Rare t-quark decays t→clj+lk−t \to c l_j^{+} l_k^{-}, t→cνj~νkt \to c \tilde{\nu_j} \nu_k in the minimal four color symmetry model

The rare t-quark decays $t \to c l_j^{+} l_k^{-}$, $t \to c \tilde{\nu_j} \nu_k$ via the scalar leptoquark doublets are investigated in the minimal four color symmetry model with the Higgs mechanism of the quark-lepton mass splitting. The partial widths of these decays are calculated and the total width of the charged lepton mode $\Gamma(t \to c {l^{+}}' l^{-})= \sum_{j,k} \Gamma(t \to c l_{j}^{+} l_{k}^{-})$ and the total width of the neutrino mode $\Gamma(t \to c \tilde{\nu}' \nu)= \sum_{j,k} \Gamma(t \to c \tilde{\nu_{j}} \nu_{k})$ are found. The corresponding branching ratios are shown to be $Br(t \to c {l^{+}}' l^{-}) \approx (3.5 - 0.4) 10^{-5},$ $Br(t \to c {\tilde{\nu}}' \nu) \approx (7.1 - 0.8) 10^{-5}$ for the scalar leptoquark masses $m_{S}= 180 - 250 GeV$ and for the appropriate values $(\sin{\beta} \approx 0.2)$ of the mixing angle of the model. The search for such decays at LHC may be of interest.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, to be published in Modern Physics Letters A; corrected typo

Efeito de intervenções sobre o índice de massa corporal em escolares

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito dos programas de intervenções com a atividade física e/ou a educação nutricional na redução do índice de massa corporal em escolares. MÉTODOS: Revisão sistemática com metanálise de estudos controlados randomizados disponíveis nas seguintes bases de dados eletrônicas entre o ano de 1998 a 2010: PubMed, Lilacs, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science e Cochrane Library, com os descritores: estudo controlado randomizado, sobrepeso, obesidade, índice de massa corporal, criança, adolescente, atividade física, educação nutricional e escolas. Medida de sumário baseada na diferença das médias padronizadas foi usada com intervalo de 95% de confiança. O teste de inconsistência foi utilizado para avaliar a heterogeneidade dos estudos. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 995 estudos, dos quais 23 foram incluídos e realizadas três metanálises. Intervenções isoladas com atividade física não apresentaram efeito significativo na redução do índice de massa corporal, com diferença das médias padronizadas: -0,02 (IC95% -0,08;0,04). Resultado semelhante (n = 3.524) foi observado nas intervenções isoladas com educação nutricional, com diferença das médias padronizadas: -0,03 (IC95% -0,10;0,04). Quando combinadas as intervenções com atividade física e educação nutricional, o resultado da metanálise (n = 9.997) apresentou efeito estatisticamente significativo na redução do índice de massa corporal em escolares, com diferença das médias padronizadas: - 0,37 (IC95% -0,63;-0,12). CONCLUSÕES: As intervenções combinadas de atividade física e educação nutricional tiveram mais efeitos positivos na redução do índice de massa corporal em escolares do que quando aplicadas isoladamente.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intervention programs using nutritional education, physical activity or both on the reduction of body mass index in school-age students. METHODS: The systematic review with meta-analysis included randomized controlled studies available from the following electronic databases for the years 1998 to 2010: PubMed, Lilacs, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. The descriptors were: randomized controlled trial, overweight, obesity, body mass index, child, adolescent, physical activity, nutrition education and Schools. A weighted average was based on the standardized means difference and used a 95% confidence interval. The inconsistency test was utilized to evaluate the heterogeneity of studies. RESULTS: Initially, 995 studies were identified, of which 23 were included, and 3 meta-analyses were performed. Isolated physical activity interventions did not present a significant reduction in BMI, with a standardized mean difference of -0.02 (95%CI: -0.08; 0.04). A similar result (n= 3,524) was observed in the isolated interventions of nutritional education, with a standardized mean difference of -0.03 (95%CI: -0.10; 0.04).When the interventions with physical activity and nutritional education were combined, the result of the meta-analysis (n= 9,997) presented a statistically significant effect in the reduction of body mass index in school-age students, with a standardized mean difference: -0.37 (95%CI: -0.63; -0.12). CONCLUSIONS: The interventions that combined physical activity and nutritional education had more positive effects in the reduction of body mass index among school-age students than when they were applied individually

Negotiating in the world of mixed beliefs and value systems: A compassion-focused model

In a world of increasing conflicts, over a variety of resources, and with a need for humans to work together to solve common problems, the area of international negotiations is central to these endeavours. This chapter will argue that conflict and conflict resolution can be understood against an evolutionary framework which helps us understand why the human brain is capable of producing highly destructive and conflictual behaviours. This approach opens up new ways of considering the challenges that face international negotiators. This chapter will also argue that although our brain has many destructive potentials, it also has a capacity for altruism, cooperation and compassion. If we learn to cultivate our minds from these qualities, along with mindfulness, this may help negotiators find new ways of negotiating and working with their own complex psychologies.N/