Generalized cosmological term in D=4 supergravity from a new AdS-Lorentz superalgebra

A new supersymmetrization of the so-called AdS-Lorentz algebra is presented. It involves two fermionic generators and is obtained by performing an abelian semigroup expansion of the superalgebra osp(4|1). The peculiar properties of the aforesaid expansion method are then exploited to construct a D=4 supergravity action involving a generalized supersymmetric cosmological term in a geometric way, only from the curvatures of the novel superalgebra. The action obtained with this procedure is a MacDowell-Mansouri like action. Gauge invariance and supersymmetry of the action are also analyzed.Comment: 25 pages. This is a preprint of the article published in Eur. Phys. J. C 78 (2018) no.11, 945. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1140/epjc/s10052-018-6421-

Non-relativistic spin-3 symmetries in 2+1 dimensions from expanded/extended Nappi-Witten algebras

We show that infinite families of non-relativistic spin-$3$ symmetries in $2+1$ dimensions, which include higher-spin extensions of the Bargmann, Newton-Hooke, non-relativistic Maxwell, and non-relativistic AdS-Lorentz algebras, can be obtained as Lie algebra expansions of two different spin-$3$ extensions of the Nappi-Witten symmetry. These higher-spin Nappi-Witten algebras, in turn, are obtained by means of In\"on\"u-Wigner contractions applied to suitable direct product extensions of $\mathfrak{sl}(3,\mathbb{R})$. Conversely, we show that the same result can be obtained by considering contractions of expanded $\mathfrak{sl}(3,\mathbb{R})$ algebras. The method can be used to define non-relativistic higher-spin Chern-Simon gravity theories in $2+1$ dimensions in a systematic way.Comment: 44 pages, typos corrected, references adde

Molecular phylogeny of atractus (Serpentes, dipsadidae), with emphasis on Ecuadorian species and the description of three new taxa

Volume: 661Start Page: 91End Page: 12

Hypovitaminosis D and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents with severe obesity

Background/Objectives. Obesity is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and with Vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between 25(OH)D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents with severe obesity. Subjects/Methods. A cross-sectional clinical assessment (body mass index, fat mass index, fat-free mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and blood pressure) and metabolic study (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, calcium, phosphorous, calcidiol, and PTH) were carried out in 236 adolescents diagnosed with severe obesity (BMI z-score > 3.0, 99th percentile), aged 10.2–15.8 years. The criteria of the US Endocrine Society were used for the definition of Vitamin D status. Results. Subjects with Vitamin D deficiency had significantly elevated values (p < 0.05) for BMI z-score, waist circumference, waist z-score, body fat percentage, fat mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and PTH than subjects with normal Vitamin D status. There was a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) of serum 25(OH)D levels with body fat percentage, FMI, systolic BP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and PTH. Conclusions. Low Vitamin D levels in adolescents with severe obesity were significantly associated with some cardiometabolic risk factors, including body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass index, high blood pressure, impaired lipid profile, and insulin resistance

A bilateral whitish lesion on the mucosa of the cheek

An 8-year-old girl with no medical history presented with a bilateral whitish lesion on the mucosa of the cheek, evident since early childhood. There was no relevant family history, and her parents had not presented similar lesions. They reported a progressive growth of the lesion in the last months, for which she had been evaluated by maxillofacial surgery, the lesion being oriented as a frictional keratosis. However, the use of occlusal splint was not associated with any improvement. She was otherwise asymptomatic. Physical examination revealed a bilateral, whitish, well-demarcated cheek mucosal plaque, which partially coincided with the dental occlusion line. The lesion did not detach with scratching (Figure 1). No other alterations were observed in the oral cavity or in the systematic physical examination

4to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

Este volumen acoge la memoria académica de la Cuarta edición del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2017, desarrollado entre el 29 de noviembre y el 1 de diciembre de 2017 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana (UPS) en su sede de Guayaquil. El Congreso ofreció un espacio para la presentación, difusión e intercambio de importantes investigaciones nacionales e internacionales ante la comunidad universitaria que se dio cita en el encuentro. El uso de herramientas tecnológicas para la gestión de los trabajos de investigación como la plataforma Open Conference Systems y la web de presentación del Congreso http://citis.blog.ups.edu.ec/, hicieron de CITIS 2017 un verdadero referente entre los congresos que se desarrollaron en el país. La preocupación de nuestra Universidad, de presentar espacios que ayuden a generar nuevos y mejores cambios en la dimensión humana y social de nuestro entorno, hace que se persiga en cada edición del evento la presentación de trabajos con calidad creciente en cuanto a su producción científica. Quienes estuvimos al frente de la organización, dejamos plasmado en estas memorias académicas el intenso y prolífico trabajo de los días de realización del Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad al alcance de todos y todas

On the Maxwell supergravity and flat limit in 2 + 1 dimensions

The construction of the three-dimensional Chern–Simons supergravity theory invariant under the minimal Maxwell superalgebra is presented. We obtain a supergravity action without cosmological constant term characterized by three coupling constants. We also show that the Maxwell supergravity presented here appears as a vanishing cosmological constant limit of a minimal AdS–Lorentz supergravity. The flat limit is applied at the level of the superalgebra, Chern–Simons action, supersymmetry transformation laws and field equations

Hypovitaminosis D and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents with severe obesity

Background/Objectives. Obesity is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and with Vitamin D deficiency. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between 25(OH)D concentrations and cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents with severe obesity. Subjects/Methods. A cross-sectional clinical assessment (body mass index, fat mass index, fat-free mass index, waist-to-height ratio, and blood pressure) and metabolic study (triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, calcium, phosphorous, calcidiol, and PTH) were carried out in 236 adolescents diagnosed with severe obesity (BMI z-score > 3.0, 99th percentile), aged 10.2–15.8 years. The criteria of the US Endocrine Society were used for the definition of Vitamin D status. Results. Subjects with Vitamin D deficiency had significantly elevated values (p < 0.05) for BMI z-score, waist circumference, waist z-score, body fat percentage, fat mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and PTH than subjects with normal Vitamin D status. There was a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) of serum 25(OH)D levels with body fat percentage, FMI, systolic BP, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, leptin, and PTH. Conclusions. Low Vitamin D levels in adolescents with severe obesity were significantly associated with some cardiometabolic risk factors, including body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass index, high blood pressure, impaired lipid profile, and insulin resistance

A bilateral whitish lesion on the mucosa of the cheek

An 8-year-old girl with no medical history presented with a bilateral whitish lesion on the mucosa of the cheek, evident since early childhood. There was no relevant family history, and her parents had not presented similar lesions. They reported a progressive growth of the lesion in the last months, for which she had been evaluated by maxillofacial surgery, the lesion being oriented as a frictional keratosis. However, the use of occlusal splint was not associated with any improvement. She was otherwise asymptomatic. Physical examination revealed a bilateral, whitish, well-demarcated cheek mucosal plaque, which partially coincided with the dental occlusion line. The lesion did not detach with scratching (Figure 1). No other alterations were observed in the oral cavity or in the systematic physical examination