Influence of Lorentz-violating terms on a two-level system

The influence of Lorentz- and CPT-violating terms of the extended Standard Model on a semi-classical two-level system is analyzed. It is shown that the Lorentz-violating background (when coupled with the fermion sector in a vector way) is able to induce modifications on the Rabi oscillation pattern, promoting sensitive modulations on the usual oscillations. As for the term involving the coefficient coupled in an axial vector way, it brings about oscillations both on energy states and on the spin states (implied by the background). It is also seen that such backgrounds are able to yield state oscillations even in the absence of the electromagnetic field. The foreseen effects are used to establish upper bounds on the Lorentz-violating coefficients.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, revtex style

Spironolactone treatment attenuates vascular dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice by decreasing oxidative stress and restoring NO/GC signaling

Type 2 diabetes (DM2) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Aldosterone, which has pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory effects in the cardiovascular system, is positively regulated in DM2. We assessed whether blockade of mineralocorticoid receptors (MR) with spironolactone decreases reactive oxygen species (ROS)-associated vascular dysfunction and improves vascular nitric oxide (NO) signaling in diabetes. Leptin receptor knockout [LepRdb/LepRdb (db/db)] mice, a model of DM2, and their counterpart controls [LepRdb/LepR+, (db/+) mice] received spironolactone (50 mg/kg body weight/day) or vehicle (ethanol 1%) via oral per gavage for 6 weeks. Spironolactone treatment abolished endothelial dysfunction and increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation (Ser1177) in arteries from db/db mice, determined by acetylcholine-induced relaxation and Western Blot analysis, respectively. MR antagonist therapy also abrogated augmented ROS-generation in aorta from diabetic mice, determined by lucigenin luminescence assay. Spironolactone treatment increased superoxide dismutase-1 and catalase expression, improved sodium nitroprusside and BAY 41-2272-induced relaxation, and increased soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) β subunit expression in arteries from db/db mice. Our results demonstrate that spironolactone decreases diabetes-associated vascular oxidative stress and prevents vascular dysfunction through processes involving increased expression of antioxidant enzymes and sGC. These findings further elucidate redox-sensitive mechanisms whereby spironolactone protects against vascular injury in diabetes

Polyneuropathy in the critical ill patient: a common diagnosis in intensive care medicine?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The diffuse axonal polyneuropathy, more commonly known as Critical Illness Polyneuropathy (CIP), has been discussed by authors by decades; however, it has only been deeply studied over the last thirty years, becoming more important as an important cause of long term dependence on mechanical ventilation by seriously ill patients in intensive care medicine. CONTENTS: A significant reason for such interest is due to the importance of the CIP as complication of the septic shock and in patients with multiple organ failure, as much as responsible for the prolonging hospitalization in the Intensive Care Unit, as for the gradual reduction of the chance of survival. It has been suggested that the polyneuropathy is related with cytokines and other mediators which would increase the permeability of the vases, resulting in endoneural edema and causing the axonal injury. It is difficult to do the initial diagnostic, which, in general, are only possibly recognized when the sepsis complications or the multiple organs failure have been satisfactorily controlled. The diagnosis is made through the eletroneuromiography exam, and although there is still no effective drug treatment other than the control of the basic illness, it is consensus among multidisciplinary team that the development of the CIP does not have to be understood as a way to reduce the intensity of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Spit of your prevalence, it is still unknown the mainly factors which are physiopathology associated as soon as your correct therapy.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A polineuropatia axonal difusa, hoje mais conhecida como polineuropatia do paciente crítico (PPC), tem sido relatada por autores há décadas, porém, apenas nos últimos 30 anos, ocupa maior importância como causa de dependência prolongada de ventilação mecânica, em pacientes gravemente enfermos internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. Esta revisão teve por objetivo apresentar os princípios tópicos que norteiam a fisiopatologia, diagnóstico e tratamento desta doença em Medicina intensiva. CONTEÚDO: A importância da PPC como complicação inicial do choque séptico e em pacientes com disfunção de múltiplos de órgãos e sistemas (DMOS) está claramente descrita como responsável pelo prolongamento da permanência na UTI e, também pela redução gradativa da probabilidade de sobrevida. Sugere-se que a polineuropatia esteja relacionada com as citocinas envolvidas na sepse, além de outros mediadores que aumentariam a permeabilidade dos vasos, resultando em edema endoneural e lesão axonal. Seu início é de difícil diagnóstico, geralmente sendo possível apenas quando as complicações da sepse ou falência de múltiplos órgãos tenham sido adequadamente controladas. O diagnóstico é feito através da eletroneuromiografia. Apesar de ainda não haver nenhum tratamento medicamentoso efetivo, além do controle da doença de base, é censo comum, entre equipes multidisciplinares que o desenvolvimento da PPC não deve ser entendido como forma de reduzir os esforços do tratamento. CONLUSÕES: A despeito de sua prevalência, ainda permanecem desconhecidos os fatores claramente associados à sua fisiopatologia, bem como adequada terapia para o manuseio desta condição.UNIFESP-EPMAMIB AMBUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Combined use of a new SNP-based assay and multilocus SSR markers to assess genetic diversity of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca infecting citrus and coffee plants

Two haplotypes of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp) that correlated with their host of origin were identified in a collection of 90 isolates infecting citrus and coffee plants in Brazil, based on a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the gyrB sequence. A new single-nucleotide primer extension (SNuPE) protocol was designed for rapid identification of Xfp according to the host source. The protocol proved to be robust for the prediction of the Xfp host source in blind tests using DNA from cultures of the bacterium, infected plants, and insect vectors allowed to feed on Xfp-infected citrus plants. AMOVA and STRUCTURE analyses of microsatellite data separated most Xfp populations on the basis of their host source, indicating that they were genetically distinct. The combined use of the SNaPshot protocol and three previously developed multilocus SSR markers showed that two haplotypes and distinct isolates of Xfp infect citrus and coffee in Brazil and that multiple, genetically different isolates can be present in a single orchard or infect a single tree. This combined approach will be very useful in studies of the epidemiology of Xfp-induced diseases, host specificity of bacterial genotypes, the occurrence of Xfp host jumping, vector feeding habits, etc., in economically important cultivated plants or weed host reservoirs of Xfp in Brazil and elsewhere [Int Microbiol 2015; 18(1):13-24]Keywords: Citrus variegated chlorosis · coffee leaf scorch · vector transmission· xylem-limited bacteria · haplotype characterization · host-plant associatio

Combined use of a new SNP-based assay and multilocus SSR markers to assess genetic diversity of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca infecting citrus and coffee plants

Two haplotypes of Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca (Xfp) that correlated with their host of origin were identified in a collection of 90 isolates infecting citrus and coffee plants in Brazil, based on a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the gyrB sequence. A new single-nucleotide primer extension (SNuPE) protocol was designed for rapid identification of Xfp according to the host source. The protocol proved to be robust for the prediction of the Xfp host source in blind tests using DNA from cultures of the bacterium, infected plants, and insect vectors allowed to feed on Xfp- infected citrus plants. AMOVA and STRUCTURE analyses of microsatellite data separated most Xfp populations on the basis of their host source, indicating that they were genetically distinct. The combined use of the SNaPshot protocol and three previously developed multilocus SSR markers showed that two haplotypes and distinct isolates of Xfp infect citrus and coffee in Brazil and that multiple, genetically different isolates can be present in a single orchard or infect a single tree. This combined approach will be very useful in studies of the epidemiology of Xfp- induced diseases, host specificity of bacterial genotypes, the occurrence of Xfp host jumping, vector feeding habits, etc., in economically important cultivated plants or weed host reservoirs of Xfp in Brazil and elsewhere [Int Microbiol 2015; 18(1):13-24].We acknowledge financial support from the EU grant ICA4-CT-2001-10005 and an ‘Intramural Project’ to B. B. Landa from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), as well as CNPq for a scholarship to J. R. S. Lopes in Brazil.Peer reviewe

Synthetic approaches to a challenging and unusual structure—an amino-pyrrolidine guanine core

Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV, which is financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES (UIDB/50006/2020). Grant number SFRH/BD/136692/2018 from FCT/MCTES.The synthesis of an unreported 2-aminopyrrolidine-1-carboxamidine unit is here described for the first time. This unusual and promising structure was attained through the oxidative decarboxylation of amino acids using the pair of reagents, silver(I)/peroxydisulfate (Ag(I)/S2O82−) followed by intermolecular (in the case of L-proline derivative) and intramolecular trapping (in the case of acyl L-arginine) by N-nucleophiles. The L-proline approach has a broader scope for the synthesis of 2-aminopyrrolidine-1-carboxamidine derivatives, whereas the intramolecular cyclization afforded by the L-acylarginines, when applied, results in higher yields. The former allowed the first synthesis of cernumidine, a natural alkaloid isolated in 2011 from Solanum cernuum Vell, as its racemic form.publishersversionpublishe

Pesquisa e desenvolvimento de tecnologias de visão computacional para o reconhecimento de passageiro frontal com cinto de segurança

Este artigo descreve um método automatizado para o reconhecimento do uso de cinto de segurança por ocupantes frontais de automóveis. O software faz uso de conceitos de Visão Computacional em cada uma de suas etapas: Subtração de Background, Reconhecimento de Automóvel, Reconhecimento de Para-brisa, Reconhecimento de Passageiro Frontal e Reconhecimento de Cinto de Segurança. O método mostrou bons resultados ao analisar quadros com características favoráveis, reconhecendo corretamente o passageiro frontal e a utilização do cinto pelo mesmo em 75% dos casos

Chemerin receptor blockade improves vascular function in diabetic obese mice via redox-sensitive- and Akt-dependent pathways

Chemerin and its G protein-coupled receptor [chemerin receptor 23 (ChemR23)] have been associated with endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and insulin resistance. However, the role of chemerin on insulin signaling in the vasculature is still unknown. We aimed to determine whether chemerin reduces vascular insulin signaling and whether there is interplay between chemerin/ChemR23, insulin resistance, and vascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Molecular and vascular mechanisms were probed in mesenteric arteries and cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from C57BL/6J, nondiabetic lean db/m, and diabetic obese db/db mice as well as in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs). Chemerin decreased insulin-induced vasodilatation in C57BL/6J mice, an effect prevented by CCX832 (ChemR23 antagonist) treatment. In VSMCs, chemerin, via oxidative stress- and ChemR23-dependent mechanisms, decreased insulin-induced Akt phosphorylation, glucose transporter 4 translocation to the membrane, and glucose uptake. In HMECs, chemerin decreased insulin-activated nitric oxide signaling. AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylation was reduced by chemerin in both HMECs and VSMCs. CCX832 treatment of db/db mice decreased body weight, insulin, and glucose levels as well as vascular oxidative stress. CCX832 also partially restored vascular insulin responses in db/db and high-fat diet-fed mice. Our novel in vivo findings highlight chemerin/ChemR23 as a promising therapeutic target to limit insulin resistance and vascular complications associated with obesity-related diabetes

Fast and efficient method to evaluate the potential of eutectic solvents to dissolve lignocellulosic components

The application of eutectic solvents (ESs) in lignocellulosic biomass fractionation has been demonstrated as a promising approach to accomplish efficient and environmentally friendly biomass valorization. In general, ESs are a combination of two components, a hydrogen-bonding donor and a hydrogen-bonding acceptor, in which the melting point of the mixture is lower than that of the individual components. However, there are plenty of possible combinations to form ESs with the potential to apply in biomass processing. Therefore, the development of fast and effective screening methods to find combinations capable to dissolve the main biomass components—namely cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin—is highly required. An accurate and simple technique based on optical microscopy with or without polarized lenses was used in this study to quickly screen and monitor the dissolution of cellulose, xylose (a monomer of hemicelluloses), and lignin in several ESs. The dissolution of these solutes were investigated in different choline-chloride-based ESs (ChCl:UREA, ChCl:PROP, ChCl:EtGLY, ChCl:OXA, ChCl:GLY, ChCl:LAC). Small amounts of solute and solvent with temperature control were applied and the dissolution process was monitored in real time. The results obtained in this study showed that cellulose was insoluble in these ESs, while lignin and xylose were progressively dissolved.publishe