Effective description of brane terms in extra dimensions

We study how theories defined in (extra-dimensional) spaces with localized defects can be described perturbatively by effective field theories in which the width of the defects vanishes. These effective theories must incorporate a ``classical'' renormalization, and we propose a renormalization prescription a la dimensional regularization for codimension 1, which can be easily used in phenomenological applications. As a check of the validity of this setting, we compare some general predictions of the renormalized effective theory with those obtained in a particular ultraviolet completion based on deconstruction.Comment: 28 page

Expression of recombinant Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus, R. annulatus and R. decoloratus Bm86 orthologs as secreted proteins in Pichia pastoris

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) spp. ticks economically impact on cattle production in Africa and other tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Tick vaccines constitute a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to tick control. The R. microplus Bm86 protective antigen has been produced by recombinant DNA technology and shown to protect cattle against tick infestations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, the genes for Bm86 (<it>R. microplus</it>), Ba86 (<it>R. annulatus</it>) and Bd86 (<it>R. decoloratus</it>) were cloned and characterized from African or Asian tick strains and the recombinant proteins were secreted and purified from <it>P. pastoris</it>. The secretion of recombinant Bm86 ortholog proteins in <it>P. pastoris </it>allowed for a simple purification process rendering a final product with high recovery (35–42%) and purity (80–85%) and likely to result in a more reproducible conformation closely resembling the native protein. Rabbit immunization experiments with recombinant proteins showed immune cross-reactivity between Bm86 ortholog proteins.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These experiments support the development and testing of vaccines containing recombinant Bm86, Ba86 and Bd86 secreted in <it>P. pastoris </it>for the control of tick infestations in Africa.</p

Bulk fields with general brane kinetic terms

We analyse the effect of general brane kinetic terms for bulk scalars, fermions and gauge bosons in theories with extra dimensions, with and without supersymmetry. We find in particular a singular behaviour when these terms contain derivatives orthogonal to the brane. This is brought about by $\delta(0)$ divergences arising at second and higher order in perturbation theory. We argue that this behaviour can be smoothed down by classical renormalization.Comment: 31 pages, v2 few typos correcte

Sap flow response to olive water stress: a comparative study with trunk diameter variations and leaf turgor pressure

11 pages, 3 figures, 19 references.-- VIII International Symposium on Sap Flow, celebrado del 8-12 de mayo 2011, en Volterra, Italia.The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of used sap flow (SF), trunk diameter variation (TDV) and leaf turgor (LT) sensors for assessing water stress in a `Arbequina¿ hedgerow olive orchard with 1667 trees ha-1. Measurements were made in control trees irrigated to replace 100% of the crop water needs, and in trees under two regulated deficit irrigation strategies, 60RDI and 30RDI, in which irrigation replaced ca. 60% and 30% of the control, respectively. From the SF and TDV measurements we calculated the daily difference, both for tree water consumption (DEp) and maximum trunk diameter (DMXTD), between RDI trees and control trees. With the LT sensors we recorded the leaf patch output pressure (Pp), which is related to the leaf turgor pressure. Both DEp and DMXTD responded quickly and markedly to changes in water stress. The seasonal dynamics of both indices agreed with that of the stem water potential. A decrease in the reliability of DEp was recorded on days of highly variable atmospheric demand. The LT sensors also showed to be highly sensitive to changes on water stress. Any of the three methods have a potential as indicators for precise irrigation in hedgerow olive orchards with high plant density and low soil water-holding capacity.This experiment was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, research project AGL2009-11310/AGR.Peer Reviewe

Effects of Multiple Supplementary Cementitious Materials on Workability and Segregation Resistance of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete

In view of the global sustainable development, it is imperative that supplementary cementing materials (SCM) be used for replacing cement in the concrete industry and several researchers have shown that mineral admixtures can enhance the workability of lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC) mixture and its strength. In view of the beneficial effects of using SCM in LWAC, this article aims to verify the possible influence of the use of different types of SCM in the segregation phenomenon of LWAC. Three different SCM were studied: Silica Fume (SF), Fly Ash (FA) and Posidonia oceanica Ash (PA). For each SCM, three mixtures were prepared, considering three different percentage substitutions of cement. An image analysis technique was applied to estimate the segregation in each sample. The results show that a substitution of cement by other materials with different grain size, considering a constant water binder ratio, may also result in a variation of the consistency of concrete and the viscosity of the mortar matrix, which may contribute to increase or reduce segregation.This research was supported by the University of Alicante (GRE13-03) and (VIGROB-256)

Reciprocal regulation of NF-kB (Relish) and subolesin in the tick vector, Ixodes scapularis

[Background]: Tick Subolesin and its ortholog in insects and vertebrates, Akirin, have been suggested to play a role in the immune response through regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB)-dependent and independent gene expression via interaction with intermediate proteins that interact with NF-kB and other regulatory proteins, bind DNA or remodel chromatin to regulate gene expression. The objective of this study was to characterize the structure and regulation of subolesin in Ixodes scapularis. I. scapularis is a vector of emerging pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia microti that cause in humans Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis, respectively. The genome of I. scapularis was recently sequenced, and this tick serves as a model organism for the study of vector-host-pathogen interactions. However, basic biological questions such as gene organization and regulation are largely unknown in ticks and other arthropod vectors. [Principal Findings]: The results presented here provide evidence that subolesin/akirin are evolutionarily conserved at several levels (primary sequence, gene organization and function), thus supporting their crucial biological function in metazoans. These results showed that NF-kB (Relish) is involved in the regulation of subolesin expression in ticks, suggesting that as in other organisms, different NF-kB integral subunits and/or unknown interacting proteins regulate the specificity of the NF-kB-mediated gene expression. These results suggested a regulatory network involving cross-regulation between NF-kB (Relish) and Subolesin and Subolesin auto-regulation with possible implications in tick immune response to bacterial infection. [Significance]: These results advance our understanding of gene organization and regulation in I. scapularis and have important implications for arthropod vectors genetics and immunology highlighting the possible role of NF-kB and Subolesin/Akirin in vector-pathogen interactions and for designing new strategies for the control of vector infestations and pathogen transmission.This research was supported by grants BFU2008-01244/BMC and BFU2011-23896 to JF, the Oklahoma Agricultural Experimental Grant 1669 and the Walter R. Sitlington Endowed Chair for Food Animal Research to KMK, and the EU FP7 ANTIGONE project number 278976. V. Naranjo was funded by the European Social Fund and the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha (Program FSE 2007-2013), Spain. N. Ayllón was funded by Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (MEC), Spain.Peer Reviewe

Effects of Using Mine Tailings from La Unión (Spain) in Hot Bituminous Mixes Design

Currently, political policies aimed at curbing the abuse of natural resources have given rise to a conscientiousness leading to the reevaluation of wastes. Wastes generated from previous mining operations greatly impact the environment, often leaving a legacy of elevated concentrations of heavy metals in the surrounding soil and water. In this study, two types of waste from the mining district of La Union (Spain) were used to study their use as a component of road wearing courses. The physical and mechanical characteristics were determined to identify the optimal content of bitumen, as well as the fatigue resistance using the four-point beam fatigue test, in all the mixtures manufactured. The mine tailings exhibited adequate physical and mechanical properties to be utilized as a coarse aggregate for a wearing course. The results indicate that one of the studied mine tailing forms could be used as a wearing course component, since it has properties similar to a control mix that is typically used in wearing course construction.This work was financed by the University of Alicante through Projects VIGROB-256 and GRE10-28 and by the Valencian Community through project GV/2012/113

The prognostic value of multiparameter flow cytometry minimal residual disease assessment in relapsed multiple myeloma

Letter to the editor.-- et al.This study was supported by the Cooperative Research Thematic Network grants RD12/0036/0058 of the Red de Cancer (Cancer Network of Excellence); Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain, Instituto de Salud Carlos III/Subdirección General de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS: PI060339; 06/1354; 02/0905; 01/0089/01-02; PS09/01897/01370; G03/136; Sara Borrell: CD13/00340); and Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (GCB120981SAN), Spain. The study was also supported internationally by the International Myeloma Foundation Junior Grant Proposal and the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation research fellow award.Peer Reviewe

The Outcomes of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus after a Telecare Approach Are Not Inferior to Traditional Outpatient Clinic Visits

Objective. To evaluate the feasibility of a telemedicine system based on Internet and a short message service in pregnancy and its influence on delivery and neonatal outcomes of women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Methods. 100 women diagnosed of GDM were randomized into two parallel groups, a control group based on traditional face-to-face outpatient clinic visits and an intervention group, which was provided with a Telemedicine system for the transmission of capillary glucose data and short text messages with weekly professional feedback. 97 women completed the study (48/49, resp.). Main Outcomes Measured. The percentage of women achieving HbA1c values <5.8%, normal vaginal delivery and having a large for-gestational-age newborn were evaluated. Results. Despite a significant reduction in outpatient clinic visits in the experimental group, particularly in insulin-treated women (2.4 versus 4.6 hours per insulin-treated woman resp.; P < .001), no significant differences were found between the experimental and traditional groups regarding HbA1c levels (all women had HbA1c <5.8% during pregnancy), normal vaginal delivery (40.8% versus 54.2%, resp.; P > .05) and large-for-gestational-age newborns (6.1% versus 8.3%, resp.; P > .05). Conclusions. The system significantly reduces the need for outpatient clinic visits and achieves similar pregnancy, delivery, and newborn outcomes

Improvement of the Seminal Characteristics in Rams Using Agri-Food By-Products Rich in Phytomelatonin

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a phytomelatonin-rich diet, including by-products from the food industry, on ram sperm quality and seminal plasma composition. Melatonin content in several by-products before and after in vitro ruminal and abomasal digestion was determined by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. Finally, 20% of a mix of grape pulp with pomegranate and tomato pomaces was included in the rams’ diet, constituting the phytomelatonin-rich diet. Feeding the rams with this diet resulted in an increase in seminal plasma melatonin levels compared with the control group (commercial diet) in the third month of the study. In addition, percentages higher than those in the control group of morphologically normal viable spermatozoa with a low content of reactive oxygen species were observed from the second month onwards. However, the antioxidant effect does not seem to be exerted through the modulation of the antioxidant enzymes since the analysis of the activities of catalase, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in seminal plasma revealed no significant differences between the two experimental groups. In conclusion, this study reveals, for the first time, that a phytomelatonin-rich diet can improve seminal characteristics in ram