Generalized transversality conditions for the Hahn quantum variational calculus

We prove optimality conditions for generalized quantum variational problems with a Lagrangian depending on the free end-points. Problems of calculus of variations of this type cannot be solved using the classical theory

Antimicrobial activity of an L-amino acid oxidase isolated from Bothrops leucurus snake venom

Some snake venom proteins present enzymatic activities, such as L-amino acid oxidase (LAAO). The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of Bothrops leucurus total venom (BleuTV) and its fraction LAAO (BleuLAAO) on bacteria, yeast, and promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania chagasi, and epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. BleuTV was isolated with a Protein Pack 5PW® (Waters Corporation, USA), and several fractions were obtained. BleuLAAO was purified to high molecular homogeneity, and its N-terminal amino acid sequence shared a high degree of amino acid conservation with other LAAOs. BleuTV inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth in a dose-dependent manner, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25 μg/mL, which corresponded to its minimum lethal concentration (MLC). BleuTV also inhibited the growth of promastigote forms of L. chagasi and L. amazonensis, with respective IC50 values of 1.94 μg/mL and 5.49 μg/mL. Furthermore, it repressed T. cruzi growth with an IC50 of 1.14 μg/mL. However, BleuLAAO did not inhibit the growth of the microorganisms studied and was not toxic to macrophages. BleuTV had low toxicity against macrophages at the concentrations studied. In conclusion, whole venom from Bothrops leucurus inhibited the growth of some microorganisms, including S. aureus, Leishmania sp., and T. cruzi

Renal- and calcium-dependent vascular effects of Polybia paulista wasp venom

In the present study, the effects of Polybia paulista venom (PPV) on renal and vascular tissues were investigated. Isolated kidneys perfused with PPV (1 and 3 μg/mL) had increased perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, and glomerular filtration rate; and reduced sodium tubular transport. Histological evaluation demonstrated deposits of proteins in Bowman's space and tubular lumen, and focal areas of necrosis. The venom promoted a cytotoxic effect on Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. A significant increase in lactic dehydrogenase levels was observed in response to venom exposure. In isolated mesenteric vascular beds, pressure and vascular resistance augmented in a dose-dependent manner. PPV increased the contractility of aortic rings maintained under basal tension. This contractile response was inhibited when preparations were maintained in Ca2+-free medium. Likewise, verapamil, a voltage-gated calcium channel blocker, also inhibited the contractile response. In this study, phentolamine, a blocker of α-adrenergic receptor blocker, significantly reduced the contractile effect of PPV in the aortic ring. In conclusion, PPV produced nephrotoxicity, which suggests a direct effect on necrotic cellular death in renal tubule cells. The vascular contractile effect of PPV appears to involve calcium influx through voltage-gated calcium channels via adrenergic regulation

Speech therapy in food transition from probe to breast in newborn in kangaroo method

Objetivo: Verificar a relação entre idade gestacional e tempo de intervenção fonoaudiológica para início da alimentação via oral, quando utilizada a técnica de transição alimentar da sonda direta para o peito. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo do prontuário médico/fonoaudiológico de 38 recém-nascidos de risco em Unidade Canguru. Foram coletados os seguintes dados: idade gestacional ao nascimento e corrigida, dias de vida, peso ao nascimento e atual, tipo e duração da intervenção fonoaudiológica, volume de dieta por sonda. Utilizou-se o tempo de uso de antibióticos e o suporte ventilatório como critérios de divisão dos recém-nascidos em dois grupos (G1 e G2). Na análise estatística, aplicou-se o teste não paramétrico de Mann-Whitney e o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. Resultados: O tempo de intervenção para os recém-nascidos que receberem alta fonoaudiológica não apresentou resultados significativos entre os grupos (G1= 9,35 dias e G2= 10,12 dias), embora a hipótese inicial deste estudo fosse a de que os recém-nascidos do G1 necessitariam de menor período de atendimento fonoaudiológico que os do G2. Houve diferença estatisticamente significativa para o peso ao nascimento, entre G1 (1563,53 g) e G2 (1409,62 g). Conclusão: Quando utilizada a técnica de transição alimentar da sonda direta para o peito, em recém-nascidos de risco com média de idade gestacional semelhante e mesmo tempo de intervenção fonoaudiológica, os bebês demonstraram aptidão para coordenar os movimentos de sucção/respiração/deglutição, e consequentemente, a amamentação efetiva em seio materno exclusivo. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: Purpose: Verify the relationship between gestational age and duration of speech therapy to start oral feeding, when used the technique of feeding transition of the probe directly to the chest. Methods: This is a study of newborn medical/speech records of 38 risk in Kangaroo unit. Were collected: gestational age at birth and corrected days of life, birth weight and current, type and duration of speech therapy, enteral feeding volume. We used time use of antibiotics and ventilatory support as criteria for division of newborns into two groups (G1 and G2). At the statistical analysis was applied the nonparametric test of Mann-Whitney and the Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: Intervention time for newborns were discharged speech showed no significant results between groups (G1 = 9.35 days and G2 = 10.12 days), although the initial hypothesis of this study was that the newborn G1 would require fewer days of speech therapy than the G2. There was statistically significant difference in birth weight between G1 (1563.53 g) and G2 (1409.62 g). Conclusion: It was observed that both groups started speech therapy and oral feeding practically medium of similar gestational ages and both speech intervention, demonstrating ability to coordinate sucking movements/breathing/swallowing, and consequently the effective and exclusive breastfeeding

Measurement of the inclusive and dijet cross-sections of b-jets in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the ATLAS detector

The inclusive and dijet production cross-sections have been measured for jets containing b-hadrons (b-jets) in proton-proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, using the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The measurements use data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 34 pb^-1. The b-jets are identified using either a lifetime-based method, where secondary decay vertices of b-hadrons in jets are reconstructed using information from the tracking detectors, or a muon-based method where the presence of a muon is used to identify semileptonic decays of b-hadrons inside jets. The inclusive b-jet cross-section is measured as a function of transverse momentum in the range 20 < pT < 400 GeV and rapidity in the range |y| < 2.1. The bbbar-dijet cross-section is measured as a function of the dijet invariant mass in the range 110 < m_jj < 760 GeV, the azimuthal angle difference between the two jets and the angular variable chi in two dijet mass regions. The results are compared with next-to-leading-order QCD predictions. Good agreement is observed between the measured cross-sections and the predictions obtained using POWHEG + Pythia. MC@NLO + Herwig shows good agreement with the measured bbbar-dijet cross-section. However, it does not reproduce the measured inclusive cross-section well, particularly for central b-jets with large transverse momenta.Comment: 10 pages plus author list (21 pages total), 8 figures, 1 table, final version published in European Physical Journal