Black hole gas in TeV-gravity models

In a plasma at temperature close to the fundamental scale a small fraction of particles will experience transplanckian collisions that may result in microscopic black holes (BHs). We study the dynamics of a system (a black hole gas) defined by radiation at a given temperature coupled to a distribution of BHs of different mass. Our analysis includes the production of BHs in photon-photon collisions, BH evaporation, the absorption of radiation, collisions of two BHs to give a larger one, and the effects of the expansion. We find that the system may follow two different generic paths depending on the initial temperature of the plasma.Comment: 4 pages. Talk given by M.B. in ERE-200

Black hole gas in the early universe

We consider the early universe at temperatures close to the fundamental scale of gravity (M_D << M_Planck) in models with extra dimensions. At such temperatures a small fraction of particles will experience transplanckian collisions that may result in microscopic black holes (BHs). BHs colder than the environment will gain mass, and as they grow their temperature drops further. We study the dynamics of a system (a black hole gas) defined by radiation at a given temperature coupled to a distribution of BHs of different mass. Our analysis includes the production of BHs in photon-photon collisions, BH evaporation, the absorption of radiation, collisions of two BHs to give a larger one, and the effects of the expansion. We show that the system may follow two different generic paths depending on the initial temperature of the plasma.Comment: 17 pages, version to appear in JCA

Determinación de la intensidad y el gasto calórico de la actividad física durante el recreo escolar en niños y niñas de primaria

La obesidad infantil y el sobrepeso son un problema mundial de salud pública. La actividad física (AF) durante el recreo escolar puede ayudar a disminuir este problema. Por ello, el objetivo principal del estudio fue conocer el gasto calórico y la intensidad de las actividades físicas que se realizan durante el tiempo de recreo escolar en los niños y las niñas de primaria. Participaron 212 alumnos de nivel primaria de 4, 5 y 6 año (110 niños y 102 niñas) de diferentes escuelas de Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua, México). El tiempo, la cantidad y la intensidad de la AF durante el recreo se registró por acelerometría. Se registraron además el peso, la estatura, la presión arterial y se calculó el índice de masa corporal (IMC). La capacidad aerobia se estimó por medio del test de course navette. Los resultados mostraron que el IMC promedio de 19.8 de los niños se encuentra en el rango de sobrepeso, el IMC promedio de las niñas de 19.5 se encuentra en la clasificación de normal. El consumo de oxígeno máximo fue diferente entre los grupos, mayor en los niños, pero ambos se encuentran dentro de los parámetros saludables. Las niñas y los niños tienen afinidad por actividades de distinta intensidad durante el recreo, mayor porcentaje de tiempo de AF ligera en niñas y mayor porcentaje de tiempo de AF moderada en niños. A pesar de ello, el gasto calórico en el recreo no presentó diferencia significativa entre los niños y niñasChildhood obesity and overweight are a global public health problem. Physical activity (PA) during school recess can help decrease this problem. Therefore, the main objective of the study was to know caloric use and the intensity of the physical activities that are carried out during the school recess in primary school children. 212 primary students of 4, 5 and 6 years (110 boys and 102 girls) from different schools of Ciudad Juárez (Chihuahua, Mexico) participated. Time, quantity and intensity of PA during the recess was recorded by accelerometry. Weight, height and blood pressure was also recorded and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The aerobic capacity was estimated through the course navette test. The results showed that the average BMI of 19.8 boys were in the range of overweight, the average BMI of 19.5 girls were in the normal classification. The maximum oxygen consumption was different between the groups, higher in the boys, but both are within the health parameters. Boys and girls have affinity for activities of different intensity during the recess, girls have a higher percentage of light PA time and boys have a higher percentage of moderate PA time. In spite of this the caloric expenditure during the recess did not show a significative difference between boys and girls

Palatini versus metric formulation in higher curvature gravity

We compare the metric and the Palatini formalism to obtain the Einstein equations in the presence of higher-order curvature corrections that consist of contractions of the Riemann tensor, but not of its derivatives. We find that there is a class of theories for which the two formalisms are equivalent. This class contains the Palatini version of Lovelock theory, but also more Lagrangians that are not Lovelock, but respect certain symmetries. For the general case, we find that imposing the Levi-Civita connection as an Ansatz, the Palatini formalism is contained within the metric formalism, in the sense that any solution of the former also appears as a solution of the latter, but not necessarily the other way around. Finally we give the conditions the solutions of the metric equations should satisfy in order to solve the Palatini equations.Comment: 13 pages, latex. V2: reference added, major changes in section 3, conclusions partially correcte

Transient cardiac dysfunction but elevated cardiac and kidney biomarkers 24 h following an ultra-distance running event in Mexican Tarahumara.

BACKGROUND: The Mexican Tarahumara are accustomed to running ultra-distance races. No data exist on the acute physiological changes following ultra-distance running and physiological-biomarker associations in this population. Thus, we aimed to investigate the acute impact (≤ 24 h) on functional and biochemical changes of the cardiac muscle and biochemical changes associated with kidney function following a 63-km ultra-distance race with an altitude difference of 1800 m in Mexican Tarahumara athletes. METHODS: Ten Tarahumara male athletes (mean ± SD age = 29.9 ± 6.6 years) volunteered to participate in the study. VO2max was assessed by a sub-maximal step test individually calibrated combining heart rate and accelerometry. Standard transthoracic echocardiography methodology and venipuncture blood tests were carried out at four time points: pre-race, immediately post-race, 6 h, and 24 h post-race. RESULTS: Estimated mean VO2max was 54.5 (± 8.8) mL O2 min-1 kg-1 and average physiological activity intensity was 746 (± 143) J min-1 kg -1 (~ 11.5 METs). When compared to pre-race values, significant changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and LV end-diastolic volume (- 15%, p < 0.001 for both parameters), cardiac output (39%, p < 0.001), and maximal longitudinal velocity (- 13%, p < 0.009) were seen post-race with LVEF also being decreased at < 6 h post-race (- 8%, p < 0.014). Plasma biomarkers mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide, copeptin-ultra sensitive, and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T remained significantly elevated at 24 h post-race, and the two latter were inversely associated with LVEF (p < 0.04). Kidney dysfunction was indicated by increased post-race copeptin-ultra sensitive. CONCLUSIONS: The athletes participating in this study had acute transient cardiac dysfunction as assessed by echocardiography but elevated cardiac and kidney biomarkers at 24 h following a 63-km race with extreme altitude variation

Effects of a moderate intake of beer on markers of hydration after exercise in the heat: a crossover study

Background: Exercise in the heat causes important water and electrolytes losses through perspiration. Optimal rehydration is crucial to facilitate the recuperation process after exercise. The aim of our study was to examine whether a moderate beer intake as part of the rehydration has any negative effect protocol after a short but dehydrating bout of exercise in the heat.Methods: Sixteen active male (VO2max, 56 ± 4 mL/kg/min), were included in a crossover study and performed a dehydrating exercise (≤1 h running, 60 %VO2max) twice and 3 weeks apart, in a hot laboratory setting (35 ± 1 °C, humidity 60 ± 2 %). During the two hours following the exercise bouts participants consumed either mineral water ad-libitum (W) or up to 660 ml regular beer followed by water ad-libitum (BW). Body composition, hematological and serum parameters, fluid balance and urine excretion were assessed before, after exercise and after rehydration.Results: Body mass (BM) decreased (both ~ 2.4 %) after exercise in both trials. After rehydration, BM and fat free mass significantly increased although BM did not return to baseline levels (BM, 72.6 ± 6.7 to 73.6 ± 6.9; fat free mass, 56.9 ± 4.7 to 57.5 ± 4.5, no differences BW vs W). Beer intake did not adversely affect any measured parameter. Fluid balance and urine excretion values did not differ between the rehydration strategies.Conclusions: After exercise and subsequent water losses, a moderate beer (regular) intake has no deleterious effects on markers of hydration in active individuals.This study was partially supported by the “Centro de Información Cerveza y Salud” (n° C-2534-00)

Liver fibrosis secondary to bile duct injury: correlation of Smad7 with TGF-β and extracellular matrix proteins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liver fibrosis is the result of continuous liver injury stemming from different etiological factors. Bile duct injury induces an altered expression of TGF-β, which has an important role in liver fibrosis because this cytokine induces the expression of target genes such as collagens, PAI-1, TIMPs, and others that lead to extracellular matrix deposition. Smad7 is the principal inhibitor that regulates the target gene transcription of the TGF-β signaling. The aim of the study was to determine whether Smad7 mRNA expression correlates with the gene expression of <it>TGF-β, Col I</it>, <it>Col III</it>, <it>Col IV</it>, or <it>PAI-1 </it>in liver fibrosis secondary to bile duct injury (BDI).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum TGF-β concentration was higher in BDI patients (39 296 pg/ml) than in liver donors (9008 pg/ml). Morphometric analysis of liver sections showed 41.85% of tissue contained fibrotic deposits in BDI patients. mRNA expression of Smad7, Col I, and PAI-1 was also significantly higher (<it>P </it>< 0.05) in patients with BDI than in controls. Smad7 mRNA expression correlated significantly with TGF-β concentration, Col I and Col III expression, and the amount of fibrosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We found augmented serum concentration of TGF-β and an increase in the percentage of fibrotic tissue in the liver of BDI patients. Contrary to expected results, the 6-fold increase in <it>Smad7 </it>expression did not inhibit the expression of <it>TGF-β, collagens</it>, and <it>PAI-1</it>. We also observed greater expression of Col I and Col III mRNA in BDI patients and significant correlations between their expression and TGF-β concentration and Smad7 mRNA expression.</p

La cerveza como bebida rehidratante después del ejercicio. Efectividad y seguridad para el consumidor

Tesis Univ. Granada. Departamento de Fisiología. Leída el 26 de mayo de 201