Spin 1 fields in Riemann-Cartan space-times via Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau theory

We consider massive spin 1 fields, in Riemann-Cartan space-times, described by Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau theory. We show that this approach induces a coupling between the spin 1 field and the space-time torsion which breaks the usual equivalence with the Proca theory, but that such equivalence is preserved in the context of the Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity.

Positronium impact excitation of hydrogen molecule to B-1 Sigma(+)(u) and b(3)Sigma(+)(u) states

Calculation for the electronic excitation of the ground state of H-2 to B (1) Sigma(u)(+) and b(3) Sigma(u)(+) states by positronium- (Ps) atom impact has been carried out using the first Born approximation considering discrete Ps excitations up to n = 6 and Ps ionization in the final state. To include the effect of electron exchange, we propose an alternative approximation scheme in the light of the Rudge approach, which takes into account the composite nature of the Ps-atom projectile.

Properties of l=1 B-1 and B*(2) Mesons

This Letter presents the first strong evidence for the resolution of the excited B mesons B-1 and B-2(*) as two separate states in fully reconstructed decays to B+(*())pi(-). The mass of B-1 is measured to be 5720.6 +/- 2.4 +/- 1.4 MeV/c(2) and the mass difference Delta M between B-2* and B-1 is 26.2 +/- 3.1 +/- 0: 9 MeV/c(2), giving the mass of the B-2* as 5746.8 +/- 2.4 +/- 1.7 MeV/c(2). The production rate for B-1 and B-2* mesons is determined to be a fraction (13.9 +/- 1.9 +/- 3.2)% of the production rate of the B+ meson.

Effects of prolonged oral administration of fumonisin B(1) and aflatoxin B(1) in rats

The effects of prolonged oral administration (21 days) of fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) and aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) were evaluated on male Wistar rats. The animals were housed in individual metabolic cages and submitted to the following treatments: 1-0 mug AFB(1) + 0 mg FB(1)/100g bw.; 2-72 mug AFB(1)+ 0 mg FB(1)/100 g bw; 3-0 mug AFB(1) + 0.5 mg FB(1) g bw; 4-0 mug AFB(1) + 1.5 mg FB(1)/100 g bw; 5-72 mug AFB(1) + 0.5 mg FB(1)/100g bw; 6-72 mu gAFB(1) + 1.5 mg FB(1)/100g bw. on day 21, the rats were sacrificed for evaluation. The results showed that treated animals presented differences in body weight and absolute/relative weights of liver and kidney as well as altered hepatic function and cholesterol blood levels. Rats fed with the greatest doses of AFB(1) and FB(1) gained less weight (2.79 g/day) at the end of the experimental period; their blood concentrations of liver enzymes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) were above control levels (130.35 mu /l and 471.00 mu /l, respectively). Blood cholesterol increased in the groups treated with the highest dose of FB(1) or FB(1) associated with AFB(1). Histopathology revealed the occurrence of apoptosis in the liver of rats exposed to FB(1). The association of aflatoxin B(1) with fumonisin B(1) at higher dose probably potentiated the effects of the higher dose of fumonisin B(1)acting singly.

Interleukin-10 secreted by B-1 cells modulates the phagocytic activity of murine macrophages in vitro

As demonstrated previously in our laboratory, B-1 cells migrate from the peritoneal cavity of mice and home to a distant site of inflammation to become macrophage-like cells. However, the influence that these cells might have on the kinetics and fate of the inflammatory process is not known. Considering that macrophages are pivotal in the inflammatory reaction, we decided to investigate the possible influence B-1 cells could have on macrophage activities in vitro. Our results show that peritoneal macrophages from Xid mice, a mouse strain deprived of B-1 cells, have higher phagocytic indexes for zymozan particles when compared with macrophages from wild-type mice. Moreover, macrophages from wild-type mice have a lower ability to release nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide when compared with macrophages from Xid mice. Experiments using cocultures of B-1 cells and macrophages from Xid mice in transwell plates demonstrated that B-1 cells down-regulate macrophage activities. These observations also indicate that this phenomenon is not due to a physical interaction between these two cell populations. As B-1 cells are one of the main sources of interleukin (IL)-10, we demonstrate in this study that adherent peritoneal cells from Xid mice produce significantly less amounts of this cytokine in culture when compared with IL-10 production by cells from wild-type mice. When B-1 cells from IL-10 knock-out mice and macrophages from wild-type mice were cocultured in transwell plates, the phagocytic index of macrophages was not altered demonstrating that B-1 cells can influence the effector functions of macrophages in vitro via IL-10 secretion.

IL-4 and IL-13 inhibit IL-1β and TNF-α induced kinin B 1 and B2 receptors through a STAT6-dependent mechanism

Background and Purpose Bone resorption induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF-α) is synergistically potentiated by kinins, partially due to enhanced kinin receptor expression. Inflammation-induced bone resorption can be impaired by IL-4 and IL-13. The aim was to investigate if expression of B1 and B2 kinin receptors can be affected by IL-4 and IL-13. Experimental Approach We examined effects in a human osteoblastic cell line (MG-63), primary human gingival fibroblasts and mouse bones by IL-4 and IL-13 on mRNA and protein expression of the B1 and B2 kinin receptors. We also examined the role of STAT6 by RNA interference and using Stat6-/- mice. Key Results IL-4 and IL-13 decreased the mRNA expression of B1 and B2 kinin receptors induced by either IL-1β or TNF-α in MG-63 cells, intact mouse calvarial bones or primary human gingival fibroblasts. The burst of intracellular calcium induced by either bradykinin (B2 agonist) or des-Arg10-Lys-bradykinin (B1 agonist) in gingival fibroblasts pretreated with IL-1β was impaired by IL-4. Similarly, the increased binding of B1 and B2 ligands induced by IL-1β was decreased by IL-4. In calvarial bones from Stat6-deficient mice, and in fibroblasts in which STAT6 was knocked down by siRNA, the effect of IL-4 was decreased. Conclusions and Implications These data show, for the first time, that IL-4 and IL-13 decrease kinin receptors in a STAT6-dependent mechanism, which can be one important mechanism by which these cytokines exert their anti-inflammatory effects and impair bone resorption. © 2013 The Authors. British Journal of Pharmacology © 2013 The British Pharmacological Society.

Optimisation of a sample preparation method for the determination of fumonisin B-1 in rice

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

CHARGED PARTICLE DYNAMICS IN TIME DEPENDENT MAGNETIC FIELDS

In this work we study the behavior of charged particles immersed in a peculiar configuration of magnetic fields, which has a main constant field B(0) and a superimposed, transversal perturbation field B(1) sin(omega(p)t), with B(1) << B(0). By taking Cartesian coordinates and placing B(0) along the z axis and B(1) sin (omega(p)t) on the x axis, an analytical solution for y(t) may be obtained by solving an integrodifferential equation. Besides, the solution z(t) also exhibits a very interesting dynamics, and the entire system is conditioned by resonances between the particle orbit frequencies and the frequency of the magnetic transversal perturbation, omega(p). In this work we also discuss numerical simulations for the related particle trajectories, as well as potential applications in the context of separation phenomena.

Measurement of the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime using semileptonic decays

We report a measurement of the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime using a sample corresponding to 1.3 fb(-1) of data collected by the D0 experiment in 2002-2006 during run II of the Fermilab Tevatron collider. The Lambda(0)(b) baryon is reconstructed via the decay Lambda(0)(b)->mu(nu) over bar Lambda X-+(c). Using 4437 +/- 329 signal candidates, we measure the Lambda(0)(b) lifetime to be tau(Lambda(0)(b))=1.290(-0.110)(+0.119)(stat)(-0.091)(+0.087)(syst) ps, which is among the most precise measurements in semileptonic Lambda(0)(b) decays. This result is in good agreement with the world average value.

Search for third-generation scalar leptoquarks in p(p)over-bar collisions at root s=1.96 TeV

We report on a search for charge-1/3 third-generation leptoquarks (LQ) produced in p (p) over bar collisions at root s =1.96 TeV using the D0 detector at Fermilab. Third-generation leptoquarks are assumed to be produced in pairs and to decay to a tau neutrino and a b quark with branching fraction B. We place upper limits on sigma(p (p) over bar -> LQ (LQ) over bar )B-2 as a function of the leptoquark mass M-LQ. Assuming B=1, we exclude at the 95% confidence level third-generation scalar leptoquarks with M-LQ < 229 GeV.

Measurement of the Lambda(b) lifetime in the exclusive decay Lambda(b)-> J/psi Lambda

We have measured the Lambda(b) lifetime using the exclusive decay Lambda(b)-> J/psi Lambda, based on 1.2 fb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector during 2002-2006. From 171 reconstructed Lambda(b) decays, where the J/psi and Lambda are identified via the decays J/psi ->mu(+)mu(-) and Lambda -> p pi, we measured the Lambda(b) lifetime to be tau(Lambda(b))=1.218(-0.115)(+0.130)(stat)+/- 0.042(syst) ps. We also measured the B-0 lifetime in the decay B-0 -> J/psi(mu(+)mu(-))K-S(0)(pi(+)pi(-)) to be tau(B-0)=1.501(-0.074)(+0.078)(stat)+/- 0.050(syst) ps, yielding a lifetime ratio of tau(Lambda(b))/tau(B-0)=0.811(-0.087)(+0.096)(stat)+/- 0.034(syst).

Periodic orbits for a class of reversible quadratic vector field on R-3

For a class of reversible quadratic vector fields on R-3 we study the periodic orbits that bifurcate from a heteroclinic loop having two singular points at infinity connected by an invariant straight line in the finite part and another straight line at infinity in the local chart U-2. More specifically, we prove that for all n is an element of N, there exists epsilon(n) > 0 such that the reversible quadratic polynomial differential systemx = a(0) + a(1y) + a(3y)(2) + a(4Y)(2) + epsilon(a(2x)(2) + a(3xz)),y = b(1z) + b(3yz) + epsilon b(2xy),z = c(1y) +c(4az)(2) + epsilon c(2xz)in R-3, with a(0) < 0, b(1)c(1) < 0, a(2) < 0, b(2) < a(2), a(4) > 0, c(2) < a(2) and b(3) is not an element of (c(4), 4c(4)), for epsilon is an element of (0, epsilon(n)) has at least n periodic orbits near the heteroclinic loop. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Field-induced length changes in the spin-liquid candidate κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2Cu 2(CN) 3

Measurements of the coefficient of thermal expansion on the spin-liquid candidate κ-(BEDT-TTF) 2Cu 2(CN) 3 have revealed distinct and strongly anisotropic lattice effects around 6 K - a possible spin liquid instability. In order to study the effects of a magnetic field on the low-temperature spin-liquid state, dilatometric measurements have been conducted both as a function of temperature at B = const. and as a function of field at T = const. While the 6 K anomaly is found to be insensitive to magnetic fields B ≤ 10 T, the maximum field applied, surprisingly strong B -induced effects are observed for magnetic fields applied along the in-plane b-axis. Above a threshold field of 0.5 T < B c ≤ 1 T, a jump-like anomaly is observed in the b-axis lattice parameter. This anomaly, which is located at 8.7 K at B = 1 T, grows in size and shifts to lower temperatures with increasing the magnetic field. Although the anomaly bears resemblance to a first-order phase transition, the lack of hysteresis suggests otherwise. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Análise morfológica da superfície dos cones de guta-percha submetidos à desinfecção com hipoclirito de sódio a 1% e a 2,5% e sua influência no selamento marginal da obturação

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Dietary copper absorption and excretion in three semi-terrestrial grapsoid crabs with different levels of terrestrial adaptation

Three species of phylogenetically related semi-terrestrial crabs (Superfamily Grapsoidea - Sesarma rectum, Goniopsis cruentata and Neohelice granulata (formerly: Chasmagnathus granulatus) with different degrees of terrestriality were studied to quantify the accumulation of copper (Cu) in hemolymph, gills, hepatopancreas and antennal gland, and its excretion through the faeces. These crabs were fed for 15 days practical diets containing 0 (A), 0.5 (B), 1.0 (C), and 1.5% (D) of added CuCl2 (corresponding to 0, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.7% of Cu2+, respectively). The amount of food ingested was directly proportional to the degree of terrestriality: S. rectum, the most terrestrial species, ate around 2-3 times more than the other crabs, whereas G. cruentata ate 1.5-2 times more than N. granulata, the least terrestrial. The amount of Cu excreted in the feces was proportional to Cu ingestion, and was 76.8% and 64.2% higher for Sesarma fed diet D compared to G. cruentata and N. granulata, respectively. Sesarma also displayed higher Cu concentration in the haemolymph, gills and antennal glands, but not in the hepatopancreas. A detoxifying mechanism followed by elimination was probably present at this last organ, preventing Cu accumulation. More terrestrial crabs, such as Sesarma, may accumulate more Cu in hemolymph and tissues, showing a correlation between metal accumulation and increased terrestriality. In this aspect, contaminated feed sources with Cu may have more impact in conservation of terrestrial crabs. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.