Second trimester inflammatory and metabolic markers in women delivering preterm with and without preeclampsia.

ObjectiveInflammatory and metabolic pathways are implicated in preterm birth and preeclampsia. However, studies rarely compare second trimester inflammatory and metabolic markers between women who deliver preterm with and without preeclampsia.Study designA sample of 129 women (43 with preeclampsia) with preterm delivery was obtained from an existing population-based birth cohort. Banked second trimester serum samples were assayed for 267 inflammatory and metabolic markers. Backwards-stepwise logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios.ResultsHigher 5-α-pregnan-3β,20α-diol disulfate, and lower 1-linoleoylglycerophosphoethanolamine and octadecanedioate, predicted increased odds of preeclampsia.ConclusionsAmong women with preterm births, those who developed preeclampsia differed with respect metabolic markers. These findings point to potential etiologic underpinnings for preeclampsia as a precursor to preterm birth

Body odor quality predicts behavioral attractiveness in humans

Growing effort is being made to understand how different attractive physical traits co-vary within individuals, partly because this might indicate an underlying index of genetic quality. In humans, attention has focused on potential markers of quality such as facial attractiveness, axillary odor quality, the second-to-fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio and body mass index (BMI). Here we extend this approach to include visually-assessed kinesic cues (nonverbal behavior linked to movement) which are statistically independent of structural physical traits. The utility of such kinesic cues in mate assessment is controversial, particularly during everyday conversational contexts, as they could be unreliable and susceptible to deception. However, we show here that the attractiveness of nonverbal behavior, in 20 male participants, is predicted by perceived quality of their axillary body odor. This finding indicates covariation between two desirable traits in different sensory modalities. Depending on two different rating contexts (either a simple attractiveness rating or a rating for long-term partners by 10 female raters not using hormonal contraception), we also found significant relationships between perceived attractiveness of nonverbal behavior and BMI, and between axillary odor ratings and 2D:4D ratio. Axillary odor pleasantness was the single attribute that consistently predicted attractiveness of nonverbal behavior. Our results demonstrate that nonverbal kinesic cues could reliably reveal mate quality, at least in males, and could corroborate and contribute to mate assessment based on other physical traits

Loop Quantum Gravity and the The Planck Regime of Cosmology

The very early universe provides the best arena we currently have to test quantum gravity theories. The success of the inflationary paradigm in accounting for the observed inhomogeneities in the cosmic microwave background already illustrates this point to a certain extent because the paradigm is based on quantum field theory on the curved cosmological space-times. However, this analysis excludes the Planck era because the background space-time satisfies Einstein's equations all the way back to the big bang singularity. Using techniques from loop quantum gravity, the paradigm has now been extended to a self-consistent theory from the Planck regime to the onset of inflation, covering some 11 orders of magnitude in curvature. In addition, for a narrow window of initial conditions, there are departures from the standard paradigm, with novel effects, such as a modification of the consistency relation involving the scalar and tensor power spectra and a new source for non-Gaussianities. Thus, the genesis of the large scale structure of the universe can be traced back to quantum gravity fluctuations \emph{in the Planck regime}. This report provides a bird's eye view of these developments for the general relativity community.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figures. Plenary talk at the Conference: Relativity and Gravitation: 100 Years after Einstein in Prague. To appear in the Proceedings to be published by Edition Open Access. Summarizes results that appeared in journal articles [2-13

Isolated and dynamical horizons and their applications

Over the past three decades, black holes have played an important role in quantum gravity, mathematical physics, numerical relativity and gravitational wave phenomenology. However, conceptual settings and mathematical models used to discuss them have varied considerably from one area to another. Over the last five years a new, quasi-local framework was introduced to analyze diverse facets of black holes in a unified manner. In this framework, evolving black holes are modeled by dynamical horizons and black holes in equilibrium by isolated horizons. We review basic properties of these horizons and summarize applications to mathematical physics, numerical relativity and quantum gravity. This paradigm has led to significant generalizations of several results in black hole physics. Specifically, it has introduced a more physical setting for black hole thermodynamics and for black hole entropy calculations in quantum gravity; suggested a phenomenological model for hairy black holes; provided novel techniques to extract physics from numerical simulations; and led to new laws governing the dynamics of black holes in exact general relativity.Comment: 77 pages, 12 figures. Typos and references correcte

Preferences across the Menstrual Cycle for Masculinity and Symmetry in Photographs of Male Faces and Bodies

Background: Previous studies have shown that women increase their preference for masculinity during the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle. Evidence for a similar preference shift for symmetry is equivocal. These studies have required participants to choose between subtle variations in computer-generated stimuli, and preferences for more natural stimuli have not been investigated. Methodology/Principal Findings: Our study employed photographs of individual males to investigate women’s preferences for face and body masculinity and symmetry across the menstrual cycle. We collected attractiveness ratings from 25 normally cycling women at high- and low-fertility days of the menstrual cycle. Attractiveness ratings made by these women were correlated with independent ratings of masculinity and symmetry provided by different sets of raters. We found no evidence for any cyclic shift in female preferences. Correlations between attractiveness and masculinity, and attractiveness and symmetry did not differ significantly between high- and low-fertility test sessions. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between high- and low-fertility ratings of attractiveness. Conclusions: These results suggest that a menstrual cycle shift in visual preferences for masculinity and symmetry may be too subtle to influence responses to real faces and bodies, and subsequent mate-choice decisions

Sliding Wear Behavior of Al2O3-TiO2 Coatings Fabricated by the Suspension Plasma Spraying Technique

[EN] The friction and dry sliding wear behavior of alumina and alumina-titania near-nanometric coatings were examined. Coatings were obtained by the suspension plasma spraying technique. Dry sliding wear tests were performed on a ball-on-disk tribometer, with an Al2O3 ball as counterpart material, a normal load of 2 N, a sliding distance of 1200 m and a sliding speed of 0.1 m/s. The effect of including TiO2 in the fabricated coatings on friction coefficient behavior, wear rates and wear damage patterns was determined. The addition of TiO2 to the coatings was found to greatly increase wear resistance by, for example, 2.6-fold for 40 wt% of TiO2. The analysis of the wear surface was correlated with microstructural parameters, mechanical properties and wear rates.The authors wish to thank for the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MAT2012-38364-C03) and the Autonomous Government of Valencia for funding for the stay in SPCTS-UMR CNRS (France), and the French FCENANOSURF consortium funded by the French Ministry and Industry and local governments of Region Centre and Region Limousin.Klyatskina, E.; Espinosa Fernández, L.; Darut, G.; Segovia López, EF.; Salvador Moya, MD.; Montavon, G.; Agorges, H. (2015). Sliding Wear Behavior of Al2O3-TiO2 Coatings Fabricated by the Suspension Plasma Spraying Technique. Tribology Letters. 59(1):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11249-015-0530-5S19591Pawlowski, L.: The Science and Engineering of Thermal Spray Coatings. Wiley: Hoboken (2008)Lampe, Th, Eisenberg, S., Cabeo, E.R.: Plasma surface engineering in the automotive industry—trends and future prospective. Surf. Coat. Technol. 174–175, 1–7 (2003)Wang, Y., Jiang, S., Wang, M., Wang, S., Xiao, T.D., Strutt, P.R.: Abrasive wear characteristics of plasma sprayed nanostructured alumina/titania coatings. Wear 237, 176–185 (2000)Kabacoff, L.T.: Nanoceramic coatings exhibit much higher toughness and wear resistance than conventional coatings. AMPITAC Newslett. 6(1), 37–42 (2002)Wang, M., Shaw, L.L.: Effects of the powder manufacturing method on microstructure and wear performance of plasma sprayed alumina–titania coatings. Surf. Coat. Technol. 202, 34–44 (2007)Shaw, L.L., Goberman, D., Ren, R., Gell, M., Jing, S., Wang, Y., Xiao, T.D., Strutt, P.R.: The dependency of microstructure and properties of nanostructured coatings on plasma spray conditions. Surf. Coat. Technol. 130, 1–8 (2000)Dahotre, N.B., Nayak, S.: Nanocoatings for engine application. Surf. Coat. Technol. 194(1), 58–67 (2005)Sathish, S., Geetha, M., Aruna, S.T., Balaji, N., Rajam, K.S., Asokamani, R.: Sliding wear behavior of plasma sprayed nanoceramic coatings for biomedical applications. Wear 271, 934–941 (2011)Pawlowski, L.: Finely grained nanometric and submicrometric coatings by thermal sparing: a review. Surf. Coat. Technol. 202, 4318–4328 (2008)Xiao, D., Wang, Y., Strutt, P.: Fabrication and evaluation of plasma sprayed nanostructured alumina–titania coatings with superior properties. Mater. Sci. Eng. 301, 80–89 (2001)Tjong, S.C., Chen, H.: Nanocrystalline materials and coatings. Mater. Sci. Eng. 45, 1–88 (2004)Fauchais, P., Montavon, G., Bertrand, G.: From powders to thermally sprayed coatings. J. Therm. Spray Technol. 19, 56–80 (2010)Lima, R.S., Marple, B.R.: Thermal spray coatings engineered from nanostructured ceramic agglomerated powders for structural, thermal barrier and biomedical applications: a review. J. Therm. 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Technol. 204, 1651–1657 (2010)Yimaz, S.: An evaluation of plasma sprayed coatings based on Al2O3 and Al2O3–13wt% TiO2 with bond coat on pure titanium substrate. Ceram. Int. 35, 2017–2022 (2009)Fervel, V., Normand, B., Coddet, C.: Tribological behavior of plasma sprayed Al2O3-based cermet coatings. Wear 230(1), 70–77 (1999)Vargas, F., Ageorges, H., Fauchais, P., López, M.E.: Mechanical and a tribological performance of Al2O3 coatings elaborated by flame and plasma spraying. Surf. Coat. Technol. 205, 1132–1136 (2010)Bacciochini, A., Ilavsky, J., Montavon, G., Denoirjean, A., Ben-ettouil, F., Valette, S., Fauchais, P., Wittmann-teneze, K.: Quantification of void network architectures of suspension plasma-sprayed (SPS) yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coatings using ultra-small-angle X-ray scattering (USAXS). Mater. Sci. Eng. 528, 91–102 (2010)ASTM International: ASTM G99-03: Standard test method for wear testing with a pin-on-disc apparatus. ASTM annual book of standards. ASTM International: West Conshohocken (2003)Lancaster, K.: The influence of substrate hardness on the formation and endurance of molybdenum disulphide films. Wear 10, 103–107 (1967)Fauchais, P., Rat, V., Delbos, C., Fazilleau, J., Coudert, J.F., Chartier, T., Bianchi, L.: Understanding of suspension plasma spraying of finely structured coatings for SOFC. IEEE Plasma Sci. 33(2), 920–930 (2005)Bannier, E., Vicent, M., Rayón, E., Benavente, R., Salvador, M.D., Sánchez, E.: Effect of TiO2 addition on the microstructure and nanomechanical properties of Al2O3 suspension plasma sprayed coatings. Appl. Surf. Sci. 316, 141–146 (2014)Darut, G., Klyatskina, E., Valette, S., Carles, P., Denoirjean, A., Montavon, G., Ageorges, H., Segovia, F., Salvador, M.D.: Architecture and phases composition of suspension plasma sprayed alumina–titania sub-micrometer-sized coatings. Mater. Lett. 67, 241–244 (2012)Fauchais, P., Montavon, G.: Latest developments in suspension and liquid precursor thermal spraying. J. Therm. Spray Technol. 19(1–2), 226–239 (2010)Darut, G., Ben-Ettouli, F., Denoirjean, A., Montavon, G., Ageourges, H., Fauchais, P.: Dry sliding behavior of sub-micrometer-sized suspension plasma sprayed ceramic oxide coatings. J. Therm. Spray Technol. 19, 275–285 (2010)Tingaud, O., Bacciochini, A., Montavon, G., Denoirjean, A., Fauchais, P.: Suspension DC plasma spraying of thick finely-structured ceramic coatings: process manufacturing mechanisms. Surf. Coat. Technol. 203, 2157–2161 (2009)Guesama, S., Bounazef, M., Nardin, P., Sahraoui, T.: Wear behavior of alumina–titania coatings: analysis of process and parameters. Ceram. Int. 32, 13–19 (2006)Espinosa-Fernández, L., Borrell, A., Salvador, M.D., Gutierrez-Gonzalez, C.F.: Sliding wear behavior of WC–Co–Cr3C2–VC composites fabricated by conventional and non-conventional techniques. Wear 307, 60–67 (2013)Zhang, J., Moslehy, F.A., Rice, S.L.: A model for friction in quasi-steady-state. Part I. Derivation. Wear 149, 1–12 (1991)Zhang, J., Moslehy, F.A., Rice, S.L.: A model for friction in quasi-steady-state sliding Part II. Numerical results and discussion. Wear 149, 13–25 (1991)Bolelli, G., Cannilo, V., Lusvarghi, L., Manfredini, T.: Wear behaviour of thermally sprayed ceramic oxide coatings. Wear 261, 1298–1315 (2006)Normand, B., Fervel, V., Coddet, C., Nikitine, V.: Tribological properties of plasma sprayed alumina–titania coatings: next term role and control of the microstructure. Surf. Coat. Technol. 123, 278–287 (2000)Hutchings, I.: Tribology: friction and wear of engineering materials. Mater. Des. 13, 187 (1992)Ahn, J., Hwang, B., Song, E.P., Lee, S., Kim, N.J.: Correlation of microstructure and wear resistance of Al2O3–TiO2 coatings plasma sprayed with nanopowders. Metall. Mater. Trans. 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Effects of adenosine A2A receptor activation and alanyl-glutamine in Clostridium difficile toxin-induced ileitis in rabbits and cecitis in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Severe <it>Clostridium difficile </it>toxin-induced enteritis is characterized by exuberant intestinal tissue inflammation, epithelial disruption and diarrhea. Adenosine, through its action on the adenosine A_2Areceptor, prevents neutrophillic adhesion and oxidative burst and inhibits inflammatory cytokine production. Alanyl-glutamine enhances intestinal mucosal repair and decreases apoptosis of enterocytes. This study investigates the protection from enteritis by combination therapy with ATL 370, an adenosine A_2Areceptor agonist, and alanyl-glutamine in a rabbit and murine intestinal loop models of <it>C. difficile </it>toxin A-induced epithelial injury.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Toxin A with or without alanyl-glutamine was administered intraluminally to rabbit ileal or murine cecal loops. Animals were also given either PBS or ATL 370 parenterally. Ileal tissues were examined for secretion, histopathology, apoptosis, Cxcl1/KC and IL-10.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ATL 370 decreased ileal secretion and histopathologic changes in loops treated with Toxin A. These effects were reversed by the A_2Areceptor antagonist, SCH 58261, in a dose-dependent manner. The combination of ATL 370 and alanyl-glutamine significantly further decreased ileal secretion, mucosal injury and apoptosis more than loops treated with either drug alone. ATL 370 and alanyl-glutamine also decreased intestinal tissue KC and IL-10.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Combination therapy with an adenosine A_2Areceptor agonist and alanyl-glutamine is effective in reversing <it>C. difficile </it>toxin A-induced epithelial injury, inflammation, secretion and apoptosis in animals and has therapeutic potential for the management of <it>C. difficile </it>infection.</p

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Porcine Cysticercosis in Angónia District, Mozambique

Taenia solium is an important zoonosis in many developing countries. Cysticercosis poses a serious public health risk and incurs sizeable economic losses to pig production. Because data on the epidemiology of porcine cysticercosis in Mozambique are scarce, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 11 villages in Angónia district, Tete province in northwestern Mozambique. Between September and November, 2007, a total of 661 pigs were tested serologically and examined by tongue inspection. Serum samples were tested for the presence of circulating parasite antigen using a monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Ag-ELISA). In addition, a questionnaire survey to collect information on pig production, occurrence and transmission of porcine cysticercosis, risk factors and awareness of porcine cysticercosis was conducted in the selected households from which pigs were sampled. Two hundred thirty-one samples (34.9%) were found positive by the Ag-ELISA, while by tongue inspection on the same animals cysticerci were detected in 84 pigs (12.7%). Increasing age (OR = 1.63; 95% CI = 1.13–2.37) and free-range pig husbandry system (OR = 3.81; 95% CI = 2.08–7.06) were important risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in the district. The present findings indicate that porcine cysticercosis is endemic in the region, and that increasing pig age and pig husbandry practices contribute significantly to porcine cysticercosis transmission. Further epidemiological studies on the prevalence and transmission of porcine cysticercosis in rural communities in Mozambique are needed to enable collection of more baseline data and implementation of effective control strategies within the country

Environmental Influences on Mate Preferences as Assessed by a Scenario Manipulation Experiment

Many evolutionary psychology studies have addressed the topic of mate preferences, focusing particularly on gender and cultural differences. However, the extent to which situational and environmental variables might affect mate preferences has been comparatively neglected. We tested 288 participants in order to investigate the perceived relative importance of six traits of an ideal partner (wealth, dominance, intelligence, height, kindness, attractiveness) under four different hypothetical scenarios (status quo/nowadays, violence/post-nuclear, poverty/resource exhaustion, prosperity/global well-being). An equal number of participants (36 women, 36 men) was allotted to each scenario; each was asked to allocate 120 points across the six traits according to their perceived value. Overall, intelligence was the trait to which participants assigned most importance, followed by kindness and attractiveness, and then by wealth, dominance and height. Men appraised attractiveness as more valuable than women. Scenario strongly influenced the relative importance attributed to traits, the main finding being that wealth and dominance were more valued in the poverty and post-nuclear scenarios, respectively, compared to the other scenarios. Scenario manipulation generally had similar effects in both sexes, but women appeared particularly prone to trade off other traits for dominance in the violence scenario, and men particularly prone to trade off other traits for wealth in the poverty scenario. Our results are in line with other correlational studies of situational variables and mate preferences, and represent strong evidence of a causal relationship of environmental factors on specific mate preferences, corroborating the notion of an evolved plasticity to current ecological conditions. A control experiment seems to suggest that our scenarios can be considered as realistic descriptions of the intended ecological conditions

Environmental Influences on Mate Preferences as Assessed by a Scenario Manipulation Experiment

Many evolutionary psychology studies have addressed the topic of mate preferences, focusing particularly on gender and cultural differences. However, the extent to which situational and environmental variables might affect mate preferences has been comparatively neglected. We tested 288 participants in order to investigate the perceived relative importance of six traits of an ideal partner (wealth, dominance, intelligence, height, kindness, attractiveness) under four different hypothetical scenarios (status quo/nowadays, violence/post-nuclear, poverty/resource exhaustion, prosperity/global well-being). An equal number of participants (36 women, 36 men) was allotted to each scenario; each was asked to allocate 120 points across the six traits according to their perceived value. Overall, intelligence was the trait to which participants assigned most importance, followed by kindness and attractiveness, and then by wealth, dominance and height. Men appraised attractiveness as more valuable than women. Scenario strongly influenced the relative importance attributed to traits, the main finding being that wealth and dominance were more valued in the poverty and post-nuclear scenarios, respectively, compared to the other scenarios. Scenario manipulation generally had similar effects in both sexes, but women appeared particularly prone to trade off other traits for dominance in the violence scenario, and men particularly prone to trade off other traits for wealth in the poverty scenario. Our results are in line with other correlational studies of situational variables and mate preferences, and represent strong evidence of a causal relationship of environmental factors on specific mate preferences, corroborating the notion of an evolved plasticity to current ecological conditions. A control experiment seems to suggest that our scenarios can be considered as realistic descriptions of the intended ecological conditions