12 research outputs found
Review of some classical gravitational superenergy tensors using computational techniques
We use computational algorithms recently developed by us to study completely
four index divergence free quadratic in Riemann tensor polynomials in GR. Some
results are new and some other reproduce and/or correct known ones. The
algorithms are part of a Mathematica package called Tools of Tensor Calculus
(TTC)[web address: http://baldufa.upc.es/ttc
Cosmological Equation of State and Interacting Energies
In this paper we study a model of cosmic evolution, assuming that the
different components of the universe could interact between them any time. An
effective equation of state (EOS) for the universe has been used as well. A
particular function for w, which gives a good agreement between our results and
the experimental data, has been studied. Finally, the model obtained has been
applied to different important cases
On the structure of the new electromagnetic conservation laws
New electromagnetic conservation laws have recently been proposed: in the
absence of electromagnetic currents, the trace of the Chevreton superenergy
tensor, is divergence-free in four-dimensional (a) Einstein spacetimes
for test fields, (b) Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes. Subsequently it has been
pointed out, in analogy with flat spaces, that for Einstein spacetimes the
trace of the Chevreton superenergy tensor can be rearranged in the
form of a generalised wave operator acting on the energy momentum
tensor of the test fields, i.e., . In this
letter we show, for Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes in the full non-linear theory,
that, although, the trace of the Chevreton superenergy tensor can
again be rearranged in the form of a generalised wave operator
acting on the electromagnetic energy momentum tensor, in this case the result
is also crucially dependent on Einstein's equations; hence we argue that the
divergence-free property of the tensor has
significant independent content beyond that of the divergence-free property of
The Chevreton Tensor and Einstein-Maxwell Spacetimes Conformal to Einstein Spaces
In this paper we characterize the source-free Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes
which have a trace-free Chevreton tensor. We show that this is equivalent to
the Chevreton tensor being of pure-radiation type and that it restricts the
spacetimes to Petrov types \textbf{N} or \textbf{O}. We prove that the trace of
the Chevreton tensor is related to the Bach tensor and use this to find all
Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes with a zero cosmological constant that have a
vanishing Bach tensor. Among these spacetimes we then look for those which are
conformal to Einstein spaces. We find that the electromagnetic field and the
Weyl tensor must be aligned, and in the case that the electromagnetic field is
null, the spacetime must be conformally Ricci-flat and all such solutions are
known. In the non-null case, since the general solution is not known on closed
form, we settle with giving the integrability conditions in the general case,
but we do give new explicit examples of Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes that are
conformal to Einstein spaces, and we also find examples where the vanishing of
the Bach tensor does not imply that the spacetime is conformal to a -space.
The non-aligned Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes with vanishing Bach tensor are
conformally -spaces, but none of them are conformal to Einstein spaces.Comment: 22 pages. Corrected equation (12
Tranilast increases vasodilator response to acetylcholine in rat mesenteric resistance arteries through increased EDHF participation
Background and Purpose: Tranilast, in addition to its capacity to inhibit mast cell degranulation, has other biological effects, including inhibition of reactive oxygen species, cytokines, leukotrienes and prostaglandin release. In the current study, we analyzed whether tranilast could alter endothelial function in rat mesenteric resistance arteries (MRA). Experimental Approach: Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was analyzed in MRA (untreated and 1-hour tranilast treatment) from 6 month-old Wistar rats. To assess the possible participation of endothelial nitric oxide or prostanoids, acetylcholineinduced relaxation was analyzed in the presence of L-NAME or indomethacin. The participation of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in acetylcholine-induced response was analyzed by preincubation with TRAM-34 plus apamin or by precontraction with a high K+ solution. Nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide anion levels were measured, as well as vasomotor responses to NO donor DEA-NO and to large conductance calcium-activated potassium channel opener NS1619. Key Results: Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was greater in tranilast-incubated MRA. Acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was decreased by L-NAME in a similar manner in both experimental groups. Indomethacin did not modify vasodilation. Preincubation with a high K+ solution or TRAM-34 plus apamin reduced the vasodilation to ACh more markedly in tranilastincubated segments. NO and superoxide anion production, and vasodilator responses to DEA-NO or NS1619 remained unmodified in the presence of tranilast. Conclusions and Implications: Tranilast increased the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine in rat MRA. This effect is independent of the nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase pathways but involves EDHF, and is mediated by an increased role of small conductance calcium-activated K+ channelsThis study was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (SAF 2009-10374), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF 2012-38530), and
Fundación Mapfre. F.E. Xavier is recipient of research fellowship from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Brazil