Mediterranean cold-water coral measurements

This study presents aggradation rates supplemented for the first time by carbonate accumulation rates from Mediterranean cold-water coral sites considering three different regional and geomorphological settings: (i) a cold-water coral ridge (eastern Melilla coral province, Alboran Sea), (ii) a cold-water coral rubble talus deposit at the base of a submarine cliff (Urania Bank, Strait of Sicily) and (iii) a cold-water coral deposit rooted on a predefined topographic high overgrown by cold-water corals (Santa Maria di Leuca coral province, Ionian Sea). The mean aggradation rates of the respective cold-water coral deposits vary between 10 and 530 cm kyr?1 and the mean carbonate accumulation rates range between 8 and 396 g cm?2 kyr?1 with a maximum of 503 g cm?2 kyr?1 reached in the eastern Melilla coral province. Compared to other deep-water depositional environments the Mediterranean cold-water coral sites reveal significantly higher carbonate accumulation rates that were even in the range of the highest productive shallow-water Mediterranean carbonate factories (e.g. Cladocora caespitosa coral reefs). Focusing exclusively on cold-water coral occurrences, the carbonate accumulation rates of the Mediterranean cold-water coral sites are in the lower range of those obtained for the prolific Norwegian coral occurrences, but exhibit much higher rates than the cold-water coral mounds off Ireland. This study clearly indicates that cold-water corals have the potential to act as important carbonate factories and regional carbonate sinks within the Mediterranean Sea. Moreover, the data highlight the potential of cold-water corals to store carbonate with rates in the range of tropical shallow-water reefs. In order to evaluate the contribution of the cold-water coral carbonate factory to the regional or global carbonate/carbon cycle, an improved understanding of the temporal and spatial variability in aggradation and carbonate accumulation rates and areal estimates of the respective regions is needed.

Tifones y gigantes en el mundo macedonio: el rey como símbolo del orden cósmico

Este artículo analiza la existencia de un posible ritual en la antigua Macedonia que fuese similar al Akîtu babilonio. Pensamos que la victoria de Zeus sobre sus enemigos en la gigantomaquia y tifonomaquia fue celebrada por los reyes macedonios para fortalecer su posición en el poder. Aunque no hay evidencias directas de ello, tenemos una serie de diferentes fuentes en las cuales los macedonios están relacionados directa o indirectamente con Tifón y los gigantes. Además, la estratégica importancia del monte Olimpo para los macedonios nos hace pensar que la victoria de Zeus sobre las fuerzas del mal fue conmemorada de alguna forma por ellos.

The HARPS-N Rocky Planet Search. I. HD 219134 b: A transiting rocky planet in a multi-planet system at 6.5 pc from the Sun

We know now from radial velocity surveys and transit space missions thatplanets only a few times more massive than our Earth are frequent aroundsolar-type stars. Fundamental questions about their formation history,physical properties, internal structure, and atmosphere composition are,however, still to be solved. We present here the detection of a systemof four low-mass planets around the bright (V = 5.5) and close-by (6.5pc) star HD 219134. This is the first result of the Rocky Planet Searchprogramme with HARPS-N on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in La Palma.The inner planet orbits the star in 3.0935 ± 0.0003 days, on aquasi-circular orbit with a semi-major axis of 0.0382 ± 0.0003AU. Spitzer observations allowed us to detect the transit of the planetin front of the star making HD 219134 b the nearest known transitingplanet to date. From the amplitude of the radial velocity variation(2.25 ± 0.22 ms-1) and observed depth of the transit(359 ± 38 ppm), the planet mass and radius are estimated to be4.36 ± 0.44 M⊕ and 1.606 ± 0.086R⊕, leading to a mean density of 5.76 ± 1.09 gcm-3, suggesting a rocky composition. One additional planetwith minimum-mass of 2.78 ± 0.65 M⊕ moves on aclose-in, quasi-circular orbit with a period of 6.767 ± 0.004days. The third planet in the system has a period of 46.66 ± 0.08days and a minimum-mass of 8.94 ± 1.13 M⊕, at0.233 ± 0.002 AU from the star. Its eccentricity is 0.46 ±0.11. The period of this planet is close to the rotational period of thestar estimated from variations of activity indicators (42.3 ± 0.1days). The planetary origin of the signal is, however, thepreferredsolution as no indication of variation at the corresponding frequency isobserved for activity-sensitive parameters. Finally, a fourth additionallonger-period planet of mass of 71 M⊕ orbits the starin 1842 days, on an eccentric orbit (e = 0.34 ± 0.17) at adistance of 2.56 AU.The photometric time series and radial velocities used in this work areavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr(ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/584/A72

Recente evoluzione delle tecnologie PET-RMN

La PET/RMN è un ibrido delle tecnologie di imaging che incorpora la risonanza magnetica nucleare (RMN), che fornisce un'imaging di tipo morfologico, e la tomografia ad emissione di positroni (PET), che fornisce un'imaging di tipo funzionale. Questa nuova tecnologia trova applicazioni in campo oncologico, cardiovascolare e nello studio del sistema nervoso centrale (SNC). La realizzazione di questa nuova tecnologia ha comportato diverse sfide tecniche per la combinazione delle due apparecchiature, che sono state risolte con diversi approcci. Lo sviluppo futuro della PET/RMN sarà guidato da molteplici fattori tra i quali l'eliminazione degli eventuali disturbi e la necessità di accordi per i rimborsi dell'esame. Tutt'ora esistono tre diversi produttori al mondo : Simens, Philips e GE (General Electric), i quali hanno diverse tecnologie e diversi metodi di analisi. La prima apparecchiatura PET/RMN in Italia è stata acquistata dall'ospedale di Padova nel gennaio 2015, mentre negli altri paesi aveva già fatto la sua comparsa dal 2011.

Formalisation des connaissances pour le processus de développement de nouveaux produits

Nous avons élaboré comme objectif principal de cet essai la formalisation des connaissances lors du processus de développement de nouveaux produits qui pourra par la suite être intégrée dans un logiciel de système expert et implanté dans une entreprise de haute technologie. Suite à une revue de la littérature sur laquelle s'appuie le développement de cet essai, notre démarche pour formaliser les connaissances s'est effectuée par des entrevues semi-structurées pour étudier en détail le fonctionnement de l'entreprise lors du développement d'un nouveau produit. Après avoir identifier le modèle utilisé chez Systèmes d'Informatique Philips Ltée, nous avons déterminer les points précis dans le processus de développement d'un nouveau produit où sont prises les décisions, par qui ou par quel comité et à l'aide de quelles informations. Ceci a été suivi par l'identification de six phases dans leur modèle lors du développement de nouveaux produits. Nous avons par la suite formaliser les connaissances en des règles de production pour représenter ces six phases et tout ceci a été fait grâce à la collaboration des experts du département de marketing et de recherche et développement. Suite à ceci, nous avons étudiés divers projets de développement de nouveaux produits sur le marché (matériels et logiciels) afin d'ajouter d'autres règles à notre modèle. Pour mieux visualiser ces connaissances, nous avons développé un prototype de système expert avec le logiciel GURU, prototype qui représente les deux premières phases de notre modèle. Nous souhaitons que notre prototype de démonstration soit poursuivi jusqu'à l'implantation complète du système expert et ceci avec la possibilité de modifications liées à la vie de l'entreprise.

PET e PET/CT com FDG: comparação de duas bases de dados de referência do normal com SUV

Mestrado em Medicina Nuclear - Área de especialização: Tomografia por Emissão de Positrões

Physical activity attenuates the effect of the FTO genotype on obesity traits in European adults: the Food4Me study

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the effect of FTO loci on obesity-related traits could be modified by physical activity (PA) levels in European adults. METHODS: Of 1,607 Food4Me participants randomized, 1,280 were genotyped for FTO (rs9939609) and had available PA data. PA was measured objectively using accelerometers (TracmorD, Philips), whereas anthropometric measures [BMI and waist circumference (WC)] were self-reported via the Internet. RESULTS: FTO genotype was associated with a higher body weight [β: 1.09 kg per risk allele, (95% CI: 0.14-2.04), P = 0.024], BMI [β: 0.54 kg m(-2) , (0.23-0.83), P < 0.0001], and WC [β: 1.07 cm, (0.24-1.90), P = 0.011]. Moderate-equivalent PA attenuated the effect of FTO on BMI (P[interaction]  = 0.020). Among inactive individuals, FTO increased BMI by 1.06 kg m(-2) per allele (P = 0.024), whereas the increase in BMI was substantially attenuated among active individuals (0.16 kg m(-2) , P = 0.388). We observed similar effects for WC (P[interaction]  = 0.005): the FTO risk allele increased WC by 2.72 cm per allele among inactive individuals but by only 0.49 cm in active individuals. CONCLUSIONS: PA attenuates the effect of FTO genotype on BMI and WC. This may have important public health implications because genetic susceptibility to obesity in the presence of FTO variants may be reduced by adopting a physically active lifestyle.

Snackggies

Snackggies, es una empresa ubicada en la ciudad de Bogotá cuya actividad económica es la elaboración y distribución de Snacks. Esta pretende entrar al mercado con una línea de productos poco convencional. Su enfoque, es ofrecer alternativas a los niños y jóvenes para que consuman verduras de una manera diferente, rica y agradable. Esto se realizará por medio de la elaboración de chips de verduras con sabor naturales. Con estos productos se busca que los niños y jóvenes disfruten y se diviertan consumiéndolas, pues se conoce que ellos son la población que mayor inconveniente presenta al comerlas y por ende sus padres lo perciben de la misma manera. La característica principal de Snackggies es desarrollar productos saludables comparados con los Chips que ofrece el mercado, pues se usará materia prima de calidad y a esto se le suma la forma de cocción; ya que se utilizará tecnología de aire caliente o AirFryer, cuya función es freír alimentos con una porción mínima de aceite, aportando una cantidad reducida de calorías vacías y grasas trans a los alimentos. Además, son productos creados para la lonchera de los niños y con diseño atractivo para ellos. Para la empresa lanzar al mercado estos productos es muy significativo y gratificante, pues se ha desarrollado durante un año un estudio en el cual se ha venido conociendo tanto al cliente como el consumidor, con el fin de desarrollar un producto que cumpla con sus necesidades y se logre posicionar como una alternativa innovadora para el consumo de verduras.