On the dimensional reduced theories

The procedure of the dimensional reduction related to the partition function of a quantum field living in curved space-time which is the warp product of a symmetric space is investigated.Comment: 9 pages, proceeding of Londrina Conference, April 2000, Londrina, Brazi

Black hole and de Sitter solutions in a covariant renormalizable field theory of gravity

It is shown that Schwarzschild black hole and de Sitter solutions exist as exact solutions of a recently proposed relativistic covariant formulation of (power-counting) renormalizable gravity with a fluid. The formulation without a fluid is also presented here. The stability of the solutions is studied and their corresponding entropies are computed, by using the covariant Wald method. The area law is shown to hold both for the Schwarzschild and for the de Sitter solutions found, confirming that, for the $\beta=1$ case, one is dealing with a minimal modification of GR.Comment: 7 paages, latex fil

Asymptotic Level State Density for Parabosonic Strings

Making use of some results concerning the theory of partitions, relevant in number theory, the complete asymptotic behavior, for large $n$, of the level density of states for a parabosonic string is derived. It is also pointed out the similarity between parabosonic strings and membranes.Comment: 9 pages , LaTe

Angiotensin type-2 (AT-2)-receptor activation reduces renal fibrosis in cyclosporine nephropathy: evidence for blood-pressure independent effect

Compound 21 (C21), selective agonist of AT2 receptors, shows antinflammatory effects in hypertension and nephroprotection in diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of C21 in cyclosporine nephropathy, which is characterized mainly by tubulo-interstitial fibrosis. Ten days before and during the experimental periods, low-salt diet was administered to Sprague Dawley rats. Cyclosporine-A (15mg/kg/day, i.p.) and cyclosporine-A plus C21 (0.3 mg/kg /day, i.p) were administered for 1 and 4 weeks. Control groups was left without any treatment. Blood pressure (plethysmographic method) and 24 hour albuminuria were measured once a week. At the end of the experiments, the kidneys were excised for histomorphometric analysis of renal fibrosis and for immunohistochemical evaluation of inflammatory infiltrates and type I and IV collagen expression.After 1 and 4 weeks, the rats treated with cyclosporine showed a significant increase (p <0.01) in blood pressure, no significant changes in albuminuria, a significant increase (p <0.01) in glomerular and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis and inflammatory infiltrates as compared to the control rats. Treatment with C21 did not modify the cyclosporine dependent increase of blood pressure, which was higher than in control rats, but after 4 weeks of treatment significantly reduced (p <0.01) glomerular and tubulo-interstitial fibrosis, type 1 collagen expression and macrophage infiltration, as compared to rats treated with cyclosporine.The administration of C21 showed a protective effect on cyclosporine nephropathy, decreasing renal fibrosis and macrophage infiltration. These data suggest that C21 may counteract tubulo-interstitial fibrosis, the most potent predictor of the progression of renal diseases

Bulk versus brane running couplings

A simplified higher dimensional Randall-Sundrum-like model in 6 dimensions is considered. It has been observed previously by Goldberger and Wise that in such a self-interacting scalar theory on the bulk with a conical singularity there is mixing of renormalization of 4d brane couplings with that of the bulk couplings. We study the influence of the running bulk couplings on the running of the 4d brane couplings. We find that bulk quantum effects may completely alter the running of brane couplings. In particular, the structure of the Landau pole may be drastically altered and non-asymptotically free running may turn into asymptotically safe (or free) behavior.Comment: 11 pages, no figures, REVTeX