Cylindrical vector beams for rapid polarization-dependent measurements in atomic systems

We demonstrate the use of cylindrical vector beams - beams with spatially varying polarization - for detecting and preparing the spin of a warm rubidium vapor in a spatially dependent manner. We show that a modified probe vector beam can serve as an atomic spin analyzer for an optically pumped medium, which spatially modulates absorption of the beam. We also demonstrate space-variant atomic spin by optical pumping with the vector beams. The beams are thus beneficial for making singleshot polarization-dependent measurements, as well as for providing a means of preparing samples with position-dependent spin.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures. Accepted in Optics Expres

Evaluación de la frescura del bocachico (prochilodus reticulatus) - utilizando el panel organoléptico, la trimetilamina y el recuento bacteriano

En este estudio se tomaron poblaciones de diferentes lugares: a las cuales se le hizo una evaluación de frescura, tomándose como factores indicativos para esta: La trimetilamina el panel organoléptico y el recuento bacteriano. Basados en los resultados obtenidos se determinaron los límites de aceptabilidad que la especie alcanzaba y la estimación observada nos permitió determinar cuál era apta y cual no para el consumo. Para el control de los datos de las poblaciones, se utilizaron los gráficos de dispersión, aplicando el método de los mínimos cuadrados y estableciendo el coeficiente de correlación correspondiente en cada una de las gráficas obtenidas. Se han evaluado muchos de nuestros recursos pesqueros, pero no se tiene un conocimiento de que tan duraderos son estos, aplican do como método de conservación, la refrigeración después de capturado. En el desarrollo de este trabajo se establecieron todos los parámetros posibles para observar el comportamiento de la especie Bocachico (prochilodus reticulatus Magdalena) a preservar, desde el momento de su captura hasta que llega a manos del consumidor. En este estudio te tomaron poblaciones de diferentes lugares: a las cuales se le hizo una evaluación de frescura, tomándose como factores indicativos para constar, La trimetilaminal el panel organoléptico y el recuento bacteriano. Basados en los resultados obtenidos se determinaron los límites de aceptabilidad que la especie alcanzaba y la estimación observada nos permitió determina la estructura si era apta y cual no para el consumo. Para el control de los datos de las poblaciones, se utiliza ron los gráficos de dispersión, aplicando el método de los mínimos cuadrados y estableciendo el coeficiente de correlación correspondiente en cada una de las gráficas obtenidas

Symmetry preserving regularization with a cutoff

A Lorentz and gauge symmetry preserving regularization method is proposed in 4 dimension based on momentum cutoff. We use the conditions of gauge invariance or freedom of shift of the loop-momentum to define the evaluation of the terms carrying Lorentz indices, e.g. proportional to k_{\mu}k_{\nu}. The remaining scalar integrals are calculated with a four dimensional momentum cutoff. The finite terms (independent of the cutoff) are unambiguous and agree with the result of dimensional regularization.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure, v2 references adde

Novel splice-site mutation in TTLL5 causes cone dystrophy in a consanguineous family

PURPOSE: To report the clinical and genetic findings of one family with autosomal recessive cone dystrophy (CD) and to identify the causative mutation. METHODS: An institutional study of three family members from two generations. The clinical examination included best-corrected Snellen visual acuity measurement, fundoscopy, the Farnsworth D-15 color vision test, a full-field electroretinogram (ERG) that incorporated the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision standards and methodology, fundus autofluorescence (FAF) and infrared (IR), and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Genetic findings were achieved with DNA analysis using whole exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: The proband, a 9-year-old boy, presented with a condition that appeared to be congenital and stationary. The clinical presentation initially reflected incomplete congenital stationary night blindness (icCSNB) because of myopia, a decrease in visual acuity, abnormal oscillatory potentials, and reduced amplitudes on the 30 Hz flicker ERG but was atypical because there were no clear electronegative responses. However, no disease-causing mutations in the genes underlying icCSNB were identified. Following WES analysis of family members, a homozygous splice-site mutation in intron 3 of TTLL5 (c.182-3_182-1delinsAA) was found cosegregating within the phenotype in the family. CONCLUSIONS: The distinction between icCSNB and CD phenotypes is not always straightforward in young patients. The patient was quite young, which most likely explains why the progression of the CD was not obvious. WES analysis provided prompt diagnosis for this family; thus, the use of this technique to refine the diagnosis is highlighted in this study

Comparing composite likelihood methods based on pairs for spatial Gaussian random fields

In the last years there has been a growing interest in proposing methods for estimating covariance functions for geostatistical data. Among these, maximum likelihood estimators have nice features when we deal with a Gaussian model. However maximum likelihood becomes impractical when the number of observations is very large. In this work we review some solutions and we contrast them in terms of loss of statistical efficiency and computational burden. Specifically we focus on three types of weighted composite likelihood functions based on pairs and we compare them with the method of covariance tapering. Asymptotic properties of the three estimation methods are derived. We illustrate the effectiveness of the methods through theoretical examples, simulation experiments and by analyzing a data set on yearly total precipitation anomalies at weather stations in the United States.In the last years there has been a growing interest in proposing methods for estimating covariance functions for geostatistical data. Among these, maximum likelihood estimators have nice features when we deal with a Gaussian model. However maximum likelihood becomes impractical when the number of observations is very large. In this work we review some solutions and we contrast them in terms of loss of statistical efficiency and computational burden. Specifically we focus on three types of weighted composite likelihood functions based on pairs and we compare them with the method of covariance tapering. Asymptotic properties of the three estimation methods are derived. We illustrate the effectiveness of the methods through theoretical examples, simulation experiments and by analyzing a data set on yearly total precipitation anomalies at weather stations in the United States

Inhibition of ER stress-mediated apoptosis in macrophages by nuclear-cytoplasmic relocalization of eEF1A by the HIV-1 Nef protein

HIV-1 Nef protein has key roles at almost all stages of the viral life cycle. We assessed the role of the Nef/eEF1A (eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1-alpha) complex in nucleocytoplasmic shuttling in primary human macrophages. Nuclear retention experiments and inhibition of the exportin-t (Exp-t) pathway suggested that cytoplasmic relocalization of eEF1A, mediated by Exp-t, occurs in Nef-treated monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). We observed the presence of tRNA in the Nef/eEF1A complexes. Nucleocytoplasmic relocalization of the Nef/eEF1A complexes prevented stress-induced apoptosis of MDMs treated with brefeldin-A. Blockade of stress-induced apoptosis of MDMs treated with HIV-1 Nef resulted from enhanced nucleocytoplasmic transport of eEF1A with decreased release of mitochondrial cytochrome c, and from increased tRNA binding to cytochrome c, ultimately leading to an inhibition of caspase activation. Our results indicate that HIV-1 Nef, through the nucleocytoplasmic relocalization of eEF1A and tRNAs, enhances resistance to stress-induced apoptosis in primary human macrophages

Bone Environment Influences Irreversible Adhesion of a Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Strain

Prosthesis and joint infections are an important threat in public health, especially due to the development of bacterial biofilms and their high resistance to antimicrobials. Biofilm-associated infections increase mortality and morbidity rates as well as hospitalization costs. Prevention is the best strategy for this serious issue, so there is an urgent need to understand the signals that could induce irreversible bacterial adhesion on a prosthesis. In this context, we investigated the influence of the bone environment on surface adhesion by a methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus strain. Using static and dynamic biofilm models, we tested various bone environment factors and showed that the presence of Mg2+, lack of oxygen, and starvation each increased bacterial adhesion. It was observed that human osteoblast-like cell culture supernatants, which contain secreted components that would be found in the bone environment, increased bacterial adhesion capacity by 2-fold (p = 0.015) compared to the medium control. Moreover, supernatants from osteoblast-like cells stimulated with TNF-α to mimic inflammatory conditions increased bacterial adhesion by almost 5-fold (p = 0.003) without impacting on the overall biomass. Interestingly, the effect of osteoblast-like cell supernatants on bacterial adhesion could be counteracted by the activity of synthetic antibiofilm peptides. Overall, the results of this study demonstrate that factors within the bone environment and products of osteoblast-like cells directly influence S. aureus adhesion and could contribute to biofilm initiation on bone and/or prosthetics implants

Thymulin inhibits monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension modulating interleukin-6 expression and suppressing p38 pathway

The pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH) includes an inflammatory response. Thymulin, a zinc-dependent thymic hormone, has important immunobiological effects by inhibiting various proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines. We investigated morphological and hemodynamic effects of thymulin administration in a rat model of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced PH, as well as the pattern of proinflammatory cytokine gene expression and the intracellular pathways involved. Adult Wistar rats received an injection of MCT (60 mg/kg, sc) or an equal volume of saline. One day after, the animals randomly received during 3 wk an injection of saline, vehicle (zinc plus carboxymethyl cellulose), or thymulin (100 ng/kg, sc, daily). At d 23-25, the animals were anesthetized for hemodynamic recordings, whereas heart and lungs were collected for morphometric and molecular analysis. Thymulin prevented morphological, hemodynamic, and inflammatory cardiopulmonary profile characteristic of MCT-induced PH, whereas part of these effects were also observed in MCT-treated animals injected with the thymulin's vehicle containing zinc. The pulmonary thymulin effect was likely mediated through suppression of p38 pathway.Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (No. POCI/SAVFCF/60803/2004; POCTI/SAV-MMO/61547/2004 and PTDC/SAV-FCF/65793/2006) through Cardiovascular R&D Unit (FCT No. 51/94). R.S.M. was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (reference SFRH/BPD/15408/2005