Phases of supersymmetric O(N) theories

We perform a global renormalization group study of O(N) symmetric Wess-Zumino theories and their phases in three euclidean dimensions. At infinite N the theory is solved exactly. The phases and phase transitions are worked out for finite and infinite short-distance cutoffs. A distinctive new feature arises at strong coupling, where the effective superfield potential becomes multi-valued, signalled by divergences in the fermion-boson interaction. Our findings resolve the long-standing puzzle about the occurrence of degenerate O(N) symmetric phases. At finite N, we find a strongly-coupled fixed point in the local potential approximation and explain its impact on the phase transition. We also examine the possibility for a supersymmetric Bardeen-Moshe-Bander phenomenon, and relate our findings with the spontaneous breaking of supersymmetry in other models.Comment: 23 pages, 18 figure

Effect of iodothyronine hormone status on doxorubicin related cardiotoxicity

The anthracycline anticancer agent doxorubicin has been recognised to induce a dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. The chronic form of such complication is characterized by an irreversible cardiac damage and congestive heart failure. Although the pathogenesis of anthracycline cardiotoxicity seems to be multifactorial, the pivotal role has been attributed to reactive oxygen species formation. Because redox equilibrium in cardiomyocytes may be regulated via iodothyronine hormones, the aim of the study was to appraise the effect of hypothyroidism on heart damages induced by doxorubicin. The rats received methimazole in drinking water (0.001 and 0.025%) after doxorubicin administration (2.0, 5.0 and 15 mg/kg). The cardiac morphology and blood biochemical markers of heart damage were assessed. Decreased levels of iodothyronine hormones had not significant impact on cardiac morphological changes and no effect on the level of B-type natriuretic peptide in rats receiving doxorubicin. Lower hormonal levels had sporadic, diverse effect on blood transaminases, lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase levels, but any relation to time, doxorubicin doses and hypothyroid status was found. Hypothyreosis leads to increase in fatty acid binding protein in rats receiving higher dose of doxorubicin. Hypothyreosis had no effect on heart stretching and on necrosis at morphological level, but caused biochemical symptoms of cardiomyocyte necrosis in rats receiving doxorubicin

5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) formation during subcritical water extraction

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of material type (artichoke leave, lemon peel, flaxseed meal), extraction temperature (50, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200 C) and static extraction time (5, 15, 30, 45 min) on 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) formation during subcritical water extraction. 5-HMF content of artichoke leave and lemon peel extracts increased 7.2 and 26.1 times with the rise of extraction temperature from 160 to 180 C for 5 min during subcritical water extraction, respectively. Besides, 5-HMF content of artichoke leave, lemon peel and flaxseed meal extracts increased 1.4, 2.0 and 4.5 times as static extraction time increased from 15 to 45 min at 180 C during subcritical water extraction, respectively. The highest 5-HMF content of artichoke leave and lemon peel extracts were obtained as 58.83 and 231.21 mg/L at 180 C and 45 min, respectively. However, for flaxseed meal, the highest 5-HMF content (222.94 mg/L) was obtained at 200 C and 15 min during subcritical water extraction.Project Nos. 2014.M80.02.03, 2014.M80.02.04 by Artvin Coruh University Scientific Research Project Uni

Influence of quorum sensing signal molecules on biofilm formation in Proteus mirabilis O18

The influence of basis of quorum sensing molecules on Proteus strains is much less known as compared to Pseudomonas or Escherichia. We have previously shown that a series of acylated homoserine lactones (acyl-HSL) does not influence the ureolytic, proteolytic, or hemolytic abilities, and that the swarming motility of Proteus mirabilis rods is strain specific. The aim of the presented study was to find out if the presence of a series of acyl-HSL influences biofilm formation of P. mirabilis laboratory strain belonging to O18 serogroup. This serogroup is characterized by the presence of a unique non-carbohydrate component, namely phosphocholine. Escherichia coli and P. mirabilis O18 strains used in this work contains cloned plasmids encoding fluorescent protein genes with constitutive gene expression. In mixed biofilms in stationary and continuous flow conditions, P. mirabilis O18 overgrow whole culture. P. mirabilis O18 strain has genetically proved a presence of AI–2 quorum sensing system. Differences in biofilm structure were observed depending on the biofilm type and culture methods. From tested acylated homoserine lactones (BHL, HHL, OHL, DHL, dDHL, tDHL), a significant influence had BHL on thickness, structure, and the amount of exopolysaccharides produced by biofilms formed by P. mirabilis O18 pDsRed2

Taqman Real-Time PCR Detects Avipoxvirus DNA in Blood of Hawaìi `Amakihi (Hemignathus virens)

Margaret E. M. Farias et al...Background Avipoxvirus sp. is a significant threat to endemic bird populations on several groups of islands worldwide, including Hawaìi, the Galapagos Islands, and the Canary Islands. Accurate identification and genotyping of Avipoxvirus is critical to the study of this disease and how it interacts with other pathogens, but currently available methods rely on invasive sampling of pox-like lesions and may be especially harmful in smaller birds. Methodology/Principal Findings Here, we present a nested TaqMan Real-Time PCR for the detection of the Avipoxvirus 4b core protein gene in archived blood samples from Hawaiian birds. The method was successful in amplifying Avipoxvirus DNA from packed blood cells of one of seven Hawaiian honeycreepers with confirmed Avipoxvirus infections and 13 of 28 Hawaìi `amakihi (Hemignathus virens) with suspected Avipoxvirus infections based on the presence of pox-like lesions. Mixed genotype infections have not previously been documented in Hawaìi but were observed in two individuals in this study. Conclusions/Significance We anticipate that this method will be applicable to other closely related strains of Avipoxvirus and will become an important and useful tool in global studies of the epidemiology of Avipoxvirus.Funding for this study was provided by: U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Island Ecosystems Research Center (biology.usgs.gov/pierc/); U.S. Geological Survey Wildlife (biology.usgs.gov/wter/) and Invasive Species (biology.usgs.gov/invasive/) Programs; National Science Foundation (DEB0083944, www.nsf.gov); NIH/NCRR IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE), P20RR016467 (http://www.ncrr.nih.gov/research_infrast​ructure/institutional_development_award/​idea_networks_of_biomedical_research_exc​ellence/). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

Tracing potential soil contamination in the historical Solvay soda ash plant area, Jaworzno, Southern Poland

This study of soil conditions was carried out on 30 meadow soil (podzol) samples from the vicinity of the soda ash heap in Jaworzno, supplemented by analyses of 18 samples of waste deposited on the heap. In all samples, the total content of macroelements (Ca and Na) and heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) as well as pH were analysed. The element concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The materials examined were neutral to ultra-alkaline. Total accumulations (mg kg(−1)) of chemical elements in the soil vary from 130.24 to 14076.67 for Ca, 41.40–926.23 for Na, 0.03–3.34 for Cd, 0.94–103.62 for Cr, 0.94–35.89 for Ni, 3.51–76.47 for Pb and 12.05–279.13 for Zn, whereas quantities of the same elements in the waste samples vary from 171705.13 to 360487.94 for Ca, 517.64–3152.82 for Na, 0.2–9.89 for Cd, 1.16–20.40 for Cr, 1.08–9.79 for Ni, 0.1–146.05 for Pb and 10.26–552.35 for Zn. The vertical distribution of the metals was determined in each soil profile. Despite enrichment of heavy metals in the uppermost horizon on the top of the heap, the results lead to the conclusion that the relation of historical production of soda ash in Jaworzno to current contamination of the local soil environment is insignificant

Factors influencing physical activity and rehabilitation in survivors of critical illness: a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies

PURPOSE: To identify, evaluate and synthesise studies examining the barriers and enablers for survivors of critical illness to participate in physical activity in the ICU and post-ICU settings from the perspective of patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. METHODS: Systematic review of articles using five electronic databases: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus. Quantitative and qualitative studies that were published in English in a peer-reviewed journal and assessed barriers or enablers for survivors of critical illness to perform physical activity were included. Prospero ID: CRD42016035454. RESULTS: Eighty-nine papers were included. Five major themes and 28 sub-themes were identified, encompassing: (1) patient physical and psychological capability to perform physical activity, including delirium, sedation, illness severity, comorbidities, weakness, anxiety, confidence and motivation; (2) safety influences, including physiological stability and concern for lines, e.g. risk of dislodgement; (3) culture and team influences, including leadership, interprofessional communication, administrative buy-in, clinician expertise and knowledge; (4) motivation and beliefs regarding the benefits/risks; and (5) environmental influences, including funding, access to rehabilitation programs, staffing and equipment. CONCLUSIONS: The main barriers identified were patient physical and psychological capability to perform physical activity, safety concerns, lack of leadership and ICU culture of mobility, lack of interprofessional communication, expertise and knowledge, and lack of staffing/equipment and funding to provide rehabilitation programs. Barriers and enablers are multidimensional and span diverse factors. The majority of these barriers are modifiable and can be targeted in future clinical practice

Lithostratigraphy of tills and proglacial deposits in the Szczecin vicinity, northwestern Poland

W regionie szczecińskim występuje 9 poziomów różnowiekowych glin lodowcowych, które zdefiniowano na podstawie ich składu petrograficznego oraz pozycji w sukcesji litostratygraficznej. Poziomy te reprezentują najstarsze zlodowacenie (jedna glina), zlodowacenia południowopolskie (2 gliny), zlodowacenia środkowopolskie (3 gliny) oraz zlodowacenia północnopolskie (2 gliny o regionalnym zasięgu i jedna glina występująca lokalnie, w strefie moren czołowych fazy poznańskiej). Dla wszystkich poziomów glin dokonano formalizacji litostratygraficznej. Niektóre poziomy glin regionu szczecińskiego posiadają cechy, które pozwalają korelować je z glinami o podobnych cechach z zachodniej i centralnej Polski. Wiek innych poziomów glin określono na podstawie ich pozycji w stosunku do horyzontów przewodnich. Kierunki transportu glacjalnego dla wczesnych stadiałów zlodowaceń są zazwyczaj z NW na SE, podczas gdy w młodszych stadiałach zmieniają się na NE-SW, a w najmłodszych na ENE-WSW. W regionie szczecińskim nie udokumentowano istnienia żadnych osadów interglacjalnych lub interstadialnych, natomiast występują powszechnie osady proglacjalne, w tym bardzo miąższe serie zastoiskowe. Te ostatnie udokumentowano prawie dla wszystkich awansów lądolodów i reprezentują one głównie zbiorniki z faz transgresywnych zlodowaceń. W badanym regionie wydzielono dwie główne kopalne powierzchnie erozyjno-denudacyjne, jedną z okresu międzylodowcowego pomiędzy zlodowaceniami południowopolskimi a środkowopolskimi, a drugą z okresu interglacjału eemskiego i wczesnego Vistulianu. Różniły się one intensywnością erozji i charakterem dominujących procesów: w pierwszym okresie przeważała denudacja i powierzchniowe obniżanie terenu, a w drugim prawdopodobnie bardziej intensywna była głęboka erozja rzeczna. Starsze i młodsze serie glacjalne zawierają domieszki materiału wczesnokenozoicznego, podczas gdy osady ze zlodowaceń środkowopolskich takich domieszek nie mają. Świadczy to o występowaniu licznych wychodni podłoża neogeńskiego, a pośrednio też o intensywnej erozji przed i w czasie zlodowaceń najstarszych, południowopolskich i północnopolskich. Natomiast w czasie zlodowaceń środkowopolskich lądolody nasuwały się na obszar z ciągłą pokrywą starszych osadów glacjalnych.In the vicinity of Szczecin, NW Poland, 9 till horizons occur which have been defined by their petrographic composition and position in lithostratigraphic succession. The tills include to the "oldest glaciation", two tills to Elsterian, three tills to Saalian and three tills to Weichselian (two of them with regional extent, and one local, connected with the marginal zone of the Pomerania Phase). This stratigraphic subdivision was formalized. Some tills of the Szczecin region indicate features which are correlative with till horizons in western and central Poland. The age of other tills has been established in relation to these index horizons. Glacial palaeotransport was usually from NW to SE during the first stadials of each glaciation, then changed from NE to SW in the middle, and finally to ENE-WSW in the final stadials. There are no interglacial or interstadial deposits near Szczecin, but proglacial sediments have a widespread occurrence, particularly glaciolacustrine series. The latter are quite thick and occur in almost all glacial horizons. Glaciolacustrine deposits were formed mainly during the ice sheet advances. Two regional, buried palaeosurfaces have been documented in the studied area. They were formed during the Mazovian (Holstein) Interglacial (Elsterian/Saalian ice free period) and during the Eemian and early Vistulian. Each of them was formed by different processes, the first one by regional denudation and slow lowering of the surface, and the second one probably also by more intensive and deep fluvial erosion. The sediments from the oldest glaciations (San 1 and San 2) and Vistulian contain admixtures of early Cenozoic material, whereas Middle Polish (Saalian) deposits do not. From this it follows that during the first there were many outcrops of older sediments, exposed due to intensive erosion, whereas the Middle Polish (Saalisan) ice sheets advanced to the area covered by continuous cover of older glacial deposits