A novel two-dimensional liquid-chromatography method for online prediction of the toxicity of transformation products of benzophenones after water chlorination.

PubMed

Li, Jian; Ma, Li-Yun; Xu, Li; Shi, Zhi-Guo

2015-08-01

Benzophenone-type UV filters (BPs) are ubiquitous in the environment. Transformation products (TPs) of BPs with suspected toxicity are likely to be produced during disinfection of water by chlorination. To quickly predict the toxicity of TPs, in this study, a novel two-dimensional liquid-chromatography (2D-LC) method was established in which the objective of the first dimension was to separate the multiple components of the BPs sample after chlorination, using a reversed-phase liquid-chromatography mode. A biochromatographic system, i.e. bio-partitioning micellar chromatography with the polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether aqueous solution as the mobile phase, served as the second dimension to predict the toxicity of the fraction from the first dimension on the basis of the quantitative retention-activity relationships (QRARs) model. Six BPs, namely 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone, oxybenzone, 4-hydroxybenzophenone, 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonic acid, 2,2'-dihydroxy-4,4'-dimethoxybenzophenone and 2,2'-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone, were the target analytes subjected to chlorination. The products of these BPs after chlorination were directly injected to the 2D-LC system for analysis. The results indicated that most TPs may be less toxic than their parent chemicals, but some may be more toxic, and that intestinal toxicity of TPs may be more obvious than blood toxicity. The proposed method is time-saving, high-throughput, and reliable, and has great potential for predicting toxicity or bioactivity of unknown and/or known components in a complex sample. Graphical Abstract The scheme for the 2D-LC online prediction of toxicity of the transformation products of benzophenone-type UV filters after chlorination.

Beneficial Effect of Beraprost Sodium Plus Aspirin in the Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke.

PubMed

Chen, Siqia; Xie, Sisi; He, Wenzhen; Wei, Duncan; Li, Shunxian; Chen, Wenjie

2017-09-12

BACKGROUND To investigate the combination of beraprost sodium (BPS) and aspirin in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). MATERIAL AND METHODS 308 patients with acute cerebral infarction were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group (n=154), treated with BPS (40 μg, tid) and aspirin (100 mg, qd); control group (n=154), treated with 100 mg of aspirin, qd). The antiplatelet therapy remained unchangeable until six months after hospital discharge. RESULTS Initially, no significant differences were found between the two groups. After six months, the relapse-free survival rate was similar between the treatment group (98.1%) and the control group (97.4%). One patient died from AIS in the control group. However, glomerular filtration rate was significantly higher; neurological function and functional ability of patients were better in patients treated with BPS plus aspirin (experimental group) than that in aspirin alone group. No significant difference was found in the function of the coagulation system, suggesting that BPS plus aspirin treatment did not increase the risk of bleeding. Serious adverse events did not occur in both groups. Facial flushing (one case) and mild gastrointestinal reaction (one case) were found in the treatment group without influencing treatment. CONCLUSIONS In our trial involving patients with acute cerebral infarction, BPS plus aspirin was not found to be superior to aspirin in reducing the recurrence of cerebral infarction or death. However, BPS plus aspirin treatment could improve renal function and neurological function without increasing the risk of bleeding.

The influence of an interface electric field on the distribution coefficient of chromium in LiNbO 3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uda, Satoshi; Tiller, William A.

1992-06-01

The effective solute partitioning of chromium was investigated on single crystals of LiNbO 3 grown by the laser-heated pedestal growth (LHPG) technique. Electric field effects at the interface influence this solute partitioning, leading to an electric field-dependent effective solute distribution coefficient, kE. The LHPG technique made it possible to explore these field effects by controllably changing the growth velocity ( V) and the temperature gradient ( GS, GL) near the interface over a wide range. The electric field generated via the temperature gradient is associated with the thermoelectric power while an additional electric field is growth rate associated via a charge separation effect. By applying the Burton-Prim-Slichter (BPS) theory to our experimental data, we found the phase diagram solute partition coefficient to be k0 ≈ 3.65, while the field-influenced solute partition coefficient ( V = 0) was k' EO ≈ 8.17 at GL ≈ 11500°C/cm. It is theoretically shown that the same considerations can be applied to all ionic partitioning at a solid-liquid interface.

Is bisphenol S a safe substitute for bisphenol A in terms of metabolic function? An in vitro study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Héliès-Toussaint, Cécile, E-mail: cecile.helies@toulouse.inra.fr; Université de Toulouse III, INP, ENVT, UPS, 31027 Toulouse; Peyre, Ludovic

As bisphenol A (BPA) has been shown to induce adverse effects on human health, especially through the activation of endocrine pathways, it is about to be withdrawn from the European market and replaced by analogues such as bisphenol S (BPS). However, toxicological data on BPS is scarce, and so it is necessary to evaluate the possible effects of this compound on human health. We compared the effect of BPA and BPS on obesity and hepatic steatosis processes using low doses in the same range as those found in the environment. Two in vitro models were used, the adipose cell linemore » 3T3-L1 and HepG2 cells, representative of hepatic functions. We analyzed different parameters such as lipid and glucose uptakes, lipolysis, leptin production and the modulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism and energy balance. BPA and BPS induced an increase in the lipid content in the 3T3-L1 cell line and more moderately in the hepatic cells. We also observed a decrease in lipolysis after bisphenol treatment of adipocytes, but only BPS was involved in the increase in glucose uptake and leptin production. These latter effects could be linked to the modulation of SREBP-1c, PPARγ, aP2 and ERRα and γ genes after exposure to BPA, whereas BPS seems to target the PGC1α and the ERRγ genes. The findings suggest that both BPA and BPS could be involved in obesity and steatosis processes, but through two different metabolic pathways. - Highlights: • The non-monotonic effects of BPA and BPS act through 2 different metabolic pathways. • BPA and BPS induce an increase in the lipid content in adipocytes and hepatic cells. • BPS increased leptin production and glucose uptake in adipocyte and hepatocyte. • BPA and BPS could participate in metabolic deregulations leading to obesity or NAFLD.« less

Surface operators in 5d gauge theories and duality relations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashok, S. K.; Billò, M.; Dell'Aquila, E.; Frau, M.; Gupta, V.; John, R. R.; Lerda, A.

2018-05-01

We study half-BPS surface operators in 5d N = 1 gauge theories compactified on a circle. Using localization methods and the twisted chiral ring relations of coupled 3d/5d quiver gauge theories, we calculate the twisted chiral superpotential that governs the infrared properties of these surface operators. We make a detailed analysis of the localization integrand, and by comparing with the results from the twisted chiral ring equations, we obtain constraints on the 3d and 5d Chern-Simons levels so that the instanton partition function does not depend on the choice of integration contour. For these values of the Chern-Simons couplings, we comment on how the distinct quiver theories that realize the same surface operator are related to each other by Aharony-Seiberg dualities.

BPS counting for knots and combinatorics on words

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kucharski, Piotr; Sułkowski, Piotr

2016-11-01

We discuss relations between quantum BPS invariants defined in terms of a product decomposition of certain series, and difference equations (quantum A-polynomials) that annihilate such series. We construct combinatorial models whose structure is encoded in the form of such difference equations, and whose generating functions (Hilbert-Poincaré series) are solutions to those equations and reproduce generating series that encode BPS invariants. Furthermore, BPS invariants in question are expressed in terms of Lyndon words in an appropriate language, thereby relating counting of BPS states to the branch of mathematics referred to as combinatorics on words. We illustrate these results in the framework of colored extremal knot polynomials: among others we determine dual quantum extremal A-polynomials for various knots, present associated combinatorial models, find corresponding BPS invariants (extremal Labastida-Mariño-Ooguri-Vafa invariants) and discuss their integrality.

[Prognosis of the reproducibility of increased systolic arterial blood pressure in adolescents (an international cooperative study of juvenile arterial hypertension)].

PubMed

1986-10-01

Three-year reproducibility of elevated (above 120 mmHg) systolic BP (BPs) in twelve- and thirteen-year-olds was studied on the basis of the data of an international collaborative study in juvenile arterial hypertension. Rules for the classification and regulation of the adolescents of both sexes by their tendency to reproduce elevated BPs were derived, using logical functions. The rules are presented as logical solution trees that make it possible to assess the probability of elevated BPs being maintained and identify the adolescents prone to persistent BPs rise.

(2, 2) superconformal bootstrap in two dimensions

DOE PAGES

Lin, Ying -Hsuan; Shao, Shu -Heng; Wang, Yifan; ...

2017-05-19

We find a simple relation between two-dimensional BPS N = 2 superconformal blocks and bosonic Virasoro conformal blocks, which allows us to analyze the crossing equations for BPS 4-point functions in unitary (2, 2) superconformal theories numerically with semidefinite programming. Here, we constrain gaps in the non-BPS spectrum through the operator product expansion of BPS operators, in ways that depend on the moduli of exactly marginal deformations through chiral ring coefficients. In some cases, our bounds on the spectral gaps are observed to be saturated by free theories, by N = 2 Liouville theory, and by certain Landau-Ginzburg models.

Dualities and Curved Space Partition Functions of Supersymmetric Theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agarwal, Prarit

In this dissertation we discuss some conjectured dualities in supersymmetric field theories and provide non-trivial checks for these conjectures. A quick review of supersymmetry and related topics is provided in chapter 1. In chapter 2, we develop a method to identify the so called BPS states in the Hilbert space of a supersymmetric field theory (that preserves at least two real supercharges) on a generic curved space. As an application we obtain the superconformal index (SCI) of 4d theories. The large N SCI of quiver gauge theories has been previously noticed to factorize over the set of extremal BPS mesonic operators. In chapter 3, we reformulate this factorization in terms of the zigzag paths in the dimer model associated to the quiver and extend the factorization theorem of the index to include theories obtained from D-branes probing orbifold singularities. In chapter 4, we consider the dualities in two classes of 3 dimensional theories. The first class consist of dualities of certain necklace type Chern-Simons (CS) quiver gauge theories. A non trivial check of these dualities is provided by matching their squashed sphere partition functions. The second class consists of theories whose duals are described by a collection of free fields. In such cases, due to mixing between the superconformal R-symmetry and accidental symmetries, the matching of electric and magnetic partition functions is not straightforward. We provide a prescription to rectify this mismatch. In chapter 5, we consider some the N = 1 4d theories with orthogonal and symplectic gauge groups, arising from N = 1 preserving reduction of 6d theories on a Riemann surface. This construction allows us to dual descriptions of 4d theories. Some of the dual frames have no known Lagrangian description. We check the dualities by computing the anomaly coefficients and the superconformal indices. We also give a prescription to write the index of the theory obtained by reduction of 6d theories on a three punctured sphere with Z2 and Z3 twist lines and verify that it exhibits the conjectured symmetry enhancement from G2 x U Sp(6) to E 7. In chapter 6, we continue our study of 4d theories obtained from reduction of 6d theories. We introduce a new type of object that we call the 'Fan' and show how to construct new N = 1 superconformal theories using the Fan. In chapter 7, we demonstrate the existence of an infinite number of theories that are either dual to or exhibit a cascade of RG flows down to the SU(N) SQCD with four flavors and a quartic superpotential.

Differential in Vitro Biological Action, Coregulator Interactions, and Molecular Dynamic Analysis of Bisphenol A (BPA), BPAF, and BPS Ligand-ERα Complexes.

PubMed

Li, Yin; Perera, Lalith; Coons, Laurel A; Burns, Katherine A; Tyler Ramsey, J; Pelch, Katherine E; Houtman, René; van Beuningen, Rinie; Teng, Christina T; Korach, Kenneth S

2018-01-31

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) that might be harmful to human health. Recently, there has been widespread usage of bisphenol chemicals (BPs), such as bisphenol AF (BPAF) and bisphenol S (BPS), as replacements for BPA. However, the potential biological actions, toxicity, and the molecular mechanism of these compounds are still poorly understood. Our objective was to examine the estrogenic effects of BPA, BPAF, and BPS and the molecular mechanisms of action in the estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) complex. In vitro cell models were used to compare the estrogenic effects of BPA, BPAF, and BPS to estrogen. Microarray Assay for Real-Time Coregulator-Nuclear receptor Interaction (MARCoNI) analysis was used to identify coregulators of BPA, BPAF, and BPS, and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations were used to determine the compounds binding in the ERα complex. We demonstrated that BPA and BPAF have agonistic activity for both ERα and ERβ, but BPS has ERα-selective specificity. We concluded that coregulators were differentially recruited in the presence of BPA, BPAF, or BPS. Interestingly, BPS recruited more corepressors when compared to BPA and BPAF. From a series of MD analysis, we concluded that BPA, BPAF, and BPS can bind to the ER-ligand-binding domain with differing energetics and conformations. In addition, the binding surface of coregulator interactions on ERα was characterized for the BPA, BPAF, and BPS complexes. These findings further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of EDCs, such as BPs, in ER-mediated transcriptional activation, biological activity, and their effects on physiological functions in human health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2505.

Changes in sexual function of women with refractory interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome after intravesical therapy with a hyaluronic acid solution.

PubMed

Hung, Man-Jung; Su, Tsung-Hsien; Lin, Yi-Hao; Huang, Wen-Chu; Lin, Tzu-Yin; Hsu, Chun-Shuo; Chuang, Fei-Chi; Tsai, Ching-Pei; Shen, Pao-Sheng; Chen, Gin-Den

2014-09-01

Intravesical instillation with a hyaluronic acid (HA) solution is an effective treatment for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), but its impact on sexual functioning of patients is not known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in sexual function of women with refractory IC/BPS who underwent a second-line intravesical HA therapy. A total of 103 women diagnosed with refractory IC/BPS were enrolled in this prospective, multicenter study. Sexual function was evaluated using the short form of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Function Questionnaire (PISQ-9). Bladder-related symptoms and bother were assessed by the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) and Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI), and a pain visual analog scale (VAS), respectively. Data were analyzed with univariate methods or multivariate logistic regression analysis accordingly. Changes in PISQ-9, ICSI, ICPI, and pain VAS scores after treatment were assessed. Mean age and duration of symptoms was 43.6 ± 11.8 and 5.1 ± 5.0 years, respectively. ICSI, ICPI, and pain VAS scores were significantly (P < 0.001) improved after 1 month and 6 months of treatment. Of the 87 (84.5%) sexually active women evaluated, PISQ-9 total scores improved significantly (P < 0.001) from the baseline (mean 18.9 ± 6.4), after 1 month (20.4 ± 5.8), and 6-months (21.5 ± 5.6) of treatment. Significantly improved PISQ-9 items included "dyspareunia" (P < 0.001) and "negative reactions" (P = 0.015) during sexual intercourse, and "intensity" (P < 0.001) of sexual orgasms. After a logistic regression analysis, we found that a baseline PISQ-9 score was negatively correlated with the duration of IC/BPS symptoms (P = 0.022). Meanwhile, the changes in PISQ-9 scores were positively correlated with the reduction in ICSI scores after treatment (P = 0.045). Intravesical HA is an effective treatment for refractory IC/BPS. A longer duration of IC/BPS symptoms may be a predictor of poor sexual function. However, intravesical HA may improve sexual function along with the reduction of IC/BPS symptoms. © 2014 International Society for Sexual Medicine.

Estimates of chemical compaction and maximum burial depth from bedding parallel stylolites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasparrini, Marta; Beaudoin, Nicolas; Lacombe, Olivier; David, Marie-Eleonore; Youssef, Souhail; Koehn, Daniel

2017-04-01

Chemical compaction is a diagenetic process affecting sedimentary series during burial that develops rough dissolution surfaces named Bedding Parallel Stylolites (BPS). BPS are related to the dissolution of important rock volumes and can lead to porosity reduction around them due to post-dissolution cementation. Our understanding of the effect of chemical compaction on rock volume and porosity evolution during basin burial is however too tight yet to be fully taken into account in basin models and thermal or fluid-flow simulations. This contribution presents a novel and multidisciplinary approach to quantify chemical compaction and to estimate maximum paleodepth of burial, applied to the Dogger carbonate reservoirs from the Paris Basin sub-surface. This succession experienced a relatively simple burial history (nearly continuous burial from Upper Jurassic to Upper Cretaceous, followed by a main uplift phase), and mainly underwent normal overburden (inducing development of BPS), escaping major tectonic stress episodes. We considered one core from the depocentre and one from the eastern margin of the basin in the same stratigraphic interval (Bathonian Sup. - Callovian Inf.; restricted lagoonal setting), and analysed the macro- and micro-facies to distinguish five main depositional environments. Type and abundance of BPS were continuously recorded along the logs and treated statistically to obtain preliminary rules relying the occurrence of the BPS as a function of the contrasting facies and burial histories. The treatment of high resolution 2D images allowed the identification and separation of the BPS to evaluate total stylolitization density and insoluble thickness as an indirect measure of the dissolved volume, with respect to the morphology of the BPS considered. Based on the morphology of the BPS roughness, we used roughness signal analysis method to reconstruct the vertical paleo-stress (paleo-depth) recorded by the BPS during chemical compaction. The comparison between amount of compaction and dissolved volume as a function of the macro- and micro-facies, as well as estimates of maximum paleodepth of burial, deepen our knowledge of the factors controlling BPS development, the total thickness of carbonate dissolved and the occurrence of induced cementation in sedimentary basins.

SO(N) restricted Schur polynomials

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kemp, Garreth, E-mail: garreth.kemp@students.wits.ac.za

2015-02-15

We focus on the 1/4-BPS sector of free super Yang-Mills theory with an SO(N) gauge group. This theory has an AdS/CFT (an equivalence between a conformal field theory in d-1 dimensions and type II string theory defined on an AdS space in d-dimensions) dual in the form of type IIB string theory with AdS{sub 5}×RP{sup 5} geometry. With the aim of studying excited giant graviton dynamics, we construct an orthogonal basis for this sector of the gauge theory in this work. First, we demonstrate that the counting of states, as given by the partition function, and the counting of restrictedmore » Schur polynomials match by restricting to a particular class of Young diagram labels. We then give an explicit construction of these gauge invariant operators and evaluate their two-point function exactly. This paves the way to studying the spectral problem of these operators and their D-brane duals.« less

Cognitive intervention therapy as treatment for behaviour disorders in Alzheimer disease: evidence on efficacy and neurobiological correlations.

PubMed

García-Alberca, J M

2015-01-01

The prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPS) is very high among patients with Alzheimer disease (AD); more than 90% of AD patients will present such symptoms during the course of the disease. These symptoms result in poorer quality of life for both patients and caregivers and increased healthcare costs. BPS are the main factors involved in increases to the caregiver burden, and they often precipitate the admission of patients to residential care centres. Current consensus holds that intervention models combining pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments are the most effective for AD patients. Several studies have shown cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine combined with cognitive intervention therapy (CIT) to be effective for improving patients' cognitive function and functional capacity for undertaking daily life activities. However, the efficacy of CIT as a treatment for BPS has not yet been clearly established, which limits its use for this purpose in clinical practice. The objective of this review is to gather available evidence on the efficacy of cognitive intervention therapy (CIT) on BPS in patients with AD. The results of this review suggest that CIT may have a beneficial effect on BPS in patients with AD and should therefore be considered a treatment option for patients with AD and BPS. Copyright © 2012 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.

Combining fragment homology modeling with molecular dynamics aims at prediction of Ca2+ binding sites in CaBPs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pang, ChunLi; Cao, TianGuang; Li, JunWei; Jia, MengWen; Zhang, SuHua; Ren, ShuXi; An, HaiLong; Zhan, Yong

2013-08-01

The family of calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) consists of dozens of members and contributes to all aspects of the cell's function, from homeostasis to learning and memory. However, the Ca2+-binding mechanism is still unclear for most of CaBPs. To identify the Ca2+-binding sites of CaBPs, this study presented a computational approach which combined the fragment homology modeling with molecular dynamics simulation. For validation, we performed a two-step strategy as follows: first, the approach is used to identify the Ca2+-binding sites of CaBPs, which have the EF-hand Ca2+-binding site and the detailed binding mechanism. To accomplish this, eighteen crystal structures of CaBPs with 49 Ca2+-binding sites are selected to be analyzed including calmodulin. The computational method identified 43 from 49 Ca2+-binding sites. Second, we performed the approach to large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (BK) channels which don't have clear Ca2+-binding mechanism. The simulated results are consistent with the experimental data. The computational approach may shed some light on the identification of Ca2+-binding sites in CaBPs.

Coulomb branch operators and mirror symmetry in three dimensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dedushenko, Mykola; Fan, Yale; Pufu, Silviu S.; Yacoby, Ran

2018-04-01

We develop new techniques for computing exact correlation functions of a class of local operators, including certain monopole operators, in three-dimensional N=4 abelian gauge theories that have superconformal infrared limits. These operators are position-dependent linear combinations of Coulomb branch operators. They form a one-dimensional topological sector that encodes a deformation quantization of the Coulomb branch chiral ring, and their correlation functions completely fix the ( n ≤ 3)-point functions of all half-BPS Coulomb branch operators. Using these results, we provide new derivations of the conformal dimension of half-BPS monopole operators as well as new and detailed tests of mirror symmetry. Our main approach involves supersymmetric localization on a hemisphere HS 3 with half-BPS boundary conditions, where operator insertions within the hemisphere are represented by certain shift operators acting on the HS 3 wavefunction. By gluing a pair of such wavefunctions, we obtain correlators on S 3 with an arbitrary number of operator insertions. Finally, we show that our results can be recovered by dimensionally reducing the Schur index of 4D N=2 theories decorated by BPS 't Hooft-Wilson loops.

On the on-shell: the action of AdS4 black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Halmagyi, Nick; Lal, Shailesh

2018-03-01

We compute the on-shell action of static, BPS black holes in AdS4 from N=2 gauged supergravity coupled to vector multiplets and show that for a certain class it is equal to minus the entropy of the black hole. Holographic renormalization is used to demonstrate that with Neumann boundary conditions on the scalar fields, the divergent and finite contributions from the asymptotic boundary vanish. The entropy arises from the extrinsic curvature on Σ g × S 1 evaluated at the horizon, where Σ g may have any genus g ≥ 0. This provides a clarification of the equivalence between the partition function of the twisted ABJM theory on Σ g × S 1 and the entropy of the dual black hole solutions. It also demonstrates that the complete entropy resides on the AdS2 × Σ g horizon geometry, implying the absence of hair for these gravity solutions.

Revival of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate-induced inhibition of osteoclastogenesis and osteoclast function by water-soluble microfibrous borate glass.

PubMed

Yuan, He; Niu, Li-Na; Jiao, Kai; Pei, Dan-Dan; Pramanik, Chandrani; Li, Ji-Yao; Messer, Regina; Kumar, Satish; Pashley, David H; Tay, Franklin R

2016-02-01

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) is a serious skeletal complication associated with the long-term oral or intravenous use of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs). Here, we investigated the effects of an ionic cocktail prepared from water-soluble microfibrous borate glass on neutralizing the inhibitory effects of two heterocyclic N-BPs, risedronate or zoledronic acid, on osteoclastogenesis, apoptosis of differentiated osteoclasts and osteoclast function. Cell growth and proliferation assays were first performed on RAW 264.7 cells to optimize the concentrations of the ionic cocktail and N-BPs to be used for static cell culture. The pre-osteoclasts were then stimulated with RANKL to differentiate into osteoclasts. The effects of the ionic cocktail and N-BPs on osteoclast differentiation, apoptosis and function were subsequently examined using 3 series of experiments conducted at the gene, protein, morphological and functional levels. After concentration optimization, the ionic cocktail was found to partially reverse N-BP-induced inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, stimulation of osteoclasts apoptosis and reduction of osteoclast resorptive activity. Ultrastructural examination of osteoclasts that had been exposed to either N-BP identified classical features of late apoptosis and secondary necrosis, while osteoclasts exposed simultaneously to the concentration-optimized ionic cocktail and N-BPs exhibited only signs of early apoptosis that were possibly reversible. Taken together, the results of the 4 series of experiments indicate that the ionic cocktail produced from dissolution of borate glass dressings has the potential to rescue the adverse effects of heterocyclic N-BPs on osteoclast differentiation and function. These results warrant further confirmation using dynamic cell culture and small animal BRONJ models. Long-term oral and intravenous use of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) may result in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) due to the suppression of normal bone turnover. There is no effective treatment for such a complication to date. This work reported the use of an ionic cocktail derived from water-soluble microfibrous borate glass to revert heterocyclic N-BP-induced inhibition of osteoclastogenesis, stimulation of osteoclasts apoptosis and reduction of osteoclasts resorption in static cell culture condition. This ionic cocktail may have the potential to be further developed into a new adjunctive treatment for BRONJ. Copyright © 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

RIM-BPs Mediate Tight Coupling of Action Potentials to Ca(2+)-Triggered Neurotransmitter Release.

PubMed

Acuna, Claudio; Liu, Xinran; Gonzalez, Aneysis; Südhof, Thomas C

2015-09-23

Ultrafast neurotransmitter release requires tight colocalization of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels with primed, release-ready synaptic vesicles at the presynaptic active zone. RIM-binding proteins (RIM-BPs) are multidomain active zone proteins that bind to RIMs and to Ca(2+) channels. In Drosophila, deletion of RIM-BPs dramatically reduces neurotransmitter release, but little is known about RIM-BP function in mammalian synapses. Here, we generated double conditional knockout mice for RIM-BP1 and RIM-BP2, and analyzed RIM-BP-deficient synapses in cultured hippocampal neurons and the calyx of Held. Surprisingly, we find that in murine synapses, RIM-BPs are not essential for neurotransmitter release as such, but are selectively required for high-fidelity coupling of action potential-induced Ca(2+) influx to Ca(2+)-stimulated synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Deletion of RIM-BPs decelerated action-potential-triggered neurotransmitter release and rendered it unreliable, thereby impairing the fidelity of synaptic transmission. Thus, RIM-BPs ensure optimal organization of the machinery for fast release in mammalian synapses without being a central component of the machinery itself. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Sleep disturbances and nocturnal symptoms: relationships with quality of life in a population-based sample of women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

PubMed

Troxel, Wendy M; Booth, Marika; Buysse, Daniel J; Elliott, Marc N; Suskind, Anne M; Clemens, J Quentin; Berry, Sandra H

2014-12-15

To characterize the nature and impact of sleep disturbances on quality of life (QOL) in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Participants were 3,397 women from a telephone probability survey who met IC/BPS symptom criteria. Sleep quality, duration, and IC/BPS nocturnal symptoms (i.e., trouble sleeping due to bladder pain, urgency, or needing to use the bathroom), general QOL (mental and physical health and sexual functioning), and IC/BPS QOL impairment were assessed via self-report during telephone interview. Over half of the sample reported poor sleep quality, sleep duration ≤ 6 hours, or trouble sleeping due to IC/BPS symptoms. After covariate adjustment, short sleep duration was significantly associated with greater IC/BPS QOL impairment (β = -0.04; p < 0.001) and poorer self-reported physical health (β = 1.86; p < 0.001). Poor sleep quality was significantly associated with greater IC/BPS QOL impairment (β = 0.06; p < 0.001), poorer self-reported physical health (β = -2.86; p < 0.001), and greater sexual dysfunction (β = -0.04; p < 0.05). IC/BPS nocturnal symptoms were significantly associated with greater IC/BPS impairment (β = 0.14; p < 0.001), poorer physical health (β = -2.76; p < 0.001) and mental health (β = 0.52; p < 0.01), and greater sexual dysfunction (β = -0.10; p < 0.001), after covariate adjustment. After further adjustment for IC/BPS nocturnal symptoms, we found that poor sleep quality and short sleep duration were independent correlates of poor self-reported physical health. Poor sleep quality and short sleep duration, as well as disorder-specific sleep disturbances, are highly prevalent in women with IC/BPS and are associated with poorer disease-specific and general QOL. © 2014 American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Racial-ethnic disparities in acute blood pressure after intracerebral hemorrhage.

PubMed

Koch, Sebastian; Elkind, Mitchell S V; Testai, Fernando D; Brown, W Mark; Martini, Sharyl; Sheth, Kevin N; Chong, Ji Y; Osborne, Jennifer; Moomaw, Charles J; Langefeld, Carl D; Sacco, Ralph L; Woo, Daniel

2016-08-23

To assess race-ethnic differences in acute blood pressure (BP) following intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and the contribution to disparities in ICH outcome. BPs in the field (emergency medical services [EMS]), emergency department (ED), and at 24 hours were compared and adjusted for group differences between non-Hispanic black (black), non-Hispanic white (white), and Hispanic participants in the Ethnic Racial Variations of Intracerebral Hemorrhage case-control study. Outcome was obtained by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months. We analyzed race-ethnic differences in good outcome (mRS ≤ 2) and mortality after adjusting for baseline differences and included BP recordings in this model. Of 2,069 ICH cases enrolled, 30% were white, 37% black, and 33% Hispanic. Black and Hispanic patients had higher EMS and ED systolic and diastolic BPs compared with white patients (p = 0.0001). Although attenuated, at 24 hours after admission, black patients had higher systolic and diastolic BPs. After adjusting for baseline differences, significant race/ethnic differences persisted for EMS systolic, ED systolic and diastolic, and 24-hours diastolic BP. Only ED systolic and diastolic BP was associated with poor functional outcome, and no BP predicted mortality. We found no race-ethnic differences in 3-month functional outcome or mortality after adjusting for group differences, including acute BPs. Although black and Hispanic patients had higher BPs than white patients at presentation, we did not find race-ethnic disparities in 3-month functional outcome or mortality. ED systolic and diastolic BP was associated with poor functional outcome, but not mortality, in this race-ethnically diverse population. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

Hormone- and light-regulated nucleocytoplasmic transport in plants: current status.

PubMed

Lee, Yew; Lee, Hak-Soo; Lee, June-Seung; Kim, Seong-Ki; Kim, Soo-Hwan

2008-01-01

The gene regulation mechanisms underlying hormone- and light-induced signal transduction in plants rely not only on post-translational modification and protein degradation, but also on selective inclusion and exclusion of proteins from the nucleus. For example, plant cells treated with light or hormones actively transport many signalling regulatory proteins, transcription factors, and even photoreceptors and hormone receptors into the nucleus, while actively excluding other proteins. The nuclear envelope (NE) is the physical and functional barrier that mediates this selective partitioning, and nuclear transport regulators transduce hormone- or light-initiated signalling pathways across the membrane to mediate nuclear activities. Recent reports revealed that mutating the proteins regulating nuclear transport through the pores, such as nucleoporins, alters the plant's response to a stimulus. In this review, recent works are introduced that have revealed the importance of regulated nucleocytoplasmic partitioning. These important findings deepen our understanding about how co-ordinated plant hormone and light signal transduction pathways facilitate communication between the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The roles of nucleoporin components within the nuclear pore complex (NPC) are also emphasized, as well as nuclear transport cargo, such as Ran/TC4 and its binding proteins (RanBPs), in this process. Recent findings concerning these proteins may provide a possible direction by which to characterize the regulatory potential of hormone- or light-triggered nuclear transport.

The effect of bisphosphonates on the endothelial differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

PubMed Central

Sharma, Dileep; Hamlet, Stephen Mark; Petcu, Eugen Bogdan; Ivanovski, Saso

2016-01-01

The contribution of the local stem cell niche to providing an adequate vascular framework during healing cannot be overemphasized. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are known to have a direct effect on the local vasculature, but their effect on progenitor cell differentiation is unknown. This in vitro study evaluated the effect(s) of various BPs on the differentiation of human placental mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) along the endothelial lineage and their subsequent functional and morphogenic capabilities. pMSC multipotency was confirmed by successful differentiation into cells of both the osteogenic and endothelial lineages, as demonstrated by positive Alizarin Red S staining and Ac-LDL uptake. pMSC differentiation in the presence of non-cytotoxic BP concentrations showed that nitrogen containing BPs had a significant inhibitory effect on cell migration and endothelial marker gene expression, as well as compromised endothelial differentiation as demonstrated using von Willebrand factor immunofluorescence staining and tube formation assay. This in vitro study demonstrated that at non-cytotoxic levels, nitrogen-containing BPs inhibit differentiation of pMSCs into cells of an endothelial lineage and affect the downstream functional capability of these cells supporting a multi-modal effect of BPs on angiogenesis as pathogenic mechanism contributing to bone healing disorders such as bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). PMID:26857282

Enhanced urothelial expression of human chorionic gonadotropin beta (hCGβ) in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC).

PubMed

Schwalenberg, Thilo; Stolzenburg, Jens-Uwe; Ho, Thi Phuc; Mallock, Tobias; Hartenstein, Siegurd; Alexander, Henry; Zimmermann, Gerolf; Hohenfellner, Rudolf; Denzinger, Stefan; Burger, Maximilian; Horn, Lars-Christian; Neuhaus, Jochen

2012-06-01

Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is associated with urothelial lesions. Pathomechanisms of urothelial damage and factors for urothelial restoration are unknown. hCG is a factor for cellular differentiation, angiogenesis and immune competence of the endometrium during pregnancy. Clinical observations demonstrate improvement of BPS/IC symptoms during pregnancy or during infertility treatment with hCG. Our research aims were to examine the expression of hCG and luteinizing hormone receptor (LHR) in the urothelium of BPS/IC patients and compare the levels of hCGβ with healthy controls. Bladder biopsies of BPS/IC (CLSM: n = 10; qPCR: n = 15); Tumour-free control tissue from cystectomies (n = 12). hCGα, hCGβ and LHR expression were examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and hCGβ expression was quantified. hCGβ5 and hCGβ7 mRNA splice variants were quantified in real-time polymerase chain reaction. We found constitutive expression of hCGα, hCGβ and LHR in healthy controls. HCGβ was significantly upregulated in BPS/IC patients in CLSM. PCR analysis revealed higher levels of hCGβ7 than hCGβ5 in controls and BPS/IC patients. The constitutive expression of hCG and LHR speaks in favour for a functional signalling in urothelial cells without any association with either pregnancy or tumour. We show for the first time that hCGβ is upregulated in BPS/IC urothelium and that hCGβ7 is the dominant splice variant in those cells. Our findings imply a major role of hCG for urothelial integrity and a disturbance of hCG signalling in case of BPS/IC. We conclude that hCG could gain therapeutical relevance in the future.

Surface operators, chiral rings and localization in N =2 gauge theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ashok, S. K.; Billò, M.; Dell'Aquila, E.; Frau, M.; Gupta, V.; John, R. R.; Lerda, A.

2017-11-01

We study half-BPS surface operators in supersymmetric gauge theories in four and five dimensions following two different approaches. In the first approach we analyze the chiral ring equations for certain quiver theories in two and three dimensions, coupled respectively to four- and five-dimensional gauge theories. The chiral ring equations, which arise from extremizing a twisted chiral superpotential, are solved as power series in the infrared scales of the quiver theories. In the second approach we use equivariant localization and obtain the twisted chiral superpotential as a function of the Coulomb moduli of the four- and five-dimensional gauge theories, and find a perfect match with the results obtained from the chiral ring equations. In the five-dimensional case this match is achieved after solving a number of subtleties in the localization formulas which amounts to choosing a particular residue prescription in the integrals that yield the Nekrasov-like partition functions for ramified instantons. We also comment on the necessity of including Chern-Simons terms in order to match the superpotentials obtained from dual quiver descriptions of a given surface operator.

From the Cover: Lifelong Exposure of C57bl/6n Male Mice to Bisphenol A or Bisphenol S Reduces Recovery From a Myocardial Infarction.

PubMed

Kasneci, Amanda; Lee, Jun Seong; Yun, Tae Jin; Shang, Jijun; Lampen, Shaun; Gomolin, Tamar; Cheong, Cheolho C; Chalifour, Lorraine E

2017-09-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) leaches from plastics to contaminate foodstuffs. Analogs, such as bisphenol S (BPS), are now used increasingly in manufacturing. Greater BPA exposure has been correlated with exacerbation of cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction (MI). To test the hypothesis that bisphenol exposure impairs cardiac healing, we exposed C57bl/6n mice to water containing 25ng/ml BPA or BPS from conception and surgically induced an MI in adult male progeny. Increased early death and cardiac dilation, and reduced cardiac function were found post-MI in BPA- and BPS-exposed mice. Flow cytometry revealed increased monocyte and macrophage infiltration that correlated with increased chemokine C-C motif ligand-2 expression in the infarct. In vitro BPA and BPS addition increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP) protein and secreted activity in RAW264.7 macrophage cells suggesting that invivo increases in MMP2 and MMP9 in exposed infarcts were myeloid-derived. Bone marrow-derived monocytes isolated from exposed mice had greater expression of pro-inflammatory polarization markers when chemokine stimulated indicating an enhanced susceptibility to develop a pro-inflammatory monocyte population. Chronic BPA exposure of estrogen receptor beta (ERβ) deficient mice did not worsen early death, cardiac structure/function, or expression of myeloid markers after an MI. In contrast, BPS exposure of ERβ-deficient mice resulted in greater death and expression of myeloid markers. We conclude that lifelong exposure to BPA or BPS augmented the monocyte/macrophage inflammatory response and adverse remodeling from an MI thereby reducing the ability to survive and successfully recover, and that the adverse effect of BPA, but not BPS, is downstream of ERβ signaling. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Toxicology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Occupant behavior models: A critical review of implementation and representation approaches in building performance simulation programs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hong, Tianzhen; Chen, Yixing; Belafi, Zsofia

Occupant behavior (OB) in buildings is a leading factor influencing energy use in buildings. Quantifying this influence requires the integration of OB models with building performance simulation (BPS). This study reviews approaches to representing and implementing OB models in today’s popular BPS programs, and discusses weaknesses and strengths of these approaches and key issues in integrating of OB models with BPS programs. Two of the key findings are: (1) a common data model is needed to standardize the representation of OB models, enabling their flexibility and exchange among BPS programs and user applications; the data model can be implemented usingmore » a standard syntax (e.g., in the form of XML schema), and (2) a modular software implementation of OB models, such as functional mock-up units for co-simulation, adopting the common data model, has advantages in providing a robust and interoperable integration with multiple BPS programs. Such common OB model representation and implementation approaches help standardize the input structures of OB models, enable collaborative development of a shared library of OB models, and allow for rapid and widespread integration of OB models with BPS programs to improve the simulation of occupant behavior and quantification of their impact on building performance.« less

Occupant behavior models: A critical review of implementation and representation approaches in building performance simulation programs

DOE PAGES

Hong, Tianzhen; Chen, Yixing; Belafi, Zsofia; ...

2017-07-27

Occupant behavior (OB) in buildings is a leading factor influencing energy use in buildings. Quantifying this influence requires the integration of OB models with building performance simulation (BPS). This study reviews approaches to representing and implementing OB models in today’s popular BPS programs, and discusses weaknesses and strengths of these approaches and key issues in integrating of OB models with BPS programs. Two of the key findings are: (1) a common data model is needed to standardize the representation of OB models, enabling their flexibility and exchange among BPS programs and user applications; the data model can be implemented usingmore » a standard syntax (e.g., in the form of XML schema), and (2) a modular software implementation of OB models, such as functional mock-up units for co-simulation, adopting the common data model, has advantages in providing a robust and interoperable integration with multiple BPS programs. Such common OB model representation and implementation approaches help standardize the input structures of OB models, enable collaborative development of a shared library of OB models, and allow for rapid and widespread integration of OB models with BPS programs to improve the simulation of occupant behavior and quantification of their impact on building performance.« less

Immunotoxicity of bisphenol S and F are similar to that of bisphenol A during zebrafish early development.

PubMed

Qiu, Wenhui; Shao, Haiyang; Lei, Penghui; Zheng, Chunmiao; Qiu, Cunxin; Yang, Ming; Zheng, Yi

2018-03-01

Bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) have been increasingly used as alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA) owing to health concerns. The present study aims to evaluate the impact of these two BPA analogs on oxidative stress and the immune system during zebrafish embryonic and larval development. Environmentally relevant levels of BPS and BPF exposure could increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, nitric oxide (NO) content, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, and the expression of immunity-related genes in concentration dependent manners during the early developmental stages in zebrafish. At a concentration of 100 μg/L, BPS and BPF showed similar effects on the immune toxicity of zebrafish as that of BPA. Moreover, BPS and BPF induced both erα and nf-κb expression, and antagonists of estrogen receptor and NF-κB blocked the effects on immunity-related gene expression, providing evidence that the two pathways mediate the actions of BPS and BPF on fish immune response and functions. Thus we conclude that the presence of BPS and BPF in the environment, similar to BPA, may also pose risks to ecosystem and human health and cannot be widely used without limitations and precautions. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of the In Vivo Biotransformation of Two Emerging Estrogenic Contaminants, BP2 and BPS, in Zebrafish Embryos and Adults

PubMed Central

Le Fol, Vincent; Brion, François; Hillenweck, Anne; Perdu, Elisabeth; Bruel, Sandrine; Aït-Aïssa, Selim; Cravedi, Jean-Pierre; Zalko, Daniel

2017-01-01

Zebrafish embryo assays are increasingly used in the toxicological assessment of endocrine disruptors. Among other advantages, these models are 3R-compliant and are fit for screening purposes. Biotransformation processes are well-recognized as a critical factor influencing toxic response, but major gaps of knowledge exist regarding the characterization of functional metabolic capacities expressed in zebrafish. Comparative metabolic studies between embryos and adults are even scarcer. Using 3H-labeled chemicals, we examined the fate of two estrogenic emerging contaminants, benzophenone-2 (BP2) and bisphenol S (BPS), in 4-day embryos and adult zebrafish. BPS and BP2 were exclusively metabolized through phase II pathways, with no major qualitative difference between larvae and adults except the occurrence of a BP2-di-glucuronide in adults. Quantitatively, the biotransformation of both molecules was more extensive in adults. For BPS, glucuronidation was the predominant pathway in adults and larvae. For BP2, glucuronidation was the major pathway in larvae, but sulfation predominated in adults, with ca. 40% conversion of parent BP2 and an extensive release of several conjugates into water. Further larvae/adults quantitative differences were demonstrated for both molecules, with higher residue concentrations measured in larvae. The study contributes novel data regarding the metabolism of BPS and BP2 in a fish model and shows that phase II conjugation pathways are already functional in 4-dpf-old zebrafish. Comparative analysis of BP2 and BPS metabolic profiles in zebrafish larvae and adults further supports the use of zebrafish embryo as a relevant model in which toxicity and estrogenic activity can be assessed, while taking into account the absorption and fate of tested substances. PMID:28346357

Comparison of the In Vivo Biotransformation of Two Emerging Estrogenic Contaminants, BP2 and BPS, in Zebrafish Embryos and Adults.

PubMed

Le Fol, Vincent; Brion, François; Hillenweck, Anne; Perdu, Elisabeth; Bruel, Sandrine; Aït-Aïssa, Selim; Cravedi, Jean-Pierre; Zalko, Daniel

2017-03-25

Zebrafish embryo assays are increasingly used in the toxicological assessment of endocrine disruptors. Among other advantages, these models are 3R-compliant and are fit for screening purposes. Biotransformation processes are well-recognized as a critical factor influencing toxic response, but major gaps of knowledge exist regarding the characterization of functional metabolic capacities expressed in zebrafish. Comparative metabolic studies between embryos and adults are even scarcer. Using ³H-labeled chemicals, we examined the fate of two estrogenic emerging contaminants, benzophenone-2 (BP2) and bisphenol S (BPS), in 4-day embryos and adult zebrafish. BPS and BP2 were exclusively metabolized through phase II pathways, with no major qualitative difference between larvae and adults except the occurrence of a BP2-di-glucuronide in adults. Quantitatively, the biotransformation of both molecules was more extensive in adults. For BPS, glucuronidation was the predominant pathway in adults and larvae. For BP2, glucuronidation was the major pathway in larvae, but sulfation predominated in adults, with ca. 40% conversion of parent BP2 and an extensive release of several conjugates into water. Further larvae/adults quantitative differences were demonstrated for both molecules, with higher residue concentrations measured in larvae. The study contributes novel data regarding the metabolism of BPS and BP2 in a fish model and shows that phase II conjugation pathways are already functional in 4-dpf-old zebrafish. Comparative analysis of BP2 and BPS metabolic profiles in zebrafish larvae and adults further supports the use of zebrafish embryo as a relevant model in which toxicity and estrogenic activity can be assessed, while taking into account the absorption and fate of tested substances.

The efficacy of botulinum toxin A and sacral neuromodulation in the management of interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS), what do we know? ICI-RS 2017 think thank, Bristol.

PubMed

Rahnama'i, Mohammad S; Marcelissen, Tom; Apostolidis, Apostolos; Veit-Rubin, Nikolaus; Schurch, Brigitte; Cardozo, Linda; Dmochowski, Roger

2018-01-24

This manuscript aims to address the evidence availale in the literature on the efficacy of Botulinum Toxin A (BoNT-A) and sacral neuromodulation (SNM) in patients suffering from Interstitial Cystitis (IC)/BPS and propose further research to identify mechanisms of action and establish the clinical efficacy of either therapy. At the International Consultation on Incontinence-Research Society (ICI-RS) in 2017, a panel of Functional Urologists and Urogynaecologists participated in a Think Tank (TT) discussing the management of IC/BPS by BoNT-A and SNM, using available data from both PubMed and Medicine literature searches. The role of BoNT-A and SNM in the treatment of IC/BPS are discussed and mechanisms of actions are proposed. Despite the available randomized trial data on the effect of intravesical BoNT-A treatment on symptoms of IC/BPS, a consistent conclusion of a positive effect cannot be drawn at the moment, as the published studies are small and heterogeneous in design. There is substantive evidence for the positive effects of SNM on symptoms of IC/BPS patients however, during patient selection, it is important to distinguish the degree and the location of pain in order to tailor the best therapy to the right patients. Both intravesical BoNT-A treatment and SNM have been shown to have positive effects in patients with IC/BPS. However, firm conclusions cannot yet be drawn. Patient-reported outcomes and quality of life should be assessed in addition to urinary and pain symptoms. Since current treatments mainly focus on symptomatic relief, future research should also focus on clarifying the pathogenic mechanisms involved in IC/BPS. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Hodge-Elliptic Genus, Spinning BPS States, and Black Holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kachru, Shamit; Tripathy, Arnav

2017-10-01

We perform a refined count of BPS states in the compactification of M-theory on {K3 × T^2}, keeping track of the information provided by both the {SU(2)_L} and {SU(2)_R} angular momenta in the SO(4) little group. Mathematically, this four variable counting function may be expressed via the motivic Donaldson-Thomas counts of {K3 × T^2}, simultaneously refining Katz, Klemm, and Pandharipande's motivic stable pairs counts on K3 and Oberdieck-Pandharipande's Gromov-Witten counts on {K3 × T^2}. This provides the first full answer for motivic curve counts of a compact Calabi-Yau threefold. Along the way, we develop a Hodge-elliptic genus for Calabi-Yau manifolds—a new counting function for BPS states that interpolates between the Hodge polynomial and the elliptic genus of a Calabi-Yau.

A mechanistic study of the interaction of water-soluble borate glass with apatite-bound heterocyclic nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates.

PubMed

Pramanik, Chandrani; Sood, Parveen; Niu, Li-Na; Yuan, He; Ghoshal, Sushanta; Henderson, Walter; Liu, Yaodong; Jang, Seung Soon; Kumar, Satish; Pashley, David H; Tay, Franklin R

2016-02-01

Long-term oral and intravenous use of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) is associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw. Although N-BPs bind strongly to bone surfaces via non-covalent bonds, it is possible for extrinsic ions to dissociate bound N-BPs from mineralized bone by competitive desorption. Here, we investigate the effects and mechanism of using an ionic cocktail derived from borate bioactive glass for sequestration of heterocyclic N-BPs bound to apatite. By employing solid-state and solution-state analytical techniques, we confirmed that sequestration of N-BPs from bisphosphonate-bound apatite occurs in the presence of the borate-containing ionic cocktail. Simulations by density functional theory computations indicate that magnesium cation and borate anion are well within the extent of the risedronate or zoledronate anion to form precipitate complexes. The sequestration mechanism is due to the borate anion competing with bisphosphonates for similar electron-deficient sites on the apatite surface for binding. Thus, application of the borate-containing ionic cocktail represents a new topical lavage approach for removing apatite-bound heterocyclic N-BPs from exposed necrotic bone in bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw. Long-term oral consumption and injections of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) may result in death of the jaw bone when there is traumatic injury to the bone tissues. To date, there is no effective treatment for such a condition. This work reported the use of an ionic cocktail derived from water-soluble borate glass microfibers to displace the most potent type of N-BPs that are bound strongly to the mineral component on bone surfaces. The mechanism responsible for such an effect has been identified to be cation-mediated complexation of borate anions with negatively-charged N-BPs, allowing them to be released from the mineral surface. This borate-containing cocktail may be developed into a novel topical rinse for removing mineral-bound N-BPs from exposed dead bone. Copyright © 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On non-BPS effective actions of string theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hatefi, Ehsan

2018-05-01

We discuss some physical prospective of the non-BPS effective actions of type IIA and IIB superstring theories. By dealing with all complete three and four point functions, including a closed Ramond-Ramond string (in terms of both its field strength and its potential), gauge (scalar) fields as well as a real tachyon and under symmetry structures, we find various restricted world volume and bulk Bianchi identities. The complete forms of the non-BPS scattering amplitudes including their Chan-Paton factors are elaborated. All the singularity structures of the non-BPS amplitudes, their all order α ' higher-derivative corrections, their contact terms and various modified Bianchi identities are derived. Finally, we show that scattering amplitudes computed in different super-ghost pictures are compatible when suitable Bianchi identities are imposed on the Ramond-Ramond fields. Moreover, we argue that the higher-derivative expansion in powers of the momenta of the tachyon is universal.

Ciprofloxacin by-products in seawater environment in the presence and absence of gilt-head bream.

PubMed

Ziarrusta, Haizea; Mijangos, Leire; Irazola, Mireia; Prieto, Ailette; Etxebarria, Nestor; Anakabe, Eneritz; Olivares, Maitane; Zuloaga, Olatz

2018-04-01

The widespread use of pharmaceuticals has caused a growing concern on the presence of pharmaceuticals such as the antibiotic ciprofloxacin (CIPRO) in the aquatic environment, since they may exert adverse effects on non-target organisms, including fish. In order to study the uptake, distribution in different tissues (liver, muscle, brain and gill) and biofluids (plasma and bile), metabolism and elimination of CIPRO in gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata), controlled dosing experiments for 8 days at 200 μg/L concentration were carried out. CIPRO was only observed in bile at concentration up to 315 ± 4 ng/mL, probably due to its low octanol-water partition coefficient (log P = -2.4 at pH 7.4) and the zwitterionic behavior (pKa 1  = 5.76 and pKa 2  = 8.68). CIPRO by-products (BPs) were also identified in seawater environment, both in presence and absence of fish. The analysis done by means of liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (hybrid quadrupole-Orbitrap) permitted the annotation of up to 35 BPs of CIPRO in seawater and bile, from which 30 structures were reported for the first time. These results confirm that CIPRO is very susceptible to photolysis, and that it goes through various phase I and phase II metabolisms in the fish. All these results suggested that, for a complete characterization of CIPRO exposure, BPs should also be included in the biomonitoring campaigns since they might also be toxicologically relevant. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

$$ \\mathcal{N} $$ = 4 superconformal bootstrap of the K 3 CFT

DOE PAGES

Lin, Ying-Hsuan; Shao, Shu-Heng; Simmons-Duffin, David; ...

2017-05-23

We study two-dimensional (4; 4) superconformal eld theories of central charge c = 6, corresponding to nonlinear sigma models on K3 surfaces, using the superconformal bootstrap. This is made possible through a surprising relation between the BPS N = 4 superconformal blocks with c = 6 and bosonic Virasoro conformal blocks with c = 28, and an exact result on the moduli dependence of a certain integrated BPS 4-point function. Nontrivial bounds on the non-BPS spectrum in the K3 CFT are obtained as functions of the CFT moduli, that interpolate between the free orbifold points and singular CFT points. Wemore » observe directly from the CFT perspective the signature of a continuous spectrum above a gap at the singular moduli, and fi nd numerically an upper bound on this gap that is saturated by the A1 N = 4 cigar CFT. We also derive an analytic upper bound on the fi rst nonzero eigenvalue of the scalar Laplacian on K3 in the large volume regime, that depends on the K3 moduli data. As two byproducts, we find an exact equivalence between a class of BPS N = 2 superconformal blocks and Virasoro conformal blocks in two dimensions, and an upper bound on the four-point functions of operators of sufficiently low scaling dimension in three and four dimensional CFTs.« less

$$ \\mathcal{N} $$ = 4 superconformal bootstrap of the K 3 CFT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lin, Ying-Hsuan; Shao, Shu-Heng; Simmons-Duffin, David

We study two-dimensional (4; 4) superconformal eld theories of central charge c = 6, corresponding to nonlinear sigma models on K3 surfaces, using the superconformal bootstrap. This is made possible through a surprising relation between the BPS N = 4 superconformal blocks with c = 6 and bosonic Virasoro conformal blocks with c = 28, and an exact result on the moduli dependence of a certain integrated BPS 4-point function. Nontrivial bounds on the non-BPS spectrum in the K3 CFT are obtained as functions of the CFT moduli, that interpolate between the free orbifold points and singular CFT points. Wemore » observe directly from the CFT perspective the signature of a continuous spectrum above a gap at the singular moduli, and fi nd numerically an upper bound on this gap that is saturated by the A1 N = 4 cigar CFT. We also derive an analytic upper bound on the fi rst nonzero eigenvalue of the scalar Laplacian on K3 in the large volume regime, that depends on the K3 moduli data. As two byproducts, we find an exact equivalence between a class of BPS N = 2 superconformal blocks and Virasoro conformal blocks in two dimensions, and an upper bound on the four-point functions of operators of sufficiently low scaling dimension in three and four dimensional CFTs.« less

Comparison of Modules of Wild Type and Mutant Huntingtin and TP53 Protein Interaction Networks: Implications in Biological Processes and Functions

PubMed Central

Basu, Mahashweta; Bhattacharyya, Nitai P.; Mohanty, Pradeep K.

2013-01-01

Disease-causing mutations usually change the interacting partners of mutant proteins. In this article, we propose that the biological consequences of mutation are directly related to the alteration of corresponding protein protein interaction networks (PPIN). Mutation of Huntingtin (HTT) which causes Huntington's disease (HD) and mutations to TP53 which is associated with different cancers are studied as two example cases. We construct the PPIN of wild type and mutant proteins separately and identify the structural modules of each of the networks. The functional role of these modules are then assessed by Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis for biological processes (BPs). We find that a large number of significantly enriched () GO terms in mutant PPIN were absent in the wild type PPIN indicating the gain of BPs due to mutation. Similarly some of the GO terms enriched in wild type PPIN cease to exist in the modules of mutant PPIN, representing the loss. GO terms common in modules of mutant and wild type networks indicate both loss and gain of BPs. We further assign relevant biological function(s) to each module by classifying the enriched GO terms associated with it. It turns out that most of these biological functions in HTT networks are already known to be altered in HD and those of TP53 networks are altered in cancers. We argue that gain of BPs, and the corresponding biological functions, are due to new interacting partners acquired by mutant proteins. The methodology we adopt here could be applied to genetic diseases where mutations alter the ability of the protein to interact with other proteins. PMID:23741403

Half-BPS Wilson loop and AdS 2/CFT 1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Giombi, Simone; Roiban, Radu; Tseytlin, Arkady A.

Here, we study correlation functions of local operator insertions on the 1/2-BPS Wilson line in N=4 super Yang–Mills theory. These correlation functions are constrained by the 1d superconformal symmetry pre-served by the 1/2-BPS Wilson line and define a defect CFT 1 living on the line. At strong coupling, a set of elementary operator insertions with protected scaling dimensions correspond to fluctuations of the dual fundamental string in AdS 5×S 5 ending on the line at the boundary and can be thought of as light fields propagating on the AdS 2 worldsheet. We use AdS/CFT techniques to compute the tree-level AdSmore » 2 Witten diagrams describing the strong coupling limit of the four-point functions of the dual operator insertions. Using the OPE, we also extract the leading strong coupling corrections to the anomalous dimensions of the “two-particle” operators built out of elementary excitations. In the case of the circular Wilson loop, we match our results for the 4-point functions of a special type of scalar insertions to the prediction of localization to 2d Yang–Mills theory.« less

Half-BPS Wilson loop and AdS 2/CFT 1

DOE PAGES

Giombi, Simone; Roiban, Radu; Tseytlin, Arkady A.

2017-09-01

Here, we study correlation functions of local operator insertions on the 1/2-BPS Wilson line in N=4 super Yang–Mills theory. These correlation functions are constrained by the 1d superconformal symmetry pre-served by the 1/2-BPS Wilson line and define a defect CFT 1 living on the line. At strong coupling, a set of elementary operator insertions with protected scaling dimensions correspond to fluctuations of the dual fundamental string in AdS 5×S 5 ending on the line at the boundary and can be thought of as light fields propagating on the AdS 2 worldsheet. We use AdS/CFT techniques to compute the tree-level AdSmore » 2 Witten diagrams describing the strong coupling limit of the four-point functions of the dual operator insertions. Using the OPE, we also extract the leading strong coupling corrections to the anomalous dimensions of the “two-particle” operators built out of elementary excitations. In the case of the circular Wilson loop, we match our results for the 4-point functions of a special type of scalar insertions to the prediction of localization to 2d Yang–Mills theory.« less

[New insights in the differential diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome].

PubMed

Schwalenberg, T; Neuhaus, J; Horn, L-C; Alexander, H; Zimmermann, G; Ho Thi, P; Mallock, T; Stolzenburg, J-U

2010-03-01

The diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is challenging, since pathogenetic mechanisms and the definition of clinical relevant parameters are still under lively discussion. The criteria recently proposed by the European Society for the Study of Interstitial Cystitis (ESSIC) define a collective of patients based on the cardinal symptom of bladder pain which is heterogeneous, and therefore cannot receive standardised consistent therapy. Thus an extended diagnosis based on molecular markers seems to be indicated to render individual pharmacotherapy possible, and to contribute to elucidation of BPS/IC pathogenesis. For this purpose we feel the vital need for taking a bladder biopsy. The diagnosis of BPS/IC should rely on 3 "columns": (1) clinical diagnostics; (2) histopathology; (3) molecular diagnostics/protein expression. Since a significant contribution of the 3 functional units of the bladder to the pathophysiology is most evident, the examinations should ideally include urothelium, lamina propria, and detrusor musculature. Generation of receptor profiles of the detrusor muscle represents a first attempt to define a diagnostic tool for the individualisation of BPS/IC pharmacotherapy. Other factors, e.g., beta-hCG expression in the urothelium, need further evaluation. Extended BPS/IC diagnostics could be realistically integrated into routine patient care within a clinic/laboratory network. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart New York.

The Role(s) of Cytokines/Chemokines in Urinary Bladder Inflammation and Dysfunction

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Eric J.; Arms, Lauren; Vizzard, Margaret A.

2014-01-01

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by pain, pressure, or discomfort perceived to be bladder related and with at least one urinary symptom. It was recently concluded that 3.3–7.9 million women (>18 years old) in the United States exhibit BPS/IC symptoms. The impact of BPS/IC on quality of life is enormous and the economic burden is significant. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of BPS/IC are unknown, numerous theories including infection, inflammation, autoimmune disorder, toxic urinary agents, urothelial dysfunction, and neurogenic causes have been proposed. Altered visceral sensations from the urinary bladder (i.e., pain at low or moderate bladder filling) that accompany BPS/IC may be mediated by many factors including changes in the properties of peripheral bladder afferent pathways such that bladder afferent neurons respond in an exaggerated manner to normally innocuous stimuli (allodynia). The goals for this review are to describe chemokine/receptor (CXCL12/CXCR4; CCL2/CCR2) signaling and cytokine/receptor (transforming growth factor (TGF-β)/TGF-β type 1 receptor) signaling that may be valuable LUT targets for pharmacologic therapy to improve urinary bladder function and reduce somatic sensitivity associated with urinary bladder inflammation. PMID:24738044

Comparison of Online Costs Using 1200-BPS and 2400-BPS Modems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

MacMillan, Donald

1992-01-01

Compares search time and costs of four online searches, identically replicated except for the speed of the modem used to retrieve and download data. Results are presented for 1200-BPS (bits per second) and 2400-BPS modems which demonstrate that searching at 2400-BPS is more efficient and economical. Issues to be resolved before 9600-BPS modems…

Development of an on-line solid phase extraction ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography technique coupled to tandem mass spectrometry for quantification of bisphenol S and bisphenol S glucuronide: Applicability to toxicokinetic investigations.

PubMed

Grandin, Flore; Picard-Hagen, Nicole; Gayrard, Véronique; Puel, Sylvie; Viguié, Catherine; Toutain, Pierre-Louis; Debrauwer, Laurent; Lacroix, Marlène Z

2017-12-01

Regulatory measures and public concerns regarding bisphenol A (BPA) have led to its replacement by structural analogues, such as Bisphenol S (BPS), in consumer products. At present, no toxicokinetic investigations have been conducted to assess the factors determining human internal exposure to BPS for subsequent risk assessment. Toxicokinetic studies require reliable analytical methods to measure the plasma concentrations of BPS and its main conjugated metabolite, BPS-glucuronide (BPS-G). An efficient on-line SPE-UPLC-MS/MS method for the simultaneous quantification of BPS and BPS-G in ovine plasma was therefore developed and validated in accordance with the European Medicines Agency guidelines for bioanalytical method validation. This method has a limit of quantification of 3ngmL -1 for BPS and 10ngmL -1 for BPS-G, an analytical capacity of 200 samples per day, and is particularly well suited to toxicokinetic studies. Use of this method in toxicokinetic studies in sheep showed that BPS, like BPA, is efficiently metabolized into its glucuronide form. However, the clearances and distributions of BPS and BPS-G were lower than those of the corresponding unconjugated and glucuroconjugated forms of BPA. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bisphenol A, bisphenol F and bisphenol S affect differently 5α-reductase expression and dopamine–serotonin systems in the prefrontal cortex of juvenile female rats

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Castro, Beatriz; Sánchez, Pilar; Torres, Jesús M., E-mail: torrespi@ugr.es

Background: Early-life exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) affects brain function and behavior, which might be attributed to its interference with hormonal steroid signaling and/or neurotransmitter systems. Alternatively, the use of structural analogs of BPA, mainly bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), has increased recently. However, limited in vivo toxicity data exist. Objectives: We investigated the effects of BPA, BPF and BPS on 5α-reductase (5α-R), a key enzyme involved in neurosteroidogenesis, as well as on dopamine (DA)- and serotonin (5-HT)-related genes, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of juvenile female rats. Methods: Gestating Wistar rats were treated withmore » either vehicle or 10 μg/kg/day of BPA, BPF or BPS from gestational day 12 to parturition. Then, female pups were exposed from postnatal day 1 through day 21 (PND21), when they were euthanized and RT-PCR, western blot and quantitative PCR-array experiments were performed. Results: BPA decreased 5α-R2 and 5α-R3 mRNA and protein levels, while both BPF and BPS decreased 5α-R3 mRNA levels in PFC at PND21. Further, BPA, BPF and BPS significantly altered, respectively, the transcription of 25, 56 and 24 genes out of the 84 DA and 5-HT-related genes assayed. Of particular interest was the strong induction by all these bisphenols of Cyp2d4, implicated in corticosteroids synthesis. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate for the first time that BPA, BPF and BPS differentially affect 5α-R and genes related to DA/5-HT systems in the female PFC. In vivo evidence of the potential adverse effects of BPF and BPS in the brain of mammals is provided in this work, raising questions about the safety of these chemicals as substitutes for BPA. - Highlights: • Juvenile prefrontal cortex of female rats exposed to bisphenol A, F or S was analyzed. • We provide the first in vivo data of BPF and BPS effects in mammal brain. • BPA, BPF and BPS differently affected dopamine and serotonin-related genes. • 5α-reductase was found as a potential target for BPA action in juvenile female brain.« less

Microfluidic Synthesis of Hybrid Nanoparticles with Controlled Lipid Layers: Understanding Flexibility-Regulated Cell-Nanoparticle Interaction.

PubMed

Zhang, Lu; Feng, Qiang; Wang, Jiuling; Zhang, Shuai; Ding, Baoquan; Wei, Yujie; Dong, Mingdong; Ryu, Ji-Young; Yoon, Tae-Young; Shi, Xinghua; Sun, Jiashu; Jiang, Xingyu

2015-10-27

The functionalized lipid shell of hybrid nanoparticles plays an important role for improving their biocompatibility and in vivo stability. Yet few efforts have been made to critically examine the shell structure of nanoparticles and its effect on cell-particle interaction. Here we develop a microfluidic chip allowing for the synthesis of structurally well-defined lipid-polymer nanoparticles of the same sizes, but covered with either lipid-monolayer-shell (MPs, monolayer nanoparticles) or lipid-bilayer-shell (BPs, bilayer nanoparticles). Atomic force microscope and atomistic simulations reveal that MPs have a lower flexibility than BPs, resulting in a more efficient cellular uptake and thus anticancer effect than BPs do. This flexibility-regulated cell-particle interaction may have important implications for designing drug nanocarriers.

Giant surfactants of poly(ethylene oxide)- b-polystyrene-(molecular nanoparticle): nanoparticle-driven self-assembly with sub-10-nm nanostructures in thin films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hsu, Chih-Hao; Lin, Zhiwei; Dong, Xue-Hui; Hsieh, I.-Fan; Cheng, Stephen Z. D.

2014-03-01

Giant surfactants are built upon precisely attaching shape- and volume-persistent molecular nanoparticles (MNP) to polymeric flexible tails. The unique class of self-assembling materials, giant surfactants, has been demonstrated to form self-assembled ordered nanostructures, and their self-assembly behaviors are remarkably sensitive to primary chemical structures. In this work, two sets of giant surfactants with functionalized MNP attached to diblock copolymer tails were studied in thin films. Carboxylic acid-functionalized [60]fullerene (AC60) tethered with PEO- b-PS (PEO-PS-AC60) represents an ABA' (hydrophilic-hydrophobic-hydrophilic) giant surfactant, and fluoro-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (FPOSS) tethered with PEO- b-PS (PEO-PS-FPOSS) represents an ABC (hydrophilic-hydrophobic-omniphobic) one. The dissimilar chemical natures of the MNPs result in different arrangement of MNPs in self-assembled structures, the dispersion of AC60 in PEO domain and the single domain of FPOSS. Moreover, the chemically bonded MNPs could induce the originally disordered small molecular PEO- b-PS to form ordered cylindrical and lamellar structure, as evidenced by TEM and GISAXS, leading to sub-10-nm nanostructures of copolymer in the thin film state.

Non-perturbative effects and wall-crossing from topological strings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collinucci, Andrés; Soler, Pablo; Uranga, Angel M.

2009-11-01

We argue that the Gopakumar-Vafa interpretation of the topological string partition function can be used to compute and resum certain non-perturbative brane instanton effects of type II CY compactifications. In particular the topological string A-model encodes the non-perturbative corrections to the hypermultiplet moduli space metric from general D1/D(-1)-brane instantons in 4d Script N = 2 IIB models. We also discuss the reduction to 4d Script N = 1 by fluxes and/or orientifolds and/or D-branes, and the prospects to resum brane instanton contributions to non-perturbative superpotentials. We argue that the connection between non-perturbative effects and the topological string underlies the continuity of non-perturbative effects across lines of BPS stability. We also confirm this statement in mirror B-model matrix model examples, relating matrix model instantons to non-perturbative D-brane instantons. The computation of non-perturbative effects from the topological string requires a 3d circle compactification and T-duality, relating effects from particles and instantons, reminiscent of that involved in the physical derivation of the Kontsevich-Soibelmann wall-crossing formula.

Bisphenol A, bisphenol F and bisphenol S affect differently 5α-reductase expression and dopamine-serotonin systems in the prefrontal cortex of juvenile female rats.

PubMed

Castro, Beatriz; Sánchez, Pilar; Torres, Jesús M; Ortega, Esperanza

2015-10-01

Early-life exposure to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) affects brain function and behavior, which might be attributed to its interference with hormonal steroid signaling and/or neurotransmitter systems. Alternatively, the use of structural analogs of BPA, mainly bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), has increased recently. However, limited in vivo toxicity data exist. We investigated the effects of BPA, BPF and BPS on 5α-reductase (5α-R), a key enzyme involved in neurosteroidogenesis, as well as on dopamine (DA)- and serotonin (5-HT)-related genes, in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of juvenile female rats. Gestating Wistar rats were treated with either vehicle or 10 μg/kg/day of BPA, BPF or BPS from gestational day 12 to parturition. Then, female pups were exposed from postnatal day 1 through day 21 (PND21), when they were euthanized and RT-PCR, western blot and quantitative PCR-array experiments were performed. BPA decreased 5α-R2 and 5α-R3 mRNA and protein levels, while both BPF and BPS decreased 5α-R3 mRNA levels in PFC at PND21. Further, BPA, BPF and BPS significantly altered, respectively, the transcription of 25, 56 and 24 genes out of the 84 DA and 5-HT-related genes assayed. Of particular interest was the strong induction by all these bisphenols of Cyp2d4, implicated in corticosteroids synthesis. Our results demonstrate for the first time that BPA, BPF and BPS differentially affect 5α-R and genes related to DA/5-HT systems in the female PFC. In vivo evidence of the potential adverse effects of BPF and BPS in the brain of mammals is provided in this work, raising questions about the safety of these chemicals as substitutes for BPA. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Bladder Pain Syndrome. Spanish Urological Association Consensus Document.

PubMed

Esteban, M; Adot, J M; Arlandis, S; Peri, L; Prieto, L; Salinas, J; Cozar, J M

2015-10-01

Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (BPS/IC) and other bladder pathologies share common manifestations, such as the presence of mictional symptoms and a negative impact on the patient's quality of life. To be properly diagnosed and clinically managed, it is important to distinguish between its clinical modalities and diagnostic criteria for adequate exclusion. The purpose of this study was to standardize criteria for making decisions in BPS management, for its diagnosis, initial treatment and follow-up. A nominal group methodology was employed, using scientific evidence on BPS taken from a systematic (non-exhaustive) literature review for developing recommendations along with specialist expert opinions. The diagnosis of BPS should be made based on the patient's clinical history, with emphasis on pain and mictional symptoms as well as excluding other pathologies with similar symptomatology. BPS treatment should be directed towards restoring normal bladder function, preventing symptom relapse and improving patients' quality of life. It is therefore advisable to start with conservative treatment and to adopt less conservative treatments as the level of clinical severity increases. It is also recommended to abandon ineffective treatments and reconsider other therapeutic options. Quickly identifying the pathology is important when trying to positively influence morbidity and care quality for these patients. Copyright © 2014 AEU. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

In vitro and in silico assessment of the structure-dependent binding of bisphenol analogues to glucocorticoid receptor.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Tiehua; Guan, Tianzhu; Yu, Hansong; Li, Tiezhu

2017-03-01

Widespread use of bisphenol A (BPA) and other bisphenol analogues has attracted increasing attention for their potential adverse effects. As environmental endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), bisphenols (BPs) may activate a variety of nuclear receptors, including glucocorticoid receptor (GR). In this work, the binding of 11 BPs to GR was investigated by fluorescence polarization (FP) assay in combination with molecular dynamics simulations. The human glucocorticoid receptor was prepared as a soluble recombinant protein. A fluorescein-labeled dexamethasone derivative (Dex-fl) was employed as tracer. Competitive displacement of Dex-fl from GR by BPs showed that the binding affinities of bisphenol analogues were largely dependent on their characteristic functional groups. In order to further understand the relationship between BPs structures and their GR-mediated activities, molecular docking was utilized to explore the binding modes at the atomic level. The results confirmed that structural variations of bisphenol analogues contributed to different interactions of BPs with GR, potentially causing distinct toxic effects. Comparison of the calculated binding energies vs. experimental binding affinities yielded a good correlation (R 2  = 0.8266), which might be helpful for the design of environmentally benign materials with reduced toxicities. In addition, the established FP assay based on GR exhibited the potential to offer an alternative to traditional methods for the detection of bisphenols.

Geometric structure and information change in phase transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Eun-jin; Hollerbach, Rainer

2017-06-01

We propose a toy model for a cyclic order-disorder transition and introduce a geometric methodology to understand stochastic processes involved in transitions. Specifically, our model consists of a pair of forward and backward processes (FPs and BPs) for the emergence and disappearance of a structure in a stochastic environment. We calculate time-dependent probability density functions (PDFs) and the information length L , which is the total number of different states that a system undergoes during the transition. Time-dependent PDFs during transient relaxation exhibit strikingly different behavior in FPs and BPs. In particular, FPs driven by instability undergo the broadening of the PDF with a large increase in fluctuations before the transition to the ordered state accompanied by narrowing the PDF width. During this stage, we identify an interesting geodesic solution accompanied by the self-regulation between the growth and nonlinear damping where the time scale τ of information change is constant in time, independent of the strength of the stochastic noise. In comparison, BPs are mainly driven by the macroscopic motion due to the movement of the PDF peak. The total information length L between initial and final states is much larger in BPs than in FPs, increasing linearly with the deviation γ of a control parameter from the critical state in BPs while increasing logarithmically with γ in FPs. L scales as |lnD | and D-1 /2 in FPs and BPs, respectively, where D measures the strength of the stochastic forcing. These differing scalings with γ and D suggest a great utility of L in capturing different underlying processes, specifically, diffusion vs advection in phase transition by geometry. We discuss physical origins of these scalings and comment on implications of our results for bistable systems undergoing repeated order-disorder transitions (e.g., fitness).

Geometric structure and information change in phase transitions.

PubMed

Kim, Eun-Jin; Hollerbach, Rainer

2017-06-01

We propose a toy model for a cyclic order-disorder transition and introduce a geometric methodology to understand stochastic processes involved in transitions. Specifically, our model consists of a pair of forward and backward processes (FPs and BPs) for the emergence and disappearance of a structure in a stochastic environment. We calculate time-dependent probability density functions (PDFs) and the information length L, which is the total number of different states that a system undergoes during the transition. Time-dependent PDFs during transient relaxation exhibit strikingly different behavior in FPs and BPs. In particular, FPs driven by instability undergo the broadening of the PDF with a large increase in fluctuations before the transition to the ordered state accompanied by narrowing the PDF width. During this stage, we identify an interesting geodesic solution accompanied by the self-regulation between the growth and nonlinear damping where the time scale τ of information change is constant in time, independent of the strength of the stochastic noise. In comparison, BPs are mainly driven by the macroscopic motion due to the movement of the PDF peak. The total information length L between initial and final states is much larger in BPs than in FPs, increasing linearly with the deviation γ of a control parameter from the critical state in BPs while increasing logarithmically with γ in FPs. L scales as |lnD| and D^{-1/2} in FPs and BPs, respectively, where D measures the strength of the stochastic forcing. These differing scalings with γ and D suggest a great utility of L in capturing different underlying processes, specifically, diffusion vs advection in phase transition by geometry. We discuss physical origins of these scalings and comment on implications of our results for bistable systems undergoing repeated order-disorder transitions (e.g., fitness).

Waterborne exposure to BPS causes thyroid endocrine disruption in zebrafish larvae

PubMed Central

Zhang, Dan-hua; Zhou, En-xiang; Yang, Zhu-lin

2017-01-01

Bisphenol S (BPS) is widely used as a raw material in industry, resulting in its ubiquitous distribution in natural environment, including the aqueous environment. However, the effect of BPS on the thyroid endocrine system is largely unknown. In this study, zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposed to BPS at 1, 3, 10, and 30 μg/L, from 2 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 168hpf. Bioconcentration of BPS and whole-body thyroid hormones (THs), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) concentrations as well as transcriptional profiling of key genes related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis were examined. Chemical analysis indicated that BPS was accumulated in zebrafish larvae. Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels were significantly decreased at ≥ 10 and 30 μg/L of BPS, respectively. However, TSH concentration was significantly induced in the 10 and 30 μg/L BPS-treated groups. After exposure to BPS, the mRNA expression of corticotrophin releasing hormone (crh) and thyroglobulin (tg) genes were up-regulated at ≥10 μg/L of BPS, in a dose-response manner. The transcription of genes involved in thyroid development (pax8) and synthesis (sodium/iodide symporter, slc5a5) were also significantly increased in the 30 μg/L of BPS treatment group. Moreover, exposure to 10 μg/L or higher concentration of BPS significantly up-regulated genes related to thyroid hormone metabolism (deiodinases, dio1, dio2 and uridinediphosphate glucoronosyltransferases, ugt1ab), which might be responsible for the altered THs levels. However, the transcript of transthyretin (ttr) was significantly down-regulated at ≥ 3 μg/L of BPS, while the mRNA levels of thyroid hormone receptors (trα and trβ) and dio3 remained unchanged. All the results indicated that exposure to BPS altered the whole-body THs and TSH concentrations and changed the expression profiling of key genes related to HPT axis, thus triggering thyroid endocrine disruption. PMID:28467477

Biotechnology

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-02-09

Dwarf wheat were photographed aboard the International Space Station in April 2002. Lessons from on-orbit research on plants will have applications to terrestrial agriculture as well as for long-term space missions. Alternative agricultural systems that can efficiently produce greater quantities of high-quality crops in a small area are important for future space expeditions. Also regenerative life-support systems that include plants will be an important component of long-term space missions. Data from the Biomass Production System (BPS) and the Photosynthesis Experiment and System Testing and Operations (PESTO) will advance controlled-environment agricultural systems and will help farmers produce better, healthier crops in a small area. This same knowledge is critical to closed-loop life support systems for spacecraft. The BPS comprises a miniature environmental control system for four plant growth chambers, all in the volume of two space shuttle lockers. The experience with the BPS on orbit is providing valuable design and operational lessons that will be incorporated into the Plant Growth Units. The objective of PESTO was to flight verify the BPS hardware and to determine how the microgravity environment affects the photosynthesis and metabolic function of Super Dwarf wheat and Brassica rapa (a member of the mustard family).

Dwarf Wheat grown aboard the International Space Station

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

2003-01-01

Dwarf wheat were photographed aboard the International Space Station in April 2002. Lessons from on-orbit research on plants will have applications to terrestrial agriculture as well as for long-term space missions. Alternative agricultural systems that can efficiently produce greater quantities of high-quality crops in a small area are important for future space expeditions. Also regenerative life-support systems that include plants will be an important component of long-term space missions. Data from the Biomass Production System (BPS) and the Photosynthesis Experiment and System Testing and Operations (PESTO) will advance controlled-environment agricultural systems and will help farmers produce better, healthier crops in a small area. This same knowledge is critical to closed-loop life support systems for spacecraft. The BPS comprises a miniature environmental control system for four plant growth chambers, all in the volume of two space shuttle lockers. The experience with the BPS on orbit is providing valuable design and operational lessons that will be incorporated into the Plant Growth Units. The objective of PESTO was to flight verify the BPS hardware and to determine how the microgravity environment affects the photosynthesis and metabolic function of Super Dwarf wheat and Brassica rapa (a member of the mustard family).

Effect of bioactive peptides (BPs) on the development of Pacific white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Guangjun; Yu, Ermeng; Li, Zhifei; Yu, Deguang; Wang, Haiying; Gong, Wangbao

2016-06-01

The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of replacing fish meal (FM) with bioactive peptides (BPs) in diet of white shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei). The changes in growth performance, body composition, non-specific immunity, and water quality were examined after the shrimp were fed four diets, in which 0% (control), 33.3%, 66.7% and 100% of FM was replaced by BPs, respectively. The groups were designated as Con, 1/3BPs, 2/3BPs, and 3/3BPs. A total of 720 shrimp with an initial body weight of 1.46 ± 0.78 g were fed the experimental diets for 56 days. The results revealed that: 1) the weight gain rate (WGR) in 1/3BPs, 2/3BPs, and 3/3BPs was significantly higher than that in Con ( P < 0.05), while no significant difference was found on survival rate and feed conversion ratio (FCR); 2) the whole-body crude protein (CP) and crude lipids (CL) were significantly different among groups, while there was no significant difference between crude ash and phosphorus contents; 3) the levels of acid phosphatase (ACP), lysozyme (LZM), superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenol oxidase (PO) and bactericidal activity increased significantly with the inclusion of BPs; 4) in terms of water quality, no significant difference was found in pH and dissolved oxygen among diets during the whole experimental period. Moreover, even though nitrite and ammonium levels tended to increase with time, there was no significant difference among groups. The results indicated that BPs is an applicable alternative of protein source, which can substitute FM in the diets of L. vannamei; it is able to effectively promote growth performance and improve immunity. Moreover, BPs in the diets had no negative impact on water quality.

Higher dimensional curved domain walls on Kähler surfaces

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Akbar, Fiki T., E-mail: ftakbar@fi.itb.ac.id; Gunara, Bobby E., E-mail: bobby@fi.itb.ac.id; Radjabaycolle, Flinn C.

In this paper we study some aspects of curved BPS-like domain walls in higher dimensional gravity theory coupled to scalars where the scalars span a complex Kähler surface with scalar potential turned on. Assuming that a fake superpotential has a special form which depends on Kähler potential and a holomorphic function, we prove that BPS-like equations have a local unique solution. Then, we analyze the vacuum structure of the theory including their stability using dynamical system and their existence in ultraviolet-infrared regions using renormalization group flow.

Rapid Responses and Mechanism of Action for Low-Dose Bisphenol S on ex Vivo Rat Hearts and Isolated Myocytes: Evidence of Female-Specific Proarrhythmic Effects

PubMed Central

Gao, Xiaoqian; Ma, Jianyong; Chen, Yamei

2015-01-01

Background Bisphenol S (BPS) has increasingly been used as a substitute for bisphenol A (BPA) in some “BPA-free” consumer goods and in thermal papers. Wide human exposure to BPS has been reported; however, the biological and potential toxic effects of BPS are poorly understood. Objective In this study, we sought to elucidate the sex-specific rapid effect of BPS in rat hearts and its underlying mechanism. Methods We examined the rapid effects of BPS in rat hearts using electrophysiology, confocal and conventional fluorescence imaging, and immunoblotting. Treatment was administered via acute perfusion of excised hearts or isolated cardiac myocytes. Results In female rat hearts acutely exposed to 10–9 M BPS, the heart rate was increased; in the presence of catecholamine-induced stress, the frequency of ventricular arrhythmia events was markedly increased. BPS-exposed hearts showed increased incidence of arrhythmogenic-triggered activities in female ventricular myocytes and altered myocyte Ca2+ handling, particularly spontaneous Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The dose responses of BPS actions were inverted U-shaped. The impact of BPS on myocyte Ca2+ handling was mediated by estrogen receptor β signaling and by rapid increases in the phosphorylation of key Ca2+ handling proteins, including ryanodine receptor and phospholamban. The proarrhythmic effects of BPS were female specific; male rat hearts were not affected by BPS at the organ, myocyte, or protein levels. Conclusion Rapid exposure to low-dose BPS showed proarrhythmic impact on female rat hearts; these effects at the organ, cellular, and molecular levels are remarkably similar to those reported for BPA. Evaluation of the bioactivity and safety of BPS and other BPA analogs is necessary before they are used as BPA alternatives in consumer products. Citation Gao X, Ma J, Chen Y, Wang HS. 2015. Rapid responses and mechanism of action for low-dose bisphenol S on ex vivo rat hearts and isolated myocytes: evidence of female-specific proarrhythmic effects. Environ Health Perspect 123:571–578; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408679 PMID:25723814

Effects of BPA and BPS exposure limited to early embryogenesis persist to impair non-associative learning in adults.

PubMed

Mersha, Mahlet D; Patel, Bansri M; Patel, Dipen; Richardson, Brittany N; Dhillon, Harbinder S

2015-09-17

Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a polymerizing agent used in plastic bottles and several routinely used consumer items. It is classified among endocrine disrupting chemicals suspected to cause adverse health effects in mammals ranging from infertility and cancer to behavioral disorders. Work with the invertebrate lab model Caenorhabditis elegans has shown that BPA affects germ cells by disrupting double-stranded DNA break repair mechanisms. The current study utilizes this model organism to provide insight into low-dose and long-term behavioral effects of BPA and bisphenol-S (BPS), a supposed safer replacement for BPA. Experiments presented in our report demonstrate that the effects of embryonic exposure to considerably low levels of BPA persist into adulthood, affecting neural functionality as assayed by measuring habituation to mechano-sensory stimuli in C. elegans. These results are noteworthy in that they are based on low-dose exposures, following the rationale that subtler effects that may not be morphologically apparent are likely to be discernible through behavioral changes. In addition, we report that embryonic exposure to BPS follows a pattern similar to BPA. Building upon previous observations using the C. elegans model, we have shown that exposure of embryos to BPA and BPS affects their behavior as adults. These long-term effects are in line with recommended alternate low-dose chemical safety testing approaches. Our observation that the effects of BPS are similar to BPA is not unexpected, considering their structural similarity. This, to our knowledge, is the first reported behavioral study on low-dose toxicity of any endocrine disrupting chemical in C. elegans.

Evaluation of ecotoxicological effects of benzophenone UV filters: Luminescent bacteria toxicity, genotoxicity and hormonal activity.

PubMed

Zhang, Qiuya; Ma, Xiaoyan; Dzakpasu, Mawuli; Wang, Xiaochang C

2017-08-01

The widespread use of organic ultraviolet (UV) filters in personal care products raises concerns about their potentially hazardous effects on human and ecosystem health. In this study, the toxicities of four commonly used benzophenones (BPs) UV filters including benzophenone (BP), 2-Hydroxybenzophenone (2HB), 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone (BP3), and 2-Hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone-5-sulfonicacid (BP4) in water were assayed in vitro using Vibrio fischeri, SOS/umu assay, and yeast estrogen screen (YES) assay, as well as in vivo using zebrafish larvae. The results showed that the luminescent bacteria toxicity, expressed as logEC 50 , increased with the lipophilicity (logKow) of BPs UV filters. Especially, since 2HB, BP3 and BP4 had different substituent groups, namely -OH, -OCH 3 and -SO 3 H, respectively, these substituent functional groups had a major contribution to the lipophilicity and acute toxicity of these BPs. Similar tendency was observed for the genotoxicity, expressed as the value of induction ratio=1.5. Moreover, all the target BPs UV filters showed estrogenic activity, but no significant influences of lipophilicity on the estrogenicity were observed, with BP3 having the weakest estrogenic efficiency in vitro. Although BP3 displayed no noticeable adverse effects in any in vitro assays, multiple hormonal activities were observed in zebrafish larvae including estrogenicity, anti-estrogenicity and anti-androgenicity by regulating the expression of target genes. The results indicated potential hazardous effects of BPs UV filters and the importance of the combination of toxicological evaluation methods including in vitro and in vivo assays. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A new chapter in the bisphenol A story: bisphenol S and bisphenol F are not safe alternatives to this compound.

PubMed

Eladak, Soria; Grisin, Tiphany; Moison, Delphine; Guerquin, Marie-Justine; N'Tumba-Byn, Thierry; Pozzi-Gaudin, Stéphanie; Benachi, Alexandra; Livera, Gabriel; Rouiller-Fabre, Virginie; Habert, René

2015-01-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely studied typical endocrine-disrupting chemical, and one of the major new issues is the safe replacement of this commonly used compound. Bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are already or are planned to be used as BPA alternatives. With the use of a culture system that we developed (fetal testis assay [FeTA]), we previously showed that 10 nmol/L BPA reduces basal testosterone secretion of human fetal testis explants and that the susceptibility to BPA is at least 100-fold lower in rat and mouse fetal testes. Here, we show that addition of LH in the FeTA system considerably enhances BPA minimum effective concentration in mouse and human but not in rat fetal testes. Then, using the FeTA system without LH (the experimental conditions in which mouse and human fetal testes are most sensitive to BPA), we found that, as for BPA, 10 nmol/L BPS or BPF is sufficient to decrease basal testosterone secretion by human fetal testes with often nonmonotonic dose-response curves. In fetal mouse testes, the dose-response curves were mostly monotonic and the minimum effective concentrations were 1,000 nmol/L for BPA and BPF and 100 nmol/L for BPS. Finally, 10,000 nmol/L BPA, BPS, or BPF reduced Insl3 expression in cultured mouse fetal testes. This is the first report describing BPS and BPF adverse effects on a physiologic function in humans and rodents. Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Alexithymia and anesthetic bladder capacity in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

PubMed

Chiu, Chui-De; Lee, Ming-Huei; Chen, Wei-Chih; Ho, Hoi Lam; Wu, Huei-Ching

2017-09-01

In contrast to the inconsistent results of organic causes, it has been found that psychological risk factors are reliably related to functional somatic syndromes (FSSs), including interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Compared to patients with acute cystitis, a subgroup of IC/BPS patients with a history of childhood relational trauma reported intensified unregulated affective states (i.e., anxiety and depression) and trauma-related psychopathology (i.e., dissociation). Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether psychosocial risk factors can be separated from bladder-centric factors. This study aimed to verify whether psychosocial factors such as alexithymia, which is a key psychological factor of FSSs, are less likely to be linked to a low bladder capacity in patients with IC/BPS. Ninety-four female IC/BPS patients were recruited from the outpatient departments of urology, obstetrics, and gynecology. Anxiety, depression, dissociation, childhood relational trauma, and alexithymia were assessed using standardized scales, and anesthetic bladder capacity was examined by cystoscopic hydrodistention. Positive correlations were found between anesthetic bladder capacity and the psychosocial variables, including alexithymia. An increased bladder capacity was associated with anxiety, dissociation, and childhood relational trauma, and a combination of high cognitive and low affective alexithymia mediated the correlations between bladder capacity and the psychosocial variables. Psychosocial variables that are associated with an aversive childhood relational environment and affect dysregulation may constitute a pathogenic trajectory that differs from bladder-centric defects such as a lower bladder capacity. The findings of this study support the notion that IC/BPS in some patients may be due to an FSS. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Combined Quarterly Technical Report Number 31. Pluribus Satellite IMP (Interface Message Provision) Development Mobile Access Terminal Network

DTIC Science & Technology

1983-12-01

Bzo I-BIO-INODE I<---->INODE 1-SIO-I BIO I 2 Hbps <-I I LINKI #1 1 B’?LY 1 #2 I LINKI 1-> 2 bps - ----- SWITCH .---- • OR N,2 11bps ->IIJPLIN I...IPROC’Rh IPROC’RI IDOWNLINKI-> 2 14bps I BIO I-BIO-INODE I<---->INODE I-BIO-I BIO I S2 bps ->I I LINKI #1 I B’FLY 1 #2 I LINKI 1-> 2 1bps " ----- + SWITCH

High resolution telescope and spectrograph observations of solar fine structure in the 1600 A region

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cook, J. W.; Brueckner, G. E.; Bartoe, J.-D. F.

1983-01-01

High spatial resolution spectroheliograms of the 1600 A region obtained during the HRTS rocket flight of 1978 February 13 are presented. The morphology, fine structure, and temporal behavior of emission bright points (BPs) in active and quiet regions are illustrated. In quiet regions, network elements persist as morphological units, although individual BPs may vary in intensity while usually lasting the flight duration. In cell centers, the BPs are highly variable on a 1 minute time scale. BPs in plages remain more constant in brightness over the observing sequence. BPs cover less than 4 percent of the quiet surface. The lifetime and degree of packing of BPs vary with the local strength of the magnetic field.

In vitro profiling of toxicity and endocrine disrupting effects of bisphenol analogues by employing MCF-7 cells and two-hybrid yeast bioassay.

PubMed

Lei, Bingli; Xu, Jie; Peng, Wei; Wen, Yu; Zeng, Xiangying; Yu, Zhiqiang; Wang, Yipei; Chen, Tian

2017-01-01

The potentially adverse health implications of bisphenol A (BPA) have led to increasing use of alternative bisphenols (BPs). However, little is known about the toxicity of alternative BPs. In this study, the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, intracellular ROS formation, and Ca 2+ fluctuation effects of BPs on MCF-7 cells were evaluated. At the same time, the estrogenic and thyroidal hormone effect potentials of six BPs were also evaluated using two-hybrid yeast bioassay. The results showed that most BPs at 0.01-1 μM significantly increased cell viability in MCF-7 cells and at higher exposure concentrations of 25-100 μM, they caused a significant decrease of cell viability. At the same time, these BPs also at 25-100 μM significantly increased LDH release of MCF-7 cells. In addition, several BPs at 10-50 μM resulted in a significantly concentration-depended increase in DNA-damaging effect on MCF-7 cells and elevated ROS production. Most BPs at 0.0001-10 μM significantly increased intracellular Ca 2+ level. These results showed that bisphenol AF (BPAF) and thiodiphenol (TDP) exerted cell biological effect, estrogenic, and thyroidal effect potentials greater than those of BPA. The cytotoxicity and endocrine disrupting effects of other BPs are similar to or slightly lower than those of BPA. Therefore, as potential alternatives to BPA, endocrine disrupting effects and potential health harm of alternative BPs to human can also not be ignored. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 278-289, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemiluminescence reactions with cationic, neutral, and anionic ruthenium(II) complexes containing 2,2'-bipyridine and bathophenanthroline disulfonate ligands.

PubMed

Francis, Paul S; Papettas, Dimitra; Zammit, Elizabeth M; Barnett, Neil W

2010-07-15

Ruthenium complexes containing 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline disulfonate (bathophenanthroline disulfonate; BPS) ligands, Ru(BPS)(3)(4-), Ru(BPS)(2)(bipy)(2-) and Ru(BPS)(bipy)(2), were compared to tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) (Ru(bipy)(3)(2+)), including examination of the wavelengths of maximum absorption and corrected emission intensity, photoluminescence quantum yield, stability of their oxidised ruthenium(III) form, and relative chemiluminescence intensities and signal-to-blank ratios with cerium(IV) sulfate and six analytes (codeine, morphine cocaine, potassium oxalate, furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide) in acidic aqueous solution. The presence of BPS ligands in the complex increased the photoluminescence quantum yield, but decreased the stability of the oxidised form of the reagent. In contrast to previous evidence showing much greater electrochemiluminescence intensities using Ru(BPS)(2)(bipy)(2-) and Ru(BPS)(bipy)(2), these complexes did not provide superior chemiluminescence signals than their homoleptic analogues. Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bisphenol A alternatives in thermal paper from the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Norway. Screening and potential toxicity.

PubMed

Björnsdotter, Maria K; Jonker, Willem; Legradi, Jessica; Kool, Jeroen; Ballesteros-Gómez, Ana

2017-12-01

Thermal paper contains potentially toxic additives, such as bisphenol A (BPA), as a common color developer. Because of its known endocrine disrupting effects, structural analogues to BPA, such as bisphenol S (BPS), D-8 and Pergafast 201, have been used as alternatives, but little is known about the presence and toxicological effects of alternatives other than BPS. In this study, thermal paper is screened by direct probe ambient mass spectrometry (rapid pre-screening method not requiring sample preparation) and by liquid chromatography (LC) with high resolution time-of flight (TOF-MS) mass spectrometry. Cash receipts and other thermal paper products (cinema tickets, boarding passes and luggage tags) were analyzed. Besides BPA and BPS, other developers only recently reported (Pergafast 201, D-8) or to the best of our knowledge not reported before (D-90, TGSA, BPS-MAE) were frequently found as well as some related unreported impurities (2,4-BPS that is a BPS related impurity and a TGSA related impurity). To gain some insight into the potential estrogenicity of the detected developers, a selection of extracts was further analyzed using a LC-nanofractionation platform in combination with cell-based bioassay testing. These preliminary results seems to indicate very low or absence of estrogenic activity for Pergafast 201, D-8, D-90, TGSA and BPS-MAE in comparison to BPA and BPS, although further dose-response tests with authentic standards are required to confirm these results. Compounds for which standards were available were also tested for developmental toxicity and neurotoxicity using zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. TGSA and D-8 induced similar teratogenic effects as BPA in zebrafish embryos. BPS and 2,4-BPS did not induce any developmental effects but 2,4-BPS did alter the locomotor activity at the tested concentration. Our findings suggest that the alternatives used as alternatives to BPA (except BPS) might not be estrogenic. However, TGSA and D-8 showed abnormal developmental effects similar to BPA. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implications of bisphosphonate calcium ion depletion interfering with desmosome epithelial seal in osseointegrated implants and pressure ulcers.

PubMed

Touyz, Louis Z G; Afrashtehfar, Kelvin I

2017-09-01

Osteoporosis (OP) is a global bone disease prevalent in aging in humans, especially in older women. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are commonly used as therapy for OP as it influences hard and soft tissues calcium metabolism. Mucosal and dermal ulceration with exposure of underlying bone arises from incomplete epithelial recovery due to reduced desmosome formation deriving from lack of available calcium. Pathological situations such as bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw have been described. This hypothesis states other situations which demand intact functional desmosomes such as healing skin over chronic pressure points leading to pressure ulcers (as well-known as bedsores, pressure sores, pressure injuries, decubitus ulcers), and hemidesmosomes such as epithelial seals in contact with titanium surfaces will have a higher prevalence of breakdown among patients being treated with BPs. This may be proven through the diminished modulation of calcium ions due to BPs, and its effect on the formation of intercellular gap junctions. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Minimally Invasive Unilateral vs. Bilateral Pedicle Screw Fixation and Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Treatment of Multi-Segment Lumbar Degenerative Disorders.

PubMed

Liu, Xiaoyang; Li, Guangrun; Wang, Jiefeng; Zhang, Heqing

2015-11-25

BACKGROUND The choice for instrumentation with minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) in treatment of degenerative lumbar disorders (DLD) remains controversial. The goal of this study was to investigate clinical outcomes in consecutive patients with multi-segment DLD treated with unilateral pedicle screw (UPS) vs. bilateral pedicle screw (BPS) instrumented TLIF. MATERIAL AND METHODS Eighty-four consecutive patients who had multi-level MIS-TLIF were retrospectively reviewed. All data were collected to compare the clinical outcomes between the 2 groups. RESULTS Both groups showed similar clinical function scores in VAS and ODI. The two groups differed significantly in operative time (P<0.001), blood loss (P<0.001), and fusion rate (P=0.043), respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated similar clinical outcomes between UPS fixation and BPS procedure after MIS-TLIF for multi-level DLD. Moreover, UPS technique was superior in operative time and blood loss, but represented lower fusion rate than the BPS construct did.

Health care service utilization among patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis in a single payer healthcare system.

PubMed

Chung, Shiu-Dong; Liu, Shih-Ping; Li, Hsien-Chang; Lin, Herng-Ching

2014-01-01

This study aims to investigate the differences in the utilization of healthcare services between patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) and patients without using a population-based database in Taiwan. This study comprised of 350 patients with BPS/IC and 1,750 age-matched controls. Healthcare resource utilization was evaluated in the one-year follow-up period as follows: number of outpatient visits and inpatient days, and the mean costs of outpatient and inpatient treatment. A multivariate regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between BPS/IC and total costs of health care services. For urological services, patients with BPS/IC had a significantly higher number of outpatient visits (2.5 vs. 0.2, p<0.001) as well as significantly higher outpatient costs ($US166 vs. $US6.8, p<0.001) than the controls. For non-urologic services, patients with BPS/IC had a significantly high number of outpatient visits (35.0 vs. 21.3, p<0.001) as well as significantly higher outpatient cots ($US912 vs. $US675, p<0.001) as compared to the controls. Overall, patients with BPS/IC had 174% more outpatient visits and 150% higher total costs than the controls. Multiple-regression-analyses also showed that the patients with BPS/IC had significantly higher total costs for all healthcare services than the controls. This study found that patients with BPS/IC have a significantly higher number of healthcare related visits, and have significantly higher healthcare related costs than age-matched controls. The high level of healthcare services utilization accrued with BPS/IC was not necessarily exclusive for BPS/IC, but may have also been associated with medical co-morbidities.

Identification and Functional Characterization of a Novel Acetylcholine-binding Protein from the Marine Annelid Capitella teleta

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McCormack, T.; Petrovich,; Mercier, K

2010-01-01

We identified a homologue of the molluscan acetylcholine-binding protein (AChBP) in the marine polychaete Capitella teleta, from the annelid phylum. The amino acid sequence of C. teleta AChBP (ct-AChBP) is 21-30% identical with those of known molluscan AChBPs. Sequence alignments indicate that ct-AChBP has a shortened Cys loop compared to other Cys loop receptors, and a variation on a conserved Cys loop triad, which is associated with ligand binding in other AChBPs and nicotinic ACh receptor (nAChR) {alpha} subunits. Within the D loop of ct-AChBP, a conserved aromatic residue (Tyr or Trp) in nAChRs and molluscan AChBPs, which has beenmore » implicated directly in ligand binding, is substituted with an isoleucine. Mass spectrometry results indicate that Asn122 and Asn216 of ct-AChBP are glycosylated when expressed using HEK293 cells. Small-angle X-ray scattering data suggest that the overall shape of ct-AChBP in the apo or unliganded state is similar to that of homologues with known pentameric crystal structures. NMR experiments show that acetylcholine, nicotine, and {alpha}-bungarotoxin bind to ct-AChBP with high affinity, with KD values of 28.7 {micro}M, 209 nM, and 110 nM, respectively. Choline bound with a lower affinity (K{sub D} = 163 {micro}M). Our finding of a functional AChBP in a marine annelid demonstrates that AChBPs may exhibit variations in hallmark motifs such as ligand-binding residues and Cys loop length and shows conclusively that this neurotransmitter binding protein is not limited to the phylum Mollusca.« less

The AdS/CFT Correspondence: Classical, Quantum, and Thermodynamical Aspects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Young, Donovan

2007-06-01

Certain aspects of the AdS/CFT correspondence are studied in detail. We investigate the one-loop mass shift to certain two-impurity string states in light-cone string field theory on a plane wave background. We find that there exist logarithmic divergences in the sums over intermediate mode numbers which cancel between the cubic Hamiltonian and quartic "contact term". We argue that generically, every order in intermediate state impurities contributes to the mass shift at leading perturbative order. The same mass shift is also computed using an improved 3-string vertex proposed by Dobashi and Yoneya. The result is found to agree with gauge theory at leading order and is close but not quite in agreement at subleading order. We extend the analysis to include discrete light-cone quantization, considering states with up to three units of p+. We study the (apparently) first-order phase transition in the weakly coupled plane-wave matrix model at finite temperature. We analyze the effect of interactions by computing the relevant parts of the effective potential for the Polyakov loop operator to three loop order. We show that the phase transition is indeed of first order. We also compute the 2-loop correction to the Hagedorn temperature. Finally, correlation functions of 1/4 BPS Wilson loops with the infinite family of 1/2 BPS chiral primary operators are computed in N=4 super Yang-Mills theory by summing planar ladder diagrams. The correlation functions are also computed in the strong-coupling limit using string theory; the result is found to agree with the extrapolation of the planar ladders. The result is related to similar correlators of 1/2 BPS loops by a simple re-scaling of the coupling constant, discovered by Drukker for the case of the 1/4 BPS loop VEV.

Exploring the effect of bisphenol S on sludge hydrolysis and mechanism of the interaction between bisphenol S and α-Amylase through spectrophotometric methods.

PubMed

Yang, Hang; Hou, Guangying; Zhang, Li; Ju, Lei; Liu, Chunguang

2017-02-01

Sewage sludge, as a very significant sources of BPS (up to 523mg/kg dw) introduction into the environment, must be handled properly. Therefore, it is important to access BPS removal and its effect on sludge treatment with the biological treatment. However, it is unclear for its effect on the hydrolysis of sludge. In this research, impact of BPS on sludge hydrolysis by α-Amylase is studied from the respect of component of soluble organic matter in sludge using three-dimensional fluorescence spectra. Enzyme activity assay suggests that sludge hydrolysis is inhibited due to the denaturation of α-Amylase with BPS exposure. In order to illuminate the interaction mechanism between BPS and α-Amylase, UV-vis, steady-state fluorescence, circular dichroism, synchronous fluorescence, light scattering spectra, enzyme activity assay and molecule docking techniques are applied. Results show that BPS interacts with α-Amylase by hydrophobic bond in the activity region of α-Amylase. This interaction not only causes an unfolding skeleton structure of α-Amylase and a less hydrophobic microenvironment of tyrosine and tryptophan residues, but also leads to a specific fluorophore quenching involving static and dynamic type. This work provides direct evidence about enzyme toxicity of BPS and establishes a new strategy to investigate the interaction between protein and BPS at a molecular level, which is helpful for clarifying the bioactivities of BPS. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Major benzophenone concentrations and influence of food consumption among the general population in Korea, and the association with oxidative stress biomarker.

PubMed

Kim, Bokyung; Kwon, Bareum; Jang, Sol; Kim, Pan-Gyi; Ji, Kyunghee

2016-09-15

Benzophenones (BPs) have been used as sunscreen agents and as ultraviolet stabilizers in plastic surface coatings for food packaging. However, few studies have been performed to examine the level of human exposure to BPs and the potential sources of such exposure. We evaluated the exposure levels to six major BPs (BP-1, BP-2, BP-3, BP-4, BP-8, and 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-OH-BP)) among the adult population in two cities in Korea, and investigated the potential dietary sources of the BPs. Urinary levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidative stress biomarker as well as their association with the levels of BPs were also analyzed. Among the six BPs analyzed, 4-OH-BP, BP-1, BP-3, and BP-4 were detected in 77%, 49%, 27%, and 21% of the population, respectively. BP concentrations were relatively higher in younger (people in their 20s and 30s) cosmetic users and leaner women. Even after the adjustment of age, body mass index, and cosmetic use, the consumption of frozen storage food, instant noodles, and instant coffee was significantly correlated with urinary BPs, and these associations were sex-dependent. No significant correlation was observed between the levels of BPs and levels of MDA. The results of the present study will be useful for developing plans of public health management of BPs. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aspect ratio dependence of the enhancement of fluorescence intensity by gold nanobipyramids for cancer cell imaging and photodynamic therapy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jing; Wang, Shimiao; Mi, Lan; Liu, Jun

2018-07-01

Enhancement of dye fluorescence intensity was studied by modifying the aspect ratio of gold nanobipyramids (AuBPs) from 3.2 to 6.6. The emission fluorescence intensity of sulfonated aluminum phthalocyanine (AlPcS) was strongly dependent on the aspect ratio of AuBPs. Furthermore, we found that the energy transfer from excited AlPcS to AuBPs was a key determinant of the efficacy of metal-enhanced fluorescence. By means of AuBPs with a higher aspect ratio, such that the surface plasmon resonance band does not overlap with the energy level of excited AlPcS, metal-enhanced fluorescence of various AlPcS–AuBP conjugates was determined, and the maximal enhancement factor was found to be 14. The enhanced fluorescence intensity of AlPcS conjugated with AuBPs indicates promising plasmonic properties. An apoptosis assay of HeLa cells revealed that AlPcS–AuBPs, when used as a drug, can enhance the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT). Furthermore, AuBPs with the longitudinal absorption peak wavelength of 1050 nm had optimal proapoptotic effects. HeLa cells treated with AlPcS–AuBPs (ratio 0.42 µM to 0.01 nM) had viability as low as 29.31% after 32 J cm‑2 ultraviolet light exposure, indicating the strong potential of AlPcS–AuBPs to improve the efficacy of PDT.

Exp(1076) Shades of Black: Aspects of Black Hole Microstates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasilakis, Orestis

In this thesis we examine smooth supergravity solutions known as "microstate geometries". These solutions have neither a horizon, nor a singularity, yet they have the same asymptotic structure and conserved charges as black holes. Specifically we study supersymmetric and extremal non-supersymmetric solutions. The goal of this program is to construct enough microstates to account for the correct scaling behavior of the black hole entropy with respect to the charges within the supergravity approximation. For supersymmetric systems that are ⅛-BPS, microstate geometries account so far only for Q5/4 of the total entropy S ˜ Q3/2, while for non-supersymmetric systems the known microstate geometries are sporadic. For the supersymmetric case we construct solutions with three and four charges. Five-dimensional systems with three and four charges are ⅛-BPS. Thus they admit macroscopic horizons making the supergravity approximation valid. For the three-charge case we present some steps towards the construction of the superstratum, a microstate geometry depending on arbitrary functions of two variables, which is expected to provide the necessary entropy for this class of solutions. Specifically we construct multiple concentric solutions with three electric and two dipole magnetic charges which depend on arbitrary functions of two variables and examine their properties. These solutions have no KKM charge and thus are singular. For the four-charge case we construct microstate geometries by extending results available in the literature for three charges. We find smooth solutions in terms of bubbled geometries with ambipolar Gibbons-Hawking base space and by constructing the relevant supertubes. In the non-supersymmetric case we work with a three-charge system of extremal black holes known as almost-BPS, which provides a controlled way of breaking sypersymmetry. By using supertubes we construct the first systematic example of a family of almost-BPS microstate geometries and examine the moduli space of solutions. Furthermore by using brane probe analysis we show that, despite the breaking of supersymmetry, almost-BPS solutions receive no quantum corrections and thus must be subject to some kind of non-renormalization theorem.

Bisphenol analogues in surface water and sediment from the shallow Chinese freshwater lakes: Occurrence, distribution, source apportionment, and ecological and human health risk.

PubMed

Yan, Zhengyu; Liu, Yanhua; Yan, Kun; Wu, Shengmin; Han, Zhihua; Guo, Ruixin; Chen, Meihong; Yang, Qiulian; Zhang, Shenghu; Chen, Jianqiu

2017-10-01

Compared to Bisphenol A (BPA), current knowledge on the spatial distribution, potential sources and environmental risk assessment of other bisphenol analogues (BPs) remains limited. The occurrence, distribution and sources of seven BPs were investigated in the surface water and sediment from Taihu Lake and Luoma Lake, which are the Chinese shallow freshwater lakes. Because there are many industries and living areas around Taihu Lake, the total concentrations of ∑BPs were much higher than that in Luoma Lake, which is away from the industry-intensive areas. For the two lakes, BPA was still the dominant BPs in both surface water and sediment, followed by BPF and BPS. The spatial distribution and principal component analysis showed that BPs in Luoma Lake was relatively homogeneous and the potential sources were relatively simple than that in Taihu Lake. The spatial distribution of BPs in sediment of Taihu Lake indicated that ∑BPs positively correlated with the TOC content. For both Taihu Lake and Luoma Lake, the risk assessment at the sampling sites showed that no high risk in surface water and sediment (RQ t  < 1.0, and EEQ t  < 1.0 ng E 2 /L). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Trait-related decision-making impairment in the three phases of bipolar disorder.

PubMed

Adida, Marc; Jollant, Fabrice; Clark, Luke; Besnier, Nathalie; Guillaume, Sébastien; Kaladjian, Arthur; Mazzola-Pomietto, Pascale; Jeanningros, Régine; Goodwin, Guy M; Azorin, Jean-Michel; Courtet, Philippe

2011-08-15

In bipolar disorder (BD), little is known about how deficits in neurocognitive functions such as decision-making are related to phase of illness. We predicted that manic, depressed, and euthymic bipolar patients (BPs) would display impaired decision-making, and we tested whether clinical characteristics could predict patients' decision-making performance. Subjects (N = 317; age range: 18-65 years) including 167 BPs (45 manic and 32 depressed inpatients, and 90 euthymic outpatients) and 150 age-, IQ-, and gender-matched healthy control (HC) participants, were included within three university psychiatric hospitals using a cross-sectional design. The relationship between predictor variables and decision-making was assessed by one-step multivariate analysis. The main outcome measures were overall decision-making ability on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and an index of sensitivity to punishment frequency. Manic, depressed, and euthymic BPs selected significantly more cards from the risky decks than HCs (p < .001, p < .01, and p < .05, respectively), with no significant differences between the three BD groups. However, like HCs, BPs preferred decks that yielded infrequent penalties over those yielding frequent penalties. In multivariate analysis, decision-making impairment was significantly (p < .001) predicted by low level of education, high depressive scores, family history of BD, use of benzodiazepines, and nonuse of serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) antidepressants. BPs have a trait-related impairment in decision-making that does not vary across illness phase. However, some subtle differences between the BD groups in the individual deck analyses may point to subtle state influences on reinforcement mechanisms, in addition to a more fundamental trait impairment in risk-sensitive decision making. Copyright © 2011 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Integrated AUTODIN System Architecture Report. Part 2.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-03-01

Link Modes Protocols and end-to- end host protocols Codes ASCII, ITA#2 ASCII, Others (Trans- parent to network) Speeds 45 thru 4800 bps 110 bps thru 56K ...service facilities such as AMPEs, subscriber access lines, modems , multiplexers, concentrators, interface development to include software design and...Protocol) CODES - ASCII and ITA#2 (others transparent) SPEEDS - 45.5bps - 56K bps FORMATS - AUTODIN II Segment Formats, JANAP 128, ACP 126/127, DOI 103

Passively Q-switched Tm-doped fiber laser based on concave gold bipyramids assembled quasi-2D saturable absorber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Song, Jiaxin; Wu, Hanshuo; Wu, Jian; Xu, Jiangming; Xiao, Hu; Leng, Jinyong; Zhou, Pu; Liu, Zejin

2018-07-01

We demonstrated a concave gold bipyramids (CAuBPs) quasi-2D saturable absorbers (SAs) based ~2 μm band fiber laser for the first time. CAuBPs were synthesized by using modified aqueous wet-chemical synthesis method. Through controlling the size and morphology of CAuBPs, the longitudinal surface plasmon resonance peak of CAuBPs based quasi-2D SA is tuned to be ~2 μm. Passively Q-switched lasing of thulium-doped fiber laser is achieved successfully with a maximum average output power of 9.72 mW and ~9% slope efficiency. The minimum pulse width is 4.56 µs at the repetition rate of 20 kHz. Experimental results reveals that CAuBPs could be used as SAs in the 2 µm region, which verifies the saturable absorption properties of CAuBPs.

BPS states in N = 2 supersymmetric G2 and F4 models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ahl Laamara, R.; Mellal, O.; Saidi, E. H.

2017-07-01

In BPS quiver theory of N = 2 supersymmetric pure gauge models with gauge invariance G, primitive BPS quivers Q0G are of two types: Q0ADE and Q0BCFG. In this study, we first show that Q0ADE have outer-automorphism symmetries inherited from the outer-automorphisms of the Dynkin diagrams of ADE Lie algebras. Then, we extend the usual folding operation of Dynkin diagrams ADE → BCFG to obtain the two following things: (i) relate Q0BCFG quivers and their mutations to the Q0ADE ones and their mutations; and (ii) link the BPS chambers of the N = 2ADE theories with the corresponding BCFG ones. As an illustration of this construction, we derive the BPS and anti-BPS states of the strong chambers QstgG2 and QstgF4 of the 4d N = 2 pure G2 and F4 gauge models.

Computational Insights into Binding of Bisphosphates to Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase

PubMed Central

Ohno, K; Mori, K; Orita, M; Takeuchi, M

2011-01-01

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are the most widely used and effective treatment for osteoporosis and Paget's disease. Non-nitrogen containing BPs (non-N-BPs), namely etidronate, clodronate, tiludronate, as well as nitrogen-containing BPs (N-BPs), namely pamidronate, alendronate, ibandronate, risedronate, zoledronate and minodronate have been launched on the market to date. N-BPs act by inhibiting the enzyme farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (FPPS), and several crystal structures of complexes between FPPS and N-BPs have been revealed. Understanding the physical basis of the binding between protein and small molecules is an important goal in both medicinal chemistry and structural biology. In this review, we analyze in detail the energetic basis of molecular recognition between FPPS and N-BPs. First, we summarize the interactions between ligands and proteins observed in N-BPs-FPPS complexes in the Protein Data Bank (PDB). Second, we present an interaction energy analysis on the basis of full quantum mechanical calculation of FPPS and N-BP complexes using the fragment molecular orbital (FMO) method. The FMO result revealed that not only hydrogen bond and electrostatic interaction but also CH-O and π-π interaction with FPPS are important for N-BP’s potency. Third, we describe a binding site analysis of FPPS on the basis of the inhomogeneous solvation theory which, by clustering the results from an explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulation (MD), is capable of describing the entropic and enthalpic contributions to the free energies of individual hydration sites. Finally, we also discuss the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of the series of minodronate derivatives. PMID:21110804

Throttling Tor Bandwidth Parasites

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-09-23

this section, “ vanilla ” rep- resents unmodified Tor using a round-robin circuit scheduler and no throttling and can be used to compare results...and valid between 03:00:00 and 06:00:00. 7 0 5 10 15 20 Web Time to First Byte (s) 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 Cu m ul at iv e Fr ac tio n vanilla 5...KiBps 50 KiBps 300 KiBps (a) 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 Web Download Time (s) 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 Cu m ul at iv e Fr ac tio n vanilla 5 KiBps 50 KiBps 300

The BPS spectrum of the 4d {N}=2 SCFT's H 1, H 2, D 4, E 6, E 7, E 8

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cecotti, Sergio; Del Zotto, Michele

2013-06-01

Extending results of 1112.3984, we show that all rank 1 {N}=2 SCFT's in the sequence H 1, H 2, D 4 E 6, E 7, E 8 have canonical finite BPS chambers containing precisely 2 h(F) = 12(∆ - 1) hypermultiplets. The BPS spectrum of the canonical BPS chambers saturates the conformal central charge c, and satisfies some intriguing numerology.

BPS States, Crystals, and Matrices

DOE PAGES

Sułkowski, Piotr

2011-01-01

We review free fermion, melting crystal, and matrix model representations of wall-crossing phenomena on local, toric Calabi-Yau manifolds. We consider both unrefined and refined BPS counting of closed BPS states involving D2- and D0-branes bound to a D6-brane, as well as open BPS states involving open D2-branes ending on an additional D4-brane. Appropriate limit of these constructions provides, among the others, matrix model representation of refined and unrefined topological string amplitudes.

Role of home blood pressure monitoring in hemodialysis patients.

PubMed

Agarwal, R

1999-04-01

To investigate the use of manual home blood pressure (BP) monitoring in chronic hemodialysis patients, daily home BPs in 20 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis were compared with the 44-hour interdialytic ambulatory BPs (ABPs). Each patient recorded home BPs for 2 consecutive weeks with a digital BP monitor three times daily. Prehemodialysis and posthemodialysis BPs were recorded by an oscillometric device in the hemodialysis unit during the same 2 weeks. ABPs were recorded either after the first or second hemodialysis session of the second week during a 44-hour interdialytic period using a Spacelab 90207 ABP monitor. ABP monitoring showed that BP decreased progressively after dialysis, decreased during the first night, and rapidly reached predialysis levels by the next morning. There was no decrease in BP during the second night. There was an excellent correlation between average systolic and diastolic ABP and respective home BPs. Prehemodialysis diastolic BPs were a good reflection of diastolic ABP, but there was more variability in predialysis systolic BP. Posthemodialysis BPs did not correlate with ABP. In patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, home BPs more reliably reflected the overall BP than incenter BP readings. Predialysis, but not postdialysis, BP should be used as a screening tool to detect hypertension in the hemodialysis unit. Home BP monitoring should be used as a cost-effective means to diagnose occult hypertension in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Emission of bisphenol analogues including bisphenol A and bisphenol F from wastewater treatment plants in Korea.

PubMed

Lee, Sunggyu; Liao, Chunyang; Song, Geum-Ju; Ra, Kongtae; Kannan, Kurunthachalam; Moon, Hyo-Bang

2015-01-01

Due to the regulation on bisphenol A (BPA) in several industrialized countries, the demand for other bisphenol analogues (BPs) as substitutes for BPA is growing. Eight BPs were determined in sludge from 40 representative wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Korea. Total concentrations of BPs (ΣBP) in sludge ranged from

Bisphenol s, a new bisphenol analogue, in paper products and currency bills and its association with bisphenol a residues.

PubMed

Liao, Chunyang; Liu, Fang; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2012-06-19

As the evidence of the toxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) grows, its application in commercial products is gradually being replaced with other related compounds, such as bisphenol S (BPS). Nevertheless, very little is known about the occurrence of BPS in the environment. In this study, BPS was analyzed in 16 types of paper and paper products (n = 268), including thermal receipts, paper currencies, flyers, magazines, newspapers, food contact papers, airplane luggage tags, printing paper, kitchen rolls (i.e., paper towels), and toilet paper. All thermal receipt paper samples (n = 111) contained BPS at concentrations ranging from 0.0000138 to 22.0 mg/g (geometric mean: 0.181 mg/g). The overall mean concentrations of BPS in thermal receipt papers were similar to the concentrations reported earlier for BPA in the same set of samples. A significant negative correlation existed between BPS and BPA concentrations in thermal receipt paper samples (r = -0.55, p < 0.0001). BPS was detected in 87% of currency bill samples (n = 52) from 21 countries, at concentrations ranging from below the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 6.26 μg/g (geometric mean: 0.029 μg/g). BPS also was found in 14 other paper product types (n = 105), at concentrations ranging from 88%). To our knowledge, this is the first report on the occurrence of BPS in paper products and currency bills.

Somatoform disorder as a predictor of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: Evidence from a nested case-control study and a retrospective cohort study.

PubMed

Chen, I-Chun; Lee, Ming-Huei; Lin, Hsuan-Hung; Wu, Shang-Liang; Chang, Kun-Min; Lin, Hsiu-Ying

2017-05-01

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) has several well-known comorbid psychiatric manifestations, including insomnia, anxiety, and depression. We hypothesized that somatoform disorder, which is a psychosomatic disease, can be used as a sensitive psychiatric phenotype of IC/BPS. We investigated whether somatoform disorder increases the risk of IC/BPS.A nested case-control study and a retrospective cohort study were followed up over a 12-year period (2002-2013) in the Taiwan Health Insurance Reimbursement Database. In the nested case-control study, 1612 patients with IC/BPS were matched in a 1:2 ratio to 3224 controls based on propensity scores. The odds ratio for somatoform disorder was calculated using conditional logistic regression analysis. In the retrospective cohort study, 1436 patients with somatoform disorder were matched in a 1:2 ratio to 2872 patients with nonsomatoform disorder based on propensity scores. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratio associated with the development of IC/BPS in patients with somatoform disorder, and the cumulative survival probability was tested using the Kaplan-Meier analysis.We found that the odds ratio for somatoform disorder was 2.46 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-5.76). Although the average time until IC/BPS development in the control subjects was 11.5 ± 1.3 years, this interval was shorter in patients with somatoform disorder (6.3 ± 3.6 years). The hazard ratio for developing IC/BPS was 2.50 (95% CI 1.23-5.58); the adjusted hazard ratio was 2.26 (95% CI 1.002-5.007). The patients and controls also differed significantly in their cumulative survival probability for IC/BPS (log rank P < .05).Evidence from the nested case-control study and retrospective cohort study consistently indicated that somatoform disorder increases the risk for IC/BPS. Our study suggests that somatoform disorder can be used as a sensitive psychiatric phenotype to predict IC/BPS. Any past history of somatoform disorder should be documented while examining patients with IC/BPS.

Correlation Between Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease

PubMed Central

Chung, Shiu-Dong; Chang, Chao-Hsiang; Hung, Peir-Haur; Chung, Chi-Jung; Muo, Chih-Hsin; Huang, Chao-Yuan

2015-01-01

Abstract Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) has been investigated in Western countries and identified to be associated with chronic pelvic pain and inflammation. Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is a complex syndrome that is significantly more prevalent in women than in men. Chronic pelvic pain is a main symptom of BPS/IC, and chronic inflammation is a major etiology of BPS/IC. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between BPS/IC and PID using a population-based dataset. We constructed a case–control study from the Taiwan National Health Insurance program. The case cohort comprised 449 patients with BPS/IC, and 1796 randomly selected subjects (about 1:4 matching) were used as controls. A Multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to estimate the association between BPS/IC and PID. Of the 2245 sampled subjects, a significant difference was observed in the prevalence of PID between BPS/IC cases and controls (41.7% vs 15.4%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) for PID among cases was 3.69 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.89–4.71). Furthermore, the ORs for PID among BPS/IC cases were 4.52 (95% CI: 2.55–8.01), 4.31 (95% CI: 2.91–6.38), 3.00 (95% CI: 1.82–4.94), and 5.35 (95% CI: 1.88–15.20) in the <35, 35–49, 50–64, and >65 years age groups, respectively, after adjusting for geographic region, irritable bowel syndrome, and hypertension. Joint effect was also noted, specifically when patients had both PID and irritable bowel disease with OR of 10.5 (95% CI: 4.88–22.50). This study demonstrated a correlation between PID and BPS/IC. Clinicians treating women with PID should be alert to BPS/IC-related symptoms in the population. PMID:26579800

Strain-induced alignment and phase behavior of blue phase liquid crystals confined to thin films.

PubMed

Bukusoglu, Emre; Martinez-Gonzalez, Jose A; Wang, Xiaoguang; Zhou, Ye; de Pablo, Juan J; Abbott, Nicholas L

2017-12-06

We report on the influence of surface confinement on the phase behavior and strain-induced alignment of thin films of blue phase liquid crystals (BPs). Confining surfaces comprised of bare glass, dimethyloctadecyl [3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyl] ammonium chloride (DMOAP)-functionalized glass, or polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated glass were used with or without mechanically rubbing to influence the azimuthal anchoring of the BPs. These experiments reveal that confinement can change the phase behavior of the BP films. For example, in experiments performed with rubbed-PVA surfaces, we measured the elastic strain of the BPs to change the isotropic-BPII phase boundary, suppressing formation of BPII for film thicknesses incommensurate with the BPII lattice. In addition, we observed strain-induced alignment of the BPs to exhibit a complex dependence on both the surface chemistry and azimuthal alignment of the BPs. For example, when using bare glass surfaces causing azimuthally degenerate and planar anchoring, BPI oriented with (110) planes of the unit cell parallel to the contacting surfaces for thicknesses below 3 μm but transitioned to an orientation with (200) planes aligned parallel to the contacting surfaces for thicknesses above 4 μm. In contrast, BPI aligned with (110) planes parallel to confining surfaces for all other thicknesses and surface treatments, including bare glass with uniform azimuthal alignment. Complementary simulations based on minimization of the total free energy (Landau-de Gennes formalism) confirmed a thickness-dependent reorientation due to strain of BPI unit cells within a window of surface anchoring energies and in the absence of uniform azimuthal alignment. In contrast to BPI, BPII did not exhibit thickness-dependent orientations but did exhibit orientations that were dependent on the surface chemistry, a result that was also captured in simulations by varying the anchoring energies. Overall, the results in this paper reveal that the orientations assumed by BPs in thin films reflect a complex interplay of surface interactions and elastic energies associated with strain of the BP lattice. The results also provide new principles and methods to control the structure and properties of BP thin films, which may find use in BP-templated material synthesis, and BP-based optical and electronic devices.

The BPA-substitute bisphenol S alters the transcription of genes related to endocrine, stress response and biotransformation pathways in the aquatic midge Chironomus riparius (Diptera, Chironomidae).

PubMed

Herrero, Óscar; Aquilino, Mónica; Sánchez-Argüello, Paloma; Planelló, Rosario

2018-01-01

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an industrial alternative to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), and can be found in many products labeled "BPA-free". Its use has grown in recent years, and presently it is considered a ubiquitous emerging pollutant. To date there is a lack of information on the effects of BPS on invertebrates, although they represent more than 95% of known species in the animal kingdom and are crucial for the structure and proper function of ecosystems. In this study, real-time RT-PCR was used to determine the early detrimental effects of BPS on the transcriptional rate of genes in the model species Chironomus riparius, specifically those related to the ecdysone pathway (EcR, ERR, E74, Vtg, cyp18a1) crucial for insect development and metamorphosis, stress and biotransformation mechanisms (hsp70, hsp40, cyp4g, GPx, GSTd3) that regulate adaptive responses and determine survival, and ribosome biogenesis (its2, rpL4, rpL13) which is essential for protein synthesis and homeostasis. While 24-hour exposure to 0.5, 5, 50, and 500 μg/L BPS had no effect on larval survival, almost all the studied genes were upregulated following a non-monotonic dose-response curve. Genes with the greatest increases in transcriptional activity (fold change relative to control) were EcR (3.8), ERR (2), E74 (2.4), cyp18a1 (2.5), hsp70 (1.7), hsp40 (2.5), cyp4g (6.4), GPx (1.8), and GST (2.1), while others including Vtg, GAPDH, and selected ribosomal genes remained stable. We also measured the transcriptional activity of these genes 24 hours after BPS withdrawal and a general downregulation compared to controls was observed, though not significant in most cases. Our findings showed that BPS exposure altered the transcriptional profile of these genes, which may have consequences for the hormone system and several metabolic pathways. Although further research is needed to elucidate its mode of action, these results raise new concerns about the safety of BPA alternatives.

Carroll limit of non-BPS Dp-brane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klusoň, J.

2017-05-01

We find Carroll non-BPS Dp-brane action by performing Carroll limit of a canonical form of unstable Dp-brane action. We analyze different Carroll limits and discuss solutions of the equations of motion of Carroll non-BPS Dp-brane at the tachyon vacuum.

A statistical mechanical approach to restricted integer partition functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Chi-Chun; Dai, Wu-Sheng

2018-05-01

The main aim of this paper is twofold: (1) suggesting a statistical mechanical approach to the calculation of the generating function of restricted integer partition functions which count the number of partitions—a way of writing an integer as a sum of other integers under certain restrictions. In this approach, the generating function of restricted integer partition functions is constructed from the canonical partition functions of various quantum gases. (2) Introducing a new type of restricted integer partition functions corresponding to general statistics which is a generalization of Gentile statistics in statistical mechanics; many kinds of restricted integer partition functions are special cases of this restricted integer partition function. Moreover, with statistical mechanics as a bridge, we reveal a mathematical fact: the generating function of restricted integer partition function is just the symmetric function which is a class of functions being invariant under the action of permutation groups. Using this approach, we provide some expressions of restricted integer partition functions as examples.

Spatial distribution of bisphenol S in surface water and human serum from Yangtze River watershed, China: Implications for exposure through drinking water.

PubMed

Wan, Yanjian; Xia, Wei; Yang, Shunyi; Pan, Xinyun; He, Zhenyu; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2018-05-01

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an emerging environmental contaminant. The occurrence of this compound in humans and the environment is not well described. In this study, 120 surface water samples and 240 human serum samples were collected along the Yangtze River in 2015 for the determination of the occurrence of BPS. Surface water and human serum samples were extracted by solid phase extraction and liquid-liquid extraction, respectively, and analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). BPS was detected in all river water samples at concentrations that ranged from 0.18 to 14.9 ng/L (median: 0.98 ng/L), with higher concentrations in spring than summer. The median estimated daily intake (EDI) of BPS through water ingestion by infants in spring and summer was 0.12 and 0.06 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day, respectively. BPS was detected in human serum with the highest concentrations in samples from Nanjing (median: 0.65 ng/mL, maximum: 169 ng/mL) among the four cities studied. No significant gender related difference in BPS concentrations was observed in human sera, while higher concentrations were found in younger individuals than elderly. The EDI of BPS calculated based on serum concentrations of adults in Nanjing was 22.8 ng/kg bw/day. Ingestion of water accounted for <1% of the total BPS intake by the Chinese population. This is the first report of the occurrence of BPS in water from the Yangtze River and human serum from several cities located along this river in China. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Comparison of CD HORIZON SPIRE spinous process plate stabilization and pedicle screw fixation after anterior lumbar interbody fusion. Invited submission from the Joint Section Meeting On Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves, March 2005.

PubMed

Wang, Jeremy C; Haid, Regis W; Miller, Jay S; Robinson, James C

2006-02-01

The authors present the early clinical results obtained in patients who underwent SPIRE spinous process plate fixation following anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF). Between May 2003 and January 2005, 32 patients underwent titanium cage and bone morphogenetic protein-augmented ALIF and subsequent SPIRE (21 cases) or bilateral pedicle screw (BPS; 11 cases) fixation. Pedicle screws were implanted using either the open approach (three cases) or using a tubular retractor (eight cases). Patients' charts were reviewed for operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), hospital length of stay (LOS), and evidence of pseudarthrosis or hardware failure. In SPIRE plate-treated patients, the median EBL (75 ml) was lower than in BPS-treated patients (open BPS [150 ml]; tubular BPS [125 ml]). The median operative time in SPIRE plate-treated patients was also shorter (164 minutes compared with 239 and 250 minutes in the open and tubular BPS, respectively). The median LOS was 3 days for both the SPIRE and tubular BPS groups, but 4 days in the open BPS group. There were no instances of major surgery-induced complication, pseudarthrosis, or hardware failure during mean follow-up periods of 5.5, 7.2, and 4.9 months in the SPIRE, open PS, and tubular BPS groups, respectively. The SPIRE plate is easy to implant and is associated with minimal operative risk. Compared with BPS/rod constructs, SPIRE plate fixation leads to less EBL and shorter operative time, without an increase in the rate of pseudarthrosis. Hospital LOS was also shorter in SPIRE plate-treated patients, which is consistent with the goals of minimal access spinal technologies.

Bisphenol S exposure impairs glucose homeostasis in male zebrafish (Danio rerio).

PubMed

Zhao, Fei; Jiang, Guobin; Wei, Penghao; Wang, Hongfang; Ru, Shaoguo

2018-01-01

Bisphenol S (BPS) is a substitute of the plastic additive bisphenol A (BPA). Its concentrations detected in surface waters and urine samples are on the same order of magnitude as BPA. Human exposure to BPA has been implicated in the development of diabetes mellitus; however, whether BPS can disrupt glucose homeostasis and increase blood glucose concentration remains unclear. We extensively investigated the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of BPS on glucose metabolism in male zebrafish (Danio rerio) and the underlying mechanisms of these effects. Male zebrafish were exposed to 1, 10, or 100μg/L of BPS for 28 d. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, glycogen levels in the liver and muscle, and mRNA levels of key glucose metabolic enzymes and the activities of the encoded proteins in tissues were evaluated to assess the effect of BPS on glucose metabolism. Plasma insulin levels and expression of preproinsulin and glucagon genes in the visceral tissue were also evaluated. Compared with the control group, exposure to 1 and 10μg/L of BPS significantly increased FBG levels but decreased insulin levels. Gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in the liver were promoted, and glycogen synthesis in the liver and muscle and glycolysis in the muscle were inhibited. Exposure to 100μg/L of BPS did not significantly alter plasma insulin and blood glucose levels, but nonetheless pronouncedly interfered with gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, glycolysis, and glycogen synthesis. Our data indicates that BPS at environmentally relevant concentrations impairs glucose homeostasis of male zebrafish possibly by hampering the physiological effect of insulin; higher BPS doses also pronouncedly interfered with glucose metabolism. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

BPS sectors of the Skyrme model and their non-BPS extensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adam, C.; Foster, D.; Krusch, S.; Wereszczynski, A.

2018-02-01

Two recently found coupled Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) submodels of the Skyrme model are further analyzed. First, we provide a geometrical formulation of the submodels in terms of the eigenvalues of the strain tensor. Second, we study their thermodynamical properties and show that the mean-field equations of state coincide at high pressure and read p =ρ ¯/3 . We also provide evidence that matter described by the first BPS submodel has some similarity with a Bose-Einstein condensate. Moreover, we show that extending the second submodel to a non-BPS model by including certain additional terms of the full Skyrme model does not spoil the respective ansatz, leading to an ordinary differential equation for the profile of the Skymion, for any value of the topological charge. This allows for an almost analytical description of the properties of Skyrmions in this model. In particular, we analytically study the breaking and restoration of the BPS property. Finally, we provide an explanation of the success of the rational map ansatz.

New Aspects in the Differential Diagnosis and Therapy of Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis

PubMed Central

Neuhaus, Jochen; Schwalenberg, Thilo; Horn, Lars-Christian; Alexander, Henry; Stolzenburg, Jens-Uwe

2011-01-01

Diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is presently based on mainly clinical symptoms. BPS/IC can be considered as a worst-case scenario of bladder overactivity of unknown origin, including bladder pain. Usually, patients are partially or completely resistant to anticholinergic therapy, and therapeutical options are especially restricted in case of BPS/IC. Therefore, early detection of patients prone to develop BPS/IC symptoms is essential for successful therapy. We propose extended diagnostics including molecular markers. Differential diagnosis should be based on three diagnostical “columns”: (i) clinical diagnostics, (ii) histopathology, and (iii) molecular diagnostics. Analysis of molecular alterations of receptor expression in detrusor smooth muscle cells and urothelial integrity is necessary to develop patient-tailored therapeutical concepts. Although more research is needed to elucidate the pathomechanisms involved, extended BPS/IC diagnostics could already be integrated into routine patient care, allowing evidence-based pharmacotherapy of patients with idiopathic bladder overactivity and BPS/IC. PMID:22028706

New aspects in the differential diagnosis and therapy of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

PubMed

Neuhaus, Jochen; Schwalenberg, Thilo; Horn, Lars-Christian; Alexander, Henry; Stolzenburg, Jens-Uwe

2011-01-01

Diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is presently based on mainly clinical symptoms. BPS/IC can be considered as a worst-case scenario of bladder overactivity of unknown origin, including bladder pain. Usually, patients are partially or completely resistant to anticholinergic therapy, and therapeutical options are especially restricted in case of BPS/IC. Therefore, early detection of patients prone to develop BPS/IC symptoms is essential for successful therapy. We propose extended diagnostics including molecular markers. Differential diagnosis should be based on three diagnostical "columns": (i) clinical diagnostics, (ii) histopathology, and (iii) molecular diagnostics. Analysis of molecular alterations of receptor expression in detrusor smooth muscle cells and urothelial integrity is necessary to develop patient-tailored therapeutical concepts. Although more research is needed to elucidate the pathomechanisms involved, extended BPS/IC diagnostics could already be integrated into routine patient care, allowing evidence-based pharmacotherapy of patients with idiopathic bladder overactivity and BPS/IC.

Materials Data on BPS4 (SG:23) by Materials Project

DOE Data Explorer

Kristin Persson

2014-11-02

Computed materials data using density functional theory calculations. These calculations determine the electronic structure of bulk materials by solving approximations to the Schrodinger equation. For more information, see https://materialsproject.org/docs/calculations

Studies of Isolated and Non-isolated Photospheric Bright Points in an Active Region Observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yanxiao; Xiang, Yongyuan; Erdélyi, Robertus; Liu, Zhong; Li, Dong; Ning, Zongjun; Bi, Yi; Wu, Ning; Lin, Jun

2018-03-01

Properties of photospheric bright points (BPs) near an active region have been studied in TiO λ 7058 Å images observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope of the Yunnan Observatories. We developed a novel recognition method that was used to identify and track 2010 BPs. The observed evolving BPs are classified into isolated (individual) and non-isolated (where multiple BPs are observed to display splitting and merging behaviors) sets. About 35.1% of BPs are non-isolated. For both isolated and non-isolated BPs, the brightness varies from 0.8 to 1.3 times the average background intensity and follows a Gaussian distribution. The lifetimes of BPs follow a log-normal distribution, with characteristic lifetimes of (267 ± 140) s and (421 ± 255) s, respectively. Their size also follows log-normal distribution, with an average size of about (2.15 ± 0.74) × 104 km2 and (3.00 ± 1.31) × 104 km2 for area, and (163 ± 27) km and (191 ± 40) km for diameter, respectively. Our results indicate that regions with strong background magnetic field have higher BP number density and higher BP area coverage than regions with weak background field. Apparently, the brightness/size of BPs does not depend on the background field. Lifetimes in regions with strong background magnetic field are shorter than those in regions with weak background field, on average.

The anatomical relationships between the serotonergic afferents and the neurons containing calcium-binding proteins in the rat claustrum.

PubMed

Wójcik, Slawomir; Dziewiatkowski, Jerzy; Klejbor, Ilona; Spodnik, Jan Henryk; Kowiański, Przemysław; Moryś, Janusz

2006-01-01

Claustrum is a telencephalic structure integrating information of various modalities. Proper functioning of this structure depends on the presence of a network of intrinsic connections. This includes GABA-ergic neuronal populations that also contain calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs). The goal of this study was to analyze qualitative and quantitative the 5-HT-containing fibers in the rat claustrum and to assess the relationships between these fibers and the populations of claustral neurons expressing CaBPs. We used the methods of immunocytochemistry and morphometry. The serotonergic fibers in the claustrum are heterogeneous, both with respect to their morphology and spatial distribution. Thin varicose fibers are more numerous and are homogeneously distributed within the claustrum. Remaining fibers were thicker and possessed larger varicosities. They were present mainly in the ventral part of the claustrum. Although the serotonergic fibers are found in the vicinity of claustral cells containing CaBPs, direct contacts between these fibers and cells are rare. Other mechanisms, including volume transmission, may possibly mediate serotonergic influences.

R3 Index for Four-Dimensional N =2 Field Theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alexandrov, Sergei; Moore, Gregory W.; Neitzke, Andrew; Pioline, Boris

2015-03-01

In theories with N =2 supersymmetry on R3 ,1, supersymmetric bound states can decay across walls of marginal stability in the space of Coulomb branch parameters, leading to discontinuities in the BPS indices Ω (γ ,u ) . We consider a supersymmetric index I which receives contributions from 1 /2 -BPS states, generalizing the familiar Witten index Tr (-1 )Fe-β H . We expect I to be smooth away from loci where massless particles appear, thanks to contributions from the continuum of multiparticle states. Taking inspiration from a similar phenomenon in the hypermultiplet moduli space of N =2 string vacua, we conjecture a formula expressing I in terms of the BPS indices Ω (γ ,u ), which is continuous across the walls and exhibits the expected contributions from single particle states at large β . This gives a universal prediction for the contributions of multiparticle states to the index I . This index is naturally a function on the moduli space after reduction on a circle, closely related to the canonical hyperkähler metric and hyperholomorphic connection on this space.

R^{3} index for four-dimensional (N)=2 field theories.

PubMed

Alexandrov, Sergei; Moore, Gregory W; Neitzke, Andrew; Pioline, Boris

2015-03-27

In theories with N=2 supersymmetry on R^{3,1}, supersymmetric bound states can decay across walls of marginal stability in the space of Coulomb branch parameters, leading to discontinuities in the BPS indices Ω(γ,u). We consider a supersymmetric index I which receives contributions from 1/2-BPS states, generalizing the familiar Witten index Tr(-1)^{F}e^{-βH}. We expect I to be smooth away from loci where massless particles appear, thanks to contributions from the continuum of multiparticle states. Taking inspiration from a similar phenomenon in the hypermultiplet moduli space of N=2 string vacua, we conjecture a formula expressing I in terms of the BPS indices Ω(γ,u), which is continuous across the walls and exhibits the expected contributions from single particle states at large β. This gives a universal prediction for the contributions of multiparticle states to the index I. This index is naturally a function on the moduli space after reduction on a circle, closely related to the canonical hyperkähler metric and hyperholomorphic connection on this space.

1/2-BPS D-branes from covariant open superstring in AdS4 × CP3 background

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, Jaemo; Shin, Hyeonjoon

2018-05-01

We consider the open superstring action in the AdS4 × CP 3 background and investigate the suitable boundary conditions for the open superstring describing the 1/2-BPS D-branes by imposing the κ-symmetry of the action. This results in the classification of 1/2-BPS D-branes from covariant open superstring. It is shown that the 1/2-BPS D-brane configurations are restricted considerably by the Kähler structure on CP 3. We just consider D-branes without worldvolume fluxes.

Forearm and upper-arm oscillometric blood pressure comparison in acutely ill adults.

PubMed

Schell, Kathleen; Morse, Kate; Waterhouse, Julie K

2010-04-01

When patients' upper arms are not accessible and/or when cuffs do not fit large upper arms, the forearm site is often used for blood pressure (BP) measurement. The purpose of this study is to compare forearm and upper-arm BPs in 70 acutely ill adults, admitted to a community hospital's 14-bed ICU. Using Philips oscillometric monitors, three repeated measures of forearm and upper-arm BPs are obtained with head of bed flat and with head of bed elevated at 30 degrees. Arms are resting on the bed. Paired t tests show statistically significant differences in systolic BPs, diastolic BPs, and mean arterial pressures in the supine and head-elevated positions. Bland-Altman analyses indicate that forearm and upper-arm oscillometric BPs are not interchangeable in acutely ill adults.

An evidence-based patient-centered method makes the biopsychosocial model scientific.

PubMed

Smith, Robert C; Fortin, Auguste H; Dwamena, Francesca; Frankel, Richard M

2013-06-01

To review the scientific status of the biopsychosocial (BPS) model and to propose a way to improve it. Engel's BPS model added patients' psychological and social health concerns to the highly successful biomedical model. He proposed that the BPS model could make medicine more scientific, but its use in education, clinical care, and, especially, research remains minimal. Many aver correctly that the present model cannot be defined in a consistent way for the individual patient, making it untestable and non-scientific. This stems from not obtaining relevant BPS data systematically, where one interviewer obtains the same information another would. Recent research by two of the authors has produced similar patient-centered interviewing methods that are repeatable and elicit just the relevant patient information needed to define the model at each visit. We propose that the field adopt these evidence-based methods as the standard for identifying the BPS model. Identifying a scientific BPS model in each patient with an agreed-upon, evidence-based patient-centered interviewing method can produce a quantum leap ahead in both research and teaching. A scientific BPS model can give us more confidence in being humanistic. In research, we can conduct more rigorous studies to inform better practices. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Phenothiazinium based photosensitisers--photodynamic agents with a multiplicity of cellular targets and clinical applications.

PubMed

Harris, F; Chatfield, L K; Phoenix, D A

2005-08-01

PhBPs show selectivity for tumour and microbial cells, which appears to be based on electrostatic interactions between the positive charge generally carried by these molecules and the negative charge found on the outer surface of these target cells. In some cases, a site of action for photoactivated PhBPs is the outer membrane/envelope of the target cell. Such action can involve the modification of membrane lipid and/or lipopolysaccharide, and the inactivation of essential proteins and enzymes, with these effects usually leading to cell lysis and death. However, more often, PhBPs are internalised by target cells, promoted by a variety of factors, including low pH and enzymatic reduction, and upon photoactivation, internalised, PhBPs are able to inflict damage on a number of intracellular targets. In tumour cells, PhBPs can photodamage DNA and the membranes of organelles, thereby inducing necrosis and/or apoptosis. In bacterial cells, whilst DNA is generally a primary target of PhBPs, these compounds can exhibit multiple sites of action within a given cell and show different sites of action between different bacterial species. This variable targeting makes PhBPs attractive propositions as alternatives to conventional antibiotics in that the emergence of bacterial strains with acquired resistance to these compounds appears to be highly unlikely.

BKM Lie superalgebras from dyon spectra in Z N CHL orbifolds for composite N

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Govindarajan, Suresh; Gopala Krishna, K.

2010-05-01

We show that the generating function of electrically charged 1/2 -BPS states in mathcal{N} = 4 supersymmetric CHL {mathbb{Z}_N} -orbifolds of the heterotic string on T 6 are given by multiplicative η-products. The η-products are determined by the cycle shape of the corresponding symplectic involution in the dual type II picture. This enables us to complete the construction of the genus-two Siegel modular forms due to David, Jatkar and Sen [arXiv:hep-th/0609109] for {mathbb{Z}_N} -orbifolds when N is non-prime. We study the {mathbb{Z}_4} CHL orbifold in detail and show that the associated Siegel modular forms, {Φ_3}left( mathbb{Z} right) and {widetildeΦ_3}left( mathbb{Z} right) , are given by the square of the product of three even genus-two theta constants. Extending work by us as well as Cheng and Dabholkar, we show that the ‘square roots’ of the two Siegel modular forms appear as the denominator formulae of two distinct Borcherds-Kac-Moody (BKM) Lie superalgebras. The BKM Lie superalgebra associated with the generating function of 1/4 -BPS states, i.e., {widetildeΦ_3}left( mathbb{Z} right) has a parabolic root system with a lightlike Weyl vector and the walls of its fundamental Weyl chamber are mapped to the walls of marginal stability of the 1/4 -BPS states.

Exposure to the BPA-Substitute Bisphenol S Causes Unique Alterations of Germline Function

PubMed Central

Chen, Yichang; Qiu, Zhiqun; Lee, Dong Yeon; Telesca, Donatello; Yang, Xia; Allard, Patrick

2016-01-01

Concerns about the safety of Bisphenol A, a chemical found in plastics, receipts, food packaging and more, have led to its replacement with substitutes now found in a multitude of consumer products. However, several popular BPA-free alternatives, such as Bisphenol S, share a high degree of structural similarity with BPA, suggesting that these substitutes may disrupt similar developmental and reproductive pathways. We compared the effects of BPA and BPS on germline and reproductive functions using the genetic model system Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that, similarly to BPA, BPS caused severe reproductive defects including germline apoptosis and embryonic lethality. However, meiotic recombination, targeted gene expression, whole transcriptome and ontology analyses as well as ToxCast data mining all indicate that these effects are partly achieved via mechanisms distinct from BPAs. These findings therefore raise new concerns about the safety of BPA alternatives and the risk associated with human exposure to mixtures. PMID:27472198

Free energy profiles for unwrapping the outer superhelical turn of nucleosomal DNA

PubMed Central

Sakuraba, Shun; Ishida, Hisashi

2018-01-01

The eukaryotic genome is packaged into a nucleus in the form of chromatin. The fundamental structural unit of chromatin is a protein-DNA complex, the nucleosome, where 146 or 147 base pairs of DNA wrap 1.75 times around a histone core. To function in cellular processes, however, nucleosomal DNA must be unwrapped. Although this unwrapping has been experimentally investigated, details of the process at an atomic level are not yet well understood. Here, we used molecular dynamics simulation with an enhanced sampling method to calculate the free energy profiles for unwrapping the outer superhelical turn of nucleosomal DNA. A free energy change of about 11.5 kcal/mol for the unwrapping agrees well with values obtained in single molecule experiments. This simulation revealed a variety of conformational states, indicating there are many potential paths to outer superhelicdal turn unwrapping, but the dominant path is likely asymmetric. At one end of the DNA, the first five bps unwrap, after which a second five bps unwrap at the same end with no increase in free energy. The unwrapping then starts at the other end of the DNA, where 10 bps are unwrapped. During further unwrapping of 15 bps, the unwrapping advances at one of the ends, after which the other end of the DNA unwraps to complete the unwrapping of the outer superhelical turn. These results provide insight into the construction, disruption, and repositioning of nucleosomes, which are continuously ongoing during cellular processes. PMID:29505570

In vitro comparison of new bisphosphonic acids and zoledronate effects on human gingival fibroblasts viability, inflammation and matrix turnover.

PubMed

De Colli, Marianna; Tortorella, Paolo; Marconi, Guya Diletta; Agamennone, Mariangela; Campestre, Cristina; Tauro, Marilena; Cataldi, Amelia; Zara, Susi

2016-11-01

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are drugs clinically used in resorptive diseases. It was already proved that some clinically relevant BPs can inhibit a class of enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), required during tissue remodelling. Combining the arylsulfonamide function with the bisphosphonic group, several compounds were synthesized to obtain selective inhibitors of MMPs. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of zoledronic acid (ZA), the most potent bisphosphonate available as therapy, with new sulfonamide containing BPs in an in vitro model of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs). Western blot was used to measure procollagen I, β1 integrin MMP-8 and MMP-9, phase contrast and MTT for cell viability; L-lactate-dehydrogenase (LDH) measurement was performed for toxicity evaluation and ELISA for prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) secretion assessment. When compared with ZA, the treatment with the newly synthesized compounds shows increasing viability, procollagen I expression and decreased expression of β1 integrin in HGFs. Higher levels of released LDH, PGE 2 and MMP-9 expression are recorded in ZA-treated HGFs. Increased levels of MMP-8 are recorded in newly synthesized compounds-treated samples. These findings allowed to conclude that new tested BPs did not affect HGFs viability and adhesion, did not induce cellular toxicity, were not responsible for inflammatory event induction and could preserve the physiological matrix turnover. It could be hypothesized that the new molecules were better tolerated by soft tissues, resulting in lesser side effects.

Mesoscale martensitic transformation in single crystals of topological defects

PubMed Central

Martínez-González, José A.; Ramírez-Hernández, Abelardo; Zhou, Ye; Sadati, Monirosadat; Zhang, Rui; Nealey, Paul F.; de Pablo, Juan J.

2017-01-01

Liquid-crystal blue phases (BPs) are highly ordered at two levels. Molecules exhibit orientational order at nanometer length scales, while chirality leads to ordered arrays of double-twisted cylinders over micrometer scales. Past studies of polycrystalline BPs were challenged by the existence of grain boundaries between randomly oriented crystalline nanodomains. Here, the nucleation of BPs is controlled with precision by relying on chemically nanopatterned surfaces, leading to macroscopic single-crystal BP specimens where the dynamics of mesocrystal formation can be directly observed. Theory and experiments show that transitions between two BPs having a different network structure proceed through local reorganization of the crystalline array, without diffusion of the double-twisted cylinders. In solid crystals, martensitic transformations between crystal structures involve the concerted motion of a few atoms, without diffusion. The transformation between BPs, where crystal features arise in the submicron regime, is found to be martensitic in nature when one considers the collective behavior of the double-twist cylinders. Single-crystal BPs are shown to offer fertile grounds for the study of directed crystal nucleation and the controlled growth of soft matter. PMID:28874557

Solid cation exchange phase to remove interfering anthocyanins in the analysis of other bioactive phenols in red wine.

PubMed

da Silva, Letícia Flores; Guerra, Celito Crivellaro; Klein, Diandra; Bergold, Ana Maria

2017-07-15

Bioactive phenols (BPs) are often targets in red wine analysis. However, other compounds interfere in the liquid chromatography methods used for this analysis. Here, purification procedures were tested to eliminate anthocyanin interference during the determination of 19 red-wine BPs. Liquid chromatography, coupled to a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and a mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS), was used to compare the direct injection of the samples with solid-phase extractions: reversed-phase (C18) and strong cation-exchange (SCX). The HPLC-DAD method revealed that, out of 13BPs, only six are selectively analyzed with or without C18 treatment, whereas SCX enabled the detection of all BPs. The recovery with SCX was above 86.6% for eight BPs. Moreover, UPLC-MS demonstrated the potential of SCX sample preparation for the determination of 19BPs. The developed procedure may be extended to the analysis of other red wine molecules or to other analytical methods where anthocyanins may interfere. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

On-farm biopurification systems: role of white rot fungi in depuration of pesticide-containing wastewaters.

PubMed

Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Carlos E; Castro-Gutiérrez, Víctor; Chin-Pampillo, Juan Salvador; Ruiz-Hidalgo, Karla

2013-08-01

Environmental contamination with pesticides is an undesired consequence of agricultural activities. Biopurification systems (BPS) comprise a novel strategy to degrade pesticides from contaminated wastewaters, consisting of a highly active biological mixture confined in a container or excavation. The design of BPS promotes microbial activity, in particular by white rot fungi (WRF). Due to their physiological features, specifically the production of highly unspecific ligninolytic enzymes and some intracellular enzymatic complexes, WRF show the ability to transform a wide range of organic pollutants. This minireview summarizes the potential participation of WRF in BPS. The first part presents the potential use of WRF in biodegradation of pollutants, particularly pesticides, and includes a brief description of the enzymatic systems involved in their oxidation. The second part presents an outline of BPS, focusing on the elements that influence the participation of WRF in their operation, and includes a summary of the studies regarding the fungal-mediated degradation of pesticides in BPS biomixtures and other solid-phase systems that mimic BPS. © 2013 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Xiao; Martínez-González, José A.; Hernández-Ortiz, Juan P.

Liquid crystal blue phases (BPs) are highly ordered at two levels. Molecules exhibit orientational order at nanometer length scales, while chirality leads to ordered arrays of doubletwisted cylinders over micrometer scales. Past studies of polycrystalline BPs were challenged by grain boundaries between randomly oriented crystalline nanodomains. Here, the nucleation of BPs is controlled with considerable precision by relying on chemically nano-patterned surfaces, leading to macroscopic single-crystal BP specimens where the dynamics of meso-crystal formation can be directly observed. Theory and experiments show that transitions between two BPs having a different network structure proceed through local re-organization of the crystalline array,more » without diffusion of the double twisted cylinders. In solid crystals, martensitic transformations between crystal structures involve the concerted motion of a few atoms, without diffusion. The transformation between BPs, where crystal features arise in the sub-micron regime, is found to be martensitic in nature, with the diffusion-less feature associated to the collective behavior of the double twist cylinders. Single-crystal BPs are shown to offer fertile grounds for the study of directed crystal-nucleation and the controlled growth of soft matter.« less

Bisphosphonates as potential adjuvants for patients with cancers of the digestive system.

PubMed

Ang, Celina; Doyle, Erin; Branch, Andrea

2016-01-21

Best known for their anti-resorptive activity in bone, bisphosphonates (BPs) have generated interest as potential antineoplastic agents given their pleiotropic biological effects which include antiproliferative, antiangiogenic and immune-modulating properties. Clinical studies in multiple malignancies suggest that BPs may be active in the prevention or treatment of cancer. Digestive tract malignancies represent a large and heterogeneous disease group, and the activity of BPs in these cancers has not been extensively studied. Recent data showing that some BPs inhibit human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER) signaling highlight a potential therapeutic opportunity in digestive cancers, many of which have alterations in the HER axis. Herein, we review the available evidence providing a rationale for the repurposing of BPs as a therapeutic adjunct in the treatment of digestive malignancies, especially in HER-driven subgroups.

Characterization of backyard poultry production systems and disease risk in the central zone of Chile.

PubMed

Hamilton-West, C; Rojas, H; Pinto, J; Orozco, J; Hervé-Claude, L P; Urcelay, S

2012-08-01

Backyard poultry production systems (BPS) are an important and widespread form of poultry production. There is a common perception that biosecurity standards in BPS are generally poor and BPS are usually associated with animal diseases and zoonoses. In this study BPS were identified in the vicinity of six wetlands, having these a higher risk of presenting and introducing avian diseases such as HPAI and Newcastle disease, as defined by the national veterinary services, in to Chile's main poultry production area. BPS were characterized through a field questionnaire and the main areas covered by the survey were BPS structure, biosecurity and value chain. The BPS identified in this study share most characteristics on biosecurity, poultry management and product commercialization, but it was possible to identify a certain degree of variation within and among the study sites. BPS in Chile are similar to those in other regions, with a relatively small flock size (average 37 birds), a low level of biosecurity measures and lack of poultry disease management. Management findings include that most farmers used mixed/partial confinement, with low or no biosecurity and disease control measures in place. Eggs were the main output and were used mainly for home consumption or sale at local markets. Sick birds' treatment with drugs approved for other species or for human use could represent a risk to human health, owing to the possible presence of drug residues in poultry products. Despite the different structures of the poultry sector worldwide, BPS can play a major role in disease maintenance and spread because its management conditions characteristics and the lack of animal health services adapted to these production systems. This should be an alert message to the veterinary authorities to improve coverage of veterinary assistance and surveillance activities in backyard poultry production. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Elevated Urine Levels of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor in Inflammatory Bladder Conditions: A Potential Biomarker for a Subgroup of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome Patients.

PubMed

Vera, Pedro L; Preston, David M; Moldwin, Robert M; Erickson, Deborah R; Mowlazadeh, Behzad; Ma, Fei; Kouzoukas, Dimitrios E; Meyer-Siegler, Katherine L; Fall, Magnus

2018-06-01

To investigate whether urinary levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are elevated in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) patients with Hunner lesions and also whether urine MIF is elevated in other forms of inflammatory cystitis. Urine samples were assayed for MIF by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Urine samples from 3 female groups were examined: IC/BPS patients without (N = 55) and with Hunner lesions (N = 43), and non-IC/BPS patients (N = 100; control group; no history of IC/BPS; cancer or recent bacterial cystitis). Urine samples from 3 male groups were examined: patients with bacterial cystitis (N = 50), radiation cystitis (N = 18) and noncystitis patients (N = 119; control group; negative for bacterial cystitis). Urine MIF (mean MIF pg/mL ±  standard error of the mean) was increased in female IC/BPS patients with Hunner lesions (2159 ± 435.3) compared with IC/BPS patients without Hunner lesions (460 ± 114.5) or non-IC/BPS patients (414 ± 47.6). Receiver operating curve analyses showed that urine MIF levels discriminated between the 2 IC groups (area under the curve = 72%; confidence interval 61%-82%). Male patients with bacterial and radiation cystitis had elevated urine MIF levels (2839 ± 757.1 and 4404 ± 1548.1, respectively) compared with noncystitis patients (681 ± 75.2). Urine MIF is elevated in IC/BPS patients with Hunner lesions and also in patients with other bladder inflammatory and painful conditions. MIF may also serve as a noninvasive biomarker to select IC/BPS patients more accurately for endoscopic evaluation and possible anti-inflammatory treatment. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

(2,2) and (0,4) supersymmetric boundary conditions in 3d N =4 theories and type IIB branes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chung, Hee-Joong; Okazaki, Tadashi

2017-10-01

The half-BPS boundary conditions preserving N =(2 ,2 ) and N =(0 ,4 ) supersymmetry in 3d N =4 supersymmetric gauge theories are examined. The BPS equations admit decomposition of the bulk supermultiplets into specific boundary supermultiplets of preserved supersymmetry. Nahm-like equations arise in the vector multiplet BPS boundary condition preserving N =(0 ,4 ) supersymmetry, and Robin-type boundary conditions appear for the hypermultiplet coupled to the vector multiplet when N =(2 ,2 ) supersymmetry is preserved. The half-BPS boundary conditions are realized in the brane configurations of type IIB string theory.

Instantons on ALE spaces and orbifold partitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dijkgraaf, Robbert; Sułkowski, Piotr

2008-03-01

We consider Script N = 4 theories on ALE spaces of Ak-1 type. As is well known, their partition functions coincide with Ak-1 affine characters. We show that these partition functions are equal to the generating functions of some peculiar classes of partitions which we introduce under the name 'orbifold partitions'. These orbifold partitions turn out to be related to the generalized Frobenius partitions introduced by G. E. Andrews some years ago. We relate the orbifold partitions to the blended partitions and interpret explicitly in terms of a free fermion system.

PopCORN: Hunting down the differences between binary population synthesis codes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toonen, S.; Claeys, J. S. W.; Mennekens, N.; Ruiter, A. J.

2014-02-01

Context. Binary population synthesis (BPS) modelling is a very effective tool to study the evolution and properties of various types of close binary systems. The uncertainty in the parameters of the model and their effect on a population can be tested in a statistical way, which then leads to a deeper understanding of the underlying (sometimes poorly understood) physical processes involved. Several BPS codes exist that have been developed with different philosophies and aims. Although BPS has been very successful for studies of many populations of binary stars, in the particular case of the study of the progenitors of supernovae Type Ia, the predicted rates and ZAMS progenitors vary substantially between different BPS codes. Aims: To understand the predictive power of BPS codes, we study the similarities and differences in the predictions of four different BPS codes for low- and intermediate-mass binaries. We investigate the differences in the characteristics of the predicted populations, and whether they are caused by different assumptions made in the BPS codes or by numerical effects, e.g. a lack of accuracy in BPS codes. Methods: We compare a large number of evolutionary sequences for binary stars, starting with the same initial conditions following the evolution until the first (and when applicable, the second) white dwarf (WD) is formed. To simplify the complex problem of comparing BPS codes that are based on many (often different) assumptions, we equalise the assumptions as much as possible to examine the inherent differences of the four BPS codes. Results: We find that the simulated populations are similar between the codes. Regarding the population of binaries with one WD, there is very good agreement between the physical characteristics, the evolutionary channels that lead to the birth of these systems, and their birthrates. Regarding the double WD population, there is a good agreement on which evolutionary channels exist to create double WDs and a rough agreement on the characteristics of the double WD population. Regarding which progenitor systems lead to a single and double WD system and which systems do not, the four codes agree well. Most importantly, we find that for these two populations, the differences in the predictions from the four codes are not due to numerical differences, but because of different inherent assumptions. We identify critical assumptions for BPS studies that need to be studied in more detail. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org

First detection and characterization of Salmonella spp. in poultry and swine raised in backyard production systems in central Chile.

PubMed

Alegria-Moran, R; Rivera, D; Toledo, V; Moreno-Switt, A I; Hamilton-West, C

2017-11-01

Little is known about Salmonella serovars circulating in backyard poultry and swine populations worldwide. Backyard production systems (BPS) that raise swine and/or poultry are distributed across Chile, but are more heavily concentrated in central Chile, where industrialized systems are in close contact with BPS. This study aims to detect and identify circulating Salmonella serovars in poultry and swine raised in BPS. Bacteriological Salmonella isolation was carried out for 1744 samples collected from 329 BPS in central Chile. Faecal samples were taken from swine, poultry, geese, ducks, turkeys and peacocks, as well as environmental faecal samples. Confirmation of Salmonella spp. was performed using invA-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Identification of serovars was carried out using a molecular serotyping approach, where serogroups were confirmed by a multiplex PCR of Salmonella serogroup genes for five Salmonella O antigens (i.e., D, B, C1, C2-C3, and E1), along with two PCR amplifications, followed by sequencing of fliC and fljB genes. A total of 25 samples (1·4% of total samples) from 15 BPS (4·6 % of total sampled BPS) were found positive for Salmonella. Positive samples were found in poultry (chickens and ducks), swine and environmental sources. Molecular prediction of serovars on Salmonella isolated showed 52·0% of S. Typhimurium, 16·0% of S. Infantis, 16·0% S. Enteritidis, 8·0% S. Hadar, 4·0% S. Tennessee and 4·0% S. Kentucky. Poor biosecurity measures were found on sampled BPS, where a high percentage of mixed confinement systems (72·8%); and almost half of the sampled BPS with improper management of infected mortalities (e.g. selling the carcasses of infected animals for consumption). Number of birds other than chickens (P = 0·014; OR = 1·04; IC (95%) = 1·01-1·07), mixed productive objective (P = 0·030; OR = 5·35; IC (95%) = 1·24-27·59) and mixed animal replacement origin (P = 0017; OR = 5·19; IC (95%) = 1·35-20·47) were detected as risk factors for BPS positivity to Salmonella spp. This is the first evidence of serovars of Salmonella spp. circulating in BPS from central Chile. Detected serovars have been linked to human and animal clinical outbreaks worldwide and in Chile, highlighting the importance of BPS on the control and dissemination of Salmonella serovars potentially hazardous to public health.

Bisphenol S Alters the Lactating Mammary Gland and Nursing Behaviors in Mice Exposed During Pregnancy and Lactation.

PubMed

LaPlante, Charlotte D; Catanese, Mary C; Bansal, Ruby; Vandenberg, Laura N

2017-10-01

High doses of estrogenic pharmaceuticals were once prescribed to women to halt lactation. Yet, the effects of low-level xenoestrogens on lactation remain poorly studied. We investigated the effects of bisphenol S (BPS), an estrogen receptor (ER) agonist, on the lactating mammary gland; the arcuate nucleus, a region of the hypothalamus important for neuroendocrine control of lactational behaviors; and nursing behavior in CD-1 mice. Female mice were exposed to vehicle, 2 or 200 µg BPS/kg/d from pregnancy day 9 until lactational day (LD) 20, and tissues were collected on LD21. Tissues were also collected from a second group at LD2. BPS exposure significantly reduced the fraction of the mammary gland comprised of lobules, the milk-producing units, on LD21, but not LD2. BPS also altered expression of Esr1 and ERα in the mammary gland at LD21, consistent with early involution. In the arcuate nucleus, no changes were observed in expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5, a marker of prolactin signaling, or ERα, suggesting that BPS may act directly on the mammary gland. However, observations of nursing behavior collected during the lactational period revealed stage-specific effects on both pup and maternal nursing behaviors; BPS-treated dams spent significantly more time nursing later in the lactational period, and BPS-treated pups were less likely to initiate nursing. Pup growth and development were also stunted. These data indicate that low doses of BPS can alter lactational behaviors and the maternal mammary gland. Together, they support the hypothesis that pregnancy and lactation are sensitive to low-dose xenoestrogen exposures. Copyright © 2017 Endocrine Society.

Psychosocial co-morbidities in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain syndrome (IC/BPS): A systematic review.

PubMed

McKernan, Lindsey C; Walsh, Colin G; Reynolds, William S; Crofford, Leslie J; Dmochowski, Roger R; Williams, David A

2018-03-01

Psychosocial factors amplify symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis (IC/BPS). While psychosocial self-management is efficacious in other pain conditions, its impact on an IC/BPS population has rarely been studied. The objective of this review is to learn the prevalence and impact of psychosocial factors on IC/BPS, assess baseline psychosocial characteristics, and offer recommendations for assessment and treatment. Following PRISMA guidelines, primary information sources were PubMed including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and GoogleScholar. Inclusion criteria included: (i) a clearly defined cohort with IC/BPS or with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome provided the IC/BPS cohort was delineated with quantitative results from the main cohort; (ii) all genders and regions; (iii) studies written in English from 1995 to April 14, 2017; (iv) quantitative report of psychosocial factors as outcome measures or at minimum as baseline characteristics. Thirty-four of an initial 642 articles were reviewed. Quantitative analyses demonstrate the magnitude of psychosocial difficulties in IC/BPS, which are worse than average on all measures, and fall into areas of clinical concern for 7 out of 10 measures. Meta-analyses shows mean Mental Component Score of the Short-Form 12 Health Survey (MCS) of 40.80 (SD 6.25, N = 2912), where <36 is consistent with severe psychological impairment. Averaged across studies, the population scored in the range seen in clinical depression (CES-D 19.89, SD 13.12, N = 564) and generalized anxiety disorder (HADS-A 8.15, SD 4.85, N = 465). The psychological impact of IC/BPS is pervasive and severe. Existing evidence of treatment is lacking and suggests self-management intervention may be helpful. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

An investigation into the potential of phenothiazinium-based photo-sensitisers to act as PDT agents.

PubMed

Harris, F; Sayed, Z; Hussain, S; Phoenix, D A

2004-11-01

There is an urgent need for effective cancer treatments and increasingly, photo-dynamic therapy (PDT) is being used to fulfil this need as it offers a number of advantages over traditional cancer treatments. Here, the potential of a series of phenothiazinium-based photo-sensitisers (PhBPs) as PDT agents is tested. PhBPs were incubated with EMT-6 tumour cells and erythrocytes respectively under dark and light conditions (3.15Jcm(-2) over 30min). "Comet assay" and haemolytic assay were then used to assess cellular photo-damage induced by these PhBPs. Additionally, in vitro assays were used to determine light adsorption characteristics, singlet oxygen yields (ΦΔPhBP) and lipophilicity (logP) of these PhBPs. "Comet assay" showed EMT-6 incubation with PhBPs under light conditions to produce DNA "tails", which were circa 35μm long, indicating the presence of DNA photo-damage. Corresponding incubations under dark conditions led to no such damage. The majority of the PhBPs tested possessed significant singlet oxygen yields (ΦΔPhBP>0.7), suggesting the general use of type II mechanisms for photo-sensitization, and were generally lipophilic (logP>0). Incubation of erythrocytes with these PhBPs in the dark produced between 6% and 19% haemolysis. These levels were generally unaffected by illumination except in the case of DMMB, which showed haemolytic levels increasing from 11% to 61%. It is suggested that DNA may be the primary target for the photo-dynamic anti-tumour activity of the PhBPs tested with the exception of DMMB, which may potentially also target tumour cell membranes.

Bisphenols: Application, occurrence, safety, and biodegradation mediated by bacterial communities in wastewater treatment plants and rivers.

PubMed

Noszczyńska, Magdalena; Piotrowska-Seget, Zofia

2018-06-01

Numerous data indicate that most of bisphenols (BPs) are endocrine disrupters and exhibit cytotoxicity, neurotoxicity, genotoxicity and reproductive toxicity against vertebrates. Nevertheless, they are widely applied in material production what result in their ubiquitous occurrence in ecosystems. While BPA is the most frequently detected in environment, BPAF, BPF and BPS are also often found. Ecosystem particularly exposed to BPs pollution is industrial and municipal wastewater being a common source of BPA in river waters. Different techniques to remove BPs from these ecosystems have been applied, among which biodegradation seems to be the most effective. In this review the current state of knowledge in the field of BPs application, distribution in the environment, effects on animal and human health, and biodegradation mediated by bacterial populations in wastewater treatment plants and rivers is presented. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Removal of 10-nm contaminant particles from Si wafers using CO2 bullet particles.

PubMed

Kim, Inho; Hwang, Kwangseok; Lee, Jinwon

2012-04-11

Removal of nanometer-sized contaminant particles (CPs) from substrates is essential in successful fabrication of nanoscale devices. The particle beam technique that uses nanometer-sized bullet particles (BPs) moving at supersonic velocity was improved by operating it at room temperature to achieve higher velocity and size uniformity of BPs and was successfully used to remove CPs as small as 10 nm. CO2 BPs were generated by gas-phase nucleation and growth in a supersonic nozzle; appropriate size and velocity of the BPs were obtained by optimizing the nozzle contours and CO2/He mixture fraction. Cleaning efficiency greater than 95% was attained. BP velocity was the most important parameter affecting removal of CPs in the 10-nm size range. Compared to cryogenic Ar or N2 particles, CO2 BPs were more uniform in size and had higher velocity and, therefore, cleaned CPs more effectively.

The Chinese approach to complementary and alternative medicine treatment for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

PubMed

Pang, Ran; Ali, Abdullah

2015-12-01

Management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) remains a challenge due to poor understanding on its etiology. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as an optional treatment, has been widely used, because no definitive conventional therapy is available. The different domain of CAM provides miscellaneous treatments for IC/BPS, which mainly include dietary modification, nutraceuticals, bladder training, biofeedback, yoga, massage, physical therapy, Qigong, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Clinical evidence has shown that each therapy can certainly benefit a portion of IC/BPS patients. However, the target patient group of each therapy has not been well studied and randomized, controlled trials are needed to further confirm the efficacy and reliability of CAM on managing IC/BPS. Despite these limitations, CAM therapeutic characteristics including non-invasive and effectiveness for specific patients allow clinicians and patients to realize multimodal and individualized therapy for IC/BPS.

The Chinese approach to complementary and alternative medicine treatment for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome

PubMed Central

Ali, Abdullah

2015-01-01

Management of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) remains a challenge due to poor understanding on its etiology. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), as an optional treatment, has been widely used, because no definitive conventional therapy is available. The different domain of CAM provides miscellaneous treatments for IC/BPS, which mainly include dietary modification, nutraceuticals, bladder training, biofeedback, yoga, massage, physical therapy, Qigong, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Clinical evidence has shown that each therapy can certainly benefit a portion of IC/BPS patients. However, the target patient group of each therapy has not been well studied and randomized, controlled trials are needed to further confirm the efficacy and reliability of CAM on managing IC/BPS. Despite these limitations, CAM therapeutic characteristics including non-invasive and effectiveness for specific patients allow clinicians and patients to realize multimodal and individualized therapy for IC/BPS. PMID:26816867

Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: a sense of urgency.

PubMed

Hanno, Philip M; Chapple, Chris R; Cardozo, Linda D

2009-12-01

A classic triad of symptoms (bladder pain, urinary frequency, and urgency) has served to define bladder pain syndrome/painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/PBS/IC) syndrome. BPS/PBS/IC is a distinct condition and it is likely that the urgency experienced by these patients differs from that experienced by those with overactive bladder syndrome. It is unclear how best to define urgency in the BPS/PBS/IC setting. Differences in the other primary symptoms associated with these conditions probably influence how urgency is perceived. Advances in research into the pathophysiology of urgency and underlying disease processes will help to optimize both the diagnosis and treatment of BPS/PBS/IC.

Supersymmetrizing the Gorsky-Shifman-Yung soliton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ireson, E.; Shifman, M.; Yung, A.

2018-05-01

We supersymmetrize the Hopfion studied by Gorsky et al. [Phys. Rev. D 88, 045026 (2013)., 10.1103/PhysRevD.88.045026]. This soliton represents a closed semilocal vortex string in U(1) gauge theory. It carries nonzero Hopf number due to the additional winding of a phase modulus as one moves along the closed string. We study this solution in N =2 supersymmetric QED with two flavors. As a preliminary exercise, we compactify one space dimension and consider a straight vortex with periodic boundary conditions. It turns out to be 1 /2 -BPS saturated. An additional winding along the string can be introduced and it does not spoil the BPS nature of the object. Next, we consider a ringlike vortex in a non-compact space and show that the circumference of the ring L can be stabilized once the previously mentioned winding along the string is introduced. Of course, the ringlike vortex is not BPS but its energy becomes close to the BPS bound if L is large, which can be guaranteed in the case that we have a large value of the angular momentum J . Thus we arrive at the concept of asymptotically BPS-saturated solitons. BPS saturation is achieved in the limit J →∞ .

Comparative study of the effect of BPA and its selected analogues on hemoglobin oxidation, morphological alterations and hemolytic changes in human erythrocytes.

PubMed

Maćczak, Aneta; Bukowska, Bożena; Michałowicz, Jaromir

2015-01-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been shown to provoke many deleterious impacts on human health, and thus it is now successively substituted by BPA analogues, whose effects have been poorly investigated. Up to now, only one study has been realized to assess the effect of BPA on human erythrocytes, which showed its significant hemolytic and oxidative potential. Moreover, no study has been conducted to evaluate the effect of BPA analogues on red blood cells. The purpose of the present study was to compare the impact of BPA and its selected analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol AF (BPAF) on hemolytic and morphological changes and hemoglobin oxidation (methemoglobin formation) of human erythrocytes. The erythrocytes were incubated with different bisphenols concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 500μg/ml for 1, 4 and 24h. The compounds examined caused hemolysis in human erythrocytes with BPAF exhibiting the strongest effect. All bisphenols examined caused methemoglobin formation with BPA inducing the strongest oxidative potential. Flow cytometry analysis showed that all bisphenols (excluding BPS) induced significant changes in erythrocytes size. Changes in red blood cells shape were conducted using phase contrast microscopy. It was noticed that BPA and BPAF induced echinocytosis, BPF caused stomatocytosis, while BPS did not provoke significant changes in shape of red blood cells. Generally, the results showed that BPS, which is the main substituent of bisphenol A in polymers and thermal paper production, exhibited significantly lower disturbance of erythrocyte functions than BPA. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Vermiconversion of wastewater sludge from textile mill mixed with anaerobically digested biogas plant slurry employing Eisenia foetida.

PubMed

Garg, V K; Kaushik, Priya; Dilbaghi, Neeraj

2006-11-01

Vermicomposting is commonly used for the management of organic wastes. We have investigated the potential of an epigeic earthworm, Eisenia foetida, to transform solid textile mill sludge (STMS) spiked with anaerobically digested biogas plant slurry (BPS) into vermicompost to evaluate the feasibility of vermicomposting in industries for waste management. The growth and reproduction of E. foetida was monitored in a range of different feed mixtures for 15 weeks in laboratory under controlled experimental conditions. E. foetida did not survive in fresh STMS. But worms grew and reproduced in STMS spiked with BPS feed mixtures. A greater percentage of STMS in feed mixture affected biomass gain and cocoon production by earthworms. The maximum growth was recorded in 100% BPS. The net weight gain by E. foetida in 100% BPS was two-four-fold higher than STMS-containing feed mixtures. After 15 weeks, maximum cocoons (78) were counted in 100% BPS and minimum (26) in 60% BPS+40% STMS feed. Vermicomposting resulted in pH shift toward acidic, significant reduction in C:N ratio, and increase in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents. Microbial activity measured as dehydrogenase activity increased with time up to day 75 but decreased on day 90, indicating the exhaustion of feed and decrease in microbial activity. These experiments demonstrate that vermicomposting can be an alternate technology for the recycling and environmentally safe disposal/management of textile mill sludge using an epigeic earthworm, E. foetida, if mixed with anaerobically digested BPS in appropriate ratios.

Psychosocial Information Requirements for Multimorbid Breast Cancer Patients in Breast Centres in North Rhine Westphalia.

PubMed

Schmitz, C; Ansmann, L; Ernstmann, N

2015-07-01

Introduction: The importance of breast cancer patients (BPs) being supplied with sufficient information is well known. This study investigated the unfulfilled psychosocial information requirements of multimorbid BPs. Methods: This study records the unfulfilled psychosocial information requirements of 4166 patients, who were treated at one of the fifty breast centres in North Rhine Westphalia. The Cologne patient questionnaire for breast cancer 2.0 included in the postal survey following hospital stays records the information requirements using an adapted version of the "Cancer patient information needs" scale. Through a univariate analysis using the χ 2 test, it was investigated whether multimorbid BPs had significantly different psychosocial information requirements than BPs without further concomitant illnesses. Results: In general, it transpired that BPs had relatively low unfulfilled information requirements regarding work (20.7 %), everyday life (26.8 %), illness (27.4 %) and treatment (35.7 %), though such requirements were higher when it came to health-related behaviour (54.2 %). Multimorbid BPs had significantly lower unfulfilled information requirements regarding work and significantly larger ones regarding treatment in comparison to BPs without concomitant illnesses. Renal diseases and concomitant mental illnesses were associated with particularly high information requirements (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study should clarify the complexity and heterogeneity of information requirements of breast cancer patients in oncological care and should help to design the supply of information to be more patient-oriented.

Psychosocial Information Requirements for Multimorbid Breast Cancer Patients in Breast Centres in North Rhine Westphalia

PubMed Central

Schmitz, C.; Ansmann, L.; Ernstmann, N.

2015-01-01

Introduction: The importance of breast cancer patients (BPs) being supplied with sufficient information is well known. This study investigated the unfulfilled psychosocial information requirements of multimorbid BPs. Methods: This study records the unfulfilled psychosocial information requirements of 4166 patients, who were treated at one of the fifty breast centres in North Rhine Westphalia. The Cologne patient questionnaire for breast cancer 2.0 included in the postal survey following hospital stays records the information requirements using an adapted version of the “Cancer patient information needs” scale. Through a univariate analysis using the χ2 test, it was investigated whether multimorbid BPs had significantly different psychosocial information requirements than BPs without further concomitant illnesses. Results: In general, it transpired that BPs had relatively low unfulfilled information requirements regarding work (20.7 %), everyday life (26.8 %), illness (27.4 %) and treatment (35.7 %), though such requirements were higher when it came to health-related behaviour (54.2 %). Multimorbid BPs had significantly lower unfulfilled information requirements regarding work and significantly larger ones regarding treatment in comparison to BPs without concomitant illnesses. Renal diseases and concomitant mental illnesses were associated with particularly high information requirements (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The results of our study should clarify the complexity and heterogeneity of information requirements of breast cancer patients in oncological care and should help to design the supply of information to be more patient-oriented. PMID:26257407

[Characterisation and prevalence of the psychological and behavioural symptoms in patients with dementia].

PubMed

López-Pousa, S; Vilalta-Franch, J; Garre-Olmo, J; Pons, S; Cucurella, M G

To assess the prevalence of behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPS's) in patients with dementia in Spain and their dementia-specific characteristics. A cross-sectional and retrospective study of 1025 patients from 52 specialized dementia care units using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Patients with a probable diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease and dementia (PDD) were selected for BPS's characterisation. The global prevalence of BPS's was 66.7% (684 patients; 95% CI = 63.8-69.6%). BPS's were under-diagnosed in one third of cases. A total of 668 patients with NPI of 4 or superior and a diagnosis of AD (n = 380; 56.8%), DLB (n = 156; 23.3%) and PDD (n = 132; 19.7%) had a NPI mean of 21.1 (SD = 14.7), 25.6 (SD = 13.9) and 21.8 (SD = 14.2), respectively. Apathy, depression and anxiety were the most common BPS's. Delusions and hallucinations were significantly more prevalent in DLB. Dementia severity was correlated with the global NPI value and with all the sub-items, but anxiety and euphoria. The presence of agitation, euphoria or lability was associated with a deficient therapeutic fulfillment. A high prevalence of non-diagnosed BPS's was observed in the studied population. This has serious negative consequences for the quality of life of patients and their social environment. Therefore we propose an active search and subsequent correct treatment of BPS's in all patients with dementia.

Hydraulic Fracture Growth in a Layered Formation based on Fracturing Experiments and Discrete Element Modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yushi, Zou; Xinfang, Ma; Tong, Zhou; Ning, Li; Ming, Chen; Sihai, Li; Yinuo, Zhang; Han, Li

2017-09-01

Hydraulic fracture (HF) height containment tends to occur in layered formations, and it significantly influences the entire HF geometry or the stimulated reservoir volume. This study aims to explore the influence of preexisting bedding planes (BPs) on the HF height growth in layered formations. Laboratory fracturing experiments were performed to confirm the occurrence of HF height containment in natural shale that contains multiple weak and high-permeability BPs under triaxial stresses. Numerical simulations were then conducted to further illustrate the manner in which vertical stress, BP permeability, BP density(or spacing), pump rate, and fluid viscosity control HF height growth using a 3D discrete element method-based fracturing model. In this model, the rock matrix was considered transversely isotropic and multiple BPs can be explicitly represented. Experimental and numerical results show that the vertically growing HF tends to be limited by multi-high-permeability BPs, even under higher vertical stress. When the vertically growing HF intersects with the multi-high-permeability BPs, the injection pressure will be sharply reduced. If a low pumping rate or a low-viscosity fluid is used, the excess fracturing fluid leak-off into the BPs obviously decreases the rate of pressure build up, which will then limit the growth of HF. Otherwise, a higher pumping rate and/or a higher viscosity will reduce the leak-off time and fluid volume, but increase the injection pressure to drive the HF to grow and to penetrate through the BPs.

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: diagnosis and management.

PubMed

Offiah, I; McMahon, S B; O'Reilly, B A

2013-08-01

The bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a spectrum of urological symptoms characterised by bladder pain with typical cystoscopic features. Diagnosis and management of this syndrome may be difficult. There is no evidence-based management approach for the diagnosis or treatment of BPS. The objective of this study was to critically review and summarise the evidence relating to the diagnosis and treatment of the bladder pain syndrome. A review of published data on the diagnosis and treatment of the BPS was performed. Our search was limited to English-language articles, on the "diagnosis", and "management" or "treatment" of "interstitial cystitis" and the "bladder pain syndrome" in "humans." Frequency, urgency and pain on bladder filling are the most common symptoms of BPS. All urodynamic volumes are reduced in patients with BPS. Associated conditions include psychological distress, depression, history of sexual assault, irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia. Cystoscopy remains the test for definitive diagnosis, with visualisation of haemorrhage on cystoreduction. A multidisciplinary treatment approach is essential in the management of this condition. Orally administered amitriptyline is an efficacious medical treatment for BPS. Intravesical hyaluronic acid and local anaesthetic, with/without hydrodistension are among new treatment strategies. Sacral or pudendal neuromodulation is effective, minimally invasive and safe. Surgery is reserved for refractory cases. There remains a paucity of evidence for the diagnosis and treatment of BPS. We encountered significant heterogeneity in the assessment of symptoms, duration of treatment and follow up of patients in our literature review.

Domain walls in supersymmetric QCD: The taming of the zoo

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Binosi, Daniele; ter Veldhuis, Tonnis

We provide a unified picture of the domain wall spectrum in supersymmetric QCD with N{sub c} colors and N{sub f} flavors of quarks in the (anti) fundamental representation. Within the framework of the Veneziano-Yankielowicz-Taylor effective Lagrangian, we consider domain walls connecting chiral symmetry breaking vacua, and we take the quark masses to be degenerate. For N{sub f}/N{sub c}<1/2, there is one BPS saturated domain wall for any value of the quark mass m. For 1/2{<=}N{sub f}/N{sub c}<1 there are two critical masses m{sub *} and m{sub **} which depend on the number of colors and flavors only through the ratiomore » N{sub f}/N{sub c}. If mm{sub **}, there is no domain wall. We numerically determine m{sub *} and m{sub **} as a function of N{sub f}/N{sub c}, and we find that m{sub **} approaches a constant value in the limit that this ratio goes to 1.« less

Bladder sensory physiology: neuroactive compounds and receptors, sensory transducers, and target-derived growth factors as targets to improve function

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Eric J.; Merrill, Liana

2014-01-01

Urinary bladder dysfunction presents a major problem in the clinical management of patients suffering from pathological conditions and neurological injuries or disorders. Currently, the etiology underlying altered visceral sensations from the urinary bladder that accompany the chronic pain syndrome, bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC), is not known. Bladder irritation and inflammation are histopathological features that may underlie BPS/IC that can change the properties of lower urinary tract sensory pathways (e.g., peripheral and central sensitization, neurochemical plasticity) and contribute to exaggerated responses of peripheral bladder sensory pathways. Among the potential mediators of peripheral nociceptor sensitization and urinary bladder dysfunction are neuroactive compounds (e.g., purinergic and neuropeptide and receptor pathways), sensory transducers (e.g., transient receptor potential channels) and target-derived growth factors (e.g., nerve growth factor). We review studies related to the organization of the afferent limb of the micturition reflex and discuss neuroplasticity in an animal model of urinary bladder inflammation to increase the understanding of functional bladder disorders and to identify potential novel targets for development of therapeutic interventions. Given the heterogeneity of BPS/IC and the lack of consistent treatment benefits, it is unlikely that a single treatment directed at a single target in micturition reflex pathways will have a mass benefit. Thus, the identification of multiple targets is a prudent approach, and use of cocktail treatments directed at multiple targets should be considered. PMID:24760999

2004/09 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/09). Full-Scale Methodology Report. NCES 2012-246

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wine, Jennifer; Janson, Natasha; Wheeless, Sara

2011-01-01

This report describes and evaluates the methods and procedures used in the 2004/09 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/09). BPS:04/09 is the second and final follow-up interview for the cohort of first-time beginning postsecondary students identified in the 2004 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. For the first time…

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study First Follow-up (BPS:96/98) Field Test Report. Working Paper Series.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pratt, Daniel J.; Wine, Jennifer S.; Heuer, Ruth E.; Whitmore, Roy W.; Kelly, Janice E.; Doherty, John M.; Simpson, Joe B.; Marti, Norma

This report describes the methods and procedures used for the field test of the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study First Followup 1996-98 (BPS:96/98). Students in this survey were first interviewed during 1995 as part of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study 1996 field test. The BPS:96/98 full-scale student sample includes…

The occurrence and source identification of bisphenol compounds in wastewaters.

PubMed

Česen, Marjeta; Lenarčič, Kaja; Mislej, Vesna; Levstek, Meta; Kovačič, Ana; Cimrmančič, Bernardka; Uranjek, Nataša; Kosjek, Tina; Heath, David; Dolenc, Marija Sollner; Heath, Ester

2018-03-01

This study reports the occurrence of eight bisphenols (BPs): bisphenol AF (BPAF), bisphenol AP (BPAP), bisphenol B (BPB), bisphenol C (BPC), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol Z (BPZ) in wastewaters (WWs). Sample preparation involved pre-concentration with SPE cartridges (Oasis HLB), followed by derivatization using N-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide with 1% tert-butyldimethylchlorosilane. Chemical analysis was based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A validated method with limits of detection (LODs) at ngL -1 range was applied to WWs collected at five Slovene wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and WW inflows from industrial, commercial and residential sources entering the sewerage systems of two catchments (Domžale-Kamnik (DK) and Ljubljana (LJ)). The presence of all BPs was confirmed in three inflows in DK and two inflows in the LJ catchments. High cumulative concentrations of all BPs were determined in WW from food processing facilities (LJ: 3030ngL -1 and DK: 599ngL -1 ). A high detection frequency was observed in the WW from two textile cleaning companies (6 BPs for LJ and 8 BPs for DK). The analysis of WW from WWTPs revealed that only BPF (36.7ngL -1 ) and BPS (40.6ngL -1 ) were >LODs in the influents, whereas other BPs were detected also in the effluents. BPZ was found in the highest concentration (403ngL -1 at WWTP-DK). WW collected at this WWTP also contained the highest amount of BPE (238ngL -1 ). Although BPs removal could not be directly compared between the WWTPs, with the exception of BPAP and BPB in the case of two smaller WWTPs (6.39%-43.2%) bisphenols were in general highly removed (≥96.2%). Finally, levels of BPC>LOD are reported for first time (WWTP in the DK catchment: 1.01ngL -1 -11.8ngL -1 ; LJ inflow from food processing plant up to 2560ngL -1 ). Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Disruption of SATB2 or its long-range cis-regulation by SOX9 causes a syndromic form of Pierre Robin sequence

PubMed Central

Rainger, Jacqueline K.; Bhatia, Shipra; Bengani, Hemant; Gautier, Philippe; Rainger, Joe; Pearson, Matt; Ansari, Morad; Crow, Jayne; Mehendale, Felicity; Palinkasova, Bozena; Dixon, Michael J.; Thompson, Pamela J.; Matarin, Mar; Sisodiya, Sanjay M.; Kleinjan, Dirk A.; FitzPatrick, David R.

2014-01-01

Heterozygous loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in the gene encoding the DNA-binding protein, SATB2, result in micrognathia and cleft palate in both humans and mice. In three unrelated individuals, we show that translocation breakpoints (BPs) up to 896 kb 3′ of SATB2 polyadenylation site cause a phenotype which is indistinguishable from that caused by SATB2 LOF mutations. This syndrome comprises long nose, small mouth, micrognathia, cleft palate, arachnodactyly and intellectual disability. These BPs map to a gene desert between PLCL1 and SATB2. We identified three putative cis-regulatory elements (CRE1–3) using a comparative genomic approach each of which would be placed in trans relative to SATB2 by all three BPs. CRE1–3 each bind p300 and mono-methylated H3K4 consistent with enhancer function. In silico analysis suggested that CRE1–3 contain one or more conserved SOX9-binding sites, and this binding was confirmed using chromatin immunoprecipitation on cells derived from mouse embryonic pharyngeal arch. Interphase bacterial artificial chromosome fluorescence in situ hybridization measurements in embryonic craniofacial tissues showed that the orthologous region in mice exhibits Satb2 expression-dependent chromatin decondensation consistent with Satb2 being a target gene of CRE1–3. To assess their in vivo function, we made multiple stable reporter transgenic lines for each enhancer in zebrafish. CRE2 was shown to drive SATB2-like expression in the embryonic craniofacial region. This expression could be eliminated by mutating the SOX9-binding site of CRE2. These observations suggest that SATB2 and SOX9 may be acting together via complex cis-regulation to coordinate the growth of the developing jaw. PMID:24363063

Supersymmetric attractors, topological strings, and the M5-brane CFT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guica, Monica M.

One of the purposes of this thesis is to present the consistent and unifying picture that emerges in string and M-theory with eight supercharges. On one hand, this involves classifying and relating supersymmetric objects that occur in N = 2 compactifications of string and M-theory on a Calabi-Yau manifold. These come in a surprisingly wide variety of four and five-dimensional black holes, black rings and their sometimes very complicated bound states. On the other hand, the topological string also makes its appearance in theories with eight supercharges, and turns out to compute certain black hole degeneracies. We dedicate the introduction and the first chapter to summarizing and reviewing the beautiful relationships between black holes, black rings, their dual conformal field theory and the topological string, and we also outline the remaining puzzles and issues. Some of the black holes in question can be obtained by multiply-wrapping an M-theory M5-brane on a self-intersecting four-cycle in the Calabi-Yau manifold. Their dual microscopic description is known, and consists of a two-dimensional conformal field theory (CFT) which is the low-energy limit of the gauge theory that resides on the worldvolume of the M5 brane. We show that in a certain limit the M5-brane CFT is - perhaps surprisingly - able to reproduce the entropy of a completely different type of black holes, those obtained from wrapped M2-branes, whose microscopic description has not yet been understood. We also argue that certain black hole bound states should also be described by the same CFT, which suggests a unifying description of the various black objects in eight-supercharge supergravity theories. Finally, we describe and present a proof of the so-called OSV conjecture, which states that the mixed partition function of N = 2 four-dimensional BPS black holes equals the modulus square of the type A topological string partition function. We also attempt to use this relationship to better understand corrections to the entropy of supersymmetric black holes and rings in five dimensions.

Comparison of solar photospheric bright points between Sunrise observations and MHD simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riethmüller, T. L.; Solanki, S. K.; Berdyugina, S. V.; Schüssler, M.; Martínez Pillet, V.; Feller, A.; Gandorfer, A.; Hirzberger, J.

2014-08-01

Bright points (BPs) in the solar photosphere are thought to be the radiative signatures (small-scale brightness enhancements) of magnetic elements described by slender flux tubes or sheets located in the darker intergranular lanes in the solar photosphere. They contribute to the ultraviolet (UV) flux variations over the solar cycle and hence may play a role in influencing the Earth's climate. Here we aim to obtain a better insight into their properties by combining high-resolution UV and spectro-polarimetric observations of BPs by the Sunrise Observatory with 3D compressible radiation magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) simulations. To this end, full spectral line syntheses are performed with the MHD data and a careful degradation is applied to take into account all relevant instrumental effects of the observations. In a first step it is demonstrated that the selected MHD simulations reproduce the measured distributions of intensity at multiple wavelengths, line-of-sight velocity, spectral line width, and polarization degree rather well. The simulated line width also displays the correct mean, but a scatter that is too small. In the second step, the properties of observed BPs are compared with synthetic ones. Again, these are found to match relatively well, except that the observations display a tail of large BPs with strong polarization signals (most likely network elements) not found in the simulations, possibly due to the small size of the simulation box. The higher spatial resolution of the simulations has a significant effect, leading to smaller and more numerous BPs. The observation that most BPs are weakly polarized is explained mainly by the spatial degradation, the stray light contamination, and the temperature sensitivity of the Fe i line at 5250.2 Å. Finally, given that the MHD simulations are highly consistent with the observations, we used the simulations to explore the properties of BPs further. The Stokes V asymmetries increase with the distance to the center of the mean BP in both observations and simulations, consistent with the classical picture of a production of the asymmetry in the canopy. This is the first time that this has been found also in the internetwork. More or less vertical kilogauss magnetic fields are found for 98% of the synthetic BPs underlining that basically every BP is associated with kilogauss fields. At the continuum formation height, the simulated BPs are on average 190 K hotter than the mean quiet Sun, the mean BP field strength is found to be 1750 G, and the mean inclination is 17°, supporting the physical flux-tube paradigm to describe BPs. On average, the synthetic BPs harbor downflows increasing with depth. The origin of these downflows is not yet understood very well and needs further investigation.

Bisphosphonate-Based Strategies for Bone Tissue Engineering and Orthopedic Implants

PubMed Central

Cattalini, Juan Pablo; Boccaccini, Aldo R.; Lucangioli, Silvia

2012-01-01

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a group of well-established drugs that are applied in the development of metabolic bone disorder-related therapies. There is increasing interest also in the application of BPs in the context of bone tissue engineering, which is the topic of this review, in which an extensive overview of published studies on the development and applications of BPs-based strategies for bone regeneration is provided with special focus on the rationale for the use of different BPs in three-dimensional (3D) bone tissue scaffolds. The different alternatives that are investigated to address the delivery and sustained release of these therapeutic drugs in the nearby tissues are comprehensively discussed, and the most significant published approaches on bisphosphonate-conjugated drugs in multifunctional 3D scaffolds as well as the role of BPs within coatings for the improved fixation of orthopedic implants are presented and critically evaluated. Finally, the authors' views regarding the remaining challenges in the fields and directions for future research efforts are highlighted. PMID:22440082

Divers models of divalent cation interaction to calcium-binding proteins: techniques and anthology.

PubMed

Cox, Jos A

2013-01-01

Intracellular Ca(2+)-binding proteins (CaBPs) are sensors of the calcium signal and several of them even shape the signal. Most of them are equipped with at least two EF-hand motifs designed to bind Ca(2+). Their affinities are very variable, can display cooperative effects, and can be modulated by physiological Mg(2+) concentrations. These binding phenomena are monitored by four major techniques: equilibrium dialysis, fluorimetry with fluorescent Ca(2+) indicators, flow dialysis, and isothermal titration calorimetry. In the last quarter of the twentieth century reports on the ion-binding characteristics of several abundant wild-type CaBPs were published. With the advent of recombinant CaBPs it became possible to determine these properties on previously inaccessible proteins. Here I report on studies by our group carried out in the last decade on eight families of recombinant CaBPs, their mutants, or truncated domains. Moreover this chapter deals with the currently used methods for quantifying the binding of Ca(2+) and Mg(2+) to CaBPs.

Iron Reverses Impermeable Chelator Inhibition of DNA Synthesis in CCl39 Cells

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alcain, Francisco J.; Low, Hans; Crane, Frederick L.

1994-08-01

Treatment of Chinese hamster lung fibro-blasts (CCl 39 cells) with the impermeable iron(II) chelator bathophenanthroline disulfonate (BPS) inhibits DNA synthesis when cell growth is initiated with growth factors including epidermal growth factor plus insulin, thrombin, or ceruloplasmin, but not with 10% fetal calf serum. The BPS treatment inhibits transplasma membrane electron transport. The treatment leads to release of iron from the cells as determined by BPS iron(II) complex formation over 90 min. Growth factor stimulation of DNA synthesis and electron transport are restored by addition of di- or trivalent iron to the cells in the form of ferric ammonium citrate, ferrous ammonium sulfate, or diferric transferrin. The effect with BPS differs from the inhibition of growth by hydroxyurea, which acts on the ribonucleotide reductase, or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, which is another impermeable chelating agent, in that these agents inhibit growth in 10% fetal calf serum. The BPS effect is consistent with removal of iron from a site on the cell surface that controls DNA synthesis.

Kinetics of browning and correlations between browning degree and pyrazine compounds in l-ascorbic acid/acidic amino acid model systems.

PubMed

Yu, Ai-Nong; Zhou, Yong-Yan; Yang, Yi-Ni

2017-04-15

The kinetics of browning and the correlation between browning products (BPs) and pyrazine compounds were investigated by heating equimolar l-ascorbic acid (ASA)/acidic amino acids under weak alkaline conditions at 120-150°C for 10-120min. The formations of BPs and pyrazine compounds from the reaction were monitored by UV-vis and SPME-GC-FID, respectively. The formation of BPs in both ASA/l-glutamic acid and ASA/l-aspartic acid model reaction systems followed zero order reaction kinetics with activation energies (E a ) of 90.13 and 93.38kJ/mol, respectively. ASA/l-aspartic acid browned at a slightly higher rate than ASA/l-glutamic acid. The total concentration of pyrazine compounds was highly and positively correlated with that of BPs. Based on the observed kinetic data, the formation mechanisms of BPs and pyrazine compounds were proposed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

From r-spin intersection numbers to Hodge integrals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ding, Xiang-Mao; Li, Yuping; Meng, Lingxian

2016-01-01

Generalized Kontsevich Matrix Model (GKMM) with a certain given potential is the partition function of r-spin intersection numbers. We represent this GKMM in terms of fermions and expand it in terms of the Schur polynomials by boson-fermion correspondence, and link it with a Hurwitz partition function and a Hodge partition by operators in a widehat{GL}(∞) group. Then, from a W 1+∞ constraint of the partition function of r-spin intersection numbers, we get a W 1+∞ constraint for the Hodge partition function. The W 1+∞ constraint completely determines the Schur polynomials expansion of the Hodge partition function.

A note on the entropy of rotating BPS AdS7 × S4 black holes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hosseini, Seyed Morteza; Hristov, Kiril; Zaffaroni, Alberto

2018-05-01

In this note we show that the entropy of BPS, rotating, electrically charged AdS7 × S 4 black holes can be obtained by an extremization principle involving a particular combination of anomaly coefficients of the six-dimensional N=(2,0) theory. This result extends our previous finding for BPS, rotating AdS5 × S 5 black holes.

Testing the new BPS method in some models of nonabelian magnetic monopole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prasetyo, I.; Atmaja, A. N.; Ramadhan, H. S.

2018-03-01

The proposed method in [Phys. Lett. B768 351-358 (2017)], which can obtain BPS equations of some models of vortices, is used here to see whether it is still usable for some models of magnetic monopole. Other than the standard Yang-Mills-Higgs, here we report that the method is able to give us the BPS equations from two different magnetic monopole models.

Effects of bisphenol-S low concentrations on oxidative stress status and in vitro fertilization potential in mature female mice

PubMed Central

Nourian, Alireza; Soleimanzadeh, Ali; Shalizar Jalali, Ali; Najafi, Gholamreza

2017-01-01

Bisphenol-S (BPS) is a new bisphenol-A substitute widely used in many plastic products. Bisphenol-A as a main member of bisphenol family has been known as an endocrine system disrupter chemical compound. Like other members of bisphenol family, there is public health concern about the toxic effects of BPS on reproductive system, thus, we examined BPS effects on in vitro fertilization (IVF) potential and oxidative stress status in a murine model. Adult female mice (n = 70) were randomly divided into control and BPS-treated groups. Bisphenol-S was administered at doses of 0, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 µg kg-1 body weight per day intraperitoneally for 21 consecutive days. Twenty-Four hr after the last treatment, five mice in each group were super-ovulated and the oocytes were harvested for IVF. All ovaries were collected and used for biochemical factors analyses. Bisphenol-S exposure at doses more than 10 µg kg-1 induced developmental arrest of pre-implantation embryos. Further, lipid peroxidation measurement in ovaries indicated that all doses of BPS cause oxidative stress in female mice. In conclusion, BPS administration even in low doses can result in female reproductive toxicities and oxidative stress in mice. PMID:29326794

Effects of bisphenol-S low concentrations on oxidative stress status and in vitro fertilization potential in mature female mice.

PubMed

Nourian, Alireza; Soleimanzadeh, Ali; Shalizar Jalali, Ali; Najafi, Gholamreza

2017-01-01

Bisphenol-S (BPS) is a new bisphenol-A substitute widely used in many plastic products. Bisphenol-A as a main member of bisphenol family has been known as an endocrine system disrupter chemical compound. Like other members of bisphenol family, there is public health concern about the toxic effects of BPS on reproductive system, thus, we examined BPS effects on in vitro fertilization (IVF) potential and oxidative stress status in a murine model. Adult female mice (n = 70) were randomly divided into control and BPS-treated groups. Bisphenol-S was administered at doses of 0, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 µg kg -1 body weight per day intraperitoneally for 21 consecutive days. Twenty-Four hr after the last treatment, five mice in each group were super-ovulated and the oocytes were harvested for IVF. All ovaries were collected and used for biochemical factors analyses. Bisphenol-S exposure at doses more than 10 µg kg -1 induced developmental arrest of pre-implantation embryos. Further, lipid peroxidation measurement in ovaries indicated that all doses of BPS cause oxidative stress in female mice. In conclusion, BPS administration even in low doses can result in female reproductive toxicities and oxidative stress in mice.

Oral bisphosphonates do not increase the risk of severe upper gastrointestinal complications: a nested case–control study

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Data on the effect of oral bisphosphonates (BPs) on risk of upper gastrointestinal complications (UGIC) are conflicting. We conducted a large population-based study from a network of Italian healthcare utilization databases aimed to assess the UGIC risk associated with use of BPs in the setting of secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures. Methods A nested case–control study was carried out within a cohort of 68,970 patients aged 45 years or older, who have been hospitalized for osteoporotic fracture from 2003 until 2005. Cases were the 804 patients who experienced hospitalization for UGIC until 2007. Up to 20 controls were randomly selected for each case. Conditional logistic regression model was used to estimate odds ratio (OR) associated with current and past use of BPs (i.e. for drug dispensation within 30 days and over 31 days prior the outcome onset, respectively) after adjusting for several covariates. Results Compared with patients who did not use BPs, current and past users had OR (and 95% confidence interval) of 0.86 (0.60 to 1.22) and 1.07 (0.80 to 1.44) respectively. There was no difference in the ORs estimated according with BPs type (alendronate or risedronate) and regimen (daily or weekly), nor with co-therapies and comorbidities. Conclusions Further evidence that BPs dispensed for secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures are not associated with increased risk of severe gastrointestinal complications is supplied from this study. Further research is required to clarify the role BPs and other drugs of co-medication in inducing UGIC. PMID:24397769

Perceptions of "urgency" in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome or overactive bladder.

PubMed

Clemens, J Quentin; Bogart, Laura M; Liu, Karin; Pham, Chau; Suttorp, Marika; Berry, Sandra H

2011-03-01

To compare urgency symptoms in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and overactive bladder (OAB). Women with diagnoses of IC/BPS (n=194) and OAB (n=85) were recruited from the clinical practices of Urologists (n=8) and Gynecologists (n=16) with recognized expertise in the diagnosis and management of these conditions. Subjects completed a comprehensive telephone survey about their current symptoms. The questionnaire included 11 questions about urinary urgency. Responses were compared between the two groups. Urgency was commonly reported as a symptom by women with both conditions (81% IC/BPS and 91% OAB). Compared with IC/BPS, urgency in OAB more often resulted in leakage, and was perceived to be more of a problem. In IC/BPS, the urgency was primarily reported as due to pain, pressure, or discomfort, while in OAB the urgency was more commonly due to fear of leakage. However, approximately 40% of women with OAB also report urgency due to pain, pressure, or discomfort. Similar proportions of both groups (∼ 60%) indicated that the urgency occurred "suddenly" instead of more gradually over a period of minutes or hours. Urgency symptoms differed in women diagnosed with IC/BPS versus those diagnosed with OAB, but there was significant overlap. This suggests that "urgency" is not a well-defined and commonly understood symptom that can be utilized to clearly discriminate between IC/BPS and OAB. These findings reinforce the clinical observation that it is often challenging to differentiate between these two conditions. Copyright © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Genome-wide gene expression profiling of low-dose, long-term exposure of human osteosarcoma cells to bisphenol A and its analogs bisphenols AF and S.

PubMed

Fic, A; Mlakar, S Jurković; Juvan, P; Mlakar, V; Marc, J; Dolenc, M Sollner; Broberg, K; Mašič, L Peterlin

2015-08-01

The bisphenols AF (BPAF) and S (BPS) are structural analogs of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA), and are used in common products as a replacement for BPA. To elucidate genome-wide gene expression responses, estrogen-dependent osteosarcoma cells were cultured with 10 nM BPA, BPAF, or BPS, for 8 h and 3 months. Genome-wide gene expression was analyzed using the Illumina Expression BeadChip. Three months exposure had significant effects on gene expression, particularly for BPS, followed by BPAF and BPA, according to the number of differentially expressed genes (1980, 778, 60, respectively), the magnitude of changes in gene expression, and the number of enriched biological processes (800, 415, 33, respectively) and pathways (77, 52, 6, respectively). 'Embryonic skeletal system development' was the most enriched bone-related process, which was affected only by BPAF and BPS. Interestingly, all three bisphenols showed highest down-regulation of genes related to the cardiovascular system (e.g., NPPB, NPR3, TXNIP). BPA only and BPA/BPAF/BPS also affected genes related to the immune system and fetal development, respectively. For BPAF and BPS, the 'isoprenoid biosynthetic process' was enriched (up-regulated genes: HMGCS1, PDSS1, ACAT2, RCE1, DHDDS). Compared to BPA, BPAF and BPS had more effects on gene expression after long-term exposure. These findings stress the need for careful toxicological characterization of BPA analogs in the future. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effect of bisphosphonates on periprosthetic bone loss after total knee arthroplasty: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

PubMed

Shi, Mingmin; Chen, Lei; Wu, Haobo; Wang, Yangxin; Wang, Wei; Zhang, Yujie; Yan, Shigui

2018-05-30

Aseptic loosening and osteolysis are the most common indications after TKA for revision surgery. This meta-analysis which included high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to analyze the effect of bisphosphonates (BPs) on maintaining periprosthetic bone mineral density (BMD) after total knee arthroplasty. PubMed, AMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane library, ISI Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were systematically searched, five RCTs were included and the total number of participants was 188. The weighted mean differences with 95% confidence interval were calculated to evaluate the efficacy of BPs on total BMD of knee and the BMD of different periprosthetic regions. A descriptive review was performed for BP-related adverse effects. The BPs group presented significantly higher total BMD in proximal part of the tibia than the control group at 3 and 6 months (P < 0.05), but no significant difference at 12 months (P = 0.09). The BPs group presented significantly higher BMD in the distal aspect of the femur than that in the control group at 3, 6, 12 months. The BPs group presented significantly higher periprosthetic BMD than that in the control group at 3, 6 and 12 months in tibial medial and lateral metaphyseal region, and femoral anterior, central and posterior metaphyseal region (p < 0.05), but no significant difference for tibial diaphyseal region at 3, 6, and 12 months. None of the included studies described severe or fatal adverse effects related to BPs. BPs have a short-term effect on reducing periprosthetic bone loss after total knee arthroplasty. Compared with diaphyseal region, BPs are more effective on the preservation of BMD in medial lateral metaphyseal regions of proximal tibia and in anterior, central, and posterior metaphyseal region of distal femur.

Individual receptor profiling as a novel tool to support diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC).

PubMed

Neuhaus, Jochen; Schulte-Baukloh, Heinrich; Stolzenburg, Jens-Uwe; Speroni di Fenizio, Pietro; Horn, Lars-Christian; Rüffert, Henrik; Hartenstein, Siegurd; Burger, Maximilian; Schulze, Matthias; Schwalenberg, Thilo

2012-10-01

Dysregulation of neurotransmitter receptors may contribute to bladder overactivity (OAB) symptoms. To address the question whether specific receptor expression patterns are associated with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC), we examined the expression of muscarinic, purinergic and histamine receptors in the detrusor. Detrusor receptor expression was investigated in bladder biopsies of female BPS/IC patients (n = 44; age 60.64 ± 13.78, mean ± SD) and carcinoma patients (n = 11; age 58.91 ± 12.72) undergoing cystectomy. Protein expression of muscarinic (M2, M3), purinergic (P2X1-3) and histamine receptors (H1, H2) was analysed by confocal immunofluorescence, and gene expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). M2, P2X1, P2X2 and H1 receptor immunoreactivity (-IR) was significantly enhanced in BPS/IC compared to the control group, while there was no difference for M3-, P2X3- and H2-IR. We calculated a score, which separated BPS/IC from control patients with an AUC of 89.46%, showing 84.09% sensitivity and 90.91% specificity. Patients had a 9.25 times enhanced calculated risk for BPS/IC. In addition, two patient subgroups (M2 > M3 and M3 > M2) were observed, which differed in associated purinergic and histamine receptor expression. M2, P2X1, P2X2 and H1 were significantly upregulated in BPS/IC patients, and H2 was occasionally highly overexpressed. There was no significant correlation between receptor protein and gene expression, implying posttranslational mechanisms being responsible for the altered receptor expressions. On the basis of individual receptor profiles, upregulated receptors could be targeted by monotherapy or combination therapy with already approved receptor inhibitors, thereby promoting tailored therapy for patients suffering from BPS/IC-like symptoms.

The Expression of Inflammatory Mediators in Bladder Pain Syndrome.

PubMed

Offiah, Ifeoma; Didangelos, Athanasios; Dawes, John; Cartwright, Rufus; Khullar, Vik; Bradbury, Elizabeth J; O'Sullivan, Suzanne; Williams, Dic; Chessell, Iain P; Pallas, Kenny; Graham, Gerry; O'Reilly, Barry A; McMahon, Stephen B

2016-08-01

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) pathology is poorly understood. Treatment strategies are empirical, with limited efficacy, and affected patients have diminished quality of life. We examined the hypothesis that inflammatory mediators within the bladder contribute to BPS pathology. Fifteen women with BPS and 15 women with stress urinary incontinence without bladder pain were recruited from Cork University Maternity Hospital from October 2011 to October 2012. During cystoscopy, 5-mm bladder biopsies were taken and processed for gene expression analysis. The effect of the identified genes was tested in laboratory animals. We studied the expression of 96 inflammation-related genes in diseased and healthy bladders. We measured the correlation between genes and patient clinical profiles using the Pearson correlation coefficient. Analysis revealed 15 differentially expressed genes, confirmed in a replication study. FGF7 and CCL21 correlated significantly with clinical outcomes. Intravesical CCL21 instillation in rats caused increased bladder excitability and increased c-fos activity in spinal cord neurons. CCL21 atypical receptor knockout mice showed significantly more c-fos upon bladder stimulation with CCL21 than wild-type littermates. There was no change in FGF7-treated animals. The variability in patient samples presented as the main limitation. We used principal component analysis to identify similarities within the patient group. Our study identified two biologically relevant inflammatory mediators in BPS and demonstrated an increase in nociceptive signalling with CCL21. Manipulation of this ligand is a potential new therapeutic strategy for BPS. We compared gene expression in bladder biopsies of patients with bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and controls without pain and identified two genes that were increased in BPS patients and correlated with clinical profiles. We tested the effect of these genes in laboratory animals, confirming their role in bladder pain. Manipulating these genes in BPS is a potential treatment strategy. Copyright © 2016 European Association of Urology. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Bremsstrahlung function, leading Lüscher correction at weak coupling and localization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonini, Marisa; Griguolo, Luca; Preti, Michelangelo; Seminara, Domenico

2016-02-01

We discuss the near BPS expansion of the generalized cusp anomalous dimension with L units of R-charge. Integrability provides an exact solution, obtained by solving a general TBA equation in the appropriate limit: we propose here an alternative method based on supersymmetric localization. The basic idea is to relate the computation to the vacuum expectation value of certain 1/8 BPS Wilson loops with local operator insertions along the contour. These observables localize on a two-dimensional gauge theory on S 2, opening the possibility of exact calculations. As a test of our proposal, we reproduce the leading Lüscher correction at weak coupling to the generalized cusp anomalous dimension. This result is also checked against a genuine Feynman diagram approach in {N}=4 Super Yang-Mills theory.

Bounds for the Eventual Positivity of Difference Functions of Partitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woodford, Roger

2007-01-01

In this paper we specialize work done by Bateman and Erdos concerning difference functions of partition functions. In particular, we are concerned with partitions into fixed powers of the primes. We show that any difference function of these partition functions is eventually increasing, and derive explicit bounds for when it will attain strictly positive values. From these bounds an asymptotic result is derived.

A study on the bacterial photo-toxicity of phenothiazinium based photosensitisers.

PubMed

Sayed, Zia; Harris, Frederick; Phoenix, David A

2005-03-01

"Comet assay" showed light activated (3.15 Jcm-2 over 30 min) phenothiazinium based photosensitisers (PhBPs) to induce photo-damage of Staphylococcus aureus DNA, as indicated by DNA "tails" between 80 and 120 microm. In general, PhBPs exhibited significant singlet oxygen yields (Phi(DeltaPhBP)>0.7), suggesting the use of type II mechanisms of photo-oxidation. However, the photodynamic action of PhBPs on DNA showed generally insignificant production of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine, normally a major product of type II DNA photo-oxidation. These combined results show DNA to be a major site of action of PhBPs and suggest that this action may involve type II attack on a nucleoside(s) other than guanosine.

Few-Layered Black Phosphorus: From Fabrication and Customization to Biomedical Applications.

PubMed

Wang, Huaiyu; Yu, Xue-Feng

2018-02-01

As a new kind of 2D material, black phosphorus has gained increased attention in the past three years. Although few-layered black phosphorus nanosheets (BPs) degrade quickly under ambient conditions to phosphate anions, which greatly hampers their optical and electronic applications, this property also makes BPs highly biocompatible and biodegradable, and is regarded as an advantage for various biomedical applications. This Concept summarizes the state-of-art progresses of BPs, from fabrication and surface modification to biomedical applications. It is expected that BPs with such fascinating properties will encourage more scientists to engage in expanding its biomedical applications by tackling the scientific challenges involved in their development. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Effects of intravenous glucose on dopaminergic function in the human brain in vivo.

PubMed

Haltia, Lauri T; Rinne, Juha O; Merisaari, Harri; Maguire, Ralph P; Savontaus, Eriika; Helin, Semi; Någren, Kjell; Kaasinen, Valtteri

2007-09-01

Dopamine is known to regulate food intake by modulating food reward via the mesolimbic circuitry of the brain. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of high energy input (i.v. glucose) on striatal and thalamic dopamine release in overweight and lean individuals. We hypothesized that glucose would induce dopamine release and positive ratings (e.g., satiety) in Behavioral Analog Scales, particularly in food-deprived lean subjects. [(11)C]raclopride PET was performed for 12 lean (mean BMI = 22 kg/m(2)) and 12 overweight (mean BMI = 33 kg/m(2)) healthy subjects. Each subject was imaged twice in a blinded counter-balanced setting, after 300 mg/kg i.v. glucose and after i.v. placebo. Dopamine D2 receptor binding potentials (BPs) were estimated. The voxel-based analysis of the baseline scans indicated lower striatal BPs in the overweight group and a negative correlation between BMIs and BPs. Intravenous glucose did not have a significant effect on BPs in overweight or lean subjects (male and female groups combined). However, BP changes were opposite in the two gender groups. In male subjects, significant BP reductions after glucose were seen in the right and left caudate nucleus, left putamen, and right thalamus. In female subjects, increases in BP secondary to glucose were seen in the right caudate nucleus and right and left putamen. The sexually dimorphic effect of glucose was seen in both overweight and lean subjects. Although gender differences were not among the a priori hypotheses of the present study and, therefore, they must be considered to be preliminary findings, we postulate that this observation is a reflection of an interaction between glucose, sex steroids (estrogen), leptin, and dopamine.

MAGNETIC FLUX SUPPLEMENT TO CORONAL BRIGHT POINTS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mou, Chaozhou; Huang, Zhenghua; Xia, Lidong

Coronal bright points (BPs) are associated with magnetic bipolar features (MBFs) and magnetic cancellation. Here we investigate how BP-associated MBFs form and how the consequent magnetic cancellation occurs. We analyze longitudinal magnetograms from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager to investigate the photospheric magnetic flux evolution of 70 BPs. From images taken in the 193 Å passband of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) we dermine that the BPs’ lifetimes vary from 2.7 to 58.8 hr. The formation of the BP MBFs is found to involve three processes, namely, emergence, convergence, and local coalescence of the magnetic fluxes. The formation of anmore » MBF can involve more than one of these processes. Out of the 70 cases, flux emergence is the main process of an MBF buildup of 52 BPs, mainly convergence is seen in 28, and 14 cases are associated with local coalescence. For MBFs formed by bipolar emergence, the time difference between the flux emergence and the BP appearance in the AIA 193 Å passband varies from 0.1 to 3.2 hr with an average of 1.3 hr. While magnetic cancellation is found in all 70 BPs, it can occur in three different ways: (I) between an MBF and small weak magnetic features (in 33 BPs); (II) within an MBF with the two polarities moving toward each other from a large distance (34 BPs); (III) within an MBF whose two main polarities emerge in the same place simultaneously (3 BPs). While an MBF builds up the skeleton of a BP, we find that the magnetic activities responsible for the BP heating may involve small weak fields.« less

Disposition and metabolism of the bisphenol analogue, bisphenol S, in Harlan Sprague Dawley rats and B6C3F1/N mice and in vitro in hepatocytes from rats, mice, and humans.

PubMed

Waidyanatha, Suramya; Black, Sherry R; Snyder, Rodney W; Yueh, Yun Lan; Sutherland, Vicki; Patel, Purvi R; Watson, Scott L; Fennell, Timothy R

2018-07-15

With the removal of bisphenol A (BPA) from many consumer products, the potential use of alternatives such as bisphenol S (BPS) and its derivatives is causing some concerns. These studies investigated the comparative in vitro hepatic clearance and metabolism of BPS and derivatives and the disposition and metabolism of BPS in rats and mice following gavage and intravenous administration. The clearance of BPS and its derivatives was slower in human hepatocytes than in rodents. In male rats following gavage administration of 50, 150, and 500 mg/kg [ 14 C]BPS the main route of excretion was via urine; the urinary excretion decreased (72 to 48%) and the fecal excretion increased (16 to 30%) with increasing dose. The disposition was similar in female rats and male and female mice following gavage administration. Radioactivity remaining in tissues at 72 h in both species and sexes was ≤2.4%. In bile duct cannulated rats 53% of a gavage dose was secreted in bile suggesting extensive enterohepatic recirculation of [ 14 C]BPS. Following an intravenous dose in rats and mice, the pattern of excretion was similar to gavage. These data suggest that the dose excreted in feces folowing gavage administration is likely the absorbed dose. Urinary metabolites included the glucuronide and sulfate conjugates with a moderate amount of parent. The pattern of in vitro hepatic metabolsim was similar to in vivo with some difference among derivatives. These data suggest that similar to other bisphenol analogues, BPS was well absorbed following oral expsosure and extensively excreted with minimal tissue retention. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of forearm and upper arm blood pressures.

PubMed

Singer, A J; Kahn, S R; Thode, H C; Hollander, J E

1999-01-01

In the prehospital setting it is not always feasible to obtain blood pressure (BP) readings from the upper arm. This study was performed to compare BPs obtained from subjects' forearms and upper arms in order to assess the utility of forearm BP as a surrogate for standard BP. The authors performed a prospective, cross-sectional, convenience study in a sample of ambulatory university ED patients, where each subject had sequential determinations of left upper arm and forearm BPs with an automated monitor at ED triage. The order of measurement was determined by the day of the week. Demographic and clinical data were also recorded. The main outcome measure was the correlation between upper arm and forearm systolic and diastolic BPs. Pearson's correlation coefficient and Student's t-test were used to analyze the data. 151 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 35.3+/-15.7 years; 40% were female and 78% were white. The mean forearm and upper arm systolic BPs were 129.8+/-20.7 mm Hg and 126.2+/-17.6 mm Hg (p = 0.002). The mean forearm and upper arm diastolic BPs were 80.7+/-14.5 mm Hg and 76.8+/-13.4 mm Hg (p<0.001). The correlations between forearm and upper arm systolic and diastolic BPs were 0.75 (p<0.001) and 0.72 (p<0.001). The differences between forearm and upper arm systolic and diastolic BPs were within 20 mm Hg in 86% and 94% of patients, respectively. Forearm BP is a fairly good predictor of standard upper arm BP in most patients. Forearm BP may be used when measurement of upper arm BP is not feasible.

Bisphenol S and F: A Systematic Review and Comparison of the Hormonal Activity of Bisphenol A Substitutes

PubMed Central

Bolden, Ashley L.

2015-01-01

Background Increasing concern over bisphenol A (BPA) as an endocrine-disrupting chemical and its possible effects on human health have prompted the removal of BPA from consumer products, often labeled “BPA-free.” Some of the chemical replacements, however, are also bisphenols and may have similar physiological effects in organisms. Bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are two such BPA substitutes. Objectives This review was carried out to evaluate the physiological effects and endocrine activities of the BPA substitutes BPS and BPF. Further, we compared the hormonal potency of BPS and BPF to that of BPA. Methods We conducted a systematic review based on the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) protocol. Results We identified the body of literature to date, consisting of 32 studies (25 in vitro only, and 7 in vivo). The majority of these studies examined the hormonal activities of BPS and BPF and found their potency to be in the same order of magnitude and of similar action as BPA (estrogenic, antiestrogenic, androgenic, and antiandrogenic) in vitro and in vivo. BPS also has potencies similar to that of estradiol in membrane-mediated pathways, which are important for cellular actions such as proliferation, differentiation, and death. BPS and BPF also showed other effects in vitro and in vivo, such as altered organ weights, reproductive end points, and enzyme expression. Conclusions Based on the current literature, BPS and BPF are as hormonally active as BPA, and they have endocrine-disrupting effects. Citation Rochester JR, Bolden AL. 2015. Bisphenol S and F: a systematic review and comparison of the hormonal activity of bisphenol A substitutes. Environ Health Perspect 123:643–650; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408989 PMID:25775505

Urinary Concentrations of Bisphenols and Their Association with Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in People Living Near E-Waste Recycling Facilities in China.

PubMed

Zhang, Tao; Xue, Jingchuan; Gao, Chuan-zi; Qiu, Rong-liang; Li, Yan-xi; Li, Xiao; Huang, Ming-zhi; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2016-04-05

In this study, concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) and seven other bisphenols (BPs) were measured in urine samples collected from people living in and around e-waste dismantling facilities, and in matched reference population from rural and urban areas in China. BPA, bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol F (BPF) were frequently detected (detection frequencies: > 90%) in urine samples collected from individuals who live near e-waste facilities, with geometric mean (GM) concentrations of 2.99 (or 3.75), 0.361 (or 0.469), and 0.349 (or 0.435) ng/mL (or μg/g Cre), respectively; the other five BPs were rarely found in urine samples, regardless of the sampling location. The urinary concentrations of BPA and BPF, but not BPS, were significantly higher in individuals from e-waste recycling locations than did individuals from a rural reference location. Our findings indicated that e-waste dismantling activities contribute to human exposure to BPA and BPF. 8-Hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was measured in urine as a marker of oxidative stress. In the e-waste dismantling location, urinary 8-OHdG was significantly and positively correlated (p < 0.001) with urinary BPA and BPS, but not BPF; a similar correlation was also observed in reference sites. These findings suggest that BPA and BPS exposures are associated with elevated oxidative stress.

Management of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation and bronchopulmonary sequestration in newborns.

PubMed

Chen, Hung-Wen; Hsu, Wen-Ming; Lu, Frank Leigh; Chen, Pau-Chung; Jeng, Suh-Fang; Peng, Steven Shinn-Forng; Chen, Chien-Yi; Chou, Hung-Chieh; Tsao, Po-Nien; Hsieh, Wu-Shiun

2010-06-01

Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) and bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) are major embryonic pulmonary developmental anomalies. Early surgical excision is becoming an increasingly common option. We investigated the clinical features and management of patients with CCAM and BPS at the National Taiwan University Hospital. We conducted a retrospective review of neonates diagnosed with CCAM and/or BPS at the Hospital from July 1995 to January 2008. Prenatal examination, postnatal presentation, management and patient outcome were analyzed. We also propose a concise algorithm for the practical management of these conditions. Sixteen patients were recruited including eight (50%) with CCAM, five (31%) with BPS and three (19%) with mixed-type lesions (CCAM with BPS). Thirteen (81%) patients were diagnosed antenatally at a median gestational age of 20 weeks. Eleven (69%) patients underwent surgical resection before 6 months of age because of respiratory distress or repeated pulmonary infection. There were no surgery-related complications among the seven patients who underwent early surgery within 1 month of age. Five (31%) patients remained asymptomatic and did not undergo surgery. All patients survived with no limitations to daily activity during follow-up periods of 1-8 years. The high proportion of mixed-type lesions suggests that CCAM and BPS may share the same developmental ancestry. Early surgical resection within 1 month of age is safe in symptomatic patients. 2010 Taiwan Pediatric Association. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Understanding pain and coping in women with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome.

PubMed

Katz, Laura; Tripp, Dean A; Carr, Lesley K; Mayer, Robert; Moldwin, Robert M; Nickel, J Curtis

2017-08-01

To examine a self-regulation and coping model for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) that may help us understand the pain experience of patients with chronic IC/BPS. The model tested illness perceptions, illness-focused coping, emotional regulation, mental health and disability in a stepwise method using factor analysis and structural equation modelling. Step 1, explored the underlying constructs. Step 2, confirmed the measurement models to determine the structure/composition of the main constructs. Step 3, evaluated the model fit and specified pathways in the proposed IC/BPS self-regulation model. In all, 217 female patients with urologist diagnosed IC/BPS were recruited and diagnosed across tertiary care centres in North America. The data were collected through self-report questionnaires. An IC/BPS self-regulation model was supported. Physical disability was worsened by patient's negative perception of their illness, attempts to cope using illness-focused coping and poorer emotional regulation. Mental health was supported by perceptions that individuals could do something about their illness, using wellness-focused behavioural strategies and adaptive emotion regulation. The results clarify the complex and unique process of self-regulation in women with IC/BPS, implicating cognitive and coping targets, and highlighting emotional regulation. This knowledge should help clinicians understand and manage these patients' distress and disability. © 2017 The Authors BJU International © 2017 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Bridging a clinical gap in psychogenic nonepileptic seizures: Mental health provider preferences of biopsychosocial assessment approaches.

PubMed

Jimenez, Xavier F; Bautista, Jocelyn F; Tilahun, Bikat S; Fan, Youran; Ford, Paul J; Tesar, George E

2016-03-01

Management of psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) is complex, requiring multidisciplinary care. A standardized assessment and formulation approach to PNES is lacking, yet use of a comprehensive model may alleviate problems such as mental health aftercare noncompliance. Although a biopsychosocial (BPS) approach to PNES balancing predisposing, precipitating, and perpetuating (PPP) variables has been described and has been recently tested in pilot form, it is unclear how this assessment style is perceived among community mental health practitioners such as psychotherapists (including psychologists, counselors, and social workers). We predicted preference of a comprehensive "BPS/PPP" assessment style by those most involved in PNES care (i.e., community psychotherapists). One hundred and forty-three community-based social workers and counselors completed a survey featuring a fictional PNES case followed by assessment style options ("Multiaxial," "Narrative," and "BPS/PPP"). Respondents clearly preferred the robust BPS/PPP approach over less-comprehensive multiaxial and narrative assessments (p<0.0001). Reasons for choosing the BPS/PPP by respondents include ease of organization, clear therapeutic goals, and comprehensive nature. This assessment of acceptability of a BPS/PPP approach to PNES assessment among community mental health practitioners may provide a patient-centered mechanism to enhance referrals from the neurological to mental health setting. Implications and future directions are explored. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Physician Assimilation in Medical Schools: Dualisms of Biomedical and Biopsychosocial Ideologies in the Discourse of Physician Educators.

PubMed

Olufowote, James O; Wang, Guoyu E

2017-06-01

Although health communication research and popular literature on physicians have heightened awareness of the dualisms physicians face, research is yet to focus on the discourse of physician educators who assimilate students into medicine for dualisms of the biomedical (BMD) and biopsychosocial (BPS) ideologies. The study drew on a dualism-centered model to analyze the discourse of 19 behavioral science course directors at 10 medical schools for the emergence of dualisms in instantiations of BPS ideologies and for the management of dualism in discourse that instantiated both BMD and BPS ideologies as part of the curriculum. Dualism emerged in the BPS ideologies of "patient-centeredness" and "cultural competence." While a dualism between "patients' data" and "patients' stories" emerged in the patient-centeredness ideology, a dualism between enhancing "interaction skill" and "understanding" emerged in the cultural competence ideology. Moreover, the study found educator discourse managing dualism between BMD and BPS ideologies through the strategies of "connection" and "separation." The study concludes with a discussion and the implications for theory and research.

Binding of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) to the Trypanosoma cruzi farnesyl diphosphate synthase homodimer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Huang, Chuan-Hsiang; Gabelli, Sandra B.; Oldfield, Eric

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a class of compounds that have been used extensively in the treatment of osteoporosis and malignancy-related hypercalcemia. Some of these compounds act through inhibition of farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPPS), a key enzyme in the synthesis of isoprenoids. Recently, nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) used in bone resorption therapy have been shown to be active against Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease), suggesting that they may be used as anti-trypanosomal agents. The crystal structures of TcFPPS in complex with substrate (isopentenyl diphosphate, IPP) and five N-BP inhibitors show that the C-1 hydroxyl and the nitrogen-containing groupsmore » of the inhibitors alter the binding of IPP and the conformation of two TcFPPS residues, Tyr94 and Gln167. Isothermal titration calorimetry experiments suggest that binding of the first N-BPs to the homodimeric TcFPPS changes the binding properties of the second site. This mechanism of binding of N-BPs to TcFPPS is different to that reported for the binding of the same compounds to human FPPS.« less

Adsorption of bovine serum albumin on nano and bulk oxide particles in deionized water.

PubMed

Song, Lei; Yang, Kun; Jiang, Wei; Du, Peng; Xing, Baoshan

2012-06-01

In this work, the influence of particle size and surface functional groups on the adsorption behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) by three types of oxide nanoparticles (NPs), TiO(2) (50±5 nm), SiO(2) (30±5 nm), and Al(2)O(3) (150±5 nm for α type and 60±5 nm for γ type) was investigated in deionized water, in order to explore their interaction mechanisms without competitive influence of other ions. Bulkparticles (BPs) were also used for comparison with NPs. BSA adsorption maxima on oxide particles were controlled by the surface area and hydrogen content, while adsorption process was primarily induced by electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction and ligand exchange between BSA and oxide surfaces. With the increase of hydrogen content, the BSA adsorption mechanism switched from mainly hydrophobic interaction to hydrogen bonding and ligand exchange. Calculations, based on surface area and BSA size, suggested that a multilayer of BSA covered on α-Al(2)O(3), and single layer on the other oxide particle surfaces. BPs led to greater conformational change of BSA molecules after the adsorption on the surfaces of oxide particles though NPs adsorbed more BSA than BPs. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Optimizing the Placement of Burnable Poisons in PWRs

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yilmaz, Serkan; Ivanov, Kostadin; Levine, Samuel

2005-07-15

The principal focus of this work is on developing a practical tool for designing the minimum amount of burnable poisons (BPs) for a pressurized water reactor using a typical Three Mile Island Unit 1 2-yr cycle as the reference design. The results of this study are to be applied to future reload designs. A new method, the Modified Power Shape Forced Diffusion (MPSFD) method, is presented that initially computes the BP cross section to force the power distribution into a desired shape. The method employs a simple formula that expresses the BP cross section as a function of the differencemore » between the calculated radial power distributions (RPDs) and the limit set for the maximum RPD. This method places BPs into all fresh fuel assemblies (FAs) having an RPD greater than the limit. The MPSFD method then reduces the BP content by reducing the BPs in fresh FAs with the lowest RPDs. Finally, the minimum BP content is attained via a heuristic fine-tuning procedure.This new BP design program has been automated by incorporating the new MPSFD method in conjunction with the heuristic fine-tuning program. The program has automatically produced excellent results for the reference core, and has the potential to reduce fuel costs and save manpower.« less

Bogomolny equations in certain generalized baby BPS Skyrme models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stępień, Ł. T.

2018-01-01

By using the concept of strong necessary conditions (CSNCs), we derive Bogomolny equations and Bogomol’nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) bounds for two certain modifications of the baby BPS Skyrme model: the nonminimal coupling to the gauge field and the k-deformed ungauged model. In particular, we study how the Bogomolny equations and the equation for the potential reflect these two modifications. In both examples, the CSNC method appears to be a very useful tool. We also find certain localized solutions of these Bogomolny equations.

Exact correlators on the Wilson loop in N=4 SYM: localization, defect CFT, and integrability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giombi, Simone; Komatsu, Shota

2018-05-01

We compute a set of correlation functions of operator insertions on the 1 /8 BPS Wilson loop in N=4 SYM by employing supersymmetric localization, OPE and the Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization. These correlators exhibit a simple determinant structure, are position-independent and form a topological subsector, but depend nontrivially on the 't Hooft coupling and the rank of the gauge group. When applied to the 1 /2 BPS circular (or straight) Wilson loop, our results provide an infinite family of exact defect CFT data, including the structure constants of protected defect primaries of arbitrary length inserted on the loop. At strong coupling, we show precise agreement with a direct calculation using perturbation theory around the AdS2 string worldsheet. We also explain the connection of our results to the "generalized Bremsstrahlung functions" previously computed from integrability techniques, reproducing the known results in the planar limit as well as obtaining their finite N generalization. Furthermore, we show that the correlators at large N can be recast as simple integrals of products of polynomials (known as Q-functions) that appear in the Quantum Spectral Curve approach. This suggests an interesting interplay between localization, defect CFT and integrability.

Partitioning in Avionics Architectures: Requirements, Mechanisms, and Assurance

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rushby, John

1999-01-01

Automated aircraft control has traditionally been divided into distinct "functions" that are implemented separately (e.g., autopilot, autothrottle, flight management); each function has its own fault-tolerant computer system, and dependencies among different functions are generally limited to the exchange of sensor and control data. A by-product of this "federated" architecture is that faults are strongly contained within the computer system of the function where they occur and cannot readily propagate to affect the operation of other functions. More modern avionics architectures contemplate supporting multiple functions on a single, shared, fault-tolerant computer system where natural fault containment boundaries are less sharply defined. Partitioning uses appropriate hardware and software mechanisms to restore strong fault containment to such integrated architectures. This report examines the requirements for partitioning, mechanisms for their realization, and issues in providing assurance for partitioning. Because partitioning shares some concerns with computer security, security models are reviewed and compared with the concerns of partitioning.

Instantons in Lifshitz field theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fujimori, Toshiaki; Nitta, Muneto

2015-10-01

BPS instantons are discussed in Lifshitz-type anisotropic field theories. We consider generalizations of the sigma model/Yang-Mills instantons in renormalizable higher dimensional models with the classical Lifshitz scaling invariance. In each model, BPS instanton equation takes the form of the gradient flow equations for "the superpotential" defining "the detailed balance condition". The anisotropic Weyl rescaling and the coset space dimensional reduction are used to map rotationally symmetric instantons to vortices in two-dimensional anisotropic systems on the hyperbolic plane. As examples, we study anisotropic BPS baby Skyrmion 1+1 dimensions and BPS Skyrmion in 2+1 dimensions, for which we take Kähler 1-form and the Wess-Zumiono-Witten term as the superpotentials, respectively, and an anisotropic generalized Yang-Mills instanton in 4 + 1 dimensions, for which we take the Chern-Simons term as the superpotential.

Intravesical treatments of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

PubMed

Neuhaus, Jochen; Schwalenberg, Thilo

2012-12-01

Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is a disabling chronic condition that affects up to 7% of women in the USA. In men, BPS/IC seems to be less common, but might be underestimated because it can be confused with chronic prostatitis. The aetiology and pathophysiology of BPS/IC are not well understood. Consequently, diagnosis and treatment is challenging and most therapies used to date are off-label. These therapies include bladder instillation with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and BCG, as well as hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Overall, botulinum neurotoxin A injection, intravesical sodium hyaluronate instillation and DMSO instillation seem to be the best-performing treatments, with response rates of 79%, 76% and 75%, respectively, and can be used effectively as second-line or third-line therapies for BPS/IC. However, additional high-quality randomized controlled trials are necessary to improve the available data.

A study of 225 patients on bisphosphonates presenting to the bisphosphonate clinic at King's College Hospital.

PubMed

Taylor, T; Bryant, C; Popat, S

2013-04-01

The aim of this retrospective study was to examine the outcome of patients referred to a dedicated clinic for dental extractions while they were prescribed either oral or intra-venous (IV) bisphosphonates (BPs). The following parameters were assessed: mode of BP administration, indication for BP prescription, incidence of BRONJ, concomitant risk factors for development of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ) and demographic details. The clinical records of 225 patients who underwent dental extraction while receiving oral or intravenous bisphosphonates were reviewed. Their clinical outcome, specifically the development of BRONJ was determined. Of the 225 patients, 202 were prescribed oral and 23 IV BPs. 34.8% (8/23) of patients prescribed IV BPs developed BRONJ following dental extraction, which was a significantly (p <0.001) higher proportion than that of the oral BP group, which was 2.5% (5/202 patients). 12.3% (8/65) patients taking BPs with steroids were at a significantly increased risk of a BRONJ (p <0.003). 12.3% (7/57) males developed a BRONJ compared with 3.6% (6/168) females where p = 0.015. All of the patients who developed a BRONJ as a result of oral BP prescription had been taking this medication for three years or more. In our patient cohort the risk of developing a BRONJ following dental extractions was greatest in those patients receiving IV BPs and those on oral BPs with concomitant steroid medication.

Intravesical treatment of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: from the conventional regimens to the novel botulinum toxin injections.

PubMed

Dellis, Athanasios; Papatsoris, Athanasios G

2014-06-01

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) includes interstitial cystitis (IC) and is often used as a synonym of it (i.e., BPS/IC). It is associated with lower urinary tract symptoms as well as with negative cognitive, behavioral, sexual and/or emotional consequences. Unfortunately, none of the numerous existing oral and intravesical treatments have been effective for all of the BPS subtypes and therefore relevant research is ongoing. In this review, the authors analyze the existing literature for the intravesical treatment of BPS/IC with focus on the novel administration of botulinum toxin (BTX). Several intravesical drugs have been studied in the past, including lidocaine, heparin, pentosan polysulfate sodium, dimethyl sulfoxide, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid as well as investigational drugs such as GM-0111. Recently, intravesical submucosal injections of BTX have been studied in patients with BPS/IC. Most of the recent studies use BTX-A with no serious adverse effects and with satisfactory results in patients who do not respond to oral or standard intravesical therapy. Nevertheless, there is no consensus regarding the best dosage scheme of BTX, the injection sites and the treatment intervals. BTX intravesical administration in patients with BPS/IC is a safe and efficient treatment option; yet the level of evidence of the initial studies is not high. There is still the need for large randomized controlled studies so that a consensus can be reached for the ideal BTX dosage, injection sites and intervals between treatments.

Contamination risk of reusing daily disposable contact lenses.

PubMed

Boost, Maureen; Poon, Kin-Chiu; Cho, Pauline

2011-12-01

This study investigated contamination of saline and daily disposable contact lens (DDCL) stored overnight after use in the original blister pack and the practices of a group of DDCL users. Twenty DDCL wearers placed their lenses after 1 day's use back into the blister pack saline (BPS) and left them overnight before transferring both lens and BPS to a new CL case. The lens and BPS were cultured the following day, and total number of organisms, Staphylococci, and gram negative organisms enumerated. Each subject submitted five pairs of lenses over a 1 month period. Ninety-five percent of subjects had at least one pair of contaminated lenses, and the BPS yielded similar results to the contaminated lenses, with staphylococcal contamination being predominant. Three subjects admitted to not washing their hands before handling their lenses and six to habitual reuse of their lenses with storage in the BPS. There was a higher risk of contamination in male subjects. Reuse of lenses poses an important risk for DDCL users because they are unlikely to have received proper training in cleaning and disinfection of lenses and do not use a lens case or disinfecting solutions. Overnight storage in BPS results in contaminated lenses which if reused increases the infection risk especially with Staphylococci. It is important that practitioners carefully educate their patients in correct use of DDCL and, as cost of lenses is a major factor in willingness to reuse, ensure that DDCL is the most suitable choice when prescribing.

MicroRNAs May Mediate the Down-Regulation of Neurokinin-1 Receptor in Chronic Bladder Pain Syndrome

PubMed Central

Sanchez Freire, Veronica; Burkhard, Fiona C.; Kessler, Thomas M.; Kuhn, Annette; Draeger, Annette; Monastyrskaya, Katia

2010-01-01

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is a clinical syndrome of pelvic pain and urinary urgency-frequency in the absence of a specific cause. Investigating the expression levels of genes involved in the regulation of epithelial permeability, bladder contractility, and inflammation, we show that neurokinin (NK)1 and NK2 tachykinin receptors were significantly down-regulated in BPS patients. Tight junction proteins zona occludens-1, junctional adherins molecule -1, and occludin were similarly down-regulated, implicating increased urothelial permeability, whereas bradykinin B1 receptor, cannabinoid receptor CB1 and muscarinic receptors M3-M5 were up-regulated. Using cell-based models, we show that prolonged exposure of NK1R to substance P caused a decrease of NK1R mRNA levels and a concomitant increase of regulatory micro(mi)RNAs miR-449b and miR-500. In the biopsies of BPS patients, the same miRNAs were significantly increased, suggesting that BPS promotes an attenuation of NK1R synthesis via activation of specific miRNAs. We confirm this hypothesis by identifying 31 differentially expressed miRNAs in BPS patients and demonstrate a direct correlation between miR-449b, miR-500, miR-328, and miR-320 and a down-regulation of NK1R mRNA and/or protein levels. Our findings further the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of BPS, and have relevance for other clinical conditions involving the NK1 receptor. PMID:20008142

Structural requirements for inhibitory effects of bisphenols on the activity of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase

PubMed Central

Woeste, Matthew; Steller, Jeffrey; Hofmann, Emily; Kidd, Taylor; Patel, Rahul; Connolly, Kevin; Jayasinghe, Manori; Paula, Stefan

2013-01-01

Bisphenols (BPs) are a class of small organic compounds with widespread industrial applications. Previous studies have identified several BPs that interfere with the activity of the ion-translocating enzyme sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA). In order to define the molecular determinants of BP-mediated SERCA inhibition, we conducted enzyme activity assays with rabbit SERCA to determine the inhibitory potencies of 27 commercially available BPs, which were the basis for structure-activity relationships. The most potent BPs inhibited SERCA at low micromolar concentrations and carried at their two phenyl rings multiple non-polar substituents, such as small alkyl groups or halides. Furthermore, the presence of methyl groups or a cyclohexyl group at the central carbon atom connecting the two phenyl moieties correlated with good potencies. For a characterization and visualization of inhibitor/enzyme interactions, molecular docking was performed, which suggested that hydrogen bonding with Asp254 and hydrophobic interactions were the major driving forces for BP binding to SERCA. Calcium imaging studies with a selection of BPs showed that these inhibitors were able to increase intracellular calcium levels in living human cells, a behavior consistent with that of a SERCA inhibitor. PMID:23643898

The intron 1 of HPV 16 has a suboptimal branch point at a guanosine.

PubMed

De la Rosa-Rios, Marco Antonio; Martínez-Salazar, Martha; Martínez-Garcia, Martha; González-Bonilla, César; Villegas-Sepúlveda, Nicolás

2006-06-01

The branch point sequence (BPS) of intron 1 of the HPV-16 was determined via RT-PCR in a cell free system, using lariat intermediates obtained by in vitro splicing reactions. We used synthetic E6/E7 transcripts and HeLa nuclear protein extracts to obtain the splicing intermediates. Then, a divergent oligonucleotide primer set, pairing on the lariat RNA that encompassed the 2'-5' phosphodiester bond formed between the 5' end of the intron and the BPS, was used for cDNA synthesis and PCR amplification. Subsequent RT-PCR assays revealed four splicing intermediates, made up of a major intermediary corresponding to the BPS and four cryptic branched sequences. Only intermediates bound at the 5' end of the intron are probably the authentic branch point sequence, and all of them branch at guanosine 328 instead of the typical adenosine. Unusually, the BPS of intron 1 of HPV-16 is a suboptimal sequence (AGUGAGU) that differs from the eukaryotic consensus BPS, which correlates with the splicing profile observed for early transcripts of HPV-16 in tumors and tumor derived cell lines. The implications of this unusual branch point sequence for splicing of the HPV-16 pre-mRNA are discussed.

Long-term exposure of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) to ZnO nanoparticles: anatomical and ultrastructural responses.

PubMed

Mousavi Kouhi, Seyed Mousa; Lahouti, Mehrdad; Ganjeali, Ali; Entezari, Mohammad H

2015-07-01

Rapid development of nanotechnology in recent years has raised concerns about nanoparticle (NPs) release into the environment and its adverse effects on living organisms. The present study is the first comprehensive report on the anatomical and ultrastructural changes of a variety of cells after long-term exposure of plant to NPs or bulk material particles (BPs). Light and electron microscopy revealed some anatomical and ultrastructural modifications of the different types of cell in the root and leaf, induced by both types of treatment. Zinc oxide (ZnO) BPs-induced modifications were surprisingly more than those induced by ZnO NPs. The modifications induced by ZnO BPs or ZnO NPs were almost similar to those induced by excess Zn. Zn content of the root and leaf of both ZnO NPs- and ZnO BPs-treated plants was severely increased, where the increase was greater in the plants treated with ZnO BPs. Overall, these results indicate that the modifications induced by ZnO particles can be attributed, at least partly, to the Zn(2+) dissolution by ZnO particles rather than their absorption by root and their subsequent effects.

Canonical partition functions: ideal quantum gases, interacting classical gases, and interacting quantum gases

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Chi-Chun; Dai, Wu-Sheng

2018-02-01

In statistical mechanics, for a system with a fixed number of particles, e.g. a finite-size system, strictly speaking, the thermodynamic quantity needs to be calculated in the canonical ensemble. Nevertheless, the calculation of the canonical partition function is difficult. In this paper, based on the mathematical theory of the symmetric function, we suggest a method for the calculation of the canonical partition function of ideal quantum gases, including ideal Bose, Fermi, and Gentile gases. Moreover, we express the canonical partition functions of interacting classical and quantum gases given by the classical and quantum cluster expansion methods in terms of the Bell polynomial in mathematics. The virial coefficients of ideal Bose, Fermi, and Gentile gases are calculated from the exact canonical partition function. The virial coefficients of interacting classical and quantum gases are calculated from the canonical partition function by using the expansion of the Bell polynomial, rather than calculated from the grand canonical potential.

BPS Jumping Loci are Automorphic

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kachru, Shamit; Tripathy, Arnav

2018-06-01

We show that BPS jumping loci-loci in the moduli space of string compactifications where the number of BPS states jumps in an upper semi-continuous manner—naturally appear as Fourier coefficients of (vector space-valued) automorphic forms. For the case of T 2 compactification, the jumping loci are governed by a modular form studied by Hirzebruch and Zagier, while the jumping loci in K3 compactification appear in a story developed by Oda and Kudla-Millson in arithmetic geometry. We also comment on some curious related automorphy in the physics of black hole attractors and flux vacua.

Internal controls over computer-processed financial data at Boeing Petroleum Services

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1992-02-14

The Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) is responsible for purchasing and storing crude oil to mitigate the potential adverse impact of any future disruptions in crude oil imports. Boeing Petroleum Services, Inc. (BPS) operates the SPR under a US Department of Energy (DOE) management and operating contract. BPS receives support for various information systems and other information processing needs from a mainframe computer center. The objective of the audit was to determine if the internal controls implemented by BPS for computer systems were adequate to assure processing reliability.

In vitro study on the agonistic and antagonistic activities of bisphenol-S and other bisphenol-A congeners and derivatives via nuclear receptors

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Molina-Molina, José-Manuel, E-mail: molinajm@ugr.es; Amaya, Esperanza; Grimaldi, Marina

Bisphenols are a group of chemicals structurally similar to bisphenol-A (BPA) in current use as the primary raw material in the production of polycarbonate and epoxy resins. Some bisphenols are intended to replace BPA in several industrial applications. This is the case of bisphenol-S (BPS), which has an excellent stability at high temperature and resistance to sunlight. Studies on the endocrine properties of BPS have focused on its interaction with human estrogen receptor alpha (hERα), but information on its interaction with other nuclear receptors is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate interactions of BPS, BPF, BPA andmore » its halogenated derivatives, tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA), and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), with human estrogen receptors (hERα and hERβ), androgen receptor (hAR), and pregnane X receptor (hPXR), using a panel of in vitro bioassays based on competitive binding to nuclear receptors (NRs), reporter gene expression, and cell proliferation assessment. BPS, BPF, and BPA efficiently activated both ERs, while TCBPA behaved as weak hERα agonist. Unlike BPF and BPA, BPS was more active in the hERβ versus hERα assay. BPF and BPA were full hAR antagonists (BPA > BPF), whereas BPA and BPS were weak hAR agonists. Only BPA, TCBPA, and TBBPA, were hPXR agonists (TCBPA > TBBPA > BPA). These findings provide evidence that BPA congeners and derivatives disrupt multiple NRs and may therefore interfere with the endocrine system. Hence, further research is needed to evaluate the potential endocrine-disrupting activity of putative BPA substitutes. - Highlights: • We investigated the agonist/antagonist activities of BPS, BPF, BPA, TCBPA and TBBPA. • The direct interaction of these compounds with hERα, hERβ, hAR and hPXR was studied. • BPA congeners and derivatives were found to disrupt multiple NRs. • Further evaluation of their role as endocrine-disrupting chemicals is needed.« less

Evaluation of oxidative stress status and antioxidant capacity in patients with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis: preliminary results of a randomised study.

PubMed

Ener, Kemal; Keske, Murat; Aldemir, Mustafa; Özcan, Muhammet Fuat; Okulu, Emrah; Özayar, Asım; Ergin, Merve; Doluoğlu, Ömer Gökhan; Çakmak, Serdar; Erel, Özcan

2015-08-01

This study aimed to investigate oxidative stress in etiopathogenesis by analyzing serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), binding capacity of exogenous cobalt to human albumin (IMA), serum advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), paraoxonase (PON), arylesterase, IgE, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). The study included 16 female patients diagnosed with BPS/IC and 25 healthy female subjects forming the control group. A bladder biopsy was performed on all patients in the BPS/IC group by carrying out cystoscopy with hydrodistention under general anesthesia. The results of serum TAC, TOS, IMA, AOPP, PON, arylesterase, IgE, and CRP of the subjects in both groups were compared. The mean age of the 16 female patients in the BPS/IC group was 43.6 ± 14.5 years, and the mean age of the 25 healthy subjects in the control group was 42.0 ± 10.3 years. According to the criteria of International Society for the Study of Interstitial Cystitis (ESSIC), eight patients were classified as Type 2A, three patients as Type 2B, four patients as Type 2C, and one patient as Type 3C. In the BPS/IC group, while TAC was found significantly lower than in the control group, IMA, IgE, and CRP were found significantly higher (P < 0.05). When binary logistic regression analysis was performed, the created model was determined to have 81.3 % sensitivity and 80 % specifity. In the etiology of BPS/IC, mechanism of oxidative damage comes into prominence. In the diagnosis of BPS/IC, IgE, CRP, and TAC are not specific markers when used separately; however, a higher specifity and sensitivity could be reached when used jointly in the suspected patients.

Hamiltonian analysis of non-relativistic non-BPS Dp-brane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klusoň, J.

2017-07-01

We perform Hamiltonian analysis of non-relativistic non-BPS Dp-brane. We find the constraint structure of this theory and determine corresponding equations of motion. We further discuss property of this theory at the tachyon vacuum.

The measurement of boredom: differences between existing self-report scales.

PubMed

Mercer-Lynn, Kimberley B; Flora, David B; Fahlman, Shelley A; Eastwood, John D

2013-10-01

There are two commonly used measures of boredom: the Boredom Proneness Scale (BPS) and the Boredom Susceptibility Scale (ZBS). Although both were designed to measure the propensity to experience boredom (i.e., trait boredom), there are reasons to think they may not measure the same construct. The present research sought to evaluate this proposition in several stages. Specifically, relationships between the BPS, ZBS, and important causal (Study 1, N = 837), correlational (Study 2, N = 233), and outcome variables (Study 3, N = 137) were examined in university students. Taken together, results support the notion that the BPS and ZBS do not measure the same construct. Specifically, higher BPS scores were associated with higher levels of neuroticism, experiential avoidance, attentional and nonplanning impulsivity, anxiety, depression, dysphoria, and emotional eating. Conversely, higher ZBS scores were associated with higher levels of motor impulsivity, sensitivity to reward, gambling, and alcohol use and lower levels of neuroticism, experiential avoidance, and sensitivity to punishment.

Assessment of the banana pseudostem as a low-cost biosorbent for the removal of reactive blue 5G dye.

PubMed

Módenes, Aparecido N; Espinoza-Quiñones, Fernando R; Geraldi, Claudinéia A Q; Manenti, Diego R; Trigueros, Daniela E G; Oliveira, Ana Paula de; Borba, Carlos E; Kroumov, Alexander D

2015-01-01

In this work, the removal of reactive blue 5G (RB5G) dye using the drying biomass of banana pseudostem (BPS) was investigated. The characterization of BPS particles was performed. Improvement in the RB5G dye removal performance at the following sorption conditions was evidenced: pH 1, 30°C sorption temperature and 40 rpm shaking, regardless of the particle size range. Kinetic RB5G dye sorption data obtained at better conditions fit well in an Elovich model. A combined Langmuir-BET isotherm model provides a good representation of the RB5G dye equilibrium sorption data, which shows the evidence of a physical sorption process on the BPS surface. Based on the results, the removal of RB5G dye molecules by BPS is based on a physical sorption process.

Fabrication of demultiplexer for T bps optical signals by using spincoated squarylium dye J-aggregates exhibiting femtosecond optical response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwasa, Izumi; Furuki, Makoto; Tian, Minquan; Sato, Yasuhiro; Pu, Lyong S.; Tatsuura, Setoshi; Wada, Osamu

2001-06-01

We fabricated spincoated films of squarylium dye (SQ) J- aggregates exhibiting femtosecond optical response at room temperature. Optical dynamics measurements revealed that the saturable absorption of the SQ J-aggregates film exhibited a decay time of less than 100 fs at a pump energy of 80 fJ/micrometer2. With this ultrafast SQ optical film, four- output demultiplex operation for T bps pulses was demonstrated. A series of 4 optical pulses with 100 fs duration and 1 ps interval (corresponding to 1 T bps signals) were irradiated onto the SQ film synchronized with a 100 fs gate pulse at a finite angle. Four demultiplexed signals were clearly observed at different areas on the CCD camera. Multi- output serial-to-parallel demultiplexer for T bps optical signals can be formed using the SQ J-aggregates film.

RESPONSE OF GRANULATION TO SMALL-SCALE BRIGHT FEATURES IN THE QUIET SUN

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Andic, A.; Chae, J.; Goode, P. R.

2011-04-10

We detected 2.8 bright points (BPs) per Mm{sup 2} in the quiet Sun with the New Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory, using the TiO 705.68 nm spectral line at an angular resolution {approx}0.''1 to obtain a 30 minute data sequence. Some BPs formed knots that were stable in time and influenced the properties of the granulation pattern around them. The observed granulation pattern within {approx}3'' of knots presents smaller granules than those observed in a normal granulation pattern, i.e., around the knots a suppressed convection is detected. Observed BPs covered {approx}5% of the solar surface and were notmore » homogeneously distributed. BPs had an average size of 0.''22, they were detectable for 4.28 minutes on average, and had an averaged contrast of 0.1% in the deep red TiO spectral line.« less

Cylindric partitions, {{\\boldsymbol{ W }}}_{r} characters and the Andrews-Gordon-Bressoud identities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foda, O.; Welsh, T. A.

2016-04-01

We study the Andrews-Gordon-Bressoud (AGB) generalisations of the Rogers-Ramanujan q-series identities in the context of cylindric partitions. We recall the definition of r-cylindric partitions, and provide a simple proof of Borodin’s product expression for their generating functions, that can be regarded as a limiting case of an unpublished proof by Krattenthaler. We also recall the relationships between the r-cylindric partition generating functions, the principal characters of {\\hat{{sl}}}r algebras, the {{\\boldsymbol{ M }}}r r,r+d minimal model characters of {{\\boldsymbol{ W }}}r algebras, and the r-string abaci generating functions, providing simple proofs for each. We then set r = 2, and use two-cylindric partitions to re-derive the AGB identities as follows. Firstly, we use Borodin’s product expression for the generating functions of the two-cylindric partitions with infinitely long parts, to obtain the product sides of the AGB identities, times a factor {(q;q)}∞ -1, which is the generating function of ordinary partitions. Next, we obtain a bijection from the two-cylindric partitions, via two-string abaci, into decorated versions of Bressoud’s restricted lattice paths. Extending Bressoud’s method of transforming between restricted paths that obey different restrictions, we obtain sum expressions with manifestly non-negative coefficients for the generating functions of the two-cylindric partitions which contains a factor {(q;q)}∞ -1. Equating the product and sum expressions of the same two-cylindric partitions, and canceling a factor of {(q;q)}∞ -1 on each side, we obtain the AGB identities.

STEREOSCOPIC DETERMINATION OF HEIGHTS OF EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET BRIGHT POINTS USING DATA TAKEN BY SECCHI/EUVI ABOARD STEREO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kwon, Ryun-Young; Chae, Jongchul; Zhang Jie

2010-05-01

We measure the heights of EUV bright points (BPs) above the solar surface by applying a stereoscopic method to the data taken by the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory/SECCHI/Extreme UltraViolet Imager (EUVI). We have developed a three-dimensional reconstruction method for point-like features such as BPs using the simple principle that the position of a point in the three-dimensional space is specified as the intersection of two lines of sight. From a set of data consisting of EUVI 171 A, 195 A, 284 A, and 304 A images taken on 11 days arbitrarily selected during a period of 14 months, we havemore » identified and analyzed 210 individual BPs that were visible on all four passband images and smaller than 30 Mm. The BPs seen in the 304 A images have an average height of 4.4 Mm, and are often associated with the legs of coronal loops. In the 171 A, 195 A, and 284 A images the BPs appear loop-shaped, and have average heights of 5.1, 6.7, and 6.1 Mm, respectively. Moreover, there is a tendency that overlying loops are filled with hotter plasmas. The average heights of BPs in 171 A, 195 A, and 284 A passbands are roughly twice the corresponding average lengths. Our results support the notion that an EUV BP represents a system of small loops with temperature stratification like flaring loops, being consistent with the magnetic reconnection origin.« less

Bisphenol S (BPS) Alters Maternal Behavior and Brain in Mice Exposed During Pregnancy/Lactation and Their Daughters

PubMed Central

Catanese, Mary C.

2017-01-01

Estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals have been shown to disrupt maternal behavior in rodents. We investigated the effects of an emerging xenoestrogen, bisphenol S (BPS), on maternal behavior and brain in CD-1 mice exposed during pregnancy and lactation (F0 generation) and in female offspring exposed during gestation and perinatal development (F1 generation). We observed different effects in F0 and F1 dams for a number of components of maternal behavior, including time on the nest, time spent on nest building, latency to retrieve pups, and latency to retrieve the entire litter. We also characterized expression of estrogen receptor α in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and quantified tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive cells in the ventral tegmental area, 2 brain regions critical for maternal care. BPS-treated females in the F0 generation had a statistically significant increase in estrogen receptor α expression in the caudal subregion of the central MPOA in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, there were no statistically significant effects of BPS on the MPOA in F1 dams or the ventral tegmental area in either generation. This work demonstrates that BPS affects maternal behavior and brain with outcomes depending on generation, dose, and postpartum period. Many studies examining effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals view the mother as a means by which offspring can be exposed during critical periods of development. Here, we demonstrate that pregnancy and lactation are vulnerable periods for the mother. We also show that developmental BPS exposure alters maternal behavior later in adulthood. Both findings have potential public health implications. PMID:28005399

Bisphenol S induces obesogenic effects through deregulating lipid metabolism in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae.

PubMed

Wang, Weiwei; Zhang, Xiaona; Wang, Zihao; Qin, Jingyu; Wang, Wei; Tian, Hua; Ru, Shaoguo

2018-05-01

It has been suggested that dramatic increase in obesity may be caused by growing exposure to environmental chemicals. In vitro data has suggested bisphenol S (BPS), a compound widely used in polycarbonate plastic production, can induce lipid accumulation in preadipocytes. However, the mechanisms responsible for BPS-induced obesity in vivo remain unclear. In this study, we used translucent zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae as a model to investigate the effect of environmentally relevant BPS exposure (1, 10, and 100 μg/L from 2 h to 15 d post fertilization) on lipid accumulation, triacylglycerol (TAG) and lipoproteins content, and mRNA expression of genes involved in the regulation of lipid synthesis, transport, degradation, and storage. We also analyzed activities of two enzymes critical to TAG metabolism: lipoprotein lipase and diglyceride acyltransferase. Overfed, obese larvae were used as positive control. The results indicated that BPS-treated and overfed larvae had much higher TAG levels and visceral fat accumulation compared with control. BPS exhibited obesogenic effects by interfering with lipid metabolism as evidenced by (a) upregulation of the mRNA expression of fasn, acc1, and agpat4 genes encoding enzymes involved in the de novo synthesis of TAG in the liver, (b) downregulation of apolipoprotein expression, which should reduce TAG transport from the liver, and (c) increase in rxrα expression, which should promote visceral fat accumulation. Our study is the first to demonstrate that the obesogenic effects of BPS in zebrafish are related to the disruption of TAG metabolism. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Intraobserver reliability and internal consistency of the Behavioral Pain Scale in mechanically-ventilated patients].

PubMed

Navarro-Colom, M; Sendra-Lluis, M A; Castillo-Masa, A M; Robleda, G

2015-01-01

The Behavioral Pain Scale (BPS) is a tool of pain assessment that often gives contradictory results when used by different raters. To assess internal consistency and interrater reliability of BPS scale in the pain assessment performed by intensives care nurses. A prospective observational study in 34 mechanically-ventilated patients, carried out in an Intensive Care Unit from April to June 2012. Variables analyzed included demographic characteristics, diagnosis of referral, clinical status, pain and sedation level. Pain was assessed by two nurses independently at rest (T1) and during a mobilization procedure (T2) using the BPS scale. Internal consistency was calculated by Cronbach's alpha, and intraobserver reliability was determined with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), with a confidence interval (CI) of 95%. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee for Clinical Research. One-hundred and twenty-eight pain assessments were performed. The Cronbach's alpha of total BPS score at rest was 0.66 (95%CI: 0.33 to 0.83) and during mobilization of 0.73 (95%CI: 0.47 to 0.87). The CCI of total BPS score was 0.50 (95%CI: 0.19 to 0.71) at rest and 0.58 (95%CI: 0.31 to 0.77) during mobilization. The level of internal consistency of the scale is appropriate and moderate interrater agreement. For the BPS useful in clinical practice, it is imperative that nurses have prior experience with a regulated use of this tool. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y SEEIUC. All rights reserved.

Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis Is Associated with Hyperthyroidism

PubMed Central

Liu, Shih-Ping; Lin, Ching-Chun; Lin, Herng-Ching

2013-01-01

Background Although the etiology of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is still unclear, a common theme with BPS/IC patients is comorbid disorders which are related to the autonomic nervous system that connects the nervous system to end-organs. Nevertheless, no study to date has reported the association between hyperthyroidism and BPS/IC. In this study, we examined the association of IC/BPS with having previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in Taiwan. Design Data in this study were retrieved from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. Our study consisted of 736 female cases with BPS/IC and 2208 randomly selected female controls. We performed a conditional logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for having previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism between cases and controls. Results Of the 2944 sampled subjects, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of prior hyperthyroidism between cases and controls (3.3% vs. 1.5%, p<0.001). The conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that compared to controls, the OR for prior hyperthyroidism among cases was 2.16 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27∼3.66). Furthermore, the OR for prior hyperthyroidism among cases was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.15∼3.53) compared to controls after adjusting for diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity, hyperlipidemia, chronic pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, panic disorder, migraines, sicca syndrome, allergies, endometriosis, and asthma. Conclusions Our study results indicated an association between hyperthyroidism and BPS/IC. We suggest that clinicians treating female subjects with hyperthyroidism be alert to urinary complaints in this population. PMID:23991081

Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis is associated with hyperthyroidism.

PubMed

Chung, Shiu-Dong; Liu, Shih-Ping; Lin, Ching-Chun; Li, Hsien-Chang; Lin, Herng-Ching

2013-01-01

Although the etiology of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is still unclear, a common theme with BPS/IC patients is comorbid disorders which are related to the autonomic nervous system that connects the nervous system to end-organs. Nevertheless, no study to date has reported the association between hyperthyroidism and BPS/IC. In this study, we examined the association of IC/BPS with having previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in Taiwan. Data in this study were retrieved from the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. Our study consisted of 736 female cases with BPS/IC and 2208 randomly selected female controls. We performed a conditional logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio (OR) for having previously been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism between cases and controls. Of the 2944 sampled subjects, there was a significant difference in the prevalence of prior hyperthyroidism between cases and controls (3.3% vs. 1.5%, p<0.001). The conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that compared to controls, the OR for prior hyperthyroidism among cases was 2.16 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.27∼3.66). Furthermore, the OR for prior hyperthyroidism among cases was 2.01 (95% CI: 1.15∼3.53) compared to controls after adjusting for diabetes, coronary heart disease, obesity, hyperlipidemia, chronic pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, panic disorder, migraines, sicca syndrome, allergies, endometriosis, and asthma. Our study results indicated an association between hyperthyroidism and BPS/IC. We suggest that clinicians treating female subjects with hyperthyroidism be alert to urinary complaints in this population.

A Study of the Thermal Environment Developed by a Traveling Slipper at High Velocity

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-01

Power Partition Function The next partition function takes the same formulation as the powered function but now the exponent is squared. The...function and note the squared term in the exponent . 66 Equation 4.27 (4.36) Thus far the three partition functions each give a predicted...hypothesized that the function would fall somewhere between the first exponential decay function and the power function. However, by squaring the exponent

Osteonecrosis of the jaw: effect of bisphosphonate type, local concentration, and acidic milieu on the pathomechanism.

PubMed

Otto, Sven; Pautke, Christoph; Opelz, Christine; Westphal, Ines; Drosse, Inga; Schwager, Joanna; Bauss, Frieder; Ehrenfeld, Michael; Schieker, Matthias

2010-11-01

Osteonecrosis of the jaw has been reported in patients receiving high doses of intravenous nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) because of malignant disease. The exact pathomechanisms have been elusive and questions of paramount importance remain unanswered. Recent studies have indicated toxic effects of bisphosphonates on different cell types, apart from osteoclast inhibition. Multipotent stem cells play an important role in the processes of wound healing and bone regeneration, which seem to be especially impaired in the jaws of patients receiving high doses of N-BPs. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different bisphosphonate derivatives and dose levels combined with varying pH levels on the mesenchymal stem cells in vitro. The effect of 2 N-BPs (zoledronate and ibandronate) and 1 non-N-BP (clodronate) on immortalized mesenchymal stem cells was tested at different concentrations, reflecting 1, 3, and 6 months and 1, 3, 5, and 10 years of exposure to standard oncology doses of the 2 N-BPs and equimolar concentrations of clodronate at different pH values (7.4, 7.0, 6.7, and 6.3). Cell viability and activity were analyzed using a WST assay. Cell motility was investigated using scratch wound assays and visualized using time-lapse microscopy. Both types of bisphosphonates revealed remarkable differences. Zoledronate and ibandronate showed a dose- and pH-dependent cellular toxicity. Increasing concentrations of both N-BPs and an acidic milieu led to a significant decrease in cell viability and activity (P < .01), with more pronounced effects for zoledronate. Equimolar concentrations of clodronate did not affect the cell survival or activity significantly, apart from the effect of pH reduction itself, which was also detectable in the patients in the control group who did not receive bisphosphonates. Our results have shown that high concentrations of N-BPs and a local acidic milieu, which is commonly present in infections of the jaw, might play a key role in the pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the jaw in patients receiving high doses of N-BPs for malignant diseases. Also the potency of N-BPs might be different, suggesting a greater risk of osteonecrosis of the jaw with zoledronate. Copyright © 2010 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Intracellular localization and interaction of mRNA binding proteins as detected by FRET

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background A number of RNA binding proteins (BPs) bind to A+U rich elements (AREs), commonly present within 3'UTRs of highly regulated RNAs. Individual RNA-BPs proteins can modulate RNA stability, RNA localization, and/or translational efficiency. Although biochemical studies have demonstrated selectivity of ARE-BPs for individual RNAs, less certain is the in vivo composition of RNA-BP multiprotein complexes and how their composition is affected by signaling events and intracellular localization. Using FRET, we previously demonstrated that two ARE-BPs, HuR and AUF1, form stable homomeric and heteromeric associations in the nucleus and cytoplasm. In the current study, we use immuno-FRET of endogenous proteins to examine the intracellular localization and interactions of HuR and AUF1 as well as KSRP, TIA-1, and Hedls. These results were compared to those obtained with their exogenously expressed, fluorescently labeled counterparts. Results All ARE-BPs examined were found to colocalize and to form stable associations with selected other RNA-BPs in one or more cellular locations variably including the nucleus, cytoplasm (in general), or in stress granules or P bodies. Interestingly, FRET based interaction of the translational suppressor, TIA-1, and the decapping protein, Hedls, was found to occur at the interface of stress granules and P bodies, dynamic sites of intracellular RNA storage and/or turnover. To explore the physical interactions of RNA-BPs with ARE containing RNAs, in vitro transcribed Cy3-labeled RNA was transfected into cells. Interestingly, Cy3-RNA was found to coalesce in P body like punctate structures and, by FRET, was found to interact with the RNA decapping proteins, Hedls and Dcp1. Conclusions Biochemical methodologies, such as co-immunoprecipitation, and cell biological approaches such as standard confocal microscopy are useful in demonstrating the possibility of proteins and/or proteins and RNAs interacting. However, as demonstrated herein, colocalization of proteins and proteins and RNA is not always indicative of interaction. To this point, using FRET and immuno-FRET, we have demonstrated that RNA-BPs can visually colocalize without producing a FRET signal. In contrast, proteins that appear to be delimited to one or another intracellular compartment can be shown to interact when those compartments are juxtaposed. PMID:20843363

Task-specific image partitioning.

PubMed

Kim, Sungwoong; Nowozin, Sebastian; Kohli, Pushmeet; Yoo, Chang D

2013-02-01

Image partitioning is an important preprocessing step for many of the state-of-the-art algorithms used for performing high-level computer vision tasks. Typically, partitioning is conducted without regard to the task in hand. We propose a task-specific image partitioning framework to produce a region-based image representation that will lead to a higher task performance than that reached using any task-oblivious partitioning framework and existing supervised partitioning framework, albeit few in number. The proposed method partitions the image by means of correlation clustering, maximizing a linear discriminant function defined over a superpixel graph. The parameters of the discriminant function that define task-specific similarity/dissimilarity among superpixels are estimated based on structured support vector machine (S-SVM) using task-specific training data. The S-SVM learning leads to a better generalization ability while the construction of the superpixel graph used to define the discriminant function allows a rich set of features to be incorporated to improve discriminability and robustness. We evaluate the learned task-aware partitioning algorithms on three benchmark datasets. Results show that task-aware partitioning leads to better labeling performance than the partitioning computed by the state-of-the-art general-purpose and supervised partitioning algorithms. We believe that the task-specific image partitioning paradigm is widely applicable to improving performance in high-level image understanding tasks.

Advances in sensing and biosensing of bisphenols: A review.

PubMed

Dhanjai; Sinha, Ankita; Wu, Lingxia; Lu, Xianbo; Chen, Jiping; Jain, Rajeev

2018-01-15

Bisphenols (BPs) are well known endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that cause adverse effects on the environment, biotic life and human health. BPs have been studied extensively because of an increasing concern for the safety of the environment and for human health. They are major raw materials for manufacturing polycarbonates, thermal papers and epoxy resins and are considered hazardous environmental contaminants. A vast array of sensors and biosensors have been developed for the sensitive screening of BPs based on carbon nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, fullerenes, graphene and graphene oxide), quantum dots, metal and metal oxide nanocomposites, polymer nanocomposites, metal organic frameworks, ionic liquids and molecularly imprinted polymers. This review is devoted mainly to a variety of sensitive, selective and reliable sensing and biosensing methods for the detection of BPs using electrochemistry, fluorescence, colorimetry, surface plasmon resonance, luminescence, ELISAs, circular dichroism, resonance Rayleigh scattering and adsorption techniques in plastic products, food samples, food packaging, industrial wastes, pharmaceutical products, human body fluids and many other matrices. It summarizes the advances in sensing and biosensing methods for the detection of BPs since 2010. Furthermore, the article discusses challenges and future perspectives in the development of novel sensing methods for the detection of BP analogs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Sequencing BPS spectra

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gukov, Sergei; Nawata, Satoshi; Saberi, Ingmar

In this article, we provide both a detailed study of color-dependence of link homologies, as realized in physics as certain spaces of BPS states, and a broad study of the behavior of BPS states in general. We consider how the spectrum of BPS states varies as continuous parameters of a theory are perturbed. This question can be posed in a wide variety of physical contexts, and we answer it by proposing that the relationship between unperturbed and perturbed BPS spectra is described by a spectral sequence. These general considerations unify previous applications of spectral sequence techniques to physics, and explainmore » from a physical standpoint the appearance of many spectral sequences relating various link homology theories to one another. We also study structural properties of colored HOMFLY homology for links and evaluate Poincar e polynomials in numerous examples. Among these structural properties is a novel "sliding" property, which can be explained by using (re fined) modular S-matrix. This leads to the identi fication of modular transformations in Chern-Simons theory and 3d N = 2 theory via the 3d/3d correspondence. In conclusion, we introduce the notion of associated varieties as classical limits of recursion relations of colored superpolynomials of links, and study their properties.« less

Bartsocas-Papas syndrome with variable expressivity in an Egyptian family.

PubMed

Zaki, M S; Kamel, A K; Effat, L K; El-Ruby, M O

2012-01-01

Bartsocas-Papas syndrome (BPS) is an autosomal recessively inherited sublethal popliteal pterygium condition characterized by intrauterine or neonatal death, severe popliteal webbing, oligosyndactyly, ankyloblepharon, orofacial clefts, intraoral filiform bands and genital anomalies. Internal organ involvement has seldom been identified. We report on a 3 years old female patient of healthy first cousin parents with BPS. She presented with orofacial clefting, severe popliteal webs, club feet, oligosyndactyly of the toes, hypogenitalism and normal hands and internal organs. Ankyloblepharon and filiform bands between the alveolar ridges were evident at birth. Pedigree analysis revealed a more severely affected female sib, who died a few minutes after birth with additional manifestations including near complete lip fusion without oral cleft, complete syndactyly in both hands and an omphalocele. Linkage was excluded to the IRF6 gene; a candidate gene implicated in the Van der Woude and popliteal pterygium syndromes, with overlapping features with BPS. To our knowledge, this is the 5th surviving patient with this syndrome in the literature. In this report, we also discuss the proposed pathogenetic mechanisms for BPS and compare our patients with similarly described cases as well as overlapping spectrum of other popliteal pterygium syndromes. Our findings provide further evidence of intrafamilial clinical heterogeneity in families with BPS.

Sequencing BPS spectra

DOE PAGES

Gukov, Sergei; Nawata, Satoshi; Saberi, Ingmar; ...

2016-03-02

In this article, we provide both a detailed study of color-dependence of link homologies, as realized in physics as certain spaces of BPS states, and a broad study of the behavior of BPS states in general. We consider how the spectrum of BPS states varies as continuous parameters of a theory are perturbed. This question can be posed in a wide variety of physical contexts, and we answer it by proposing that the relationship between unperturbed and perturbed BPS spectra is described by a spectral sequence. These general considerations unify previous applications of spectral sequence techniques to physics, and explainmore » from a physical standpoint the appearance of many spectral sequences relating various link homology theories to one another. We also study structural properties of colored HOMFLY homology for links and evaluate Poincar e polynomials in numerous examples. Among these structural properties is a novel "sliding" property, which can be explained by using (re fined) modular S-matrix. This leads to the identi fication of modular transformations in Chern-Simons theory and 3d N = 2 theory via the 3d/3d correspondence. In conclusion, we introduce the notion of associated varieties as classical limits of recursion relations of colored superpolynomials of links, and study their properties.« less

Intersecting surface defects and instanton partition functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Yiwen; Peelaers, Wolfger

2017-07-01

We analyze intersecting surface defects inserted in interacting four-dimensional N=2 supersymmetric quantum field theories. We employ the realization of a class of such systems as the infrared fixed points of renormalization group flows from larger theories, triggered by perturbed Seiberg-Witten monopole-like configurations, to compute their partition functions. These results are cast into the form of a partition function of 4d/2d/0d coupled systems. Our computations provide concrete expressions for the instanton partition function in the presence of intersecting defects and we study the corresponding ADHM model.

Off-diagonal series expansion for quantum partition functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hen, Itay

2018-05-01

We derive an integral-free thermodynamic perturbation series expansion for quantum partition functions which enables an analytical term-by-term calculation of the series. The expansion is carried out around the partition function of the classical component of the Hamiltonian with the expansion parameter being the strength of the off-diagonal, or quantum, portion. To demonstrate the usefulness of the technique we analytically compute to third order the partition functions of the 1D Ising model with longitudinal and transverse fields, and the quantum 1D Heisenberg model.

Localization of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor and the 2-AG synthesizing (DAGLα) and degrading (MAGL, FAAH) enzymes in cells expressing the Ca2+-binding proteins calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the adult rat hippocampus

PubMed Central

Rivera, Patricia; Arrabal, Sergio; Cifuentes, Manuel; Grondona, Jesús M.; Pérez-Martín, Margarita; Rubio, Leticia; Vargas, Antonio; Serrano, Antonia; Pavón, Francisco J.; Suárez, Juan; Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando

2014-01-01

The retrograde suppression of the synaptic transmission by the endocannabinoid sn-2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) is mediated by the cannabinoid CB1 receptors and requires the elevation of intracellular Ca2+ and the activation of specific 2-AG synthesizing (i.e., DAGLα) enzymes. However, the anatomical organization of the neuronal substrates that express 2-AG/CB1 signaling system-related molecules associated with selective Ca2+-binding proteins (CaBPs) is still unknown. For this purpose, we used double-label immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy for the characterization of the expression of the 2-AG/CB1 signaling system (CB1 receptor, DAGLα, MAGL, and FAAH) and the CaBPs calbindin D28k, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the rat hippocampus. CB1, DAGLα, and MAGL labeling was mainly localized in fibers and neuropil, which were differentially organized depending on the hippocampal CaBPs-expressing cells. CB+1 fiber terminals localized in all hippocampal principal cell layers were tightly attached to calbindin+ cells (granular and pyramidal neurons), and calretinin+ and parvalbumin+ interneurons. DAGLα neuropil labeling was selectively found surrounding calbindin+ principal cells in the dentate gyrus and CA1, and in the calretinin+ and parvalbumin+ interneurons in the pyramidal cell layers of the CA1/3 fields. MAGL+ terminals were only observed around CA1 calbindin+ pyramidal cells, CA1/3 calretinin+ interneurons and CA3 parvalbumin+ interneurons localized in the pyramidal cell layers. Interestingly, calbindin+ pyramidal cells expressed FAAH specifically in the CA1 field. The identification of anatomically related-neuronal substrates that expressed 2-AG/CB1 signaling system and selective CaBPs should be considered when analyzing the cannabinoid signaling associated with hippocampal functions. PMID:25018703

Local vs. systemic administration of bisphosphonates in rat cleft bone graft: A comparative study

PubMed Central

Lin, Lawrence; Olson, Jeffrey; Kwon, Taewoo; Bezouglaia, Olga; Tran, Jaime; Hoang, Michael; Bui, Kimberly; Kim, Reuben H.; Tetradis, Sotirios

2018-01-01

A majority of patients with orofacial cleft deformity requires cleft repair through a bone graft. However, elevated amount of bone resorption and subsequent bone graft failure remains a significant clinical challenge. Bisphosphonates (BPs), a class of anti-resorptive drugs, may offer great promise in enhancing the clinical success of bone grafting. In this study, we compared the effects of systemic and local delivery of BPs in an intraoral bone graft model in rats. We randomly divided 34 female 20-week-old Fischer F344 Inbred rats into four groups to repair an intraoral critical-sized defect (CSD): (1) Control: CSD without graft (n = 4); (2) Graft/Saline: bone graft with systemic administration of saline 1 week post-operatively (n = 10); (3) Graft/Systemic: bone graft with systemic administration of zoledronic acid 1 week post-operatively (n = 10); and (4) Graft/Local: bone graft pre-treated with zoledronic acid (n = 10). At 6-weeks post-operatively, microCT volumetric analysis showed a significant increase in bone fraction volume (BV/TV) in the Graft/Systemic (62.99 ±14.31%) and Graft/Local (69.35 ±13.18%) groups compared to the Graft/Saline (39.18±10.18%). Similarly, histological analysis demonstrated a significant increase in bone volume in the Graft/Systemic (78.76 ±18.00%) and Graft/Local (89.95 ±4.93%) groups compared to the Graft/Saline (19.74±18.89%). The local delivery approach resulted in the clinical success of bone grafts, with reduced graft resorption and enhanced osteogenesis and bony integration with defect margins while avoiding the effects of BPs on peripheral osteoclastic function. In addition, local delivery of BPs may be superior to systemic delivery with its ease of procedure as it involves simple soaking of bone graft materials in BP solution prior to graft placement into the defect. This new approach may provide convenient and promising clinical applications towards effectively managing cleft patients. PMID:29304080

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide and calcium binding proteins immunoreactivity in the deep layers of the superior colliculus of the guinea pig: Implications for multisensory and visuomotor processing.

PubMed

Najdzion, Janusz

2018-03-01

The superior colliculus (SC) of mammals is a midbrain center, that can be subdivided into the superficial (SCs) and deep layers (SCd). In contrast to the visual SCs, the SCd are involved in multisensory and motor processing. This study investigated the pattern of distribution and colocalization of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide (CART) and three calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) i.e. calbindin (CB), calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the SCd of the guinea pig. CART labeling was seen almost exclusively in the neuropil and fibers, which differed in regard to morphology and location. CART-positive neurons were very rare and restricted to a narrow area of the SCd. The most intense CART immunoreactivity was observed in the most dorsally located sublayer of the SCd, which is anatomically and functionally connected with the SCs. CART immunoreactivity in the remaining SCd was less intensive, but still relatively high. This characteristic pattern of immunoreactivity indicates that CART as a putative neurotransmitter or neuromodulator may play an important role in processing of visual information, while its involvement in the auditory and visuomotor processing is less significant, but still possible. CaBPs-positive neurons were morphologically diverse and widely distributed throughout all SCd. From studied CaBPs, CR showed a markedly different distribution compared to CB and PV. Overall, the patterns of distribution of CB and PV were similar in the entire SCd. Consequently, the complementarity of these patterns in the guinea pig was very weak. Double immunostaining revealed that CART did not colocalize with either CaBPs, which suggested that these neurochemical substances might not coexist in the multisensory and visuomotor parts of the SC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Quantum corrections to Bekenstein-Hawking black hole entropy and gravity partition functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bytsenko, A. A.; Tureanu, A.

2013-08-01

Algebraic aspects of the computation of partition functions for quantum gravity and black holes in AdS3 are discussed. We compute the sub-leading quantum corrections to the Bekenstein-Hawking entropy. It is shown that the quantum corrections to the classical result can be included systematically by making use of the comparison with conformal field theory partition functions, via the AdS3/CFT2 correspondence. This leads to a better understanding of the role of modular and spectral functions, from the point of view of the representation theory of infinite-dimensional Lie algebras. Besides, the sum of known quantum contributions to the partition function can be presented in a closed form, involving the Patterson-Selberg spectral function. These contributions can be reproduced in a holomorphically factorized theory whose partition functions are associated with the formal characters of the Virasoro modules. We propose a spectral function formulation for quantum corrections to the elliptic genus from supergravity states.

Use of a Behavioural Pain Scale to assess pain in ventilated, unconscious and/or sedated patients.

PubMed

Young, Jeanne; Siffleet, Jo; Nikoletti, Sue; Shaw, Thérèse

2006-02-01

Current empirical evidence supports claims that pain in sedated, unconscious Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients is underrated and under-treated. Given the severity of ICU patients' illness pain management, whilst important, may not be considered a priority and therefore can be easily overlooked. The aim of this study was to validate the Behavioural Pain Scale (BPS) for the assessment of pain in critically ill patients by evaluating facial expressions, upper limb movements and compliance with mechanical ventilation. A prospective, descriptive repeated measures study design was used to assess the validity and reliability of the BPS for assessing pain in critically ill patients undergoing routine painful (repositioning) and non-painful (eye care) procedures. An average of 73% of BPS scores increased (indicating pain) after patients were repositioned, as opposed to 14% after eye care. This increase was statistically significant for repositioning (p < 0.003) but not for eye care (p > 0.3). The odds of an increase in BPS between pre- and post-procedure assessments was more than 25 times higher for repositioning compared with eye care (p < 0.0001), after controlling for analgesics and sedatives. The BPS was found to be a valid and reliable tool in the assessment of pain in the unconscious sedated patient. Results also highlighted that traditional pain indicators, such as fluctuations in haemodynamic parameters, are not always an accurate measure for the assessment of pain in unconscious patients and as such more objective pain assessment measures are essential. Finally, further validation of the BPS and identification of other painful routine procedures is needed to enhance pain management delivery for unconscious patients.

Pressure and judgement within a dichotomous landscape of infant feeding: a grounded theory study to explore why breastfeeding women do not access peer support provision.

PubMed

Hunt, Louise; Thomson, Gill

2017-04-01

Lack of support is reported as a key reason for early breastfeeding cessation. While breastfeeding peer support (BPS) is a recommended intervention to increase breastfeeding rates, a number of studies identify that engagement with BPS is problematic. Due to paucity of research in this area, this study explores why breastfeeding women do not access BPS in South-West England. Utilising a constructionist grounded theory approach, 33 participants (women (n = 13), health professionals (n = 6) and peer supporters (n = 14)) participated in a semi-structured interview (n = 22) or focus group (n = 11). Analysis involved open coding, constant comparisons and focussed coding. One core category and three main themes explicating non-access were identified. The core category concerns women's experiences of pressure and judgement around their feeding decisions within a dichotomous landscape of infant feeding language and support. Theme one, 'place and space of support', describes the contrast between perceived pressure to breastfeed and a lack of adequate and appropriate support. Theme two, 'one way or no way', outlines the rules-based approach to breastfeeding adopted by some health professionals and how women avoided BPS due to anticipating a similar approach. Theme three, 'it must be me', concerns how lack of embodied insights could lead to 'breastfeeding failure' identities. A background of dichotomised language, pressure and moral judgement, combined with the organisation of post-natal care and the model of breastfeeding adopted by health professionals, may inhibit women's access to BPS. A socio-cultural model of breastfeeding support providing clear messages regarding the value and purpose of BPS should be adopted. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

THE EFFECT OF AGE, OBESITY AND PARITY ON BLOOD PRESSURE AND HYPERTENSION IN NON-PREGNANT MARRIED WOMEN

PubMed Central

Khalid, Mohammed E.M.

2006-01-01

Objective: To assess the effect of age, body mass index (BMI) and parity on systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BPs) and hypertension. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional prospective study of 441 non-pregnant married women ranging in age from 15-60 years. For each woman selected, a detailed questionnaire dealing with sociodemographic profile including reproductive data was completed. Systolic and 5th phase diastolic BPs were measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Body weight and height were measured using an Avery Beam weighing scale and a stadiometer respectively. Results: In this study sample, the overall prevalence of hypertension was 4.3%. Statistical analysis showed that age and BMI were positively and significantly associated with BPs (p<0.0001 for systolic BP & <0.002 for diastolic BP and p<0.0001 for systolic BP & <0.005 for diastolic BP respectively) and positively and significantly (p<0.0001 & <0.003 respectively) associated with an increase in the risk of hypertension (Odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 1.53 (1.1-1.2) and 1.11 (1.04-1.19) respectively) while parity was negatively and insignificantly associated with BPs (p<0.4 and <0.1 for systolic and diastolic BPs respectively) and negatively and insignificantly (P<0.1) associated with an increase in the risk of hypertension (Odds ratio, 95% confidence interval: 0.87 (0.74-1.03). Conclusion: Age and BMI were significant contributors to BPs and hypertension rather than parity. The negative association between parity and hypertension, although insignificant, implies that nulliparity rather than multiparity imposed an important effect on hypertension. PMID:23012128

Bisphenol S (BPS) Alters Maternal Behavior and Brain in Mice Exposed During Pregnancy/Lactation and Their Daughters.

PubMed

Catanese, Mary C; Vandenberg, Laura N

2017-03-01

Estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals have been shown to disrupt maternal behavior in rodents. We investigated the effects of an emerging xenoestrogen, bisphenol S (BPS), on maternal behavior and brain in CD-1 mice exposed during pregnancy and lactation (F0 generation) and in female offspring exposed during gestation and perinatal development (F1 generation). We observed different effects in F0 and F1 dams for a number of components of maternal behavior, including time on the nest, time spent on nest building, latency to retrieve pups, and latency to retrieve the entire litter. We also characterized expression of estrogen receptor α in the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and quantified tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive cells in the ventral tegmental area, 2 brain regions critical for maternal care. BPS-treated females in the F0 generation had a statistically significant increase in estrogen receptor α expression in the caudal subregion of the central MPOA in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, there were no statistically significant effects of BPS on the MPOA in F1 dams or the ventral tegmental area in either generation. This work demonstrates that BPS affects maternal behavior and brain with outcomes depending on generation, dose, and postpartum period. Many studies examining effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals view the mother as a means by which offspring can be exposed during critical periods of development. Here, we demonstrate that pregnancy and lactation are vulnerable periods for the mother. We also show that developmental BPS exposure alters maternal behavior later in adulthood. Both findings have potential public health implications. Copyright © 2017 by the Endocrine Society.

Behavioural and psychiatric symptoms in cognitive neurology.

PubMed

Robles Bayón, A; Gude Sampedro, F

2017-03-01

Behavioural and psychiatric symptoms (BPS) are frequent in neurological patients, contribute to disability, and decrease quality of life. We recorded BPS prevalence and type, as well as any associations with specific diagnoses, brain regions, and treatments, in consecutive outpatients examined in a cognitive neurology clinic. A retrospective analysis of 843 consecutive patients was performed, including a review of BPS, diagnosis, sensory impairment, lesion topography (neuroimaging), and treatment. The total sample was considered, and the cognitive impairment (CI) group (n=607) was compared to the non-CI group. BPS was present in 59.9% of the patients (61.3% in the CI group, 56.4% in the non-CI group). One BPS was present in 31.1%, two in 17.4%, and three or more in 11.4%. BPS, especially depression and anxiety, are more frequent in women than in men. Psychotic and behavioural symptoms predominate in subjects aged 65 and older, and anxiety in those younger than 65. Psychotic symptoms appear more often in patients with sensory impairment. Psychotic and behavioural symptoms are more prevalent in patients with degenerative dementia; depression and anxiety in those who suffer a psychiatric disease or adverse effects of substances; emotional lability in individuals with a metabolic or hormonal disorder; hypochondria in those with a pain syndrome; and irritability in subjects with chronic hypoxia. Behavioural symptoms are more frequent in patients with anomalies in the frontal or right temporal or parietal lobes, and antipsychotics constitute the first line of treatment. Leaving standard treatments aside, associations were observed between dysthymia and opioid analgesics, betahistine and statins, and between psychotic symptoms and levodopa, piracetam, and vasodilators. Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Comparative effects of Bisphenol S and Bisphenol A on the development of female reproductive system in rats; a neonatal exposure study.

PubMed

Ahsan, Nida; Ullah, Hizb; Ullah, Waheed; Jahan, Sarwat

2018-04-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been well documented for its endocrine disrupting potential however, very little is known about endocrine disrupting abilities of bisphenol S (BPS). The present study aimed to compare the endocrine disrupting potentials of BPS with BPA, using female rats as an experimental animal model. On postnatal day 1 (PND 1) female pups born were randomly assigned to seven different treatments. Control group received subcutaneous injection of castor oil (50 μL) from PND 1 to PND 10. Three groups of female pups were injected subcutaneously with different concentrations (0.5, 5 and 50 mg/kg in 50 μL castor oil) of BPS, while remaining three groups were treated with 0.5, 5 and 50 mg/kg BPA. Highest doses treatments of both compounds resulted in delayed puberty onset and altered estrous cyclicity. Final body weight was significantly high in the highest dose treated groups of both BPS and BPA. Gonadosomatic index, absolute and relative weight of uteri was significantly reduced in BPS (5 and 50 mg/kg) and BPA (5 and 50 mg/kg) treated groups than control. Plasma concentrations of testosterone and estradiol were significantly increased, while plasma progesterone, Luteinizing hormone (LH) and Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) concentrations were significantly reduced in highest doses treated groups. Dose dependent increase in the number of cystic follicles in the ovaries was evident along with an increase in the number of atratic follicles. The results suggest that neonatal exposure to higher concentrations of BPS can lead to BPA like structural and endocrine alterations in female rats. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bisphenol A alternatives bisphenol S and bisphenol F interfere with thyroid hormone signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo.

PubMed

Zhang, Yin-Feng; Ren, Xiao-Min; Li, Yuan-Yuan; Yao, Xiao-Fang; Li, Chuan-Hai; Qin, Zhan-Fen; Guo, Liang-Hong

2018-06-01

The wide use of the alternatives to bisphenol A (BPA) has raised concerns about their potential toxicities. Considering the disrupting activity of BPA on thyroid hormone (TH) signaling, we investigated whether bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), two leading alternatives, could interfere with TH signaling pathway using a series of assays in vitro and in vivo. In the fluorescence competitive binding assay, we found BPS and BPF, like BPA, bound to TH receptors (TRα and TRβ), with the binding potencies an order of magnitude lower than BPA (BPA > BPF > BPS). Molecular docking data also show their binding potencies to TRs. In the coactivator recruitment assay, BPS and BPF recruited coactivator to TRβ but not TRα, with weaker potencies than BPA. Correspondingly, agonistic actions of the three bisphenols in the absence or presence of T3 were observed in the TR-mediated reporter gene transcription assay. Also, all the three bisphenols induced TH-dependent GH3 cell proliferation, whereas BPA and BPF inhibited T3 induction in the presence of T3. As for in vivo assay, the three bisphenols like T3 induced TH-response gene transcription in Pelophylax nigromaculatus tadpoles, but in the presence of T3 altered T3-induced gene transcription in a biphasic concentration-response manner. These results for the first time demonstrate that BPS and BPF, like BPA, have potential to interfere with TH signaling pathway, i.e., they generally activate TH signaling in the absence of T3, but in the presence of TH, display agonistic or/and antagonistic actions under certain condition. Our study highlights the potential risks of BPS and BPF as BPA alternatives. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Toll-like Receptor 4 and Comorbid Pain in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain Research Network Study

PubMed Central

Schrepf, Andrew; Bradley, Catherine S.; O'Donnell, Michael; Luo, Yi; Harte, Steven E.; Kreder, Karl; Lutgendorf, Susan

2015-01-01

Background Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) is a condition characterized by pelvic pain and urinary symptoms. Some IC/BPS patients have pain confined to the pelvic region, while others suffer widespread pain. Inflammatory processes have previously been linked to pelvic pain in IC/BPS, but their association with widespread pain in IC/BPS has not been characterized. Methods Sixty-six women meeting criteria for IC/BPS completed self-report measures of pain as part of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP), collected 3 days of saliva for cortisol assays, and provided blood samples. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 2 and 4 agonists and cytokines were measured in supernatant; IL-6 was also measured in plasma. Associations between inflammatory variables and the likelihood of endorsing extra-pelvic pain, or the presence of a comorbid syndrome, were tested by logistic regression and General Linear Models, respectively. A subset of patients (n=32) completed Quantitative Sensory Testing. Results A one standard deviation increase in TLR-4 inflammatory response was associated with a 1.59 greater likelihood of endorsing extra-pelvic pain (p = .019). Participants with comorbid syndromes also had higher inflammatory responses to TLR-4 stimulation in PBMCs (p = .016). Lower pressure pain thresholds were marginally associated with higher TLR-4 inflammatory responses (p = .062), and significantly associated with higher IL-6 in plasma (p = .031). Conclusions TLR-4 inflammatory responses in PBMCs are a marker of widespread pain in IC/BPS, and should be explored in other conditions characterized by medically unexplained pain. PMID:25771510

Exact Path Integral for 3D Quantum Gravity.

PubMed

Iizuka, Norihiro; Tanaka, Akinori; Terashima, Seiji

2015-10-16

Three-dimensional Euclidean pure gravity with a negative cosmological constant can be formulated in terms of the Chern-Simons theory, classically. This theory can be written in a supersymmetric way by introducing auxiliary gauginos and scalars. We calculate the exact partition function of this Chern-Simons theory by using the localization technique. Thus, we obtain the quantum gravity partition function, assuming that it can be obtained nonperturbatively by summing over partition functions of the Chern-Simons theory on topologically different manifolds. The resultant partition function is modular invariant, and, in the case in which the central charge is expected to be 24, it is the J function, predicted by Witten.

New approach to canonical partition functions computation in Nf=2 lattice QCD at finite baryon density

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bornyakov, V. G.; Boyda, D. L.; Goy, V. A.; Molochkov, A. V.; Nakamura, Atsushi; Nikolaev, A. A.; Zakharov, V. I.

2017-05-01

We propose and test a new approach to computation of canonical partition functions in lattice QCD at finite density. We suggest a few steps procedure. We first compute numerically the quark number density for imaginary chemical potential i μq I . Then we restore the grand canonical partition function for imaginary chemical potential using the fitting procedure for the quark number density. Finally we compute the canonical partition functions using high precision numerical Fourier transformation. Additionally we compute the canonical partition functions using the known method of the hopping parameter expansion and compare results obtained by two methods in the deconfining as well as in the confining phases. The agreement between two methods indicates the validity of the new method. Our numerical results are obtained in two flavor lattice QCD with clover improved Wilson fermions.

Construct validity of an instrument to measure neuropathic pain in women with bladder pain syndrome.

PubMed

Arya, Lily A; Harvie, Heidi S; Andy, Uduak U; Cory, Lori; Propert, Kathleen J; Whitmore, Kristene

2013-06-01

To determine the construct validity of an instrument to measure neuropathic pain in women with bladder pain syndrome (BPS). Our hypothesis is that neuropathic, bladder, and bowel pain represent different constructs in women with BPS. Secondary planned analysis of a prospective cross-sectional study of 150 women with BPS. The relationship between neuropathic pain, urinary, and bowel symptoms was assessed. The correlation of the total neuropathic pain score with total urinary and bowel symptom scores was low to moderate (r = 0.28-0.49). The correlation of specific neuropathic pain items with bladder and bowel pain was also low to moderate (r = 0.12-0.36). Women with neuropathic pain had significantly higher scores for urinary urgency, bladder pain, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation than women with non-neuropathic pain (all P < 0.0001). Somatosensory neuropathic pain and "visceral" bladder and bowel pain represent separate but related constructs in women with BPS. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Intersecting surface defects and instanton partition functions

DOE PAGES

Pan, Yiwen; Peelaers, Wolfger

2017-07-14

We analyze intersecting surface defects inserted in interacting four-dimensional N = 2 supersymmetric quantum field theories. We employ the realization of a class of such systems as the infrared xed points of renormalization group flows from larger theories, triggered by perturbed Seiberg-Witten monopole-like con gurations, to compute their partition functions. These results are cast into the form of a partition function of 4d/2d/0d coupled systems. In conclusion, our computations provide concrete expressions for the instanton partition function in the presence of intersecting defects and we study the corresponding ADHM model.

Intersecting surface defects and instanton partition functions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pan, Yiwen; Peelaers, Wolfger

We analyze intersecting surface defects inserted in interacting four-dimensional N = 2 supersymmetric quantum field theories. We employ the realization of a class of such systems as the infrared xed points of renormalization group flows from larger theories, triggered by perturbed Seiberg-Witten monopole-like con gurations, to compute their partition functions. These results are cast into the form of a partition function of 4d/2d/0d coupled systems. In conclusion, our computations provide concrete expressions for the instanton partition function in the presence of intersecting defects and we study the corresponding ADHM model.

Monitoring of bisphenol A and bisphenol S in thermal paper receipts from the Italian market and estimated transdermal human intake: A pilot study.

PubMed

Russo, Giacomo; Barbato, Francesco; Grumetto, Lucia

2017-12-01

Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic xenoestrogen widely used in various industrial fields, can be present, in its un-reacted form, as an additive in thermal paper. BPA is virtually ubiquitous in industrialized societies and humans are exposed to this chemical via dietary and non-dietary sources. Since in 2015 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) indicated that thermal paper is the second source of BPA exposure after the food chain, some suppliers replaced BPA with its analogue Bisphenol S (BPS), speculatively supposed to be safer. In this work BPA and BPS concentration levels were determined in thermal paper receipts collected in Italy from 50 different sources by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem fluorescence and ultraviolet detection. BPA was found in 44 samples at mean concentration of 107.47μg/100mg of paper (from below Limits of Quantification (LOQ) to 1533.733μg/100mg of paper). BPS was found in 31 samples at mean concentration of 41.97μg/100mg of paper (from below the LOQ to 357.989μg/100mg of paper). 26 samples were positive to both BPA and BPS. The estimate daily intake (EDI) values of BPA and BPS occurring through dermal absorption were calculated for 70kg body weight individuals. For general population, they were 0.0625μg/day for BPA and 0.0244μg/day for BPS, based on the mean content of bisphenols found. For occupationally exposed individuals, they were 66.8μg/day for BPA and 15.6μg/day for BPS, based on the worst scenario. Such levels would produce a dermal intake below the Tolerable Day Intake established by EFSA (4μg/kg·bw/day); nevertheless, the occurrence of co-exposure to dietary and non-dietary sources should be considered in the health risk assessment, mainly for people frequently exposed to thermal paper contact for occupational reason. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The partition function of the Bures ensemble as the τ-function of BKP and DKP hierarchies: continuous and discrete

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Xing-Biao; Li, Shi-Hao

2017-07-01

The relationship between matrix integrals and integrable systems was revealed more than 20 years ago. As is known, matrix integrals over a Gaussian ensemble used in random matrix theory could act as the τ-function of several hierarchies of integrable systems. In this article, we will show that the time-dependent partition function of the Bures ensemble, whose measure has many interesting geometric properties, could act as the τ-function of BKP and DKP hierarchies. In addition, if discrete time variables are introduced, then this partition function could act as the τ-function of discrete BKP and DKP hierarchies. In particular, there are some links between the partition function of the Bures ensemble and Toda-type equations.

Gauged BPS baby Skyrmions with quantized magnetic flux

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adam, C.; Wereszczynski, A.

2017-06-01

A new type of gauged BPS baby Skyrme model is presented, where the derivative term is just the Schroers current (i.e., gauge invariant and conserved version of the topological current) squared. This class of models has a topological bound saturated for solutions of the pertinent Bogomolnyi equations supplemented by a so-called superpotential equation. In contrast to the gauged BPS baby Skyrme models considered previously, the superpotential equation is linear and, hence, completely solvable. Furthermore, the magnetic flux is quantized in units of 2 π , which allows, in principle, to define this theory on a compact manifold without boundary, unlike all gauged baby Skyrme models considered so far.

The progenitors of supernovae Type Ia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toonen, Silvia

2014-09-01

Despite the significance of Type Ia supernovae (SNeIa) in many fields in astrophysics, SNeIa lack a theoretical explanation. SNeIa are generally thought to be thermonuclear explosions of carbon/oxygen (CO) white dwarfs (WDs). The canonical scenarios involve white dwarfs reaching the Chandrasekhar mass, either by accretion from a non-degenerate companion (single-degenerate channel, SD) or by a merger of two CO WDs (double-degenerate channel, DD). The study of SNeIa progenitors is a very active field of research for binary population synthesis (BPS) studies. The strength of the BPS approach is to study the effect of uncertainties in binary evolution on the macroscopic properties of a binary population, in order to constrain binary evolutionary processes. I will discuss the expected SNeIa rate from the BPS approach and the uncertainties in their progenitor evolution, and compare with current observations. I will also discuss the results of the POPCORN project in which four BPS codes were compared to better understand the differences in the predicted SNeIa rate of the SD channel. The goal of this project is to investigate whether differences in the simulated populations are due to numerical effects or whether they can be explained by differences in the input physics. I will show which assumptions in BPS codes affect the results most and hence should be studied in more detail.

Effects of bisphenol A and its analogs bisphenol F and S on life parameters, antioxidant system, and response of defensome in the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus.

PubMed

Park, Jun Chul; Lee, Min-Chul; Yoon, Deok-Seo; Han, Jeonghoon; Kim, Moonkoo; Hwang, Un-Ki; Jung, Jee-Hyun; Lee, Jae-Seong

2018-06-01

To understand the adverse outcome in response to bisphenol A and its analogs bisphenol F and S (BPA, BPF, and BPS), we examined acute toxicity, life parameter, and defensome in the marine rotifer Brachionus koreanus. Among the bisphenol analogs, BPA showed the highest acute toxicity and then BPF and BPS, accordingly in the view of descending magnitude of toxicity. In life parameters including life span and reproduction, BPA, BPF, and BPS were found to cause adverse effect. Both intracellular ROS level and GST activity were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in response to each dosage of bisphenol analogs exposures. In response to bisphenol analogs, defensomes of phase I, II, and III detoxification mechanism demonstrated inverse relationship between the lipophilicity of bisphenol analogs and the expression patterns of defensomes. BPA and BPF were found to have significant modulation (P < 0.05) in the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) and GST genes. In phase III, BPS with comparatively lower lipophilicity demonstrated highly diversified expressional pattern, suggesting that BPS is likely caused less toxicity compared to BPA and BPF. In this study, via phase I, II, and III detoxification mechanism, bisphenol A and its analogs F and S demonstrated specific detoxification mechanism in rotifer. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bena, Iosif; Kraus, Per; Warner, Nicholas P.

We construct the most generic three-charge, three-dipole-charge, BPS black-ring solutions in a Taub-NUT background. These solutions depend on seven charges and six moduli, and interpolate between a four-dimensional black hole and a five-dimensional black ring. They are also instrumental in determining the correct microscopic description of the five-dimensional BPS black rings.

Breath-print analysis by e-nose for classifying and monitoring chronic liver disease: a proof-of-concept study.

PubMed

De Vincentis, Antonio; Pennazza, Giorgio; Santonico, Marco; Vespasiani-Gentilucci, Umberto; Galati, Giovanni; Gallo, Paolo; Vernile, Chiara; Pedone, Claudio; Antonelli Incalzi, Raffaele; Picardi, Antonio

2016-05-05

Since the liver plays a key metabolic role, volatile organic compounds in the exhaled breath might change with type and severity of chronic liver disease (CLD). In this study we analysed breath-prints (BPs) of 65 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), 39 with non-cirrhotic CLD (NC-CLD) and 56 healthy controls by the e-nose. Distinctive BPs characterized LC, NC-CLD and healthy controls, and, among LC patients, the different Child-Pugh classes (sensitivity 86.2% and specificity 98.2% for CLD vs healthy controls, and 87.5% and 69.2% for LC vs NC-CLD). Moreover, the area under the BP profile, derived from radar-plot representation of BPs, showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.84 (95% CI 0.76-0.91) for CLD, of 0.76 (95% CI 0.66-0.85) for LC, and of 0.70 (95% CI 0.55-0.81) for decompensated LC. By applying the cut-off values of 862 and 812, LC and decompensated LC could be predicted with high accuracy (PPV 96.6% and 88.5%, respectively). These results are proof-of-concept that the e-nose could be a valid non-invasive instrument for characterizing CLD and monitoring hepatic function over time. The observed classificatory properties might be further improved by refining stage-specific breath-prints and considering the impact of comorbidities in a larger series of patients.

Breath-print analysis by e-nose for classifying and monitoring chronic liver disease: a proof-of-concept study

PubMed Central

De Vincentis, Antonio; Pennazza, Giorgio; Santonico, Marco; Vespasiani-Gentilucci, Umberto; Galati, Giovanni; Gallo, Paolo; Vernile, Chiara; Pedone, Claudio; Antonelli Incalzi, Raffaele; Picardi, Antonio

2016-01-01

Since the liver plays a key metabolic role, volatile organic compounds in the exhaled breath might change with type and severity of chronic liver disease (CLD). In this study we analysed breath-prints (BPs) of 65 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC), 39 with non-cirrhotic CLD (NC-CLD) and 56 healthy controls by the e-nose. Distinctive BPs characterized LC, NC-CLD and healthy controls, and, among LC patients, the different Child-Pugh classes (sensitivity 86.2% and specificity 98.2% for CLD vs healthy controls, and 87.5% and 69.2% for LC vs NC-CLD). Moreover, the area under the BP profile, derived from radar-plot representation of BPs, showed an area under the ROC curve of 0.84 (95% CI 0.76–0.91) for CLD, of 0.76 (95% CI 0.66–0.85) for LC, and of 0.70 (95% CI 0.55–0.81) for decompensated LC. By applying the cut-off values of 862 and 812, LC and decompensated LC could be predicted with high accuracy (PPV 96.6% and 88.5%, respectively). These results are proof-of-concept that the e-nose could be a valid non-invasive instrument for characterizing CLD and monitoring hepatic function over time. The observed classificatory properties might be further improved by refining stage-specific breath-prints and considering the impact of comorbidities in a larger series of patients. PMID:27145718

Nuclear Calcium Buffering Capacity Shapes Neuronal Architecture*

PubMed Central

Mauceri, Daniela; Hagenston, Anna M.; Schramm, Kathrin; Weiss, Ursula; Bading, Hilmar

2015-01-01

Calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) such as parvalbumin are part of the cellular calcium buffering system that determines intracellular calcium diffusion and influences the spatiotemporal dynamics of calcium signals. In neurons, CaBPs are primarily localized to the cytosol and function, for example, in nerve terminals in short-term synaptic plasticity. However, CaBPs are also expressed in the cell nucleus, suggesting that they modulate nuclear calcium signals, which are key regulators of neuronal gene expression. Here we show that the calcium buffering capacity of the cell nucleus in mouse hippocampal neurons regulates neuronal architecture by modulating the expression levels of VEGFD and the complement factor C1q-c, two nuclear calcium-regulated genes that control dendrite geometry and spine density, respectively. Increasing the levels of nuclear calcium buffers by means of expression of a nuclearly targeted form of parvalbumin fused to mCherry (PV.NLS-mC) led to a reduction in VEGFD expression and, as a result, to a decrease in total dendritic length and complexity. In contrast, mRNA levels of the synapse pruning factor C1q-c were increased in neurons expressing PV.NLS-mC, causing a reduction in the density and size of dendritic spines. Our results establish a close link between nuclear calcium buffering capacity and the transcription of genes that determine neuronal structure. They suggest that the development of cognitive deficits observed in neurological conditions associated with CaBP deregulation may reflect the loss of necessary structural features of dendrites and spines. PMID:26231212

Virulence of the Melioidosis Pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei Requires the Oxidoreductase Membrane Protein DsbB

PubMed Central

2018-01-01

ABSTRACT The naturally antibiotic-resistant bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei is the causative agent of melioidosis, a disease with stubbornly high mortality and a complex, protracted treatment regimen. The worldwide incidence of melioidosis is likely grossly underreported, though it is known to be highly endemic in northern Australia and Southeast Asia. Bacterial disulfide bond (DSB) proteins catalyze the oxidative folding and isomerization of disulfide bonds in substrate proteins. In the present study, we demonstrate that B. pseudomallei membrane protein disulfide bond protein B (BpsDsbB) forms a functional redox relay with the previously characterized virulence mediator B. pseudomallei disulfide bond protein A (BpsDsbA). Genomic analysis of diverse B. pseudomallei clinical isolates demonstrated that dsbB is a highly conserved core gene. Critically, we show that DsbB is required for virulence in B. pseudomallei. A panel of B. pseudomallei dsbB deletion strains (K96243, 576, MSHR2511, MSHR0305b, and MSHR5858) were phenotypically diverse according to the results of in vitro assays that assess hallmarks of virulence. Irrespective of their in vitro virulence phenotypes, two deletion strains were attenuated in a BALB/c mouse model of infection. A crystal structure of a DsbB-derived peptide complexed with BpsDsbA provides the first molecular characterization of their interaction. This work contributes to our broader understanding of DSB redox biology and will support the design of antimicrobial drugs active against this important family of bacterial virulence targets. PMID:29440370

A parameter optimization approach to controller partitioning for integrated flight/propulsion control application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, Phillip; Garg, Sanjay; Holowecky, Brian

1992-01-01

A parameter optimization framework is presented to solve the problem of partitioning a centralized controller into a decentralized hierarchical structure suitable for integrated flight/propulsion control implementation. The controller partitioning problem is briefly discussed and a cost function to be minimized is formulated, such that the resulting 'optimal' partitioned subsystem controllers will closely match the performance (including robustness) properties of the closed-loop system with the centralized controller while maintaining the desired controller partitioning structure. The cost function is written in terms of parameters in a state-space representation of the partitioned sub-controllers. Analytical expressions are obtained for the gradient of this cost function with respect to parameters, and an optimization algorithm is developed using modern computer-aided control design and analysis software. The capabilities of the algorithm are demonstrated by application to partitioned integrated flight/propulsion control design for a modern fighter aircraft in the short approach to landing task. The partitioning optimization is shown to lead to reduced-order subcontrollers that match the closed-loop command tracking and decoupling performance achieved by a high-order centralized controller.

A parameter optimization approach to controller partitioning for integrated flight/propulsion control application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, Phillip H.; Garg, Sanjay; Holowecky, Brian R.

1993-01-01

A parameter optimization framework is presented to solve the problem of partitioning a centralized controller into a decentralized hierarchical structure suitable for integrated flight/propulsion control implementation. The controller partitioning problem is briefly discussed and a cost function to be minimized is formulated, such that the resulting 'optimal' partitioned subsystem controllers will closely match the performance (including robustness) properties of the closed-loop system with the centralized controller while maintaining the desired controller partitioning structure. The cost function is written in terms of parameters in a state-space representation of the partitioned sub-controllers. Analytical expressions are obtained for the gradient of this cost function with respect to parameters, and an optimization algorithm is developed using modern computer-aided control design and analysis software. The capabilities of the algorithm are demonstrated by application to partitioned integrated flight/propulsion control design for a modern fighter aircraft in the short approach to landing task. The partitioning optimization is shown to lead to reduced-order subcontrollers that match the closed-loop command tracking and decoupling performance achieved by a high-order centralized controller.

Use of JANAF Tables in Equilibrium Calculations and Partition Function Calculations for an Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cleary, David A.

2014-01-01

The usefulness of the JANAF tables is demonstrated with specific equilibrium calculations. An emphasis is placed on the nature of standard chemical potential calculations. Also, the use of the JANAF tables for calculating partition functions is examined. In the partition function calculations, the importance of the zero of energy is highlighted.

Partition functions of thermally dissociating diatomic molecules and related momentum problem

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buchowiecki, Marcin

2017-11-01

The anharmonicity and ro-vibrational coupling in ro-vibrational partition functions of diatomic molecules are analyzed for the high temperatures of the thermal dissociation regime. The numerically exact partition functions and thermal energies are calculated. At the high temperatures the proper integration of momenta is important if the partition function of the molecule, understood as bounded system, is to be obtained. The problem of proper treatment of momentum is crucial for correctness of high temperature molecular simulations as the decomposition of simulated molecule have to be avoided; the analysis of O2, H2+, and NH3 molecules allows to show importance of βDe value.

Exact partition functions for gauge theories on Rλ3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallet, Jean-Christophe

2016-11-01

The noncommutative space Rλ3, a deformation of R3, supports a 3-parameter family of gauge theory models with gauge-invariant harmonic term, stable vacuum and which are perturbatively finite to all orders. Properties of this family are discussed. The partition function factorizes as an infinite product of reduced partition functions, each one corresponding to the reduced gauge theory on one of the fuzzy spheres entering the decomposition of Rλ3. For a particular sub-family of gauge theories, each reduced partition function is exactly expressible as a ratio of determinants. A relation with integrable 2-D Toda lattice hierarchy is indicated.

Orientifolding of the ABJ Fermi gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okuyama, Kazumi

2016-03-01

The grand partition functions of ABJ theory can be factorized into even and odd parts under the reflection of fermion coordinate in the Fermi gas approach. In some cases, the even/odd part of ABJ grand partition function is equal to that of {N}=5O(n)× USp({n}^') theory, hence it is natural to think of the even/odd projection of grand partition function as an orientifolding of ABJ Fermi gas system. By a systematic WKB analysis, we determine the coefficients in the perturbative part of grand potential of such orientifold ABJ theory. We also find the exact form of the first few "half-instanton" corrections coming from the twisted sector of the reflection of fermion coordinate. For the Chern-Simons level k = 2 ,4 ,8 we find closed form expressions of the grand partition functions of orientifold ABJ theory, and for k = 2 , 4 we prove the functional relations among the grand partition functions conjectured in arXiv:1410.7658.

Highly specific detection of muscarinic M3 receptor, G protein interaction and intracellular trafficking in human detrusor using Proximity Ligation Assay (PLA).

PubMed

Berndt-Paetz, Mandy; Herbst, Luise; Weimann, Annett; Gonsior, Andreas; Stolzenburg, Jens-Uwe; Neuhaus, Jochen

2018-05-01

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) regulate a number of important physiological functions. Alteration of mAChR expression or function has been associated in the etiology of several pathologies including functional bladder disorders (e.g bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis - BPS/IC). In a previous study we found specific mAChR expression patterns associated with BPS/IC, while correlation between protein and gene expression was lacking. Posttranslational regulatory mechanisms, e.g. altered intracellular receptor trafficking, could explain those differences. In addition, alternative G protein (GP) coupling could add to the pathophysiology via modulation of muscarinic signaling. In our proof-of-principle study, we addressed these questions in situ. We established PLA in combination with confocal laserscanning microscopy (CLSM) and 3D object reconstruction for highly specific detection and analysis of muscarinic 3 receptors (M3), G protein (GP) coupling and intracellular trafficking in human detrusor samples. Paraffin sections of formalin-fixed bladder tissue (FFPE) of BPS/IC patients receiving transurethral biopsy were examined by Cy3-PLA for M3 expression, coupling of M3 to GPs (G αq/11 , G αs , G αi ) and interaction of M3 with endocytic regulator proteins. Membranes were labeled with wheat germ agglutinin-Alexa Fluor ® 488, nuclei were stained with DAPI. Object density and co-localization were analyzed in 3D-reconstruction of high resolution confocal z-stacks. Confocal image stack processing resulted in well demarcated objects. Calculated receptor densities correlated significantly with existing confocal expression data, while significantly improved specificity of M3 detection by PLA was verified using bladder tissue samples from transgenic mice. 50-60% of the M3 receptor complexes were plasma membrane associated in human bladder detrusor. Application of PLA for M3 and GPs allowed visualization of M3-GP interactions and revealed individual GP-subtype coupling patterns. Detection of M3 interactions with endocytic trafficking proteins by PLA resulted in object sizes correlating with well-documented vesicle sizes of the endocytosis pathway. PLA enabled highly specific detection of M3 receptor expression, demonstration of M3/GP differential coupling and intracellular M3 trafficking in human detrusor smooth muscle cells. This new approach minimized background fluorescence and antibody cross-reactions resulting from single antibody application, and enhanced specificity due to the use of two primary antibodies. Use of subcellular markers allowed visualization of subcellular receptor location. PLA/CLSM allows analyses of muscarinic "receptor - G protein - promiscuity" and intracellular trafficking even in bladder paraffin sections and may give new insights into the etiology and pathology of BPS/IC. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Dirac-Born-Infeld actions and tachyon monopoles

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Calo, Vincenzo; Tallarita, Gianni; Thomas, Steven

2010-04-15

We investigate magnetic monopole solutions of the non-Abelian Dirac-Born-Infeld (DBI) action describing two coincident non-BPS D9-branes in flat space. Just as in the case of kink and vortex solitonic tachyon solutions of the full DBI non-BPS actions, as previously analyzed by Sen, these monopole configurations are singular in the first instance and require regularization. We discuss a suitable non-Abelian ansatz that describes a pointlike magnetic monopole and show it solves the equations of motion to leading order in the regularization parameter. Fluctuations are studied and shown to describe a codimension three BPS D6-brane, and a formula is derived for itsmore » tension.« less

Bartsocas-Papas Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

PubMed

Erturan, Gurhan; Holton, James; Wall, Steven; Giele, Henk

2016-04-01

Bartsocas-Papas syndrome (BPS) is an autosomal recessively inherited form of the popliteal pterygium syndrome characterized by severe growth retardation, midface hypoplasia, popliteal pterygia, and syndactyly. Almost all affected babies die in utero or infancy. We report the difficulties of reconstruction and ongoing plastic surgical management in an 8-year-old child with BPS. With increasingly sophisticated resuscitation and supportive techniques, it is possible that more patients with BPS will survive beyond the neonatal period. This raises new challenges with reconstruction highlighted by this case with a difficult balance between trying to overcome some of the profound effects of the syndrome versus diminishing quality of life for the child by repeated and often unsuccessful surgical procedures.

Joint compensation scheme of polarization crosstalk, intersymbol interference, frequency offset, and phase noise based on cascaded Kalman filter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qun; Yang, Yanfu; Xiang, Qian; Zhou, Zhongqing; Yao, Yong

2018-02-01

A joint compensation scheme based on cascaded Kalman filter is proposed, which can implement polarization tracking, channel equalization, frequency offset, and phase noise compensation simultaneously. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm can not only compensate multiple channel impairments simultaneously but also improve the polarization tracking capacity and accelerate the convergence speed. The scheme has up to eight times faster convergence speed compared with radius-directed equalizer (RDE) + Max-FFT (maximum fast Fourier transform) + BPS (blind phase search) and can track up polarization rotation 60 times and 15 times faster than that of RDE + Max-FFT + BPS and CMMA (cascaded multimodulus algorithm) + Max-FFT + BPS, respectively.

Computational Prediction of Kinetic Rate Constants

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-11-30

without requiring additional data. Zero-point energy ( ZPE ) anharmonicity has a large effect on the accuracy of approximate partition function estimates. If...the accurate ZPE is taken into account, separable approximation partition functions using the most accurate torsion treatment and harmonic treatments...for the remaining degrees of freedom agree with accurate QM partition functions to within a mean accuracy of 9%. If no ZPE anharmonicity correction

Partitioning of Nb, Mo, Ba, Ce, Pb, Th and U between immiscible carbonate and silicate liquids: Evaluating the effects of P2O5,F, and carbonate composition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, J. H.; Walker, D.

1993-01-01

Previously we have reported carbonate liq./silicate liq. partition coefficients (D) for a standard suite of trace elements (Nb, Mo, Ba, Ce, Pb, Th, and U) and Ra and Pa as well. In brief, we have found that immiscible liquid partitioning is a strong function of temperature. As the critical temperature of the carbonate-silicate solvus is approached, all partition coefficients approach unity. Additionally, for the overwhelming majority of the partitioning elements, InD is a linear function of 'ionic field strength,' z/r, where z is the charge of the partitioned cation and r is its ionic radius.

Endocrine Activity of Bisphenol S (BPS) Using In Vitro Estrogenic/Anti-Androgenic Transcriptional Activation Assays and the In Vivo Uterotrophic Assay

EPA Science Inventory

Bisphenol A (BPA) is gradually being phased out of many consumer products and processes leading to potential increases in human and environmental exposures to relatively understudied replacement compounds, including Bisphenol S (BPS). Research from our lab has shown that BPA and...

Factors Influencing the First-Year Persistence of First Generation College Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duggan, Michael

The factors that influence the first-year persistence of first generation college students at four-year institutions were studied using data from the Beginning Postsecondary Students (BPS) database. The BPS is a longitudinal study of first-time students in the 1995 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study. First generation students are those whose…

Bilingual Pupil Services (B.P.S.) 1988-89. OREA Evaluation Section Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Berney, Tomi D.; Barrera, Marbella

The Bilingual Pupil Services (BPS) had two complementary objectives: (1) to provide supplementary services to students of limited English proficiency (LEP) by giving them instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL) and bilingual reading and mathematics; and (2) to provide in-service training to paraprofessionals who were enrolled in programs…

Topological sources of soliton mass and supersymmetry breaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haas, Patrick A.

2018-06-01

We derive the Smarr formulae for two five-dimensional solutions of supergravity, which are asymptotically ; in particular, one has a magnetic ‘bolt’ in its center, and one is a two-center solution. We show for both spacetimes that supersymmetry—and so the BPS-bound—is broken by the holonomy and how each topological feature of a space-like hypersurface enters Smarr’s mass formula, with emphasis on the ones that give rise to the stated violation of the BPS-bound. In this light, we question if any violating extra-mass term in a spacetime with such asymptotics is only evident in the ADM mass while the Komar mass per se ‘tries’ to preserve BPS. Finally, we derive the cohomological fluxes for each situation and examine in a more general fashion how the breaking of supersymmetry—and so the BPS-bound violation—is associated with their topologies. In the second (and more complicated) scenario, we especially focus on the compact cycle linking the centers, and the contribution of non-vanishing bulk terms in the mass formula to the breaking of supersymmetry.

Assessing the extent of utilization of biopsychosocial model in doctor-patient interaction in public sector hospitals of a developing country.

PubMed

Nadir, Maha; Hamza, Muhammad; Mehmood, Nadir

2018-01-01

Biopsychosocial (BPS) model has been a mainstay in the ideal practice of modern medicine. It is attributed to improve patient care, compliance, and satisfaction and to reduce doctor-patient conflict. The study aimed to understand the importance given to BPS model while conducting routine doctor-patient interactions in public sector hospitals of a developing country where health resources are limited. The study was conducted in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. The study design is qualitative. Structured interviews were conducted from 44 patients from surgical and medical units of Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital. The questions were formulated based on patient-centered interviewing methods by reviewing the literature on BPS model. The analysis was done thematically using the software NVivo 11 for qualitative data. The study revealed four emerging themes: (1) Lack of doctor-patient rapport. (2) Utilization of a paternalistic approach during treatment. (3) Utilization of a reductionist biomedical approach during treatment. (4) Patients' concern with their improvement in health and doctor's demeanor. The study highlights the fact that BPS is not given considerable importance while taking routine medical history. This process remains doctor centered and paternalistic. However, patients are more concerned with their improvement in health rather than whether or not they are being provided informational care. Sequential studies will have to be conducted to determine whether this significantly affects patient care and compliance and whether BPS is a workable model in the healthcare system in the third world.

Identification of a Novel Aminopropyltransferase Involved in the Synthesis of Branched-Chain Polyamines in Hyperthermophiles

PubMed Central

Okada, Kazuma; Hidese, Ryota; Fukuda, Wakao; Niitsu, Masaru; Takao, Koichi; Horai, Yuhei; Umezawa, Naoki; Higuchi, Tsunehiko; Oshima, Tairo; Yoshikawa, Yuko; Imanaka, Tadayuki

2014-01-01

Longer- and/or branched-chain polyamines are unique polycations found in thermophiles. N4-aminopropylspermine is considered a major polyamine in Thermococcus kodakarensis. To determine whether a quaternary branched penta-amine, N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine, an isomer of N4-aminopropylspermine, was also present, acid-extracted cytoplasmic polyamines were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography, gas chromatography (HPLC), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine was an abundant cytoplasmic polyamine in this species. To identify the enzyme that catalyzes N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine synthesis, the active fraction was concentrated from the cytoplasm and analyzed by linear ion trap–time of flight mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization instrument after analysis by the MASCOT database. TK0545, TK0548, TK0967, and TK1691 were identified as candidate enzymes, and the corresponding genes were individually cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Recombinant forms were purified, and their N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine synthesis activity was measured. Of the four candidates, TK1691 (BpsA) was found to synthesize N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine from spermidine via N4-aminopropylspermidine. Compared to the wild type, the bpsA-disrupted strain DBP1 grew at 85°C with a slightly longer lag phase but was unable to grow at 93°C. HPLC analysis showed that both N4-aminopropylspermidine and N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine were absent from the DBP1 strain grown at 85°C, demonstrating that the branched-chain polyamine synthesized by BpsA is important for cell growth at 93°C. Sequence comparison to orthologs from various microorganisms indicated that BpsA differed from other known aminopropyltransferases that produce spermidine and spermine. BpsA orthologs were found only in thermophiles, both in archaea and bacteria, but were absent from mesophiles. These findings indicate that BpsA is a novel aminopropyltransferase essential for the synthesis of branched-chain polyamines, enabling thermophiles to grow in high-temperature environments. PMID:24610711

Avoiding re-inventing the wheel in a people-centered approach to REDD+.

PubMed

Holmes, Ignacia; Potvin, Catherine

2014-10-01

One important debate regarding Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) in developing countries concerns the manner in which its implementation might affect local and indigenous communities. New ways to implement this mechanism without harming the interests of local communities are emerging. To inform this debate, we conducted a qualitative research synthesis to identify best practices (BPs) from people-centered approaches to conservation and rural development, developed indicators of BPs, and invited development practitioners and researchers in the field to assess how the identified BPs are being adopted by community-level REDD+ projects in Latin America. BPs included: local participation in all phases of the project; project supported by a decentralized forest governance framework; project objectives matching community livelihood priorities; project addressing community development needs and expectations; project enhancing stakeholder collaboration and consensus building; project applying an adaptive management approach; and project developing national and local capacities. Most of the BPs were part of the evaluated projects. However, limitations of some of the projects related to decentralized forest governance, matching project objectives with community livelihood priorities, and addressing community development needs. Adaptive management and free and prior informed consent have been largely overlooked. These limitations could be addressed by integrating conservation outcomes and alternative livelihoods into longer-term community development goals, testing nested forest governance approaches in which national policies support local institutions for forest management, gaining a better understanding of the factors that will make REDD+ more acceptable to local communities, and applying an adaptive management approach that allows for social learning and capacity building of relevant stakeholders. Our study provides a framework of BPs and indicators that could be used by stakeholders to improve REDD+ project design, monitoring, and evaluation, which may help reconcile national initiatives and local interests without reinventing the wheel. © 2014 Society for Conservation Biology.

Highly Sensitive and High-Throughput Method for the Analysis of Bisphenol Analogues and Their Halogenated Derivatives in Breast Milk.

PubMed

Niu, Yumin; Wang, Bin; Zhao, Yunfeng; Zhang, Jing; Shao, Bing

2017-12-06

The structural analogs of bisphenol A (BPA) and their halogenated derivatives (together termed BPs) have been found in the environment, food, and even the human body. Limited research showed that some of them exhibited toxicities that were similar to or even greater than that of BPA. Therefore, adverse health effects for BPs were expected for humans with low-dose exposure in early life. Breast milk is an excellent matrix and could reflect fetuses' and babies' exposure to contaminants. Some of the emerging BPs may present with trace or ultratrace levels in humans. However, existing analytical methods for breast milk cannot quantify these BPs simultaneously with high sensitivity using a small sampling weight, which is important for human biomonitoring studies. In this paper, a method based on Bond Elut Enhanced Matrix Removal-Lipid purification, pyridine-3-sulfonyl chloride derivatization, and liquid chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectrometry was developed. The method requires only a small quantity of sample (200 μL) and allowed for the simultaneous determination of 24 BPs in breast milk with ultrahigh sensitivity. The limits of quantitation of the proposed method were 0.001-0.200 μg L -1 , which were 1-6.7 times lower than the only study for the simultaneous analysis of bisphenol analogs in breast milk based on a 3 g sample weight. The mean recoveries ranged from 86.11% to 119.05% with relative standard deviation (RSD) ≤ 19.5% (n = 6). Matrix effects were within 20% with RSD < 10% for six different lots of samples. The proposed method was successfully applied to 20 breast milk samples. BPA, bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol AF (BPAF) were detected. BPA was still the dominant BP, followed by BPF. This is the first report describing the occurrence of BPF and BPAF in breast milk.

On N = 1 partition functions without R-symmetry

DOE PAGES

Knodel, Gino; Liu, James T.; Zayas, Leopoldo A. Pando

2015-03-25

Here, we examine the dependence of four-dimensional Euclidean N = 1 partition functions on coupling constants. In particular, we focus on backgrounds without R-symmetry, which arise in the rigid limit of old minimal supergravity. Backgrounds preserving a single supercharge may be classified as having either trivial or SU(2) structure, with the former including S 4. We show that, in the absence of additional symmetries, the partition function depends non-trivially on all couplings in the trivial structure case, and (anti)-holomorphically on couplings in the SU(2) structure case. In both cases, this allows for ambiguities in the form of finite counterterms, whichmore » in principle render the partition function unphysical. However, we argue that on dimensional grounds, ambiguities are restricted to finite powers in relevant couplings, and can therefore be kept under control. On the other hand, for backgrounds preserving supercharges of opposite chiralities, the partition function is completely independent of all couplings. In this case, the background admits an R-symmetry, and the partition function is physical, in agreement with the results obtained in the rigid limit of new minimal supergravity. Based on a systematic analysis of supersymmetric invariants, we also demonstrate that N = 1 localization is not possible for backgrounds without R-symmetry.« less

Boundary perimeter Bethe ansatz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frassek, Rouven

2017-06-01

We study the partition function of the six-vertex model in the rational limit on arbitrary Baxter lattices with reflecting boundary. Every such lattice is interpreted as an invariant of the twisted Yangian. This identification allows us to relate the partition function of the vertex model to the Bethe wave function of an open spin chain. We obtain the partition function in terms of creation operators on a reference state from the algebraic Bethe ansatz and as a sum of permutations and reflections from the coordinate Bethe ansatz.

Elliptic supersymmetric integrable model and multivariable elliptic functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Motegi, Kohei

2017-12-01

We investigate the elliptic integrable model introduced by Deguchi and Martin [Int. J. Mod. Phys. A 7, Suppl. 1A, 165 (1992)], which is an elliptic extension of the Perk-Schultz model. We introduce and study a class of partition functions of the elliptic model by using the Izergin-Korepin analysis. We show that the partition functions are expressed as a product of elliptic factors and elliptic Schur-type symmetric functions. This result resembles recent work by number theorists in which the correspondence between the partition functions of trigonometric models and the product of the deformed Vandermonde determinant and Schur functions were established.

2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06). Methodology Report. NCES 2008-184

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cominole, Melissa; Wheeless, Sara; Dudley, Kristin; Franklin, Jeff; Wine, Jennifer

2007-01-01

The "2004/06 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:04/06)" is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education to respond to the need for a national, comprehensive database concerning issues students may face in enrollment, persistence, progress, and attainment in postsecondary education and in consequent early rates of…

Graviton 1-loop partition function for 3-dimensional massive gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaberdiel, Matthias R.; Grumiller, Daniel; Vassilevich, Dmitri

2010-11-01

Thegraviton1-loop partition function in Euclidean topologically massivegravity (TMG) is calculated using heat kernel techniques. The partition function does not factorize holomorphically, and at the chiral point it has the structure expected from a logarithmic conformal field theory. This gives strong evidence for the proposal that the dual conformal field theory to TMG at the chiral point is indeed logarithmic. We also generalize our results to new massive gravity.

Recurrence relations in one-dimensional Ising models.

PubMed

da Conceição, C M Silva; Maia, R N P

2017-09-01

The exact finite-size partition function for the nonhomogeneous one-dimensional (1D) Ising model is found through an approach using algebra operators. Specifically, in this paper we show that the partition function can be computed through a trace from a linear second-order recurrence relation with nonconstant coefficients in matrix form. A relation between the finite-size partition function and the generalized Lucas polynomials is found for the simple homogeneous model, thus establishing a recursive formula for the partition function. This is an important property and it might indicate the possible existence of recurrence relations in higher-dimensional Ising models. Moreover, assuming quenched disorder for the interactions within the model, the quenched averaged magnetic susceptibility displays a nontrivial behavior due to changes in the ferromagnetic concentration probability.

Compressible fluids with Maxwell-type equations, the minimal coupling with electromagnetic field and the Stefan–Boltzmann law

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mendes, Albert C.R., E-mail: albert@fisica.ufjf.br; Takakura, Flavio I., E-mail: takakura@fisica.ufjf.br; Abreu, Everton M.C., E-mail: evertonabreu@ufrrj.br

In this work we have obtained a higher-derivative Lagrangian for a charged fluid coupled with the electromagnetic fluid and the Dirac’s constraints analysis was discussed. A set of first-class constraints fixed by noncovariant gauge condition were obtained. The path integral formalism was used to obtain the partition function for the corresponding higher-derivative Hamiltonian and the Faddeev–Popov ansatz was used to construct an effective Lagrangian. Through the partition function, a Stefan–Boltzmann type law was obtained. - Highlights: • Higher-derivative Lagrangian for a charged fluid. • Electromagnetic coupling and Dirac’s constraint analysis. • Partition function through path integral formalism. • Stefan–Boltzmann-kind lawmore » through the partition function.« less

Urothelial Tight Junction Barrier Dysfunction Sensitizes Bladder Afferents

PubMed Central

Rued, Anna C.; Taiclet, Stefanie N.; Birder, Lori A.; Kullmann, F. Aura

2017-01-01

Abstract Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a chronic voiding disorder that presents with pain in the urinary bladder and surrounding pelvic region. A growing body of evidence suggests that an increase in the permeability of the urothelium, the epithelial barrier that lines the interior of the bladder, contributes to the symptoms of IC/BPS. To examine the consequence of increased urothelial permeability on pelvic pain and afferent excitability, we overexpressed in the urothelium claudin 2 (Cldn2), a tight junction (TJ)-associated protein whose message is significantly upregulated in biopsies of IC/BPS patients. Consistent with the presence of bladder-derived pain, rats overexpressing Cldn2 showed hypersensitivity to von Frey filaments applied to the pelvic region. Overexpression of Cldn2 increased the expression of c-Fos and promoted the activation of ERK1/2 in spinal cord segments receiving bladder input, which we conceive is the result of noxious stimulation of afferent pathways. To determine whether the mechanical allodynia observed in rats with reduced urothelial barrier function results from altered afferent activity, we examined the firing of acutely isolated bladder sensory neurons. In patch-clamp recordings, about 30% of the bladder sensory neurons from rats transduced with Cldn2, but not controls transduced with GFP, displayed spontaneous activity. Furthermore, bladder sensory neurons with tetrodotoxin-sensitive (TTX-S) action potentials from rats transduced with Cldn2 showed hyperexcitability in response to suprathreshold electrical stimulation. These findings suggest that as a result of a leaky urothelium, the diffusion of urinary solutes through the urothelial barrier sensitizes bladders afferents, promoting voiding at low filling volumes and pain. PMID:28560313

Nuclear Calcium Buffering Capacity Shapes Neuronal Architecture.

PubMed

Mauceri, Daniela; Hagenston, Anna M; Schramm, Kathrin; Weiss, Ursula; Bading, Hilmar

2015-09-18

Calcium-binding proteins (CaBPs) such as parvalbumin are part of the cellular calcium buffering system that determines intracellular calcium diffusion and influences the spatiotemporal dynamics of calcium signals. In neurons, CaBPs are primarily localized to the cytosol and function, for example, in nerve terminals in short-term synaptic plasticity. However, CaBPs are also expressed in the cell nucleus, suggesting that they modulate nuclear calcium signals, which are key regulators of neuronal gene expression. Here we show that the calcium buffering capacity of the cell nucleus in mouse hippocampal neurons regulates neuronal architecture by modulating the expression levels of VEGFD and the complement factor C1q-c, two nuclear calcium-regulated genes that control dendrite geometry and spine density, respectively. Increasing the levels of nuclear calcium buffers by means of expression of a nuclearly targeted form of parvalbumin fused to mCherry (PV.NLS-mC) led to a reduction in VEGFD expression and, as a result, to a decrease in total dendritic length and complexity. In contrast, mRNA levels of the synapse pruning factor C1q-c were increased in neurons expressing PV.NLS-mC, causing a reduction in the density and size of dendritic spines. Our results establish a close link between nuclear calcium buffering capacity and the transcription of genes that determine neuronal structure. They suggest that the development of cognitive deficits observed in neurological conditions associated with CaBP deregulation may reflect the loss of necessary structural features of dendrites and spines. © 2015 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.

Evaluation of the incidence and risk factors associated with persistent frequency in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and the efficacy of antimuscarinic treatment.

PubMed

Kim, Aram; Hoe, Kyeong-Ok; Shin, Jung Hyun; Choo, Myung-Soo

2017-09-01

To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with persistent urinary frequency, and to evaluate the efficacy of antimuscarinic treatment. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) patients complaining of persistent urinary frequency despite improved pain were evaluated. Before initial conventional treatment, each patient completed a voiding diary and symptom questionnaires. After conventional treatment, patients were divided according to the presence of pain and frequency. Improved pain was defined as lesser than 3 points in visual analogue scale, and persistent urinary frequency as >10 times/d. Risk factors for persistent frequency were identified through multivariate analysis. The efficacy of antimuscarinic treatment was assessed by the mean change of frequency. Of 171 IC/BPS patients treated with conventional therapy, 132 had improved pain after 3 months, but 72 had persistent frequency (72 of 132, 54.5%). Patients with persistent frequency had lower voided volume (p=0.008), lower maximal flow rate (p<0.001), lower maximal bladder capacity (p=0.003), and more frequent micturition (p<0.001) at baseline compared to those with improved frequency. Patients who took antimuscarinic agents showed slightly decreased urinary frequency, from 14.6 times/d to 13.5 times/d (p=0.438) after 3 months of medication. No patients showed more than a 20% decrease in frequency with antimuscarinics. About half of the patients with IC/BPS showed persistent frequency, with poor voiding function identified as a risk factor; antimuscarinic treatment was not effective in these patients.

Response of the bacterial community in an on-farm biopurification system, to which diverse pesticides are introduced over an agricultural season.

PubMed

Holmsgaard, Peter N; Dealtry, Simone; Dunon, Vincent; Heuer, Holger; Hansen, Lars H; Springael, Dirk; Smalla, Kornelia; Riber, Leise; Sørensen, Søren J

2017-10-01

A biopurification system (BPS) is used on-farm to clean pesticide-contaminated wastewater. Due to high pesticide loads, a BPS represents a hot spot for the proliferation and selection as well as the genetic adaptation of discrete pesticide degrading microorganisms. However, while considerable knowledge exists on the biodegradation of specific pesticides in BPSs, the bacterial community composition of these systems has hardly been explored. In this work, the Shannon diversity, the richness and the composition of the bacterial community within an operational BPS receiving wastewater contaminated with various pesticides was, for the first time, elucidated over the course of an agricultural season, using DGGE profiling and pyrosequencing of 16S rRNA gene fragments amplified from total community DNA. During the agricultural season, an increase in the concentration of pesticides in the BPS was observed along with the detection of significant community changes including a decrease in microbial diversity. Additionally, a significant increase in the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, mainly the Gammaproteobacteria, was found, and OTUs (operational taxonomic units) affiliated to Pseudomonas responded positively during the course of the season. Furthermore, a banding-pattern analysis of 16S rRNA gene-based DGGE fingerprinting, targeting the Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria as well as the Actinobacteria, indicated that the Betaproteobacteria might play an important role. Interestingly, a decrease of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes was observed, indicating their selective disadvantage in a BPS, to which pesticides have been introduced. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antispasmodic, bronchodilator, vasorelaxant and cardiosuppressant effects of Buxus papillosa.

PubMed

Khan, Arif-Ullah; Ali, Shamsher; Gilani, Anwarul-Hassan; Ahmed, Manzoor; Choudhary, Muhammad Iqbal

2017-01-18

The present research was carried out to investigate pharmacological properties of Buxus papillosa C.K. Schneid. (Buxaceae). Buxus papillosa extracts of leaves (BpL), stem (BpS), roots (BpR) and BpL fractions: hexane (BpL-H), aqueous (BpL-A) also plant constituent, cyclomicrobuxine effect were studied in jejunum, atria, aorta and tracheal preparations from rabbit and guine-peg. Ca ++ antagonistic effect of BpS, BpR, BpL-H, BpL-A and cyclomicrobuxine were conclusively suggested, when spontaneous contractions of rabbit jejunal preparation was relaxed along with subsequent relaxation of potassium chloride (80 mM) induced contractions. Ca ++ antagonistic effect was further confirmed, when a prominent right shift like that of verapamil was observed in Ca ++ concentration-response curves, drawn in a tissue pretreated with BpL (0.3-1.0 mg/mL). In rabbit tracheal tissues BpL, BpS, BpR, BpL-H and BpL-A produced a prominent relaxation in contractions induced by potassium chloride (80 mM) and carbachol (1 μm). When tested in rabbit aortic rings, BpL, BpS, BpR, BpL-H and BpL-A showed concentration-dependent (0.1-3.0 mg/mL) vasorelaxant effect against phenylephrine (1 μM) and high K + -induced contractions. In isolated guinea-pig right atria, BpL, BpS, BpR, BpL-H and BpL-A suppressed atrial force of spontaneous contractions, with BpL-A being most potent. Our results reveal that Buxus papillosa possesses gut, airways and cardiovascular inhibitory actions.

Observational Evidence of Magnetic Reconnection for Brightenings and Transition Region Arcades in IRIS Observations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhao, Jie; Li, Hui; Feng, Li

By using a new method of forced-field extrapolation, we study the emerging flux region AR11850 observed by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph and Solar Dynamical Observatory . Our results suggest that the bright points (BPs) in this emerging region exhibit responses in lines formed from the upper photosphere to the transition region, which have relatively similar morphologies. They have an oscillation of several minutes according to the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly data at 1600 and 1700 Å. The ratio between the BP intensities measured in 1600 and 1700 Å filtergrams reveals that these BPs are heated differently. Our analysis of themore » Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager vector magnetic field and the corresponding topology in AR11850 indicates that the BPs are located at the polarity inversion line and most of them are related to magnetic reconnection or cancelation. The heating of the BPs might be different due to different magnetic topology. We find that the heating due to the magnetic cancelation would be stronger than the case of bald patch reconnection. The plasma density rather than the magnetic field strength could play a dominant role in this process. Based on physical conditions in the lower atmosphere, our forced-field extrapolation shows consistent results between the bright arcades visible in slit-jaw image 1400 Å and the extrapolated field lines that pass through the bald patches. It provides reliable observational evidence for testing the mechanism of magnetic reconnection for the BPs and arcades in the emerging flux region, as proposed in simulation studies.« less

Food as Pharma? The Case of Glucosinolates.

PubMed

Capuano, Edoardo; Dekker, Matthijs; Verkerk, Ruud; Oliviero, Teresa

2017-01-01

Glucosinolates (GLSs) are dietary plant secondary metabolites occurring in the order Brassicales with potential health effects, in particular as anti-carcinogenic compounds. GLSs are converted into a variety of breakdown products (BPs) upon plant tissue damage and by the gut microbiota. GLS biological activity is related to BPs rather than to GLSs themselves. we have reviewed the most recent scientific literature on the metabolic fate and the biological effect of GLSs with particular emphasis on the epidemiological evidence for health effect and evidence from clinical trials. An overview of potential molecular mechanisms underlying GLS biological effect is provided. The potential toxic or anti-nutritional effect has also been discussed. Epidemiological and human in vivo evidence point towards a potential anti-cancer effect for sulforaphane, indole-3-carbinol and 3,3-diindolylmethane. A number of new human clinical trials are on-going and will likely shed further light on GLS protective effect towards cancer as well as other diseases. BPs biological effect is the results of a plurality of molecular mechanisms acting simultaneously which include modulation of xenobiotic metabolism, modulation of inflammation, regulation of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis and metastasis and regulation of epigenetic events. BPs have been extensively investigated for their protective effect towards cancer but in recent years the interest also includes other diseases. It appears that certain BPs may protect against and may even represent a therapeutic strategy against several forms of cancer. Whether this latter effect can be achieved through diet or supplements should be investigated more thoroughly. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Robust Linuron Degradation in On-Farm Biopurification Systems Exposed to Sequential Environmental Changes▿

PubMed Central

Sniegowski, Kristel; Bers, Karolien; Ryckeboer, Jaak; Jaeken, Peter; Spanoghe, Pieter; Springael, Dirk

2011-01-01

On-farm biopurification systems (BPS) treat pesticide-contaminated wastewater of farms through biodegradation. Adding pesticide-primed soil has been shown to be beneficial for the establishment of pesticide-degrading populations in BPS. However, no data exist on the response of pesticide-degrading microbiota, either endogenous or introduced with pesticide-primed soil, when BPS are exposed to expected less favorable environmental conditions like cold periods, drought periods, and periods without a pesticide supply. Therefore, the response of microbiota mineralizing the herbicide linuron in BPS microcosm setups inoculated either with a linuron-primed soil or a nonprimed soil to a sequence of such less favorable conditions was examined. A period without linuron supply or a drought period reduced the size of the linuron-mineralizing community in both setups. The most severe effect was recorded for the setup containing nonprimed soil, in which stopping the linuron supply decreased the linuron degradation capacity to nondetectable levels. In both systems, linuron mineralization rapidly reestablished after conventional operation conditions were restored. A cold period and feeding with a pesticide mixture did not affect linuron mineralization. The changes in the linuron-mineralizing capacity in microcosms containing primed soil were associated with the dynamics of a particular Variovorax phylotype that previously had been associated with linuron mineralization. This study suggests that the pesticide-mineralizing community in BPS is robust in stress situations imposed by changes in environmental conditions expected to occur on farms. Moreover, it suggests that, in cases where effects do occur, recovery is rapid after restoring conventional operation conditions. PMID:21803897

Assessing the extent of utilization of biopsychosocial model in doctor–patient interaction in public sector hospitals of a developing country

PubMed Central

Nadir, Maha; Hamza, Muhammad; Mehmood, Nadir

2018-01-01

Background: Biopsychosocial (BPS) model has been a mainstay in the ideal practice of modern medicine. It is attributed to improve patient care, compliance, and satisfaction and to reduce doctor–patient conflict. The study aimed to understand the importance given to BPS model while conducting routine doctor–patient interactions in public sector hospitals of a developing country where health resources are limited. The study was conducted in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Materials and Methods: The study design is qualitative. Structured interviews were conducted from 44 patients from surgical and medical units of Benazir Bhutto Hospital and Holy Family Hospital. The questions were formulated based on patient-centered interviewing methods by reviewing the literature on BPS model. The analysis was done thematically using the software NVivo 11 for qualitative data. Results: The study revealed four emerging themes: (1) Lack of doctor–patient rapport. (2) Utilization of a paternalistic approach during treatment. (3) Utilization of a reductionist biomedical approach during treatment. (4) Patients’ concern with their improvement in health and doctor's demeanor. Conclusion: The study highlights the fact that BPS is not given considerable importance while taking routine medical history. This process remains doctor centered and paternalistic. However, patients are more concerned with their improvement in health rather than whether or not they are being provided informational care. Sequential studies will have to be conducted to determine whether this significantly affects patient care and compliance and whether BPS is a workable model in the healthcare system in the third world. PMID:29736071

Wigner expansions for partition functions of nonrelativistic and relativistic oscillator systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zylka, Christian; Vojta, Guenter

1993-01-01

The equilibrium quantum statistics of various anharmonic oscillator systems including relativistic systems is considered within the Wigner phase space formalism. For this purpose the Wigner series expansion for the partition function is generalized to include relativistic corrections. The new series for partition functions and all thermodynamic potentials yield quantum corrections in terms of powers of h(sup 2) and relativistic corrections given by Kelvin functions (modified Hankel functions) K(sub nu)(mc(sup 2)/kT). As applications, the symmetric Toda oscillator, isotonic and singular anharmonic oscillators, and hindered rotators, i.e. oscillators with cosine potential, are addressed.

The Path Forward: School Autonomy and Its Implications for the Future of Boston's Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

French, Dan; Miles, Karen Hawley; Nathan, Linda

2014-01-01

This study explores the question of how Boston Public Schools (BPS) can strengthen and support autonomy and accountability across its portfolio to promote innovation and expand access to equity and high performance. Some of the specific questions guiding this work are: (1) Should all schools within BPS operate within autonomous structures? (2) Is…

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study: 1996-2001 (BPS:1996/2001) Methodology Report. Technical Report. NCES 2002-171

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wine, Jennifer S.; Heuer, Ruth E.; Wheeless, Sara C.; Francis, Talbric L.; Franklin, Jeff W.; Dudley, Kristin M.

2002-01-01

This report describes the methods and procedures used for the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study: 1996-2001 (BPS:1996/2001). These students, who started their postsecondary education during the 1995-96 academic year, were first interviewed in 1996 as part of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:96). A follow-up…

Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study: First Follow-Up 1996-98 (BPS:96/98) Methodology Report. Technical Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wine, Jennifer S.; Whitmore, Roy W.; Heuer, Ruth E.; Biber, Melissa; Pratt, Daniel J.

This report describes the methods and procedures used for the full-scale data collection effort of the Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study First Follow-Up 1996-98 (BPS:96/98). These students, who started their postsecondary education during the 1995-96 academic year, were first interviewed during 1996 as part of the National…

Individual and mixture endocrine activity of BPS and BPC using in vitro estrogenic/anti-androgenic transcriptional activation assays and the in vivo uterotrophic assay- RAP 2.2-SSWR

EPA Science Inventory

Bisphenol A (BPA) is gradually being phased out of many consumer products and processes leading to potential increases in human and environmental exposures to relatively understudied replacement compounds, including Bisphenol S (BPS) and Bisphenol C (BPC).Research from our lab ha...

Persistence and Attainment of 2011-12 First-Time Postsecondary Students after 3 Years. First Look. NCES 2016-401

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ifill, Nicole; Radford, Alexandria Walton; Wu, Joanna; Cataldi, Emily Forrest; Wilson, David; Hill, Jason

2016-01-01

This report provides a "first look" at selected findings from the 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:12/14). It is based on final data describing a nationally representative sample of undergraduates who entered postsecondary education for the first time during the 2011-12 academic year. BPS:12/14 covers the…

Does an Urban Teacher Residency Increase Student Achievement? Early Evidence from Boston

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Papay, John P.; West, Martin R.; Fullerton, Jon B.; Kane, Thomas J.

2012-01-01

Boston Teacher Residency (BTR) is an innovative practice-based preparation program in which candidates work alongside a mentor teacher for a year before becoming a teacher of record in the Boston Public Schools (BPS). The authors found that BTR graduates are more racially diverse than other BPS novices, more likely to teach math and science, and…

On the fakeness of fake supergravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Celi, Alessio; Proeyen, Antoine van; Ceresole, Anna

2005-02-15

We revisit and complete the study of curved BPS-domain walls in matter-coupled 5D, N=2 supergravity and carefully analyze the relation to gravitational theories known as ''fake supergravities.'' We first show that curved BPS-domain walls require the presence of nontrivial hypermultiplet scalars, whereas walls that are solely supported by vector multiplet scalars are necessarily flat, due to the constraints from very special geometry. We then recover fake supergravity as the effective description of true supergravity where one restricts the attention to the flowing scalar field of a given BPS-domain wall. In general, however, true supergravity can be simulated by fake supergravitymore » at most locally, based upon two choices: (i) a suitable adapted coordinate system on the scalar manifold, such that only one scalar field plays a dynamical role, and (ii) a gauge fixing of the SU(2) connection on the quaternionic-Kaehler manifold, as this connection does not fit the simple formalism of fake supergravity. Employing these gauge and coordinate choices, the BPS-equations for both vector and hypermultiplet scalars become identical to the fake supergravity equations, once the line of flow is determined by the full supergravity equations.« less

Breathing Pattern Interpretation as an Alternative and Effective Voice Communication Solution.

PubMed

Elsahar, Yasmin; Bouazza-Marouf, Kaddour; Kerr, David; Gaur, Atul; Kaushik, Vipul; Hu, Sijung

2018-05-15

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems tend to rely on the interpretation of purposeful gestures for interaction. Existing AAC methods could be cumbersome and limit the solutions in terms of versatility. The study aims to interpret breathing patterns (BPs) to converse with the outside world by means of a unidirectional microphone and researches breathing-pattern interpretation (BPI) to encode messages in an interactive manner with minimal training. We present BP processing work with (1) output synthesized machine-spoken words (SMSW) along with single-channel Weiner filtering (WF) for signal de-noising, and (2) k -nearest neighbor ( k-NN ) classification of BPs associated with embedded dynamic time warping (DTW). An approved protocol to collect analogue modulated BP sets belonging to 4 distinct classes with 10 training BPs per class and 5 live BPs per class was implemented with 23 healthy subjects. An 86% accuracy of k-NN classification was obtained with decreasing error rates of 17%, 14%, and 11% for the live classifications of classes 2, 3, and 4, respectively. The results express a systematic reliability of 89% with increased familiarity. The outcomes from the current AAC setup recommend a durable engineering solution directly beneficial to the sufferers.

BPS equations and non-trivial compactifications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tyukov, Alexander; Warner, Nicholas P.

2018-05-01

We consider the problem of finding exact, eleven-dimensional, BPS supergravity solutions in which the compactification involves a non-trivial Calabi-Yau manifold, Y , as opposed to simply a T 6. Since there are no explicitly-known metrics on non-trivial, compact Calabi-Yau manifolds, we use a non-compact "local model" and take the compactification manifold to be Y={M}_{GH}× {T}^2 , where ℳGH is a hyper-Kähler, Gibbons-Hawking ALE space. We focus on backgrounds with three electric charges in five dimensions and find exact families of solutions to the BPS equations that have the same four supersymmetries as the three-charge black hole. Our exact solution to the BPS system requires that the Calabi-Yau manifold be fibered over the space-time using compensators on Y . The role of the compensators is to ensure smoothness of the eleven-dimensional metric when the moduli of Y depend on the space-time. The Maxwell field Ansatz also implicitly involves the compensators through the frames of the fibration. We examine the equations of motion and discuss the brane distributions on generic internal manifolds that do not have enough symmetry to allow smearing.

Spectroscopic and molecular modeling approaches to investigate the interaction of bisphenol A, bisphenol F and their diglycidyl ethers with PPARα.

PubMed

Zhang, Jie; Zhang, Tiehua; Guan, Tianzhu; Ruan, Ping; Ren, Dayong; Dai, Weichang; Yu, Hansong; Li, Tiezhu

2017-08-01

A fluorescence polarization (FP) assay for the simultaneous determination of bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE) and bisphenol F diglycidyl ether (BFDGE) was developed. The method was based on the competition between bisphenols (BPs) and fluorescein-labeled dexamethasone derivative (Dex-fl) for mouse peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α ligand binding domain (mPPARα-LBD). A recombinant soluble protein derivative mPPARα-LBD* was prepared, then in vitro binding of 4 BPs to mPPARα-LBD* was investigated. Fluorescence polarization assay showed that these compounds exhibited different binding potencies with mPPARα-LBD*. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to further understand the mechanism of BPs binding affinity for mPPARα-LBD*. Docking results elucidated that the driving forces for the binding of BPs to mPPARα-LBD* were predominantly dependent on hydrophobic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Comparison of the calculated binding energies vs. experimental binding affinities yielded a good correlation (R 2  = 0.7258). The proposed method has potential for multi-residue detection of BPA, BPF, BADGE, and BFDGE. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Genomics of high molecular weight plasmids isolated from an on-farm biopurification system.

PubMed

Martini, María C; Wibberg, Daniel; Lozano, Mauricio; Torres Tejerizo, Gonzalo; Albicoro, Francisco J; Jaenicke, Sebastian; van Elsas, Jan Dirk; Petroni, Alejandro; Garcillán-Barcia, M Pilar; de la Cruz, Fernando; Schlüter, Andreas; Pühler, Alfred; Pistorio, Mariano; Lagares, Antonio; Del Papa, María F

2016-06-20

The use of biopurification systems (BPS) constitutes an efficient strategy to eliminate pesticides from polluted wastewaters from farm activities. BPS environments contain a high microbial density and diversity facilitating the exchange of information among bacteria, mediated by mobile genetic elements (MGEs), which play a key role in bacterial adaptation and evolution in such environments. Here we sequenced and characterized high-molecular-weight plasmids from a bacterial collection of an on-farm BPS. The high-throughput-sequencing of the plasmid pool yielded a total of several Mb sequence information. Assembly of the sequence data resulted in six complete replicons. Using in silico analyses we identified plasmid replication genes whose encoding proteins represent 13 different Pfam families, as well as proteins involved in plasmid conjugation, indicating a large diversity of plasmid replicons and suggesting the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) events within the habitat analyzed. In addition, genes conferring resistance to 10 classes of antimicrobial compounds and those encoding enzymes potentially involved in pesticide and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation were found. Global analysis of the plasmid pool suggest that the analyzed BPS represents a key environment for further studies addressing the dissemination of MGEs carrying catabolic genes and pathway assembly regarding degradation capabilities.

d=4 attractors, effective horizon radius, and fake supergravity

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ferrara, Sergio; INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Via Enrico Fermi 40, I-00044 Frascati; Gnecchi, Alessandra

2008-09-15

We consider extremal black hole attractors [both Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) and non-BPS] for N=3 and N=5 supergravity in d=4 space-time dimensions. Attractors for matter-coupled N=3 theory are similar to attractors in N=2 supergravity minimally coupled to Abelian vector multiplets. On the other hand, N=5 attractors are similar to attractors in N=4 pure supergravity, and in such theories only (1/N)-BPS nondegenerate solutions exist. All the above-mentioned theories have a simple interpretation in the first order (fake supergravity) formalism. Furthermore, such theories do not have a d=5 uplift. Finally we comment on the duality relations among the attractor solutions of N{>=}2 supergravities sharingmore » the same full bosonic sector.« less

Non-BPS attractors in 5 d and 6 d extended supergravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrianopoli, L.; Ferrara, S.; Marrani, A.; Trigiante, M.

2008-05-01

We connect the attractor equations of a certain class of N=2, d=5 supergravities with their (1,0), d=6 counterparts, by relating the moduli space of non-BPS d=5 black hole/black string attractors to the moduli space of extremal dyonic black string d=6 non-BPS attractors. For d=5 real special symmetric spaces and for N=4,6,8 theories, we explicitly compute the flat directions of the black object potential corresponding to vanishing eigenvalues of its Hessian matrix. In the case N=4, we study the relation to the (2,0), d=6 theory. We finally describe the embedding of the N=2, d=5 magic models in N=8, d=5 supergravity as well as the interconnection among the corresponding charge orbits.

Logarithmic corrections to black hole entropy: the non-BPS branch

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro, Alejandra; Godet, Victor; Larsen, Finn; Zeng, Yangwenxiao

2018-05-01

We compute the leading logarithmic correction to black hole entropy on the non-BPS branch of 4D N≥2 supergravity theories. This branch corresponds to finite temperature black holes whose extremal limit does not preserve supersymmetry, such as the D0 - D6 system in string theory. Starting from a black hole in minimal Kaluza-Klein theory, we discuss in detail its embedding into N=8 , 6, 4, 2 supergravity, its spectrum of quadratic fluctuations in all these environments, and the resulting quantum corrections. We find that the c-anomaly vanishes only when N≥6 , in contrast to the BPS branch where c vanishes for all N≥2 . We briefly discuss potential repercussions this feature could have in a microscopic description of these black holes.

Asymptotics of quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Harnad, J.; Ortmann, Janosch

2018-06-01

This work concerns both the semiclassical and zero temperature asymptotics of quantum weighted double Hurwitz numbers. The partition function for quantum weighted double Hurwitz numbers can be interpreted in terms of the energy distribution of a quantum Bose gas with vanishing fugacity. We compute the leading semiclassical term of the partition function for three versions of the quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers, as well as lower order semiclassical corrections. The classical limit is shown to reproduce the simple single and double Hurwitz numbers studied by Okounkov and Pandharipande (2000 Math. Res. Lett. 7 447–53, 2000 Lett. Math. Phys. 53 59–74). The KP-Toda τ-function that serves as generating function for the quantum Hurwitz numbers is shown to have the τ-function of Okounkov and Pandharipande (2000 Math. Res. Lett. 7 447–53, 2000 Lett. Math. Phys. 53 59–74) as its leading term in the classical limit, and, with suitable scaling, the same holds for the partition function, the weights and expectations of Hurwitz numbers. We also compute the zero temperature limit of the partition function and quantum weighted Hurwitz numbers. The KP or Toda τ-function serving as generating function for the quantum Hurwitz numbers are shown to give the one for Belyi curves in the zero temperature limit and, with suitable scaling, the same holds true for the partition function, the weights and the expectations of Hurwitz numbers.

Multilevel Green's function interpolation method for scattering from composite metallic and dielectric objects.

PubMed

Shi, Yan; Wang, Hao Gang; Li, Long; Chan, Chi Hou

2008-10-01

A multilevel Green's function interpolation method based on two kinds of multilevel partitioning schemes--the quasi-2D and the hybrid partitioning scheme--is proposed for analyzing electromagnetic scattering from objects comprising both conducting and dielectric parts. The problem is formulated using the surface integral equation for homogeneous dielectric and conducting bodies. A quasi-2D multilevel partitioning scheme is devised to improve the efficiency of the Green's function interpolation. In contrast to previous multilevel partitioning schemes, noncubic groups are introduced to discretize the whole EM structure in this quasi-2D multilevel partitioning scheme. Based on the detailed analysis of the dimension of the group in this partitioning scheme, a hybrid quasi-2D/3D multilevel partitioning scheme is proposed to effectively handle objects with fine local structures. Selection criteria for some key parameters relating to the interpolation technique are given. The proposed algorithm is ideal for the solution of problems involving objects such as missiles, microstrip antenna arrays, photonic bandgap structures, etc. Numerical examples are presented to show that CPU time is between O(N) and O(N log N) while the computer memory requirement is O(N).

Word Generation in Boston Public Schools: Natural History of a Literacy Intervention. The Senior Urban Education Research Fellowship Series. Volume III

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Snow, Catherine E.; Lawrence, Joshua F.

2011-01-01

When the Strategic Education Research Partnership (SERP) began working with Boston Public Schools (BPS) in 2005, the most pressing need articulated by the district was research and development in the area of middle school literacy. Thus SERP researchers undertook to specify more precisely what the middle school literacy problem in BPS was by…

Integrated Nuclear Considerations: C&GSC Pre-Command Course Instructional Material.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-11-21

support of TFI-12’s withdrawal to PL BOB, then to countermobiltiy and survival operations in support of BPs on PL BOB with priority to sector of TF1 -12 and...BPs 11 and 12, in order. b. Be prepared to support CATK of TF1 -12 vicinity BREITENBACH. 13. S4: a. Supervise accomplishment of task in 2, above. b

A Pilot Study: Comparison of Arm Versus Ankle Noninvasive Blood Pressure Measurement at 2 Different Levels of Backrest Elevation.

PubMed

Henley, Nicole; Quatrara, Beth D; Conaway, Mark

2015-01-01

Standard practice for obtaining noninvasive blood pressure includes arm blood pressure (BP) cuff placement at the level of the heart; however, some critical care patients cannot have BPs taken in their arm because of various conditions, and ankle BPs are frequently used as substitutes. The aim of this study was to determine if there was a significant variation between upper arm and ankle BP measurements at different backrest elevations with consideration of peripheral edema factors. After institutional review board approval was obtained, a pilot study was implemented to evaluate noninvasive BP measurements of the arm and ankle with backrest elevation at 0° and 30° in a population of medical intensive care unit patients. Participants served as their own controls and were randomly assigned to left- versus right-side BP readings. Data were also collected on presence of arm versus ankle edema. A total of 30 participants enrolled in the study and provided 120 BP measurements. Blood pressure readings were analyzed in terms of diastolic and systolic findings as well as backrest elevations and edema presence. Thirteen participants presented with either arm or ankle edema. There was a statistical difference between the systolic arm and ankle BP measurements in the 0° (P = .008) and 30° (P < .001) backrest elevation positions. The correlation between arm and ankle diastolic BP is greater for participants without ankle edema (P = .038, r = 0.54) than for participants with ankle edema (P = .650, r = 0.14), but it is not statistically significant (P = .47). Even though ankle BPs are often substituted for arm BPs when the arm is unable to be used, ankle BPs and arm BPs are not interchangeable. Adjustments in backrest elevation and considerations of edema do not normalize the differences. Blood pressures obtained from the ankle are significantly greater than those obtained from the arm. This information needs to be considered when arms are not available and legs are used as surrogates for the upper arm.

Nano-technology based carriers for nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates delivery as sensitisers of γδ T cells for anticancer immunotherapy.

PubMed

Hodgins, Naomi O; Wang, Julie Tzu-Wen; Al-Jamal, Khuloud T

2017-05-15

Nitrogen containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) including zoledronate (ZOL) and alendronate (ALD) inhibit farnesyl diphosphate synthase, and have been shown to have a cytotoxic affect against cancer cells as a monotherapy and to also sensitise tumour cells to destruction by γδ T cells. γδ T cells are a subset of human T lymphocytes and have a diverse range of roles in the immune system including the recognition and destruction of cancer cells. This property of γδ T cells can be harnessed for use in cancer immunotherapy through in vivo expansion or the adoptive transfer of ex vivo activated γδ T cells. The use of N-BPs with γδ T cells has been shown to have a synergistic effect in in vitro, animal and clinical studies. N-BPs have limited in vivo activity due to rapid clearance from the circulation. By encapsulating N-BPs in liposomes (L) it is possible to increase the levels of N-BPs at non-osseous tumour sites. L-ZOL and L-ALD have been shown to have different toxicological profiles than free ZOL or ALD. Both L-ALD and L-ZOL led to increased spleen weight, leucocytosis, neutrophilia and lymphocytopenia in mice after intravenous injection. L-ALD was shown to be better tolerated than L-ZOL in murine studies. Biodistribution studies have been performed in order to better understand the interaction of N-BPs and γδ T cells in vivo. Additionally, in vivo therapy studies have shown that mice treated with both L-ALD and γδ T cells had a significant reduction in tumour growth compared to mice treated with L-ALD or γδ T cells alone. The use of ligand-targeted liposomes may further increase the efficacy of this combinatory immunotherapy. Liposomes targeting the αvβ6 integrin receptor using the peptide A20FMDV2 had a greater ability than untargeted liposomes in sensitising cancer cells to destruction by γδ T cells in αvβ6 positive cancer cell lines. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Concentrations and profiles of bisphenol A and other bisphenol analogues in foodstuffs from the United States and their implications for human exposure.

PubMed

Liao, Chunyang; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2013-05-15

As the concern over the safety of bisphenol A (BPA) continues to grow, this compound is gradually being replaced, in industrial applications, with compounds such as bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS). Occurrence of bisphenols, including BPA and BPS, has been reported in paper products and in environmental matrices. Information on the occurrence of bisphenols, other than BPA, in foodstuffs, however, is scarce. In this study, several bisphenol analogues, including BPA, BPF, and BPS, were analyzed in foodstuffs (N = 267) collected from Albany, NY, USA, using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS). Foodstuffs were divided into nine categories of beverages, dairy products, fats and oils, fish and seafood, cereals, meat and meat products, fruits, vegetables, and "others". Bisphenols were found in the majority (75%) of the food samples, and the total concentrations of bisphenols (ΣBPs: sum of eight bisphenols) were in the range of below the limit of quantification (LOQ) to 1130 ng/g fresh weight, with an overall mean value of 4.38 ng/g. The highest overall mean concentration of ΣBPs was found in the "others" category, which included condiments (preserved, ready-to-serve foods). A sample of mustard (dressing) and ginger, placed in the category of vegetables, contained the highest concentrations of 1130 ng/g for bisphenol F (BPF) and 237 ng/g for bisphenol P (BPP). Concentrations of BPs in beverages (mean = 0.341 ng/g) and fruits (0.698 ng/g) were low. The predominant bisphenol analogues found in foodstuffs were BPA and BPF, which accounted for 42 and 17% of the total BP concentrations, respectively. Canned foods contained higher concentrations of individual and total bisphenols in comparison to foods sold in glass, paper, or plastic containers. On the basis of measured concentrations and daily ingestion rates of foods, the daily dietary intakes of bisphenols (calculated from the mean concentration) were estimated to be 243, 142, 117, 63.6, and 58.6 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day for toddlers, infants, children, teenagers, and adults, respectively.

Uncertain Henry's law constants compromise equilibrium partitioning calculations of atmospheric oxidation products

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chen; Yuan, Tiange; Wood, Stephen A.; Goss, Kai-Uwe; Li, Jingyi; Ying, Qi; Wania, Frank

2017-06-01

Gas-particle partitioning governs the distribution, removal, and transport of organic compounds in the atmosphere and the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The large variety of atmospheric species and their wide range of properties make predicting this partitioning equilibrium challenging. Here we expand on earlier work and predict gas-organic and gas-aqueous phase partitioning coefficients for 3414 atmospherically relevant molecules using COSMOtherm, SPARC Performs Automated Reasoning in Chemistry (SPARC), and poly-parameter linear free-energy relationships. The Master Chemical Mechanism generated the structures by oxidizing primary emitted volatile organic compounds. Predictions for gas-organic phase partitioning coefficients (KWIOM/G) by different methods are on average within 1 order of magnitude of each other, irrespective of the numbers of functional groups, except for predictions by COSMOtherm and SPARC for compounds with more than three functional groups, which have a slightly higher discrepancy. Discrepancies between predictions of gas-aqueous partitioning (KW/G) are much larger and increase with the number of functional groups in the molecule. In particular, COSMOtherm often predicts much lower KW/G for highly functionalized compounds than the other methods. While the quantum-chemistry-based COSMOtherm accounts for the influence of intra-molecular interactions on conformation, highly functionalized molecules likely fall outside of the applicability domain of the other techniques, which at least in part rely on empirical data for calibration. Further analysis suggests that atmospheric phase distribution calculations are sensitive to the partitioning coefficient estimation method, in particular to the estimated value of KW/G. The large uncertainty in KW/G predictions for highly functionalized organic compounds needs to be resolved to improve the quantitative treatment of SOA formation.

Thermodynamics and statistical mechanics. [thermodynamic properties of gases

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

The basic thermodynamic properties of gases are reviewed and the relations between them are derived from the first and second laws. The elements of statistical mechanics are then formulated and the partition function is derived. The classical form of the partition function is used to obtain the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution of kinetic energies in the gas phase and the equipartition of energy theorem is given in its most general form. The thermodynamic properties are all derived as functions of the partition function. Quantum statistics are reviewed briefly and the differences between the Boltzmann distribution function for classical particles and the Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein distributions for quantum particles are discussed.

Random Partition Distribution Indexed by Pairwise Information

PubMed Central

Dahl, David B.; Day, Ryan; Tsai, Jerry W.

2017-01-01

We propose a random partition distribution indexed by pairwise similarity information such that partitions compatible with the similarities are given more probability. The use of pairwise similarities, in the form of distances, is common in some clustering algorithms (e.g., hierarchical clustering), but we show how to use this type of information to define a prior partition distribution for flexible Bayesian modeling. A defining feature of the distribution is that it allocates probability among partitions within a given number of subsets, but it does not shift probability among sets of partitions with different numbers of subsets. Our distribution places more probability on partitions that group similar items yet keeps the total probability of partitions with a given number of subsets constant. The distribution of the number of subsets (and its moments) is available in closed-form and is not a function of the similarities. Our formulation has an explicit probability mass function (with a tractable normalizing constant) so the full suite of MCMC methods may be used for posterior inference. We compare our distribution with several existing partition distributions, showing that our formulation has attractive properties. We provide three demonstrations to highlight the features and relative performance of our distribution. PMID:29276318

Association of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with urinary calculus: a nationwide population-based study.

PubMed

Keller, Joseph; Chen, Yi-Kuang; Lin, Herng-Ching

2013-04-01

Although one prior study reported an association between bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) and urinary calculi (UC), no population-based study to date has been conducted to explore this relationship. Therefore, using a population-based data set in Taiwan, this study set out to investigate the association between BPS/IC and a prior diagnosis of UC. This study included 9,269 cases who had received their first-time diagnosis of BPS/IC between 2006 and 2007 and 46,345 randomly selected controls. We used conditional logistic regression analysis to compute the odds ratio (OR) and its corresponding 95 % confidence interval (CI) for having been previously diagnosed with UC between cases and controls. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of prior UC between cases and controls (8.1 vs 4.3 %, p < 0.001). Conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that cases were more likely to have been previously diagnosed with UC than controls (OR = 1.70; 95 % CI = 1.56-1.84) after adjusting for chronic pelvic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, panic disorder, migraine, sicca syndrome, allergy, endometriosis, and asthma. BPS/IC was found to be significantly associated with prior UC regardless of stone location; the adjusted ORs of kidney calculus, ureter calculus, bladder calculus, and unspecified calculus when compared to controls were 1.58 (95 % CI = 1.38-1.81), 1.73 (95 % CI = 1.45-2.05), 3.80 (95 % CI = 2.18-6.62), and 1.83 (95 % CI = 1.59-2.11), respectively. This work generates the hypothesis that UC may be associated with BPS/IC.

The water avoidance stress induces bladder pain due to a prolonged alpha1A adrenoceptor stimulation.

PubMed

Matos, Rita; Serrão, Paula; Rodriguez, Larissa; Birder, Lori Ann; Cruz, Francisco; Charrua, Ana

2017-08-01

Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (BPS/IC) remains an elusive disease with the cause for the pain unclear. BPS/IC patients present increased sympathetic activity and high levels of urinary noradrenaline. At the experimental level, it has been shown that chronic adrenergic stimulation produces pain and bladder changes through an alpha 1A adrenoceptor mediated mechanism. Water avoidance stress (WAS) in rodents reproduces signs of nociception and bladder changes seen in BPS/IC patients. In this study, we explore the possible role of alpha 1A adrenoceptor in bladder pain and morphological changes. WAS was induced in a group of female Wistar rats. A separate WAS group received 0.2 mg/kg day silodosin (WAS + S). Lower abdominal pain was determined by performing sensitivity to Von Frey filaments. Bladder reflex activity was determined by cystometry in anaesthetised animals. Urine was collected for noradrenaline quantification by HPLC. Bladders were harvested and stained with Haematoxylin-eosin (to analyse urothelial morphology and to determine the disruption of surface umbrella cells) or with Toluidine Blue 0.1% to analyse mast cell infiltration. WAS increased urinary noradrenaline level and bladder frequency and decreased mechanical pain threshold, which was reversed by silodosin. WAS induced lymphocytic and mast cells infiltration in the mucosa and mild urothelial disruption, which was absent in WAS + S group. Alpha 1A adrenoceptor stimulation has an important role in the appearance of bladder pain in rats. Since BPS/IC patients present high levels of noradrenaline, alpha 1A stimulation may be an additional trigger for bladder dysfunction presented by these patients. Further studies will determine the clinical relevance of this finding in the treatment of BPS/IC patients.

Biomass Production System (BPS) plant growth unit.

PubMed

Morrow, R C; Crabb, T M

2000-01-01

The Biomass Production System (BPS) was developed under the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program to meet science, biotechnology and commercial plant growth needs in the Space Station era. The BPS is equivalent in size to a double middeck locker, but uses its own custom enclosure with a slide out structure to which internal components mount. The BPS contains four internal growth chambers, each with a growing volume of more than 4 liters. Each of the growth chambers has active nutrient delivery, and independent control of temperature, humidity, lighting, and CO2 set-points. Temperature control is achieved using a thermoelectric heat exchanger system. Humidity control is achieved using a heat exchanger with a porous interface which can both humidify and dehumidify. The control software utilizes fuzzy logic for nonlinear, coupled temperature and humidity control. The fluorescent lighting system can be dimmed to provide a range of light levels. CO2 levels are controlled by injecting pure CO2 to the system based on input from an infrared gas analyzer. The unit currently does not scrub CO2, but has been designed to accept scrubber cartridges. In addition to providing environmental control, a number of features are included to facilitate science. The BPS chambers are sealed to allow CO2 and water vapor exchange measurements. The plant chambers can be removed to allow manipulation or sampling of specimens, and each chamber has gas/fluid sample ports. A video camera is provided for each chamber, and frame-grabs and complete environmental data for all science and hardware system sensors are stored on an internal hard drive. Data files can also be transferred to 3.5-inch disks using the front panel disk drive.

Viewpoints of dentists on the use of bisphosphonates in rheumatology patients.

PubMed

Daron, Coline; Deschaumes, Christophe; Soubrier, Martin; Mathieu, Sylvain

2018-02-15

Alhough typically prescribed in oncology, bisphosphonates (BPs) are also employed in rheumatology, particularly for the treatment of osteoporosis, sometimes resulting in complications, such as osteonecrosis of the jaw. Because of different opinions between rheumatologists and dentists on BP use, this study aimed to assess the views of dentists regarding administration of BPs in rheumatology. A questionnaire was sent to 880 dentists from the Auvergne region of France to determine their views on BP treatment. We obtained 382 (43.4%) responses and analysed 376 (58.7% men). In total, 156 (41.5%) of the responders analysed had attended an in-service training course (ISTC) on the topic. A total of 237 (63.0%) systematically inquired as to whether their patients were undergoing BP treatment; this proportion was higher among those who had been practicing for fewer than 10 years (P < 0.004). For patients receiving BPs, 84.5% of practitioners felt ill at ease about performing dental surgery (n = 318) and 11% felt ill at ease about performing nonsurgical dental care (n = 41); 67% stated that their practice differed depending on the method of BP administration (per os or intravenously). Overall, 53.7% of practitioners felt uncomfortable when asked by a rheumatologist whether a given patient's dental status permitted prescription of BP (n = 202). This proportion was higher among those who had never attended an ISTC (62.6% vs. 50.7%; P < 0.03). Dentists feel ill at ease providing dental surgery to patients receiving BPs. Closer collaboration and better information-sharing between rheumatologists and dentists is necessary to facilitate the administration of BPs in rheumatology. © 2018 FDI World Dental Federation.

In vitro and in vivo estrogenic activity of BPA, BPF and BPS in zebrafish-specific assays.

PubMed

Le Fol, Vincent; Aït-Aïssa, Selim; Sonavane, Manoj; Porcher, Jean-Marc; Balaguer, Patrick; Cravedi, Jean-Pierre; Zalko, Daniel; Brion, François

2017-08-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical that has been extensively studied as an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC). Other bisphenols sharing close structural features with BPA, are increasingly being used as alternatives, increasing the need to assess associated hazards to the endocrine system. In the present study, the estrogenic activity of BPA, bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) was assessed by using a combination of zebrafish-specific mechanism-based in vitro and in vivo assays. The three bisphenols were found to efficiently transactivate all zebrafish estrogen receptor (zfER) subtypes in zebrafish hepatic reporter cell lines (ZELH-zfERs). BPA was selective for zfERα while BPS and BPF were slightly more potent on zfERβ subtypes. We further documented the estrogenic effect in vivo by quantifying the expression of brain aromatase using a transgenic cyp19a1b-GFP zebrafish embryo assay. All three bisphenols induced GFP in a concentration-dependent manner. BPS only partially induced brain aromatase at the highest tested concentrations (>30µM) while BPA and BPF strongly induced GFP, in an ER-dependent manner, at 1-10µM. Furthermore, we show that BPF strongly induced vitellogenin synthesis in adult male zebrafish. Overall, this study demonstrates the estrogenic activity of BPA, BPF and BPS in different cell- and tissue-contexts and at different stages of development. Differences between in vitro and in vivo responses are discussed in light of selective ER activation and the fate of the compounds in the models. This study confirms the relevance of combining cellular and whole-organism bioassays in a unique model species for the hazard assessment of candidate EDCs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Biomass Production System (BPS) Plant Growth Unit

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrow, R. C.; Crabb, T. M.

The Biomass Production System (BPS) was developed under the Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program to meet science, biotechnology and commercial plant growth needs in the Space Station era. The BPS is equivalent in size to a double middeck locker, but uses it's own custom enclosure with a slide out structure to which internal components mount. The BPS contains four internal growth chambers, each with a growing volume of more than 4 liters. Each of the growth chambers has active nutrient delivery, and independent control of temperature, humidity, lighting, and CO2 set-points. Temperature control is achieved using a thermoelectric heat exchanger system. Humidity control is achieved using a heat exchanger with a porous interface which can both humidify and dehumidify. The control software utilizes fuzzy logic for nonlinear, coupled temperature and humidity control. The fluorescent lighting system can be dimmed to provide a range of light levels. CO2 levels are controlled by injecting pure CO2 to the system based on input from an infrared gas analyzer. The unit currently does not scrub CO2, but has been designed to accept scrubber cartridges. In addition to providing environmental control, a number of features are included to facilitate science. The BPS chambers are sealed to allow CO2 and water vapor exchange measurements. The plant chambers can be removed to allow manipulation or sampling of specimens, and each chamber has gas/fluid sample ports. A video camera is provided for each chamber, and frame-grabs and complete environmental data for all science and hardware system sensors are stored on an internal hard drive. Data files can also be transferred to 3.5-inch disks using the front panel disk drive

User-only design to assess drug effectiveness in clinical practice: application to bisphosphonates and secondary prevention of fractures.

PubMed

Corrao, Giovanni; Ghirardi, Arianna; Segafredo, Giulia; Zambon, Antonella; Della Vedova, Gianluca; Lapi, Francesco; Cipriani, Francesco; Caputi, Achille; Vaccheri, Alberto; Gregori, Dario; Gesuita, Rosaria; Vestri, Annarita; Staniscia, Tommaso; Mazzaglia, Giampiero; Di Bari, Mauro

2014-08-01

Different strategies applicable to control for confounding by indication in observational studies were compared in a large population-based study regarding the effect of bisphosphonates (BPs) for secondary prevention of fractures. The cohort was drawn from healthcare utilization databases of 13 Italian territorial units. Patients aged 55 years or more who were hospitalized for fracture during 2003-2005 entered into the cohort. A nested case-control design was used to compare BPs use in cohort members who did (cases) and who did not experience (controls) a new fracture until 2007 (outcome). Three designs were employed: conventional-matching (D1 ), propensity score-matching (D2 ), and user-only (D3 ) designs. They differed for (i) cohort composition, restricted to patients who received BPs straight after cohort entry (D3 ); (ii) using propensity score for case-control matching (D2 ); and (iii) compared groups of BPs users versus no users (D1 and D2 ) and long-term versus short-term users (D3 ). Bisphosphonate users had odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 1.20 (1.01 to 1.44) and 0.95 (0.74 to 1.24) by applying D1 and D2 designs, respectively. Statistical evidence that long-term BPs use protects the outcome onset with respect to short-term use was observed for user-only design (D3 ) being the corresponding odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.64 (0.44 to 0.93). User-only design yielded closer results to those seen in RCTs. This approach is one possible strategy to account for confounding by indication. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of mechanical behaviour of the brachial artery on blood pressure measurement during both cuff inflation and cuff deflation.

PubMed

Zheng, Dingchang; Pan, Fan; Murray, Alan

2013-10-01

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different mechanical behaviour of the brachial artery on blood pressure (BP) measurements during cuff inflation and deflation. BP measurements were taken from each of 40 participants, with three repeat sessions under three randomized cuff deflation/inflation conditions. Cuff pressure was linearly deflated and inflated at a standard rate of 2-3 mmHg/s and also linearly inflated at a fast rate of 5-6 mmHg/s. Manual auscultatory systolic and diastolic BPs, and pulse pressure (SBP, DBP, PP) were measured. Automated BPs were determined from digitally recorded cuff pressures by fitting a polynomial model to the oscillometric pulse amplitudes. The BPs from cuff deflation and inflation were then compared. Repeatable measurements between sessions and between the sequential order of inflation/deflation conditions (all P > 0.1) indicated stability of arterial mechanical behaviour with repeat measurements. Comparing BPs obtained by standard inflation with those from standard deflation, manual SBP was 2.6 mmHg lower (P < 0.01), manual DBP was 1.5 mmHg higher (P < 0.01), manual PP was 4.2 mmHg lower (P < 0.001), automated DBP was 6.7 mmHg higher (P < 0.001) and automatic PP was 7.5 mmHg lower (P < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference for any automated BPs between fast and standard cuff inflation. The statistically significant BP differences between inflation and deflation suggest different arterial mechanical behaviour between arterial opening and closing during BP measurement. We have shown that the mechanical behaviour of the brachial artery during BP measurement differs between cuff deflation and cuff inflation.

Comparison of ferromagnetic induction and bipolar electrosurgery and suction in corticotomies in pig cerebrum.

PubMed

Bowers, Christian A; Burns, Greg; Salzman, Karen; McGill, Lawrence; MacDonald, Joel D

2015-04-01

The effects of newer energy-based surgical dissection and coagulation modalities on cerebral tissue have not been investigated. Several instruments have been developed to address the limitations of traditional electrosurgical instruments in the nervous system. We compared the effects of standard bipolar electrocautery and suction (BPS) with those of a new ferromagnetic induction (FMI) device in corticotomies of pig cerebral tissue as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analysis. Three adult pigs underwent bilateral corticotomies (3 cm long×1 cm deep) using both FMI and BPS. The acute cerebral tissue edema created by each method was measured on coronal volumetric T2-weighted MRI sequences immediately after surgery. A lateral thermal "damage index" was calculated by dividing the width of the visible T2 tissue edema by the measured depth. The radiographic damage indices with each method were compared statistically. Histological analysis of each incision was conducted to compare the extent of tissue damage. MRI showed that the mean radiographic damage index of each corticotomy was significantly lower with the FMI (0.30 ± 0.02 (0.28-0.32)) than with the BPS method (0.54 ± 0.11 (0.42-0.64)) (p = 0.02). Histological analysis suggested a correlation with the radiographic findings as the FMI tissue samples demonstrated less adjacent tissue damage than BPS. FMI appeared to cause less adjacent tissue damage than the BPS method in pig cerebral tissue based on quantitative radiographic and qualitative histological analysis. Future studies are needed to investigate the clinical implications of energy-based surgical dissection on cerebral tissue. Copyright © 2015 Surgical Associates Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Molecular Cloning and Sequence Analysis of a Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase Gene from Dendrobium

PubMed Central

Cai, Yongping; Lin, Yi

2013-01-01

In this study, a phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) gene was cloned from Dendrobium candidum using homology cloning and RACE. The full-length sequence and catalytic active sites that appear in PAL proteins of Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum are also found: PAL cDNA of D. candidum (designated Dc-PAL1, GenBank No. JQ765748) has 2,458 bps and contains a complete open reading frame (ORF) of 2,142 bps, which encodes 713 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of DcPAL1 has more than 80% sequence identity with the PAL genes of other plants, as indicated by multiple alignments. The dominant sites and catalytic active sites, which are similar to that showing in PAL proteins of Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana tabacum, are also found in DcPAL1. Phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that DcPAL is more closely related to PALs from orchidaceae plants than to those of other plants. The differential expression patterns of PAL in protocorm-like body, leaf, stem, and root, suggest that the PAL gene performs multiple physiological functions in Dendrobium candidum. PMID:23638048

Stability of the lepton bag model based on the Kerr–Newman solution

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Burinskii, A., E-mail: bur@ibrae.ac.ru

2015-11-15

We show that the lepton bag model considered in our previous paper [10], generating the external gravitational and electromagnetic fields of the Kerr–Newman (KN) solution, is supersymmetric and represents a BPS-saturated soliton interpolating between the internal vacuum state and the external KN solution. We obtain Bogomolnyi equations for this phase transition and show that the Bogomolnyi bound determines all important features of this bag model, including its stable shape. In particular, for the stationary KN solution, the BPS bound provides stability of the ellipsoidal form of the bag and the formation of the ring–string structure at its border, while formore » the periodic electromagnetic excitations of the KN solution, the BPS bound controls the deformation of the surface of the bag, reproducing the known flexibility of bag models.« less

Marginal Consistency: Upper-Bounding Partition Functions over Commutative Semirings.

PubMed

Werner, Tomás

2015-07-01

Many inference tasks in pattern recognition and artificial intelligence lead to partition functions in which addition and multiplication are abstract binary operations forming a commutative semiring. By generalizing max-sum diffusion (one of convergent message passing algorithms for approximate MAP inference in graphical models), we propose an iterative algorithm to upper bound such partition functions over commutative semirings. The iteration of the algorithm is remarkably simple: change any two factors of the partition function such that their product remains the same and their overlapping marginals become equal. In many commutative semirings, repeating this iteration for different pairs of factors converges to a fixed point when the overlapping marginals of every pair of factors coincide. We call this state marginal consistency. During that, an upper bound on the partition function monotonically decreases. This abstract algorithm unifies several existing algorithms, including max-sum diffusion and basic constraint propagation (or local consistency) algorithms in constraint programming. We further construct a hierarchy of marginal consistencies of increasingly higher levels and show than any such level can be enforced by adding identity factors of higher arity (order). Finally, we discuss instances of the framework for several semirings, including the distributive lattice and the max-sum and sum-product semirings.

A dynamic re-partitioning strategy based on the distribution of key in Spark

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Tianyu; Lian, Xin

2018-05-01

Spark is a memory-based distributed data processing framework, has the ability of processing massive data and becomes a focus in Big Data. But the performance of Spark Shuffle depends on the distribution of data. The naive Hash partition function of Spark can not guarantee load balancing when data is skewed. The time of job is affected by the node which has more data to process. In order to handle this problem, dynamic sampling is used. In the process of task execution, histogram is used to count the key frequency distribution of each node, and then generate the global key frequency distribution. After analyzing the distribution of key, load balance of data partition is achieved. Results show that the Dynamic Re-Partitioning function is better than the default Hash partition, Fine Partition and the Balanced-Schedule strategy, it can reduce the execution time of the task and improve the efficiency of the whole cluster.

Boston Public Schools K1 and K2 Programs Needs Assessment. Internal Report to the Department of Early Childhood, Boston Public Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Marshall, Nancy L.; Roberts, Joanne; Mills, Linda

2006-01-01

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) Department of Early Childhood commissioned a needs assessment of current kindergarten (K2) and preschool (K1) programs (1) to inform the BPS Department of Early Childhood about professional development needs to improve the quality of existing K1 and K2 programs; and (2) to inform the Department of additional…

Use of the EFPA Test Review Model by the UK and Issues Relating to the Internationalization of Test Standards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindley, Patricia A.; Bartram, Dave

2012-01-01

In this article, we present the background to the development of test reviewing by the British Psychological Society (BPS) in the United Kingdom. We also describe the role played by the BPS in the development of the EFPA test review model and its adaptation for use in test reviewing in the United Kingdom. We conclude with a discussion of lessons…

2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study: (BPS:12/14). Supporting Statement Part A. Request for OMB Review. OMB #1850-0631 v.8. Revised May 28, 2014

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Center for Education Statistics, 2014

2014-01-01

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), within the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Institute of Education Sciences, is requesting clearance for data collection materials and procedures for the full-scale collection of the 2012/14 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:12/14) first follow-up, including the student…

Modem design for a MOBILESAT terminal

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rice, M.; Miller, M. J.; Cowley, W. G.; Rowe, D.

1990-01-01

The implementation is described of a programmable digital signal processor based system, designed for use as a test bed in the development of a digital modem, codec, and channel simulator. Code was written to configure the system as a 5600 bps or 6600 bps QPSK modem. The test bed is currently being used in an experiment to evaluate the performance of digital speech over shadowed channels in the Australian mobile satellite (MOBILESAT) project.

Low concentrations of alendronate increase the local invasive potential of osteoblastic sarcoma cell lines via connexin 43 activation.

PubMed

Yoshitani, Kazuhiro; Kido, Akira; Honoki, Kanya; Akahane, Manabu; Fujii, Hiromasa; Tanaka, Yasuhito

2011-07-15

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are agents used for treating disorders of excessive bone resorption. In addition, due to their cell-killing activity, BPs were potent candidates for adjuvant cancer therapy. On the other hand, low-concentrations of BPs have been reported to increase cellular viability in several types of tumor cells. Therefore, we focused on the effect of BPs on cellular aggressiveness of malignant bone tumors at low concentrations. MTS assay was performed using osteosarcoma cell lines MG63 and HOS, fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080, and prostate cancer cell line PC3. All the cell lines showed toxicity at high concentrations. On the other hand, at lower concentrations, the cellular viabilities of HOS and MG63 were rather higher than those of untreated controls. Since this tendency was most evident, HOS was used for further assays, including cellular motility, bone resorption activity, and cathepsin K activity. The low-concentration of alendronate enhanced cellular viability and motility, which correlated with the expression of connexin 43 at the mRNA and protein levels. Interestingly, oleamide, a potent connexin 43 inhibitor, had an inhibitory effect on the enhanced proliferation. Our data suggest that alendronate may enhance the proliferation of osteoblastic cell line through connexin 43 activation. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Insights into Watson-Crick/Hoogsteen breathing dynamics and damage repair from the solution structure and dynamic ensemble of DNA duplexes containing m1A.

PubMed

Sathyamoorthy, Bharathwaj; Shi, Honglue; Zhou, Huiqing; Xue, Yi; Rangadurai, Atul; Merriman, Dawn K; Al-Hashimi, Hashim M

2017-05-19

In the canonical DNA double helix, Watson-Crick (WC) base pairs (bps) exist in dynamic equilibrium with sparsely populated (∼0.02-0.4%) and short-lived (lifetimes ∼0.2-2.5 ms) Hoogsteen (HG) bps. To gain insights into transient HG bps, we used solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, including measurements of residual dipolar couplings and molecular dynamics simulations, to examine how a single HG bp trapped using the N1-methylated adenine (m1A) lesion affects the structural and dynamic properties of two duplexes. The solution structure and dynamic ensembles of the duplexes reveals that in both cases, m1A forms a m1A•T HG bp, which is accompanied by local and global structural and dynamic perturbations in the double helix. These include a bias toward the BI backbone conformation; sugar repuckering, major-groove directed kinking (∼9°); and local melting of neighboring WC bps. These results provide atomic insights into WC/HG breathing dynamics in unmodified DNA duplexes as well as identify structural and dynamic signatures that could play roles in m1A recognition and repair. © The Author(s) 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

Peanut-shaped metallicity distributions in bulges of edge-on galaxies: the case of NGC 4710

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez, Oscar A.; Debattista, Victor P.; Ness, Melissa; Erwin, Peter; Gadotti, Dimitri A.

2017-03-01

Bulges of edge-on galaxies are often boxy/peanut-shaped (B/PS), and unsharp masks reveal the presence of an X shape. Simulations show that these shapes can be produced by dynamical processes driven by a bar which vertically thickens the centre. In the Milky Way, which contains such a B/PS bulge, the X-shaped structure is traced by the metal-rich stars but not by the metal-poor ones. Recently, Debattista et al. interpreted this property as a result of the varying effect of the bar on stellar populations with different starting kinematics. This kinematic fractionation model predicts that cooler populations at the time of bar formation go on to trace the X shape, whereas hotter populations are more uniformly distributed. As this prediction is not specific to the Milky Way, we test it with Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) observations of the B/PS bulge in the nearby galaxy NGC 4710. We show that the metallicity map is more peanut-shaped than the density distribution itself, in good agreement with the prediction. This result indicates that the X-shaped structure in B/PS bulges is formed of relatively metal-rich stars that have been vertically redistributed by the bar, whereas the metal-poor stars have a more uniform, box-shaped distribution.

Bisphenol A and other bisphenol analogues including BPS and BPF in surface water samples from Japan, China, Korea and India.

PubMed

Yamazaki, Eriko; Yamashita, Nobuyoshi; Taniyasu, Sachi; Lam, James; Lam, Paul K S; Moon, Hyo-Bang; Jeong, Yunsun; Kannan, Pranav; Achyuthan, Hema; Munuswamy, Natesan; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2015-12-01

Concentrations of eight bisphenol analogues (BPs) including BPA, BPS, and BPF were determined in surface waters collected from select rivers in Japan, Korea, China, and India. BPA was found at a concentration in the range of several tens to several hundreds of nanograms per liter in most of the rivers surveyed and some of the highest concentrations (54-1950 ng/L) were found in rivers in Chennai, India. Concentrations of BPF were one to two orders of magnitude higher than those of BPA in river and sea waters collected from Japan, Korea and China, which suggested that BPF is a major contaminant in surface waters in several Southeast Asian countries. BPF concentrations as high as 2850 ng/L were found in the Tamagawa River in Japan. The flux of BPs through riverine discharges into Tokyo Bay was calculated to be approximately 5.5 t per year. Based on the flux estimates and the mass of BPF found in water column and sediment in Tokyo Bay, it was found that BPF degrades faster than BPA in the environment. Elevated concentrations of BPF found in surface waters suggest the need for further studies to determine the fate and toxicity of this compound. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Orientation of liquid crystalline blue phases on unidirectionally orienting surfaces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takahashi, Misaki; Ohkawa, Takuma; Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Fukuda, Jun-ichi; Kikuchi, Hirostugu; Ozaki, Masanori

2018-03-01

Liquid crystalline cholesteric blue phases (BPs) continue to attract interest due to their fast response times and quasi-polarization-independent phase modulation capabilities. Various approaches have recently been proposed to control the crystal orientation of BPs on substrates; however, their basic orientation properties on standard, unidirectionally orienting alignment layers have not been investigated in detail. Through analysis of the azimuthal orientation of Kossel diagrams, we study the 3D crystal orientation of a BP material—with a phase sequence of cholesteric, BP I, and BP II—on unidirectionally orienting surfaces prepared using two methods: rubbing and photoalignment. BP II grown from the isotropic phase is sensitive to surface conditions, with different crystal planes orienting on the two substrates. On the other hand, strong thermal hysteresis is observed in BPs grown through a different liquid crystal phase, implying that the preceding structure determines the orientation. More specifically, the BP II-I transition is accompanied by a rotation of the crystal such that the crystal direction defined by certain low-value Miller indices transform into different directions, and within the allowed rotations, different azimuthal configurations are obtained in the same cell depending on the thermal process. Our findings demonstrate that, for the alignment control of BPs, the thermal process is as important as the properties of the alignment layer.

Insights into Watson–Crick/Hoogsteen breathing dynamics and damage repair from the solution structure and dynamic ensemble of DNA duplexes containing m1A

PubMed Central

Sathyamoorthy, Bharathwaj; Shi, Honglue; Zhou, Huiqing; Xue, Yi; Rangadurai, Atul; Merriman, Dawn K.

2017-01-01

Abstract In the canonical DNA double helix, Watson–Crick (WC) base pairs (bps) exist in dynamic equilibrium with sparsely populated (∼0.02–0.4%) and short-lived (lifetimes ∼0.2–2.5 ms) Hoogsteen (HG) bps. To gain insights into transient HG bps, we used solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, including measurements of residual dipolar couplings and molecular dynamics simulations, to examine how a single HG bp trapped using the N1-methylated adenine (m1A) lesion affects the structural and dynamic properties of two duplexes. The solution structure and dynamic ensembles of the duplexes reveals that in both cases, m1A forms a m1A•T HG bp, which is accompanied by local and global structural and dynamic perturbations in the double helix. These include a bias toward the BI backbone conformation; sugar repuckering, major-groove directed kinking (∼9°); and local melting of neighboring WC bps. These results provide atomic insights into WC/HG breathing dynamics in unmodified DNA duplexes as well as identify structural and dynamic signatures that could play roles in m1A recognition and repair. PMID:28369571

Effect of bisphosphonates on root resorption after tooth replantation - a systematic review.

PubMed

Najeeb, Shariq; Siddiqui, Fahad; Khurshid, Zohaib; Zohaib, Sana; Zafar, Muhammad Sohail; Ansari, Shazia Akbar

2017-04-01

Replantation of avulsed teeth may lead to root resorption. Bisphosphonates (BPs), a class of drugs of used to treat resorptive diseases of the bone such as osteoporosis and Paget's disease, have been observed to exert an antiresorptive effect on periodontal bone as well. The antiresorptive properties of BPs could prove them useful in preventing root resorption of replanted avulsed teeth. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze and summarize the currently available literature concerning the use of BPs in preventing root resorption of avulsed teeth. PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Embase databases were searched using keywords 'bisphosphonate', 'replantation', and 'tooth'. Quality assessment of each study was carried out. In addition, general characteristics and outcomes of each study were summarized. After exclusion of 116 irrelevant articles, 10 animal studies were included in this review. The majority of the studies suggest that surface application of zoledronate or alendronate reduces root resorption of replanted teeth in animal models. Surface treatment with etidronate had no significant effect on root resorption, and intracanal etidronate accelerated resorption. Surface application of zoledronate and alendronate reduces root resorption of replanted teeth in animal models. However, the efficacy of intracanal usage of BPs is still debatable. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Sandahl, I.; Eliasson, L.; Pellinen-Wannberg, A.

On the night of November 4, 1986, a very complex precipitation pattern was observed by Viking in the magnetic midnight sector over Scandinavia and Svalbard. The pass took place during a magnetic storm, and during substorm recovery phase. Going from north to south, the satellite first encountered a plasma region of BPS-type (name derived from boundary plasma sheet) and then a region of CPS type (derived from central plasma sheet). Then, however, a new region of BPS-type was traversed. The quite intense, most equatorward aurora corresponded to a plasma region which was not of ordinary CPS type but contained sharpmore » quasi-monoenergetic peaks. The high-latitude midnight sector was totally dominated by eastward convection. The Harang discontinuity had passed northern Scandinavia the first time as early as 17 to 20 MLT, more than three house before the Viking pass. It is suggested that the particle precipitation pattern and the general shape of the aurora as observed by the Viking imager can be explained in a natural way by the convection pattern. The northernmost BPS- and CPS-type regions originated in the morningside convection cell, while the more equatorward population of BPS type had drifted in from the eveningside. The interpretation is supported by ground-based measurements by EISCAT and magnetometers.« less

Inflammation and Tissue Remodeling in the Bladder and Urethra in Feline Interstitial Cystitis

PubMed Central

Kullmann, F. Aura; McDonnell, Bronagh M.; Wolf-Johnston, Amanda S.; Lynn, Andrew M.; Getchell, Samuel E.; Ruiz, Wily G.; Zabbarova, Irina V.; Ikeda, Youko; Kanai, Anthony J.; Roppolo, James R.; Bastacky, Sheldon I.; Apodaca, Gerard; Buffington, C. A. Tony; Birder, Lori A.

2018-01-01

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a debilitating chronic disease of unknown etiology. A naturally occurring disease termed feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) reproduces many features of IC/BPS patients. To gain insights into mechanisms underlying IC/BPS, we investigated pathological changes in the lamina propria (LP) of the bladder and proximal urethra in cats with FIC, using histological and molecular methods. Compared to control cat tissue, we found an increased number of de-granulated mast cells, accumulation of leukocytes, increased cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 expression in the bladder LP, and increased COX-2 expression in the urethra LP from cats with FIC. We also found increased suburothelial proliferation, evidenced by mucosal von Brunn’s nests, neovascularization and alterations in elastin content. Scanning electron microscopy revealed normal appearance of the superficial urethral epithelium, including the neuroendocrine cells (termed paraneurons), in FIC urethrae. Together, these histological findings suggest the presence of chronic inflammation of unknown origin leading to tissue remodeling. Since the mucosa functions as part of a “sensory network” and urothelial cells, nerves and other cells in the LP are influenced by the composition of the underlying tissues including the vasculature, the changes observed in the present study may alter the communication of sensory information between different cellular components. This type of mucosal signaling can also extend to the urethra, where recent evidence has revealed that the urethral epithelium is likely to be part of a signaling system involving paraneurons and sensory nerves. Taken together, our data suggest a more prominent role for chronic inflammation and tissue remodeling than previously thought, which may result in alterations in mucosal signaling within the urinary bladder and proximal urethra that may contribute to altered sensations and pain in cats and humans with this syndrome. PMID:29706873

Alendronate promotes bone formation by inhibiting protein prenylation in osteoblasts in rat tooth replantation model.

PubMed

Komatsu, Koichiro; Shimada, Akemi; Shibata, Tatsuya; Wada, Satoshi; Ideno, Hisashi; Nakashima, Kazuhisa; Amizuka, Norio; Noda, Masaki; Nifuji, Akira

2013-11-01

Bisphosphonates (BPs) are a major class of antiresorptive drug, and their molecular mechanisms of antiresorptive action have been extensively studied. Recent studies have suggested that BPs target bone-forming cells as well as bone-resorbing cells. We previously demonstrated that local application of a nitrogen-containing BP (N-BP), alendronate (ALN), for a short period of time increased bone tissue in a rat tooth replantation model. Here, we investigated cellular mechanisms of bone formation by ALN. Bone histomorphometry confirmed that bone formation was increased by local application of ALN. ALN increased proliferation of bone-forming cells residing on the bone surface, whereas it suppressed the number of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclasts in vivo. Moreover, ALN treatment induced more alkaline phosphatase-positive and osteocalcin-positive cells on the bone surface than PBS treatment. In vitro studies revealed that pulse treatment with ALN promoted osteocalcin expression. To track the target cells of N-BPs, we applied fluorescence-labeled ALN (F-ALN) in vivo and in vitro. F-ALN was taken into bone-forming cells both in vivo and in vitro. This intracellular uptake was inhibited by endocytosis inhibitors. Furthermore, the endocytosis inhibitor dansylcadaverine (DC) suppressed ALN-stimulated osteoblastic differentiation in vitro and it suppressed the increase in alkaline phosphatase-positive bone-forming cells and subsequent bone formation in vivo. DC also blocked the inhibition of Rap1A prenylation by ALN in the osteoblastic cells. These data suggest that local application of ALN promotes bone formation by stimulating proliferation and differentiation of bone-forming cells as well as inhibiting osteoclast function. These effects may occur through endocytic incorporation of ALN and subsequent inhibition of protein prenylation.

Refined counting of necklaces in one-loop N=4 SYM

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suzuki, Ryo

2017-06-01

We compute the grand partition function of N=4 SYM at one-loop in the SU(2) sector with general chemical potentials, extending the results of Pólya's theorem. We make use of finite group theory, applicable to all orders of perturbative 1 /N c expansion. We show that only the planar terms contribute to the grand partition function, which is therefore equal to the grand partition function of an ensemble of {XXX}_{1/2} spin chains. We discuss how Hagedorn temperature changes on the complex plane of chemical potentials.

Partition functions for heterotic WZW conformal field theories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gannon, Terry

1993-08-01

Thus far in the search for, and classification of, "physical" modular invariant partition functions ΣN LRχ Lχ R∗ the attention has been focused on the symmetric case where the holomorphic and anti-holomorphic sectors, and hence the characters χLand χR, are associated with the same Kac-Moody algebras ĝL = ĝR and levels κ L = κ R. In this paper we consider the more general possibility where ( ĝL, κ L) may not equal ( ĝR, κ R). We discuss which choices of algebras and levels may correspond to well-defined conformal field theories, we find the "smallest" such heterotic (i.e. asymmetric) partition functions, and we give a method, generalizing the Roberts-Terao-Warner lattice method, for explicitly constructing many other modular invariants. We conclude the paper by proving that this new lattice method will succeed in generating all the heterotic partition functions, for all choices of algebras and levels.

Beta-diversity of ectoparasites at two spatial scales: nested hierarchy, geography and habitat type.

PubMed

Warburton, Elizabeth M; van der Mescht, Luther; Stanko, Michal; Vinarski, Maxim V; Korallo-Vinarskaya, Natalia P; Khokhlova, Irina S; Krasnov, Boris R

2017-06-01

Beta-diversity of biological communities can be decomposed into (a) dissimilarity of communities among units of finer scale within units of broader scale and (b) dissimilarity of communities among units of broader scale. We investigated compositional, phylogenetic/taxonomic and functional beta-diversity of compound communities of fleas and gamasid mites parasitic on small Palearctic mammals in a nested hierarchy at two spatial scales: (a) continental scale (across the Palearctic) and (b) regional scale (across sites within Slovakia). At each scale, we analyzed beta-diversity among smaller units within larger units and among larger units with partitioning based on either geography or ecology. We asked (a) whether compositional, phylogenetic/taxonomic and functional dissimilarities of flea and mite assemblages are scale dependent; (b) how geographical (partitioning of sites according to geographic position) or ecological (partitioning of sites according to habitat type) characteristics affect phylogenetic/taxonomic and functional components of dissimilarity of ectoparasite assemblages and (c) whether assemblages of fleas and gamasid mites differ in their degree of dissimilarity, all else being equal. We found that compositional, phylogenetic/taxonomic, or functional beta-diversity was greater on a continental rather than a regional scale. Compositional and phylogenetic/taxonomic components of beta-diversity were greater among larger units than among smaller units within larger units, whereas functional beta-diversity did not exhibit any consistent trend regarding site partitioning. Geographic partitioning resulted in higher values of beta-diversity of ectoparasites than ecological partitioning. Compositional and phylogenetic components of beta-diversity were higher in fleas than mites but the opposite was true for functional beta-diversity in some, but not all, traits.

A New Spinel-Olivine Oxybarometer: Near-Liquidus Partitioning of V between Olivine-Melt, Spinel-Melt, and Spinel-Olivine in Martian Basalt Composition Y980459 as a Function of Oxygen Fugacity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Papike, J. J.; Le, L.; Burger, P. V.; Shearer, C. K.; Bell, A. S.; Jones, J.

2013-01-01

Our research on valence state partitioning began in 2005 with a review of Cr, Fe, Ti, and V partitioning among crystallographic sites in olivine, pyroxene, and spinel [1]. That paper was followed by several on QUE94201 melt composition and specifically on Cr, V, and Eu partitioning between pyroxene and melt [2-5]. This paper represents the continuation of our examination of the partitioning of multivalent V between olivine, spinel, and melt in martian olivine-phyric basalts of Y980459 composition [6, 7]. Here we introduce a new, potentially powerful oxybarometer, V partitioning between spinel and olivine, which can be used when no melt is preserved in the meteorite. The bulk composition of QUE94201 was ideal for our study of martian pyroxene-phyric basalts and specifically the partitioning between pyroxene-melt for Cr, V, and Eu. Likewise, bulk composition Y980459 is ideal for the study of martian olivine-phyric basalts and specifically for olivine-melt, spinel-melt, and spinel-olivine partitioning of V as a function of oxygen fugacity.

Heterotic sigma models on T 8 and the Borcherds automorphic form Φ 12

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Harrison, Sarah M.; Kachru, Shamit; Paquette, Natalie M.

Here, we consider the spectrum of BPS states of the heterotic sigma model with (0, 8) supersymmetry and T 8 target, as well as its second-quantized counterpart. We show that the counting function for such states is intimately related to Borcherds’ automorphic form Φ 12, a modular form which exhibits automorphy for O(2, 26; Ζ). Here, we comment on possible implications for Umbral moonshine and theories of AdS 3 gravity.

Heterotic sigma models on T 8 and the Borcherds automorphic form Φ 12

DOE PAGES

Harrison, Sarah M.; Kachru, Shamit; Paquette, Natalie M.; ...

2017-10-18

Here, we consider the spectrum of BPS states of the heterotic sigma model with (0, 8) supersymmetry and T 8 target, as well as its second-quantized counterpart. We show that the counting function for such states is intimately related to Borcherds’ automorphic form Φ 12, a modular form which exhibits automorphy for O(2, 26; Ζ). Here, we comment on possible implications for Umbral moonshine and theories of AdS 3 gravity.

Octanol-Water Partition Coefficient from 3D-RISM-KH Molecular Theory of Solvation with Partial Molar Volume Correction.

PubMed

Huang, WenJuan; Blinov, Nikolay; Kovalenko, Andriy

2015-04-30

The octanol-water partition coefficient is an important physical-chemical characteristic widely used to describe hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of chemical compounds. The partition coefficient is related to the transfer free energy of a compound from water to octanol. Here, we introduce a new protocol for prediction of the partition coefficient based on the statistical-mechanical, 3D-RISM-KH molecular theory of solvation. It was shown recently that with the compound-solvent correlation functions obtained from the 3D-RISM-KH molecular theory of solvation, the free energy functional supplemented with the correction linearly related to the partial molar volume obtained from the Kirkwood-Buff/3D-RISM theory, also called the "universal correction" (UC), provides accurate prediction of the hydration free energy of small compounds, compared to explicit solvent molecular dynamics [ Palmer , D. S. ; J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 2010 , 22 , 492101 ]. Here we report that with the UC reparametrized accordingly this theory also provides an excellent agreement with the experimental data for the solvation free energy in nonpolar solvent (1-octanol) and so accurately predicts the octanol-water partition coefficient. The performance of the Kovalenko-Hirata (KH) and Gaussian fluctuation (GF) functionals of the solvation free energy, with and without UC, is tested on a large library of small compounds with diverse functional groups. The best agreement with the experimental data for octanol-water partition coefficients is obtained with the KH-UC solvation free energy functional.

Structure-based biophysical analysis of the interaction of rhodopsin with G protein and arrestin.

PubMed

Sommer, Martha E; Elgeti, Matthias; Hildebrand, Peter W; Szczepek, Michal; Hofmann, Klaus Peter; Scheerer, Patrick

2015-01-01

In this chapter, we describe a set of complementary techniques that we use to study the activation of rhodopsin, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), and its functional interactions with G protein and arrestin. The protein reagents used for these studies come from native disc membranes or heterologous expression, and G protein and arrestin are often replaced with less complex synthetic peptides derived from key interaction sites of these binding partners (BPs). We first report on our approach to protein X-ray crystallography and describe how protein crystals from native membranes are obtained. The crystal structures provide invaluable resolution, but other techniques are required to assess the dynamic equilibria characteristic for active GPCRs. The simplest approach is "Extra Meta II," which uses UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy to monitor the equilibrium of photoactivated states. Site-specific information about the BPs (e.g., arrestin) is added by fluorescence techniques employing mutants labeled with reporter groups. All functional changes in both the receptor and interacting proteins or peptides are seen with highest precision using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) difference spectroscopy. In our approach, the lack of site-specific information in FTIR is overcome by parallel molecular dynamics simulations, which are employed to interpret the results and to extend the timescale down to the range of conformational substates. © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A Recursive Method for Calculating Certain Partition Functions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woodrum, Luther; And Others

1978-01-01

Describes a simple recursive method for calculating the partition function and average energy of a system consisting of N electrons and L energy levels. Also, presents an efficient APL computer program to utilize the recursion relation. (Author/GA)

[Methods of traditional chinese medicine in the treatment of patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome].

PubMed

Ignashov, A Yu; Deng, B; Kuzmin, I V; Slesarevskaya, M N

2018-03-01

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in alternative (complementary) treatments of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). This is due both to the high incidence of IC/BPS and to a lack of effectiveness of conventional treatments. One of the directions of alternative therapies is a traditional Chinese medicine using a special diet, various animal and plant-derived medicines, breathing exercises and acupuncture. This review analyzes the accumulated experience in using traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of patients with IC/BPS. The presented data indicate that these methods appear to be promising, since they are effective in a significant number of patients, lead to an improvement in their quality of life, are non-invasive and well tolerated. However, due to the lack of clinical studies, the efficacy of this treatment modalities needs to be confirmed.

“It’s Killing Us!” Narratives of Black Adults About Microaggression Experiences and Related Health Stress

PubMed Central

Hall, Joanne M.; Fields, Becky

2015-01-01

Perceived racism contributes to persistent health stress leading to health disparities. African American/Black persons (BPs) believe subtle, rather than overt, interpersonal racism is increasing. Sue and colleagues describe interpersonal racism as racial microaggressions: “routine” marginalizing indignities by White persons (WPs) toward BPs that contribute to health stress. In this narrative, exploratory study, Black adults (n = 10) were asked about specific racial microaggressions; they all experienced multiple types. Categorical and narrative analysis captured interpretations, strategies, and health stress attributions. Six iconic narratives contextualized health stress responses. Diverse mental and physical symptoms were attributed to racial microaggressions. Few strategies in response had positive outcomes. Future research includes development of coping strategies for BPs in these interactions, exploration of WPs awareness of their behaviors, and preventing racial microaggressions in health encounters that exacerbate health disparities. PMID:28462310

Effect of anxiety on behavioural pattern separation in humans

PubMed Central

Mathur, Ambika; Adu-Brimpong, Joel; Hale, Elizabeth A.; Ernst, Monique; Grillon, Christian

2016-01-01

Behavioural pattern separation (BPS), the ability to distinguish among similar stimuli based on subtle physical differences, has been used to study the mechanism underlying stimulus generalisation. Fear overgeneralisation is often observed in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder and other anxiety disorders. However, the relationship between anxiety and BPS remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of anxiety (threat of shock) on BPS, which was assessed across separate encoding and retrieval sessions. Images were encoded/retrieved during blocks of threat or safety in a 2 × 2 factorial design. During retrieval, participants indicated whether images were new, old, or altered. Better accuracy was observed for altered images encoded during periods of threat compared to safety, but only if those images were also retrieved during periods of safety. These results suggest that overgeneralisation in anxiety may be due to altered pattern separation. PMID:26480349

Partitioning of functional gene expression data using principal points.

PubMed

Kim, Jaehee; Kim, Haseong

2017-10-12

DNA microarrays offer motivation and hope for the simultaneous study of variations in multiple genes. Gene expression is a temporal process that allows variations in expression levels with a characterized gene function over a period of time. Temporal gene expression curves can be treated as functional data since they are considered as independent realizations of a stochastic process. This process requires appropriate models to identify patterns of gene functions. The partitioning of the functional data can find homogeneous subgroups of entities for the massive genes within the inherent biological networks. Therefor it can be a useful technique for the analysis of time-course gene expression data. We propose a new self-consistent partitioning method of functional coefficients for individual expression profiles based on the orthonormal basis system. A principal points based functional partitioning method is proposed for time-course gene expression data. The method explores the relationship between genes using Legendre coefficients as principal points to extract the features of gene functions. Our proposed method provides high connectivity in connectedness after clustering for simulated data and finds a significant subsets of genes with the increased connectivity. Our approach has comparative advantages that fewer coefficients are used from the functional data and self-consistency of principal points for partitioning. As real data applications, we are able to find partitioned genes through the gene expressions found in budding yeast data and Escherichia coli data. The proposed method benefitted from the use of principal points, dimension reduction, and choice of orthogonal basis system as well as provides appropriately connected genes in the resulting subsets. We illustrate our method by applying with each set of cell-cycle-regulated time-course yeast genes and E. coli genes. The proposed method is able to identify highly connected genes and to explore the complex dynamics of biological systems in functional genomics.

Kinetics of large-scale chromosomal movement during asymmetric cell division in Escherichia coli

PubMed Central

Männik, Jaana; O’Neill, Jordan C.

2017-01-01

Coordination between cell division and chromosome replication is essential for a cell to produce viable progeny. In the commonly accepted view, Escherichia coli realize this coordination via the accurate positioning of its cell division apparatus relative to the nucleoids. However, E. coli lacking proper positioning of its cell division planes can still successfully propagate. Here, we characterize how these cells partition their chromosomes into daughters during such asymmetric divisions. Using quantitative time-lapse imaging, we show that DNA translocase, FtsK, can pump as much as 80% (3.7 Mb) of the chromosome between daughters at an average rate of 1700±800 bp/s. Pauses in DNA translocation are rare, and in no occasions did we observe reversals at experimental time scales of a few minutes. The majority of DNA movement occurs at the latest stages of cell division when the cell division protein ZipA has already dissociated from the septum, and the septum has closed to a narrow channel with a diameter much smaller than the resolution limit of the microscope (~250 nm). Our data suggest that the narrow constriction is necessary for effective translocation of DNA by FtsK. PMID:28234902

The interrelationship between muscle oxygenation, muscle activation, and pulmonary oxygen uptake to incremental ramp exercise: influence of aerobic fitness.

PubMed

Boone, Jan; Barstow, Thomas J; Celie, Bert; Prieur, Fabrice; Bourgois, Jan

2016-01-01

We investigated whether muscle and ventilatory responses to incremental ramp exercise would be influenced by aerobic fitness status by means of a cross-sectional study with a large subject population. Sixty-four male students (age: 21.2 ± 3.2 years) with a heterogeneous peak oxygen uptake (51.9 ± 6.3 mL·min(-1)·kg(-1), range 39.7-66.2 mL·min(-1)·kg(-1)) performed an incremental ramp cycle test (20-35 W·min(-1)) to exhaustion. Breath-by-breath gas exchange was recorded, and muscle activation and oxygenation were measured with surface electromyography and near-infrared spectroscopy, respectively. The integrated electromyography (iEMG), mean power frequency (MPF), deoxygenated [hemoglobin and myoglobin] (deoxy[Hb+Mb]), and total[Hb+Mb] responses were set out as functions of work rate and fitted with a double linear function. The respiratory compensation point (RCP) was compared and correlated with the breakpoints (BPs) (as percentage of peak oxygen uptake) in muscle activation and oxygenation. The BP in total[Hb+Mb] (83.2% ± 3.0% peak oxygen uptake) preceded (P < 0.001) the BP in iEMG (86.7% ± 4.0% peak oxygen uptake) and MPF (86.3% ± 4.1% peak oxygen uptake), which in turn preceded (P < 0.01) the BP in deoxy[Hb+Mb] (88.2% ± 4.5% peak oxygen uptake) and RCP (87.4% ± 4.5% peak oxygen uptake). Furthermore, the peak oxygen uptake was significantly (P < 0.001) positively correlated to the BPs and RCP, indicating that the BPs in total[Hb+Mb] (r = 0.66; P < 0.001), deoxy[Hb+Mb] (r = 0.76; P < 0.001), iEMG (r = 0.61; P < 0.001), MPF (r = 0.63; P < 0.001), and RCP (r = 0.75; P < 0.001) occurred at a higher percentage of peak oxygen uptake in subjects with a higher peak oxygen uptake. In this study a close relationship between muscle oxygenation, activation, and pulmonary oxygen uptake was found, occurring in a cascade of events. In subjects with a higher aerobic fitness level this cascade occurred at a higher relative intensity.

Hydraulic geometry of the Platte River in south-central Nebraska

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eschner, T.R.

1982-01-01

At-a-station hydraulic-geometry of the Platte River in south-central Nebraska is complex. The range of exponents of simple power-function relations is large, both between different reaches of the river, and among different sections within a given reach. The at-a-station exponents plot in several fields of the b-f-m diagram, suggesting that morphologic and hydraulic changes with increasing discharge vary considerably. Systematic changes in the plotting positions of the exponents with time indicate that in general, the width exponent has decreased, although trends are not readily apparent in the other exponents. Plots of the hydraulic-geometry relations indicate that simple power functions are not the proper model in all instances. For these sections, breaks in the slopes of the hydraulic geometry relations serve to partition the data sets. Power functions fit separately to the partitioned data described the width-, depth-, and velocity-discharge relations more accurately than did a single power function. Plotting positions of the exponents from hydraulic geometry relations of partitioned data sets on b-f-m diagrams indicate that much of the apparent variations of plotting positions of single power functions results because the single power functions compromise both subsets of partitioned data. For several sections, the shape of the channel primarily accounts for the better fit of two-power functions to partitioned data than a single power function over the entire range of data. These non-log linear relations may have significance for channel maintenance. (USGS)

A strategy to load balancing for non-connectivity MapReduce job

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, Huaping; Liu, Guangzong; Gui, Haixia

2017-09-01

MapReduce has been widely used in large scale and complex datasets as a kind of distributed programming model. Original Hash partitioning function in MapReduce often results the problem of data skew when data distribution is uneven. To solve the imbalance of data partitioning, we proposes a strategy to change the remaining partitioning index when data is skewed. In Map phase, we count the amount of data which will be distributed to each reducer, then Job Tracker monitor the global partitioning information and dynamically modify the original partitioning function according to the data skew model, so the Partitioner can change the index of these partitioning which will cause data skew to the other reducer that has less load in the next partitioning process, and can eventually balance the load of each node. Finally, we experimentally compare our method with existing methods on both synthetic and real datasets, the experimental results show our strategy can solve the problem of data skew with better stability and efficiency than Hash method and Sampling method for non-connectivity MapReduce task.

Bronchopulmonary sequestration with massive pleural effusion: pleuroamniotic shunting vs intrafetal vascular laser ablation.

PubMed

Mallmann, M R; Geipel, A; Bludau, M; Matil, K; Gottschalk, I; Hoopmann, M; Müller, A; Bachour, H; Heydweiller, A; Gembruch, U; Berg, C

2014-10-01

To assess the incidence of complications among a relatively large cohort of fetuses with bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS) and the success of two different intrauterine treatment modalities. All cases with a prenatal diagnosis of BPS detected in a 10-year period (2002-2011) in two tertiary referral centers were reviewed retrospectively for intrauterine course and outcome. Up to May 2010 severe pleural effusions were treated with pleuroamniotic shunting. Thereafter, they were treated with ultrasound-guided laser coagulation of the feeding artery. A total of 41 fetuses with BPS were included in the study. In 29 (70.7%) there was no pleural effusion or hydrops and they were treated conservatively. In 19/29 (65.5%) there was partial or complete regression of the lesion during the course of pregnancy. All were born alive (median age at delivery, 38.3 (interquartile range (IQR), 34.0-39.6) weeks) and 16 (55.2%) required sequestrectomy. Intrauterine intervention was performed in all 12 (29.3%) fetuses with pleural effusion. Seven fetuses were treated with pleuroamniotic shunting. One fetus with severe hydrops died in utero. There was no complete regression in any case of BPS in this group. Six infants were born alive (median age, 37.2 (IQR, 30.3-37.4) weeks), of which five (83.3%) required sequestrectomy. Five fetuses were treated with laser ablation of the feeding vessel. In all cases of BPS there was regression after laser ablation. All infants were delivered at term (median age, 39.1 (IQR, 38.0-40.0) weeks). One (20.0%) neonate required sequestrectomy after birth. Following intrauterine shunt placement complete regression of the lesion was significantly less frequent (0/7 (0%) with shunt placement vs 4/5 (80%) with intrafetal laser treatment) and gestational age at birth was significantly lower, compared to treatment with intrafetal laser. Complete regression of the lesion was also significantly more frequent in the laser group compared to cases without intervention. In the absence of pleural effusion, the likelihood of spontaneous regression of BPS is high and the prognosis is therefore favorable. In cases with massive pleural effusion, treatment by laser ablation of the feeding vessel seems to be more effective than is pleuroamniotic shunting, with fewer complications. It might also reduce the need for postnatal surgery. Copyright © 2014 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Brightness and magnetic evolution of solar coronal bright points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ugarte-Urra, I.

2004-12-01

This thesis presents a study of the brightness and magnetic evolution of several Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) coronal bright points (hereafter BPs). BPs are loop-like features of enhanced emission in the coronal EUV and X-ray images of the Sun, that are associated to the interaction of opposite photospheric magnetic polarities with magnetic fluxes of ≈1018 - 1019 Mx. The study was carried out using several instruments on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO): the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EIT), the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) and the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI), supported by the high resolution imaging from the Transition Region And Coronal Explorer (TRACE). The results confirm that, down to 1'' (i.e. ~715 km) resolution, BPs are made of small loops with lengths of ~6 Mm and cross-sections of ~2 Mm. The loops are very dynamic, evolving in time scales as short as 1 - 2 minutes. This is reflected in a highly variable EUV response with fluctuations highly correlated in spectral lines at transition region temperatures (in the range 3.2x10^4 - 3.5x10^5 K), but not always at coronal temperatures. A wavelet analysis of the intensity variations reveals, for the first time, the existence of quasi-periodic oscillations with periods ranging 400 -- 1000 s, in the range of periods characteristic of the chromospheric network. The link between BPs and network bright points is discussed, as well as the interpretation of the oscillations in terms of global acoustic modes of closed magnetic structures. A comparison of the magnetic flux evolution of the magnetic polarities to the EUV flux changes is also presented. Throughout their lifetime, the intrinsic EUV emission of BPs is found to be dependent on the total magnetic flux of the polarities. In short time scales, co-spatial and co-temporal TRACE and MDI images, reveal the signature of heating events that produce sudden EUV brightenings simultaneous to magnetic flux cancellations. This is interpreted in terms of magnetic reconnection events. Finally, a electron density study of six coronal bright points produces values of ~1.6x109 cm-3, closer to active region plasma than to quiet Sun. The analysis of a large coronal loop (half length of 72 Mm) introduces the discussion on the prospects of future plasma diagnostics of BPs with forthcoming solar missions like Solar-B.

Subarcsecond bright points and quasi-periodic upflows below a quiescent filament observed by IRIS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, T.; Zhang, J.

2016-05-01

Context. The new Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) mission provides high-resolution observations of UV spectra and slit-jaw images (SJIs). These data have become available for investigating the dynamic features in the transition region (TR) below the on-disk filaments. Aims: The driver of "counter-streaming" flows along the filament spine is still unknown yet. The magnetic structures and the upflows at the footpoints of the filaments and their relations with the filament mainbody have not been well understood. We study the dynamic evolution at the footpoints of filaments in order to find some clues for solving these questions. Methods: Using UV spectra and SJIs from the IRIS, along with coronal images and magnetograms from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we present the new features in a quiescent filament channel: subarcsecond bright points (BPs) and quasi-periodic upflows. Results: The BPs in the TR have a spatial scale of about 350-580 km and lifetimes of more than several tens of minutes. They are located at stronger magnetic structures in the filament channel with a magnetic flux of about 1017-1018 Mx. Quasi-periodic brightenings and upflows are observed in the BPs, and the period is about 4-5 min. The BP and the associated jet-like upflow comprise a "tadpole-shaped" structure. The upflows move along bright filament threads, and their directions are almost parallel to the spine of the filament. The upflows initiated from the BPs with opposite polarity magnetic fields have opposite directions. The velocity of the upflows in the plane of sky is about 5-50 km s-1. The emission line of Si IV 1402.77 Å at the locations of upflows exhibits obvious blueshifts of about 5-30 km s-1, and the line profile is broadened with the width of more than 20 km s-1. Conclusions: The BPs seem to be the bases of filament threads, and the upflows are able to convey mass for the dynamic balance of the filament. The "counter-streaming" flows in previous observations may be caused by the propagation of bi-directional upflows initiated from opposite polarity magnetic fields. We suggest that quasi-periodic brightenings of BPs and quasi-periodic upflows result from small-scale oscillatory magnetic reconnections, which are modulated by solar p-mode waves.

Dominant partition method. [based on a wave function formalism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dixon, R. M.; Redish, E. F.

1979-01-01

By use of the L'Huillier, Redish, and Tandy (LRT) wave function formalism, a partially connected method, the dominant partition method (DPM) is developed for obtaining few body reductions of the many body problem in the LRT and Bencze, Redish, and Sloan (BRS) formalisms. The DPM maps the many body problem to a fewer body one by using the criterion that the truncated formalism must be such that consistency with the full Schroedinger equation is preserved. The DPM is based on a class of new forms for the irreducible cluster potential, which is introduced in the LRT formalism. Connectivity is maintained with respect to all partitions containing a given partition, which is referred to as the dominant partition. Degrees of freedom corresponding to the breakup of one or more of the clusters of the dominant partition are treated in a disconnected manner. This approach for simplifying the complicated BRS equations is appropriate for physical problems where a few body reaction mechanism prevails.

The degradability of biodegradable plastics in aerobic and anaerobic waste landfill model reactors.

PubMed

Ishigaki, Tomonori; Sugano, Wataru; Nakanishi, Akane; Tateda, Masafumi; Ike, Michihiko; Fujita, Masanori

2004-01-01

Degradabilities of four kinds of commercial biodegradable plastics (BPs), polyhydroxybutyrate and hydroxyvalerate (PHBV) plastic, polycaprolactone plastic (PCL), blend of starch and polyvinyl alcohol (SPVA) plastic and cellulose acetate (CA) plastic were investigated in waste landfill model reactors that were operated as anaerobically and aerobically. The application of forced aeration to the landfill reactor for supplying aerobic condition could potentially stimulate polymer-degrading microorganisms. However, the individual degradation behavior of BPs under the aerobic condition was completely different. PCL, a chemically synthesized BP, showed film breakage under the both conditions, which may have contributed to a reduction in the waste volume regardless of aerobic or anaerobic conditions. Effective degradation of PHBV plastic was observed in the aerobic condition, though insufficient degradation was observed in the anaerobic condition. But the aeration did not contribute much to accelerate the volume reduction of SPVA plastic and CA plastic. It could be said that the recalcitrant portions of the plastics such as polyvinyl alcohol in SPVA plastic and the highly substituted CA in CA plastic prevented the BP from degradation. These results indicated existence of the great variations in the degradability of BPs in aerobic and anaerobic waste landfills, and suggest that suitable technologies for managing the waste landfill must be combined with utilization of BPs in order to enhance the reduction of waste volume in landfill sites.

Production of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins by small-cell lung cancer cell lines

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jaques, G.; Kiefer, P.; Rotsch, M.

1989-10-01

Conditioned serum-free media (CM) from small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines were examined for the presence of insulin-like growth-factor-binding proteins (IGF-BP). 6/9 SCLC cell lines secreted binding proteins with high affinity for IGFs. When ({sup 125}I)IGF-1 or ({sup 125}I)IGF-II was incubated with the CMs, complexes of tracer with proteins could be demonstrated by gel filtration, by precipitation with polyethylenglycol, and after adsorption of unbound tracer with activated charcoal. Analysis of binding data according to the method of Scatchard resulted in linear plots for IGF-I and IGF-II. Cross-linking of ({sup 125}I)IGF-I or ({sup 125}I)IGF-II to the CMs followed by sodium dodecylmore » sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) under nonreducing conditions revealed the presence of IGF-BPs with molecular masses in the range of 24-32 kDa. Northern blot hybridization with an IGF-BP cDNA probe encoding a low-molecular-weight IGF-BP from a human placenta cDNA library and Western blot analysis with a corresponding polyclonal antibody showed no expression of this gene. These data demonstrate that SCLC cell lines release IGF-BPs in culture supernatants, which differ from IGF-BPs detected in liver and placenta. These IGF-BPs might be important mediators in the autocrine/paracrine growth regulation of IGFs in SCLC.« less

Urinary Bladder Distention Evoked Visceromotor Responses as a Model for Bladder Pain in Mice

PubMed Central

Sadler, Katelyn E.; Stratton, Jarred M.; Kolber, Benedict J.

2014-01-01

Approximately 3-8 million people in the United States suffer from interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), a debilitating condition characterized by increased urgency and frequency of urination, as well as nocturia and general pelvic pain, especially upon bladder filling or voiding. Despite years of research, the cause of IC/BPS remains elusive and treatment strategies are unable to provide complete relief to patients. In order to study nervous system contributions to the condition, many animal models have been developed to mimic the pain and symptoms associated with IC/BPS. One such murine model is urinary bladder distension (UBD). In this model, compressed air of a specific pressure is delivered to the bladder of a lightly anesthetized animal over a set period of time. Throughout the procedure, wires in the superior oblique abdominal muscles record electrical activity from the muscle. This activity is known as the visceromotor response (VMR) and is a reliable and reproducible measure of nociception. Here, we describe the steps necessary to perform this technique in mice including surgical manipulations, physiological recording, and data analysis. With the use of this model, the coordination between primary sensory neurons, spinal cord secondary afferents, and higher central nervous system areas involved in bladder pain can be unraveled. This basic science knowledge can then be clinically translated to treat patients suffering from IC/BPS. PMID:24798516

Link Power Budget and Traffict QoS Performance Analysis of Gygabit Passive Optical Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ubaidillah, A.; Alfita, R.; Toyyibah

2018-01-01

Data service of telecommunication network is needed widely in the world; therefore extra wide bandwidth must be provided. For this case, PT. Telekomunikasi Tbk. applies GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network) as optical fibre based on telecommunication network system. GPON is a point to a multipoint technology of FTTx (Fiber to The x) that transmits information signals to the subscriber over optical fibre. In GPON trunking system, from OLT (Optical Line Terminal), the network is split to many ONT (Optical Network Terminal) of the subscribers, so it causes path loss and attenuation. In this research, the GPON performance is measured from the link power budget system and the Quality of Service (QoS) of the traffic. And the observation result shows that the link power budget system of this GPON is in good condition. The link power budget values from the mathematical calculation and direct measurement are satisfy the ITU-T G984 Class B standard, that the power level must be between -8 dBm to -27 dBm. While from the traffic performance, the observation result shows that the network resource utility of the subscribers of the observed area is not optimum. The mean of subscriber utility rate is 27.985 bps for upstream and 79.687 bps for downstream. While maximally, It should be 60.800 bps for upstream and 486.400 bps for downstream.

Circulation of influenza in backyard productive systems in central Chile and evidence of spillover from wild birds.

PubMed

Jimenez-Bluhm, Pedro; Di Pillo, Francisca; Bahl, Justin; Osorio, Jorge; Schultz-Cherry, Stacey; Hamilton-West, Christopher

2018-05-01

Backyard productive systems (BPS) are recognized as the most common form of animal production in the world. However, BPS frequently exhibit inherent biosecurity deficiencies, and could play a major role in the epidemiology of animal diseases and zoonoses. The aim of this study was to determine if influenza A viruses (IAV) were prevalent in backyard poultry and swine BPS in central Chile. Through active surveillance in Valparaiso and Metropolitan regions from 2012 - 2014, we found that influenza virus positivity by real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) ranged from 0% during winter 2012-45.8% during fall 2014 at the farm level. We also obtained an H12 hemagglutinin (HA) sequence of wild bird origin from a domestic Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata), indicating spillover from wild birds into backyard poultry populations. Furthermore, a one-year sampling effort in 113 BPS in the Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins (LGB ÓHiggins) region showed that 12.6% of poultry and 2.4% of swine were positive for IAV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indicative of previous exposure of farm animals to IAV. This study highlights the need for improved IAV surveillance in backyard populations given the close interaction between domestic animals, wild birds and people in these farms, particularly in an understudied region, like South America. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The effect of heat shrink treatment and storage temperature on the time of onset of "blown pack" spoilage.

PubMed

Moschonas, Galatios; Bolton, Declan J; Sheridan, James J; McDowell, David A

2011-02-01

This study determined the effects of (a) the short "heat shrink" treatment frequently applied to vacuum packed meats within normal commercial production, and (b) chill holding storage temperature, on the subsequent time to onset (TTO) of "blown pack" spoilage (BPS). Beef or lamb steaks were inoculated with 10³ CFU/cm² of spore suspensions of five gas producing clostridia, vacuum packed (VP) and treated as follows: no heat, 50°C/15 s, 70°C/10 s or 90°C/3 s. Samples were stored at -1.5, 1 or 4°C and examined daily to determine TTO of BPS. For each strain, pack treatment and storage temperature had significant (P<0.05 and P<0.001 respectively) effects on TTO of BPS, i.e. 90°C/3 s<70°C/10 s<50°C/15 s≤"no heat", and 4°C<1°C<-1.5°C. The study suggested that the meat industry could reduce the risks of BPS by avoiding higher temperature (90°C/3 s or 70°C/10 s) heat shrinking, and by storing VP meats at lower temperatures (e.g. -1.5°C). Copyright © 2010 The American Meat Science Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Zoledronate promotes bone formation by blocking osteocyte-osteoblast communication during bone defect healing.

PubMed

Cui, Pingping; Liu, Hongrui; Sun, Jing; Amizuka, Norio; Sun, Qinfeng; Li, Minqi

2018-01-01

Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates (N-BPs) are potent antiresorptive drugs and their actions on osteoclasts have been studied extensively. Recent studies have suggested that N-BPs also target bone-forming cells. However, the precise mechanism of N-BPs in osteoblasts is paradoxical, and the specific role of osteocytes is worthy of in-depth study. Here, we investigated the cellular mechanisms of N-BPs regulating bone defect healing by zoledronate (ZA). Bone histomorphometry confirmed an increase in new bone formation by systemic ZA administration. ZA induced more alkaline phosphatase-positive osteoblasts and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts residing on the bone surface. Inexplicably, ZA increased SOST expression in osteocytes embedded in the bone matrix, which was not compatible with the intense osteoblast activity on the bone surface. ZA induced heterogeneous osteocytes and disturbed the distribution of the osteocytic-canalicular system (OLCS). Furthermore, according to the degree of OLCS regularity, dentin matrix protein 1 reactivity had accumulated around osteocytes in the ZA group, but it was distributed evenly in the OLCS of the control group. The control group showed a dense array of the gap junction protein connexin 43. However, connexin 43 was extremely sparse after ZA administration. In summary, ZA treatment reduces gap junction connections and blocks cellular communication between osteocytes and osteoblasts. Retaining SOST expression in osteocytes leads to activation of the Wnt signaling pathway and subsequent bone formation.

Isolation, Characterization, and Bioinformatic Analyses of Lytic Salmonella Enteritidis Phages and Tests of Their Antibacterial Activity in Food.

PubMed

Han, Han; Wei, Xiaoting; Wei, Yi; Zhang, Xiufeng; Li, Xuemin; Jiang, Jinzhong; Wang, Ran

2017-02-01

Salmonella Enteritidis remains a major threat for food safety. To take efforts to develop phage-based biocontrol for S. Enteritidis contamination in food, in this study, the phages against S. Enteritidis were isolated from sewage samples, characterized by host range assays, DNA restriction enzyme pattern analyses, and transmission electron microscope observations, and tested for antibacterial activity in food; some potent phages were further characterized by bioinformatic analyses. Results showed that based on the plaque quality and host range, seven lytic phages targeting S. Enteritidis were selected, considered as seven distinct phages through DNA physical maps, and classified as Myoviridae or Siphoviridae family by morphologic observations; the combined use of such seven strain phages as a "food additive" could succeed in controlling the artificial S. Enteritidis contamination in the different physical forms of food at a range of temperatures; by bioinformatic analyses, both selected phage BPS 11 Q 3 and BPS 15 Q 2 seemed to be newfound obligate lytic phage strains with no indications for any potentially harmful genes in their genomes. In conclusion, our results showed a potential of isolated phages as food additives for controlling S. Enteritidis contamination in some salmonellosis outbreak-associated food vehicles, and there could be minimized potential risk associated with using BPS 11 Q 3 and BPS 15 Q 2 in food.

Bisphenol A and its structural analogues in household waste paper.

PubMed

Pivnenko, K; Pedersen, G A; Eriksson, E; Astrup, T F

2015-10-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical produced in large volumes. Its main use is associated with polycarbonate plastic, epoxy resins and thermal paper. In contrast to other applications, thermal paper contains BPA in its un-reacted form as an additive, which is subjected to migration. Receiving a significant amount of attention from the scientific community and beyond, due to its controversial endocrine-disrupting effects, the industry is attempting to substitute BPA in variety of applications. Alternative phenolic compounds have been proposed for use in thermal paper; however, information to what extent BPA alternatives have been used in paper is sparse. The aim of the present work was to quantify BPA and its alternatives (bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol E (BPE), bisphenol B (BPB), 4-cumylphenol (HPP) and bisphenol F (BPF)) in waste paper and board from Danish households, thermal paper receipts, non-carbon copy paper and conventional printer paper. BPA was found in all waste paper samples analysed, while BPS was identified in 73% of them. Only BPB was not identified in any of the samples. BPA and BPS were found in the majority of the receipts, which contained no measurable concentrations of the remaining alternatives. Although receipts showed the highest concentrations of BPA and BPS, office paper, flyers and corrugated boxes, together with receipts, represented the major flux of the two compounds in waste paper streams. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multiple Method Analysis of TiO2 Nanoparticle Uptake in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Plants.

PubMed

Deng, Yingqing; Petersen, Elijah J; Challis, Katie E; Rabb, Savelas A; Holbrook, R David; Ranville, James F; Nelson, Bryant C; Xing, Baoshan

2017-09-19

Understanding the translocation of nanoparticles (NPs) into plants is challenging because qualitative and quantitative methods are still being developed and the comparability of results among different methods is unclear. In this study, uptake of titanium dioxide NPs and larger bulk particles (BPs) in rice plant (Oryza sativa L.) tissues was evaluated using three orthogonal techniques: electron microscopy, single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (spICP-MS) with two different plant digestion approaches, and total elemental analysis using ICP optical emission spectroscopy. In agreement with electron microscopy results, total elemental analysis of plants exposed to TiO 2 NPs and BPs at 5 and 50 mg/L concentrations revealed that TiO 2 NPs penetrated into the plant root and resulted in Ti accumulation in above ground tissues at a higher level compared to BPs. spICP-MS analyses revealed that the size distributions of internalized particles differed between the NPs and BPs with the NPs showing a distribution with smaller particles. Acid digestion resulted in higher particle numbers and the detection of a broader range of particle sizes than the enzymatic digestion approach, highlighting the need for development of robust plant digestion procedures for NP analysis. Overall, there was agreement among the three techniques regarding NP and BP penetration into rice plant roots and spICP-MS showed its unique contribution to provide size distribution information.

Determination of octanol-air partition coefficients and supercooled liquid vapor pressures of PAHs as a function of temperature: Application to gas-particle partitioning in an urban atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Odabasi, Mustafa; Cetin, Eylem; Sofuoglu, Aysun

Octanol-air partition coefficients ( KOA) for 14 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined as a function of temperature using the gas chromatographic retention time method. log KOA values at 25° ranged over six orders of magnitude, between 6.34 (acenaphthylene) and 12.59 (dibenz[ a,h]anthracene). The determined KOA values were within factor of 0.7 (dibenz[ a,h]anthracene) to 15.1 (benz[ a]anthracene) of values calculated as the ratio of octanol-water partition coefficient to dimensionless Henry's law constant. Supercooled liquid vapor pressures ( PL) of 13 PAHs were also determined using the gas chromatographic retention time technique. Activity coefficients in octanol calculated using KOA and PL ranged between 3.2 and 6.2 indicating near-ideal solution behavior. Atmospheric concentrations measured in this study in Izmir, Turkey were used to investigate the partitioning of PAHs between particle and gas-phases. Experimental gas-particle partition coefficients ( Kp) were compared to the predictions of KOA absorption and KSA (soot-air partition coefficient) models. Octanol-based absorptive partitioning model predicted lower partition coefficients especially for relatively volatile PAHs. Ratios of measured/modeled partition coefficients ranged between 1.1 and 15.5 (4.5±6.0, average±SD) for KOA model. KSA model predictions were relatively better and measured to modeled ratios ranged between 0.6 and 5.6 (2.3±2.7, average±SD).

Computer code for controller partitioning with IFPC application: A user's manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schmidt, Phillip H.; Yarkhan, Asim

1994-01-01

A user's manual for the computer code for partitioning a centralized controller into decentralized subcontrollers with applicability to Integrated Flight/Propulsion Control (IFPC) is presented. Partitioning of a centralized controller into two subcontrollers is described and the algorithm on which the code is based is discussed. The algorithm uses parameter optimization of a cost function which is described. The major data structures and functions are described. Specific instructions are given. The user is led through an example of an IFCP application.

The two ∇6 R 4 type invariants and their higher order generalisation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bossard, Guillaume; Verschinin, Valentin

2015-07-01

We show that there are two distinct classes of ∇6 R 4 type supersymmetry invariants in maximal supergravity. The second class includes a coupling in F 2∇4 R 4 that generalises to 1/8 BPS protected F 2 k ∇4 R 4 couplings. We work out the supersymmetry constraints on the corresponding threshold functions, and argue that the functions in the second class satisfy to homogeneous differential equations for arbitrary k ≥ 1, such that the corresponding exact threshold functions in type II string theory should be proportional to Eisenstein series, which we identify. This analysis explains in particular that the exact ∇6 R 4 threshold function is the sum of an Eisenstein function and a solution to an inhomogeneous Poisson equation in string theory.

An Investigation of Document Partitions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Shaw, W. M., Jr.

1986-01-01

Empirical significance of document partitions is investigated as a function of index term-weight and similarity thresholds. Results show the same empirically preferred partitions can be detected by two independent strategies: an analysis of cluster-based retrieval analysis and an analysis of regularities in the underlying structure of the document…

ESTIMATING DISSOLVED ORGANIC CARBON PARTITION COEFFICIENTS FOR NONIONIC ORGANIC CHEMICALS

EPA Science Inventory

A literature search was performed for dissolved organic carbon/water partition coefficients for nonionic chemicals (Kdoc) and Kdoc data was taken from more than sixty references. The Kdoc data were evaluated as a function of the n-octanol/water partition coefficients (Kow). A pre...

Complex Chern-Simons Theory at Level k via the 3d-3d Correspondence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dimofte, Tudor

2015-10-01

We use the 3d-3d correspondence together with the DGG construction of theories T n [ M] labelled by 3-manifolds M to define a non-perturbative state-integral model for Chern-Simons theory at any level k, based on ideal triangulations. The resulting partition functions generalize a widely studied k = 1 state-integral, as well as the 3d index, which is k = 0. The Chern-Simons partition functions correspond to partition functions of T n [ M] on squashed lens spaces L( k, 1). At any k, they admit a holomorphic-antiholomorphic factorization, corresponding to the decomposition of L( k, 1) into two solid tori, and the associated holomorphic block decomposition of the partition functions of T n [ M]. A generalization to L( k, p) is also presented. Convergence of the state integrals, for any k, requires triangulations to admit a positive angle structure; we propose that this is also necessary for the DGG gauge theory T n [ M] to flow to a desired IR SCFT.

Intron Definition and a Branch Site Adenosine at nt 385 Control RNA Splicing of HPV16 E6*I and E7 Expression

PubMed Central

Ajiro, Masahiko; Jia, Rong; Zhang, Lifang; Liu, Xuefeng; Zheng, Zhi-Ming

2012-01-01

HPV16 E6 and E7, two viral oncogenes, are expressed from a single bicistronic pre-mRNA. In this report, we provide the evidence that the bicistronic pre-mRNA intron 1 contains three 5′ splice sites (5′ ss) and three 3′ splice sites (3′ ss) normally used in HPV16+ cervical cancer and its derived cell lines. The choice of two novel alternative 5′ ss (nt 221 5′ ss and nt 191 5′ ss) produces two novel isoforms of E6E7 mRNAs (E6*V and E6*VI). The nt 226 5′ ss and nt 409 3′ ss is preferentially selected over the other splice sites crossing over the intron to excise a minimal length of the intron in RNA splicing. We identified AACAAAC as the preferred branch point sequence (BPS) and an adenosine at nt 385 (underlined) in the BPS as a branch site to dictate the selection of the nt 409 3′ ss for E6*I splicing and E7 expression. Introduction of point mutations into the mapped BPS led to reduced U2 binding to the BPS and thereby inhibition of the second step of E6E7 splicing at the nt 409 3′ ss. Importantly, the E6E7 bicistronic RNA with a mutant BPS and inefficient splicing makes little or no E7 and the resulted E6 with mutations of 91QYNK94 to 91PSFW94 displays attenuate activity on p53 degradation. Together, our data provide structural basis of the E6E7 intron 1 for better understanding of how viral E6 and E7 expression is regulated by alternative RNA splicing. This study elucidates for the first time a mapped branch point in HPV16 genome involved in viral oncogene expression. PMID:23056301

A systematic review of recent clinical practice guidelines and best practice statements for the evaluation of the infertile male.

PubMed

Esteves, Sandro C; Chan, Peter

2015-09-01

We systematically identified and reviewed the methods and consistency of recommendations of recently developed clinical practice guidelines (CPG) and best practice statements (BPS) on the evaluation of the infertile male. MEDLINE and related engines as well as guidelines' Web sites were searched for CPG and BPS written in English on the general evaluation of male infertility published between January 2008 and April 2015. Four guidelines were identified, all of which reported to have been recently updated. Systematic review was not consistently used in the BPS despite being reported in the CPG. Only one of them reported having a patient representative in its development team. The CPG issued by the European Association of Urology (EAU) graded some recommendations and related that to levels (but not quality) of evidence. Overall, the BPS issued respectively by the American Urological Association and American Society for Reproductive Medicine concurred with each other, but both differed from the EAU guidelines with regard to methods of collection, extraction and interpretation of data. None of the guidelines incorporated health economics. Important specific limitations of conventional semen analysis results were ignored by all guidelines. Besides variation in the methodological quality, implementation strategies were not reported in two out of four guidelines. While the various panels of experts who contributed to the development of the CPG and BPS reviewed should be commended on their tremendous efforts aiming to establish a clinical standard in both the evaluation and management of male infertility, we recognized inconsistencies in the methodology of their synthesis and in the contents of their final recommendations. These discrepancies pose a barrier in the general implementation of these guidelines and may limit their utility in standardizing clinical practice or improving health-related outcomes. Continuous efforts are needed to generate high-quality evidence to allow further development of these important guidelines for the evaluation and management of males suffering from infertility.

Brightness and magnetic evolution of solar coronal bright points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ugarte Urra, Ignacio

This thesis presents a study of the brightness and magnetic evolution of several Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) coronal bright points (hereafter BPs). The study was carried out using several instruments on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, supported by the high resolution imaging from the Transition Region And Coronal Explorer. The results confirm that, down to 1" resolution, BPs are made of small loops with lengths of [approximate]6 Mm and cross-sections of ≈2 Mm. The loops are very dynamic, evolving in time scales as short as 1 - 2 minutes. This is reflected in a highly variable EUV response with fluctuations highly correlated in spectral lines at transition region temperatures, but not always at coronal temperatures. A wavelet analysis of the intensity variations reveals the existence of quasi-periodic oscillations with periods ranging 400--1000s, in the range of periods characteristic of the chromospheric network. The link between BPs and network bright points is discussed, as well as the interpretation of the oscillations in terms of global acoustic modes of closed magnetic structures. A comparison of the magnetic flux evolution of the magnetic polarities to the EUV flux changes is also presented. Throughout their lifetime, the intrinsic EUV emission of BPs is found to be dependent on the total magnetic flux of the polarities. In short time scales, co-spatial and co-temporal coronal images and magnetograms, reveal the signature of heating events that produce sudden EUV brightenings simultaneous to magnetic flux cancellations. This is interpreted in terms of magnetic reconnection events. Finally, a electron density study of six coronal bright points produces values of ≈1.6×10 9 cm -3 , closer to active region plasma than to quiet Sun. The analysis of a large coronal loop (half length of 72 Mm) introduces the discussion on the prospects of future plasma diagnostics of BPs with forthcoming solar missions.

Drug Distribution. Part 1. Models to Predict Membrane Partitioning.

PubMed

Nagar, Swati; Korzekwa, Ken

2017-03-01

Tissue partitioning is an important component of drug distribution and half-life. Protein binding and lipid partitioning together determine drug distribution. Two structure-based models to predict partitioning into microsomal membranes are presented. An orientation-based model was developed using a membrane template and atom-based relative free energy functions to select drug conformations and orientations for neutral and basic drugs. The resulting model predicts the correct membrane positions for nine compounds tested, and predicts the membrane partitioning for n = 67 drugs with an average fold-error of 2.4. Next, a more facile descriptor-based model was developed for acids, neutrals and bases. This model considers the partitioning of neutral and ionized species at equilibrium, and can predict membrane partitioning with an average fold-error of 2.0 (n = 92 drugs). Together these models suggest that drug orientation is important for membrane partitioning and that membrane partitioning can be well predicted from physicochemical properties.

Statistical mechanics of free particles on space with Lie-type noncommutativity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shariati, Ahmad; Khorrami, Mohammad; Fatollahi, Amir H.

2010-07-01

Effects of Lie-type noncommutativity on thermodynamic properties of a system of free identical particles are investigated. A definition for finite volume of the configuration space is given, and the grandcanonical partition function in the thermodynamic limit is calculated. Two possible definitions for the pressure are discussed, which are equivalent when the noncommutativity vanishes. The thermodynamic observables are extracted from the partition function. Different limits are discussed where either the noncommutativity or the quantum effects are important. Finally, specific cases are discussed where the group is SU(2) or SO(3), and the partition function of a nondegenerate gas is calculated.

The Partition Function in the Four-Dimensional Schwarz-Type Topological Half-Flat Two-Form Gravity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abe, Mitsuko

We derive the partition functions of the Schwarz-type four-dimensional topological half-flat two-form gravity model on K3-surface or T4 up to on-shell one-loop corrections. In this model the bosonic moduli spaces describe an equivalent class of a trio of the Einstein-Kähler forms (the hyper-Kähler forms). The integrand of the partition function is represented by the product of some bar ∂ -torsions. bar ∂ -torsion is the extension of R-torsion for the de Rham complex to that for the bar ∂ -complex of a complex analytic manifold.

The Homotopic Probability Distribution and the Partition Function for the Entangled System Around a Ribbon Segment Chain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, Shang-Wu; Gu, Zhi-Yu

2001-12-01

Using the Feynman's path integral with topological constraints arising from the presence of one singular line, we find the homotopic probability distribution P_L^n for the winding number n and the partition function P_L of the entangled system around a ribbon segment chain. We find that when the width of the ribbon segment chain 2a increases,the partition function exponentially decreases, whereas the free energy increases an amount, which is proportional to the square of the width. When the width tends to zero we obtain the same results as those of a single chain with one singular point.

Oscillons in a perturbed signum-Gordon model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klimas, P.; Streibel, J. S.; Wereszczynski, A.; Zakrzewski, W. J.

2018-04-01

We study various properties of a perturbed signum-Gordon model, which has been obtained through the dimensional reduction of the called `first BPS submodel of the Skyrme model'. This study is motivated by the observation that the first BPS submodel of the Skyrme model may be partially responsible for the good qualities of the rational map ansatz approximation to the solutions of the Skyrme model. We investigate the existence, stability and various properties of oscillons and other time-dependent states in this perturbed signum-Gordon model.

Bursch poses next to BPS installed in a slot on Endeavour's middeck for return on STS-111 UF-2

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-07

STS111-E-5026 (7 June 2002) --- Astronaut Daniel W. Bursch, who has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the past six months, wastes little time in going to work on board the Space Shuttle Endeavour following linkup of the shuttle and station on June 7, 2002. Bursch, who will return home aboard Endeavour in a few days, is pictured at the Biomass Production System (BPS) on Endeavour's mid deck.

Partitioning taxonomic diversity of aquatic insect assemblages and functional feeding groups in Neotropical Savanna headwater streams

EPA Science Inventory

Biological diversity can be divided into: alpha (α, local), beta (β, difference in assemblage composition among locals), and gamma (γ, total diversity). We assessed the partitioning of taxonomic diversity of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) and of functional feedin...

A brief history of partitions of numbers, partition functions and their modern applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debnath, Lokenath

2016-04-01

'Number rules the universe.' The Pythagoras 'If you wish to forsee the future of mathematics our course is to study the history and present conditions of the science.' Henri Poincaré 'The primary source (Urqell) of all mathematics are integers.' Hermann Minkowski This paper is written to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the Mathematical Association of America. It deals with a short history of different kinds of natural numbers including triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal and k-gonal numbers, and their simple properties and their geometrical representations. Included are Euclid's and Pythagorean's main contributions to elementary number theory with the main contents of the Euclid Elements of the 13-volume masterpiece of mathematical work. This is followed by Euler's new discovery of the additive number theory based on partitions of numbers. Special attention is given to many examples, Euler's theorems on partitions of numbers with geometrical representations of Ferrers' graphs, Young's diagrams, Lagrange's four-square theorem and the celebrated Waring problem. Included are Euler's generating functions for the partitions of numbers, Euler's pentagonal number theorem, Gauss' triangular and square number theorems and the Jacobi triple product identity. Applications of the theory of partitions of numbers to different statistics such as the Bose- Einstein, Fermi- Dirac, Gentile, and Maxwell- Boltzmann statistics are briefly discussed. Special attention is given to pedagogical information through historical approach to number theory so that students and teachers at the school, college and university levels can become familiar with the basic concepts of partitions of numbers, partition functions and their modern applications, and can pursue advanced study and research in analytical and computational number theory.

Everyday attention lapses and memory failures: the affective consequences of mindlessness.

PubMed

Carriere, Jonathan S A; Cheyne, J Allan; Smilek, Daniel

2008-09-01

We examined the affective consequences of everyday attention lapses and memory failures. Significant associations were found between self-report measures of attention lapses (MAAS-LO), attention-related cognitive errors (ARCES), and memory failures (MFS), on the one hand, and boredom (BPS) and depression (BDI-II), on the other. Regression analyses confirmed previous findings that the ARCES partially mediates the relation between the MAAS-LO and MFS. Further regression analyses also indicated that the association between the ARCES and BPS was entirely accounted for by the MAAS-LO and MFS, as was that between the ARCES and BDI-II. Structural modeling revealed the associations to be optimally explained by the MAAS-LO and MFS influencing the BPS and BDI-II, contrary to current conceptions of attention and memory problems as consequences of affective dysfunction. A lack of conscious awareness of one's actions, signaled by the propensity to experience brief lapses of attention and related memory failures, is thus seen as having significant consequences in terms of long-term affective well-being.

Bragg reflection band width and optical rotatory dispersion of cubic blue-phase liquid crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoshida, Hiroyuki; Anucha, Konkanok; Ogawa, Yasuhiro; Kawata, Yuto; Ozaki, Masanori; Fukuda, Jun-ichi; Kikuchi, Hirotsugu

2016-10-01

The Bragg reflection band width and optical rotatory dispersion of liquid crystalline cholesteric blue phases (BPs) I and II are compared by numerical simulations. Attention is paid to the wavelength regions for which the reflection bands with lowest photon energies appear, i.e., the [110 ] direction for BP I and the [100 ] direction for BP II. Finite difference time domain and 4 ×4 matrix calculations performed on the theoretical director tensor distribution of BPs with the same material parameters show that BP II, which has simple cubic symmetry, has a wider photonic band gap than BP I, which has body centered cubic symmetry, possibly due to the fact that the density of the double-twist cylinders in BP II are twice that in BP I. The theoretical results on the Bragg reflection band width are supported by reflectance measurements performed on BPs I and II for light incident along the [110 ] and [100 ] directions, respectively.

Survey of business process management: challenges and solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alotaibi, Youseef; Liu, Fei

2017-09-01

The current literature shows that creating a good framework on business process model (PM) is not an easy task. A successful business PM should have the ability to ensure accurate alignment between business processes (BPs) and information technology (IT) designs, provide security protection, manage the rapidly changing business environment and BPs, manage customer power, be flexible for reengineering and ensure that IT goals can be easily derived from business goals and hence an information system (IS) can be easily implemented. This article presents an overview of research in the business PM domain. We have presented a review of the challenges facing business PMs, such as misalignment between business and IT, difficulty of deriving IT goals from business goals, creating secured business PM, reengineering BPs, managing the rapidly changing BP and business environment and managing customer power. Also, it presents the limitations of existing business PM frameworks. Finally, we outline several guidelines to create good business PM and the possible further research directions in the business PM domain.

Tiny graviton matrix theory/SYM correspondence: Analysis of BPS states

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ali-Akbari, M.; Torabian, M.; Department of Physics, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11365-9161, Tehran

2006-09-15

In this paper we continue analysis of the Matrix theory describing the DLCQ of type IIB string theory on AdS{sub 5}xS{sup 5} (and/or the plane-wave) background, i.e. the tiny graviton matrix theory (TGMT) [M. M. Sheikh-Jabbari, J. High Energy Phys. 09 (2004) 017.]. We study and classify 1/2, 1/4, and 1/8 BPS solutions of the TGMT which are generically of the form of rotating three-brane giants. These are branes whose shape are deformed three-spheres and hyperboloids. In lack of a classification of such ten-dimensional type IIb supergravity configurations, we focus on the dual N=4 four-dimensional 1/2, 1/4, and one 1/8more » BPS operators and show that they are in one-to-one correspondence with the states of the same set of quantum numbers in TGMT. This provides further evidence in support of the matrix theory.« less

Neuroprotective Effect of Ginseng against Alteration of Calcium Binding Proteins Immunoreactivity in the Mice Hippocampus after Radiofrequency Exposure

PubMed Central

Maskey, Dhiraj

2013-01-01

Calcium binding proteins (CaBPs) such as calbindin D28-k, parvalbumin, and calretinin are able to bind Ca2+ with high affinity. Changes in Ca2+ concentrations via CaBPs can disturb Ca2+ homeostasis. Brain damage can be induced by the prolonged electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure with loss of interacellular Ca2+ balance. The present study investigated the radioprotective effect of ginseng in regard to CaBPs immunoreactivity (IR) in the hippocampus through immunohistochemistry after one-month exposure at 1.6 SAR value by comparing sham control with exposed and ginseng-treated exposed groups separately. Loss of dendritic arborization was noted with the CaBPs in the Cornu Ammonis areas as well as a decrease of staining intensity of the granule cells in the dentate gyrus after exposure while no loss was observed in the ginseng-treated group. A significant difference in the relative mean density was noted between control and exposed groups but was nonsignificant in the ginseng-treated group. Decrease in CaBP IR with changes in the neuronal staining as observed in the exposed group would affect the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit by alteration of the Ca2+ concentration which could be prevented by ginseng. Hence, ginseng could contribute as a radioprotective agent against EMF exposure, contributing to the maintenance of Ca2+ homeostasis by preventing impairment of intracellular Ca2+ levels in the hippocampus. PMID:24069603

A systematic review of clinical practice guidelines and best practice statements for the diagnosis and management of varicocele in children and adolescents.

PubMed

Roque, Matheus; Esteves, Sandro C

2016-01-01

A systematic review was conducted to identify and qualitatively analyze the methods as well as recommendations of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) and Best Practice Statements (BPS) concerning varicocele in the pediatric and adolescent population. An electronic search was performed with the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Science Direct, and Scielo databases, as well as guidelines' Web sites until September 2015. Four guidelines were included in the qualitative synthesis. In general, the recommendations provided by the CPG/BPS were consistent despite the existence of some gaps across the studies. The guidelines issued by the American Urological Association (AUA) and American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) did not provide evidence-based levels for the recommendations given. Most of the recommendations given by the European Association of Urology (EAU) and European Society of Pediatric Urology (ESPU) were derived from nonrandomized clinical trials, retrospective studies, and expert opinion. Among all CPG/BPS, only one was specifically designed for the pediatric population. The studied guidelines did not undertake independent cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit analysis. The main objectives of these guidelines were to translate the best evidence into practice and provide a framework of standardized care while maintaining clinical autonomy and physician judgment. However, the limitations identified in the CPG/BPS for the diagnosis and management of varicocele in children and adolescents indicate ample opportunities for research and future incorporation of higher quality standards in patient care.

Different exercise modalities have distinct effects on the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and Ca2+ signaling pathways in the male rat bone

PubMed Central

Sontam, Dharani M; Firth, Elwyn C; Tsai, Peter; Vickers, Mark H; O’Sullivan, Justin M

2015-01-01

Mechanical loading is essential to maintain optimal skeletal health. Despite the fact that early-life exercise has positive, long-lasting effects on the musculo-skeletal system, the response of the musculo-skeletal system to spontaneous low-impact exercise has been poorly studied. Previously, we identified subtle morphological changes in the femoral diaphysis of exercised animals compared to nonexercised controls. We hypothesized that significant changes in gene expression of cells should precede significant measurable phenotypic changes in the tissues of which they are part. Here, we employed RNA-Seq to analyse the transcriptome of the cortical bone from the femoral mid-diaphysis of prepubertal male Sprague-Dawley rats that were assigned to control (CON); bipedal stance (BPS); or wheel exercise (WEX) groups for 15 days. We identified 808 and 324 differentially expressed transcripts in the BPS and WEX animals respectively. While a number of transcripts change their levels in an exercise-specific manner, we identified 191 transcripts that were differentially expressed in both BPS and WEX. Importantly, we observed that the exercise mode had diametrically opposite effects on transcripts for multiple genes within the integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and Ca2+ signaling pathways such that they were up-regulated in BPS and down-regulated in WEX. The findings are important for our understanding of possible ways in which different exercise regimens might affect bone when normal activities apply mechanical stimuli during postnatal growth and development. PMID:26471755

A demonstration of the uncertainty in predicting the estrogenic ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

In vitro estrogen receptor assays are valuable screening tools for identifying environmental samples and chemicals that display estrogenic activity. However, in vitro potency cannot necessarily be extrapolated to estimates of in vivo potency because in vitro assays are currently unable to fully account for adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion. To explore this issue, we calculated relative potency factors (RPF) for several chemicals and mixtures in the T47D-KBluc estrogen receptor transactivation assay. The in vitro RPF values were then used to predict rat uterotrophic assay responses following oral administration of individual chemicals and mixtures. 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), benzyl-butyl phthalate (BBP), bisphenol-A (BPA), bisphenol-AF (BPAF), bisphenol-C (BPC), bisphenol-S (BPS), and methoxychlor (MET) were tested individually, while BPS+MET, BPAF+MET, and BPAF+BPC+BPS+EE2+MET were tested as equipotent mixtures. In vivo ED50 values for BPA, BPAF, and BPC were accurately predicted using in vitro data; however, E2 was less potent than predicted, BBP was a false positive, and BPS and MET were 76.6 and 368.3-fold more active in vivo than predicted from the in vitro potency assessment, respectively. Further, mixture ED50 values were more accurately predicted by the dose addition model using individual chemical in vivo uterotrophic data (0.7-1.5-fold difference from observed) than in vitro data (1.4-86.8-fold). Overall,

Experimental Analysis of Hydraulic Fracture Growth and Acoustic Emission Response in a Layered Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ning, Li; Shicheng, Zhang; Yushi, Zou; Xinfang, Ma; Shan, Wu; Yinuo, Zhang

2018-04-01

Microseismic/acoustic emission (AE) monitoring is an essential technology for understanding hydraulic fracture (HF) geometry and stimulated reservoir volume (SRV) during hydraulic fracturing in unconventional reservoirs. To investigate HF growth mechanisms and features of induced microseismic/AE events in a layered formation, laboratory fracturing experiments were performed on shale specimens (30 cm × 30 cm × 30 cm) with multiple bedding planes (BPs) under triaxial stresses. AE monitoring was used to reveal the spatial distribution and hypocenter mechanisms of AE events induced by rock failure. Computerized tomography scanning was used to observe the internal fracture geometry. Experimental results showed that the various HF geometries could be obviously distinguished based on injection pressure curves and AE responses. Fracture complexity was notably increased when vertically growing HFs connected with and opened more BPs. The formation of a complex fracture network was generally indicated by frequent fluctuations in injection pressure curves, intense AE activity, and three-dimensionally distributed AE events. Investigations of the hypocenter mechanisms revealed that shear failure/event dominated in shale specimens. Shear and tensile events were induced in hydraulically connected regions, and shear events also occurred around BPs that were not hydraulically connected. This led to an overestimation of HF height and SRV in layered formations based on the AE location results. The results also showed that variable injection rate and using plugging agent were conducive in promoting HF to penetrate through the weak and high-permeability BPs, thereby increasing the fracture height.

[Stinging nettle root extract (Bazoton-uno) in long term treatment of benign prostatic syndrome (BPS). Results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled multicenter study after 12 months].

PubMed

Schneider, T; Rübben, H

2004-03-01

Phytotherapy of BPS has a long tradition in Germany; nevertheless, data referring to single phytotherapeutic agents are rare. We therefore performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter study for 1 year with Bazoton uno (459 mg dry extract of stinging nettle roots) with 246 patients. The IPSS decreased on average from 18.7+/-0.3 to 13.0+/-0.5 with a statistically significant difference compared to placebo (18.5+/-0.3 to 13.8+/-0.5; p=0.0233). The median Q(max) increased by 3.0+/-0.4 ml/s in comparison to 2.9+/-0.4 ml/s (placebo), thus not statistically significantly different, as well as the median volume of residual urine, which changed from 35.5+/-3.4 ml before therapy to 20.0+/-2.8 ml and from 40.0+/-4.0 ml to 21.0+/-2.9 ml under placebo application. The number of adverse events (29/38) as well as urinary infections etc. (3/10 events) was smaller under Bazoton uno therapy compared to placebo. Treatment with Bazoton uno can therefore be considered a safe therapeutic option for BPS, especially for reducing irritative symptoms and BPS-associated complications due to the postulated antiphlogistic and antiproliferative effects of the stinging nettle extract. A strong increase of Q(max) or reduction of residual urine are not to be expected.

Binding of bisphenol A, bisphenol AF, and bisphenol S on the androgen receptor: Coregulator recruitment and stimulation of potential interaction sites.

PubMed

Perera, Lalith; Li, Yin; Coons, Laurel A; Houtman, Rene; van Beuningen, Rinie; Goodwin, Bonnie; Auerbach, Scott S; Teng, Christina T

2017-10-01

Bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol AF (BPAF), and bisphenol S (BPS) are well known endocrine disruptors. Previous in vitro studies showed that these compounds antagonize androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity; however, the mechanisms of action are unclear. In the present study, we investigated interactions of coregulator peptides with BPA, BPAF, or BPS at the AR complexes using Micro Array for Real-time Coregulator Nuclear Receptor Interaction (MARCoNI) assays and assessed the binding of these compounds on AR by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The set of coregulator peptides that are recruited by BPA-bound AR, either positively/or negatively, are different from those recruited by the agonist R1881-bound AR. Therefore, the data indicates that BPA shows no similarities to R1881 and suggests that it may recruit other coregulators to the AR complex. BPAF-bound AR recruits about 70-80% of the same coregulator peptides as BPA-bound AR. Meanwhile, BPS-bound AR interacts with only few peptides compared to BPA or BPAF-bound AR. MD results show that multiple binding sites with varying binding affinities are available on AR for BPA, BPAF, and BPS, indicating the availability of modified binding surfaces on AR for coregulator interactions. These findings help explain some of the distinct AR-related toxicities observed with bisphenol chemicals and raise concern for the use of substitutes for BPA in commercial products. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Developmental Effects and Estrogenicity of Bisphenol A Alternatives in a Zebrafish Embryo Model.

PubMed

Mu, Xiyan; Huang, Ying; Li, Xuxing; Lei, Yunlei; Teng, Miaomiao; Li, Xuefeng; Wang, Chengju; Li, Yingren

2018-03-06

In order to understand the negative effects of bisphenol A (BPA) alternatives comprehensively, zebrafish embryos were used to assess the lethality, developmental effects, and estrogenic activity of bisphenol analogues. The in silico estrogenic activities of bisphenol analogues were assayed by binding simulation. According to our results, the lethality of bisphenol analogues decreased in order of bisphenol AF (BPAF) > BPA > bisphenol F (BPF) > bisphenol S (BPS). BPAF and BPF induced significant effects on zebrafish embryos, including decreased heart rate, hatching inhibition, and teratogenic effects. The binding potentials of bisphenol analogues toward zebrafish ERs (zfERS) decreased in the following order: BPAF > BPA > BPF > BPS. Among the three subtypes of zfERs, zfERβ2 showed the highest binding activity toward the bisphenols, followed by zfERα and zfERβ1. In vivo estrogenic activity tests showed that BPAF, BPA, and BPF significantly enhanced the protein levels of ERα along with the mRNA levels of esr1, esr2a, esr2b, and vtg1 in zebrafish embryos. Esr2b showed the strongest response to BPAF and BPA exposure among the three esrs. In contrast, BPS did not significantly regulate ER protein level or ER transcription. In conclusion, BPAF showed the highest lethality, developmental effects, and estrogenic activity (both in silico and in vivo) followed by BPA and BPF. BPS showed the weakest toxicity and estrogenic activity. zfERβ2 might act as the main target among the three ER subtypes of zebrafish after exposure to BPAF and BPA.

Manipulating the extracellular matrix: an animal model of the bladder pain syndrome.

PubMed

Offiah, Ifeoma; Didangelos, Athanasios; OʼReilly, Barry A; McMahon, Stephen B

2017-01-01

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS) is associated with breakdown of the protective uroepithelial barrier of the urinary bladder allowing urinary constituents access to bladder sensory neurons. Although there are several animal models of cystitis, none specifically relates to BPS. Here, we aimed to create such a model using enzymatic digestion of the barrier proteoglycans (PGs) in the rat. Twenty female Wistar rats were anaesthetized and transurethrally catheterized. Ten animals were treated with 0.25IU of intravesical chondroitinase ABC and heparanase III to digest chondroitin sulphate and heparin sulphate PGs, respectively. Ten animals received saline. Following PG deglycosylation, bladders showed irregular loss of the apical uroplakin and a significant increase in neutrophils, not evident in the control group. Spinal cord sections were also collected for c-fos analysis. A large and significant increase in fos immunoreactivity in the L6/S1 segments in the treatment vs control bladders was observed. Cystometry was performed on 5 treatment and 5 control animals. Analysis revealed a significant increase in micturition reflex excitability postdeglycosylation. On a further group of 10 animals, von Frey mechanical withdrawal thresholds were tested on abdominal skin before and after PG digestions. There was a significant decrease in abdominal mechanical withdrawal threshold postdeglycosylation compared with controls. The results of this animal study suggest that many of the clinical features of BPS are seen after PG digestion from the bladder lumen. This model can be used to further understand mechanisms of pain in patients with BPS and to test new therapeutic strategies.

High Throughput Analyses of Budding Yeast ARSs Reveal New DNA Elements Capable of Conferring Centromere-Independent Plasmid Propagation

PubMed Central

Hoggard, Timothy; Liachko, Ivan; Burt, Cassaundra; Meikle, Troy; Jiang, Katherine; Craciun, Gheorghe; Dunham, Maitreya J.; Fox, Catherine A.

2016-01-01

The ability of plasmids to propagate in Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been instrumental in defining eukaryotic chromosomal control elements. Stable propagation demands both plasmid replication, which requires a chromosomal replication origin (i.e., an ARS), and plasmid distribution to dividing cells, which requires either a chromosomal centromere for segregation or a plasmid-partitioning element. While our knowledge of yeast ARSs and centromeres is relatively advanced, we know less about chromosomal regions that can function as plasmid partitioning elements. The Rap1 protein-binding site (RAP1) present in transcriptional silencers and telomeres of budding yeast is a known plasmid-partitioning element that functions to anchor a plasmid to the inner nuclear membrane (INM), which in turn facilitates plasmid distribution to daughter cells. This Rap1-dependent INM-anchoring also has an important chromosomal role in higher-order chromosomal structures that enhance transcriptional silencing and telomere stability. Thus, plasmid partitioning can reflect fundamental features of chromosome structure and biology, yet a systematic screen for plasmid partitioning elements has not been reported. Here, we couple deep sequencing with competitive growth experiments of a plasmid library containing thousands of short ARS fragments to identify new plasmid partitioning elements. Competitive growth experiments were performed with libraries that differed only in terms of the presence or absence of a centromere. Comparisons of the behavior of ARS fragments in the two experiments allowed us to identify sequences that were likely to drive plasmid partitioning. In addition to the silencer RAP1 site, we identified 74 new putative plasmid-partitioning motifs predicted to act as binding sites for DNA binding proteins enriched for roles in negative regulation of gene expression and G2/M-phase associated biology. These data expand our knowledge of chromosomal elements that may function in plasmid partitioning and suggest underlying biological roles shared by such elements. PMID:26865697

Localization in abelian Chern-Simons theory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McLellan, B. D. K.

2013-02-01

Chern-Simons theory on a closed contact three-manifold is studied when the Lie group for gauge transformations is compact, connected, and abelian. The abelian Chern-Simons partition function is derived using the Faddeev-Popov gauge fixing method. The partition function is then formally computed using the technique of non-abelian localization. This study leads to a natural identification of the abelian Reidemeister-Ray-Singer torsion as a specific multiple of the natural unit symplectic volume form on the moduli space of flat abelian connections for the class of Sasakian three-manifolds. The torsion part of the abelian Chern-Simons partition function is computed explicitly in terms of Seifert data for a given Sasakian three-manifold.

Morse oscillator propagator in the high temperature limit I: Theory

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Toutounji, Mohamad, E-mail: Mtoutounji@uaeu.ac.ae

2017-02-15

In an earlier work of the author the time evolution of Morse oscillator was studied analytically and exactly at low temperatures whereupon optical correlation functions were calculated using Morse oscillator coherent states were employed. Morse oscillator propagator in the high temperature limit is derived and a closed form of its corresponding canonical partition function is obtained. Both diagonal and off-diagonal forms of Morse oscillator propagator are derived in the high temperature limit. Partition functions of diatomic molecules are calculated. - Highlights: • Derives the quantum propagator of Morse oscillator in the high temperature limit. • Uses the resulting diagonal propagatormore » to derive a closed form of Morse oscillator partition function. • Provides a more sophisticated formula of the quantum propagator to test the accuracy of the herein results.« less

Sodium Restriction in Patients With CKD: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Self-management Support.

PubMed

Meuleman, Yvette; Hoekstra, Tiny; Dekker, Friedo W; Navis, Gerjan; Vogt, Liffert; van der Boog, Paul J M; Bos, Willem Jan W; van Montfrans, Gert A; van Dijk, Sandra

2017-05-01

To evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of self-managed sodium restriction in patients with chronic kidney disease. Open randomized controlled trial. Patients with moderately decreased kidney function from 4 hospitals in the Netherlands. Regular care was compared with regular care plus an intervention comprising education, motivational interviewing, coaching, and self-monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and sodium. Primary outcomes were sodium excretion and BP after the 3-month intervention and at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were protein excretion, kidney function, antihypertensive medication, self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). At baseline, mean sodium excretion rate was 163.6±64.9 (SD) mmol/24 h; mean estimated glomerular filtration rate was 49.7±25.6mL/min/1.73m 2 ; median protein excretion rate was 0.8 (IQR, 0.4-1.7) g/24 h; and mean 24-hour ambulatory systolic and diastolic BPs were 129±15 and 76±9mmHg, respectively. Compared to regular care only (n=71), at 3 months, the intervention group (n=67) showed reduced sodium excretion rate (mean change, -30.3 [95% CI, -54.7 to -5.9] mmol/24 h), daytime ambulatory diastolic BP (mean change, -3.4 [95% CI, -6.3 to -0.6] mmHg), diastolic office BP (mean change, -5.2 [95% CI, -8.4 to -2.1] mmHg), protein excretion (mean change, -0.4 [95% CI, -0.7 to -0.1] g/24h), and improved self-efficacy (mean change, 0.5 [95% CI, 0.1 to 0.9]). At 6 months, differences in sodium excretion rates and ambulatory BPs between the groups were not significant, but differences were detected in systolic and diastolic office BPs (mean changes of -7.3 [95% CI, -12.7 to -1.9] and -3.8 [95% CI, -6.9 to -0.6] mmHg, respectively), protein excretion (mean changes, -0.3 [95% CI, -0.6 to -0.1] g/24h), and self-efficacy (mean change, 0.5 [95% CI, 0.0 to 0.9]). No differences in kidney function, medication, and HRQoL were observed. Nonblinding, relatively low response rate, and missing data. Compared to regular care only, this self-management intervention modestly improved outcomes, although effects on sodium excretion and ambulatory BP diminish over time. Copyright © 2016 National Kidney Foundation, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

How Incorrect Is the Classical Partition Function for the Ideal Gas?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kroemer, Herbert

1980-01-01

Discussed is the classical partition function for the ideal gas and how it differs from the exact value for bosons or fermions in the classical regime. The differences in the two values are negligible hence the classical treatment leads in the end to correct answers for all observables. (Author/DS)

Discrete wavelet approach to multifractality

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isaacson, Susana I.; Gabbanelli, Susana C.; Busch, Jorge R.

2000-12-01

The use of wavelet techniques for the multifractal analysis generalizes the box counting approach, and in addition provides information on eventual deviations of multifractal behavior. By the introduction of a wavelet partition function Wq and its corresponding free energy (beta) (q), the discrepancies between (beta) (q) and the multifractal free energy r(q) are shown to be indicative of these deviations. We study with Daubechies wavelets (D4) some 1D examples previously treated with Haar wavelets, and we apply the same ideas to some 2D Monte Carlo configurations, that simulate a solution under the action of an attractive potential. In this last case, we study the influence in the multifractal spectra and partition functions of four physical parameters: the intensity of the pairwise potential, the temperature, the range of the model potential, and the concentration of the solution. The wavelet partition function Wq carries more information about the cluster statistics than the multifractal partition function Zq, and the location of its peaks contributes to the determination of characteristic sales of the measure. In our experiences, the information provided by Daubechies wavelet sis slightly more accurate than the one obtained by Haar wavelets.

Finite temperature behavior of the CPT-even and parity-even electrodynamics of the standard model extension

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Casana, Rodolfo; Ferreira, Manoel M. Jr; Rodrigues, Josberg S.

2009-10-15

In this work, we examine the finite temperature properties of the CPT-even and Lorentz-invariance-violating (LIV) electrodynamics of the standard model extension, represented by the term W{sub {alpha}}{sub {nu}}{sub {rho}}{sub {phi}}F{sup {alpha}}{sup {nu}}F{sup {rho}}{sup {phi}}. We begin analyzing the Hamiltonian structure following the Dirac's procedure for constrained systems and construct a well-defined and gauge invariant partition function in the functional integral formalism. Next, we specialize for the nonbirefringent coefficients of the tensor W{sub {alpha}}{sub {nu}}{sub {rho}}{sub {phi}}. In the sequel, the partition function is explicitly carried out for the parity-even sector of the tensor W{sub {alpha}}{sub {nu}}{sub {rho}}{sub {phi}}. The modifiedmore » partition function is a power of the Maxwell's partition function. It is observed that the LIV coefficients induce an anisotropy in the black body angular energy density distribution. The Planck's radiation law, however, retains its frequency dependence and the Stefan-Boltzmann law keeps the usual form, except for a change in the Stefan-Boltzmann constant by a factor containing the LIV contributions.« less

An iterative network partition algorithm for accurate identification of dense network modules

PubMed Central

Sun, Siqi; Dong, Xinran; Fu, Yao; Tian, Weidong

2012-01-01

A key step in network analysis is to partition a complex network into dense modules. Currently, modularity is one of the most popular benefit functions used to partition network modules. However, recent studies suggested that it has an inherent limitation in detecting dense network modules. In this study, we observed that despite the limitation, modularity has the advantage of preserving the primary network structure of the undetected modules. Thus, we have developed a simple iterative Network Partition (iNP) algorithm to partition a network. The iNP algorithm provides a general framework in which any modularity-based algorithm can be implemented in the network partition step. Here, we tested iNP with three modularity-based algorithms: multi-step greedy (MSG), spectral clustering and Qcut. Compared with the original three methods, iNP achieved a significant improvement in the quality of network partition in a benchmark study with simulated networks, identified more modules with significantly better enrichment of functionally related genes in both yeast protein complex network and breast cancer gene co-expression network, and discovered more cancer-specific modules in the cancer gene co-expression network. As such, iNP should have a broad application as a general method to assist in the analysis of biological networks. PMID:22121225

National Program for Inspection of Non-Federal Dams. Prym Manufacturing Co. Dam (CT 00169), Thames River Basin, Killingly, Connecticut. Phase I Inspection Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-06-01

Service (DDS), which offers speeds of 19.2K bps and 56K bps. Instead of modems , DDS service requires a Channel Service Unit (CSU), to terminate each...Bell 103 modem that automatically calls for help if the DDS link goes down. DDS users can also use their own schemes to protect their transmissions...Switched 56 service provides 700 numbers for 56K transmission in some 60 odd cities, including areas such as Orlando, San Diego, and the Washington

Bursch and Chang-Diaz install the BPS in a slot on Endeavour's middeck for return on STS-111 UF-2

NASA Image and Video Library

2002-06-07

STS111-E-5023 (7 June 2002) --- Astronaut Daniel W. Bursch (left), who has been aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for the past six months, wastes little time in going to work on board the Space Shuttle Endeavour following linkup of the shuttle and station on June 7, 2002. Bursch, who will return home aboard Endeavour in a few days, shares a task with astronaut Franklin R. Chang-Diaz at the Biomass Production System (BPS) on Endeavour's mid deck.

Localization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) in cells expressing the Ca2+-binding proteins calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the adult rat hippocampus

PubMed Central

Rivera, Patricia; Arrabal, Sergio; Vargas, Antonio; Blanco, Eduardo; Serrano, Antonia; Pavón, Francisco J.; Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando; Suárez, Juan

2014-01-01

The N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmithylethanolamide (PEA) are known to be endogenous ligands of PPARα receptors, and their presence requires the activation of a specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) associated with intracellular Ca2+ fluxes. Thus, the identification of a specific population of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective Ca2+-binding proteins (CaBPs) may provide a neuroanatomical basis to better understand the PPARα system in the brain. For this purpose, we used double-label immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy for the characterization of the co-existence of NAPE-PLD/PPARα and the CaBPs calbindin D28k, calretinin and parvalbumin in the rat hippocampus. PPARα expression was specifically localized in the cell nucleus and, occasionally, in the cytoplasm of the principal cells (dentate granular and CA pyramidal cells) and some non-principal cells of the hippocampus. PPARα was expressed in the calbindin-containing cells of the granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus (DG) and the SP of CA1. These principal PPARα+/calbindin+ cells were closely surrounded by NAPE-PLD+ fiber varicosities. No pyramidal PPARα+/calbindin+ cells were detected in CA3. Most cells containing parvalbumin expressed both NAPE-PLD and PPARα in the principal layers of the DG and CA1/3. A small number of cells containing PPARα and calretinin was found along the hippocampus. Scattered NAPE-PLD+/calretinin+ cells were specifically detected in CA3. NAPE-PLD+ puncta surrounded the calretinin+ cells localized in the principal cells of the DG and CA1. The identification of the hippocampal subpopulations of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective CaBPs should be considered when analyzing the role of NAEs/PPARα-signaling system in the regulation of hippocampal functions. PMID:24672435

Localization of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) in cells expressing the Ca(2+)-binding proteins calbindin, calretinin, and parvalbumin in the adult rat hippocampus.

PubMed

Rivera, Patricia; Arrabal, Sergio; Vargas, Antonio; Blanco, Eduardo; Serrano, Antonia; Pavón, Francisco J; Rodríguez de Fonseca, Fernando; Suárez, Juan

2014-01-01

The N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmithylethanolamide (PEA) are known to be endogenous ligands of PPARα receptors, and their presence requires the activation of a specific phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD) associated with intracellular Ca(2+) fluxes. Thus, the identification of a specific population of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective Ca(2+)-binding proteins (CaBPs) may provide a neuroanatomical basis to better understand the PPARα system in the brain. For this purpose, we used double-label immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy for the characterization of the co-existence of NAPE-PLD/PPARα and the CaBPs calbindin D28k, calretinin and parvalbumin in the rat hippocampus. PPARα expression was specifically localized in the cell nucleus and, occasionally, in the cytoplasm of the principal cells (dentate granular and CA pyramidal cells) and some non-principal cells of the hippocampus. PPARα was expressed in the calbindin-containing cells of the granular cell layer of the dentate gyrus (DG) and the SP of CA1. These principal PPARα(+)/calbindin(+) cells were closely surrounded by NAPE-PLD(+) fiber varicosities. No pyramidal PPARα(+)/calbindin(+) cells were detected in CA3. Most cells containing parvalbumin expressed both NAPE-PLD and PPARα in the principal layers of the DG and CA1/3. A small number of cells containing PPARα and calretinin was found along the hippocampus. Scattered NAPE-PLD(+)/calretinin(+) cells were specifically detected in CA3. NAPE-PLD(+) puncta surrounded the calretinin(+) cells localized in the principal cells of the DG and CA1. The identification of the hippocampal subpopulations of NAPE-PLD/PPARα-containing neurons that express selective CaBPs should be considered when analyzing the role of NAEs/PPARα-signaling system in the regulation of hippocampal functions.

Partition functions. I. Improved partition functions and thermodynamic quantities for normal, equilibrium, and ortho and para molecular hydrogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Popovas, A.; Jørgensen, U. G.

2016-11-01

Context. Hydrogen is the most abundant molecule in the Universe. Its thermodynamic quantities dominate the physical conditions in molecular clouds, protoplanetary disks, etc. It is also of high interest in plasma physics. Therefore thermodynamic data for molecular hydrogen have to be as accurate as possible in a wide temperature range. Aims: We here rigorously show the shortcomings of various simplifications that are used to calculate the total internal partition function. These shortcomings can lead to errors of up to 40 percent or more in the estimated partition function. These errors carry on to calculations of thermodynamic quantities. Therefore a more complicated approach has to be taken. Methods: Seven possible simplifications of various complexity are described, together with advantages and disadvantages of direct summation of experimental values. These were compared to what we consider the most accurate and most complete treatment (case 8). Dunham coefficients were determined from experimental and theoretical energy levels of a number of electronically excited states of H2. Both equilibrium and normal hydrogen was taken into consideration. Results: Various shortcomings in existing calculations are demonstrated, and the reasons for them are explained. New partition functions for equilibrium, normal, and ortho and para hydrogen are calculated and thermodynamic quantities are reported for the temperature range 1-20 000 K. Our results are compared to previous estimates in the literature. The calculations are not limited to the ground electronic state, but include all bound and quasi-bound levels of excited electronic states. Dunham coefficients of these states of H2 are also reported. Conclusions: For most of the relevant astrophysical cases it is strongly advised to avoid using simplifications, such as a harmonic oscillator and rigid rotor or ad hoc summation limits of the eigenstates to estimate accurate partition functions and to be particularly careful when using polynomial fits to the computed values. Reported internal partition functions and thermodynamic quantities in the present work are shown to be more accurate than previously available data. The full datasets in 1 K temperature steps are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (http://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/595/A130

Kinetic energy partition method applied to ground state helium-like atoms.

PubMed

Chen, Yu-Hsin; Chao, Sheng D

2017-03-28

We have used the recently developed kinetic energy partition (KEP) method to solve the quantum eigenvalue problems for helium-like atoms and obtain precise ground state energies and wave-functions. The key to treating properly the electron-electron (repulsive) Coulomb potential energies for the KEP method to be applied is to introduce a "negative mass" term into the partitioned kinetic energy. A Hartree-like product wave-function from the subsystem wave-functions is used to form the initial trial function, and the variational search for the optimized adiabatic parameters leads to a precise ground state energy. This new approach sheds new light on the all-important problem of solving many-electron Schrödinger equations and hopefully opens a new way to predictive quantum chemistry. The results presented here give very promising evidence that an effective one-electron model can be used to represent a many-electron system, in the spirit of density functional theory.

Discovering Link Communities in Complex Networks by an Integer Programming Model and a Genetic Algorithm

PubMed Central

Li, Zhenping; Zhang, Xiang-Sun; Wang, Rui-Sheng; Liu, Hongwei; Zhang, Shihua

2013-01-01

Identification of communities in complex networks is an important topic and issue in many fields such as sociology, biology, and computer science. Communities are often defined as groups of related nodes or links that correspond to functional subunits in the corresponding complex systems. While most conventional approaches have focused on discovering communities of nodes, some recent studies start partitioning links to find overlapping communities straightforwardly. In this paper, we propose a new quantity function for link community identification in complex networks. Based on this quantity function we formulate the link community partition problem into an integer programming model which allows us to partition a complex network into overlapping communities. We further propose a genetic algorithm for link community detection which can partition a network into overlapping communities without knowing the number of communities. We test our model and algorithm on both artificial networks and real-world networks. The results demonstrate that the model and algorithm are efficient in detecting overlapping community structure in complex networks. PMID:24386268

One-loop tests of supersymmetric gauge theories on spheres

DOE PAGES

Minahan, Joseph A.; Naseer, Usman

2017-07-14

Here, we show that a recently conjectured form for perturbative supersymmetric partition functions on spheres of general dimension d is consistent with the at space limit of 6-dimensional N = 1 super Yang-Mills. We also show that the partition functions for N = 1 8- and 9-dimensional theories are consistent with their known at space limits.

Comments on "The multisynapse neural network and its application to fuzzy clustering".

PubMed

Yu, Jian; Hao, Pengwei

2005-05-01

In the above-mentioned paper, Wei and Fahn proposed a neural architecture, the multisynapse neural network, to solve constrained optimization problems including high-order, logarithmic, and sinusoidal forms, etc. As one of its main applications, a fuzzy bidirectional associative clustering network (FBACN) was proposed for fuzzy-partition clustering according to the objective-functional method. The connection between the objective-functional-based fuzzy c-partition algorithms and FBACN is the Lagrange multiplier approach. Unfortunately, the Lagrange multiplier approach was incorrectly applied so that FBACN does not equivalently minimize its corresponding constrained objective-function. Additionally, Wei and Fahn adopted traditional definition of fuzzy c-partition, which is not satisfied by FBACN. Therefore, FBACN can not solve constrained optimization problems, either.

Dual little strings and their partition functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bastian, Brice; Hohenegger, Stefan; Iqbal, Amer; Rey, Soo-Jong

2018-05-01

We study the topological string partition function of a class of toric, double elliptically fibered Calabi-Yau threefolds XN ,M at a generic point in the Kähler moduli space. These manifolds engineer little string theories in five dimensions or lower and are dual to stacks of M5-branes probing a transverse orbifold singularity. Using the refined topological vertex formalism, we explicitly calculate a generic building block which allows us to compute the topological string partition function of XN ,M as a series expansion in different Kähler parameters. Using this result, we give further explicit proof for a duality found previously in the literature, which relates XN ,M˜XN',M' for N M =N'M' and gcd (N ,M )=gcd (N',M') .

Broadcasting GPS integrity information using Loran-C

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lo, Sherman Chih

The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will adopt the Global Positioning System (GPS) as its primary navigation systems for aviation as stated by the Federal Radionavigation Plans (FRP) of 1996 and 1999. The FRP also proposes the reduction or termination of some existing radionavigation system in favor of GPS and satellite navigation. It may be beneficial to retain some of these existing terrestrial navigation systems if they can provide increased safety and redundancy to the GPS based architecture. One manner in which this can be done is by using or creating a data link on these existing radionavigation systems. These systems thus can provide both navigation and an additional broadcast of GPS integrity information. This thesis examines the use of terrestrial data links to provide Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) based GPS integrity information for aviation. The thesis focuses on using Loran-C to broadcast WAAS data. Analysis and experimental results demonstrating the capabilities of these designs are also discussed. Using Loran for this purpose requires increasing its data capacity. Many Loran modulation schemes are developed and analyzed. The data rates developed significantly increased the Loran data capacity. However, retaining compatibility with Loran legacy users resulted in data rates below the WARS data rate of 250 bps. As a result, this thesis also examines means of reducing the data requirements for WAAS information. While higher data rates offer improved performance and compatibility with WAAS, this thesis demonstrates that higher rates incur greater interference. Therefore, this work develops and considers a 108 bps and 167 bps Loran GPS integrity channel (LOGIC) design. The performance of the two designs illustrates some of the advantages and disadvantages of using a higher data rate. Analysis demonstrated means of maintaining integrity with these low data rate systems and determined the theoretical capabilities of the systems. The system was tested empirically by developing software that generated the LOGIC message and applied these messages to a GPS user. The resulting 108 bps and 167 bps systems demonstrated capability to provide lateral navigation/vertical navigation (LNAV/VNAV) and approach with vertical guidance (APV) respectively.

Integer Partitions and Convexity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouroubi, Sadek

2007-06-01

Let n be an integer >=1, and let p(n,k) and P(n,k) count the number of partitions of n into k parts, and the number of partitions of n into parts less than or equal to k, respectively. In this paper, we show that these functions are convex. The result includes the actual value of the constant of Bateman and Erdos.

State-dependent metabolic partitioning and energy conservation: A theoretical framework for understanding the function of sleep.

PubMed

Schmidt, Markus H; Swang, Theodore W; Hamilton, Ian M; Best, Janet A

2017-01-01

Metabolic rate reduction has been considered the mechanism by which sleep conserves energy, similar to torpor or hibernation. This mechanism of energy savings is in conflict with the known upregulation (compared to wake) of diverse functions during sleep and neglects a potential role in energy conservation for partitioning of biological operations by behavioral state. Indeed, energy savings as derived from state-dependent resource allocations have yet to be examined. A mathematical model is presented based on relative rates of energy deployment for biological processes upregulated during either wake or sleep. Using this model, energy savings from sleep-wake cycling over constant wakefulness is computed by comparing stable limit cycles for systems of differential equations. A primary objective is to compare potential energy savings derived from state-dependent metabolic partitioning versus metabolic rate reduction. Additionally, energy conservation from sleep quota and the circadian system are also quantified in relation to a continuous wake condition. As a function of metabolic partitioning, our calculations show that coupling of metabolic operations with behavioral state may provide comparatively greater energy savings than the measured decrease in metabolic rate, suggesting that actual energy savings derived from sleep may be more than 4-fold greater than previous estimates. A combination of state-dependent metabolic partitioning and modest metabolic rate reduction during sleep may enhance energy savings beyond what is achievable through metabolic partitioning alone; however, the relative contribution from metabolic partitioning diminishes as metabolic rate is decreased during the rest phase. Sleep quota and the circadian system further augment energy savings in the model. Finally, we propose that state-dependent resource allocation underpins both sleep homeostasis and the optimization of daily energy conservation across species. This new paradigm identifies an evolutionary selective advantage for the upregulation of central and peripheral biological processes during sleep, presenting a unifying construct to understand sleep function.

Screening of Toxic Effects of Bisphenol A and Products of Its Degradation: Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryo Test and Molecular Docking.

PubMed

Makarova, Katerina; Siudem, Pawel; Zawada, Katarzyna; Kurkowiak, Justyna

2016-10-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) acts as an endocrine-disrupting compound even at a low concentration. Degradation of BPA could lead to the formation of toxic products. In this study, we compare the toxicity of BPA and seven intermediate products of its degradation. The accuracy of three molecular docking programs (Surflex, Autodock, and Autodock Vina) in predicting the binding affinities of selected compounds to human (ERα, ERβ, and ERRγ) and zebrafish (ERα, ERRγA, and ERRγB) estrogen and estrogen-related receptors was evaluated. The docking experiments showed that 4-isopropylphenol could have similar toxicity to that of BPA due to its high affinity to ERRγ and ERRγB and high octanol-water partitioning coefficient. The least toxic compounds were hydroquinone and phenol. Those compounds as well as BPA were screened in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo test. 4-isopropylphenol had the strongest toxic effect on zebrafish embryos and caused 100% lethality shortly after exposure. BPA caused the delay in development, multiple deformations, and low heartbeats (30 bps), whereas hydroquinone had no impact on the development of the zebrafish embryo. Thus, the results of zebrafish screening are in good agreement with our docking experiment. The molecular docking could be used to screen the toxicity of other xenoestrogens and their products of degradation.

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification of emerging bisphenol analogues in aquatic organisms from Taihu Lake, China.

PubMed

Wang, Qiang; Chen, Meng; Shan, Guoqiang; Chen, Pengyu; Cui, Shuo; Yi, Shujun; Zhu, Lingyan

2017-11-15

Due to regulations on bisphenol A (BPA) in many countries, a variety of bisphenol analogues are being widely manufactured and applied. However, there is a big knowledge gap on bioaccumulation and biomagnification of these emerging bisphenols in aquatic organisms. The bioaccumulation and magnification of nine bisphenol analogues in aquatic organisms at different trophic levels collected from Taihu Lake, China, were evaluated. The total concentrations of the nine bisphenols in the lake waters were in the range of 49.7-3480ng/L (mean, 389ng/L). BPA, bisphenol AF (BPAF) and bisphenol S (BPS) were the most predominant analogues in the water. The mean natural logarithm bioaccumulation factor (log BAFs) of BPAF, bisphenol C (BPC), bisphenol Z (BPZ) and bisphenol E (BPE) were greater than BPA, and there was a significantly positive correlation between log BAFs of the biphenols and their octanol-water partition coefficients (log K ow ). The trophic magnification factors of BPAF, BPC and BPZ were 2.52, 2.69 and 1.71, respectively, suggesting that they had the potential to biomagnify in the food web. The results of this study call for further investigations on risk assessment of these emerging pollutants in the environment. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of cholesterol on the partitioning of 1-octanol into POPC vesicles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zakariaee Kouchaksaraee, Roja

Microcalorimetry has become a method of choice for sensitive characterization of biomolecular interactions. In this study, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to measure the partitioning of 1-octanol into lipid bilayers composed of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC), a semi-unsaturated lipid, and cholesterol, a steroid, as a function of cholesterol molar concentration. The ITC instrument measures the heat evolved or absorbed upon titration of a liposome dispersion, at concentrations ranging from 0 to 40% cholesterol, into a suspension of 1-octanol in water. A model function was fit to the data in order to determine the partition coefficient of octanol into POPC bilayers and the enthalpy of interaction. I found that the partition coefficient increases and the heat of interaction becomes less negative with increasing cholesterol content, in contrast to results found by other groups for partitioning of alcohols into lipid-cholesterol bilayers containing saturated lipids. The heat of dilution of vesicles was also measured. Keywords: Partition coefficient; POPC; 1-Octanol; Cholesterol; Isothermal titration calorimetry; Lipid-alcohol interactions. Subject Terms: Calorimetry; Membranes (Biology); Biophysics; Biology -- Technique; Bilayer lipid membranes -- Biotechnology; Lipid membranes -- Biotechnology.

Thermodynamic holography.

PubMed

Wei, Bo-Bo; Jiang, Zhan-Feng; Liu, Ren-Bao

2015-10-19

The holographic principle states that the information about a volume of a system is encoded on the boundary surface of the volume. Holography appears in many branches of physics, such as optics, electromagnetism, many-body physics, quantum gravity, and string theory. Here we show that holography is also an underlying principle in thermodynamics, a most important foundation of physics. The thermodynamics of a system is fully determined by its partition function. We prove that the partition function of a finite but arbitrarily large system is an analytic function on the complex plane of physical parameters, and therefore the partition function in a region on the complex plane is uniquely determined by its values along the boundary. The thermodynamic holography has applications in studying thermodynamics of nano-scale systems (such as molecule engines, nano-generators and macromolecules) and provides a new approach to many-body physics.

Comparison of Apgar scores in breech presentations between vaginal and cesarean delivery

PubMed Central

Fajar, Jonny Karunia; Andalas, Mohd; Harapan, Harapan

2017-01-01

Objective: The mode of delivery in breech presentation (BP) is controversial. Several studies have reported the advantages and disadvantages of delivery mode in BP. The aim of this study was to compare the Apgar scores in BPs between vaginal and cesarean delivery. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Dr. Zainoel Abidin General Hospital from January 2010 to December 2012. Data on the mode of delivery and Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min for infants with a BP were extracted from the medical records. Logistic regression was employed to assess the correlation between mode of delivery and Apgar scores. In addition, a meta-analysis was conducted to summarize findings from other regions. Results: A total of 205 (3.9%) BPs among 5252 deliveries between January 2010 and December 2012 were analyzed for this study. There were 26% (52 cases) vaginal and 74% (153 cases) cesarean deliveries. The mode of delivery for BP had a significant association with Apgar score at 1 min (odds ratio [OR] 95% confidence interval [CI] = 6.462 [2.476–16.870], P = 0.0001) and 5 min (OR 95% CI = 7.727 [1.416–42.175], P = 0.018). Our meta-analysis showed that the delivery mode had a significant association with Apgar score in BP (OR: 3.69; 95% CI: 2.18–6.26, P = 0.0001). Conclusions: There was a significant association between Apgar scores in BPs and mode of delivery. Our results suggest better outcomes for cesarean than vaginal delivery in BPs. PMID:28757760

High prevalence of IncP-1 plasmids and IS1071 insertion sequences in on-farm biopurification systems and other pesticide-polluted environments.

PubMed

Dunon, Vincent; Sniegowski, Kristel; Bers, Karolien; Lavigne, Rob; Smalla, Kornelia; Springael, Dirk

2013-12-01

Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) are considered as key players in the adaptation of bacteria to degrade organic xenobiotic recalcitrant compounds such as pesticides. We examined the prevalence and abundance of IncP-1 plasmids and IS1071, two MGEs that are frequently linked with organic xenobiotic degradation, in laboratory and field ecosystems with and without pesticide pollution history. The ecosystems included on-farm biopurification systems (BPS) processing pesticide-contaminated wastewater and soil. Comparison of IncP-1/IS1071 prevalence between pesticide-treated and nontreated soil and BPS microcosms suggested that both IncP-1 and IS1071 proliferated as a response to pesticide treatment. The increased prevalence of IncP-1 plasmids and IS1071-specific sequences in treated systems was accompanied by an increase in the capacity to mineralize the applied pesticides. Both elements were also encountered in high abundance in field BPS ecosystems that were in operation at farmyards and that showed the capacity to degrade/mineralize a wide range of chlorinated aromatics and pesticides. In contrast, IS1071 and especially IncP-1, MGE were less abundant in field ecosystems without pesticide history although some of them still showed a high IS1071 abundance. Our data suggest that MGE-containing organisms were enriched in pesticide-contaminated environments like BPS where they might contribute to spreading of catabolic genes and to pathway assembly. © 2013 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated on-line column-switching high performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry method for the quantification of bisphenol A, bisphenol F, bisphenol S, and 11 other phenols in urine.

PubMed

Zhou, Xiaoliu; Kramer, Joshua P; Calafat, Antonia M; Ye, Xiaoyun

2014-01-01

Human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is widespread. However, in recent years, bisphenol analogs such as bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF) are replacing BPA in the production of some consumer products. Because human exposure to these alternative bisphenols may occur, biomonitoring of these bisphenol analogs is warranted. In the present study, we developed and validated a sensitive and selective method that uses on-line solid phase extraction coupled to high performance liquid chromatography-isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry with peak focusing to measure BPA, BPF, BPS, and 11 other environmental phenols in urine. The method required a small amount of sample (100μL) and minimal sample pretreatment. The limits of detection were 0.03ng/mL (BPS), 0.06ng/mL (BPF), 0.10ng/mL (BPA), and ranged from 0.1ng/mL to 1.0ng/mL for the other 11 phenols. In 100 urine samples collected in 2009-2012 from a convenience group of anonymous adults in the United States, of the three bisphenols, we detected BPA at the highest frequency and median concentrations (95%, 0.72ng/mL), followed by BPS (78%, 0.13ng/mL) and BPF (55%, 0.08ng/mL). This sensitive, rugged, and labor and cost-effective method could be used for the analysis of large number of samples for epidemiologic studies. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Ocean surface partitioning strategies using ocean colour remote Sensing: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krug, Lilian Anne; Platt, Trevor; Sathyendranath, Shubha; Barbosa, Ana B.

2017-06-01

The ocean surface is organized into regions with distinct properties reflecting the complexity of interactions between environmental forcing and biological responses. The delineation of these functional units, each with unique, homogeneous properties and underlying ecosystem structure and dynamics, can be defined as ocean surface partitioning. The main purposes and applications of ocean partitioning include the evaluation of particular marine environments; generation of more accurate satellite ocean colour products; assimilation of data into biogeochemical and climate models; and establishment of ecosystem-based management practices. This paper reviews the diverse approaches implemented for ocean surface partition into functional units, using ocean colour remote sensing (OCRS) data, including their purposes, criteria, methods and scales. OCRS offers a synoptic, high spatial-temporal resolution, multi-decadal coverage of bio-optical properties, relevant to the applications and value of ocean surface partitioning. In combination with other biotic and/or abiotic data, OCRS-derived data (e.g., chlorophyll-a, optical properties) provide a broad and varied source of information that can be analysed using different delineation methods derived from subjective, expert-based to unsupervised learning approaches (e.g., cluster, fuzzy and empirical orthogonal function analyses). Partition schemes are applied at global to mesoscale spatial coverage, with static (time-invariant) or dynamic (time-varying) representations. A case study, the highly heterogeneous area off SW Iberian Peninsula (NE Atlantic), illustrates how the selection of spatial coverage and temporal representation affects the discrimination of distinct environmental drivers of phytoplankton variability. Advances in operational oceanography and in the subject area of satellite ocean colour, including development of new sensors, algorithms and products, are among the potential benefits from extended use, scope and applications of ocean surface partitioning using OCRS.

Low dose bisphenol S or ethinyl estradiol exposures during the perinatal period alter female mouse mammary gland development.

PubMed

Kolla, SriDurgaDevi; Morcos, Mary; Martin, Brian; Vandenberg, Laura N

2018-03-08

Throughout life, mammary tissue is strongly influenced by hormones. Scientists have hypothesized that synthetic chemicals with hormonal activities could disrupt mammary gland development and contribute to breast diseases and dysfunction. Bisphenol S (BPS) is an estrogenic compound used in many consumer products. In this study, CD-1 mice were exposed to BPS (2 or 200 μg/kg/day) during pregnancy and lactation. Mice exposed to 0.01 or 1 μg/kg/day ethinyl estradiol (EE2), a pharmaceutical estrogen, were also evaluated. Mammary glands from female offspring were collected prior to the onset of puberty, during puberty, and in early adulthood. Growth parameters, histopathology, cell proliferation and expression of hormone receptors were quantified. Our evaluations revealed age- and dose-specific effects of BPS that were different from the effects of EE2, and distinct from the effects of BPA that have been reported previously. These assessments suggest that individual xenoestrogens may have unique effects on this sensitive tissue. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

RIM-binding protein 2 regulates release probability by fine-tuning calcium channel localization at murine hippocampal synapses

PubMed Central

Grauel, M. Katharina; Reddy-Alla, Suneel; Willmes, Claudia G.; Brockmann, Marisa M.; Trimbuch, Thorsten; Rosenmund, Tanja; Pangalos, Maria; Vardar, Gülçin; Stumpf, Alexander; Walter, Alexander M.; Rost, Benjamin R.; Eickholt, Britta J.; Haucke, Volker; Schmitz, Dietmar; Sigrist, Stephan J.; Rosenmund, Christian

2016-01-01

The tight spatial coupling of synaptic vesicles and voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (CaVs) ensures efficient action potential-triggered neurotransmitter release from presynaptic active zones (AZs). Rab-interacting molecule-binding proteins (RIM-BPs) interact with Ca2+ channels and via RIM with other components of the release machinery. Although human RIM-BPs have been implicated in autism spectrum disorders, little is known about the role of mammalian RIM-BPs in synaptic transmission. We investigated RIM-BP2–deficient murine hippocampal neurons in cultures and slices. Short-term facilitation is significantly enhanced in both model systems. Detailed analysis in culture revealed a reduction in initial release probability, which presumably underlies the increased short-term facilitation. Superresolution microscopy revealed an impairment in CaV2.1 clustering at AZs, which likely alters Ca2+ nanodomains at release sites and thereby affects release probability. Additional deletion of RIM-BP1 does not exacerbate the phenotype, indicating that RIM-BP2 is the dominating RIM-BP isoform at these synapses. PMID:27671655

Global structure of five-dimensional fuzzballs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gibbons, G. W.; Warner, N. P.

2014-01-01

We describe and study families of BPS microstate geometries, namely, smooth, horizonless asymptotically flat solutions to supergravity. We examine these solutions from the perspective of earlier attempts to find solitonic solutions in gravity and show how the microstate geometries circumvent the earlier ‘no-go’ theorems. In particular, we re-analyze the Smarr formula and show how it must be modified in the presence of non-trivial second homology. This, combined with the supergravity Chern-Simons terms, allows the existence of rich classes of BPS, globally hyperbolic, asymptotically flat, microstate geometries whose spatial topology is the connected sum of N copies of S2 × S2 with a ‘point at infinity’ removed. These solutions also exhibit ‘evanescent ergo-regions,’ that is, the non-space-like Killing vector guaranteed by supersymmetry is time-like everywhere except on time-like hypersurfaces (ergo-surfaces) where the Killing vector becomes null. As a by-product of our work, we are able to resolve the puzzle of why some regular soliton solutions violate the BPS bound: their spacetimes do not admit a spin structure.

Morphological changes of bladder mucosa in patients who underwent instillation with combined sodium hyaluronic acid-chondroitin sulphate (Ialuril®).

PubMed

Costantini, E; Lazzeri, M; Pistolesi, D; Del Zingaro, M; Frumenzio, E; Boni, A; Pietropaolo, A; Fragalà, E; Porena, M

2013-01-01

To investigate what changes are endoscopically evident after glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) therapy by hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) (Ialuril®) in female patients affected by bladder pain syndrome(BPS)/ interstitial cystitis (IC) or recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs). 21 female patients over 18 years affected by rUTIs or BPS/IC received intravesical instillation of HA and CS (4 weekly instillations followed by 2 instillations every 2 weeks and 2 instillation monthly). Post-treatment evaluation included cystoscopy and patient assessment of improvement in symptoms and satisfaction on a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 to 10. The post-treatment endoscopy showed a positive effect on bladder mucosa morphology. In 2 cases, treatment did not change endoscopic findings and clinical symptoms. In the other patients, when macroscopic features of the bladder mucosa normalized, the clinical picture improved. GAGs therapy by HA and CS (Ialuril) improves the morphology of bladder mucosa in patients with rUTI or BPS/IC. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

The impact of aerosol composition on the particle to gas partitioning of reactive mercury.

PubMed

Rutter, Andrew P; Schauer, James J

2007-06-01

A laboratory system was developed to study the gas-particle partitioning of reactive mercury (RM) as a function of aerosol composition in synthetic atmospheric particulate matter. The collection of RM was achieved by filter- and sorbent-based methods. Analyses of the RM collected on the filters and sorbents were performed using thermal extraction combined with cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (CVAFS), allowing direct measurement of the RM load on the substrates. Laboratory measurements of the gas-particle partitioning coefficients of RM to atmospheric aerosol particles revealed a strong dependence on aerosol composition, with partitioning coefficients that varied by orders of magnitude depending on the composition of the particles. Particles of sodium nitrate and the chlorides of potassium and sodium had high partitioning coefficients, shifting the RM partitioning toward the particle phase, while ammonium sulfate, levoglucosan, and adipic acid caused the RM to partition toward the gas phase and, therefore, had partitioning coefficients that were lower by orders of magnitude.

Local performance optimization for a class of redundant eight-degree-of-freedom manipulators

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, Robert L., II

1994-01-01

Local performance optimization for joint limit avoidance and manipulability maximization (singularity avoidance) is obtained by using the Jacobian matrix pseudoinverse and by projecting the gradient of an objective function into the Jacobian null space. Real-time redundancy optimization control is achieved for an eight-joint redundant manipulator having a three-axis spherical shoulder, a single elbow joint, and a four-axis spherical wrist. Symbolic solutions are used for both full-Jacobian and wrist-partitioned pseudoinverses, partitioned null-space projection matrices, and all objective function gradients. A kinematic limitation of this class of manipulators and the limitation's effect on redundancy resolution are discussed. Results obtained with graphical simulation are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of local redundant manipulator performance optimization. Actual hardware experiments performed to verify the simulated results are also discussed. A major result is that the partitioned solution is desirable because of low computation requirements. The partitioned solution is suboptimal compared with the full solution because translational and rotational terms are optimized separately; however, the results show that the difference is not significant. Singularity analysis reveals that no algorithmic singularities exist for the partitioned solution. The partitioned and full solutions share the same physical manipulator singular conditions. When compared with the full solution, the partitioned solution is shown to be ill-conditioned in smaller neighborhoods of the shared singularities.

Brain Network Regional Synchrony Analysis in Deafness

PubMed Central

Xu, Lei; Liang, Mao-Jin

2018-01-01

Deafness, the most common auditory disease, has greatly affected people for a long time. The major treatment for deafness is cochlear implantation (CI). However, till today, there is still a lack of objective and precise indicator serving as evaluation of the effectiveness of the cochlear implantation. The goal of this EEG-based study is to effectively distinguish CI children from those prelingual deafened children without cochlear implantation. The proposed method is based on the functional connectivity analysis, which focuses on the brain network regional synchrony. Specifically, we compute the functional connectivity between each channel pair first. Then, we quantify the brain network synchrony among regions of interests (ROIs), where both intraregional synchrony and interregional synchrony are computed. And finally the synchrony values are concatenated to form the feature vector for the SVM classifier. What is more, we develop a new ROI partition method of 128-channel EEG recording system. That is, both the existing ROI partition method and the proposed ROI partition method are used in the experiments. Compared with the existing EEG signal classification methods, our proposed method has achieved significant improvements as large as 87.20% and 86.30% when the existing ROI partition method and the proposed ROI partition method are used, respectively. It further demonstrates that the new ROI partition method is comparable to the existing ROI partition method. PMID:29854776

Entropy functional and the holographic attractor mechanism

DOE PAGES

Cabo-Bizet, Alejandro; Kol, Uri; Pando Zayas, Leopoldo A.; ...

2018-05-01

We provide a field theory interpretation of the attractor mechanism for asymptotically AdS4 dyonic BPS black holes whose entropy is captured by the supersymmetric index of the twisted ABJM theory at Chern-Simons level one. We holographically compute the renormalized off-shell quantum effective action in the twisted ABJM theory as a function of the supersymmetric fermion masses and the arbitrary vacuum expectation values of the dimension one scalar bilinear operators and show that extremizing the effective action with respect to the vacuum expectation values of the dimension one scalar bilinears is equivalent to the attractor mechanism in the bulk. In fact,more » we show that the holographic quantum effective action coincides with the entropy functional and, therefore, its value at the extremum reproduces the black hole entropy.« less

Some exact solutions for maximally symmetric topological defects in Anti de Sitter space

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarez, Orlando; Haddad, Matthew

2018-03-01

We obtain exact analytical solutions for a class of SO( l) Higgs field theories in a non-dynamic background n-dimensional anti de Sitter space. These finite transverse energy solutions are maximally symmetric p-dimensional topological defects where n = ( p + 1) + l. The radius of curvature of anti de Sitter space provides an extra length scale that allows us to study the equations of motion in a limit where the masses of the Higgs field and the massive vector bosons are both vanishing. We call this the double BPS limit. In anti de Sitter space, the equations of motion depend on both p and l. The exact analytical solutions are expressed in terms of standard special functions. The known exact analytical solutions are for kink-like defects ( p = 0 , 1 , 2 , . . . ; l = 1), vortex-like defects ( p = 1 , 2 , 3; l = 2), and the 't Hooft-Polyakov monopole ( p = 0; l = 3). A bonus is that the double BPS limit automatically gives a maximally symmetric classical glueball type solution. In certain cases where we did not find an analytic solution, we present numerical solutions to the equations of motion. The asymptotically exponentially increasing volume with distance of anti de Sitter space imposes different constraints than those found in the study of defects in Minkowski space.

Comparison of modeling approaches for carbon partitioning: Impact on estimates of global net primary production and equilibrium biomass of woody vegetation from MODIS GPP

Treesearch

Takeshi Ise; Creighton M. Litton; Christian P. Giardina; Akihiko Ito

2010-01-01

Partitioning of gross primary production (GPP) to aboveground versus belowground, to growth versus respiration, and to short versus long�]lived tissues exerts a strong influence on ecosystem structure and function, with potentially large implications for the global carbon budget. A recent meta-analysis of forest ecosystems suggests that carbon partitioning...

Witten index for noncompact dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Seung-Joo; Yi, Piljin

2016-06-01

Among gauged dynamics motivated by string theory, we find many with gapless asymptotic directions. Although the natural boundary condition for ground states is L 2, one often turns on chemical potentials or supersymmetric mass terms to regulate the infrared issues, instead, and computes the twisted partition function. We point out how this procedure generically fails to capture physical L 2 Witten index with often misleading results. We also explore how, nevertheless, the Witten index is sometimes intricately embedded in such twisted partition functions. For d = 1 theories with gapless continuum sector from gauge multiplets, such as non-primitive quivers and pure Yang-Mills, a further subtlety exists, leading to fractional expressions. Quite unexpectedly, however, the integral L 2 Witten index can be extracted directly and easily from the twisted partition function of such theories. This phenomenon is tied to the notion of the rational invariant that appears naturally in the wall-crossing formulae, and offers a general mechanism of reading off Witten index directly from the twisted partition function. Along the way, we correct early numerical results for some of mathcal{N} = 4 , 8 , 16 pure Yang-Mills quantum mechanics, and count threshold bound states for general gauge groups beyond SU( N ).

Performance Analysis of a JTIDS/Link-16-type Waveform Transmitted over Slow, Flat Nakagami Fading Channels in the Presence of Narrowband Interference

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-12-01

The effective two-way tactical data rate is 3,060 bits per second. Note that there is no parity check or forward error correction (FEC) coding used in...of 1800 bits per second. With the use of FEC coding , the channel data rate is 2250 bits per second; however, the information data rate is still the...Link-11. If the parity bits are included, the channel data rate is 28,800 bps. If FEC coding is considered, the channel data rate is 59,520 bps

Kepler unbound: Some elegant curiosities of classical mechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacKay, Niall J.; Salour, Sam

2015-01-01

We explain two exotic systems of classical mechanics: the McIntosh-Cisneros-Zwanziger ("MICZ") Kepler system, of motion of a charged particle in the presence of a modified dyon; and Gibbons and Manton's description of the slow motion of well-separated solitonic ("BPS") monopoles using Taub-NUT space. Each system is characterized by the conservation of a Laplace-Runge-Lenz vector, and we use elementary vector techniques to show that each obeys a subtly different variation on Kepler's three laws for the Newton-Coulomb two-body problem, including a new modified Kepler third law for BPS monopoles.

K-band observations of boxy bulges - I. Morphology and surface brightness profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bureau, M.; Aronica, G.; Athanassoula, E.; Dettmar, R.-J.; Bosma, A.; Freeman, K. C.

2006-08-01

In this first paper of a series on the structure of boxy and peanut-shaped (B/PS) bulges, Kn-band observations of a sample of 30 edge-on spiral galaxies are described and discussed. Kn-band observations best trace the dominant luminous galactic mass and are minimally affected by dust. Images, unsharp-masked images, as well as major-axis and vertically summed surface brightness profiles are presented and discussed. Galaxies with a B/PS bulge tend to have a more complex morphology than galaxies with other bulge types, more often showing centred or off-centred X structures, secondary maxima along the major-axis and spiral-like structures. While probably not uniquely related to bars, those features are observed in three-dimensional N-body simulations of barred discs and may trace the main bar orbit families. The surface brightness profiles of galaxies with a B/PS bulge are also more complex, typically containing three or more clearly separated regions, including a shallow or flat intermediate region (Freeman Type II profiles). The breaks in the profiles offer evidence for bar-driven transfer of angular momentum and radial redistribution of material. The profiles further suggest a rapid variation of the scaleheight of the disc material, contrary to conventional wisdom but again as expected from the vertical resonances and instabilities present in barred discs. Interestingly, the steep inner region of the surface brightness profiles is often shorter than the isophotally thick part of the galaxies, itself always shorter than the flat intermediate region of the profiles. The steep inner region is also much more prominent along the major-axis than in the vertically summed profiles. Similarly to other recent work but contrary to the standard `bulge + disc' model (where the bulge is both thick and steep), we thus propose that galaxies with a B/PS bulge are composed of a thin concentrated disc (a disc-like bulge) contained within a partially thick bar (the B/PS bulge), itself contained within a thin outer disc. The inner disc likely formed secularly through bar-driven processes and is responsible for the steep inner region of the surface brightness profiles, traditionally associated with a classic bulge, while the bar is responsible for the flat intermediate region of the surface brightness profiles and the thick complex morphological structures observed. Those components are strongly coupled dynamically and are formed mostly of the same (disc) material, shaped by the weak but relentless action of the bar resonances. Any competing formation scenario for galaxies with a B/PS bulge, which represent at least 45 per cent of the local disc galaxy population, must explain equally well and self-consistently the above morphological and photometric properties, the complex gas and stellar kinematics observed, and the correlations between them.

Bisphenol A affects androgen receptor function via multiple mechanisms.

PubMed

Teng, Christina; Goodwin, Bonnie; Shockley, Keith; Xia, Menghang; Huang, Ruili; Norris, John; Merrick, B Alex; Jetten, Anton M; Austin, Christopher P; Tice, Raymond R

2013-05-25

Bisphenol A (BPA), is a well-known endocrine disruptor compound (EDC) that affects the normal development and function of the female and male reproductive system, however the mechanisms of action remain unclear. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of how BPA may affect ten different nuclear receptors, stable cell lines containing individual nuclear receptor ligand binding domain (LBD)-linked to the β-Gal reporter were examined by a quantitative high throughput screening (qHTS) format in the Tox21 Screening Program of the NIH. The results showed that two receptors, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and androgen receptor (AR), are affected by BPA in opposite direction. To confirm the observed effects of BPA on ERα and AR, we performed transient transfection experiments with full-length receptors and their corresponding response elements linked to luciferase reporters. We also included in this study two BPA analogs, bisphenol AF (BPAF) and bisphenol S (BPS). As seen in African green monkey kidney CV1 cells, the present study confirmed that BPA and BPAF act as ERα agonists (half maximal effective concentration EC50 of 10-100 nM) and as AR antagonists (half maximal inhibitory concentration IC50 of 1-2 μM). Both BPA and BPAF antagonized AR function via competitive inhibition of the action of synthetic androgen R1881. BPS with lower estrogenic activity (EC50 of 2.2 μM), did not compete with R1881 for AR binding, when tested at 30 μM. Finally, the effects of BPA were also evaluated in a nuclear translocation assays using EGPF-tagged receptors. Similar to 17β-estradiol (E2) which was used as control, BPA was able to enhance ERα nuclear foci formation but at a 100-fold higher concentration. Although BPA was able to bind AR, the nuclear translocation was reduced. Furthermore, BPA was unable to induce functional foci in the nuclei and is consistent with the transient transfection study that BPA is unable to activate AR. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Diagrammatic expansion for positive density-response spectra: Application to the electron gas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Uimonen, A.-M.; Stefanucci, G.; Pavlyukh, Y.; van Leeuwen, R.

2015-03-01

In a recent paper [Phys. Rev. B 90, 115134 (2014), 10.1103/PhysRevB.90.115134] we put forward a diagrammatic expansion for the self-energy which guarantees the positivity of the spectral function. In this work we extend the theory to the density-response function. We write the generic diagram for the density-response spectrum as the sum of "partitions." In a partition the original diagram is evaluated using time-ordered Green's functions on the left half of the diagram, antitime-ordered Green's functions on the right half of the diagram, and lesser or greater Green's function gluing the two halves. As there exists more than one way to cut a diagram in two halves, to every diagram corresponds more than one partition. We recognize that the most convenient diagrammatic objects for constructing a theory of positive spectra are the half-diagrams. Diagrammatic approximations obtained by summing the squares of half-diagrams do indeed correspond to a combination of partitions which, by construction, yield a positive spectrum. We develop the theory using bare Green's functions and subsequently extend it to dressed Green's functions. We further prove a connection between the positivity of the spectral function and the analytic properties of the polarizability. The general theory is illustrated with several examples and then applied to solve the long-standing problem of including vertex corrections without altering the positivity of the spectrum. In fact already the first-order vertex diagram, relevant to the study of gradient expansion, Friedel oscillations, etc., leads to spectra which are negative in certain frequency domain. We find that the simplest approximation to cure this deficiency is given by the sum of the zeroth-order bubble diagram, the first-order vertex diagram, and a partition of the second-order ladder diagram. We evaluate this approximation in the three-dimensional homogeneous electron gas and show the positivity of the spectrum for all frequencies and densities.

Partition functions with spin in AdS2 via quasinormal mode methods

DOE PAGES

Keeler, Cynthia; Lisbão, Pedro; Ng, Gim Seng

2016-10-12

We extend the results of [1], computing one loop partition functions for massive fields with spin half in AdS 2 using the quasinormal mode method proposed by Denef, Hartnoll, and Sachdev [2]. We find the finite representations of SO(2,1) for spin zero and spin half, consisting of a highest weight state |hi and descendants with non-unitary values of h. These finite representations capture the poles and zeroes of the one loop determinants. Together with the asymptotic behavior of the partition functions (which can be easily computed using a large mass heat kernel expansion), these are sufficient to determine the fullmore » answer for the one loop determinants. We also discuss extensions to higher dimensional AdS 2n and higher spins.« less

Atomic interactions of neonicotinoid agonists with AChBP: Molecular recognition of the distinctive electronegative pharmacophore

PubMed Central

Talley, Todd T.; Harel, Michal; Hibbs, Ryan E.; Radić, Zoran; Tomizawa, Motohiro; Casida, John E.; Taylor, Palmer

2008-01-01

Acetylcholine-binding proteins (AChBPs) from mollusks are suitable structural and functional surrogates of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors when combined with transmembrane spans of the nicotinic receptor. These proteins assemble as a pentamer with identical ACh binding sites at the subunit interfaces and show ligand specificities resembling those of the nicotinic receptor for agonists and antagonists. A subset of ligands, termed the neonicotinoids, exhibit specificity for insect nicotinic receptors and selective toxicity as insecticides. AChBPs are of neither mammalian nor insect origin and exhibit a distinctive pattern of selectivity for the neonicotinoid ligands. We define here the binding orientation and determinants of differential molecular recognition for the neonicotinoids and classical nicotinoids by estimates of kinetic and equilibrium binding parameters and crystallographic analysis. Neonicotinoid complex formation is rapid and accompanied by quenching of the AChBP tryptophan fluorescence. Comparisons of the neonicotinoids imidacloprid and thiacloprid in the binding site from Aplysia californica AChBP at 2.48 and 1.94 Å in resolution reveal a single conformation of the bound ligands with four of the five sites occupied in the pentameric crystal structure. The neonicotinoid electronegative pharmacophore is nestled in an inverted direction compared with the nicotinoid cationic functionality at the subunit interfacial binding pocket. Characteristic of several agonists, loop C largely envelops the ligand, positioning aromatic side chains to interact optimally with conjugated and hydrophobic regions of the neonicotinoid. This template defines the association of interacting amino acids and their energetic contributions to the distinctive interactions of neonicotinoids. PMID:18477694

Practical deviations from Henry`s law for water/air partitioning of volatile organic compounds

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schabron, J.F.; Rovani, J.F. Jr.

A study was conducted to define parameters relating to the use of a down hole submersible photoionization detector (PID) probe to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in an artificial headspace. The partitioning of toluene and trichloroethylene between water and air was studied as a function of analyte concentration and water temperature. The Henry`s law constant governing this partitioning represents an ideal condition at infinite dilution for a particular temperature. The results show that in practice. this partitioning is far from ideal. Conditions resulting in apparent, practical deviations from Henry`s law include temperature and VOC concentration. Thus, a single value ofmore » Henry`s law constant for a particular VOC such as toluene can provide only an approximation of concentration in the field. Detector response in saturated humidity environments as a function of water temperature and analyte concentration was studied also.« less

Dimerization controls the lipid raft partitioning of uPAR/CD87 and regulates its biological functions

PubMed Central

Cunningham, Orla; Andolfo, Annapaola; Santovito, Maria Lisa; Iuzzolino, Lucia; Blasi, Francesco; Sidenius, Nicolai

2003-01-01

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR/CD87) is a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored membrane protein with multiple functions in extracellular proteolysis, cell adhesion, cell migration and proliferation. We now report that cell surface uPAR dimerizes and that dimeric uPAR partitions preferentially to detergent-resistant lipid rafts. Dimerization of uPAR did not require raft partitioning as the lowering of membrane cholesterol failed to reduce dimerization and as a transmembrane uPAR chimera, which does not partition to lipid rafts, also dimerized efficiently. While uPA bound to uPAR independently of its membrane localization and dimerization status, uPA-induced uPAR cleavage was strongly accelerated in lipid rafts. In contrast to uPA, the binding of Vn occurred preferentially to raft- associated dimeric uPAR and was completely blocked by cholesterol depletion. PMID:14609946

Thermodynamic limit of random partitions and dispersionless Toda hierarchy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Takasaki, Kanehisa; Nakatsu, Toshio

2012-01-01

We study the thermodynamic limit of random partition models for the instanton sum of 4D and 5D supersymmetric U(1) gauge theories deformed by some physical observables. The physical observables correspond to external potentials in the statistical model. The partition function is reformulated in terms of the density function of Maya diagrams. The thermodynamic limit is governed by a limit shape of Young diagrams associated with dominant terms in the partition function. The limit shape is characterized by a variational problem, which is further converted to a scalar-valued Riemann-Hilbert problem. This Riemann-Hilbert problem is solved with the aid of a complex curve, which may be thought of as the Seiberg-Witten curve of the deformed U(1) gauge theory. This solution of the Riemann-Hilbert problem is identified with a special solution of the dispersionless Toda hierarchy that satisfies a pair of generalized string equations. The generalized string equations for the 5D gauge theory are shown to be related to hidden symmetries of the statistical model. The prepotential and the Seiberg-Witten differential are also considered.

Monochromatic Transmittance/Radiance Computations

DTIC Science & Technology

1974-12-31

In the infrared region, these tran- sitions are normally between various vibration -rotation states. There are usually a large number of possible...energy level of the transition, and Q (e,m.) and Q (0,m.) are respectively the ratio of the vibrational and rotational partition function at...values used are listed in Table 2 (Ref. 2). For source conditions, the vibrational partition function cannot be ignored and has been calculated 4

Phase diagram of q-deformed Yang-Mills theory on S 2 at non-zero θ-angle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okuyama, Kazumi

2018-04-01

We study the phase diagram of q-deformed Yang-Mills theory on S 2 at non-zero θ-angle using the exact partition function at finite N . By evaluating the exact partition function numerically, we find evidence for the existence of a series of phase transitions at non-zero θ-angle as conjectured in [hep-th/0509004

GPS/INS integration by functional partitioning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diesel, John W.

It is shown that a GPS/INS system integrated by functional partitioning can satisfy all of the RTCA navigation requirements and goals. This is accomplished by accurately calibrating the INS using GPS after the inertial instruments are thermally stabilized and by exploiting the very slow subsequent error growth in the INS information. In this way, autonomous integrity monitoring can be achieved using only existing or presently planned systems.

Low-dose exposure to bisphenols A, F and S of human primary adipocyte impacts coding and non-coding RNA profiles

PubMed Central

Leloire, Audrey; Dhennin, Véronique; Coumoul, Xavier; Yengo, Loïc; Froguel, Philippe

2017-01-01

Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has been suspected to be associated with deleterious effects on health including obesity and metabolically-linked diseases. Although bisphenols F (BPF) and S (BPS) are BPA structural analogs commonly used in many marketed products as a replacement for BPA, only sparse toxicological data are available yet. Our objective was to comprehensively characterize bisphenols gene targets in a human primary adipocyte model, in order to determine whether they may induce cellular dysfunction, using chronic exposure at two concentrations: a “low-dose” similar to the dose usually encountered in human biological fluids and a higher dose. Therefore, BPA, BPF and BPS have been added at 10 nM or 10 μM during the differentiation of human primary adipocytes from subcutaneous fat of three non-diabetic Caucasian female patients. Gene expression (mRNA/lncRNA) arrays and microRNA arrays, have been used to assess coding and non-coding RNA changes. We detected significantly deregulated mRNA/lncRNA and miRNA at low and high doses. Enrichment in “cancer” and “organismal injury and abnormalities” related pathways was found in response to the three products. Some long intergenic non-coding RNAs and small nucleolar RNAs were differentially expressed suggesting that bisphenols may also activate multiple cellular processes and epigenetic modifications. The analysis of upstream regulators of deregulated genes highlighted hormones or hormone-like chemicals suggesting that BPS and BPF can be suspected to interfere, just like BPA, with hormonal regulation and have to be considered as endocrine disruptors. All these results suggest that as BPA, its substitutes BPS and BPF should be used with the same restrictions. PMID:28628672

Differential effects of biologic versus bisphosphonate inhibition of wear debris-induced osteolysis assessed by longitudinal micro-CT.

PubMed

Tsutsumi, Ryosuke; Hock, Colleen; Bechtold, C Dustin; Proulx, Steven T; Bukata, Susan V; Ito, Hiromu; Awad, Hani A; Nakamura, Takashi; O'Keefe, Regis J; Schwarz, Edward M

2008-10-01

Aseptic loosening of total joint replacements is caused by wear debris-induced osteoclastic bone resorption, for which bisphosphonates (BPs) and RANK antagonists have been developed. Although BPs are effective in preventing metabolic bone loss, they are less effective for inflammatory bone loss. Because this difference has been attributed to the antiapoptotic inflammatory signals that protect osteoclasts from BP-induced apoptosis, but not RANK antagonists, we tested the hypothesis that osteoprotegerin (OPG) is more effective in preventing wear debris-induced osteolysis than zoledronic acid (ZA) or alendronate (Aln) in the murine calvaria model using in vivo micro-CT and traditional histology. Although micro-CT proved to be incompatible with titanium (Ti) particles, we were able to demonstrate a 3.2-fold increase in osteolytic volume over 10 days induced by polyethylene (PE) particles versus sham controls (0.49 +/- 0.23 mm(3) versus 0.15 +/- 0.067 mm(3); p < 0.01). Although OPG and high-dose ZA completely inhibited this PE-induced osteolysis (p < 0.001), pharmacological doses of ZA and Aln were less effective but still reached statistical significance (p < 0.05). Traditional histomorphometry of the sagital suture area of calvaria from both Ti and PE-treated mice confirmed the remarkable suppression of resorption by OPG (p < 0.001) versus the lack of effect by physiological BPs. The differences in drug effects on osteolysis were largely explained by the significant difference in osteoclast numbers observed between OPG versus BPs in both Ti- and PE-treated calvaria; and linear regression analyses that demonstrated a highly significant correlation between osteolysis volume and sagittal suture area versus osteoclast numbers (p < 0.001). (c) 2008 Orthopaedic Research Society.

Acute Toxicity, Teratogenic, and Estrogenic Effects of Bisphenol A and Its Alternative Replacements Bisphenol S, Bisphenol F, and Bisphenol AF in Zebrafish Embryo-Larvae.

PubMed

Moreman, John; Lee, Okhyun; Trznadel, Maciej; David, Arthur; Kudoh, Tetsuhiro; Tyler, Charles R

2017-11-07

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical incorporated into plastics and resins, has estrogenic activity and is associated with adverse health effects in humans and wildlife. Similarly structured BPA analogues are widely used but far less is known about their potential toxicity or estrogenic activity in vivo. We undertook the first comprehensive analysis on the toxicity and teratogenic effects of the bisphenols BPA, BPS, BPF, and BPAF in zebrafish embryo-larvae and an assessment on their estrogenic mechanisms in an estrogen-responsive transgenic fish Tg(ERE:Gal4ff)(UAS:GFP). The rank order for toxicity was BPAF > BPA > BPF > BPS. Developmental deformities for larval exposures included cardiac edema, spinal malformation, and craniofacial deformities and there were distinct differences in the effects and potencies between the different bisphenol chemicals. These effects, however, occurred only at concentrations between 1.0 and 200 mg/L which exceed those in most environments. All bisphenol compounds induced estrogenic responses in Tg(ERE:Gal4ff)(UAS:GFP) zebrafish that were inhibited by coexposure with ICI 182 780, demonstrating an estrogen receptor dependent mechanism. Target tissues included the heart, liver, somite muscle, fins, and corpuscles of Stannius. The rank order for estrogenicity was BPAF > BPA = BPF > BPS. Bioconcentration factors were 4.5, 17.8, 5.3, and 0.067 for exposure concentrations of 1.0, 1.0, 0.10, and 50 mg/L for BPA, BPF, BPAF, and BPS, respectively. We thus show that these BPA alternatives induce similar toxic and estrogenic effects to BPA and that BPAF is more potent than BPA, further highlighting health concerns regarding the use of BPA alternatives.

Health Education and Symptom Flare Management Using a Video-Based m-Health System for Caring Women with IC/BPS.

PubMed

Lee, Ming-Huei; Wu, Huei-Ching; Tseng, Chien-Ming; Ko, Tsung-Liang; Weng, Tang-Jun; Chen, Yung-Fu

2018-06-10

To assess effectiveness of the video-based m-health system providing videos dictated by physicians for health education and symptom self-management for patients with IC/BPS. An m-health system was designed to provide videos for weekly health education and symptom flare self-management. O'Leary-Sant index and VAS scale as well as SF-36 health survey were administrated to evaluate the disease severity and quality of life (QoL), respectively. A total of 60 IC/BPS patients were recruited and randomly assigned to either control group (30 patients) or study group (30 patients) in sequence depending on their orders to visit our urological clinic. Patients in both control and study groups received regular treatments, while those in the study group received additional video-based intervention. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare the outcomes between baseline and post-intervention for both groups. The outcomes of video-based intervention were also compared with the text-based intervention conducted in our previous study. After video-based intervention, patients in the study group exhibited significant effect manifested in all disease severity and QoL assessments except the VAS pain scale, while no significance was found in the control group. Moreover, the study group exhibited more significant net improvements than the control group in 7 SF-36 constructs, except the mental health. The limitations include short intervention duration (8 weeks) and different study periods between text-based and video-based interventions. Video-based intervention is effective in improving the QoL of IC/BPS patients and outperforms the text-based intervention even in a short period of intervention. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

International Myeloma Working Group Recommendations for the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma–Related Bone Disease

PubMed Central

Terpos, Evangelos; Morgan, Gareth; Dimopoulos, Meletios A.; Drake, Matthew T.; Lentzsch, Suzanne; Raje, Noopur; Sezer, Orhan; García-Sanz, Ramón; Shimizu, Kazuyuki; Turesson, Ingemar; Reiman, Tony; Jurczyszyn, Artur; Merlini, Giampaolo; Spencer, Andrew; Leleu, Xavier; Cavo, Michele; Munshi, Nikhil; Rajkumar, S. Vincent; Durie, Brian G.M.; Roodman, G. David

2013-01-01

Purpose The aim of the International Myeloma Working Group was to develop practice recommendations for the management of multiple myeloma (MM) –related bone disease. Methodology An interdisciplinary panel of clinical experts on MM and myeloma bone disease developed recommendations based on published data through August 2012. Expert consensus was used to propose additional recommendations in situations where there were insufficient published data. Levels of evidence and grades of recommendations were assigned and approved by panel members. Recommendations Bisphosphonates (BPs) should be considered in all patients with MM receiving first-line antimyeloma therapy, regardless of presence of osteolytic bone lesions on conventional radiography. However, it is unknown if BPs offer any advantage in patients with no bone disease assessed by magnetic resonance imaging or positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Intravenous (IV) zoledronic acid (ZOL) or pamidronate (PAM) is recommended for preventing skeletal-related events in patients with MM. ZOL is preferred over oral clodronate in newly diagnosed patients with MM because of its potential antimyeloma effects and survival benefits. BPs should be administered every 3 to 4 weeks IV during initial therapy. ZOL or PAM should be continued in patients with active disease and should be resumed after disease relapse, if discontinued in patients achieving complete or very good partial response. BPs are well tolerated, but preventive strategies must be instituted to avoid renal toxicity or osteonecrosis of the jaw. Kyphoplasty should be considered for symptomatic vertebral compression fractures. Low-dose radiation therapy can be used for palliation of uncontrolled pain, impending pathologic fracture, or spinal cord compression. Orthopedic consultation should be sought for long-bone fractures, spinal cord compression, and vertebral column instability. PMID:23690408

Pain in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: do characteristics differ in ulcerative and non-ulcerative subtypes?

PubMed

Killinger, Kim A; Boura, Judith A; Peters, Kenneth M

2013-08-01

Key differences between interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) subtypes (with and without Hunner's ulcer) have been noted. We hypothesized that pain characteristics in women grouped by IC/BPS subtype would differ. A survey was mailed to 749 women to assess IC/BPS pain and other characteristics. Cystoscopy/hydrodistention reports were reviewed for presence/absence of Hunner's ulcer. The McGill Pain Questionnaire Short Form© (MPQ-SF), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Indices (ICSI-PI) assessed symptoms. Data were analyzed with Pearson's chi-square, Fisher's exact, t tests, and Wilcoxon rank tests. Of the 214 women that returned a survey (36 ulcerative and 178 non-ulcerative IC/BPS), similar proportions in each group reported that certain foods, exercise, and/or stress triggered symptoms. Fewer ulcerative patients reported pain with vaginal penetration than non-ulcerative (5/33, 15.2 % vs 76/160, 47.5 %; p = 0.0006). On the BPI, the ulcerative and non-ulcerative groups reported similar numbers of painful areas (mean 4.1 ± 6.1 and 4.1 ± 3.8; p = 0.33), and lower abdominal/pelvic pain was reported most (13/35, 37 % vs 79/172, 46 %; p = 0.34) followed by lower back pain (12/35, 34 % vs 69/172, 40 %; p = 0.52). Even though ICSI-PI, MPQ-SF, and BPI scores/responses did not differ, on the MPQ-SF the three words most frequently used by ulcerative patients to describe their pain were sharp, stabbing, and hot burning, and in non-ulcerative were aching, cramping, and tender. These measures did not reveal any significant differences in pain between subtypes. More research is needed in larger samples to determine whether differences exist.

Characterization of a collection of plasmid-containing bacteria isolated from an on-farm biopurification system used for pesticide removal.

PubMed

Martini, María Carla; Albicoro, Francisco Javier; Nour, Eman; Schlüter, Andreas; van Elsas, Jan Dirk; Springael, Dirk; Smalla, Kornelia; Pistorio, Mariano; Lagares, Antonio; Del Papa, María Florencia

2015-07-01

Biopurification systems (BPS) are complex soil-related and artificially-generated environments usually designed for the removal of toxic compounds from contaminated wastewaters. The present study has been conducted to isolate and characterize a collection of cultivable plasmid-carrying bacterial isolates recovered from a BPS established for the decontamination of wastewater generated in a farmyard. Out of 1400 isolates, a collection of 75 plasmid-containing bacteria was obtained, of which 35 representative isolates comprising in total at least 50 plasmids were chosen for further characterization. Bacterial hosts were taxonomically assigned by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing and phenotypically characterized according to their ability to grow in presence of different antibiotics and heavy metals. The study demonstrated that a high proportion of the isolates was tolerant to antibiotics and/or heavy metals, highlighting the on-farm BPS enrichment in such genetic traits. Several plasmids conferring such resistances in the bacterial collection were detected to be either mobilizable or selftransmissible. Occurrence of broad host range plasmids of the incompatibility groups IncP, IncQ, IncN and IncW was examined with positive results only for the first group. Presence of the IS1071 insertion sequence, frequently associated with xenobiotics degradation genes, was detected in DNA obtained from 24 of these isolates, strongly suggesting the presence of yet-hidden catabolic activities in the collection of isolates. The results showed a remarkable diversity in the plasmid mobilome of cultivable bacteria in the BPS with the presence of abundant resistance markers of different types, thus providing a suitable environment to investigate the genetic structure of the mobile genetic pool in a model on-farm biofilter for wastewater decontamination in intensive agricultural production. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Differential splicing of human androgen receptor pre-mRNA in X-linked reifenstein syndrome, because of a deletion involving a putative branch site

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ris-Stalpers, C.; Verleun-Mooijman, M.C.T.; Blaeij, T.J.P. de

1994-04-01

The analysis of the androgen receptor (AR) gene, mRNA, and protein in a subject with X-linked Reifenstein syndrome (partial androgen insensitivity) is reported. The presence of two mature AR transcripts in genital skin fibroblasts of the patient is established, and, by reverse transcriptase-PCR and RNase transcription analysis, the wild-type transcript and a transcript in which exon 3 sequences are absent without disruption of the translational reading frame are identified. Sequencing and hybridization analysis show a deletion of >6 kb in intron 2 of the human AR gene, starting 18 bp upstream of exon 3. The deletion includes the putative branch-pointmore » sequence (BPS) but not the acceptor splice site on the intron 2/exon 3 boundary. The deletion of the putative intron 2 BPS results in 90% inhibition of wild-type splicing. The mutant transcript encodes an AR protein lacking the second zinc finger of the DNA-binding domain. Western/immunoblotting analysis is used to show that the mutant AR protein is expressed in genital skin fibroblasts of the patient. The residual 10% wild-type transcript can be the result of the use of a cryptic BPS located 63 bp upstream of the intron 2/exon 3 boundary of the mutant AR gene. The mutated AR protein has no transcription-activating potential and does not influence the transactivating properties of the wild-type AR, as tested in cotransfection studies. It is concluded that the partial androgen-insensitivity syndrome of this patient is the consequence of the limited amount of wild-type AR protein expressed in androgen target cells, resulting from the deletion of the intron 2 putative BPS. 42 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.« less

ThedaCare's business performance system: sustaining continuous daily improvement through hospital management in a lean environment.

PubMed

Barnas, Kim

2011-09-01

For 2003-2008, ThedaCare, a community health system in Wisconsin, achieved significant improvements in quality and the elimination of waste through the development of an improvement system, which included Value Stream analysis, rapid improvement events, and projects applied to specific processes. However, to meet its continuous daily improvement goals, particularly the goal of increasing productivity by 10% annually, ThedaCare needed to change the way its managers and leaders (in its hospital division) conduct and manage their daily work. Accordingly, it developed its Business Performance System (BPS) to achieve and sustain continuous daily improvement. BUILDING THE BPS: ThedaCare devised a multipart pilot project, consisting of "learning to see" and then, "problem solving." On completion of the 15-week alpha phase (6 units) in July 2009, the BPS was spread to the beta pilot (12 units; September 2009-January 2010) and then to cohort 3 (10 units; September 2010-January 2011). Each alpha unit improved performance on (1) the key driver metric of increasing productivity from 2008 to year-end 2009 (by 1%-11%) and (2) its respective safety/ quality drivers over the respective 2008 baselines. For 2010, improvements across the alpha, beta, and cohort 3 units were found for 11 of the 14 safety/quality drivers-85% of the 11 customer satisfaction drivers, 83% of 6 people engagement drivers; and 48% of 23 financial stewardship drivers. The tools developed for the BPS have enabled teams to see, prioritize, and pursue continuous daily improvement opportunities. Unit leaders now have a structured management reporting system to reduce variation in their management styles. Leaders all now follow leadership standard work, and their daily work is now consistently aligned with the hospital and system strategy.

STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS OF METAL PARTITIONING TO MINERAL SURFACES

EPA Science Inventory

The conceptual understanding of surface complexation reactions that control trace element partitioning to mineral surfaces is limited by the assumption that the solid reactant possesses a finite, time-invariant population of surface functional groups. This assumption has limited...

High-temperature asymptotics of supersymmetric partition functions

DOE PAGES

Ardehali, Arash Arabi

2016-07-05

We study the supersymmetric partition function of 4d supersymmetric gauge theories with a U(1) R-symmetry on Euclidean S 3 × S β 1, with S 3 the unit-radius squashed three-sphere, and β the circumference of the circle. For superconformal theories, this partition function coincides (up to a Casimir energy factor) with the 4d superconformal index. The partition function can be computed exactly using the supersymmetric localization of the gauge theory path-integral. It takes the form of an elliptic hypergeometric integral, which may be viewed as a matrix-integral over the moduli space of the holonomies of the gauge fields around Smore » β 1. At high temperatures (β → 0, corresponding to the hyperbolic limit of the elliptic hypergeometric integral) we obtain from the matrix-integral a quantum effective potential for the holonomies. The effective potential is proportional to the temperature. Therefore the high-temperature limit further localizes the matrix-integral to the locus of the minima of the potential. If the effective potential is positive semi-definite, the leading high-temperature asymptotics of the partition function is given by the formula of Di Pietro and Komargodski, and the subleading asymptotics is connected to the Coulomb branch dynamics on R 3 × S 1. In theories where the effective potential is not positive semi-definite, the Di Pietro-Komargodski formula needs to be modified. In particular, this modification occurs in the SU(2) theory of Intriligator-Seiberg-Shenker, and the SO(N) theory of Brodie-Cho-Intriligator, both believed to exhibit “misleading” anomaly matchings, and both believed to yield interacting superconformal field theories with c < a. Lastly, two new simple tests for dualities between 4d supersymmetric gauge theories emerge as byproducts of our analysis.« less

Anharmonic effects in the quantum cluster equilibrium method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von Domaros, Michael; Perlt, Eva

2017-03-01

The well-established quantum cluster equilibrium (QCE) model provides a statistical thermodynamic framework to apply high-level ab initio calculations of finite cluster structures to macroscopic liquid phases using the partition function. So far, the harmonic approximation has been applied throughout the calculations. In this article, we apply an important correction in the evaluation of the one-particle partition function and account for anharmonicity. Therefore, we implemented an analytical approximation to the Morse partition function and the derivatives of its logarithm with respect to temperature, which are required for the evaluation of thermodynamic quantities. This anharmonic QCE approach has been applied to liquid hydrogen chloride and cluster distributions, and the molar volume, the volumetric thermal expansion coefficient, and the isobaric heat capacity have been calculated. An improved description for all properties is observed if anharmonic effects are considered.

AGT/ℤ2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Le Floch, Bruno; Turiaci, Gustavo J.

2017-12-01

We relate Liouville/Toda CFT correlators on Riemann surfaces with boundaries and cross-cap states to supersymmetric observables in four-dimensional N=2 gauge theories. Our construction naturally involves four-dimensional theories with fields defined on different ℤ2 quotients of the sphere (hemisphere and projective space) but nevertheless interacting with each other. The six-dimensional origin is a ℤ2 quotient of the setup giving rise to the usual AGT correspondence. To test the correspondence, we work out the ℝℙ4 partition function of four-dimensional N=2 theories by combining a 3d lens space and a 4d hemisphere partition functions. The same technique reproduces known ℝℙ2 partition functions in a form that lets us easily check two-dimensional Seiberg-like dualities on this nonorientable space. As a bonus we work out boundary and cross-cap wavefunctions in Toda CFT.

Polynomial solution of quantum Grassmann matrices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tierz, Miguel

2017-05-01

We study a model of quantum mechanical fermions with matrix-like index structure (with indices N and L) and quartic interactions, recently introduced by Anninos and Silva. We compute the partition function exactly with q-deformed orthogonal polynomials (Stieltjes-Wigert polynomials), for different values of L and arbitrary N. From the explicit evaluation of the thermal partition function, the energy levels and degeneracies are determined. For a given L, the number of states of different energy is quadratic in N, which implies an exponential degeneracy of the energy levels. We also show that at high-temperature we have a Gaussian matrix model, which implies a symmetry that swaps N and L, together with a Wick rotation of the spectral parameter. In this limit, we also write the partition function, for generic L and N, in terms of a single generalized Hermite polynomial.

Computer program for calculating and fitting thermodynamic functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcbride, Bonnie J.; Gordon, Sanford

1992-01-01

A computer program is described which (1) calculates thermodynamic functions (heat capacity, enthalpy, entropy, and free energy) for several optional forms of the partition function, (2) fits these functions to empirical equations by means of a least-squares fit, and (3) calculates, as a function of temperture, heats of formation and equilibrium constants. The program provides several methods for calculating ideal gas properties. For monatomic gases, three methods are given which differ in the technique used for truncating the partition function. For diatomic and polyatomic molecules, five methods are given which differ in the corrections to the rigid-rotator harmonic-oscillator approximation. A method for estimating thermodynamic functions for some species is also given.

Evaluation of Hierarchical Clustering Algorithms for Document Datasets

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-06-03

link, complete-link, and group average ( UPGMA )) and a new set of merging criteria derived from the six partitional criterion functions. Overall, we...used the single-link, complete-link, and UPGMA schemes, as well as, the various partitional criterion functions described in Section 3.1. The single-link...other (complete-link approach). The UPGMA scheme [16] (also known as group average) overcomes these problems by measuring the similarity of two clusters

A partition function-based weighting scheme in force field parameter development using ab initio calculation results in global configurational space.

PubMed

Wu, Yao; Dai, Xiaodong; Huang, Niu; Zhao, Lifeng

2013-06-05

In force field parameter development using ab initio potential energy surfaces (PES) as target data, an important but often neglected matter is the lack of a weighting scheme with optimal discrimination power to fit the target data. Here, we developed a novel partition function-based weighting scheme, which not only fits the target potential energies exponentially like the general Boltzmann weighting method, but also reduces the effect of fitting errors leading to overfitting. The van der Waals (vdW) parameters of benzene and propane were reparameterized by using the new weighting scheme to fit the high-level ab initio PESs probed by a water molecule in global configurational space. The molecular simulation results indicate that the newly derived parameters are capable of reproducing experimental properties in a broader range of temperatures, which supports the partition function-based weighting scheme. Our simulation results also suggest that structural properties are more sensitive to vdW parameters than partial atomic charge parameters in these systems although the electrostatic interactions are still important in energetic properties. As no prerequisite conditions are required, the partition function-based weighting method may be applied in developing any types of force field parameters. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Statistical Systems with Z

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

William, Peter

In this dissertation several two dimensional statistical systems exhibiting discrete Z(n) symmetries are studied. For this purpose a newly developed algorithm to compute the partition function of these models exactly is utilized. The zeros of the partition function are examined in order to obtain information about the observable quantities at the critical point. This occurs in the form of critical exponents of the order parameters which characterize phenomena at the critical point. The correlation length exponent is found to agree very well with those computed from strong coupling expansions for the mass gap and with Monte Carlo results. In Feynman's path integral formalism the partition function of a statistical system can be related to the vacuum expectation value of the time ordered product of the observable quantities of the corresponding field theoretic model. Hence a generalization of ordinary scale invariance in the form of conformal invariance is focussed upon. This principle is very suitably applicable, in the case of two dimensional statistical models undergoing second order phase transitions at criticality. The conformal anomaly specifies the universality class to which these models belong. From an evaluation of the partition function, the free energy at criticality is computed, to determine the conformal anomaly of these models. The conformal anomaly for all the models considered here are in good agreement with the predicted values.

Black hole entropy in massive Type IIA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benini, Francesco; Khachatryan, Hrachya; Milan, Paolo

2018-02-01

We study the entropy of static dyonic BPS black holes in AdS4 in 4d N=2 gauged supergravities with vector and hyper multiplets, and how the entropy can be reproduced with a microscopic counting of states in the AdS/CFT dual field theory. We focus on the particular example of BPS black holes in AdS{\\hspace{0pt}}4 × S6 in massive Type IIA, whose dual three-dimensional boundary description is known and simple. To count the states in field theory we employ a supersymmetric topologically twisted index, which can be computed exactly with localization techniques. We find a perfect match at leading order.

The measurement of insulin-like growth factor 1 in sheep plasma.

PubMed

Bruce, L A; Atkinson, T; Hutchinson, J S; Shakespear, R A; MacRae, J C

1991-02-01

A method is described for the radioimmunoassay (RIA) of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in neutralised formic acid-ethanol extracts of sheep plasma. The ability of the acid-ethanol pretreatment to remove the IGF-1 binding proteins (BPs), which interfere in the assay has been examined. Comparative plasma IGF-1 concentrations determined by the method correlated closely (P less than 0.001) with corresponding values where BPs were removed by acid gel filtration. The method has been applied to studies in which sheep were given exogenous growth hormone and indicated that plasma IGF-1 levels respond rapidly to the onset and termination of treatment.

Design of heart rate monitor based on piezoelectric sensor using an Arduino

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Setyowati, Veni; Muninggar, Jodelin; Shanti. N. A, Made R. S.

2017-01-01

Reading of result heart rate using an acoustic stethoscope needs a particular skill, quiet environment, and hearing sensitivity. This project had the purpose design of a user-friendly automatic heart rate monitor and especially in a noisy area which to eliminate problems and incorrect reading of result. The liquid crystal display shows a heart rate as a result of measurements. The design of the heart rate monitor has two main parts; the signal recorder that a piezoelectric sensor, a filter, and an amplifier as recorder. The second parts was Arduino microcontroller with reinforced. Besides, three supporting buttons provided as the manual switches, the ‘on’, the ‘start’, and ‘reset’ buttons. The values acquired from the heart rate monitor indicate that those were on the Vernier BPS-BTA value range. The measurement error factor of the heart rate monitor then compared to the Vernier BPS-BTA test device was 3.15%. Besides, the value of statistical independent-test indicates that there is no significant difference (P = 0.971) between the heart rate monitor device and the Vernier BPS-BTA. In conclusion, this device was ready to be used because it has almost the same accuracy with the standart device.

Bisphenols, Benzophenones, and Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ethers in Textiles and Infant Clothing.

PubMed

Xue, Jingchuan; Liu, Wenbin; Kannan, Kurunthachalam

2017-05-02

Little is known with regard to the occurrence of potentially toxic chemicals in textiles and clothes. In this study, 77 textiles and infant clothing pieces were analyzed for the determination of bisphenols including bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), benzophenones, bisphenol A diglycidyl ethers (BADGEs), and novolac glycidyl ethers (NOGEs). BPA and BPS occurred in 82% and 53% of the textile samples, respectively, and at mean concentrations of 366 and 15 ng/g, respectively. Benzophenone-3 (BP3) occurred in 70% of the samples at a mean concentration of 11.3 ng/g. Among 11 BADGEs and NOGEs analyzed, BFDGE was the predominant compound, with a mean concentration of 13.6 ng/g. Concentrations of target chemicals were assessed by fabric type, color, and uses. Socks contained the highest concentrations of BPA (mean: 1810 ng/g) with concentrations as high as 13 300 ng/g in a 97% polyester fabric marketed for infants. Calculated dermal exposure dose to BPA by infants via textiles was as high as 7280 pg/kg BW/d. This is the first study to report the occurrence of, and exposure to, BPA, BPS, BADGEs, and NOGEs in textiles and clothing.

Isotropic Elastic Stress Induced Large Temperature Range Liquid Crystal Blue Phase at Room Temperature.

PubMed

Manna, Suman K; Dupont, Laurent; Li, Guoqiang

2016-08-11

A thermodynamically stable blue phase (BP) based on the conventional rod like nematogen is demonstrated for the first time at room temperature by only diluting a chiral-nematic mixture with the help of some nonmesogenic isotropic liquid. It is observed that addition of this isotropic liquid does not only stabilize the BPs at room temperature, but also significantly improves the temperature range (reversible during heating and cooling) of the BPs to the level of more than 28 °C. Apart from that, we have observed its microsecond electro-optic response time and, external electric field induced wavelength tuning, which are the two indispensable requirements for next generation optical devices, photonic displays, lasers, and many more. Here we propose that the isotropic liquid plays two crucial roles simultaneously. On one hand, it reduces the effective elastic moduli (EEM) of the BP mixtures and stabilizes the BPs at room temperature, and on the other hand, it increases the symmetry of the mutual orientation ordering among the neighboring unit cells of the BP. Hence, the resultant mixture becomes better resistive to some microscopic change due to the change in temperature, even over a large range.

Analysis of problem solving on project based learning with resource based learning approach computer-aided program

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuncoro, K. S.; Junaedi, I.; Dwijanto

2018-03-01

This study aimed to reveal the effectiveness of Project Based Learning with Resource Based Learning approach computer-aided program and analyzed problem-solving abilities in terms of problem-solving steps based on Polya stages. The research method used was mixed method with sequential explanatory design. The subject of this research was the students of math semester 4. The results showed that the S-TPS (Strong Top Problem Solving) and W-TPS (Weak Top Problem Solving) had good problem-solving abilities in each problem-solving indicator. The problem-solving ability of S-MPS (Strong Middle Problem Solving) and (Weak Middle Problem Solving) in each indicator was good. The subject of S-BPS (Strong Bottom Problem Solving) had a difficulty in solving the problem with computer program, less precise in writing the final conclusion and could not reflect the problem-solving process using Polya’s step. While the Subject of W-BPS (Weak Bottom Problem Solving) had not been able to meet almost all the indicators of problem-solving. The subject of W-BPS could not precisely made the initial table of completion so that the completion phase with Polya’s step was constrained.

Effects of 4-Hydroxyphenyl 4-Isoprooxyphenylsulfone (BPSIP) Exposure on Reproduction and Endocrine System of Zebrafish.

PubMed

Lee, Jiyun; Park, Na-Youn; Kho, Younglim; Ji, Kyunghee

2018-02-06

The compound 4-hydroxyphenyl 4-isoprooxyphenylsulfone (BPSIP), a derivative of bisphenol S (BPS), has been detected in thermal paper and human urine samples; however, its potential effects on the endocrine system are largely unknown. The present study was conducted to determine the adverse effects of BPSIP on egg production, relative organ weights, plasma levels of sex hormones, and transcription of genes related to the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis in zebrafish (Danio rerio). In male fish, the gonadosomatic index was significantly decreased at concentrations of 5 and 50 μg/L BPSIP. The estrogenic (increase in the 17β-estradiol/testosterone [E2/T] ratio) and antiandrogenic (decrease in T) effects were observed in fish exposed to BPSIP and males were more sensitive to the adverse effects than females. The changes in sex hormones were supported by the regulation of genes along the HPG axis, such as cyp19, 17βhsd, and cyp17 transcripts. Although the effective concentration for endocrine disruption was greater than that of BPS, the actions of BPSIP on the steroidogenic pathway were similar to the effects of BPS exposure.

Many-body formalism for fermions: The partition function

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, D. K.

2017-09-01

The partition function, a fundamental tenet in statistical thermodynamics, contains in principle all thermodynamic information about a system. It encapsulates both microscopic information through the quantum energy levels and statistical information from the partitioning of the particles among the available energy levels. For identical particles, this statistical accounting is complicated by the symmetry requirements of the allowed quantum states. In particular, for Fermi systems, the enforcement of the Pauli principle is typically a numerically demanding task, responsible for much of the cost of the calculations. The interplay of these three elements—the structure of the many-body spectrum, the statistical partitioning of the N particles among the available levels, and the enforcement of the Pauli principle—drives the behavior of mesoscopic and macroscopic Fermi systems. In this paper, we develop an approach for the determination of the partition function, a numerically difficult task, for systems of strongly interacting identical fermions and apply it to a model system of harmonically confined, harmonically interacting fermions. This approach uses a recently introduced many-body method that is an extension of the symmetry-invariant perturbation method (SPT) originally developed for bosons. It uses group theory and graphical techniques to avoid the heavy computational demands of conventional many-body methods which typically scale exponentially with the number of particles. The SPT application of the Pauli principle is trivial to implement since it is done "on paper" by imposing restrictions on the normal-mode quantum numbers at first order in the perturbation. The method is applied through first order and represents an extension of the SPT method to excited states. Our method of determining the partition function and various thermodynamic quantities is accurate and efficient and has the potential to yield interesting insight into the role played by the Pauli principle and the influence of large degeneracies on the emergence of the thermodynamic behavior of large-N systems.

Functional determinants of radial operators in AdS 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aguilera-Damia, Jeremías; Faraggi, Alberto; Zayas, Leopoldo Pando; Rathee, Vimal; Silva, Guillermo A.

2018-06-01

We study the zeta-function regularization of functional determinants of Laplace and Dirac-type operators in two-dimensional Euclidean AdS 2 space. More specifically, we consider the ratio of determinants between an operator in the presence of background fields with circular symmetry and the free operator in which the background fields are absent. By Fourier-transforming the angular dependence, one obtains an infinite number of one-dimensional radial operators, the determinants of which are easy to compute. The summation over modes is then treated with care so as to guarantee that the result coincides with the two-dimensional zeta-function formalism. The method relies on some well-known techniques to compute functional determinants using contour integrals and the construction of the Jost function from scattering theory. Our work generalizes some known results in flat space. The extension to conformal AdS 2 geometries is also considered. We provide two examples, one bosonic and one fermionic, borrowed from the spectrum of fluctuations of the holographic 1/4 -BPS latitude Wilson loop.

Reconstruction of a piecewise constant conductivity on a polygonal partition via shape optimization in EIT

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beretta, Elena; Micheletti, Stefano; Perotto, Simona; Santacesaria, Matteo

2018-01-01

In this paper, we develop a shape optimization-based algorithm for the electrical impedance tomography (EIT) problem of determining a piecewise constant conductivity on a polygonal partition from boundary measurements. The key tool is to use a distributed shape derivative of a suitable cost functional with respect to movements of the partition. Numerical simulations showing the robustness and accuracy of the method are presented for simulated test cases in two dimensions.

Partition of some key regulating services in terrestrial ecosystems: Meta-analysis and review.

PubMed

Viglizzo, E F; Jobbágy, E G; Ricard, M F; Paruelo, J M

2016-08-15

Our knowledge about the functional foundations of ecosystem service (ES) provision is still limited and more research is needed to elucidate key functional mechanisms. Using a simplified eco-hydrological scheme, in this work we analyzed how land-use decisions modify the partition of some essential regulatory ES by altering basic relationships between biomass stocks and water flows. A comprehensive meta-analysis and review was conducted based on global, regional and local data from peer-reviewed publications. We analyzed five datasets comprising 1348 studies and 3948 records on precipitation (PPT), aboveground biomass (AGB), AGB change, evapotranspiration (ET), water yield (WY), WY change, runoff (R) and infiltration (I). The conceptual framework was focused on ES that are associated with the ecological functions (e.g., intermediate ES) of ET, WY, R and I. ES included soil protection, carbon sequestration, local climate regulation, water-flow regulation and water recharge. To address the problem of data normality, the analysis included both parametric and non-parametric regression analysis. Results demonstrate that PPT is a first-order biophysical factor that controls ES release at the broader scales. At decreasing scales, ES are partitioned as result of PPT interactions with other biophysical and anthropogenic factors. At intermediate scales, land-use change interacts with PPT modifying ES partition as it the case of afforestation in dry regions, where ET and climate regulation may be enhanced at the expense of R and water-flow regulation. At smaller scales, site-specific conditions such as topography interact with PPT and AGB displaying different ES partition formats. The probable implications of future land-use and climate change on some key ES production and partition are discussed. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A Locally Optimal Algorithm for Estimating a Generating Partition from an Observed Time Series and Its Application to Anomaly Detection.

PubMed

Ghalyan, Najah F; Miller, David J; Ray, Asok

2018-06-12

Estimation of a generating partition is critical for symbolization of measurements from discrete-time dynamical systems, where a sequence of symbols from a (finite-cardinality) alphabet may uniquely specify the underlying time series. Such symbolization is useful for computing measures (e.g., Kolmogorov-Sinai entropy) to identify or characterize the (possibly unknown) dynamical system. It is also useful for time series classification and anomaly detection. The seminal work of Hirata, Judd, and Kilminster (2004) derives a novel objective function, akin to a clustering objective, that measures the discrepancy between a set of reconstruction values and the points from the time series. They cast estimation of a generating partition via the minimization of their objective function. Unfortunately, their proposed algorithm is nonconvergent, with no guarantee of finding even locally optimal solutions with respect to their objective. The difficulty is a heuristic-nearest neighbor symbol assignment step. Alternatively, we develop a novel, locally optimal algorithm for their objective. We apply iterative nearest-neighbor symbol assignments with guaranteed discrepancy descent, by which joint, locally optimal symbolization of the entire time series is achieved. While most previous approaches frame generating partition estimation as a state-space partitioning problem, we recognize that minimizing the Hirata et al. (2004) objective function does not induce an explicit partitioning of the state space, but rather the space consisting of the entire time series (effectively, clustering in a (countably) infinite-dimensional space). Our approach also amounts to a novel type of sliding block lossy source coding. Improvement, with respect to several measures, is demonstrated over popular methods for symbolizing chaotic maps. We also apply our approach to time-series anomaly detection, considering both chaotic maps and failure application in a polycrystalline alloy material.