Planck scale effects in neutrino physics

We study the phenomenology and cosmology of the Majoron (flavon) models of three active and one inert neutrino paying special attention to the possible (almost) conserved generalization of the Zeldovich-Konopinski-Mahmoud lepton charge. Using Planck scale physics effects which provide the breaking of the lepton charge, we show how in this picture one can incorporate the solutions to some of the central issues in neutrino physics such as the solar and atmospheric neutrino puzzles, dark matter and a 17 keV neutrino. These gravitational effects induce tiny Majorana mass terms for neutrinos and considerable masses for flavons. The cosmological demand for the sufficiently fast decay of flavons implies a lower limit on the electron neutrino mass in the range of 0.1-1 eV.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figure (not included but available upon request), LaTex, IC/92/196, SISSA-140/92/EP, LMU-09/9

A comprehensive review on carotenoids in foods and feeds: status quo, applications, patents, and research needs

Carotenoids are isoprenoids widely distributed in foods that have been always part of the diet of humans. Unlike the other so-called food bioactives, some carotenoids can be converted into retinoids exhibiting vitamin A activity, which is essential for humans. Furthermore, they are much more versatile as they are relevant in foods not only as sources of vitamin A, but also as natural pigments, antioxidants, and health-promoting compounds. Lately, they are also attracting interest in the context of nutricosmetics, as they have been shown to provide cosmetic benefits when ingested in appropriate amounts. In this work, resulting from the collaborative work of participants of the COST Action European network to advance carotenoid research and applications in agro-food and health (EUROCAROTEN, www.eurocaroten.eu, https://www.cost.eu/actions/CA15136/#tabs|Name:overview) research on carotenoids in foods and feeds is thoroughly reviewed covering aspects such as analysis, carotenoid food sources, carotenoid databases, effect of processing and storage conditions, new trends in carotenoid extraction, daily intakes, use as human, and feed additives are addressed. Furthermore, classical and recent patents regarding the obtaining and formulation of carotenoids for several purposes are pinpointed and briefly discussed. Lastly, emerging research lines as well as research needs are highlighted.This article is based upon work from COST Action (European network to advance carotenoid research and applications in agro-food and health, EUROCAROTEN, CA15136, www.eurocaroten.eu, https://www. cost.eu/actions/CA15136/#tabsjName:overview) supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology, http://www.cost. eu/).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

¿Son el condroma polopoide y la metaplasia cartilaginosa un mismo diagnóstico en el contexto de la patología inflamatoria crónica nasosinual?

Las lesiones condromatosas benignas de las fosas nasales son extremadamente raras. El gran parecido histológico que existe entre la metaplasia cartilaginosa que habita en el seno de pólipos inflamatorios crónicos, y el condroma polipoide, podría indicar que estos hallazgos histológicos en las fosas nasales se correspondieran con una misma enfermedad en distintos estadios evolutivos. Se presenta un caso clínico de condroma polipoide de fosas nasales, y se revisa y discute la bibliografía

Lipoprotein lipase expression in unmutated CLL patients is the consequence of a demethylation process induced by the microenvironment

We have previously demonstrated that lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is associated to an unmutated immunoglobulin profile and clinical poor outcome in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). Despite the usefulness of LPL for CLL prognosis, its functional role and the molecular mechanism regulating its expression remain elusive. Since interaction of CLL B-cells with tissue microenvironment favors disease progression by promoting malignant B-cell growth and considering that tissue methylation can be altered by environmental factors, we investigated the methylation status of LPL gene and the possibility that its over-expression could be associated to microenvironment signals. By comparing methylation changes in the LPL-CpG island between unmutated and mutated CLL patients, we could demonstrate a clear association between LPL expression and a demethylation process in the CpG island near the promoter region of the LPL gene. This process can be induced by proliferative and specific stimuli,particularly we found that CLL B-cell activation through the CD40 plus IL-4 pathway led to LPL expression and gene demethylation in LPL negative CLL samples. Overall, these results suggest that an epigenetic mechanism, triggered by the microenvironment, regulates LPL expression in CLL cells.Fil: Moreno, P.. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; Uruguay. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Abreu, C.. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Borge, Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Palacios, F.. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Morande, Pablo Elías. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Pegazzano, M.. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Bianchi, S.. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Landoni, A.I.. Hospital Maciel; UruguayFil: Agrelo, R.. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Giordano, Mirta Nilda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Dighiero, G.. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; UruguayFil: Gamberale, Romina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Oppezzo, P.. Universidad de la República; Uruguay. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo; Urugua

Beta decay along the N=Z line and its relevance in rp-process and X-Ray bursts

Nucleosynthesis in Type I X-ray bursts (XRB) proceeds eventually through the rp-process near the proton drip-line. Several N=Z nuclei act as waiting points in the reaction network chain. Astrophysical calculations of XRB light curves depend upon the theoretical modelling of the beta decays of interest, with the N=Z waiting points 64Ge, 68Se, 72Kr, 76Sr, and their second-neighbours N=Z+2 being key nuclei in this context. We have carried out different experimental campaigns at ISOLDE (CERN) to determine the B(GT) distributions, in the decay of several N=Z, N=Z+2 and their daughters, of particular relevance in rp-process calculations. To this aim the Total Absorption Spectroscopy technique is applied. Here we present results on the beta decay of 64Ga and the status of the analysis of 64Ge. Our results provide benchmarks for testing and constraining models under terrestrial conditions that can be used later for predictions in stellar environments

β\beta-delayed neutron spectroscopy of 133^{133}In

International audienceThe decay properties of $^{133}$In were studied in detail at the ISOLDE Decay Station (IDS). The implementation of the Resonance Ionization Laser Ion Source (RILIS) allowed separate measurements of its $9/2^+$ ground state ($^{133g}$In) and $1/2^-$ isomer ($^{133m}$In). With the use of $\beta$-delayed neutron and $\gamma$ spectroscopy, the decay strengths above the neutron separation energy were quantified in this neutron-rich nucleus for the first time. The allowed Gamow-Teller transition $9/2^+\rightarrow7/2^+$ was located at 5.92 MeV in the $^{133g}$In decay with a logft = 4.7(1). In addition, several neutron-unbound states were populated at lower excitation energies by the First-Forbidden decays of $^{133g,m}$In. We assigned spins and parities to those neutron-unbound states based on the $\beta$-decay selection rules, the logft values, and systematics