Euclidean Supersymmetry, Twisting and Topological Sigma Models

We discuss two dimensional N-extended supersymmetry in Euclidean signature and its R-symmetry. For N=2, the R-symmetry is SO(2)\times SO(1,1), so that only an A-twist is possible. To formulate a B-twist, or to construct Euclidean N=2 models with H-flux so that the target geometry is generalised Kahler, it is necessary to work with a complexification of the sigma models. These issues are related to the obstructions to the existence of non-trivial twisted chiral superfields in Euclidean superspace.Comment: 8 page

A numerical-experimental method for damage location based on rotation fields spatial differentiation

This paper presents a structural damage location method that decreases the number of spatial differentiations needed to compute modal curvature fields. The method is numerically and experimentally applied to isotropic and laminated rectangular plates, respectively. A speckle shear interferometer is used to measure the rotation fields of the laminated plate, while the isotropic plate is analysed by finite elements. It was found that the Gaussian differentiation is the most suited technique to compute the curvature fields. It is also demonstrated the superior performance of the curvature method using measured rotation fields instead of measured displacement fields

Damage localization in laminated composite plates using mode shapes measured by pulsed TV holography

Three methods for the damage localization of impact damage in laminated composite plates, based on their vibrational characteristics, are presented in this paper. These methods use double pulse TV holography with acoustic excitation for mode shapes acquisition and the differences in translations, rotations and curvatures. The rotations and curvatures are obtained by numerical differentiation of mode shapes translations using a differentiation/smoothing technique. The methods are applied to a carbon fiber reinforced epoxy rectangular plate, free in space, subjected to two cases of impact damage. It is shown that the method based on curvatures allows the localization of both cases of damage, which can be undetected by visual, X-ray or C-scan inspections. The best localizations are achieved by selecting and applying the method to the most changed mode.Three methods for the damage localization of impact damage in laminated composite plates, based on their vibrational characteristics, are presented in this paper. These methods use double pulse TV holography with acoustic excitation for mode shapes acquisition and the differences in translations, rotations and curvatures. The rotations and curvatures are obtained by numerical differentiation of mode shapes translations using a differentiation/smoothing technique. The methods are applied to a carbon fiber reinforced epoxy rectangular plate, free in space, subjected to two cases of impact damage. It is shown that the method based on curvatures allows the localization of both cases of damage, which can be undetected by visual, X-ray or C-scan inspections. The best localizations are achieved by selecting and applying the method to the most changed mode

Damage localization in laminated composite plates using double pulse-electronic holographic interferometry

One method for the damage localization of impact damage in laminated composite plates, based on their vibrational characteristics, is presented in this paper. This method uses double pulse-electronic holographic interferometry for mode shapes acquisition and the differences in curvatures. The rotations and curvatures are numerically obtained. The method is applied to a carbon fibre reinforced epoxy rectangular plate, free in space, subjected to two cases of impact damage. It is shown that the method based on curvatures allows for the localization of both cases of damage, which can be undetected by visual, X-ray or C-Scan inspections. The best localizations are achieved by selecting and applying the method to the most changed mode

Microwave-assisted methanolysis of green coffee oil

AbstractOptimisation of a microwave-assisted methanolysis was performed to obtain cafestol and kahweol directly from green coffee oil (Coffea arabica). A two-factor (the methanolysis period and temperature), three-level, factorial experimental design (32) was adopted. The methanolysis procedure was performed under microwave irradiation, using closed vessel and accurate fast responding internal fibre-optic temperature probe. The effects on the responses were measured by HPLC. After 3min of microwave irradiation (hold time) at 100°C, with 500mg of green coffee oil, a yield higher than 99% was obtained. The yield of this reaction is 26% after 2h when working under conventional heating. The methods described in the literature lead to long reaction times, poor yields and formation of side products. The microwave-assisted technique proved to be faster, avoided undesired side products and gave better conversion, when compared to conventional heating process

Investigating Antifungal Susceptibility in Candida Species With MALDI-TOF MS-Based Assays.

Half of invasive fungal infections lead to death. Amongst pathogenic fungi, the most widespread species belong to the Candida genus and vary in their susceptibility to antifungal drugs. The emergence of antifungal resistance has become a major clinical problem. Therefore, the definition of susceptibility patterns is crucial for the survival of patients and the monitoring of resistance epidemiology. Although, most routinely used methods of AntiFungal Susceptibility Testing (AFST) have reached their limits, the rediscovery of Matrix Associated Laser Desorption/Ionization Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in the field of mycology provides a promising alternative for the study of antifungal resistance. MALDI-TOF MS is already used in mycology for fungal identification, which permits to highlight inherent antifungal resistance. However, the main concern of clinicians is the rise of acquired antifungal resistance and the time needed for their detection. For this purpose, MALDI-TOF MS has been shown to be an accurate tool for AFST, presenting numerous advantages in comparison to commonly used techniques. Finally, MALDI-TOF MS could be used directly to detect resistance mechanisms through typing. Consequently, MALDI-TOF MS offers new perspectives in the context of healthcare associated outbreaks of emerging multi-drug resistant fungi, such as C. auris. As a proof of concept, we will illustrate the current and future benefits in using and adapting MALDI-TOF MS-based assays to define the susceptibility pattern of C. auris, by species identification, AFST, and typing

Ellis-van Creveld Syndrome: Systemic And Oral Findings

Aims: To present a case of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome highlighting the systemic and oral manifestations and expand the phenotypic spectrum of the disorder. Case description: A 4-year-old female, with an initial diagnosis of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, was referred for dental treatment. The patient had hexadactyly of the hands, thorax disproportionate to the shortened limbs, hypopigmented and dry skin, short stature, a wide gap between the 1st and 2nd toes of the right foot and markedly dystrophic toenails. The oral manifestations were upper labial frenulum causing large vestibule and absence of diastema, labiogingival frenulum, enamel hypoplasia, conical teeth, claw-like cusp, oligodontia, microdontia and malocclusion. Conclusions: Ellis-van Creveld syndrome is one among several syndromes with oral manifestations that demands the participation of a multidisciplinary team to better patient assessing, treatment and monitoring. Dentists have the leading role in the control and treatment of the oral manifestations.222109112Alves-Pereira, D., Berini-Aytés, L., Gay-Escoda, C., Ellis-Van Creveld Syndrome Case report and literature review (2009) Med Oral Patol Oral Cir Bucal, 14, pp. E340-E343da Silva, E.O., Janovitz, D., de Albuquerque, S.C., Ellis-van Creveld syndrome: report of 15 cases in an inbred kindred (1980) J Med Genet, 17, pp. 349-356Kurian, K., Shanmugan, S., Harsh Vardah, T., Chondroectodermal dysplasia (Ellis-van Creveld syndrome) A report of three cases with review of literature (2007) Indian J Dent Res, 18, pp. 31-34Hills, C.B., Kochilas, L., Schimmenti, L.A., Ellis-van Creveld syndrome and congenital heart defects: Presentation of an additional 32 cases (2011) Pediatr Cardiol, 32, pp. 977-982Tompson, S.W., Ruiz-Perez, V.L., Blair, H.J., Sequencing EVC and EVC2 identifies mutations in two-thirds of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome patients (2007) Hum Genet, 120, pp. 663-670Ruiz-Perez, V.L., Ide, S.E., Strom, T.M., Mutations in a new gene in Ellis-van Creveld syndrome and Weyers acrodental dysostosis (2000) Nat Genet, 24, pp. 283-286Galdzicka, M., Patnala, S., Hirshman, M.G., A new gene, EVC2, is mutated in Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (2002) Mol Genet Metab, 77, pp. 291-295Ruiz-Perez, V.L., Tompson, S.W., Blair, H.J., Mutations in two nonhomologous genes in a head-to-head configuration cause Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (2003) Am J Hum Genet, 72, pp. 728-732Ruiz-Perez, V.L., Goodship, J.A., Ellis-van Creveld syndrome and Weyers acrodental dysostosis are caused by cilia-mediated diminished response to hedgehog ligands (2009) Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet, 151 C, pp. 341-351Biggerstaff, R.H., Mazaheri, M., Oral manifestations of the Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (1968) J Am Dent Assoc, 77, pp. 1090-1095Aminabadi, N.A., Ebrahimi, A., Oskouei, S.G., Chondroectodermal dysplasia (Ellis-van Creveld syndrome): a case report (2010) J Oral Sci, 52, pp. 333-336Hunter, M.L., Roberts, G.J., Oral and dental anomalies in Ellis van Creveld syndrome (chondroectodermal dysplasia): report of a case (1998) Intern J Paed Dent, 8, pp. 153-157Fukuda, A., Kato, K., Hasegawa, M., Recurrent knee valgus deformity in Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (2012) J Pediatr Orthop B, 21, pp. 352-355Cahuana, A., Palma, C., Oral manifestations in Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (2004) Report of five cases. Pediatr Dent., 26, pp. 277-282Souza, R.C., Martins, R.B., Okida, Y., Giovani, M., Ellis-van Creveld syndrome: oral manifestations and treatment (2010) J Health Sci Inst, 28, pp. 241-243Kalaskar, R., Kalaskar, R.A., Oral manifestations of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (2012) Contemp Clin Dent, 3, pp. S55-S5

Evaluation of Arenaria montana L. hydroethanolic extract as a chemopreventive food ingredient: A case study focusing a dairy product (yogurt)

Natural ingredients are valuable options to be exploited in the design of innovative food formulations with health benefits. Therefore, it was evaluated the potential use of Arenaria montana L. hydroethanolic extract (rich in apigenin derivatives) as a chemopreventive agent in functional foods. Apigenin is recognized as inhibiting VEGFR-2, which is the key receptor involved in angiogenesis. The obtained extract was also able to inhibit the VEGFR-2 phosphorylation through an enzymatic assay (IC 50 = ~63 µg/mL). Thereafter, free and microencapsulated forms were incorporated in yogurt. The obtained products maintained the nutritional value along the tested 3 days of storage, as also free sugars and fatty acids profiles, in comparison with the control samples. Nevertheless, the VEGFR-2 phosphorylation inhibition was not exhibited as intended. Even this behavior for the microencapsulated forms can be attributed to the protecting effect of the alginate matrix, further studies are required in order to better understand the shown performance.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER for CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2013) financial support. To POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006984 (LA LSRE-LCM) funded by ERDF through POCI-COMPETE2020 and FCT. To NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000006, funded by NORTE 2020, under PT2020 through ERDF. L. Barros, R.C. Calhelha and J.C.M. Barreira acknowledge the FCT for their post-doctoral grants (SFRH/BPD/107855/2015, SFRH/BPD/68344/2010 and SFRH/BPD/72802/2010, respectively). The authors also thank Ana Maria Carvalho for providing Arenaria montana L. samples.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Waist circumference as a mediator of biological maturation effect on the motor coordination in children

AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to: 1) examine the association of biological maturation effect on performance at a motor coordination battery and 2) to assess whether the association between biological maturation and scores obtained in motor coordination tests is mediated by some anthropometric measurement.MethodsThe convenience sample consisted of 73 male children aged 8 years old. Anthropometric data considered the height, body mass, sitting height, waist circumference, body mass index, fat mass and fat-free mass estimates. Biological maturation was assessed by the percentage of the predicted mature stature. Motor coordination was tested by the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder. A partial correlation between anthropometric measurements, z-score of maturation and the motor coordination tests were performed, controlling for chronological age. Finally, causal mediation analysis was performed.ResultsHeight, body mass, waist circumference and fat mass showed a slight to moderate inverse correlation with motor coordination. Biological maturation was significantly associated with the balance test with backward walking (r=−0.34). Total mediation of the waist circumference was identified in the association between biological maturation and balance test with backward walking (77%).ConclusionsWe identified an association between biological maturation and KTK test performance in male children and also verified that there is mediation of waist circumference. It is recommended that studies be carried out with female individuals and at other age ranges