Neutrino mixing and masses in a left-right model with mirror fermions

In the framework of a left-right model containing mirror fermions with gauge group SU(3)$_{C} \otimes SU(2)_{L} \otimes SU(2)_{R} \otimes U(1)_{Y^\prime}$, we estimate the neutrino masses, which are found to be consistent with their experimental bounds and hierarchy. We evaluate the decay rates of the Lepton Flavor Violation (LFV) processes $\mu \rightarrow e \gamma$, $\tau \rightarrow \mu \gamma$ and $\tau \rightarrow e\gamma$. We obtain upper limits for the flavor-changing branching ratios in agreement with their present experimental bounds. We also estimate the decay rates of heavy Majorana neutrinos in the channels $N \rightarrow W^{\pm} l^{\mp}$, $N \rightarrow Z \nu_{l}$ and $N \rightarrow H \nu_{l}$, which are roughly equal for large values of the heavy neutrino mass. Starting from the most general Majorana neutrino mass matrix, the smallness of active neutrino masses turns out from the interplay of the hierarchy of the involved scales and the double application of seesaw mechanism. An appropriate parameterization on the structure of the neutrino mass matrix imposing a symmetric mixing of electron neutrino with muon and tau neutrinos leads to Tri-bimaximal mixing matrix for light neutrinos.Comment: Accepted by European Physical Journal

Early alterations in vascular contractility associated to changes in fatty acid composition and oxidative stress markers in perivascular adipose tissue

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To test the early effect of fructose-induced changes in fatty acid composition and oxidative stress markers in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) upon vascular contractility.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Adult male Wistar rats were fed a commercial diet without (CD) or with 10% fructose (FRD) in the drinking water for 3 weeks. We measured plasma metabolic parameters, lipid composition and oxidative stress markers in aortic PVAT. Vascular contractility was measured in aortic rings sequentially, stimulated with serotonin (5-HT) and high K⁺-induced depolarization using intact and thereafter PVAT-deprived rings.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Comparable body weights were recorded in both groups. FRD rats had increased plasma triglyceride and fructosamine levels. Their PVAT had an increased saturated to mono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acid ratio, a significant decrease in total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities and in the total content of glutathione. Conversely, lipid peroxidation (TBARS), nitric oxide content, and gluthathione reductase activity were significantly higher, indicating an increase in oxidative stress. In aortic rings, removal of PVAT increased serotonin-induced contractions, but the effect was significantly lower in rings from FRD rats. This effect was no longer observed when the two contractions were performed in PVAT-deprived rings. PVAT did not affect the contractions triggered by high K⁺-induced depolarization either in CD or FRD rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>FRD induces multiple metabolic and endocrine systemic alterations which also alter PVAT and the vascular relaxant properties of this tissue. The changes in PVAT would affect its paracrine modulation of vascular function.</p

Maximal Commutative Subalgebras Invariant for CP-Maps: (Counter-)Examples

We solve, mainly by counterexamples, many natural questions regarding maximal commutative subalgebras invariant under CP-maps or semigroups of CP-maps on a von Neumann algebra. In particular, we discuss the structure of the generators of norm continuous semigroups on B(G) leaving a maximal commutative subalgebra invariant and show that there exists Markov CP-semigroups on M_d without invariant maximal commutative subalgebras for any d>2.Comment: After the elemenitation in Version 2 of a false class of examples in Version 1, we now provide also correct examples for unital CP-maps and Markov semigroups on M_d for d>2 without invariant masa

Neutrino masses and mixing parameters in a left-right model with mirror fermions

In this work we consider a left-right model containing mirror fermions with gauge group SU(3)$_{C} \otimes SU(2)_{L} \otimes SU(2)_{R} \otimes U(1)_{Y^\prime}$. The model has several free parameters which here we have calculated by using the recent values for the squared-neutrino mass differences. Lower bound for the mirror vacuum expectation value helped us to obtain crude estimations for some of these parameters. Also we estimate the order of magnitude of the masses of the standard and mirror neutrinos.Comment: 13 pages, version submitted to European Physical Journal

Massive Clumps in the NGC 6334 Star Forming Region

We report observations of dust continuum emission at 1.2 mm toward the star forming region NGC 6334 made with the SEST SIMBA bolometer array. The observations cover an area of $\sim 2$ square degrees with approximately uniform noise. We detected 181 clumps spanning almost three orders of magnitude in mass (3\Msun$-6\times10^3$ \Msun) and with sizes in the range 0.1--1.0 pc. We find that the clump mass function $dN/d\log M$ is well fit with a power law of the mass with exponent -0.6 (or equivalently $dN/dM \propto M^{-1.6}$). The derived exponent is similar to those obtained from molecular line emission surveys and is significantly different from that of the stellar initial mass function. We investigated changes in the mass spectrum by changing the assumptions on the temperature distribution of the clumps and on the contribution of free-free emission to the 1.2 mm emission, and found little changes on the exponent. The Cumulative Mass Distribution Function is also analyzed giving consistent results in a mass range excluding the high-mass end where a power-law fit is no longer valid. The masses and sizes of the clumps observed in NGC 6334 indicate that they are not direct progenitors of stars and that the process of fragmentation determines the distribution of masses later on or occurs at smaller spatial scales. The spatial distribution of the clumps in NGC 6334 reveals clustering which is strikingly similar to that exhibited by young stars in other star forming regions. A power law fit to the surface density of companions gives $\Sigma\propto \theta^{-0.62}$.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, 4 tables. To appear in the Astrophysical Journa

Azadirachtin effectivity in embryogenesis inhibition of Aegorhinus superciliosus (Guérin) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Raspberry is cultivated in the southern part of Chile mainly for export. Its fruit is severely affected by the raspberry weevil (RW) Aegorhinus superciliosus (Guérin), a Curculionidae native of Chile. Little is known about the biology RW and control measures. Conventional insecticides have been tried against the adult, however, their use has been hindered in the practice by the coincidence of the presence of the mature insect with flowering and fructification periods. Entomopathogenic fungi are being incorporated lately, but still not massively used. This work aimed to evaluate azadirachtin, using the commercial product Neem as a growth regulator. Six doses of Neem, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 ml/L of water, were applied under laboratory conditions, maintaining a check with no insecticide. RW adults stayed confined on the foliage of raspberry bushes treated with Neem during five days and in thirty days during egglaying. Number of eggs, number of emerged larva, percentage of born larva, effectiveness; effective half dose (DE50) and ninety effective dose (DE90) were determined. Neem treatments had significantly lower egg-laying amount, lower emergence of larvae and greater effectiveness, compared to the untreated check. The lowest egg-laying number was obtained with 2 ml of Neem, however, 5 ml of Neem resulted in the smallest number and percent of emerged larvae. DE50 and DE90 were found to be 0.0290 and 8.923 ml of Neem for liter of water, respectively. It was concluded that Neem can significantly alter egg-laying and embryogenesis of the RW.La frambuesa es una fruta de exportación, cuyo cultivo en el sur de Chile es afectado seriamente por el curculiónido Aegorhinus superciliosus (Guérin) o cabrito del frambueso (CF), insecto nativo de Chile. La biología del CF es poco conocida y también su control. Se ha intentado reducir al adulto con insecticidas convencionales; sin embargo, en la práctica se dificulta su uso por coincidir la presencia del insecto adulto con periodos de floración y cosecha de fruta. Recientemente se están incorporando hongos entomopatógenos, pero aún no se aplican masivamente. En este trabajo se experimentó con azadirachtina, utilizando el producto comercial Neem como regulador de crecimiento. Bajo condiciones de laboratorio se aplicaron seis dosis de Neem: 1 ml; 2 ml; 3 ml; 4 ml; 5 ml; 6 ml de Neem por litro de agua. Además, de un testigo sin insecticida. Los adultos del CF se mantuvieron confinados con follaje de frambueso tratados con Neem durante cinco días y en postura por treinta días. Durante este periodo se determinó: cantidad de huevos, cantidad de larvas emergidas, porcentaje de larvas nacidas, grado de eficacia, dosis media efectiva (DE50) y dosis noventa efectiva (DE90). Los tratamientos con Neem fueron significativamente diferentes al testigo, presentando menor postura, menor emergencia de larvas y mayor grado de efectividad. Con 2 ml de Neem se obtuvo la menor postura; sin embargo, la dosis de 5 ml de Neem presentó la menor cantidad de larvas emergidas y el menor porcentaje de emergencia de larvas. La DE50 se determinó en 0,0290 ml de Neem y la DE90 en 8,923 ml de Neem por litro de agua. Con los antecedentes expuestos se concluyó que el Neem tiene un efecto que altera la postura y la embriogénesis del CF

Music as soft power: the electoral use of spotify

The changes brought by new technologies and the ensuing rapid development of the communication field have resulted in an increasing number of studies on politicians’ use of the internet and social media. However, while election campaigns have been the predominant research area in political communication scholarship, music has not yet been taken as an object of study alongside spectacularisation and politainment. Aside from some preliminary studies, systematic research on music in politics is scarce. The literature holds that music is a universal language. Music in politics can therefore be deemed to be an identification tool that can help politicians connect with voters and bring together positions between the different actors of international relations. This is an exploratory study about the use of music in political campaigning. It is focused on the role played by the Spotify playlists created by the main political parties in recent election campaigns in Spain. The initial hypothesis is that some of the candidates strategically selected songs to be shared with their followers. A quantitative content analysis (N = 400) of some Spotify playlists showed that there were significant differences in the selection of songs among the different political parties. This research contributes to the understanding of how Spotify has been used for electoral campaigning, as well as shedding some light on the current communication literature on music and politics

Effect of Pioglitazone on the Fructose-Induced Abdominal Adipose Tissue Dysfunction

Aim. To test the potential role of PPARγ in the endocrine abdominal tissue dysfunction induced by feeding normal rats with a fructose rich diet (FRD) during three weeks. Methodology. Adult normal male rats received a standard commercial diet (CD) or FRD, (10% in drinking water) without or with pioglitazone (PIO) (i.p. 0.25mg/Kg BW/day; CD-PIO and FRD-PIO). Thereafter, we measured circulating metabolic, endocrine, and oxidative stress (OS) markers, abdominal adipose tissue (AAT) mass, leptin (LEP) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) tissue content/expression, and leptin release by isolated adipocytes incubated with different concentrations of insulin. Results. Plasma glucose, insulin, triglyceride, TBARS, LEP, and PAI-1 levels were higher in FRD rats; PIO coadministration fully prevented all these increments. AAT adipocytes from FRD rats were larger, secreted a higher amount of LEP, and displayed decreased sensitivity to insulin stimulation; these effects were significantly ameliorated by PIO. Whereas AAT LEP and PAI-1 (mRNA) concentrations increased significantly in FRD rats, those of insulin-receptor-substrate- (IRS-) 1 and IRS-2 were reduced. PIO coadministration prevented FRD effects on LEP, PAI-1, and IRS-2 (fully) and IRS-1 (partially) mRNAs in AAT. Conclusion. PPARγ would play a relevant role in the development of the FRD-induced metabolicendocrine dysfunction