2,153 research outputs found
Surface Transitions for Confined Associating Mixtures
Thin films of binary mixtures that interact through isotropic forces and
directionally specific "hydrogen bonding" are considered through Monte Carlo
simulations. We show, in good agreement with experiment, that the single phase
of these mixtures can be stabilized or destabilized on confinement. These
results resolve a long standing controversy, since previous theories suggest
that confinement only stabilizes the single phase of fluid mixtures.Comment: LaTeX document, documentstyle[aps,preprint]{revtex}, psfig.sty,
bibtex, 13 pages, 4 figure
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In vivo reprogramming of pancreatic acinar cells to three islet endocrine subtypes
Direct lineage conversion of adult cells is a promising approach for regenerative medicine. A major challenge of lineage conversion is to generate specific cell subtypes. The pancreatic islets contain three major hormone-secreting endocrine subtypes: insulin+ β-cells, glucagon+ α-cells, and somatostatin+ δ-cells. We previously reported that a combination of three transcription factors, Ngn3, Mafa, and Pdx1, directly reprograms pancreatic acinar cells to β-cells. We now show that acinar cells can be converted to δ-like and α-like cells by Ngn3 and Ngn3+Mafa respectively. Thus, three major islet endocrine subtypes can be derived by acinar reprogramming. Ngn3 promotes establishment of a generic endocrine state in acinar cells, and also promotes δ-specification in the absence of other factors. δ-specification is in turn suppressed by Mafa and Pdx1 during α- and β-cell induction. These studies identify a set of defined factors whose combinatorial actions reprogram acinar cells to distinct islet endocrine subtypes in vivo. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01846.00
Information entropy in fragmenting systems
The possibility of facing critical phenomena in nuclear fragmentation is a
topic of great interest. Different observables have been proposed to identify
such a behavior, in particular, some related to the use of information entropy
as a possible signal of critical behavior. In this work we critically examine
some of the most widespread used ones comparing its performance in bond
percolation and in the analysis of fragmenting Lennard Jones Drops.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure
On higher analogues of Courant algebroids
In this paper, we study the algebraic properties of the higher analogues of
Courant algebroid structures on the direct sum bundle
for an -dimensional manifold. As an application, we revisit Nambu-Poisson
structures and multisymplectic structures. We prove that the graph of an
-vector field is closed under the higher-order Dorfman bracket iff
is a Nambu-Poisson structure. Consequently, there is an induced Leibniz
algebroid structure on . The graph of an -form is
closed under the higher-order Dorfman bracket iff is a
premultisymplectic structure of order , i.e. \dM\omega=0. Furthermore,
there is a Lie algebroid structure on the admissible bundle
. In particular, for a 2-plectic structure, it induces
the Lie 2-algebra structure given in \cite{baez:classicalstring}.Comment: 13 page
Bosonic representation of one-dimensional Heisenberg ferrimagnets
The energy structure and the thermodynamics of ferrimagnetic Heisenberg
chains of alternating spins S and s are described in terms of the Schwinger
bosons and modified spin waves. In the Schwinger representation, we average the
local constraints on the bosons and diagonalize the Hamiltonian at the
Hartree-Fock level. In the Holstein-Primakoff representation, we optimize the
free energy in two different ways introducing an additional constraint on the
staggered magnetization. A new modified spin-wave scheme, which employs a
Lagrange multiplier keeping the native energy structure free from temperature
and thus differs from the original Takahashi Scheme, is particularly stressed
as an excellent language to interpret one-dimensional quantum ferrimagnetism.
Other types of one-dimensional ferrimagnets and the antiferromagnetic limit S=s
are also mentioned.Comment: to be published in Phys. Rev. B 69, No. 6, 0644XX (2004
Constitutive cytoplasmic localization of p21Waf1/Cip1 affects the apoptotic process in monocytic leukaemia
In the present study, we analysed the expression and localization of p21Waf1/Cip1 in normal and malignant haematopoietic cells. We demonstrate that in normal monocytic cells, protein kinase C (PKC)-induced p21 gene activation, which is nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) independent, results in predominantly cytoplasmic localized p21 protein. In acute monocytic leukaemia (M4, M5), monocytic blasts (N=12) show constitutive cytoplasmic p21 expression in 75% of the cases, while in myeloid leukaemic blasts (N=10), low nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of p21 could be detected, which is also PKC dependent. Constitutive p21 expression in monocytic leukaemia might have important antiapoptotic functions. This is supported by the finding that in U937 cells overexpressing p21, VP16-induced apoptosis is significantly reduced (20.0±0.9 vs 55.8±3.8%, P<0.01, N=5), reflected by a reduced phosphorylation of p38 and JNK. Similarly, AML blasts with high cytoplasmic p21 were less sensitive to VP16-induced apoptosis as compared to AML cases with low or undetectable p21 expression (42.25 vs 12.3%, P<0.01). Moreover, complex formation between p21 and ASK1 could be demonstrated in AML cells, by means of coimmunoprecipitation. In summary, these results indicate that p21 has an antiapoptotic role in monocytic leukaemia, and that p21 expression is regulated in a PKC-dependent and NF-κB independent manner.
Narrow genetic base in forest restoration with holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) in Sicily
In order to empirically assess the effect of actual seed sampling strategy on
genetic diversity of holm oak (Quercus ilex) forestations in Sicily, we have
analysed the genetic composition of two seedling lots (nursery stock and
plantation) and their known natural seed origin stand by means of six nuclear
microsatellite loci. Significant reduction in genetic diversity and significant
difference in genetic composition of the seedling lots compared to the seed
origin stand were detected. The female and the total effective number of
parents were quantified by means of maternity assignment of seedlings and
temporal changes in allele frequencies. Extremely low effective maternity
numbers were estimated (Nfe 2-4) and estimates accounting for both
seed and pollen donors gave also low values (Ne 35-50). These values
can be explained by an inappropriate forestry seed harvest strategy limited to
a small number of spatially close trees
Critical dynamics in thin films
Critical dynamics in film geometry is analyzed within the field-theoretical
approach. In particular we consider the case of purely relaxational dynamics
(Model A) and Dirichlet boundary conditions, corresponding to the so-called
ordinary surface universality class on both confining boundaries. The general
scaling properties for the linear response and correlation functions and for
dynamic Casimir forces are discussed. Within the Gaussian approximation we
determine the analytic expressions for the associated universal scaling
functions and study quantitatively in detail their qualitative features as well
as their various limiting behaviors close to the bulk critical point. In
addition we consider the effects of time-dependent fields on the
fluctuation-induced dynamic Casimir force and determine analytically the
corresponding universal scaling functions and their asymptotic behaviors for
two specific instances of instantaneous perturbations. The universal aspects of
nonlinear relaxation from an initially ordered state are also discussed
emphasizing the different crossovers that occur during this evolution. The
model considered is relevant to the critical dynamics of actual uniaxial
ferromagnetic films with symmetry-preserving conditions at the confining
surfaces and for Monte Carlo simulations of spin system with Glauber dynamics
and free boundary conditions.Comment: 64 pages, 21 figure
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iPSC Modeling of Presenilin1 Mutation in Alzheimer's Disease with Cerebellar Ataxia.
Disease modeling of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been hampered by the lack of suitable cellular models while animal models are mainly based on the overexpression of AD-related genes which often results in an overemphasis of certain pathways and is also confounded by aging. In this study, we therefore developed and used induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from a middle-aged AD patient with a known presenilin 1 (PSEN1) mutation (Glu120Lys; PS1-E120K) and as a control, an elderly normal subject. Using this approach, we demonstrated that the extracellular accumulation of Aβ was dramatically increased in PS1-E120K iPSC-derived neurons compared with the control iPSC line. PS1-E120K iPSC-derived neurons also exhibited high levels of phosphorylated tau, as well as mitochondrial abnormalities and defective autophagy. Given that the effect of aging is lost with iPSC generation, these abnormal cellular features are therefore indicative of PSEN1-associated AD pathogenesis rather than primary changes associated with aging. Taken together, this iPSC-based approach of AD modeling can now be used to better understand AD pathogenesis as well as a tool for drug discovery.This work was supported by the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI14C2746) and a grant (2016-0588) from the Asan Institute for Life Sciences
Dementia and guardianship: challenges in social work practice in a health care setting
This thesis critically examines social work practice in complex and disputed situations where an alternative legal decision-maker is perceived as necessary for a person with dementia. Australia has unique adult guardianship legislation and social workers are actively engaged in the process in a variety of ways, such as weighing the benefits against the possible harm and lodging applications. Yet within the profession this is an area where there is very little research. The purpose of this study is therefore to enable social workers to better understand the dynamics involved in adult guardianship proceedings for a person with dementia and provide knowledge that can be used for more effective practice. The theoretical approach is to use perspectives from social constructionism, with the links which can be made to modernism and postmodernism being taken into account. Five research case studies were investigated drawing from the caseload of social workers in an aged care service at a large metropolitan hospital in Australia. A thematic network analysis of the findings showed that the research case studies are constantly evolving, where different players participate by bringing their own perspectives, and in this process alliances are formed which reflect underlying dynamics of power. There are many diverse and contested issues, such as varied understandings of dementia and capacity and differing constructions of the notions of risk, protection and responsibility. The implications for social work practice are that in a contemporary health and welfare context social work is well placed to make an important contribution through its traditional roles of negotiation, interpretation and mediation between those who have discursive rights and those who do not
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