Generation of circular polarization of the CMB

According to the standard cosmology, near the last scattering surface, the photons scattered via Compton scattering are just linearly polarized and then the primordial circular polarization of the CMB photons is zero. In this work we show that CMB polarization acquires a small degree of circular polarization when a background magnetic field is considered or the quantum electrodynamic sector of standard model is extended by Lorentz-noninvariant operators as well as noncommutativity. The existence of circular polarization for the CMB radiation may be verified during future observation programs and it represents a possible new channel for investigating new physics effects.Comment: 28 pages, v3, Phys. Rev. D 81, 084035 (2010

Effects of biofertilizers on grain yield and protein content of two soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivars

Nutrient management is one of the most important factors in successful cultivation of plants. Biofertilizers can affect the quality and quantity of crop. In order to study the effects of biofertilizers on grain yield and protein content of two soybean (Glycine max L.) cultivars, an experiment was conducted using a factorial arrangement based on randomized complete block design with four replications, at the Mahidasht Research Station of Kermanshah in 2010. The factors were soybean cultivar (Williams and Line no. 17) and fertilizer application (b1= N + P, b2= Bradyrhizobium japonicum + P, b3= N + Bacillus and Pseudomonas + 50% of P, b4= B. japonicum + Bacillus and Pseudomonas + 50% of P, b5= B. japonicum + 50% of N + Bacillus and Pseudomonas + 50% of P). Results show that Line no. 17 with 2911.2 kg/ha had higher seed yield than Williams with 2711 kg/ha. Also, fertilizer levels of b3 with 3058.2 and b2 with 2643.8 kg/ha produced the highest and the lowest seed yield, respectively. Plants treated with fertilizer levels of b1, b2 and b5 in comparison with other fertilizer levels significantly produced lower thousand seed weight. In Line no. 17 fertilizer level of b3 with 2.88 produced the highest seed per pod. Results show that fertilizer levels had a significant effect on the number of pod per plant and treatments containing biological fertilizers in terms of the number of pods per plant were equal or superior to chemical fertilizer. It was also observed that fertilizer levels of b1, b3 and b5, produced the highest protein percentage. It therefore seems that biofertilizers can be considered as a replacement for part of chemical fertilizers in soybean production.Key words: Bacillus, Bradyrhizobium japonicum, phosphate solubilizing, protein, Pseudomonas

Selenium and selenoprotein P1 levels are related to primary open-angle glaucoma

Background Glaucoma is a highly prevalent eye disease related to optic nerve lesions and visual field defects. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma (POAG) is a type of glaucoma that occurs frequently with unknown etiology. In this study, we investigated the serum levels of selenium, selenoprotein P1, glutathione, hemolysate glutathione peroxidase1 (GPx1) activity and aqueous humour selenium in POAG patients. Methods Ninety sex- and age-matched subjects (POAG patients; n=45 and, controls; n=45) with the controlled confounders (smoking, hypertension and alcohol beverages) were recruited on clinical histories and exams. The serum and aqueous humour selenium levels were measured using GFAAS technique. The serum selenoprotein P1 level was assayed with the ELISA method. The hemolysate GPx1 activity and serum reduced glutathione level were also measured using known colorimetric techniques. Results The serum selenium (P=0.01) and selenoprotein P1 (P<0.001) levels were significantly high in POAG patients. Furthermore, the aqueous humour selenium level was significantly high among patients as compared to controls (64.68±13.07 vs. 58.36±13.76 ng/mL, P=0.02). The results did not show a significant difference (P=0.36) in the hemolysate GPx1 activity between the groups. The cutoff points for intraocular pressure (IOP) and serum selenoprotein P1 parameters were estimated to be 39 mmHg (sensitivity 97.5; 1-specificity 6.5) and 188 mg/mL (sensitivity 93.5; 1-specificity 14), respectively

Endoparasites of Rodents and Their Zoonotic Importance in Germi, Dashte–Mogan, Ardabil Province, Iran

Background: In order to verify the infectivity of rodents with endoparasites in Germi (Dashte-Mogan, Arda­bil Province) the current study was undertaken.Methods: Using live traps, 177 rodents were trapped during 2005-2007. In field laboratory, all rodents were bled prior to autopsy, frozen at -20°C, and shipped to the School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran. In parasitological laboratory, every rodent was dissected and its different or­gans were examined for the presence of any parasite. Blood thick and thin smears as well as impression smears of liver and spleen were stained with Geimsa and examined microscopically.Results: Two species of rodents were trapped; Meriones persicus (90.4%) and Microtus socialis (9.6%). The species of parasites found in M. persicus and their prevalences were as follows: Hymenolepis di­minuta (38.8%), Hymenolepis nana (2.5%), Trichuris sp.(40.6), Mesocestoides larva (=tetrathyridium) (3.1%), Capil­laria hepatica (6.9%), Moniliformis moniliformis (11.3%), Syphacia obvelata (2.5%), Taenia endotho­racicus larva (0.6%), Physaloptera sp. (0.6%), Dentostomella translucida (0.6%), Heligmosomum mix­tum (0.6%), Strobilocercus fasciolaris (0.6%),and Aspiculuris tetraptera (0.6%). The species of para­sites found in M. socialis and their prevalences were as follows: H. diminuta (17.6%), Trichuris sp. (5.9%), Mesocestoides larva (5.9%), S. obvelata (11.8%), S. syphacia (11.8%), H. mixtum (17.6%), and Aspiculuris tetraptera (11.8%). There were no statistical differences between male and female for infectivity with parasites in either M. persicus or M. socialis. No blood or tissue protozoan parasite was found in any of the rodents examined. Conclusion: Among different species identified, some had zoonotic importance. Therefore, the potential health hazard of these species needs to be considered to prevent infectivity of humans

Aharonov-Casher effect for spin one particles in a noncommutative space

In this work the Aharonov-Casher (AC) phase is calculated for spin one particles in a noncommutative space. The AC phase has previously been calculated from the Dirac equation in a noncommutative space using a gauge-like technique [17]. In the spin-one, we use kemmer equation to calculate the phase in a similar manner. It is shown that the holonomy receives non-trivial kinematical corrections. By comparing the new result with the already known spin 1/2 case, one may conjecture a generalized formula for the corrections to holonomy for higher spins.Comment: 9 page

SIRT3 deficiency exacerbates fatty liver by attenuating the HIF1α-LIPIN 1 pathway and increasing CD36 through Nrf2

Background: Deficiency of mitochondrial sirtuin 3 (SIRT3), a NAD+ -dependent protein deacetylase that maintains redox status and lipid homeostasis, contributes to hepatic steatosis. In this study, we investigated additional mechanisms that might play a role in aggravating hepatic steatosis in Sirt3-deficient mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Methods: Studies were conducted in wild-type (WT) and Sirt3−/− mice fed a standard diet or a HFD and in SIRT3- knockdown human Huh-7 hepatoma cells. Results: Sirt3−/− mice fed a HFD presented exacerbated hepatic steatosis that was accompanied by decreased expression and DNA-binding activity of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α and of several of its target genes involved in fatty acid oxidation, compared to WT mice fed the HFD. Interestingly, Sirt3 deficiency in liver and its knockdown in Huh-7 cells resulted in upregulation of the nuclear levels of LIPIN1, a PPARα co-activator, and of the protein that controls its levels and localization, hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α). These changes were prevented by lipid exposure through a mechanism that might involve a decrease in succinate levels. Finally, Sirt3−/− mice fed the HFD showed increased levels of some proteins involved in lipid uptake, such as CD36 and the VLDL receptor. The upregulation in CD36 was confirmed in Huh-7 cells treated with a SIRT3 inhibitor or transfected with SIRT3 siRNA and incubated with palmitate, an effect that was prevented by the Nrf2 inhibitor ML385. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate new mechanisms by which Sirt3 deficiency contributes to hepatic steatosi

Affordability assessment from a static to dynamic concept: A scenario�based assessment of cardiovascular medicines

The out�of�pocket payments for prescription medications can impose a financial burden on patients from low� and middle� incomes and who suffer from chronic diseases. The present study aims at evaluating the affordability of cardiovascular disease (CVD) medication in Iran. This includes measuring affordability through World Health Organization/Health Action International (WHO/HAI) methodology. In this method, affordability is characterized as the number of daysʹ wages of the lowest�paid unskilled government worker. The different medication therapy scenarios are defined in mono�and combination therapy approaches. This method adds on to WHO/HAI methodology to discover new approaches to affordability assessments. The results show the differences in the medicines affordability when different approaches are used in mono�and combination therapy between 6 main sub�therapeutic groups of CVD. It indicates the medicine affordability is not a static concept and it changes dynamically between CVD therapeutic subgroups when it used alone or in combination with other medicines regarding patients� characteristics and medical conditions. Hypertension and anti�arrhythmia therapeutic groups had the most non-affordability and hyperlipidemia had the most affordable medicines. Therefore, affordability can be considered as a dynamic concept, which not only affected by the medicine price but significantly affected by a patient�s characteristics, the number of medical conditions, and insurance coverage. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Oral administration of a new HRI activator as a new strategy to improve high-fat-died-induced glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia through FGF21

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus due to its antidiabetic effects, and this has led to the development of FGF21 longacting analogs. These compounds have some limitations, including requiring subcutaneous injection and their prolonged pharmacodynamic effect compared with native FGF21, which might be responsible for their reported side effects. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH We have previously demonstrated that intraperitoneal administration of heme-regulated eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (eIF2α) kinase (HRI) activators increases hepatic and circulating levels of FGF21. In this study, we examined the effects of oral administration of a new HRI activator, EPB-53, on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced glucose intolerance, hepatic steatosis, and hypertriglyceridemia, compared with metformin. KEY RESULTS Administration of EPB-53 administration for the last two weeks, to mice fed a HFD for 10 weeks, reduced body weight gain, improved glucose intolerance, and prevented hepatic steatosis and hypertriglyceridemia; whereas metformin only ameliorated glucose intolerance. Moreover, EPB- 53, similarly to the reported effects of FGF21, reduced lipogenesis in cultured human hepatocytes and in the liver of mice fed a HFD. Administration of EPB-53 to Fgf21-knockout mice had no effects, demonstrating that its efficacy is dependent on this hormone. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate that oral administration of HRI activators is a promising strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by increasing FGF21

Descripción matemática del desempeño electroanalítico de nanopartículas de derivados de níquel en la determinación cualitativa y cuantitativa de metanol

En este trabajo se desarrolló y se analizó, por medio de la teoría de estabilidad lineal y del análisis de bifurcaciones, el modelo matemático con que fue descrito el desempeño de nanopartículas de los derivados de níquel (solas y en compositos con el polímero conductor) en la determinación de metanol en el medio alcalino. Mediante el modelaje matemático, se derivaron las condiciones de estabilidad del estado estacionario, e inferidas las causas generales del comportamiento oscilatorio y monotónico. Los resultados del modelaje se compararon con los datos experimentales.In this work, the mathematical model for the electroanalytical action of Ni-containing nanoparticles (by themselves and in a composite with a conducting polymer) in electrochemical qualitative and quantitative methanol detection in alkaline media is developed and analyzed by using of linear stability theory and bifurcation analysis. By the mathematical modeling, the steady-state stability conditions (the most exact sensing action requirements) and the causes for oscillatory and monotonic instabilities are derived. The result of the modeling is compared with the experimental data

Daily rice bran consumption for 6 months influences serum glucagon-like peptide 2 and metabolite profiles without differences in trace elements and heavy metals in weaning nicaraguan infants at 12 months of age

Background: Environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) is associated with chronic gut inflammation affecting nutrient absorption and development of children, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. Several studies have shown that rice bran (RB) supplementation provides nutrients and modulates gut inflammation, which may reduce risk for undernutrition. Objective: The aim was to evaluate the effect of daily RB dietary supplementation for 6 mo on serum biomarkers in weaning infants and associated changes in serum and stool metabolites. Methods: A 6-mo randomized-controlled dietary intervention was conducted in a cohort of weaning 6-mo-old infants in León, Nicaragua. Anthropometric indices were obtained at 6, 8, and 12 mo. Serum and stool ionomics and metabolomics were completed at the end of the 6-mo intervention using inductively coupled plasma MS and ultra-high performance LC-tandem MS. The α1-acid glycoprotein, C-reactive protein, and glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) serum EED biomarkers were measured by ELISA. Results: Twenty-four infants in the control group and 23 in the RB group successfully completed the 6-mo dietary intervention with 90% dietary compliance. RB participants had higher concentrations of GLP-2 as compared with control participants at 12 mo [median (IQR): 743.53 (380.54) pg/mL vs. 592.50 (223.59) pg/mL; P = 0.04]. Metabolite profiles showed significant fold differences of 39 serum metabolites and 44 stool metabolites from infants consuming RB compared with control, and with significant metabolic pathway enrichment scores of 4.7 for the tryptophan metabolic pathway, 5.7 for polyamine metabolism, and 5.7 for the fatty acid/acylcholine metabolic pathway in the RB group. No differences were detected in serum and stool trace elements or heavy metals following daily RB intake for 6 mo. Conclusions: RB consumption influences a suite of metabolites associated with growth promotion and development, while also supporting nutrient absorption as measured by changes in serum GLP-2 in Nicaraguan infants. This clinical trial was registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02615886