Measurement of the α-Particle Monopole Transition Form Factor Challenges Theory: A Low-Energy Puzzle for Nuclear Forces?

We perform a systematic study of the α-particle excitation from its ground state 0_{1}^{+} to the 0_{2}^{+} resonance. The so-called monopole transition form factor is investigated via an electron scattering experiment in a broad Q^{2} range (from 0.5 to 5.0 fm^{-2}). The precision of the new data dramatically supersedes that of older sets of data, each covering only a portion of the Q^{2} range. The new data allow the determination of two coefficients in a low-momentum expansion, leading to a new puzzle. By confronting experiment to state-of-the-art theoretical calculations, we observe that modern nuclear forces, including those derived within chiral effective field theory that are well tested on a variety of observables, fail to reproduce the excitation of the α particle.

[Difficult-to-engage patients: What evolution after discharge from Assertive Community Programs?] / Patients réfractaires aux soins : quelle évolution après le suivi intensif d'une équipe mobile de psychiatrie ?

OBJECTIVES: Beneficial effects of Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs on patients with severe mental disorders are well established over short or medium term. However, studies that investigate long term clinical and psychosocial outcomes are remarkably scarce, and it is not known whether the support and intensive care delivered by these programs maintain their benefits over time, especially after discharge. Thus, the present study sought further understanding on this issue by evaluating long term clinical and psychosocial evolution of patients who had been treated by an ACT team in 2007. We investigated the nature of treatment interventions and the level of care since discharge from ACT, especially in terms of adherence to care and number of psychiatric hospitalizations. We also examined factors, at inclusion in the ACT program and after six months of treatment, that could predict better long-term outcomes. METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with severe mental disorders, characterized by the heavy use of inpatient facilities and refusal of care, were treated by an ACT team which was implmented between 2007 and 2009. They participated at that time in an initial study on the effect of the program and were therefore assessed at inclusion and again after six months of treatment. Between 2016 and 2017, the present follow up took place and patients were assessed again on their current psychosocial functioning, quality of life and intensity of symptoms, using the same scales as those administered in the initial study. This design allowed us to compare baseline with "early" (after six months) and "late" (after a mean of 8.7 years) effects of ACT program on patients. In order to assess adherence to care since discharge from ACT, data on nature and level of psychiatric treatment was systematically reviewed, including all public and private inpatient and outpatient treatments since the end of the ACT program. RESULTS: Detailed tables on hospitalizations before, during and after ACT treatment are reported, as well as tables summarizing the level of care and nature of treatment since discharge from ACT. During the mean of 8.7 years of evolution and 6.3 years after discharge from ACT, these patients, characterized by severe mental disorders, heavy use of inpatient facilities and refusal of care, sustained a reduced rate of hospitalizations and a minor rate of disengagement from outpatient care (6.9 %). Both severity of symptoms, poorer quality of life and worst functioning in the community at inclusion (baseline) as well as early improvements (after six month of ACT treatment) of the same outcomes were significantly associated with long term improvements. Results also show other baseline predictors of long term improvement: fewer years since disorder onset was associated with improvement of functioning in the community; further advancement in the recovery process predicted better enhancement in quality of life, and a better initial functioning in the community was associated with a better improvement of symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insight on the sustainability of the benefits of ACT programs, suggesting that these interventions can help patients who are refractory to care to gain clinical and psychosocial improvement in the long term. Our results also suggest that baseline severity as well as early improvements after six months of treatment were associated with larger improvement at follow up. These clinical predictors provide some help to distinguish which patients are more likely to benefit from an ACT approach.

Oral health effects of botulinum toxin treatment for drooling: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Drooling is a major morbidity in several neurological diseases. Intraglandular botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) injections have been used to manage this condition. However, by decreasing salivary flow, BoNT injections may result in an increased risk of caries and other oral adverse effects. In this study, we aimed to assess whether, in patients with drooling, intraglandular BoNT injections are associated with increased dental caries development, modifications on salivary composition (oral pH, buffering capacity and osmolality) and cariogenic bacterial load. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a systematic review, searching PubMed, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus for all experimental and observational studies reporting on adverse effects of intraglandular BoNT injections in patients with drooling. Primary study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were independently performed by two researchers. No studies were excluded based on their language, publication status or date of publication. Studies' quality was based on revised Cochrane Risk of Bias tools. Meta-analysis was not performed. RESULTS: We retrieved 1025 studies, of which 5 were included. Two studies were two randomized controlled trials and three quasi-experimental studies. None of the included studies found BoNT injections to be associated with dental caries development or with significant reductions in oral pH. One of the included primary studies even observed an increase in salivary buffer capacity. One study found an increase in Lactobacilli counts. As for the risk of bias, two studies were classified as having a critical risk, two as high risk and one as having some concerns. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, there is no evidence that, in patients with drooling, BoNT injections associate with increased risk of dental caries or disturbances in oral pH or salivary buffering capacity. However, the included primary studies had important limitations and differences in their methodologies.

Effect of marker dosage frequency and spot fecal sampling frequency in the prediction accuracy of fecal output using chromic oxide and titanium dioxide in grazing BON steers.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two marker dosage frequencies and two spot fecal sampling frequencies on the variability of fecal output estimation and fecal recovery rate in grazing Blanco Orejinegro (BON) steers with chromium (Cr) or titanium (Ti) as external markers. Four steers (230.5 ± 14.4 kg BW) were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design in a split-plot arrangement with two markers: Cr or Ti, two marker dosage frequencies: 10.0 g Cr2O3 or TiO2/steer once daily (DF1) or 5.0 g Cr2O3 or TiO2/steer twice daily (DF2), and two fecal sampling frequencies: spot sampling once daily (SF1) or spot sampling twice daily (SF2). Steers were equipped with fecal collection bags to evaluate the actual fecal output (FOR). Fecal marker concentration (FMC) was affected by marker dosage frequency × fecal sampling frequency interaction (P = 0.032): SF1DF1 allowed higher FMC (2.26 g/kg DM) than SF2DF1 (1.95 g/kg DM). Chromium marker allowed higher estimated fecal output (FOe) values when compared to FOR (P < 0.001). Both Ti mean and SD bias (+ 0.074 ± 0.160 kg) were lower than Cr mean and SD bias (+ 0.312 ± 0.272 kg). The Ti fecal output prediction showed lower both RSR (0.586 vs 1.401) and MSPE (0.029 vs 0.167) than Cr prediction. The titanium external marker allowed fecal output estimation with more accuracy in grazing beef cattle trials. A protocol including a once-daily marker dosage associated with a once-daily fecal sampling is plausible, allowing good fecal recovery rates and accurate fecal output estimation.

New Insight in the Q

Virtual Compton scattering on the proton has been investigated at three yet unexplored values of the four-momentum transfer Q^{2}: 0.10, 0.20, and 0.45 GeV^{2}, at the Mainz Microtron. Fits performed using either the low-energy theorem or dispersion relations allowed the extraction of the structure functions P_{LL}-P_{TT}/ε and P_{LT}, as well as the electric and magnetic generalized polarizabilities α_{E1}(Q^{2}) and ß_{M1}(Q^{2}). These new results show a smooth and rapid falloff of α_{E1}(Q^{2}), in contrast to previous measurements at Q^{2}=0.33 GeV^{2}, and provide for the first time a precise mapping of ß_{M1}(Q^{2}) in the low-Q^{2} region.

Temporomandibular arthropathies: A retrospective study with histopathological characteristics.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the incidence of temporomandibular arthropathies diagnosed in a university center and to describe their histopathological characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Temporomandibular arthropathy cases with corresponding slides were selected from an oral and maxillofacial surgical pathology service. Cases of exclusively articular disc disease were not included. RESULTS: The mean age was 31.3 years with a predominance of females (69.7%). Of these diagnoses, 53.6% were unilateral condylar hyperplasia, 17.8% were bony ankylosis, 14.3% were degenerative joint disease, 10.7% were osteochondroma, and 3.6% were synovial chondromatosis. Condylar hyperplasia presented as thick fibrocartilage and cartilage nests in the cancellous bone. Bony ankylosis exhibited lamellar bone and nests of chondrocytes. Degenerative joint disease presented as an irregular layer of fibrocartilage with areas of clustered chondrocytes and calcified cartilage. Osteochondroma of the condyle exhibited hyaline cartilage and areas of new bone formation. Synovial chondromatosis presented as immature cartilaginous tissue and randomly arranged chondrocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The pathological alterations verified in these arthropathies involved diseases that were predominantly proliferative, i.e., unilateral condylar hyperplasia, osteochondroma and synovial chondromatosis of the tumor or pseudotumor type and bony ankylosis associated with callus formation of the reparative type, and less frequent degenerative changes for which the disease is so named.

Community of Monogenea in Populations of Cichla Monoculus from Two Tributaries of the Amazon River in the Northern Brazil.

This study compared the monogeneans community in C. monoculus from the Tapajós River (state of Pará) and Jari River (state of Amapá), northern Brazil. A total of 2188 monogeneans belonging to eight taxa were collected from the gills of fish: Gussevia arilla, Gussevia longihaptor, Gussevia tucunarense, Gussevia undulata, Sciadicleithrum ergensi, Sciadicleithrum umbilicum, Sciadicleithrum uncinatum and Tucunarella cichlae. Gussevia arilla was the dominant species for C. monoculus from the Tapajós River basin, while S. umbilicum predominated among the hosts from the Jari River basin. For the two populations of C. monoculus, the prevalence, mean intensity and mean abundance of monogeneans were different and the of parasites community had a high qualitative similarity (87.5 %). The monogeneans community of C. monoculus was characterized by high species richness, with infection values varying from low to moderate. The geographic distance and differences in environmental characteristics arising from the same did not influence the richness of species of monogeneans infesting C. monoculus in the Tapajós and Jari rivers, but appear to have been determinants in the differences observed in the structure of the monogenean communities in each region.

First Measurement of the Q

We report on the first Q^{2}-dependent measurement of the beam-normal single spin asymmetry A_{n} in the elastic scattering of 570 MeV vertically polarized electrons off ^{12}C. We cover the Q^{2} range between 0.02 and 0.05 GeV^{2}/c^{2} and determine A_{n} at four different Q^{2} values. The experimental results are compared to a theoretical calculation that relates A_{n} to the imaginary part of the two-photon exchange amplitude. The result emphasizes that the Q^{2} behavior of A_{n} given by the ratio of the Compton to charge form factors cannot be treated independently of the target nucleus.

Ithyoclinostomum Dimorphum Diesing, 1850 (Digenea, Clinostomidae) in Hoplias Malabaricus (Erythrinidae) with the First Report of Infection of the Eyes.

The present study investigated the occurrence of metacercariae of Ithyoclinostomum dimorphum in Hoplias malabaricus in the basin of the São Francisco River in the state of Minas Gerais (Brazil). Twenty-nine fish were examined in June 2012 during a survey of fish and parasitic fauna. Of the fish examined, 34.5 % had infected eyes, intestine and musculature, with a mean intensity of 1.1 and an abundance of 0.4 per fish. The prevalence in the intestine was 31.0 %, with mean intensity of 1.1 and mean abundance of 0.3. In the eyes, the prevalence was 3.4 %, with a mean intensity of 1.0 and mean abundance of 1.0. The metacercaria found in the right eyeball was lodged between the cornea and iris. The low parasitism did not affect the condition factor (Kn) of the parasitized fish. This was the first report of I. dimorphum in the eyes of Hoplias malabaricus, a secondary intermediate host for this endoparasite.

Comparison of The Endoparasite Fauna of Hoplias Malabaricus and Hoplerythrinus Unitaeniatus (Erythrinidae), Sympatric Hosts in the Eastern Amazon Region (Brazil).

Hoplias malabaricus and Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus are Erythrinidae family widely distributed in the Amazon River system of great value to both commercial and subsistence fishing for riverine populations. As such, the objective of the present study was to investigate the endoparasite communities of H. malabaricus and H. unitaeniatus of a tributary of the Amazon River in the north of Brazil. The endoparasite communities of H. unitaeniatus and H. malabaricus were taxonomically similar (85%) and consisted of Clinostomum marginatum, Contracaecum sp., Guyanema seriei seriei, Procamallanus (Spirocamallanus) inopinatus, Pseudoproleptus sp. and Gorytocephalus spectabilis, although the dominant endoparasite was C. marginatum, which was the most prevalent and abundant. All the specimens of both H. malabaricus and H. unitaeniatus were parasitized, with a total of 1237 helminths collected in the former host and 1151 helminths collected in the latter. Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus possessed greater parasite species richness. Both hosts had an aggregate dispersion of parasites, and the abundance of C. marginatum, Contracaecum sp. and G. spectabilis correlated positively with the weight and length of the hosts. The condition factor was not affected by parasitism, but the abundance of C. marginatum and Contracaecum sp. increased when the condition factor of the hosts decreased. This is the first report of G. seriei seriei for H. malabaricus and Pseudoproleptus sp. for H. unitaeniatus.

Beam-Recoil Polarization Measurement of π

The helicity-dependent recoil proton polarizations P_{x}^{'} and P_{z}^{'} as well as the helicity-independent component P_{y} have been measured in the p(e[over →],e^{'}p[over →])π^{0} reaction at four-momentum transfer Q^{2}≃0.1 GeV^{2}, center-of-mass proton emission angle θ_{p}^{*}≃90°, and invariant mass W≃1440 MeV. This first precise measurement of double-polarization observables in the energy domain of the Roper resonance P_{11}(1440) by exploiting recoil polarimetry has allowed for the extraction of its scalar electroexcitation amplitude at an unprecedentedly low value of Q^{2}, establishing a powerful instrument for probing the interplay of quark and meson degrees of freedom in the nucleon.

The phenotypic correlates and quantitative genetics of masculinization in the rodent, Octodon degus.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/hdy.2017.20.

The phenotypic correlates and quantitative genetics of masculinization in the rodent, Octodon degus.

In some mammals, female characteristics have been shown to depend, in part, on the intrauterine position during development of female fetuses relative to male fetuses. Females developing in close proximity to males show behavioral, physiological and life history characteristics that are masculinized. With the exception of one inconclusive study, nothing is known of the genetic basis of this phenomenon. In this paper, we reported an analysis of the quantitative genetic basis of masculinization, as indicated by the anogenital distance (AGD) at birth and weaning, in the rodent Octodon degus. Because AGD is related to weight, we included a genetic analysis of pup weight at birth and weaning. Pairwise correlations showed that AGD at birth varied negatively with litter size and parturition number but positively with weaning AGD, birth weight, dam AGD and percentage of males in the litter. AGD at weaning varied similarly except that it tended to vary positively with litter size. Genetic (co)variances of AGD at birth and weight at birth differed in females and males. In females, the best genetic model included substantial effects of direct additive, additive maternal and a negative additive genetic covariance between these two. In males, variances were small and there was difficulty in discriminating between additive maternal and common environmental variances. By weaning, genetic (co)variances had somewhat declined in weight and were not statistically significant in AGD in either sex. This paper showed the occurrence of both phenotypic and genetic components in masculinization with effects being greater in females.

Daylight effect on melatonin secretion in adult female guanacos (Lama guanicoe).

The wild South American camelids developed a strategy of seasonal reproduction during spring and summer with singleton birth. The photoperiod is one of the factors that may modulate this seasonality where light would be translated into a hormonal signal. This study evaluated the influence of changes in daily light intensity on melatonin concentration in captive guanacos under a long-day photoperiod (16 hr light/8 hr dark; 33 '28'S). Mean melatonin concentration was 28.3 ± 20.3 pg/ml, with a maximum of 52.14 ± 17.19 pg/ml at 23:30 and minimum of 14.29 ± 6.64 pg/ml at 08:30 (p < .001). There was a negative association between light intensity and melatonin concentration (r = -0.57; p < .001). The results indicate that guanacos respond to variation in daily environmental light with a hormonal response and point to a circannual rhythm as a function of the photoperiod.

Quality improvement and geographical indication of cachaça (Brazilian spirit) by using locally selected yeast strains.

AIMS: In order to improve the quality and to create a biological basis for obtainment of the protected denomination of origin (PDO), indigenous yeast were isolated and characterized for use in Salinas city (the Brazilian region of quality cachaça production). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seven thousand and two hundred yeast colonies from 15 Salinas city distilleries were screened based on their fermentative behaviour and the physicochemical composition of cachaça. Molecular polymorphic analyses were performed to characterize these isolates. RESULTS: Two Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains (nos. 678 and 680) showed appropriate characteristics to use in the cachaça production: low levels of acetaldehyde and methanol, and high ethyl lactate/ethyl acetate ratio respectively. They also presented polymorphic characteristics more closely related between themselves even when compared to other strains from Salinas. CONCLUSIONS: The application of selected yeast to cachaça production can contribute for the improvement of the quality product as well as be used as a natural marker for PDO. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study suggests that the use of selected yeast strains could contribute to obtain a cachaça similar to those produced traditionally, while getting wide acceptation in the market, yet presenting more homogeneous organoleptic characteristics, and thus contributing to the PDO implementation.

Quality of life related to oral mucositis of patients undergoing haematopoietic stem cell transplantation and receiving specialised oral care with low-level laser therapy: a prospective observational study.

Oral mucositis is a painful condition that occurs in 80% of patients who undergo haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Our objective was to determine the impact of mucositis on quality of life (QoL) of patients subjected to HSCT treated with low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Patients were evaluated: (1) on the first day of treatment; (2) 5 days after autologous or 8 days after allogeneic transplantation; (3) once bone marrow had integrated; and (4) 30 days after discharge. Clinical evaluation was performed using the World Health Organization criteria; oral health QoL was measured using the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14); and mucositis symptoms with the Patient-Reported Oral Mucositis Symptom (PROMS) scale. The higher the score, the lower the patient's QoL. The OHIP-14 responses showed that at D + 5/D + 8, all domains had the highest scores, while at times 1 and 4, the scores were lower. In the PROMS scale, all domains scored worst at time 2, and the differences between the scores at the four times were statistically significant. The study has shown that QoL improves over time in patients undergoing LLLT therapy for mucositis prevention.

Post-Exercise Neurovascular Control in Chronic Heart Failure Patients.

It remains unknown whether or not a reduction in muscle sympathetic nerve activity in heart failure patients is associated over time with the effects of long- or short-term repeated exercise. 10 chronic heart failure patients, age 49±3 years old, functional class I-III NYHA, ejection fraction <40% were randomly submitted to either an acute bout of moderate continuous exercise OR high-intensity interval exercise. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (microneurography) and forearm blood flow (venous occlusion plethysmography) were evaluated pre- and post-exercise sessions. The moderate exercise consisted of cycle exercise at an intensity corresponding to anaerobic threshold. The interval exercise consisted of a 2-min cycle exercise at intensity corresponding to anaerobic threshold, followed by a 1-min exercise set at respiratory compensation point. Exercise capacity was evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise test. The caloric expenditure in both sessions was 100 kcal. Baseline muscle sympathetic nerve activity and forearm blood flow levels were not different between sessions. Moderate or high-intensity exercise caused no significant changes in muscle sympathetic nerve activity and forearm blood flow. These findings suggest that the reduction in muscle sympathetic nerve activity and the increase in forearm blood flow provoked by exercise training in chronic heart failure patients are due to cumulative effects over time.

Phytotoxicity as an indicator of stability of broiler production residues.

Beddings used for successive broiler lots act as substrate to absorb water and feed from the excreta and may be subsequently used as agricultural fertilizers. This study evaluated the physicochemical characteristics and the phytotoxicity of beddings used to raise five consecutive broiler lots in five aviaries. Samples were collected for beddings not used yet and for beddings used at each of the five broiler lots. Lettuce and cucumber seeds were considered as phytotoxicity bioindicators. As beddings were used for greater number of lots, N, Ca, K, Mg and P contents generally increased, but the C content decreased, the pH alkalinized and humidity was reduced (P < 0.05). The germination index for lettuce and cucumber seeds was reduced with increased bedding (P < 0.05). Beddings used for at least five broiler lots presented decreased C:N ratio and would not recommended for agricultural use due to its toxicity for both tested seeds.