Formulation of an Electrostatic Field with a Charge Density in the Presence of a Minimal Length Based on the Kempf Algebra

In a series of papers, Kempf and co-workers (J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. {\bf 30}, 2093, (1997); Phys. Rev. D {\bf52}, 1108, (1995); Phys. Rev. D {\bf55}, 7909, (1997)) introduced a D-dimensional $(\beta,\beta')$-two-parameter deformed Heisenberg algebra which leads to a nonzero minimal observable length. In this work, the Lagrangian formulation of an electrostatic field in three spatial dimensions described by Kempf algebra is studied in the case where $\beta'=2\beta$ up to first order over deformation parameter $\beta$. It is shown that there is a similarity between electrostatics in the presence of a minimal length (modified electrostatics) and higher derivative Podolsky's electrostatics. The important property of this modified electrostatics is that the classical self-energy of a point charge becomes a finite value. Two different upper bounds on the isotropic minimal length of this modified electrostatics are estimated. The first upper bound will be found by treating the modified electrostatics as a classical electromagnetic system, while the second one will be estimated by considering the modified electrostatics as a quantum field theoretic model. It should be noted that the quantum upper bound on the isotropic minimal length in this paper is near to the electroweak length scale $(\ell_{electroweak}\sim 10^{-18}\, m)$.Comment: 11 pages, no figur

Formulation of the Spinor Field in the Presence of a Minimal Length Based on the Quesne-Tkachuk Algebra

In 2006 Quesne and Tkachuk (J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. {\bf 39}, 10909, 2006) introduced a (D+1)-dimensional $(\beta,\beta')$-two-parameter Lorentz-covariant deformed algebra which leads to a nonzero minimal length. In this work, the Lagrangian formulation of the spinor field in a (3+1)-dimensional space-time described by Quesne-Tkachuk Lorentz-covariant deformed algebra is studied in the case where $\beta'=2\beta$ up to first order over deformation parameter $\beta$. It is shown that the modified Dirac equation which contains higher order derivative of the wave function describes two massive particles with different masses. We show that physically acceptable mass states can only exist for $\beta<\frac{1}{8m^{2}c^{2}}$. Applying the condition $\beta<\frac{1}{8m^{2}c^{2}}$ to an electron, the upper bound for the isotropic minimal length becomes about $3 \times 10^{-13}m$. This value is near to the reduced Compton wavelength of the electron $(\lambda_c = \frac{\hbar}{m_{e}c} = 3.86\times 10^{-13} m)$ and is not incompatible with the results obtained for the minimal length in previous investigations.Comment: 11 pages, no figur

Impact of melatonin supplementation in the rat spermatogenesis subjected to forced swimming exercise

Oxygen consumption increases many times during exercise, which can increase reactive oxygen species. It negatively affects fertility in male athletes. Melatonin is exerting a regulatory role at different levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. However, there is no evidence that the protective effects of melatonin persist after long duration exercise on the spermatogenesis. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the impacts of melatonin on the testis following the administration of swimming exercise. Rats were separated into five different groups, including Control, sham M: received the solvent of melatonin, M: received melatonin, S: the exercise protocol, MS: received melatonin and the exercise protocol. After 8weeks, animals were scarified and antioxidant enzymes levels of testes, spermatogenic cells apoptosis and sperm quality were measured. Swimming decreased all parameters of spermatozoa. Nevertheless, melatonin could significantly improve the progressive motility of spermatozoa in MS rats. Swimming caused an increased apoptosis of S group and decreased all antioxidant enzymes. Melatonin could drastically reduce apoptosis and increased these enzymes. Therefore, melatonin seems to induce the production of antioxidant enzymes of testicular tissues and diminish the extent of apoptotic changes caused by forced exercise on the testis, which can, in turn, ameliorate the sperm parameters

Novel weight functions and stress intensity factors for quarter-elliptical cracks in lug attachment

In this paper, a general weight function is developed to calculate the stress intensity factors (SIFs) for quarter-elliptical cracks in a wide range of lug attachment family. For this purpose, a series of finite element analyses are performed. Finally, using this unique extracted weight function, the influence of the pin loading model and crack parameters (aspect ratio and relative depth of the quarter-elliptical crack) on the SIFs is evaluated in the cracked lug attachments. The results of the present work are compared with some data available in the literature, and the agreement is satisfactor

Transdifferentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells Into Oligoprogenitor Cells

Introduction: The nerve fibers in central nervous system are surrounded by myelin sheet which is formed by oligodendrocytes. Cell therapy based on oligodendrocytes and their precursors transplantation can hold a promising alternative treatment for myelin sheet repair in demyelinating diseases. Methods: Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells (hDPSCs) are noninvasive, autologous and easy available source with multipotency characteristics, so they are in focus of interest in regenerative medicine. In the present study, hDPSCs were differentiated into oligoprogenitor using glial induction media, containing Retinoic Acid (RA), basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF), Platelet- Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), N2 and B27. The differentiated Oligoprogenitor Cells (OPCs) were evaluated for nestin, Olig2, NG2 and O4 using immunocytochemistry. Also, the expression of nestin, Olig2 and PDGFR-alpha gens (neuroprogenitor and oligoprogenitor markers) were investigated via RT-PCR technique. Results: The results indicate that glial differentiation medium induces the generation of oligoprogenitor cells as revealed via exhibition of specific glial markers, including Olig2, NG2 and O4. The expersion of nestin gene (neuroprogenitor marker) and Olig2 and PDGFR-alpha genes (oligoprogentor markers) were detected in treated hDPSCs at the end of the induction stage. Conclusion: hDPSCs can be induced to transdifferentiate into oligoprogenitor cells and respond to the routinely applied regents for glial differentiation of mesanchymal stem cells. These data suggest the hDPSCs as a valuable source for cell therapy in neurodegenerative diseases

Novel weight functions and stress intensity factors for quarterelliptical cracks in lug attachments

In this paper, a general weight function was developed to calculate the stress intensity factors (SIFs) for quarter-elliptical cracks in a wide range of lug attachment family. For this purpose, a series of finite element analyses were conducted to achieve this weight function. Finally, using this unique extracted weight function, the influence of the pin loading model and crack parameters (aspect ratio and relative depth of the quarter-elliptical crack) on the SIFs was evaluated in the cracked lug attachments. The results of the present work were compared with those in the literature, which are compatible with them in those cases

The effect of interaguild predation on avoidance behavior of the aphidophagous midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Dip.: Cecidomyiidae) on its encounter with the predatory bug Orius laevigatus (Het.: Anthocoridae)

The predatory bug, Orius laevigatus (Fibber), and the predatory midge, Aphidoletes aphidimyza Rondani, belong to an aphidophagous guild, feeding on the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii Glover. In this study some avoidance behavior of the predatory midge such as dropping from the plant and choosing an oviposition site in the face of interaguild (IG) predator O. laevigatus are investigated. The results indicate that A. aphidimyza females prefer not to lay eggs when they discover that their offspring would be at risk of being attacked by the IG predator. The experiment also shows that the dropping behavior of predatory midge larva, upon being spotted by the predatory bug (44.5%), is significantly higher than the control (6.5%). Both the dropping behavior and mortality of IG prey are found to be influenced by all developmental stages of the cotton aphid. The percentage of mortality and dropping rates of A. aphidimyza larvae in the presence of 2nd instar nymphs of aphids were 10% and 12.5% and for 4th instar nymphs were 31% and 44.5%, respectively. These findings confirm the correlation between habitat choice of A. aphidimyza, in relation to predation risk for its offspring, and also underscore the population structure of prey for avoidance behavior strategy of the aphidophagous midge in an interaguild predation system

Temperature - dependent life table of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Mesostigmata: Phytoseidae) fed on stored product mite Carpoglyphus lactis (Astigmata: Carpoglyphidae)

The predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) is an efficient predator of some insect pests particularly thrips and whiteflies. To evaluate the optimum temperature for  A.swirskii, a life table study, based on the age-stage, two-sex life table theory, was conducted using the stored product mite, Carpoglyphus lactis L. as the food diet. Experiments were performed at temperatures of 22, 25, 30 and 32° C, %70 ± 5 relative humidity and 16: 8 (L: D) photoperiod. Developmental time of eggs at 30° C was significantly shorter comparing to the temperatures 22 and 32° C. Developmental time of the mobile pre-adult stages, male and female, were significantly shorter at 32° C, comparing to 25° C. The highest fecundity of the predator was observed at 25° C (72.34 eggs / female). The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of population increase (λ), net reproductive rate (R0), at temperature of 22° C were 0/226 day-1, 1/25 day-1, 25/53 offspring/individual; at 25° C were 0/304 day-1, 1.35 day-1, 33/82 offspring/ individual; at 30° C were 0/097 day-1, 1/102 day-1, 2/42 offspring/ individual; at a temperature of 32° C were 0/128 day-1, 1/137 day-1, 2/67 offspring/ individual. The population parameters of A. swirskii, except mean generation times (T), at 25° C and 32° C were significantly higher than those at 30° C, and the average generation time (T), at temperature of 22° C, was found to be the highest. The total population projection demonstrated that the highest population growth of predatory mite, A. swirskii occurred at 25° C

Fitness costs of cornicle secretions as a defense mechanism for cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii (Hem.: Aphididae)

The cornicle secretion is a defensive mechanism in many aphid species to warn the related individuals of predation by natural enemies. Many researches have been conducted on the benefits of cornicle droplet and alarm pheromone but the cost of this phenomenon is poorly investigated. This study is intended to evaluate the direct fitness cost of cornicle secretion of immature as well as mature cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover. Aphids were artificially forced to produce cornicle droplets at different stages of their development (second, third and fourth instars as well as adults). They were lightly stroked on the anterior portion of the thorax with a fine brush, resulting in the secretion of visible cornicle droplets. After this manipulation, life-history parameters of aphids were recorded until the death of the last adult individual. Experiments were conducted in a growth chamber at 25 ± 1°C, 50 ± 5% RH and a photoperiod of 16 L: 8 D hours. The results showed that the secretion of cornicle droplets by second and third instar nymphs of cotton aphid did not affect their survivorship and the number of offspring produced by their adult stage. In contrast, fourth instar nymphs as well as adults that emitted cornicle droplets had significantly lower survivorship and offspring production than non-secretors. The cornicle secretion has also fitness costs on the late instar and adult cotton aphids