Classical solutions for the Carroll-Field-Jackiw-Proca electrodynamics

In the present work, we investigate classical solutions of the Maxwell-Carroll-Field-Jackiw-Proca (MCFJP) electrodynamics for the cases a purely timelike and spacelike Lorentz-violating (LV) background. Starting from the MCFJP Lagrangian and the associated wave equations written for the potential four-vector, the tensor form of the Green function is achieved. In the timelike case, the components of the stationary Green function are explicitly written. The classical solutions for the electric and magnetic field strengths are then evaluated, being observed that the electric sector is not modified by the LV background, keeping the Maxwell-Proca behavior. The magnetic field associated with a charge in uniform motion presents an oscillating behavior that also provides an oscillating MCFJ solution (in the limit of a vanishing Proca mass), but does not recover the Maxwell-Proca solution in the limit of vanishing background. In the spacelike case, the stationary Green function is written and also explicitly carried out in the regime of a small background. The electric and magnetic fields reveal to possess an exponentially decaying behavior, that recover the Maxwell-Proca solutions.Comment: 14 rextex4 pages; 2 figures; minimal changes in abstract and introduction; added reference

Classical solutions for the Lorentz-violating and CPT-even term of the Standard Model Extension

In this work, we calculate the classical solutions for the electrodynamics stemming from the Lorentz-violating (LV) and CPT-even term of the Standard Model Extension. The solutions for point-like and extended charges are obtained from the wave equations by means of the Green method. A dipolar expansion is written for the field strengths. It is explicitly shown that charge and current generate first order effects for the magnetic and electric fields, respectively. Using the magnetic field generated by a macroscopic 1C charged sphere, we establish a stringent bound for the LV parameter:$\kappa \leq 10^{-16}.$Comment: revtex style, 9 page

A multi-metal risk assessment strategy for natural freshwater ecosystems based on the additive inhibitory free metal ion concentration index

Scientifically sound risk assessment strategies and derivations of environmental quality standards for metals present in freshwater environments are currently hampered by insufficient chronic toxicity data collected from natural ecosystems, as well as inadequate information on metal speciation. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of freshwater containing multiple metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) on the chronic toxicity (72h) to the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and compare the observed toxicity results to the total and free metal concentration of the samples. Based on the information obtained herein, an additive inhibitory free multi-metal ion concentration index, calculated as the sum of the equivalent toxicities to the free metal ion concentration of each sample, was developed. The proposed index was well correlated to the observed chronic toxicity results, indicating that the concentration addition, when expressed as the free-ion activity, can be considered a reliable indicator for the evaluation of ecological risk assessments for natural waters containing multiple metals.This work was performed in the framework of the financing with references LAQV (UID/QUI/50006/2013 - POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265) and UID/BIO/04469/2013 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684 with financial support from FCT/MEC through national funds and co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020 and Project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462)

[S,S]-EDDS/Fe: A new chelate for the environmentally sustainable correction of iron chlorosis in calcareous soil

Iron deficiency in crops is usually prevented and cured by the application of synthetic Fe chelates such as EDTA/Fe and the o,o-EDDHA/Fe. However their persistence in soil calls for the implementation of new alternatives that present less of a risk to the environment. This study therefore evaluated the biodegradable chelating agent [S,S]-EDDS as a new source for Fe fertilisation in calcareous soils in relation to its chemical reactivity. The suitability of [S,S]-EDDS/Fe as an Fe fertiliser in a calcareous soil was investigated and compared to the traditional synthetic chelates EDTA/Fe and o,o-EDDHA/Fe. Plant experiments with soybean (Glycine max), 57Fe isotopic labelling, and batch incubations were conducted in a calcareous soil. The Fe concentration of plants treated with [S,S]-EDDS/Fe was similar to those treated with EDTA/Fe. A similar Fe concentration to the o,o-EDDHA/Fe treatment was achieved using a double dose of [S,S]-EDDS/Fe. Despite the degradation of [S,S]-EDDS limiting the durability of [S,S]-EDDS/Fe in soil, the Fe bound to the degradation products may be a determining factor in improving Fe uptake and translocation to leaves in plants treated with [S,S]-EDDS/Fe compared to other Fe sources. Speciation studies by modelling and batch experiments also supported the lower reactivity of [S,S]-EDDS/Fe with calcium compared to that of EDTA/Fe, possibly contributing to the permanence of [S,S]-EDDS/Fe in the calcareous soil. This study demonstrated for the first time, that [S,S]-EDDS may be an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional synthetic chelating agents such as EDTA or o,o-EDDHA for curing Fe chlorosis in susceptible plants in calcareous soilThis work was supported by the Spanish MINECO Project AGL2013-44474-R from the Ministerio Economía y Competitivida

A new biotecnological-based iron-fertilizer formulation for environmental sustainable correction of chlorosis of soybean plants grown in calcareous soils

[Excerpt] Iron (Fe) is an essential element for the proper development of life. Plants require Fe for chlorophyll synthesis. However, due to the lack of Fe, plants grown in alkaline calcareous soils are very susceptible to a symptomatic array named iron-deficiency induced chlorosis (IDIC). The inappropriate chlorophyll production results in the reduction of crop yields with major implications in many agricultural regions worldwide. Organic chelating agents, namely aminopolycarboxylic acids (APCAs), are adequate for IDIC amending. However, the low biodegradability of such compounds raises several environmental concerns. Therefore, the replacement of APCAs by new more environment-friendly alternatives is needed. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Marine forests of the Mediterranean-Atlantic Cystoseira tamariscifolia complex show a southern Iberian genetic hotspot and no reproductive isolation in parapatry

Climate-driven range-shifts create evolutionary opportunities for allopatric divergence and subsequent contact, leading to genetic structuration and hybrid zones. We investigate how these processes influenced the evolution of a complex of three closely related Cystoseira spp., which are a key component of the Mediterranean-Atlantic seaweed forests that are undergoing population declines. The C. tamariscifolia complex, composed of C. tamariscifolia s.s., C. amentacea and C. mediterranea, have indistinct boundaries and natural hybridization is suspected. Our aims are to (1) infer the genetic structure and diversity of these species throughout their distribution ranges using microsatellite markers to identify ancient versus recent geographical populations, contact zones and reproductive barriers, and (2) hindcast past distributions using niche models to investigate the influence of past range shifts on genetic divergence at multiple spatial scales. Results supported a single, morphologically plastic species the genetic structure of which was incongruent with a priori species assignments. The low diversity and low singularity in northern European populations suggest recent colonization after the LGM. The southern Iberian genetic hotspot most likely results from the role of this area as a climatic refugium or a secondary contact zone between differentiated populations or both. We hypothesize that life-history traits (selfing, low dispersal) and prior colonization effects, rather than reproductive barriers, might explain the observed genetic discontinuities.Pew Charitable Trusts (USA); MARINERA, Spain [CTM2008-04183-E/MAR]; FCT (Portugal) [FCT-BIODIVERSA/004/2015, CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013, SFRH/BPD/107878/2015, SFRH/BPD/85040/2012]; FPU fellowship of the Spanish Ministry of Education; European Community ASSEMBLE visiting grant [00399/2012]; University of Cadi

Impact of different aquatic exercise programs on body composition, functional fitness and cognitive function of non-institutionalized elderly adults: a randomized controlled trial

Aquatic physical exercise programs have become progressively more popular among elderly people. Some of the major physical exercise program disadvantages on land are minimized due to the specific properties of the aquatic environment. The purpose of the present randomized controlled study is to verify the effects of different aquatic physical exercise programs on body composition, functional fitness and cognitive function in non-institutionalized elderly people. For this study, 102 elderly individuals were randomly allocated into four different groups: AerG (n = 25, 71.44 ± 4.84 years); IntG (n = 28, 72.64 ± 5.22 years); ComG (n = 29, 71.90 ± 5.67 years) and CG (n = 20, 73.60 ± 5.25 years). Individuals from the groups AerG, IntG and ComG participated in three different aquatic physical exercise programs for a period of 28 weeks. The CG participants kept to their usual routines. All participants were evaluated for body composition, functional fitness and cognitive function at two time moments, i.e., pre- (M1) and post-intervention (M2). Significant differences for body composition were found between M1 and M2 for FM (p < 0.001), LBM (p < 0.001) and WCir (p < 0.01) in the AerG, for BMI (p < 0.05), FM (p < 0.05), LBM (p < 0.001) and LCir-R (p < 0.05) in the IntG, and for WGT (p < 0.01), FM (p < 0.05), LBM (p < 0.01), LCir-R (p < 0.05) and LCir-L (p < 0.01) in the ComG groups. For functional fitness, differences were found between M1 and M2 for 2m-ST (p < 0.000), 30s-CS (p < 0.000), 30s-AC (p < 0.05), HG-T-R (p < 0.000) and HG-T-L (p < 0.000) in the AerG, for 2m-ST (p < 0.05), BS-R (p < 0.05), 30s-CS (p < 0.000), 30s-AC(p < 0.01), HG-T-R (p < 0.000) and HG-T-L (p < 0.000) in the IntG, and for 30s-CS (p < 0.000), HG-T-R (p < 0.000) and HG-T-L (p < 0.000) in the ComG groups. The present study evidenced the beneficial effects of physical exercise in an aquatic environment on body composition, functional fitness and cognitive function in non-institutionalized elderly adults. The ComG water-based exercise program showed more beneficial effects in the improvement of body composition and cognitive function variables, while the IntG and AerG programs were more effective in the improvement of functional fitness.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Key Aspects for Implementing ISO/IEC 17025 Quality Management Systems at Materials Science Laboratories

Implementing a quality management system based on the requirements specified in ISO/IEC 17025 standard at materials science laboratories is challenging, mainly due to two main factors: (i) the high technical complexity degree of some tests used for materials characterization and (ii) the fact that most materials science laboratories provide materials characterization tests and also carry out research and development activities. In this context, this chapter presents key subjects while implementing a quality management system at materials science laboratories and some considerations on strategies for effectively implementing such systems

Penalized likelihood and multi-objective spatial scans for the detection and inference of irregular clusters

Background: Irregularly shaped spatial clusters are difficult to delineate. A cluster found by an algorithm often spreads through large portions of the map, impacting its geographical meaning. Penalized likelihood methods for Kulldorff's spatial scan statistics have been used to control the excessive freedom of the shape of clusters. Penalty functions based on cluster geometry and non-connectivity have been proposed recently. Another approach involves the use of a multi-objective algorithm to maximize two objectives: the spatial scan statistics and the geometric penalty function. Results & Discussion: We present a novel scan statistic algorithm employing a function based on the graph topology to penalize the presence of under-populated disconnection nodes in candidate clusters, the disconnection nodes cohesion function. A disconnection node is defined as a region within a cluster, such that its removal disconnects the cluster. By applying this function, the most geographically meaningful clusters are sifted through the immense set of possible irregularly shaped candidate cluster solutions. To evaluate the statistical significance of solutions for multi-objective scans, a statistical approach based on the concept of attainment function is used. In this paper we compared different penalized likelihoods employing the geometric and non-connectivity regularity functions and the novel disconnection nodes cohesion function. We also build multi-objective scans using those three functions and compare them with the previous penalized likelihood scans. An application is presented using comprehensive state-wide data for Chagas' disease in puerperal women in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. Conclusions: We show that, compared to the other single-objective algorithms, multi-objective scans present better performance, regarding power, sensitivity and positive predicted value. The multi-objective non-connectivity scan is faster and better suited for the detection of moderately irregularly shaped clusters. The multi-objective cohesion scan is most effective for the detection of highly irregularly shaped clusters

Does native Trypanosoma cruzi calreticulin mediate growth inhibition of a mammary tumor during infection?

Indexación: Web of Science.Background: For several decades now an antagonism between Trypanosoma cruzi infection and tumor development has been detected. The molecular basis of this phenomenon remained basically unknown until our proposal that T. cruzi Calreticulin (TcCRT), an endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperone, translocated-externalized by the parasite, may mediate at least an important part of this effect. Thus, recombinant TcCRT (rTcCRT) has important in vivo antiangiogenic and antitumor activities. However, the relevant question whether the in vivo antitumor effect of T. cruzi infection is indeed mediated by the native chaperone (nTcCRT), remains open. Herein, by using specific modified anti-rTcCRT antibodies (Abs), we have neutralized the antitumor activity of T. cruzi infection and extracts thereof, thus identifying nTcCRT as a valid mediator of this effect. Methods: Polyclonal anti-rTcCRT F(ab')(2) Ab fragments were used to reverse the capacity of rTcCRT to inhibit EAhy926 endothelial cell (EC) proliferation, as detected by BrdU uptake. Using these F(ab')(2) fragments, we also challenged the capacity of nTcCRT, during T. cruzi infection, to inhibit the growth of an aggressive mammary adenocarcinoma cell line (TA3-MTXR) in mice. Moreover, we determined the capacity of anti-rTcCRT Abs to reverse the antitumor effect of an epimastigote extract (EE). Finally, the effects of these treatments on tumor histology were evaluated. Results: The rTcCRT capacity to inhibit ECs proliferation was reversed by anti-rTcCRT F(ab')(2) Ab fragments, thus defining them as valid probes to interfere in vivo with this important TcCRT function. Consequently, during infection, these Ab fragments also reversed the in vivo experimental mammary tumor growth. Moreover, anti-rTcCRT Abs also neutralized the antitumor effect of an EE, again identifying the chaperone protein as an important mediator of this anti mammary tumor effect. Finally, as determined by conventional histological parameters, in infected animals and in those treated with EE, less invasive tumors were observed while, as expected, treatment with F(ab')(2) Ab fragments increased malignancy. Conclusion: We have identified translocated/externalized nTcCRT as responsible for at least an important part of the anti mammary tumor effect of the chaperone observed during experimental infections with T. cruzi.http://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-016-2764-