airway smooth muscle cell line and the underlying molecular mechanisms of this response.Methods: IL-8 release was assessed via ELISA under basal condition and after stimulation with bradykinin alone or in combination with fenoterol, the Epac activators 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP and Sp-8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMPS, the PKA activator 6-Bnz-cAMP and the cGMP analog 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cGMP. Where indicated, cells were pre-incubated with the pharmacological inhibitors Clostridium difficile toxin B-1470 (GTPases), U0126 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases ERK1/2) and Rp-8-CPT-cAMPS (PKA). The specificity of the cyclic nucleotide analogs was confirmed by measuring phosphorylation of the PKA substrate vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein. GTP-loading of Rap1 and Rap2 was evaluated via pull-down technique. Expression of Rap1, Rap2, Epac1 and Epac2 was assessed via western blot. Downregulation of Epac protein expression was achieved by siRNA. Unpaired or paired two-tailed Student's t test was used.Results: The beta(2)-agonist fenoterol augmented release of IL-8 by bradykinin. The PKA activator 6-Bnz-cAMP and the Epac activator 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP significantly increased bradykinin-induced IL-8 release. The hydrolysis-resistant Epac activator Sp-8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMPS mimicked the effects of 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP, whereas the negative control 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cGMP did not. Fenoterol, forskolin and 6-Bnz-cAMP induced VASP phosphorylation, which was diminished by the PKA inhibitor Rp-8-CPT-cAMPS. 6-Bnz-cAMP and 8-pCPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP induced GTP-loading of Rap1, but not of Rap2. Treatment of the cells with toxin B-1470 and U0126 significantly reduced bradykinin-induced IL-8 release alone or in combination with the activators of PKA and Epac. Interestingly, inhibition of PKA by Rp-8-CPT-cAMPS and silencing of Epac1 and Epac2 expression by specific siRNAs largely decreased activation of Rap1 and the augmentation of bradykinin-induced IL-8 release by both PKA and Epac.Conclusion: Collectively, our data suggest that PKA, Epac1 and Epac2 act in concert to modulate inflammatory properties of airway smooth muscle via signaling to the Ras-like GTPase Rap1 and to ERK1/2.</p

The ELBA Force Field for Coarse-Grain Modeling of Lipid Membranes

A new coarse-grain model for molecular dynamics simulation of lipid membranes is presented. Following a simple and conventional approach, lipid molecules are modeled by spherical sites, each representing a group of several atoms. In contrast to common coarse-grain methods, two original (interdependent) features are here adopted. First, the main electrostatics are modeled explicitly by charges and dipoles, which interact realistically through a relative dielectric constant of unity (). Second, water molecules are represented individually through a new parametrization of the simple Stockmayer potential for polar fluids; each water molecule is therefore described by a single spherical site embedded with a point dipole. The force field is shown to accurately reproduce the main physical properties of single-species phospholipid bilayers comprising dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) in the liquid crystal phase, as well as distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) in the liquid crystal and gel phases. Insights are presented into fundamental properties and phenomena that can be difficult or impossible to study with alternative computational or experimental methods. For example, we investigate the internal pressure distribution, dipole potential, lipid diffusion, and spontaneous self-assembly. Simulations lasting up to 1.5 microseconds were conducted for systems of different sizes (128, 512 and 1058 lipids); this also allowed us to identify size-dependent artifacts that are expected to affect membrane simulations in general. Future extensions and applications are discussed, particularly in relation to the methodology's inherent multiscale capabilities