Non-minimal Maxwell-Chern-Simons theory and the composite Fermion model

The magnetic field redefinition in Jain's composite fermion model for the fractional quantum Hall effect is shown to be effectively described by a mean-field approximation of a model containing a Maxwell-Chern-Simons gauge field non-minimally coupled to matter. Also an explicit non-relativistic limit of the non-minimal (2+1)D Dirac equation is derived.Comment: 10 pages, no figure

Planar Supersymmetric Quantum Mechanics of a Charged Particle in an External Electromagnetic Field

The supersymmetric quantum mechanics of a two-dimensional non-relativistic particle subject to external magnetic and electric fields is studied in a superfield formulation and with the typical non-minimal coupling of (2+1) dimensions. Both the N=1 and N=2 cases are contemplated and the introduction of the electric interaction is suitably analysed.Comment: V3-Improved by Referees' sugestions. REVTeX4 6 pages (twocolumn option), no figures. V2-Minor changes. A previous version of this work was presented by JAHN during the II Intern. Conf. on Fundamental Interactions, June 2004, Pedra Azul-ES, Brazil. Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Characterization of the physical capacity in children of the Chilean national program of cystic fibrosis

Introduction: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited, progressive, multisystem disease. Better physical capacity may slow disease progression, thus improving prognosis and survival. The objective of this research was to evaluate the physical capacity of children admitted to the National CF Program of the Metropolitan Region, Chile. Patients and Method: A multicenter, cross-sectional study design was used. The inclusion criteria were children aged 6 to 12 years enrolled in the National CF Program; Tanner sexual maturity stage I, no respiratory exacerbations in the last 30 days, and no musculoskeletal pathologies. The maximum aerobic capacity was assessed through the peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) and determined with an incremental protocol in a magnetic cycle ergometer connected to an ergo-spirometer with which, at the same time, respiratory gases, oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production values every 30 seconds, anaerobic threshold, and maximum workload were analyzed. The values of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio, and forced expiratory flows between 25% and 75% of vital capacity were assessed through ergo-spirometry. At the beginning of the ergo-spirometry, arterial oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure, tidal volume and the perception of lower extremity fatigue and dyspnea were recorded using the modified Borg scale. The test lasted approximately 10 minutes. Results: The clinical records of 43 children collected from six health centers were reviewed. Out of these, 29 children met inclusion criteria, and 23 were recruited. Two children were unable to participate, reducing the final subject group to 21 (13 males, 8 females). The mean age was 8.8 ± 2 years; weight 30.5 ± 10.9 kg; height 1.32 ± 0.11 m; and body mass index 17.1 ± 3.5 (z-score 0.01 ± 1.34). More than half of the children (61%) had normal weight. The obtained VO2 peak was 43.7 ± 6.5 ml/min/kg (106.7 ± 19.8% of the predictive values). Only 10% of the children had values lower than those predicted by sex and age. No correlations were found between VO2 peak and anthropometric and pulmonary function variables. Conclusion: Most of the evaluated children (90%) had physical capacity similar to healthy subjects by sex and age

Desempenho de Trichogramma pratissolii Querino & Zucchi (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) em ovos de Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae) sob efeito de Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner

Visando estudar o efeito da bactéria entomopatogênica Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) sobre fêmeas adultas de Trichogramma pratissolii e sua progênie, este trabalho foi realizado com diferentes isolados de Bt e Bt kurstaki misturados ao alimento fornecido para o parasitóide antes de parasitar ovos de Anagasta kuehniella. Para tanto, suspensões de seis isolados de Bt E-3, E-10, E-15, E-16, E-19, E-20 e o Bt kurstaki foram misturados em gotícula de mel (1:1), como fonte de alimento e mel puro como testemunha, e, em seguida, foram oferecidos simultaneamente cartelas com ovos do hospedeiro para o parasitismo. Foram utilizadas 20 repetições por tratamento. O experimento foi mantido em câmara climatizada a 25 ? 1masculineC, UR 70 ? 10% e fotofase de 14h. Foram avaliados os parasitismos diários, totais e acumulados; sobrevivência; emergência e razão sexual da progênie. Os tratamentos não afetaram o parasitismo, razão sexual e a longevidade, porém em alguns tratamentos (E-3, E-10, E-16 e E-20) foi observado efeito indireto sobre a emergência da progênie, o que implicaria a necessidade de mais liberações massais do parasitóide para alcançar os resultados esperados. Por outro lado, a aceleração do parasitismo verificada em todos os tratamentos sugere que adultos de T. pratissolii, quando submetidos à pressão de algum fator externo tendem a parasitar o mais rápido possível para assegurar a sobrevivência da progênie. Portanto, a combinação Bt + T. pratissolii pode favorecer a atuação do parasitóide em campo, principalmente em casos em que é necessária uma rápida redução dos níveis populacionais da praga

Dietary supplementation with hydrolyzed yeast and its effect on the performance, intestinal microbiota, and immune response of weaned piglets.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of autolyzed yeast on performance, cecal microbiota, and leukogram of weaned piglets. A total of 96 piglets of commercial line weaned at 21-day-old were used. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four treatments (diets containing 0.0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9% autolyzed yeast), eight replicates, and three animals per pen in order to evaluate daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion in periods of 0 to 15, 0 to 26, and 0 to 36 days. Quadratic effects of autolyzed yeast inclusion were observed on the feed conversion from 0 to 15 days, on daily weight gain from 0 to 15 days, 0 to 26 days and, 0 to 36 days, indicating an autolyzed yeast optimal inclusion level between 0.4% and 0.5%. No effect from autolyzed yeast addition was observed on piglet daily feed intake, cecal microbiota, and leukogram; however, i.m. application of E. coli lipopolysaccharide reduced the values of total leukocytes and their fractions (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and rods). Therefore, autolyzed yeast when provided at levels between 0.4% and 0.5% improved weaned piglets’ performance.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antigenotoxic Studies of Different Substances to Reduce the DNA Damage Induced by Aflatoxin B1 and Ochratoxin A

Mycotoxins are produced mainly by the mycelial structure of filamentous fungi, or more specifically, molds. These secondary metabolites are synthesized during the end of the exponential growth phase and appear to have no biochemical significance in fungal growth and development. The contamination of foods and feeds with mycotoxins is a significant problem for the adverse effects on humans, animals, and crops that result in illnesses and economic losses. The toxic effect of the ingestion of mycotoxins in humans and animals depends on a number of factors including intake levels, duration of exposure, toxin species, mechanisms of action, metabolism, and defense mechanisms. In general, the consumption of contaminated food and feed with mycotoxin induces to neurotoxic, immunosuppressive, teratogenic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effect in humans and/or animals. The most significant mycotoxins in terms of public health and agronomic perspective include the aflatoxins, ochratoxin A (OTA), trichothecenes, fumonisins, patulin, and the ergot alkaloids. Due to the detrimental effects of these mycotoxins, several strategies have been developed in order to reduce the risk of exposure. These include the degradation, destruction, inactivation or removal of mycotoxins through chemical, physical and biological methods. However, the results obtained with these methods have not been optimal, because they may change the organoleptic characteristics and nutritional values of food. Another alternative strategy to prevent or reduce the toxic effects of mycotoxins is by applying antimutagenic agents. These substances act according to several extra- or intracellular mechanisms, their main goal being to avoid the interaction of mycotoxins with DNA; as a consequence of their action, these agents would inhibit mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This article reviews the main strategies used to control AFB1 and ochratoxin A and contains an analysis of some antigenotoxic substances that reduce the DNA damage caused by these mycotoxins

Cardiopoietic cell therapy for advanced ischemic heart failure: results at 39 weeks of the prospective, randomized, double blind, sham-controlled CHART-1 clinical trial

Cardiopoietic cells, produced through cardiogenic conditioning of patients' mesenchymal stem cells, have shown preliminary efficacy. The Congestive Heart Failure Cardiopoietic Regenerative Therapy (CHART-1) trial aimed to validate cardiopoiesis-based biotherapy in a larger heart failure cohort