ABSTRACT
Blazars research is one of the hot topics of contemporary extragalactic astrophysics. That is because these sources are the most abundant type of extragalactic γ-ray sources and are ...suspected to play a central role in multimessenger astrophysics. We have used Swift$\_$xrtproc, a tool to carry out an accurate spectral and photometric analysis of the Swift-XRT data of all blazars observed by Swift at least 50 times between December 2004 and the end of 2020. We present a database of X-ray spectra, best-fit parameter values, count rates and flux estimations in several energy bands of over 31 000 X-ray observations and single snapshots of 65 blazars. The results of the X-ray analysis have been combined with other multifrequency archival data to assemble the broad-band Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs) and the long-term light curves of all sources in the sample. Our study shows that large X-ray luminosity variability on different time-scales is present in all objects. Spectral changes are also frequently observed with a ‘harder-when-brighter’ or ‘softer-when-brighter’ behaviour depending on the SED type of the blazars. The peak energy of the synchrotron component (νpeak) in the SED of HBL blazars, estimated from the log-parabolic shape of their X-ray spectra, also exhibits very large changes in the same source, spanning a range of over two orders of magnitude in Mrk421 and Mrk501, the objects with the best data sets in our sample.
Although rare, CALM/AF10 is a chromosomal rearrangement found in immature T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), acute myeloid leukemia, and mixed phenotype acute leukemia of T/myeloid lineages ...with poor prognosis. Moreover, this translocation is detected in 50% of T-ALL patients with gamma/delta T cell receptor rearrangement, frequently associated with low expression of transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBPA). However, the relevance of CEBPA low expression for CALM/AF10 leukemogenesis has not yet been evaluated. We generated double mutant mice, which express the Lck-CALM/AF10 fusion gene and are haploinsufficient for the Cebpa gene. To characterize the hematopoiesis, we quantified hematopoietic stem cells, myeloid progenitor cells, megakaryocyte-erythrocyte progenitor cells, common myeloid progenitor cells, and granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells. No significant difference was detected in any of the progenitor subsets. Finally, we tested if Cebpa haploinsufficiency would lead to the expansion of Mac-1+/B220+/c-Kit+ cells proposed as the CALM/AF10 leukemic progenitor. Less than 1% of bone marrow cells expressed Mac-1, B220, and c-Kit with no significant difference between groups. Our results showed that the reduction of Cebpa gene expression in Lck-CALM/AF10 mice did not affect their hematopoiesis or induce leukemia. Our data corroborated previous studies suggesting that the CALM/AF10 leukemia-initiating cells are early progenitors with lymphoid/myeloid differentiating potential.
Aims. Open Universe for Blazars is a set of high-transparency multi-frequency data products for blazar science, and the tools designed to generate them. Blazars are drawing growing interest following ...the consolidation of their position as the most abundant type of source in the extragalactic very high-energy γ-ray sky, and because of their status as prime candidate sources in the nascent field of multi-messenger astrophysics. As such, blazar astrophysics is becoming increasingly data driven, depending on the integration and combined analysis of large quantities of data from the entire span of observational astrophysics techniques. The project was therefore chosen as one of the pilot activities within the United Nations Open Universe Initiative, whose objective is to stimulate a large increase in the accessibility and ease of utilisation of space science data for the worldwide benefit of scientific research, education, capacity building, and citizen science. Methods. Our aim is to deliver innovative data science tools for multi-messenger astrophysics. In this work we report on a data analysis pipeline called Swift-DeepSky based on the Swift XRTDAS software and the XIMAGE package, encapsulated into a Docker container. Swift-DeepSky downloads and reads low-level data, generates higher level products, detects X-ray sources, and estimates several intensity and spectral parameters for each detection, thus facilitating the generation of complete and up-to-date science-ready catalogues from an entire space-mission data set. Results. As a first application of our innovative approach, we present the results of a detailed X-ray image analysis based on Swift-DeepSky that was run on all Swift-XRT observations including a known blazar, carried out during the first 14 years of operations of the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory. Short exposures executed within one week of each other have been added to increase sensitivity, which ranges between ∼1 × 10−12 and ∼1 × 10−14 erg cm−2 s−1 (0.3–10.0 keV). After cleaning for problematic fields, the resulting database includes over 27 000 images integrated in different X-ray bands, and a catalogue, called 1OUSXB, that provides intensity and spectral information for 33 396 X-ray sources, 8896 of which are single or multiple detections of 2308 distinct blazars. All the results can be accessed online in a variety of ways, from the Open Universe portal through Virtual Observatory services, via the VOU-Blazar tool and the SSDC SED builder. One of the most innovative aspects of this work is that the results can be easily reproduced and extended by anyone using the Docker version of the Swift-DeepSky pipeline, which runs on Linux, Mac, and Windows machines, and does not require any specific experience in X-ray data analysis.
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Different therapeutic methods for chronic drooling in paediatric patients with neurological problems have been described in the scientific literature. However, there is no consensus on the ideal ...strategy of treatment. The aim of this study was to compare botulinum toxin injection therapy and surgical modalities to control drooling in paediatric patients with neurological disorders. A systematic literature search was conducted on nine electronic databases for publications until April 2020. Six articles were included with a total sample of 209 patients, 67.4% (n = 141) of whom had cerebral palsy. All studies used injections of botulinum toxin type A with application to the submandibular and/or parotid salivary glands. The surgical treatments were duct ligation in the parotid and/or submandibular salivary glands, duct relocation in the submandibular salivary glands, and glandular excision of the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands. There were complications in only 16.1% (n = 27) of the sample (11 cases due to botulinum toxin application and 16 due to surgery). Drooling control was assessed by objective and subjective measures. Although surgical procedures presented a higher risk of adverse effects than botulinum toxin type A in all the studies and measurements performed, they presented larger and longer-lasting positive effects on drooling. We suggest bilateral submandibular duct relocation with bilateral sublingual gland excision or isolated bilateral submandibular duct ligation, which were the surgical techniques with the largest samples in this review. Nevertheless, further studies are necessary to compare samples with botulinum toxin type A and surgical treatment.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Objective
This cross-sectional study evaluated the prevalence of tooth enamel defects and risk factors associated in primary dentition.
Methods
A sample of 656 schoolchildren (population based), aged ...4 years old, from Araraquara-SP (Brazil) was evaluated by two trained examiners according to the following indexes: Dental fluorosis (DF), deciduous molar hypomineralization (DMH), non-fluoride related developmental defects of enamel (DDE), tooth erosion and tooth attrition. Structured questionnaires identified socioeconomic condition, medical/dental history, behavior and dietary habits. Data were analyzed using Chi-square tests (
p
< 0.05).
Results
Of the enamel congenital defects, DF was the most prevalent (6.1%,
n
= 40), followed by DMH (5.6%,
n
= 37). Of the acquired defects, attrition was the most prevalent (36.9%,
n
= 242), followed by erosion (2.4%,
n
= 16). The caries experience was similar between the affected children (29,5%;
n
= 94) and total sample (30.6%;
n
= 201). The etiological factors related to congenital defects were: not exclusively fed breast milk (
p
= 0.003) and jaundice at birth (
p
< 0.001); the association with acquired defects was found with vomiting frequent episodes (
p
= 0.037).
Conclusion
The general prevalence of enamel defects in primary dentition in Araraquara was 48.6%. Enamel defects may be associated with health-related factors and current lifestyle.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which in turn increases circulating glucocorticoid concentrations and stimulates the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). Chronically elevated ...glucocorticoids by repetitive exposure to stress are implicated in major depression and anxiety disorders. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), a molecule essential for nervous system development, function and pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, can modulate GR activity through phosphorylation. We examined potential contribution of CDK5 to stress response and pathophysiology of major depression. In mice, acute immobilized stress (AS) caused a biphasic effect on CDK5 activity, initially reducing but increasing afterwards in prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus (HIPPO), whereas chronic unpredictable stress (CS) strongly increased it in these brain areas, indicating that AS and CS differentially regulate this kinase activity in a brain region-specific fashion. GR phosphorylation contemporaneously followed the observed changes of CDK5 activity after AS, thus CDK5 may in part alter GR phosphorylation upon this stress. In the postmortem brains of subjects with major depression, CDK5 activity was elevated in Brodmann's area 25, but not in entire PFC and HIPPO. Messenger RNA expression of glucocorticoid-regulated/stress-related genes showed distinct expression profiles in several brain areas of these stressed mice or depressive subjects in which CDK5-mediated changes in GR phosphorylation may have some regulatory roles. Taken together, these results indicate that CDK5 is an integral component of stress response and major depression with regulatory means specific to different stressors, brain areas and diseases in part through changing phosphorylation of GR.
In this paper, the effect of different synthesis methods, such as controlled precipitation (CP), sonochemical, hot solution ion injection with fast cooling, and conventional hydrothermal in obtaining ...beta-disilver molybdate (β-Ag
2
MoO
4
) are explained in details. X-ray diffraction patterns, Rietveld refinement data, cluster modeling, micro-Raman, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies confirmed that all β-Ag
2
MoO
4
crystals have a spinel-like cubic structure, space group (
Fd
3
¯
m
), and symmetry point group (
O
h
7
). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images showed that through different synthetic routes, it is possible to obtain monophasic crystals, such as regular/irregular polyhedrons (cubes, cuboctahedron, trapezohedron, rhombic dodecahedron), potatoes, and non-uniform. The crystal shape observed experimentally was modeled based on Rietveld refinement data and FE-SEM images obtained by KrystalShaper program. First-principles quantum mechanical calculations based on density functional theory were employed to modulate the crystals’ surfaces and to obtain their surface energy (E
surf
) values. From these E
surf
values in association with the Wulff construction, the evolution of the crystals shape was achieved correlating with the experimental results when different synthesis methods are used. Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy measurements in absorbance mode showed three main absorptions (280, 310, and 340 nm), while the UV–Vis analyses in diffuse reflectance mode showed a tail of energy absorption in the UV spectrum range (3.25 eV and 3.3 eV). The quantitative data from the colorimetric analysis indicated that the β-Ag
2
MoO
4
crystals are desirable for developing inorganic pigments with a beige to brown shade. Photocatalytic assays were performed using four lamps: UV-C, UV-B, UV-A, and visible light. The β-Ag
2
MoO
4
crystals prepared by the CP method showed a higher degradation rate at 85.12% for the Rhodamine B dye solution under 240 min exposure to UV-C light.
Graphical Abstract
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Aims.
The sample of serendipitous sources detected in all
Swift
-XRT images pointing at gamma ray bursts (GRBs) constitutes the largest existing medium-deep survey of the X-ray sky. To build such ...dataset we analysed all
Swift
X-ray images centred on GRBs and observed over a period of 15 years using automatic tools that do not require any expertise in X-ray astronomy. Besides presenting a new large X-ray survey and a complete sample of blazars, this work aims to be a step in the direction of achieving the ultimate goal of the Open Universe Initiative, which is to enable non-expert people to benefit fully from space science data, possibly extending the potential for scientific discovery, which is currently confined within a small number of highly specialised teams, to a much larger population.
Methods.
We used the
Swift
_deepsky Docker container encapsulated pipeline to build the largest existing flux-limited and unbiased sample of serendipitous X-ray sources.
Swift
_deepsky runs on any laptop or desktop computer with a modern operating system. The tool automatically downloads the data and the calibration files from the archives, runs the official
Swift
analysis software, and produces a number of results including images, the list of detected sources, X-ray fluxes, spectral energy distribution data, and spectral slope estimations.
Results.
We used our source list to build the LogN-LogS of extra-galactic sources, which perfectly matches that estimated by other satellites. Combining our survey with multi-frequency data, we selected a complete radio-flux-density-limited sample of high energy peaked blazars (HBL). The LogN-LogS built with this data set confirms that previous samples are incomplete below ∼20 mJy.
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Aim
To characterize plasma cell subsets in chronic periapical lesions affecting permanent and primary teeth.
Methodology
Only chronic periapical lesions without root canal treatment were selected. ...Twenty‐one radicular cysts and 7 periapical granulomas affecting permanent teeth and 19 radicular cysts and 4 periapical granulomas affecting primary teeth were assessed for immunoglobulin (Ig) light chain (kappa and lambda), Ig heavy chain (IgG, IgG4, IgA, IgM and IgD) and plasma cell immunohistochemical markers (MUM1/IRF4, EMA and CD138). The data acquired were analysed by Student’s t test, Mann–Whitney U, Friedman test followed by Dunn's multiple comparison test and Spearman’s rank correlation.
Results
All cases were polyclonal (having similar kappa/lambda light chain ratios). IgG was most abundant compared to other Ig heavy chains (all, P < 0.001); like Ig light chains, but unlike IgA, there was greater expression of IgG in the primary compared to the permanent dentition, for both radicular cysts (P < 0.001) and periapical granulomas (P = 0.53). Notably, IgG4 expression was greater in the permanent than the primary dentition, for both radicular cyst (P < 0.05) and periapical granuloma (P = 0.65). IgM and IgD expression was scarce and variable, whereas plasma cell populations were detected efficiently through EMA, CD138 and MUM1/IRF4 markers, the latter being more sensitive in both dentitions.
Conclusions
There were slight variations in the Ig light and heavy chain profiles in chronic periapical lesions when comparing the permanent and primary dentitions. The ability of IgG4+ plasma cell infiltration to modulate inflammatory responses in chronic periapical lesions arising from permanent as opposed to primary teeth should be considered in future studies.
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BFBNIB, CMK, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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► H-ZSM-5 was more active than H-Y in the transformation of FT naphtha at 450°C. ► Detailed PIANIO analysis of the products allowed a fair estimate of the conversion. ► The ...transformation of the FT naphtha produces dry gas, LPG and coke. ► Products in the naphtha range were mainly naphthenics and aromatics.
This paper explores the potential of converting a naphtha-cut (C5–C16) obtained from Fischer–Tropsch synthesis into small olefins under conditions close to commercial FCC operation. Comparing the activity of HZSM-5 and H-Y catalysts in the transformation of FT naphtha fraction at 450°C under FCC conditions, H-ZSM-5 was found to be more active. In the present case, calculation of conversion is not straightforward since boiling point range of reactant molecules overlaps with the boiling point of many observed products. A method to estimate the conversion is proposed based on detailed PIANIO analysis of the liquid products. Hydrothermal deactivation reduces H-ZSM-5 activity and cyclization followed by hydrogen transfer reactions, but can be compensated by an increase in reaction temperature. Results obtained at six distinct H-ZSM-5 percentages (from 0.5 to 20wt.%) suggest that under commercial FCC conditions, the use of H-Y zeolite to primary crack feed molecules that would further react on ZSM-5 is not necessary. Naphtha from FT synthesis can be potentially used to produce base petrochemical products in a dedicated FCC unit.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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