Extraordinary transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect in a superlens

It has been shown that a slab of a negative index material can behave as a superlens enhancing the imaging resolution beyond the wavelength limit. We show here that if such a slab possesses in addition some magneto-optical activity, it could act as an ideal optical filter and exhibit an extraordinary transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect. Moreover, we show that losses, which spoil the imaging resolution of these lenses, are a necessary ingredient to observe this effect.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Suitability of borago officinalis for minimal processing as fresh-cut produce

Borage (Borago offcinalis L.) is a wild vegetable appreciated as a folk medicine and for culinary preparations. The introduction of borage as a specialized cultivation would allow for the diversification of vegetable crops and would widen the offerings of raw and minimally processed leafy vegetables. Thus, the aim of the research was to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut borage stored at different temperatures. Borage plants were grown during the autumn-winter season and immediately minimally processed after harvest. Fresh-cut borage leaves packed in sealed bags were stored at 2 or 6 °C for 21 d. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, nitrates, leaf color characteristics and overall quality were determined through the storage period. Borage plants were deemed suitable for minimal processing. Storage temperature significantly influenced the rate of quality loss. Borage leaves had an initial nitrate content of 329.3 mg kg-1 FW that was not affected by temperature or storage. TSS and TA were higher in leaves stored at 6 °C. TSS, TA and ascorbic acid content increased during storage. Minimally processed borage leaves stored at 2 °C had lower weight loss and leaf color modifications during storage and a longer shelf life than those stored at 6 °C, so were still marketable after 21 d of storage

Asociación entre Trastornos Óseos Degenerativos y Acumulación de Líquido en los Recesos de la Articulación Temporomandibular

ResumenEl Objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la asociación entre presencia de líquido intra-articular y alteraciones degenerativas en las ATM de pacientes adultos con diagnóstico clínico de Trastornos Temporomandibulares, por medio de diagnóstico imagenológico, antes de iniciar su tratamiento.Material y MétodoSe reclutaron 135 pacientes consecutivos (promedio de edad = 33,3 años) que clínicamente presentan disfunciones de las ATM y que fueron examinados por medio de Resonancia Magnética (RM) y Tomografía Computada (TC). Los criterios de exclusión fueron: pacientes menores de 16 años, pacientes mayores de 65 años, pacientes portadores de prótesis dentarias removibles, con enfermedades sistémicas como gota, Osteoartrosis sistémica, hiperlaxitud ligamentaria, malformaciones anatómicas, enfermedades quísticas, tumorales, historia de trauma o cirugía de las ATM. Todos los pacientes fueron examinados utilizando el resonador magnético [Phillips Intera 1,5 T, bobina Sense Flex S Dual] en las secuencias; sagital DP-T2-Spir, coronal DP y dinámico ECHO gradiente y también fueron examinados por medio de Tomografía Computada (TC), con cortes de volúmenes-axiales y volúmenes-coronales de 625um de espesor [BrightSpeed®ELITE, General Electric, Milwaukee, USA)] tanto a boca abierta como cerrada, bajo los siguientes parámetros: FOV: 16.0cms, Algoritmo Hueso, Filtro Edge A2 y Matriz 512x512 pxs]. Los estudios imagenológicos de las ATMs formaron los siguientes ocho grupos: Grupo A: Ausencia de líquido (L) en ATM Derecha con Alteración Degenerativa (AD); Grupo B: Presencia de Líquido en ATM Derecha con AD; Grupo C: Ausencia de Líquido en ATM Izquierda con AD; Grupo D: Presencia de L en ATM Izquierda con AD; Grupo E: Ausencia de AD y Ausencia de L en ATM Derecha; Grupo F: Ausencia de AD y Presencia de L en ATM Derecha; Grupo G: Ausencia de L en ATM Izquierda; Grupo H: Presencia de L y ausencia de AD en ATM Izquierda. Los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente con la prueba Chi2 (Systat v12.0).ResultadoGrupo A: n= 61; Grupo B: n= 64; Grupo C: n= 54; Grupo D: n= 53; Grupo E; n=12; Grupo F; n=13; Grupo G: n=8 y Grupo H: n=5.ConclusiónNo existe asociación entre la presencia de líquido intra-articular y Alteraciones Degenerativas de las superficies articulares en la ATM.AbstractThe Objective of the present study was to determine the association between articular space effusion and degenerative bone disease in adult TMJ with internal derangement, previous any treatment, by images diagnosis.Materials y MethodsWere recruited 135 consecutives patients (X=33.3 years) that presented TMJ dysfunction were examined using Magnetic Resonance (MRI) [Phillips Intera 1,5 T, Sense Flex S Dual Coil] in sequences; sagital DP-T2-Spir, coronal DP and dynamic ECHO gradient and using Computed Tomography (TC) by axial-volumes slices and coronal-volumes slices of 625um of width [BrightSpeed®ELITE, General Electric, Milwaukee, USA], with the patient in open mouth and closed mouth under the next parameters: FOV: 16.0cms, Bone Algorithm, Edge Filter A2 and Matrix 512x512 pxs. The exclusion criteria was: patients below 16 years and above 65 years of age, patients using removable dental prosthetics, patients that presented systemic disease such as Gout Disease, Osteoarthrosis and hipermobility, anatomic structural alterations, Quistic or Tumor disease and TMJ surgery. The TMJ images studies formed the following eight groups: Group A: Absence of effusion (L) in right TMJ with Degenerative Disease (AD); Group B: Presence of L in right TMJ with AD; Grupo C: Absence of L in left TMJ with AD; Group D: Presence of L in left TMJ with AD; Group E: Absence of AD and absence of L in right TMJ; Group F: Absence of AD and presence of L in right TMJ; Group G: Absence of L in left TMJ; Group H: Presence of L and absence of AD in left TMJ. Data were statistically analyzed by Chi2 (Systat v12.0).ResultsGroup A: n= 61; Group B: n= 64; Group C: n= 54; Group D: n= 53; Group E; n=12; Group F; n=13; Group G: n=8 y Group H: n=5.ConclusionNo association was found between Degenerative Bone Disease and Temporo mandibular Joint Articular Space Effusion in TMJ

Acute Systemic Response Of BDNF, Lactate and Cortisol to Strenuous Exercise Modalities in Healthy Untrained Women

Acute bouts of intense exercise increase lactate concentration, which in turn stimulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) production. Cortisol released during intense exercise might inhibit BDNF synthesis. This study examined the acute effects of 2 protocols of strenuous exercise on serum BDNF. Seventeen physically-active healthy females (Age = 20.0 ± 0.9 yr., BMI = 23.0 ± 2.6 kg/m2) performed a strenuous cycle-ergometer graded exercise test (GXT) and a high-intensity interval training session (HIIT). Serum BDNF, serum cortisol, cortisol: BDNF ratio and blood lactate (BLa) were recorded at baseline and immediately following exercise. Although non-statistically significant, the HIIT session elicited a higher magnitude of change from baseline for BDNF (d = 0.17) and cortisol (d = 1.18) than after the GXT (d = -0.26, and d = 0.82, respectively). An interaction was found between GXT and HIIT trials and measurements on BLa levels, with higher post-exertion values after HIIT than after GXT (p < 0.0001, η2 = 0.650, 95%CI = 2.2, 5.2). The higher BLa levels did not raise circulating BDNF. The elevated cortisol levels may have overcome the effects of lactate on BDNF. However, the higher BLa induced by HIIT suggest that interval exercise modality on the long-term could be a feasible intervention to increase circulating peripheral BDNF, at least in untrained healthy women