Dark matter from primordial black holes would hold charge

We explore the possibility that primordial black holes (PBHs), formed early in the history of the Universe, contain electric charge down to the present day. We find that PBHs should hold a non-zero charge at their formation, sourced by both Poisson fluctuations and collisions of charged particles in the early universe. Although initial charges could be of either sign and are thought to be subject to fast discharge processes, we show that dipolar magnetic fields from rotating black holes can deviate them, avoiding their accretion or emission to infinity, regardless of the PBH mass. Moreover, we find that charged, maximally rotating PBHs produce magnetic fields able to cancel the Schwinger effect for all masses, and the Hawking emission for PBHs with M>1\,\mbox{kg}. These mechanisms could allow PBHs to maintain their charge for extended periods. At late times, we conclude that the plasma within virialised dark matter haloes can endow PBHs with a net average negative charge. We report resulting charges Q/M \sim -10^{-32}\,C/\mbox{kg} and Q/M \sim -10^{-22}\,C/\mbox{kg} for two current windows where PBHs can make up all of the dark matter; being respectively M\sim 10^{20}\,\mbox{kg} and M\sim 10^{30}\,\mbox{kg}. The charge of PBHs in haloes lies below the Schwinger limit for discharge, which would effectively make PBH dark matter slightly non-neutral to the present day. Altogether, the initial PBH charge, possible shielding against discharge, and late time negative charge accretion, show that PBHs of all masses could hold a net charge, with values about two to ten orders of magnitude lower than the maximal bound imposed by subextremal Reissner-Nordstr\"om (RN) PBHs, and even the extremal charge for Planck mass PBHs. The latter are of particular interest, as they could constitute charged stable relics, composing the entirety of dark matter in the Universe.Comment: 24 pages, 6 figures, minor changes, matches the version submitted to the journa

Relative Selectivity of Plant Cardenolides for Na+/K+-ATPases From the Monarch Butterfly and Non-resistant Insects

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.A major prediction of coevolutionary theory is that plants may target particular herbivores with secondary compounds that are selectively defensive. The highly specialized monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) copes well with cardiac glycosides (inhibitors of animal Na+/K+-ATPases) from its milkweed host plants, but selective inhibition of its Na+/K+-ATPase by different compounds has not been previously tested. We applied 17 cardiac glycosides to the D. plexippus-Na+/K+-ATPase and to the more susceptible Na+/K+-ATPases of two non-adapted insects (Euploea core and Schistocerca gregaria). Structural features (e.g., sugar residues) predicted in vitro inhibitory activity and comparison of insect Na+/K+-ATPases revealed that the monarch has evolved a highly resistant enzyme overall. Nonetheless, we found evidence for relative selectivity of individual cardiac glycosides reaching from 4- to 94-fold differences of inhibition between non-adapted Na+/K+-ATPase and D. plexippus-Na+/K+-ATPase. This toxin receptor specificity suggests a mechanism how plants could target herbivores selectively and thus provides a strong basis for pairwise coevolutionary interactions between plants and herbivorous insects.German Research Foundation (GP, PE 2059/1-1)US National Science Foundation (AA, DEB-1619885

Relative Selectivity of Plant Cardenolides for Na+/K+-ATPases From the Monarch Butterfly and Non-resistant Insects

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.A major prediction of coevolutionary theory is that plants may target particular herbivores with secondary compounds that are selectively defensive. The highly specialized monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) copes well with cardiac glycosides (inhibitors of animal Na+/K+-ATPases) from its milkweed host plants, but selective inhibition of its Na+/K+-ATPase by different compounds has not been previously tested. We applied 17 cardiac glycosides to the D. plexippus-Na+/K+-ATPase and to the more susceptible Na+/K+-ATPases of two non-adapted insects (Euploea core and Schistocerca gregaria). Structural features (e.g., sugar residues) predicted in vitro inhibitory activity and comparison of insect Na+/K+-ATPases revealed that the monarch has evolved a highly resistant enzyme overall. Nonetheless, we found evidence for relative selectivity of individual cardiac glycosides reaching from 4- to 94-fold differences of inhibition between non-adapted Na+/K+-ATPase and D. plexippus-Na+/K+-ATPase. This toxin receptor specificity suggests a mechanism how plants could target herbivores selectively and thus provides a strong basis for pairwise coevolutionary interactions between plants and herbivorous insects.German Research Foundation (GP, PE 2059/1-1)US National Science Foundation (AA, DEB-1619885

Fast and reliable calibration of solid substrate fermentation kinetic models using advanced non-linear programming techniques

Calibration of mechanistic kinetic models describing microorganism growth and secondary metabolite production on solid substrates is difficult due to model complexity given the sheer number of parameters needing to be estimated and violation of standard conditions of numerical regularity. We show how advanced non-linear programming techniques can be applied to achieve fast and reliable calibration of a complex kinetic model describing growth of Gibberella fujikuroi and production of gibberellic acid on an inert solid support in glass columns. Experimental culture data was obtained under different temperature and water activity conditions. Model differential equations were discretized using orthogonal collocations on finite elements while model calibration was formulated as a simultaneous solution/optimization problem. A special purpose optimization code (IPOPT) was used to solve the resulting large-scale non-linear program. Convergence proved much faster and a better fitting model was achieved in comparison with the standard sequential solution/optimization approach. Furthermore, statistical analysis showed that most parameter estimates were reliable and accurate

Promotion of breastfeeding in Costa Rica: the Puriscal study

Capítulo de libro -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, 1988The decline in rate and duration of breastfeeding in urban areas in developing countries seems to have resulted from the transition from extended to nuclear cofamilies and exposure of young mothers to influences affecting their breastfeeding attitude and working patterns.',2 Experimental studies have demonstrated that early mother-infant stimulation has a marked promoting effect on breast feeding and bonding, and that man behaves like many animal species regarding mechanisms governing nursing and rearing behaviour.'* Breastfeeding is also declining in rural areas in many countries, due to profuse advertising of infant formulas and to 'Westernization' of ways of life." It was not obiious, however, that many failures to breastfeed in urban and rural areas have an origin in practices adopted during pregnancy, childbirth, and its aftermath.' Such practices have proliferated as institutionalized delivery increased in the last decades, expanding to rural populations throughout developing countries. In Costa Rica, only 50 per cent of births occurred in maternity wards in 1960, but in 1970 the rate had risen to 70 per cent and to 91 per cent in 1980. The increase in hospital deliveries was not accompanied, until 1977, by promotion of early mother-infant stimulation, bonding, And nursing, since strict separation and formula feeding of infants unfortunately had been established for about 10 years. This chapter summarizes observations recorded during 1976-83 in all the 77 847 live borns delivered in the San Juan de Dios Hospital, one of the largest and more prestigious institutions of Costa Rica.7•9 Observations were also made on neonates from a mountainous rural region, Puriscal, who were born during the period September 1979 to September 1980 primarily in the hospita1.1°." Possible effects of hospital practice were expected to influence rates and duration of breast feeding, and health and growth of Puriscal neonates born after the interventions.Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA

Promotion of Breast Feeding, Health, and Survival of Infants Through Hospital and Field Interventions

Capítulo de libro -- Universidad de Costa Rica. Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud, 1984Most authorities agree that the decline in the rate and duration of breast feeding in urban areas in many developing countries has been the result of urbanization and influences of Western culture. Two sequalae have been the transition from extended to nuclear families and the exposure of young mothers to influences affecting their attitudes and working patterns [Jelliffe and Jelliffe, 1978; Elliott and Fitzsimons, 1976]. Experimental studies have demonstrated that early mother-infant stimulation has a marked promoting effect on breast-feeding and bonding. It has become quite obvious that man is not so different from certain animal species in the kind of Mechanisms leading to successful nursing and infant-rearing behavior [Bowlby, 1969; Klaus and Kennell, 1976]A similar decline in breast feeding is also becoming apparent in rural areas, partly owing to a profusion of advertisements of infant formulas and partly to "Westernization" of ways of life [Jelliffe and Jelliffe, 1978; Greiner et al, 1979]. It was not obvious to many, however, that many failures to breast-feed in urban and rural areas have an origin in the inadequacies of medical support during pregnancy and particularly during childbirth and its aftermath [Jelliffe and Jelliffe, 1978]. Such inadequacies have proliferated as institutionalized delivery increases and is expanded to rural populations throughout developing countries. To illustrate, only 50% of births were attended in maternity centers and clinics in Costa Rica in 1960, but in 1970 the rate rose to 71% and in 1980 to 91% [Mata, 1983]. The increment in hospital delivery has not necessarily been accompanied by practices to promote early mother-infant stimulation, bonding, and nursing. Strict separation of mothers and infants after delivery, and feeding neonates with artificial formulas are common practices in the developing world. This report summarizes observations recorded during 1976-1982 in the population of newborns delivered in the San Juan de Dios Hospital, one of the largest and most prestigious Costa Rican institutions [Mata et al, 1982a, 1983]. Observations were extended to neonates of one particular mountainous rural region, Puriscal, who were born during the period September 1979-September 1980 primarily in the San Juan de Dios Hospital [Mata et al, 1981; Mata, 1982]. The early neonatal morbidity and mortality were calculated across the 7-year period for the 61,478 live births during the observation period. Furthermore, possible effects of hospital practice were evaluated in terms of differentials in rate and duration of breast feeding, health, and growth among Puriscal neonates born from September 1979 to September 1980. Since this effort was part of a long-term prospective observation on nutrition, health, and growth of mothers and infants in a typical rural area, field interventions were also evaluated accordingly.Universidad de Costa Rica, Instituto de Investigaciones en SaludUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones en Salud (INISA

The 2016 Capellades earthquake and its seismic sequence: Expression of strike-slip faulting in the volcanic arc of Costa Rica

El 30 de noviembre del 2016 a las 18:25 (00:25 UTC del 1º de diciembre) ocurrió un sismo de Mw 5,5 a una profundidad de 2,7 km, 4 km al norte de Capellades de Alvarado, Costa Rica. Fue el evento principal de una secuencia con precursores y réplicas, localizada a 5 km de los volcanes activos Irazú y Turrialba. Este sismo es el más reciente de una lista de terremotos originados en las fallas que cortan la Cordillera Volcánica Central, la cual representa el límite norte del área más poblada del país. Usando principalmente los registros instrumentales de la Red Sismológica Nacional (RSN), en este trabajo se presenta un análisis sismológico de la secuencia y se determinan la ubicación y las características de la falla que originó esta sismicidad. Adicionalmente, se describe el entorno geológico-tectónico de su origen y sus efectos. La secuencia de sismos muestra un claro alineamiento de 8 km de longitud y rumbo nor-noroeste, entre los volcanes Irazú y Turrialba. La interpretación conjunta de la relocalización de la secuencia, el tensor de momento del sismo principal y los mecanismos focales de 17 eventos permitió determinar que la falla de origen es casi vertical y de tipo de desplazamiento de rumbo dextral, lo cual es congruente con los sistemas de fallamiento activo de la zona. Esta falla no había sido reconocida previamente y se ha denominado Liebres en este estudio. El sismo principal fue sentido en casi todo el país, con una intensidad máxima de VI+. Este sismo ha sido el de mayor magnitud en el sector oriental de la Cordillera Volcánica Central desde el terremoto de Patillos de 1952 (Ms 5,9) y el primer sismo de Mw > 5,0 registrado por la RSN en el edificio volcánico del Turrialba. A pesar de la cercanía con ese volcán, que ha presentado erupciones periódicas desde el 2010, no se observaron efectos eruptivos inmediatos.On 30 November 2016 at 18:25 (1st December at 00:25, UTC time) a Mw 5.5 earthquake occurred at 2.7 km depth, 4 km north of the town Capellades de Alvarado, Costa Rica. It was the main shock of an earthquake sequence including foreshocks and aftershocks, located 5 km from the active Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes. This is the most recent of a series of damaging earthquakes originated in the faults crossing the Central Volcanic Range, which constitutes the northern boundary of the most populated area of the country. Using mainly the seismic records from the National Seismological Network (RSN), we present in this study a seismological analysis of the earthquake sequence and the location and characteristics of the fault that originated this seismicity. Additionally, we describe the geotectonic context of the fault and the Capellades earthquake effects. The earthquake sequence shows a clear 8-km long alignment striking nor-northwest between Irazú and Turrialba volcanoes. The joint interpretation of the earthquake relocation, the main-shock moment tensor solution, and the focal mechanisms of 17 events allows for determining the source in a nearly vertical strike-slip fault, in agreement with regional active fault systems. This structure had not been recognized previously and has been named Liebres Fault in this study. The main shock was felt in most of the country, with a maximum intensity of VI+. This earthquake has been the largest in the eastern part of the Central Volcanic Range since the 1952 Patillos earthquake (Ms 5.9) and the first Mw > 5.0 earthquake recorded by the RSN in the Turrialba volcano edifice. Despite the proximity to this active volcano, which has been erupting periodically since 2010, there were no immediate eruptive effects.Universidad de Costa Rica/[113-B5-704]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[113-B5-A02]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[113-A1-716]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[113-B5-A00]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela Centroamericana de Geologí

Fibroblast Primary Cilia are Required for Cardiac Fibrosis

Background: The primary cilium is a singular cellular structure that extends from the surface of many cell types and plays crucial roles in vertebrate development, including that of the heart. Whereas ciliated cells have been described in developing heart, a role for primary cilia in adult heart has not been reported. This, coupled with the fact that mutations in genes coding for multiple ciliary proteins underlie polycystic kidney disease, a disorder with numerous cardiovascular manifestations, prompted us to identify cells in adult heart harboring a primary cilium and to determine whether primary cilia play a role in disease-related remodeling. Methods: Histological analysis of cardiac tissues from C57BL/6 mouse embryos, neonatal mice, and adult mice was performed to evaluate for primary cilia. Three injury models (apical resection, ischemia/reperfusion, and myocardial infarction) were used to identify the location and cell type of ciliated cells with the use of antibodies specific for cilia (acetylated tubulin, γ-tubulin, polycystin [PC] 1, PC2, and KIF3A), fibroblasts (vimentin, α-smooth muscle actin, and fibroblast-specific protein-1), and cardiomyocytes (α-actinin and troponin I). A similar approach was used to assess for primary cilia in infarcted human myocardial tissue. We studied mice silenced exclusively in myofibroblasts for PC1 and evaluated the role of PC1 in fibrogenesis in adult rat fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Results: We identified primary cilia in mouse, rat, and human heart, specifically and exclusively in cardiac fibroblasts. Ciliated fibroblasts are enriched in areas of myocardial injury. Transforming growth factor β-1 signaling and SMAD3 activation were impaired in fibroblasts depleted of the primary cilium. Extracellular matrix protein levels and contractile function were also impaired. In vivo, depletion of PC1 in activated fibroblasts after myocardial infarction impaired the remodeling response. Conclusions: Fibroblasts in the neonatal and adult heart harbor a primary cilium. This organelle and its requisite signaling protein, PC1, are required for critical elements of fibrogenesis, including transforming growth factor β-1-SMAD3 activation, production of extracellular matrix proteins, and cell contractility. Together, these findings point to a pivotal role of this organelle, and PC1, in disease-related pathological cardiac remodeling and suggest that some of the cardiovascular manifestations of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease derive directly from myocardium-autonomous abnormalities